Ten years and twenty-second day after the Battle of Yavin…
Or the forty-fifth year and twenty-second day after the Great Resynchronization.
(Seven months and seventh day since the arrival).
Even on the hologram, it was clear that the fur of this particular representative of the Bothan species was standing on end, no matter how hard its owner tried to present himself in the best light.
"Admiral!" the voice of the head of state Fey'lya carried many intonations. Argentis had no doubt that if he were a member of the Falleen species, the space around him would be filled with pheromones equivalent to fear and anxiety. "The New Republic hopes in you and your command talent! You and your fleet are the last hope of the entire democratic world that we will be able to defend our capital."
Duplex, commander of the remnants of the First Fleet of the New Republic Defense Force, sighed quietly.
"Sir," he addressed the head of state unobtrusively. "I have repeated this to you more than once, and I can repeat it as many times again. Coruscant is lost and doomed."
"Bothan analysts, having studied the intelligence information, indicate that Grand Moff Kaine lost two dozen Star Destroyers and nearly half a hundred smaller ships to break through our defensive formations," the Bothan stubbornly stuck to his biased opinion. "There are chances for a successful counterattack."
"Really?" Argentis smiled unobtrusively. "Then why do I not see among my officers the Bothan analysts you mentioned?"
The Bothan's fur rippled in waves.
"Do not forget yourself, Admiral," Fey'lya said harshly and bitterly. "Just as easily as you received your post, you can acquire a new place of service."
"In that case, I am sure that in the New Republic there will be a large number of officers wishing to lead the First Fleet for a counterstrike on Coruscant," Argentis stated in a calm tone. "I have no doubt whatsoever, and I am convinced to the depths of my soul that among our Military Command there are dozens of admirals and generals who will handle the operation to relieve our garrison better than I."
The blow hit its mark.
The Bothan bared his teeth predatorily, and his eyes began to burn the talkative Zeltron with flames of hatred.
Admiral Duplex knew where to strike.
After Fey'lya's victory in the elections for head of state, a significant portion of renowned commanders, both in the fleet and the army, resigned.
This was connected to the fact that Supreme Commander General Bel Iblis, who supported the defeated Mon Mothma, also left his post in protest (and effectively set an example for his ardent supporters), though the official reason was not precisely known.
But the fact remains—the chain of command of the New Republic Defense Force fell apart.
The Battle of Sluis Van, the defeat at Sullust (as well as all previous ones), the secession of the Sluissi from the state, Mon Mothma's public support for the actions of Bel Iblis, Leia Organa Solo, Han Solo, and Lando Calrissian in using control codes for "mole miners" to counter the capture of New Republic military ships (which resulted in their destruction)—all this, and much more besides, defeat after defeat, led to the loss of faith by New Republic citizens in their own government.
Spontaneous protests arose throughout the galaxy, sectors and star systems broke diplomatic and even trade relations with the New Republic and seceded from it.
Thrawn's death, of course, largely predetermined the desertion of many territories, but the way Fey'lya used all of Mon Mothma's unpopular decisions for his victory led to the actual schism of the state.
A significant portion of military recruits did not like the dirty truth that surfaced about Rogue Squadron.
Horn's desertion, his collaboration with the enemy, the cover-up of existing Fleet problems, even the surfaced attempts by the Coruscant's provisional government to physically eliminate Thrawn by hiring assassins, unpopular filtration actions for those returned from captivity—that informational case, combined with hundreds of others, was played out by the Bothans during the election campaign of their kin Fey'lya.
Many heroes of the Rebellion, including those already mentioned, spoke from the position of "necessary evil," which had to be committed to counter Grand Admiral Thrawn and preserve the New Republic.
The justification of their actions sounded pathetic, implausible, and therefore put them at odds with the newly minted and numerically superior Republic military.
Especially those hundreds of thousands of former prisoners of war who languished in Dominion captivity because Mon Mothma and her supporters were unwilling to free their own fighters.
And even when it happened, instead of directing them to man the understaffed or under-repair starships, they were placed in filtration camps, where they remained until Head of State Fey'lya ordered their release and return to the Armed Forces.
Who knows, if these prisoners had been returned immediately when the opportunity arose, would the confrontation with the Dominion have unfolded more successfully than it was demonstrated by Mon Mothma's trusted associates—Admiral Ackbar and General Bel Iblis.
But it was Fey'lya who did it, whom political circles considered a self-absorbed power-seeker who would inevitably "bring the New Republic to dissolution."
