I stare out into the void as three Imperial class battleships exit hyperspace over the blue pearl I had spent the last four years of my life protecting. Each one of those battleships could likely take on a third of my battlegroup if they were skillfully piloted and managed. Each ship had a compliment of seventy two strikecraft and enough heavy turbolasers to smash a Separatist squadron in the early years of the war. After all, sixty dual heavy turbolaser batteries, six dual heavy turbolaser turrets, two dual heavy ion cannon turrets, sixty light ion cannon batteries and forty point defense laser emplacements was nothing to scoff at, especially when tripled.

  These ships were all the mistakes of the Tector undone, though with less heavy armor and slightly smaller in size. It was a force multiplier for any battlegroup. It was a mobile city. It was a floating headquarters large enough for an entire sector if necessary. It was imposing. It was expensive. It was a power projector. It was a strategic asset of which already five hundred had been produced in the last year.

  It was … ridiculous.

  “Hail the incoming ships. I want to know why Tarkin is imposing on us.” I order.

  “On it, sir.” Commander Slas replies.

  “Remind the Home One to keep calm. Tarkin probably just wants to take over the negotiations.” I order.

  “Onit.” Slas’ second reports.

  “The Sovereign has established comms link.” Slas reports.

  “Front and center.” I order as I turn to face the hologram emitter.

  Tarkin appears soon enough, looking rather bored: “Dericote, as prompt as ever.”

  “Tarkin. To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask.

  “Your continued support of Mon Cala and her colonies has made your ability to lead the negotiations between Mon Cala and the Empire into question. I am here to oversee it in your stead, though that is not the only reason as to why I am here. I would ask you to join us on the Sovereign post haste.”

  “Is something wrong?” I ask.

  “Likely so. You will be briefed once you arrive on my ship. Be careful and mind your tongue, Lord Vader is in … a mood.”

  “Very well. Expect me within the hour.”

  “Very good, dismissed.” Tarkin orders, the hologram going out after.

  I sigh before turning to Mi-Kus: “Prepare my shuttle and an escort. I think … Captain Bugs and a squad of loyal Stormtroopers would be appropriate.”

  “Should I wake your … personal Intelligence Attache?” Mi-Kus asks.

  “If he asks, inform him of my whereabouts. Surely he cannot be disheartened by my absence when I am meeting with the Emperor’s left and right hands.” I answer.

  “Very well. I’ll get everyone assembled.

  “Do so.” I order before returning to gazing at the three daggers pointed at Mon Cala’s heart. I had a bad feeling about this.

  My shuttle finishes its approach as I start moving out of the passenger area and towards the ramp. Tarkin and Vader were here. I press my hand against my slugthrower to try and steady myself. Now was not the time to worry, not the time to let fear shine through and certainly not the time to hesitate. The ISB has been busy following my false trails, missing the dunes for the grains of sand. Tarkin and Vader may know more than that, but I’ve been pruning my command as well as possible while taking on malcontents and people an inch away from expulsion for anti-imperial thought.

  The ramp lowers and I descend to see an officer, a naval Captain, there to greet me with a few officers and Stormtroopers at parade rest on each side. I stand at the bottom most part of the ramp as I speak: “Captain, permission to come aboard?”

  “Permission granted, sir.” The man replies before snapping a salute which I return easily enough.

  I shake the man’s hand as I greet him: “Fleet Admiral Dericote of the 120th Battlegroup, 97th Outer Rim Squadron, 347th Outer Rim Section and Little Revenge.”

  “Captain Dimitrius of the Sovereign, it is a pleasure, sir.” The man replies as he turns to offer me escort.

  “Bugs, half with me, half at the shuttle.”

  “Roger that, sir. Alpha team with me, Gamma team stay here.” The veteran Clone orders.

  “Are you privy to inform me of why both Moff Tarkin and Lord Vader have chosen to dignify my little corner of the Empire with their presence?” I ask as we fall into marching towards the hangar bay elevator.

  “Reported Jedi activity and the noticeable increase in Mon Cala Merchant Fleet ship production.” The man replies openly.

  “Hm.” I grunt, “Heard about possible Jedi activity, but my informants believed it to be a Separatist ploy to make us question the loyalty of our most ardent supporters within my command.”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “A possibility for certain, but the risk was deemed large enough to ensure Lord Vader’s personal interest and that of the Inquisition.”

  I almost stop mid step as I turn to the man: “The Inquisitorious too? How many resources has Lord Vader allocated to this wild mudpup chase?”

  “Three Inquisitors and multiple further Inquisitorial, Stormtrooper Corps and Imperial Army assets.”

