Dobriy Den

[Krasnaya Xue]

Captain Krasnaya Xue observed the continuing construction of Krasnie Drives over Praesitlyn from the command deck of Inevitable, pastel shaded atmospheric silhouette of the world below contrasting deeply with the color-devoid reaches of space. The shipyards were set to orbit over Hong Station, which was currently drenched in darkness as it was its turn to be on the night side of the planet. Refraction, however, provided a majestic view of the contour of the rural globe--not to be rural for too much longer.

To the starboard was the vast starscape that navymen and women often join for. That was not exactly her primary motivation, but it was certainly an irrefutable perk to the starfaring lifestyle. Spectacular sights had been a theme throughout her life, it seemed. First, the wondrous clouds and roiling, gaseous swirls of Bespin; now the endless canvas of outer space. Krasnaya might admit that she had often taken such views for granted, but now was one of those moments that she basked in the spectacle and had a genuine appreciation and awe for all that was beyond. Stars and galaxies glittered off in the distance--perhaps incoming vessels, perhaps not.

But today had an importance of its own. While the shiplocks and cranes and control decks and crew quarters were being installed, another project was simultaneously stirring on the ground directly below.

Logistics and fleet operations. And a little bit of superior defense.

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

As the day progressed, the shipyards eventually peeked at the sun as Hong Station below would experience dawn. The viewports automatically reacted, dimming to compensate for the massive amounts of unfiltered light that blasted on its way to the forevers. That was a little strange to think about, to be honest--how light travels on and on and on, all from this single point in a galaxy of several points. Perhaps that was what her life would become. Influence could never be underestimated.

Great men and women do hard things. What makes one great is debatable, and it certainly has nothing to do with power. But control was pretty nice, to be honest. Captain Xue enjoyed having such a position, if only for the obvious fact that no one else could accomplish the things she was capable of.

One of the docks had thus far been completed, ready for the construction of a new vessel. Of course, that was not going to happen until the majority of the other slips were ready. Logistics.

"The ground crew has signaled from Hong," her lieutenant reported.

"Good. And all vectors have been verified?"

"Yes, Captain. Everything is running in-sync."

Captain Xue nodded and took a glance out at the two other Inevitable-class ships orbiting in the distance. "Divert authority to Captain Rivchik, then. And prepare my shuttle."

"Yes, Captain."

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

Clamping onto the finished platform of the shipyards, Captain Xue's shuttle had arrived for her to take a little stroll aboard and get the full tour of the minimal operational facilities.

Immediately out of the airlock bridge, one was introduced to the tube tram, which would soon connect to all twenty-four platforms of the twelve docks. It could also divert its course to visit the different stories of each platform, making travel from one dock to the next entirely efficient. Krasnaya took a COG (Center Of Gravity) car and was dropped to the command deck of Platform 2.

A shuttered and paneled viewport wrapped around each of the five walls on the pentagonal deck, giving a clear view of the gaping maw that contained the polarized clamps made for holding the vessels under construction or repair--the berth. It was a majestic sight to behold in its fresh, unused state, with the stars as backdrop and only the hum of the myriad computers situated underneath each pane to distract from the complete serenity. An entire kilometer of starship could fit between the construction platforms. The only thing more majestic than this view would be one with a sleek hulk of warship blocking her view of the stars below.

It was not time to linger, however. She still had a schedule to keep.

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

She was soon shown the complex latching system that united the sections of the docks. Powerful clamps and interlocking magnetic shafts kept each segment of the shipyards together, though they could be released through a complex process that the only shipyards foreman and a few select supervisors could initiate, thereby allowing the docks to be mobilized and hauled out of system in twenty-four complete pieces, then reassembled somewhere else. Mobility was key for an organization such as this.

"I do hope you realize that the shipyards will need to be reset to their proper vector every year or so. Added weight during starcraft construction imposes a bit of a... wobble to the orbit."

Krasnaya nodded, understanding how gravity was not to be disregarded in any case. She was a captain, after all. Bringing capital ships in too far past the event horizon of a gravitational object would prove disastrous. "Perfectly understandable, Foreman." She took a few steps about the control room and resumed glancing at the stars.

What if they were attacked right now?

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

The captain turned about to face the security officer. "There were twenty-four turbolaser batteries in the plans, correct?"

"Yes, Captain," he responded, motioning outside the viewports to a group of five turrets near the end of the platform. "Each platform segment has four turbolaser mountings--and a single long-range ion cannon for defense should we come under attack." Ninety-six turbolaser guns in all, plus another twenty-four ion emplacements. The Rebels never underestimated the importance of ion disruption, especially if there was a chance of harming their own craft in the fire. That was a somewhat likely case with the docks as a most prominent target to an enemy, so she supposed they would see a fair amount of use should such occur.

"Are they fully automated?"

"They can be, but we bank on the crew being able to make some of the decisions." He gestured to some of the computers in the room. "Automation is good, but I would have to recommend computer assistance over full automation. Things get... iffy sometimes. Especially with potential for cyberattacks."

Satisfactory. The shipyards seemed appropriately armed--from the outside, at least.

 

[Krasnaya Xue]

It was noontime on the surface when Captain Xue arrived at Hong Station. The monstrous projector dish was in place but yet to be completed, its massive, adjustable bounce panels still sitting in all their glittering glory on a transport truck. Men and women were milling around the base of the structure, unrolling a gigantic blanket of camouflage netting that would be draped around the exterior of the projector's base.

It was a hot day so far, and Krasnaya made way for the subterranean shelter that housed the generators capable of powering such a tremendous tool. The interior would--naturally--be air conditioned to a very cool level, not too high above freezing. Overheating was not an option for this vital facet of the defense asset.

"Captain Xue," was the general greeting she encountered, accompanied by the very slightest nod of the head. These people knew who she was now. Imagine the multitudes that would know her name in the years to come.

"Comrades."