Manufacturing plants, as well as a tie to the Neo-Colonies, Neo-Japan especially which has a vested interest in keeping Hyoshi afloat. It also makes landfall at Fuso every so often as well.

As for canon welding, I'd rather not. For various reasons I'd rather keep the canon welding away, especially for a OC canon. Only with really good reasons and prior thought to it. I'll be honest and say that the last canon welding we had caused a lot of friction.