Author-san: We are so close to getting stars on webnovel, just 3 more reviews please I beg you if you are reading this on webnovel (which it has 600+ people who added it to their library as of now) please take like 3 minutes and review honestly what you like and dislike and what I could improve upon and some ideas.
Anywho I have no migrane but I am getting extensive blood tests done for the next 2 weeks so I will be weak and have a headache anyway, fuck me sideways.
Also sorry it took so long to put out this chapter, I have been uhhh pre-occupied playing M&B bannerlord lmao, sori.
***
Sigh.
I quoted Kane from Command and Conquer because I though it would be fitting. Who knew people would take these words so fucking seriously?! I cant go 2 minutes without someone saying "peace through power" to me like a greeting, they have been at it for a week now, even some of the clans are starting to use it. Though I kind of like the sound of it, better than just the standard glory to the empire.
But after that initial high we are back to our regular schedule of me getting walloped by Atii in the training and doing paperwork, at least the ships are fixed up now and the crew is mostly ready with the militia also now at least 2,000
I sat alone in the command center late at night, the only light coming from the holotable and the faint glow of the city through the viewport. After the whole day of noise its finally quiet in the palace with the only noise being those of the night shift guards patrolling the corridors and the hum of the air recyclers along with other machinery.
The last seven days had been a blur of movement and monumental decisions, I had ordered three small raids on independent slaver and pirate operations fast hit-and-runs in and out, we hit two convoys and one lone transport. Freed 47 slaves mostly Twi'lek and Togruta, some humans and an alien species that looks like a crab but on steroids, took weapons, fuel, medical crates, credits and towed their ships back and are undergoing repairs and refits now, at a snails pace, we still need to build an actual repair yard, we make due with putting the ships on the ground like peasants for now.
But its still hell of a lot more fucking profitable than just tax fraud, we are getting better at this.
Reconstruction is mostly done by now and life is back to normal.
Sigh.
I am sighing way too much recently, but come the fuck on, why wasn't I born way before the Clone Wars, better yet why not be born to a wealthy core world governor or business moghul though I am happy I am still a human.
Now as for next steps, I need allies and I know where to start at least.
I opened a secure line to Jaster at his mandalorian mountain compound, hopefully the old man is not sleeping.
I opened the secure line to Jaster.
The holo flickered to life after a few seconds. Jaster's scarred face appeared in the projection.
Well he was sleeping but not anymore, might as well get on with it.
"Governor," he said, voice low and gravelly. "Late hour. Everything alright?"
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing the back of my neck. "Everything's holding. The city's quiet. The raids this week went clean. But I've been thinking."
Jaster waited, like always, I never actually seen him be forceful about something except maybe training. I took a breath and laid it all out." I want you to contact any Mandalorian friends or clan remnants you know. Anyone looking for a place to settle. Small groups, larger ones, doesn't matter if you think they would fit in invite them. Lead the conversation by telling them that Elyria is on the very outskirts, Empire's grip here is loose almost non-existent except the taxes to the fat Moff of the entire region and occasional audit that can be bribed, Elyria is still part of the Empire on paper, but I run this system my way with my rules, it's a safe haven."
I took a breath and immediately started to finish what I was saying
"Peace and quiet, supplies at cost, beautiful scenery by the way, they can land on Elyria II if they prefer dust, in exchange they will be training and patrolling the system and occasional mercenary work, I am not some snobby governor heir or whatever I am not breathing down your peoples necks so I wont do it to them, their neck, just a place to rebuild."
I finished my little speech and wait for Jaster to respond, fingers crossed he actually says yes. Double fingers crossed if he convinces some of his buddies to settle here. Triple fingers and toes crossed that they are not deathwatch remnant or sympathisers.
Jaster studied me for a long moment, four fingers drumming on the table in front of him through the hollo I can see his face is as inexpressive as ever, and him not answering right away is starting to strain my poker face.
Finally after a literal 2 minute stand off he answered, and when he did, his voice was cautious but not dismissive slightly positive, the way he got when something interested him but he wasn't ready to commit.
