Captain Pellaeon's signal of retreat, was a shockwave through the Imperial ranks- especially the Imperial High Command.
The ruling council feared the worst when they lost communication with the Second Death Star and the 'Executor', but truly lost their wits when the Captain confirmed it a few moments later. And orders came down the chain.
They were chaotic, illogical and twisted beyond comprehension. One Moff Zsinj declared the Empire had fallen, and he would secure his sector. Harrsk had informed all captains of the 'Ruling Councils' betrayal, leading to the Emperors death- and swore to revenge them.
Within days the Empire fractured; the core remained with the ruling council. But the outer-rim fractured, and the Crimson Crest acted.
An hour after the news were given, all captains of the command was gathered aboard the 'Sovereign', all ten, and on their shoulders stood their Stormtrooper command- though the Secutor Captains were accompanied by their Generals- and the High General Kael Sallan alongside the Marshal, Catcher stood behind Rysell.
The room was secured by eight Wraith troopers, as all officers sat in silence. Waiting for the Admiral to start the conversation- which he eventually did.
"The Emperor is dead, and we have a choice to make," Rysell spoke, his eyes falling on every one of them. As he continued to speak, "One thing is clear: the Empire is fracturing. The orders from the Grand Vizier are clear: all forces are to retreat past Yag'Dhul."
"They're essentially abandoning the entire Outer and Mid-Rim; the expansion regions will become buffers." Luca spoke, and Rysell nodded. "Aye, the core of the problem is that the Empire was held together by the Emperor; with him dead, Intelligence, Military, and Legal branches will all collide in a shitshow for power. Which, quite frankly, I am now interested in." Rysell spoke, whilst Zed in the corner narrowed his eyes.
"You are treading on dangerous territory, Rysell." Zed spoke, and Rysell showed no reaction. "No, I am not. I am stepping over it. The Empire no longer is a system of order and justice, intelligence operatives using false charges to arrest any they desire, the old guard that only care for power or the legislative that only care for influence."
"You are all young officers, but you are not naive. It is a failing system, where potential is shuffled into a box of unimportance, where influence gives you a chance, where nepotism rules. My friend, Moff Jared Vance controls the Minos Sector- and is willing to place his sector under the Crimson Command."
Various levels of shock were apparent among all the men sitting in the council; even Zed's mind was running four times its normal capacity. Yet Rysell continued on; "It is unknown what will happen, but there are already reports of Blitzer Harssk having deserted, and I suspect. Admiral Zsinj, Teradoc, Kaine, Delvarus and many others will abandon the cause. There are only a pair of Grand Admirals supporting the Empire- Makati and Tigellinus, both through connections than skill."
"With the Crimson Crest Command, we can cut out a sizable portion of the souther rim- only competition being the Eriadu Authority. I can offer you promotions, influence, riches and a legacy if you dare follow me." Rysell continued, when Zed stood up.
"You karking shitspit traitor- I will have you hanged for thi-" He did not get to finish the sentence as a stun round slammed into him, before a Wraith Trooper grabbed him and dragged him out of the room whilst he slept soundly.
"He will not be killed, we'll leave him on the surface. His ship has already been secured, any who wish not to participate will be thrown off-ship and left on planetside. Usually the Empire would execute you, but their lack of officers means they will likely spare you." Rysell spoke, finally sitting down. Whilst the people he knew would support him, did.
"Count on me, Admiral." Luca spoke first.
"And me." Thara Vez followed, Catcher and Hannah did not bother to speak, but all knew he had their support.
Next up, came surprisingly Silas Thorne. "I'd rather not loose the 'Sovereign', and you've proven yourself someone worth following. I am with you." He spoke, and Rasmus on his shoulder nodded in agreement.
"And me." Henrik Ios of the Gorgon II
"Aye, you've got my support." Kael Diram of the Imperious IX
"I don't see why not, didn't like the Ruling Council anyhow." Vespera Daz of the Inexorable came next. Followed by Theodore Morrow of the 'Subjugator XI' and Alysanne Skryre of the 'Obsidian', all Secutors.
