Skyriver Galaxy
Mid-Rim
Chommell Sector
Naboo System

The manta shaped ship emerged from hyperspace and its sublight engines activated, propelling it towards the planet Naboo. Onboard, former Jedi apprentice now Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi strolled up to the cockpit and spotted the Federation, make that Milky Way Galaxy Federation starship Enterprise orbiting the planet. He had heard that the Enterprise had returned to further diplomatic relations with the Naboo and possibly the rest of the galaxy which the Jedi Council had stated they would monitor carefully.

Meanwhile, he had been on this ship, taking part in the Gungan's colonization plans by helping them collect plants and animals across the galaxy. The Mantaris-class amphibious medium transport was a starship designed and constructed jointly by Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps and Otoh Gunga Bongowerks. It was developed in the months that followed the Invasion of Naboo, as part of a cooperative effort between the Gungans and the Naboo to colonize the empty aquatic moon of Ohma-D'un. Due to its conception, the Mantaris-class was remarkably adaptable to different environments, which included atmospheric flight, realspace, and underwater.

Ultimately, the commissioning of the Mantaris-class transport helped the Gungans join the galactic community at large. Queen Amidala's Master of Sciences Graf Zapalo, who had supervised the conception of the Mantaris-class, also adopted it as his personal means of transport. The Mantaris-class amphibious medium transport also known as 'the Ray Ship' or simply 'the Ray' was a 98-meter starship designed for travel both in interstellar and in aquatic environments. Being a joint venture between the Naboo and the Gungans, its design reflected the artistic qualities of both races.

The class was named after the manta ray, a fish species it resembled very much, with its flat wings swept backwards and its two saber-like tails. Those tails were in fact heat sink finials that measured 30 meters, a little less than a third of the ship's total length. When activated, phosphorescent knobs located at the tips of the wings shone red. It also featured horn-shaped, finlike appendages located the bow, which were twin concussion missile launchers.

The overall frame of the Mantaris transport was based on the Gungan cargo submersible, better known as the Bongo, which is why it was often referred to in Gungan Basic as 'big bongo ship.' That well-tested hull design, which was only adapted to water, was then enhanced by Naboo engineers to make it space worthy, and capable of withstanding important pressure changes. It was also equipped with electromotive stabilizers for softer landings.

The normal cargo capacity of the Mantaris-class was 250 metric tons, an improvement compared with earlier bongos. In its default configuration, the vessel could carry twenty passengers, consumables for three months, and a crew of four, one pilot, one navigator/shield operator, one communications/security officer, one engineer/gunner, and one astromech droid. In addition to that, the transport could be outfitted with bubble-shaped modules that could either add thirty individuals to the passenger capacity, increase the cargo capacity by 100 tons, or carry wildlife specimens contained in liqui-stasis tank.

Every Mantaris-class transport could carry up to four modules at a time. In turn, a single module pod could contain sixty small creatures, thirty medium ones, fifteen large ones, seven huge ones, three gargantuan ones, or a single colossal creature. It could also carry ER-1 probe droids. In its cockpit, the vessel also boasted a large holoviewer that projected holographic images constructed from the probe droids' sensors array. The main dashboard was equipped with various tools that allowed the operator to perform several tasks on ground while staying aboard, through control of the probe droid.

Those tools included the species indicator, which could select a given organism and monitor it from the cockpit. The capture tool would prompt the droid to return a given organism back to the ship's tanks, while the release tool did the opposite. Finally, the stun tool caused the droid to temporarily immobilize the selected creature with a stun beam.

"Captain, take us down to Theed." Obi-Wan instructed.

"Yes, sir."

As the transport entered the atmosphere, the Enterprise broke orbit and headed for the wormhole back to the Milky Way Galaxy.

-
Naboo
Theed
Royal Palace

"You want me to what?"

Padme Amidala could safely say she has been through a lot since being elected as Queen of her entire planet. From fighting to save her people from invasion by a greedy mega-corporation, coming into a brand-new galaxy and working to open trade with said new galaxy.

But what she was hearing even took her by surprise.

"I request a hearing for R2-D2's on whether he is truly a sentient being and thus should be given rights." Admiral Kirk answered, repeating his previous statement.

