Consular - class cruiser The " Consular " - class cruiser , commonly referred to as Republic cruiser , was a Corellian Engineering Corporation starship used by the Galactic Republic to transport Jedi and diplomats to troubled spots across the galaxy . Characteristics . The " Consular " - class space cruiser was a starship designed and manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation and used by the Galactic Republic to transport Jedi and diplomats to troubled spots across the galaxy . Civilian models of the " Consular " - class cruiser were used for straight - forward transportation and were indistinct . Craft of the Consular class in diplomatic service were painted red to declare their diplomatic immunity and to also serve as a warning not to attack . Red was the color of ambassadorial relations and neutrality for capital ships of the Republic and had been so for many centuries . During the Clone Wars , these cruisers were painted the same colors as Republic attack cruisers . Any ship hailing from Coruscant would be painted entirely red ; others would only have stripes . The Republic cruiser was equipped with a salon pod that served as a secure meeting area for Republic representatives and leaders of groups in conflict . There was also a variety of salon pods that catered to different alien species . In emergency situations , the entire salon pod could eject from the mother craft , and with its own sensors , life support equipment , and engines , protect the diplomatic crew on board . The craft also carried a number of escape pods . The cruiser ' s total capacity was 9 crew and 16 passengers . For increased security on diplomatic missions , the organic crew was kept to a minimum , with many ship functions attended to by droids . Although the diplomatic versions were unarmed , various cruisers were modified to have double turbolaser cannons and two concussion missile launchers installed and to serve in the Judicial Forces and regional security forces , at least some of which were then re - designated as either Republic light assault cruiser s or Republic frigates . Others were modified to serve as troop carriers and command ships . History . Consular cruisers entered service late in the time period of the Republic . An early version of the ship was built after the Ruusan Reformation and was put into service by 990 BBY . They were created due to budget cuts that required the building of new utilitarian and unostentatious starships ; it was that quality of them that attracted the Jedi to their use . During the prelude to the Invasion of Naboo in 32 BBY , it was a " Consular " - class cruiser , " Radiant VII " , that transported Qui - Gon Jinn and Obi - Wan Kenobi to the Trade Federation battleship " Saak ' ak " orbiting Naboo . The ship was assigned a skeleton crew of one pilot and a captain . Both died when the Trade Federation destroyed the vessel . Militarized " Consular " - classes known as Republic light assault cruiser s served the Republic Navy in the Stark Hyperspace War and the Yinchorri Uprising . Those vessels had cannons and extra armor added to their design . During the Clone Wars , some " Consular " - class ships went through the Charger c70 retrofit , having weapon batteries added and serving as small frigates in the Republic wartime Navy . They possessed a combination of firepower and speed that made them valuable components of the Navy . Civilians such as Noggox the Hutt also used " Consulars . " One of his freighters was captured by the pirate Dool Pundar . The militarized " Consular " - class frigates had a paint job similar to the " Venator " - class Star Destroyers . The tradition of painting strictly diplomatic vessels red continued even into the days of the Galactic Empire . Princess Leia Organa ' s vessel , the " Tantive IV " , was striped in red to indicate diplomatic immunity . A handful of armed cruisers were still in operation throughout the galaxy during the Galactic Civil War . The smuggler Rif Taranu aided the Rebel Alliance by using his modified cruiser " Dead Reckoning " to transport goods for them . Several were seen at the Jubilee Wheel early in the Yuuzhan Vong War , and participated in the Battle of Yag ' Dhul . Behind the scenes . The early designs of the " Consular " - class cruiser had a smooth , " Coruscant - look " to it . After several iterations , George Lucas and Doug Chiang decided that the cruiser should have a strong visual link to the original trilogy . With that direction , Chiang and the Art Department devised a ship with a more rectilinear profile that echoed the design of " blockade runner " . One of the last additions to the cruiser was the small antenna array that rests above the cockpit . Lucas felt that the ship needed " a little extra something " to guide the audience ' s eyes to that section of the ship . In " " the Consular cruiser was mistakenly drawn like a Personal Luxury Yacht 3000 .