"A lot of clans especially the smaller ones lost their ancestral grounds and estates during the Siege and subsequent imperial occupation and being driven by the imperial lapdogs of clan Saxon. With their houses burned, and any holdings they had seized they became nomads now, wandering and taking contracts where they can. Most aren't keen on working for Imperials who bombarded Mandalore and still hunt us in the shadows throughout most of the galaxy."
Well shit, there goes my plan.
I was about to slouch slightly in disappointment when he continued talking after a pause. His eyes narrowing slightly.
"But I could vouch for you to some who know my name, they know I don't take contracts lightly. And the fact you lost your parents to Imperial politics… that might make them sympathetic and at least listen to what you can offer, you're not one of the moffs. You're a kid who's parents might have been core worlder politicians but from what I have heard they were actually decent and they died and you got thrown into exile and then built something here. Elyria being out of the way and safe is a big plus too."
He then actually chuckles, actually fucking chuckles. "Yes, the scenery is indeed beautiful on Elyria"
I blinked slowly trying and failing to show my weirded out expression at the fact he showed a human like positive emotion which was chuckling, maybe he is still half asleep and its just some weird form of sleep walking?
I cleared my throat before answering him.
"Ah, yes." Cough.
"That's exactly what I'm offering, beautiful scenery, home, land, resources contracts and a place to raise families without looking over their shoulders every day."
And Jaster is back to his normal self, he didn't realise I was weirded out by his chuckle right?
Fucking nailed it.
Jaster leaned forward, the holo image sharpening. "We'd need to be careful who we invite though, not every remnant is… stable. Some are still raw from Mandalore, some carry grudges against anything Imperial, confederate or republic, even if it's in name only."
There goes my brief joy.
Jaster went silent as he appeared lost in though for a moment before typing out something for a minute and sending it through, making my eyebrows rise.
- Clan Beviin small around 40 or so, mostly technicians and pilots. Lost their forge on Mandalore, they have 1 C90 and 2 civilian freighters. Good mechanics, could help with ship repairs.
- Clan Gavri warriors and families, about 90 total, they have 1 Kom'rk and 3 small civilian haulers, slow and small, but reliable for moving people.
- Clan Rau'kade mixed fighters and civilians, roughly around 130 last time I heard, 2 Kom'rks and 2 heavy transports with 1 modified for extra passengers.
- Clan Torvyn balanced group, about 100, 1 Kom'rk and 2 civilian freighters and a recently seized barely functioning hauler, specialized in repair work and machinery.
- Clan Vhett quiet and fast, less than 80, 1 Kom'rk and 1 ancient hauler that is barley flying but heavily armed.
- Clan Wren'kar strong on warriors but rowdy and brutal around 150 maybe less, 2 Kom'rks and 3 civilian transports, heavily modified and armed for long-distance travel.
- Clan Ordo splinter very small, less than 30 and around 20 more allies from other clans they picked up along the way, met them around a month before getting your offer, from what I have seen they had 1 badly damaged Kom'rk and 2 civilian freighters though 1 was too badly damaged while the other took a beating because of a Hutt who was disappointed with their performance.
- Clan Skirata remnant even smaller, numbers unknown but definitely less than 40 overall, no Kom'rk and one large retrofitted hauler, mostly families.
Jaster leaned back as he let me read through all of it, there is also additional informaiton such as their leaders, their possible equipment and known history of work from the mercenary guild and others.
As I am reading this he spoke
"Total maybe above 100 but less than 130 fully trained and bloodied warriors while the rest are civilians, though its not probable that they will all accept, maybe 2 or 3 will after some time passes maybe a few more small groups will reach out. Even if 2 or 3 accept, they'd bring their own ships while they are mostly civilian transports and freighters that are battered but functional but they will also add Kom'rks and warriors for protection, they'd integrate into training and speed things up while help defend the system in return for your promises and for things such as what we got."
He looked at me directly.
"I'll send the messages tonight its up to them to respond and schedule a call but be honest with them."
