Nine years, eight months, and five days after the Battle of Yavin…
Or forty-four years, eight months, and five days since the Great Resynchronization.
(Three months and twenty-five days since arrival).
— Quite a substantial haul, — muttered Tiberos, observing the caravan of transport ships aligning under the escort of Mon Calamari star cruisers under his command. — And, most importantly, no losses.
— Are you so certain of that, Captain Tiberos? — inquired the hologram of Grand Admiral Thrawn. — Prepare your ships to withdraw to the base location.
The privateer, fortunately masked, grimaced.
In truth, losses were undoubtedly incurred.
Among the pilots of the fighter wings carried within the cruisers' holds, as well as among the boarding parties of Wookiees and other sentients who were the first to storm the decks of enemy starships, suppressing resistance. Acting in New Republic uniforms, which Tiberos suspected were stripped from captured Republic soldiers, was uncomfortable. They were somehow ill-fitting.
But one had to adapt. Wookiees and certain other species had it easier—no uniform would fit them, so they wore what they pleased. At least they covered their modesty with fur.
However, these losses were insufficient to halt the operation. Three "fat convoys"! And what convoys they were!
— I meant losses in ships, — clarified Tiberos. — All cruisers remain combat-ready and prepared to continue assigned missions.
— I admire your resolve, Captain, — commended Thrawn. — However, what is the current count of captured ships under your command?
— Fifty, — Tiberos replied, his tone darkening as he realized Thrawn's point. — Including those Sullustian starships whose crew we failed to secure.
— And the Action-class freighter observing them, correct? — the Grand Admiral pressed.
— I admit, my men were unprepared for a convoy repairing its engines to be ready to scatter and escape on shuttles at our first appearance, rather than negotiate or otherwise engage, — the captain stated. — As for the freighter… It was impossible to detect in passive scanning mode. When it powered up its engines and scanned us with active sensors as a parting shot… My apologies, Grand Admiral. I was unprepared for that.
— There is no fault on your part, Captain Tiberos, — Thrawn said unexpectedly. — Everything proceeded as planned. Are you certain the Action positively identified your ships and the convoy?
— Affirmative, sir, — Tiberos assured. — We detected military-grade scanner activity, which is… atypical for freighters. Perhaps for pirates or auxiliary starships…
— Or for smugglers trading in information, — Thrawn clarified.
And then it all clicked.
It seemed Karrde was indeed rebuilding his accursed information empire. He had trailed the Sallastian caravan carrying industrial equipment, lying in wait to observe their actions. Then, "New Republic" ships arrived and attacked a neutral convoy.
Until now, the information space had only unsubstantiated rumors—based solely on eyewitness accounts—that New Republic ships were hunting starships linked to Santhe Corporation or conducting inspections of large freighters for possible ties to Lianna or the Empire. Now, Karrde had concrete data.
And he would undoubtedly sell it…
— Or for them, — Tiberos snorted. — Where should I deliver the starships?
— To the Karthakk system, — ordered the Grand Admiral. — A former pirate station has been allocated for your base there.
— Understood, — the privateer replied, half-mocking a formal response. — And…?
— By the time you return to Karthakk, your mother and Captain Nym will be delivered to you, — Thrawn informed him. — Furthermore… Do you still burn with desire to possess the Black Pearl?
— Yes, — the privateer replied fervently. Who wouldn't want a carrier-class Star Destroyer capable of delivering a devastating missile barrage? — Yes, Hutt's curse, yes!
— I understood after the first affirmation, — Thrawn said calmly. — Very well, the Black Pearl is currently in the Karthakk system. Upon your return, you may assume command and begin transferring crew from the cruisers to the destroyer, equipping it with the necessary technology as deemed appropriate by the system's new military commandant.
— New commandant? — Tiberos tensed. — Do I know them?
— I doubt it, — Thrawn replied. — You will meet upon arrival.
— As you command, Grand Admiral, — Captain Tiberos said, unease creeping in.
This intrigue… He didn't like it. Not one bit.
***
Coruscant-Prime was retreating to illuminate the other hemisphere of the capital planet, carrying away in its blood-red rays the carefree mood of all those involved in yet another emergency meeting of the Provisional Council…
And the invited specialists.
— I believe, — Mon Mothma said quietly, — it is time to begin.
The assembled offered no objections. However, their expressions suggested that the reports they had prepared were far from optimistic. If only they could be…
— Admiral Ackbar, — the head of the Provisional Government designated the first speaker.
The Mon Calamari, gazing at her with his large eyes, blinked several times before shifting his attention to the datapad in his hands.
