Where the Path Leads

[Gir Quee]

Toronis University, Toronis, Karideph

Gir stood in the turbolift surrounded by a gaggle of relatively squat Kari. As the lift shot up the building, Gir couldn't help but join them in looking outside the window at the constant flux of lights that darted around the cityscape. He had been on countless dense cities, including Coruscant, yet he had never been in a city quite like Toronis, with its simultaneously angular and round lines which vaguely reminded him of Kari physiology. He felt a force began to push down on his body as the lift came to a halt. The kari promptly shuffled out of the lift, with Gir slowly following them behind. He caught sight of another offworlder, a gentleman dressed in a sharp suite with nametag with a leaf insignia. He guessed that he was some agri-business or biotech representative, doubtlessly drawn by the world's vast fields and gardens. The two men exchanged brief pleasantries before the other offworlder entered the lift, leaving Gir alone in the lobby. A low if melodious voice called out to him from one of the open doors.

"Meester Quee, I believe?"

Gir promptly followed the voice into a trapezoid-shaped room occupied by three Kari sitting at their office desks. An awkward smile engendered itself on Gir's face. He felt ridiculous, if only because he seemed to tower over them even at his average height. He looked for a chair to sit down so as to feel if he was not speaking down to them. But there was none in this cramped room. One of the kari seemed to sense that and rose from his chair, partially alleviating their vast difference in height.

"Meester Quee, you are with Lucerne Labs, are you not?"

Gir nodded, "I am. You have quite an impressive university here. I would not have expected to see a place like this so far from the Core Worlds."

The kari's mandibles began to slowly close before they flickered open, "My name is Erpo. The galaxy is full of surprises, Meester Quee. We were all doubtlessly surprised when we first came across your company's technology."

 

[Gir Quee]

Gir nodded in agreement, "I hope our samples arrived in good enough condition for the university to examine and experiment with."

Erpo's head bobbed up and down as much as his exoskeleton would allow it, "They did. It certainly looks like a promising alternative to the fluidic systems that others have been experimenting with. One of our groups has actually put together a space probe with the materials that you have provided us."

Gir blinked. That was quick. But then again, I suppose it depends on how advanced the 'probe' was. It wouldn't too hard to through a couple of cameras into a satellite body and rig the circuitry and computers to it...

"Has it been tested yet?"

"It has," said Erpo, "it has worked nearly flawlessly, even within the Rift itself."

Erpo turned his head to another one of the seated kari, "Csor, would you like to tell him more about your experiment?"

The other kari rose, "My hatch was responsible for constructing the probe to aid in another research hatch's experiment. They are still using to collect data from the Rift, which I would take a testament to merit of your company's technology. It is our belief, our hatch's belief that it would be advantageous for Toronis, no...Karideph, to have a local source of this technology."

"Licensing?" asked Gir.

Erpo tilted his head to the side, "We are adept at any number of things, and perhaps one day, we will be good enough to produce such technology on our own. But that will not be for some time. No, we are thinking of a partnership between Karideph and your company to produce ships and devices particularly well-suited for use in the Rift."

"A shipyard then."

"There will be some politics involved," said Erpo, "and that is an area that our people will begin to navigate for you."

Gir nodded. Politics was a necessary evil in his line of work, but one that if he could abstain from, he would. Moreover, he guessed that they would be more adept at navigating through the local political world than he would ever be.

"And what is it that you need us to do then, in the mean time?"

Erpo's mandibles clicked, "You are open to this idea then, on a serious commitment level?"

Gir nodded, "We sent the samples out because market research suggested that this might be a good area for them. It was more of an issue of finding the right partner."

"Interesting."

 

[Gir Quee]

Interesting. Now there's a single word that could have number of meanings here in this context. Is that geniune interest? Or have I offended them by suggesting that we were considering working with other people? For not the first time in his life, Gir regretted not having a protocol droid present to translate any of the subtleties of another culture. Best to take the cautious route...

