Nine years, eight months, and five days after the Battle of Yavin…
Or forty-fourth year, eight months, and five days after the Great Resynchronization.
(Three months and twenty-five days since the Arrival.)
"A very, very solid haul," Tyberos muttered, watching the caravan of transport ships lining up under the guard of Mon Calamari star cruisers that were under his command. "And, most importantly — no losses."
"Are you so certain of that, Captain Tyberos?" inquired the hologram of Grand Admiral Thrawn. "Prepare your ships to withdraw to the base location."
The privateer — mercifully, his face was hidden by a mask — winced.
In truth, there were losses, without a doubt.
Among the pilots of the air groups carried in the cruisers' bellies, and among the boarding parties of Wookiees and other sentients who were the first to breach the enemy starships' decks and suppress resistance. Of course, operating in New Republic uniforms — which Tyberos suspected were stripped from captured real Republic soldiers — was uncomfortable. They were stiff in all the wrong places.
But you had to make do. Lucky for Wookiees and some other species — no uniform would fit them anyway, they wore whatever they pleased. At least they covered their privates with fur.
Still, those losses weren't enough to call off the operation. Three "fat convoys"! And what convoys they were!
"I meant losses in ships," Tyberos clarified. "All cruisers are combat-capable and ready to continue assigned combat objectives."
"I admire your determination, Captain," Thrawn praised. "But, at the same time, what is the current tally of captured vessels under your control?"
"Fifty," Tyberos said, his mood darkening as he finally caught on to where Thrawn was heading. "Including those Sullustan starships whose crew we let slip away."
"As well as the Action-class freighter that was observing them, wasn't it?" the Grand Admiral clarified.
"I admit, my people weren't prepared for the convoy repairing its engines to, at the first sign of us, scram and flee on shuttles instead of trying to negotiate or do anything else," the captain said. "And that freighter… it was impossible to detect because it was in passive scanning mode. And when it finally fired up its engines and blasted us with its active sensors as a parting gift… My apologies, Grand Admiral. I wasn't prepared for that."
"That is not your fault, Captain Tyberos," Thrawn said unexpectedly. "Everything went exactly as planned. Are you certain that the Action positively identified your ships, as well as the convoy?"
"Affirmative, sir," Tyberos assured him. "We registered military-grade scanner activity, which is quite… uncharacteristic for a freighter. For pirates, or support vessels, maybe…"
"Or for smugglers who trade in information," Thrawn clarified.
And then everything fell into place.
So Karrde was rebuilding his damned information empire after all. And he'd trailed along behind the Sullustan convoy carrying industrial equipment. Sat and waited to see what they would do. Then the "New Republic" ships had swooped in and attacked a neutral caravan.
And if before this the information space had only carried rumors — backed by nothing but eyewitness accounts — that New Republic ships were hunting for Santhe Technologies vessels, or vessels associated with it, stopping and searching any heavy-freight starships for possible ties to Lianna or the Empire, now Karrde had solid data.
And he would certainly sell it…
"Or for them," Tyberos snorted. "Where should I deliver the starships?"
"To the Karthakk system," the Grand Admiral ordered. "One of the former pirate stations has been allocated for you there. You will be based there."
"Aye," the privateer parroted the regulation response flatly. "And…?"
"By the time you return to Karthakk, your mother and Captain Nym will have been delivered to you," Thrawn informed him. "Furthermore… are you still burning with desire to command the Black Pearl?"
"Yes," the privateer said hotly. Who wouldn't want a carrier-capable Star Destroyer like that, which could tear the enemy a new one with just its missiles? "Yes, by the Hutts, yes!"
"I understood that after the first confirmation," Thrawn stated calmly. "Very well. At the present moment, she is also in the Karthakk system. Upon your return, you may assume command and begin transferring crew from the cruisers to the destroyer, outfitting it with whatever equipment the system garrison's new military commandant deems fit to allocate to you."
"New commandant?" Tyberos tensed. "Do I know him?"
"I don't think so," Thrawn replied. "You will meet upon arrival."
"As you command, Grand Admiral," Captain Tyberos said, shivering slightly.
Oh, he didn't like this intrigue at all… Not one bit…
* * *
Coruscant-Prime was starting its descent, casting its light on another hemisphere of the capital planet, carrying away in its blood-red rays both the star's glow and the carefree mood of all those involved in yet another emergency meeting of the Provisional Council…
And the competent specialists invited to it.
"I think," Mon Mothma said quietly, "it's time to begin."
Those assembled had no objections, in principle. But their faces made it clear that the reports they'd prepared on their respective departments were hardly brimming with optimism. They wished they were…
"Admiral Ackbar," the head of the Provisional Government announced the first speaker.
The Mon Calamari looked at her with his large eyes, blinked several times, then turned his gaze to the data pad in his hands.
"At present, the situation with restoring the core of the Fourth Battle Fleet is relatively favorable," he said. "We have recalled from useless search operations in the Ghost Nebula every single line ship and corvette that Councilor Fey'lya sent there," the Chandrilan woman felt heat rise to her cheeks. It wasn't quite as the famous admiral put it… Not at all. "As a result, we can now assert that Grand Admiral Thrawn did not destroy the Fourth Fleet, but merely defeated a smaller portion of it…"
"And still managed to bite off a fast dreadnought from us," General Solo couldn't hold back. "And knowing that guy's love for trophies firsthand, don't worry — every ship Fey'lya sent there will soon have Imperial transponders and will be fighting against us…"
"General Solo," Mon Mothma tapped a wooden gavel softly against its stand. "Please… patience. You will have your chance to speak. Admiral Ackbar, please continue."