This is what the steps of the "Alliance heroes" led to, while the notorious Bothan, though not with the most popular methods, saved the state from schism and civil war.
The confrontation of political elites was gaining momentum and became truly threatening for the young state, since Fey'lya, practically immediately after his election victory, nearly ordered the arrest of everyone his colleagues listed as "traitors."
This greatly displeased all those who understood that the Bothans were simply clearing command positions, which their own appointees would soon occupy.
The situation "smelled of ryll."
Argentis did not know exactly how, but everything was resolved peacefully.
Mon Mothma's supporters left the New Republic, forming the Alliance in the northwest of the galaxy, with the Mon Calamari sector as its core.
A significant portion of military veterans, most of whom began their service as rebel insurgents, followed them.
The Bothans calmly released all who wished.
And even the accession of the Hapes Consortium to the Alliance did not play a big role.
Politicians supporting Fey'lya dismissed the Hapans, commenting on it no differently than: "The New Republic got no great benefit from them anyway. The Hapans were with us because their prince is still in love with Princess Leia, and there was never any real cooperation."
Judging by everything, the division occurred definitively and on mutually beneficial terms, since it is hard to imagine how the new Republic government turned a blind eye to dozens of warships with crews simply leaving their posts and joining the Alliance.
Malicious tongues (and, most likely, Alliance propaganda or Dominion revenge) claimed that crew desertions with their starships were so massive that the Second Fleet went over to the Alliance in full strength.
In reality, it was not like that at all.
Simply, as always happens in such cases, propagandists mixed dozens of facts into one.
From what Argentis knew, the Second Fleet did indeed plan to desert in favor of the Alliance. And they expressed their desire based on Fey'lya's wish to deal with the "Mon Mothma faction."
Judging by everything, the notorious treaties led to Mon Mothma and her supporters leaving unhindered, taking with them only some ships—the latest deliveries from the Mon Calamari sector, for which the New Republic had not yet even paid.
In exchange, Fey'lya received a though impoverished but literally eating from his hand society of the New Republic.
And the Defense Forces, having lost all renowned commanders but confident in their superiority over the enemy.
And the transfer of new MC80b star cruisers from the Mon Calamari in the previous weeks practically compensated for the losses from Grand Admiral Thrawn's actions, only fueling revanchist sentiments.
Why did Admiral Duplex not follow the Rebellion heroes and join the Alliance?
Because he was thoroughly disappointed in them.
Listening to their exploits from the outside, one admires the heroism and consequences of the actions.
But once involved in the events, one begins to understand that everything is not at all as Republican propaganda, promoted by Mon Mothma for the entire galaxy, painted it.
Zeltrons were not vindictive, but Argentis could not forgive Bel Iblis and Han Solo their recklessness, which cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of Republican servicemen.
Half a million of the best sentients in the Fourth Fleet ceased to exist in an instant.
Only because the operation command never bothered to understand—Grand Admiral Thrawn's plans NEVER have just one layer.
And the obvious solution to the problem is not at all obvious.
The most obvious solution is a trap.
Argentis did not flatter himself with the thought that he had "outcalculated" the late Dominion warlord.
But he gave due to his ingenuity and cunning.
And he did not consider it beneath him to use the lessons learned independently and apply them against the enemies of the New Republic.
Admiral Duplex considered the division of democratic elites wrong.
Yes, he did not like the current government.
Yes, he had many complaints against the Bothans.
But he took the Oath and did not intend to betray it.
And it was not even that he was the commander of the best of the New Republic's fleets (or rather, its remnants) and received this position on the decision of the head of state, who was as sympathetic to him as a pomaded rancor.
There are simply such concepts as "honor" and "conscience."
And to run from the state with tail tucked only because unpleasant persons stood at the head of the New Republic…
That is selfish.
And it directly demonstrates the attitude of the "Alliance heroes" to the democracy they so praise.
Instead of political struggle and acknowledgment of errors for their subsequent elimination—flight and actual sabotage with a call to the New Republic military to abandon their service.
This duplicity played the key role in the choice Argentis made for him.
Fey'lya displayed an indescribable play of emotions on his face, after which he pulled himself together.
"Much depends on your mission, Admiral," he repeated. "Both your fitness for the position and…"
"Reputation of the head of state," the Zeltron added to himself, trying to maintain seriousness on his face.
"… the faith of Republican citizens in the greatness of our armed forces," like all politicians, Fey'lya covered his interests with the "needs and aspirations of the people," on whom, for the most part, he did not care.
