Nine years, eight months, and ten days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or year forty-four, eight months, and ten days after the Great Resynchronization.
(Three months and thirty days since the Arrival.)
Of events like these, they say — it hasn't even been a year.
In my specific case — barely had the ship's chronometer passed midnight when the adjutant announced that the baroness was "ready to talk."
There was still plenty of time before the rendezvous point with the fleet ships involved in the operation to liberate the Oplovis sector from New Republic forces.
I had studied and analyzed the operational reports.
I won't say everything is perfect, but it can't possibly be. Anyone who says otherwise is a liar.
What's happening within the Dominion (oh, I'm so tempted to say "Ascendancy"), as well as beyond its borders, falls within acceptable margins of error, so there's nothing to worry about at the moment. Except maybe finances...
The auredium credit...
Well, no matter how much I "preened" in front of Kaine, this financial mechanism has its "flaws." Still, as a temporary equivalent and a way to legalize the auredium looted by Captain Nym from the Imperial Treasury, along with the numerous jewels he's stashed all over Lok... For a certain time, while the regime change solidifies and the Dominion is being organized, this mechanism will work as planned.
But let the politicians, the DSB, and the other authorities and oversight bodies — who, by the way, are paid very, very well for their work — handle that.
In the company of my ever-present Rukh and Tierce, I took a short walk down the corridor from my quarters to those occupied by the baroness.
After she was informed of my arrival, the young woman invited me in.
Well... Comparing my quarters to these, one could say Thrawn lives like a Spartan. Because the sheer abundance of elegance and luxury here is frankly dazzling. And I know for a fact that the aristocrat didn't bring this with her.
Then again, what did I expect from quarters designed to make high-ranking dignitaries and Imperial officials, who happen to find themselves aboard a starship, feel "at home"?
That day, the baroness looked quite modest — simple trousers, a blouse, her hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall. A clearly rested appearance, and her bitchy demeanor wasn't nearly as prominent.
"Thank you for coming, Grand Admiral," the young woman greeted me at the entrance, gesturing for me to sit on one of two small sofas placed opposite each other. A small table between them was already adorned with fruit, and a bottle of aged Virrenian wine stood in the center. A pair of round-bellied glasses stood beside it.
So much for pleasantries...
"At your service, Baroness," I said, lowering myself into one seat. Feena took the other, then cast a wary glance at Rukh, who was crouching by the doors. Tierce had wisely remained on the other side. "So, you wanted to speak privately. I'm all ears."
"Wine?" the young woman asked.
"I must decline," I said, throwing aristocratic etiquette out the window right away. According to it, if a lady offers a drink, refusal is not permitted. "I am on duty."
"Do you ever have days off?" The lady snapped her fingers, and a C-3PO model secretary droid — related to the Skywalker family's droid but with a silver chassis — scurried over, carrying a chromed tray with a sweating pitcher of fruit juice. A pair of crystal glasses sat beside it, highly valued as tableware for nobility. "Do you mind? Berry."
"Rest is but a dream," I remarked, accepting the proffered glass of icy juice. "Thank you."
The young woman nodded primly in response, then took a sip...
She needed something very, very badly. Because, recalling the rules of etiquette I'd read about in this galaxy, ladies do not serve men who aren't part of their close circle — friends or family. There are two options here: either the baroness herself ignores etiquette, which is dubious — since for aristocrats, observing etiquette is the most natural, self-evident thing, and deviating from it only happens in the specific situations mentioned above — or she's deliberately trying to ingratiate herself.
And why am I now remembering the antics of Leonia Tavira and the Iceheart? The Baroness had chosen some middle-ground approach between those two extremes.
Well, now I just had to watch how events unfolded.
Dabbing her lips with a napkin (well, thank all the saints she at least didn't lick them like a cat covered in sour cream), she looked me in the eye:
"What are you trying to achieve, Grand Admiral?"
Oh, I see. Straight to the point.
Good, very good.
But it still won't be that simple:
"You'll need to be more specific, Baroness," I said. "Or provide the context you're interested in."
"Politics," she explained, without simplifying anything. "What goals are you setting for the Dominion?"
"Preserving the best Imperial values in the territories under my control," I explained.
"And why not specifically the New Order?" The question should have been accompanied by a look of surprise from the young woman, but... it wasn't. She was well-informed enough to understand the current realities.
"I don't believe the New Order is correct," I said. "The Emperor came to power proclaiming a human-centric policy, yet the Chagrian Mas Amedda was one of his closest allies. And I must note that this was entirely justified — Mas Amedda was truly an outstanding politician. As were many others, like the Caamasi — in the Empire's service, they could have brought thousands of worlds into its fold bloodlessly, and many Rebel cells might never have formed, thanks to their diplomatic skills. Instead, we saw recurring persecutions on alien-inhabited worlds. All while the Empire didn't even touch many of them."
"An instructive historical overview," the young woman said with a crooked smile. "Well, you're right, that is how it is. Some non-human individuals deserve a place in the Empire's highest circles. But, from what I've heard, you've genuinely decided to equalize the rights of humans and non-humans. Is that true?"
"Correct," I confirmed. "I'm not in the habit of saying one thing and doing another."
"Previously, non-humans were only used as economic appendages," the bearer of the Baron D'Asta name observed. "Meaning they couldn't aspire to a level of state authority above sector governance or a senate seat..."
"Baroness," I interrupted her flow with a gesture. "Everything you're about to say, I undoubtedly already know. Let's get down to business. I'm sure you, like me, have things to do besides sharing impressions of historical milestones."
"Well, if that's truly what you want," the young woman moistened her throat again. "I am authorized to discuss with you the matter of ransoming Leia Organa Solo and her children from your captivity."
Interesting development...
