**Chapter 865: Fleet Realities and Family Moments**
**Scene 1: Mern-13 Headquarters – Dagon POV**
Dagon sat in his private office at Mern-13 headquarters, the Coruscant skyline stretching endlessly beyond the reinforced windows. The latest fleet inventory report lay open on his desk, the numbers both impressive and sobering. The Republic Navy currently fielded one hundred twenty-nine thousand nine hundred thirty-five ships, a formidable total on paper. Yet the breakdown revealed critical weaknesses.
Subtracting the seventy-one thousand eight hundred thirty-nine non-combat vessels—tankers, supply ships, repair ships, transports, and a vast array of support craft—left fifty-eight thousand ninety-six warships. Of these, twenty-one thousand five hundred thirty-three were large capital ships, seven thousand nine hundred twenty-two were medium, and twenty-six thousand nine hundred forty-one were small. Recent additions had bolstered the medium ranks slightly, but large and small ship numbers had grown more modestly. Excluding rarities, conversions, and limited production runs, the fleet included two Mentors, eight Mandators, twenty-six Liberators, eighty-seven modified Indomitable dreadnoughts, five thousand three hundred forty-two Accumulators, one thousand two hundred Vectors, four hundred Allegiance-class battlecruisers, six thousand four hundred fifty-seven Venators, nine hundred forty-two Triumphs, three hundred twenty-three Bothan Assault Cruisers, and seven thousand eight hundred twenty-two Dreadnought-class heavy cruisers (of which only three thousand seven hundred forty had been modernized to Assault Frigates Mark 1). Smaller ships rounded out the roster—Carracks, Strikes, Nebulas, Arquitens, Consulars, Gozantis, CR-90s, and Marauders.
The numbers were impressive until one considered replenishment rates. The enemy still held a numerical edge, though the gap had narrowed. Intelligence estimated the Confederacy fleet at just over three hundred thousand ships, with two hundred forty-eight thousand support vessels and nearly sixty-five thousand combat ships. Of those combat vessels, forty-three thousand were large, ten thousand medium, and eleven thousand small. Scouts had already identified sixteen and a half thousand Munificent-class frigates and nearly ten thousand Recusant-class light destroyers.
The true problem lay in production pace. In the coming month, the Republic would add two hundred seven large, eight hundred thirty-two medium, and nearly two thousand small ships. The Confederacy was projected to add nine hundred ninety large, two hundred medium, and a couple hundred small ships. While the Republic maintained superiority in small and medium ship quality, the enemy outperformed them in large ship production numbers. Quality gaps existed, but quantity often decided battles.
Thrawn's report, compiled with Tinker, compared six months of Confederate reinforcements and reached sobering conclusions. The Chiss calculations suggested the Confederacy possessed at least one, possibly two, major hidden shipyards—most likely Hapes and Mon Cala. The new Dragon ships—Resurgents and Mandator siege dreadnoughts—required separate fleet accounting due to their unique capabilities.
The galaxy was largely secured. Mon Cala and Hapes sectors were contained, and only the Corporate Sector remained allied with the Confederacy. It was essentially a Republic victory. Yet Dagon knew a decisive blow was still needed. Mon Cala would be the next target, defended by two brilliant admirals—Ackbar and Raddus. He wondered if they possessed the same experience in this timeline.
**Scene 2: Third Moon of Vexar – CIS Council**
Third moon of Vexar, corporate sector.
CIS council.
"We've finally processed the data obtained after the Battle of Geonosis, when a station equipped with a superlaser was destroyed. This has allowed us to advance one of our projects. We've named this ship the Desolation. Seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-two meters long, its primary armament is an axial superlaser. According to our calculations, the blast will be powerful enough to destroy any Republic ship, including the Kuat Mandators and Preceptors. Moreover, a charged blast could be capable of destroying a large asteroid or even a small moon. Furthermore, the ship is armed with three hundred twin turbolasers, five hundred light laser cannons, a hangar for three hundred vehicles, and a corpuscular shield."
The members of the Separatist Council nodded respectfully.
"And when will this be operational?" asked Lassel Argento, the first to recover from his surprise.
"In 1 month. However, building a second one won't be possible anytime soon—we need a lot of crystals for the main weapon. The ship had to be equipped with multiple reactors—the same design used by the Republicans, which also adds complexity, construction time, and construction costs."
"We'll see how effective this ship is," Nute Gunray said doubtfully.
"The floor is yours, sir," said San Hill.
