The large Mule Class DropShip is one of the most common civilian vessels. The Mule carries a generous amount of weapons and armor for a merchant vessel, boasting an arsenal that rivals those of some small military DropShips. The popular spheroid cargo transport was designed at the height of the Star League and has a cargo capacity of just under 8,500 tons.
         The lowest decks of the Mule contain the ship’s power plant, drive system, landing gear, and the majority of the craft’s heat sinks and fuel tankage. The main cargo bay is also situated in this lower section and can accommodate 3,000 tons of cargo. Four cargo elevators lead from this massive bay to the upper decks, which combined hold 5,000 tons of cargo. Situated next to each lift, massive cargo ramps provide the main access to the craft. These ramps have been responsible for numerous accidents. If a ramp is not secured when the main engine fires, the engine exhaust can rip the ramp away from the hull, causing severe damage to the vessel. In extreme circumstances this can destroy a Mule.
         Above the Mule’s two upper cargo bays are three decks that make up the vessel’s command section. One of these decks contains electronics and docking equipment, and the remaining two contain the bridge, crew quarters, and a series of specialized rooms. The first of these specialized rooms is an observation lounge, that overlooks the upper cargo bay. The lounge often serves as an additional recreation area for the crew and a meeting place for dealings with customers. The second room contains a trio of large screens, each displaying local exchange rates for various goods and services uploaded from the planetary information net. The third room contains communications monitoring facilities and computers that support the briefing room.
         The crew occupy a number of single-occupancy rooms on the upper deck of the command level, and each room has ample space for storing personal gear. The large mess facility, a crew lounge, and a well-equipped medical bay occupy much of the remaining deck, along with a spacious bridge in the center of the deck.
         The arrival of the Clans and the demand for more military DropShips have delayed plans for a refitted version of the Mule.