Not the generals with data on troop positions, military doctrine, and the training level of the New Republic's armed forces, but Organa Solo and her children specifically.
What are the chances the woman possesses critically important data? High enough. She hasn't been interrogated because I can get everything I need through my agents or the "Delta Source." Torturing her would be even more pointless — it would only make enemies. In her person, and in the person of her numerous relatives and friends. I'm already playing with fire...
But something tells me they're not after military secrets.
Given my previous conversation with Grand Moff Kaine, and especially its last part, I have very strong suspicions about who exactly wants these three.
The question is, why didn't Kaine state that desire? The news spread across the galaxy and couldn't have missed the ears of the Deep Core's inhabitants.
If Palpatine is in contact with Ardus, he could simply have ordered him to do whatever it takes to get the twins and Leia...
Wait. Freeze that thought.
"May I inquire who needs the advisor and two newborn children, and for what purpose?" I clarified, which didn't faze the young woman at all.
"Sarcev Quest," she said. The name of a man who, if memory serves, was the leader of a conspiracy against the Reborn Emperor. "What he needs them for... Honestly, I don't know. But the Imperial Ruling Council has discussed using Organa Solo and her children for negotiations to reclaim several sectors — or even supersectors — under our control."
I, of course, "believed" that.
No, that's not how it works. If at first I thought the Imperial Ruling Council's interest might indeed lie in a favorable exchange for Orinda, now I'm firmly convinced that Palpatine has reached out not only to Kaine, but also to the government of Imperial Space. Or at least some of them. Given that the Imperial Ruling Council and its illiterate separatist policies are what allowed them to snatch only crumbs from the territories controlled by Warlord Zsinj, and lately they've done nothing but scheme and plot against each other, with active participation from various political elites, it's no wonder that those who had a private audience with Palpatine or his Dark Side Elite decided to appease the old man and deliver potentially powerful Jedi and their mother. Which means... there's a strong possibility that they've already set out after Skywalker himself.
Hmm...
"Well, I have roughly the same intentions," I declared. "So, with all due respect, I'm afraid we have a conflict of interest. It's unlikely you have anything I need or would agree to exchange for these prisoners."
Palpatine clearly doesn't need the children to transfer his consciousness into them — that action would be prompted by a series of events that may not even happen.
"Is that so?" the baroness was surprised. "Imperial Space has the largest territory of all the Remnants. We have a strong army, numerous ships, endless mobilization resources. Full-cycle shipyards." Well, well... no need to exaggerate. There's only one such shipyard — Bilbringi. But nothing stops you from "puffing up your nostrils" and flaunting your importance. However, it only brings an inward smile to anyone even remotely familiar with the current situation inside Imperial Space.
"In that case, since your resources and capabilities are so vast, it shouldn't be difficult for you to negotiate with Grand Moff Kaine about transferring the Super Star Destroyer 'Reaper' to my disposal in exchange for the specified prisoners," I said calmly.
The baroness's face froze in a mixture of bewilderment and irritation.
"Are you joking, Grand Admiral?" she asked.
"We've discussed this matter before," I reminded her.
"Do you really think we would enter negotiations with Grand Moff Ardus Kaine?" She said it in a tone that suggested it was something utterly impossible. Though, who knows their internal affairs. Today they love him, tomorrow they hate him. One day they call him Emperor, the next they change their minds.
"How you acquire this ship or one of its class for me is none of my concern," I said, knowing the search would begin immediately after this conversation ended. Given that I remember Sarcev Quest — who wants the Princess and her children — will be Palpatine's servant during the Return period, which he was before, I can't rule out the possibility that he will ask his master, if he's in contact with him, to force Kaine to surrender the ship to me. Or they'll bring in another — the one from the Anaxis fleet that went into the Deep Core. "You want these prisoners; I want a Super Star Destroyer for the security of my territories."
"You surely understand that we don't have such resources," the baroness frowned.
"Weren't you just assuring me of the vastness of your capabilities?" I asked.
"But not to that extent..." the aristocrat grimaced.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. I enjoyed watching the gears turn in her head; the young woman was clearly sorting through the options she could still propose.
Meanwhile, condensation dripped down my glass of juice...
I wasn't sure the baroness would try to poison me aboard my own flagship, but knowing who she really is, nothing would surprise me.
She is Sarcev Quest's emissary. I don't know the man personally, but I remember quite a lot about him... not the most positive details. Not to mention that in the past, he was as much an Emperor's Hand as Mara Jade. And if anything could be said about her character, if she could be predicted in any way, then I have no intention of getting close to this schemer and conspirator, or allowing him to get close to me.
"Alright," the baroness said. "Let's try a different approach. We have already granted you the title of Supreme Commander and helped you build up the armed group with which you have achieved so much." Precisely "title," not a position. It seems like just a difference in words, but in reality — I had no control over the armed forces of either Imperial Space or the other Remnants.
A "ceremonial general," nothing more. Everything I have was obtained through my own labor, without Orinda's interference. They foisted on me those they didn't need, and now they're trying to spin it to their advantage.
An extremely ancient method of manipulation, I must say.
"And I am grateful for that support," I said. "As well as for sabotaging the work of my volunteer recruitment centers. That helped me significantly. Just like the partial disarmament of the starships transferred to me — specifically, the removal of Xg-1 gunboats from the star destroyers' air wings."
The young woman clearly didn't like my words.
"There was a misunderstanding," she said. "You promised us you would use our sectors as rear bases, yet at the same time, you changed your deployment location, which led to the Ubiqtorate's withdrawal from Imperial Space and..."
"Spare me the pathos," I asked. "War requires operational decisions in a changing situation. As for the Ubiqtorate... As far as I've heard, you at least still have counterintelligence units operating, so..."
