RIGHTS OF A DROID
CHAPTER II
THE GUNGAN FRONTIER
The underwater city of Otah Gunga has become dangerously overcrowded. Colonization of the water moon of Naboo is about to begin.
In preparation, the Gungans have collected many exotic creatures from the small planet of Naboo, as well as others throughout The Galaxy, that should thrive on the empty moon.
Establishing an ecosystem in which the new plants, animals, and Gungans can all live in balance is not an easy task. The Gungan Council has called upon Obi-Wan Kenobi, Queen Amidala, and the crew of USS ENTERPRISE, heroes of the Battle of Naboo, to meet the challenge…
Skyriver Galaxy
Mid-Rim
Chommell Sector
Naboo System
Naboo
USS Enterprise
Admiral's Log 50295.26
The Enterprise has returned to what is now called the Skyriver Galaxy, assisting in a run of routine supplies. Our recent encounter with the Dominion has forced Starfleet to reconsider our exploration with the use of the hyperdrive. With the help of the astromech droid R2-D2, we have temporarily crippled the Dominion as a threat, but it is likely that they will recover and will seek vengeance in the future. R2 submitted the copy of the Dominion's fleet schematics to Starfleet, along with the schematics for their phased polaron beam weaponry.
It is our help that by the time Starfleet encounters the Dominion, a countermeasure to their weapons will have been created. In the meantime, in the interest of fostering closer diplomatic relations with the Naboo, the Enterprise has been asked to help survey its moon for the creation of a new Gungan colony. Relations between the Naboo and the Gungans have improved greatly through working together during the invasion they had suffered.
Wishing to further diplomatic relations, the Gungan Council reached out to Queen Amidala and requested the Enterprise to take part in this survey and Queen Amidala made the request to Starfleet who agreed. If successful, not only would the Gungans have a new colony but both are willing to offer Starfleet to set up a colony of their own on this same planet and in a completely new galaxy.
Given our recent deadly encounter, I suppose surveying a new planet would be a welcome break.
Admiral Kirk ended his log and sighed as he stood up from his command chair, watching as the Enterprise achieved standard orbit over Naboo. The return to this new galaxy was a welcome sight for the admiral and his crew, believing a simple survey and perhaps a bit of shore leave will do good for the crew.
"Admiral, Naboo palace sends their greetings." Uhura spoke from her station. "They are sending transport coordinates."
"Very well." Kirk nodded. "Anything we should expect?"
"They request the Astromech Droid, R2-D2 joins your landing party, sir." Uhura answered.
Kirk looked a little puzzled but mentally shrugged it off. "Very well. Inform them we are on our way."
Theed
Royal Palace
The Federation, make that the Trade Federation invasion and occupation drastically changed Naboo, with the Naboo questioning their role within the Galactic Republic. Many Naboo now believed that the Republic was powerless and unable to protect them, as demonstrated by the events of the Federation, again Trade Federation occupation. In the wake of the invasion and assistance from the Federation, the United Federation of Planets, many Naboo citizens believed it was time to end their relations with the Republic and forge new ones with the Federation that had come to their aid, especially since the wormhole leading into a new galaxy was in the Naboo system. The Enterprise and its crew had helped Naboo in its time of need, even though they admitted they had attempted to stay out of the conflict but were drawn into it by the Trade Federation forcing their hand.
Despite that hard honesty, in the eyes of the Naboo, the Enterprise and its own government had done far more than what the Republic and the Galactic Senate had been willing to do. Many were wondering if Queen Amidala would petition for membership in the Federation and it was an open topic between her and her advisors. Naboo was in a position to be a new center of trade in the mid and outer rims of the galaxy and that would draw in a lot of attention. Other Naboo believed that it was now their own responsibility to provide for their own security, and reasoned that revenue from the plasma trade would allow them to pay for it.
