Nine years, four months, and nineteen days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-fourth year, four months, and nineteen days after the Great Resynchronization.
The distance between the planets Myrkr and Wayland is just under three hundred and fifty light-years. And by the standards of a galaxy far, far away, it can be covered relatively quickly — in a few days. If you push it.
"I will order to proceed at maximum speed," Captain Pellaeon stated his decision.
"There's no need for such haste," I declared, settling into the chair on the bridge of the Chimaera. Before my eyes, the green surface of Myrkr drifted slowly past — the world we were leaving. Today, but not forever. "Wayland has waited for us for many years; it can wait a few more days."
"Of course, Grand Admiral," Pellaeon said. During the time that Lieutenant Tschel and the surface teams, with help from Karrde's people, had been gathering ysalamiri and delivering them aboard the Star Destroyer, I had had ample opportunity to familiarize myself with the military regulations of the Galactic Empire. And credit where credit is due to those who wrote them — they were drafted with extreme precision, as befits a document governing the activities of military organizations. No ambiguous interpretations, everything clear, understandable, effective. You look at what's written and you understand, filled with faith in order, the clarity of organization and...
And all that is in the past.
Career military personnel with vast combat experience make up just over forty percent of the current armed forces of the Imperial Remnant. Starship crews are filled with rookies who have only just graduated from various educational institutions of the Imperial Armed Forces. Naturally, their effectiveness is barely above zero. Now certain actions Thrawn took to improve the coordination of his forces become clear.
Along with the elite of the army and navy who had died in recent years, many military traditions, discipline, and much else were left in the past. Now it was clear why the Imperial Navy, which in its best years numbered millions of warships — from Star Super Destroyers and Star Destroyers to gunboats and support vessels — had declined so quickly. After Palpatine's death, ambitious warlords with plans similar to my own — to build their own states — had acquired trained soldiers, a wealth of equipment, and a desire to fight. No wonder that in five years of incessant civil war, the Imperials had destroyed with their own hands everything they had once possessed.
A pity it happened, but there is no point in grieving — what's done is done. I had to deal with what we had now.
"Tell me," Pellaeon said quietly, turning to me, "do you really think Karrde will want to work for us?"
"On the contrary, Captain," I said. "Our mission had the exact opposite purpose."
"Excuse me?" Pellaeon's eyes widened. "I thought we needed his help..."
"And we got from Karrde what we needed," I pointed to the metal cage where a ysalamir perched on a branch of its favorite tree. Putting together such enclosures had been no trouble for the Chimaera's technicians. Now virtually all the lizards had their own cozy little homes. "As for the rest, he could only bring us problems."
"From a simple smuggler?" Pellaeon said skeptically.
"One should not underestimate that kind of intelligent contingent," I said. "Karrde not only supplies goods, but also trades in information. Quite respected in his community. If necessary, he could organize all that rabble — not dangerous individually, but banded together in a pack... They could hinder us."
"Then perhaps the problem should have been solved more radically?" the captain suggested. I winced. Actually, Empire regulations did not allow such casual conversation between senior officers. But too much time had passed since the law was followed to the last comma. Still, I could not withhold a blazing look from Pellaeon; I needed to remind him of subordination. The captain was a perceptive man, and he immediately understood. "Admiral, my gunners could level his base to the ground in a couple of minutes, and the ground forces would finish off the rest..."
"You weren't listening carefully, Captain." There was no point in reacting to the officer's words with negativity. Pellaeon thought within the limits of his knowledge. If he knew what I knew — specifically, what role that man could play in the future events I was aware of — he would not be so categorical. "Karrde is, in a way, the unofficial leader for most smugglers. Before, Jabba the Hutt from Tatooine ran the whole operation, but he was killed by the rebels. The criminal empire was left without a leader. Everyone grabbed as much as they could and what competitors allowed. But Karrde is first among them. He supplies them with work, organizes transports. The ideal intermediary between contractors and clients. That means if anything happens to him under the current circumstances, the entire underworld will turn against us. Of course, that's only if we're directly implicated in his troubles."
"We've dealt with worse," Pellaeon said confidently.
"Shall I remind you that the Empire was brought down by a ragtag group that barely had four squadrons of fighters and outdated bombers at the time of the Battle of Yavin?" I looked at the Chimaera's commander. "Perhaps it's time to stop underestimating the enemy? Then we will win."
Pellaeon remained silent, clearly pondering my words.
"Sir," he broke the silence. "But then what do you intend to do about Karrde?"
"Destroy his organization by making his own allies turn away from him," I explained. "You see, Captain, Karrde positions himself as a neutral party. But that's not how it works. He has already chosen those he sympathizes with, and unfortunately, it's not us. He needs the Empire only to conduct his business, but his heart is with the victors. And he considers the rebels to be that. The New Republic's disorganization allows smugglers to find loopholes in the law and opportunities to continue their activities. It's hard to believe, but even we are currently dependent on them. Smugglers have access to our territories; they deliver cargo, food, luxury goods to our planets. They know our defense systems and the loopholes they will certainly use if we ever corner them. Therefore, as an organized force with clearly defined goals and a prominent leader, they are a threat to us. But when they are broken into numerous factions, each pursuing only a single goal — personal profit — then they become acceptable partners for cooperation."
