The interior of the command center at first glance evoked memories from the second episode of the prequel trilogy.
"Attack of the Clones."
That very moment when Count Dooku speaks with the separatist leadership in a Geonosian hive.
Making that famous surprised face at the fact that "the Jedi somehow have an entire army."
And then receiving from the formal Geonosian leader—Poggle the Lesser—the blueprints of what in the future, after thorough "filing down," will turn into the first Death Star.
That very moment.
The central part of the room was occupied by a massive round table, in the center of which burned red-orange lights of illumination and projections.
Unlike Republican and Imperial technology, this specimen of Geonosian mechanisms had projector lenses located above the table, so rays connecting the projectors to figures before the eyes of those gathered were striking.
As if a sentient had frozen somewhere up there, controlling puppets suspended on thinnest light-threads.
Around the perimeter of the room, behind the backs of those gathered, vertical neon-yellow-green monitors were visible, mixed with the more familiar horizontal devices.
The alternation of old Geonosian and modern Dominion screens was quite curious.
"We left the restored Geonosian equipment," Colonel Niovi explained, nodding toward the specimens of old technology. "It is fully functional. External transmitters are disconnected. The possibility of tracking this technology's operation is completely excluded."
The Colonel took a seat on my left.
On the right was Captain Pellaeon.
A little beyond him—Rukh.
On the left, not counting Niovi himself, only one man from the Horrn base staff was present.
A personality unknown to me personally, but from Niovi's reports, I roughly understood who he was.
"Good," I sat at the head of the round table.
In principle, that is not a completely correct statement.
It is impossible to determine the head of a round geometric figure.
But counting the number of chairs on the left and right already occupied by the sentients at the meeting—easily.
It turned out they were an equal number in both cases.
And only the chair provided to me made for an odd total number of furniture.
"Let us begin," I announced. "Colonel Niovi, report on the happenings on Horrn."
The garrison commandant on the planet leaned slightly forward and pointed to the holographic buildings in the center of the round table.
"At present, we have fully restored the operability of Foundry Number Four," at the mention of this production complex, the mass of volumetric projections changed.
Part of the structures increased in scale, while the rest dissolved beyond the projection's boundaries.
"During the Clone Wars and after, it served as a hidden base, factory, and repair shipyard on the planet," the Colonel continued. "A former separatist droid production shop served as the base. It was hidden from detection among the wreckage of the main Trade Federation ships that were destroyed during the bombardment of Khorrn at the end of the Clone Wars. Currently, we are using the same cover, protecting us from scanning from orbit."
Plan of Foundry Number Four.
From previous reports, I knew that the Geonosians, at the separatists' government's suggestion, had used Horrn for the illegal production of various combat droid models hidden from the Galactic Republic.
Factories such as Foundry Four managed to produce millions of combat droids.
Almost immediately after the start of the Clone Wars, the Republic discovered the facilities on Horrn.
After which the logical development was the planet turning into a combat zone.
After several failed attempts, the Republic no longer wanted to spend resources on capturing the planet.
The sector fleet shelled Khorrn from orbit, destroying dozens of core ships on the surface at the time.
Most of the production enterprises were destroyed or critically damaged by the orbital bombardment.
Foundry Four received significant damage: all but two of its landing shafts were destroyed.
After the end of the Clone Wars, separatist refugees under the command of that male individual sitting furthest on my left moved to the ruins of Foundry Four.
After repair work, they were able to restore a significant part of the production potential.
And used it in their own interests.
The hologram itself gave a clear idea of what Foundry Four is.
Settling the planet, the Geonosians tried to build their traditional hive spires to house droid foundries on Horrn.
However, the planet's thin crust led to the destruction of the hive spires before a droid could be created.
To counter this, the Geonosians began "digging out" hives, implanting them into the soil and rock formations instead of erecting them on the surface.
Like other foundries, Foundry Four was dug into Horrn's surface.
Before and during the Clone Wars, Foundry Four was a functioning labyrinth of five separate underground factories unified by a central command center.
Each factory had two landing shafts for raw material supply and for exporting finished products.
Furthermore, they served as exhaust ventilation holes for factory waste.
