Nine years, seven months, and the seventeenth day after the Battle of Yavin…
Or the forty-fourth year, seven months, and the seventeenth day after the Great Resynchronization.
(Three months and the second day since arrival)
Even though they had promised to finish repairs on the old Senate building a couple of months ago, the senators of the New Republic gathered in the Imperial Palace itself. The same place where many of them, including Mon Mothma herself, had once spoken while serving in the Imperial Senate.
Han, in his haste, went to the Senate building and was quite surprised by several things at once. First—that they let him enter the building under reconstruction without any trouble. Second—that although not all finishing work was completed and piles of construction debris still lay around in places, the overall effect of the restored building, just as the architects had promised, was indeed very impressive. They had restored the old, traditional design of the chamber almost in its original form. Or at least, so the builders claimed. Han himself had been too young back then, with other desires on his mind, to remember what the Old Republic Senate chamber looked like in its final decades.
Anyway, professional or not, from his point of view, this venue seemed far better suited for the senators' meeting he had been summoned to. But the senators had their own perspective.
Thus, he now found himself in the actual place required, wearing a neatly pressed general's uniform, calmly—almost indifferently—listening to the hysterics of one senator after another, each trying to express their take on what he had just reported regarding the events in the Honoghr system.
He listened as they dragged his name through the mud, and his temper rose.
— Did I understand you correctly, General Solo? — boomed a gruff roar of some senator through the loudspeakers. Han did not even deign to meet his gaze. — You're telling us that you were attacked by an Imperial fleet?
— That's correct, Senator, — Han said into the microphone. More than anything, this meeting reminded him of a trial, where they were trying to corner him deeper in some pit on the far side of some planet—by way of a collective cross-examination. — We arrived there, ran into Imperial patrol ships, and a battle ensued. Then the enemy fleet arrived and…
— …and you were routed like some cadet at a simulator, — oh, that voice he recognized well. Its source—a certain furry fiend occupying the seat to Mon Mothma's right in the Coruscant's provisional government box.
— That fleet was commanded by a Grand Admiral, — Han reminded them.
— Oh, yes, General Solo, — Fey'lya chimed in. — Allow me to read a few lines from your report. "Blue-skinned, glowing red eyes, pitch-black hair, typical human features but not human. Cold, calculating, plays with words…"
Laughter rippled among the senators.
— I'd like to remind you this is an official report, — Fey'lya noted. — And your assessment of the proposals that this so-called 'Grand Admiral' voiced also deserves to be quoted…
— Please refrain, Supreme Commander Fey'lya, — Mon Mothma cut short the insolent, furry deceiver. — Don't forget that this report is classified at a special level. And several senators here do not have clearance for that type of data.
Smooth. In fact, no senator had clearance. Except maybe the leaders of a couple of committees—and even they were authorized to review only the data "pertinent to their specialty."
— Oh yes, oh yes, — Fey'lya snorted. — You yourself applied the secrecy label. These paragraphs can be read to senators, but these others cannot… Very convenient when one wants to conceal something important, isn't it?
— If I had wanted to hide anything at all, you wouldn't have received my detailed report in the first place, — Han snapped. — It has over fifty pages, by the way! I spent a whole day writing it!
— Perhaps you should go back to school, General, — the Bothan said. — I went through your report in an hour. The mere fact that you spent a day on it only suggests you were inventing ways to describe your own incompetence in the best light.
— Oh, give me a break, — Han grimaced. — Of all people—really?! Fey'lya, unlike you, I can count actual victories over more than one foe, including Warlord Zsinj—who was the greatest threat in recent years. And what exactly have you done for the New Republic? Once you seized power, you crafted a defense system so brilliant that our squadrons are stuck at their home bases while the Empire is trashing our forward posts.
— Have you considered, General Solo, — Fey'lya inquired softly, almost purringly, — that perhaps I chose such tactics specifically so that the situation in the Dafilvean Sector would not be repeated, where our forces were lured away from base and then destroyed piece by piece?
— Yeah, yeah, yeah, — Han muttered under his breath. — "Whose bantha's telling a rancor about going on a diet…"
— Excuse me, — came the voice of another senator. — General Solo just used some kind of idiom?
Han felt like now would be a perfect moment to slip through the floor of the booth and flee. He had sort of forgotten that the microphone was still on.
— It's nothing, — he waved it off. — A common saying. I think our Supreme Commander here got the hint.
— I prefer to speak openly, General Solo, — remarked that living mockery, calm as ever. — If there's something you're implying, you'd do well to state your claims out loud.
Oh, he knew exactly what Han was hinting at. Han had written it in the report in large letters, practically. But because only members of the High Council had copies, the version Han had read aloud to the rest of the senators was somewhat edited. He had omitted the details of Fey'lya, the spy in the Imperial Palace, and especially the part about Palpatine. Otherwise, panic would be guaranteed. He only reported the fact of the battle, the capture, and the Grand Admiral's warning that they keep away from the Empire.
— I've already said everything I wanted to say, — Han declared. — We were warned that an attempt to attack the Ciutric Hegemony would be considered full-scale war. Which means the enemy knows we'll come. They're prepared for a strike. And it's clear they'll be waiting for us. Maybe even lure us into a trap, like at Honoghr.
— General Solo, — addressed him the senator from Kuat. — Sorry to interrupt. I want to clarify. Do I understand correctly? You arrived in an unknown system with a fleet, not knowing its affiliations, attacked the local patrol forces who asked you to leave, and only then did an Imperial officer calling himself a Grand Admiral show up and wipe out your fleet? Then he had a nice little chat with you, gave you and your people all necessary medical aid, and placed you in a rescue pod in comfort while you awaited the arrival of your relief force—which you yourself had summoned?
— In broad terms—yes, — he nodded.
— So you acted aggressively toward the people who, according to that Imperial commander, were neutral? — the Kuati senator pressed. — And you also deployed ground troops to their planet?
