Fortifying Future Foundations

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar looked out the large observation view port on the forward Officers mess at the world of Denon below. The world lay before him a mass of frantic activity and scorched metal. The battle for the world had been hard fought and the scars of the war fought there still shown deep on its surface. The world was now secure and the mighty resources of the Republic now switched from waging war to healing the wounds left from it.

The Dark Tide, Flagship of the Intergalactic Banking Clan, was not where he thought he would be when he came to Denon for the first time. The newly modified Tambor-class had been purchased in a catch of warships and in payment for financing the new MCS Defender Program, one of the vessels had been modified and given to [member="Lan Porgata"] as partial payment. The ship was now the command center for the IGBC and an impressive ship even for MCS standards. It had been a formidable vessel when he had appropriated it and with the modifications done at Hast it was now very much a work of art. One of a kind and formidable.

Reshmar watched the traffic moving around the world like a swarm of gnats going about their normal day with no sign of the battle which has ravaged the world so recently. He and the Galactic Republic delegation were there waiting for Lan to join them for the final negotiations with the Republic on financing the Reef Project.

Reshmar had taken the lead in the design of the new Reef-class Battlestations. The project would be the most ambitious project MCS has undertaken since him taking over the helm of the corporation. The massive station would be the first project to utilize the ablative layered armor developed by MCS. The and a multitude of other new systems and technology would make this the most expensive construct ever conceived and constructed by the Mon Calamari.

Behind him, he heard someone speak and introduce Lan to someone from the Republic's delegation. He turned to see the Munn nodding and speaking with a senator and his aid. HE knew he was there just as the manufacturing muscle for the project. IN the back of his mind this was his baby and with the sale of four of these to the Republic, MCS would be able to afford one for themselves. With a hefty one hundred and fifty billion credit price tag without the funding provided by this deal ,the MCS would never appropriate that amount of funding for a station any other way. Reshmar walked over to the IGBC delegation and waited for Lan to finish his conversation with the Republic man then spoke.

"Mister Porgata, It is good to see you again. I hope you are enjoying your new command vessel."

 

[Lan Porgata]

Lan walked forward, his elongated features neutral and even, befitting the mysteriously enigmatic Muuns. The Muuns were notoriously even keeled, keeping their emotions in tight check. Lan Porgata was no exception; one did not rise the rank of chairman of the IGBC simply by greed and shrewd economic sense alone. There was far too much at stake in such a position to let someone with emotional instability to take the reins. It did not mean that he was not pushed from his comfort zone from time to time, this trip being one of them.

Normally Lan would have set up a holomeeting in order to discuss the plans and the potential project scope. However, the size of the loan in question and the repercussions for the IGBC and the Galactic Republic were far too much for him to not fully investigate. Reshmar had been a solid contact for MCS regarding the new flagship for the IGBC, despite the typical Muun reluctance to travel, it had been a stunningly well modified ship and did much to cater to Lan and his fellow financiers.

Even still, it was still uncomfortable for the Muun to be so exposed to others, even if they were courting him for project approval. First Lan would need to see the numbers, the research and the current state of the Galactic Republic. He inclined his head in a show of respect for the chairman of MCS and admiral of the Republic.

"It is splendid, Admiral [member="Reshmar"]. However, I am sure it will pale in comparison to the new plans you have called me here to discuss. Your plans sound ambitious and I must admit some curiosity about how the Republic intends to approach the matter at hand. Surely, you must admit that deploying these stations close to One Sith space puts them in immediate danger and with the pricetag you are quoting, that's a lot of money to be sinking into something that could be rather short lived."

Straight to the point as ever, Lan paused, his gaze drifting to the demolition on the planet below.

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar nodded as the IGBC chairman spoke. The proximity to the One Sith had been an issue among the early meetings but it is because of this and the importance of the four worlds included in the first wave of stations that made them a necessity. The future of the Republic relied heavily on the worlds around Denon.