The shafts were four hundred meters deep, with a landing platform the size of a corvette.
The landing pads were equipped with four tractor beam emitters to facilitate landing.
Only two landing pads remained in operation when the Clan Assembly took control of the foundry.
The control center was located over a large magma chamber.
Previously used as a monitoring station, the Clan Assembly used it for work meetings.
At present, through the efforts of locals and Dominionites, Foundry Four has been restored to its original state.
And is fully functional, unlike its recent condition.
Three and a half hundred refugees began producing starship spare parts and armament to the order of various groups.
Among which were representatives of the Rebel Alliance, pirates, and mercenaries.
In short, all those who in one way or another obtained separatist warships.
The Galactic Empire found out.
As a result, during the Galactic Civil War, Horrn again became the site of a large-scale battle.
"At present, we are conducting work on restoring Foundries One through Three, as well as Five," the Colonel continued. "We melt part of the parts ourselves based on the equipment of the fourth shop. We partially use old spare parts from core ships that are too expensive to restore."
"I see no point in restoring them at all," Colonel Niovi stated, grimacing. "The LH-1740 design is too conspicuous and outdated, not to mention that they are essentially poorly armed for transports."
Judging by his expression—this conversation had been started by said sentient more than once.
"I can name sixty-six million reasons why I would recommend restoring all thirty-seven LH-1740s found by my group on the planet," the only man I hadn't met personally until now said.
"Too inflated a figure to be a reality," Captain Pellaeon said in a calm tone.
"But it is so," the man said impassively. "That is the volume of an LH-1740's cargo hold. Sixty-six million cubic meters of cargo can be transported by just one starship of this type."
"This is our chief engineer," Colonel Niovi said instantly. "Kasik of Clan Korsa. A native of the planet Galla, as are his people. He represents the Assembly."
The Korsa Clan Assembly is the government that managed the refugees from the planet Galla on Horrn.
Kasik is the title of the head of the Assembly.
Actually, this man's grandfather stood at the origin of the settlement on Horrn.
But he passed away under mysterious circumstances and the locals could not determine the cause of the former leader's death.
Until Captain Irv, in pursuit of his own planet-base, discovered Horrn for the Dominion.
And our garrison was transferred here.
Along with several Jensaarai defenders and a Dominion counterintelligence detachment.
After the necessary filtering measures were carried out, those jealous of the current Kasik's grandfather were established, and their guilt in the murder—fully proven.
This, as well as food supplies and the promise of a better future for the local children, brought the clan to our side.
They continue to work quietly on Horrn, satisfied with our patronage, protection, and all the necessary guarantees due to Dominion citizens, in exchange for impeccable work.
And most importantly—a stable demand for their production.
Despite Horrn being our secret forge-world, and all its enterprises—under the full jurisdiction of the Dominion, the local residents are satisfied to have taken the management posts.
And now they have no headache regarding survival.
They do not strive to break with the planet on which a new generation of colonists has already managed to grow.
And we, in turn, do everything so this small collective lacks for nothing.
But continues to provide us with everything necessary.
"Are you certain these ships can be restored, Kasik?" I inquired.
"Anything assembled from mechanisms can be restored," the man cut him off. "Given the desire to invest money. I doubt that among the galaxy's shipbuilding enterprises there are those building such large and high-capacity ships in mass. Any of those Lucrehulk-class battleships you delivered to us in orbit—is already a combat ship, not a transport as it was originally. It is capable of carrying about five million cubic meters of cargo. The LH-3210—the cargo version of the Lucrehulk—will carry only five times as much. A Techno Union Hardcell-class interstellar transport will deliver about twelve and a half thousand tons. Your beloved Action-series freighters will carry more, of course, but…"
The man fell silent, realizing Colonel Niovi was staring at him.
"I apologize," the Kasik said quickly. "I only wanted to say that core ships are quite good ships for transporting large volumes of cargo from Horrn. Only a separatist supply ship can carry more cargo—five million tons of cargo. Specifically tons, not conventional standard cubic meters."
