Zeta Cargo Sling Load Reference

Zeta Cargo Sling-Load Reference

Source-verified 2026-06-23 against current stable origin/master@f8a76de34 and branch origin/claude/trello-base-integrity-fixes@66d80160; GC-exemption section source-verified 2026-07-07 against claude/build84-cmdcon36@c3cc5b1 (PR #855). Paths are relative to Missions/[55-2hc]warfarev2_073v48co.chernarus/ unless maintained Vanilla is named explicitly. Arma 2 OA 1.64.

ZetaCargo is the airlift module labelled "Zeta Cargo by Benny" in its init file and compiled from client init (Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:1; Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf:792-793). The live action grant checks Zeta_Lifter plus WFBE_UP_AIRLIFT, then adds Client\Module\ZetaCargo\Zeta_Hook.sqf as the localized lift action (Common/Init/Init_Unit.sqf:51-53). Current source Chernarus attaches one nearby unmanned land vehicle to the lifter and already passes the lifted vehicle into the manual detach action (Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:15-17,28,30,34-35; Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:3-7). Maintained Vanilla Takistan is still older on this edge: Missions_Vanilla/[61-2hc]warfarev2_073v48co.takistan/Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:34 adds the detach action without arguments while its Zeta_Unhook.sqf:3-7 still expects _this select 3 select 0.

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Boot and Upgrade Gate

Surface	Current source behavior	Source
Client init	The client compiles/runs Client\Module\ZetaCargo\Zeta_Init.sqf from the Zeta Cargo Lifter block.	Client/Init/Init_Client.sqf:792-793
Upgrade index	WFBE_UP_AIRLIFT is upgrade index 8.	Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:45
Action grant	During unit initialization, _unit_kind must be present in Zeta_Lifter, and _upgrades select WFBE_UP_AIRLIFT must be greater than 0, before the unit receives the localized STR_WF_Lift addAction to Client\Module\ZetaCargo\Zeta_Hook.sqf.	Common/Init/Init_Unit.sqf:51-53
Purchase-list color	The buy-list filler reads _UpAirlift from WFBE_UP_AIRLIFT and colors rows only when the unit is also in side-specific WFBE_%1LIFTVEHICLE. This is UI marking, not the runtime attach-action gate.	Client/Functions/Client_UIFillListBuyUnits.sqf:21,107-109; Common/Init/Init_Unit.sqf:51-53
Buy-menu hint	The buy menu shows the lift-capable hint for non-supply-heli units found in side-specific WFBE_%1LIFTVEHICLE.	Client/GUI/GUI_Menu_BuyUnits.sqf:619-620
Upgrade label	The upgrade label is localized as STR_WF_UPGRADE_Airlift; its description says the upgrade unlocks airlifting.	Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Labels_Upgrades.sqf:63,90; stringtable.xml:3851-3857,4060-4067

Airlift Upgrade Values

The checked Chernarus core upgrade files use the same Airlift shape: enabled, cost [[1000,0]], one level, dependency [[WFBE_UP_AIR,1]], and research time [30].

Upgrade family	Enabled	Cost	Levels	Dependency	Time
CombinedOps US	true	[[1000,0]]	1	[[WFBE_UP_AIR,1]]	[30]
CombinedOps RU	true	[[1000,0]]	1	[[WFBE_UP_AIR,1]]	[30]
Other Chernarus upgrade files	Same Airlift rows and line positions across Upgrades_CO_GUE.sqf, Upgrades_USMC.sqf, Upgrades_RU.sqf, Upgrades_CDF.sqf, Upgrades_GUE.sqf, Upgrades_INS.sqf, Upgrades_OA_US.sqf, Upgrades_OA_TKA.sqf, and Upgrades_OA_TKGUE.sqf.	Same	Same	Same	Same

Sources: Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_CO_US.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_CO_RU.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_CO_GUE.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_USMC.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_RU.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_CDF.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_GUE.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_INS.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_OA_US.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_OA_TKA.sqf:14,41,69,101,133; Common/Config/Core_Upgrades/Upgrades_OA_TKGUE.sqf:14,41,69,101,133.

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Runtime Lifter Allow-List

Zeta_Lifter is the runtime list used by Init_Unit.sqf before adding the attach action.

Classname	Source
MH60S	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
MV22	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
C130J	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
Mi17_Ins	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
Mi17_medevac_RU	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
UH60M_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
UH60M_MEV_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
CH_47F_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
C130J_US_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
Mi17_TK_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
BAF_Merlin_HC3_D	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
CH_47F_BAF	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
Mi17_Civilian	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4
An2_TK_EP1	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:4

Side UI Lift Lists

Side root files set WFBE_%1LIFTVEHICLE lists for UI coloring and buy-menu hints. These lists are narrower than the runtime Zeta_Lifter allow-list and are not what Init_Unit.sqf checks when adding the attach action.

