**Chapter 828: Classification and the Road to Neimoidia**
**Scene 1: Republic Military Headquarters – Conference Room**
The next question, closely related to both the previous one and others, caused much more controversy.
It was no secret that the ship classification system in both the Republic and the CIS was seriously flawed. And in the Empire—and this is my personal opinion—it was equally flawed. Most officers thought the same. But there was no consensus. The first version of the new classification system, proposed jointly by the General Staff and the Anaxes Academy, was rejected almost immediately. No, most people liked it—but not a few intelligent individuals. Admiral Octavian Grant. Fleet Admiral Gowda of the Ninth Sector, a man I didn't know, and Lee Noriega were particularly proactive, putting the final nail in the coffin of this system. They did it quickly and convincingly, winning over other officers and representatives. The assembly was forced to think further.
In the end, it resulted in three days of discussions. What did you expect? Everyone wanted to speak, everyone wanted to make a proposal. And there were eight thousand of them! It's a good thing the rules had been worked out in advance, and the military is a disciplined people. And the division into groups and factions had been accomplished, so the time didn't waste as much as it could have. The meeting managed to formulate a final decision. Which, to my secret delight although significantly revised, was based precisely on the version proposed by our team.
Now, all ships will be divided into eleven main classes, each consisting of its own categories. Existing combat units will be reclassified according to the existing parameters. It's a tall order, but it's vitally important. New ships will be named according to an established system, based on their characteristics, missions, equipment, and armament. Yes, no one will be able to name their creations whatever they want without a compelling reason, and we've brought designers down to earth and forced them into a framework. And no one will be guided by ship length anymore—size is no longer the primary characteristic.
The first class of ships we decided on was patrol ships. Naturally, the purpose of such ships would be patrolling, combating pirates and smugglers, conducting inspections, and boarding operations. Based on this, the requirements for them were formulated. Short-range, medium-range, long-range; light, medium, heavy, and mother ships. Yes, yes, there will be those now. One of the young officers proposed a project to convert an Invincible-class Dreadnoughts into a mother ship for smaller patrol vessels, which, in theory, should be fast and maneuverable, but their endurance would be a complete disaster. Mother ships would significantly expand their capabilities, and the fleet would have somewhere to put the outdated Invincible-class Dreadnoughts.
Aircraft carriers were a bit more complicated. Essentially, any large ship can be called an aircraft carrier. But many have dug in their heels, and according to the new classification, a ship's class also depends on its primary armament. So, aircraft carriers are exclusively aircraft carriers, divided into four subgroups. Light—from twelve to forty-eight small aircraft on board; medium—from seventy-two to two hundred and twenty-eight; heavy—from three hundred and sixty to five hundred and sixty-four; and super-heavy—up to a thousand aircraft on a ship. In addition to air wing size, aircraft carriers will be divided into auxiliary, escort, conventional, and battleship. In fact this gradation applies, with adjustments, to all ships. For example, an escort carrier is designed only for operations in non-combat squadrons and convoys and must have anti-aircraft guns and good shields, but heavy guns and armor are not required. A battleship, on the other hand, can operate in combat squadrons alongside battleships, or even lead a formation of battlecruisers. But armor and heavy artillery are essential for this.
Like comparing the Venator to an Accumulator, then to Resurgent-class Battlecruiser, then my Olympus Mons ship, then to Sienar-Jaemus Blood Light carriers.
Landing ships will be divided into three groups: landing ships proper, landing support ships, and troop transports. The third type differs from the first in that it will land troops and equipment without landing. Support ships, on the other hand, can be equipped with powerful artillery missiles to support landings, but armor is less critical. Size depends on the number of troops being transported: small—from a company to a battalion, medium—from a regiment to two, and large—a brigade or legion. Transports have a staggered gradation: small—a regiment, medium—a legion, and large—a hull.
