Nine years, four months and nineteen days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-fourth year, four months and nineteen days after the Great ReSynchronization.
The distance between the planets Myrkr and Wayland is just under three hundred and fifty light years. And you can overcome it relatively quickly by the standards of a galaxy far, far away - in a few days. If you press it.
"I will order you to move at maximum speed," Captain Pellaeon voiced his decision.
"There is no need for such haste," I said, settling into a chair on the bridge of the Chimera. The green surface of Myrkr slowly floated before my eyes. The world we are leaving. Today, but not forever. - Weyland has been waiting for us for many years, he will wait a few more days.
"Of course, Grand Admiral," while Lieutenant Tschel and the troops on the surface, with the help of Karrde's people, collected the ysalamiri and delivered them aboard the Star Destroyer, I had a lot of time to familiarize myself with the military regulations of the Galactic Empire. And we must pay tribute to those who created them - they are written extremely accurately, as befits a document regulating the activities of military organizations. There are no double interpretations, everything is clear, understandable, and effective. You look at what is written and understand, filled with faith in order, clarity of organization and...
And all this is in the past.
Career military personnel with extensive experience in fighting make up just over forty percent of the modern armed forces of the Imperial Remnant. The crews of starships are made up of newcomers who have just graduated from various educational institutions of the Imperial Armed Forces. It is clear that their effectiveness is slightly above zero. Now some of Thrawn's actions to increase the coordination of the forces subordinate to him become clear.
Along with the elite of the army and navy who have died in recent years, many military traditions, diligence and much more have remained in the past. Now it is clear why the Imperial Navy, which in its best years numbered millions of warships - from super star destroyers, destroyers, to gunboats and auxiliary vessels - fell into decay so quickly. After the death of Palpatine, in the hands of ambitious military leaders who had the same plans as I do now - to build their own states - they found themselves with trained military personnel, a sea of equipment and a desire to fight. It is not surprising that during five years of incessant civil strife, the imperials, on their own, destroyed everything they had.
It's a pity that this happened, but there is no point in being sad about it - what happened is gone. We had to deal with what we have now.
"Tell me," Pellaeon said quietly to me, "do you really think that Karrde will want to work for us?"
"On the contrary, captain," I said. "Our mission had as its goal exactly the opposite.
- Sorry? - Pellaeon widened his eyes. - I thought that we just needed his help...
"And we got what we needed from Karrde," I pointed to the metal cage in which Ysalamiri sat on a perch made of her favorite wood. For Chimera technicians, assembling such devices was not a troublesome task. And now almost all lizards have become the owners of their own cozy houses. - Otherwise, he can only cause problems.
— From a simple smuggler? — Pellaeon expressed skepticism.
"Don't underestimate this kind of intelligent contingent," I said. "Karrde is not only a supplier of goods, but also a trader of information. Highly respected in his community. If necessary, he will be able to organize all this rabble, not dangerous in itself, but huddled in a flock... They can hinder us.
"Then perhaps the problem should have been solved radically?" - the captain clarified. I winced. In fact, the regulations of the Empire did not provide for such free communication between senior officers. But too much time has passed since the letters of the law were fulfilled to the last comma. However, not giving Pellaeon a flaming gaze reminded him of the chain of command. The captain, in general, is a smart man; he immediately understood what was happening. - Admiral, my gunners can raze his base to the ground in a couple of minutes, and the rest will be finished off by ground units...
"You didn't listen to me carefully, captain," there's no point in even reacting negatively to the officer's words. Pellaeon thinks within the limits of his knowledge. If he knew what I know, in particular, what role he could play in the future of the events known to me, he would not be so categorical. "Kardde is in some ways the unofficial leader for most smugglers. Previously, this entire process was led by Jabba the Hutt from Tatooine, but he was killed by the rebels. The criminal empire found itself without a leader. Everyone stole as much as he managed and his competitors allowed. But Karrde is the first among them. He supplies them with work and organizes transportation. An ideal intermediary between performers and customers. This means that if something happens to him under the current circumstances, the entire criminal world will turn against us. Of course, if we are directly involved in his problems.
"We've dealt with more." Pellaeon stated confidently.
— Remind you that the Empire was crushed by a group of ragamuffins who had barely four squadrons of fighters and obsolete bombers by the time of the Battle of Yavin? — I looked at the commander of the Chimera. — Perhaps we should stop underestimating the enemy? And then we will win.
Pellaeon remained silent, clearly considering my words.
"Sir," he broke the silence. "But then what do you intend to do with Karrde?"
"To destroy his organization, forcing his own associates to turn away from him," I explained. "You see, captain, Karrde positions himself as a neutral party. But that doesn't happen. He has already chosen those with whom he sympathizes, and, unfortunately, it is not us. He needs the empire only to conduct his affairs, but in his heart he is on the winning side. And he considers rebels as such. The disorganization of the New Republic allows smugglers to find holes in the law and opportunities to continue their activities. It's hard to believe, but even we are now dependent on them. Smugglers have access to our territories; they deliver cargo, food, and luxury goods to our planets. They know our defense systems and loopholes, which they will definitely take advantage of if we just push them to the wall. Therefore, as an organized force with clearly defined goals and a clearly identified leader, they are a threat to us. But when they are divided into numerous groups, each of which pursues only a single goal - their own profit - these are acceptable methods of cooperation for us.
