Supreme Chancellor Palpatine contracted Kuati engineers to develop a massive new warship for the Republic Navy at the beginning of the Clone Wars. It came to be known as "Project Sarlacc" and was considered a state secret in the Republic. They had completed their work in 20 BBY, but Separatist spies on Kuat had reported the completion of the vessel to their superiors. Admiral Merak, a Mon Calamari officer in the CIS navy, decided to hijack the ship and use it himself.