— The restoration of the Fourth Military Fleet's core is proceeding relatively favorably, — he stated. — We have recalled all capital ships and corvettes from the futile search operations in the Ghost Nebula, as ordered by Counselor Fey'lya, — the Chandrilan felt a flush rise to her cheeks. It wasn't as the esteemed admiral claimed… Not at all. — This allows us to assert that Grand Admiral Thrawn did not destroy the Fourth Fleet, merely a smaller portion of it…
— While snatching a Bellator-class dreadnought from us, — General Solo interjected. — Knowing his penchant for trophies, rest assured—every ship Fey'lya sent there will soon bear Imperial identifiers and fight against us…
— General Solo, — Mon Mothma tapped her wooden gavel lightly on its stand. — Please… patience. You will have your chance to speak. Admiral Ackbar, continue.
The Mon Calamari cast a disapproving glance at Solo before continuing:
— The eastern sectors are secured. I've redeployed several starships from other fleets to balance the number of capital ships across them, but… We must acknowledge that until we recall our warships from transport duties—disarmed at Sluis Van, Fondor, Foerost, and other shipyards—our fleets retain at most a third of their capital ships. These are primarily Mon Calamari star cruisers. Due to significant starship losses, I've ordered an inventory of warehouses and begun reactivating anything that could aid us against Grand Admiral Thrawn.
— Star Destroyers would be useful, — General Solo interjected again. — But we're using them as freighters.
— Solely because, for similar dimensions, Imperial ships can carry more cargo, — Ackbar countered, unflinching. His expression made it clear—he was no more enthusiastic about this than before. But there was no alternative; without it, interstellar trade, already mired in crisis after years of war, destruction, disrupted logistics, and lost markets, would collapse entirely. The economy was the primary focus of the New Republic's restoration program. — An Imperial-class Star Destroyer can carry thirty-six thousand metric tons of cargo in its holds alone. A Mon Calamari MC80 star cruiser, in its most common variants, can manage only twenty. Yet their combat capabilities are equal…
— Due to the rapid shield regeneration on Mon Calamari ships, — the New Republic's intelligence chief, Admiral Hiram Drayson, remarked casually. — But not in terms of onboard weaponry.
— Your expertise in Imperial technology, particularly Star Destroyers, is unquestioned, — Mon Mothma said gently. She glanced at the hologram of the former smuggler. — General Solo, I ask you to refrain from disrupting the meeting. As I said, your report will have its turn…
The Corellian's cheek twitched almost imperceptibly.
— I just don't see the point in lying to ourselves, — he said. — Fey'lya disarmed the Star Destroyers solely to salvage Imperial weaponry for repairing and outfitting the Lusankya. Everyone here knows it. Why invent excuses and pretend otherwise?
Mon Mothma sighed discreetly, understanding that the general's concern wasn't this, but the fate of his wife and friends, trapped in the Ciutric Hegemony. In the hands of an Imperial Grand Admiral…
— Let us proceed, — she said softly. — Have you finished, Admiral Ackbar?
— Regrettably, — the Mon Calamari grumbled.
— Admiral Drayson, — the woman addressed the intelligence chief.
Her fellow Chandrilan looked exhausted, unsurprising given the workload recently thrust upon him and his subordinates.
— I'll begin with less favorable news, — he said. — This morning, through a neutral intermediary, the body of General Cracken was delivered to Coruscant. His death resulted from a blaster wound to the head at close range. Preliminary forensic findings suggest it may have been suicide.
— Or an execution, — Crix Madine said quietly. Drayson shot him a dour look but remained silent.
Admiral Drayson.
In truth, Madine was meant to lead New Republic Intelligence, but he preferred the front lines, working with troops, particularly the commandos he'd mentored since his Alliance days. Thus, the role fell to Drayson, whose expertise was more organizational than that of a seasoned operative. In a time when Intelligence teetered on collapse after losing a key figure, a manager was needed, not a spy.
— Perhaps, — Drayson didn't argue. — We were also handed prisoners from the Lusankya…
Mon Mothma winced.
Indeed, they were. And Thrawn, as usual, didn't hesitate to broadcast it galaxy-wide. "While the New Republic refuses to retrieve even those who survived the horrors of captivity in Ysanne Isard's personal prison, I shall show goodwill and return these sentients, who have endured such hardship, to their families." Bluntly put—a grand gesture that earned approval even on Coruscant.
It also left counterintelligence officers graying, grappling with nearly three hundred individuals of various species who could be "sleeper agents," programmed by the Iceheart on the Lusankya. Few knew this—only the leadership and those unfortunate enough to witness how a single covert signal could turn ordinary prisoners into assassins or saboteurs, unaware of their own capabilities.