The Mon Calamari cast a disapproving glance at Solo, then said:
"The eastern sectors are covered. I've transferred several starships from other fleets to reinforce, to balance the number of line ships across the fleets, but… We must understand that until we recall our warships from transport duties — disarmed at Sluis Van, Fondor, Foerost, and our other shipyards — at most a third of line ships remain in the fleets. Mostly Mon Calamari star cruisers. Given the heavy losses of starships, I've ordered an inventory of our stockpiles and begun reactivating anything that might be useful in our fight against Grand Admiral Thrawn."
"Star Destroyers would be useful to us," General Solo cut in again. "But we're using them as freighters."
"Only because, at comparable dimensions, Imperial ships can carry a greater volume of cargo," Ackbar parried without blinking. Though his face said it all — he was, as before, not thrilled with this initiative. But there was no other way — without it, interstellar trade, already mired in crisis after so many years of war and devastation, disrupted logistics, and destroyed markets, would die completely. The economy was the primary objective in the New Republic's recovery program. "An Imperial-class Star Destroyer can carry thirty-six thousand metric tons of cargo in its holds alone. A Mon Calamari MC80 star cruiser in its most common modifications — only twenty. Yet in combat power, these ships are equal…"
"Thanks to the rapid shield regeneration system on Mon Calamari ships," as if incidentally noted the New Republic's Director of Intelligence, Admiral Hiram Drayson. "But not in the number of weapons on board."
"Your competence in matters of Imperial technology, especially Star Destroyers, is beyond question," Mon Mothma said softly. She looked again at the hologram of the former smuggler. "General Solo, I ask you not to disrupt the meeting's order. As I said, the turn for your report will come…"
The Corellian's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly.
"I just don't see the point in lying to ourselves," he said. "Fey'lya disarmed the Star Destroyers solely because he needed Imperial armaments for the repair and outfitting of the Lusankya. Everyone here knows that. Why make up excuses and pretend otherwise?"
Mon Mothma sighed discreetly, understanding that the general's concern wasn't this at all, but the fate of his wife and his friends, trapped in the Ciutric Hegemony. In the hands of an Imperial Grand Admiral…
"Let's continue," she said quietly. "Is that all, Admiral Ackbar?"
"Unfortunately," the Mon Calamari grumbled.
"Admiral Drayson," the woman addressed the head of intelligence.
Her fellow countryman looked exhausted, which was understandable given the volume of work that had fallen on him and his subordinates lately.
"I'll start with the less pleasant news," he said. "This morning, on Coruscant, through the mediation of a neutral party, the body of General Cracken was delivered. His death resulted from a point-blank blaster shot to the head. The preliminary conclusion from the forensic experts suggests it could have been suicide."
The New Republic's Director of Intelligence, Admiral Hiram Drayson.
"Or an execution," Crix Madine said quietly. Drayson threw him a dark look but said nothing.
Actually, Madine was supposed to have been the head of New Republic Intelligence, but he preferred being on the front lines, operating with the troops — especially the commandos, whom he'd mentored since his time in the Rebel Alliance. So the choice fell on Drayson, whose competence in this area was less solid — he was more of an organizer than a qualified intelligence officer. But in conditions where the entire intelligence service had nearly collapsed due to the loss of a key figure, what was needed wasn't a spy, but a manager.
"Maybe so," Drayson didn't argue. "We also received the prisoners from the Lusankya…"
Mon Mothma winced.
Yes, they were handed over. And once again, Thrawn hadn't hesitated to announce it to the galaxy. "While the New Republic refuses to retrieve even those who have survived the horrors of captivity in Ysanne Isard's personal prison, I will show good will and return these sentients, who have endured so much hardship and suffering, to their loved ones and families." No embellishment — a grand gesture that had earned approval from many, even here on Coruscant.
And it had led to counterintelligence agents going gray-haired, realizing they now had nearly three hundred humans and members of other species who could be "sleeper agents" the kind the Iceheart loved to program on the Lusankya. But not everyone knew that fact — only the leadership and the few who'd had the dubious pleasure of personally witnessing how, at a secret signal, ordinary prisoners turned into killers and saboteurs. Even though they themselves had no idea they were capable of such things.
Grand Admiral Thrawn had once again maneuvered so that he appeared in the public eye as an irreproachable hero, while the New Republic came off as snobs who didn't care. And you couldn't explain to everyone that the government and military command were simply afraid of what might happen to the state if hundreds of thousands of prisoners were returned.
Among them could be agents of influence, spies, "sleeper agents," recruited informants, or simply Imperial saboteurs that Thrawn had deliberately lumped together with the prisoners. Not to mention his demand for the transfer of Imperial technology in exchange… was, at the very least, impossible.
"… the doctors have examined them. Their condition is satisfactory. It's evident they were tortured and starved for a long time, but about a week ago they started receiving medical treatments, vitamins, and qualified medical care," Drayson continued. "The prisoners themselves confirm this. Moreover, they reported a very curious fact."
"What was that?" Mon Mothma tensed, expecting the worst.
