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***
We didn't want to land the yacht on Coruscant, because of its size. We took the lambda. I needed to talk to the chancellor face to face. Erdva had reserved a flat in the 500 block for a week. Already having taken the apartment, and sprawled on the sofa, I thought about how to draw the chancellor's attention to myself. How to lure him out of his lair and have a chat without witnesses. It was a bad idea to just turn up and get an audience. Firstly, there are plenty of them, and secondly, the meeting has too many purposes - I would like to discuss some issues in detail, so it is better not in a formal setting. Julian flew off to have fun, some of the crew did too, and I walked round and round the flat, wondering how exactly I could get the Chancellor on board.
Not a few hours later, I came up with an idea. I should just make an appointment with him, and if he noticed and remembered, I should give him the invitation in a way he was not used to. The option of communication systems is cancelled - they are watched, so I don't guarantee that the information will reach Valorum at all. The only other option is to deliver the note to him personally, so that he could not fail to read it. The chancellor's office was in the senate building. And the senate building was hardly the most secure building in the galaxy. Breaking in was no ordinary task.
I had no plans of the building, which made the task even more difficult. It was impossible to find the plans - they were classified. But my own senses and the Force could compensate for my ignorance, but not as well as I would have liked.
I prepared for the operation well - I dressed in simple clothes, took a letter, a lightsaber and left all means of communication and all electronics in the flat. It wasn't that hard to get inside the building - the senate had guided tours, but only on a few floors. I joined one such group of tourists and together with them reached the middle of the route. Further it was difficult - inside the Senate building had a lot of corridors and corridors, nooks and crannies, insignificant rooms and other stalls.
Almost lost in the maze, I found the right way. On the way I had to disguise myself so that everyone who met me would glance at me, taking me for granted as an addition to the interior, and would not pay any attention to me. The electronics were harder to deal with than the people - the whole building was littered with motion sensors and cameras, but I got past them by power forging - I waited until there was nothing moving in the area I was looking at, and then captured the image on the camera matrix. It's not easy, but it's not impossible. Sensors were even easier - they were mostly easily blocked by force. The security of the Chancellor's office was more serious, but the slight deception of the mind at the level of thoughts could not be bypassed - no matter how hard a person tried, he would still perceive the compelled thought as his own and the compelled emotions as his own. In front of the door to the office stood two men in buffoonish blue robes, carrying weapons that were completely impractical. Walking past them into the chancellor's office, who, by the way, was not there yet, I took out a letter. Valorum's office was rather ascetic - a large hall, with a desk, a few sofas, paintings on the walls and a gorgeous view through a panoramic window. There were no cameras or bugs here, so after looking through the office and finding a couple of hidden devices in the chair and in the door, I relaxed.
The easy part was putting the note on the desk and walking back out the same way.
* * *
I had underestimated the blow to the Chancellor that my note had dealt. He arrived only ten minutes after the start of his working day.
By the way, Valorum looked better than before - not so gaunt anymore, his eyes were more lively, and he preferred classic colours in his clothes, without the previous pretentiousness. He arrived in an aerospider, and with him a whole team of senate guards, but in the usual equipment, only with the emblem of their troops ...
Valorum landed on the landing pad while I watched him through the cameras. Erdva stood next to me and broadcast the footage to me.
- I understand you're going to have a secret conversation? - Erdva asked.
- Absolutely. You can stay, you already know a lot, my friend, - I waved my hand, - I'll go and meet the chancellor.
I had to take a quick look at myself in the mirror, adjust my clothes and go out into the corridor, where I saw Finis Valorum. He was walking ahead of his guards. I stopped and waited until he came closer.
- Mr Chancellor? - I drew his attention to myself. I'm glad you've responded to my invitation.
- Skywalker? - He sounded interested, is that you?
- Я. In person. By the way, you're looking much better since the Nabooan incident. And judging by the fact that one senator's proposal never saw the light of day, we can talk safely now.