I nodded, as I finished scanning the information he sent.
"Do it."
The holo flickered off instantly, the old man cant wait to go back to sleep it seems. I yawn as I sat back in my chair, I should go to sleep as well but if I dont finish this now I will have to stay longer tomorrow and thats not something I want
***
Two days later I was at the mandalorian settlement in the mountain, honestly love what they did with this place, it actually looks liveable now, first time seeing the constructed compound, looks good.
I was at the main office room, or as the mandalorians call it the war room, it was the deepest part of the compound and heavily protected, no surprises there, even the air recycles that were working overtime to keep the dust out had apparently fail saves so that enemies can hijack them.
Why would someone hijack air recyclers? Fuck if I know.
Jaster and I sat across from each other at the low table, the holotable between us dark now, the last call just ended.
Three clans had agreed to hear me out initially, Clan Beviin the technicians and pilots, they'd listened quietly, asked practical questions about repair bays and fuel access and the state of the system.
Clan Vhett the sneaky ghosts as Atii called them, quiet and fast, they'd been the most reserved, but Jaster's vouch carried weight, they asked some questions about defences and any immediate threats within the system.
The clan Ordo splinter was interesting, they'd been hit hard recently by a small time Hutt that was disappointed by their performance on a job he hired them, though they said he just didn't want to pay them. They are a rag-tag group with all of them being warriors but not the elite with only like 20 of them being true mandalorian warriors with full set of the iconic mandalorian armour while the others are just civilians given blaster and training and any armour they can get their hands on. They saw Elyria as a chance to stop running and settle those in their group not martially inclined.
All of their arrival times are set within two weeks to a month.
The rest had sadly refused.
Jaster leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the faint glow of the lantern catching the scars on his face. "Beviin, Vhett, Ordo," he said. "They'll bring maybe eighty warriors total, another two hundred civilians if you count families and stragglers, ships being mostly civilian haulers and freighters, patched and old, but functional with a few Kom'rks, nothing flashy."
I nodded slowly. "Better than nothing."
He gave a curt nod. "Better than nothing is right." He trailed off.
Oh boy, he's doing that thing again where he pauses.
He always pauses and takes his time when he had bad news, like why doesn't he just come out with it.
"The others…" He exhaled through his nose. "Clan Gavri said they're not in need, they've got a steady contract running protection for a spice route in the Mid Rim. Clan Rau'kade was interested at first, but their leader said 'we don't settle under Imperial flags, even loose ones.' but I can see that majority of his clan was interested they might persuade him down the line."
He paused as he looked at the holo and activated it and started going through some information while he continued talking.
"Clan Torvyn is too proud said they'd rather keep wandering than take handouts. Clan Wren'kar…"
He shook his head."They openly scoffed. Their leader loudmouth named Yorinalen Wren'kar started insulting me first, called me a 'sell-out lapdog for a half-grown Imperial brat that should have died with his parents.' Said if we wanted their help, we'd pay top credit for a worthy fight, not beg for settlers. Told us to fuck off."
I felt a flicker of annoyance and slight bit of anger at the end.
Lord give me patience for if you give me strength I will strangle a motherfucker. Amen.
Jaster continued. "They're rowdy and brutal. Always have been, not surprised."
I leaned forward. "So eighty warriors, two hundred civilians with various high valued skills and a handful of ships that are useless except a few."
I pause as I think about various strategies "We can work with that."
Jaster met my eyes. "We can, they'll be cautious at first. They'll watch you and will test your mettle, but once they see you're not like the rest of the Empire … once they see you mean what you say about a home… they'll stay."
We talk a bit more about prospective areas to settle them and how to integrate them into patrols and future strikes against our enemies when a few minutes later when my personal comm lit up, incoming from Torv, high priority.
I tapped it.
Torv's voice came through gruff, clipped like always. "Governor. High-priority holo call incoming. From Coruscant. They're waiting. You need to take it in your main office. Now."
WhatthefuckyoumeanfromCoruscant?
