[18 BBY]

[Outer Regions Security Stellar Aegis Foundries {ORSSGF, formerly Damansk Holdings – HK-Mustafar Yard}, Mustafar, Mustafar System, Atravis Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

Orson Krennic frowned as he looked at the schematics of the nearly finished battleship, shaking his head in exasperation "I believe we could invest more into the systems, the efficiency alone…"

Galen Erso, who sat across from him along with the other designers sitting in the new facility accommodations on this blasted hell-planet, shrugged "That is not what is wanted though, nor do we have access to enough higher end systems to justify the investment. They wanted redundancy, and they are getting that redundancy, even at the cost of more people to run it"

"That they are, what do we all think of what we've lost in exchange for that increased redundancy?" Orson replied stoking his chin "Performance on the shakedowns?"

"The Lucrehulks a fascinating design to tell the truth…" Galen replied looking down into his data-slate as were the others around them, or studying the holographic displays of the variants nearing completion "…and the multi-purpose role it served for the Trade Federation made it much easier for military conversion, but…also not ideal as a battleship either. What the testing has shown is that it has proven easy enough to modify on the production side"

One of their new arrivals, a combat engineer from the Republic Navy, Caryl nodded "All that internal space and prebuilt conversion options should it need to go back being a bulk cruiser"

Galen nodded back to the other man "Yes, exactly Caryl. So, as I was saying, it's a fascinating design, and I'd rate the rework as a success, though I can't speak to the benefit of the loss of the troop and haulage functions, but in terms of reusing that space….well, we've thickened the armour belt to the max, and the extra generators dramatically improve shielding and light turbolaser batteries. That of course is with inferior generators and engines to what the Trade Federation have with more modern parts options"

'Ah, yes my current enemy that won't leave me be….inferior Outer Rim systems in ready availability, and the best equipment having to be carefully planned around' Orson thought unhappily, but showing none of the annoyance at thwarted ambition. Rather than a problem his team saw it as a challenge, and from that point of view the Lucrehulk-class variants were delivering on that so far "Ah, well, our best is reserved for our best builds sadly, but in time that should resolve itself. For now, do we think the brute forcing method is working?"

Galen waved one had side to side "With the 'Improved Battleship' variant…less so than I'd like to be honest Oson. Shields and armour are better…but the heavy firepower was already optimised as best it could be, so we've nothing there. Light turbolaser batteries to handle missiles and fighters were about the only thing we could work with, and, per the design requests, we have managed to significantly upgrade those systems…."

His friend sighed "Really the major investment has been in the sensors and targeting systems, and I can't truly say how that'll improve performance in combat based on range testing. My estimation is the greater amount of linked systems should make up for lesser performance on individual cores, but…"

Orson nodded "Brute force I know, it goes against everything we were taught in KDY and with Corellian designs"

Galen chuckled, followed by the others as well after a few moments at his words "Well, we are building Hammerhead Cruisers again, it's something of a step backwards my teachers would have said. Something to be remembered for friends"

Orson gave him, and the others, an annoyed look "We are not building Hammerheads again Galen"

His friend chuckled again, looking up with an amused smirk on his face "No, we are to some degree, the design is at least consistent visually, and we had to use those hulks for the modular interiors"

"You are not calling it a Hammerhead Cruiser Galen"

"No, we'll call the Hammerhead Cruiser Mark Two instead"

Orson rubbed his forehead in exasperation at the chuckles "No, we shall not Galen, not in the least. Now, can we return back to our actual work?"