"You hope that Mara Jade will play a role in destabilizing Karrde's organization?" the captain speculated.
"That is unlikely," I sighed. "Mara Jade is an asset of a different kind. She has an exaggerated sense of gratitude toward those who are important to her and help her in difficult times — and so she trusts Karrde and his ideals. Our meeting planted seeds of doubt in Jade's mind. The 'Claw' will continue to dig for information about Jade's past. When his people learn that she is well known to high-ranking Imperial officers, they will start grumbling and insisting on the risk of keeping such an asset. And Jade herself, who not only received the first hint that her employer isn't as clean as he wants to appear, will not rest until she satisfies her curiosity — until she finds out everything about Karrde."
"You think he has something to hide?" Pellaeon asked.
"A smuggler who trades with both the Empire and the New Republic, who carefully pretends to be equally indifferent to all sides of the conflict, but offers his services on credit to the rebels, and not to us?" I clarified. "I'm sure of it. However, the question is how much it will serve our purposes."
"You want to bring Mara Jade over to our side?" Pellaeon understood. "Since she's an idealist, Karrde's dirty laundry might drive her away from him and deliver his secrets into our hands?"
"Bravo, Captain," I smiled. "Yes, that interesting young woman is an extremely valuable acquisition for us. But no, if she leaves Karrde, he will carefully hide all his secrets and change locations. He is clever enough not to fall for such simple traps. No, all this crude bravado is meant to serve many purposes. And considering that Karrde is sufficiently informed about my identity, as is Mara Jade, both will undoubtedly wonder — if it's so clumsily done, isn't there a catch? And if Karrde, finding no confirmation for his suspicions, will calm down, then Mara Jade — never."
"Forgive me, but I don't see what use she will be," the Chimaera's commander admitted.
"She is a former Hand of the Emperor," I explained, noticing the officer's eyes widen. "An elite agent of the ruler himself. One who hunted down corrupt Imperial officials, officers, and other threats to the Galactic Empire. Her qualifications surpass those of various army or naval special forces units under our command. To accomplish what I have in mind, I need a lot of time, resources, and every asset we can obtain. And one should not always wave one's flag if one wants to achieve goals. Therefore, where we will not work with force, she will — with cunning."
"If she joins us," Pellaeon clarified.
"Not 'if,'" I corrected. "'When.' Give her time, Captain. Her worldview, everything she values — it is all tied to us. Once the threads connecting her to Talon Karrde break, she will return. Of course, we shouldn't trust her right away. Perhaps — never. But that will become clear in time. Now," I turned my chair to face the bridge watch. "Give the order to set course for Wayland. It's time to forge our victory, Captain."
"Aye, Grand Admiral," Pellaeon replied briskly, heading for the pit.
Smiling to myself, I rose from the chair. With a nod to Rukh to follow, I headed to my cabin.
The bridge of an Imperial Star Destroyer.
* * *
"Did you plant the beacons?" I asked the Noghri as we left the Chimaera's bridge.
"Yes, Master," Rukh said, walking a step behind me.
"How many?"
"Eighteen," the Noghri mewled.
"And no one noticed you?" I was surprised.
"No," Rukh replied.
Eighteen beacons, designed to track objects across light-years. And they were all now placed on Talon Karrde's cargo, modular units, and ships. Let's see where this leads.
But the very fact that the people of the Claw did not notice the Noghri planting the tracking devices suggests two mutually exclusive things.
Either the Noghri's professionalism is so perfect, or we were allowed to think it is.
Either way, there will be some reaction.
It's not certain that we will locate Karrde's hideouts and warehouses, but at least it's worth trying.
Right now, I had a completely different task: to master the secrets of Emperor Palpatine's treasure, hidden in the depths of Mount Tantiss on the planet Wayland.
Data about this world exists in one of Thrawn's code cylinders, and I must admit there is a fair amount of information there. Including notes from the Grand Admiral himself.
So, the planet is located in the eponymous star system, in a region known as the Outer Rim, in the Ojoster sector. On the tactical coordinate grid, according to Imperial archives and navigation databases, the planet's coordinates point to a region of the galaxy in 'square' N-7.
However, the planet itself is unknown to galactic society — for the most part. Some high-ranking Imperials knew or suspected that somewhere existed a planet with a secret Imperial storehouse. But no one had been able to specifically link their assumptions to Wayland. Or hadn't tried.
Except Thrawn. He had obtained information about the planet's true purpose about a year ago, piecing together such minute fragments of information that no one else would have even thought of. In a year, he had processed such an enormous volume of data that it's impossible to imagine...
So, what do we have.
The planet was first discovered and colonized in the period before the Mandalorian Wars — a little over four thousand years ago. The Old Republic used Wayland as a location for a field hospital — and this information, combined with the fact that Wayland was not charted on galactic maps, became the Grand Admiral's first clue.
Data on shipments of military equipment to the colonists — a second clue. Thrawn assumed there was some form of life on the planet that was aggressive toward humans. Records of movements of goods, ammunition, and weapons were kept up to a certain point — and then it was as if the planet was forgotten. Long before the planet was discovered by Palpatine during his tenure as Supreme Chancellor of the Old Republic.