"The cargo capacity of Dominion transport ships is known to me," I said. "Furthermore, I possess mathematical abilities as well. By simple calculation, it can be understood that a core ship is capable of carrying sixty-six thousand tons of cargo, while an Action IV—seventy-five. Even the cargo version of the Lucrehulk carries less—because a significant part was devoted to storing droids, military equipment, and personnel. This is simple math, and it is unlikely that a man of your status and intellect was unable to perform these calculations. This, and the fact that you interrupted Colonel Niovi's report, indicates that you are lobbying for the revival of the LH-1740 core ship production project."
The man looked at me slightly frightened.
Yes, we were not personally acquainted, so he had not yet encountered how quickly I can draw conclusions from indirect evidence.
"Sir, I ask for forgiveness for interrupting Colonel Niovi," he said embarrassedly. "Yes, my people are lobbying for this project… I thought it was a suitable time to talk with you about it…"
He fell silent, unable to find the right words.
"We will talk," I promised. "But after Colonel Niovi finishes his part of the report."
"Yes, sir," the Kasik said stifledly.
"…thus by the end of the year we will launch all five foundries and will be able to produce up to five million combat droids. Each type: B-2 and B-1. Every week," Niovi said. "Of course, we are talking about improved droid models. At the same time, ore production rates will not decrease. We are preparing to open additional mines."
"Of course," I confirmed. "Can Vulture production be expanded?"
"Yes, sir," Niovi confirmed. "Up to a thousand machines weekly. We have practically reached such rates already. This is the rate of just one foundry. Launch the other four—the rates will increase to five thousand every standard week."
Regarding whether it is a lot or a little—receiving thirty-five thousand outdated and quickly annihilated by the enemy Vultures every thirty-five days—one must consider that no droid starfighter project in the context of "cheap, mass, and efficient" has yet taken off.
"For now, that is enough," I said.
After all, the only consumer of this product is the persistent Captain Irv, who does not wish to allow a large number of "living" crew members onto his ship.
Yes, with the appearance of two Lucrehulks, the need for droid starfighters has increased.
Both battleships now made up Horrn's defense fleet and were involved in flight coordination.
Cheap droid starfighters and droid bombers for them, in conditions of an insufficient pilot contingent—is the best option for equipping the air wing.
Expanding production of this type of mechanism makes no practical sense.
It is much more promising to engage in the study of another type of unmanned combat aerial vehicle.
The TIE droid project is not forgotten.
Even though it demonstrated itself slightly better than the separatist Vultures, it is necessary to obtain a full report on what this technology is capable of.
Squeeze the maximum out of it, and only then decide—to close the project or to put it into mass production.
But moving it to Horrn—is also incorrect.
The planet has the capability to produce Confederacy of Independent Systems–era technology.
For now, that is enough—even if it is not the most convenient option.
B-1 series droids have long since ceased to be fighters.
We use them to replace the missing number of crew members on ships—both combat and transport.
A cheap artificial intelligence, incapable of analysis and developing optimal tactics, completely formulaic and predictable.
Similar flaws haunt droid starfighters, B-2s, and even TIE droids.
Placing a more advanced serial AI on any of these platforms—is too expensive.
More expensive than building a TIE Interceptor, which has become the primary light starfighter for the Dominion's regular Armed Forces.
And more expensive than growing a clone and putting him in that same interceptor.
And even more expensive than losing a clone and an interceptor.
A combat-capable droid starfighter—is expensive.
Given that it will be shot down as often as an ordinary pilot.
Another matter is that we have no special capabilities to equip combat-capable ships with full-fledged crews.
Even now, the starships captured by the Dominion at Sluis Van are equipped only with a semblance of duty watches—to keep the ships in workable condition.
You cannot pull starships into space, turn off the power, and leave them unattended.
Even such durable technology will eventually fail and require a huge amount of time and resources for its restoration.
Therefore, these ships are equipped with minimal crews of droids and clones, and are thus in numerous "parking lots" or at repair shipyards, undergoing modernization.
After Sluis Van, we have a large number of Sluissi orbital docks in which the modernization of Star Destroyers to "Threes" can be carried out in large volumes.
And faster than before.
But this does not exempt us from the need to conduct training among our cloned personnel to increase their efficiency.