"Are you hoping that Mara Jade will play a role in the breakdown of Karrde's organization?" - the captain suggested.
"That's unlikely," I sighed. — Mara Jade is an asset of a different kind. She has an exaggerated sense of gratitude to those who are significant to her and help in difficult times - and therefore she believes in Karrde and his ideals. Our meeting planted seeds of doubt in Jade's mind. Talon will continue to seek information about Jade's past. His employees, having learned that it is well known to the highest officers of the Empire, will begin to grumble and assure him of the riskiness of maintaining such an asset. And Jade herself not only received the first signal that her employer is not as clean as he wants to seem, but she will not rest until she satisfies her curiosity - until she finds out everything about Karrde.
- Do you think he has something to hide? - asked Pellaeon.
— A smuggler? Who trades with both the Empire and the New Republic, but carefully pretends that he is equally indifferent to all sides of the conflict, but provides his services on credit to the rebels, but not to us? - I clarified. - I'm sure of it. However, the question is how far this will serve our purposes.
- Do you want to lure Mara Jade to our side? - Pellaeon understood. "Since she's an idealist, can Karrde's dirty laundry force her to leave him and hand over his secrets to us?"
"Bravo, captain," I smiled. "Yes, this interesting young woman is an extremely valuable acquisition for us." But no, as soon as she leaves Karrde, he will diligently hide all his secrets and change locations. He is smart enough not to fall for such simple traps. No, all this artisanal bravado should serve many purposes. And, given that Karrde is sufficiently aware of my personality, as is Mara Jade, then both will certainly think about it - if it was done so crudely, then is there some kind of catch? And if Karrde, not finding confirmation of his speculations, calms down, then Mara Jade will never.
"Sorry, but I don't understand what use we will have from her," admitted the Chimera commander.
"She is the former Emperor's Hand," I explained, noticing how the officer's eyes widened. — An elite agent of the ruler himself. The one that hunted unscrupulous imperial officials, officers and other threats to the Galactic Empire. Her qualifications are higher than those of various types of army or naval special forces units that are under our command. To implement what I have planned, I need a lot of time, money and all the resources that we can possess. And you don't always have to wave your flag if you want to achieve your goals. Therefore, where we will not work by force, it will be done by cunning.
"If she joins us," Pellaeon clarified.
"Not "if," I clarified. - "When". Give her time, captain. Her worldview, everything she values is all connected with us. Once the strings tying her to Talon Karrde are broken, she will return. Of course, you shouldn't trust her right away. Or perhaps it's not worth it at all. But this will become clear over time. Well, now," I turned the chair so that I could see the bridge watch. - Order to set a course for Wayland. The time has come to forge our victory, captain.
"Yes, Grand Admiral," Pellaeon answered briskly, heading towards the "pits."
Smiling furtively, I rose from my chair. Nodding to Rukh to follow me, he headed to his cabin.
***
-Have you installed beacons? "I asked the Noghri as we left the bridge of the Chimera.
"Yes, sir," Rukh said, walking slightly behind me.
- How many?
"Eighteen," the Noghri meowed.
- And they didn't notice you? - I was surprised.
"No," Rukh replied.
Eighteen beacons designed to track objects even across light years. And all of them are now installed on the product, prefabricated modules and ships of Talon Karrde. Let's see where this leads.
But the very fact that the Talon people did not notice the Noghri installing tracking devices speaks of two mutually exclusive things.
Either the professionalism of the Noghri is so perfect, or we have been allowed to believe that it is so.
In any case, there will be some reaction.
It's not a fact that it will be possible to establish the location of Karrde's lairs and warehouses, but at least it's worth trying.
Now, I was faced with a completely different task - to master the secrets of Emperor Palpatine's treasury, hidden in the depths of Mount Tantiss on the planet Wayland.
Data about this world is available in one of Thrawn's code cylinders, and, admittedly, there is a lot of information there. Including notes from the Grand Admiral himself.
So, the planet is located in the star system of the same name, in a region known as the Outer Rim, in the Ojoster sector. On the tactical grid, according to Imperial archives and navigation databases, the planet's coordinates lead to the region of the galaxy in "quadrant" N-7.
However, the planet itself is unknown to galactic society—for the most part. Some high-ranking Imperials knew or guessed that somewhere there was a planet on which the Emperor's secret warehouse was located. But no one was able to specifically connect their assumptions specifically with Weyland. Or didn't try.
Except Thrawn. He received information about the true purpose of the planet about a year ago, putting together such small pieces of information that no one would even think of it. Over the course of a year, such a huge amount of information was processed that it is impossible to even imagine...
So what do we have?
The planet was first discovered and colonized in the period before the Mandalorian Wars - just over four thousand years ago. The Old Republic used Wayland as the location of a field hospital - and information about this, coupled with the fact that Wayland was not shown on galactic maps, became the first clue for the Grand Admiral.
