Ochen Priyatno

[Krasnaya Xue]

Admiral Xue of the Rebel Alliance had come in contact with certain individuals on Lamaredd before she had been forced to pack up shop and get the shipyards out of Techno Union influence. Those contacts--many being Mon Calamari, naturally--had spoken of an individual of their kindred with a tactical prowess and a love for the stars that she could appreciate. He was said to be the Admiral of the Mon Calamari Defense Fleet, which genuinely piqued the woman's interest. She was the hitter, but she needed a staunch peer with more conservative potential to maintain a balanced machine. It was high time she was not doing this alone.

Restored to its former rugged glory, Xue's Mothma-class flagship Irreverent drifted along with its Red Fleet escorts about the planet of Mon Calamari--keeping distance so as not to set off local alarms but within shuttling range of the shipyards where her hopeful associate currently supervised operations. But this trip was not so much a pilgrimage as it was a business meeting. Though not a normal business meeting. Krasnaya was no corporate aficionado, what with her socialist views and handling of Krasnie Drives. No, they would be broaching the subjects of Rebel business. And it was here she would meet with Admiral [member="Reshmar"].

"Your shuttle is ready, Admiral Xue," announced Captain Tethirtifor, now taking command of the bridge as it was time for his superior's departure groundside.

"Thank you, Comrade." The straight face of Krasnaya was disrupted as the captain interrupted her usual stargazing, and it evolved into something a little more pleasant as she turned about and made way for the turbolift. "You see, yeah. You're next in line." A joke, but many would not would understand behind her Outer Rim accent.

Well, some might have. Like the midshipmen whose eyes followed her gait as she walked past them in their attentive formation.

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

The presence of alliance ships in Mon Cal airspace had ruffled more than a few feathers. He had informed the defense fleet of Admirals [member="Krasnaya Xue"] eminent visit to the yards and that she was to be let through unprovoked. It had taken some doing but the rebel ships had indeed been left alone and allowed to near the shipyards. Lash had been contacted by people inside the Galactic Republic which had made a formal request for his assistance in an engineering project the Alliance Admiral would be undertaking. This was nothing new Reshmar was always working as a consultant for governments, businesses and even in this case rogue factions. It was just another day at the office. One which he longed to leave.

He missed his command and life in the navy. The Defense fleet had been all he knew. The new politics of the Mon Calamari government and the Silver Sanctum, had forced him out of his command and into the private sector. That had set badly with him but he could not argue with the order. Now he worked as Lead Engineering consultant for the Mon Calamari Shipyards. A job he did not hate but it was not fleet command.

"Lieutenant, Inform me when the Admirals shuttle arrives. And also see to it she finds her way here without delay. I feel she will not bring the best out of our security if pushed."

The Calamari officer nodded then left the room. Lash sat looking over the information he had been sent about the Admiral herself and the ship which she was planning on building. The Rebels had come along way to have the resources to undertake such a project. One which Reshmar would assist in any way he could.

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

After the shuttle crew and passenger was admitted through the airlock, the footfalls of the Rebel admiral's weathered deck boots clapped and reverberated through the airtight corridors of the orbital shipyards, their worn and wrinkled leather silently vouching for the experience of this younger commanding officer. Age was a sign of maturity, but some were older in spirit than in body. Krasnaya had lived through two war-torn lifetimes in just the span of twenty years. Admittedly, she still had much to learn. And that was why one consults a senior tactician like Admiral [member="Reshmar"].

While she was fully capable of patience, Admiral Xue was a strong advocate for efficiency--communal function like a well-oiled work machine, all pieces accounted for. Thus she was quite pleased to be immediately approached by the lieutenant and escorted to the office of the Mon Calamari supervisor. "Bolshoe spasibo, Comrade," she acknowledged in her particular Outer Rim dialect when they arrived.

She struck her feet together and saluted the former Defense Force admiral, intent on providing the respect others expected, even if he was semi-retired. "Admiral Reshmar, yeah? Ochen priyatno poznakomitsa."

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar had gotten a message the rebel admiral had made it to the station safly and without incidence. He closed the file he had been reading about her and broght up the attached file on the project she had requested assistance on. Interesting design he thought as he looked over the initial specification outline and projected cost and time of construction. It was a formidable platform but he was not so sure the admirals projections of the ships cost were realistic.

Reshmar eyed the woman as the walked into his office. She was young and small, not something you seen in someone with the respect and power she elicited. She walked in and gave her heals a snap hiss remnant of the days of old Imperial fleet procedures. Reshmar reached out his webbed hand and motioned for Xue to have a seat at the small table in the center of the room.

"Admiral Xue, It is a pleasure to have you. Please come in and have a seat. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?"

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

Krasnaya took a seat as suggested, hands resting on the tabletop after removing her cap. It was not often people saw her without the navy hat, so one could take it either as a sign of comfort or a sign of respect. Then again, one might also need to take into consideration her political leanings--but not many were aware of that. She kept her opinions largely to herself except within the Selectivist cells of this Rebellion. "Water is fine with me, yeah."