All eyes then fell on Maxim Vance who had yet to respond, but a bloodthristy grin formed on his face as he spoke. "So long as I get to fight, improve, and further my reputation- I will serve you."
Their Stormtrooper Colonels all nodded, including the Army Generals on the Secutors. And Rysell smiled at that.
"Perfect, now we'll need to secure some.... loans for this new state. "Captain Vez, please move the 'Griffon' above enemy capital, and Captain Vene, move the 'Leviathan' over the planetary garrison headquarters. Marshal Catcher- please confiscate all Imperial assets on the surface."
"There are also a pair of K-98 Heavy Turbo Cannons positioned on the northern pole; how fast can you dismantle it and have it on a Secutor?" Rysell spoke, yet it was aimed at General Kael Sallan that had entered a few moments ago.
"Half a rotation?" He spoke after a few moments of thought, and Rysell smiled at that. "Perfect. Now we'll begin cleansing; Hannah has pointed out that crew and stormtroopers are very unlikely to follow our command. They will be picked up by the 337th Regiment within the hour. Captains, please inform your crews of the change of allegiance." Rysell spoke, and everyone nodded. Though it was oddly specific for the 337th Company to pick them up, few recognised it as the Company turned Regiment that had been with Rysell from the early days.
They had received a menacing paint job of brown, and were led by Captain Darren Doz- a previous Imperial Army Captain who was now a Stormtrooper Colonel, and commanded Rysell's own personal unit.
Within an hour, all three thousand suspects were picked up. Of course, they were all actually given the choice; almost 90% of Hannah's original list followed the road anticipated, whilst some other nine hundred also did not want to become a turncloak, and were thereby left on planetside.
Everything else went rather quickly; the local Moff that had his headquarters here folded less than a few moments after the Star Destroyers were placed in tactical positions for orbital bombardment, his anti-orbital weaponry was taken down and a planetary-wide jam was enforced.
And like that, they obtained three billion Imperial credits, personally picked up by Marshal Catcher and overseen by a pair of Wraith Squads.
Within hours, it was transferred onboard the 'Sovereign' and properly counted, and half a rotation later both anti-orbital cannons were brought onboard and safely secured.
Whilst all of this was happening, Rysell was busy planning his journey back.
Unlike his previous squadron-level formations, his now Battlegroup level formations would change the type of battles he fought, and the tactics he needed to employ. His formation could no longer be a simple line formation, and would now develop in full battle formations.
Centres, flanks, reserves, flak.
He could no longer rely on his usual formations of starfighter dominance followed by a bomber superiority that most commanders dreamed of. No, with Rysell entering the next level he found himself needing to evolve.
Battles suddenly became less of brute force, and now became a lot more difficult. Especially as he commanded the defense of a whole sector. a
Outmaneuvering enemy capital ships, flanking, surrounding, fightercraft control, anti-flak frigates, corvettes, and cruisers. The Clone Wars was a chaotic field of lower-level heavy cruisers outmaneuvering one another, with early-Clone Wars flagship being Venator-sized ships.
The Tector and Imperial classes changed things; previous battles where hundreds of smaller crafts suffered losses daily as they brawled it out. Suddenly turned into a field where formations of Star Destroyers could lash out at each other for days without a single kill.
Cycling of formations, reinforcing, retreating. Battles became a battle of wits between the enemy admirals, and it was a new form of pressure for the Admiral. Rysell had very little experience, but he knew that there were no opportunities to fail at this level.
A single mistake, and his command would be gone. For good, there were no reinforcements to be called upon- no allies to ask for help. It was him against the world, and battles became logistics and positioning.
Eventually, he decided on a route; he'd follow the Corellian Run to Tsde Naha, take the Lipsec Run to Rycep then a less documented Rycep-Atravis Run that needed three hyperstops, followed by Atravis-Seatos, and thereby following the Rimma Trade Route to the Minos Sector.
Now began the game for not just survival, for dominance.
----------------------
Please support me via påetron, it really helps keep me motivated and I'm lowkey kinda broke so any help is very much welcome.
påetron underneath;
Pondsfyre - +20 chapters, alongside 5 other stories of mine. Each 50+ chapters.