I walk down the wide hallway in the clothes of a man who could barely afford his drink. I slink into a bar and order a pint and start drinking. The campaign had killed so many and for what? We didn’t take Sy Myrth, we hadn’t raided the Sep industry near Wobani and we hadn’t reinforced Saleucami. All we had gained was dead sailors, a crippled enemy and destroyed ships. The drink disappears faster than usual and I order another.

  What was the point? The war drags on, the Seps slowly inching along the Perlimian while we at an equally and annoyingly slow pace constrict the pockets that are the Northern, Southern and Sorenno Theaters. I take another swig and order something else when I find the glass held far less than I would’ve liked. Once the bottle is in hand I tip the barkeep and start meandering back to my temporary quarters at Cophrigin. Mi-Kus might still have my liquor cabinet under lock and key, but with the Little Revenge undergoing minor repairs and my scheduled tour of a factory tomorrow I had an easy enough time getting drunk in local bars instead. Hah, shows him what he knows.

  I walk up to the base and hold out my identification card to the man on base.

  “Have a good night, Admiral?” The Corporal asks.

  “Eh, could’ve been better.” I reply as I take the card back and hold out my right arm for the droid beside the officer to prick and test. Soon enough the droid beeps a green light and I exchange a sloppy salute with the officer as I head to my bed. Things to do tomorrow after all.

  The shuttle touches down smoothly on the surface of Cophrigin. It was a suitable propaganda shooting location, primarily as the world’s defenders had left her vulnerable to Separatist attack to assist my forces in the pivotal battle of Balshebr. It was the very least I could do to thank the military Governor and look pretty for the cameras. An inspection of a Saber-tank factory was simply a good pretense for it. Getting Brigadier General Cain to come along was annoyingly necessary. The man didn’t have a full corps yet, he was missing an armored division still and had requested an additional artillery brigade for further support. It certainly helped that Cain was the highest ranking officer on hand who had more experience with repulser tanks than with walkers and was in dire need of resting his old 227th Division after holding the Seps at Handooine.

  The doors lower as I begin stepping down the steps to a small greeting force. A handful of officers stand behind Colonel Keyes with two blocks of Republic troopers separating the officers and my shuttle from the gathered crowd of factory workers, their families and other local civilians. There was maybe two companies worth of men, all armed with blaster rifles and standing at attention.

  I finish my descent, General Cain walking slowly behind me, and exchange a quick salute with the Colonel before offering the man my hand: “Good day, Colonel.”

  He takes if for a quick shake as he answers: “Indeed it is, sir. A pleasure to have you on Cophrigin.”

  I nod in acceptance as he turns slightly to allow us to walk astride: “A wonderful world. I regret not having visited it’s surface earlier. Everything well here?”

  “Yes, sir. There was some minor agitation at us temporarily loosing our defensive section, but that died down the minute we heard of your victory over Balshebr.” The man reports as we continue marching along, I give a quick wave to the crowd as we march up to a raised platform before the entrance of the factory.

  “Everything prepared for the tour and speech?” I ask.

  “Quite so, sir. Factory is the best on world and her owners were interested in a demonstration of a new prototype they’ve been working on once the tour’s been completed.”

  “Security?”

  “Spic and span, sir.”

  “Alright, wish me luck.” I say, “Fear after the last couple weeks I’m about to run out of it.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it, sir.” General Cain says as I ascend the platform to a seemingly happy crowd.

  I finish walking up to the podium and clear my throat a bit before speaking: “Good afternoon everyone. I first wish to thank you all for coming out to hear me speak here today. It is, after all, thanks to this world and her industrious people that the Ash Worlds are slowly yet steadily developing into a fine sector of Republic Space. I remember not even a year ago Cophrigin was a poor world of some twenty thousand people and yet now, she is home to almost a million souls and a proud example of a Republic loyalist world. She is developing into a world of strong industry and hearty people.”

  A bit of a cheer goes through the crowd as I take a moment to review my notes. I continue as soon as the cheer dies down a bit: “It just so happens that over the last campaign and the following mop up operations the Republic now has full control over the Ash Worlds Sector. From Wyndigal to Chiron and from Xoraes to Ulonsus. Previously the Sector capital was the world of Wyndigal, however due to the world’s previous secession and current military occupation the Ash Worlds have failed to send a Senator to the Senate since the beginning of the Separatist crisis. By my order, through the position of Marshal Administrator of the North East Slice Command, I am giving Cophrigin the title of temporary Sector Capitol, due to its central and strategic location and being the world with the most rapidly growing population in the Sector. Current estimates show Cophrigin shall soon have more people here than even Chiron and Nyny combined. It is for that reason I have also applied for Cophrigin to be made permanent Sector Capitol and called for the Sector to elect a new Senator within two months time.”