"Among the medics who treated them, a considerable number are not of the human species," the New Republic's intelligence director dropped a bombshell.
"What are you trying to say?" Crix Madine asked quickly.
General of the New Republic, Crix Madine.
"It's simple," Admiral Drayson sighed. "In the Ciutric Hegemony, non-human species are working for the Imperials. Moreover, non-humans are also serving in the military medical corps."
The statement had the effect of a bomb going off. Killing everyone on the spot.
The silence in the council chamber was so profound you could hear the ventilation working.
The Galactic Empire, which lived under the humanocentric ideology known as the "New Order," had never permitted broad use of non-human species in its armed forces or military units. Only in cases where a particular non-human was of great value.
A striking example was Grand Admiral Thrawn — his non-human nature was obvious even from holograms. But determining his exact species had so far been impossible. These searches had become absurd: rumors now claimed that Grand Admiral Thrawn was an artificially grown humanoid, created by the Emperor as a doomsday weapon in case of his own demise. That wild theory, of course, raised hundreds of questions. Yet despite objective contradictions, this hypothesis was gaining more and more supporters.
"'The New Order is broken, bring in the next one,'" Han Solo said in a tone dripping with sarcasm. "They've beaten us even in propaganda, where we were traditionally stronger than the Empire."
"Thrawn is using broad-spectrum broadcasting," Admiral Drayson explained. "He somehow has the ability to piggyback on HoloNet relay stations so that his messages are transmitted to other relays — meaning they don't go directly to a single recipient, but reach the entire audience connected to the HoloNet in any way. Not to mention that, almost simultaneously, a multitude of user accounts appeared on the HoloNet, endlessly sending clips of Thrawn's speeches to other users. It's snowballing, and it's about to crush us."
"What can we do to stop it?" Mon Mothma asked. "Counter-propaganda?"
"And what would we counter his words with?" Madine asked cautiously. "What he reports is factual data. Just presented in a light favorable to him. If we start explaining the reasons for the difference between his version and ours, we'll get bogged down in endless debates. Not to mention that it would sound so pathetic on screens that no one would believe us."
"Nobody really believes us as it is," Han Solo snorted. "How many sectors have broken away from us this week?"
Mon Mothma felt something akin to irritation. And sorrow.
"Three sectors and over a hundred star systems," Admiral Drayson said. "Mostly in the southern and western parts of the galaxy."
"Strategically, those systems didn't play a major role before," Admiral Ackbar noted. "Even if they fall under Imperial control, they won't have a significant impact on the development of the Remnants' and the Ciutric Hegemony's overall military potential."
"Since those systems and sectors didn't show much eagerness to join Thrawn or any of the Empire," Crix Madine added. After a pause, he added:
"So we can say that, strategically, politically, and militarily, Thrawn has no victories on this front."
"I disagree," Admiral Drayson countered. "His victory is, first and foremost, ideological. He isn't conquering our territory — he's making the wavering ones break away from us. That process is already underway, and only the Force knows what will happen by the end of the year. If he's done this in three months…"
"What do we know about the territories already under Thrawn's control and loyal to him?" Mon Mothma asked.
"The list is impressive," Admiral Drayson stated. "The Ciutric Hegemony, the Morshdine sector, his starships have also been spotted in the Sprizen and Nidjun sectors — this information came to us through illegal agents among those who identified themselves after Cracken's death. — We received information that there was once an Imperial outpost in the Pakuuni system — it's gone now. But one has appeared in orbit of the fortress planet Makem Te. Which, as you understand, supports Thrawn. Hijackers and pirates occasionally visit, delivering starships that Thrawn eagerly purchases. But recently, that flow of goods has dried up — possibly because Thrawn himself has opened a hunt on pirates. Also openly sympathetic to him are the planets Trogan, Columex, Chasin, Kelada…"
"Isn't the last one where speeder production is set up?" General Solo clarified.
"Exactly," Admiral Drayson confirmed. "Columex and its game industry might be nothing more than an economic appendage, as no warships have been spotted there. Trogan is a backwater planet with no serious industries."
"But it has a population," General Madina noted. "Like Chasin, Trogan could serve as a source of Thrawn's mobilization resource. Not to mention the billions of sentients living in the four designated sectors. Consequently, he has no problems crewing his own and captured starships. Especially if the Empire has abandoned its humanocentric policy."
"Thrawn is not the entire Empire yet," Mon Mothma noted.
"But at the same time, the other Remnants simply swallowed the fact that the Grand Admiral had subjugated the Ciutric Hegemony," Madine countered. "I don't think that even in the conditions of the Empire's feudal fragmentation, they would approve of such behavior from their Supreme Commander. Especially since, of all the Remnants we know, only the Pentastar Alignment, led by Grand Moff Kaine, while not openly, has still abandoned that policy. Imperial Space continues to cling to its ideals. The smaller sectors under the control of Imperial Moffs adhere to them as well. So… this could be a potential split among the Imperials. We need to monitor the situation, try to send our scouts to the Imperials, and clarify the intentions of the Imperial Ruling Council."
"Thrawn has a rather advantageous position in the galaxy," Admiral Ackbar admitted reluctantly. "He has occupied a strategically important region; he can effectively influence traffic along the main hyperspace routes in the New Territories. Furthermore, he has a substantial production base for TIE craft, which the Imperials continue to use. The other Remnants bought them from Krennel after falling out with Lady Santhe of Lianna, while simultaneously pursuing a policy of containment against him… How the tide will turn and the situation change now remains unclear."