"Your people seemed the most promising though," started Gir, "based on what we were able to see of your handiwork with machines. Much of it looked quite delicate and intricate, which is no easy feat, yet essential for manufacturing items as complex as starships."

Csor clicked his mandibles, "Starship manufacture is an area that we would like to master, but it is no easy feat as you say, Meester Quee."

"It's a mutually beneficial arrangement," said Erpo, "your technological expertise with our adept and cheaper labor force. I should mention that this shipyard will likely have to have a significant portion owned by our government, out of political necessities. This will be okay with you, will it not?"

Gir hesitated. Partnerships could be tricky things. In many ways, it would be much simpler from a corporate angle to simply place on their own yards there and simply hire local workers to staff it. Yet it appeared that the government wanted to have a say in how it would be run, which could be either a godsend or death knell to the project. Gir guessed that such a move was being made in order to ensure slowly transfer of technology to the government, and to guarantee that at least some of their labor force would utilized in building and then running the yard. It doesn't seem like we'll simply have the option of going on without them...it's a gamble we'll have to take.

"It can be," said Gir, "but I will need to know the specifics of what is expected of our company then."

 

[Gir Quee]

"That's very astute of you, Meester Quee," said Erpo, turning to the last kari, "may I introduce you to Kamz, one of our university liaisons to the planetary government. She will be assisting you in this matter. Kamz?"

The umber-colored kari rose from her seat, "It seems like you already thinking of employing a large number of our people based on what you have already said. This will be a necessity in order to sell the project to the government. Let us talk about one other necessity. This will have to be an orbital yard."

Gir blinked, "Why's that?"

"Part political competition," said Kamz, beginning to pace the office, "every city would want it to be linked to their city if at all possible. And part practicality. There is little space for a large facility on our world. Our agri technology improves every day, yet there is always concern that one day, we will not have enough space to feed all of our people. And even if we were able to get a groundside facility approved, I doubt we would be able to expand it if needed. Space is a premium here..."

Just like Coruscant...

"...especially when the facility will take up many cubed kilometers."

Gir blinked. We're not talking about a small yard here. That could complicate things. But then again, that also means that the government will be able to fundraise at least some of the money to build it...

"How big are we envisioning this yard?"

"Ultimately," said Erpo, "this yard will be capable of constructing the largest vessels in the Sector. It has to be. Consider our population, Meester Quee. We have a huge population, but little ability to manufacture large numbers of ships or singular, larger vessels that could transport hosts of our people. I imagine that we are looking at least roughly 20 cubed kilometers, would you not say so, Kamz?"

"That is a correct rough estimate."

"We have not built a station so large," started Gir, "not that I have any doubt that we can do so, it will just require us to start designing sooner rather than later."

Kamz nodded, "We expected as much. It will be easier for us to sell this project to the government if the design incorporated local materials and components, along with a local labor force involved in its construction and operation."

"Most of our workforce works in familial hatches," explained Csor, "about several dozen individuals strong. You may want to consider that as this station is designed."

"I see."

So they have something of a hive mind...or something similar to that. It wasn't an entirely foreign concept to him after spending time with the Verpine during his time with the Republic Navy. Yet it wasn't something he was intimately familiar with either, especially when it came to industrial design. That will have to be an area for someone else to run or effect...

"But do not worry," said Csor, "I would like to accompany you back to the company to assist you in this matter."

 

[Gir Quee]

"That is acceptable to you, is it not?"

Gir nodded, "Your assistance will be invaluable, Csor. I am grateful for it."

"It is mutual," said Csor, "I have little doubt that it will be equal advantage to us both."

"Meester Quee, I understand that Hast is some days away from us. If you have any further questions, it is my hope that Csor here will be able to answer them for you. Otherwise, you will reach us through the subspace transceiver system or by courier."

"Time is pressing, I take it?"

"It is," said Erpo, "the larger the project, the more work involved there is as of all of these phases. The sooner we start, the better and more efficient we will be. We only needed to come to a mutual understanding of some of these terms before either of us could truly start our work. Csor has been intimately involved in not only our attempts at starship construction, but also trying to integrate our technology with that of you offworlders in a way that is culturally palpable to our people and in accordance with our government's official wishes. He will be invaluable in answering many of questions and concerns in absence of realtime communication with our office here."