  The crowd is filled with exited murmurs and a few cheers. Usually it takes decades if not centuries for a sector capitol to change, with the former sector capitol using up as many favors and their political leverage as possible to stymie any efforts while the prospective capitol did everything in their power to counteract them. However with Wyndigal under military occupation and Cophrigin acting as a major military supply and redistribution hub it had grown massively in importance. In other words, the war had essentially turned the backwater world into a prospective powerhouse of the region for hundreds of years in the future. And they had me to thank for it. I suppress a small chuckle, look at me, an administrator. Pa’d be proud.

  “It is in celebration of this that the entire Ash Worlds Sector will be given additional rations and hosting a series of military parades both on the ground and in the air. Local celebrations will be encouraged and, with the correct paperwork, supported by the Republic.” Though the paperwork wasn’t exactly easy it could be filed under morale improvement measures, “So celebrate, the war may not be over, but the Ash Worlds are once more in Republic hands, more errant children returned to their loving father. Long live the Republic!”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  The slogan of the entire state is taken up by the crowd as I begin my return to the ground, waving as I go. No blaster shots, no cracks of a slugthrower, no explosion under my feet. I hiss out a sigh of relief as I shake hands with Colonel Keyes and the factory owner before waving one last time to the crowd beyond the soldiers. We enter the factory complex a moment later to begin our inspection.

  “A fine speech, Admiral.” The owner, a human, says.

  “Thank you, Mr. Kelliak. I’m sure the people will look forward to the celebrations.” I reply.

  “It may cut into our production line on Cophrigin, but the factories on Garel, Coachelle Prime and Ktil should make up for it.” The man says.

  “Didn’t know Kelliak Arms and Armor only had a presence on those four.” I say.

  “We follow a more centralized production model.” The man says as we pass through a semi-automated assembly line, the base parts of Saber Tanks being assembled by hundreds of robotic arms, “We have full production sites on Garel, Coachelle, Cophrigin and Ktil, meaning we can turn the gathered raw materials into finished product without them needing to leave the planet, such as here on Cophrigin, or the city, as we have on Coachelle. Of course we also have lesser plants which create surplus materials on other worlds, the largest one is on Azure in the mid rim, though regrettably the Confederacy recently took control of that a couple weeks ago.”

  “Another victim of the Sep’s Perlimian campaign.” I sigh, “Would I know the officers involved?”

  “Regrettably not, our factory was on the other side of the planet when the battle took place, though a General Solomahal of Republic Intelligence did take up the defense of the hemisphere alongside some Jedi.” The man says.

  I nod absentmindedly. Solomahal should be alright and if he wasn’t his network would slowly start flipping over to working with members of my own. Though I hope the old soldier would make it out alive. The loss of Azure could mean Trench was attempting to make alternative supply lines and weaken our attempted inroads along the Perlimian. Maybe the Seps were in more desperate straights than I thought. I should make contact with a couple of my informants and see what they’ve picked up on the Seps and Solomahal both. Though all that will need to wait until I’m back on the Little Revenge and preferably over Dac.

  “I believe I know who will be placed in charge of retaking Azure.” I say as I look over a different assembly line making the blaster cannons, “They’ll make Trench pay for the loss.”

  “I am glad to hear that.” The man says as we enter a new floor of the factory. Various tanks having their weapons installed as they move along the assembly lines.

  “How many tanks do you manage to produce in a day?” I ask.

  “About thirty to thirty five a day in this plant. Of course Cophrigin holds our smallest and newest plant, so other factories manage some fifty to seventy a day.” The man says.

  “Garel manages fifty seven a day, doesn’t it?” General Cain muses aloud.

  “Fifty six, General.” Mr. Kelliak corrects, “But we plan on expanding our Garelian and Cophrigin plants both, to up production rates by an additional ten percent.”

  “For the Saber license production?” I ask.

  “Yes, though our techs have a new prototype in the final stages of development we will be seeing demonstrated at the end of the tour, but before the press conference.” The factory owner says.

  “And does it look promising?” I ask.

  “Rather so, I believe the Freerunner repulser tank will do wonders for our efforts in swamplike conditions and the surfaces of aquatic worlds, not to say they won’t function well in other situations.”

  “Repulsers do have trouble with mountains and steep hills though.” Cain mutters before speaking up: “How long is it?”

  The man hesitates a moment before answering: “About fourteen meters.”

  Cain frowns at the number as we continue through the factory. Finally we reach the proving ground where half a dozen sabers and a long, thin, repulsercraft sit beside one another. I see the machine and frown slightly, too long. It could be useful, but the thing was two meters short of a Headhunter. I certainly wouldn’t be able to squeeze the thing into the Little Revenge.

  “Are those three turrets?” Cain asks mildly incredulously.

  “Yes, it has more laser firepower than the Sabers, though it doesn’t have the missiles of the Saber. We’ve considered adding a missile pod to the side, but it would alter the silhouette too much and take away its slim profile.”

  “What is the … purpose of this vehicle. What do you expect it to do?” I ask.

  “A cheaper and more easily maintainable alternative to the Saber.” The man answers.

