**Interlude: The Kuat Conclave**
**Scene 1**
**Kuat Drive Yards, Kuat Ring**
**Fifth Office Section, Opulent Hall**
**Lyra Blissex POV**
The grand hall of the Fifth Office Section aboard the Kuat Ring was a masterpiece of corporate opulence. Crystal chandeliers floated gently above a table carved from rare Kuati silverwood, while panoramic transparisteel windows offered a breathtaking view of the endless orbital shipyards stretching into the void. Hundreds of slipways hummed with activity — the beating heart of the galaxy's largest military-industrial complex.
Onara Kuat sat at the head of the table like a queen holding court. The elderly matriarch of the Kuat family leaned back in her high-backed chair, her sharp eyes scanning the room with calculated intensity. All the most important figures of the corporation were present.
Morla Kuat, responsible for the Ring's vast personnel operations.
Darael Deponn-Kuat, who oversaw internal affairs and third-party manufacturing relations.
Jerrol Kuat, head of the Security Service.
Oret Namore-Kuat, commander of planetary military forces.
Quin Dorna, the chief technologist.
Ren Laatl, lead engineer.
And finally, Elias McClay, head of material supplies.
"So, gentlemen," Onara began, her voice carrying the weight of decades of command, "let us not waste time with idle chatter. You all know the problem we face. We need to decide what to do about it."
Jerrol Kuat leaned forward first, his expression grim. "The information from Time & Buck has made our lives considerably more difficult. What are our prospects for the immediate future?"
Darael Deponn-Kuat tapped a datapad. "The company claims it will be able to begin large-scale deliveries of various new weapons systems no sooner than in three months. In this light, our current weapons — and therefore our ships — are rapidly becoming obsolete. What can we do right now?"
Ren Laatl rose from his seat, gesturing animatedly with both hands. "It's hard to say. The engineering teams are weighing every option. There is some progress. For example, the joint Rendili project. Valex Blissex claims the first batch of new ships will launch from the Rendili slipways in six months. Given the current state of affairs, the GAR will undoubtedly seize those vessels. If Mr. Jerrol's intelligence is accurate, the weapons procurement process will change soon — to avoid, shall we say, unnecessary bureaucracy. We can count on a handsome return on that project."
"That's all well and good," Quin Dorna interjected, pointing at the glowing holographic model of the Hunter-class Star Destroyer floating above the table. "But what about our main 'workhorse'? Can we upgrade it further?"
"Definitely not," Laatl snapped, shaking his head. "The model currently in production is already a heavily modernized version, surpassing the original design. All modernization reserves have been exhausted. I contacted Mr. Blissex personally, and he replied in the negative."
Elias McClay frowned. "We still have the annual contract for delivery of six thousand Venators under the basic structure, with an option for an additional thousand. Those figures were calculated based on the previous production rate — five hundred ships per month using two thousand slipways, allowing a three-month construction time per vessel. However, we have now added another five hundred slipways, and five hundred more will be operational in a couple of weeks. This was made possible thanks to the excellent work of the esteemed Morla Kuat."
Morla inclined her head modestly. "Yes. In the last month alone, we've signed contracts with over two hundred thousand highly qualified specialists who, one way or another, left their previous jobs. The reason is the same for all of them — war."
"Therefore," Onara continued, "we can reduce the Hunter's construction and assembly time to two months and two weeks, and increase monthly production to eight hundred ships. This way, we cover the contract in eight months and three weeks. If recruitment continues at this pace, we can reduce construction time by another two weeks — down to two months — and push monthly output to nine hundred, or even a thousand ships. However, there are problems."
"Yes," Onara agreed, tapping her fingers on the table. "The GAR certainly won't terminate this contract. But will we be able to sign a new one under the same favorable terms?"
"What's wrong?" McClay asked.
"We still don't know what is being built with Dagon or Sienar as part of the bet," Onara replied, her voice darkening.
All eyes turned toward Lyra Blissex, who had remained silent until now, seated near the end of the table.
"Miss Lyra," Quin Dorna said smoothly, "I suppose we should ask you. After all, weren't you able to secure information — and an alliance — with the Demon of the Shield?"
Lyra met his gaze evenly. "Don't call him that. Dagon is rather friendly and generous once you get to know him. But as per the agreement, all I am responsible for is building the requested ships as stipulated in the contract with Sienar-Jaemus Fleet Systems."
Onara leaned forward. "And what exactly *are* those ships, Lyra? We need to know what we're up against. The Liberator-class alone has already made our current designs look outdated. If Dagon wins this wager…"
Lyra smiled faintly. "If Dagon wins, Kuat will have to adapt. But I can tell you this — the ships he's designing are not mere upgrades. They are built from first principles, incorporating technologies even Kuat has yet to fully explore. Solar ion reactors, advanced kyber matrix systems, and modular weapon platforms that can be reconfigured mid-battle. He's not competing with us. He's redefining what a capital ship can be."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Jerrol Kuat broke it first. "Then we must prepare for the worst. If Dagon's designs prove superior, our market dominance could collapse within two years."
"Perhaps we should consider… cooperation rather than competition," Morla suggested carefully.
Onara's eyes narrowed. "We are Kuat. We do not cooperate. We dominate."
**Scene 2**
**Kuat Ring, Fifth Office Section**
**Lyra Blissex POV**
Suddenly, the grand doors hissed open. A young aide rushed in, datapad in hand, his face pale.
"Lady Onara! Urgent report from our long-range observation network!"
Onara gestured impatiently. "Speak."
"The *Annihilator* is moving toward Coruscant. So is the *Terminus*, which our sources report has grown to nearly 2 kilometers in length. The *Olympus Mons* and ten Resurgent-class battlecruisers are also gathering at Coruscant, along with the fifteen Liberator-class Star Destroyers Dagon recently purchased and upgraded."
Gasps and murmurs erupted around the table.
"Why gather all those ships?" Darael whispered. "That firepower… it's enough to glass a planet."
"Or conquer one," Jerrol added darkly.
Onara Kuat rose slowly from her chair, her expression shifting from irritation to sharp calculation.
"Very well," she announced, her voice ringing with authority. "Open a priority communications channel with the Jedi Council and Chancellor Palpatine. Whatever operation is underway, Kuat will be part of it. We will take control back from Sienar."
She turned to Lyra, a dangerous smile forming on her lips.
"Miss Blissex… it seems your 'friendly' associate is about to start something big. Ensure that when the dust settles, Kuat stands at the center of it."
Lyra Blissex simply nodded, though inside she wondered whether Onara truly understood what she was stepping into.
Dagon Marek didn't play by anyone's rules — not even Kuat's.