In Novus Æterno ships consume supplies through reloading of ammunition, self-repairs, activating abilities and recharging shields. All ships can hold a small amount of supplies, but will eventually have to resupply at a player controlled planet. These supplies are not infinite and players will be required to manage the fleet’s supplies to prevent it from running dry, leaving ships without the ability to attack or defend.
Ship that are in deep space missions or on the frontline of battle do not always have a planet nearby to resupply them, therefore special ships can be designed to cargo large amounts of supplies to vessels far away. These ships can distribute supplies to nearby ships allowing them to last longer in battle, which is why they need to be protected at all costs and be destroyed as soon as possible, if controlled by the enemy.