Maka - Eekai L4000 transport The Maka - Eekai L4000 Transport was a space transport design made by Gallofree Yards . Description . The Maka - Eekai L4000 Transport was a light transport of boxy design in existence near the beginning of the Clone Wars to the beginning of the Rebellion . History . The Maka - Eekai L4000 Transport was among the largest transports ever built for the independent freighter market . Although bulk freighters were often much more massive , the Maka - Eekai was still designed to be operated by a single independent captain , rather than a large corporation , well connected cartels , or a government . Though two - thirds the size of Gallofree Yards ' GR - 75 medium transport , the Maka - Eekai had less than 10 % of the cargo capacity due to its focus on comfort and maneuverability rather than just storage space . The hope was that wealthy independent merchants would pay a premium to haul their loads in comfort and style . The design program that produced this model began in the later days of the Old Republic , and the first model rolled off the line just as The Clone Wars began in earnest . As a result , sales were poor , prompting the manufacturer to cut the price considerably . Although this tactic did boost sales , the financial hit sustained by Gallofree Yards was considerable , and the manufacturer never truly recovered . No further production runs were attempted , and though the Maka - Eekai was a common sight in the years shortly after the Clone Wars , a few years after the Battle of Yavin most were gone . Because they shared many components with larger transports , most Maka - Eekai were eventually scrapped for parts to repair larger ships that had ten times the cargo capacity . Most Maka - Eekai were configured primarily as cargo haulers , with room for only a few passengers but hundreds of tons of cargo . It was possible to convert cargo space into roomy accommodations , at the rate of 10 tons of cargo per additional passenger ( to a max of 40 passengers ) . Many Maka - Eekai were produced with different cargo / passenger mixes as standard stock options at no additional cost . Of course , most of this tonnage went to stowage for six months of food for an additional person as well as more life support equipment , living facilities , and galley space . People stored in cargo space for only a very short trip , refugees for example , didn ' t take up anything close to 10 tons . Several of the Maka - Eekai were later used during the rise of the Empire period as smuggler ships , with at least one , the " Uhumele " , having a run - in with an Imperial contingent . The only armament in a stock Maka - Eekai was the two double laser cannons mounted in turrets on either side of the ship . However , a common addition was a set of linked laser cannons in a ball turret found at the end of a gun boom . The boom doubled as a stabilizing fin , swinging to the back of the ship for both landing and lightspeed travel but projecting below the ship for normal space travel . Access to the ball turret was through a tunnel running the length of the gun boom , a maneuver most easily accomplished in zero gravity . Because it was aimed at an independent market , the Maka - Eekai used a surprising amount of space for targeting computers , maneuvering thrusters , and sensors , making even the stock versions far more combat ready than their rotund appearance would suggest . Known vessels . A notable vessel of this class , the " Uhumele " , was used by a band of smugglers shortly after the end of the Clone Wars . They had several run - ins with famous figures of the time , including Sith Lord Darth Vader . Behind the scenes . According to Jason Fry ' s endnotes for " The Essential Guide to Warfare " , the L4000 transport escaping pursuing Imperial forces in one of the artwork in the book was intended to be the " Uhumele " , and it was based on the iconic shot of the " Millennium Falcon " escaping from pursuing Imperial forces at Hoth in " The Empire Strikes Back " .