Information about the supply of military equipment for the colonists is the second clue. Thrawn assumed that there was some form of life on the planet that was aggressive towards people. Data on the movement of goods, ammunition and weapons was recorded until a certain period - and then, as if the planet had been forgotten. Long before the planet was discovered by Palpatine during his role as Supreme Chancellor of the Old Republic.
He secretly ordered the restoration of an abandoned fortress on the planet. But he was in no hurry to include it in any registers. Which led to one single thought - the future Emperor planned to use the planet for his own purposes.
Why does a person like the Emperor need a secret planet? That's right - for everything your heart desires. Starting from experiments with the Force, ending with a personal hospital.
But the final answers that brought the pieces of data together became one single fact.
Three years before the Battle of Yavin, the Empire built a research station and security network hub on Wayland. Which was hacked by rebels who were able to use this trick to gain access to the testing grounds of the Incom corporation. This is how the Alliance got the notorious "X-wings"...
Thrawn paid special attention to the fact that security network post employees were prohibited from leaving the base location. Naturally, the few officers and soldiers who were on the outskirts did not give a damn about the opinion of their distant superiors - that's why what happened was that the rebels were able to take advantage of their negligence for their own purposes.
When everything became clear, they were naturally punished - but for some reason not the most severe. The soldiers were scattered among various garrisons, the officers were demoted... But they could have been executed. As their commander, who was suspected of trading state secrets. Imperial intelligence agents managed to prove that the commandant was dishonest, and therefore everything that happened was by no means an accident. The sentence was carried out.
Thrawn noticed that the agent's report contained information about the station and security service center personnel. Finding those who survived was not difficult. How to find out that Mount Tantiss exists on the planet. Which is equipped with the latest technology - at least external security systems. And at the same time, there is not a single attack aircraft on the planet. But there is a Guardian - someone who controls the Force. The employees of the center did not know his identity, as they tried not to hang around so close to the mountain.
Suspicious, isn't it? Especially considering the fact that no, no, but... the Emperor himself visited the planet.
Not to mention the fact that in the high society of the Empire there were persistent rumors about the involvement of one of Palpatine's assistants in what happened on the planet Cartao and the destruction of an advanced industrial facility, which, by order of the then Galactic Republic, was supposed to create cloning cylinders...
The Grand Admiral knew his immediate superior, the Emperor, well enough to understand that such rumors simply do not circulate. And therefore, something or someone is behind them.
One way or another, these small touches were enough for Thrawn to understand that there was definitely something interesting on Wayland. It's just that Guardians who control the Force are not sent to ordinary planets...
And to talk with someone who could be either a Sith or a fallen Jedi, with whom Thrawn already had experience, the Chiss needed a huge trump card. And the Ysalamiri, blocking the Force, became them.
The Jedi and Sith rely on this invisible energy for almost everything. Their whole essence is tied to interaction with the Force. By depriving them of contact with her, the dialogue can be conducted from a position of strength, and not appear as a beggar.
Thrawn did not know for certain what secrets he might have discovered on Weyland. And he did not reject the assumption that there might not have been any secrets there - after five and a half years after the death of the Emperor, a lot could have happened. Including, other forces could visit the planet and seize its wealth for their own interests.
However, only those who do nothing make no mistakes.
Therefore, Thrawn could afford to spend several days and even years preparing for his visit to Wayland - because if successful, he could become the owner of truly rare and interesting things. After all, any technical or other achievement can always be used for your own benefit. Or to the detriment of someone else.
From books on the Expanded Universe, I knew that it was from Mount Tantiss that Thrawn would take. And he knew how he managed it. Just as I knew that all the Grand Admiral's works would go to waste if they were not adjusted taking into account after-knowledge.
And that's what scares me the most. What to do when the "goodies" run out or the story from one single act goes completely differently than is known in the trilogy? Need a backup plan. And very, very good.
There are several days ahead, which will be enough for me to properly study the imperial military documents, at least roughly familiarizing myself with what exactly is at my disposal.
And perhaps we should start with what the Imperial Remnant actually represents now.
But, tomorrow. Today I am in the mood to comprehend the intricacies of the military art of the imperial fleet. Well, let's start reading lectures to the cadets...
"The main task of the commander of any warship is maximum efficiency in the execution of the tasks assigned to him..."
Well, this will be interesting.
***
To my own surprise, studying the Imperial military doctrines took me much longer than planned - two days. But "I swallowed it and want more."
But no. Everything in moderation. We need to educate ourselves not only militarily, but also politically. Especially before arriving at Weyland, which was only half a standard day away - twelve hours.
Of course, compared to what the Galactic Empire had at its disposal five years ago, now... not much.
But it's not empty either.
What is now called the Empire, or the Imperial Remnant, is nothing more than a Confederation consisting of territorial entities that, one way or another, continue to adhere to imperial orders. They are ruled by various intelligent ones, unity with whom it is not only impossible to achieve, but also harmful. For me and my plans.
So, the Empire is actually squeezed out to the outskirts of the galaxy - into that part called the New Territories.
The central part of the galaxy, the Deep Core, is currently controlled by the Imperials, independent military leaders who seem to be just like the Imperials, but they absolutely do not care about what is happening around them. They are safe in the Deep Core - the paths leading there are well known, easily blocked, and any random visitors, like the New Republic, will not be able to get through undetected due to the difficulty of celestial navigation in this part of the galaxy. Gravitational anomalies, black holes and other "delights" are much more advanced protection than even a fleet of hundreds of ships of the main class.
