The NL-42 troop transport is the military equivalent of the S-7A bus. Nicknamed the "Battle Taxi," the NL-42 is designed to deliver troops onto the hull of a target vessel, enabling them to board the target vessel regardless of its status. The first vessels of this class saw extensive action during the Star League era and the Succession Wars. Originally the transports carried standard troops, but recent models have been designed to carry power-armored troops as well as standard infantry. The most notable of these new craft is the Lupus series, created by Blackwell Industries for Wolf’s Dragoons. The NL-42 is an export version of the Lupus and Blackwell has sold them throughout the Human Sphere since 3053. Almost every mercenary unit has at least one NL-42, and most nations use them as well, and for some small planetary or sub-planetary governments these make up their primary space patrol and defense forces.
         The NL-42 is equipped with a pair of electromagnetic grapples attached to 50-meter tow lines. These allow the NL-42 to attach itself to any vessel, although the NL-42 must match the target’s heading and velocity first. Once the grapples have attached to the target, the transport reels in the tow line, drawing itself closer to its target. The power-armored troops can jump onto the target’s hull, using magnetic boots to walk to the nearest hatch or using cutting tools to create their own entry point.
         The NL-42 also mounts laser and pulse weapons to supplement its unique offensive capabilities. The craft usually operates with a two-man crew. One crew member pilots the NL-42, and the second operates its weapon and grappling systems. A single crew member can operate the craft if necessary, but this greatly increases the difficulty of the docking procedure.