— Er… — Han blinked in confusion. How did she find out? That part of the report had been encrypted!
— Senator, — Mon Mothma intervened, interrupting his attempt to justify himself. — Where did you get that information?
— My sources remain my own, — said the senator from Kuat. Han glanced at a certain Bothan. Fey'lya was practically mocking him with that grin.
— In that case, either you provide them to the Provisional Government, or…
— Or what, Councillor Mothma? — the Kuati woman gave Coruscant's provisional government leader a look. — This is the Senate of the New Republic. We have the right to speak our minds, and it's not for you to silence us. General Solo has provided no confirmation of his words. Only vague hints, scare stories about yet another Grand Admiral who supposedly promised us war if we dare bring that sadist Krennel to justice—Krennel, who usurped power in the Ciutric Hegemony and cruelly murdered the legitimate ruler of that region. We know the fate of all twelve Grand Admirals. We know that Palpatine himself set a limit on how many could serve, written in a specific law. If someone just puts on a Grand Admiral's uniform, that doesn't mean he truly is one. The Empire continues to attack our worlds. The New Republic has given no attention whatsoever to investigating the Imperial raid on our planet, Kai Fel!
— Senator, — said Mon Mothma, — you obviously forget that Kuat's fleet refused New Republic protection of your territories.
— Oh, I remember it well, — she nodded. — But I'm talking about an investigation, not about protection. The culprits have not been found, stopped, or brought to justice!
— From my end, — Fey'lya joined in, — I can add that all direct or indirect evidence points to Prince-Admiral Krennel as the one behind the attacks on our bases. I'm sure that once he's defeated we'll find plenty of proof that either he himself was involved or he allied with the party responsible for these raids.
— What, — Han burst out, — you didn't hear a word I said?! Leading the Imperial forces is not Prince-Admiral Krennel but Grand Admiral Thrawn! Whoever he is—appointed by Palpatine or self-proclaimed—it hardly matters now. He told me outright that he's the one attacking our bases and that if we strike at any of the Imperial Remnants, he'll mount a full-scale invasion!
— And that same "Thrawn," — Fey'lya said, — told you that our fleet is engaged in raiding the enemy's supply lines. As Supreme Commander of the New Republic Armed Forces, I can state categorically that there is no single squadron or task force carrying out such actions. Which only proves that the Imperials took advantage of the situation and easily pulled the wool over General Solo's eyes, — the Bothan made a sweeping gesture with his hand. — I have no doubt that General Solo didn't embellish the story intentionally…
You flea-ridden parasite!
— Are you implying I lied, Councillor Fey'lya? — Han jumped from his seat.
— Me? — the Bothan feigned surprise, not very convincingly. — Certainly not, General Solo. I only meant to point out that the Imperials are masters of disinformation. They may well have deceived you. Such a thing has happened before, hasn't it? On Bespin, in your friend Lando Calrissian's city? He, too, supposedly fell victim to Imperial intrigues…
Judging by the senators' chuckles, they thought that was a good joke. Yeah, well, if only they'd been there, seeing Thrawn's eyes, hearing his words…
— Also, regarding the disinformation angle, I already mentioned that not a single unit of our Armed Forces is engaging in raids on the enemy's supply lines. And certainly we're not hiring pirates to do so. I'm speaking from my own perspective, of course, and of those units under the command of our Armed Forces…
The Senate erupted in shouts and accusations.
Han rolled his eyes. Fey'lya had chosen the perfect time to lob this political grenade at Mon Mothma. The Chandrilan stood there, stunned, listening to allegations that she was nearly orchestrating provocations to incite the Imperials. She was accused of despotism, of abusing her authority, of hoarding all possible branches of power the way Palpatine once had, of bringing about a governmental crisis under which the Empire was regaining its strength. Cries for her resignation rang out…
— Senators, — Fey'lya purred, — I assure you that all these troubles will soon be behind us. My plan to strike at the Ciutric Hegemony will eliminate all potential threats to our outposts, our interstellar trade, and the New Republic as a whole. Very likely General Solo and Head of the Provisional Government Mon Mothma simply fail to grasp that Prince-Admiral Krennel, realizing that retribution is about to descend on him, has taken steps to mislead us. And thus we see all these Grand Admiral Thrawns, threats of retaliation, and other boogeyman stories. He knows his time will soon be up and that he will stand trial for his crimes. Delak Krennel is growing desperate and will exploit any means to confuse us and make us back off from our course of justice. But it won't work. We know very well his fleet isn't as strong as he claims—he has no more than a dozen capital ships, including Star Destroyers. Obviously General Solo is unaware that the Star Destroyers involved in the attacks on our bases amount to only a small number—precisely the number Krennel has. Plus the ones he took from us—he's been identified with at least one, the Fidelity, which went missing during a rogue operation in the Milagro system…
The Star Destroyer on which Leia, Lando, Chewbacca, and General Cracken had been.
Han felt a painful twinge in his heart. No. He had to hold it together. They'll be fine. They have to be!
The Senate gave Fey'lya a standing ovation while the Bothan basked in the glory. Mon Mothma was silent, glaring gloomily at her personal datapad. Han merely shook his head…
Just as Thrawn had said, he was faced with two choices. He had chosen the one his conscience and sense of honor as a military officer demanded. And it only made things worse.
They were going to walk right into that trap, which they had literally been warned about.