- Why the spectacle, young man? - Valorum asked, especially with the note. And how did you manage to plant it?
- More on that later. Believe me, I had my reasons for wanting to see you. And I thought I asked you to come alone?
- I prefer not to be separated from my guards," the Chancellor replied.
- I see. But if I had wanted to harm you, I could have done so when I was in your office. Don't worry. I only invited you here to negotiate with you.
- All right," the Chancellor surrendered, turning to the head of the guard, "wait for me.
We went to the apartment, where I had already introduced my iron friend to the chancellor:
- This is the droid Erdwa. He is travelling with me and is quite aware of what is going on.
- Good morning," the droid greeted Valorum. The Chancellor looked at Erdva with interest, but did not reply. I went into the living room, where I had already invited the chancellor to sit down and make himself comfortable. There were no waiters - I made a couple of cups of tea myself, placing one in front of the Chancellor, with the words:
- I'm sorry if I'm taking up your time, but that's the way the situation is.
- Firstly, I'd like to ask, are you really Skywalker? And why do you look... somewhat older?
- Some of the temporal anomalies I've been caught in. The galaxy really is full of wonders, Mr Chancellor. I've seen that more than once. However, I am me, my papers have been restored, I have re-established all former business contacts, so I have returned to my former life. Now I'm in a rather delicate situation and I'm looking for a way out of it.
- What kind of situation? - Valorum asked without drinking his tea, "Can I help you? After all, I owe you my chair. I don't think I owe you anything, but I am no stranger to humanity...
- I see. It's not even about what's already happened. Are you familiar with a region like the galactic core? A deep core?
- Of course," the Chancellor nodded, "a dead zone.
- It's hard to argue with that," I pulled out some printed photographs from under the table, "take a look...
Valorum looked at them. I printed out the photos from the video file, selecting the most savoury shots.
The Chancellor flipped through some of the photos, some he looked at for a full minute. When the folder was finished, he placed it on the coffee table in front of the couch he was sitting on.
- And what's this? - he nodded at the folder, "looks like ruins.
- They are. It's Koros. Big Koros, a month ago.
- It can't be! - The Chancellor was surprised, and genuinely so. Have you found a route to the centre of the galaxy?
- No. No, I haven't. There is no route, and there can't be - the core is too unstable. But I did get to Koros, and even deeper. And discovered a number of worlds there that are quite rich in minerals. I'd even say very, very rich.
- И? - The Chancellor couldn't stand it.
- I'm interested in the prospect of taking them for myself.
- Which ones? - Valorum asked suspiciously.
- Everything. Everything," I said.
- That can't be," the chancellor said, "it's illegal.
- Are there any other options? - I raised an eyebrow," I said, "I'm the only one who can fly into the core. Consider it a personal ability, I haven't heard of anyone else being able to do the same. The core remains a dead asset of the Republic - despite being the richest sector of the galaxy in terms of valuable base metals and minerals, it is inaccessible.
Valorum couldn't stand it any longer and stood up, beginning to pace back and forth along the back of the sofa. I didn't stop him from thinking.
- And you, as you claim, can penetrate the core unhindered?
- Why unhindered? - It's quite hard work. One flight cost me a lot of energy and nerves.
The Chancellor sat back on the sofa and thought. For a long time, I didn't disturb him and sat and waited too. After about ten minutes, Valorum died down:
- Okay, young man... Suppose I believed you, suppose I don't mind... on the other hand - what will I get out of it? Besides a potentially powerful player with unknown goals?
- Why unknown? - I shrugged, "I'm a Jedi Master. Yes, I know I've never even entered the Modern Order, but it is by right, and I have all the proper rights, and the records are in the great holocron and the archives of the Jedi Temple. And I have no intention of harming you or the Republic - I outlined my political course before the Nabuan crisis, preventing Palpatine from giving you a vote of no confidence.
- And you're telling me that your views haven't changed? - he asked incredulously.
