3-Z light freighter

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Nova-Drive was a small Mid-Rim ship manufacturer that sold most of its small range of freighters in systems along the Rimma Trade Route. It did not design its own models, instead it licensed or purchased designs from other firms and manufactured modified versions for niche markets. Nova-Drive sub-licensed the manufacturing plans of Corellian Engineering Corporation's YT-1200 a few months after the latter company phased it out in favor of later production models. Though CEC deemed the line too dated for active production, Nova-Drive saw an opportunity to upgrade the design to make it competitive with current offerings in the independent spacer market. The hull was stretched and reinforced, allowing for more powerful engines, larger cargo bays, and more spacious living quarters. The 3-Z was as fast at sublight speeds as a stock YT-1300, and featured some moderate improvements over the YT-1300--the central-dorsal mounted sensor dish provided an excellent scanning radius; the standard port-starboard mounted laser cannons provided excellent forward-above-below-rear firing arcs; and the forward-opening cargo bay allowed easy access to the cargo bays. Additionally, the cockpit featured a more open cockpit canopy than the YT-1300, and the primary escape pod was in the primary crew area.

Because Nova-Drive did not have to include R&D costs in the price tag, the Nova-Drive 3-Z was priced very competitively. CEC was surprised to discover that its cast-off design, revamped and upgraded, was giving its current YT offerings a run for their money.

[edit] Sources

• Stock Ships
• Planets of the Galaxy, Volume One