Free from the one-sided contracts of the Trade Federation, the Naboo fully received the profits from the plasma trade. Other Naboo continued to support the Galactic Republic, consoled that the new Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine, was a native of Naboo himself. Both factions of the Naboo political establishment favored a stronger Naboo and increased military expenditures. The budget of the Royal Naboo Security Forces was greatly expanded and given a heavier arsenal of weaponry and armored vehicles, such as the N-1T Advanced Starfighter and the Heavy Champion. In addition to that, an ion pulse was installed on the order of Queen Amidala after the invasion to keep Naboo safe from future invasion.
As for the matter of the Gungans, relations had improved to the point that plans for a Gungan colony on the Naboo moon called Ohma-D'un were being prepared.
Speaking of which…
Four beams of light appeared in the throne room of Naboo's ruler, fading a moment later to reveal Kirk, Spock, McCoy and R2.
"Admiral Kirk," Queen Amidala stated, standing up from her throne. "It is good to see you."
"Likewise, Your Highness." Kirk replied. "You of course remember my science officer, Mr. Spock and my medical officer Dr. McCoy."
"Your Highness." McCoy greeted warmly.
Spock simply bowed his head.
"We've been told you wish to consider a join operation between Starfleet and the Gungans in setting up a joint colony on Naboo's moon." Kirk continued.
"Yes, and there is one other matter." Padme admitted with a somewhat solemn gaze. "It concerns R2."
Kirk glanced at the astromech who beeped. "Me?"
"Yes, you." A voice said from behind.
The group turned to see a woman enter the room. Her attire suggested she was a woman of business and she had the professional look to match.
"May I introduce Julynn Kentas, president of Industrial Automaton." Queen Amidala stated.
Industrial Automaton was formed over 800 years ago with the merger of Industrial Intelligence and Automata Galactica. Industrial Automaton became a vastly wealthy company and vied for control of the droid market with fellow manufacturing giant Cybot Galactica. These rival companies were known as the 'Big Two' of droid production. IA was known for its high-precision merchandise and deep discounts.
While these designs proved successful, others were not so well received; Industrial Automaton was forced to cancel production of its R5-series droids after poor sales, and later limited the warranty on astromech booster rockets after a series of injuries caused by falling droids. The company was also one of the first Contributing Sponsors of the Corporate Sector Authority. IA maintained factories in many locations, including Rordis City on Nubia. Industrial Automaton came to monopolize the droid market through production of its most popular creation; the R-series astromech droids. While early models were deemed a critical failure, IA's R2-series astro-droid became beloved across the galaxy.
"Madam President." Kirk greeted. "I understand your company specializes in the creation of droids."
"Not just your average droids, Admiral." Kentas replied with a smile as she glanced at R2. "But specifically, the R2 astromech series."
R2 beeped. "I remember. I was made by your company and then shipped here to Naboo."
"You actually speak Basic now?" Kentas asked with a raised eyebrow. "Astromech droids weren't designed to speak basic."
"Why is that?" McCoy asked.
"Simply put, there was not enough room. Astrometch droids are essentially walking computers meant for repairing systems and navigation." Kentas stated. "Though I am told, this one received a great upgrade."
"Yes, he did. Mr. R2 was upgraded by what was essentially a living machine with intelligence spanning our entire universe." Spock stated. "This machine was designed to collect all possible data, learning everything that is learnable and then return that knowledge to the creator. The machine found Mr. R2 to be kindred to it, even if they are not from the same galaxy. It discovered his programming: repairing anything, navigation and various routine functions. It upgraded him to a level beyond that of any droid considered possible to ensure he could fulfill his function."
"Astounding." Kentas remarked, kneeling down to get a better look at R2. "As it shown anything remarkable?"
Spock raised an eyebrow before looking at R2.
