OK, I have the answer to the question via some testing. In the Gaming Stories forums, in one of my posts (last paragraph), a Victory Star Destroyer got its clock cleaned: Hyperdrive, shield & weapon recharge are all 0. Normal damage control for a Vic SD is 20, so I set the game to FAST and let it run for 100 days; results = no change. I set damage control to 1, reloaded the game, set the game to FAST and let it run for 100 days; results = no change. I set damage control to 100, reloaded the game, set the game to FAST and let it run for 100 days; results = Shields are halfway repaired. I set damage control to 500, reloaded the game, set the game to FAST and let it run for 100 days; results = the entire ship is 100% operational. Conclusion: the higher the damage control value the better. I hope that this will settle that question for now on Cool post Tex, but to add some (Thrawn to Pelleaon: ego isn't at stake here) context here, Your findings go against everything I have experienced since about day one of playing the game just after it was released fella! Whist the game manual is admittedly pretty vague on the finer points of what the values mean, it does lend some some pretty hefty clues with it's crap ship descriptions, such as the Mon Cal being hard to repair, the Bulwark being plagued with rumors of faulty systems, the Bulk Cruiser being reliable and rugged, and the strike Cruiser being modeler etc, which do reflect on their game damage control ratings, I am left with almost ten years worth of game experience supporting my theory; half of which has been without the option of the Editor. Conclusion: I don't doubt your findings dude for a sec, but ship repair, despite values is still open to a 'random' quantity, based on factors elsewhere, not least present maintenance levels etc, so I would except a more concrete answer based on mind-numbingly boring research based upon the ships I have mentioned, which suit extremes.