"You want to build ships to fight this Federation?" Harko questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Perhaps not fight, but the government I am creating will have the backing of groups like the Trade Federation, which are not on good terms with the Federation, United Federation that is. It would be necessary to consider ensuring we are protected from any and all possible threats." Dooku said, glancing at Gunray who fidgeted. "As I mentioned, the basics of transporter technology was explained, giving us a clue where to start. We know there are ways to disrupt the transporter's scanners from locking the coordinates of life forms targeted for beaming such as high levels of electromagnetic jamming both natural and artificial and the transporters have a distance limit."
"Yes, Count. The Techno Union's counter measure to the transporter is a jamming field in addition to the usual deflector shields that surround the ship in electromagnetic static to prevent the transporter from locking in and beaming in. Now it is likely this will not work given how advanced the transporters and the rest of the Milky Way appears to be but it they are still researching and improving." Wat Tambor nodded and explained. "Even if the jamming field fails we can modify ours ships to constantly scan the interior for energy signs that might be a transporter while droid guards will be activated at the first sign of a transporter being detected. The Techno Union had also been charged with designing and creating new forms of deflector shields."
"Sounds impressive but what do you ask of me?" Harko asked. "My people have been loyal to the Republic for generations. They won't simply side with you out of some personal pride."
"Perhaps not but as I said, your planet offers the best engineers, designers and mechanics in the galaxy." Dooku replied. "We wish to consider designing ships that are capable of standing up to ships like the Enterprise. We have been told thus far, it has advanced shields for blocking projectile and energy weapons, particle beam weaponry and even projectiles with anti-matter warheads."
Harko looked surprised at that. "Anti-matter warheads?"
"And they even use anti-matter to power and fuel their ships." Dooku continued. "Think of the challenge this can be."
"What do you hope to gain?" Harko questioned.
"The first requirement would be that these ships in questions would be capable of matching the speed and maneuverability of the Enterprise. The second requirement would be that it would have projection and armament at least as close to seventy present of the Enterprise. It would be preferable to be more but we are not unreasonable men here." Dooku explained. "You have the designers, the Techno Union has the science and the Trade Federation has opted to pay for upgrades to their own ships."
Gunray grumbled a bit at that. He did not like the amount of money needed to be spent but he was left with very little choice.
He had been humiliated by the Enterprise at Naboo and had not taken it well. Add in the fact that the Milky Way factions had no need for money but perhaps could out produce the galactic economy with only a handful of ships, using those Replicators they have onboard to produce everything a civilization would need, including food, cloths, medical supplies, and just about anything that the Mega-corporations produced to continue commerce and trade. That was frightening that they could essentially crash the economy with merely one ship and they used a moneyless economy! To the Viceroy of the Trade Federation that was not only impossible it was inconceivable.
All the power to single handedly topple an economy meant to support an entire galaxy and they had no interest in any form of wealth or material gain.
Gunray just couldn't understand how they could have access to untold riches and yet have no need for it.
It was maddening!
It was strange.
It was…for the lack of a better term alien.
"The Enterprise not only crippled three Trade Federation ships, it also overloaded the main computer system of their droid control ship, rendering the droid army useless. All of this proves that there is a vast room for improvement." Dooku continued, glancing to Wat Tambor. "Minister Tambor of the Techno Union has agreed to begin working on to upgrade the computer system."
"Upgrading the Trade Federation's droids? When they were ordered to reduce?" Harko leaned back in his chair. "You are treading very dangerous ground, Count."
"Perhaps but no one is planning on informing the Senate, are they?" Dooku asked with a small smile.
Inner Rim
Kuat Sector
Kuat System
Kuat Drive Yards Orbital Array
Kuat was organized as one of the primary ship building planets in the Skyriver galaxy and it had proven its reputation for over thousands of years. The orbital ring, better known as the Kuat Drive Yards Orbital Array surrounding the planet could hold over thousands of ships and its construction yards could build perhaps a thousand more. People preferred living in the orbital ring to the point that the array consisted of apartment complexes, hotels, restaurants, shops, medical facilities, and places of entertainment. Kuat Drive Yards had worked several companies such as CEC and Rendili StarDrive to produce entire fleets of ships throughout the galaxy.
And today was no different.