"Ah yes the Sith, they are an issue. These stations will secure the worlds involved and boost the economy of the Republic as a whole by well over three hundred percent. Loronor alone will gross enough to pay the loan off within a year. Ad with the Directorate taking an intrest in Duro, we will boost its economy with the new yards we have planned for the world. The Directorate is the real winner here, we will expand our influence and manufacturing into this sector and the surrounding sectors and profit from the manufacturing of the stations as well." Reshmar paused and nodded to a group of Duro delegates as they walked past and acknowledged him. He waited for them to pass then continued.

"We will reinforce the area making it safe for free trade and profit from this trade as well as the endeavor of making it possible. The Republic gets its worlds protected and safe and can maintain commerce for its benifit while we get paid for making the this so. We also will profit from continuing to supply the Republic with warships, and get to expand our corporate holdings into the region. This is a win for everyone." Reshmar said nodding to someone across the room. The room was now filling as more and more beings joined the delegation. Soon it would be time to start but for now the conversation would continue.

[member="Lan Porgata"]

 

[Lan Porgata]

"Indeed, your optimism is overwhelming. Should you succeed, the increased business will do much help rebound the financial outlook of the Republic. You could say that my inspection is of both the needs of the battle station plans and to gauge the ability of the Republic itself to support these structures and use them both as tools of war and financial growth."

Lan's nasally voice sounded a touch snide, however it was not his intention. So far, the Muuns and the IGBC had watched the Republic carved away piecemeal by forces without and damaged as equally by forces within. It was not without a small portion of trepidation that he had even agreed to meet with Reshmar regarding the Directorate and special projects for Mon Calamari Shipyards. The Mon Cal industrialist was thorough in his details and so he had won over the hesitant Muun. The new plans were ambitious on a grand scale.

Lan admired his moxy, but that didn't always equal a sound grasp of financial needs. However, the Republic also needed this shot in the arm. If they could successfully fortify this area, it could mean a great deal more capital flowing in this area and that was always good for business.

[member="Reshmar"]

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar looked at the chrono on his arm and then back to Lan. The Munn had surprised Reshmar when he came personnelly to the meeting. HE had only meet the man four times before personnelly and all of those had been at the IGBC headquarters requrding the Directorate. For the man to venture out must have meant this was importatnt to the IGBC. That or he just could not pass up the staggering amount of money involved.

"Yes, this will aid the Republic and us as well. IF you would like to settle in the Reef will be arriving in five minutes." Reshmar said tot he Muun then shook his hand again. Reshmar exchanged greetings with three more delagates as he made his way to the front of the room. He walked up to the podium setting in front of the large viewport and turned on the amplification systems. He looked out over the crowd, which was now slowling noticing him standing on the raised structure. Behind him a patch od space sat bare backed by the sloap of Denon below them. The bright grey silver world the back drop to the scene about to unfold. He looked back at the world then waited for a moment. Then with a flash of dim blue light the three kilometer battlestation dropped out of orbit and filled the once empty space above Denon. He looked back at the crowd now marveling in awe at the massive form before them and spoke.

"Assymboled delegation, honored senators, estemed businessmen and women, I would like to present to you Reef One."

[member="Lan Porgata"]

 

[Jorga the Hutt]

[member="Reshmar"] [member="Lan Porgata"]

As a former chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and the shipbuilder who'd first brought Mon Calamari shipwrights into the eye of the modern public, Connory figured he had a better-than-average idea of what they were looking at. The station was a monster in the best sense, the kind of thing that could help lock down a sector in a serious way. It wouldn't do much against your average Sith duellist groundside, but from what he remembered from his time undercover...

Well, with Maijora gone, and not counting Tregessar, the Sith naval doctrine boiled down to 'the pointy end goes in the other man.' If the Republic could arrange for this sector's security to hinge on space engagements, these stations could make a disproportionate impact.

He wasn't here in the nice chairs as part of the Republic delegation, not this time. No, political semi-retirement had been good to him. He was here as an investor, and considering he very quietly sat on the board of the Foundation Trust, he probably had the deepest pockets in the room. For now.