He secretly ordered the restoration of an abandoned fortress on the planet. But he was in no hurry to enter it into any registries. This suggested one thing only: the future Emperor planned to use the planet for his own purposes.
And what would a man like the Emperor want with a secret planet? That's right — for anything his heart desired. From experiments with the Force to a personal infirmary.
But the final answers that brought the pieces of data together came from a single fact.
Three years before the Battle of Yavin, the Empire built an research station and a security network node on Wayland. Which was hacked by rebels, who used this trick to gain access to the test ranges of the Incom Corporation. That was how the Alliance got their famous X-wings...
Thrawn paid special attention to the fact that the personnel of the security network post were forbidden to leave the base's location. Naturally, the few officers and soldiers stationed in the middle of nowhere couldn't care less about the opinion of distant superiors — and so what happened happened: the rebels managed to exploit their negligence for their own purposes.
When everything came to light, they were of course punished — but not as severely as they could have been. The soldiers were scattered among various garrisons, the officers demoted... They could have been executed. Like their commander, who was suspected of trading state secrets. Imperial intelligence agents managed to prove that the commandant was corrupt, and therefore everything that had happened was no accident. The sentence was carried out.
Thrawn noted that the agent's report contained information about the station and service security node personnel. Finding those who survived was not difficult. Nor was learning that there is a Mount Tantiss on the planet. Which is equipped with the latest technology — at least the external security systems. And yet — there is not a single stormtrooper on the planet. But there is a Keeper — someone who wields the Force. The station personnel did not know his identity, as they tried not to come too close to the mountain.
Suspicious, isn't it? Especially considering that the planet was visited, now and then, by... the Emperor himself.
Not to mention that in high Imperial society, persistent rumors circulated about the involvement of one of Palpatine's aides in the incident on the planet Cartao and the destruction of an advanced industrial facility that was supposed to be building cloning cylinders for the then Galactic Republic...
The Grand Admiral knew his immediate superior — the Emperor — well enough to understand that such rumors did not appear for no reason. And therefore, something or someone was behind them.
One way or another, these small details were enough for Thrawn to understand that Wayland definitely held something interesting. Keepers who wield the Force aren't just sent to backwater planets for nothing...
And for a conversation with someone who could turn out to be either a Sith or a fallen Jedi — Thrawn already had experience dealing with such — the Chiss needed a massive trump card. That became the ysalamiri, which block the Force.
Jedi and Sith rely on this invisible energy for almost everything. Their entire essence is bound up in interacting with the Force. Deprive them of contact with it — and the dialogue can be conducted from a position of strength, rather than as a supplicant.
Thrawn didn't know for certain which secrets he might find on Wayland. He didn't rule out the possibility that there might be no secrets at all — after five and a half years since the Emperor's death, much could have happened. Including other forces visiting the planet and seizing its treasures for themselves.
However, only those who do nothing make no mistakes.
And so Thrawn could afford to spend several days, even years, preparing for the visit to Wayland — because if successful, he could gain possession of truly rare and interesting things. After all, any technological or other achievement can always be used to one's advantage. Or to someone else's detriment.
From the Expanded Universe books, I knew exactly what Thrawn would take from Mount Tantiss. And I knew how he used it. I also knew that all the Grand Admiral's efforts would come to nothing if they weren't adjusted with the benefit of hindsight.
And that is what scares me most. What to do when the 'goodies' run out, or history, because of a single action, goes completely differently from what is known in the trilogy? I need a backup plan. And a very, very good one.
Ahead lay several days, which would be enough for me to thoroughly study the Imperial military documents, at least roughly familiarizing myself with what exactly I had at my disposal.
And, perhaps, I should start with what the Imperial Remnant actually is now.
But, tomorrow. Today I am in the mood to grasp the wisdom of the Imperial Navy's military art. Well then, let's begin reading lectures for cadets...
"The primary task of any warship commander is to maximize the effectiveness of carrying out the tasks assigned to him..."
Well, this will be interesting.
* * *
To my own surprise, studying Imperial military doctrines took much longer than I had planned — two whole days. And I had 'gobbled it up and wanted more.'
But no. Everything in moderation. I need to educate myself not only in military matters, but also politically. Especially before arriving at Wayland, which was now only half a standard day away — twelve hours.
Of course, compared to what the Galactic Empire had at its disposal five years ago, now... it's not much.
But it's not nothing either.
What is now called the Empire, or the Imperial Remnant, is nothing more than a Confederacy, consisting of territorial entities that one way or another continue to adhere to Imperial order. They are ruled by various intelligent beings, with whom achieving unity is not only impossible but also harmful. For me and my plans.
So, the Empire has effectively been pushed to the outskirts of the galaxy — to the part called the New Territories.
Regions and territories of the galaxy.
The central part of the galaxy — the Deep Core — is currently also controlled by Imperials, independent warlords who are technically Imperials but couldn't care less about what is happening around them. In the Deep Core they are safe — the routes leading there are well known, easily blockaded, and any random visitors, like the New Republic, cannot slip through unnoticed due to the difficulty of astronavigation in that part of the galaxy. Gravitational anomalies, black holes, and other 'delights' a far more effective defense than even a fleet of hundreds of capital ships.
