The Modular Cutter takes a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and even within a single manufacturer, a large number of models and configurations will be found.  Despite variances in design and manufacturer, the Cutter's job remains the same; to service a larger craft, either as a shuttle, or fuel tender, or both.  The 'Modular' part of the name refers to the ability to remove the center section of the craft and replace it with a different module.  Thus, a ship could have a fuel module, cargo module, and passenger module and use a single cutter to ferry goods, passengers, and fuel to the craft.   The cutter is not known for it's speed or defensive capabilities, however variants on the design have sometimes improved these statistics.

Modular Cutters are employed aboard a wide variety of Star Craft with displacements of 200 tons or more.  Militarized versions of the craft include increased Hull armor and a Mil-Spec weapon mount, usually a Laser cannon.  Commercial lines have been known to modify this craft to act as an escort, adding makeshift hardpoints in the Module area and improving the Manuever drive.  In addition to modifications to the base structure, a wide variety of specialized modules have been manufactured for the craft, including specialized laboratory modules for scientific research, luxury modules for executive planet-hopping (in-system of course), and a large number of specialized cargo modules.  Perhaps the most bizarre (and unreliable) modification to the Modular Cutter arose during the Chaos Years, where Modular Cutters were fitted with jump-2 drives to act as replacement x-boats, replacing units lost during the Eristicon War for critical communications routes.  Most of these units were dismantled after replacement X-boats were delivered, but several of these craft were bought as surplus by individuals or corporations wishing to obtain a starship "on the cheap".