Once again, the Grand Admiral had painted himself as a faultless hero in the public's eyes, while the New Republic appeared callous. And you couldn't explain to everyone that the government and military command feared what might happen if hundreds of thousands of prisoners were reintegrated.
Among them could be agents of influence, spies, sleeper agents, recruited informants, or outright Imperial saboteurs, deliberately mixed with genuine prisoners by Thrawn. Not to mention his demands for Imperial technology in exchange—demands that were, at minimum, unfeasible.
— … medical examinations were conducted. Their condition is satisfactory. Evidence suggests prolonged torture and starvation, but about a week ago, they began receiving medical treatment, vitamins, and qualified care, — Drayson continued. — The prisoners themselves confirm this. Moreover, they reported a rather curious detail.
— What? — Mon Mothma tensed, bracing for the worst.
— A significant number of the medics treating them were non-human, — the intelligence chief stunned the room.
— What are you implying? — Crix Madine asked quickly.
— It's simple, — Drayson sighed. — In the Ciutric Hegemony, non-humans are working for the Imperials, including in the military-medical service.
The revelation hit like a detonating bomb, silencing the room. The only sound was the hum of the ventilation.
The Galactic Empire, rooted in the human-centric ideology of the New Order, had never widely permitted non-humans in its armed forces or military units, except in cases of exceptional value.
A prime example was Grand Admiral Thrawn, whose non-human nature was evident even in holograms. Yet, determining his species remained elusive. The search had reached absurd lengths: rumors circulated that Thrawn was an artificially grown humanoid, created by the Emperor as a doomsday weapon in case of his death. Despite objective contradictions, this wild theory gained traction.
— "The New Order broke; bring the next one," — Han Solo said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. — They've outdone us even in propaganda, where we traditionally outshone the Empire.
— Thrawn employs wide-band broadcasting, — Drayson explained. — He somehow accesses HoloNet relays, allowing his messages to reach not just specific recipients but entire audiences connected to the network. Simultaneously, countless user accounts appeared on the HoloNet, endlessly sharing clips of Thrawn's speeches. It's snowballing and will soon bury us.
— What can we do to counter this? — Mon Mothma asked. — Counter-propaganda?
— And how do we refute his words? — Madine cautioned. — What he reports is factual, just framed to his advantage. If we explain the discrepancies, we'll drown in endless debates. It'll sound so pathetic on the holoscreens that no one will believe us.
— They barely believe us now, — Han Solo snorted. — How many sectors broke away this week?
Mon Mothma felt a pang of irritation. And sorrow.
— Three sectors and over a hundred star systems, — Drayson reported. — Mostly in the southern and western galaxy.
— Strategically, those systems were never significant, — Ackbar noted. — Even if they fall to the Empire, they won't greatly bolster the Imperial Remnants or the Ciutric Hegemony's military potential.
— Since those systems haven't shown eagerness to join Thrawn or other Imperial factions, — Madine added. After a pause, he continued:
— So, strategically, politically, and militarily, Thrawn has no victories on this front.
— I disagree, — Drayson countered. — His victory is ideological. He doesn't seize our territories—he makes the doubtful defect. This process is underway, and only the Force knows where it'll lead by year's end. In three months, he's achieved this much…
— What do we know of territories currently loyal to Thrawn? — Mon Mothma asked.
— The list is substantial, — Drayson stated. — The Ciutric Hegemony, Morshdine sector, and his starships have been spotted in the Sprizen and Nidjune sectors, per reports from undercover agents who revealed themselves after Cracken's death. We learned an Imperial outpost once existed in the Pakuuni system—it's gone now. But one has appeared in orbit around the fortress-world Makem Te, which, as you can imagine, supports Thrawn. Occasionally, hijackers and pirates deliver starships there, eagerly purchased by Thrawn. Recently, this supply has dwindled, possibly because Thrawn himself is hunting pirates. Planets like Trogan, Columex, Chasin, and Kelada openly sympathize with him…
— Isn't Kelada a speeder manufacturing hub? — Solo clarified.
— Correct, — Drayson confirmed. — Columex's gaming industry is likely just an economic appendage, with no military ships observed. Trogan is a backwater with no significant production.
— But it has a population, — Madine noted. — Like Chasin, Trogan could serve as a mobilization resource for Thrawn. Not to mention the billions of sentients in those four sectors, ensuring he has no shortage of crew for his own and captured starships. Especially if the Empire has abandoned its human-centric policies.
