AotC Technology page: apparently unshielded Trade Fed "

[Aubri]

I don't think any strange explanations are necessary for the unshielded "Core Ships" destroyed on Geonosis.

Remember that Trade Fed "battleships" are actually converted freighters. It makes sense to have an command portion--the ball--and a freight portion with lots of space for cargo. Instead of offloading cargo, the command section detatches, hooks up to an outgoing cargo section, and flies away, much like a modern freight train or barge. Clearly, they weren't expecting an attack; the undefended command sections were caught on the ground. Presumably, the modified "battleships" use the huge empty space available in the cargo section to mount energy generation and shielding equipment, and the bulk of its weaponry.


Also, regarding Count Dooku's ship, I'm not sure we can reliably assume that Dooku unfurled his sail before, for example, Yoda picked up his staff. It's not unusual in moviemaking to show one person's view of some events, then switch to another character during the same period. I would posit that it took several minutes to reach orbit, but it would be quite silly to show the scene between Anakin and Amidala in the hangar after his departure, then switch to show Dooku deploy his sail, then go back to Geonosis. Rather, we take care of Dooku's story (getting to orbit and escaping the system) and close the chapter as far as he's concerned, then switch to the planet and follow that story for a while.

[Sea Skimmer]

To address both you points.

ATOC ICS rates the Core ships as having massive shielding and 280 defensive lasers. The unknow gunfire directed at the initial gunship attack suggests that at least some of the armament could be brought online. None of the driod fire such bolts, though it is possibul they where from ground batteries mentioned in the script but nt shown.

Star Wars normally shows events chronologically.