  I turn towards Cain, eyebrow raised. The General clears his throat slightly before speaking: “Maybe we could confirm this with your planned demonstration?”

  “Of course.” The man says as he motions a man to jump into the vehicle.

  It races through the obstacle course, over ditches that would have been difficult for sabers to cross and passing over muck, mud and water easily enough. When it reaches a hill that would be too stiff to climb it spins so it’s side is facing the incline and simply moves along sideways. Finally the tank moves over to a targeting range, her three turrets aligning themselves like a broadside to fire against the presented targets. One by one they manage a hit, though a few go wide and two miss entirely. Finally it takes a firm anti-tank blaster round on its shields.

  “Who is manning the guns?” Cain asks.

  “The prototype is using some scavenged B1 battle droids currently.” Kelliak answers.

  “So the turrets can be used by both humanoid and droid operators?” I ask.

  “As long as the droids are also humanoid, yes. There’s also a prototype being tinkered with which has fully integrated turret droid systems.”

  “I think keeping humanoid operators as an option would be best.” Cain offers, “Integrated droid systems are more taxing on the power supply and could hamper with the minor shields”

  “Agreed, though I would continue the research, the enemy has shown the power of droid fighters and droid tanks. A Republic counterpart could be a good investment.” I say.

  “So … you are impressed with the Freerunner prototype?”

  I turn to Cain and the man ponders a moment before answering: “I’d see about optimizing its internal systems, but … for what you want of it. I’d say it does its job well enough.”

  “Then I’ll give my recommendation for the Procurement Office to begin our own trials post haste.” I say to a gleeful looking factory owner.

  “The press conference is up next, isn’t it?” Cain asks as we slowly start moving towards the ready room.

  “Yes, though we’ve got enough time to double check notes and the like before it starts.” I answer.

  “I don’t mean to question your orders, sir, but are you sure you wish to include me?” Cain asks.

  “The Hero of Handooine be present but not speak? How ever could I do that to the vultures?” I reply.

  “General Tapal lead our ground forces at Handooine.” Cain retorts.

  “And yet it was you who administered and ensured discipline among the garrison regiments and your division. Thanks to your experience and steadiness under fire I could almost reclassify those three garrison regiments as proper volunteer regiments, that’s certainly more than what Tapal managed.” I counter, marching up to the podium, a throng of reporters already surrounding it. Maker damn it, don’t think I’ve ever done a press conference before. I take the seat in the center as Cain takes the one on my right and Mr. Kelliak takes the one on my left.

  The Protocol droid in charge of moderation pipes up as the gaggle of reporters quiets down: “We will now begin the current press interview. We will start with the gentlebeing from the Cophrigin News Association.”

  “Trix Andlies, CophNA. Admiral Dericote, do you plan on stripping our world of our defenders once more?”

  Maker they weren’t starting easy: “No. There neither were nor are any plans to strip Cophrigin of her defensive section at any time. It was deemed necessary to temporarily assign the section to assist against a Separatist incursion into the Ash Worlds. Cophrigin wasn’t under threat, so temporarily reassigning the section was seen as practical.”

  The droid gives the nod to a different reporter, a Mon Calamari who jumps up with their recorder: “Mon Cala Sector News Network Association. Admiral, why did you strip us of our usual rights on how we operate our shipyards?”

  “I did no such thing.” I counter, “I am simply requesting Mon Cala’s obligations to the Republic’s war effort. I have furthermore requested less than I can and have little interest in demanding all that my current duties permit as it would be superfluous and cause unnecessary frictions.”

  “Cerulean Spear Press Association. Admiral any updates on the Temple Bombing you can give us?”

  “I have not yet been fully briefed on the situation, so I must decline to comment on the issue.” I reply evenly.

  The next reporter stands up: “Alsakan Principle Associated Press. Brigadier General Cain, how do you feel after your victory at Handooine?”

  Cain keeps a firm grip on his body language as he answers: “Exhausted and relieved that my men have a chance at reprieve.”

  “Combined Slice Entertainment Cooperation. Admiral, how much longer do you believe the war will last?”

  “No comment.” I reply.

  “Garel General Extraterrestrial News. Mr. Kelliak, what can you tell us of the prototype in development?”

  “It is a repulser tank which underwent preliminary trials on site and has been approved to undergo the Republic’s series of trials. She is to be a cheaper and more easily maintainable alternative to the current Saber tanks the Republic employs.” The factory owner answers easily.

  “Dac Trust News Network. Admiral, do you believe the Republic can win the war with Admiral Trench pushing along the Perlimian?”

  I take a moment to gather my thoughts, then answer with steel in my voice: “Republic victory is inevitable as long as her people do not surrender. Only now, after two years of war, have many of our shipyards shifted to a wartime production. We have billions of brave soldiers and sailors, throughout the galaxy, enlisting and finishing training. Even if Trench makes it to Anaxes, he will be thrown back and even before the loss of Taanab, Republic forces were advancing on every front. I will say it again, our victory is inevitable, the only question is how long and under what circumstances.”