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"Have you ever dreamt of exploring distant planets and then working overtime there for minimum wage? Well, your dreams have been answered, pardner! It just so happens that the Dominion has a use for your undying loyalty and pathetic fear of the battlefield frontlines."

The T-280 space construction vehicle (or SCV) is a type of terran general-purpose engineering vehicle.

SCV pilots are called "SceeVees." Nicknames include "plas-jockey," "lug nut" and "wrench swinger."[1]

Overview[]

"I'm locked in here tighter than a frog's butt in a watermelon seed fight."

- An SCV pilot(src)

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An SCV during the Great War

The T-280 SCV is a reliable vehicle[2] used to construct and maintain everything from remote outposts to space platforms as well as harvest resources[3] and general reconstruction efforts.[4] They are used by both military and civilian interests throughout the Koprulu sector for their versatility and reliability,[3] and are regarded as a foundational unit for terran forces.[5]

Hardware[]

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An SCV harvesting minerals

The T-280 is a bi-pedal walker,[6] the pilot's arms and legs extending into its exoskeleton.[7] It stands just over twelve feet tall[8] and is constructed out of neosteel,[6] with a plasteel view hatch.[1] SCVs have been observed to be equipped with fusion cutters[3] plasma welders,[8] a power drill, utility clamp, and heavy-duty thrusters. The thrusters allow an SCV to hover. These thrusters were added after SCV prototypes proved unable to keep up with projected efficiency rates. Due to last minute integration, the thrusters were barely optimized for day-to-day operation, and are prone to overloading whenever they are set to high burn. The T-280's manufacturer began work on new, more energy-efficient thrusters, but discarded the project upon learning that SCV races were popular in certain parts of the sector. As one would expect, this has not deterred the pilots from making "personal" adjustments.[6] The power reserves on the SCV rigs could be charged with solar energy.[1]

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An SCV

Older SCVs had reinforced plating until the manufacturer decided to cut back on “unnecessary expenses.” This decision proved very unpopular among SCV pilots, and even spurred riots—which were quelled fatally by security forces—on one or two remote planets. Yet, the body count from the protests was dwarfed by the 58.8% increase in casualty rates due to flimsy vehicle plating.[6] These older, pre-Brood War SCVs were less bulky, featured smaller utility clamps and were rumored to contain secret cup holders.[9]

Within a few months of the end of the Brood War, a new SCV model had been introduced,[10] albeit still retaining T-280 designation.[11] It features improved motivators, allowing smoother operations.[10]

The scent of rig grease from SCVs can be used by the zerg to track them.[1]

4

A Dominion Special Forces SCV

The Dominion Special Forces made use of SCVs with advanced hardware, including a stronger utility clamp and a laser extraction claw. Similarly, Umojan Protectorate SCVs are equipped with laser drills that make perfectly clean cuts on even the densest mineral. The Knights of Tyrador used a platinum-iridium alloy on their SCVs to maximize gleam and scratchproofing.[9]

Systems[]

"COMFORTroller climate-control system regulates cabin air quality."
"Good. Never met a driver who ate anything other than beans."

- A Dominion marine after reading information on the SCV(src)

The SCV's cockpit is equipped with multiple displays that provide critical information to the pilot—fuel readouts, structural integrity data, and real-time 3D topography mapping algorithms. Designed to operate in hazardous atmospheres, all SCVs boast the latest version of the COMFORtroller climate control system, which regulates, cycles and purifies the air inside the cabin—allowing the vehicle to operate for up to two weeks in a vacuum. Nonetheless, it's common to see jury-rigged SCVs successfully getting the job done, despite being held together with components as unusual as gardening equipment or beer cans.[6]

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An SCV under attack by zerglings

SCVs are known to be outfitted with various feedback modules to help improve pilot feedback and performance. One such module is the onboard force feedback module (or OFFM, referred to as OFF ME), which allows the SCV pilot to move the SCV arms and generate a force proportional to the motions of the pilot, allowing for greater range of movement and greater combat effectiveness against close range attackers such as zerglings. Bill "Pearly" Bousquette developed a feedback module known as the biometric accumulator, which contains a learning heuristic that naturally adapts to the pilot's quirks and preferences.[1]

Service[]

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A post-Brood War SCV

The T-280 model became prominent for its performance during the construction of Tarsonis' space platforms.[3] It was widely adopted and became a staple in terran engineering by 2489.[12]