The warlords of the Core ignore all calls to join the Imperial Remnant, and to many Imperials such separatism is unclear. After all, if the Imperials were united, even within the same Confederacy, the New Republic would have a very hard time, since the warlords in the Core have enormous forces under their command. However, there is no unity among the Imperials. And the main reason for this is the immoderate ambitions of the Imperials themselves. Well, we'll work with what we have.
One of the largest Imperial Remnants is what still calls itself the Empire. Or Imperial Space.
Scheme of the location of the Imperial Remnants in the New Territories (Zsinj's Empire currently no longer exists as a state entity, having lost its territories up to the Hydian Way in favor of the Empire)
The capital of the Empire is currently the planet Orinda, where the Imperial Ruling Council convenes, which supported Thrawn in his desire to destroy the New Republic. The Empire provided Thrawn with the fleet ships at his disposal, as well as some financial support. The planet Wayland, toward which the Chimaera was now moving, is located on the very edge of Imperial Space. Consequently, the rebels won't stick their noses in — not only because the planet's coordinates are unknown to them, but also because they simply lack the strength to guard their vast territory and also organize a full-scale invasion. They have enough of their own problems right now, so striking them in the near future to weaken them is more than a tempting option.
Imperial space, in addition to providing Thrawn with a fleet, also placed at his disposal the shipyards on the planets Bilbringi, Tangrene, Ord Trasi, and a number of other locations, where he could not only repair his ships but also build new ones. Even if this happened much more slowly than before. The Imperial Ruling Council governed the everyday life of these territories, generally breathing a sigh of relief when Thrawn decided to lead their armed forces. Unfortunately (or fortunately?) not all combat-ready ships are under the Grand Admiral's control and sent to the front lines — the Imperial Ruling Council also cares about the defense of its own territories. But they are much more interested in internal squabbling among themselves in an attempt to grab as much power as possible. And consequently, no great help should be expected from them — after all, the councilors need it themselves. Simply put, I currently have everything that is 'free,' combat-ready, and able to leave the borders of Imperial Space without losing the defensive capability of the territories. And also, to have the ability to mount an armed response to other members of the Ruling Council. I need to be careful with them — if I fail, they will tear me apart like a rag doll, and if I succeed, someone among them will certainly try to bring me into their 'stable' to usurp power over Imperial Space. A double-edged sword...
The Imperial Space also has the Ubiqtorate at its disposal — the brain center and leadership of Imperial Intelligence, whose base is located on the planet Tangrene. These guys are not to be trusted — give them an inch and they'll take a mile, arranging something nasty for the Empire's enemies. Espionage, sabotage, regime change — all these operations, along with many others, are in their arsenal of "good deeds." A very valuable resource — and in my plans I intend to use them in the near future. Fortunately, they are loyal to the Imperial Space and will carry out any orders I give without question.
Next in size and first in combat capability is the Pentastar Alignment, currently ruled by Grand Moff Ardus Kaine. The Alignment provides some funding for Thrawn's campaign. Even then, those funds were provided to the Grand Admiral in a lump sum, back last year. Yes, the amount is significant, and Thrawn was never known for being wasteful. But it's important to understand that this money, like any other, has a way of running out. Ardus Kaine is an excellent administrator, as his organizational skills demonstrate: under his command is a Super Star Destroyer of the Executor class called the Reaper — in fully equipped and combat-ready condition. At the moment, no other Imperial Remnant can boast such a prize. The New Republic, however, can. The Lusankya is out there somewhere, biding its time...
Naturally, Kaine won't hand over this magnificent ship to anyone — it's a symbol of power and success, as well as guaranteed annihilation of any enemy that dares encroach on Pentastar Alignment territory.
Kaine is prepared to make the shipyards on the planet Yaga Minor available to Thrawn, but not for free. They are well-equipped slipways and docks, fitted out with the latest technology. However, to use those shipyards, a substantial sum had to be paid. Not the most economically advantageous option. It's much simpler to use any of the shipyards in Imperial Space.
The Ciutric Hegemony. A sector with its capital on the planet Ciutric IV. This union is led by an Imperial warlord, Prince-Admiral Delak Krennel. The Hegemony consists of twenty-five inhabited worlds across a dozen star systems. A small empire with about a dozen warships at its disposal, including Star Destroyers. Like most Remnants, they are self-sufficient, possessing small shipyards capable of repairing almost any type of starship, but they lack the production capacity to build anything new. However, Krennel does have money. Lots of money. He is one of the principal sponsors of Thrawn's campaign. A dangerous adversary. Especially considering the covert forces backing him. But for now, he's an ally — and a very valuable one at that.
The Antemeridian sector, under the rule of Moff Getelles, was a supporter of Thrawn. Honestly, I dug through all the archive data to understand why Imperial Space was still trying to hold onto this patch of space. There were no mining facilities, no military production, no agricultural worlds here. The sector's planets somehow managed to survive on their own and weren't dependent on their neighbors, which spoke rather well of Moff Getelles. However... there was nothing to latch onto here. In my understanding, Imperial Space should be fighting for control over strategically important worlds, systems, and sectors — things that could provide even a slight advantage in the war against the New Republic and unreliable neighbors. The Antemeridian has none of that. Unless...