- They have, but not much. It was obvious that the republic could not exist as it did before those events. It would lead to a full-scale civil war, and that would threaten me and my family.
- You exaggerate," Valorum disagreed.
- Perhaps, perhaps... but I am still firmly convinced that the Republic was heading full steam ahead into the abyss. I have already made my choice - the further development and recovery of the Republic.
- Good sense..." Valorum nodded, "but you haven't answered my question - what will we get out of it?
- Apart from heavy taxes? An ally. I intend, with or without your approval, to act for the good of the Republic in the future. Of course, this is not just a sector, but the richest sector in the galaxy, which, if fully developed, could rival the entire techno-union....
- With full development, - the Chancellor took the words, - as far as I understand, it will not be achieved in the near future?
- Of course not, Mr Chancellor," I agreed, "and the navigational nightmare in the core is holding back the pace. However, if possible, I will not refuse to help you within reason....
- Within reason - how exactly? - The Chancellor was interested.
- Whatever a very rich and isolated sector can provide. What can't be done there, where everyone can fly in and everyone can fly out. Would you like me to build a military fleet that will be yours personally? And no one in the whole galaxy will know about its construction and existence - all the resources are already in the core. Would you like money? Or maybe I could give you territories? In a region that's naturally secure, so no one can get in and out without authorisation?
- That's a tempting offer... - the Chancellor thought, - but building an entire fleet in secret is unlikely. You also need people, and as you know, you can't put them in conservation....
- That's true... but the problem can be solved with people. That's not the point. Believe me, with our co-operation in the development of the core and its riches, both sides will get more than enough. If you need money or implementation of any projects, research, industrial production... for all these purposes there is no more suitable region than the galactic core.
- All right," the Chancellor sighed, "you've convinced me. You're right, there's nothing wrong with reserving this region for your forces. What do you want in return? - asked the Chancellor.
- For starters, the legalisation of my right to this region.
- That would be difficult," Valorum sighed, "just to give up a large sector.....
- I've already thought about it," I interrupted him, "there was an empire in the core. The Koros Empire. Before the core was destabilised. And it still exists, except without a population. But the planets are habitable, and Koros hasn't gone anywhere....
- It still exists? - raised one eyebrow at the Chancellor, - however...
- Yes. The constitution states that anyone can become emperor, provided that the aristocracy, represented by several councils of aristocrats, is not against it. As you realise, there is no mention of the absence of these aristocrats. However, this de jure still fulfils the conditions.....
- And you want to declare yourself the next emperor?
- No, it doesn't require any public declaration. I'm just announcing it to you. None of the aristocrats of the empire were against it. It's up to the republic...
The Chancellor grinned, -now all that is needed is to put your empire in the documents...
- You'll be surprised, Chancellor," I replied to his chuckle, "but it was never removed. However, the money for its maintenance was allocated correctly, with zero taxes....
- There," the Chancellor slapped the armrest, "and all these years ...
- Millennia, Mr Chancellor. All these millennia the Koros sector has been part of the Republic. They can steal from you, yes... But now all I need is that there is no unnecessary noise around my person and the core itself, that the tax and trade authorities of the Republic participate in the work of the Empire... I'll provide for the production...
- It can be organised, - the Chancellor leaned back in his chair tiredly, - as I understand, you can't give any guarantees? - asked the Chancellor.
- That's right. Except my honest Jedi word. The thing is, no one can give any guarantees.
The chancellor calmed down, and, judging by his emotions, began to think of how to take advantage of the situation. I didn't interfere with him - I only looked into his emotions to make sure that he wouldn't try to screw me.
The preliminary agreements had been reached - we could talk about the details later, but the main thing was over. Valorum thought a little more and said goodbye to me - it's his working day and the Chancellor can't just take off and go somewhere else. In the absence of the Chancellor and his entourage, the flat fell into silence, interrupted only by the buzzing of the droid, which turned its head in all directions. The time was early - it was only morning. It was time for the work to begin. The huge, titanic work of restoring an entire empire. I liked the idea - instead of dancing around the existing political units, I would seize a small but protected and rich territory.