"Alright, let's stop," Feena requested. "We can't give you an Imperial Super Star Destroyer — we simply don't have any. Kaine will never, ever give his up — only in exchange for the Bilbringi Shipyards, but that's not even up for discussion in the Council. We could offer you several Star Destroyers instead, but..."
"I'm not interested," I said. Well, if we've started interrupting each other, I need to show it works both ways. "Do you happen to have a 'Death Star,' or something similar? There are wild rumors that someone is still designing and building them."
"What nonsense," the Baroness D'Asta wrinkled her nose. "We don't have that either. And besides, don't you think that 'price' is far too high?"
"For the closest advisor and friend of the de facto head of the New Republic, Mon Mothma, a hero of the Rebel Alliance, the daughter of Darth Vader, who also gave birth to two more twins, who are clearly Force-sensitive — is a Super Star Destroyer too little?" I clarified. Feena remained silent. "And it seems to me that getting descendants of Darth Vader under your command, especially after all that Trioculus business that split the Empire, wouldn't hurt, so you can trade them for something more valuable with the New Republic. With the same success as you, I could do it myself."
"I am authorized to tell you that Sarcev Quest is ready to lobby for your integration into the Imperial Ruling Council as a full member with the ability to influence the decisions of the Council and Imperial Space as a whole," judging by the fact that her expression wasn't the happiest, the girl was clearly not pleased that she had to fall back to this argument. "The Dominion will remain your personal fiefdom, and no one will encroach upon it, now or in the future. Sarcev Quest will keep it under his personal control. And he is effectively the first person in the Imperial Ruling Council."
And he was the one who sent Feena D'Asta to negotiate with me.
And he was also the one who would play some very "interesting" roles during the invasion of the Revived Emperor...
If within a day, two sides close to the old madman with an unfinished gestalt about converting the Skywalkers to the Dark Side offer you cooperation options, promising in this case not to cause problems for you and your young state, and they are effectively two obvious puppets of the century's most insane Sith, how likely is it that you'd believe them?
Right, I don't believe it either. But by fulfilling Ardus Kaine's "wish," I at least satisfy my own desires and needs to weaken the enemy and strengthen myself. Taking Imperial equipment that is mostly useless in the hands of former rebels anyway — I'm just doing them a favor.
According to negotiations among members of the New Republic's Provisional Council, they have the ability, by reorienting their resources, to commission a large number of star cruisers, increasing the size of their own fleet. Well, so what's the problem? I have so many of your soldiers in captivity that it would be enough to crew a hundred, maybe more, Mon Calamari star cruisers.
Such incomprehensible creatures...
"I am grateful to Lord Quest for the trust he has shown me, but I must decline." Surprise appeared on the woman's face. Well yes, who in their right mind would refuse to make such a career? Turn down a "promotion" like that. "I am not a politician, I am a military commander. And I have no other task or desire except to eliminate threats to the citizens I promised to protect."
"But the Dominion..." the baroness began, but I interrupted her with a gesture.
"The Dominion was created as a necessary rear and resource base, which you deprived me of, having decided, without my knowledge, on the reasons why I didn't use Imperial Space as a rear and resource base in that situation. You decided it had something to do with me wanting to disavow our agreement, and so you began taking measures to reduce support for me." At these words, the baroness looked away. Well, at least she had the decency to blush. "But none of you contacted me and asked for an explanation."
"As if you would have agreed to provide them?" D'Asta said resentfully, as if this last point was her own defeat. Though... perhaps she was supposed to be the liaison between me and the Imperial Ruling Council — who knows.
"Wasn't it obvious that I was doing everything to lure the enemy fleet into a trap?" I clarified. "The Morshdine sector and the base on Tangrene are a dead-end hyperspace route. Which could have been an excellent trap, but the change in the situation, including the cut-off of incoming reserves, forced me to adjust my plans. In the end, the trap that was supposed to happen in the Morshdine sector systems moved to the Ciutric Hegemony."
"Oh." The white-haired baroness looked at me with interest. "Since it was all just a misunderstanding, then we should combine our efforts and integrate your forces and resources into the armed..."
"No," I said firmly. "No mergers."
"But why?" she asked in genuine surprise.
"Because I don't want to become a victim of misunderstandings, omissions, and so on again." My voice was as calm as ever. The longer I am in Thrawn's body, the easier it becomes for me to be him. To be, not to seem. And though the process isn't perfect yet, the main thing is that the work is progressing.
"But you are the Supreme Commander," the girl reminded me. "If Imperial Space is threatened by anything, then..."
"Take my word for it — I will destroy that threat before you even learn of its existence," I said. "Besides, the military doctrine of Imperial Space is based on defense, and it has fully justified itself. Your borders are securely protected, and I moved the battle to enemy territory long ago."
"We could supply you with ammunition, equipment, personnel," she pressed on.
"Spies, saboteurs, hired killers, agents of influence..." I mentally continued what she left unsaid.
"And again I must decline," I said. "I have enough resources to meet my needs."
"And tibanna?" the baroness asked with interest.
"The same resource as everyone else has," I shrugged. "Baroness, let's not waste your time and mine. You want to get my high-ranking prisoners before I hand them over to the New Republic in exchange for certain concessions — tell Lord Quest that I wish to receive an Executor-class Star Destroyer for them. Preferably, the Reaper."
"Why that one specifically?"
"I like the name," I shrugged.
The girl closed her eyes, took a deep breath.
And she burst out:
"Thrawn, either you have a bad sense of humor, or you don't understand the prospects opening up before you! Sarcev Quest himself invites you to join him, to become his ally in reforming the Empire! They're leaving you your holdings, and I think they wouldn't even mind if you took over a few more sectors that remain neutral at the moment! All that's required of you is to hand over the woman and two infants and use all the resources of Imperial Space to conquer the New Republic! You were able to defeat their enormous forces with far fewer troops! Imagine what you could do with the resources of the entire Empire!"