— Thrawn isn't the entire Empire, — Mon Mothma observed.
— Yet the other Imperial Remnants silently accepted his subjugation of the Ciutric Hegemony, — Madine countered. — Even in the Empire's feudal fragmentation, I doubt they'd endorse such actions from their Supreme Commander. Of all known Remnants, only the Pentastar Alignment, led by Grand Moff Kaine, has quietly abandoned such policies. Imperial space clings to its ideals. Smaller sectors under Imperial moffs do the same. This could be a potential schism among the Imperials. We must monitor developments and dispatch scouts to clarify the Imperial Ruling Council's intentions.
— Thrawn holds a strategically advantageous position, — Ackbar admitted reluctantly. — He controls a key region, effectively influencing major hyperspace routes in the New Territories. He also has a robust production base for TIE-series craft, still used by the Imperials. Other Remnants purchased from Krennel after falling out with Lady Santhe of Lianna, while maintaining a policy of containment against him. How the tide will turn now is unclear.
— Especially with the D'Astan sector nearby, — Madine noted. — Baron Ragez D'Asta is known for clashing with the Imperial Remnants and rejecting the New Order. He's a likely ally for Thrawn, given his tolerance policies.
— Moff Getelles of the Antemeridian sector recently collaborated with Prince-Admiral Krennel, — Drayson continued. — The Loronar Corporation there supplied Krennel with at least ten Strike-class medium cruisers. Thrawn may continue this, signaling closer ties.
— Formal alignment with Thrawn isn't in Getelles' interest, — Mon Mothma countered. — He relies on Loronar's taxes, and they profit heavily from contracts with us.
— Double standards are standard for major shipbuilding corporations, — Solo reminded. — Look at Kuat Drive Yards. They trade Star Destroyer components with the Imperials. And we can't stop them.
— Because it's not in our interest, — Mon Mothma stated. — We depend on arms suppliers, which imposes certain obligations.
— How are we different from the Empire, then? — Solo asked. — Palpatine catered to commercial and political elites. And Kuat Drive Yards didn't flinch after the attack on Kai Fel and the hyperdrive theft.
— They prioritized their reputation, — Ackbar explained. — Admitting a key world was easily robbed would signal weakness.
— And their millennia-long PR could crumble, — Drayson added. — So they downplayed the incident. Now, Kai Fel has about ten Star Destroyers and as many orbital defense platforms. Coruscant's defenses are only slightly better.
— Admiral Drayson, — Mon Mothma interrupted. — The Oplovis sector…
A single phrase was enough to make the intelligence chief slump, more telling than any words.
— I take it, — the Provisional Government head said slowly, — the sector has decided to secede from the New Republic?
— They weren't exactly fond of us after Admiral Drommel's death and the loss of the Guardian, — Drayson noted. — Joining us was impulsive, driven by fear of devastation by other Remnants. But now, with only the Kanz, Lahara, and Tragan sectors between Oplovis and Ciutric, the local government has grown bold. I expect they'll join Thrawn by next week's end. Especially after his ships struck our bases a month ago, including the old outpost on Akuria II—a Victory I-class Star Destroyer, identified as the Crusader in Thrawn's fleet, obliterated the base and its defenders. The Oplovis, Yuvern, Akuria, Vostrlig, and Harroda systems have voiced support for Thrawn. Our diplomatic mission was expelled, and our forces ordered to leave. However, the fortress-world Ketaris and the Sronk system remain sympathetic to us and haven't committed to Thrawn. No official decision yet, but for now…
— Thus, we've lost a strategically vital sector, — Ackbar declared. — A foothold in the Empire's heart and the well-equipped Oplovis sector fleet base on Harroda. Meanwhile, Thrawn gains access to the Vostrlig system's shipyards. Like Ciutric, they can't build new ships yet.
Oplovis sector
— But they could with Thrawn's support, — Madine noted. — If reports of Thrawn acquiring hyperdrives for cruiser and Star Destroyer-class ships are accurate, any shipyard with sufficient investment could produce vessels. Not quickly, but Thrawn now has three shipyards—Ciutric, Morshdine, and Vostrlig.
— Unless the Ubiqtorate claimed the Type II orbital repair yard at Tangrene when they fled three months ago, — Drayson pointed out.
— Right after Thrawn destroys our Dufilvian sector fleet? — Madine clarified. Drayson nodded curtly. — Doesn't that seem a curious coincidence? Thrawn attacks, and four months later, we learn the Ubiqtorate, feared to death by Imperial troops, abandons its base?