Root file	UI-marked lift vehicle classes	Source
Root_US.sqf	MH60S, MV22, C130J, UH60M_EP1, UH60M_MEV_EP1, CH_47F_EP1, C130J_US_EP1, BAF_Merlin_HC3_D, CH_47F_BAF, Mi17_Civilian	Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_US.sqf:25
Root_US_Camo.sqf	MH60S, MV22, C130J, UH60M_EP1, UH60M_MEV_EP1, CH_47F_EP1, C130J_US_EP1, BAF_Merlin_HC3_D, CH_47F_BAF, Mi17_Civilian	Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_US_Camo.sqf:25
Root_USMC.sqf	MH60S, MV22, C130J, UH60M_EP1, UH60M_MEV_EP1, CH_47F_EP1, C130J_US_EP1, BAF_Merlin_HC3_D, CH_47F_BAF, Mi17_Civilian	Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_USMC.sqf:22
Root_RU.sqf	Mi17_Ins, Mi17_medevac_RU, Mi17_TK_EP1	Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_RU.sqf:22
Root_TKA.sqf	Mi17_Ins, Mi17_medevac_RU, Mi17_TK_EP1	Common/Config/Core_Root/Root_TKA.sqf:21

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Hook Search and Attach Flow

Step	Current behavior	Source
Caller gate	The attach script exits unless the action caller is the driver of the lifter.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:3-9
Speed/altitude gate	C130J and C130J_US_EP1 exit above speed 20; other lifters exit above speed 20 or below altitude 2.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:10-13; Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:11
Target search	Current source Chernarus searches nearObjects ["LandVehicle", 10] and exits when none are found; it does not filter the friendly HQ out of _vehicles.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:15-17
Closest target	The nearest searched vehicle is selected through WFBE_CO_FNC_GetClosestEntity.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:19
Enemy HQ wreck guard	WEST callers cannot airlift dead EAST HQ wreck classes BTR90_HQ, BMP2_HQ_TK_EP1, BMP2_HQ_INS; EAST callers cannot airlift dead WEST HQ wreck classes LAV25_HQ, M1130_CV_EP1, BMP2_HQ_CDF.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:6-7,21-22
Manned target guard	Any target with crew exits with localized STR_WF_INFO_Hook_Manned.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:28; stringtable.xml:849-855
Offset selection	Default attach offset is [0,0,-10]; C130J and C130J_US_EP1 use special offset [0,0,-2].	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:8,11-12; Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:23-26
Attach and state	The target is attached to the lifter, is stamped wfbe_airlifted = true (public) so the empty-vehicle collector exempts it, and the lifter receives local variable Attached = true. See GC Exemption While Slung.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:35-37
Action swap	Source Chernarus removes the attach action, then adds localized STR_WF_Lift_Detach for Client\Module\ZetaCargo\Zeta_Unhook.sqf with [_vehicle] as the action arguments. Maintained Vanilla still lacks that argument payload.	Chernarus Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:32-35; maintained Vanilla Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:34; stringtable.xml:4459-4466
Monitor loop	While the game is not over, the hook loop sleeps 2 seconds and detaches automatically if lifter damage is above 0.3, Attached is false, or the lifter no longer has a driver; the automatic-detach block also clears wfbe_airlifted.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:43-52

Zeta_Types declares Car, Motorcycle, Tank, and Ship, but the current hook search above is the LandVehicle near-object query. Treat Zeta_Types as module configuration, not proof that ships are reachable through the live attach action. Sources: Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Init.sqf:5-6; Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:15-17.

GC Exemption While Slung (wfbe_airlifted)

Server/Functions/Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf runs one WFBE_SE_FNC_HandleEmptyVehicle instance per enrolled hull (enrollment sources include Server/FSM/emptyvehiclescollector.sqf:9-17 and the abandoned-hull handler at Server/Functions/Server_HandleSpecial.sqf:1002-1007). Every 20 seconds the loop advances a per-hull timer unless the hull currently has alive crew; once the timer exceeds _delay it deletes the vehicle. The manned-target guard on hook (Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:33) means a slung hull always has zero crew, so before PR #855 a hull already enrolled in the empty-vehicle collector (for example an idle owner-built vehicle) kept advancing its delete timer while airlifted and could be deleted out from under the lifter mid-flight. PR #855 (commit c3cc5b1) adds a wfbe_airlifted flag that Zeta Cargo stamps on attach and clears on every detach path; Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf now treats that flag the same as live crew.