During the reign of the Terran Confederacy, volunteering to pilot an SCV appeared to be an alternative to military service.[13] The PEB (Preferred Experience Base) was hostile environment engineering, with combat experience a plus.[14]

5

A mercenary SCV

Risks associated with SCV operation has had little impact on the Dominion's ability to recruit pilots who, fearful of the front lines, are willing to work overtime on distant planets for low wages.[6] However, the long hours and low pay of the service leads some SCV pilots to take up mercenary work. Most of them never look back.[9]

In order to defend a backwater world, SCVs were modified with combat apparatuses by engineer Yakov Iliev. This design would later be taken by the Axiom Corporation to create the warhound, a combat walker designed to combat heavy armor.[7]

The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm that is ambiguously canonical.
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An SCV pilot

In the Terran Dominion, SCV pilots are represented by the SCV pilot's union, who oppose the continued efforts of the Dominion Engineering Corps to replicate protoss probes.[15]

Game Unit[]

StarCraft[]

For StarCraft gameplay information see: SCV (StarCraft).
For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft I SCV Quotations.

StarCraft: Ghost[]

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SCV in StarCraft: Ghost

StarCraft Ghost Logo2
This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details.
For StarCraft: Ghost in-game quotations see: StarCraft Ghost SCV Quotations.

SCVs could be controlled in StarCraft: Ghost. Their boosters could be used to make them hover. They could carry objects between their arms using an electric field. This included enemies.[16]

StarCraft II[]

For StarCraft gameplay information see: SCV (StarCraft II).
For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft II SCV Quotations.

Heroes of the Storm[]

Heroes DevLog2
The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity
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SCVs as they appear in Heroes of the Storm

SCVs appear in the background of the map Braxis Holdout in Heroes of the Storm.

During the Machines of War special event, SCVs would occasionally spawn with a xel'naga artifact. Killing the SCV would give the player bonus gold, and progress toward a portrait.[15]

Overwatch[]

SCV action figures can be found scattered around in the Blizzard World map in Overwatch. When shot, the action figures will give the SCV death sounds as well as sped up StarCraft II SCV poke quotes.

Known SCV Pilots[]

"Be kind to a SceeVee; he might just be your dad!"

- Popular marine joke on the average age of SCV pilots(src)

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An SCV pilot

Variants[]

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A Brood War-era SCV

Notes[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bogdanove, Kal-El. "The Fightin' SceeVees." (May 30, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: The Fightin' SceeVees. Accessed 2023-10-05.
  2. 2014-08-28, Fight for Your Freedom, Fight for Your Future. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 05-10-2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Underwood, Peter, Bill Roper, Chris Metzen and Jeffrey Vaughn. StarCraft (Manual). Irvine, Calif.: Blizzard Entertainment, 1998.
  4. Furman, Simon (w), Jesse Elliott (p, i). "Heavy Armor, part 2." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 2 (paperback binding), pp. 5-25. Tokyopop, January 1, 2009. ISBN 1427-80831-7.
  5. 2014-09-25, The Science Corner –The Threat Continues. Blizzard Entertainment, accessed on 2023-10-05.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Units: SCV. Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed 2014-08-28.
  7. 7.0 7.1 Irvine, Alex. "Command Performance." (March 28, 2013). Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft Lore: Command Performance. Accessed 2023-10-05.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Hickman, Tracy. StarCraft: Speed of Darkness. Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, May 21, 2002. ISBN 0-671-04150-9.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Blizzard Entertainment. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void. Collections Tab: Skins. October 17, 2016.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Benjamin, Paul and Dave Shramek (w), Mel joy San Juan (p). "Orientation." In StarCraft: Frontline: Volume 4 (paperback binding), pp. 114-161. Tokyopop, October 1, 2009. ISBN 978-1427-81698-6.
  11. Personality Exam: SCV, Blizzard Entertainment. Accessed on 2010-06-19.
  12. McNeill, Graham (December 30, 2008). StarCraft: I, Mengsk. Simon & Schuster (Pocket Star). ISBN 1416-55083-6.
  13. SCV. StarCraft Compendium. Accessed on 2007-12-03.
  14. Beta. Accessed on 2008-01-28.
  15. 15.0 15.1 Blizzard Entertainment. Heroes of the Storm (Blizzard Entertainment) (in English). June 2, 2015.
  16. 2015-02-03, The Art of StarCraft: Ghost. YouTube, accessed on 2015-02-04.
  17. 2021-07-23, Bob Fitch Twitter. Twitter.com, accessed on 2021-07-23.
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