Prospector

The Prospector is the Allies' basic resource gatherer and base expansion vehicle in the Third World War.

Background
The Prospector was originally designed as an industrial pick-up by Well-Refined Ore Corporation, a large Boise-based corporation that offered vertically-integrated ore refinement solutions. As tensions rose between the Soviet Union and Allied nations, their top providers of military goods increasingly sought out greater supplies of ore so that their production could continue unabated, and both the Soviets and the Allies began to explore new ways to collect ore directly from dormant mines.

Because of this, the Allies retrofitted their prospectors with magnetically-sealed cargo bins as well as with amphibious capability, plus military-grade components for their communications arrays, which allowed them to be converted into military command hubs. Because of these changes, prospectors became priority targets for Soviet forces.

In spite of the increasing danger and undeniable monotony of operating an Allied prospector, drivers of these vehicles were known for their cheerful demeanor and customer-friendly attitude toward their work. This may be in part because the Allies paid these laborers well, likely because prospectors ultimately were the key to letting the Allies manufacture new equipment in the field.

Game unit
Unarmed and relatively weak, the prospector is nevertheless the most important unit in the game as an Allied player. It provides a source of income and can deploy into a command hub, which, most importantly, has a separate upgrade queue, allowing to gain clearance at a factory while the construction yard is busy expanding the base.

Furthermore, it's fully amphibious and can deploy into command hubs on water.

Changelog

 * Red Alert 3 patch 1.05: cost reduced from 1400 to 1000.
 * Red Alert 3 patch 1.08: fixed a bug that would cause ore collectors to stop gathering when a building with repair drones was placed while the collector was docked at the ore node.

Upon exiting an Armor facility

 * Need someone to take a look around?

Upon exiting an Ore Refinery

 * Prospector on duty!

Selection

 * Collecting ore is alright!
 * How's your day sir?
 * Prospector!
 * It's a beautiful day!
 * Let's have a look around!
 * Hello sir!
 * Prospector ready sir!
 * Prospector on duty!

Moving

 * Sounds good to me!
 * Well alright!
 * I didn't think of that!
 * Right away!
 * Nice day for a drive!
 * That's a great idea!

Moving to land

 * I like the beach!
 * What a great idea!
 * Looks like plenty-a room for me!

Moving to water

 * I bet the water's warm!
 * Count me in!
 * Golly, look at all that water!

Return to Refinery

 * Here I come!
 * I got the ore!
 * Home sweet home!
 * Now why didn't I think of that!

Harvest

 * Now look at all that ore!
 * Let's get started!
 * Well, let's get to work!

Retreating

 * But what about all the action?
 * Is it safe over there?
 * I wouldn't mind taking little a break!

Under fire

 * They don't mean no harm!
 * I might need some repair sir!
 * It's sure getting hot in here!
 * Did you smell smoke?