Walex Blissex and his daughter Lira Blissex both might have met their match when it comes to Starfleet Engineering Corps who were one of the ship-building companies that had designed the best starships in the Alpha Quadrant of the Milky Way Galaxy. Walex Blissex saw the Federation ships, particularly the Enterprise as works of art, combining elegance with power and agility that made for a unique design and he quickly gained a few ideas from how Federation technology worked. Lira Blissex saw the Enterprise as too flashy, taking more time to make it look pretty instead of an actual ship, especially compared to her future designs. Having read up on the other Milky Way powers and their approach to building ships, Lira actually appreciated the Klingon approach to building ships.
She was impressed but convinced that her future design unbeatable, the best battleship in the galaxy in her mind.
"Blissex." Father and daughter turned at the call of their last name, spotting rival ship building competitor Raith Sienar. "Are you excited to get a look at these ships as everyone else?"
Raith Sienar, head of Republic Sienar Systems which was well known through the Republic as one of the galaxy's top ship-building companies. Raith Sienar was noted for developing the SIE-TIW twin ion engine that will soon go into full production. His idea for using solar panels for a power supplement was suspected to be based off the Solar Sailor developed by the Geonosians but it was still a radical design.
Almost a decade ago he had worked with the Xi Char, studying their designs that he would later incorporate into his own work before he was exiled from Charros IV for stealing from them and had been targeted by bounty hunters hired by Xi Char for lying to them, several of whom had disappeared without a trace. Since then Sienar had been involved in espionage against the Trade Federation, Baktoid Armor, Corellian Engineering and Incom Corporations but out of all of them it was Xi Char who held the longest grudge. They had even been responsible for the death of his father but he still managed to survive.
"Raith Sienar, it's rare to see you out in public." Walex Blissex stated calmly, frowning slightly.
Lira knew that her father did not like or trust Raith Sienar for various reasons and it was not because of him being a competitor. She had no personal problems with him and could respect him as a fellow engineer but she believed her ingenuity was superior to anything he could create.
"I have come to take part in this little project. Word has it, we will be building ships to rival our new galaxy friends. I have learned much about them and I'm eager to speak some of their engineers on so many topics." Sienar answered calmly.
Sienar was a radical and a man with little moral conscious as proven by the fact he was considered a friend of Governor Wilhuff Tarkin of Eriadu. No doubt he was here to learn as much as he can about the Milky Way technology under the pretense of taking part in improving Republic vessels for the future. Walex was aloof, deciding not to get into a prolonged conversation with Sienar while Lira suspected Sienar was planning on ways to try and gain access to the rumored astromech droid that is said to have amassed the knowledge of an entire universe. According to the Federation the astromech droid made contact with the synthetic intelligence known as V'Ger that had amassed the knowledge of everything scientific in their universe.
That was of great interest to people like Sienar and Tarkin.
Walex had no patience for technology like computers. He designed ships to be sturdy with proper power generations and if necessary weapons but he made them for the purpose of trying to maintain peace in the galaxy. He heard of the droid's supposed upgrade and had absolutely no wish to even look at whatever technology it might possess, believing it was better to advance at one's own pace. Lira on the other hand believed that the droid's knowledge could be the greatest technological gain the galaxy had made in thousands of years, perhaps ever.
He was already part of the upcoming Project: Engineer but had been asked to take part in this project, designing new kinds of starships to match that of the new galaxy.
He wasn't sure why the sudden interest though.
The debate had gone mostly well, many engineers and ship designers going over what they know about the Milky Way ships, based on the testimony of several Naboo officers who had toured the Enterprise and had a glimpse of their technology, including those fantastic transporters. The chance to get their hands on this new technology would be a great boon to the shipyards and many of engineers were interested to see how they can improve their current designs.
Even Walex and Sienar were interested in what they heard.
Stabilized anti-matter reactors.
Transports capable of teleporting people across a great distance.
Plasma conduits that channeled super energized plasma instead of electricity.
Sienar had already been looking to establish a way to create a new engine system and had partially succeeded with the SIE-TIE engine but they had proven incompatible with current hyperdrive, life support and shielding system. It seems that the Milky Way powers could use energized plasma to not only power their engines but also their weapons, shields and life support which made the superior to his brain child.
He of course was not insulted, only motivated to succeed even more so now.
When asked what the point of all of this was by one of the engineers, the man in charge, Wilhuff Tarkin only had one thing to say.
