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 standard NL-42 troop transport is in common use throughout the Human Sphere, and is often used as an armored inspection vessel by inspection officers on the borders of major realms, or by individual star systems that just want to search incoming ships.
         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 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.