"I see," said Gir, turning towards Csor, "do you need any time to prepare for your travel?"

Csor clicked his mandibles and pointed to set of duraplast containers, "I am already packed. It is a simple matter of taking them with me to your ship."

"I see then. We should be off then?"

Erpo nodded, "Safe travels friend. We will see you both back on Karideph soon enough."

 

[Gir Quee]

Several weeks later...

Fairview, Hast

"This place is strange," stated Csor as they walked along the cliff of the tropical island, "there is so much water here. But not a drop to drink."

"One of life's little ironies, I suppose," muttered Gir, "I actually called you out here to see how the design work was progressing, in private. I can imagine that it would be difficult to truly voice your mind among a group of people that you barely know."

"I will not know them for long," said the insectiod alien, "there is little to gain or lose by not being blunt with them. You have some good talent in your team, as strange as they all are."

Gir gazed down at the rippling water. I suppose that it's all about perspectives...but he is right about Gai. He's...eccentric even to us. Gir looked back up the dirt path that ringed around the small island. Where the path leads us...

"So you don't see any issues with the current design?"

"Not any significant enough to merit your attention from other matters."

"This is a big project," said Gir, trudging up the path, "I do want to know what my prospective partners think of it before we actually build it."

"Very well. The environmental specs could be minimized in certain areas where it is likely that only my people will be working. I also think the addition of a garage and maintenance deck is too small."

Gir briefly halted and closed his eyes as he recalled the schematics. Salmakk had suggested adding a single deck near the bottom of the station that would be full of hangars and shops needed to modify starships. The reasoning being, that the Karideph Collective Shipyard as it currently was dubbed, could bring in a lot more business by not only making ships to operate in the Rift, but modifying existing ships to work in the Rift. It was a good idea, in Gir's mind, though he secretly dreaded the corporate negotiations that would go over who controlled the deck, both its liabilities and potential income. Are we really going to increase this headache?

 

[Gir Quee]

"You expect more business than a single deck."

"Yes, but not enough for another full deck."

"So a partial deck."

"Yes."

"And you brought it up to the others?"

"I have. Salmakk put Deniero in charge of coming up of concepts on where to place it."

Well, at least Salmakk has been working to accomodate Csor's input. The pair passed through thicket of foliage at the head of trail before entering a clearing that overlooked the island's natural harbor. Gir's father had wanted to use it moor watercraft, but that had not been a hobby picked up by the younger Quee. Aside from the occasional watercraft brought in by guest, the harbor remained empty.

"Sometimes it's hard to find the right space," said Gir, looking at the harbor's empty pier, "and sometimes you have too much space."

"Your people speak in riddles," said Csor, clicking his mandibles, "but if what I think you're trying to say is that this far along in the design process, it would be difficult to find more space."

Gir nodded, "Yes."

"There is not a lot of vertical space where we could add a deck in the main hull to make the additional economically worthwhile."

"Part of such a deck could be used for storage," offered Gir, "but that is something you might know better than I."

"No, it would not make sense without completely redesigning the station."

"What about the extension booms?" asked Gir, "the ones that hold actual scaffolding for building the capital ships...could several garages be added underneath the booms?"

"That could work," said the kari, "provided they opened away from the internal yard and to the outside. Yes, I should bring that idea to the attention of the team. With your credit naturally..."

 

[Gir Quee]

The rest of their evening walk was uneventful, with the talk gradually turns more superficial concerns such as aesthetics. Gir deferred to Csor in such matters, as it was more important that the station's aesthetics matched the expectations of people who ultimately would be financing much of it and who would see it if they looked up into the sky. Eventually, a droid-piloted airspeeder arrived to ferry the kari back to the Lucerne Labs facility, almost leaving Gir alone. He slid open a glass door to arrive his kitchen, where Salmakk nursed his customary cup of C-tea. The mon calamari spared a glance up at him before continuing to stir his tea.