Things turned out quite simply with frigates and corvettes. These two classes received more or less sensible description and will be divided into three ranks. The higher the rank, the greater the size, characteristics, and armament. So, the same CR-90 in its air defense configuration will now be called a second-rank air defense corvette, not a "Ka-Er Ninety in its anti-fighter configuration. The "Konsulsky" will become a second-rank corvette, and the "Arquitens" a first-rank battle corvette. A real treat for any naval officer.
New classes also emerged: gunboats are now a separate type of ship. Fast, lightly armored and heavily armed. The description and characteristics should reflect the essence of a gunboat fortunately, this concept wasn't much different from the Earthly one.
Capital ships caused us the most problems. The terms "Star Destroyer" and "Battlecruiser" were consigned to the dustbin of history. Cruisers would be ships with medium armor, carrying primarily damaging armament—turbolasers or missiles. This made sense, as the word "cruiser" comes from the word "kreuz" meaning cross. A telling name, no matter how you look at it. A battleship, however, can only be called a ship with thicker armor and only heavy artillery: while a cruiser can have no more than fifteen percent ion cannons (calculated as main battery) and medium turbolasers, a battleship must have at least forty percent ion cannons and only heavy turbolasers.
Each of these classes will be divided into six ranks, but only cruisers will have an additional classification: cruisers proper, guided-missile cruisers, and battlecruisers. A ship's rank will depend on its armament. Thus, a first-rank battleship must now carry heavy turbolaser main guns of at least class 10, and their number cannot be less than one hundred and fifty. A third-class battleship will only need seventy-five guns of at least class 8.
Dreadnoughts also found their place in the new classification, receiving their own characteristics: the smallest rank-four dreadnought—and dreadnoughts now have four of these not six—must have at least five meters of armor, shields five times more powerful than those of a rank-one battleship, and at least two and a half hundred Class-ten heavy turbolasers. However there's now a speed requirement: sluggish dreadnoughts—both in normal space and hyperspace—have no place among dreadnoughts.
But a new class emerged—monitors. It was my proposal alone. Lee Noriega, when I voiced the idea to her, initially shrugged in bewilderment, but then, after thinking about it, she jumped at the idea. It also interested other officers. What is a monitor? It's the same as a dreadnought, but slower, smaller, but with powerful artillery and armor. From the description, it sounds almost like a "Dreadnought." A ship designed for operations in planetary orbit, with a weak—and therefore cheap—hyperdrive, or even without one at all. A sort of "coastal defense battleship."
Then came my term, oh yes since I basically broke all the records with the appearance of the Annihilator.
Term "Super Star Destroyer" described some of the largest warships ever designed and fielded, and covered various warship classes that served primarily as command ships. All the known models were at least several kilometers long in order to support their increasingly heavy power generators and armaments. In at least one ship classification system, SSDs were regarded as large enough to be counted as space stations rather than regular starships. In large part due to their immense size, Super Star Destroyers required a crew of at least 120,000 to operate or more.
The limits were strange since Kuat originally had a say but their Mandators were short by 8km compared to the Annihilator at 18km.
The eleventh class was the special-purpose ship class. These included reconnaissance ships, repair ships, minelayers—basically, anything that didn't fit into the other classes and was too small to warrant a separate class.
Having sorted out the classification and compiled the final document that would be submitted to the Chancellor for signature, we moved on to other issues. One of them was the development of aviation.
Half-turning back, I looked at Shiranya as he sat down.
"So?"
"General," Dono sighed and placed the datapad in front of him. "As you requested, I've discussed this matter with the officers I know. It seems several factions have formed among the officers. But we have no need to worry."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. More than half of us here are in favor of specialized MLAs. The remaining half is divided into three groups: those who favor universal craft, those who favor modular design, and the smallest group, which favors the droid-fighter version."
"Does one cure another with another?" I asked.
Shiranyu, after thinking, nodded.
"Yes, that's a fitting expression. But that version isn't very popular."
"Attention," the voice of the chairman, High Admiral Hannika, echoed throughout the hall. "Gentlemen, officers. Let us begin our discussion. The floor is now given to the delegation of the First Sector."