As long as the people's interests did not intersect with his own.
"And the lives of thousands of our fighters from the Coruscant garrison," Argentis added calmly.
"Yes," Fey'lya added hastily. "And that too. I wish you luck and success in the mission. Your new flagship will prove itself in this battle, I have no doubt that we finally have in our hands a weapon capable of fighting Imperial Star Destroyers on equal terms."
"The battle will show how much the words of the Rendilians match the deed," the admiral replied diplomatically.
The hologram of the head of state disappeared, and the Zeltron was finally able to relax.
His new flagship was named "Reptavian" and was the freshest combat ship to enter service with the New Republic Defense Force this year.
Fey'lya solemnly handed it over to Duplex after the Rendilians completed construction and testing of the starship several weeks ago, simultaneously announcing the admiral's promotion to commander of the First Fleet of the New Republic Defense Force.
It was all done with pomp, as if honoring heroes.
No, Fey'lya, of course, clothed his words in sweet speeches pleasing to any type of auditory organs about how only one admiral in the New Republic managed to inflict any serious damage on Grand Admiral Thrawn's forces.
Sentients in the know understood the price of those words—a decicred.
Argentis, no matter how hard he tried, could not jump higher than his head.
He had no clean victories over the Imperials and Dominionites in the previous campaign.
But the mere fact that the trap at Brentaal IV worked and the Imperial Remnant fleet suffered significant losses, and during the Battle of Sluis Van he managed to destroy Dominion Star Destroyers without any crazy initiatives like mass ramming with by no means cheap and valuable transport ships, strangely enough, distinguished Admiral Duplex from the general mass of remaining Oath-loyal Republican commanders.
Well… Fey'lya knew how to ignite hearts with fiery and accusatory speeches about patriotism.
Of course, it was a complete coincidence that the new ship was handed over to the fleet with pomp precisely when questions began to arise about where the "Lusankya" had gone and why nothing was heard about it.
And it was not at all surprising that in the "Holonet" those angry messages about the irritating uncertainty of the fate of the Executor-class Star Super Dreadnought were no longer visible.
The Bothans knew how to work in the field of destroying informational triggers when too much depended on their work.
For example—their own political dividends.
The first of its kind "Reptavian" belonged to the class of Republic-class Star Destroyers.
And at the moment, it was one of the largest combat starships that had ever been in service with either the Rebel Alliance or the New Republic.
Reaching a length of one thousand two hundred fifty meters, the starship was the brainchild of the talented Rendilian engineer Walex Blissex, known for creating a significant portion of the Old Republic's star fleet.
The Victory-class Star Destroyers developed under his participation appeared at the end of the Clone Wars and literally turned the course of the entire war, winning almost every battle in which they participated.
The newest Star Destroyer surpassed the "Victory" in size but was inferior in dimensions to the "Imperials." Precisely for this reason, many commanders considered the technical specification imperfect, believing that starships of such sizes were not able to fight Imperial-class Star Destroyers on equal terms, the backbone of the Empire and Imperial Remnants fleets.
However, the Rendilians disagreed with this.
Admiral Duplex thoroughly studied the starship after acceptance, transferring to it the entire surviving crew from his flagship at Sluis Van, reinforcing it with parts of crews from Fourth Fleet starships that survived that battle.
And he did this not just so.
And, even understanding that the "Republic" was a desperate gesture by the Rendilians to prove themselves in shipbuilding, their challenge to the Kuat Drive Yards and Mon Calamari, an attempt to carve out their niche, displacing from the budget trough the Kuat who demanded huge sums for their work or the defected Mon Calamari, the admiral would do it again.
He understood the political background of this step.
In conditions of budget deficit and growing suspicions of feigned loyalty, the Rendilians sought to create a ship that would become the backbone of the New Republic fleet, pushing Mon Calamari ships, currently occupying that niche, to the back burner.
Thus, they would not only demonstrate their favor to the Republic and personally to Head of State Fey'lya, who put more effort into preserving the industry and military machine of the New Republic than his predecessors, but could also earn properly, considering that at the moment only they could produce such a ship type as the Republic-class Star Destroyer.
And, so far, of course, only on paper, but Argentis had no doubt that the Rendilians had succeeded in what they planned.
In addition to the fact that the crew of the new destroyer consisted of only eight and a half thousand sentients, which was almost four and a half times less than the similar requirements for the "Imperial" crew, the "Republic" surpassed the "Imperial-I" by twenty percent in firepower.
