Probably the worst thing about droids that any organic has to deal with is the lack of socialization. Don't get me wrong, droids are incredibly efficient, especially at the specific task they were created for. But take this droid pilot, for example. It's incredibly specialized, and it just doesn't have the ability to engage in even basic conversation to keep the mood up. Of course, droids can be replaced by androids, but the Empire has not practiced this due to... well, to put it mildly, rapid population growth. Had we allowed droids to be used on a large scale, the Empire might have faced an unemployment crisis.

But in this galaxy... Well, most of the droids I've seen are programmed too simply to block the effects of the Force. If these Organics had developed stable programming and/or simple anti-psionic field generators, this entire galaxy might be filled by droids by now.

Ah, well, there are these fanatics who worship this Entity. What did they call them? Jedi?

[Sunfire] folded its solar sails and prepared to enter Lothal's atmosphere. I don't know why, but this relatively simple addition to any starship was not used much in this galaxy. Perhaps it was the constant need for maintenance, or a distrust of any form of artificial intelligence, but in this part of the galaxy I was about the only one to install them on my ships. Maybe that's why they were the fastest, well, by the standards of the local pirates.

Honestly, Lothal can hardly be considered a developed point on the galactic map. Huge areas of fields, bantha pens, and generally empty terrain.

In general, it is hard to say that the administration has done nothing to improve Lothal's development and situation. Take, for example, the annual exhibition dedicated to the development and prosperity of Lothal. Of course I participated! I was offered free publicity for my solar sails in exchange for being introduced as "the best sailmaker in Lothal". It didn't matter that I didn't work for Lothal, but merely had an automated office on the outskirts of town that took orders for the transportation of goods.

It was my official headquarters, and it was the planet I visited the most, but it still didn't make me a full-fledged shipbuilder. If it had been easier to get a shipbuilder's license, I might never have thought of building a mobile shipyard and would have just had an orbital station here on Lothal. In that case, however, it would have been much harder to produce unregistered ships.

That's why I'm known here as the head of [Outer Wind] and the best (and only) solar sail maker on Lothal. Of course, I improve ships and build various inventions, but I am not well known for that.

Passing through the atmosphere, our ship descended to a specially designated platform in the middle of a field being prepared for the celebration of the 44th anniversary of the Lothal Development and Prosperity Exhibition. When the ship's feet finally touched the platform, I finally got out of my seat. As I walked to the airlock, I grabbed my standard psionic field suppression belt. After securing it, I opened the airlock.

Almost immediately I was hit by strong waves of psionic radiation. In general, it is similar to a headache. A constant psychological buzz that tries to kill you. It's terrible.

I clapped twice, and the loader droids began carrying my prototypes of the equipment I will be displaying at this year's expo. It looks like I'll be the only ship improvement company on Lothal this year. No one even from Mon Kalamari wants to visit this backward place.

I stepped back from the gangway to let a small air truck pass by, loaded on the [Sunfire]. This truck was perfect for transporting a single bantha or delivering crops from a small farm. It has rounded corners and special folding walls to make it easier to put the banthi inside. By the way, there was a built-in camera at the bottom of the truck.

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"It's incredible that not a year goes by without a new product for sale! Maybe in 10 years you'll be able to buy your own territory on Lothal for shipbuilding."

"Mr. Hart, what a surprise! I didn't expect to see you so soon."

"You know, you can just call me Henry, but organizing all this requires direct control."

Henry Hart. A dark-haired xenos whose species is called human. Today he already wears a formal suit for meetings. An innovator and probably the basis for the entire modernization of Lothal. He has been the Minister of Development and Technology of Lothal for 40 years. He is said to have connections in the Trade Federation, but that does not help the development of this investment pit.

Why is Lothal so backward that even selling to megacorporations is not an opportunity for rapid development? Enter the Bantha Barons and Agribusinesses. The problem is that they are, well, not interested in industry or mining on Lothal. They want Lothal to remain a place with easy access to cheap labor and vast areas suitable for growing bantha and food. Probably the only reason I am invited to Lothal is because the agribusinesses are also looking for a way to get their goods to the central galaxy cheaply. Therefore, alternative transport routes such as the Outer Wind are not considered foreign or undesirable. All to reduce the Trade Federation's monopoly, of course.

There are enough piranhas in that pool already, so any other corporation will just get gobbled up until they back off.

"I'm not sure anything that different happens every year. New products, maybe, but the customer base generally doesn't change. What difference does it make if the same products are grown and shipped to the same markets? It's just a crab pit that never changes."

"Unfortunately, that's true. Are you sure you don't want to work for Lothal? I could help you with the Capitol elections. I could be a "shipbuilding expert" or something."

"Ha! Until I get an official license to build ships, I won't get involved in this complicated scheme. Also, any of my development or production projects will be blocked. It's not very profitable for me unless you get me a certified Republic permit to build a mini-shipyard in Lothal's orbit."

"You know that's impossible. I'm afraid of how much pressure I'd have to take to even try to get it through the Capitol."

"Right, and until that changes, I'm not likely to change my mind about moving here."

"Okay, okay, what did you bring this year?"

"A couple of upgraded crop choppers and a new repulsor truck."

"All with certification?"

"Still in the works."

Henry sighed.

"Well, good luck with your preparations for the expo."

Why can I safely sell unregistered equipment without getting arrested? Well, because I wasn't officially a manufacturer, and I was backed by the local government. Of course, selling unregistered parts is not completely legal, but here in the Outer Rim, the law was not clear about it. I can still sell them as long as I pay all the taxes. Of course, this prevented me from selling my components in the Core or Mid Rim, but it still left an incredible number of places to sell.

Not to mention the pirates, who were willing to buy anything that improved their ships' combat performance.

I left the ship and walked over to my repulsor truck. Sitting in the 2 driver's seat, I'm ready to check out the office. I wonder if there will be any personal customers.