 

[Lan Porgata]

As the proceedings began, a cursory glance around the room netted some familiar faces. The IGBC wasn't the only investor here and there was a quickening of his pulse that he might have to compete for the business. What a delightful twist.

Lan watched the mammoth station appear, hung weightlessly in the void above Denon. It was one thing to see it in blueprints and numbers but an altogether different one to see it made whole and operational. Lan looked back to the briefing materials they had been provided, his eyes skimming the technical specifications of the battle station.

His fingers tented beneath his chin, he kicked off the mental calculations based on what he had before him and what he knew of manufacturing prototypes. The first one is always the most expensive, the longest to produce, and the one where your engineers figure out what works on paper and what doesn't. Let alone the time it would have taken to plan such a large scale project. Lan stirred from his thoughts to begin his questions, a younger Muun next to him posed to enter dictation of the conversation for the IGBC's records.

"I wasn't expecting that you had built a prototype already. This seems astonishingly fast for allocation of resources in the war torn Republic. Our records indicate that MCS doesn't currently include a battle station in their product offerings. Was this design based on an existing model by another company? How long have you been working on this and how long did it take to build this prototype?"

[member="Rel Connory"] [member="Reshmar"]

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

The crowd pressed against each other to view the massive construct now floating over Denon. The sheen of the hull somewhat different than standard Mon Calamari Hull plating. The station was the first to utilize the Neualuquad armor developed by MCS. It's layer of nutorium and triple ablative layering making the armor appear as it is was awash with energy. Reshmar waited a moment for people to talk and comment to themselves then heard Lan ask a question.

"Ah yes, This is a design we at MCS have been working on for a long time. Most of the station is designed from the MC95 project. It has much of the same compartmentalization and many of the internal bracing and design is based on our work with that project. It was a short leep from it to the station you see now. As for resources, MCS has spent much of its reserve funding and most of its income over the last several months on this project. We saw a need long ago for such a station and with that need saw the potential of the Reef-class as a deterrent and defensive necessity for the Republic as well as other customers. As for the construction time. The station is operational but is still under construction. We started with the hull and operational systems of the station and while it is fully operations much of its internal living space is yet unfinished. This is less from time constraints and more for adapting it for the race and world it is to protect. The Station which will be built for Duro, for instance will require much different internal configuration form this one. In the future, each station will be built to the specifications of Reef One but still allow for configuration to suit the needs of the customer." Reshmar said watching the Muun as he absorbed the information. He was sure more questions would follow and awaited them while the people around him continued to converse among themselves about the station.

[member="Lan Porgata"] [member="Rel Connory"]

 

[Raymond Mosses]

Ray watched as the star lines of hyperspace disappeared and the world of Denon exploded into the viewport. The station had handled the jump well but Ray could tell it was not mean for it. They had left the Daca system three weeks ago and had to make a total of twenty seven jumps to get to the Denon system. Once having to lay over for a day repairing some minor systems which had been damaged by a jump. The next station would have a faster hyperdrive, he would see to that.

IN the distance, Ray saw the shape of the IGBC's new flagship. The Dark Tide had not even been completed when the station had left the system. Now here it sits making the same trip he had just undertaken in an eighth the time the station had. He was here now so the trip and his assignment was over. It was time to relax. Well rest he guessed. The station had not bee fully built. The internal compartments had not been finished. The staterooms and quarters were there but were not livable. Only a few of the crew quarters, enough for the skeleton crew which delivered the station, had been finished. The refreshers and other things needed for a crewman to make a happy home on the ship were not there. The final designs for living and recreational space of the ship was left to the world which the station would be delivered to.

"Sir, Supreme Commander Forlon has requested your company in the forward observation deck." said a crewman beside Ray. Some of the big Republic brass had been picked up near Roche on the way from Mon Cala. Forlon had spent the weeks walking the ship and inspecting every weld and joint for weakness. His knowledge of construction had surprised Ray, the man knew starships and how they were built. At least he knew them as well as He did anyway.