"Especially considering that right next to Thrawn lies the D'Asta sector," Madine noted. "Baron Ragez D'Asta is known for his conflict with the Imperial Remnants and his rejection of the New Order. He could quite predictably become Thrawn's ally, especially in light of the latter's policy of tolerance."
"Moff Getelles from the Antimeridian sector has been cooperating with Prince-Admiral Krennel lately," Drayson continued. "It is known that the Loronar Corporation from that sector transferred at least ten Strike-class medium cruisers to Krennel. It's quite possible Thrawn will decide to continue this policy, which would mean their rapprochement."
"Formal annexation to Thrawn is not in Getelles's interest," Mon Mothma countered. "He lives off Loronar's taxes, and they, in turn, derive most of their profit from contracts with us."
"Almost every major shipbuilding corporation in the galaxy pursues a double standard policy," General Solo reminded them. "Just think of Kuat Drive Yards. They're practically trading Star Destroyer parts and their manufactured products with the Imperials. And we can't do anything about it."
"Because it's absolutely not in our interest," Mon Mothma declared. "For now, we are directly dependent on weapons suppliers, and that imposes certain obligations."
"Then how are we any different from the Empire?" General Solo inquired. "I recall Palpatine also acted in the interests of commercial and political elites. And Kuat Drive Yards didn't even blink after the attack on Xa Fel and the theft of the hyperdrives."
"They have adopted a policy of preserving their own authority," Admiral Ackbar explained. "Admitting that one of their strategically important worlds was so easily robbed would mean showing weakness."
"And their millennia of company PR could be ruined," Admiral Drayson supported. "So they simply chose not to fan the flames. But now there are about ten Star Destroyers and an equal number of orbital defense stations in the Xa Fel system. Coruscant's defenses are only marginally better."
"Admiral Drayson," Mon Mothma interrupted. "The Oplovis sector…"
That single phrase was enough to make the New Republic's intelligence director slump. And that was more eloquent than any words.
"So I take it," the head of the Provisional Government said slowly, "the sector has decided to secede from the New Republic?"
"Well, it's not like they were particularly sympathetic to us after the death of Admiral Drommel and his Guardian," the scout reminded. "It was mostly an impulsive decision to join us, since the population was panicked about being ravaged by other Remnants. But now, between the Oplovis and Ciutric sectors lie only the Kanz, Lahara, and Tragan sectors — the local government has grown bold. I think by the end of next week they'll openly join Thrawn. Especially after his ships struck our bases a month ago, including the old outpost on Akuria II — a Victory I-class Star Destroyer identified as the Crusader, part of Thrawn's fleet, as we now know, literally erased the base and its defenders from the face of the planet. The Oplovis, Yuvern, Akuria, Vosterlig, and Harroda systems have already declared for joining Thrawn. Our diplomatic mission has been expelled, and their armed forces have been ordered to withdraw. There is information that the fortress-world of Ketaris and the Sronk system still sympathize with us and don't intend to join Thrawn. There's no official decision yet, but that's for now..."
"Therefore, we have lost a strategically vital sector," declared Admiral Ackbar. "A foothold in the heart of the Empire. And a fully equipped fleet base of the Oplovis sector on the planet Harroda. Meanwhile, Thrawn gains the ability to use the shipyards in the Vostelstig system. And Ciutric — they can't build new ships. Not now, at least."
* * *
Sector Oplovis.
"But they could do it with the Grand Admiral's support," noted Crix Madine. "If the information that Thrawn has indeed acquired hyperdrives for cruiser-class and Star Destroyer-class vessels is correct, then any ship repair facility, with large enough investments, can be used for ship construction. Not quickly, of course, but now Thrawn will have three shipyards — at Ciutric, in the Morshdine sector, and at Vostelstig."
"Unless the Ubiqtorate appropriated the Type Two orbital repair yard they had at Tangrene when they fled from there about three months ago," observed Admiral Drayson.
"Right after Thrawn destroys our Dufilvian sector fleet?" Madina clarified. The intelligence director nodded curtly. "Doesn't that strike you as a strange coincidence? Thrawn launches an attack, and nearly four months later we learn that the Ubiqtorate, who the Imperial forces are terrified of to the point of shaking, high-tailed it from their base with their tail between their legs almost immediately after?"
"Are you suggesting the Ubiqtorate fears Thrawn?" proposed Mon Mothma.
Madina smiled reservedly.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn may be fearsome to us, to the Imperials, but not to the Ubiqtorate. I'm more inclined to believe they came to a friendly agreement and gave him their base in exchange for finding and bringing Garm Bel Iblis to justice."
"Based on that logic, my theoretical calculations that Thrawn was based in the Morshdine sector add up," said Admiral Ackbar. "Remote territories, ease of defense with minimal forces, Imperial control, close proximity to all the territories that were attacked."
"And what does that give us?" inquired General Solo, essentially voicing the idea that had been spinning in Mon Mothma's own head.
"If we can assemble a strong enough fleet, we could strike his base and retake Morshdine," Drayson noted.
"Yeah," Solo's hologram smirked crookedly. "Fey'lya already assembled one like that. Remind me how that ended?"
