The Lightning-class Sloop is a fast, multi-purpose vessel akin to the Corellian Corvette. It can be configured in a multitude of ways to suit different purposes ranging from fleet escort, raider pursuit, frontier picket, and troop transport to scientific research, fast courier duty, rapid cargo transit, and passenger liner. In practice, it's a very flexible, rugged design, and has found use in fields far from its original purpose. The Caspian Navy uses many of these in an armed and armored configuration for their purposes, while FineLine Spaceways utilizes a few as luxury liners for corporate contracts. Unfortunately, a few Lightnings have ended up in the hands of pirates over the years, managing reasonably successful careers as commerce raiders.