Star Wars: Ship Designer Quest

"Well, the job for Far & Wide Trade sounds good to me." You waited until Pinagg Het looked back at the pad with the information for the job. "They are looking for a new light freighter that can replace their older ships. As far as my father was able to gather, they have asked CEC about their new YV-series but weren't satisfied with the price they were given. Apparently, they thought themselves much more important than they are, and CEC just didn't bother to bow down to such a small customer."

>>How many ships are they wanting to buy?<<

"Twenty, maybe twenty-five. Far & Wide mostly run some small-time routes in our sector and the Outer Rim. Transporting goods and people, just a glorified dirt-ball-hopping-business to be honest. I'm not surprised that CEC didn't give them any discounts in the first place. They are just too small and seem to have forgotten that fact. Father said they were rather tiring in the talks. If they buy what we design, this could lead to us getting more jobs for similar firms. Apparently, Far & Wide is not the only one of this kind of companies who are looking for replacement ships and aren't too happy about the prices they get from the big names."

The Genosian leant back and stroked his chin for a moment, deep in thought. Then he made some clicking sounds. The droid didn't bother to translate this when you glanced over to it. >>A good start. We shouldn't face many complications. But the price question is a bit tricky. We could lower costs in some ways, either by designing parts completely new that are easy to produce, or mostly use parts off the shelf. The latter has the bonus that customers can quickly come up with their own modifications or repair their ships themselves. It will attract more customers of the independent kind.<<

"That was what my father and I also thought. It allows us to break into the light freighter market through the backdoor. Hopefully, these companies will buy the new ship, independent pilots on the same routes see them, and ask about the ship. We won't beat CEC or any of the other big names fast, but it will hopefully allow us to gain some reputation in the Outer Rim and the Mid Rim."

>>If I might suggest something?<<

"Of course. You're here because I need your opinion."

The Genosian noble nodded. >>We should stick with a more conservative design. It is what most people know and will buy. Especially in the light freighter market, many ship owners can't afford something too fancy. What will be designed depends mostly on what we want to focus on most, a ship that meets Far & Wide's requirements, or something the company thinks will sell better than the original contract.<<

"Yes, I see what you mean. Still, if we come up with something good, it will sell."

>>If people want it. The best and most useful technologies won't make any money if people don't buy it.<<

---

[ ] Classical Design
Name: Mk. 1 Light Freighter
Size: Normal
Compartment Space: 10
Advantage: 2
Flaw: 1
Cost: 2

[ ] Classic Courier Design
Name: Mk. 1 Speed Cruiser
Size: Small
Compartment Space: 5
Advantage: 1
Flaw: 2
Cost: 1

[ ] Classic Transporter Design
Name: Mk. 1 Transporter
Size: Large
Compartment Space: 15
Advantage: 2
Flaw: 2
Cost: 3

[ ] Vulkan Frame
Name: Mk. 1 Vulkan Light Freighter Frame
Size: [ ] Small, [ ] Normal, [ ] Large, [ ] Extra Large
Compartment Space: ???
Advantage: ???
Flaw: ???
Cost: ???

---

A few weeks later, your department went all hands in on designing the new light freighter. It took some time to decide on the frame, but you had a feeling that your choice would work. Different models for the shape of the new ship were being tested at the moment, and the rest of your team not involved with that were already preparing for the development of the engines, the next step in the development cycle. It filled your heart with joy as you watched your whole department work like a hive of Kan'tri reptiles. This was precisely what you had in mind all those years ago when you first proposed the creation of a development department to your father – and now you could watch it work.

When it came to the staff, your father had given you a free hand on who you could hire. The most prominent appointment had been Pinagg Het, but the rest of the department weren't simple desk workers either. You had made sure that your team was filled with bright minds who had the experience or enthusiasm to work in a completely new team. Slowly, the parts came together, and you couldn't wait to see the first ship your department came up with when it finally rolled off the production line.

You heard clicking noises from behind you, and turned to see Pinagg with the ever-present translating droid coming over to you. In his hands were two glasses with a golden liquid in it. >>Here, the first batch of the Hive Vine my workers produced since we arrived at the station. It is still a bit rough around the tastebuds, but it is a good start – like this department. It felt fitting to share it with you.<<

You accepted the glass and gave it a small sniff. It did smell like alcohol, but also reminded you of something sweet. When you gave it a try, there was initial sweetness, followed by the hard punch of alcohol you had been expecting. You barely managed to hold back a coughing fit and, instead, cleared your throat. "It has an interesting taste to it."

>>I know, it will get better with time,<< the amused alien told you and took a small sip from his glass. He then looked over the busy department and stroked his chin with a pleasant vibrating sound you've become accustomed to in the last weeks. It was the sign of a pleased Genosian. His eyes finally rested on the symbol of your family's company and the name on it. >> There is something I wanted to ask you about the name of your family's business.<<

"Oh?"

>>I took a bit of time to research the name, as it wasn't clear to me what it meant. First, I thought it meant volcano, but the writing is not Basic, nor a number of more ancient writing systems. Does it have some meaning to your family?<<

"Yes. A historical one, almost a thousand years old. In the New Sith Wars, Temaris was a world on the frontline," you begin to speak as you stare up to the sign, remembering the old family legends. "Warships often needed repairs, and given the time, there wasn't always the possibility to reach one of the great yards. So the ruler of our world decided to build one here, so the ships could get repaired closer to the front. His name was Lord Vulkan. The new shipyard was named in his honour. After he died and the war ended, the name stuck."

>>When you say "Lord," do you mean a Sith or a Jedi?<<

[ ] "He was a Jedi-Lord, the last of the Temaris Chapter. He led many daring raids and offensive from this world until he was killed – or so the legend says."

[ ] "He was a Sith Lord, born on Temaris. He united our world under his banner and forced the pirates out, which used the Republic's weakness. He capitulated to the Jedi in the end – to spare his homeworld from further damage in the wars. That's why we were allowed to keep the name."