"Please," Mon Mothma addressed those present. "Let's avoid mutual accusations and suspicions. We don't need that right now. Only unity will help us endure this difficult time. On the other hand," she looked at Admiral Ackbar, "since there are still territories under our control in the Oplovis sector, why not organize their defense? The fortress-planet Ketaris isn't a nut that can be cracked just like that. Or am I wrong?"
The Mon Calamari blinked silently for a few seconds.
"In the sector, we have no more than three Mon Calamari Star Cruisers, supported by a dozen escort frigates and other types of light forces. Given how easily Thrawn crushed forces superior to these, we risk losing this sector fleet like a pearl dropped into the abyss of the ocean," he said with epithets characteristic of those from Dac.
"What about the planetary defense forces?" inquired General Solo. "As I understand it, Ketaris should be protected by Golan platforms and anti-space artillery."
"That's true enough," Admiral Drayson unexpectedly supported. "But what guarantee is there that the governments of Ketaris and Sronk won't surrender before we can bring reinforcements to the Oplovis sector?" He looked around at those present. "You're not about to leave a sector fleet, and not the strongest one at that, to fight against Thrawn's armada, are you?"
"But we also can't strip our fleets and squadrons from other sectors and redeploy them," noted Ackbar.
"Hold on," General Solo balked. "Are you seriously saying this right now? We're going to leave a sector fleet against an armada?"
"Of course not," Admiral Ackbar countered, looking at Mon Mothma. "If the Provisional Government makes that decision, I will transfer additional forces. But they will still be outnumbered by what Thrawn has."
"Not necessarily," declared General Madina. "Right now, the Grand Admiral has to hold four sectors at once, not to mention a number of planets outside that confederation of sectors — Morshdine, Nidjun, Sprizen, and the Ciutric Hegemony — which he currently controls. Consequently, the number of his operational forces has been significantly reduced. This could work if we have a fleet on standby not far from the Oplovis sector."
"Or else," General Solo pressed on, "we could ask for support from our allies in the Hapes Consortium — they have a fairly impressive fleet."
"The Queen Mother has adopted a wait-and-see position," stated Mon Mothma. "They have enough of their own problems to get involved in what's happening."
"What about the Lusankya?" the former smuggler continued. "She alone is worth an entire fleet!"
"Her commissioning is still not complete," Ackbar objected. "That Super Star Destroyer is already the weakest in terms of armament compared to its sister ships, and without half its weapons, it's no stronger than the Crimson Dawn. Which we don't have, any more than sea foam on the ocean surface in clear weather."
"Then I don't understand anything at all," Solo gave in. "The Bothans disarmed dozens of Star Destroyers at Sluis Van alone. And if I understood correctly, this was happening everywhere: on Sullust, on Fondor... And we still don't have a single functional Super Star Destroyer?"
Drayson and Madina exchanged glances.
"We still don't know where half the armament that was removed from the Imperial ships went," the director of Republic intelligence finally admitted. "There's unconfirmed information that military property thieves wedged themselves into the Bothans' 'gray scheme.'"
"Like those Corellian ship thieves who have become active lately?" General Solo's hologram grew somber.
"Exactly," confirmed General Madina. "But according to our information, about one hundred and fifty Corellian corvettes and frigates have been stolen — and that's just in the last three months. We've established that the same modus operandi is used everywhere — falsified accident reports during maintenance. Some specialized team of thieves is operating, a numerous gang we've never heard of before. They may also be involved in the theft of military equipment. This is likely how Thrawn replenishes his fleet with new ships and spare parts."
"I knew a scoundrel who specialized in stealing exactly these types of ships," Han said, stroking his chin. "But even Ferrier couldn't, alone or with his gang, steal that many ships and not get caught. Though if he did it in different places and at different times..."
"Up to thirty thefts were registered at the same time," Admiral Drayson countered.
"Then it definitely can't be Ferrier," General Solo stated confidently. "He's not the type to share his methods with other sentients. More likely someone is 'forging the handwriting' of that thief."
"One way or another," General Madina summed up, "the thefts occurred mostly in the Corellian sector, which is outside our jurisdiction. Even if this is covert support by the Corellian Diktat for Thrawn's regime, our hands are tied — we can't oppose the Corellians."
"On the other hand," said Admiral Ackbar, "if we return to the fleet modernization program I proposed and focus on building MC80 Liberty and MC80b Star Cruisers, we can not only make up for our fleet losses in the shortest possible time, but also strengthen the fleet by introducing new, much more effective and combat-ready vessels than Star Destroyers."
"We are already trying to do that, Admiral," Mon Mothma said conciliatorily. "But we don't have enough funds to lay down a large number of new ships."
"We have several hundred Mon Calamari vessels in various stages of completion since the beginning of the year," Admiral Drayson reminded. "Exactly the specifications Admiral Ackbar outlined. I'm not meddling in your area of responsibility," he cast a glance toward the Republic's Supreme Commander and then the head of the Provisional Government, "but perhaps we should focus on bringing them into service? Especially since, by decommissioning part of the crews from disarmed Destroyers and other Imperial ships, we've freed up a significant number of crew members. Which we could use to crew these new vessels."
Ackbar exchanged a look with Mon Mothma. The head of the Provisional Government nodded in agreement, permitting the disclosure of confidential information.