"Of course Tell the Supreme Commander I will be right down." said Ray to the man. He looked out at Denon one last time hoping he could get down to the world and find a good cantina to get lost in for a few days.

 

[Ayumi Pallopides]

[member="Lan Porgata"] [member="Reshmar"] [member="Rel Connory"]

There was a whole lot going on as she was looking over the things, the Republic was looking to be proactive somewhat which added more resolve to this... and well she wasn't terrible with it. She liked the idea, though a memo would have been nice as she had been spending a fair amount of her time finalizing the equipment they brought to fortify bunkers and produce additional food in case of problems. She wasn't expecting many but it was always good to have ways that can shield and protect. She was looking towards the station while fixing up her outfit. The light bodyarmor underneath the cloak jacket for defense and a more regal look. Her long hair behind her shoulders while she was walking with her hands clasped behind her back looking forward as she walked forward.

 

[Willam Forlon]

Willam sat at a table in the forward observation deck of the station. It had been the only non-military aspect of the station fully completed. He figured they had finished it out so the crew had somewhere to eat more than anything. Tha massive room was now filled with a large set of tables covered in snacks and food for the visitors once they started arriving fo the station tours. In the far cornor a bar had been set up for drinks, That should make many aboard the station happy. It had been a long grueling trip for the crew. HE knew he did not make their voyage any better with his inspections, but he needed to know the station was sound. He did not expect to find anything and overall did not. Minor things that one would associate to any starship traveling through hyperspace more or less. The station was massive and even he had not seen more than thirty percent of it in the two weeks he had been aboard. The thing had to mass as much as a super star destroyer and its internal area matched. It was five hundred decks tall and three kilometers across. Forlon had never been aboard anything this big that could move in hyperspace. He had seen vids of old ships so big they took the resources of entire worlds. He imagined this was close to that scale of cost. It was far larger than the battle cruisers he was used to. The doorway slid open and he saw Raymond Mosses walk through. He held up a hand for the man to see him across the room then smiled. Ray was somewhat of a free spirit and He and Mosses did what they could to not irritate the other. Ray walked over to the table and waited for Willam to speak.

"Please sit, Can have a drink. How did the station fair on the trip in Commdore?" Forlon ask the man making sure to use his military rank. He knew Mosses was not one for that sort of thing but he needed to keep the man in check and make sure he knew he was the one in charge on the station for now.

 

[Raymond Mosses]

Ray nodded tot he general and sat. He waved at a waiter and gave the man his drink order then fixed his stare on the Supreme Commander. HE and the man had butted head more than once on the trip out. The station belonged to MCS until the final papers were signs and that meant the Supreme Commander was just a passenger aboard it. HE had seen the situation somewhat differently. But the Fish had ordered him to make the man comfortable and listen to him out od courtesy. Ray liked the guy he had been funny and got along with most of the crew, as long as they knew he was in charge that is. Most of the crew had no problem with that, it was just Ray more or less. He nodded in thanks to the waiter and took a drink from he glass he had been given.

"The station did well Supreme Commander. Besides the layover for the repair on the motivator all systems performed as expected. We did a weapons test during the layover and all the weapon systems are operation and at peak efficiency. Out construction crews will have the officer staterooms done by the end of the week then move on to the rest of the quarters. Over All, she is ready to fight if she had the crew aboard. They would have to sleep on the floor but she could fight." said Mosses knowing that was what the Supreme Commander wanted to know. Ray took a second sip from his glass then sat it on the table watching the man across from him smiling back. Something scared him about the man. His smile was not right more predatory than a smile should be. He decided to wave down the waiter and get something to eat before the guests arrived and the tours started. He may not get to eat for a while once everyone and their grandpappy got aboard. He also had to get with the security team. He hoped the General would not keep him long.

