Bilbringi Shipyards

Garrick continued to observe out the large forward windows of the bridge as the ships systems were all tested one by one, for the last time before it would take leave of the dry dock where it had been constructed. There was no need to embarrass themselves in front of the members of Imperial High Command. The darker, more ominous color of the Resurgent contrasted heavily with the lighter, almost silvery color of the Autarch's hull as it floated by the smaller ship. While the Autarch was completely dwarfed, it was meant to be as so. With the war in its final stages, the need for a front line warship was less than the need for a smaller warship that could control a system. While the Imperial might have been adequate in this role, its designers made several perplexing choices when building the ship, leaving it as an uncomfortable compromise between the two roles. A ship that was neither good at one or the other. Mediocre at best, it now was best served as a mere transport ship.

The Autarch, on the other hand, was designed almost exclusively to fulfill the role of system scale control and counterterrorist operations. From its inception in the mind of Garrick Need, it was specifically designed to fill this role. While it could serve on the front line, its true value would come to be shown in stopping rebel activities. With features borrowed from Rebel ships far more well suited for the purpose, while still maintaining classical Imperial design philosophy, the ship is the product of a man who knows his enemy well, and he hoped it would live up to the name of the Imperial I and II.

After the final few checks, the ship was ready for launch. Garrick signaled for the crews on the shipyard to prepare to launch the ship. At the same time, he switched over to the full fleet intercom and prepared to broadcast his speech. This was the moment he had been waiting for. This project had remained in the shadows for so long, and now was the time for it to be revealed.

"Soldiers of the Autarch!
The decades long history of our Imperial nation are written with blood and iron. Almost every generation had to reach for the sword to fight for the rights of the survival of the Empire and nation or to defend its existence and its freedom against its hostile surroundings. For us the call has come again to join in the great struggle for freedom and the survival of our nation and the existence of the First Order that was created by Emperor Delvardus.
Today, we are being endowed and entrusted with a new and awe-inspiring weapon made from steel and iron, our new ship. Today, it will be brought to life by our crew which is empowered to blend iron and blood into a powerful symphony of iron-willed devotion to duty and conviction, and with red-blooded vigor and fighting spirit the highest military goals shall be achieved.
This ship, our ship, as we can call it from this day forth, is the fastest, strongest and best Star Destroyer that has ever been launched by any Imperial or foreign shipyard. We feel pride and gratitude that we have been chosen to take this formidable instrument of power of the Imperial naval power into possession from the hands of its builders. For more than 4 years Imperial designers, engineers, and workers from many planets, and especially from this large shipyard, have contributed and labored with their intellect and with the strength of their hands and with their know-how to complete this proud proof of their labors, by delivering to the Imperial soldiers a Star Destroyer with unsurpassable fighting ability and steadfastness. We, the crew of this ship, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for the grand piece of workmanship. We take it over from you with the solemn promise that we will give it from now on our care, our love, and our devotion.
Fellow crewmen! The battleship "Autarch" is now in commission. Today, the Emperor himself stands among us, to witness this moment. Let us remember at this moment the ending remarks of his speech which he delivered at the transition of our proud nation into a true Empire, and this is what he said:
"Today, the First Order shall become an Empire. The strongest and most stable Empire seen since the days of the Old Empire. An Empire that has evolved with the present, an Empire that has endured the hardships of war and emerged stronger than ever before. Today, I stand before you, not as your Supreme Commander, but as your Emperor of a resurgent Empire! Today, our destiny is fulfilled! Today, our vision is realized! Today, the Empire is reborn!"
Comrades, something the Emperor could only predict 1 year ago has now turned into reality. Already, numerous opponents have been thrown to the ground and have been destroyed by the glorious deeds of our armed forces. Only one, our archenemy, the Rebellion, remains. We pledge herewith that we will do honor to the citizens of the Empire, and that we will prove ourselves worthy of standing beside our Emperor and observant of his commands. Ad Victoriam!"