"That's exactly what we're currently focused on," said Admiral Ackbar. "Given the policy of Lianna, which accuses us of raiding its convoys and is preparing to break its contracts with us for the supply and maintenance of existing TIE-series equipment, as well as with Kuat Drive Yards, which has unilaterally started inflating prices for its services, it would be most correct to focus on building Mon Calamari equipment and also to make purchases from Incom Corporation. Both from an economic standpoint and to support our allies who remain with us under any circumstances."
"I hope this is a prelude to the fact that after these ships appear, we'll give Thrawn the disarmed Star Destroyers in exchange for our prisoners?" General Solo pressed. Mon Mothma looked at his hologram. Tense, sleep-deprived... This man was clearly worried about his wife, his children, who supposedly received Imperial citizenship by birthright on Imperial territory, his friends... They were all under the control of Grand Admiral Thrawn. And that was a very alarming fact.
Because if Thrawn really was collaborating with Isard...
Then the horror she inflicted on the prisoners of the Lusankya, the programming of "sleeper" agents — all of that could happen to them too.
But they had no right to abandon them there.
Neither morally, nor politically.
A Jedi Knight, a member of the Provisional Council, and her children — potential Jedi, heroes of the Rebel Alliance... Even Garm Bel Iblis, damn his difficult personality — all of them were political capital, whose return could bring far more benefit than potential harm.
Especially since Mon Mothma had already ordered that they be assigned security upon their return. Unofficial surveillance, of course. Because keeping such sentients in camps for those who had been in captivity would be political suicide. Thrawn had already, in effect, brought them all to the edge of a chasm, offering them a jump with no chance of survival...
"Grand Admiral Thrawn has done us something of a favor by demanding Imperial equipment for our prisoners," she said slowly. Ackbar stirred, realizing she intended to state her position regarding their confidential conversation a couple of days ago. "We have no rights to maintain TIE-series equipment, nor do we have the ability to fully utilize the large number of damaged Star Destroyers, which are either currently being used as transports or languishing in the shipyards. Admiral Drayson will see to equipping them with surveillance systems so that we can at least try to track the movement of equipment within territories controlled by Thrawn. We will proceed with the exchange — before we attempt to retake the Oplovis sector."
"Smells like a special operation," said General Solo.
"It is," replied Admiral Ackbar. "We will assess the risks and try to determine whether Thrawn intends to move troops into the Oplovis sector. If he does capture that territory, then, depending on the forces he deploys there, we will bring in a fleet. Whether they will be combat-ready Star Destroyers or disarmed ones in poor technical condition, whose restoration would only burden our economy and shipyards — depends entirely on intelligence data."
"So, either an exchange, or a monumental thrashing for Thrawn?" clarified General Solo.
"Exactly that," confirmed Mon Mothma. "If we defeat him in the Oplovis sector, then a strike on Trogan, Columex, Chasin will follow... I think after a defeat, having lost several of his Destroyers, he'll be ready to exchange our people on our terms."
"Sounds reasonable," but the Corellian's face made it clear he wasn't thrilled with the idea. "But something... What about the former Imperials? Are there many who want to return to his service?"
"Mostly civilian population," said Drayson. "There aren't that many former military. Mostly volunteers with weak competence and training. Not a single major military figure has shown up in the movements."
"And Carida?" inquired Crix Madine. "The crucible of stormtroopers — is it still maintaining neutrality, selling its training services to whoever pays?"
"Exactly," confirmed Drayson. "But they're indifferent to Thrawn — after all, the government and command of Carida are die-hard Imperial chauvinists and proponents of human supremacy. They won't cooperate with a non-human."
"At least some good news," said General Solo. "And what... about Palpatine?"
Mon Mothma made sure not a single muscle on her face twitched.
"We have concluded that the story about the Emperor's return is nothing more than another piece of disinformation, the kind Grand Admiral Thrawn so loves to use," Admiral Drayson voiced the collective decision.
The Corellian rolled his eyes...
"General Solo," the head of the Provisional Government redirected his attention. "Now report on the situation with our military warehouses in the Sluis sector..."
Palpatine — Thrawn's disinformation.
No confirmation, no refutation of that information.
Only hope.
Hope that they were being deceived.
What a surprise...
* * *
Above Daplona, the capital of Ciutric IV, the dawn sun was rising, and the crimson-orange rays of the local star shed their benevolence upon the houses, cities, and sentients who had already begun to stir.
Well, and those who had no intention of stirring at this productive pre-dawn hour.
I looked at the sentient sitting in the chair directly in front of me.
He wasn't the first military officer of that rank to come under my command.
Freja Covell's, completing the evacuation of the Mount Tantiss facility, or Major General Carner, commanding the Imperial forces and defense assets on the planet Garos IV, where the mineral hybidium, necessary for the operation of cloaking devices, was being mined on an industrial scale.
But this man, although not serving in the active Imperial Army, was still impressive. Even dressed in civilian clothes, he couldn't hide his affiliation and military bearing. When you give most of your life to the army, it becomes ingrained at the subconscious level, creeps under your skin... You can't overcome it. It stays with you forever.
A cold, utterly impassive gaze from a pair of brown eyes that resembled the barrels of large-caliber laser cannons. I had seen such eyes in Molo Himron, in Eric Shohashi, in Grodin Tierce... The eyes of a professional killer.
The intelligence services had done good work in clarifying his biography and supplementing the Imperial dossier we had at our disposal.
Born fifty-nine years ago on the ecumenopolis planet Denon, in the Core Worlds. Family — simple workers, middle class.
