The BC-714 luxury transport, alternatively known as the InterGalactic Banking Clan Starship or InterGalactic Banking Clan ship, represented a refined space transport crafted by the Techno Union specifically for the InterGalactic Banking Clan. Given its status as one of the swiftest starships present in the galaxy, the Banking Clan utilized the BC-714 as a means of conveyance for its Muun executives when journeying to various star systems for conducting business affairs. The BC-714 boasted an opulent interior, which frequently resulted in its passengers developing a disdain for less lavish modes of transport.
Chairman San Hill of the Banking Clan employed a BC-714 luxury transport as his own personal starship. During the period of the Clone Wars, a Separatist fleet, with General Grievous's flagship, the Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence, at its head, included within its ranks a pair of BC-714 vessels.
The BC-714 luxury transport stood out as one of the most rapid and comfortable transport vessels that could be found in the galaxy. Characterized by its sleek, streamlined, and rocket-esque form, the BC-714, measuring 55.2 meters in length, was engineered with aerodynamic efficiency as a primary consideration. The transport was equipped with twin ion engines, which delivered substantial propulsive force both within an atmosphere and in the vacuum of space. These thrusters allowed it to achieve an atmospheric velocity of 1,800 km/h. Furthermore, the ship incorporated a sophisticated navigation computer and an advanced hyperdrive system, possessing a Class 1 rating, along with a secondary hyperdrive system rated at Class 6. Two different configurations of the ship existed, one featuring dual engines, and the other having four.
Functioning essentially as a pleasure yacht, the BC-714 provided a plethora of amenities tailored for the affluent, including lavish staterooms for its passengers, a holotheater capable of seating twenty individuals, and a dining area that rivaled the most exquisite restaurants located on Muunilinst. A complement of seventeen crew members was necessary to operate the ship during a typical voyage, with accommodations available for up to thirty passengers. Despite being unarmed, the BC-714 compensated for its absence of weaponry through its exceptional speed and robust shields, rendering it ideally suited for the InterGalactic Banking Clan executives of the Muun species, who utilized the vessel as an emblem of their elevated status.
The vessel possessed a cargo capacity reaching up to eighty metric tons and could sustain its occupants with consumables for a duration of up to six months. Typically, the ship did not accommodate any supplementary complement vessels. The acquisition cost for a brand-new BC-714 luxury transport was 1.7 million credits, while a pre-owned unit could be obtained for 980,000 credits. Access to the ship was limited to members affiliated with the InterGalactic Banking Clan.
The BC-714 luxury transport was conceived and manufactured by the Techno Union on behalf of the InterGalactic Banking Clan. It also gained the moniker "InterGalactic Banking Clan Starship" owing to its utilization by the financial conglomerate for purposes of interstellar business-related travel. The transport served as a luxurious conveyance for the Muun executives within the Banking Clan and garnered considerable prestige. The BC-714 offered such a high degree of comfort that passengers often developed a sense of dissatisfaction with alternative, less opulent vessels after experiencing its amenities.
San Hill, the chairman of the Banking Clan, made use of a BC-714 as his personal starship during the Separatist Crisis. During the Clone Wars conflict, a pair of BC-714 luxury transports were integrated into a Separatist convoy commanded by General Grievous's Subjugator-class flagship, the Malevolence.
The BC-714 luxury transport was the creation of Marc Gabbana for George Lucas's 2002 cinematic production, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, intended as a starship for the InterGalactic Banking Clan. Lucas stipulated a design aesthetic reminiscent of retro styling for the Banking Clan and Commerce Guild starships, drawing inspiration from rocket ships prevalent in 1950s science-fiction films. In his design of the Banking Clan ship, Gabbana incorporated the capability for vertical takeoffs and landings. However, the initial concept art was deemed too sleek, prompting the artist to augment the starship's bulk in order to align it more closely with the established Star Wars universe. Ultimately, he introduced a darkened aperture near the ship's apex to disrupt its otherwise cylindrical configuration.
According to the InterGalactic Banking Clan entry within the original StarWars.com Databank, the starships are not distinctly visible in the final version of the film. Furthermore, Kevin Beentjes's StarWars.com blog post, entitled "Back from the Drawing Board, Part 2: Repurposed Star Wars Technology," asserts that the starship is entirely absent from the film. The BC-714's designation was initially referenced in the 2009 Star Wars Roleplaying Game supplemental publication, The Clone Wars Campaign Guide. The ship's depiction on the card featured in the Attack of the Clones set of the Star Wars Trading Card Game showcases it equipped with four ion thrusters, in contrast to the twin-ion engine configuration described in The Clone Wars Campaign Guide.
- The Art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Star Wars Trading Card Game — Attack of the Clones (Card: InterGalactic Banking Clan Starship) (backup link) (First mentioned, simultaneous with The Art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones)
- The Clone Wars Campaign Guide (First identified as BC-714 luxury transport)
- Hill, San in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- InterGalactic Banking Clan in the Databank (content now obsolete; backup link)
- Repurposed Star Wars Technology - Back from the Drawing Board, Part 2 on StarWars.com (content now obsolete; backup link)