Cobra Courier

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Cobra Courier
Cobracourier-oolite.png
Size (metres, W×H×L) 140 x 22 x 67
Cargo capacity 20 TC
Cargo bay extension Unknown
Maximum speed 0.37 LM
Manoeuvrability Roll: 2.0
Pitch: 1.0
Energy banks 5
Energy recharge rate Unknown
Gun mounts Fore, Aft
Port, Starboard
Missile slots Unknown
Shield boosters available Yes
Military shields available Yes
Hyperspace capable Yes
OXP or standard OXP
Available to player Yes
Base price Unknown


Overview

The Cobra Courier followed the Cobra Mark III along production lines at Cowell & MgRath's vast factory shipyard in Lave soon after the latter ship had proven successful. The Cobra Courier was based on a slightly different hull design that had proven too espensive for the mass market ship, but that was still useful for a ship that was aimed for the richer clientele. Only slightly bigger than its smaller sibling, Cobra Courier also offers better shielding and extra main thrusters, at a price.

Notable features

The Cobra Courier quickly became more popular than Cowell & MgRath had estimated, despite its higher price and numerous well-off adventurers and traders can be found flying them around the Galaxy, preferring the Courier's luxurious living quarters over those of many other ships. Even though it is pricier than the Mk.III, pirates have been seen to also fly Cobra Couriers.

Controversy

Paynou, Prossett and Salem, the original designers of the Cobra Mk I, filed for bankrupcy following bad publicity after the failure of successive Cobra Mk II prototypes. They were bought out by Cowell & MgRath, who redesigned the structural and internal layout from the ground up whilst retaining much of the external design features. The Cobra Mk III is substantially a Mk II hull with the internal structural engineering and design flaws corrected. When this became public knowledge, Cowell & Mgrath were accused of covering up the fact that the Mk III was really just the Mk II in all but name, and the Lave authorities investigated the company, threatening to revoke its ship manufacturing license. The investigators discovered no foul play and, more importantly, no evidence of any design issues with the new ship, and the company recovered from the bad publicity magnificently (as shown by the popularity of the Cobra Mk.III).