Han had no more doubts that Fey'lya was leading the New Republic to the executioner's block. He would bring a huge fleet to Krennel, and there they'd face a minefield, orbital guns, the entire Imperial fleet, or something else known only to the Force. The Fourth Fleet would be wiped out. The entire eastern portion of the galaxy would be left exposed to enemy strikes. And that region contained important industrial and agricultural worlds and systems. Deprive the army and fleet of them, and half would grind to a halt without food or repair facilities. Cut off the supply of Nergon-14 from Christophsis, and a third of all manufactured proton torpedoes for the New Republic Armed Forces would be reduced to useless hunks of metal waiting for explosive charges. Subjugating Yukio would cut off the food supply to nearly a fifth of the army and fleet, because if Orinda aims to seize that planet, all of Yukio's allied worlds would join the Empire's side. And there are dozens—if not hundreds—of critical planets like that out there…
Only a miracle or Imperial mercy could save the Fourth Fleet from destruction. And after the Imps crush it and seize half of the eastern sectors of the galaxy, they'll strike Elom—and then the Second Fleet will be doomed. Next comes the Third… And the First will just sit and wait, guarding the Core Worlds…
Han already saw the writing on the wall. Without a gifted commander at the helm, the Imperials would pulverize them. Fey'lya might be an adept political schemer, but he's nothing without a competent tactician or strategist on his side…
General Solo looked at Mon Mothma's face, full of silent worry. How thoroughly he'd let her down with this Honoghr debacle. Lost the fleet, failed to find Leia, and now even the Kuati group had apparently allied with the Bothans… She couldn't even go against the will of the Senate to stop this madness, or they'd sweep her aside. She no longer had a secure way to halt the chaos. To think… Only ten years ago the Imperials had ranted in the same vein about eradicating the Rebel Alliance. Now their roles were reversed…
Han could mention Fey'lya's connection to Octavian Grant. But he'd be laughed out of the chamber—these double standards were as blatant as it gets. Because Fey'lya, despite the losses, was now promising them what they all wanted—Imperial blood. One word from him, and they'd tear Mon Mothma and Han to shreds…
The Corellian, after watching the proceedings, wondered if it wasn't time to throw off these useless general's rank bars. It was all pointless anyway. Before it got too hot, maybe he should find Thrawn, get the Falcon back, locate his friends and…get out of here. Leia would surely disagree. She'd fight for the New Republic to the end—it was practically her child. And children were special in their family…
And then it hit him.
Find Thrawn.
Right! The Grand Admiral had said that Palpatine held him in high regard. If such records of him exist, maybe they're in certain categories of the Imperial Information Center located deep beneath the Imperial Palace? Yes, it would obviously take time, but there are cryptographers and codebreakers. They're already working on decoding Imperial data. They've had some successes. If we focus them on one specific line of inquiry, we might find proof that Thrawn is real. Confirmation of his existence might be the small step we need to show everyone the threat is real.
He had to talk with Mon Mothma. He wasn't much of a fleet commander anyway. But maybe he could find a couple of good slicers-for-hire, or even Lobot—Lando's cyborg friend. He once worked with a Verpine slicer… Actually, that's a good idea?
Suddenly, Han felt eyes upon him.
Mon Mothma had looked up from reading her datapad and was gazing at him with an outward calm. But something told Han that the despair in her eyes was not just because Fey'lya had all but publicly branded her a traitor to the New Republic, trying to seize power for herself.
Something had happened.
Something very bad.
But how could it be any worse?
***
The "Rabid Ewok," an E-9-type scout starship, jumped into hyperspace and vanished from sight of those watching from the Chimaera's hangar viewport.
— I wouldn't trust that Jedi, — Pellaeon grumbled, casting a parting glance at the spot in the black void where Eymand, crossing the light barrier, had departed on his assigned mission. — I don't believe in tales of friendship, loyalty, promises kept, and a sense of duty flourishing among pirates.
— A biased opinion, Captain, — I remarked. — It never leads to anything good, especially where temporary allies are concerned.
— That's precisely the problem, Grand Admiral, — Pellaeon sighed. — Given the circumstances, where's the guarantee that this fellow won't head straight for the nearest New Republic base, provide them with a few convincing bits of evidence, and then they come after us while we're behind Republic lines or waiting at the designated rendezvous?
— Indeed, — I nodded. — How can we trust someone who has romantic feelings for the late mother of a pirate who's our prisoner?
— I didn't believe a word of his story, — Pellaeon confessed.
— In the absence of contrary facts, we'll settle for what we have, Captain, — I noted.
— Sir, but to trust him… — Gilead insisted.
— Trust is not the issue at this stage, — I stated. — We're using him to get what we need, and he's serving us to save the life of his friend and ward.
— Yet you released him alone on his own ship, — Pellaeon's eyebrows shot up.
— Precisely, — I said, swiveling my chair to face the crew pits. — Lieutenant Tschel, are the tracking devices transmitting telemetry?
— Yes, sir, — replied the young officer. — Both the one on the outer hull and the one hidden onboard. As well as two others placed there for backup. The interior of the vessel has been restored exactly as it was before we opened the inner hull panels.
— Excellent work, — I praised. — Convey my thanks to the technical team responsible for such a quick job. Now we'll see how skillfully they concealed the signs of their work. Report immediately on any transmissions sent from or to the Rabid Ewok, as well as every location where it drops out of hyperspace.
— Understood, sir, — Tschel saluted and returned to his post.
— You ordered them to place beacons inside the Jedi's starship? — Pellaeon asked.
— Exactly, — I confirmed. — External trackers are easily discovered. The internal ones, hidden among the wiring and connected to the main systems, give us a complete picture of everything going on inside. Besides, even if they're found, it's a good test for our technical teams, who've returned to working on the Millennium Falcon.
— You still intend to return it to the Solos? — Pellaeon deduced.
— Not before I can guarantee I have full access to its data feeds, especially since Princess Leia is quite fond of using that ship for secret journeys around the galaxy, — I explained.
— Yes, sir.
— Prepare the ship for departure, Captain, — I ordered. — And also give me the list of our Star Destroyers in the vicinity.
— Right away, sir.
Do I believe Eymand's story? No. Do I believe he believes it? Yes.
Why the contradiction? Simple: I don't believe Captain Nym actually killed Captain Tiberos's mother.