“What did he have to say?”

Gir shrugged, “Not much that we didn't expect. He is still gunning for more garage space. You'll hopefully forgive me for this, but I recommended possibly placing them on the extension booms.”

Salmakk turned his gaze towards Gir, “Not really ideal from a security perspective to have 3rd party contractors working next to a sensitive area like that.”

“No,” admitted Gir, “but I trust that there are some internal architecture solutions to that.”

Salmakk let out an abbreviated sigh, “Partial solutions, more like. But everything in a design is a compromise. I'll give our the lead the heads up on the idea. More importantly, did he give any hints about their perspective on it?”

Gir moved to his cabinet and withdrew a faded blue mug emblazoned with the insignia of a previous command, “No, not anything that we didn't expect at least. With the construction permit approved, I think we are past the deep end.”

“How do you figure?”

“Well, once we've started, it'll be harder to block, especially as they put money into it. I doubt that they'd stop halfway through. I think Moe's done a good job on finding local contractors as well. Azira tells me that one of them is actually lobbying to loosen the red tape on their end.”

“Interesting,” said Salmakk, taking a sip of his tea.

Gir nodded as he poured his own cup of C-tea, “I know. We'll probably have to do some extra work of our own to ensure that they don't try and cut corners.”

“When will you head out? Are you going with the construction convoy there?”

Gir nodded, “It's a big enough undertaking that I can't ignore it. I'm hoping I'll have a few other volunteers from the Circle.”

“Like Gai?”

Gir groaned, “Anybody but Gai.”

Salmakk chuckled before he finished off his tea, “Everyone's busy. But I bet we could persuade Moe to be there, given all of the holo-conferencing he's done with the subcontractors there.”

“That's almost a necessity,” said Gir, sitting down next to his adopted brother, “I might not even give him the option of staying home for this.”

“Well, you do have two weeks to convince him...”

 

[Gir Quee]

Some time later...

Hephaestus-class Factory Ship Forgeworld, in orbit via Karideph

Gir strode down the hallways of the factory ship along with Erpo, Csor, and Kamz, giving them a brief tour of the vessel and its abilities. The kari had many questions, a good number of which were so technical that Gir had ended up dragging in Wuridelp, the wroonian chief engineer of the Forgeworld, to better explain the mechanical workings of the production equipment. The blue-skinned humanoid once more went over the process of plasma forging with Kamz, who seemed to be concerned about some safety factor that had something to do with one of their more arcane workplace laws. By the end of the discourse, it seemed that her concerns had been allayed, causing the entourage to move deeper into the bowels of the ship.

“This is an impressive vessel,” remarked Erpo, turning his head to catch a glimpse of a spindly labor droid walking by, “would it be possible to arrange an extended study of this ship by the University?"

"Most of the industrial technology you see here will be part of the Karideph Collective Shipyard," said Gir, continuing forward, "which I imagine you will be able to have intimate access too. Of course, some of our processes here will doubtlessly be replaced by will work best for your people, your hatches."

Erpo offered an abbreviated bob of his head in acknowledgement. Gir spared a glance at Csor, but the kari seemed mostly disinterested in the tour. Gir guessed that it was because with being intimately involved with the actual shipyard design, he was well-aware of all of the tooling and their capabilities. He then turned to Kamz, but the female kari was hastily scrawling notes into her clunky-looking datapad. Well, this is awkward...

"If you'd like though," offered Gir, "I could arrange for a visitor pass for you to stay onboard the ship while it helps construct KCS."

"I would appreciate that, Meester Quee," said Erpo, "and if it is not too much to ask, for an additional visitor pass as well."

"Doable," said the blonde man, "but he or she will have to be ble to pass one of our background checks and sign a non-disclosure agreement. There is some sensitive technology in this ship that we would prefer not to be public knowledge."

"I understand."

"Other questions or concerns?"

Kamz looked up from the datapad, "The official meeting is in a half hour. You have arranged transport for us and yourself, I would assume?"