Now a significant part of our "road-tested" clones are participating in the attack on Zann Consortium satellites.
There is a sufficiently competent enemy there.
And in large numbers.
Enough for all the clones.
"At present, we have twenty million B-1 and B-2 series droids ready for shipment," Colonel Niovi continued. "But an insufficient number of our own transport starships to move them, as well as ore cargoes to the home territory."
Horrn did not possess a large number of transports, or combat ships in general.
The planet is practically unknown to the galaxy.
The Galactic Empire took the trouble to scrub it from astronavigation directories.
And the trade conducted by the local refugees always took place beyond the planet.
And most of those with whom Horrn previously dealt have already been exterminated by the Dominion—by regular forces or by intelligence, which continues to torment criminal elements across the galaxy.
No, not for the sake of humaneness.
Simply, pirates have bases all over the galaxy, they have supply routes, they have interesting information—and I need all of it.
By destroying pirate nests, we replace them with our "sleeping" groups of clones, who on order can begin a destabilization campaign in any corner of the galaxy.
Actually, this (and much more) is the reason why one has to spend so long equipping starship crews.
"How productive is your shipyard, Kasik Korsa?" I inquired of the Assembly representative.
The man looked at me with interest.
Created by a team of engineers over the planet Khorrn in the Ferra sector of the Outer Rim territories, the "Ferra Sector Shipyard," as it was called by the locals, was a small repair area eight hundred meters long, hidden in Khorrn's orbit.
Though its name was undoubtedly an exaggeration, it was this play on words that forced the Galactic Empire to look in other places for a much larger structure.
The shipyard was a column of webbed metal structures hidden along the open lower part of a Clone Wars–era Acclamator-class military assault ship, with 100-meter framing that slid along its entire length.
The shipyard's primary function was the repair of starships that could not use ports under Imperial control or supervision.
However, it was also responsible for refitting cargo vessels and tugs with armor, armament, and increased hangar space to turn cargo vessels into combat vessels for use by mercenaries, pirates, and the Alliance to Restore the Republic.
They were delivered here without a crew, based on the clients' trust alone that the necessary repair work would be carried out on the ship, after which it would be returned to the customer in the time required for modernization.
The engineering team achieved this through the judicious use of shipyard droids.
Together, they installed armament on the surface produced in Foundry Four on the planet and turned cargo holds into hangars.
It was this shipyard that we used to repair Captain Kalian's squad of ships when he destroyed the Mon Calamari star cruisers coming from Lantilles.
"We have already proven that we can carry out repairs on Victory-class Star Destroyers in the shortest time," the man said.
A notable fact.
The shipyard was built by his grandmother.
Who was behind his grandfather's death.
Such are family ties and values.
"I am familiar with your work," the man tensed even more. "I am interested in something else. Are the shipyard's size and capabilities connected to the fact that you are lobbying for the restoration of core ships?"
"The shipyard is capable of taking a ship up to a kilometer long in its open berths."
Ideally, of course, the notorious eight hundred meters and less—then the shipyard mechanisms are capable of ensuring the most efficient work on the ship.
Otherwise, the same situation results as with orbital repair shops.
In perspective, they are ready to work even with Super Star Destroyers or fast dreadnoughts.
But part of the ship will always stick out from the "cell."
And if repair work must be carried out on it, it will require either "turning" the starship, docking it to the "cell's" base by nose then stern, or using work barges to deliver cranes and materials to that part of the hull that the berth's guides do not reach.
"The sphere diameter of an LH-1740 core ship is less than seven hundred meters," I continued. "Accordingly, this sphere can be placed in the shipyard's guides without special problems and will be provided with the necessary quality of operational repair and construction work."
The Kasik looked at me, pursing his lips.
"From which I conclude that you are purposefully lobbying for the production of this type of ship for the sake of using the ship blueprints and production facilities remaining on Horrn to become monopolists in this product niche."
The man chewed his lips.
Niovi looked at him with undisguised interest.
Evidently, this idea had not occurred to Horrn's commandant.