Noticing a reference to the existence of military contracts, I opened the corresponding file, skimming through it.
Ah, so that's the deal! Now everything falls into place.
This galaxy has plenty of private companies producing not only civilian goods but also military equipment. The Loronar Corporation was one such company. The Galactic Empire had made them a military contractor, supplying the Imperial Navy with medium Strike-class cruisers.
Strike-class Medium Cruiser
The ship had a modular design, very modern and powerful armament, modular interior compartments, and was relatively cheap to build, which is why the Imperial Navy purchased them in large numbers for a wide variety of purposes. Thrawn's fleet (time to get used to calling it mine!) had several of these ships — acquired precisely thanks to the support of Moff Getelles. Despite their unassuming appearance, two such ships were considered equal in power to a Victory-class Star Destroyer, and the latter was one of the most reliable ships around. The sector built Strikes in small batches — as far as their shipyard capacity allowed — and supplied them to various Imperial Remnants.
But the cherry on top was that the Loronar Corporation also supplied Torpedo Spheres. In the New Republic, this type of battle station is called a "miniature Death Star," and quite deservedly so.
Torpedo Sphere
Armed with five hundred proton torpedo launchers (not counting turbolasers and other weaponry), the Torpedo Sphere was designed for the mass bombardment of planetary shields. Energy screens capable of protecting an entire planet from orbital bombardment are a problem. They can be worn down for a very long time before a breach becomes possible. And it must be said that this kind of siege is not uncommon. But assembling an armada to take down a planetary shield is a thankless task. That's why Torpedo Spheres were developed. They do it with ease.
The only problem is that this nearly two-kilometer-long monster costs just over three hundred million credits — nearly four hundred. Considering that's a third of the cost of one Imperial-class Star Destroyer, which is essentially the main and universal ship of the Imperial Navy, the narrow specialization of the Torpedo Sphere predetermines the fact that, under the constrained conditions of a crisis, no Imperial Remnant dares to order such installations. Due to their design features, they are ill-suited for countering an enemy fleet. That's why none of the Remnants loyal to Thrawn have them anymore. Officially, that is. In reality... anything is possible. And most likely, someone has a few stashed away somewhere — for emergencies.
However, there is a certain snag. According to Ubiqtorate agent reports, the Loronar Corporation, on more than one occasion, has been caught selling weapons to the Rebel Alliance in addition to supplying military equipment to the Empire and the Remnants. And yet, it continues to operate without any issues. It seems the Imperials are willing to turn a blind eye to this double-dealing as long as they themselves have a reliable supplier of quality hardware. Interesting...
Besides the territorial entities, scattered planets that continue to maintain the Imperial regime are also loyal to Thrawn's actions. They are scattered across the galaxy, and for the most part, they either have a strong planetary or orbital defense system, or the New Republic currently lacks sufficient forces to capture them. And due to the vast distances between the Imperial Remnants and pro-Imperial planets, few Remnants try to take control of them — no one wants to send a portion of their fleet into the unknown, only to have it destroyed at any moment by the New Republic if the mood strikes them.
But the list of these planets is impressive.
The Imperial Academy is located on Carida. This planet, possessing a powerful planetary defense system, is not only a testing ground for the latest military technology but also a training ground for the fine lads in the well-known white armor — stormtroopers. They are trained excellently and in a short time — in just six months, yesterday's farmer from Tatooine can be turned into the uncompromising weapon of the regime. All of this without any brain surgery or Sith magic. Drill, ideological indoctrination, and the good old speeches about the Motherland being in danger. The Imperial Remnants value and support Carida, and in the event of an attack, they are ready to allocate forces for its defense and to repel attacks. According to Imperial Intelligence data, the New Republic is licking its lips, eyeing this planet. But they understand they don't have enough strength to quickly bring the world under their control. Nor do they have enough for a blockade. The only path they see is either to leave the planet alone or to negotiate. For now, they're sticking with the first option. But as soon as the borders of Imperial Space move further away from Carida and timely aid to a hypothetically besieged world cannot arrive in time, the Republicans will definitely try to win the planet over.
Rendili. Now this is interesting. Because this world is located in the Core Worlds region, and consequently — surrounded by territories loyal to or leaning towards joining the New Republic. Rendili is a strategically important star system, as it houses the headquarters and significant production facilities of the Rendili StarDrive corporation, known for being a reliable supplier of starships to the Galactic Republic for thousands of years. However, during the Clone Wars, the corporation's fortunes took a turn for the worse, as Palpatine, who still ruled the Republic at the time, favored the specialists from the Kuat sector shipyards. Be that as it may, Rendili StarDrive has produced many excellent starships throughout its history, such as the Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser, which, despite its venerable age, has proven itself well.
Dreadnaught-class Heavy Cruiser
Another achievement of the Rendilians was the creation of the Victory-class Star Destroyer at the end of the Clone Wars, which are still encountered in relatively large numbers throughout the galaxy. Despite the appearance of the Imperial-class, Victory-class ships can still be found in many fleets across the galaxy. In mine, for example, there are several of them. The pro-Imperial government of the Corporate Sector, for instance, owns nearly a thousand such starships.
