KeelbackTrading

The Keelback is Lakon's combat-capable take on the Type-6: a cheap medium freighter that gives up a little cargo in exchange for a ship-launched fighter bay and a tougher hull. That fighter is the whole point — a cheap hauler that, when a pirate interdicts, can launch an SLF (or have a crewmate fly it) to fight back, rather than simply running or dying.

Its cargo is genuinely modest — around 98 tonnes, actually less than the cheaper Type-6, since slots go to the fighter bay and defences. So as a pure hauler it's poor value. But for a budget trader who'd rather deploy a fighter than flee, or who wants a cheap ship that can dabble in light combat and mining too, the Keelback's defensive trick gives it a niche the plain freighters can't match.

Four things define the Keelback as a trader:

• A fighter bay. Unique at its price — launch an SLF to defend your cargo against pirates instead of fleeing.
• Tougher than a Type-6. A more durable hull better suited to standing its ground.
• Medium-pad access. Lands at most stations, including outposts.
• Cheap and versatile. Under 3M credits, and the same hull can fight a little or mine.

A medium-pad hull made survivable for trading by a unique cheap fighter bay, but capped by ~98t cargo — the smallest of the medium traders, below even the Type-6.

The 52/100 headline is a verdict against the trading role's priority-ordered factors. Each factor carries a weight (its share of 100); this hull earns part of each based on how it performs against the whole field. The points sum to the rating.

Both tables rate ships for trading specifically. The role column is the maximum cargo capacity in tonnes — the headline number for bulk hauling.

Same class — medium-pad traders

The Keelback carries the least of the medium traders, but it's the cheapest with a fighter bay. The Type-6 hauls more for less, and the Python fights better — so the Keelback only wins if you specifically want a budget hauler that can deploy an SLF. A niche pick.

Other classes — the alternatives

If you want a hauler with a fighter, the pricier Krait Mk II does it far better with more cargo and real guns. The Keelback's only edge is doing it cheaply. For most budget traders, a Type-6 (more cargo) or a Python (fights itself) is the smarter buy — the Keelback is for the SLF novelty on a budget.

At ~2.95M Cr the Keelback is cheap, with no rank gate, though a fighter bay plus a hangar and SLF add to the fit. The all-in cost lands around 12M Cr with a defended, fighter-equipped build.

It's a niche-and-novelty pick. For pure cargo the cheaper Type-6 carries more; for fighting, the Python is better. The Keelback makes sense only if the cheap fighter bay specifically appeals.

A defended budget trade fit built around the fighter bay. Initial is buy-only; A-rated is the trade baseline; Engineered balances modest cargo, a shield and the SLF.

Buy the hull (~2.95M Cr) stock: E-rated core internals across the board, the free Lightweight Alloy bulkheads, and two class-5 cargo racks filling the largest optional slots. That is the whole buy-only state.

Every other slot starts empty — no hardpoint, no utility mounts, no shield, and crucially no fighter bay yet. The 5D fighter hangar, a 3C bi-weave shield and a gimballed multi-cannon all arrive at the A-rated stage.

This bare chassis hauls a little but can't defend itself; the fighter bay and shield are the first upgrades that make the Keelback worth choosing over a plain Type-6.

A-rating priority for a defended budget hauler. Bulkheads stay stock Lightweight Alloy — a freighter guards its jump range, not its plating, so the hull mass stays low:

• 1Power Plant → 4A — Power for the fighter bay, shield and modules. ~1.5M Cr
• 2Fighter Hangar → 5D — Swap a class-5 cargo rack for the SLF bay — the ship's reason to exist.
• 3FSD → 4A — Laden jump range for route efficiency. ~1.5M Cr
• 4Thrusters → 4A — Move the laden hull and reposition. ~1.5M Cr
• 5Shield Generator → 3C bi-weave — Survive while the fighter does its work. ~1M Cr
• 6Power Distributor → 3A — Sustain boost and the fighter bay. ~1M Cr
• 7Hardpoint & utilities — A 2F gimballed multi-cannon, a 0A shield booster, point defence and a heat-sink launcher round out the mothership's own defence.
• 8Shield Cell Bank → 2A — A class-2 cell bank for burst shield healing when the bi-weave dips under a pirate's fire. low priority

A defended trade engineering pattern. Felicity Farseer (maxed) carries the FSD; pin blueprints for remote G1→G5 application.

Recommended order

• 1Plant to G5 so the fighter bay, shield and modules run together.
• 2FSD and thrusters for range and mobility.
• 3Bi-weave shield to survive while the SLF fights.
• 4A light multi-cannon so the mothership contributes to its own defence.

Approximate progression across the three states (figures are representative, not exact rolls):

Engineered, the Keelback hauls a modest ~98t, launches a fighter to defend it, and rides on a Heavy-Duty Lightweight hull that roughly 2.5×s its armour to ~700 HP without costing jump range — a cheap hauler that needn't flee. Its cargo-per-credit is still poor; the SLF is the entire reason to choose it over a plain, roomier freighter.

• The fighter bay is the whole point — if you don't want it, a Type-6 hauls more for less.
• An NPC or crewmate must fly the SLF for it to defend you while you pilot the freighter.
• Cargo-per-credit is poor — choose the Keelback for the novelty and self-defence, not capacity.
• It re-roles to light combat or mining too — a cheap, versatile niche hull.