Termite-class Shuttle

The Termite-class shuttle was commissioned after Corporate officials complained that Golbersson Starforge's Cicada dropship was unsuitable for transporting VIPs. Furthermore, UPS consensus was that it would be unforgivable to rely on non-dwarven-manufactured shuttles for such important passengers, and so a committee was formed to design a new craft.

Veteran shipwright Lungen Denthammer, who oversaw the committe, recalls that the values proposed were wild and contradictory, including things like luxury, utility, looks fast, looks inexorable, impenetrable, cheap to produce, heavily-armed, soundproof, can fly in vacuum and atmosphere and can move along the ground, and most importantly demonstrate dwarven might. In spite of the unrealistic design objectives, the Termite is a fairly impressive craft.

As far as its function as a shuttle, it has a large pressurized cargo hold with a forward boarding ramp and aft docking hatch. This makes it equally suited for cargo, passenger, and infantry transportation. Its articulating engine pods allow for vertical takeoff and landing, and will sweep back to the shuttles aft for acceleration maneuvers.

In terms of armament, it is equipped with four antipersonnel cannons. Although this weaponry is nearly useless during ship-to-ship combat, it gives the Termite excellent capacity for clearing its landing zone. Beyond its weaponry, it is equipped the most advance terrain scanner amongst other shuttles including the Gecko.

Its most remarkable feature is its surface mobility. Instead of ventral-mounted landing gear like most other shuttles, the Termite has continuous tracks which converts it into an armed surface vehicle. This is convenient when a destination, such as subterranean facility, does not have a suitable landing zone. It also allows the Termite to serve as an assault vehicle to support deployed ground troops.

While many ship design critics still belittle the Termite for failing to serve as a luxury option for UPS passengers, Golbersson Starforge maintains that it certainly delivers on its promise to "demonstrate dwarven might".