Victory-I-class Star Destroyer
Currently, the Rendilians survive on Imperial orders for starship repairs, which they don't particularly like: the Imperial Remnants don't have that many Victories at their disposal; they, like the other remnants of grandeur, are preserved and not thrown onto the front lines without reason. Rendili's economy suffers because of this. And the locals are already on the verge — a classic case where loyalty, unsupported financially, could cost Imperial Space yet another valuable ally. And that is something I would very much like to avoid, because if things work out well, I'll have work for the Rendilians. A lot of work...
For which, at the moment, there isn't a large sum of money available.
The planet Kelada in the Duluur sector was a valuable ally. It was here that the production of speeders used so ubiquitously in the Imperial Army was located, to the point where they had become an integral part of the image of Imperial scout troopers. Speeders and grav-cycles are always needed, so the Imperial Remnants don't spare any expense on procurement. And so Kelada is with us.
Bestine IV is essentially a fortress world. Here lie the oceanic shipyards known as Juggernaut. Here, under the guise of assembling the Acclamator-class assault cruisers — veterans of the Clone Wars, now serving as support vessels for the Imperial Navy — secret engineering projects were conducted. Exactly what they were is not particularly important. The main thing is that most of the population of this world was resettled by the Imperials to other planets to maintain the secrecy of production. Now the shipyards are in a state of near-mothballing — few want to build anything on a planet surrounded by the enemy. So the rulers of this world are simply going with the flow, waiting either for manna from heaven in the form of large contracts to fall on their heads, or for them to be unable to avoid switching to the New Republic's side. It's worth pondering. Losing such a strategically important world simply because they can't pay for orders is a harsh but brutal truth. And another headache.
In the Doldur sector of the Mid Rim lay the planet Linuri. A beautiful world with a diverse ecosystem. They call it "Earth-type," except the problem is — there is no planet called Earth in this galaxy. But that doesn't change the essence of it. Favorably located near the southern part of the Corellian Run, this planet sat like a dagger in the very heart of territories already part of the New Republic or sympathetic to it. Despite the lack of major planetary defense assets, it was here that the real Thrawn established his operational base. In enemy territory... Again, audacity bordering on a brilliant tactical decision. A little-known planet, far from the main hyperspace routes, doesn't attract much enemy attention. But from here, it's very easy to strike at enemy territory. With bases on the surface, as well as a fleet of Star Destroyers and smaller ships, there is every chance not only of repelling any attack but also of evacuating if things get truly "hot." Not to mention the fact that in a nearby nebula, a derelict station is mining gases useful for such a small fleet.
However, until I master at least part of the Imperial military program, to even partially match Thrawn's image, my lot is raiding operations. Which is precisely what my fleet's ships are currently doing. Full-scale invasions and territorial conquests are still a long way off. Patience is a virtue. First, I need to properly reinforce the rear areas and snatch away from under the New Republic's nose whatever is lying loose. And for that, I first need to get my hands on Palpatine's treasury. The Imperials are allies, of course, but even when I acquire new ships — and I will acquire them, without fail — few will be willing to give me even a partially trained pool of officers, gunners, pilots, and deck crews. For that, there is Mount Tantiss.
But let's continue to see what else there is to scrounge up.
What did I say about Torpedo Spheres? Here's a simple example. One such station protects the planet Chasin in the Core Worlds. Just one siege station, but the New Republic avoids not just the planet, but the entire star system. A couple of light patrol ships guarding the borders of territory loyal to the Empire don't count.
The planets Trogan and Columex. Located in the Outer Rim, they didn't possess any particular military significance. Trogan is a backwater planet with a small Imperial garrison. Columex is run by private individuals altogether. But the point is that this is where a pretty decent gaming industry is located, which appeared with the Empire's blessing. And for general patronage, as well as non-interference, Columex supplies Imperial Space with credits. That means the money goes into the pockets of the Imperial Ruling Council, not mine. Disappointment knows no bounds. As we all know, the income from vice is among the most plentiful.
The Pakuuni star system is nothing more than an outpost with a small Imperial space station. It was built three years after the Battle of Yavin, by the way, on Thrawn's own orders, when he, still a Vice Admiral, was restoring order in this part of the galaxy, hunting pirates. Nothing particularly valuable. Just a point of interest for showing the flag.
The planet Makem Te in the Nilgaard system of the Outer Rim is another loyal supporter of Imperial Space. A fortress world, absolutely loyal to the Imperials, which feeds them money. But that's now, after Thrawn brought the planet back in a short but brutal battle a few months ago. Just last year, this place was run by Warlord Zsinj — a rather odious figure disliked by the Imperials, but a very interesting and capable manager. However, military affairs weren't really his strong suit — he held on for about four years after the Battle of Yavin, controlling a vast territory and annoying literally everyone — both the Republicans and the Imperials. The most disappointing thing is that "thanks to" Zsinj, two Executor-class Super Star Destroyers were lost...
All of this is sad.
Especially the fact that the Corellian sector is listed among the Imperial Remnant's allies. The very sector that is the birthplace of such New Republic heroes as Han Solo, Wedge Antilles, and... Alright, those two are enough to turn a world into a disaster.