The other senior engineer nodded with a smile "Yes, of course. The 'battleship' variant I think we've covered, and there's little more we can do improve the design. I think the loss of ground combat abilities across the line is a potential problem, but High Command are very clear they want space optimised combat platforms even at the expense of the normal B-1army compliment. Now, the 'Command and Control' variant is based around analyse from the Stormcrow, that reworked city-ship, and the smaller cruisers the Aegis Guard and Ailon Nov Guard have been operating. They aren't on the scale of the first ship, but they C variant should be sufficient for fleet command operations as laid out in the brief…"

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[18 BBY]

[Royal Command Bunker, Royal Palace, under the oceans of Dac, Calamari System, Calamari Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

King Lee Char was concerned, but that had been a recurring state of affairs he'd found since the Galactic Civil War had begun and had only worsened in recent months. Today he was only mildly concerned at least as events hadn't brought any major new problems to be dealt with. Beyond of course the fact there was a resurrected Sith Lord on his planet alongside a whole bunch of potential future Sith and Jedi Padawans and younglings….

'Ah yes, the new, terrible, normal' he admitted silently to himself as he came forward and descended to the centre of the command bunker to view the various holographic screens and displays. Admiral Raddus and Vice-Admiral Ackbar were already waiting for him, along with a number of junior officers to serve as aides, so he greeted them politely as always. There were Quarren officers too, a change from what the division of only recently as his…other subjects…rallied behind both himself, and the Sith who spoke heroic tales of a long dead Quarren Warrior Sith. Beneficial and problematic all at the same time that was.

"Admiral, now where do we stand from our last meeting?"

"Highness, conversion of the Reserve Fleet continues, though we can report no more progress than we had envisioned ten standard days ago" the Admiral replied bringing up a holographic display of the Home Fleet "Restoration of damaged vessels from the attack upon homeworld has been largely repaired as you can see, and Commander Dashnine has added his Venator squadron to our strength as promised, though…"

"Dechipping the Clones?"

"Yes your Highness, that is a difficulty as envisioned, but we have assured the clones the operations will be completed aboard their vessels…" the Admiral responded standing at attention "…as well as once again confirming we will protect them from any Jedi seeking revenge"

Lee Char shook his head "If only they were as fearful of the Sith….the status of the ships themselves?"

"Worse than we'd hoped, better than we'd feared Highness. Significant damage needing repair, but nothing crippling outside of the launch bays and needing hyperdrive repair. I suspect without that damage they wouldn't have been amenable to our entreaties"

"Understandable Admiral, and they are, thankfully, sane unlike a number of their counterparts out there in the galaxy…" Lee Char murmured sadly looking at the ships in question as the Vice Admiral brought them up in greater detail "…but ensure its only our people get aboard till everyone of them passes medical inspection. It is already a balancing act with Master Ti and Lord Imperious at the best of times. I do not want rampaging clones added to that list"

"Of course your Highness"

Lee Char waved him off politely at the overly serious tone of the reply "My apologies Admiral, it is taxing to consider our position as….capital of sorts for a reformed Sith Empire of all things. While also being part of the Republic"

He shook his head again "Dark times, and desperate measures when such is the case, or that we are dependent on aid from the Hutts. Now, what of the Confederacy?"

Raddus had an unhappy look on his face "There are signs they are beginning to prepare for a possible offensive when we combine what Commander Dash-9 has told us with that of the Hutts and our own forward scouting frigates. Nothing duracrete, but we are seeing a lot of movement of forces that would indicate the start of such preparations. The question will be are they aimed at us, or aimed elsewhere"

"We should act as if they would attack us…" Vice Admiral Ackbar stated calmly "…and should prepare accordingly, but it might be best if we were to leak such information…edited…to Republic forces towards the Galactic Core, or perhaps the Mandalorian"

"Why edit it?" Lee Char queried of the proposal "What would it serve us?"

"It's a trap…" the Vice Admiral replied, then paused "…or it may be the truth in fact, but it might be best to warn other nearby forces so that may take some of the pressure off of us should the blow come here"

Lee Char frowned "That I think we would be something best discussed with our…guests"

"Most likely Highness" Raddus replied with a curt nod "But we will need a distraction to avoid the Separatists trying to bury us in machine bodies so to speak. This time we are unlikely to have Gungan reinforcements"

"No, we are likely not" Lee Char agreed slowly "…but we may yet be able to arrange mercenaries or some reinforcements through…the Hutts, as distasteful as that may be…"

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