[21 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 14th Sector Army, In Orbit Eriadu, Seswenna Sector]
My new ship was...well, a joy. Also massive, as the internal maglev and rail systems needed for rapid transit around what had once been an actual mobile city showed. It had even followed the majority of my crude amendments while keeping many of the former city-ships facilities and amenities. Or, more accurately, amended and updated them where needed, though where we stood right now wasn't exactly the most military of places and somewhat hid the nature of the ship's new role in life.
Something that Yulan, now Captain of my former Glasnock-class Cruiser-Freighter...or at least once I'd full taken command here and transferred over my secure stores in the next few hours...choose to remind me of, looking around, then at me "Whys there trees in the middle of your battleship Boss?"
I gave an amused snort, enjoying the smell of life and nature the park around us emanated. It was all rather calming and pleasant "In truth it's more a giant, very expensive, support ship than a true capital ship...as you well know Yulan since you helped me do up the initial design requests. Other than that, it was more efficient, and cost efficient, to merely refit what couldn't be modularly replace. So..." I gestured around us "...the grav generators, lots of earth and flowers, was cheaper than trying to work around this area. It'll be a recreation area I guess, there's another one on my private deck I'll use as a meditative garden probably"
Yulan grinned "And me thinking the great and terrible Stormcrow was buying a warship not a luxury cruise ship?"
I shrugged "Why not both? When I go to war, I go to war in style. You should see the bedrooms, their better than my home back on Solem honestly"
And it was in truth. The new Stormcrow was massive, kilometres long and easily bigger than the Lucrehulks and Venators...but lacking the firepower of that size. Armour and shields sure, and a top of the line anti-missile and starfighter system, but the capital ship was more a support, logistics, and transport than a true fighting ship in the end. Command and Control in a fight would be its immediate role thanks to great quantity, and quality, of sensors and modern computer systems installed, and then support with the former 'factory district' retooled and ready to start manufacturing again.
My own quarters were effectively a large house, mini-mansion really, and I'd most of a secure area of the deck set aside for my more...secret...things, such as Force related items, and a training area amongst a few demands in the design the stage. The crews were similar, if slightly less extensive and luxurious, and it was pretty easy when the vessel had been intended for up to a hundred and twenty thousand Mon Calamari plus crew, and now was intended for about thirty thousand in total if we had to ferry troopers, or move civilians. Really it was for the non-combat related crew, and residents of sorts, such computer slicers, trainers, doctors, and such that were going to be aboard the Stormcrow.
"Hmm, and me stuck in my dull, small cabin aboard the first, true, iteration of the ship"
I glanced at him "Second thoughts? You're still welcome to transfer over instead if you wish, as damn if getting this thing crewed properly is difficult you..." then I gave a small shrug "...anyway, you're taking my cabin, and I rather liked it"
Yulan gave a chuckle "Nah Boss, rather prefer being a Captain with my own ship honestly, not as nice cabin or no. That, and this place be too big for my tastes right now in truth, need earn my wings and all that"
One had to agree with his choice, and it suited the Company's goals too as we needed to raise up experienced personnel to command over ships as our numbers and ranks expanded. It was a significant problem actually; large, expanding, ranks of personnel overall, but a constant desperate shifting through them to find qualified or experienced-by-not-dying staff for middle and higher ranks. Even now I was bringing a few of my crew over from the Stormcrow, or those trained with us on Ryloth...or honestly anywhere people I could trust and were competent...to fill the crew slots here.
"You'll do well Yulan, you're ready for the responsibility..." I stated truthfully "...though it'll make my life harder training in your replacement. All while I get the ship up and running, deal with Tarkins...etc, etc..."
"You are the Army's Quartermaster after all, General Stormcrow, comes with the territory"
I sighed "I know, too many jobs and titles, it's a recurring problem of the Republic military, same as ourselves...going from tiny numbers to millions in a few months, and not enough staff to draw upon either..."
It was more than that of course, since I was pretty sure Palpatine was attempting to ensure this stayed a role-play war that caused lots of dead Jedi, rather than a coherent Republic military build-up. So there was an eclectic mix of mercenaries such as myself, professional military drawn from planetary defence forces, and then the 'charge to victory' Jedi Generals amongst the upper levels of the Grand Army of the Republic. In, oh so many ways, it was why the Clone Army was so appealing to lazy-ass and greedy Core Worlds; there was no need to build up the middle ranks as we were now, just a pre-built army of totally-not-slaves with insert General as the only true option to take. Jedi who disappeared off without word at that I found as I glanced at Yulan.
"...drives me up the walls sometimes. Anyway, not helped by vanishing Jedi...track on Generals Kenobi and Skywalker?"