The Corellians were among the first to declare secession from the Empire after the Battle of Yavin. The Imperial Navy forces stationed here were supposedly even ready to capture Coruscant, but it all came down to a civil war between two major warlords, the destruction of most of both their fleets, the flight of the few survivors, and the emergence of a dictatorship in the sector. This dictatorship claims loyalty to the Empire but makes no actual moves in that direction. Despite the fact that Corellia houses one of the most respected shipbuilding companies in the galaxy: the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Building sturdy and reliable starships is their habit. And indeed, they build them. For themselves.
These are the kind of allies that remind me of the gopher from that good old film "DMB": "Do you see the gopher? — No. — Neither do I. But he's there." What to expect from such allies is unclear. It's easier to keep your distance from them.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is pretty much it. That's all the allies... It seems like quite a few, and the territory, if you look at the map, is significant. But you have to understand that there are far fewer inhabited planets in the part of the galaxy controlled by the Imperials than in similar-sized spaces in the Core Worlds, the Colonies, or the Mid Rim. And the Empire isn't gaining new allies. On the contrary — it's only losing territory.
Here's one recent example — the Oplovis sector.
Until recently, it could boast a well-equipped rear fleet base, which, along with the entire territory of the sector, was under the command of Admiral Gaen Drommel just five years ago. The admiral was a protégé of the now-deceased Grand Moff Tarkin, so it's no surprise that Drommel commanded not just a splendid area of responsibility with developed industry. For instance, one of the seven star systems in the sector contained a shipbuilding factory. What was notable about it was that the workforce consisted of defectors from the Rebel Alliance. And the latter were very agitated by the fact that the shipbuilders from the Sluis Van shipyards were working for the Empire.
But what most piqued my genuine interest in this sector was the fact that Tarkin's protégé had at his disposal a superbly trained battle group consisting of three Star Destroyers... and an Executor-class Super Star Destroyer named the Guardian. It would seem that everything is fine, but...
There's always a "but." Five years ago, in the battle of the Tantiv system, Gaen Drommel, along with his entire fleet, fought against the Rebel Alliance fleet. And lost. Two of his three Star Destroyers were lost in battle, and the third was captured by the enemy. The fate of the Guardian is unenviable. It is considered destroyed or lost. Immediately afterward, several planets in the sector came under New Republic control, including the fortress world of Ketaris. All that remained of the former sector were a couple of systems loyal to Imperial Space, but they didn't possess much strategic value.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
The Super Star Destroyer Guardian. Something very familiar. Very, very familiar. And somehow connected to the New Republic. Why is that? Is my memory failing me? The rebels had the Lusankya, not the Guardian. Or...
No, hold on a moment...
I remember that by the time of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, the New Republic definitely had the Lusankya. The ship saw combat and performed well. But it was destroyed. Then why do I feel that one of the Executor-class ships served in the state that formed after that war? No, that's not right. The Lusankya was destroyed — it was rammed into a huge Yuuzhan Vong worldship. And that was in the middle of the war. But, if my memory serves me correctly, one Executor took part in the Battle of Mon Calamari — and that was towards the end of the war with the Vong. Right? Or am I confusing something?! Could it have been the Reaper?
No, definitely not the Reaper. Ardus Kaine will die during the resurrected Emperor's campaign, and his flagship will pass to Gilad Pellaeon, who by then will lead the remnants of Imperial territory. The Reaper will fight against the Lusankya and perish in one of those senseless and brutal campaigns.
So — that's not it.
Think, think, think...
Alright. Since I can't remember right away, let's try the process of elimination.
One thing you have to respect about the Empire, even after Palpatine's death and in the midst of ruin — the data in the archives is still being updated. With the same pedantry and meticulousness.
Touching the code cylinder to the receptacle on my computer, I accessed the Ubiqtorate database. These guys don't particularly like sharing information, but only when it doesn't concern the highest ranks of the Empire. And I happen to be one of those.
Let's see what we have here. Aha. "Executor-class Super Star Destroyer." Well, let's open the holy of holies — just how many were ever built.
Executor-class Super Star Destroyer
Bla-bla-bla, project prepared by Lira Blisstex, no, Wessex, since she was already married. Ah, who cares! A list! I need a list!
So, number one... and it's not the Executor. What?!
The order for the lead ships of the Executor series was simultaneously received by two of the largest shipbuilding giants — the planets Fondor and Kuat. There was a certain rivalry between them... never mind, that's not interesting. Here's what is.
An Executor prototype was laid down — at the Fondor shipyards. A mock-up ship used to work out the teething troubles. The Rebel Alliance attacked the shipyards and destroyed it. That must have given them quite a bit of hope, I suppose.
Regardless, that vessel is unequivocally destroyed. Cross it off.
Next. Executor and Lusankya. The first production models. One was built at Kuat, the other at Fondor. At the time of construction, both were called Executor, to keep anyone from guessing, I suppose. The fate of Executor is known — five and a half years ago, it went into a steep dive and rammed the second Death Star. Lusankya was buried on Coruscant (I already remember that; there's nothing about it in the Ubiqtorate files), fought, fought. Right. Status: "Captured by rebels. Location — unknown."
