Private Da-Da-Da Inspector Gadget!

[Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran]

Current Outfit

Location: Lianna, Egg City, The Empress' Tower

"An Empress should never sit easy."

Kanni shifted uncomfortably on her throne, staring at the black and golden pillars upheld the Empress' throne room. Though her father never completed the tower, he had a vision for it a grand hall filled with drapes of the Imperial symbol located in the heart of a city made in his own image. When Empire of the Lost took over Lianna, it was already a Ecumenopolis but it was nowhere near as expansive nor advanced as other city planets. As soon as he became the Emperor, Velran sought to change that expanding the city limits, upgrading the atmospheric dampeners that ensured that Lianna was a breathable planet and creating better, more efficient power relay systems. Velran wanted a city planet that he crafted in his own image, a city that was self-sufficient, and one that can rival the Galactic Alliance's former capital: Coruscant. In the middle will be tower spiraling thousands of floors to where Velran can overlook the city while sitting comfortably on the throne.

Egg City, when she took over, Kanni sought to finish her father's work. There was so much to do, no one on the Moff Council had the drive and ambition that her father did. Kanni wasn't sure that she could fulfill her father's vision. Yet that didn't mean she couldn't try. She finished construction of the Empress' Tower while continuing to expand Egg City. Teckla Tane balked at the idea of expansion, but Kanni ignored her criticism. Her loyalty to Velran was always sketchy, he told Kanni that much. Velran liked ambition but only if it served his ends and from the brief moments that Kanni saw of Teckla, she was nothing but self-serving. "Can I not trust anyone?" Kanni said to herself.

She was finished listening to the ills of the people only waiting on Karl Von Strauss to arrive with the report on the progress of the Imperial Walkers and Tanks that were to be constructed. If there was one person that Kanni trusted, it would be Karl, he was always nice to Kanni and never much of her nor did he criticize Kanni. "Father always liked him," Kanni said sitting back on her throne. "Gadget man he called him."

Thinking about Velran made Kanni's stomach churn. She missed him so much, why couldn't she save him?

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

Karl had not been able to secure a meeting with the newly anointed Empress Kanni, it seemed that her schedule was filled to the brim. Fortunately for him, the Empress sought an audience with him, although it was mainly on the construction of walkers and tanks. After being handed the reigns of the Imperial Warforges, the likes of which included Mon Calamari, Minntooine, and Pammant, Karl was mostly focused on the shipyards that produced, refitted, and repaired the large vessels of war the Empire had.

He had used his position within the N&Z Umbrella Corporation to oil the wheels of trade and effectively circumvent the Trade Federation's embargo. After all with credits in the right hands, people will overlook 'government' power and accidentally lose a few insured ships and cargo along borders. He had also benefited from the position, allowing him creative freedom over what he wanted to design and what EnSol produced. It also benefitted him to have two separate groups of some of the smartest designers and engineers in the galaxy.

This not only benefitted himself but the Empire and the Company. Everyone was either making credits or being outfitted with some of the best tech available. This included the Imperial Armed Forces which had four vehicle designs enter into active service in recent months.

Karl walked into the hall flanked by two Imperial Custodians. The sounds of hard-soled boots on the marbled floors echoed as he approached the seated Empress Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran . He tucked his datapad under his arm and bowed deeply before her almost losing his balance due to not yet fully integrating with his new leg.

"It is good to behold you once again Empress and please forgive my imprudence. I haven't yet gotten used to my new leg." He said tapping on his left thigh, his new leg built specifically for him by N&Z. He had color-matched the leg to his normal boots, but it didn't match the look, but that's fine as long as it didn't impede him.

"If you'd like me to begin. We are producing a substantial number of walkers this month. The most produced being the smaller Assault Walker; followed by the Storm Walker in almost the same capacity. We aren't producing many Xerxes, but that is thanks in part to their strong and defensive natures. They mainly have to be repaired after skirmishes." He took the datapad out from under his arm and turned it on. "We aren't producing many tanks yet as most of our forced prefer walkers, but Major General Rorsch has assured me that he will be using repulsor tanks once we have them produced. Speaking of designs we have four in the pipeline ranging from super-heavy down to light. Names and designations have been given to the designs, although their actual designs need to be finalized before a prototype can be produced."

He stopped and waited for her response.

Tags: Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran

 

[Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran]

Current Outfit

"I'm just glad that you're up and walking again Uncle Karl," Kanni smiled. "I can have your prosthetic be modified to be more efficient if you like?"

She and Karl were close thanks to Velran often working with him on expanding the Imperial army. Of all of the Moffs, Karl was the only person who treated Kanni like a person rather than a nuisance or someone in their way of pure power. "I've told by people like Grandmaster Teckla Tane to have a balanced budget in light of the tariffs by the Trade Federation. But we're in control of many mineral rich planet namely Kessel. We should be more self sufficient and start our currency. Trading with other smaller factions and have them be loyal to us."

Truth be told, Kanni wasn't in the mood to hear more about the Imperial affairs having spent all day putting the final touches on the military budget, domestic problems regarding a rising crime syndicate in the lower levels and of course dealing with the Tingel Arm Coalition. She wasn't Empress for long but already she felt like she aged 1000 years based on what she had to deal with. But her and Karl Von Strauss were close spending time finishing her father's army. It had to be the most expansive army in the Galaxy ranging from regular Stormtroopers to the hulking Imperial Paragons, that's not even getting into the Clone Army which included her and her sisters: The Butterfly Unit.

"I know," Kanni said leaning against the throne. "With the war going on, most of the budget will be going to defense. Which means I'll invest more on research. Particularly the walkers that you proposed, the Stormwalker sounds interesting since the AT-ATs were of no use in the battles of Mon Cala and Lothal."