I can imagine. Even better and more clearly than you can assume.
I don't need that kind of happiness right now.
As a famous ancient general from my world once said: "Better ten warriors nearby than a thousand far away." The quote isn't exact, and I'm not a fan of Mongol proverbs anyway.
"Baroness," I said calmly. "You're at negotiations, not at the Shaum Hii market on a bazaar day. You've stated your demands, and I've stated mine in return. If you are able to fulfill them before the New Republic, then you will get what you want. If not — I'm sorry, but a deal is a deal. On that note, please excuse me, business calls. You can stay aboard the Chimaera for as long as you wish. I recall, you wanted to interrogate my high-ranking prisoners." Meeting the young woman's gaze, I allowed myself a slight smile. "I thought so. The pretext for the meeting was chosen extremely... superficially."
Sarcev Quest's supporter snorted indignantly, watching as I got up from the sofa and headed for the exit. Rukh, at my approach, was like a spring, instantly on his feet...
"I absolutely do not understand you, Grand Admiral," the baroness's words reached my back. "I try to understand you, but I cannot. What categories do you think in? What drives you? What are you trying to achieve?"
Stopping, I looked at Feena. On the girl's face were frozen anger, irritation, sadness, and... interest. Genuine, childlike, avid. People, what is wrong with you?!
"Don't bother, Baroness," I advised. "In any case, neither you nor the others will be able to figure it out. Good day."
When the door closed behind me, I heard a distinct sound of impact. As if someone had thrown something light, made of crystal, against the door panel.
Major Tierce, the guards, and Rukh instantly snapped to combat readiness. Weapons appeared in their hands...
"At ease," I ordered. "One glass more, one glass less — we won't go broke."
* * *
Climbing out of the training pod — in which Ysanne Isard and her pilots were training the surviving Rogue Squadron pilots to fly TIE Defenders (in the Iceheart's traditional manner, using recordings of the Rogues' own battles as training material, forcing the Republicans to attack themselves) — Corran Horn looked at Colonel Wessiri standing beside the pod, the commander of the air wing stationed at this base.
"You've arranged a group suicide," he said, frowning.
Well sure, so what if all eight Rogues rammed an asteroid at full speed. It happens, right?
"And you thought we'd be shooting at ourselves?" Corran snorted, exchanging glances with the other pilots climbing out of their cockpits. "No, those tricks won't work on us."
"Colonel," Tycho Celchu approached. Wessiri looked at him with respect, as an equal to an equal. "If Isard has nothing better to do than try to brainwash my people, the way she did to me and Horn aboard the Lusankya, then I conclude that all those problems she was going on about not so long ago don't actually trouble her that much."
The Imperial was silent for a while, then said:
"I'm not thrilled about the training programs they supply you with either, but I must say there are no others on this base. My people trained to fight against you, so..."
"Maybe you could stop feeding us vacuum, Colonel?" Corran cut in. "That the Ice Queen couldn't get us what we really need for the battle against Thrawn? Sorry, I don't buy it."
"Stop being childish," Tycho supported him. "Either we do the job, or drop us off in any patch of space and leave us there."
"I will do everything in my power, Colonel Celchu," Wessiri said. "Your men can rest. Training will resume in a few hours."
In the traditionally Imperial manner, without saying goodbye, the wing commander did a crisp turn over his left shoulder and headed for the exit.
"Colonel," Corran said quietly, "this alliance with Isard stinks of a dead rancor from two parsecs away."
"A herd of rancors," the Alderaanian corrected him. "We keep doing what we're doing."
"You'd better shoot me, but I don't believe Isard's fairy tales," the Corellian warned.
"No one's asking you to," Celchu smiled. He and Corran had been through too much — both had been on the Lusankya, and both had resisted the brainwashing the Ice Queen had subjected them to. So they had their own reasons not to trust the former director of Imperial Intelligence. "On the contrary, I'm more than certain that all the stories about her own clone, about helping to destroy Thrawn, about wanting to retire — that's all Sith nonsense."
"Yeah, that lady isn't the type you can take at her word," Corran agreed. "She clearly has some plan of her own. And I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out there's no clone at all, and she's been working with Thrawn from the start. And now she's feeding us shady data to take us out of the game."
"Sounds too familiar to fall for that trick twice, doesn't it?" Celchu clarified.
Corran nodded silently.
"I'm starting to get annoyed, even by Jedi standards, that I can't find my wife," he admitted.
"And your father-in-law," Tycho reminded him.
"Well..." Corran drawled. "I wouldn't say I miss Booster, but..."
"I won't tell Wedge and Mirax that," Tycho smiled.
"And preferably not Booster himself either," the Corellian sighed.
"I understand your feelings," Celchu darkened. "Let's hope that list of prisoners Thrawn dumped on the HoloNet, which Isard kindly provided us with, is genuine."
"Even if she's lying, I'm calm," Corran said unexpectedly. "Miri and Booster are fine."
"Where'd you get that information?" Celchu inquired.
"The Force," Horn admitted reluctantly. "Sure, that old man C'baoth may have gone senile, but I did learn a few of his lessons. And improvised a little. Spent half the night trying to picture Mirax... And I did. Saw her as if she was alive. She's in some cell. And Booster too. They seem alive, well..."
"Corran, I'm genuinely happy for you," Tycho said. "But... I don't even know... Maybe you should try reaching Wedge that way?"
"And what would I tell him if it worked?" Horn asked. "'Listen to the Force, Antilles?' At best he'd think his fuselage was leaking. At worst — that he'd finally lost his mind."