  I only manage to gather my thoughts after such a bombshell as we enter the elevator: “That’s an invasion force. Have … have there been reports of Separatist activity outside of my command nearby? I didn’t see mention of it previously and my portion of the Tion Cluster’s been mostly quiet.”

  “Not really. I mean the remnants of the Felucian Separatists, those Sy Myrthians and the occasional Tionese revolt are well in hand.” The Captain says as the elevator starts to slow.

  “Hm.” I let out in a grunt as I think through the rounds in my slugthrower. One standard, four Cortosis, two buckshot, one bolo. It would have to do.

  Stepping onto the bridge was … disconcerting. It was far too quiet with Tarkin looking out at the shipyards and Lord Vader and his posse of Inquisitors off to the side. Vader … was as intimidating in person now as he had been but two months ago. Tall, fully armored and with a presence like that of an impending sandstorm.

  “Bugs, stand by the door. No hasty actions.”

  “We’ll do our best, Admiral.” Bugs replies, his men already spreading out by the blast doors.

  Tarkin turns away from his viewing as I march up to him, ignoring the force wielders in the room as I do: “Moff Tarkin, a pleasure as always.”

  “Fleet Admiral Dericote, I see your territories still hold steady despite your recently decentralized forces.” Tarkin says, the insult not flying over my head.

  “Well we can’t all be in his grace’s favor at once, can we.” I reply slightly coldly.

  “I’m sure once the ISB has finished vetting you and your contacts the Emperor will be willing to return your usual standing.” Tarkin tries to appease. Too late for that.

  “I am sure.” I reply before turning out to look over Dac, “What brings you here? Your Captain mentioned the possible Separatist agitators spreading rumors about a Jedi, was that all it took to send three Imperial Star Destroyers and grab the attention of Lord Vader and the Inquisitorious itself?”

  “Not rumors, fact.” Lord Vader’s voice echoes through the bridge as I shift my head slightly to see the iron fist of the Empire standing behind me. Stay calm, be calm, this was my territory, my home turf, I had all the advantage here.

  “Then you have better local informants than I.” I reply, not bothering to turn further as I speak, “Not particularly surprising since his excellency decided I was a better servant when blind to the actions around me. Haven’t even been permitted to have an Attache from Imperial Intelligence or Fleet Intelligence to counterbalance my useless ISB investigator.”

  “We believe the Jedi is being harbored by King Lecher of Mon Cala and has begun training further Jedi in secret.” Tarkin says, ignoring my comment.

  “His majesty is known as King Lee-Char.” I correct absentmindedly, “And I doubt his majesty or anyone in his council would risk the homeworld of their polity just to harbor a few Jedi survivors. Though they could be manipulated by the magics the Jedi can force on one’s mind. The fallen Jedi and traitor Krell did much the same to me.”

  “A simple explanation when it is just as likely that they are harboring traitors to the Empire.” Vader says, his breathing like a drumbeat of impending doom.

  I frown as I turn to face the menace, anger distilled into my voice as I speak to the Emperor’s Iron Fist: “Now listen here. Mon Cala has served the Republic and now the Empire dutifully. If you want to investigate the matter, then investigate it, but such a heavy handed response for a simple rumor will cause unrest throughout the command, never mind Mon Cala’s colonies! You will be forcing them to choose sides and they will not choose yours. I doubt it is the Emperor’s will that you destabilize this corner of the Empire further, especially since the Emperor will not return the shipyards to their rightful ma- ma- a- a-”

  I can’t breathe. I grasp at my throat with a metal hand, my eyes wide with fear and rage as I struggle. My memories quickly jump back to the throneroom. Damn it, I had gotten cocky.

  “You will not question the methods of the Inquisitorious and the will of the Emperor.” Vader says as I continue to gasp for air. My lungs start to burn. My hand of flesh inches towards my slugthrower slowly, deliberately. If he was gonna kill me I’d at least take the sun of a bitch with me!

  “Vader, enough.” Tarkin cautions and suddenly I can breathe again. I suppress the instinct to pull my slugthrower out and end the bastard in front of me. I wasn’t dead yet. Now was not the time for rash actions.

  “I’m reporting this.” I mutter, “Worse than the Jedi.”

  Vader laughs. It brings a chill to my heart and makes a shiver run up my spine: “The Emperor does not take kindly to reports of petty officers disagreeing with his right hand.”

  I was no petty officer! The gall, this monster deserved a nice hemp necktie and … I close my eyes in defeat as I nod in acceptance: “Then what is your plan?”

  “Ambassador Telvar is currently negotiating with King Lee-Char’s council and gauging their willingness to cooperate. Ground forces are prepared in case they are required. Once the Jedi have been found, the Inquisitorial detachment and Lord Vader will exterminate them. If Mon Cala resists we will deploy our ground forces, if it doesn’t we will hold them in reserve in case they are required. All our forces will ensure the Merchant Fleet doesn’t do anything they will regret.” Tarkin explains.

