And like that, 6 months had passed since the Battle of Naboo.
There had been a lot of controversy over the Battle, but one fact remained certain, the Trade Federation had suffered an immense blow, he was physically and mentally tortured by the Thyferran Government before he was transferred over to the Judicial Forces.
Reports said that he had lost all his confidence and that he was troubled by daily nightmares.
However, at the same time it seemed like he had grown, no more was the dumb and power-hungry Neimodian, now there was one cautious and more listening Viceroy, many may see this as an improvement, but one would know it is not.
Viceroy Gunray is now a ticking time-bomb, waiting to explode. And if you were so unlucky to find yourself as the guard of Viceroy Gunray, your nights would be terrified by screams from his chambers, and the eventual termination the guards receive.
However, he didn't only receive torture from Count Thalron and his Government.
His daily work included a lot of headaches, after the Naboo crisis, more and more planets rebelled against their regime.
However, Gunray didn't believe there weren't any forces behind this.
…
Holy shit, a lot had happened during these 6 months.
Firstly, I had stolen Maul's ship, yay! I had like 80 engineers and hackers working on it to ensure there were no bombs, they found like 6 of them but they've all been defused, but they're still checking it, Alexander wont let me fly it yet.
Secondly, I decided to cause some trauma on mr Viceroy, he suffered like 4 months with our most experienced mental torturers, he was sent alone in the forest, alone in a white room for 3 months, a lot happened to him, and now he's being mentally challenged, I wonder if Palpatine will replace him or not.
However, we had also waged a secret war against the Trade Federation, I had funded uprising on all prominent Trade Federation planets, Kashyyk, Kellux, Akiva, all these are examples of Trade Federation Planets where they attempt to get control, but I have been sending billions of credits every year to ensure that the Trade Federations have a few problems.
The 3 aforementioned planets have actually defeated the Trade Federation presence there and they can't afford to send assistance.
The Fleet at Naboo was known as the Trade Federation Reserve Fleet, but now that it's gone, each planet has to rely on their local Trade Federation forces.
Due to this, the Trade Federation has met a few months without any profit, barely scraping by.
I had also decided against attending the Naboo Celebration, I had nothing to do there. Sure I could meet Palpatine and offer my congratulations, but honestly I'd rather go home and oversee the procurement of the Lucrehulks, we now had officially gotten a ship designed for troop transport.
Plus I also wanted to use a few of the droids, like the destroyers.
They were just heavily under-appreciated. They were a pain in the ass for the Jedi during the Clone Wars, sure a clone with a rocket launcher could take it, but Jedi didn't carry rocket launchers and they couldn't use the force on them due to there always being 2 Destroyers together.
That was what I needed, especially when the Senate hearing ends today.
After 4 long months of political battle, it is reaching it's end. And I am fairly confident in our win, and at least survival. Worst case scenario and I'll just hide the ships.
Walking through the Senate Corridors was my team, it included Prime Minister Jason, Admiral Jaime, Lord Commandant Alexander and Representative Davis.
As we reached our pod, I could see multiple Senators giving me nods of encouragement.
"This is it, My Lord." Davis said as I sat down, Jason sat down beside me.
"Indeed, unless the Trade Federation somehow manages to gain the majority." I said, though I doubted they did, they wouldn't enter deficit just to cause problems to me, their main cause of this meeting is us using ships in direct violation of the Ruusan Reformation, but now, without any noticeable economical surplus, I doubt they'd have enough to bribe even 10% without entering deficit, which they likely wouldn't do.
"If Palpatine, Vos Atell and the Core World faction keeps their words then we should win easily." Davis said with a smile.
And he was right to be happy and confident, 2 days ago we had managed to get Bail Antilles and the Core Faction to support us, mainly because we were fighting the Corporations and the Core really didn't appreciate the Corporations getting more power than us.
Just then I heard a sound coming from the middle, and up rose Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, he had wone by a large margin due to the support of the Corporations and Peace faction, plus my own personal one.
"Honorable delegates of the Senate, today we have come to ascertain the validity of the Trade Federations accuses against the Royal Governement of Thyferra and if we shall take actions." Palpatine said as his pod reached the top.
"The chair recognizes, Senator Lott Dott from the Trade Federation!" Mas Amedas said as Lott Dott went forward on his pod.
"Dear Senators, we, The Trade Federation has come infront of you once again, to inform you of the amassing Military power known as Thyferra, led by a devious Count named Thalron Veridian, he broke all rules of prisoners once he tortured our dear Viceroy for 4 months straight until the Judicial Forces got their hands on him." He said, before continuing on.
"Reports state that Count Thalron and specifically House Veridian is in ownership of 1 newly designed Valiant-Class Star Destroyer, designed by his own designers and created by Kuat Drive Yards, it is a monstrocity with 1600 meters in length and 22 DBY-827 Heavy Turbolasers, one of the strongest turbolasers to exist." He said as the picture of my Valiant showed.
"He is also in control of 5 Munificent-Class Star Frigates, without proper permission from the Senate, which the banking clan and the Trade Federation have, and lastly 2 newly designed Gladiator-Class Star Destroyer, a total of 600 meters in length and 40 war-designed weapons, all of these goes against the Ruusan Reformation, and is a direct insult to the Republic." He said, meanwhile I looked at Davis, signaling for him to ask permission to step forward.