 

[Willam Forlon]

Willam continued to smile and watch the man. Ray seemed ok but he knew the man was a spoiled rich boy deep down. His parents had more money the god and he had heard the man's own trust was around that of a small galactic government. Yet he chose to work for the Directorate. He knew something happened in the past that made the man beholden to Reshmar. He could not find out what that was, even with his considerable intel resources. Reshmar had managed to keep whatever happened or whatever reason Mosses looked at him like a father secret. He figured whatever it was that was between him and the Admiral. He thought about what Mosses said and about the crew issue. He knew from the reports he had read when he woke that morning that the crew would be arriving in two weeks. That giving the engineers time to finish most of the living quarters for the officers and some of the crew quarters. the massive station would hold seven hundred and fifty thousand crew and guests once it was complete. Just the gunnery complement for the station was over twenty thousand. It would take some work getting the crew up to scale for the station. For now several starships had been sent to the yards for repair and refitting and their crews reassigned to the station. Enough to crew the ships guns and systems if needed until the crew slots could get filled in.

"Very well commodore, I hereby dismiss you with thanks to you and your people. As soon as the papers are signs I will assume command of the station. Until then I will remain here waiting for the word. You may remain as well or see to what ever duties you need. Or feel free to leave if you like. I know you must be tired of the same drab hallways. The Republic thanks you for you service and kind hospitality." said William knowing the man would stomach every word as an insult.

 

[Raymond Mosses]

Ray smiled at the General and his dissmissal. Ray did not care, his job was done after he talked to the security crew and finished the tours. He had no reason, short of coming under attack for returning to the CIC. Forlon could have the station now. He had a steak on the way and a cold drink in his hand. All was good for now.

"You are very welcome Supreme Commander, It was an honor to have you aboard with us on the way here. I would like to thank you for putting up with me. I know I can be a bit much. we should play a game of sabacc sometime. I think we would come to better terms across a gaming table than we have here." ray said as his steak arrived and he cut into it. The general across from him never blinked or changed any expression from the same frightning smile he had from the minute Ray walked into the room. He wondered if the man practiced it.

Ray finished his meal with the General sitting across from him never flinching or changing expressions. It was discomforting that he never once saw the man blink or even move in his seat. The exchanged several more words, mainly about the station and what Ray was going to do next. He stood and bid the man goodbye and walked out of the observation deck, which was now filling with guests awaiting tours of the massive station and out into the corridor. He would meet with the station's security chief then head to the hanger to greet guests as they arrived. It would be a long day but one more day would not matter since he was off for a long needed vacation after it.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Supreme Chancellor Jack Sparrow entered the forward observation deck, one hand tucking in the tails of his shirt beneath his long coat.

"What did I miss?" he asked. "Nothing exploded, I hope. I was in the..." he pulled up, seeing the distinguished assemblage before him. "In the...ah...hanger bay." He wiped his still-wet hands on his trousers. "Getting...a...thingy. Which, I've done. So. Hello, Senator Pallopides!" he smiled at the senator from Denon. "Mr. Forlon. Other people I haven't met." He walked up to the Mon Calamari, hand outstretched. "Supreme Chancellor Jack Sparrow. Pleasure to meet you. Nice ship. Very clean. Smells good, too. Blimey, is that Reef One? And is that Neualuquad armor? Well done, mate."

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith walked the halls of the station slowly looking out the viewports as she could to see the advantage of position, the black of space offered little to help her decide what it was her division could do right now. She had willing agent to go into Sith territory but she found herself hesitating to execute the final orders to say let them go.

GRIM had lost agents during the battles and had lost those who she though embedded enough to be safe. She didn't want to lose anymore. She sighed and walked on somewhere up ahead she knew [member="Jack Sparrow"] was looking about, and [member="Willam Forlon"] her last meeting with the Supreme Commander had been interesting and they were like minded.

But now here they were running closer than ever to the Sith with their victory on Togoria. She knew they needed to talk again perhaps now would be a good time, and to include Jack so that he could see what their concerns were.