"Hmph," the Colonel thought for a moment. "And what if...?"
"Skywalker?" Horn lowered his voice. Celchu nodded. "I don't know, I haven't tried. He seemed to me back on Jomark to be... too straight-laced. While we were rebuilding his X-wing's antenna, I thought I'd punch my own face. Just imagine — the guy had a vision that his sister and friends were trapped by Imperials in the Milagro system, then couldn't contact them at all, and just kept doing what he was sent there to do. I don't know — if being a Jedi means putting duty above mortal danger to your loved ones, then..."
"Sometimes you can only hope," Tycho sighed. Corran, realizing that Thrawn's prisoner list actually contained a name important to Celchu, bit his tongue.
"I... hope Winter is okay too," he said sympathetically.
"Thank you, she is... a dear person to me," the Alderaanian said restrainedly. And even if he doesn't say it outright, it's clear that Princess Leia's assistant is more than just a "friend" to him.
Oh, these family matters...
Corran, feeling a pang of conscience, looked toward the recreation area.
There, in the company of other pilots who, while not exactly having fun, were at least not sitting with mournful expressions, Gavin Darklighter sat modestly in a corner.
After the death of his beloved and fellow pilot, Asyr Sei'lar, was confirmed from multiple sources, the boy from Tatooine had become despondent.
If before there had been at least some faint hope, now...
"Got to find a way to support Gavin," Horn muttered, realizing he wouldn't find the right words. Maybe Tycho...
"I already tried," said the commander of Rogue Squadron. "It didn't go well..."
"Losing comrades in arms is one thing, but losing a loved one..." Corran fell silent, feeling a lump form in his throat. He himself had lost his mind when he thought Miri was dead. And he'd clung to every shred of hope...
"You weren't with us when it happened," Tycho said unexpectedly. "We dropped by Coruscant once. Fey'lya had summoned Asyr. And... well, she and Gavin were planning to have a child..."
"But... what about the interspecies barrier?" Corran blinked. "Humans, Bothans... I thought it wasn't possible...? Or did something change while I was gone?"
"Adoption," Tycho explained. "They wanted to adopt a Bothan child. Asyr came back from the meeting with Fey'lya, all ruffled, like she'd been stuck in a dryer after a shower. Anyway... Our advisor really let her have it, saying he'd crush any such initiative if she didn't stop neglecting her own people. He promised problems for Gavin, for all of us..."
"What a..." Corran clenched his teeth. And his fists. "A rug-in-waiting. Knows how to hit where it hurts most."
"Gavin is sure she fought that way to die," Tycho added. "So that that... advisor... couldn't manipulate us through her anymore."
"I hope Thrawn turns him into a coat for some lady," Corran wished with all his heart. "If it really turns out Asyr went for suicidal maneuvers just to get free of him... I already sawed off one bastard's head, and this one I'll fry under the engines. And I'll say the Force told me to. I'm a Jedi, aren't I?"
"You're some kind of wrong Jedi," Tycho noted warily. "They say Jedi are peaceful and for order..."
"That's what I'm for too," Corran said. "For peace, order, harmony..."
"Is that so?" the Alderaanian looked at him skeptically. "And who cut off a Jedi's head?"
"I did it with peace in my soul, Master," Corran declared, putting a "Skywalker-like enlightenment" expression on his face. "I swear by my lightsaber that my hand was guided by the Force and good intentions."
For some reason, Celchu didn't find it funny.
Then again, Horn wasn't joking.
* * *
Every negotiation is preceded by intense preparation.
And when you intend to have a direct dialogue, without witnesses, with a representative of a governing body that positions itself as the only true and legitimate authority over the worlds supporting Imperial order, the amount of information that needs to be processed is colossal.
Except in my case, this happens post factum.
I already understood that Imperial Space stank of rot, and now, when the last pieces of the puzzle fell into a single picture, I had to find out how deep the rabbit hole went.
Laying out dozens of datachips on the table in my quarters, I began reviewing them one by one.
There was intelligence data, reports from the Iceheart's spies (including those obtained back when the galaxy knew only one version of Isard), short analyst extracts from Delta Source reports, ISB agent reports...
And my own memories, supplementing the sparse and partially fragmented picture into a full understanding of what sort of beings I was being offered to establish contact with through the baroness.
Well, a fitting epigraph for the general characterization of the governing body that controls the largest of the Remnants — Imperial Space — would be the words of a Republic scholar-historian named Arhul Hextrophon, whose works are currently very popular on the HoloNet.
."..Convinced that an Empire founded on betrayal cannot be governed by trust, he surrounded himself with advisors who owed all their political achievements to the Emperor. He ensured that each advisor had more enemies than allies among the other advisors. Fear and greed bind each advisor to the Emperor. Palpatine finds this arrangement more satisfactory than mere loyalty..."
That, essentially, is all you need to understand about what this structure is. And the New Republic has plenty of such judgments to understand the process controlling the forces hostile to them.
But, again, it's not that simple.
The Imperial Ruling Council has had many names since its creation.
It was both the "Imperial Inner Circle" and the "Emperor's Inner Circle," and after the defeat at Endor, it became known as the "Emperor's Ruling Circle.".. Similarly, names like "the Cabal," "the Tribunal," and the "Imperial Provisional Ruling Council" are also used. Unfortunately, a rebranding of the name doesn't change the essence of what went on there.
The Emperor created this collective governing body from advisors who had been close to him for a long time — some had served him since he first began his political career. Not counting the Emperor himself, the Imperial Ruling Council was the highest legislative body in the Galactic Empire. While Palpatine led the Empire, the council managed the daily affairs of the state and carried out the Emperor's will.