"You can't be serious." Captain Panaka spoke up.

Kirk glanced his way. "And why?"

"It's a droid, a machine built and designed for a specific task and whatever emotions he might have are only simulated to make him and the other droids like him approachable." Panaka stated.

"That may have been true, Captain Panaka but unfortunately that's not the case with Mr. R2 any longer." Kirk stated, starting to pace around the room. "We were all there inside a living machine, more intelligent than we or the rest of the people in our galaxies will ever be in our lives. It amassed so much knowledge that it achieved consciousness, becoming a sentient, living being. What was done to it, has been done to this one droid who has now likely the most advanced droid to ever exist. Like it or not, this could be the start of a great change to how droids stand in this galaxy."

"Intelligent or not, a simple machine cannot argue for rights." Panaka stated. "If Her Highness agrees, Naboo could become the laughingstock of the galaxy, trying to argue that one machine, a machine meant to be a mechanic has the same rights as the rest of us."

"With respect, Captain Panaka but your view is highly clouded by this prejudice perception of droids." Spock stated, having been standing off to the side.

"You're damn right, it is. Considering an entire army of droids invaded our planet." Panaka scowled.

"And R2 was the one who helped disable that army with considerably less loss of life." Spoke calmly replied. "As for your argument on R2 being a simple machine, despite the obvious difference, we are all machines."

Panaka just looked at Spock like he had grown a second head. "What?"

"You may believe that as an organic being, you exist as a true-life form while R2 is not because in your eyes a droid is only a machine. V'Ger, the machine that upgraded R2 considered carbon life forms to be infestation, not true-life forms. Organic life begins in the womb of a mother who gives birth after both parents have conceived it, a droid's life begins in a factory after it is assembled. One does not simply appear into existence." Spock reasoned.

"Are you saying that we should give all droids basic rights even if they are incapable of understanding it?" Padme asked, wanting to take this step by step and rationally as she could.

"No. Given what we've seen, R2 and only a handful of droids can be considered an exception while most of the droids we've studied could only be little more advanced than animals. Still, that does not mean R2 will be the last droid to come forward as word of our galaxy and the United Federation of Planets spreads." Kirk answered. "However, given what we've seen from R2, and I know you've seen it too, Your Highness, it's not what a being is that matters, it's who they are. I advise you to think carefully because this has a chance to cause the trade agreements we're trying to build to fracture."

"Indeed. I have studied the remaining B1 battle droids your people gave us to study, and I can safely say that barring a sufficient upgrade, a B1 battle droid employed by the Trade Federation would not meet our standards for sentience. However, like Admiral Kirk suggests, it is possible that droids seeking the same as R2 would come to this system and try to seek asylum in our galaxy, leading to the possibility of many people trying to stop them just as many people who believe in droid rights will try to help them." Spock surmised. "This would likely lead to potential conflict in this galaxy that would spill over into ours."

Queen Amidala looked at her advisors, seeing they looked skeptical, but none were willing to speak up before looking to Kirk and Spock. "You truly believe that R2 should be granted rights."

"With respect, Your Highness, the question we are asking right now is do you believe that and are you willing to help him gain that?" Kirk asked.

Amidala took a deep breath and exhaled. "Truth be told, Admiral, I've known how droids are mostly treated…Or at the very least, I know how they are treated here on Naboo and hopefully how they are treated in the Republic. I've never been rude to a droid…But I know they are not like me or organic people. This issue here…It's never before occurred to me."

Kirk smiled slightly. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I don't think it's occurred to us either. Our galaxy is not dependent on droids the same as yours is. We've met droid civilizations and we've met machines that in their own way were as sentient V'Ger and R2 but they're not exactly part of the Federation, not because we didn't recognize them as sentient beings, but because they preferred to stay on their planets and retain their autonomy. They didn't have the best relationships with their creators and unfortunately, they were either wiped out or simply died out for reasons unknown."

"And you fear this could one day happen to us?" Queen Amidala asked.

"Not right now but in these times, you can never be sure." Kirk admitted.

Before Amidala could answer, Panaka's commlink beeped and he held it up. "Your Highness, Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi's ship has landed."

Amidala nodded. "Admiral, I will have my answer by the end of the day but we still have an appointment with the Gungans."