"To begin our journey into a new age as shown by this new galaxy. They have shown us an entire universe is out there, waiting to be discovered. Is that not reason enough?"
Xxx
Milky Way Galaxy
Gamma Quadrant
USS Enterprise
Captain's Log Supplemental: It is been over three Earth weeks since we have begun our exploration of the Gamma Quadrant and so far things are going smoothly for us, cataloguing systems and setting possible hyperspace routes to reach any nearby systems for potential first contact. The Enterprise has charted over a dozen systems already, some primitive and others on the edge of discovering interstellar travel. So far we have yet to encounter any hostilities but we have received word from several trader ships to beware of a power in the quadrant known as the Dominion. Apparently this Dominion is a conquering power, much like the Klingon and the Romulan Empires we have been warned to avoid making contact with them.
So far we have done so, wishing to avoid confrontation with any potential adversaries without understanding their strengths and weaknesses. Our passenger, Mr. R2-D2 has been working with science officer Spock closely on avoiding any potential danger since we are so far from home with no refueling station or star bases to return to if we were to encounter trouble as well the new and improved communications systems to allow for contact with Starfleet despite being on the other side of the galaxy. For the most part we are choosing to stick to the outer regions, far from what is likely Dominion space before we make any other decisions.
It seems the Dominion has taken up a region of space between forty and fifty thousand light years from the galactic core in an outer arm of the galaxy. We have yet to wander anywhere near their space and thus far have avoided detection. Still, it is more than likely that our exploration will eventually bring us in contact with them. How they might react to us still unknown at this time?
End Log
Kirk turned off the recorder, taking one more time to look around the bridge to see everyone was their stations, satisfied to see everyone was thoroughly focused on their work.
He stood up and approached Spock's station. "Anything special to report at this time?"
"None at this time, Admiral. We have catalogued over a dozen planets, systems and taken into account nebulas, stars and likely anomalies to ensure we have a proper route, depending on how far we choose to explore this quadrant." Spock noted. "Mr. R2 has been thorough on assisting me."
"Hey, I got to earn my keep." R2 beeped.
"Do you have knowledge on this Dominion?" Kirk questioned.
"Enough to know that meeting them is a bad idea." R2 replied. "They don't care for exploration, negotiation or bargaining. They only care for control and if they find out about us, they'll stop at nothing to have this ship and the hyperdrive."
"So do we just avoid them, even though our mandate is first contact whenever possible?" Kirk looked at the droid.
"That's your mandate. My mandate is navigation, repair and seeing to the safety of whatever ship I am on and I tell you, that meeting with anyone from the Dominion goes against that mandate." R2 answered. "Don't get me wrong, Admiral. I like what you are doing and what you stand for but not everyone will respect that."
"A logical statement." Spock agreed.
Kirk smiled a bit. "Yes and reasonable as well. Still, we might not be able to help with that. Does anything ever truly go according to plan?"
"Are you rhetorically asking that because you expect us to encounter them soon or because you might make it an order to see if I am telling the truth?" R2 questioned.
"Well, I know there are hostile situations we have no way of avoiding. I wouldn't dare walk us into one if I could avoid it. I suppose my line questioning is that if things do things turn out for the worst, can I count on you along with the rest my crew to help us find the best way out of the situation?" Kirk revised his line of questioning.
R2 was silent as he considered that question. "I will help in any way I can, Admiral. That's my mandate and purpose, even if I am not considered a member of this crew."
Kirk smiled. "That is enough for me to consider you a member of this crew. Sorry for my line questioning, but I take the personal safety of this ship and crew seriously and I want to trust everyone on board with my life. Spock has vouched for you, Mr. R2 and that's enough for me to be willing to give you that same trust."
"Thank you, Admiral." R2 beeped.
"Don't thank me yet. If there's one thing about being on the Enterprise is that worst things usually happen no matter what. You may be forced to carry out your mandate much sooner than any of us think." Kirk stated, turning to the turbolift. "When that happens, I can only wish you good-luck. We'll all need it."
R2 beeped what sounded like a sigh. "Sadly, that happens a lot at home too. Glad to know some things never change, no matter the galaxy."
Kirk could only offer a tired smile as the doors closed.
It was a sad fact but ever since the days of Captain Jonathan Archer, the worst things had always happened to ships named Enterprise.
And yet that's what made Kirk love this ship even more.