Cargo Tugs
Cargo tugs form the backbone of interstellar commerce throughout Human Space. The most common forms are mostly automated, with only a small crew of half a dozen or less onboard to perform maintenance and take over control from the ship's computer in case of an emergency. Cargo tugs range in scale from relatively small, interplanetary vessels, to colossal interstellar ships that dwarf the largest of military vessels, some barely able to fit through standard wormhole gateways when fully laden with cargo. The core of modern cargo tugs consist of a skeletal-looking vessel, with a long cylindrical spine connecting the bridge and crew quarters at one end, with the fusion engine and torch drive at the other. Cargo containers are attached to the exterior of the ship's spine, and make up the vast majority of a fully-laden cargo-tug's volume.
Merchantmen
Merchantmen are a verstile type of ship used for a variety of purposes, principally by merchants transporting valuable cargo. They are moderately large, with tonnage comparable to military frigates, but generally with smaller crews to save on costs. Much of their size is dedicated to secure cargo storage, though they are generally better armed and armoured than most other kinds of civilian vessels. They are also intended to be capable of longer-range journeys, with many being equipped with
jump drives and facilities to support crews for months or even years at a time. In addition to their role as merchant ships, they are often repurposed as convoy escorts, exploration ships, personal transports, and for use in numerous other roles.
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