Private Traders

Private traders are the lifeblood of interstellar commerce, operating independently between the great powers of the Terran Core. Flying under free charter or corporate contract, they transport goods, passengers, and information across the vast network of colonies, stations, and frontier worlds. Often running small merchant ships or converted freighters, these traders balance risk and reward—venturing where state fleets seldom patrol and profits are highest.

Many began as corporate haulers or ex-naval officers turned entrepreneurs, navigating the volatile corridors between Sol, Terra Secundus, and the outer colonies. Though bound by Council of the Core regulations, they often skirt the edge of legality—hauling contraband, rare minerals, or exotic tech for the right buyer. In a universe dominated by hypercorps and nation-states, private traders remain the last true independents, carving out their fortunes one jump at a time.

Castor-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~128 m
  • Displacement: ~22,000 t
  • Propulsion: Dual fusion drives; gravitic maneuver lattice
  • Fusion Endurance: ~22 years between major refits
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-B; effective jump range ~5.2 ly
  • Crew: 14 (bridge 4, engineering 6, cargo/ops 4)

Role & Performance

Mid-weight general merchant designed for colony-to-hub commodity runs. Prioritizes reliability, easy port servicing, and low crew overhead over raw speed (commercial-grade performance below military standards).

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~26,000 m³ in two pressurized bays + dorsal container spine
  • Dual fore/aft loading collars; belly mag-lift crane
  • Refrigerated lockers and hazmat micro-vaults

Systems & Amenities

  • Redundant life-support trunks; modular crew cabins (16 berths)
  • Collision-avoid lidar and traffic transponder suite
  • Optional PD: 4× light laser/CIWS mounts (merchant-legal)

Dander-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~110 m
  • Displacement: ~18,500 t
  • Propulsion: Dual fusion cores; vector grav-thrust
  • Fusion Endurance: ~20 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-B; ~5.0 ly
  • Crew: 12 (bridge 3, engineering 5, cargo/ops 4)

Role & Performance

Versatile free trader for mixed manifests and short-to-medium interstellar hops. Built for low-port fees and rapid dock/undock cycles.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~20,000 m³; modular pallet racks
  • Side cargo doors for lighter ports; ventral lift
  • Container lashing points along dorsal spine

Systems & Amenities

  • 12–18 berths; galley/mess and small med-bay
  • Traffic-grade EW/decoy package (non-military)
  • Optional: 2× light CIWS turrets for debris/micrometeoroids

Interra-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~140 m
  • Displacement: ~28,000 t
  • Propulsion: Dual fusion; heavy-duty grav mains
  • Fusion Endurance: ~24 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-B; ~5.5 ly (route-optimized)
  • Crew: 20 (bridge 5, engineering 9, cargo/ops 6)

Role & Performance

Long-haul merchant for bulk staples and industrial feedstock. Sacrifices sprint for stable long-range economics and generous tankage.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~34,000 m³ across three bays + keel tanks
  • Bow and stern transfer tunnels for fast cross-docking
  • Integrated forklift drones and pallet conveyors

Systems & Amenities

  • 24 berths; two-shift operations deck
  • Autopilot & voyage planner tuned for low-stress transits
  • Merchant PD hardpoints (customer-supplied where legal)

Mercury-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~92 m
  • Displacement: ~12,000 t
  • Propulsion: Single fusion + auxiliary grav pods
  • Fusion Endurance: ~18 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-A/B; ~5.0 ly
  • Crew: 10 (bridge 3, engineering 4, cargo/ops 3)

Role & Performance

Compact courier-merchant favored by family lines and charters. Low port footprint and thrifty fuel profile for thinner routes.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~12,500 m³; convertible to passenger pallets
  • One-piece bow ramp; port/starboard service hatches
  • Quick-turn environmental stabilizers for perishables

Systems & Amenities

  • 12 berths; compact med niche and tool crib
  • Traffic-grade comms; collision-avoid and auto-dock stack
  • Optional 2× light PD emitters (non-military)

Sulara-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~100 m
  • Displacement: ~15,000 t
  • Propulsion: Single fusion core; efficient grav-thrust
  • Fusion Endurance: ~19 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-B; ~5.1 ly
  • Crew: 12 (bridge 3, engineering 5, cargo/ops 4)

Role & Performance

Balanced trader for mixed cargoes and small-station access. Popular on cluster routes where frequent stops outpace long legs.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~16,500 m³ with adjustable bulkheads
  • Ventral lift + side doors; drone tug interfaces
  • Reefer module slots and bonded locker bank

Systems & Amenities

  • 14 berths; quiet-ride isolation for crew quarters
  • Standard merchant nav/EW safety suite
  • Hardpoints for optional CIWS (legal jurisdictions vary)

Springnose-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~82 m
  • Displacement: ~9,500 t
  • Propulsion: Single fusion; high-torque grav nodes
  • Fusion Endurance: ~18 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-A/B; ~5.0 ly
  • Crew: 8 (bridge 2, engineering 4, cargo/ops 2)

Role & Performance

Entry-level free trader. Minimal crew requirement and forgiving handling make it a common first hull for independents.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~9,800 m³; one main bay with mezz deck
  • Nose ramp (namesake), pallet winches, and overhead rails
  • Convertible passenger pallet (up to 12 temporary berths)

Systems & Amenities

  • 10 berths; compact galley/mess
  • Auto-dock, lane-keep, and collision-avoid suite
  • Optional micro-PD emitters for debris mitigation

Trampona-class Trader

Specifications

  • Length: ~120 m
  • Displacement: ~20,000 t
  • Propulsion: Dual fusion; maneuver-biased grav lattice
  • Fusion Endurance: ~21 years
  • Tunnel Drive: Type-B; ~5.3 ly
  • Crew: 14 (bridge 4, engineering 6, cargo/ops 4)

Role & Performance

Agile midweight trader tuned for frequent-port routes and mixed cargo/passenger charters. Commercial-grade performance maintained below military benchmarks.

Cargo & Handling

  • Hold volume: ~22,000 m³ across two linked bays
  • Dual cranes; dorsal container locks and tug sockets
  • Pressurized passenger module interface (optional)

Systems & Amenities

  • 16 berths; med alcove; damage-control locker
  • Standard merchant comms + certified beacon suite
  • Optional 3–4 light CIWS mounts (jurisdiction dependent)