"Yes," the Kasik admitted. "My people have studied these ships inside and out. If we have the opportunity to produce equipment for these starships in at least one foundry, then we, of course, if we increase the production of construction and assembly droids, can produce them in large quantities. And this is beneficial for the Dominion!"
"How so?" Niovi asked. "These are outdated starships. Not fast, protected only from fighters and small ships. If we're producing, then Lucrehulks. Battleships, not cargo carriers. Yes, they carry less cargo, but at the same time, they don't require escort."
"To maintain even one Lucrehulk—means having a very large and generous pocket," the Kasik snorted. "Huge money is needed to maintain it. For servicing a core ship, much less significant sums will be required. I won't even mention that now we are using the old landing pads built by the separatists. And they are ideally suited for core ships. There are about a hundred such landing craters on Horrn. And if we use core-ship-class starships not only to lift ore and equipment to the planet's orbit, where we'll spend a long time reloading them into those same Actions, we will significantly simplify the logistics. Currently, about two days are needed to load a core ship with all the necessary cargo, lift it into orbit, and reload everything into the holds of just one Action. Considering that a caravan of ten such freighters arrives here, we spend almost a month loading one batch and sending it to the Dominion. And in that time, our warehouses are replenished by the same volume of ore and finished products. Effectively, up to half the production in the warehouses is simply waiting its turn for unloading. But if we use not Actions, but immediately a dozen or two core ships, then in the same standard month we will send a much greater volume to the Dominion. This," he looked at me, "is elementary math, sir."
And…
I won't say this man is wrong.
Once a month, a caravan of ten Actions arrives here—the maximum of what can be loaded on the planet and delivered to the Dominion without arousing suspicion and the desire of pirates to attack us.
And, frankly, until now we could only send a small transport fleet for these purposes—we lacked medium freighters.
So, the calculations are simple.
Ten Actions, each of which can take only seventy-five thousand tons of cargo on board.
Once a month, this caravan delivers seven hundred fifty thousand tons of raw materials and droids to the home territory.
Simply because twenty days are required for loading the caravan's ships using only two core ships.
Another five days—for the "there and back" journey.
Using all the necessary precautions.
In total, in two months, a caravan of ten Actions is capable of performing three full delivery cycles.
That is two million two hundred fifty thousand tons of cargo and finished products delivered from Horrn to the home territory.
Now let's take the variant proposed by the Kasik.
We take those same ten core ships.
We get six hundred sixty thousand tons of cargo and raw materials they can carry away in one trip.
The figures are clearly in favor of the Action.
But, the devil, as is known, is in the details.
If we deliver cargo by core ships, then we have no need to reload them into Actions.
The latter cannot be landed on the planet's surface at all, because there are not so many established surface areas for new landing pads.
Remaking "craters" created for core ships—is also not the best idea.
Because of the high cost of such alterations.
"How long does loading one core ship with cargo and delivering it to orbit take?" I asked.
"A day," the man replied.
In total, we have ten core ships.
And a potential number of landing pads equal to a hundred.
Thirty-seven ships of this type are on the planet's surface and can conventionally be restored.
We take the calculation that escorting such caravans—consisting of core ships—will also be our regular forces.
But instead of twenty days for loading, with only ten core ships as delivery means, we get that in a day we load them, those same five days—for delivery to the Dominion and return. Let's add a day here for unloading the ships at the destination.
In total, delivery of six hundred sixty thousand tons of cargo by ten core ships will take seven standard days.
Out of thirty-five in a standard month.
That is five deliveries in thirty-five days.
In other words, ten core ships can deliver nearly ten million tons of cargo to the Dominion in a month.
Nine million nine hundred thousand tons, to be more precise.
But there is a problem.
We have only two core ships, not ten.
Consequently, let's divide the existing figures by five.
It turns out one million nine hundred eighty thousand tons of cargo and ore can be delivered by just two core ships to the Dominion in three months.
Against two million two hundred, which is carried out by ten Action-series freighters.
This is despite the fact that Actions, regardless of a type-one hyperdrive, cannot fly faster than the regular fleet ships escorting them, which use a class-two hyperdrive.
Core ships have exclusively a type-two hyperdrive.
As do the escort ships.