It was now that she took a moment to truly investigate the appearance of her company. She was no expert on Mon Calamari biology, but [member="Reshmar"] reminded her a bit of Mitczik, which would indicate that he was in the latter part of his lifetime. Not that he was old or anything. Mitczik had a lot of spunk in him. Krasnaya was certain the admiral would not disappoint, either. "Thank you for allowing us, yeah, to come to your yards. Your confidence is good."

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar poured the woman a glass of water then handed it to her. He rolled his eyes into a position of pleasantness which was as close to a smile a Mon Calamari could muster. He sat back and waited for her to finish then spoke.

"It is our pleasure to have such a affluent member of the Rebel Alliance with us. Though the Mon calamari shipyards do not agree with all of your methods we respect the Rebel Alliance for what it is doing to promote freedom."

Lash grabbed his glass and took a drink. HE sat it down and opened up a the halo projection controls and turned it on displaying the vessel design the admiral had sent ahead for analysis.

"So Admiral Xue, What can you tell me about your design."


[member="Krasnaya Xue"]

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

The Red Fleet's admiral smiled in thanks as she accepted the glass of water, and took a brief initial sip before focusing on the topic of the day. She was curious as to why the Mon Calamari did not agree with all of the Rebellion's methods, but that was a point that could be discussed when all this business was over. It was bust not to cloud the atmosphere with such nuances. The locals must not have too large of an issue with the Alliance if they were allowing them in float in their space, after all.

Apparently it was time to reveal the weaknesses of her fleet. Straight to the point. "So, yeah, we encountered Primeval ships in our attack at Chiloon Rift, yeah. They had electronic warfare ships, so they're scrambled--yeah--scrambled our targeting and we have to rely on calculations from... special crew." The blue eyes of the peculiar Outer Rim lass followed the lines and creases in the uniform of her host, noting that he still held to a lot of naval formality. She was by no means a prime example, but it was always a good sign to see dedication to order. "So... we need a destroyer which can clear out interference, yeah. Something which helps keep communication, and advanced sensors for targeting by alternatives. Er, yeah. Needs speed and heavy shields, I think. We like the old Venator hull because it is durable and easy to modify, but, yeah, maybe we need an upgrade."

"Most of us are heavy striking but not balanced. So we're need something with balance." Her eyes raised to project a hint of a double-meaning, though she wondered if she had carried her thoughts understandably for the Mon Calamari. She knew her accent was unusual on this side of the galaxy. Hopefully [member="Reshmar"] would get the idea.

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar listened to the woman explain more about what she was wanting in a design. The jamming of targeting could be an issue in any battle but there were ways around it.

"Admiral [member="Krasnaya Xue"] May I suggest installing a secondary laser targeting system as well as laser communications. The way jamming works is it sends out powerful signals they crowd the bandwidth the sensors are operating on. Laser targeting will help but it requires you close and fight close. Beyond that there is no way to cut through the massive amount of signal busts being emitted by the jamming."

Reshmar paused to make sure the Admiral was understanding. He was she she knew all this already but she had opened the conversation up to this.

"Heavy shielding we can do. It is a specialty here at the Mon Calamari Shipyards. By installing redundant shield generators and using a over lapping field of deployment you can have two generators cover most of your ship at all times. If one goes down you will still have at least the second one and sometimes a third one to maintain defensive capabilities."

Reshmar stopped and took a drink of water then continued.

"The speed is just a matter of updated engines and multiple fusal thrust. We actually have many of the old Venator-class vessels in storage. We understand their capabilities, Using one as a guideline for your new ship would be easy but i recommend that you start with a new hull design with a few of the design influences of the Venator. They were solid vessels but had limitations and weaknesses. "

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Reshmar had talked for the better part of three hours with the woman then watched as she left. She had not been convinced of the advantages of using a new hull design. She seemed set on using old Venator ships as a base for the new design. Reshmar supposed he understood this from a cost stand point. It would be far cheaper to use an old ship and modify it than build a new one. He pondered the idea of himself. The Mon Calamari Shipyards had dozens of the old Venator-class destroyers in mothballs. Some had been there for nearly eight hundred years now. Maybe a special edition vessel which used these would sell. Maybe they wouldn't. but the cost of refitting them would be less than one of the new corvettes the yards were producing. He thought a bit more then opened a channel to his aid.

"Lieutenant, schedule a meeting with my design staff for this afternoon. I have an idea."

 

[ADM. Reshmar]

Hours later Reshmar and his engineering staff had discussed the possibilities of retrofitting the old Venators they had in mothballs. Reshmae and the team of engineers had come up with three designs which utilized the old destroyers. Each a specialty role vessel with upgraded systems and a formidable offensive and defensive suite. The ships had been sitting for centuries and would need some work but the total cost of the project cost less than the estimated cost for the single MC95 prototype. If they could sell them the income would more than pay for the mes frigate development and retrofitting of the Scythe-class ships in mothballs. It had been a great idea and Reshmar was please the female Admiral had given him the idea. Now was time to get the ships out of the mothball yards and into slip seventeen.