The Core's military leaders ignore all calls to join the Imperial Remnant, and for many Imperials such demarches are not clear. After all, if the Imperials were united at least within the framework of the same Confederation, the New Republic would have had a very hard time, since the military leaders in the Core have huge forces under their control. However, there is no unity among the Imperials. And the main reason for this is the exorbitant ambitions of the imperials themselves. Well, we'll work with what we have.
One of the largest Imperial Remnants is what still calls itself the Empire. Well, or Imperial Space.
The capital of the Empire is currently the planet Orinda, where the Imperial Ruling Council meets, which supported Thrawn in his quest to destroy the New Republic. The Empire provided Thrawn with the ships of the fleet that he has at his disposal, as well as some kind of financial support. Planet Wayland, to which the Chimera was now moving, is located at the very edge of Imperial Space. And therefore, the rebels will not go there - not only because the coordinates of the planet are not known to them, but also because they simply do not have enough strength to guard their vast territory, and even organize a full-scale invasion. They have enough problems of their own right now, so striking them in the near future in order to weaken them is a more than tempting option.
Imperial space, in addition to providing Thrawn with a fleet, also placed at his disposal shipyards on the planet Bilbringi, Tangrene, Ord Trasi and in a number of other places, where he could not only repair his ships, but also build new ones. Even if this happened many times slower than before. The Imperial Ruling Council governed the daily life of these territories, generally breathing a sigh of relief when Thrawn decided to lead their military forces. Unfortunately (or not?), not all combat-ready ships are in the power of the Grand Admiral and sent to the front line - the Imperial Ruling Council is also concerned about protecting its territories. But they are much more interested in internal squabbles between each other in an attempt to snatch as much power as possible. And therefore, you shouldn't expect much help from them - after all, the advisers themselves will need it. Simply put, I now have at hand everything that is "free", combat-ready and able to leave the boundaries of Imperial Space without losing the defense capability of the territories. Well, in order to have the possibility of an armed response to other members of the Ruling Council. You should be careful with them - for failure they will tear me apart like a dog tears a rag, and for victory - one of them will probably try to get me into their "clip" in order to usurp power over Imperial Space. Double edged sword...
At the disposal of Imperial Space is also the Ubiqtorat, the think tank and leadership of Imperial Intelligence, whose base is located on the planet Tangrene. Don't put a finger in these guys' mouths - let them do some nasty things to the enemies of the Empire. Espionage, sabotage, a coup d'etat - all these activities, as well as many others, are in their arsenal of "good deeds". The resource is very valuable - and I plan to use them in the near future. It is fortunate that they are loyal to the Imperial Space and will carry out the orders given by me unquestioningly.
The next largest and first most combat-ready Remnant is the Pentastar Alignment, whose ruler is currently Grand Moff Ardus Kaine. The Alignment provides some funding for Thrawn's campaign. And even then, these funds came at the disposal of the Grand Admiral at a time, last year. Yes, the amount is significant, but Thrawn was not known for squandering. But we must understand that this money, like any other, tends to run out. Ardus Kaine is an excellent manager, as can be seen from his organizational skills: under his command is an Executor-class superstar destroyer called the Reaper - in a fully equipped and combat-ready state. At the moment, no other Empire Remnant can boast of such wealth. But the New Republic can. "Lusankya" is somewhere out there, waiting in the wings...
Of course, Kaine will not give up this excellent ship to anyone - after all, it is a symbol of power, success, as well as the guaranteed annihilation of any enemy who tries to encroach on the territory of the Pentastar Alignment.
Not on a gratuitous basis, Kane is ready to make the shipyards on the planet Yaga Minor available to Thrawn. These are well-equipped slipways and docks, equipped with the latest technology. However, in order to use the shipyards, it was necessary to shell out a tidy sum. Not the most cost-effective option. It is much easier to use any shipyards in Imperial Space.
Ciutric Hegemony. A sector with its capital on the planet Ciutrik IV. This association is headed by the imperial military leader Prince Admiral Delak Krennel. The Hegemony is twenty-five inhabited worlds in a dozen star systems. A small empire with about a dozen warships at its disposal, including star destroyers. They, like most of the Remnants, are self-sufficient, own small shipyards where they can repair ships of almost any type of starship, but they do not have the production capacity to build anything. But Krennel has money. And a lot of money. He is one of the main donors to Thrawn's campaign. A dangerous opponent. Especially when you consider the unspoken forces behind it. But for now he is an ally—and a very valuable one at that.
The Antemeridian sector, under the control of Moff Getelles, was a supporter of Thrawn. Honestly, I dug through all the data in the archives to understand why Imperial Space is still trying to hold on to this section of space. There were no mining factories, no military production, no agricultural worlds. The planets of the sector somehow survived on their own and did not depend on those around them, which characterized Moff Getelles quite well. However... There's nothing to grab onto here. That is, in my understanding, Imperial Space must fight for the subjugation and control of strategically important worlds, systems and sectors - for what can give at least some advantage in the war with the New Republic and unreliable neighbors. There is none of this in Antemeridiana. Except that...