— Are you suggesting the Ubiqtorate fears Thrawn? — Mon Mothma posited.
Madine smiled thinly.
— Grand Admiral Thrawn may terrify us and the Imperials, but not the Ubiqtorate. I'd sooner believe they struck a deal, handing him their base in exchange for hunting down Garm Bel Iblis.
— That aligns with my theory that Thrawn was based in the Morshdine sector, — Ackbar said. — Remote territories, easily defensible with minimal forces, under Imperial control, and close to all attacked regions.
— And what does that gain us? — Solo asked, voicing a thought nagging at Mon Mothma.
— With a strong enough fleet, we could strike his base and reclaim Morshdine, — Drayson suggested.
— Sure, — Solo's hologram smirked wryly. — Fey'lya tried that. Remind me how it ended?
— Please, — Mon Mothma addressed the room. — Let's avoid mutual accusations. Unity is our strength in these trying times. On the other hand, — she looked at Ackbar, — if loyal territories remain in the Oplovis sector, why not organize their defense? The fortress-world Ketaris isn't easily cracked. Or am I mistaken?
The Mon Calamari blinked silently for a moment.
— We have no more than three Mon Calamari star cruisers in the sector, supported by a dozen escort frigates and other light craft. Given how easily Thrawn crushed superior forces, we risk losing this sector fleet like a pearl dropped into the ocean's depths, — he said, with the poetic flair typical of Dac natives.
— What about planetary defenses? — Solo asked. — Ketaris should have Golans and anti-orbital artillery.
— True, — Drayson unexpectedly supported. — But what guarantees Ketaris and Sronk's governments won't surrender before we reinforce the Oplovis sector? — He scanned the room. — You're not planning to leave the sector fleet, already weak, to face Thrawn's armada alone?
— Nor can we strip other sectors of their fleets, — Ackbar noted.
— Hold on, — Solo protested. — Are you seriously suggesting we abandon the sector fleet to Thrawn's armada?
— Of course not, — Ackbar countered, glancing at Mon Mothma. — If the Provisional Government approves, I'll deploy additional forces. But they'll still be outnumbered by Thrawn's.
— Not necessarily, — Madine said. — Thrawn is stretched across four sectors, plus several planets outside his confederation of Morshdine, Nidjune, Sprizen, and the Ciutric Hegemony. His operational forces are likely depleted. This could work if we position a reserve fleet near the Oplovis sector.
— Or, — Solo pressed, — we could seek aid from the Hapes Consortium. They have a formidable fleet.
— The Queen Mother is biding her time, — Mon Mothma stated. — They have enough internal issues to avoid intervening.
— The Lusankya? — the former smuggler persisted. — It's worth an entire fleet!
— Its commissioning remains incomplete, — Ackbar countered. — That super star destroyer is already the weakest of its class in armament. Without half its weapons, it's no stronger than the Crimson Dawn. Which we don't have, like sea foam on a calm ocean day.
— Then I'm lost, — Solo conceded. — The Bothans disarmed dozens of Star Destroyers at Sluis Van alone, and it happened everywhere—Sallast, Fondor… And we still don't have a ready super star destroyer?
Drayson and Madine exchanged glances.
— We still don't know where half the weaponry stripped from Imperial ships went, — Drayson admitted. — Unconfirmed reports suggest the Bothans' gray-market scheme was infiltrated by military equipment thieves.
— Like the Corellian ship hijackers who've been active lately? — Solo's hologram darkened.
— Precisely, — Madine confirmed. — Our data indicates about one hundred fifty Corellian corvettes and frigates were stolen in the last three months alone. The pattern is consistent—falsified maintenance accident reports. A specialized, large-scale hijacking crew is at work, one we've never encountered before. They may also be behind the equipment thefts. This could be how Thrawn is bolstering his fleet with new ships and parts.
— I knew a crook who specialized in stealing those ship types, — Han stroked his chin. — But even Ferrier couldn't pull off so many hijackings alone or with his gang without getting caught. Unless he operated across different locations and times…
— Up to thirty hijackings occurred simultaneously, — Drayson countered.
— Then it's definitely not Ferrier, — Solo said confidently. — He's not one to share his methods. Someone's mimicking his style.
— Regardless, — Madine summarized, — most hijackings occurred in the Corellian sector, outside our jurisdiction. Even if it's covert support from the Corellian Diktat for Thrawn's regime, our hands are tied—we can't confront the Corellians.
— Conversely, — Ackbar said, — if we prioritize my proposed fleet modernization program, focusing on building MC80 Liberty and MC80b star cruisers, we could quickly replenish our losses and strengthen the fleet with more effective, combat-capable starships than destroyers.