Though not the sort of speech he would ordinarily give, it would have to suffice, what with the Imperial fleet being here. Plus, this was supposed to be a joyous day, and if he wanted to at least be tolerated by the High Command, he would have to make this gesture. As these thoughts swirled through his head, a bottle of wine that had been brought all the way from Naboo was broken on the front of the ship, officially naming the ship. A few seconds later, the crackle of electricity followed by the hiss of pneumatics and the groan of moving metal were heard as the massive electromagnetic clamps holding the ship in place were released, freeing the ship from the dry dock for the first time in its existence. The massive engines activated soon after allowing the ship to join the rest of the flat, much to the cheers of those aboard. Garrick heard the pop and fizz f a bottle of champagne behind him, followed by the pouring of the beverage. Accepting a glass, he, alongside the members of his veteran crew, toasted the launch of their new ship.

In the hospitality suite
"What interest has the Blackguard Imperium in Bilbringi?" Commander Malice's hologram inquired again. 
"What is the Blackguard Imperium?"  
"I find it difficult to believe that one can arrive on this station in a Blackguard shuttle, without knowing what the Blackguard Imperium is."  Malice continued anyway; "It is a league of sith and users of the dark side of the mystical 'force' ability. They also might claim to be a faction of the Imperial Remnant."  The commander paused. "You are a Blackguard, are you not?"
"No. I am the last High Lord of the New Order of the Eye.  A Sith, from a certain point of view." 

The commander eased slightly knowing that Havok was not a diplomat of the Blackguards, but he remained on his guard at the guest all the same: a self-professed Sith.
The Sith Lord continued.  "If the Order of the Eye truly does not exist, that would make me... unaffiliated, at the moment."  Havok was ruminating.  It was hard to believe what he was hearing.  He closed his eyes, and felt the force whisper- "truth."  And he knew.  The Order of the Eye had held the galaxy by the throat, relentlessly conquering worlds, tirelessly seeking the holy battle station, the Second EYE of Palpatine...   Gone! 

Havok took a seat in one of the chairs, and put his face in his hands.  It was hard to have everything ripped from you. Havok felt anger, He felt sorrow. He felt loss. Hollow, empty.  He wanted to weep; to mourn the loss.  
"Are you alright?"
"I... need... a moment." Havok collected himself, surprised by his own depth of feeling on the loss of his faction.  It had been such a part of his Identity that it was like he was cast adrift.  He examined his feelings: searching for weakness, searching for strength.  "Is this all I am?" he asked himself.  He found in the rubble, the ever present glow of his ambition and hunger, more elemental and less abstract than faction loyalty.  "No. I survive even this wound."  His trial in the crypts of Pzob had prepared him for this.  How could he be anything but himself? Forsooth, He remembered who he was.

Havok sat up. "It seems I am in need of a home."

"Where are you from?"
"That is of no consequence." Havok pointed his finger at the floor. "What is of consequence is that I am the former master of this station."
"That was too long ago-"
"Did your grandfather ever tell you stories about Havok?" Havok interrupted.
"Yes."
"I am the Dread Lord Havok. THAT Dread Seer. The very same in the stories; and I am back. This station and everything in this system was once my stewardship. Your grandfather's iron will made my word law."

"With all due respect, my lord.  My grandfather might have sworn loyalty to you, but that does not bind me or this place. The First Order rose to pre-eminence from all other imperial factions, cementing them, or destroying them. From what I remember my Father telling me, the Order of the Eye was in decline and barely able to hold on to its territories. My Father was forced to capitulate Bilbringi to the First Order 60 years ago. By that time, Bilbringi was likely the last world that clung to the Order of the Eye. My father didn't know.  He only knew that when he called for reinforcements no one acknowledged. The fact that Bilbringi was forced to capitulate to the First Order, is proof that the Order of the Eye had ceased to exist, or was too feeble to resist the First Order. I am no philosopher or expert on the ways of Sith, but isn't "survival of the fittest" a maxim you live by?"

"Yes. It is the way of all things." Havok admitted.

"Then the Order of the Eye, from that perspective, has no right, and no claim to Bilbringi.  Not 60 years ago. Not today." Even in the hologram, Commander Malice's eyes flashed with his controlled energy.  "And by that maxim, the First Order devoured all who opposed them. The First Order has the right to rule by its might."

