The combat droid designs offered by Vigilance Technologies, based out of Lorrd, consist of six distinct models. The KSRR-001, the AS-003, the I-002, the T-009, the S-005 and the HC-001; there is no current Imperial military reporting name designated for the designs. At this time, the Defense Committee has a record of zero sales of all models; any models seen in service are in the hands of Vigilance Technologies and Mr. Stark, himself. First, I will present an overview and technical assessment of each design, followed by an assessment of the Droid Revolt incident in relation to Mr. Stark, followed by my conclusion and recommendation to the Committee.

The KSRR-001, or Kill-shot Rapid Reconnaissance series one, is a repulsorlift equipped, surface battle droid, equipped with a BlasTech RT-97C Heavy Blaster Rifle. It is capable of moving up to one-hundred-twenty-eight kilometers per hour, and lifting as high as six meters. It is equipped with a hybrid droid brain-AI hardware package, which utilized in all Vigilance Technologies droid designs. According to Vigilance Technologies, it is designed to serve in the role of infantry and marksmanship, with a reported ninety-eight percent accuracy rate that is untested by the Empire.

The AS-003, or Airstrike series three, is a surface based, aerial battle droid, designed for anti-air and anti-vehicular operations, equipped with a modified blaster cannon of unknown design and twelve micro concussion missiles, utilizing a repulsor and air cushion design similar to the KSRR-001, in addition to an ion engine to achieve flight. It has a flight ceiling of one-hundred meters, with a maximum speed of one-thousand-three-hundred kilometers per hour.

The I-002, or Interceptor series two, is a surface based, space capable, battle droid, designed for anti-fighter and planetary defense duties. It is equipped with two rotating laser canons and a rotating ion cannon, that I will concede give the design an almost unmatched rate of fire when compared to similar designs. It is outfitted with two ion engines that give it a flight speed of one-thousand-three-hundred kilometers per hour in atmosphere, and one-hundred megalights in vacuum. It is equipped with an unspecified deflector shield generator. It is reputed to have a ninety-two percent success rate against organic pilots in Clone Wars and modern era spacecraft; this is unverified by Imperial sources.

The T-009, or Thunderbold Interceptor series nine, armed with two heavy laser cannons and two variable use warhead launchers; it is designed for interception duties. Equipped with four ion engines, it is capable of a maximum speed of one-thousand-nine-hundred kilometers per hour in atmosphere, and apparently capable of even faster flight through use of its shielding through unknown means, and one-hundred-fifteen megalights in vacuum. It is also equipped with a 1.5 class hyperdrive capable of three jumps, and an unidentified deflector shield generator. In addition to the Vigilance Technologies standard droid brain, it is also fitted with a Cybot Galactica Ace-3 Droid Brain, which has been based upon the research conducted by the Separatists during the Clone Wars. Cybot Galactic was fully partnered with, in the apparent hopes of utilizing name identification to drive sales.

The S-005, or Striker Assault series five, is armed with a turreted laser cannon, an ion cannon, two dual turreted turbolaser cannons, and two three-tube warhead launchers, and is designed as a heavy assault and anti-capital ship craft. Equipped with six ion engines, it is capable of one-thousand kilometers per hour in atmosphere and one-hundred megalights in vacuum. It is equipped with a class 2 hyperdrive and unidentified deflector shield generator. It is equipped with the same hardware package as the T-009. It was designed with the intention to be utilized in unmanned anti-piracy actions.

The HC-001, or HoverCam model one, is an aerial unit, armed with a stun projector, which is intended for surveillance duties. It is capable of one-hundred kilometers per hour and has a flight ceiling of one-hundred-five meters with a repulsorlift, air cushion propulsion system. Unlike other Vigilance Technologies designs, it is equipped solely with the Cybot Galactica Ace-3 Droid Brain. It appears to be designed for use by law enforcement agencies.

At the end of the previous year, Imperial Center experienced a horrific terrorist attack which utilized a virus to turn most droids upon the population. While we know much of the details in regards to this event, we must address the fact that the applicant, and his droids, were involved in the event. Mr. Stark entered in the third hour of the crisis, in his personal YV-666, escorted by an Tri-Mark VII Interceptor, YV-929 Armed Freighter, Pursuer-class Enforcement Ship, ILH-KK Citadel-class Civilian Cruiser, Z-95 Clone Headhunter, AIAT Gunship and Rainhawk-class Transport, all modified, as well as six S-005s and twelve T-009s, all of which disembarked from Mr. Starks personal yacht, a modified C-3 Passenger Liner.

Imperial forces identified the droids, at the time engaging any droids showing signs of hostile intentions, in this case their vector indicating an attack angle. When engaged, the droids responded with lethal force. Mr. Stark claims this was a defense mechanism, however the fact remains that his designs openly engaged in combat with Imperial forces until he issued a built in killswitch that is not mentioned in any public documents in regards to his designs. It is my opinion that the presence of such a killswitch is troubling. His escort unit defied Imperial orders to ground themselves, with at least one of seven craft evading capture and imprisonment by Imperial forces.

Due to the simple fact that all designs are equipped with Artificial Intelligence, and therefore at least partially sentient, it is my opinion that these designs in question are in violation of the Responsible Sale of Drones Act. It is the AI that caused my designation of these designs as droids rather than drones. It would be a violation of Imperial law to grant an Aurek-class License to Vigilance Technologies for their designs in current form, thus I recommend a rejection of the application process.

Chairman Oriel, members of the committee, Senator Kirkwood, I've been instructed by the author of the Responsible Sale of Drones Act to be as helpful as possible in providing you with information as to the intent of the law and its spirit. First, it should be noted that Mr. Stark is operating under a misconception about the law—Aurek-class licenses do not, in fact, apply to specific drone designs; one license is granted to one reputable company, entitling it to sell any and all drone designs (designs which must, however, be provided to the committee for review).

Because of this, it is especially important that the committee husband the Aurek-class license carefully. The Responsible Sale of Drones Act is intended to accommodate the most reputable companies, which the Empire can trust not to sell dangerous weapons to dangerous people, or to misappropriate these weapons for personal use (joyriding, etc.). If a company fails to meet these exacting standards, it is incumbent on this committee to doubt whether the company should be excepted from the committee's oversight (companies without an Aurek-class license must have their drone sales approved by the committee on a case-by-case basis).

The stakes cannot be higher—drones are an inexpensive way for actors to field large numbers of deadly starfighters, including, conceivably, questionable regimes and rogue actors on the Outer Rim that don't otherwise have the budget or infrastructure for a starfighter program. In requiring review of drone sales on a case-by-case basis, the Responsible Sale of Drones Act ensures these weapons are (as the title suggests) sold responsibly.

The facts of the droid uprising on Imperial Center are clear—Vigilance-made drones employed deadly force on Imperial starfighters. Then they exploded. Mr. Stark maintains that these drones were for his personal use, and are not representative of the market-models. Having been self-destructed rather than handed over to Imperial scrutiny, the committee will have to decide whether it's able to believe this claim, or whether the market-model designs Vigilance has provided to the committee are, in fact, the only designs in existence.

Moreover, the distinguished members of this committee must decide whether, in light of the Imperial Center incident and the fact that Vigilance Technologies remains little-known or -trusted despite its quite recent and meteoric rise to prominence, whether the company belongs in the same category as a Kuat Drive Yards or a Sienar Fleet Systems—the sort of reputable company that the Aurek-class license is meant to reward.

Thank you for your consideration and good luck in your deliberations, Senators.