— We're already trying, Admiral, — Mon Mothma said conciliatorily. — But funds are insufficient for large-scale ship construction.
— We have several hundred Mon Calamari starships under construction since the year's start, — Drayson reminded. — Precisely the models Admiral Ackbar specified. I don't mean to overstep, — he glanced at the fleet commander, then Mon Mothma, — but perhaps we should focus on commissioning them? By reassigning crews from disarmed destroyers and other Imperial ships, we've freed up significant personnel to staff these new vessels.
Ackbar exchanged a look with Mon Mothma. The Provisional Government head nodded, permitting the disclosure of sensitive information.
— That's our current focus, — Ackbar said. — Lianna's accusations of piracy against her caravans, threatening to terminate contracts for TIE-series supply and maintenance, and Kuat Drive Yards' unilateral price hikes make shifting to Mon Calamari technology and Incom Corporation purchases the wisest choice. It supports both our economy and our steadfast allies.
— I hope this leads to trading Thrawn the disarmed Star Destroyers for our prisoners once these ships are ready? — Solo pressed. Mon Mothma met his hologram's gaze. Tense, exhausted… This man was clearly worried for his wife, children—allegedly granted Imperial citizenship by birth on Imperial soil—and friends, all under Thrawn's control. A troubling fact.
If Thrawn was indeed working with Isard…
The horrors she inflicted on Lusankya prisoners, programming sleeper agents, could befall them.
But abandoning them was unthinkable.
Neither morally nor politically.
A Jedi Knight, Provisional Council member, her Force-sensitive children, Rebel Alliance heroes… Even Garm Bel Iblis, despite his difficult nature—all were political capital whose return could yield more benefit than potential harm.
Mon Mothma had already ordered discreet surveillance upon their return. Containing such figures in camps for former prisoners would be political suicide. Thrawn had already maneuvered them to the edge of a precipice, daring them to leap without hope of survival…
— Grand Admiral Thrawn has, in a way, done us a favor by demanding Imperial technology for our prisoners, — she said slowly. Ackbar shifted, sensing she was about to voice their recent confidential discussion. — We lack rights to maintain TIE-series craft, and many damaged Star Destroyers are either used as transports or languish in shipyards. Admiral Drayson will equip them with tracking systems to monitor their movements within Thrawn's territories. We'll proceed with the exchange—before attempting to retake the Oplovis sector.
— Sounds like a special operation, — Solo remarked.
— It is, — Ackbar confirmed. — We'll assess risks and determine if Thrawn plans to move troops into the Oplovis sector. If he seizes it, we'll deploy a fleet based on the forces he stations there. Whether we send combat-ready Star Destroyers or disarmed, poorly maintained ones—burdening our economy and shipyards—depends on intelligence.
— So, either an exchange or a thrashing for Thrawn? — Solo clarified.
— Precisely, — Mon Mothma affirmed. — If we defeat him in the Oplovis sector, we'll strike Trogan, Columex, Chasin… After a loss, with several destroyers gone, he'll negotiate on our terms.
— Sounds reasonable, — Solo said, though his expression showed little enthusiasm. — But… What about former Imperials? Many looking to rejoin him?
— Mostly civilians, — Drayson said. — Few are former military, mostly volunteers with limited skills. No high-ranking officers have been noted.
— And Carida? — Madine asked. — The stormtrooper forge remains neutral, selling training services to the highest bidder?
— Correct, — Drayson confirmed. — But they're indifferent to Thrawn. Carida's government and command are staunch Imperial chauvinists and human supremacists. They won't work with a non-human.
— Some good news, at least, — Solo said. — What about… Palpatine?
Mon Mothma kept her expression neutral.
— We've concluded that tales of the Emperor's resurrection are mere disinformation, a tactic Grand Admiral Thrawn favors, — Drayson stated, reflecting the collective decision.
The Corellian rolled his eyes…
— General Solo, — Mon Mothma redirected. — Now, report on our military stockpiles in the Sluissi sector…
Palpatine—Thrawn's disinformation.
No confirmation, no refutation.
Only hope.
Hope that they were being deceived.
What a farce…
***
Above Daplona, capital of Ciutric IV, the dawn sun rose, its crimson-orange rays casting favor upon homes, cities, and sentients already stirring.
And those not inclined to stir at this productive pre-dawn hour.
I regarded the sentient seated before me.
He wasn't the first of his rank under my command.
Freja Covell, overseeing the evacuation of Mount Tantiss, or Major General Karner, commanding Imperial forces on Garos IV, where the cloaking mineral hybrendium was mined industrially.