Faith looked at Captain Lindsey, "I know, I'm going" She moved off to find the two men she had to speak with.

 

[Willam Forlon]

Willam finished the last sip of his drink then stood and looked out the massive viewport at the ship in the distance and space beyond it. Denon had been a hard win for the republic. Many good people lost their lives for the world and what it offered the Republic. Now it was up to him and the Republic to repay what they owed these fine people, it was up to them to hold it. The station would go a long way in fortifying the world and holding it from future attack. It would form the backbone of the defense of the world and once operational support the defense fleet now being assembled for Denon. The loss at Togaria had meant the borders of the Republic were in danger. The Sith had moved to cut the Republic and inflict a killing wound. It would have been but the republic rally at Denon and securing the worlds of Loronar, Duro, and Nubia more than made up for the loss. In one swoop the Republic once again had the industrial might to take on the Sith. Now it was time to utilize that industry and build the tools he would need to take the fight to the Sith.

Across the room he noticed a familiar face walk in. [member="Faith Organa"] walked through the doorway and seemed to be looking for someone. He turned back to look out the glass at the ship in the distance allowing her to find who she was searching. He would need to discuss certain intelligence issues with the woman at some time but now he would leave her to what ever her task was. He paused then considered the possibility he may actually be looking for him. He turned once again to watch the woman IF she were looking for him she would find him.

From his right someone walked up and spoke to him. He turned to see the Supreme Chancellor [member="Jack Sparrow"] standing beside him. He extended his hand and replyed. "Thank you sir, It will be a fine addition to the defense of the Republic. Can I have someone get you a drink. I see your hand is empty." Forlon said smiling at the man.

 

[Gaisa Theron]

The trade delegation from Garqi milled around the battle station, impressed by the grand scope of the Republic's vision. After all, Garqi was a small agriworld, their population centered around their capital city and their focus on the ground instead of the stars. They were star struck at the display while the fledgling senator looked out at the devastation on Denon below. Gaisa had often wondered what would happen to Garqi if the winds of war ever came to the little purple planet she had called home for her adult life. It was not Kuat, it was not the jewel of military industrialist's crown.

Gaisa was not very flashy today, it was a cocktail party, yes, but it was on a battle station and therefore, her palette for the day was muted colors, her pants suit cut with conservative lines and curt pleats. It spoke of seriousness and the weight of responsibility.

This station had to be expensive and if the Garqi people wished to gain the benefits of Republic membership, they would need to understand the duties of it as well. They had been hit hard by the Netherworld garbage, taking their workforce, and impacting their crops and exports. Things had been dire and the labor shortage continued. What would be their share in the costs of these stations and would the Republic even care to help them should the Mandalorians decide to branch out from Mygeeto and control the whole of the Braxtant Run?

Questions for a more appropriate meeting. Gaisa smiled at the other dignitaries on the station, an orange cocktail in her hand.

 

[Faith Organa]

Faith turned oh this couldn't be good, the Supreme Commander and the Supreme Chancellor both having a drink. She walked over slowly hoping to get a bit of drift on what they could be discussing.

Well sounds like they were just drinking to the Station. Faith stepped closer, "is this a private party or can anyone join in?" She looked from one to the other, neither seemed to surprised to see her.

She signaled the bartender for a glass of wine, she looked around just for the sake of looking around her gaze settled upon the Commander, and the Chancellor.

[member="Willam Forlon"] [member="Jack Sparrow"]​

 

[Willam Forlon]

Forlon smiled at the woman approaching then nodded to Supreme Chancellor. "No we were just getting the Chancellor here some libation" he said taking a drink from his own glass. "Let me wave down a waiter and we can get you a drink as well madame minister" Willam smiled and motioned at a man walking across the room in the distance. Feeling that the situation needed more of an informal atmosphere he chose to address the woman by her name.

"Tell me faith, may I call you faith. What do you think of our new station?"

[member="Faith Organa"]
[member="Jack Sparrow"]