I felt the shift in the air as my eyes visibly bulged out.
Coruscant.
I looked at Jaster, he had a grim but resoloute expression on his face as he gave me a small nod. "Go. We'll talk later."
I stood and started making my way out the compound to my speeder and made my way to the city and then to the palace. I moved quickly past guards and servants and workers who saluted as I blitzed pass them I took the lift to the palace proper and a few minutes after that I reached my main office.
The doors slid open as I basically shot forward as soon as the doors slid open.
The room was darkened with all windows covered and as the door closed behind me I heard a faint static sound meaning this room is now soundproofed, the only light and audio source now being the biping holotable in the center, already active, the incoming call light pulsing blue.
I walked to my chair and sat down.
What are the odds old wrinkly ballsack, our beloved Emperor is calling to congratulate me on my win against the pirates? Honestly, I'd take old Palps over Vader, palps can still be amused since he thinks he is a god and can kill me anytime, Vader has no chill bone in his half metallic body and would snap after a hint of humour or incompetence or if he just feels like it.
***
The holotable pulsed blue once, then steadied as the connection locked in, what appeared before me was a human male with light skin, blue eyes, and white hair, and a well-groomed mustche, wearing the white uniform of a Grand Admiral.
Grand Admiral Pellaeon
Pellaeon's face appeared in crisp, high-resolution detail, older than I remembered from the old family holo-recordings, but the same sharp eyes, the same neatly trimmed mustache, the same calm authority that had always made him seem larger than the room he stood in.
He smiled lightly, not wide or forced. Just a small, genuine curve at the corners of his mouth, which is rare the higher in the imperial hierarchy you are.
"You look just like your father, Kael."
I opened my mouth to greet him something formal and safe on the account I have never really talked to the man but he kept talking, voice warm and steady, cutting me off before the words could form.
"I remember when you were barely tall enough to reach the table, your father would sit you on his knee during meetings and you'd stare at us and the holomaps like you understood every vector and jump point even when you were little and the war was going on you were still interested in all that was happening. He was proud of that. He used to say you had his mind and your mother's stubbornness."
He paused, smile fading just a fraction. "It was a tragedy, I couldn't even say goodbye. I was off on the other side of the galaxy when it happened. By the time I returned… they were gone. I still regret that."
His voice softened further, almost gentle. "My condolences, Kael. Truly."
I swallowed, the words I'd prepared standard greetings, polite thanks felt inadequate. I tried anyway. "Grand Moff Pellaeon. It's… good to see you again. Thank you for"He waved a hand lightly, interrupting once more, but not rudely. Just naturally, like an old friend who knew the rhythm of a conversation. "I visited your family more times than I can count. During the Clone Wars, your father was a fine captain of an Acclamator-class, thats how we met, we were captains of the same ship, before I got promoted and he decided to go into politics. We'd sit in the wardroom after drills, share a bottle of Corellian brandy, talk tactics until the small hours. Your mother would join us sometimes after puting you to bed, she never minced words. Told me once that if the Republic ever got its grip together it will have to change so drastically it wouldn't even be called the Republic and its only a matter of time before it would fall apart from the inside. She was right about a lot of things."
He gave a small, wistful chuckle as he trailed off while he eyed me all the same with those calm blue eyes. "Thrawn was mildly displeased by their deaths, you know. He valued their open-mindedness, they didn't discriminate against aliens, they treated him as an equal when most wouldn't. He spoke of them fondly, in his way."
Pellaeon's expression warmed again, eyes crinkling at the corners. "You should send him something. Elyrian cultural artifacts, art, carvings, textiles, whatever represents your system. Begin correspondence, he'd appreciate it, and it would benefit you by having a tactical genius such as him on a positive side."
I finally managed to get a full sentence in."Grand Moff Pellaeon," I said, voice steadier now. "Thank you for the advice, for the memories. I hope you're well."
He nodded, smile returning."I am, and you? Holding the line on the outskirts?"
"Trying," I said smiling lightly. "It's… challenging, but we're managing."