Technically, each advisor was responsible for their part of the Empire's vast bureaucratic machine, and sometimes the number of advisors reached several hundred. They were convened to discuss the most important problems and situations in the state at the Imperial Court. Curiously, the Emperor himself did not deign to attend every Council meeting. However, agents couldn't even present information that the man had ever been present at any of them. To oversee the work of the Imperial Ruling Council, there was an office holder enjoying the Emperor's complete trust — the Grand Vizier, Sate Pestage. He headed the Council, acting as the key political strategist.
The generalized characterization of the advisors who made up the Council is particularly noteworthy. The people in this governing body shared Palpatine's vision for the galaxy not out of personal ambition, but out of idealism and loyalty. But such were a minority — they were essentially the beings on whose support the future Emperor relied as he gradually destroyed his political opposition in the Old Republic, step by step approaching the heights of power. However, over the years, as Palpatine became Supreme Chancellor, he recruited more gullible advisors, whose sympathies for his agenda were tied to intense personal ambitions, such as Mas Amedda, Sly Moore, and Sarcev Quest.
Well, it's already known that Sate Pestage was killed by Krennel, so the other advisors who stand out from the crowd are more interesting.
About the first one, the Iceheart could only say that after the proclamation of the Empire, he lost his previous position as Vice Chancellor, which he had held in the Old Republic, but became an advisor in return. And besides, he acted on Palpatine's special assignments, collecting some ancient relics for him. Which ones exactly — the original Isard didn't know, as this was long before she came to power in Imperial Intelligence, and her predecessors weren't particularly talkative on such matters. One thing is clear — at some point, before the Battle of Endor, the Chagrian disappeared. And no one looked for him. Typical Imperial attitude toward its officials, even senior "grade" ones.
But, knowing Palpatine, one can assume that he used the Force-insensitive Chagrian to search for Sith or Jedi artifacts. Probably... A reasonable decision, as it provides some guarantee that ancient knowledge won't corrupt someone who cannot use it, even if they someday understand it.
Next comes Sly Moore.
[TERM_OVERRIDES: All matched terms will be replaced per the dictionary. Apply throughout.]
This woman, along with Isard after she became head of Imperial Intelligence, was called Palpatine's mistress. And, what's even more vile, according to entirely reliable information, this Umbran really did bear Palpatine a child. True, history keeps from us whether the conception was natural or another of Palpatine's genetic experiments with Sly Moore. But one way or another, Sly Moore supposedly died in the Ghost Nebula on her homeworld while giving birth to offspring — a three-eyed mutant named Triclops. A year after Palpatine's death at Endor, another three-eyed mutant, named Trioculus, claiming to be Triclops, entered into a confrontation with Ysanne Isard, who had subjugated part of the Empire. Well, I don't think I should even bother my head with such nonsense as doubting whether Isard's opponent is dead or not. Those types don't survive.
But Palpatine's supposed biological son... And there were even rumors he had a grandson, a young guy named Ken, with whom Luke Skywalker supposedly was friends... Interesting prospects emerge. Using Palpatine's biological heir to subjugate the remnants of the Empire? Yes, that would be the least bloody way to end the Imperial Civil War. Only, if you believe the reports of the Noghri Overclan, one Imperial warlord already tried to pull something like that. It ended badly — the Noghri wiped them all out.
But the Sarcev Quest... That's already interesting. At least because out of everyone who represents any significance at all, he's the only one currently on the Council.
And the data on him pointed directly — this is precisely the opponent one should fear. He can't be trusted, under any circumstances, that is, if you want to live as long as possible.
Cunning, stubborn, proud, and ambitious. Not to mention being a Force-sensitive being. Someone who was the Emperor's Hand for a long time, carrying out the most vile operations for him, including kidnapping children born from Palpatine's genetic experiments. I'm more than sure that right now he's weaving a conspiracy with the aim of blaming Palpatine for the collapse of the Empire and its numerous failures. Vader's descendants, especially if raised as his own servants — yes, for a madman that would probably be enough to turn a blind eye to all the 'transgressions.'
But this is nothing more than a facade.
My conversation with Fina gave me the understanding that Sarcev is already beginning to search for allies in the matter of the upcoming coup d'état.
And that's a very interesting combination from the perspective of political intrigue.
Palpatine crawls out of his hole with all the troops at his disposal. The children of Leia and Han are presented to him as a gift, and possibly even Luke Skywalker himself.
Considering that I haven't changed what's happening all that much on a galactic scale, it's quite likely that Palpatine's motivation for controlling Skywalker and using him as an alternative to Vader hasn't changed.
And this way he gets control over all of Vader's descendants at once. No one would refuse such a 'gift,' even if they were in their right mind.
In the events I know of, Palpatine entrusted the military operation against the New Republic to the Dark Side Elite.
If Quest presents him with all of Vader's descendants, then Palpatine, in his joy, could definitely hand over the reins of the military campaign to him.
That is, all the power of the Imperial Remnants and the monstrous forces accumulated by Palpatine on Byss would be concentrated in the hands of an ambitious being, corrupted by the Dark Side, but who hasn't become a madman. The effect would be the same as if Darth Vader, with his children and grandchildren beside him, had come to power in the Empire.
That armada would sweep away absolutely everything in its path.
The New Republic and the Dominion alike.
That's precisely why the Imperial Ruling Council is looking for a way to get the coveted trio from me. Sarcev Quest is ready to pay any price, just to get a 'gift' for his master.
Smaller investments to get everything.
Because with such an armada and superweapons in his hands, Sarcev Quest would be able to destroy Palpatine too.
And it's known that supporters of the New Order like to obey strong and powerful warlords. Herd instinct, after all.
The other members of the Imperial Ruling Council don't represent any significant mention.
