The Gale-Class Light Freighter was originally designed and marketed as the "Light Freighter for every being", a modest and affordable freighter that could transport a family, their belongings and a modest amount of cargo. The freighter’s structure was boxy and symmetrical, simplistically laid out with little for frills or embellishments but this made modifications for specific purposes easy. Intended for comfortable short-range trips between planets or nearby star systems, the Gale-Class was not armed with significant weaponry or much for armor plating, instead relying on a pair of vector adjustable 4J4 Fusial thrust engines to make an expedient getaway.

Overshadowed by its competition, particularly from Corellian yards, the Gale-Class struggled to gain any significant market share outside of the system it was originally developed within and production lasted only a few short years. This made an already affordable freighter even more accessible as deep discounts drove the final remaining months of production and dealers cleared their inventory.

While affordable, the Gale-Class was a solid, quality built ship with reliable componentry, made from durable and long lasting materials. The cockpit itself separated from the front of the ship, capable of detaching as an emergency pod if required. The simple layout and design made modification and individualization of the interior of the ship relatively easy. This created a demand for aftermarket modification and several bespoke shipyards soon began offering Gale-Class variants. Popular variants included cargo transport, swoop bike transport and mobile garages and even miniaturized horticulture labs. One of the most popular variants was the Starstage.

The StarStage was a mobile performance venue that gained a cult-like following from the garage-band-esque groups that favored them. The side of the ship folded out, forming a proscenium stage for performances anywhere the Starstage could land. The rear of the ship included quarters for the traveling performers, a green room, storage for audio equipment, props and costumes and anything else roving thespians and musicians would need. There was not a back-stage area, much to the frustration of some performers, as this required all choreographed entrances and exits to use either the cockpit or the greenroom.

The weaponry of the Gale-Class was removed for the StarStage, with the excess ionic capacity from the KM-440 reactor being diverted to power stage lighting, audio projection, and sometimes holographic set pieces. This surplus power was similarly diverted to the sublight engines and hyperdrive motivator between performances, giving the Starstage respectable range and speed. While the living quarters were spartan and tight this was a sacrifice many budding musicians were willing to make for a starship perfectly tailored for their craft.