From the "Legacy" series of books, I vaguely recall a moment that Aurra Sing was at least once captured by Jacen Solo after he fell to the dark side. Yet here, according to the Jedi's account, she's dead.
There's a discrepancy. And a rather interesting one at that.
I'd understand if Aurra Sing's death came about via the "butterfly effect" after my consciousness took over Thrawn's body and events began deviating drastically from those I knew. But no—according to Imperial Intelligence data up to the moment of my first meeting with Tiberos, and based on Eymand's story, Sing died well before I assumed command of the fleet.
So my actions and orders couldn't have led to her premature demise. Which makes things a bit more piquant.
For one thing, a major rule in the Star Wars universe is this: if you haven't seen the body of your enemy, it's best to keep assuming they're still alive.
Neither the intelligence reports nor Eymand's story mentioned anyone seeing the corpses of Tiberos's parents. Nym merely bragged about trophies—their weapons. Of course, he wouldn't have boasted like that if he suspected they were still alive. So there's strong reason to doubt at least Aurra Sing's death. Her father could indeed have died, but Sing—one of the galaxy's most formidable Jedi hunters, also Force-sensitive and once partially trained as a Jedi—became a hired gun. And mercenaries in the galaxy far, far away are famous for surviving outlandish situations—especially when everyone believes them dead. Boba Fett, for instance, swallowed by the Sarlacc thanks to Han Solo, yet emerged not only alive but as leader of the Mandalorians.
So I wouldn't be too shocked if it later turns out Aurra Sing is still alive somewhere in hiding/captivity/amnesia—take your pick.
This brought certain thoughts to mind—ones that have visited me more than once.
Order 66 was survived by quite a few Jedi, many choosing not to restore the Order, but to remain hidden for the time being. Sure, some joined the Rebels, others fought their own private Star Wars, while the fates of many remain unknown.
For instance, Anakin Skywalker's Padawan—Ahsoka Tano, a character from the "The Clone Wars" cartoon. The mischievous little Togruta who became popular with fans. Indeed, how could one not like someone who pokes fun at "Skyguy" at every turn? The rules of fan service demand that an antagonist-teasing character automatically earns audience affection.
The question: do the "Clone Wars" events exist in this universe?
At least one hint says yes—the "Marg Sabl" maneuver, which first appeared during the Clone Wars in the effort to break the Separatist blockade over Ryloth, the Twi'lek homeworld. And in "The Clone Wars" cartoon, that maneuver was devised by Ahsoka Tano.
Is it proof that the cartoon's events are part of the universe I'm in? Probably. Or so I'd like to believe. Just like I believe that new individuals like Tiberos, Eymand, Yazuo Vain, Irv, or the introduction of the twin "Invisible Hand" dreadnoughts is just me running into unknown bits of Star Wars continuity, not a sign I'm in some entirely alternate Star Wars timeline. Yes… They say greater lore knowledge leads to bigger headaches. If I were twenty or thirty again, I'd never question it, just keep going with the flow.
Anyway, back to Ahsoka Tano—and earlier, Ventress. In the "Expanded Universe," known also as "Legends," their post–Clone Wars fates weren't well-defined. Or if they were, I'm not fully aware, since Lucasfilm changed owners and established a new "official" canon. In it, Ventress sacrifices herself to save Quinlan Vos, another Jedi, while Ahsoka becomes leader of a Rebel cell, and then the madness of space whales traveling through hyperspace, Force-riding horses galloping across the hull of a Star Destroyer, stormtrooper-plumbers who know the weak points of planet-sized superweapons, bombs dropping vertically in space, Master Luke Skywalker, who overcame Palpatine but decided to kill his nephew at the first hint of the Dark Side… As an old fan, it was painful to watch. It's like believing in Santa Claus until you see the tipsy neighbor who plays him making passes at your single mother.
With age, fairy tales can become nightmares if you revisit them too late.
So there may well be Jedi scattered across the galaxy who, for one reason or another, don't fancy the New Republic that replaced the Empire. Not that the latter was merciful, but from an EU-lore perspective, you had post-Endor Jedi here and there who didn't want to serve the New Republic.
Take Bardan Jusik, for example, a Jedi (Padawan, I think) who befriended the clone commandos of Delta and Omega squads—"improved versions" of the donor for the Grand Army of the Republic, Jango Fett. Last I recall, with Palpatine's ascension, they all hid out on Mandalore, living the traditional Mandalorian lifestyle. I can't remember if the clones had solved their accelerated aging problem, but presumably yes—otherwise they'd be dead by now. But they do pop up in later-era books.
Once Eymand finishes his mission, maybe I should launch a massive search for these hidden Jedi—particularly Jedi. Inquisitor Reynar Obscuro is good because he has formal lightsaber training. But he's a "cleanser" through and through. He might teach my Jensaarai a bit of combat technique—only insofar as he knows. According to young Fodeum, Reynar is fully immersed in the Dark Side. That same risk we faced with the resurrected Palpatine's Dark Side Elite: giving them the knowledge might just create more self-made Sith right under my nose. For now, while Reynar's training the boy to fight—kicking him around to break his habit of sealing himself in the Force—he's useful. And in facing Palpatine's cadre of seven Force-gifted minions, Reynar could prove valuable if he's at least their equal. But he's alone. They are seven. And I suspect they're stronger and more capable. So I really could use my own group of Force-users, well-trained. Or Aurra Sing. Or Asajj Ventress. Or Quinlan Vos. Or someone else who might still be alive right now.
Raising and training just the Jensaarai may not be enough—their skill level is lacking.
They need to grow. They need more knowledge, a skilled teacher, so that in time they can evolve far beyond their current level.
Eymand might become my "magic wand." On one hand, he's calm, levelheaded, a bit phlegmatic, but rational. He's a Jedi Consular, presumably with deeper Force knowledge than a typical Jedi Guardian. Plus, he's aware of the findings on Ossus—some sort of field archives once kept there by the Jedi Order during the Clone Wars. Let's see what he digs up. And if memory serves, that's where Luke Skywalker, some years from now, would find a few recruits for his Jedi Praxeum. So that's a start.
