I sold the Black Pearl.
After leaving the Jedi temple, we spent a week pulling everything not actually part of the ship out. Stuff like personal shield generators and small arms, as well as personal items left behind by the late crew and put it into storage to be handled later. I also had Jack slice the computer and dump the core in a portable one before doing a complete system reset, wiping the core.
We still don't know what was hidden in its depths, so we don't want anyone else to dig any treasures out before we get there, now do we?
Then we put it out on auction via one of Coruscants bigger and more reputable auction houses.
Bidding started at four million credits.
I purr slightly and tighten my hold around the pillar on the bridge of Clear Skies, as I pull up the account again.
Commander Swan glances back at me before chuckling, knowing full well what is making me so happy. She turns back forward as we head towards the hyperlimit, carrying a load of military rations to a space station close to Alderaan.
Why the navy wishes to check food from Coruscant, a planet covered with a city which imports all its food, rather than a planet that export food and is much closer I have no clue. But I won't complain. Even have a full load of passengers again.
Samantha Swan smiles and shakes her head. "The money doesn't go away just because you take your eyes off of it, Captain."
I trill in amusement and close the hologram down. "You never know. It might."
The Black Pearl went to an anonymous collector...for 11 million credits. To put things in perspective, Clear Skies, new, would cost almost a million credits.
A brand new, unmodified YT-1300 would cost a tad over a hundred thousand credits.
I tilt my head as Cormac takes us into hyperspace. "The question is what to do with it all. Expanding the company is a given...but how...Other than your bonuses that is."
Jack Melton, the com/comp tech snorts. "Well, you COULD buy about a hundred and ten light freighters. That's a respectable fleet."
I shake my head. "Would be more like 90, considering we would need to keep the money for repairs and crew...but that's one of the options. Could also get into bulk hauling or even mining."
Swan chuckles. "Didn't you say mining was 'woman's work'?" she comments with a raised eyebrow, and I nod and answer.
"That's because it is. But I wouldn't be the one doing the mining, would it?"
"What about droids?" Sarah Honor, my chief engineer asks as she sticks her head out of an air vent in the ceiling, making us all twitch in surprise before looking up at her.
She grins. "Sorry, Skipper, was trying to track down a glitch in the airflow. My cabin is four degrees colder than it should be and Tel'te doesn't like it."
I blink at her "Your cabin is thirty meters aft and a deck down..." I say and she nods unhappily.
"Yep. Remind me that if I ever get my hands on the people who designed this environmental system, to have a talk with them about running conduits in a way that makes any kind of sense" she answers, before pulling her head back up and continue her trek through the cramped air system.
Shaking my head I think for a moment. "She does have a point...I think" I say and Jack nods.
"I looked at some of the programming you did on the Crows, Captain. I can't make head or tails of it, but I can tell it IS much more efficient and effective than normal droid programming. I bet droids with that kind of programming would sell well if we found effective chassis for them" he says while leaning back in his chair.
I slowly nod. "I'll think about it. But first, I think expanding what we do well is the first priority. I'm thinking of picking up ten or so light freighters would be a good expansion of operations. Commander, would you mind making some research into ship models?"
Commander Swan smiles and shakes her head. "Not at all. Mr Cormac, would you mind assisting me? You are better informed than me on civilian ships" she asks him.
Cormac nods. "Sounds like fun. I got the first watch so I should be free in about three hours..."
She nods. "That's fine. We are in hyperspace for the next four days anyway, so not like there is any actual hurry."
I stretch my wings and then climb down from the pillar. "I'll be in my quarters if there is a problem" and yawn as I exit the bridge.
Time to get some sleep.