Except for Baroness D'Asta, of course. But she's loyal to Quest, so she's also unsuitable as an ally. Maybe her father could have opposed the girl somehow, kept her under control, or something else, but in my case, that same card can't be played.
It's curious that the core of the Imperial Ruling Council on Orinda now consists of those who survived the purges carried out by the original Iceheart. According to intelligence information and the caustic comments of Sub-Iceheart, the Council members supported Grand Admiral Thrawn after his return from the Unknown Regions as a candidate for the position of Supreme Commander, believing that as an alien with no standing in their rarefied political world, he would necessarily remain indebted to their patronage and government. They considered the possibility of granting him the title of Emperor if he succeeded, still assuming they could control him afterward. However, they almost immediately abandoned this initiative when relations with Kaine began to warm. And later, all talk of a possible appointment of the Grand Admiral to such a high post was never discussed. In the events I know of, these gentlemen from Orinda had no authority over Thrawn — he relied on the military; during his campaign he acted largely independently, declaring that he was the sole leader of the Empire. 'I rule the Empire,' he said in the books of the 'Thrawn Trilogy.'
Which is quite significant for me. Of course, I can flatter myself that I've begun to understand Thrawn and think like him, but in the current situation, when Thrawn led his troops to conquer the worlds of the New Republic or neutral sectors, the Imperial Ruling Council could no longer stop him. He provided his army with food, a stable economy, effectively seizing territories without damaging infrastructure. He didn't really need recruits, getting by with volunteers and clones. In fact, if not for Rukh shattering two sector fleets at the Battle of Bilbringi, Thrawn could easily have used the shock prevailing in the galaxy and, with a single precise strike, decapitated the Empire's political system on Orinda, subjugating all the Remnants. Considering that in a few months he captured territories equal in size to those controlled by all the Imperial Remnants combined, it's no wonder other Imperials were so drawn to him. My successes in territorial conquests are much smaller, so the flow of volunteers isn't large.
However, all of this is lyricism.
Now for analysis.
So, we have two manifestations of Palpatine.
On one hand, he sent agents to make my life difficult, provoking an attack on the Noghri. But again, there's no direct evidence that this was aimed specifically at harming my campaign. Only conjectures and inferences.
Alright, he wanted to bring me back into the fold; he did. The New Republic has suffered significant reputational losses. I haven't allowed losses in Imperial territories. I continue active military operations — and so that this doesn't raise big questions, the activity is aimed both at strengthening the Dominion and at continuing to harass the New Republic. Consequently, no one will suspect that my offensive will stop.
Probably for the same reason, Kaine conveyed the will of Palpatine, or someone acting on his behalf, that no one will touch my territories if I limit myself to what I have within my territorial acquisitions but continue military actions against the New Republic. In that case, there's an assumption that the Dominion really won't be touched — if such is Palpatine's will and what I do over the next two months satisfies him. Therefore, I need to continue work on strengthening and fortifying the Dominion.
Now, the proposal for exchanging prisoners for 'reasonable reciprocal actions.'
It's clear this initiative doesn't come from Palpatine — its author is Quest. If Palpatine wanted to get my prisoners, Kaine would have told me. And if the issue were only about the price, it would have been resolved quickly.
Consequently, one can assume that right now, Palpatine isn't interested in Leia and the children. Which doesn't change the fact that they will be interesting in the future. Keeping them with me any longer means attracting attention. Releasing them without a ransom also attracts attention. Altruism is unknown to Thrawn.
Therefore, it's necessary to conduct the exchange before Quest finds a way to please me so much that refusing would be completely pointless and suspicious.
Yes, of course, I could stand up for the Skywalker couple, but I have to be honest with myself. They're nobody to me, I don't know them, I feel no friendly affection for them, and therefore, at this point, the only reason they continue to be on my controlled territories is a profitable exchange.
And now add to that the understanding of the fact that if they fall into Palpatine's hands, they will strengthen him and, in turn, Sarcev Quest. Who, as I recall, dreams of power. Entrusting such a person with Palpatine's armada... No, that's too dangerous. I could create many defensive lines, but when thousands of line ships bear down on the Dominion, that won't save anyone. And if the Dark Side Elite is there too, then my pocket Jensaarai, who are in any case still not ready for battle, won't hold out against them.
Eymand was supposed to look for hidden Jedi and win them over to our side, but so far he hasn't been very successful. Of course, he's delivered some to Mara, who's currently flying on the Void Wanderer, but I'll deal with that later. Right now, I'm concerned about activity in Imperial Space.
Alright, suppose they still manage to drag an Executor-class Star Dreadnought here; I'll still have to hand over the prisoners. Hmm... Although, of course, there are options here — it depends on the situation.
But it's clear that in the near future, they definitely won't be able to find such a ship and provide it to me without Palpatine's help.
So...
It's time to push the New Republic to get moving on the prisoner exchange.
Leaning back habitually in my chair, I cast a sidelong glance at the cage with the ysalamiri, which had lifted its head from its paws, yawned sweetly, and went back to sleep.
What a carefree creature... Lucky him.
No danger for you, no natural enemies, no intrigues, no...
Stop.
Got it.
Natural enemies.
Vornskrs.
A cross between a tiger and a leopard, or a bulldog and a rhino, that hunts prey that wields the Force.
The Dark Side Elite, like other Jedi and Sith, wield the Force.
And if you bring them together...
Hmm... Well, ersatz guard vornskrs might actually work out. But will we be able to domesticate them using the 'Talon Karrde method'?
And will the creatures grow up in time before the galaxy bursts into Sith flame?
Reaching for the comlink, I contacted the commander of the Star Destroyer Bellicose, which was guarding Wayland and ensuring the supply of ysalamiri to the cloning cylinders. It seems his people will also have to go hunting for predators.
