Star Wars_ Cloak of Deception - James Luceno [43]
Despite the animistic look Baktoid had imparted to the troop transports, Gunray recognized the Trade Federation’s own repulsorlift cargo pod, built on an even more gargantuan scale. As for the folding battle droids and the Single Trooper Aerial Platforms, they were simply variations of Baktoid’s security droids, and Longspur and Alloi’s Bespin airhooks.
But one thing was clear: everything he was being shown spoke less to spaceborne defense than to groundside deployment. The realization was more than Gunray could absorb; more than he wished to absorb.
“As you have probably observed, Viceroy,” Haor Chall’s representative was saying, “the Trade Federation already has most of the raw materials needed to create your army.” He motioned to the representative from Baktoid. “In partnership with Baktoid, we can convert your security and worker droids to battle models, and your barges and cargo pods to landing craft.”
“More units, less money,” the Baktoid representative added.
“Best of all, since the components of the landing crafts can be stored in various places—wings, fuselages, and pedestals—they can be assembled at a moment’s notice. You could place one landing craft in each of a hundred freighters, or a hundred landing craft in but one of your freighters—for singularly thorny circumstances. Either way, none who come aboard to inspect your freighters will comprehend what they are seeing. As our mutual friend says, you will have an army without giving the appearance of having an army.”
“Mutual friend,” Rune Haako muttered, just loudly enough for Gunray to hear. “When Darth Sidious says do this, it is performed.”
“We enjoy dealing with Neimoidians,” Baktoid’s representative stepped forward to say, “because of the enthusiasm and awe you demonstrate for our creations. Therefore, we have other weapons in mind for you: starfighters that will no longer have to rely on droid pilots, but will themselves answer to a central control computer.
“You may even wish to contact the Colicoids of Colla IV, who are rumored to have developed a combat droid capable of rolling to its destinations.” The alien gestured broadly to the immense hangar. “Perfect for covering the vast distances inside your freighters, and defending against boarding parties.”
Gunray heard Dofine swallow audibly, but, once more, it was Haako who spoke.
“This is madness,” he said, lowering his voice and limping closer to the mechno-chair. “Are we merchants, or are we would-be conquerors?”
“You heard Darth Sidious,” Gunray hissed. “These weapons will ensure that we remain merchants. They are our guarantee that groups like the Nebula Front or mercenaries like Captain Cohl will never again risk going against us. Ask Commander Dofine. He’ll tell you.”
“Darth Sidious keeps us in servile fearfulness,” Haako said, blinking repeatedly.
“What can we do, otherwise? Instead of honoring our request for additional defenses, the senate threatens us with taxation. We need to take matters into our own hands if we are to protect our cargos. Or would you have us continue to lose ships to terrorists, in addition to losing profits to taxation?”
“But the other members of the directorate—?”
“For the time being, they are to not to know anything of this. We will apprise them of these things gradually.”
“And only if necessary.”
“Yes,” Gunray said. “Only if necessary.”
With its countless dark canyons, precipitous ledges, hidden recesses, and jutting parapets—its surfeit of places to hide in plain sight—Coruscant invited corruption. Its very geography inspired secrecy.
Palpatine had been on Coruscant for several years, and he felt that he knew the place better than many lifelong residents did. He knew it the way a jungle cat knew its territory. He had an instinctual understanding of its shifting moods, and an instinctual