The problem is: Palpatine already has a stable of Dark Side Adepts. And I suspect they rival, if not Palpatine's own power, then certainly that of someone like Darth Vader. So to stop them in a direct confrontation, you either need a huge army of stormtroopers or your own group of Jedi. Well-trained ones.
And the Jensaarai simply aren't there yet. Joruus C'baoth, the mad Jedi clone, single-handedly scrambled the brains of almost a dozen trained Jensaarai defenders in an instant, killing the best among them. How do we stop him if he breaks free from Jomark?
Bombard him from orbit? That puts Corran Horn at risk. He's an important figure for future turning points.
Right now, our only option is to do nothing about it. If we need to eliminate C'baoth, we have ysalamiri, the Noghri, Obscuro, and his apprentice Fodeum.
Hmm…or Eymand.
Now that's interesting… Hmm… This might lead to a cunning plan. Indeed, I don't like the idea of exploiting the Jedi, but times are dire. It's unlikely he'd voluntarily collaborate, as he said. But I can't afford to waste an opportunity like having even a temporary alliance with a Jedi who knows about various enclaves.
Yes, a hero wouldn't do that, but I don't have the typical skin or eye color for a hero.
I have a goal and a plan for achieving it. Yes, there's a moral side—whether the ends justify the means. In other words, is it acceptable to climb over others, convinced you're in the right?
No, it isn't. One's moral compass can waver, but it mustn't break. Otherwise, your sense of "wiggle room" keeps expanding until you find yourself deeming it acceptable to annihilate an entire planet just to kill one enemy.
By the same token, although I've found a backdoor in "GeNod," I'm not going to mass-clone every major hero and villain with loyalty chips installed. "GeNod" is a tool, not a panacea. If it were as simple as "tell the clones they're clones, so no mental breakdowns," the project would never have been canceled. Even though I've allowed it to operate, that doesn't mean I trust its complete reliability. I have a test group—Fourth Stormtrooper Squad. If anything odd starts happening to them, I'll know right away the project has issues.
Right now, I need troopers who are fully loyal. Now that the fleet has expanded so dramatically, I must ensure that the majority remains on my side when the final moment comes. At present, as Pellaeon noted, I can only rely on the Chimaera's crew and the "GeNod" clones without reservation.
And beyond that…
Beyond that, I hope the fleet's loyalty to their commander will outweigh loyalty to the New Order.
Otherwise, I might have to enact a Night of the Long Knives aboard my own ships. Leading to yet another iteration of the Clone Wars in this galaxy.
Do I suffer nightmares at the thought of having to kill subordinates if they choose Palpatine's side? Do I lose sleep over how my changes to reality might mean the death of some who otherwise survived in the continuity I once knew? Do I, as I fall asleep, agonize that to save as many as possible in the future, I must kill in the present?
No, I don't.
After I realized I had to die in order to outwit my enemies, I stopped seeing dreams altogether.
Only darkness.
In which I forge a path of a lifetime.
***
When Wedge finished his report, Han realized that what had happened a couple hours earlier in the Senate building was just a warm-up.
Now the real show began in full…
— Three Death Stars, — Mon Mothma whispered almost inaudibly. Judging by her voice and expression, she was in utter disbelief as she gazed at the white-blue hologram of three spherical objects of varying sizes. Yet they all shared the same purpose. — Three!
Borsk Fey'lya snorted indignantly. Han felt an urge to pound his fists into something furry.
From the way Wedge huffed, blowing his forelock away from his brow, he wasn't exactly thrilled either. The situation here was already dire, and now they had to deal with this…
— Our encryption teams and specialists have verified the data, — Wedge added fuel to the fire. — And unfortunately, it appears the schematics are not fake.
— Give me copies, and we'll prove it's nothing but a sophisticated scare tactic, — Fey'lya drawled, sounding smug.
— I completely trust the assessment of our Fleet specialists, — Wedge retorted sharply.
— I do not, — the Bothan replied brazenly, staring Wedge down.
— What is that supposed to mean? — Wedge asked, baffled.
— Why not ask your friend, — Fey'lya nodded aside. — He attacked a neutral system that had withdrawn from the Empire, destroyed their patrol ships, landed troops. Then, when the Imperial fleet arrived—summoned by the locals—General Solo, despite superior forces, managed to lose the battle. So now his ships are in our enemy's hands, and our heroic soldiers are in captivity. If they haven't already been executed.
— Thrawn promised to spare them, — Han growled, well aware of how much such "promises" were worth. Yet deep down, he believed that…being.
He didn't miss Wedge's frown at those words. So Wedge knew something?
— Your Thrawn is a fabrication! A little stage production! — Fey'lya snapped. — I refrained from making you look a complete fool in front of the senators, but anyone with half a brain in this galaxy knows that even human women rarely advanced far in the Imperial Armed Forces, let alone an alien. A thirteenth Grand Admiral, no less, not one of the original twelve. Really, General Solo, do you ever think before you act? Do you have any idea how elaborate Palpatine's scheming would have to be to train a single alien in such advanced methods that none of our captured Imperials ever spilled the secret, that no Imperial record—classified or not—ever mentioned him, and that he never "left a mark" anywhere in real combat? If he's as skilled as you say, how could they have kept him hidden?
— He said he was at Poln Minor, — Han replied grimly. — If you recall…
— I do, — the Bothan waved dismissively. — The incident when the Alliance was looking for a base and some Imperial moff offered it on a planet under his sector's control. It turned into a three-way showdown between the Empire, the Alliance, and mercenary gangs from the Unknown Regions. Oh yes, and Darth Vader's Death Squadron showed up under the general clamor. Have I left anything out?