Step	Detail	Source
Timer reset condition	The per-hull timer resets to 0 when crew count is > 0 or _vehicle getVariable ["wfbe_airlifted", false] is true; otherwise it advances by 20 each pass.	Server/Functions/Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf:37
Delete guard	if (_timer > _delay) exitWith {deleteVehicle _vehicle};	Server/Functions/Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf:38
Poll cadence	The tracking loop sleeps 20 seconds between timer checks.	Server/Functions/Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf:34-35
Effective fuse (lobby default)	WFBE_C_UNITS_EMPTY_TIMEOUT lobby-param default is 300 (5 minutes); this overrides the 1800-second script fallback.	Rsc/Parameters.hpp:262-267; Common/Init/Init_CommonConstants.sqf:1668
Flag set on hook	_vehicle setVariable ["wfbe_airlifted", true, true]; runs immediately after attachTo.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:35-36
Flag cleared, manual detach	_vehicle setVariable ["wfbe_airlifted", false, true]; runs right after detach _vehicle.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:9-11
Flag cleared, automatic detach	The hook monitor loop's exitWith block (damage > 0.3, Attached = false, or no driver) also clears the flag before removing the detach action.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:46-48

Only crewless hulls can ever be hooked (Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:33, hint (localize 'STR_WF_INFO_Hook_Manned') on any manned target), so Server_HandleEmptyVehicle.sqf's crew-count check alone could never distinguish a genuinely abandoned hull from one currently slung under a lifter. A hull already enrolled in the collector before being hooked, or one airlifted longer than the 300s default fuse, was deleted mid-flight at whatever altitude the lifter happened to be, a total loss of the airlifted vehicle with no player action able to prevent it. This section documents the fix; there is no flag gating it.

Detach Path Status

Path	Current behavior	Source
Manual detach action	Current source Chernarus passes [_vehicle] to the detach action; maintained Vanilla still adds the detach action without an argument payload.	Chernarus Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:34-35; maintained Vanilla Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:34
Unhook expectation	Zeta_Unhook.sqf expects _this select 3, then reads _param select 0 as the lifted vehicle.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:3-7
Unhook state	If a lifted vehicle is supplied, the script sets Attached = false, detaches the vehicle, clears wfbe_airlifted (re-arming the empty-vehicle GC), applies lifter velocity, removes the detach action, waits 1 second, and clamps below-ground drops back to Z 0 with downward velocity -0.1.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:9-11,30-37
C-130 drop position	For special lifters, the unhook path moves the lifted vehicle 15 meters behind the lifter's position using getDir _vehicle, then keeps the lifter's current Z position.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:11-13
Automatic detach	The hook loop can still detach without calling Zeta_Unhook.sqf when damage, missing driver, or Attached = false ends the loop; this path also clears wfbe_airlifted.	Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:43-51

Patch caution: source Chernarus and maintained Vanilla are split. If promoting ZetaCargo work, carry the source Chernarus detach-argument behavior into maintained Vanilla, then smoke attach/manual-detach/auto-detach for a normal helicopter and a C-130 variant.

Branch Intel - Trello Base Integrity Candidate

origin/claude/trello-base-integrity-fixes@66d80160 contains Trello #87 ZetaCargo work in source Chernarus plus maintained Vanilla, but it is still branch-only and not current stable behavior. The branch is based directly on current stable origin/master@f8a76de34.

Surface	Branch behavior	Evidence
Friendly HQ lift filter	Removes the friendly side HQ from the nearby LandVehicle candidate list before choosing the closest lift target.	Branch Chernarus and maintained Vanilla Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:17-19
Source Chernarus detach argument	Keeps the current source Chernarus [_vehicle] detach-argument shape.	Branch Chernarus Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:37-38
Maintained Vanilla detach argument	Does not add the missing [_vehicle] argument in maintained Vanilla; the branch still has a no-argument detach action there.	Branch maintained Vanilla Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Hook.sqf:37; Zeta_Unhook.sqf:3-7
Ground drop	Replaces the special-lifter-only altitude reposition with a ground-level drop 15 meters behind the lifter for all lifters, then pushes another 25 meters back if the friendly HQ is within 25 meters of the drop point.	Branch Chernarus and maintained Vanilla Client/Module/ZetaCargo/Zeta_Unhook.sqf:12-29

Promotion gate: port/rebase only if the owner wants #87, preserve current-stable base changes, add the maintained Vanilla detach-argument parity if manual detach is part of the claim, then smoke own-HQ proximity, nearby non-HQ vehicle choice, normal-heli drop, C-130 drop, lifter-damage auto-detach and maintained Vanilla parity.

Continue Reading

Module gateway: Modules atlas | Support surface: Support specials and tactical modules | Upgrade catalog: Upgrade research cross-faction reference | Gear/cargo caveat: Vehicle cargo equip loop bounds