- Erdva, patch me through to Julian.
The droid stopped, moved closer, and a two-dimensional image of the living room appeared above his head. Five minutes later, Julian came running into the living room. Unfortunately, it was too insecure to communicate through the shared communication channels, so I used a closed encrypted channel that only had three communication nodes - the bridge, the living room, and Erdva.
- Ani? - Julian smiled, -what's wrong? Why are you so sad?
- Sad? 'Because we have a lot of work to do, Ju. The chancellor agreed. 'We are safe from trouble with the law. I am now officially Emperor of Koros, so we can begin the restoration work.
- That's good news," he smiled, adding snidely, "your majesty.
- Not that! - I pretended to be horrified," I said, "we're not in public, so put the jokes down!
- Okay, okay," Julian sighed, "you still haven't told me your plan.
- I'll tell you on the spot. And bring Shiai, Makoi... Oh, and tell Cal that the yacht must be on the outer reaches of the postorbital anchorage two weeks in advance. Give the crew a leave of absence, but not all of them at once.
- Understood. I'll let you know. All right, I'm on my way..." Julian cut the comms.
Ten minutes later, the second Lambda descended to the landing pad of my apartment, and down its ramp went all the called persons. Shi'ai escaped quickly and dashed in my direction, Makoi following him, and Julian was the last to descend, surveying the scenery of Coruscant and walking leisurely at the tail of the procession. Shiai came running in first:
- Dad, Dad, why are we here?
- Hold on, kid, I'll tell you a little later.
Mekoi caught up with the boy and took him by the hand and led him into the flat. Julian came up:
- Can I congratulate you?
- That too. But more like sympathy. I'm a professional bureaucrat with a degree. I know what we're going through, so I'm not happy.
- Come on, let's go to the flat, it's too chilly in here.
Julian and I went inside. Shiai had already run to all the corners of the flat, and now climbed up on the couch, to the disapproving mutterings of Makoya.
- All right, ladies and gentlemen. Though you, Makoey, are the last to be concerned. The Chancellor has given his consent, though he has made no demands.
- No demands at all? - Ju wondered, "None at all?
- I've given him plenty of details. He promised a lot, so....
- How much did you promise him? - Ju frowned.
- Not money, of course. I promised him the natural privileges of using the system. The right to place and store any production facilities there, personal support, and so on and so forth. He also promised a fleet. Small, but strong enough.
- Where are you going to find one? - Julian leaned back in his chair and feigned surprise.
- We're in a situation... where a lot of people are going to want money and influence. Pirates, I'll bet, would dream of intercepting our cargo, and many would want to get their hands on it. That's why the Koros Empire is the kind of empire whose army should be born ahead of everything else and defend.
- Well, well, stop," Julian raised his hand, "let's get to the point, your majesty, what are we doing now?
- Right now we're in the process of hiring personnel to deal with the state's problems. There will be more than a lot of problems - we need to deal with construction, military affairs, technical, of course, mining and finance, the media, so that they don't pay too much attention to us, and some unadvertised matters... and for all this we need specialists.
- Where do you get them? - Julian didn't understand - just go out on the street and call them?
- Yes, that's a problem," I agreed, "we won't be able to find them that easily. At least I don't need the Alderaanian mumblers who studied with me.
The personnel issue came up for the second time and this time it was very acute.
- All right, let's start with preparations and transport. I'll take care of that, as I'm the only one who can get a ship into the core. And the more cargo we can get through in one pass, the better.
- Then you need a heavy transport," Julian agreed with me, "there's the XRT series.
- What's that? I don't remember those," I hadn't really heard of them.
- No wonder. They're gigantic, and they're only used for special cargo transfers when colonising planets. Or emergencies. A big space train of ten cargo units....
