Tandu - Technology and Relationship With Earthclan

Technology and Relationship With Earthclan

In the novel Startide Rising, a Tandu warship used a probability engine, directed by an Episiarch, to leap into the middle of an enemy formation. The ship created a great deal of destruction, before the Tandu ship ceased to have ever existed. The risks of this probability drive deter most non Tandu races from using such technology.

The Tandu have fought several minor skirmishes with the Earth Confederation. They are described as being extremely dangerous enemies, often winning even when the numerical odds favored the humans. This may not necessarily say all that much about their prowess, as humans in this universe are an extremely weak race, but more advanced alien species seem to respect their abilities. The Tandu are organized as a raiding force and use mostly Battlecruiser-like ships with great speed and firepower but poor protection that rely mostly on not getting hit for their survival. A Tandu light destroyer was described as being equipped with "antimatter beams", possibly antiparticle beams or possibly more exotic antimatter/matter conversion weapons.