Yes, it was weak for a one-on-one battle with the Imperial-II, but at the same time it cost twice as little, and was significantly more effective than the Mon Calamari and Mon Mothma-lobbied star cruisers.
The armament consisted of forty twin turbolaser cannons, half of which were placed in the bow, and the rest (in equal proportion—along the sides).
Forty heavy turbolaser cannons, ten guns each, protected ships from each direction—bow, stern, and both sides.
Twenty ion cannons were placed on the same principle, but already five guns per direction.
Ten tractor beam projectors also played no small role in battle.
As did the three thousand two hundred soldiers that this starship could transport in its deck barracks.
But today those bunks were empty.
The Republic-class Star Destroyer.
The "Reptavian" was not delivering reinforcements to ground forces on the battlefield—it intended to evacuate them from there. And so, along with half a hundred star cruisers, a large number of transport starships moved toward Coruscant, whose task was to descend to the surface at evacuation points during the battle, pick up the remnants of New Republic fighters, and then, under the cover of the star fleet, retreat to the rendezvous point, where from the holds of overcrowded transports, part of the rescued would already be transferred to combat starships to avoid straining the life support systems on the starships.
Yes, the ship is not without its flaws.
The first of them, and the most significant in the opinion of Admiral Duplex, was the absence of anti-aircraft armament. Laser rapid-fires could significantly better ensure the ship's safety than the air wing.
Which also had complaints.
Due to the desire to increase firepower, the developers had to halve the hangar, the hold space from the original project.
Now the "Republic" could boast of only thirty-six fighters and bombers on board.
Exactly the same number were carried in the hangars of Mon Calamari star cruisers, but at the same time they did not have such stunning armament.
The production and design work on the new ship was completed in an accelerated manner immediately after Rendili was thrown out of the Imperial sphere of influence by Thrawn.
The Republic, not least thanks to the efforts of then-advisor Fey'lya, accepted Rendili and Bestine IV into its composition.
Almost immediately after that, rumors began that these two planets were "Jedi plants." This was based on the fact that it was Rendili that supplied Thrawn with modernization kits, thanks to which his Dreadnought-class heavy cruisers became significantly more combat-capable than expected.
From Bestine IV, a significant number of technical specialists who once worked for the Empire moved to the Dominion and now labored for the enemy. However, despite the loss of a significant portion of engineering personnel, the oceanic shipyards on the planet made considerable efforts to help democracy in the fight against the imperialists of Orinda, the Pentastar Alignment, and other Remnants, as well as the militarists of the Dominion (of course, if they dare to venture beyond their sectors, where they shamefully fled as soon as Thrawn died).
It was on this planet that the "Republican Engineering Corporation," founded practically immediately after the creation of the New Republic, was located, whose headquarters on Coruscant was now abandoned, and all necessary transferred to production sites on Bestine. By rumors, many projects for the future New Republic fleet were developed there, but so far there are no opportunities for producing large ships—the fastest construction of fighters is a priority.
At the moment, Rendili and Bestine were a shipbuilding cluster that ensures the fastest repair of Republican starships, not to mention the nonstop production of small flying craft.
Argentis had no doubt that if the "Reptavian" proved itself properly in this confrontation in orbit of Coruscant, then Rendili and Bestine would organize mass production of these ships.
Possibly, Sullust, currently taking a wait-and-see position but not having left the New Republic, unlike the Sluissi, would join them as well.
Argentis knew that if not for the Imperial offensive, Fey'lya would have begun implementing a large-scale program to rearm the Republican fleet, which desperately needed it.
The state needs exclusively combat starships in the Armed Forces composition, not morally outdated repurposed Mon Calamari transports.
The MC80 series did much for the victory of democracy, but after Dac's secession from the New Republic, it is senseless to continue relying on these outdated starships.
They no longer meet the requirements of the times, and purchasing spare parts from the Mon Calamari will cost a fortune.
Admiral Duplex intended to test this "Reptavian" in battle with a strong numerically superior enemy.
But if Grand Admiral Thrawn taught the Republican military anything, it was that the holds of main class ships should always be full of "surprises."
And today Grand Moff Kaine would experience on himself what it was like to be the attacked at Coruscant.
***
The development of a military doctrine for an entire state occupying, though not the largest, but still a place in the galaxy is not as simple as it seems at first glance.
