Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

So, this chapter is not going to be based on any Clone Wars episode. However, the events of this chapter will be critical to the future of the series and of the Terran Alliance. It will also be a rather short one, compared to the last couple.

Chapter 31- A Powerful Secret

(July 4, 1992)

"We have the final specifications that we are ready to submit to the Joint Command. We wanted to show this to you first, Mr. President."

President Bush continues looking through the report from Newport News Shipbuilding, one of the companies working to design new warships for the Terran Starfleet.

After finishing the report, President Bush lowers the papers and looks up at the president of the company. "This definitely seems like a very capable ship. You definitely have my endorsement," President Bush says.

"Thank you, Mr. President. If I may, I must be going," the CEO says.

"Of course. Best of luck," Bush says. The man packs up his things and then walks out of the Oval Office.

President Bush then looks back at his desk, ready to start going over some other reports. It's been busy since the Alliance first entered the Clone Wars. Especially with efforts to build up the Terran Starfleet, and the Terran Jedi Order. Master Plo Koon has so far found 6 infants and toddlers, all but one of which were orphans, that are strong in the Force, and has taken them to begin Jedi training.

President Bush reaches for a report on the progress of Master Koon. Before he can touch it, the doors fly open, and in walks Robert M Gates, Director of Central Intelligence.

"Ah, Robert. What can I do for you?" Bush asks.

"Mr. President. We have found it. We know its location, and how to get there," Gates responds.

Bush immediately sobers. From his tone and words, Bush can tell exactly what Gates is talking about.

After the Terran Alliance officially became allies with the Republic and entered the Clone Wars, they had been granted access to the libraries and archives on Coruscant to be able to learn more about the history of the Republic and other things about the galaxy.

During the course of studies, a US intelligence officer had discovered hidden records regarding a Jedi turned Sith turned Jedi again named Revan. Part of the records told of a war known as the Jedi Civil War, when Revan, at that point a Sith, attacked the Republic. The records made mention of a legendary superweapon known as the Star Forge. It spoke of how Revan, and later Darth Malak, controlled the Star Forge, and how it was eventually destroyed.

When the rather vague descriptions of the Star Forge that were found were transmitted to Earth, the Joint Terran Command had recognized the power the Star Forge held. Some of the commanders believed that if that power could be replicated, it could solve the biggest problem faced by the Terran Starfleet, which was their inability to produce warships at a sufficient rate to be able to stand against any significant threat. The Joint Command feared that the Alliance would be able to produce, at max capacity, maybe eight to ten ships in a decade. Having power similar to the Star Forge could fix that.

A team of American intelligence officers had begun researching everything they could about the Star Forge. They had to hack into some Republic archives that were only allowed to be viewed by a select few in the Republic and Jedi Order in order to find any real information about the Star Forge. While it was recognized that the Star Forge drew part of its power from the Dark Side, the Joint Command felt they could still build a similar facility without needing to use the dark side.

They had been able to find out a relatively significant amount about the Star Forge and how it worked. However, one thing they had not been able to figure out was where the remains of it were. They knew the remains of the Star Forge were surrounding the sun of the Rakata Prime system, somewhere in the Unknown Regions. But so far, they had not been able to find out where exactly Rakata Prime was, or any idea of how to get there.

"They've located Rakata Prime?" Bush asks.

"Yes," Gates says.

"Good. Then it's time," Bush says.

Within a matter of hours, the information was in the hands of the Joint Terran Command. The generals and admirals were delighted to have received this information.

Immediately, an order is sent to Admiral Kelly to dispatch a task force. The two Lucrehulk class battleships Volgograd & Vladivostok and two Venators, Audacity and Victorious, will be making the trip. A Russian, Vice Admiral Aleksander Vilikov, has command of this force.

When Plo Koon finds out that the fleet is sending four ships out of the system, he asks the Joint Command why. The Joint Command, wanting to keep their intentions secret, make up the excuse that they're beginning explorations of the Milky Way. Plo accepts the explanation, never dreaming what the Alliance is really after.

(August 25, 1992)

"Sir!"

Vice Admiral Vilikov, on the bridge of the Audacity, turns towards one of his officers.

"Yes, Commander?" Vilikov asks.

"We are still on course, and our computers are showing that we're only 5 minutes away from the system," the man, a British naval officer, says.

Vilikov nods. The trip has been a treacherous one. They were never able to find perfect maps of the hyperspace route the Republic used to attack the Star Forge thousands of years ago, so they had to fill in the gaps. Thankfully, through their caution, they were able to make it, and now they are finally nearing the system.

"Prepare the drop ships, and order the space walkers to prepare. I want us ready to commence exploration the moment we reach it," Vilikov orders.

"Yes, sir!" the British Commander says before turning around and walking off the bridge.

Vilikov watches out of the viewport as the blue streaks of hyperspace continue to pass by the viewport. Finally, he hears one of the deck officers call out, "Coming out of hyperspace in five, four, three, two, one!"

Simultaneously, the ships of the task force drop out of hyperspace. Out of the viewport appears the Lehon system. The world of Lehon, or Rakata Prime, looms up ahead, with the star of the system beyond it. And, in the space between the star and Rakata Prime, the wreckage of the Star Forge is scattered.

The deck crews of the ships stare at the wreckage as they slowly approach. Finally, as they near Rakata Prime itself, Vice Admiral Vilikov orders, "Dispatch the scouting ships."

Within minutes, ARC-170 starfighters take off from the Audacity and head out to scout the wreckage. The pilots use reconnaissance equipment installed aboard their fighters to take photos and gather energy reading from the wreckage.

The flights continue throughout the day and into the next, bringing back a wealth of knowledge to the three ships. The ships also conduct a number of spacewalks with members of their crews, in order to get a more up close look at some of the wreckage.

The study of the wreckage of the Star Forge continues for three more days, lasting until early on the 30th of August, when Vice Admiral Vilikov orders the next phase of the mission. Using their tractor beams, the four ships are able to gather some of the wreckage, including the most important important pieces of wreckage to learning how the Star Forge worked and how to replicate it.

The process takes an additional 36 hours. Finally, late on the 31st, the necessary wreckage has been gathered, taking up every bit of space in the three ships. Their mission complete, the task force heads back to Earth, returning home late in September.

When the task force returns with the wreckage, research begin on the wreckage in orbit. Only a select group of trusted individuals are allowed to come aboard the ships in order to research the wreckage, in order to keep the project as secret as possible.

The research on the wreckage, and the design work on what has come to be know among those who know of it as the Terran Star Forge, will continue until the end of January, 1993. Then, construction on the facility will begin in February, 1993. The construction, based on estimates, will take the better part of a decade, but once it is complete, it will give the Terran Alliance greater shipbuilding capacity than they ever imagined.

And, that's it.

So, I was wondering from the beginning how the Terran Alliance would be able to build Star Destroyer sized warships, or bigger, after the Republic became the Empire and their alliance was severed. I came up with the answer of having the Terrans build their own version of the Star Forge when I was doing a little research on the history of the Star Wars galaxy. I hope it sounds realistic. And no, the Terran Star Forge will not be imbued with the Dark Side. It will also not be as big, nor as efficient, but it will be able to get the job done.

Next chapter will be up within a week. Until then, leave a review, and stay tuned!