[19 BBY]
[Outer Regions Security Stellar Aegis Foundries [ORSSGF, formerly Damansk Holdings – HK-Mustafar Yard, Mustafar, Mustafar System, Atravis Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Garoche Tarkin exited his shuttle to a blast of heat as he emerged into the exterior landing pad of the largest of the former Separatist droid-foundries on this hellish volcano-world. His entourage as well, and bodyguards as several of them were, and they followed just behind as the waiting squad of facility security troopers saluted him in a professional manner. He saluted back, standing proudly in his new, reworked, Republic Vice-Admiral's uniform and then allowing the Captain, one of the Aegis's Guard burly non-humans he guessed judging from the faint accent and the bulk inside the Trooper armour.
He thanked the squad politely, but commandingly, as his father had thought him as the thick security doors opened and allowed him entry. Thankfully to cooler, more refreshing, air coming through the faintly humming life-support systems; a welcome thing, as he'd rather not have to deal with the murderous humidity that had greeted him mere minutes ago. The facility still had engravings, painted over, or slashed at, showing the allegiances of its former owners...which was hardly a surprise when they'd discovered the place had been earmarked as a Government Fallback Bunker of the CIS, not just a droid foundry and shipyard.
"Vice-Admiral Tarkin, a pleasure to have you in our facility..." the Chief Director of the facility, a human male like himself, greeted him after a short walk down yet another grey, dreary, looking corridor of the facility "Orson Krennic, Republic Corps of Engineers, and, at the moment, Director of this facility"
Garoche returned the smile, taking the man's hand and gave a firm shake "Thank you Director, a fine facility you have here, hard-work I imagine?"
"Thank you Vice-Admiral, it certainly has I'm afraid, numerous problems at the start, but we have production up and running as was demanded of us, both for droid production and in, more importantly, I expect, in the starship foundry lines. I'm afraid its not Kuat, but we'll have a fleet ready as requested in the coming months...if you would come in here, some refreshments have been prepared and I can give a more effective briefing Vice-Admiral"
"Of course, of course, Director, lead the way"
The refreshments were welcome of course Garoche found, the constant journeying as his father's representative as much as that of the Republic. So far it had been successful, from the point of view of stabilising the Sectors and boosting the legitimacy of their efforts to ensure the Republic survived in the face of the Chancellor's betrayals. Father still had his views of course, but he understood enough to come around to Garoche's own views, and that of senior ORSF commanders such as Maarisa Zsinj, that Randolph's ideas had been close to correct...just at the wrong time.
Garoche had already brought on board, along with the Stormcrow, and the rebel Jedi Rahm Kota, a decent number of martially inclined non-humans. Equal representation was a worthwhile price to pay to ensure Eriadu turned from an economic backwater into a true powerhouse on the Mid and Outer Rims. They'd finally started to get rid of slavery on Eriadu by the constant buying up of technically skilled slaves by the Aegis Guard and Ailon Nova Guard, and recruiting into the military had swept up the rest. Droids, from this facility, should finally allow them to abolish it completely, and use that as a sign of diplomatic success to further boost their power. He glanced at the proffered data-slate and holographic display, then at the director.
"New production designs?"
The Director nodded as he took his seat across from me "Ah, yes, part of the project of my friend Galen at the behest of several groups, including your ORSF, initially started and funded by ESS, which became the Republic Aegis Guard. It's based on the Venator-class as you can see bar we removed the bridge structure and relocated into the inner structure, but only on the outside, as internally it's largely based on an expanded Dreadnaught design. We'll freely admit its early stages yet for a true design, but we have begun production on two of what we are calling the Venerable-class. More funds have been supplied since the first encounter with the new Imperial-class Star Destroyers as they are called"
Garoche nodded studying the details. Someone wanted a whole lot of turbolasers on the Venator at the expense of star-fighters, but considering the Luchrehulks and Droid Control ships currently being built here, at Sluis Van, and elsewhere that wasn't a huge surprise. Most sensible senior officers didn't like relying on the Seppie models unless they had too...as they had to at the moment "Well, all I can say for the moment is the removal of the exposed bridge is more than acceptable, the Acclamators proved that we can do without them in extremis..."
"Yes Vice Admiral, there is an efficiency drop expected, as we've had to boost heat-sinks to account for the bridge being inside the hull..." the Director replied then shrugged "...of course, with supply and production capacity as predicted from the Mid and Outer Rim..."
Garoche held up his hand "I understand Director, more than more realise as I've been touring to confirm that capacity, and see where we begin steps towards standardisation in the coming months. Now, unto the droid production? We can discuss the starship designs and production numbers later, as we saw what was in the yards when we entered orbit"
"Yes Vice-Admiral. In general terms we've managed to move the surviving B-1 production over to civilian and construction-related duties when completed, none of the major combat forces want them after all. Lines have been cut back, with what we couldn't transfer to the B-1RX series going to the B-1Rs. As you can see production is more costly than simple B-1's but..."