Especially considering that the development is handled by only two people—me and Vice Admiral Pellaeon.
But I cannot entrust the strategy for the further development of the state to anyone but myself.
Even if I had dozens of the most experienced Grand Moffs, it would not change the situation in any way.
Even despite the fact that at the meeting with commanders of large ships and formations I revealed much, but not all.
Far from all.
Trust is earned, and living with an open soul, sharing every first secret—that is not about me.
Especially considering the fact that due to my true nature, problems can arise even from where they are not expected.
Not many people are privy to the fact that besides the obvious threats from the Emperor and his host from the Deep Core, the Imperial Remnants, the New Republic, the Alliance, there are other threats.
But hiding the existence of the Yuuzhan Vong further is meaningless and frankly foolish.
When behind you are millions of military and hundreds of billions of civilians who have voluntarily renounced faith in the Imperial values of the New Order and understand that from now on we have no allies even among the Imperials, it is immoral to hide from them the threat hanging over all of us.
Yes, implicitly, not in direct text, but it has been conveyed to the civilians that in the galaxy we have no "friends" beyond our borders.
There are only "partners," and that is already a different level of interaction.
The same Grand Moff Kaine and the Pentastar Alignment he leads fulfilled all our agreements, and now he acts openly solely in his own interests.
Perhaps in the future, when the figure of Palpatine is (if it does happen) removed from the political board and it is time to come out of the shadows, we can act jointly.
Yes, if the Pentastar Alignment threatens us on Palpatine's orders, of course I will not stand aside and will do everything possible to deflect Kaine's blow.
But it must be understood that predators have been released into the arena.
And their prey is not only the New Republic and the newly formed Alliance, but also other predators rated as weak.
The general principles of the Dominion's Military Doctrine can be described briefly—we act from defense, but switch to a crushing offensive at the very hour when we understand that someone or something threatens the integrity of the state or the lives of its population.
For us, there are no restrictions on the weapons used—even "non-conventional" nuclear warheads, which sides do not use due to long-standing agreements and deterrent consequences, will be used by us if it corresponds to the proportionality of the threat.
Although, it must be admitted, the "voluntary ban" on the use of nuclear weapons by warring parties is nothing more than fiction.
Experience shows that any international agreements can be violated, any weapon used, if any side of the conflict desires it, just to achieve the long-awaited victory.
It is doubly strange to hear about "non-conventional weapons" in a galaxy where planets can be blown up by battle stations, and a solar ionization reactor can be dropped on the surface of an inhabited world, orbital bombardment turning the soil into slag can be conducted…
A thin and absolutely hypocritical game of "good guys."
Well, we have not yet reached nuclear weapons, because we can cope with opponents from this galaxy without radiation contamination.
And besides, one would have to be a bit out of one's mind to destroy worlds you are fighting for, or plunge them into the cold of nuclear winter.
And it does not matter if it is part of your own state occupied by the enemy, or a planet you intend to conquer.
I already gave my vow in my time—nuclear weapons and comparable ones that scorch inhabited worlds will become no more than the last resort in the fight against the Yuuzhan Vong.
If I treat the population of this galaxy somewhat loyally, they are sort of "ours," then the invaders from beyond the known worlds are "aliens."
And in the fight for "ours," "aliens" are not spared.
But this is no more than a side remark.
Considering the fact that the Dominion's metropolis turned out to be on the presumed vector of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, it cannot be discounted that there is a risk of loss of part of the territory.
And that means military production will also be either damaged or destroyed.
That is why the regular fleet of the Dominion first of all pays attention to sectors and systems whose accession will play a significant role in improving our position.
More resources automatically equals a greater number of ships, military equipment, gear, and weapons.
Dispersal of productions, or rather—creation of their duplicating capacities in various parts of the galaxy—is insurance for the case if we fail to hold the basis of the military-industrial complex in the metropolis.
That is why I need to occupy territories favorable to the Dominion in advance.
Time is needed to build production on them—military and civilian, and also to take care of defense.
Unfortunately, we are not the Empire, and therefore cannot fully finance multiple projects at once.
Considering that until the Yuuzhan Vong invasion there is still plenty of time to strengthen the borders (not forgetting that their scouts have been here for quite some time) and prepare properly, the strategic confrontation with extragalactic invaders yields to the tactical one.
And the main funding continues to pour into the expansion of the military-industrial complex directly in the metropolis and the Karthakk system.
The latter is our foothold for covert operations "under a false flag" and production of "unlicensed" copies of items for which I have no and had no licenses.
