m →top: deprecate insurance param, removed: | claimtime = 18:00, | expeditetime = 06:00, | expeditecost = 9000 |
m →top: deprecate combat speed, maxspeed, mass for flight ready vehicles, removed: | combatspeed = 99, | maxspeed = 894, | mass = 1660063 |
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| Line 29: | Line 29: | ||
| beam = 39.5 |
| beam = 39.5 |
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| height = 13.4 |
| height = 13.4 |
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| combatspeed = 99 |
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| maxspeed = 894 |
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| mass = 1660063 |
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| releasedate = {{SDA|sctime=yes|2871}} |
| releasedate = {{SDA|sctime=yes|2871}} |
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| retiredate = |
| retiredate = |
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The Drake Caterpillar is a large, modular cargo ship with a focus on significant capacity and flexibility. It is commonly used for legitimate commerce, extended search, and rescue missions. However, because of the low cost and popularity among civilians, the Caterpillar is known for being used by pirates as the storage location for their ill-gotten gains.[1][2]
Radar
Computer
Cooler
Shield generator
Quantum drive
Jump drive
Fuel intake
Fuel tank
Quantum fuel tank
Thrusters
Pilot weapon
TurretIn the wake of the Cutlass' success in 28th Century, Drake Interplanetary's CEO and lead designer Jan Dredge was looking for a new project to move the company forward. Although the Cutlass enjoyed some success in commercial hauling, it is more known for its combat abilities. Dredge knew that they should take the same design principles and apply it to something much bigger.
The Caterpillar prototype is initially unreviled at the 2871 Intergalactic Aerospace Expo. The ship received a lot of critics for its old design, the negativity almost threatened the whole project. It wasn't until the reports of Caterpillar spread through the Empire, that the tide began to turn. People were floored by two things: the ability to mix and match cargo modules and the price.[2]
On 2903-06-21 SET, a Caterpillar broke out from heavy traffic, and rammed into an eriesium transport using the front sensor array as hooks to latch onto the hull. The front cargo door opened and pirates leapt onto the immobilized transport and cut their way inside while the turret engaged the shocked security detail.
Within five minutes, the security detail had been destroyed, the transport breached and the eriesium taken. The Command Module detached from the Caterpillar and the pirates disappeared back into the spacelane with their fighter accomplices. By the time authorities arrived, they found an image that permanently seared itself into the public's consciousness, a Drake Caterpillar attached to the vented husk of a transport.
Despite an exhaustive search through all the system, authorities never figured out who was behind the heist. The Caterpillar was forever tied with criminal element to the present after the event.[2]
| Isometric | Above | Port-side | Front | Rear | Below |
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| Isometric | Above | Port-side | Front | Rear |
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| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 |
'Best In Show 2949' | White and dark grey colour with purple accents and a IAE logo. Limited edition. Created to celebrate the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2949 event. [3] |
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'Pirate' | Dark olive green and dark grey colour with pirate decals. It's only available when defeating "Pirate Swarm" in Arena Commander. [4] |
The following paints (skins) can be used on all variants of the Caterpillar.
| Image | Paint Name | Description | Price (aUEC) | Price ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
"Deck the Hull" | Pale green colouring with dark grey and red accents. Limited edition. Reward for the Luminalia 2951 event. [5] | [not available] | (Reward) |
 |
"Foundation Festival" | Metallic silver in colour with teal & white accents and a Foundation Festival logo. Limited edition. Only available as a reward to backers who took part in the annual Foundation Festival event. [6] | [not available] | (Reward) |
 |
"Ghoulish Green" | Metallic green and dark grey colour with dark grey accents. Limited sale. Only available during the Day of the Vara event. [7] | [not available] | 11.00 |
 |
"IceBreak" | White and metallic blue colour with dark grey accents. Limited edition. Reward for the Luminalia 2951 event. | [not available] | (Reward) |
 |
"Mistwalker" | Green 3 tone digital camo pattern and dark grey colour. | [not available] | 13.00 [8] |
 |
"Polar" | White and grey colour with dark grey accents. | [not available] | 11.00 [9] |
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"Stormbringer" | Blue and dark grey colour with white accents. | [not available] | 7.50 [10] |
| New Deal, Lorville | Astro Armada, Area18 |
|---|---|
| 4,686,600 | Unavailable |
Unavailable
Prices given are per-day. Prices for all rental periods can be found at Ship renting.
| Date | Pledge cost (USD) | Insurance | Availability | Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-11-18 | 225 | LTI | Limited | Kickstarter final day addon [11] |
| 2013-09-20 | 225 | LTI | Limited | Caterpillar 72 hours flash sale [12] |
| 2013-11-20 | 245 | LTI | Time-limited | 2013 anniversary sale [13] |
| 2014-11-22 | 245 | 2 years | Time-limited | 2014 anniversary sale [14] |
| 2015-11-21 | 245 | 3 years | Time-limited | 2015 anniversary sale [15] |
| 2016-11-18 | 295 | 4 years | Time-limited | 2016 anniversary sale [16] |
| 2016-12-16 | 295 | 6 months | Time-limited | 2016 holiday sale [17] |
Caterpillar - Ship page. Pledge Store
Drake Caterpillar - Ship Brochure
The Caterpillar Best In Show Edition - Pledge store. Pledge Store
The Caterpillar Pirate Edition - Pledge store. Pledge Store
Celebrate Luminalia 2951. Transmission - Comm-Link. Retrieved 22/12/2021
Foundation Festival 2950. Transmission - Comm-Link. Retrieved 2022-05-23
Horror Beyond The Stars - Day of the Vara 2951. Transmission - Comm-Link. Retrieved 2022-05-23
Caterpillar Mistwalker Paint. Pledge Store. Retrieved 2022-06-05
Caterpillar Polar Paint. Pledge Store. Retrieved 22/12/2021
Caterpillar Stormbringer Paint. Pledge Store. Retrieved 22/12/2021
A Look Inside the Pirate Ships. Transmission - Comm-Link
Drake Caterpillar Now Available. Transmission - Comm-Link
Star Citizen Anniversary Sale. Transmission - Comm-Link
AnniVERSEary Sale: Kickoff. Transmission - Comm-Link
