D82-EST Darter

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.

Background
The D82-EST Darter has been in service since at least 2531. 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 spacecraft to resupply.

There is at least one craft of a different model bearing the common designator "Darter". Despite its similarity in general shape, this transport differs from the D82-EST Darter in a number of respects, most notably its significantly larger size.

Service history
In 2531, the support vessel had an extensive contingent of Darters, used to transport supplies for ground forces, namely in firebase unit construction.

In January 2553, Insurrectionists of the New Colonial Alliance boarded using a Darter. By April of the same year, the Insurrectionists on Venezia had acquired several Darters. The United Rebel Front had acquired an unidentified variant of the Darter on the moon of Talitsa.

Gameplay
In Halo Wars, the D82-EST is used to transport supplies from the 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.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars
 * Halo 4
 * Halo: Initiation
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Mortal Dictata