Moving on down the list.
Terror. Destroyed three years after the Battle of Yavin. Rebel sabotage. It was a good ship — it says it was equipped with a cloaking device.
Retribution — destroyed in the Battle of Nokto three and a half years after the Battle of Yavin.
Annihilator. Destroyed during the battle of Kuat between Imperials, Rebels, and pirates from the Zann Consortium. We remember that one. Curious... But the files don't say anything about Eclipse. Let's check. Nothing at all?! How interesting. And Sovereign? Empty again. Looks like someone didn't really want information about those types of super star destroyers with axial turbolasers to get out. And they're good ships... Only all of them are currently in the Deep Core with the resurrected Emperor Palpatine. And I have no desire to deal with him.
What do we have next on the Executor-class ships.
That particular Guardian — listed as destroyed in the Battle of Tantive V, five years after Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. However, what's curious is that there's no confirmation of the ship's destruction. We'll remember that.
Iron Fist, flagship of Warlord Zsinj. Destroyed during the battle for the planet Dathomir last year. Along with Razor's Kiss, which he tried to steal from the Kuat Drive Yards.
Reaper. Status: active. Belongs to Grand Moff Ardus Kaine.
Intimidator. Well, well, well... and here's the second candidate for resurrection from oblivion. The ship is considered destroyed after the Imperial forces withdrew from... the Koornacht Cluster. And the name of that place would mean nothing to me, if not for one thing. Intimidator commanded a task force known as the Black Fleet. And that's where the analogies kicked in. The Black Fleet — the Black Fleet crisis. A very interesting piece of the universe. Because both Intimidator and its entire flotilla — no less than forty starships, each at least a Star Destroyer — are listed as lost. Not to mention that there was more than one super star destroyer in that unit. And every single one, along with the orbital shipyards, is listed as lost. But not as combat losses. And here, it's not so much wishful thinking or hope for the best, but a dry statement of fact. Nothing is known about the Black Fleet, but only to those who compiled this list. But I know something else.
Aggressor. Destroyed in the Corellian Sector — it rammed a torpedo sphere. God almighty, what kind of idiot do you have to be to ram a sphere less than two kilometers in diameter with a nineteen-kilometer ship? Cross yourself and forget it.
Enforcer. Destroyed by rebels during repairs.
Another one, whose name isn't listed, was destroyed by rebels several years ago near the planet Mustafar.
So, is that it?
No, it can't be. I remember that one of the warlords in the Deep Core had his own Executor equipped with a cloaking system... But that will be much later than the present moment. In other words — the ship might not even be built yet, let alone commissioned.
Dry conclusions.
Built — thirteen production models. A baker's dozen. Of those, guaranteed alive — and I know about them — only two: Reaper and Lusankya. But Reaper is definitely not long for this world, which means it can't be the ship that fought at Mon Calamari.
The ship that is still to be built in the Deep Core will also be destroyed. So that's not it either.
That leaves only two candidates: Guardian and Intimidator. And again — process of elimination.
Intimidator — flagship of the Black Fleet. Along with its ships (including several super star destroyers of unknown class) and the local shipyards, it was captured by the natives of the Koornacht Cluster. Then, the Imperial crews recaptured the ships — more precisely, in this timeline they have yet to do that, but that's the gist. The Black Fleet and its ships — they left, they fled, and their fate is shrouded in darkness, at least for me.
Therefore, only Guardian remains.
Yes, the theory might be a bit of a stretch, but as a working theory, it'll do.
So, now for something else. Guardian went missing several years ago. Why hasn't it shown up since, if it's intact? It hasn't even made contact. Heavily damaged?
Most likely. And if so, its commander doesn't risk making contact, knowing full well that any Imperial warlord would rush to "visit" him and salute him with turbolasers, overwhelming the weakened ship's defenses. And would undoubtedly capture it. No. If I were in that commander's place, I would try to secretly purchase spare parts for the ship and restore it wherever it is.
Well then... I just need to find it and gain control over it. Sounds simple enough, but it's not. It could take months, maybe even years, before I even get a lead on Guardian. But the game is worth the candle — having a trump card like an Executor-class super star destroyer in my hands would drastically shift the balance of power — both in Imperial Space and in the war against the New Republic.
However, first I need to find it in the vastness of the galaxy.
Ah, happiness was so close...
But there is a much simpler way to acquire an Executor. Even two. But in one case, I'd need a large fleet, and in the second, scouts who can find right now the place where the New Republic is hiding Lusankya.
Otherwise, I'll have to get a fleet together and go take the Black Fleet from the natives of the Koornacht Cluster. Though I seriously doubt they'll hand over Intimidator and the other starships without a big fight.
Oh well...
So much interesting stuff remains scattered across the vastness of a far, far away galaxy after the fall of the Galactic Empire. I just need to figure out how to take all of it, and much more. Some by cunning, some by brute force.
"Grand Admiral, sir," came the voice of Captain Pellaeon, who appeared in the doorway of my quarters. "We are arriving at the Wayland system."
"Excellent, Captain," I said, rising from behind my desk and locking it. "Let's go to the hangar. Have a ship prepared for us — it's time to greet the locals and the Guardian of Mount Tantiss."