- I think I've seen one of those somewhere..." I nodded in agreement, "how much cargo can one carry?
- A lot. About fifty million tonnes in each carriage. And that's half a billion tonnes in the whole transporter. But it can't load and unload quickly and like all the other ships - it unhooks over the planet and the cargo blocks go down on repulsors. It's a lot of work to build and outfit one of these, and it's not something they do on planets, mostly.
- All right," I nodded, "for now, we need to deliver a large number of labour droids. I have the first candidate for the post of chief droid officer.
- Yeah? Who's that?
- A friend of mine," I grinned, "I don't have time to fly to him myself, so I'll send an invitation along with someone from the yacht crew...
* Three days later, Correllia, Anakin Skywalker. *
- So, please, Mr Skywalker," Mereel said.
We were in a large round office, at a small table, classic for meetings. Along the table sat the colour of the KMC - three members of the board of directors, though Mereel was in charge, chairman and majority owner. KMK was owned by the Correlian government, or vice versa - the Correlian government was owned by KMK. Either way, the corporation's influence on Correlian life could hardly be overestimated. Now it was up to me to pitch my idea to the general partners.
- Thank you. So, let me begin at the beginning. As you know, there is a Jedi Order. These are people who have paranormal abilities, and use them for the good of the galaxy ...
Those present nodded in agreement, all except Mereel. I continued to speak, turning my empathy on full blast:
- Among these abilities is one that allows you to travel in hyperspace without the use of any tools or calculated routes. Even in wild and unknown, or ever-changing space. That's the ability I have... But that's not the point. With these abilities, I have access to regions that are not open, as well as those that are closed to any traveller.
- Such as? - Mereel asked.
- For example, the core of the galaxy.
Everyone was surprised, but the man in charge stopped the noise and turned to me:
- Continue.
- I've already travelled to the galactic core, and found a completely abandoned sector. On the planet Koros, which was once a developed world, now only ruins of the former civilisation. But that's not the main thing, the main thing is that there are huge deposits of valuable minerals in the core. Gravitational, electromagnetic and hyperspace instability, together with the region's closed nature and high matter density compared to the rest of the galaxy, have done their job - the region contains some of the largest deposits. Some are known to us from past experience, one of the planets extremely rich in singing steel was discovered by me. The region is estimated to be the most mineral-rich sector of the galaxy.
- But it's impossible to get there," one of the directors said with a chuckle.
- Wrong. I told you, I've already been there, and I've successfully collected three thousand tonnes of singing steel, which I sold to you just a week ago. But that's just for the sake of experimentation. Of course, I'll use my privileges as the only one who can cross the exclusion zone. Legally, I have already declared myself Emperor of Koros," the audience smiled, "and I have negotiated with the republican government in the person of the Chancellor. The Korossian Empire never left the Republic, so I have both the minerals and the right to sell them. The only question is how to organise the extraction.
- And you came to us with this question? - nodded the Chief, "Why don't you turn to the mining corporations?
- I am not interested in leasing my own, now, land. I intend to mine and sell valuable metals. Of which there are many, very many. That's why I'm proposing an alliance with your corporation. You are one of the largest consumers of valuable metals in the galaxy, so I am prepared to sell you metal at a substantial discount. The price of the discount is the establishment and maintenance of a mining industry and a formal alliance between the Koros Empire and the KMC. Obviously, the mining industry will be localised over time, but the discount will not go away.
- Interesting," Mereel sighed, "but what guarantee do we have that you're telling the truth?
- I'm not offering you a one-time contract, am I? - I shrugged, "It's simple, you allocate some of your resources to work for your partner, and in return you get metals at a twenty per cent discount from the official market value that other companies charge. Profit is directly proportional to the volume of production, that is, after a certain level of investment, the discounted amount will be greater than the investment. In addition, the investment is one-off - once built, a steel plant can run for centuries. As I said, over time, your specialists will be replaced by mine, and I will keep them, and the discount won't go anywhere.