— Nothing, — Han sneered. — But you weren't there…
— I read the report…
— I was there! — Han pressed on. — And I spoke with that Grand Admiral! He was definitely there! He saved the Star Destroyer Chimaera from disaster! And now that's his flagship! The same Chimaera whose mere arrival forced Agamar into a panic!
— Indeed, the Chimaera was sighted at Trogon as well, — Fey'lya said placidly. — But nowhere was anyone's mention of some blue-skinned Grand Admiral Thrawn…
Wedge furrowed his brow again. He definitely knew something!
— Actually, — Wedge coughed into his fist, — Talon Karrde said the one orchestrating the disinformation is Thrawn. And he called him a Grand Admiral…
— Since when do we trust smugglers? — asked Fey'lya. And judging by his tone, he was also referring to a certain "Claw." — You yourself said, General Antilles, that Karrde fabricated a story of being captured by the Empire, then fled the moment you suggested he might be involved in stealing our resources and ships…
— And people, — Han said darkly.
— Oh, yes, people, — the Bothan said, feigning forgetfulness. — I don't usually brag about caring for New Republic citizens. My concern for them is constant.
"Cut the act, would you?" Han nearly blurted. But he held back under Mon Mothma's gaze.
— We need to verify this data, — she said, switching off the holo. — General Solo, you'll handle that.
— I have the best codebreakers and slicers in my command, — Borsk Fey'lya objected.
"And that's exactly why you won't be getting it," Han thought vengefully.
— You're needed on another front, — Mon Mothma said coldly. — General Solo, you'll investigate the data on these "Death Stars" and everything related, as soon as this meeting ends.
Han took the hint. He was to hunt not only for clues about whether these Death Stars were fake, but also for anything gleaned from Thrawn's revelations. He had no doubt Mon Mothma trusted Wedge's people's analysis—and that "analysis" was basically a smokescreen for Fey'lya and his backers. Meanwhile, Han would get the authority to dig through Imperial secrets. If Palpatine really held Thrawn in high regard, if what Thrawn said was true, then there had never been an actual break in the number of Grand Admirals. Thrawn killed Zaarin and took his place. Right up to Palpatine's death, the official count stood. And after that, well, no one was left to appoint a new one…
He died… If he really did, then why has he been off the grid in the Deep Core all this time? Waiting for what?
Han had a fairly definite idea.
Cloning tech. During the Clone Wars, Kamino supplied the Grand Army of the Republic with clone soldiers. Later, those clones formed the backbone of the Imperial Armed Forces for a while. Rumor had it that most of Vader's Fist—the 501st—were clones.
But any info about this process—or the planet's coordinates—had been lost ages ago. Some said Kaminoans revolted, leading the Empire to exterminate them, because after a few years of the Empire's reign, nobody ever again heard of clone laborers made by Kaminoans. Another rumor had it that some group of Rebels actually reached there and fought the Imperials. All speculation. Hard facts were needed. If Kamino still existed (though the Imperials might well have quietly razed another planet and erased it from memory) or if anything happened there after the Clone Wars, then the Imperial Information Center in the palace dungeons would definitely have it on record. And if it checks out, it would substantiate Thrawn's words about Palpatine's return…
Meanwhile, while he fought bureaucracy and ciphers, Fey'lya would be breathing down his neck and preparing his crusade. Obviously, if it turns out Fey'lya is correct and the Fourth Fleet succeeds, Mon Mothma has no chance in the next head-of-state election. The cunning, furry Bothans would take the New Republic. And then they'd stand no chance at all against the Empire—while they fought among themselves, the New Republic would be devoured piece by piece.
— Now, on to the rest, — Mon Mothma spoke again with renewed authority, turning the holoprojector back on. — General Antilles, you and your task force will continue the search for the prisoners from the Lusankya. We went in to look for them but instead found something far more terrifying. Perhaps, by the end of your mission, you'll discover intel on at least one of these Death Stars. I'll speak with the government of Commenor. Hopefully they still remember that General Dodonna lived on one of its moons for quite some time. He's a national hero; maybe they'll not only allow your force to remain there but even offer some help. Supreme Commander Fey'lya, — the Bothan's ears twitched, — you'll have to allocate ships from the Fourth Fleet to scout the Ghostly Nebula sector.
— You can't be serious, — the Bothan's fur bristled. — We're about to launch an assault on the Ciutric Hegemony!
— Which will be far more successful if we first eliminate any superweapons that could threaten us or hamper our fleet, — Mon Mothma answered in a tone allowing no argument. And in this setting, Fey'lya's flowery words availed him nothing. This wasn't the Senate, and he couldn't filibuster. If he refused a direct order from the head of the Provisional Government, she had every right to dismiss him. If only it were that simple out in the open Senate… The labyrinthine New Republic bureaucracy at its finest, riddled with "temporary fixes" instead of stable laws. In the Empire, Fey'lya would've long since been sacked. Then again, so would Ackbar, in all likelihood.
Han mentally applauded the councillor. She might have been battered by Fey'lya's push in the Senate (backed by Kuat), but she still held the reins of power. He might hold forth in the Senate and pretend she was done for, but her allies remained. She could give him orders—and he had to follow them, so long as she was in office. It would take a tricky, lengthy procedure to unseat her. He'd keep scheming, forging alliances to topple her, but right now, at least, she'd forced him to use the Fourth Fleet the way she wanted. She'd effectively made him toe the line. All those who'd cheered him in the Senate earlier? Irrelevant in this small meeting. If he tried to balk, she could remove him from his post. Perfect.
Of course, the Bothan knew that. And he'd be sure to gather a coalition to do exactly that—oust her. Her circle of allies was dwindling daily, and she knew it. But she was willing to sacrifice her political career if it meant ending this once and for all.
Wedge must have noticed too, judging by the grin on his face, making the Bothan nearly hiss with anger.
— Very well. I'll see to it, — he forced out between clenched teeth. — But if we dispatch Fourth Fleet forces for reconnaissance, how do we defend the eastern part of the galaxy?