Noticing a link to the presence of military contracts, I opened the corresponding file, running through it diagonally.
Oh, that's what it's all about! Well, now everything has fallen into place.
There are many private companies in this galaxy that produce not only civilian, but also military equipment. Loronar Corporation was one of these. The Galactic Empire made them a military contractor, supplying the Imperial Navy with Strike-class medium cruisers.
The ship had a modular design, very modern and powerful weapons, a modular design of the interior, was relatively cheap to build, and therefore was purchased en masse by the imperial fleet for a variety of purposes. In Thrawn's fleet (so, it's time to get used to it and call it yours!) there were several such ships - they appeared thanks to the support of Moff Getelles. Despite their unsightly appearance, these two such ships were considered equal in strength to the Victory-class Star Destroyer, and the latter was one of the well-proven ships. The Sector built Strikes in small batches, as their shipyards allowed, and supplied them to various Imperial Remnants.
But the icing on the cake was that Loronar Corporation was also the supplier of Torpedo Spheres. In the New Republic, this type of battle station is called "miniature Death Stars," and deservedly so.
Armed with five hundred proton torpedo launchers (not counting turbolasers and other weapons), the "torpedo sphere" is designed for massive bombardment of planetary shields. Energy shields that can protect an entire planet from orbital bombardment are a problem. Because you can squander them for a very long time before it becomes possible to destroy the protection. But it must be said that sieges of this kind are not uncommon. But assembling an armada to remove the planetary shield is a thankless task. That is why "torpedo spheres" were developed. They do it with ease.
The only problem is that this almost two-kilometer monster costs just over three hundred million credit cards - almost four hundred. Considering that this is a third of the cost of one Imperial-class Star Destroyer, which is essentially the main and universal ship of the Imperial fleet, the narrow specialization of the "torpedo sphere" precisely determines the fact that in cramped conditions of crisis, not a single Imperial Remnant does not dare to order such installations, which, due to their design features, are of little use for counteracting the enemy fleet. That is why they are no longer in any of the Empire Remnants loyal to Thrawn. Officially, no. In fact... anything can happen. And most likely someone has a few hidden somewhere - just in case of emergency.
However, there is a certain catch. According to reports from Ubiqtorate agents, more than once or twice the Loronar Corporation, in addition to supplying military equipment to the Empire and the Remnants, was seen selling weapons to the Rebel Alliance. And at the same time, it continues to function without any complaints. It seems that the Imperials are ready to turn a blind eye to such double-dealing in order to have a reliable supplier of high-quality equipment themselves. Curious...
In addition to territorial entities, scattered planets on which the imperial regime continues to be supported are also loyal to Thrawn's actions. They are scattered throughout the galaxy and for the most part either have a good planetary or orbital defense system, or the New Republic does not currently have sufficient forces to capture them. And in view of the large distance between the Remnants of the Empire and the pro-imperial planets, few Remnants are trying to take control over them - no one wants to send part of their fleet into the unknown, which could be destroyed at any moment by the New Republic if it suddenly gets into trouble.
But the list of these planets is impressive.
The Imperial Academy is located on Carida. And this planet, possessing a powerful planetary defense system, is not only a testing ground for the latest models of military equipment, but also a training ground for the good guys in the well-known snow-white armor - stormtroopers. They are prepared perfectly, in a short time - in just six months, yesterday's farmer from Tatooine can be turned into an uncompromising weapon of the regime. And all without any kind of brain surgery or Sith magic. Drill, ideological pumping and good old speeches about how the Motherland is in danger. The Imperial Remnants value and support Carida and, in the event of an attack, are ready to devote forces to protect her and repel attacks. The New Republic, according to Imperial intelligence data, is licking its lips, glancing towards this planet. But they understand that they do not have enough strength to quickly take control of the world. Just as they are not there for the blockade. The only way they imagine is either to leave the planet alone or to come to an agreement. For now they stick to the first option. But as soon as the borders of Imperial Space move further away from Carida, and timely aid to the hypothetically besieged world cannot arrive on time, the Republicans will definitely try to lure the planet away.
Rendili. Now this is interesting. For this world is located in the region of the Core Worlds, and therefore surrounded by territories loyal to or inclined to join the New Republic. Rendili is a strategically important star system, as it is home to the headquarters and significant production facilities of the Rendili Starships Corporation, known for being a reliable supplier of starships to the Galactic Republic for many thousands of years. But, during the Clone Wars, things did not work out for the corporation, since Palpatine, who then ruled the Republic, had specialists from the shipyards of the Kuat sector in favor. One way or another, Rendili Starships have produced many excellent starships in their history, such as the Dreadnought-class heavy cruiser, which, despite its venerable age, has proven itself well.
Another achievement of the Rendilians was the creation at the end of the Clone Wars of the Victory-class Star Destroyer, which are still found in relatively large quantities throughout the galaxy. Despite the appearance of the "Imperial", "Victory" can still be found in many fleets of the galaxy. In mine, for example, there are several of them. And the pro-imperial government of the Corporate Sector, for example, owns almost a thousand of these starships.