She paused feeling a pang of guilt, memories of the battle over Mon Cala resurfaced and she could hear her father's voice telling her to run. "We'll meet again......"

Kanni shook her head trying to focus, she is an Empress and Empire needs her to be strong. "We need more maneuverable Walkers," Kanni continued her voice wavering a bit. "The AT-ATs aren't as intimidating as they were back in Palpatines reign. I prefer our walkers to be more adaptable. Admittedly I was working on a design that requires your approval."

She slowly got up from her throne. "Shall we head to R and D?" She smiled at Karl.

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

"I appreciate the offer Empress, but it won't be necessary." He said in response to her offering to upgrade his leg. "I oversaw the design and production of this prosthetic. I, just haven't gotten used to it yet."

He listened to her talk of Grandmaster Tane and of Tariffs and self-sufficiency, but what caught him off guard most was the mention of starting our own currency. He pondered the potential avenues of both successes and failures and of blockages and ways around them. She was right, the Empire had more than enough planets that are rich in minerals and materials; while that wasn't enough to become fully self-sufficient, it was more than enough to get out of the rut that the Trade Federation's embargo has put us in. Additionally, the acquisition of an Atomic Forge allowed us to turn "anything into anything." Giving us another avenue to work around the embargo.

"While you may not agree with Grandmaster Tane all the time, a balanced budget is better than no budget, or an unbalanced one. I believe that she has the best interests in mind for the Empire." He said this knowing full well, that he was only in this position because of Teckla. He had a good working relationship with her and didn't need to uselessly thrash it or her. "I do like the idea of becoming self-sufficient, but not so much so that we become an autarky like the Dark Empire slowly edges towards. And the idea of creating our own currency is a good one that could stabilize our economy, reduce inflation, and boost consumer confidence. It's a good idea that will need flushing out, but very good."

He pulled out his datapad and notated something for future discussion while listening to Kanni.

"I know," Kanni said leaning against the throne. "With the war going on, most of the budget will be going to defense. Which means I'll invest more on research. Particularly the walkers that you proposed, the Stormwalker sounds interesting since the AT-ATs were of no use in the battles of Mon Cala and Lothal."

"I agree. If you want the best offense, then you need to focus on defense first; secure the homefront, then dominate the war front." This was most true, especially for a man who created most of the Empire's defensive technology from the massive Yggdrasil system down to the small Hawk satellite. The defense of the Empire was his biggest concern when he took over the Corps of Engineering and is still in the background whenever he designs anything nowadays.

Then the biggest surprise of this meeting, the Empress had a walker design that she wanted to run by HIM. The excitement he felt was immeasurable, but he kept a cool and calm demeanor, but couldn't stop a small smile and an eyebrow raise form on his face. "I am most excited that you want my approval. Please, after you." He said motioning in the direction of Kanni's private turbolifts.

Tag: Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran
Mentioned: Teckla Tane

 

[Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran]

Current Outfit

"Walk with me Uncle," Kanni said walking past the old man with a bit more pep in her step. It surprised Kanni to have a surge of energy but then again, Kanni had an ultra-fast metabolism enabling her to be more energetic than the average person. However, it also meant Kanni had a large appetite with one time when Kanni was hosting merchant guild representatives from Chad, she ended up eating five full turkeys in one sitting during dinner and she still wanted to eat more. The guests were understandably perturbed and Kanni was embarrassed by the whole ordeal, but at least they managed to come up with a good deal at the end.

"I've been thinking," Kanni reached out grabbing her holoprojector and clicking it displaying the blueprints of the Imperial Walker. "Of a walker that is capable of launching magnetic accelerator rounds towards the enemy."

"As much as the Gorilla Walker is intimidating and powerful." Kanni continued. "It doesn't have any defenses to one EMP blast, I would like for this walker's defenses to be bolstered maybe a barrier as you see on the circular platform. It can generate a shield that has similar properties to the ones Gungans use."

Kanni looked up at Karl with a smile. "What do you think so far Uncle?" she asked.

Karl Von Strauss

 

[Karl Von Strauss]

Karl watched as Kanni walked with vitality as she stepped past him towards the R&D department. He was quite excited at the prospect of the new Empress taking an interest in technological development. He also just enjoyed being around the Empress, he was worried after Velran died that she'd lose her fire, but it instead grew even brighter. At least he saw it that way.

As she started up the holoprojector, his engineering mind went straight into overdrive. Bipedal with two-point knees so it can stand up further. Depending on scale it could either be a single or dual pilot. His mind deconstructed and reconstructed the walker as Kanni explained what she wanted for its weaponry and defenses.

"Magnetically accelerated rounds, so either a coil gun or a rail gun, if I presume correctly? The parallel rails make me assume rail rather than coil." He walked around the projected image. "And a shield similar to the Gungan system? Using my contacts at EnSol I could probably get my hands on their Primera generator, which works well against kinetic and energy."

It was a good design. Karl's latest designs, the storm walker and the assault walker, were meant to be heavy firepower and fast, respectively, in a bipedal design. What Kanni was suggesting was a bipedal design that had a single main weapon and a shield that wouldn't take up a lot of room. Even if it was a target, so are the shield generators on the Imperial Ten-Six and we make do with them.

He looked up at Kanni with a smile, "This is a good design. I prefer its clarity over some of my recent work. You make a good engineer. Perhaps if the empress thing doesn't work out, you can work for me at EnSol." He let out a chuckle and wiped a tear away from his eye. "However, I know that you'll make a wonderful ruler. You're already doing so much in a short period. But, back to the point at hand. How large would you want the walker? I can see it being either being operated by one or two pilots."

Tag: Kaanni Ugaiya Kilran