Yes, fuel is quite cheap (relatively, of course), but the very fact that supplies can be accelerated makes the gray matter stir.
Logistics is not my strongest suit, but these calculations are beginning to lead to certain thoughts.
"The proposal is worth attention," I said.
Especially considering that a significant part of the supplied ore goes toward the repair of the former habitable sphere.
"How much time do you need to restore the other core ships present on the planet?" I asked the Kasik.
"If we have suitable hyperdrives, then by the end of this half-year, we will bring a total of up to twenty ships into service," the man replied. "But on condition that we repurpose one of the foundries into a plant for manufacturing core ship spare parts."
An interesting condition.
Sounds like insolence, but in fact—it is a rational trade-off.
At present, one foundry produces less than a million B-1 and B-2 combat droids per week.
And a significant part of them is currently idle in warehouses because they cannot be shipped out in full.
As is the mined metal.
If we take one foundry out of the equation, we get that by the end of the year, four out of five foundries will produce one million B-1 and B-2 droids.
Every week.
And furthermore, melt millions of tons of metal, which also require shipment.
And metal is needed literally everywhere.
In the construction, repair, and modernization of starships, small aerial vehicles, shuttles, engines, armament, orbital defense, and simply space stations.
It is vitally necessary for the same purposes, but already in the context of the Dominion's ground combat equipment.
A great deal of metal (as well as other materials) is also necessary for the construction the Dominion is conducting in nearly every corner of its territory.
Military factories.
Civilian factories.
Dual-use factories and enterprises.
Cities.
Bases.
Outposts.
Warehouses.
This list can be continued endlessly.
It is not from a great whim that I want to obtain the largest possible number of raw material sources within the Dominion.
"Good," was my answer. "You get the fifth foundry at your disposal. Proceed with its modernization and repair for the needs of restoring and building core ships…"
"Thank you, Grand Admiral," the Kasik looked victoriously at the Colonel, who expressed complete indifference toward what was happening.
"I haven't finished," my calm tone reduced the joy on the Assembly representative's face. "You mentioned a Trade Federation supply ship."
"Yes," the man looked a bit uncertain already.
"I assume such ships were also on Horrn?" I supposed.
"Um," the Kasik hesitated.
Colonel Niovi, without extra words, switched the hologram so that in place of the foundry's volumetric image, something resembling huge awkward dumbbells appeared.
"Trade Federation supply ship," he explained. "One of the largest military-transport starships ever created in the galaxy in recent centuries. With a length of nine hundred eight meters and a height of nine hundred ten, the starship possesses a huge width equal to twelve hundred fifty-seven meters. And those are only integer figures. The crew consisted of droids. The exact number is unknown, due to the fact that there were several modifications with different numbers of crew members. Equipped with a type-two hyperdrive. It has a hangar deck, capable of carrying a large number of transport shuttles. Cargo hold capacity, as already stated—five million tons. Has cover from light laser cannons. According to modern assessment—insufficient for reflecting an attack by a full air wing even of an Imperial-class destroyer. Has weak armor, low maneuverability, and cruising speed. High power of deflector shields."
"An impressive starship," I said.
Regardless of the absurdity and absolute lack of ergonomics of the design, a spaceship's external appearance is the last thing about it that should interest a person.
A block, dumbbells, a top, or simply a saucer—the shape is not important when dealing with friction forces, the magnitude of which can be neglected.
Because in space, friction, resistance, or medium—are concepts that have truly laughable magnitudes.
They shouldn't even be seriously considered.
A starship left by its crew in space, not anchored by a "gravitational anchor," can move by inertia for millennia if it doesn't meet a gravitational or other anomaly on its path.
Separatist supply ship.
"Such a ship is capable of supplying a colonization mission to any distant world in one go," I said thoughtfully, examining the hologram.
"But they used it for something completely different," the Kasik stated. "Even the CIS forces, whose core is made up of mechanical soldiers, needed timely supplies of spare parts, weapons, ammunition, fuel, etc. The supply problem was especially acute for the living soldiers of flesh and blood, millions of whom fought on the separatists' side."