At the moment, the Rendilians exist thanks to imperial orders for the repair of starships, which they do not really like: there are not so many "Victories" at the disposal of the Imperial Shards; they, like other remnants of luxury, are cherished and are not thrown to the front line in vain . Rendili's economy suffers as a result. And the locals are already on the verge - this is the very case when loyalty, not backed up financially, can deprive Imperial Space of another valuable ally. And I really wouldn't want this, because if everything goes well, then I will have work for the Rendilians. A lot of work...
For which there is currently no large money supply.
The planet Kelada in the Duluur sector was a valuable ally. It was here that the production of speeders was located, which were used so widely in the imperial army that they had already become an integral part of the image of imperial reconnaissance stormtroopers. Speeders and gravity bikes are always needed, and therefore the Imperial Shards do not spare money on purchases. That's why Kelada is with us.
Bestine IV is a world, practically a fortress. The ocean-going shipyards known as Jaggerhead are located here. Here, under the guise of assembling Acclamator-class assault ships - veterans of the Clone Wars, and now serving as auxiliary ships of the Imperial Navy - secret engineering developments were carried out. Which ones exactly are not particularly important. The main thing is that most of the population of this world was settled by the Imperials on other planets in order to maintain the secrecy of production. And now the shipyards are in a practically mothballed state - few people want to build anything on a planet surrounded by the enemy. So, the rulers of this world are simply going with the flow, waiting either for heaven light to fall on their heads in the form of large contracts, or they simply cannot help but go over to the side of the New Republic. It's worth thinking about this. Losing such an important strategic world due to the fact that they simply have nothing to pay for orders is a stupid but harsh truth. And another headache.
The planet Lainuri was located in the Doldur sector of the Middle Rim. A beautiful world with a diverse ecosystem. They talk about these "Earth-type", but here's the problem - in this galaxy there is no planet called Earth. But this does not change the very essence. Conveniently located near the southern end of the Corellian Route, the planet stood like a dagger in the heart of territories already part of or sympathizing with the New Republic. Despite the lack of large planetary defenses, this is where the real Thrawn located his base of operations. Behind enemy lines... And again - arrogance on the verge of a brilliant tactical decision. A little-known planet, far from the main hyperspace routes, does not attract much enemy attention. But from here it is very easy to strike at enemy territory. Having bases on the surface, as well as a fleet of star destroyers and ships of a lower class, there is every chance of not only fighting off any attack, but also evacuating if things get really hot. Not to mention the fact that in the nebula nearby at the old station gases useful for such a small fleet are extracted.
However, until I master at least part of the Imperial military program in order to at least partially live up to Thrawn's image, my destiny is raid operations. Which, in fact, is what the ships of my fleet are doing at the moment. Full-scale invasions and seizure of territories are still a long way off. Patience is a virtue. First, it is necessary to properly tighten up the rear, and take away from under the nose of the New Republic what is lying badly. And to do this, you first need to subjugate Palpatine's treasury. The Imperials, of course, are allies, but even when I get hold of new ships - and I will definitely get hold of them - few will be willing to give me even partially trained officers, gunners, pilots and deck crews. That's what Mount Tantiss is for.
But, let's continue to look at what else is there in the bottom of the barrel.
What did I say about "torpedo spheres"? Here's a simple example. One of these protects the planet Chasin in the Core Worlds. There is only one siege station, but the New Republic bypasses not only the planet, but the entire star system. A couple of light patrol ships guarding the borders of territory loyal to the Empire do not count.
Planets Trogan and Columex. Located in the Outer Rim, they did not have much military significance. Trogan is a run-of-the-mill planet with a small Imperial garrison. Columex is generally run by private individuals. But the point is that there is a good gaming industry here, which appeared at the instigation of the Empire. And for general patronage, as well as non-interference, Columex supplies Imperial Space with credit cards. That is, the money goes into the pockets of the Imperial Ruling Council, not mine. There is no limit to disappointment. After all, as you know, income from vice is one of the most abundant.
The Pakuuni star system is little more than an outpost with a small Imperial space station. It was built three years after the Battle of Yavin, by the way, on the orders of Thrawn himself, when he, while still a vice admiral, was establishing order in this part of the galaxy, hunting pirates. Nothing particularly worthwhile. Just a point of interest to display the flag.
The planet Makem Te in the Nilgaard system of the Outer Rim is another staunch supporter of Imperial Space. A fortress world, absolutely loyal to the imperials and feeding them with money. But this is now, after Thrawn reclaimed the planet in a short but ruthless battle several months ago. Just last year, the warlord Zsinj was in charge here - a very odious figure, unloved by the imperials, and a very interesting and capable business executive. But he didn't do very well in military affairs - he held out for about four years after the Battle of Yavin, controlling a vast territory and annoying literally everyone - both the Republicans and the Imperials. The most disappointing fact is that "thanks to" Zsinj, two Executor-class super star destroyers were lost...
It's all sad.
Especially that the list of allies of the Imperial Remnant includes the Corellian sector. The same one that is the birthplace of such heroes of the New Republic as Han Solo, Wedge Antilles and... Okay, these two are enough to turn the world into disgrace.