Kutt Tambor tweaked his suit controls and waved his hand, and the Separatist Council members saw several holograms of battle droids.
"So, here are our primary battle droids—the B-1, B-2, B-X, and T-X. After receiving and analyzing the information stored in the Forty-Seventh object, we developed and have already implemented a number of improvements to our existing battle droid models, as well as developed two new models. The main requirement was to increase efficiency at minimal cost, and most importantly, to utilize existing production facilities. The B-1 model will receive an updated processor with improved software, doubling its combat effectiveness. The price of a standard unit will increase to two thousand one hundred credits, and for commanders, to five thousand. The B-2 model, in all variations, will also receive upgraded internal components, increasing prices to four and seven thousand, respectively. The B-3 model, developed four months after the start of the war, was released in limited quantities for a number of reasons, priced at fourteen thousand per unit. It was intended to be the basis for the cortosis model, but due to supply disruptions, its production never began. We are also currently producing the B-X series of commando droids. This model costs eighteen thousand credits. There are two models of tactical droids: the T-series and the T-X. The former costs fourteen thousand credits, while the latter costs twenty-five thousand. And tomorrow, we will begin production of two new models. The B-4 model is designed to complement and potentially replace the B-1 and B-2 models. It is based on the B-1, incorporating elements of the B-X series, and features reinforced armor, a more powerful processor, and more advanced servos. This model costs three thousand credits, while the commander droids cost five thousand seven hundred. We have also prepared the BX-4 cortosis combat droid for production. This model incorporates all the best technologies, taking into account the technical documentation of the Forty-Seventh facility. The model incorporates the developments of the IG-series assassin droids. The cost of this model is twenty-one thousand credits."
"That's quite a lot," San Hill remarked.
"You will soon see that they justify this price."
The Separatist Council chamber on the third moon of Vexar hummed with cautious optimism. Techno Union representatives presented their latest developments with evident pride. The Desolation-class superweapon ship promised to shift the balance of power. Its axial superlaser could obliterate capital ships and even small moons. Additional armaments and a corpuscular shield made it a formidable platform.
Kutt Tambor then showcased the upgraded droid lines. Improved B-1 and B-2 models, new B-4 infantry droids, and the advanced BX-4 cortosis combat droids would strengthen their ground forces significantly.
Nute Gunray remained skeptical but nodded. "We will see their effectiveness in the coming battles."
The council members leaned forward, hope mingling with desperation. The war had turned against them, but these new weapons offered a chance to strike back decisively.
**Scene 3: Fondor – Sumeragi POV**
Fondor.
Sumeragi adjusted her jacket and rang the doorbell decisively. After a moment of agonizing anticipation, the door opened.
"Welcome back, little mistress," the assistant droid squeaked. "Come in, your parents are waiting for you."
"Thank you, C-D-C, I'm glad to see you too."
Walking down the familiar corridor, Sumeragi found herself in a living room where several people were sitting on the sofa and armchairs.
In the center sat her father, Kohaku Lee Noriega, a fifty-year-old native of Fondor. To his right sat her mother, forty-eight-year-old Elise Lee Noriega, née Elise Sumner. It was from her that she inherited her red hair. To the left, in a chair, her younger brother, Issei, sat with his legs crossed. He was almost a spitting image of his father, but seventeen years old.
"Welcome back, daughter," said the father, breaking the silence first.
At this point the mother could not stand it any longer, jumped up and hugged her.
"My daughter, I'm glad to see you."
"Hello, sister."
"And you too, little one."
"Hey, I'm not small."
"You haven't looked in for a long time."
"You understand, Mom. It was quite problematic."
"Yeah, yeah, that damn war," my father grumbled. "We've had who knows what going on here and yesterday they even declared an evacuation and a state of emergency."
"It won't be for long," Sumeragi assured him. "I'm sorry, but I can't say more."
"That's understandable," my father nodded solemnly. "You have a high position and great responsibility. And you're a smart girl, just like me."
"Hey," his mother playfully poked him in the side with her elbow.
"But her beauty definitely comes from you, my dear," Kohaku smiled, hugging his wife.
"This tenderness of yours again," Issei muttered.
Sumeragi burst out laughing.
"It's been so long since I've seen this. And I missed it."
The family gathering in the Fondor home was warm and familiar. Sumeragi embraced her mother tightly, the scent of home bringing a rare moment of peace amid the war. Her father's gruff pride and her brother's teasing reminded her why she fought—so that moments like this could continue.
The war had changed everything, but family remained a constant anchor.