Chapter 333
**Dailana Dio Vikt POV**
Dailana Dio Vikt glanced at her watch automatically. Just as it reached noon, a young man in Jedi robes entered her office.
The woman allowed herself a small, professional smile.
"You are quite punctual, dagon."
"Really? I haven't noticed that about myself." The Jedi silently sat down in the chair opposite her.
"So, what brought you to me?"
"As I said, your company has piqued my interest. And although Carvon is better known as a manufacturer of agricultural equipment, your military vehicles are worthy of attention — especially the CAVw PX-3 and PX-4."
"Do you want to order them from us?"
"Not quite. I don't argue that the cars were good for their time, but they don't correspond to modern realities."
Dailana narrowed her eyes. "What, for their time! They only started producing them five years ago, and now they're already outdated? No way!"
"Then what do you want?"
"I'd like to order something completely new from you. For the Republic Army. But first, I'd like to hear from you."
"Hm?" The woman thought frantically. Military contracts were no joke. She wouldn't forgive herself for missing such a chance. Especially since it was a chance to prove to her father that her military equipment venture was the right one.
Meanwhile, the Jedi explained.
"You have a wide range of vehicles: some are wheeled, some are tracked. You produce repulsorlift cargo platforms and mining walkers. I'd like to hear your opinion on all these chassis."
"I think I can satisfy your curiosity," Dailana steepled her fingers. "I'll try to be as clear and concise as possible. The most common and simple chassis is the repulsorlift chassis. It's fast, fuel-efficient, and inexpensive, and most importantly, it has a high load-carrying capacity and decent all-terrain capabilities. And of course, it's environmentally friendly — of course. However, it's not particularly maneuverable — any large obstacle, as well as terrain features like steep slopes, will hinder vehicle movement… A wheeled chassis is a cross between a track and a walker. It provides the necessary speed and maneuverability, and, as the experience of the Kuat Juggernauts shows, also durability. At the same time, it's slower than a repulsorlift chassis and more expensive — it requires an engine, transmission, and suspension… So, that leaves two 'rivals' — tracked vehicles and walkers."
"Walkers?"
"Exactly. Generally speaking, a walker has an advantage over a tracked chassis — but only if the latter has more than five pairs of legs. In this case, the loss of one limb isn't critical, whereas damage to a tread can disable the vehicle. And the more legs a walker has, the more damage it can withstand. However, walkers with fewer legs have stability issues, meaning they're prone to tipping over. Furthermore, a tracked chassis can't provide the same firing range for blaster and laser cannons as a walker. And as the size increases, the walker begins to gain a significant advantage."
"But doesn't increasing the size mean greater material consumption?"
"Yes, you're right. On the one hand, it might seem that tracks are at least more economical — they require less material. However, this is a double-edged sword: while they certainly require less material — sometimes twice as much — certain materials are required in greater quantities. For example, the chassis of the clone AT-TE tank requires about twelve tons of durasteel and only fifty kilograms of bronzium. A similar tracked chassis for a forty-ton vehicle would require four tons of durasteel and… seven hundred kilograms of bronzium. Furthermore, the overall design of the tracked chassis requires more parts with a greater degree of machining."
"Now I understand. How much does durasteel cost per ton? Two hundred and fifty?"
"At pre-war prices, and now it's almost eight hundred. Bronzium has jumped from one thousand four hundred to two thousand credits per ton — this is due to the fact that the main deposits are located in the Outer Rim, which, as we know, is almost entirely under Separatist control."
"Impressive. Now I want to ask you this. Why did you make exclusively light vehicles? I mean the CAVw? Judging by the specs, you clearly underestimated their combat capabilities — but they could have been better?"
Dio sighed heavily.
"There's a ban on the use of tracked vehicles weighing over forty tons within… It's easier to say where they're allowed — the Outer Rim. This is stipulated by Act Seventeen-Cresh-Mern-Two-Bit-Eight, dated 567 BBY. The project was proposed by a senator from Alderaan, and it was supported by leading planets in the Core and Colonies who care about the biospheres of their planets. So… If we wanted to do something, we'd be breaking the law," the woman spread her hands.
"Well, I think I'll take the laws into my own hands. Remind me — does this law apply to private producers?"
"It seems so."
"Then it's a piece of cake. We'll formalize it all as a military order," the young man said, throwing up his hands.
"That is…?"
"It will take a lot of time… Designing…"
"Yes, I want to order military equipment from you. More precisely, a whole line."
"I think I can help you. How about a unified modular system?"
"In terms of?"
"We take one hull and use it to create two chassis: a tracked one and a repulsor one. From these chassis, we make tanks, infantry carriers, and self-propelled guns."
"I agree!" Dailana quickly lowered her tone. "This will streamline production. I think we can finish it in a week?"
"A week?"
"Well, if we think carefully and draw up general plans, then in a couple of days we will assemble a prototype, and in a week we will begin testing."
"Then," the Jedi smiled, "let's discuss the details…"
"Oh, and don't worry — thanks to the 12th Sector, which I am in charge of, you would soon start receiving appropriate supplies of minerals."
"What? Where did you—"
"Well, Metalorn was a CIS shipyard planet. Now that they are destroyed and under my control, they don't need any of those materials."
"I understand. Thank you."
---
The conversation continued for another hour, drawings and specifications floating between them in holographic form. Dailana found herself genuinely excited — this Jedi wasn't just ordering existing models; he wanted an entire new family of vehicles built around a single modular chassis. It was ambitious, expensive, and exactly the kind of challenge her subsidiary had been waiting for.
When Dagon finally stood to leave, Dailana rose with him.
"General Marek, I must say… this could be the beginning of something significant for Carvon BattleTech."
Dagon offered a small, tired smile. "Let's make sure it's significant for the Republic as well. The war isn't waiting for us to perfect the design."
Dailana nodded. "We'll deliver. You have my word."
As the Jedi left her office, Dailana sat back down and immediately began drafting the first preliminary schematics.
For the first time in years, she felt like her father might actually be proud.
---
**Dagon POV**
I left Dailana's office with a satisfied nod. The modular chassis idea had taken root faster than I expected. If Carvon could deliver even half of what we discussed, the auxiliary forces of the 13th System Army would finally have proper armored support instead of relying on outdated or mismatched gear.
*One more piece falling into place.*
The walk back to the landing platform gave me a moment to breathe. The war was accelerating — new System Armies forming, new alliances being forged, new threats looming on the horizon. But for the first time in weeks, I felt like I was actually building something that could endure.
I boarded the waiting gunship, already thinking about the next stop.
There was still so much to do.
But step by step, the foundation was being laid.