Moreover, the Karthakk system must over time become the point from which the conquest of the eastern sectors of the Outer Rim of the galaxy will begin. But these are already plans for the time when the Palpatine threat is eliminated.
At the moment, about a tenth of the funds allocated from the budget for stabilization and "acceleration" of our military-industrial complex are invested in the development of productions in the Karthakk system.
It so happened that in Karthakk are concentrated productions that at the moment do not yet exist in the Dominion metropolis, for example, production of Xg-1 Star Wing gunboats, engines for Star Destroyers, turbolasers, beam-type laser cannons, planetary ion cannons and planetary turbolasers, planetary shield generators, Lambda-class shuttles, Scimitar assault bombers, and another good dozen items.
And, conversely, in the Dominion, production of laser cannons on "MandalMotors" technologies used as anti-aircraft guns is in full swing, factories for producing armored vehicles, army weapons and ammunition, TIE series fighters in service with the Dominion Armed Forces are deployed, and more and more factories are being built.
Thanks to the disarmament of Ennix Devian's inhabited sphere, we received many industrial conveyors, which allows us to produce almost all necessary equipment for building and repairing starships.
Exceptions are the same Kuat hyperdrives and navigation equipment, gravity well generators, and Lianna solar ionization generators.
But the latter positions we at least acquired in the form of informational blueprints, and factories are being built.
In the metropolis.
In Karthakk they will be erected only after we firmly put our military-industrial complex on its feet in the galactic north sectors.
If the same technologies and productions stolen from Lianna, as well as openly captured in battles, like the operation against Belsavis, I placed in the Dominion metropolis, then production of the same defensive stations like "Golan" or Kuat hyperdrives—that is something else entirely.
For such "outrages," "Golan Arms" and "Kuat Drive Yards" can easily organize a crusade against me.
In the market economy reigning in the galaxy, direct competitors are not particularly liked.
Especially those who produce your own technology without regard for licensing fees to the author.
Considering that the Karthakk system is reliably protected and it is impossible to enter it bypassing the defense perimeter, investing in it to create duplicating productions similar to those in the galactic north in the Dominion metropolis is irrational.
And something tells me that it is time to plan an operation to capture the Karthakk sector itself.
Because within one system with a small number of planets, it is simply physically impossible to place everything necessary.
Part of the rank-and-file productions, for example electronics, terminals, control panels, and much else, can be moved beyond the system and placed in the worlds of the Karthakk sector.
Fortunately, this territorial formation, not too close to major hyperspace routes, is a "pirate free-for-all" in the galaxy, and the interest of the New Republic, whose borders are quite close, is minimal here.
And therefore no one will cry if criminals are burned out here with hot durasteel.
If intelligence is not mistaken, the population of the sector's planets will in many ways be grateful for such.
Though they will not greet a pro-Imperial government with great love.
Of course, a lot of work lies ahead, but it is not the current priority.
Strengthening the borders and economy of the metropolis always remains paramount in my plans.
Not forgetting at the same time about such systems as Yalara, Cholganna, Karthakk, Soullex, Svivren, Horron, and a number of others where rich deposits and remote location allow laying reserves and "padding the straw."
Like Karthakk in the east, Yalara and Svivren in the south—these are footholds for Dominion expansion.
No matter what the military actions against enemies are, creating duplicating productions and expanding borders provides for full autonomy of Dominion parts.
In other words, full cycles of all necessary productions required for the existence of this part of the Dominion even in isolation from the metropolis and other territories.
Why exactly so?
Why do I intend over time to abandon further transportation of necessary military-industrial complex products between Dominion territories?
Everything is simple.
The war on enemy communications in my execution demonstrated to the galaxy all the "charm" of dispersed productions.
As soon as a caravan with transports, even escorted, leaves the protected borders—it is vulnerable to the enemy. Whoever it may be—a pirate or a military of the opposing state.
To ensure the security of such transports, hundreds of regular Dominion fleet combat ships are already involved.
And this is colossal expenses and some wear on the material part of the starships.
It is much simpler for military-industrial complex enterprises to be concentrated and fully dependent not on export supplies across half the galaxy, but only on internal transports within their territories.
There, even if destructive forces like the same pirates are present, they are few in number, much easier to track and eliminate even by Defense Fleet forces.
Yes, creating numerous duplicating productions is hard, economically costly, and, in the opinion of the same Imperial military industry, excessive.
But we are not the Empire.