Upon entering the military Academy, he chose the armored vehicle branch, believing that the massive transport vehicles featured during the Clone Wars best embodied his own personality, as well as the personality of the Galactic Empire, in whose ideals he wholeheartedly believed.
He took up his training with stern determination, displaying astonishing intelligence and initiative after coming out of several "suicide missions," exceeding his mission objectives. Which indicates his strict determination in achieving goals in the most efficient way possible. Importantly — not the most flashy way. There's a very big difference between those two positions.
The man standing before me graduated from the academy at the top of his class. Since his superiors considered him a sufficiently skilled and dangerous serviceman, upon graduation he was awarded the rank of lieutenant and appointed commander of an AT-AT walker. The young walker commander barely had time to learn what he was capable of after graduation before he was soon sent to the barbaric and backwater Outer Rim world called Culroon III.
The Culroon III campaign was designed to either make or break all those young graduates who participated in it. If they failed, they would most likely die. The man standing before me quickly realized that the Empire would not tolerate incompetence and failure. During an attempt to pacify the natives of Culroon III, the locals ambushed and killed most of the troops that had landed. However, then-Lieutenant acted decisively, quickly and ruthlessly destroyed the enemy, and helped save those Imperials he could.
That victory led to his career advancement. And immediately — which happens in the Empire very, very rarely. In fact, it was a rarity that drew the attention of all political movements and figures without exception. At least those interested in the career growth of patriots, not "general's sons" or the political elite who received out-of-turn ranks solely to "butter up" their influential relatives.
He lost his wife when his son was young. A rare disease the unfortunate woman contracted during a family vacation. The dossier indicated that this very fact became the reason for the Imperial officer's extreme degree of perseverance in matters of military career. Which effectively led to estrangement from his son, who needed his father's care. The child was experiencing a psychological crisis, and the Imperial, immersed in his work, simply shoved him into the COMPOR youth division... Which was somewhat fraught. An unformed psyche, longing for a deceased mother, Imperial propagandists, teenage inclination toward rebellion and rejection of authority... What could go wrong?
On Earth, there's a wonderful expression: "You can be an excellent professional and a father at the same time." Proven from personal experience.
Imbalances toward personal life — ruin your career. Focus on career — destroys your family. It's extremely difficult to serve without putting your family through one crisis after another.
But, let's return to my interlocutor.
His devotion to the Empire and the army in particular paid off when he received another promotion and was transferred to the position of commander of the Imperial garrison on Corellia. But at the same time, he also remained a widely recognized authority in the field of AT-AT walker tactics and combat deployment. Therefore, he often returned to the military Academy on Carida to give guest lectures in the training courses for AT-AT drivers and crews, as well as to demonstrate prototypes of new models of these monstrous armored vehicles. Notably, during one such demonstration, shortly before the Battle of Yavin IV, the serviceman caught the eye of Darth Vader when he defeated an invasion force of Rebels who had decided to disrupt the testing of a new AT-AT prototype on Carida.
However, at that point in time, the young colonel had not yet acquired enough patrons, and his authority in the eyes of Darth Vader had not grown enough for the Dark Lord to personally take part in the further fate of the military. The officer's career seemed to stall...
The colonel's transfer to the position of commander of ground forces on the first Death Star nearly ended in failure, as he arrived at his post right in the midst of the final moments of the battle that ended the battle station.
The officer made an emergency landing in the jungles of Yavin IV, survived in completely unfamiliar conditions, without support, surrounded by hunting teams of the Rebel Alliance, but avoided capture, waiting for evacuation groups right before the cleanup of the Rebel base on the legendary moon.
Returning to Corellia, the colonel participated in the destruction of criminals from Black Sun, purging the planet of them, acting jointly with local law enforcement. One of whom was Corran Horn, already known to me (albeit indirectly), at that time an operative of CorSec. Truly — the galaxy is no bigger than a village.
Notably, the major general's personal file indicates that after the purge of Black Sun on Corellia, he attracted the attention of the original Thrawn, who recommended the brilliant ground commander to Darth Vader. Well, now it's clear why he came to me.
However, one shouldn't exaggerate Thrawn's influence on this military man's life.
The destruction of the first Death Star led to a certain power vacuum among senior officers, like any natural attrition in wartime, so it's no wonder that a talented officer was finally noticed.
Especially after he developed a new prototype AT-AT, which he called the "walker." Unfortunately, the planet where the development took place decided to secede from the Empire. The naive locals thought someone would just allow them to... Darth Vader, who arrived on the planet, resolved the rebellion in the shortest possible time — with the active participation of the Colonel himself and his AT-AT "walker."
And only after that did Darth Vader become impressed by the actions of a single officer and personally promoted him, bypassing several high-ranking colonels, placing him in command of the ground forces of "Death Squadron." A personal punitive unit, subordinate directly to the Dark Lord, led by the legendary "Executor" himself. Yes, service there was dangerous, but at the same time — exceptionally beneficial for career development and practical application of skills.
Just a few weeks after his promotion, the young Major General reduced his forces by ten percent, but effectiveness increased by fifty percent. His timing was impeccable, as the secret "Echo" base of the Alliance High Command was soon discovered on the planet Hoth.
The Battle of Hoth...
Oh, that was practically a song.