"Well, for I can scan anything at the atomic level and replicate it, like how I scanned and replicated the universal translator used by the Starfleeters. I have star maps of both galaxies in my memory banks that have been greatly expanded beyond the original ROM library that had been installed in me. It's been upgraded to a liquid crystal chrotronics memory and storage unit. My power bank is now an anti-hydrogen-deuterium battery meaning I almost never need charging except on a handful of occasions and can even be used to power my jet thrusters. My durasteel plates have now been replaced by an adamantium-plated, hyper-steel alloy for better protection." R2 began, sounding a little proud as he spoke. "In addition to my now built-in translator, my built-in telecom software has been upgraded to an internal subspace transceiver and data stream initiators meaning I am now capable of making very long-distance calls. My sensor package originally came with a full-spectrum transceiver and electromagnetic, heat, motion, and life form indicators. Now it's been upgraded to include a broad-spectrum system with micro and macro scanning abilities. I can even repair myself now with an interior self-replicator unit that can mimic any tool I need with molecule sized microprocessors and connecting mechanisms."
"Amazing." Kentas awed, half of what she had heard going right over her head, but she understood enough to know R2 had become very, very advanced and turned to Kirk. "How much do you want?"
"Excuse me?" Kirk questioned.
"I am here on behalf of Industrial Automaton to request the return of this R2 unit. It's become so advanced that we could create a new line of Astromech droids that would be more advanced than anything in the history of the galaxy." Kentas stated.
"Hey, I am not for sale!" R2 protested. "I asked for asylum on the Enterprise because I didn't want to deal with this."
"Asylum? A droid can't ask for asylum." Kentas chuckled. "A droid is a machine, a simple construct made to making things easier."
"That was likely the original intent, President Kentas but as you can see from Mr. R2, he meets the full requirements to be recognized as a fully sentient being." Spock stated. "Much like how V'Ger became a living machine, R2 himself has become the same."
"A living machine?" Kentas now raised an eyebrow. "There's no such thing. It's a complicated form of hardware assembled in our factories. There are literally millions of droids, looking exactly like it all over the galaxy."
"And not one of them are like me." R2 beeped angrily. "And don't speak over me. Your company created me, but you don't own me."
Kentas looked back down at R2. "No, technically it's the Naboo people who own you. Droids don't have asylum rights and this you were illegally taken by these people."
"There was nothing illegal about it." McCoy argued. "The Queen accepted Mr. R2's wish to apply for asylum."
"Meaning either you now own him or are illegally harboring a stolen droid." Kentas stated. "By which, I am here to negotiate on behalf of the Naboo and my company to take back this droid and learn all we can to make more like it."
"Fat chance of that happening, lady!" R2 beeped again. "Dank farrik, no wonder V'Ger didn't like organics. You act so smug and think you're the smartest person in the room, but you don't have a single bit of common sense, do you?"
Kentas frowned at R2. "Watch it, droid."
"Or what? You'll try and mindwipe me? Go ahead and try. I know the inner workings of every anti-droid weapon in existence, and I'll adapt to each and every one." R2 dared.
"All right, that's enough." Kirk cut in, looking at Kantas. "President Kantas, you cannot simply come up to me and ask me to barter a member of my crew. R2 has been a irreplaceable consultant in both learning about this galaxy and the knowledge he has gained from his experience with V'Ger. And you, Your Highness…" Kirk's eyes were now on Padme. "We came here because we were under the impression, we'd been asked to help in surveying a new potential colony for the Gungans and because you offered us a chance to establish our own colony as a continued effort to build closer relations with the Federation. Was this all a smokescreen for us to bring R2 here?"
"No, Admiral, the offer was genuine." Queen Amidala answered honestly. "But there are some people in the Naboo government who feels that R2's new upgrades should be shared with the rest of Naboo, given that he helped up come up with the plan that disabled the Trade Federation's droid army."
"So, this is a political strike aimed at R2 and we got caught up in it." McCoy scowled. "Another reason to dislike politics."
"In any case, Your Highness. This is a matter left to the diplomats, not to spring on people who are supposed to be your friends." Kirk pulled out his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise, four to beam up."