We do not intend to take by quantity, only by quality.
Squeezing the maximum out of everything we have and get.
If only the restoration of the ancient cloaking device from the planet Yalara, allowing to hide an entire planet from everyone, progressed not so slowly as now.
But, unfortunately, archaic technologies, lack of understanding even of the principles of operation of most of the device's mechanisms, force reconciliation with the unwelcome reality.
Because I have far-reaching plans for this cloaking installation.
Of course, stygium can be used for a similar effect, but the produced calculations indicate that there is simply not enough of it to make even one planet "disappear."
Ghybridium is useless for this—what good is a planet or moon hidden from all types of scanners and emissions if even starlight will not penetrate through the cloaking screen?
Pitch darkness, surface cooling, winter… Honestly—an interesting development of events.
I would even say—extreme.
And very risky, considering that we are directly dependent on ghybridium supplies from Garos IV.
And this planet is in the Mid Rim, quite far from the metropolis borders.
Yes, it has been turned into a fortress and squadrons of Star Destroyers regularly patrol there, escorting departing and arriving transports with food, equipment, and resources.
But it must be understood that any serious fleet offensive, none of the fortress planets: Garos IV, Treg, Kelada, Columex, Makem Te, Chasin, and Susevfi will simply not withstand without support.
One could, of course, keep a dozen or two Star Destroyers in nearby systems to ensure reinforcements arrive at the right moment, but how many times did I myself strike first at reinforcements while the main target was left "for dessert."
One cannot underestimate an opponent who, just like me, can first throw forces at destroying reinforcements.
It is reassuring only that the defense of the planets is thought out and organized to hold the enemy exactly until help arrives from the metropolis.
Without any special means, superweapons, or Jesuit cunning, the fortress worlds cannot be taken by storm.
But if the enemy has exactly that "crowbar" against which there is no other recourse but a similar "crowbar," then, however selfish it sounds—nothing can be done.
Such a system will be lost, like it or not.
However, the situation with "dispersal of duplicating capacities" has a very serious problem.
"Cadres decide everything" was said by Comrade Stalin in May 1935 to the graduates of military academies.
And this phrase reflects the essence of the problem like never before.
One can plan as much as one wants, but precise execution of the plan is just as important as the conception itself.
If the issue with squadron commanders is resolved for the first time, the military-civilian administration is slowly, creakingly, but forming, then the scientific and engineering thought…
The bells rang more than once.
Now we are approaching the limit that I do not want to see.
Honestly, I never wondered until now why in the Star Wars universe there are so few known surnames of the same shipbuilders.
In my view, hundreds, perhaps thousands of designers and shipwrights should labor and do labor in shipbuilding corporations, each developing this or that project, which after approval is implemented in metal.
But everything is not like that at all.
The realities are such that in small shipbuilding companies there are only a few specialists who can develop blueprints and a starship project.
Each such worker is worth his weight in aurodium with which supertransport holds are stuffed.
The larger the corporation, the… Insignificant the increase in such employees.
The conservatism of shipbuilders ensures primarily low competition.
A corporation developing starships earns itself a reputation and can produce spaceships of the same type for decades, making only minimal edits and improvements on client requests.
Companies chase new developments only when such necessity arises and a highly solvent client appears.
For example, during preparation for war or in its process.
The Kuat Drive Yards are a definite exception in this case, because they not only develop starships for customers but also produce them, including military (especially military) for their own needs.
Which, by the way, no corporation in the galaxy with similar directions does.
The Kuati can afford to build dozens of types of combat ships that will not even be bought by the customer.
Because they develop them including with their own needs in mind.
No buyer found? No problem.
Send to our own fleet.
That is why Lira Wessex or her father—creators of the "Acclamator," "Venator," "Victory," and "Imperial"—are so famous.
They brought into the world the most massive and most famous starships of their time.
Receiving huge money for it.
And they continue their work.
True, Lira Wessex disappeared from the sight of "Kuat" and the entire galaxy as soon as the Star Super Dreadnought "Eclipse" disappeared from the yards along with elite specialists.
And it can be boldly said that if the ship is with Palpatine, then the team of specialists who actually created the entire line fleet of the Galactic Empire is too.
And this is a problem.
Because according to the stories of the same Zion, Lira Wessex intended to fix the shortcomings of the "Imperial."
She even kidnapped her father for this, who miraculously escaped and now continues to labor in "Rendili StarDrive."
