**Chapter 604**
**Lianna – Sienar Shipyards, Shipyard Number 35**
**Dagon POV**
The observation deck of Shipyard 35 offered a perfect view of the transformation taking place below. Five Mon Calamari cruisers hung in the massive drydock, their once-elegant organic lines now reinforced with brutal efficiency. Workers and droids swarmed over the hulls like insects on a carcass, welding, plating, and retrofitting every section according to my exact specifications.
Raith Sienar stood beside me, looking both proud and slightly exhausted. Jasmill Selanno and Lyra Blissex flanked us, watching the operation with keen professional interest.
"As per your request," Raith began, gesturing toward the nearest cruiser, "we removed the numerous water-filled passages that enabled Mon Calamari to swim between sections. Those areas were drained, reinforced, and retrofitted with standard floors and advanced ventilation systems. Thousands of viewports were plated over for better armor integrity. The holo-displays and battle graphics originally designed for Mon Calamari vision have been replaced with modern multispecies interfaces. Control stations that required unique body movements have been standardized."
He paused, then added with clear satisfaction, "We also expanded the hull to accommodate five solar ionization reactors per ship. As a result, the original 1,200-meter designs you acquired have grown to 1,800 meters."
I nodded approvingly. "Excellent work."
Lyra Blissex tilted her head, studying the cruisers with a critical eye. "Could you please explain what is so special about these ships? Weren't these designs based on current CIS vessels you're fighting?"
I smiled faintly. "Several main reasons. Originally, these were built as long-range exploration or pleasure craft — designed for civilian use to explore the galaxy or carry passengers in luxury. But because they were constructed underwater on Mon Cala, their hulls are naturally suited for the rigors of ship-to-ship combat. The pressure-resistant architecture translates extremely well to void warfare."
I pointed at the nearest vessel. "Multiple command pods are scattered across each ship, protruding from both the dorsal and ventral hull. One serves as the primary command center, but if it's destroyed or disabled, command can shift instantly to any of the backups. They also feature multiple redundant shield generators and layered backup shields. That means these cruisers can survive engagements against more heavily armed opponents far better than their size suggests — and they're resistant to internal sabotage, boarding actions, or even hyperspace mine fields."
I brought up a detailed schematic on a nearby holodisplay.
**Crew:** 6,860 standard + 905 gunners
**Passengers:** 1,700 soldiers
**Cargo Capacity:** 30,000 metric tons
**Starfighter Complement:** 10 squadrons (120 fighters total) — primarily T-70 X-wing starfighters, our soon-to-be primary fighter in the 12th Sector.
**Hangars:** 8 spread across the sides for better launch efficiency and protection.
**Armament:**
- XX-7 Light Turbolaser Batteries (175)
- XX-9 Quad Heavy Turbolaser Batteries (36) — Fire arc: 40 forward, 15 each port/starboard/aft
- Heavy Ion Cannon Batteries (55) — Fire arc: 10 forward, 10 each port/starboard, 5 aft
- Heavy Proton Torpedo/Missile Tubes (6) — Fire arc: forward, 66 missiles each
- Tractor Beam Projectors (8) — Fire arc: 5 forward, 1 starboard, 1 port, 1 aft
"Its advanced firing arcs allow for much easier broadsides, strong rear protection, and powerful forward firepower," I explained. "It's basically a modified heavy carrier. Unlike the Venators, its hangars are far better protected. And with the increasing number of CIS capital ships, our current light carriers are becoming limited in effectiveness."
Jasmill looked thoughtful. "But is Mon Cala okay with this? Turning their ships into dedicated warships?"
Raith and I exchanged glances before both of us burst into laughter.
"The Mon Calamari are not even properly supporting the Republic," I said once I recovered. "Sure, Master Kit Fisto helped prevent a Quarren takeover on their homeworld, but overall they remain neutral. They won't commit their fleets to our side. These ships were legally purchased — they belong to us now. And with the new designs I've given you, Lyra, these vessels will serve us far better than their original civilian configuration ever could."
Lyra nodded slowly, clearly impressed by the scale of the modifications. The five cruisers were already beginning to look like true instruments of war rather than luxury liners.
I turned back toward the viewport, watching another section of plating being welded into place.
"These ships will help tip the balance," I said quietly. "Especially when we start facing more of those Separatist superweapons."