The Gatac Railen is a unique Xi’an medium hauler in Star Citizen, designed for rapid external cargo loading with advanced alien technology, featuring a distinctive transformable design, spacious vertical interior, and strong defensive capabilities. It combines practical cargo handling with cooperative play potential, offering players a visually striking ship ideal for diverse, risky missions beyond combat.
The Gatac Railen is a unique alien medium hauler from Gatac Industries, designed with a focus on rapid loading and unloading by placing cargo externally. It marks Star Citizen’s first dedicated cargo hauler from an alien race, the Xi’an, highlighting the need for a diverse fleet beyond combat ships to support daily life. The design philosophy embraces alien manufacturing techniques, imagining the Xi’an’s ability to grow ship components organically, such as the large armored plates on the ship’s front, which are natural materials rather than refined metals.
The Railen features a distinctive transformation between its flight and landed configurations. Originally conceptualized with triangular cargo containers, the design evolved to use standardized cargo grids, allowing for greater flexibility in mission types and ease of cargo handling. The ship supports up to 32 SCU containers, which can be loaded and unloaded using two size two tractor turrets controlled by rear bridge seats. These turrets move with the wings, providing good visibility in both flight and landed modes. A deployable triangular armored shield offers protection for the cargo, blending the benefits of exterior loading with the security of interior storage and doubling the cargo capacity from 320 to 640 SCU.
Access to the Railen is through a lift at the bottom when landed or a dock and collar at the top rear when in flight. The ship’s interior emphasizes verticality, with a central elevator connecting all floors. The middle floor houses alien-style habitation pods that are cozy yet unusual, featuring stonework and energy ribbons running throughout. The living quarters include calming elements like waterfalls in the mess area, with distinct food preparation zones catering to both humans and Xi’an, reflecting the ship’s multicultural accommodation.
The top floor is dedicated to engineering, a spacious and imposing area filled with powerful Xi’an technology. Component bays are wide and accessible, with energy ribbons and beams accentuating the advanced design. The bridge, located at the front, offers exceptional views and features four floating seats with unique animations that emphasize the alien aesthetic. The ship balances cargo capacity with ample firepower, including turrets, pilot-controlled weapons, and missiles, making it well-suited for cargo missions that may encounter danger.
Overall, the Gatac Railen is designed for players seeking a distinctive and visually striking ship that supports cooperative play and cargo transport. Its combination of advanced alien technology, practical cargo handling, and defensive capabilities makes it ideal for those who want to stand out while taking on risky missions with friends. The developers express pride in the ship’s sharp, aggressive look and innovative use of vertical space within a compact design.