"Yes, yes, it's known..." Garoche muttered waving off the known "...B-1's are useless on the battlefield, unfortunately for us when we deploy them, and thankfully for us when the Seppies do so in force with the blasted things. Droidekas?"
"Full production has been restored, but end-line installation of combat programming is still required by the end-user, we've been forced to slag the original production here due to Seppie installations"
--
[19 BBY]
[Gai'Solem, Solem, Solem System, Koradin Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Home had changed I found, even if it had only been a home of a few years. The orbitals were full of activity...in truth the fact there were orbital infrastructure at all was a glorious change, our aging mobile shipyard purchase having built a number of escorts for us already. They'd even finished welding the captured Lucrehulks to it to turn it into a defensible star-fortress as much as mobile shipyard;- loss of some speed was a hardly a problem in exchange for shields and starfighter squadrons. Between that and fact the Planetary Shield was up and running I was a much happier Solemite...
Or I would be if not for the fact I was descending into a celebration 'in our honour' for our brief return. I shouldn't have been surprised, ESS and its affiliates were, literally, the largest employers in the Sector, let alone the system, and that made me a celebrity. Apparently, creepily, there was even merchandise of me, and various others, circulating about; up to and including one of Miraj, former Queen, in chains. Creepy I found, but it also indicated I'd never truly be able to return and settle-down here...not without civil disturbances and constantly unnerving the various Clan Elders. I could understand sadly. Warlords were rarely a welcome long-term addition to local politics after all.
So I watched as the TIEs screamed overheat, releasing fireworks that illuminated the night-sky, as I stepped down from my shuttle in full armour and helmet, Bariss at my side, along with Karis, with Knight Secura, and the bodyguard droids behind us. There were hundreds of thousands assembled below, that I could see, and armoured boots thudded over the tarmacadamed roads as jet-pack equipped jump infantry fly above them. Say what you will but our PR department were competent to say the least, and even Bariss, who was feeling a bit unnerved in the Force to my side. So I strode forward, raising the traditional fist-salute of the clans and receiving a loud wordless roar in reply.
'Crap, now I have to give a speech, when all I want to do is go home and visit family' I mentally grumbled, or part of me did anyway, but there was no time for that as I strode forward, armour gleaming in the Dark. Raising my arms to either side I carefully imbued my voice with traces of power; not enough to affect others, but to focus my mind, to listen and feel the flow and pulse of the Force on Solem. I let out a breath, my face hidden thankfully by the helmet along with the sound, and then straightened my posture, arms out and raised up, fists clenched.
"Solem, I, your humble son, return once again from the battlefield, the blood of my enemies upon my blade! Victory upon my lips! And your strength to take to the very stars themselves!"
I ignored the roar, pressing on "So I thank you! For your courage! For your strength! For enduring all the harshness that Fate has thrown our way!"
My arms raised up, my voice magnified "AND WITH THAT POWER WE HAVE RISEN! FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GENERATIONS OUR STRENGTH SOARS AMONGST THE STARS! WE HAVE SHIPYARDS THAT BUILD MODERN WARSHIPS TO SMITE OUR FOES! WE HAVE THE STRENGTH AND POWER TO TAKE OUR FATE INTO OUR OWN HANDS! WILL YOU SHOW THEM YOUR STRENGHT? YOUR POWER?"
I let the roar wash over me a moment before continuing on "SOME CRITICISE MY LOYALTY TO THE GALACTIC REPUBLIC! THAT IT HAS FAILED US BEFORE! NOW! AND ALWAYS!"
I let out an exaggerated sigh, lowering roaring tones "Perhaps they were right, are right..."
Then raised my arms again "BUT I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT! ACCEPT THAT CONSTANT FALL INTO OBVILION AND REGRESSION! YES, THE REPUBLIC HAS FAILED US! SO BE IT! MANY HAVE FAILED US IN THE PAST!"
I thumped my armoured chest "I WILL NOT ALLOW MYSELF TO LIVE AND DIE IN THIS STAGNATION! I WILL NOT ACCEPT IT!
IF THE REPUBLIC HAS FAILED US THEN WE SHALL REMAKE IT SO IT NEVER DO SO AGAIN!
WE MUST BE PROUD AND UNIFIED!
THE REPUBLIC HAS LOST ITS SIGHTS FOR TOO LONG! WE WILL REALIGN THAT IDEAL, THAT DREAM, AND TAKE IT WITH OUR OWN HANDS!
NEVER AGAIN WILL WE COWER WHEN PIRATES AND VERMIN THREATEN OUR WORLDS!
NEVER AGAIN WILL THE CORRUPT AND RAPACIOUS MEGACORPS DARKEN OUR DOORS!
NEVER AGAIN WILL WE BOW DOWN, BUT INSTEAD, CONQUER THE STARS!
NOW, WILL YOU WALK THAT PATH WITH ME?
TO WAR WITH ALL OUR STRENGTH! WITH ALL THE HONOUR AND LOYALTY OF THE CLANS UNITED AS ONE!
TO VICTORY OR DEATH!
FOR! THE! REPUBLIC!"
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