But before he could, Lott Dott's Corporation buddies stepped forward,
Senator Toonbuck Toora, stepped forward as well, he was from the Commerce guild.
"We agree with the Honorable delegate of the Trade Federation!" He exclaimed, putting his hands into the air.
Then Senator Passel Argante of the Corporate Alliance did so too.
"We too agree, this is a direct insult to the peacekeeping ways of the Ruusan Reformation."
"The chair does not recognize Senator Toonbuck Toora of the Commerce Guild, nor Senator Passel Argante of the Corporate Alliance!" Vice Chancellor Mas Amedas shouted, and due to Palpatines relative strength they did so.
"The chair welcomes the delegates of Thyferra to speak." Mas Amedas continued, as our pod flew forward.
"We, the Thyferran Government recognize these accusations and understand the requirements of the Ruusan Reformations, but exceptions have been made before and are currently taking place. Per example the Lucrehulks used by the Trade Federation are larger than any of our ships, and they have hundreds of Lucrehulks, the InterGalactic Banking Clan also uses the specific model of one of our ships." Davis said, he also signaled for me to take his place, I would talk from now on.
"Yes, but we have made such votes here in the Senate, and we have unanimously decided that for the security of the Trade goods from all planets, a security force had to be established, while the InterGalactic Banking Clan are transporting heavy treasures of Republic Credits and they must be protected." Lott Dott said.
"It may be true that you require security forces, but you've heavily abused said deal, you were allowed to Build a fleet to protect against Pirates and blockade planets if require, but you've built a fleet larger than the Judicial Forces, your Lucrehulks have no defenses against small pirates ship, but against large vessels, your ships are not built for Pirates but to fight wars!" I shouted, while showing a picture of the massive vessel known as a Lucrehulk.
"You do not have the right to accuse us of abuse! Our ships have never been raided before you destroyed a large portion of our fleet, and if you so wish, removing our ships will only infuriate planets when their food and water is destroyed!" Lott Dott said emotionally, but I knew he had no emotions relevant to this topic.
"I see, then we, the Veridian MedTech Corporation wish to enter the same deal!" I said, and this time both the Corporations but everyone else was shocked, including Palpatine.
"But the ships are under the Thyferran Government?" Palpatine asked with a slight narrow of his eyes.
"Incorrect, the entire Bacta industry has been transferred to House Veridian, we funded these ships and they are legitimately under us. And we are the only producer of Bacta, and bacta is the most important medical substance to exist, correct?" I asked to nobody specifically.
"And therefore we require a fleet to protect this medical substance, which the ships mentioned by the Trade Federation will fulfill." I said finally, and this time not even Lott Dott knew what to do.
This also won over a lot of undecided Senators, as I was correct. Bacta was the life-saving substance all planets needed, much more important than the things the Trade Federation transports, and more valuable.
"So, you wish to enter a deal whereas you're allowed to bypass the Ruusan Reformation, and in return you protect the medical substance known as Bacta and you take responsibility for the journey through the Galaxy?" Palpatine asked, basically I was now responsible for the transport of Bacta. Meaning if a pirate attacked a shipment to a planet, I would need to refund said people.
"Yes, Supreme Chancellor." I said, and he smiled.
"Very good, those who wish may now vote. The delegates may still appeal to you until the last person has decided to vote or not." Palpatine said as I went up to my disk and pressed the green button, voting to allow my proposal.
Hundreds of Senators stood up and did the same as a Hologram appeared above Palpatines pod, showing the votes.
Yes(Y): 31%
No(N): 35%
Undecided(U): 34%
…
Y: 45%
N: 48%
U: 7%
"My Lord, you have to make another promise, or we'll loose." Davis said and I nodded, it had now been 5 minutes and only 6% hadn't decided.
"Dear delegates, I have decided to come forward with another proposal, to ensure your trust in my fleet not being assigned anything but missions to ensure the prosperity of the Republic, we offer our fleet to ensure the security of the 20th Sector, also known as the Tapani Oversector." I said, once again shocking everyone.
After 30 seconds of silence Palpatine spoke.
"So, Count Thalron. Your fleet will assist the Judicial 20th Sector Fleet in ensuring the security of the 20th Sector, including mercenaries, pirates, and terrorists?" Palpatine asked, this was big. My fleet could make the Tapani Oversector the most secure one, and Palpatine knew this. And he would have gotten a lot of appreciation from that Sector if their pirates disappeared and crime lowered.
Immediately after, the remaining 6% require went to me.
Y: 51%
N: 49%
The Hologram said, and I leaned back in my chair.
Finally, we were done with the good fucking riddance named the Trade Federation, and I'm sure as fuck going to ensure them having a hard time these next 14 years of their existence.
Well, time to lay back and enjoy the next 9 and a half years without any major conflict I needed to care about, I just needed to watch my Military and Economy slowly building up.
I wonder if I should enslave a few other alien species to make other medical products.
And I need an economy expert to lead said corporation.
Well, only time will tell.
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