Space Pirate Armored Tactical Carriers (or Space Pirate ATCs) are heavily armored Space Pirate assault craft seen in Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. They are used to transport troops and to mount attacks against heavy targets, but are not designed for long-term engagements. Their armaments include heavy Tribeam cannons. Their only weak point is a heat vent at the front of the carrier. They were built as an upgrade to the "Shrike" Class Assault Skiff, and are more powerful, yet slower.
Space Pirate ATCs are first encountered by Samus at Base Sector Zero in Norion, and she manages to destroy one before being ambushed by four more. Rundas arrives to destroy them all with little effort using his ice powers. Samus later engaged more Space Pirate ATCs at Bryyo, which is where they are most frequently seen during Samus's mission. Several appear later at Eastern SkyTown, Elysia to carry troopers around the city. None, however, appear on the Pirate Homeworld, as most of the areas that Samus explores are enclosed rooms.
A modified Space Pirate ATC has been built, the Space Pirate Assault Skiff. This unit boasts more power and strength than the Space Pirate ATC, but can no longer fire rapidly or carry troops.
A similar material to the armor of the Space Pirate ATC seems to have been used as the exterior of the Space Pirate Boarding Pod.
Locations[]
- Cargo Dock A
- Temple of Bryyo
- Ancient Courtyard
- Jousting Field
- Skytram East
- Skybridge Athene
- Concourse Ventilation
- Gearworks
- Zipline Station Delta
- Spire Dock
Official data[]
Logbook entry[]
Space Pirate ATC
Well-armored transport.
Forward vent is vulnerable.
Trivia[]
- If Samus balances the use of her Hypermode efficiently enough, it is possible to destroy the Space Pirate ATCs before they can unload their regiment of Pirate Troopers, thus killing all aboard without the need of facing them in combat.
- When the Ship Grapple Beam is acquired and Samus returns to Skybridge Athene, a Space Pirate ATC will fly in and fire upon the Tinbots, and they return the favor. Shortly, both of them will attack Samus.
- After Samus destroys a Leviathan Shield Generator on Bryyo, Space Pirate ATCs evacuating Space Pirates from the immediate area can be found. These do not attack, so destroying them is optional and does not affect any future events.
Gallery[]
| Space Pirate Vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Large Spacecraft | Flagship • Mother Ship • Orpheon • Siriacus • Vol Paragom • Starship • Leviathan Battleship • Destroyer • Colossus • Doomseye Leviathan-class capital ship • Marauder-class battleship • Plunderer-class cruiser • Dragüd's Ship |
| Space fighters | Zebesian Pirate Ship • Space Pirate vessel • Boarding Pod • Missile Transport (Elite) • Pirate Warship Fang-class fighter • Pirate Fighter |
| Terrestrial vehicles |
"Shrike" Class Assault Skiff • ATC • Assault Skiff • Dropship |
| Others | Escape Pod • Escape Ship • 565-PH Hellfire • Dive Spike |