Federation Beyond The Galaxy (Trial Version)

Chapter 5

As the O'Sver began its descent, the bridge was cast in red, with warning lights reflecting off metallic surfaces as the ship plummeted toward Rhine’s atmosphere. The silence on the Mandalorian and Republic side was thick with tension and curiosity as they took in the industrial sprawl below—massive, smoke-belching factories scarred the land, filling the air with pollution and a perpetual haze. To Satine and Padmé, the sight was unsettlingly reminiscent of Separatist strongholds: worlds stripped of natural beauty, overtaken by factories and technology.

Obi-Wan and Anakin exchanged looks as they observed the focused discipline of the Bolar crew, noting their calm yet precise operations as Captain Veron finally addressed them.

“Five thousand feet,” he muttered to his officers before giving the order. “Prepare to land at Ragalia Base.”

As the O'Sver veered toward a towering mountain, Satine looked confused. "Where’s the base?”

But before Veron could answer, the mountain before them began to split apart, revealing a vast hidden hangar.

“The answer,” said Veron, making Satine nod in silence.

Their ship descended as the artificial mountain closed behind them, the exterior melting back into a façade of solid rock. Beneath, the O'Sver floated gently into an underground waterway engineered for colossal vessels like theirs, guiding them like a seagoing ship into the dock.

Inside the hangar, Republic and Mandalorian eyes widened in awe. Before them stretched a cavernous underground facility lined with hundreds of ships, some docked, others hanging from the ceiling in massive bays. Drydocks held partially constructed ships, their skeletal forms surrounded by a swarm of drones and robotic arms welding, assembling, and installing engines under the coordination of hundreds of workers.

“It’s massive,” Satine murmured, the sheer scale leaving her momentarily speechless.

Anakin leaned forward, taking in the sight. "So, they weren’t bluffing. Thousands of ships in one system alone…”

“Yes,” Obi-Wan noted, his gaze lingering on the smaller vessels. “But they’re relatively small compared to the Republic or Separatist ships. Nothing here seems to exceed 500 meters—the largest looks to be about 400 meters.”

Veron, catching their scrutiny, spoke up. “We can build one of those Type-A battleships in two weeks.” He pointed toward a docked battleship, its form boxy but compact. Everyone’s attention turned to it, curiosity evident.

“Why build them so small?” Satine asked.

“For cost and practicality,” Veron replied without missing a beat. “Our doctrine values efficiency in numbers. Why spend half an hour walking from one end to the other of a kilometer-long ship when a smaller one serves us just as well?”

“But surely you sacrifice something in firepower,” Obi-Wan ventured, glancing at Veron.

“On the contrary,” Veron replied, his tone confident. “These battleships are armed with positron beam cannons and enough missile capabilities to obliterate a moon’s surface in half a day. At 300 meters, they’re easy to produce, highly maneuverable, and devastatingly effective against any belligerent currently active in this galaxy.”

"That’s certainly one way to view it," Obi-Wan said thoughtfully, exchanging a look with Anakin. "But these ships, small as they are, could make an impact on any battlefield if they’re used as efficiently as you claim.”

Veron’s eyes glinted. “Efficiency and overwhelming numbers are our strengths. A kilometer-long behemoth may look imposing, but the cost and risk often outweigh the benefits. Our forces are designed to meet any threat this galaxy can muster. Mass-produced, modular, and equipped to meet any need—our doctrine values practicality over spectacle, just as we demonstrated with the Separatists just now,” he added.