"This ship is built considering the experience of the Clone Wars," I said, examining the design. "Yes, Colonel, you are right—the armor isn't the best, but at the same time, additional armor for vital parts like the bridge, reactor, engines, hangar, and hyperdrive—is provided. This isn't a custom job—the ship was built this way."
"Yes, sir," Colonel Niovi agreed. "This type of transport vessel was hastily created in the first year of the war and likely entered serial production then."
"What can you say about it, Kasik?" I inquired.
"Besides what has already been voiced?" the named one clarified.
"Naturally."
"I don't know who produced them, possibly Hoersch-Kessel," the Kasik admitted. "In addition to what's been said, I can note that the starships did not have the capability to perform a landing on a planetary surface, but thanks to powerful repulsors, they could enter the upper layers of the atmosphere. These two hemispheres," he pointed to the lateral parts of the hologram, "are holds. In each of them, for convenience of loading-unloading, a long hangar corridor is equipped, like those we can observe on Trade Federation LH-3210 container ships, a modified version of which was used by the CIS as a battleship and heavy carrier. The ship's hangars were spacious enough to hold C-9979 landing craft. The presence of a hangar and colossal cargo capacity allowed these vessels to be used for landing troops. As far as I know, the ship is quite simple to manage and the standard crew consisted of B-1 series droids as a team and a T-series tactical droid as the ship's commander."
"Archives state the first known use of vessels of this type was the battle for Umbara twenty-one years before the Battle of Yavin," Colonel Niovi said. "The orbital siege and large-scale landing operation by the Grand Army of the Republic forced the separatists to conduct supply of the besieged from the outside, transporting cargo from orbit on landing transports to a local airbase located near the capital. Only after the capture of the airbase and the destruction of one of the vessels supplying the Umbaran troops during a sabotage were the Republican troops able to take the capital. It was also used as a large landing ship during the assault on Dathomir a year before the end of the Clone Wars."
"Actually, after the destruction of the separatist remnants, nothing more has been heard of these starships," the Kasik said. "The fate of these vessels after the end of the Clone Wars is unknown. Most likely, they were scrapped or fell into the hands of private trade-transport companies."
"At least I have never heard of the Empire using them after the victory in the Clone Wars," Niovi said.
Interesting.
So the Empire used the less-spacious Lucrehulks, but giant flying warehouses—no?
Illogical.
The Empire conducted a huge number of wars but preferred to use Acclamators, Lucrehulks, and smaller starships as means of delivering armament, reinforcements, and the rest.
While one such ship could solve the supply problems of an entire group for long months.
"Kasik," I addressed the Assembly representative, "the Dominion needs you and your subordinates to work on the issue of recreating this starship. With the replacement of the necessary components with those we use, of course."
"Instead of the core ship?" the man asked warily.
"Along with it," I replied.
The logic is incredibly simple.
We have several types of starships that we use for military-transport purposes.
These are Acclamators, which underwent modernization and turned into large or strike assault ships. Their latest armament and class-one hyperdrives allow them to deliver military cargo, troops, and the rest to planets even under enemy fire.
Not to mention the possibility of landing on a planet on an unequipped landing pad.
This is a combat ship and it should (and will) be used as part of the regular fleet.
As are Venators.
That is—in military operations in enemy territory.
Nearly five hundred Action-series freighters captured by us from the Zann Consortium belong to the category of medium-tonnage transport ships for civilian use.
They will be perfectly suitable (given alternatives) for internal Dominion transport under the escort of Defense Forces.
If necessary.
In fact, Talon Karrde's experience in refitting his starships shows that these freighters are capable of quite independently fending off small detachments of pirates who do not possess large ships.
As for core ships and supply starships used by the Confederacy of Independent Systems…
"I am ready to help your clan become the exclusive suppliers to the Dominion of this type of ship," I explained to the Kasik. "But I need starships with reliable armor and armament that will allow them to fend off light enemy forces. And, without doubt, they must meet the standards of the Dominion's regular fleet."
The joy on the Kasik's face vanished as if it had never been.
