They were used to attack the encampments of clans they considered "terrorists," such as Zobral's clan inside the Cygniai Expanse. They usually began their bombardment after dark, which only lasted a few hours. A Torothan Cruiser was described, in the final draft script of "Desert Crossing", as "large." Whether the cruisers were also designed to be flown in space or not was not shown in the episode.