* * *
"Entering the Yaga Minor system," Mazzik announced as a red warning light started blinking on the instrument panel.
"Your voice doesn't sound very cheerful," Karrde commented, putting down his portable datapad. Sitting in the copilot's seat, he'd been reviewing information about the part of his organization he'd managed to rebuild so far. Less than a third. Some had been destroyed by Imperials, some had gone deep underground, some had defected to the Hutts or other competitors.
Plenty of options.
"Is there a reason to be cheerful?" Mazzik inquired gloomily. "In light of recent events, I don't feel like jumping into the thick of it. Not with the Republicans, and certainly not with the Imperials."
"Everything is arranged on Yaga Minor," Karrde reassured him. "Need to stir up some old contacts, drop a few news items..."
"You mean the Republic's destruction of the convoys in the Ren Var system?" his partner clarified.
"Yes," Karrde didn't deny it. "Something strange is happening. Why would the New Republic intercept transports coming from Lianna? Or Hoffner's convoy?"
"Maybe they just happened to be there?" Mazzik suggested.
"There wasn't an interdictor cruiser among the Republic starships," Karrde noted. "They were acting on a tip-off. They knew exactly where and what would be. That's very, very strange."
"That the New Republic has an intelligence service, or that it actually works?" Mazzik inquired.
Karrde was about to answer, but at that moment a dispatcher's voice came over the speaker:
"Transport Action IV, state your identity, cargo, and purpose of visit."
"Star Ice," Mazzik said. "Cargo... Identification code..."
He recited a long string of words and numbers, receiving a reply. After a brief silence while the access codes were verified, the shipyard dispatcher gave them a docking lane and approach vector to a well-known berthing zone.
But that wasn't what Karrde was worried about right now.
He was watching the dozens of unfinished ships standing out sharply against the grey mass of the shipyards and the service shuttles, freighters, and massive work platforms swarming around them.
Vindicator-class heavy cruisers — the backbone of Grand Moff Ardus Kaine's fleet. Directly ahead, the massive bulk of a Golan battle station bristled menacingly with guns, which they would have to pass. Preferably in one piece and without a salvo of turbolasers fired in their honor.
"Looks like your old contacts are still working," Mazzik observed.
"Probably," Karrde said, squinting at one specific section of the shipyards. "Tell me, what do you see there?"
"Forty-one Vindicators," Mazzik whistled. "And that's just in this civilian section of the shipyards."
"The military section is ten times larger and more productive," Karrde said. "Judging by the condition of the cruisers, they were laid down just a couple of weeks ago."
"Two hundred and fifty Vindicators?" Mazzik clarified. "Is Kaine planning to go to war with someone?"
"I hope it's with our friend Thrawn," Karrde said. "Cruisers are faster and cheaper to build than destroyers. In a month and a half to two months, they'll be commissioned. And something tells me that similar things can be seen at all the shipyards belonging to the Pentastar Alignment..."
Almost two hundred and fifty combat starships — that's no joke. That's an armada that could easily carve a raiding path through the New Republic's logistics lines and crack them open like a Jedi's lightsaber through durasteel...
Karrde stopped mid-thought. He badly wanted to rub his eyes.
Mazzik followed his gaze.
"What the hell is that?" he inquired. "Doesn't look much like cruisers or destroyers..."
"Because they're asteroids," Karrde explained. "How many do you think there are?"
"Thirty-six," Mazzik answered after a couple of minutes. "Each about thirty to forty meters in diameter..."
"And they're loading them into the holds of my former starships," Karrde said, no longer hesitating to point a finger at the freighters similar to the one he'd arrived on.
"What in the galaxy is going on here?" Mazzik demanded, turning his gaze to Karrde.
But he didn't answer.
He just watched as dozens of service shuttles, using tractor beams, shoved huge stone boulders into the gaping cargo bays of the Action IV- and Action V-class transports. The entire surface of these boulders was covered in numerous durasteel platforms, very much resembling turbolaser barbette mountings. And deflector shield generators.
"Why would the Imperials need asteroids?" Mazzik voiced his thoughts.
"Not the Imperials," Karrde corrected. "Thrawn. Now it's clear why he needed my starships — spacious holds, large loading bays. So he wouldn't have to spend money buying his own freighters, he took mine."
"Okay, fair enough," Mazzik said easily. "But that doesn't negate the question itself — why do they need asteroids?"
"Judging by everything, some kind of assembly work was done on them," Karrde said. "See the mounted landing pads all over the surface?"
"Yeah," Mazzik confirmed. "On every hill, on every protrusion..."
"To form a more or less spherical deflector shield," Karrde explained. "Or so the turbolasers have a larger aiming arc. I wouldn't be surprised if launching tubes for proton torpedoes or anti-ship missiles are located in those rounded shafts," he pointed to several dark cavities in each space rock.
"Improv defensive stations?" Mazzik asked suspiciously.
"Or that's what they want the rest of the observers to see," the Claw offered his version.
"I don't like this, Karrde," Mazzik declared.
"Me neither," the information broker admitted. "If Thrawn was doing something here with asteroids, then the cruisers might be being built for him too. If so, I'll soon have information from my people at the shipyards."
"If they even know what was being produced here," Mazzik noted reasonably. "Judging by your stories and the latest news across the galaxy, the Grand Admiral has again set out on the warpath against the New Republic."
Karrde nodded affirmatively.
"I'm more than sure that none of this is happening for no reason," he pronounced. "If Thrawn has built himself nearly four dozen defensive stations or outposts out of asteroids, it could be defensive ordnance."
"And if it's offensive?" Mazzik inquired.
Karrde's blood ran cold.
"Then we're really not going to like it..."