D82-EST Darter

Template:Ship Class Infobox The D82-EST Darter is a dropship used by the United Nations Space Command to deliver supplies, such as rations and munitions, to forward bases. It is similar in form and function to the D96-TCE Albatross, though it is smaller than the latter.^[1]^[2]

Background

The D82-EST Darter has been in service since at least 2531.^[1] It is a vital part of the UNSC's logistical operations, capable of deploying personnel, vehicles parts, weapons, and supplies form rations and medical kits to any ground side base. It serves as both an atmospheric and exoatmospheric vehicle capable of delivering troops and supplies wherever needed once a supply pad has been constructed.

The Darter's cargo bay is capable of transporting large numbers of supply crates at a time. Once it has landed, the underside splits down the middle, lowering a metal pallet from the cargo bay and allowing its cargo to be left groundside to be unloaded. Once free of supplies, the Darter can reseal its cargo bay doors, returning to an orbiting space craft to resupply.

In January of the same year Insurrectionists part of the New Colonial Alliance boarded the UNSC Infinity using a Darter.^[3] By April of 2553, the Insurrectionists on Venezia had acquired several Darters.^[4]

Gameplay

In Halo Wars, the D82-EST is used to transport supplies from the UNSC Spirit of Fire to provide additional resources for ground forces. They land on specific landing platforms, built into prefabricated firebase units designed to house supply crates they deliver. The Darter cannot be destroyed in-game. However, if a supply pad is destroyed, the craft assigned to it will disappear from the screen.

Trivia

A darter is a tropical seabird, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming most atmospheric aircraft after birds.
A transport craft resembling the Darter appears in the background of the Halo 4 multiplayer map Outcast. Though it is identified as a "Darter" on Halo Waypoint and despite its similarity in general shape, the transport in Outcast differs from the D82-EST Darter seen in Halo Wars in a number of respects, most notably its significantly larger size.

Gallery

A transport similar to the Darter featured in Outcast. Note the Forerunner glyph near the forward booster.
The unidentified Outcast craft taking off.