"Well said. Perhaps I should make the First Order my home. You make a strong case." Havok's tone was contemplative. 
"The First Order welcomed any competent soldier into their ranks after the Battle of Bilbringi."
"An interesting move."
"It was a gesture that spoke volumes of the First Order's strength and the professionalism of its military." Commander Malice continued.  "I am a professional. Professionals don't hold grudges."
"But professionals are loyal to their oaths, are they not?"
"As I may have intimated before, it had been over 5 years since Bilbringi had received any communications from the Eye's Central Command. And yet we soldiered on; we did not dissemble. At the battle, we called out, and no one heard us. It was abundantly clear that our loyalty was a hollow oath to an entity that ceased to be. There was no 'Order of the Eye' to be loyal to. Rather than sacrifice his men, my father ended the fighting and aligned with the First Order."

"A pragmatic stance."  Havok changed the subject. "Has anyone ever told you, your likeness is identical to that of your Grandfather's?"  Havok laughed. "He would occasionally argue with me."  
"I would hope so.  I'm his clone, as was my father before me."
"That explains much." If Malice had been present, Havok would have put his hand on his shoulder. Havok was genuinely cheered by that revelation. "Come Malice, tell me more about the First Order." 

From: FO High Command. Muunilist.
To: INNER RIM_BIL; Shipyards Cmdt
------------------OFFICIAL REQUISITION-------------
(Following to be decoded by Ranking Intelligence commander ONLY)
[the following is Double coded]
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>BEGIN
Greetings Commandant,

Please find the following requisition order authorizing the assemblage of a new fleet, codenamed "Doomsday". You are authorized to request the necessary personnel to man said fleet. Unless otherwise stated, The mustered crews should be comprised of more than 50% persons joining the navy voluntarily and no more than 20% having no prior service record beyond the imperial academy. All persons of officer rank, ensign and higher, are subject to the requirements of imperial secret clearance.

FIRST ORDER REQUISITION REQUEST (official and approved by the High Command)

DOOMSDAY FLEET (76+84+24+72= 256)
TASK FORCE 1 – SPECIAL OPERATIONS Total (76pts)
OPS Group I
x2 Gladiator class III SDs - 650m (2(16)pts)
x1 Free Virgillia-class Bunkerbuster - 316m (8pts)
x4 Lancer class frigates - 250m, Anti-starfighter loadout (4(4)pts)
x6 Gozanti-class cruiser - 42m (6(2)pts)

Additional Personnel requirement: OPS GROUP I Crews are to be comprised of more than 90% persons joining the navy voluntarily and no more than 10% having no prior service record beyond the imperial academy. ALL naval personnel are to be subject to the requirements of the imperial secret clearance protocols.

OPS Group II - Reserve:
x1 IPV-2C stealth corvette - 99m (2 pts)
x1 GR-75 Assault Transport - 90m. MODIFIED for close air support (like AC-130 spectre), (2 pts)
x1 GR-75 transport - 90m. UNMODIFIED, (2 pts)
x1 IGV-55 surveillance vessel, or Imperial listener ship - 64m (2pts)

TASK FORCE 2 – BATTLE FLEET (84 pts)
1st Element
x1 Victory III class SD - 900m (32 pts) (previously requested)
x1 Vindicator-class heavy cruiser, 600m, (16 pts)
x2 Carrack class cruiser - 350m. Anti-starfighter loadout (2(8)pts)

2nd Element
x2 Ardent class fast frigates - 400m (2(8)pts)
x1 VT-49 Decimator - 38m “IRON MAIDEN II” (2 pts)
x1 IGV-55 surveillance vessel, or Imperial listener ship - 64m (2pts)

Additional Personnel requirement: Pilot of "IRON MAIDEN II", to be hand selected by CIC-Doomsday.

TASK FORCE 3 - “Imperial Raiders” (24pts)
x6 Raider class corvettes 150m. [modified with cloaking devices, exchanging turbo-lasers with torpedoes, Diamond-Boron missiles] (6(4)pts)

Additional Personnel requirement: TASK FORCE 3- ALL Crews are to be comprised of 100% persons joining the navy voluntarily and no more than 5% having no prior service record beyond the imperial academy. ALL TASK FORCE 3 personnel are to be subject to the requirements of the imperial secret clearance protocols.

