GX1 short hauler

The GX1 short hauler, also known as the Lantillian short hauler, was a shuttle model manufactured by Lantillian. During the Clone Wars, the Galactic Republic used several top-of-the-line GX1 short haulers, including the Phoenix and the Valorous, as diplomatic vessels. During the Age of the Empire, GX1 shuttles were used as starbuses to ferry commuters from one location to another. Although the diplomatic variant was equipped with turret-mounted double laser cannons, the civilian starbus variant had no weapons.

Description
The GX1 short hauler, measuring 37.28 meters long, was of Lantillian make. Designed for long, extended missions and tours of constituencies, it was equipped with a hyperdrive. One of its variants, which was used during diplomatic missions, was fitted with a turret-mounted double laser cannon. A civilian variant, which was used as a starbus for interplanetary travel, was devoid of armament and piloted by an RX-Series pilot droid. GX1 starbuses were also equipped with a pair of docking tubes that extended from either side of the ship like an accordion.

History
Lantillian GX1 short haulers existed as far back as the time of Clone Wars, which pitted the Galactic Republic against the Confederacy of Independent Systems. During that conflict, the Republic utilized the Phoenix, a red-hulled top-of-the-line GX1, as a diplomatic vessel. It was notably used to bring Republic envoys to the neutral planet of Mandalore, where talks with the Confederacy would take place.

After the conclusion of the Clone Wars, the Republic was replaced by the Galactic Empire. During the ensuing Age of the Empire, a number of weaponless GX1s were used as interplanetary starbuses. In the spaceport of Garel City, on the Outer Rim planet of Garel, there were a number of such starbuses. One of them was hijacked by the freedom fighter Sabine Wren, who was supposed to deliver the power droid EG-86 to Havoc Outpost.

Eventually, the Empire was defeated at Endor. Shortly thereafter, a weaponized GX1 shuttle was used to transport Leia Organa and Shara Bey, on behalf of the fledgling New Republic, to the planet Naboo for negotiations.

Behind the scenes
The GX1 short hauler first appeared in Star Wars Campaign Pack, a 1988 Star Wars Legends book written by Paul Murphy for West End Games' Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game. Its design was derived from an early concept of what would become the Lambda-class shuttle, drawn by Nilo Rodis-Jamero in 1981.

It became canon after its inclusion in "A Friend in Need", the fourteenth episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' fourth season. The name "GX1 short hauler," however, was only introduced in canon after the ship was given an official Databank entry on StarWars.com, following the release "Blood Sisters," the sixth episode of the Star Wars Rebels animated television series' second season. The GX1 was originally called the GX4.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part II
 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part III
 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part II
 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part III
 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part II
 * Star Wars: Shattered Empire, Part III