— You're the Supreme Commander, Councillor, — Mon Mothma replied with a cold smile. — Figure something out. But not at the expense of the other fleets.
— As you wish, — Fey'lya said with sudden cheerfulness.
Han grimly guessed he was hatching a plan, not about to cave in so easily. With cunning Bothans, that's to be expected.
— General Antilles, — Mon Mothma turned to Wedge, — I must remind you as before to operate in complete autonomy during your investigation. As we've seen, not even secret reports remain secret, — Borsk's ears twitched. He knew whom that barb was aimed at.
— Of course, Councillor Mothma, — Wedge agreed. He clearly wasn't too thrilled about his assignment. No surprise there.
— Mon Mothma, do you really believe this nonsense about three Death Stars? — Fey'lya asked, wrinkling his nose. His fur rippled in irritation.
— Are you simply burying your head in the sand, Councillor Fey'lya? — Han jabbed back. — One of these three "Death Stars" is in the Ciutric Hegemony—the very place you want to attack. And it's accompanied by a fleet of at least a dozen enemy capital ships. Factor in that Krennel might have the ships stolen from us at the Hast Yards, and he could have a whole armada strong enough to annihilate the Fourth Fleet.
— General Solo, — the Bothan's voice dripped contempt. — I understand you haven't worn a command rank for that long, and your mind is always fixated on grandiose problems. But do you at least have an inkling what a Death Star is?
— I helped destroy two out of the three that we took down, — Han reminded him.
— Actually, the third was a decoy, — Wedge interjected, referring to the massive ruse the Rebels blew up in the Moddell Sector after Palpatine's demise—and lost a bunch of ships in the process, only to discover it had been an orbiting "world-ship" the Emperor was building for his disciples above Coruscant, which vanished. Turned out that was just one of two such "world-ships." The other one might now be that supposed "Death Star" people are talking about.
— Regardless, the first Death Star was one hundred twenty kilometers in diameter, — the Bothan continued. — The second was one hundred sixty. Building them nearly bankrupted the Empire. Now they hold maybe a quarter or a third of the old territory, and not the best systems either. They don't have the money or the manpower to build something like that…
— Why build something new? — Wedge raised an eyebrow. — One of those three "Death Stars" is apparently a "world-ship" that was almost completed. All they need is a powerful enough power source plus a superlaser, and the "world-ship" turns into a Death Star. Sure, it might not be as heavily armored as the real orbital battle stations, but it could still fire a shot or two. And if they have the schematics for the second Death Star, the one that fired at our ships, that's a recipe for annihilation. That thing destroyed our capital ships at a frightening pace while the Imperial fleet pinned us under its line of fire.
— They'd still need trillions to retrofit a "world-ship" for that, — Fey'lya scoffed. — And a huge staff…
— Councillor, you're missing the point? — Han asked in disbelief. — With the first of these three "Death Stars," they already have the hull. A superlaser isn't some mystical wonder for the Imperials. Remember Kuat, how we found the "Eclipse" at Kuat Drive Yards?
— Ah, you mean that business where you allied with the Zann Consortium, only for Tyber Zann to betray you? — the Bothan prodded.
Han ground his teeth.
— I'm talking about how we found out, betrayal aside, that star dreadnought left Kuat. And Kuat still refuses to reveal for whom they were building it, where it went, or why their best engineers vanished. In short, someone out there has a super Star Destroyer with a superlaser that can obliterate entire fleets without breaking a sweat.
— Suppose that's so, — Fey'lya sighed suspiciously easily. — Then why haven't our enemies used it already?
"Probably because Palpatine is keeping it in the Deep Core," Han nearly said aloud. But he caught himself.
Fey'lya was fully aware of his Honoghr-based claims. If he wasn't convinced by that, he wouldn't believe the part about Palpatine either.
— Maybe it's part of a plan, — Wedge offered. — Could be it's somewhere in the Ciutric Hegemony. Krennel may be a pariah to most Imperials, but they still feed off him. He's got money, so they have resources. Slapping some plating on a ship is no big feat.
— Gentlemen, — Fey'lya said, sounding bored. — In your breathless pursuit of sensational news, you're forgetting the main thing. The axial superlaser on a Death Star takes up half its diameter.
— And what of it? — Wedge asked, puzzled.
— The first Death Star had a radius of sixty kilometers, — Fey'lya explained. — The second had eighty. Only the second could fire accurately at moving targets. Meaning that any project allegedly using a "world-ship," or that rumored design from Lianna, relies on the first Death Star's superlaser. For fleet engagements, they're useless.
Wedge gave an incredulous snort. Han struggled not to swear.
Mon Mothma pressed her fingers to her temples.
— Councillor Fey'lya, — she asked softly — are you being serious? This isn't some Bothan joke?
— Quite serious, — he insisted. — I firmly believe the enemy lacks the means to produce smaller superlasers.
Wedge and Han exchanged astonished looks. Mon Mothma shook her head in dismay.
— Councillor, — Wedge began politely, — have you ever heard of the Tarkin station?
— And? — the Bothan shot him a blank stare.
— That station was only a bit over forty kilometers in length, — Han added. — That's smaller than the first Death Star's sixty or the second's eighty.
— That station used a somewhat different superlaser design than the Death Stars. So…
— And what about the Eclipse? — Han pressed. — It was only seventeen and a half kilometers long, from prow to engines, and not all of that length was taken up by the superlaser. Still, it torched both our and Imperial ships like matchsticks. I personally saw how they blasted an Imperial Executor-class Star Destroyer to scrap! In just a few shots!
— What exactly are you implying? — The Bothan gave him a wary look.
— That the Imperials have enough brilliant engineers to figure out how to miniaturize a superlaser, — Wedge explained. — If I recall, Bevel Lemelisk, creator of the Death Stars, disappeared after the Emperor's death. Who's to say he hasn't spent this time working in the Ciutric Hegemony?