Yulan shook his head "As I said Boss Kenobi appeared after they were here a few days while we were on the offensive, the crew don't know more beyond the three Jedi took off in Aethersprites towards the Galactic South, Seppie territory at that. Atravis, Shumavar, or Mustafar by best guesses"
'Yeah, a bit early in the war for volcano duel time as well' I noted to myself before sighing "Well, I'm sure they'll reappear to cause us headaches soon enough anyway. I suppose I should be just be glad the fleet made its way from the Core intact, ambushes aside, and there isn't a crisis on Naboo as feared"
Yulan nodded "Sure is, finally got spare parts for the TIE's and Headhunters, and a route home..."
I shrugged as he trailed off "Yeah, we'll likely be returning to Solem as we work up the new heavies and we start refitting and reactivating the ships we've captured. We're a reserve formation for the next month or so, and I need start reorganising supply lines as Yanthis and Rahm fight off counter-attacks...so enjoy the technical down time while you can"
He gave me a look "Use it to reorganise and retrain for my new ship since your clearing me out?"
I nodded sagely "That too. Victory brings only more work and hardship in this regard, such as dealing with our patrons of sorts here on Eriadu now the routes are reopened. Or the reintegrating the ground pounders we sent here into our operational command"
Braika had gone planet-side to organise that already, the ground forces being her baby of sorts within the Company, and that wasn't exactly an easy task. Large numbers of troopers had been formed into Legions since the war had begun, and then thrown into the meat-grinder like the few Clone forces available to the Eriadu Pocket. It presented a...problem...of sorts as those Clone Legions had been devastated, and then broken up amongst ORSF and Aegis Guard Legions as trainers, officers, and commandoes to increase effectiveness despite the objections of the Republic and Kamino. Considering what we knew...that was a problem of chips in heads needing to be solved promptly and silently for those soldiers. Which reminded me...
"Also, there'll be a meeting of the Board shortly, now we've reunited of sorts, and we may require your opinions on certain...operations...we have carried out"
Yulan nodded "Understood General"
It was pretty clear our slicer operations on Hoth had cracked the codes on those bio-chips, and since we couldn't exactly have a secure holo-net conversation on the subject matter a meeting of the original ESS Board was now a priority. Along with briefing, to a limited degree, each of our subordinates on tasks that might need to be completed so we all didn't get killed due to our knowing about the secrets of the Clone Army...or at least what the others thought we knew.
The curse of potential meta-knowledge, but not being sure of it as other things had proven untrue or...not entirely as I had expected. It was irritating, and demanded I confirm things instead of taking rash actions that might get me dead, fast. That and actions had reactions, which derailed matters as the Force probably conspired against me in the background; I often blamed the Force for such things after all, since it probably was its fault in the end. Or those listening to its soft little whispers of doom at the very least.
"I'll warn it could be time consuming, yet still have us pressed for time, busy schedules and all that so be ready in advance as it could drop on us at a moment's notice..." I half-warned knowing how these things were likely to with the blizzard of paperwork ahead and Yulan nodded in understanding "...other than that it should be relatively straightforward in nature. Some of it is just going to be sifting through lists of who to promote, and what we're sending to Bolt-Hole...and if we can send anything to the Graveyard"
Not that we'd found many surviving, intact, wrecks from the great battles that had taken place in Hoth in time's past, but the place was an Executive Security Solutions secret base rather than an Aegis Guard one, and therefore Republic one, such as Bolt-Hole was at Lameredd. If things turned against us, me, during the rise of the Empire then I wanted fall back options off the books; not that my 'knowledge of the Jedi historical maps' hadn't proven useful for our early finances with Hoth for instance.
The place had been, and was, a small treasure throve of minerals and easily harvested resources to supplement our income, and right now for our intelligence gathering and secret supply base. My new Stormcrow, much as Yulan was pushing me to not use a ship with my new surname, could do extended running without support if I should need to run and disappear for a few years into the Unknown Regions. Or at least it would as long as ensured a loyal crew, and that was something to still be done as I brought this sudden expansion of numbers called a capital-support ship truly online and combat capable...
--
Executive Security Solutions
Board of Directors
Name -- Species -- Culture/World -- Gender -- Age -- Background
Daron {Stormcrow} -- Solemite -- Solem -- Male-- 19 -- Jedi Padawan/Mercenary
Braika Chorn -- Human -- Mandalorian -- Female -- 32 -- Mercenary/Bodyguard/Assasin
Shesagora Shadowsails -- Karkite -- Karksis -- Female -- 44 -- Smuggler/Thief
Jurdan Ironhills -- Solemite -- Solem -- Male -- 52 -- Freighter Captain/Member System Defence Forces
Hanna Andrasha -- Human -- Chandrilla -- Female -- 28 -- CEO Beautiful Sunset Import/Export & Chandrilla DataSecure
Jacques Bloodstar -- Solemite/Human -- Lipsec -- Male -- 50 -- Retired Pirate, Smuggler, Mercenary
Added after 22 BBY
Ardal Bren -- Solemite -- Solem -- Male -- 68 -- Elder of Clan Fell, First Among Equals of Solem
Nagarat Ustalil -- Karkite -- Karksis -- Male -- 62 -- General of the Thand, Prime Minister of Karksis