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Giddean laughed, "No, the Imperator-class is meant as a multi-role platform. If a carrier is what you're after then a we could computerize the systems on a Venator platform." Giddean smiled as the door slid open and he stepped into the turbolift. "Officially a Imperator-class has sufficient hangar space to accommodate seventy-two starfighters with additional room for support ships. However, the average size of a droid starfighter is around a third of that of a manned ship so the carrying capacity of an Imperator-class is around two-hundred and sixteen droid starfighters. With most of the crew quarters converted to storage areas for droids and ground vehicles it could carry over a hundred thousand infantry battle droids.

Giddean shrugged, "We don't have any plans at present to resume Venator production, but theoretically it could be done. The likely crew requirements for such a ship would be even lower than that of computerized ISD, and its carrying capacity for starfigthers would be absurdly high, well over 1,000 droid starfighters could be placed in the hangar, but its ship to ship combat capacity is significantly less than an Imperator."

The captain was thrown against the bulkhead and dropped to the floor, blood leaking from his nose and forehead.

"I'm only going to ask again, Di'kut." A tall, blue armored Mandalorian cautioned, his voice deep as it came through his helm's filter. "Open the ship's safe."

The captain weakly pushed himself off the the deck, cursing the Mandie's parentage as he tried to rise.

The tall Mandalorian hefted the man up with one arm and was about to hurl him into the bulkhead again when a bleached-bone white gauntlet gripped the wrist of the blue Mandalorian.

"He's no good to us dead." Jag Rohtul told his subordinate in a gravely voice. "Drop him."

"Aye, Cap'n." The big Mando dropped the man like he was a bag of garbage.

Jag's hand disappeared back beneath his all-weather poncho as his rangefinder slid down over his visor. He slowly turned his head, scanning the room, and then he jabbed a finger at a wall.

"Its a hologram. The safe is behind it." He said.

Two more mandalorians moved into the room and interupted the hologram, Deactivating it.

As the captain watched, the Mandalorians applied a strange tape to the now revealed safe, lining the rectangular door with it. They then stepped back and, at the flick of a switch, the tape burned through the safe door with a controlled detonite explosion.

"You filthy pirates..." The captain muttered as he came to his feet. "This is against Republic law! The navy will have your armored hides after-"

"-Attacking another one of their freighters?" Jag finished, turning his head slightly to view the man. "For the past two years I have been attacking the Republic's shipping with impunity. A law is only as good as its arguers and enforcers, and I've yet to lose an arguement about Republic Law or be properly bested by its Enforcers. Republic Law has no sway in space."

Jag walked over and violently picked the man up by his collar, slamming him against the wall.

"My law, however, is being enforced right now. We will take your money and your cargo, but leave you your ship and your life as well as what remains of your crew."

"You can argue my law of course," he said, drawing a heavy blaster pistol on the man he had pinned to the wall, "But the legal fees are murder. So unless you are willing to pay them, I recomend silence."

Dillon was immediately ready to discuss using the Imperator, Tector, and Venator, but the mention of this new project interested him.

Which was probably the point. The way Giddean put it, it was a great idea without funding or a buyer. The CIS could be that buyer.

"We'll see. Perhaps we can work out a more elaborate deal, which will be mutually benefitial to both of our factions."

By now they'd reached the office of Giddean, where he supposed they were to talk, unless the executive was planning on taking him on any tours. "Tell me more about this project."

Dillon nodded. It was a good concept, but not the reason he was here. "Very well. The CIS is prepared to pay market price for your warships, as many can be built. While our own fleet is up to the task, the general belief is that a newer, more modern fleet would be even better. If possible, we'd like to replace half of our naval vessels, within the next ten years."

Which would be next to impossible, if KDY alone was fulfilling those orders. The CIS had the Galaxy's largest Navy, eve after the fiasco at Coruscant a decade ago. Replacing half of them was like trying to replace half of the clone army with wookiees.

But, he was prepared to negotiate an alternative. If KDY needed more space, supplies, and facilities to fulfill the order, than the CIS would help get them.

Dillon shrugged. Half was the number the war advisor had wanted, but the bug was a bit of a head case to begin with. He may have been one of the few Geonosians willing to make such a change, but he was very much on the radical end of the spectrum.

"I completely understand your situation, Mr. Kuat," Dillon offered, sitting down in a chair opposite his desk. "If it matters any, under your supervision, we could give you access to some of our shipyard planets, and you can personally oversee any modifications you might need.

"As for technology, that depends. Though I can't promise anything in full respect right now, what did you have in mind?"

Funny. He has pick of every CIS firm, and he picks the one that offers the most uniqueness. Maybe he should be surprised.

"I can certainly ask about them. Was there anything else in mind, in case they don't feel like cooperating?"

Dillon did a quick mental check in his head, before confirming.

"The Pimmant shipyards provides most of the technologies you're interested in, as well as being a construction facility for Lucrehulks. If we turn over production rights to Kuat, while maintaining a license on our products, you'd have access to everything you want, and more. You'd only have to convert those facilities not producing Lucrehulks into those producing the ships we desire.

"As for frigates, yes. The current model we use, the Recuscant I believe, is very flimy and has a serious design flaw by the fuel tanks. This was taken during a skirmish in the outer rims many years ago, but it has been seen more and more recently as a serious problem. We need something more robust."