The whale’s function is to land troops on a planet, especially in enemy territory. It is made so that it disengages its troop containment facility (TCF) over a designated drop-zone. It can thus land troops without ever slowing down or allowing the enemy to activate defenses against it in time. It is NOT made for stealth however and its engines create a loud high frequency whine that travels long distances. For this reason many commanders dislike using it during many missions that are based on surprise.

It is one of the few lighter craft that media personnel are actually allowed and encouraged to accompany on its mission. They are allowed to travel in the bow, though the pit and the TCF is always locked unless given strict orders to unlock, thus the enemy is unable to use the media as an easy infiltration unit.

The major armor mass on the whale is compiled in the TCF. The facility actually accounts for 30 of the 44 tons of armor (that 30 includes the armor plating on the top of the whale). This is because the whale is made to run when encountered not fight, since it lacks any weapons. Four more of the tons are used in the bow, this includes the pit. The last ten tons are used to armor and support the tail section.

Due to the immense speed the whale accelerates at, it takes a lot of force to turn it. This is the reason for the four rudders. They are designed to give the maximum turning radius at somewhere between 110 and 135 KPH/S.

Unlike most deployment vessels, the whale lacks any weapons or stealth. Because of this, it must rely on its ability to run, and run fast it does. It can run and deploy while on the run, though it must be under 100 KPH/S and slightly out of atmosphere to deploy or serious injuries could occur among the landing party.

Because of the immense acceleration, the whale never goes into the atmosphere of a planet while accelerating. Otherwise, the extreme G-Forces would destroy the whole craft and its crew.

The TCF first of all, is the troops in-flight living quarters, secondly it is a deployable mobile base. The TCF is often non-reusable once it has been deployed. This is often because, the troops destroy it to keep it from getting discovered, it is damaged during the drop and/or landing, and/or because the enemy captures it. For this reason it is often assumed to have been destroyed or lost upon deployment. Sometimes however, the troops plan to stay in one place for an extended period of time and thus use the TCF’s mobile base function. Lastly, depending on the type of terrain the TCF will land on it is often painted to that color of camouflage.

The whale has a very large radar which it uses to pick up threats long distances away. This keeps those potentials from ever becoming active threats, though they are always nuisances.

As mentioned before the whale has the unique ability to allow civilian (licensed) media and press personnel to board and occupy a small section of the head. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, the whale’s unique design makes it easy for the space in they occupy in the head to be sealed off (which most of the time it is). Secondly, due to the lack of weapons the whale is not an active threat if captured. This gives the media an up-close view of some battles. There is room for ten civilians, though their living quarters are very cramped so often only five or six are allowed. All of this is done to strengthen and improve government/media relations.

The whale is deployed as a quick in-and-out dropship. It is not made for combat and is not made to take much damage. The media are allowed to board and remain in a small section of the head during certain missions in which their lives are not at too much risk and their presence cannot endanger the mission.

The whale is not a favorite of many commanders due to the lack of weapons and almost guaranteed cost of building a new TCF, but often it is the only alternative to heavier landing craft. A bonus however is, the whale when dropping the troops at the same time is dropping a possible mobile base. For this reason, it is still used during most planetary insertions behind enemy lines, especially that require feedback, extended observation, or any of the like.