...
Although able to function as trade ships, the slow speed, high cost and AI seldom utilising more than 8k cargobay volume make TL class ships unsuited for the role. Players will primarily use TL ships for the construction of stations/complexes, as a storage depot for CLS trade ships, as supply ships for fleets and M7Ms and as a mini carrier for collecting captured fighters or hauling spare ship equipment. Most TL ships are able to mount capital ship class lasers but lack the Laser Energy Reload Rate for sustained fire while in sector. Out of sector TLs can easily fend off attackers up to M6+ ships.
NPC TL ships can be found idling in most core sectors and some border sectors and are always found in those sectors showing they have no orders when the info for the individual ship is looked up. Civilian TLs can also be found with the title of Arena, Hospital Ship and Casino. When enough stations have been lost in a sector due to pirate, xenon or player raids (race specific reconstruction command) or every 6 days of gameplay (global reconstruction command) NPC TL ships will be used to construct new stations (not necessarily the same type or in the same place). If an NPC TL is found with orders or , the captain is unable to be hired or outside its usual sectors, then it probably tasked with constructing a new NPC station. If the TL has no station in the cargobay it is advisable escort it to the destination shipyard. As the NPC TL travels, the station type in the cargobay will change in each sector traversed (need confirmation if OOS for the same sector also applies). By boarding these construction TLs, the player can acquire stations belonging to hostile races and even some stations not available for purchase. There is a bug however that these ships will not be able to cancel the construction order even after being boarded so need to have the player fly them until the cargo is transferred to another TL ship.