Judging by the pompous presentation of the Republic-class Star Destroyer—quite successfully.
And this is another reason not to relax, since this ship was supposed to be built only after the end of Palpatine's life in the period of global modernization of the New Republic fleet.
Though why be surprised here?
History is changed, and I am the one who sent this train off the rails.
But only now, half a year later, do I understand why numerous military and civilian low- and mid-level workers arrive in the Dominion, but high-class specialists like Ryan Zion are in no hurry to leave their settled places.
Shipbuilders find it disadvantageous to change jobs, because at a new place they will have to build what they are ordered, not what they want to develop themselves.
One cannot make a name on reworking others' ships or coordinating the release of someone else's product, like the Wessex family.
And name, reputation, and glory—that is exactly what lures such self-absorbed personalities as shipbuilders.
It was possible to "rein in" Zion, and, though reluctantly, he managed to readjust, understanding that the road is closed to him everywhere.
Undoubtedly, rumors of his transition under my command spread in the shipbuilding environment, which, in fact, is not as large as it may seem.
According to Zion's confessions, it is a little more than one and a half hundred sentients, each of whom bitterly dislikes successful colleagues and dreams of getting rid of a competitor.
What I did not foresee happened, not understanding the "internal kitchen" of shipbuilders.
Since the newest Dominion starships did not appear on the battlefield, therefore, in the understanding of the rest of the brethren, Zion is a failure.
Who achieved nothing under my command.
And if so, there is nothing to seek in the Dominion.
One cannot become famous here.
Deep modernizations of existing ships are "not that," "does not count." After all, it is just reworking existing projects.
Yes, loud, because the same "Dragons" raised a wave of discussions and interest in the "Holonet."
But it subsided like a hurricane with pressure equalization.
No mass application.
No originality.
All the clearer to me is Zion's urge, now and then, to change the technical specification so that a relatively new combat ship appears.
That is why he wants to transfer all Vindicator-class heavy cruisers to the "Immobilizers."
Hence the reworking of the "Interdictor" and the initial reluctance to control the modernizations of the "threes."
After all, that time he could have spent creating a completely new starship that in the hands of the Dominion could declare itself to the entire galaxy.
Resigned to his fate, Zion tries to take not by the quality of work, but by its quantity.
A bold and new direction for shipbuilders, to be fair.
But at the same time, this postulate indicates that if I manage to lure such a shipbuilder into the Dominion, a special operation will be required, like the one pulled off with Zion himself.
On the other hand, it is worth noting once again that building completely new types of large starships for us is practically impermissible and excessive luxury.
Creating small ships at the yards in the Oplovis and Quelii sectors does not go through such thorns only because there are no shipbuilders there—just like in the case of labor migration, these specialists, as soon as orders disappeared at their previous place of work, headed where the chance of getting a warm spot and big salary was much higher.
But, to be fair, a shipbuilder fled from the yard in the Oplovis sector to the New Republic.
Because he was a Republican specialist.
Including for this reason, I conducted operations to capture combat spacecraft of Imperial designs.
If one believes the Expanded Universe books, it was they that performed well in repelling the Yuuzhan Vong threat.
They and the few Republican-design Star Destroyers like the "Republic" and the yet-to-be-launched "Nebula."
As long as there are Star Destroyers available and the possibility of their modernization and improvement exists, building their analogs is unnecessary.
Only workers and money for re-equipping existing ships are needed.
And if getting the latter is no longer a super-problem, then the workers…
At the moment, Ryan Zion has created a good foundation for long-term modernization of the ships we have.
A major overhaul lies ahead.
And since Zion has already sufficiently proven himself in the developments, considering the number of yards, including orbital docks, it is worth paying attention to searching for chief engineers who can become the main disposers and controllers of repair and modernization works on our existing starships according to Ryan Zion's projects.
And therefore, for Dominion Intelligence, another task in deep enemy rear work has appeared.
"Grand Admiral, sir," the commlink came alive with the voice of Captain Tschel. "Sorry to disturb you, but you asked to report when the 'Chimaera' is half an hour from exiting hyperspace."
In other words, we have practically arrived at the meeting place with Corran Horn.
"I will be there in five minutes, Captain," I reported. "Notify the support ships of the transition to 'yellow' alert status."
Tschel did not react immediately.
"Sir, do you think we are expected at the meeting place?" he asked cautiously.
"I am sure of it, Captain. We are heading straight into a trap."
And if it turns out otherwise, I will be seriously disappointed in Corran Horn.