Yet this man, though no longer in active Imperial service, was striking. Even in civilian attire, he couldn't conceal his military bearing. When you dedicate most of your life to the army, it seeps into your core, under your skin… It's indelible. It's with you forever.
A cold, emotionless gaze from brown eyes, like the barrels of heavy laser cannons. I'd seen such eyes in Molo Himron, Erik Shohashi, Grodin Tierce… The eyes of a professional killer.
Intelligence had thoroughly refined his biography, supplementing our Imperial dossier.
Born fifty-nine years ago on the ecumenopolis Denon in the Core Worlds. A working-class family, middle-tier.
Upon entering the military academy, he chose armored ground forces, believing the massive vehicles of the Clone Wars best embodied his personality and the Galactic Empire's ideals, in which he believed wholeheartedly.
He approached his training with fierce determination, displaying remarkable intellect and initiative, surviving several "suicidal missions" and exceeding objectives. This highlighted his relentless efficiency in achieving goals—not flamboyantly, but effectively. The distinction is significant.
The man before me graduated top of his class. Deemed highly skilled and dangerous, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and assigned to command an AT-AT walker. Barely out of training, the young commander was dispatched to the barbaric Outer Rim world of Culroon III.
The Culroon III campaign was designed to forge or break young graduates. Failure likely meant death. The man before me quickly learned the Empire tolerated neither incompetence nor failure. When local tribes ambushed and killed most of the landed troops, the then-lieutenant acted decisively, annihilating the enemy and saving what Imperials he could.
This victory sparked his rapid career ascent, a rarity in the Empire. It drew attention from political figures and those invested in promoting patriots over "general's sons" or political elites awarded ranks to appease influential kin.
He lost his wife when his son was young, to a rare illness contracted during a family vacation. The dossier noted this tragedy fueled his relentless military career, distancing him from his son, who needed paternal care. The child faced a psychological crisis, while the Imperial, consumed by work, enrolled him in a COMPNOR youth division… A risky move. A fragile psyche, yearning for a lost mother, Imperial propagandists, teenage rebellion… What could go wrong?
On Earth, there's a fitting saying: "You can be an exceptional professional or a father, but not both." I know this from experience.
Prioritizing personal life ruins careers. Obsessing over career destroys families. Balancing service and family without constant crises is arduous.
But back to my interlocutor.
His loyalty to the Empire and its army paid off with a promotion to command the Imperial garrison on Corellia. Yet he remained a recognized authority on AT-AT tactics and combat deployment. He frequently returned to Carida's academy to deliver guest lectures for AT-AT crews and showcase new walker prototypes. Notably, during one such demonstration shortly before the Battle of Yavin IV, he caught Darth Vader's eye by repelling a Rebel invasion attempting to disrupt a new AT-AT prototype test on Carida.
At the time, the young colonel lacked sufficient patrons, and his standing with Vader wasn't enough for the Dark Lord to personally shape his career. His ascent seemed to stall…
His transfer to command ground forces on the first Death Star nearly ended in disaster, arriving amid the battle that destroyed the station.
Crash-landing in Yavin IV's jungles, he survived unfamiliar terrain without support, evading Rebel hunting parties, and reached an evacuation team just before the Rebel base was cleared.
Back on Corellia, he helped purge Black Sun criminals, collaborating with local law enforcement, including Corran Horn—then a CorSec operative, known to me indirectly. Truly, this galaxy is a village.
Notably, his file records that after the Black Sun purge, he drew the original Thrawn's attention, who recommended the brilliant ground commander to Vader. This explains his presence here.
However, Thrawn's influence on his career shouldn't be overstated.
The first Death Star's destruction created a power vacuum among senior officers, as wartime losses do, making it unsurprising that a talented officer was noticed.
Especially after he developed a new AT-AT prototype, dubbed the "walker." Unfortunately, the planet hosting the project seceded from the Empire. Naïve locals thought they'd be allowed… Darth Vader swiftly crushed the rebellion, with the colonel and his "walker" playing a key role.
Only then did Vader, impressed, personally push for his promotion, bypassing several senior colonels, placing him in command of the Death Squadron's ground forces. Vader's elite unit, led by the legendary Executor, was dangerous but invaluable for career growth and skill application.
Within weeks, the new major general cut his forces by ten percent, boosting efficiency by fifty. His timing was impeccable, as the Alliance High Command's secret Echo Base on Hoth was soon discovered.
The Battle of Hoth…
A veritable saga.
The major general lived up to his reputation and Vader's expectations.
