On August 9, 2895, the Terra-flagged freighter Empire Slipper experienced a series of system failures, leading to incorrect navigation overlays on the bridge terminals. Due to this error, the navigation officer charted a course into a dense asteroid belt near a red giant's corona, resulting in a debris strike that disabled the ship's shield generators and exposed the crew to fatal radiation. The precise location of the drifting Empire Slipper became unknown.
The freighter carried a significant amount of precious metals and rare artwork, generating intense media interest and prompting a large search and recovery operation. After eight months of searching, the wreckage of the Slipper was found by a United Empire of Earth Navy picket ship within an irradiated debris belt, dispelling conspiracy theories of hijacking. Unfortunately, the region was nearly inaccessible to conventional salvage ships capable of withstanding the hazardous conditions.
To address this challenge, Drake Interplanetary, a burgeoning spacecraft manufacturer, offered their assistance. Motivated by both the salvage rights and a ten million credit bounty offered by MISC, the ship's builder, an elite team gathered on Borea to devise a unique solution. They repurposed an AS-1 Cutlass prototype, the Vertical Landing Test 3 (VLT-3), by removing its testing equipment and transforming it into a specialized vessel suitable for navigating the debris field and recovering the Slipper's cargo.
The modified VLT-3 featured heavy shield generators that replaced much of the prototype's cargo capacity, along with versatile remote manipulator arms attached to its front. This amalgamation was unlike any other existing spacecraft, providing extensive shielding and maneuverability to ensure the safety of its two-person crew. The external arms allowed the VLT-3 to engage in salvage operations without requiring extravehicular activity due to the hazardous radiation levels.
Fourteen months after the Empire Slipper's disappearance, Drake's test crew initiated salvage operations from a hastily established modular space station positioned outside the danger zone. Over the course of thirty-six perilous expeditions, the VLT-3 repeatedly entered the debris field, recovering the Slipper's flight recorders and valuable cargo containers. Drake obtained salvage rights for the valuable cargo and delivered the recovered flight recorders to MISC.
However, Drake's executives faced legal action over the bounty when it was discovered that they had copied the flight data before delivering it to MISC. Despite the controversy, the mission brought positive attention to Drake, which was battling piracy accusations.[2]
Following the success of the salvage mission, Drake sent the VLT-3 on a PR tour to aerospace shows and museum exhibits. However, Drake faced further controversy when accused of supporting piracy after a coordinated destruction involving unmarked Cutlasses and a MISC Hull-D. The company shifted its focus to the Caterpillar command ship concept, and the VLT-3 was put into storage.
In 2932, an Aegis Dynamics Reclaimer named General Dogsbody had a highly profitable salvage mission, generating significant interest in space salvage. Recognizing the growing demand, Drake's team began developing the VLT-3 concept into a standalone salvage spacecraft called the Vulture. The new design featured Rippers, stand-alone salvage booms supported by a Lariot tractor beam and Tomium scraper rig. The Vulture retained similarities to the VLT-3, with shipboard controls, reduced crew capacity, and a rear living section for long voyages.
Drake introduced the Vulture in 2938, capitalizing on public interest in salvage and personal fortune-seeking. Orders quickly exceeded production capacity, leading to the opening of remote factories. The Vultures found success in salvaging high-profile hulls, boosting Drake's reputation and driving continued interest in the spacecraft.[2]
In 2941, Drake launched an updated model of the Vulture with added weapons mounts, appealing to pilots exploring unsafe areas. In 2943, the United Empire of Earth Navy requisitioned 300 Vultures for battlefield support operations, although they were not intended for combat. These military versions saw service in clearing destroyed spacecraft after battles with the Vanduul.
Drake continues to develop the government version of the Vulture, anticipating increased naval battles. In 2949, the civilian model received an update with an extended cab, increasing internal cargo capacity. Drake also offers upgrades for earlier versions to match the capacity and added weapons mounts.[2]