We traded small talk for a minute or so weather on Coruscant (still perfect and unchanged like always), updates on old mutual acquaintances (most retired or reassigned for a while now), the state of the Core (stable but tense like always).
Safe topics, surface topics.
Very... mundane.
Then I asked the question I'd been holding back."I appreciate you contacting me but might I know why are you calling, sir?" Pellaeon's smile faded slightly, replaced by the calm, professional almost detached expression I remembered from the old briefings.
"We finally heard about the bold invasion of Imperial territory by pirates," he said coldly as if he was talking to himself. "Only months after your appointment, and a pirate strike group was bold enough to attack a governor's system directly, under the protection of the Empire. The local Moff is being punished for his incompetence and oversight. The ISB, civilian administration and moffs are not pleased, because if the pirates succeeded in boldly striking a territory of the empire it would incentivise others to do the same and within months all frontier regions would be under siege."
He paused, stapling his hands together as he let that sink in. After a while he nodded.
"Relief supplies will be on their way to Elyria, enough to stabilize your reconstruction efforts along with 2 old Acclamator-class assault ships from the Clone Wars era, crewed by final batch of clones though they are only as officers, they're old, but reliable. They'll serve as reinforcements, the Empire does not abandon its own."
Yeah they dont do it now but when rebellion inevitably ramps up places like mine will be left undefended while all ship will be pulled to the front. Never the less I felt a flicker of joy and suprise
Acclamators, ships my father and Pellaeon captained before, not the best but not the worst and the clone officers are a plus, though I dont know how to feel about their chips and how they can be ordered to gun me down against their will, but this is still real Imperial muscle.
After a brief pause Pellaeon's tone became more measured, more deliberate."
But I'm not calling just to offer charity, Kael."
He leaned forward slightly, the holo making his eyes seem closer. "I'm offering more substantial help. More Ships, supplies and more but that is only if you prove your loyalty and dedication to the Empire."He said it truthfully as he pointed at me through the holo.
I knew he was a big supporter of the empire but now I could hear it firsthand, Pellaeon was a die hard loyalist of the Empire. He believed in it the way my father once had, before the politics turned ugly.
I kept my face neutral, but my mind was racing."What would I have to do?" I asked.
Pellaeon didn't hesitate."Pay your taxes on time and the right amount, deal with the pirates decisively and swiftly while rooting out any and all anti-Imperial dissidents, rebels, separatist holdouts, and anyone who threatens stability." He leaned back away from the holo as his eyes gainted a cold derisive glint to them for a moment before it was gone.
"They're a minor threat, left to local governors like you for now or local Moffs. Prove you can handle it, prove you're loyal."
He smiled again, small and knowing. "If you do well, more resources will come your way, more help. And who knows? A new Moff might be selected, someone who is dedicated and competent. Someone who is loyal, someone who has powerful friends could be selected for your sector. Someone who understands the Outer Rim isn't the Core, someone who can get things done."
I felt the weight of the offer settle on me heavily, I dont need to have 20/20 vision to see the strings attached, taxes, pirates and any and all dissidents while the Empire's watches me.
I swallowed once, visibly as I let my voice come out slightly nervous, a bit overwhelmed enough to seem real and scared like a kid like me should be. "I… understand, sir. It's a lot. I'll do what's needed."
Pellaeon nodded, satisfied. "Good. I knew you had your father's sense of duty." We exchanged a few more words formalities, well-wishes, promises to stay in touch. Then the call ended.
The holo flickered off as I fall into my chair and stared at the blank table.
Friend or trap? He knew my parents, he knew me and even visited our home. Shared drinks with my father and fought a war together. But he is a high Imperial loyalist and they don't tend to give gifts for free.
He probably wants something from me now that I've proven I'm somewhat competent and could be useful.
I exhaled slowly.
The empire was watching, not only ones looking to harm me but those looking to befriend me and use me.
I run a hand through my hair, I can feel myself sweating from all of this.
I needed to be careful, very careful.
Author - Sorry its relatively shorts