He swiftly deployed his armored regiment, dubbed Blizzard Force, in Echo Base's mountain valley, personally destroying the shield generator protecting the Rebel base. However, he nearly perished—future Rogue Squadron pilot Derek Klivian crashed his damaged ship into the walker's cockpit. Details on the pilot are unclear, but the man…
Attempting to flee the walker's bridge, he wasn't fast enough. A falling support beam shattered his leg bones beyond reconstruction or bacta's aid. Like many in the galaxy, he distrusted cybernetics and refused prosthetic legs, confining him to a repulsorchair for life.
Further compounding his suffering was his son's disgraceful actions, tarnishing his name. He saw through a potential trap, but his son's deeds brought shame to their family in Imperial circles, despite his Hoth victory. The stigma would haunt him forever.
After Emperor Palpatine's death at Endor, my guest served under Admiral Sander Delvardus. Delvardus soon formed the Eriadu Authority, an Imperial Remnant faction, which the general and other officers criticized.
In the years that followed, he drifted between Imperial commanders, seeking new roles. His disability became a barrier—Imperial prejudice barred a man no longer physically swift or strong from active service. Imperial shortsightedness alienated a once-celebrated, now-disgraced major general.
This worsened when details emerged of the Emperor's death and Vader's role. The fate of the 501st Legion's survivors befell my guest.
Shunned or outright rejected due to his ties to Vader, most post-Endor officers despised anyone who served under and outlived the Dark Lord. For six years, the major general wandered the galaxy, watching his beliefs and struggles crumble. Disillusioned and maddened by the Empire's path, his sense of duty and honor kept him from desertion.
From what I recall of his fate, he joined the original Thrawn. After Thrawn's defeat, humiliated, he believed the Reborn Emperor welcomed him, only to be sent on a suicidal mission, ending in the ignominious death of a great military mind.
I'm grateful fate brought us together now. Intelligence efforts to locate him failed, so the HoloNet calls proved worthwhile, at least partially.
If this man is loyal, my ground forces, soon to face intense combat, are secure.
His aggressive combat style and groundbreaking ground tactics became legendary, taught in academies. In nearly sixty years, he revolutionized Imperial military thought. He led from the front, sowing death and destruction, facing the same dangers as his troops, earning their respect and near-reverence as a ground forces commander.
Under enemy fire, he was courageous, unshaken, with superb tactical acumen.
— What drives you, Major General? — I inquired.
— Duty, — he replied. — To the Empire's ideals.
— A broad concept, — I noted. — What does it mean to you personally?
— Clear objectives, law, order, discipline, — he answered without hesitation. — Destroying enemies.
— Is that so, — I said. — All enemies, without exception?
The major general sensed a trap. How else to explain his attempt to pin me to my chair with a single glare? Even Rukh stirred in the shadows—his obsidian dagger glinted. Sharp, but fragile.
— I am a soldier, — he said firmly, meeting my eyes. — I follow orders.
— But you're no stormtrooper, — I countered. — You're a ground general, authorized to make decisions. My interest is simple: are you prepared to destroy any enemy I, the Supreme Commander, designate?
The major general narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to peer into my mind for hidden motives.
Predictably, he found nothing.
— Yes, sir, — he agreed after a brief staring contest. — Any enemy.
— Even your son, Zevulon, an officer of the New Republic? — I pressed. — A traitor, disillusioned with the New Order. As are we all under my command, including you, General…
The major general's face became a mask of grim resolve, facing a moral-ideological dilemma. Loyalty to the Empire versus the possibility of confronting his own child on the battlefield—and potentially destroying him.
Intelligence was clear—his son was his father's equal in combat.
— Yes, — he answered firmly. — Betraying the New Order isn't betraying the Empire's ideals. If necessary, I'll fight him. But I'll take measures to capture him alive.
His son—his sole vulnerability. His last hope to leave a legacy, not just of destruction, but creation.
For a disabled man, unable to walk, this was paramount.
But for me, it's inconsequential.
The decision was made.
— Accepted, Major General Maximillian Veers, — I stood, circled the desk, approached the broken yet unbroken man, and extended my right hand, removing my glove. — Ready to return to service?
Maximillian Veers
He fixed me with a gaze like a targeting lock. General Veers, mentor to Freja Covell and an icon of Imperial forces, a fixture of Imperial propaganda, shook my hand firmly.
— Always ready, Grand Admiral, — he said dryly. — Show me your novices. I'll teach them to love the AT-AT.
Perfect.
Exactly what I needed.
— Welcome to the Dominion, Major General.