  I sigh before nodding: “Very well. I suppose you will be leading the operations in orbit, Moff Tarkin?”

  “Yes I will.” Tarkin replies smugly.

  “Then the 120th and 99th are yours to do with as needed for the duration of the operation. If that is all, I shall be returning to my post.”

  “You won’t be joining me here?” Tarkin asks.

  “I certainly can, if required of me, however I have had my fill of … the Sovereign.” I say while purposefully avoiding Lord Vader’s gaze.

  “Before you leave, Admiral.” Lord Vader says and I turn towards him.

  “Sir?” I ask.

  “Your continued disrespect is not conducive to you returning to the Emperor’s good graces.” Vader says.

  I suppress the urge to shout and rage and kill the monster as I nod: “It will be taken under advisement, … my lord.”

  “Leave us.” The Force wielder says.

  I snap a salute before marching out of the bridge. Giving the three Inquisitors a short glance as I do. I could probably take one or two of them with enough planning time. But three of them with Lord Vader? Never. Maker keep the poor fucks they’ll likely murder planetside.

  Raddus looks at the Imperial negotiator, Telvar he thinks, as the man continues to prattle on about the benefits Mon Cala has had under the Republic and how the Empire was the Republic but better in every way. How Mon Cala was benefiting from the trade, how she needed the Empire for protection, how the Empire simply wanted its fair due.

  “And when will the Empire release her stranglehold on our shipyards?” King Lee-Char interrupts.

  The man blinks in confusion for a moment then responds: “What ever do you mean?”

  “The Republic enacted military emergency protocols, as was her right, to take control of two thirds of all of Mon Cala’s and her colonies’ shipyard production. The Empire has upheld this decision and despite our repeated pleas alongside the yards of Corellia, Rendili, Fondor, Duro, Bestine, Bothawui, Jaemus, Byblos, Lianna, Ord Trasi, Sluis Van, Sullust and Yaga Minor. So we ask again now, since our Senator will not be heard and Fleet Admiral Dericote is being shunned, when will the Empire return full control of our shipyards?”

  “I do not claim to know what our Emperor plans or when he wishes to return the shipyards to you.”

  “You mean if he returns them to us.” Adviser Barr spits.

  “It is my understanding that they will be returned once the final Separatist holdout has been eliminated.” Telvar supplies.

  “And when will that be? Hundreds of worlds are still in revolt to the south, far fewer than the tens of thousands from months past, yet still significant. Mimban has turned into a worse Jabiim. The Sy Myrthians and Argai still hold their territories in defiance of your fleets. Felucia, Wobani and Anzat are still in Separatist hands. Not to mention the countless smaller worlds you have yet to even consider. So tell me, when will our yards be returned to us?” Lee-Char presses.

  “I do not know.”

  “Then we are unsure if there is even reason to negotiate for trade with the Empire. We have independent treaties with many worlds in the regional command to supply us with the raw materials to build our own ships, feed and clothe our people with luxuries and defend ourselves from any Separatist remnants. The only thing the Empire holds is our yards. That is the only thing you even slightly control which we want. And you cannot give it.”

  “No I cannot.” Telvar admits.

  “Then we see no reason to further negotiations at this point. Perhaps you should ask Lord Vader if he knows when our yards will be returned to us.” Lee-Char suggests, “We will patiently await the Emperor’s lieutenant’s reply.”

  Telvar shrinks in on himself slightly before bowing: “Very well. I shall return in a day’s time. Perhaps we will be able to make more progress then.”

  “We certainly hope so. Now go and ask your master for his answer.” King Lee-Char orders.

  I watch carefully as the shuttle leaves atmosphere and begins gently weaving its path through the various shipyards in orbit of Dac. So far so good. No one was dead and Mon Cala could continue to play hardball until they got what they want. I nod to myself, soon Tarkin and Vader would leave having found nothing of value and I could return to my work.

  I needed to see if I could loose a convoy transporting heavy turbolasers some time soon to increase the stockpile at Hast. Refits were rather weapons intensive after all and the sooner we could ensure Mon Cala had more proper battleships the sooner the revolt could begin.

  “Sir, I’m picking up power fluctuations on Ambassador Telvar’s shuttle.” Commander Welder reports.

  My brows furrow together: “See if we can get a better re-”

  A flash of red and yellow interrupts my thoughts as the shuttle explodes.

  “Oh, no.” I hear an Adjutant mutter.

  I say the first thing that comes to mind: “Maker damn it.”