The debates stretched long into the night, voices rising and falling as officers from across the galaxy argued their points with passion and precision. Dagon listened carefully, occasionally interjecting with suggestions drawn from both his experiences and the alternate timelines he carried in his mind. The classification system was a foundational shift—one that would define the Republic Navy for generations. By the end of the extended sessions, the framework stood strong: eleven classes, clear ranks, and a rejection of outdated length-based metrics in favor of mission, armament, and capability.
Dagon allowed himself a quiet sense of satisfaction as the final document was prepared. The military was no longer merely reacting to the war—it was shaping its tools for victory. The Annihilator, the Resurgents, the Vectors, and the new hybrids would form the backbone of a fleet capable of ending the conflict on Republic terms.
**Scene 2: Planning the Next Strike – Neimoidia**
The conference had provided clarity, but the war waited for no one. In a secure briefing room adjacent to the main hall, Dagon gathered his key commanders to discuss the next major target: Neimoidia.
Neimoidia, sometimes called True Neimoidia to avoid confusion, was colonized by the Duros some twenty-five thousand years ago. Why the Duros? It so happened that they polluted their planet and migrated into space. But not everyone liked this, and separate groups of Duros left to seek a better home. Thus, Neimoidia was colonized, its conditions suiting these oviparous humanoids. So much so that they settled there. But their temporary separation from the main body of Duros, coupled with the planet's peculiarities—high gravity, a less bright sun, high humidity, and fog—led to the Neimoidians being considered a distinct race. And… they began to consider themselves as such.
This was especially evident in their character and habits. Neimoidians are generally more cowardly than Duros, but instead of space, which became a second home for the Duros, Neimoidians love money. This is reflected in their political system and moral values. For example, Neimoidia is ruled by a Trade Monarch.
Having settled Neimoidia itself, the Neimoidians colonized several other planets "nearby." Not everyone wanted to remain on their home planet, which was somewhat inhospitable. And the settlers were looking for profit. These colonies later became so-called "profitable worlds." The most famous of these are Cato Neimoidia, Deko Neimoidia, and Koru Neimoidia. The GAR subsequently took over each of these planets. Apparently, the cities on Cato Neimoidia are located on curious suspension bridges with their own gravit.
When it came to money, the Neimoidians would do anything. This is confirmed by several less-than-stellar pages of Neimoidia's history. But this allowed them to become significantly rich and three hundred and thirty years ago, they created the Trade Federation, which quickly dominated cargo transportation from the Mid to the Outer Rim. In the latter region, they were a virtual monopoly.
What awaits us on Neimoidia? The most cowardly and cautious part of the Neimoidians along with the core government. A planet that has evolved over tens of thousands of years. Neimoidia can't be compared to Jabiim or Mygeeto—it's far more serious. Defense systems, a planetary shield, a powerful orbital fleet, billions of battle droids, battalions and regiments of the Neimoidian Guard.
"We estimate that Neimoidia is guarded by between two hundred and eighty and two hundred and ninety LH-3210s in several variants and approximately fifty individual LH-1740s. There are no other ships on the planet."
"Oh, you fucking idio…"
What other words could there be? Not only are three hundred "Lucrehulk-class" three hundred combat ships, but that also means there are at least eight hundred and fifty thousand "Vultures" there. Considering that droid fighters could be on the surface, the figure can safely be rounded up to half a million. We only have about twenty thousand fighters in "Mern-thirteen." One to sixty-two and a half is not in our favor.
Dagon leaned forward, eyes narrowing as the holographic map of Neimoidia rotated slowly. "We hit them hard and fast. Skywalker will lead the assault on Cato Neimoidia with Piett, Veers, and Tarkin. The rest of us will support the main push on Neimoidia itself. Use the new classification to coordinate—patrol ships for screening, carriers for air superiority, and the heavy hitters for orbital bombardment. No half-measures. The Trade Federation's heart must be broken."
The room filled with determined nods. The conference had given them the tools. Now it was time to use them.
The war for the Core of the CIS was about to begin in earnest.