"Sir, my people do not have sufficient qualification to actually build ships anew," he admitted. "Modernization, repair of necessary units and assemblies… That is our limit. And even then, given ship diagrams. Transferring a core ship and a supply starship to Dominion norms—is a complete redesign. We will effectively create new-pattern starships. In an old hull, of course, and even then not for sure."
"That sounded as if you are speaking of problems, Kasik," I said slowly.
"These are big problems, sir," the man nodded. "I didn't count on you wanting us to build improved versions of such starships. We are simply not ready for such."
Such Trade Federation ships were created as armed transports.
Though the realization fell short and they weren't all that strong, as practice shows.
But using exactly these types of starships will not only allow us to more efficiently export wealth and production from Horrn but will also prove useful in perspective.
Captain Irv won't rest—he'll continue searching for old bases and secret factories of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
And he will undoubtedly find them.
And wherever the separatists put their factories, there must undoubtedly be mineral deposits.
And the most spacious and widespread transports for exporting such "wealth" by the Neimoidians—the Trade Federation board—were naturally core ships.
For precisely the reasons the Kasik voiced.
Therefore, even if the creation of these starships doesn't solve the home territory's supply problems in the near future, the fact is plain.
This is a strategic reserve for the future, when I will have to come out of the shadows and again openly lead the Dominion.
Then we will require the operational delivery of resources from their extraction sites to the factories.
And besides speed, we will require huge volumes.
Inside the Dominion, all this can be solved using Actions and Acclamators, or smaller freighters.
After all, the danger of moving cargo within one's own territory is much lower than beyond it.
For now—beyond it.
"We are outside the home territory," Colonel Niovi reminded me. "Since large-scale production of warships is planned on Horrn, we will require much stronger protection than two Lucrehulks and a few patrol ships, sir."
"Nothing else was intended, Colonel," I stated. "The Guardian did not arrive alone, but accompanied by twelve Imperial-I Star Destroyers. In the near future, Commodore Brandei of a separate regular fleet task force will arrive in the planet's orbit. He will deliver the latest destroyers and their escort to you for the necessary time, which will ensure the system's protection. Damaged ships will be inspected, repaired, and sent for modernization. Kasik," I looked at the Assembly representative. "Chief Engineer Reyes will also arrive. He will inspect Horrn's production facilities, as well as your shipyard. He will prepare an expert conclusion regarding what needs to be delivered here from the home territory to create full-fledged shipyards. With this data, you will go to the home territory to meet with shipbuilder Zion. He will help you rework the blueprints for the newest ships, which you will build under the Dominion brand. You are also to meet with Grand Moff Ferrus, who will settle the legal issues of creating a new shipbuilding company. Is everything clear to you?"
With Tavira and Brandei, I will settle the issues of supplying Horrn with orbital defense stations, planetary turbolasers, and ion cannons.
Fortunately, they are produced in the necessary quantities in Kartakk for the needs of all Dominion forces.
"Yes, sir. I cannot find words to express my gratitude…"
"Express it in the swiftest restoration of the existing core ships on Horrn," I suggested. "While a new project for both types of starships is being developed, the Dominion can hope exclusively for you returning the ships already in our possession to service. In the shortest time possible, Kasik. I will not allow you to stall your own initiative."
"Of course, Grand Admiral. However, there is a legal subtlety in recreating, even in a modernized version, separatist ships. There may be problems with the copyright holders of this technology," the Kasik warned, exchanging a look with Niovi.
"That is unlikely," I countered. "These ships belonged to the Separatists. Built by the Trade Federation. Following the Clone Wars, the latter was assimilated by the Galactic Empire and lost all its assets. The Dominion is a pro-Imperial state. Thus, from a formal point of view, we have the right to produce and use what was the property of the Galactic Empire."
"In the event that we are the Empire's successors from a legal point of view," Colonel Niovi warned.
"And we will become them," I reported matter-of-factly. "Not now, but soon. After we eliminate the main problem of the Dominion's hegemony over the Galactic Empire's former territories."
Making a note to myself that I should speak with Gilad regarding the optimization of our existing park of military and civilian equipment, I ended the meeting.
Time to return to the Guardian.
The short inspection has been conducted, new resources and ships allocated.
All that remains is to head where we can empty my flagship's holds.