Corax
Armoured drop ship. Older model, reliable, not glamorous. Externally disguised as civilian cargo. The squad's transport — and the only communications link between orbit and the surface.
Overview
An older-model armoured drop ship. Reliable. Not glamorous. Externally configured to read as a civilian cargo vessel — no visible military markings, no identifying features visible at standard inspection distance.
Standard external assessment would classify it as commercial transport. That assessment is incorrect.
Armament
| System | Specification |
|---|---|
| Primary turret | 40mm APHE — pilot-controlled |
| Guided missile bays | Integrated — capacity |
| Smart rocket bays | Integrated |
| Door guns | Rear and side mounts |
Capacity
Four armoured operators in modified combat harnesses. Thirty standard passenger seats.
Critical Function — Communications Relay
The Corax's primary operational function on this deployment is not transport. It is the communications relay between the USPN Caldera in orbit and the CARG squad on the surface of Athena.
The Caldera's communications array cannot reach the surface at this range. The Corax bridges that gap. SUNBEAM is the only link between Captain Sable Renn and her squad on the ground.
This is a single-point dependency in the mission structure. It is not listed as a risk in the mission brief. It is listed here.
// Viewer Access +
The Corax's civilian cover identity has been active for longer than this deployment. The vessel was operating under that cover for at least two prior missions — missions that do not appear in any record accessible at this clearance level. Whatever the Corax has done before Athena, it has done quietly. SUNBEAM's operational history aligns with this. The Corax was not assigned to this deployment because it was available. It was assigned because it already had the right paperwork.