The Corellians were among the first to declare separation from the Empire after the Battle of Yavin. The forces of the imperial fleet stationed here seemed to be ready to even capture Coruscant, but it all came down to an internecine war between two major military leaders, the death of most of the fleets of both, the flight of the few survivors and the emergence of a dictatorship in the sector. Which claims to be loyal to the Empire, however, does not show any movement on this matter. Despite the fact that Corellia is home to one of the most reputable shipbuilding companies in the galaxy: the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Building strong and reliable starships is a habit for them. In fact, they are building. For myself.
Kind of allies, like the gopher from the good old movie "DMB": "Do you see the gopher? - No. - Me neither. But he is." It is not clear what to expect from such allies. It's easier to avoid it.
Actually, that's all, ladies and gentlemen. That's all the allies... It seems that it's not small, even the territory, if you look at the map, is significant. But we must understand that there are much fewer inhabited planets in the part of the galaxy controlled by the Imperials than in similar spaces somewhere in the Central Worlds, Colonies or the Middle Ring. And the Empire has no more allies. On the contrary, territories are only lost.
Here, one of the latest examples is the Oplovis sector.
Until recently, it could boast of a well-equipped rear fleet base, which, like the entire territory of the sector, was under the command of Admiral Gaen Drommel five years ago. The admiral was a protégé of the late Grand Moff Tarkin, so it is not surprising that under the command of Drommel he was not just an excellent area of responsibility with developed industry. So, in one of the seven star systems that were part of the sector there was a shipbuilding plant. What is noteworthy about it is that defectors from the Rebel Alliance worked at this enterprise. And the latter were very unnerved by the fact that shipbuilders from the shipyards of the planet Sluis Van were working for the Empire.
But what really piqued my interest in this sector was that Tarkin's protégé had at his disposal a highly trained force of three Star Destroyers... and an Executor-class Super Star Destroyer called the Guardian. It would seem that everything is fine, but...
There is always a "but". Five years ago, in the Battle of the Tantive System, Gaen Drommel and his entire fleet fought against the Rebel Alliance fleet. And he lost. Two of his three Star Destroyers were lost in battle, and the third was captured by the enemy. The fate of the "Guardian" is unenviable. It is considered destroyed or lost. Immediately after this, a number of planets in the sector came under the control of the New Republic, including the fortress planet Ketaris. From the previous sector, only a couple of systems remained that were loyal to Imperial Space, but they did not have much strategic value.
Stop.
Stop.
Stop.
Super Star Destroyer Guardian. Something very familiar. Very, very familiar. And for some reason connected with the New Republic. Why is that? Is your memory failing? After all, the rebels did not have "Guardian", but "Lusankya". Or...
No, wait a minute...
I remember that the New Republic definitely had "Lusankya" by the time of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong. The ship fought and performed well. But he died. Then why does it seem to me that some of the "Executors" served in the state that was formed after this war? No not like this. The Lusankya was lost - it was rammed by a huge Yuuzhan Vong world ship. And this was at the height of the war. But, if my memory serves me right, one "Executioner" took part in the battle for Mon Calamari - and this is the end of the war with the Vong. So? Or am I confusing something?! Maybe it was the "Reaper"?
No, definitely not Reaper. Ardus Kane will die during the campaign of the resurrected Emperor, and his flagship will go to Gilad Pellaeon, who by that time will lead the remnants of the imperial territories. The Reaper will fight against Lusankya and will die in one of the senseless and merciless campaigns.
So it's not that.
Think, think, think...
Fine. If you can't remember right away, let's try the elimination method.
For which you can respect the Empire, even after the death of Palpatine and during the period of devastation - the data still continues to be updated in the archives. With the same pedantry and scrupulousness.
Touching the receiving socket on his computer with the code cylinder, he climbed into the Ubictorate database. These guys don't really like to share information, but only if this does not concern the highest ranks of the Empire. That's exactly how I feel about it.
Let's see what we have here. Yeah. "Executioner-class Super Star Destroyer." Well, let's reveal the holy of holies - how many of them were built at all.
Blah blah blah, the project was prepared by Lira Blissex, no, Wessex, because she was already married. Aw, never mind! List! I need a list!
So, number one... and it's not The Executor. What?!
The order for the lead ships of the Executioner series was simultaneously received by the two largest shipbuilding giants - the planets Fondor and Kuat. There was a certain squabble between them... well, it's not interesting. That's what's interesting.
The prototype of the Executor was laid down at the Fondor shipyards. A model ship on which "childhood" diseases were practiced. The Rebel Alliance attacked the shipyard and destroyed it. And this gave them some hope, I suppose.
One way or another, this vessel is definitely destroyed. We cross it out.
Further. "Executor" and "Lusankya". The first serial ones. One was built on Kuat, the other on Fondor. At the time of construction, both were called "Executor so that no one would guess, I suppose. The fate of the Executor is known - five and a half years ago, it entered a steep dive and rammed the Death Star II. "Lusankya" was buried on Coruscant (I already remember this, there is nothing like that in the Ubiqtorate files), fought, fought. Yeah. Status: Captured by rebels. Location is unknown."
Let's go further down the list.
"Terror". Destroyed three years after the Battle of Yavin. Rebel sabotage. And the ship is good - it is written that it was equipped with a camouflage device.