TASK FORCE 4 - LOGISTICS (72pts)
GROUP I - PATROL
x1 Vigil class corvette- 255m, (8pts)
x6 C-ROC Gozanti-class cargo cruiser - 74m (6(2)pts) (MODIFIED:to QSHIPS)

GROUP II - REPAIR/ MEDICAL
z1 GR-75 transport is 90m. (MODIFIED: as Medical ship) (2 pts)
x1 GS-100 salvage ship (175m) (4pts)
x1 Deep Space Recovery Vessel L-2783 150m, (4pts)

GROUP III - CARGO
x6 C-ROC Gozanti-class cargo cruiser - 74m (6(2)pts)
x2 GR-75 transport - 90m. (2(2) pts)
x1 PCL 27 bulk freighter - 800m (2pts)

GROUP IV - SIGNAL 2(4)+12+ 1/2(8)= 24
x4 IGV-55 surveillance vessel, or Imperial listener ship - 64m (4(2)pts)
x6 Gozanti-class cruiser - 42m (6(2)pts)
x8 TIE/sr (4pts)

Additional Personnel requirement: GROUP IV
Crews are to be comprised of more than 60% persons joining the navy voluntarily and no more than 50% having no prior service record beyond the imperial academy. ALL GROUP IV naval personnel are to be subject to the requirements of the imperial secret clearance protocols.
Additional Personnel requirement: GROUP I-III
Crews are to be comprised of no less than 10% persons joining the navy voluntarily and no more than 50% having no prior service record beyond the imperial academy. All persons of officer rank, lieutenant and higher, are subject to the requirements of the imperial secret clearance protocols.

SINCERELY,
[redacted]
HIGH COMMAND. Muunilist.

>>>END

The Belphagor, the new Victory III star destroyer, was ready. The Flagship of the secret Doomsday fleet was fully provisioned and loaded. Crews manned their stations, TIE pilots waited, ready to scramble. The engineers and reactor technicians monitored the primary ignitions of the ship's main reactor. The bridge crew monitored the ship's console readouts.

Admiral Syks took command. The Captain of the Belphagor, Cpt. Gagarin, was at his side. Adm. Syks stood on the command gantry overlooking the bridge wells and inquired from Gagarin,  "What is our status?"
Captain Gagarin, stepped up and ordered the bridge crew to report. "Status!"

His bridge crew sung out smartly.
"Helm, standing by!"
"Navigation, online! Bilbringi Traffic control has given us the green light. Tugs at the ready."
"Operations, online!"
"Comm, online!"
"Engineering, online, Full power available!"
"Environmental and Life-support, online!"
"Damage control, standing by!"
"Tactical, standing by!"
"Weapons, standing by. Full Safeties engaged."
Shields, Standing by, Capacitors charged."
"Hanger, standing by."
"Fighters, standing by,"
"Medical, standing by."
"Marines, standing by."
"Load master reporting in, Cargo, stowed."
"Ship's master reporting in, all cabins space-tight and pressurized. Hatches are closed."

Captain Gagarin turned to the admiral. "All systems are ready for launch."
Admiral Syks gave the order. "We go."
Gagarin turned to his crew. "Launch! Helm, take us out!"
The order was piped through the ship; The crew cheered at their stations.

The 900 meter destroyer slowly moved away from the shipyard dock, easing into position for the space tugs to maneuver it and guide it through the asteroid channel. While the Belphagor was fully capable of using its thrusters and making its way through the channel on its own, it was considered tradition and good luck to launch a ship and guide it from the Bilbringi shipyards to the open space beyond the asteroids to prevent asteroid strikes. Asteroid strikes on a maiden voyage spelled bad luck. Sailors always were superstitious and The navy loved its traditions.

>>>>>>>>>
Encrypted.
>>>>>>>>>
From: OFFICE OF IMPERIAL INTELLIGENCE, Office of Secret Services (OSS) CODE NAME: MAGNETAR
To: BILBRINGI COMMAND
RE: ORDER TO TRANSFER PROPERTY
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>BEGIN

[OPERATIONAL CODES AND AUTHORIZATION]

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
ALL PROPERTY SIEZED DURING THE FIRST ORDER INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF BILBRINGI LOCATED AND CATALOGUED IN LOTS #311-C5 THROUGH LOTS #312-XX7 ARE TO BE PACKED AND READIED FOR TRANSPORT WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RECIEPT AND VALIDATION OF THESE ORDERS. ONCE READY, THE LOTS ARE TO BE TURNED OVER TO THE CUSTODY OF ADMIRAL SYKES FOR FINAL DISPOSITION. OPERATIONAL SECURITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED. MISSING OR DAMAGED LOTS ARE TO BE NOTED IN MANIFEST.

>>>END
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