Kirk simply nodded.

Theed
Theed Spaceport

The Theed Spaceport was the primary spaceport servicing the planet Naboo and its plasma-exporting industry based in Theed. Major expansion of the spaceport began circa 65 BBY when the Royal House of Naboo entered into a trade agreement with the Trade Federation. These major additions saw completion following the Federation's invasion of the planet. Designed and constructed by Outer Rim Construction and Assembly, the spaceport at Theed was proposed to the Naboo by Damask Holdings and funded by the Trade Federation.

In keeping with Naboo aesthetics the spaceport, located in the lowland floodplains at the foot of the massive cliff atop which Theed was built, would adhere to the natural curve of the cliffs. The spaceport platform's sweeping curves also considered the flowing waters of the Virdugo Plunge, which were allowed to flow straight down past the spaceport through a large opening at the center of the platform; the waters were then rerouted underground after running through powerful, energy-creating turbines concealed in the platform. The spaceport was primarily a utilitarian spaceport dock, with a two-tier platform allowing for a variety of vessels to land from YT-1300 light freighters and Action VI transports to large AA-9 Coruscant freighters and CR90 corvettes. Administrative buildings were located on the Palace-side of the platform adjacent to the air traffic control building.

Next to the Virdugo Plunge was the rotunda which served as the main terminal building and the platform's power generator was directly below and connected with the Plasma Refinery Complex above. Stretching like cris-crossing fingers from the platform were several approach lanes that covered areas of reclaimed land. From the second level of the platform, multiple docking piers were erected to accommodate boarding rams from the many space liners that docked at the spaceport. Queen Amidala along with Admiral Kirk and Spock had arrived to greet Obi-Wan Kenobi in the new Mantaris class transport who stepped out of the ship once it had landed.

"Your Highness." Obi-Wan greeted with a bow.

"Welcome back, Master Kenobi." Amidala made her own returning bow. "I am grateful for your assistance."

"It is of no trouble." Kenobi then glanced to Kirk and Spock. "Admiral, Mr. Spock."

"Kenobi." Kirk greeted back. "How's your new student doing?"

"Doing well." Obi-Wan nodded. "And what is happening here?"

"A great deal." Kirk answered. "We'll talk on the way."

Mantaris Transport
En-Route to Otoh Gunga

"You are arguing the rights of a droid?"

Needless to say, Obi-Wan was surprised by the very idea of what had been happening. He glanced at R2 who was off to the side with Kirk while Spock and Obi-Wan were at the cockpit with Amidala.

Spock raised an eyebrow. "You sound surprised."

"Forgive me for saying but I doubt you'll get much progress. Droids are machines, they can't possess rights." Obi-Wan stated.

"And yet, we have seen machines that demonstrate the necessary traits to be considered sentient." Spock replied. "You were with us when we encountered V'Ger, Master Kenobi. Surely you cannot dismiss the fact that we were literally inside a living machine."

"Well, of course but V'Ger was much different, and I doubt it cared for being granted rights. The droids in our galaxy, even the ones built to mimic organics, are a mere collection of sub-processors and circuits. They cannot think or reason as an organic can." Obi-Wan stated.

"That might have been the case for R2 before, but you could sense V'Ger much in the same way as Master Qui-Gon and I did. R2 has been greatly changed by that encounter and his rights were recognized when he applied for asylum with us. Given it is the Jedi way to be compassionate to all beings, organic or not, I find myself curious by your reasoning, Master Kenobi." Spock stated.

Obi-Wan cleared his throat. "It's not that I don't believe a droid to be special but I'm not sure you understand that most of the galaxy do not see droids as living beings. R2 may be special but there are literally countless models like him that are shipped out of factories each day. Many of which have been used for war, we all know that from personal experience."

R2 looked at Obi-Wan. "Look, I know better than anyone how people feel about droids and how we're almost all basically the same when it comes down to the model, but you can admit, I'm no longer like any of them. Isn't that reason enough for me to have a choice to not be disassembled, mind wiped or dissected because of what I have become?"

Obi-Wan looked ready to speak but found himself unable to speak for a moment. "I suppose not. Still you might be fighting a losing battle here."

Amidala had a thoughtful look on her face as she looked at R2.