"Vengeance" - destroyed at the Battle of Nokto three and a half years after the Battle of Yavin.
"Annihilator". Destroyed during the battle on Kuat between the Imperials, rebels and pirates from the Zann Consortium. This is what we remember. Curious... But the files say nothing about "Eclipse". So, let's check. Nothing at all?! How interesting. And "Sovereign"? And again it's empty. It seems that someone didn't really want the word out about these types of Axial Turbolaser Super Star Destroyers. But they are good... Only they are all now in the Deep Core of the Resurrected Emperor Palpatine. And I have no desire to communicate with him.
What do we have next for "Executors".
The same "Guardian" is considered destroyed at the Battle of Tantive V five years after Luke Skywalker destroyed the Death Star. However, what is curious is that there is no confirmation of the death of the starship. Let's remember.
"Iron Fist", the flagship of the warlord Zsinj. Destroyed during the battle for the planet Dathomir last year. Like the Razor's Kiss, which he wanted to steal from the Kuat shipyards.
"Reaper". Status: in service. Owned by Grand Moff Ardus Kane.
"Intimidator". Well, well, well... and here is the second candidate for resurrection from oblivion. The ship is considered destroyed after the retreat of Imperial forces from... the Koornacht cluster. And I would not have been given the name of this place if it weren't for one "but". The Intimidator led the task force known as the Black Fleet. And here analogies have already worked. Black fleet - the black fleet crisis. A very interesting moment in the universe. Because the Intimidator and its entire flotilla - which is no less than forty starships, and each of them - is no less than a star destroyer. Not to mention that there was more than one Super Star Destroyer in this unit. And all of them, together with the orbital shipyards, are considered lost. But not like combat losses. And here, rather than a desire and hope for the best, but a dry statement of fact. Nothing is known about the Black Fleet, but only to those who compiled this list. But I know something else.
"Aggressor". Destroyed in the Corellian sector - rammed by a "torpedo sphere". Good God, what kind of idiot do you have to be to ram a sphere with a diameter of less than two kilometers on a nineteen-kilometer ship? Cross yourself and forget.
"Enforcer" Destroyed by rebels during repairs.
So, that's it, or what?
No, it can not be. I remember that one of the military leaders in the Deep Core had his own "Executor", equipped with a camouflage system... But this will be much later than now. In other words, the ship may not even be built yet, much less put into operation.
Yes, and such a ship was destroyed near Mustafar, although its name is unknown. Or hasn't it been built yet?
Dry results.
Thirteen production samples were built. Baker's dozen. Of these, only two are guaranteed to be alive - and I know about them - "Reaper" and "Lusankya". But the Reaper is definitely not a resident, which means it cannot be the ship that fought on Mon Calamari.
A ship that has yet to be built in the Deep Core will also be destroyed. So, not this one either.
It turns out that there are only two candidates: "Guardian" and "Intimidator". And again - the method of elimination.
The Intimidator is the flagship of the Black Fleet. Together with his ships (including several super star destroyers of an unknown class) and local shipyards, he was captured by the natives of the Kurnakht cluster. Then, the imperial crews fought the ships back - more precisely, in this reaction they still have to do this, but that's the point. The "Black Fleet" and its ships left, fled and their fate is covered in darkness, at least for me.
Therefore, only "Guardian" remains.
Yes, the theory may be far-fetched, but as a working theory it will do.
So, now about something else. The Guardian disappeared several years ago. Why hasn't he showed up yet if he's safe? Didn't even get in touch. Seriously damaged?
More likely. And if so, then his commander does not risk getting in touch, knowing full well that any imperial military leader will rush to "visit" him and salute him with turbolasers, suppressing the resistance of the battered ship. And it will certainly capture you. No. If I were in the place of its commander, I would try to secretly buy spare parts for the ship in order to restore it in the place where the ship is located.
Well... You just have to find him and get control over him. It sounds simple, but it's not. It could take months, maybe even years, before even roughly getting on the Guardian's trail. But the game is worth the candle - the appearance in my hands of such a trump card as a superstar destroyer of the Executor type will greatly change the balance of power - both in Imperial Space and in the war against the New Republic.
However, first he still needs to be found in the vastness of the galaxy.
Oh, happiness was so close...
However, there is a much simpler way to acquire an "executor". Even two. But in one case, a large fleet will be required, and in the second, scouts who can already find the place where the New Republic is hiding the Lusankya.
Otherwise, you will have to get hold of a fleet and go to take the "Black Fleet" from the hands of the aborigines of the Koornacht cluster. True, I very much doubt that they will give me the Intimidator and the rest of the starships without a big fight.
Yeah...
How many interesting things remained in the vastness of the far, far away galaxy after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. You just need to figure out how to take all this, and much more. Sometimes with cunning, sometimes with brute force.
"Grand Admiral, sir," came the voice of Captain Pellaeon, who appeared on the threshold of my cabin. "We are arriving in the Wayland system."
"Excellent, captain," I rose from my desk, blocking access to it. - Let's go to the hangar. Order that the ship be prepared for us - it's time to say hello to the locals and the Guardian of Mount Tantiss.