The Major General justified both his reputation and Lord Vader's expectations, quickly deploying his armored regiment in the mountain valley of Echo Base and personally destroying the shield generator protecting the rebel base. True, he nearly died afterward — the future pilot of "Rogue Squadron," Derek Klivian, flew his damaged ship straight into the cockpit. As for the pilot, it's unclear what happened, but the man...
The General tried to escape his walker's bridge but wasn't fast enough, and a falling support beam shattered the bones in his leg into pieces so small that reconstruction and bacta couldn't restore them. The victim, like many in the galaxy, had an aversion to cybernetics and refused to replace his legs with prosthetics. Because of this, he would be confined to a chair for the rest of his life.
An additional blow for the crippled man was the problems with his son, which brought shame upon his head. He saw through a potential trap in time, but his son's actions brought disgrace and dishonor to his family name in Imperial circles, despite the General's victory at Hoth. He would suffer from the shame his son brought for the rest of his life.
After the death of Emperor Palpatine at the Battle of Endor, my guest the General served under Admiral Sander Delvardus. Soon, Delvardus became one of the first Imperial warlords and created an Imperial remnant faction known as the Eriadu Authority. This was criticized by the General and other Imperial officers serving under him.
In the following years, he moved from one Imperial commander to another in search of new command; however, his disability became a problem — the narrow-mindedness of the Imperial mindset wouldn't allow a man who was no longer as fast and physically powerful as before to remain in active service in modern realities. As a result, Imperial shortsightedness led to the estrangement of a once celebrated, but now disgraced Major General.
Everything intensified after details of the Emperor's death and Vader's involvement came to light. The fate of outcasts that befell the survivors of the 501st Legion also touched my guest.
For most of the time, he was shunned or outright rejected because of his association with Lord Vader. Most post-Endor officers despised everyone who had served and survived Darth Vader, wanting nothing to do with those people. For six years, the Major General wandered the galaxy, watching everything he had believed in and fought for crumble around him. Eventually, he became disillusioned and embittered by the path the Empire was taking, but his sense of loyalty and honor kept him from deserting or going AWOL.
Based on what I remember of his subsequent fate, he joined the original Thrawn. And after his defeat — having endured the humiliations, he believed he was welcome at the court of the Resurrected Emperor. Who assigned him a suicide mission, ending in the inglorious death of a great military man of his time.
And I am grateful to fate for bringing us together now. Because any attempts to locate him through my agents were unsuccessful. So the calls over the "HoloNet" have at least partly justified their implementation.
If this man is loyal to me, then I am at ease regarding my ground forces, which are due for some serious fighting in the near future.
He was aggressive in battle, and his ground combat tactics became history, taught in academies. In his not-quite-sixty years of life, this man brought about a technological, scientific, and tactical revolution in Imperial military thought. He went into battle in the front ranks, sowing death and destruction, exposing himself to the same danger as his soldiers, which made him a respected, almost revered commander of ground forces among his men.
Under enemy fire, he behaved courageously, didn't flinch, and possessed excellent tactical literacy and situational assessment.
"What drives you, Major General?" I inquired.
"Loyalty to duty," my interlocutor replied. "To the ideals of the Empire."
"That's an extremely broad concept," I noted. "What does it mean to you personally?"
"Clarity of objectives, law, order, discipline," he answered without a moment's hesitation. "The destruction of enemies."
"Is that so," I said. "Without exception?"
The Major General clearly suspected something was amiss. How else to interpret his attempt to pin me to the back of my own chair with just a look? Even Rukh stirred in the darkness — his obsidian dagger glinted. Sharp, but extremely brittle.
"I am a soldier," he said clearly, looking me straight in the eye. "I follow orders."
"But you are not a stormtrooper," I countered. "You are an infantry general. A man authorized to make decisions. And at this moment, my interest is simple: are you ready to destroy any enemy I, the Supreme Commander, point you at?"
The Major General narrowed his eyes almost imperceptibly. As if trying to penetrate my mind and see the subtext of my words there.
As expected, he got nothing.
"Yes, sir," he agreed after a brief staring contest. "Any enemy."
"Even if it were your son, Zevulon, who is an officer of the New Republic?" I clarified. "A traitor, disillusioned with the New Order. Like all of us under my command, really. Including yourself, General..."
The face of the Major General standing before me became the mask of a grim being facing a complex moral and ideological choice. Ideology and loyalty to the Empire versus a possible meeting on the battlefield with his own child. And the very real possibility of destroying the latter.
Because intelligence was clear and direct — the son fights like his father.
"Yes," the Major General answered clearly. "Betrayal of the New Order is not a betrayal of the Empire's ideas. If I have to — I will fight against him. But I will take measures to capture my son alive."
His son was his only vulnerable spot. The last hope to enter history, to immortalize his name not only through destruction and ruin, but also through creation.
For a disabled man, deprived of the ability to move, this is extremely important.
However... For me, it doesn't matter much.
The decision is made.
"Accepted, Major General Maximilian Veers," I rose, walked around the table, approached the broken but unbroken man, and extended my right hand, having first removed the glove from my palm. "Welcome to the Dominion. Ready to get back in the fight?"
Looking at me as if taking aim, General Veers, Freja Covell's mentor and an icon of the Imperial armed forces who never left the Empire's propaganda posters, shook my hand firmly.
"Always ready, Grand Admiral," he replied dryly. "Show me your rookies. I'll teach them to love the AT-AT."