**Chapter 755: Contracts and Clones**
**Scene 1: Aboard the Devastation – En Route to Lantilles**
**Dagon POV**
The hum of the *Devastation's* solar ionization reactors was a constant, soothing background as the battle group cut through hyperspace. I stood in my private strategy annex, reviewing the latest status reports from the Atrisian Commonwealth. The treaty had been ratified within a week — faster than I had dared hope.
The Atrisian cloners were already being recruited in large numbers. Necessary equipment, including the precious Spaarti cylinders manufactured on Cartao, was being installed on Centax II and several other secure locations. Tests conducted using data recovered from Sidious's files had proven it: we could reduce the clone growth cycle from ten years to just one. Knowledge transfer from veteran clones during the acceleration process was working flawlessly.
In other words, new recruits would be ready ten times faster than the original Kaminoan lines.
Given the anticipated duration of the war Palpatine had planned for, these new clones would be combat-ready several months before the end — possibly within six months. The Republic's military machine was about to receive a massive infusion: up to one hundred million clones. The exact number would be confirmed once full production ramped up. Forty million cylinders were planned for Centax II alone, housed in five massive production facilities already nearing completion. Equipment deliveries were on schedule, and the Spaarti complex on Cartao had an impeccable record — not a single manufacturer-related breakdown on Saleucami.
Of course, there were trade-offs. These accelerated clones had a short lifespan — they would begin to degrade within three years of decanting. But that was acceptable. They would preserve both non-clone organic soldiers and the original Kaminoan lines. In the long term, the veterans would form the elite core of the army for years to come.
Project Ascension had also exceeded expectations. My own blood, combined with biomechanical augmentations, had stabilized the process. Not every subject became Force-sensitive, but all showed significant improvements — enhanced strength, heightened reflexes, partial super-soldier capabilities. Those who *did* manifest Force sensitivity were forming the backbone of the new Republic Arc Jedi program.
Most importantly, every emergency backup clone line Palpatine had prepared to betray the Jedi had been located and destroyed. Every clone was now an individual — free to choose their own path.
I allowed myself a small, tired smile beneath the mask. The Dragon's war machine was growing stronger by the day.
**Scene 2: Kuat Drive Yards – Main Executive Tower**
The opulent boardroom atop Kuat's central spire overlooked the planet's vast orbital shipyards. Onara, Quinn, McClay, and Laatl sat around the polished obsidian table, datapads and holographic projections floating before them.
"Yes, there is," Onara said, tapping a report. "VAR certainly won't be able to terminate this contract. But will we be able to sign a new one under the same terms?"
"What's wrong?" McClay asked.
"The military," Onara replied. "They can significantly influence the situation by declaring they need new, good ships, not outdated ones. Analysts are talking about a possible price reduction of ten to fifteen percent, which brings us to a profit margin of only five percent per ship."
"I suppose that's not all?" Laatl asked.
"Exactly. We were working long-term, counting on all sorts of unexpected events, and therefore… we overdid it. We've accumulated a decent amount of inventory for some ship equipment items. I'd say *very* decent. How many main battery turrets do we have for the Venator-class?"
"Something around eighty thousand — forty-five thousand in warehouses, the rest in parts," the woman replied, checking her datapad. "We assemble about three hundred finished products a day."
Quinn collapsed into his chair. "As a result, we have a large stockpile of guns and other equipment that will soon become obsolete. Or rather, they're already obsolete. And we won't have time to use them all up, even with the increased rate of ship production! Once the contract is exhausted, we'll still have something like thirty thousand turret mounts left — and that's if we stop producing new components right now! But that's impossible due to related contracts, so there will be ten thousand more. How we'll use them, I have no idea."
"But we did it ourselves," Onara remarked sarcastically. "Who advised holding back deliveries to Sienar to prevent a competitor from entering our market? So what now? Sienar would have had about a thousand ships on the slipways, which would take at least six months to build, which would automatically make them obsolete due to the new Time and Buck cannons, and we would have had twenty-one thousand fewer headaches!"
"So, we need to do something with the weapons for the remaining months?" Laatl asked. "It would be very desirable."
"Then perhaps we should team up with Sienar?" McClay suggested.
"That is?"
"Joint production of his Triumphs. If we slightly reduce Venator production rates, we can assemble up to a thousand Triumphs in three months. I've familiarized myself with its specifications — it borrows heavily from the Venator, including the same weapons and some internals. Our shipyards are state-of-the-art. We have qualified personnel. All we need from Sienar is the reactor and armor. The rest is ours."
"The question remains: how to implement them? After all, we don't have a contract…" Quinn said.
"But it'll probably be with Sienar," Laatl noted. "I heard the remainder of the first batch has already been purchased from him, and the receivers were complaining that Sienar didn't have any more ships. The first twenty ended up with General Dagon… the Hero of Coruscant," the head of the Security Service explained.
"In principle, Wright has the connections to negotiate a contract for a thousand or two Triumphs. But will he agree?"
"If he's not a fool, he'll agree. And he's far from a fool," Onara noted.
"But still, we at least should insist on waiting for the Victory project to be finished first," said Laatl.
"Yes, we still have the bet with Dagon. It would make us look weak if we request help from Sienar now," Quinn added.
"A vote," Onara declared. "All those in favor of maintaining the current stance until the bet with Dagon is resolved?"
The result was unanimous.
Onara leaned back, satisfied. "Then it's settled. We wait. The bet with Dagon continues."
**Scene 3: Devastation – Bridge Approach to Lantilles**
Dagon stood on the bridge as the *Devastation* dropped out of hyperspace near the massive shipyards of Lantilles. The sight of dozens of new Vector- and Rejuvenator-class hulls under construction never failed to fill him with quiet satisfaction.
Miaria pressed against his side, tail curling around his waist. "Still thinking about Kuat's stubbornness?"
"They'll come around," Dagon replied. "Pride is a powerful thing, but profit and survival are stronger. In the meantime, we have more than enough production lines."
Atroxa smirked from his other side. "And if they drag their feet too long, we simply buy more from Sienar. Wright is more than happy to deliver."
Talon and Aubrie stood nearby, the latter still adjusting to her new pearlescent form and the open affection of the group. The newly healed girls — Ahsoka, Zule, and the rest — were spread across the ship, training and preparing for the coming campaign.
Dagon looked out at the shipyards. "One month until we hit Mygeeto. The CIS will react. And when they do, we'll be ready."
The Dragon's gaze hardened as the *Devastation* moved into docking position. The war was accelerating. New allies, new ships, new clones, and new horrors like Crimson-71 all demanded his attention.
But with his circle complete and his resolve unshaken, Dagon Marek felt ready for whatever came next.
The necessary monster would meet the coming storm head-on.