- Interesting," Mereel looked at his colleagues, "what do you think?
- I have a question," one of them stood up, a young man, with a thin moustache and wearing major fashionable clothes, "you said that only you have the ability to navigate the core....
- Yes," I nodded.
- But how will we be able to import and export resources? Or are you going to handle everything personally?
- Personally. However, in order to save me time, we'll use the XRT and FSCV heavy transports. The more we can move in one trip, the less hassle. In addition, in the mining colonies themselves, we'll have to increase the level of localisation, and calculate interaction with a minimum level of space travel. Ideally, each planet should have a large processing centre, where ore will be brought, and there, on the spot, the finished products in the form of ingots of metal will be loaded into transport units. Up to fifty million tonnes in one block, although I will return to this question later. With such a scheme of work the essence of delivery will be reduced to visiting all planets once a year and docking loaded containers, and then delivering them to Correlia or wherever you will be more convenient.
- In that case we are talking about huge sums of money! - The major was surprised, - to buy a billion tonnes from you at a time is... if it's a thousand credits per kilo, it's a trillion! The budget of the central world for a whole year!
I chuckled:
- If we're talking about the central world, my empire is at the very core of the galaxy. It couldn't be more central. Besides, how much would it change? Suppose instead of buying metals from big corporations, you switch to a single, long-term supplier, you don't have to search for metals all over the galaxy for centuries to come, and I give you a discount....
- It looks very tempting," Mereel agreed, "especially the discount. It's disturbing, you know?
- It's simple," I smiled for a moment, "as Emperor, I have no intention of going into business. And if I do, I do not intend to sell my raw materials, but to work directly with the products. That is why I am interested in a stable and reliable partner, with whom I will not have to fight over every loan. And that is why I have clearly set the price - the official market price, minus twenty per cent discount, so that you do not change partners.
- All right, Mr Skywalker... or is it 'your majesty'?
- As you wish," I waved the question away, "I understand that you can't accept such an offer without consulting me and thinking about the details....
- You are right," Mereel smiled with relief.
- In that case, gentlemen, I dare not disturb you. You have a connection with me, my temporary residence is in apartment nine hundred and three, in the five hundredth house on the Republican. I will be glad to see you or your representatives... - I said goodbye to the board of directors, and left the office. The offer was made. It is, of course, a little less profitable than selling on the market itself, but it unties my hands. Now they will cling to me and the core with a dead grip, so that I do not go to their competitors ... And at the same time will help me, providing the budget with money. By the way, I didn't mention that I'll be selling metals to others, but without the discount....
* * *
Six hours later, Coruscant.
* * *
It was late at night on Coruscant. It was deep night in the neighbourhood where the five hundredth house was located, and everyone was asleep, except Julian. My friend was waiting for me with news, and he was. I didn't expect him to come out to greet me, but Ju walked up to the shuttle I had flown in and greeted me:
- How's it going?
- Not bad, - I looked at his face, in the light of night lights of the city and the headlights of the shuttle, - let's go to the house....
Already inside, I heard the news:
- Your candidate has arrived. He flew in the very next day. By the way, I had to tell him about your story with the time anomaly, otherwise it would be difficult to explain that you are now in your twenties and your son is already growing up....
- That's right," I nodded, "I'll talk to him in the morning.
- Okay, can you tell me briefly what? Have you agreed?
- Not yet, - I satisfied his curiosity, - such cases are not solved quickly. However, judging by their emotions, almost all of them could not believe that a man came in and offered them cheap raw materials... but, apparently, the first impression will soon pass and they will agree. And if they don't, there's Kuat, there's the Republic shipyards, there's a few other steel companies, so we won't be without customers.
Julian rubbed his hands together:
- Then they'll definitely agree, they're greedy blokes.
- By the way, it's time to deal with the personnel issue. Tomorrow I'll go to Valorum and ask him for a temporary staff for the first jobs.