— Then again, why bother shrinking it? — Han said. — We've encountered other types of superweapons that, even if not as powerful, can make life miserable for our ships.
— I agree with General Solo, — Mon Mothma said gravely. — Councillor Fey'lya, apparently you haven't examined the files on the Star Destroyers Twilight and Conqueror.
— First I've heard of them, — the Bothan's ears pricked up.
Han clenched his jaw. That scoundrel was playing dumb to glean from them what exactly they feared regarding these Death Star weapons. Obviously, in the couple of months he'd been in charge of the military, even with a staff of Bothans combing through Alliance archives, he couldn't have reviewed all the classified records. And once this meeting was over, he'd rush to order his minions to study precisely that. And why?
Because he knew that the people here had legitimate fears about the reality of these Death Stars. The Lianna documents indicated that only certain systems had been developed there. The rest—the key components like power and main weapon—were presumably handled by scientists evacuated beforehand. Meaning that work on all three "baby Death Stars" was probably well underway, maybe nearing completion.
And Fey'lya was pretending ignorance so they'd volunteer more details. Classic covert infiltration.
— The Twilight and Conqueror are basically Imperial-class ships of various designs, — Wedge clarified. — Both used standard-issue "I-One" reactors.
— And that was enough for Twilight to blow up an asteroid, wiping out a large group of mid- to high-level Rebel Alliance leaders, — Mon Mothma recalled gloomily. — Even worse, that ship vanished soon after. For about twenty years now, no one's heard a thing about it or its crew, not since it first and last appeared a year before the Battle of Yavin. It might very well be in the hands of some Imperial warlord, hidden away and well-guarded.
"Or stashed by Palpatine at Byss," Han thought. Byss… Thrawn had mentioned that as the Emperor's location. Something about the name tickled his memory, but it wouldn't come right away. He'd have to dig that up, along with references to Sedriss. And much more besides.
— The Conqueror, on the other hand, destroyed a small planetoid in the Mustafar system, — Mon Mothma went on. — According to our data, it was capable of reducing entire planets to cinders and ash.
— Order Base Delta Zero by a single ship, — Wedge murmured.
— Achieved at frightening speed, — Han added. — After the first Death Star was destroyed, the Imperials came up with plenty of superweapons, sometimes not even powered by superlasers.
— You're suggesting these three "fakes," — Fey'lya nodded grudgingly at the holo, — might be armed with something other than superlasers?
— Our conclusion is that based on the external blueprint sketches, yes, — Mon Mothma replied. — For instance, the so-called "Torpedo Sphere." The Empire could easily mount a proton-beam cannon there.
Han went cold inside.
A device that on first glance looked like a standard Imperial Star Destroyer's cylindrical attachment—but was able with a single shot to destroy a small ship or punch a hole in a line vessel big enough for a corvette to fly through. They'd seen something like that on one of the two captured Imperial Star Destroyers being overhauled at Hast. That device had been out of service, but… both the device and the destroyers fell into Krennel's hands. And from the data uncovered on Lianna—apparently it's now in the Ciutric Hegemony. Krennel has it…
From Wedge's widening eyes, he'd just connected the dots too. Mon Mothma's expression darkened.
One single Bothan was smiling.
— How interesting, — Fey'lya said. — Proton-beam cannons were rare, but we did have a damaged one and never planned to restore it. It was a weapon of terror, a symbol of oppression. Now, hearing that the Torpedo Sphere in Prince-Admiral Krennel's hands might be fitted with such a device has you all alarmed. Exactly as I intended.
— Even without a proton-beam cannon, a Torpedo Sphere is a formidable weapon, — Wedge reminded him. — They don't call it a mini Death Star for nothing. It can breach planetary shields far faster than a whole fleet could do by conventional siege.
— And if it fires a swarm of proton torpedoes at an unshielded planet, the carnage is just as horrific, — Mon Mothma added.
— Not to mention Krennel could have repaired that proton-beam cannon and mounted it on his flagship, Reckoning, — Wedge said. — Which means effectively two superweapons for him.
— It seems you forget that the Imperial Remnants keep a close eye on Krennel to prevent him from growing too powerful, — the Bothan reminded them lazily. — How could he ever have acquired a Torpedo Sphere? The Imps would never allow it.
— They could've just been asleep at the switch, — Han countered. — Even Ardus Kaine with his Reaper would think twice before jumping into the Ciutric system. A full salvo from that many launchers is no joke. A single slip, and…
— We're not Imperials, — the Bothan said proudly. — So, I've listened to plenty. May I speak? None of you here can be sure any of these so-called Death Stars are real. And if they are—how and with what they're armed, beyond a scattering of data that might be lies. As you requested, Councillor Mon Mothma, I'll dispatch the Fourth Fleet to search the Ghostly Nebula. And though it may weaken that group for a time, I'm confident we'll come out stronger once we rearrange things.
— What do you mean? — Mon Mothma asked warily.
— Once we've recommissioned the Lusankya for action against our enemies, they'll have no hope.
Han felt the floor vanish from under his feet. Did that furball just say what Han thought he did?
— You're repairing the Lusankya?! — Wedge blurted. Han, noting how Wedge looked not at Fey'lya but at Mon Mothma, realized she was as shocked as he was. Did she not know? That seemed impossible. Probably she did know but couldn't bring herself to tell her allies who risked their necks for her.
— We must have our own superweapon, General Antilles, — the Bothan said smugly. — A Executor-class Super Star Destroyer fits that role perfectly.
— What about all those statements that we'd never use a terror weapon or symbol of oppression? — Wedge murmured.
Han understood his friend's sentiments well. Wedge remembered all too vividly the cost the Rogues and other makeshift fleet units paid to force that massive nineteen-kilometer vessel into surrender. Wedge's people had inflicted devastating damage on the Lusankya until it gave up. Everyone assumed it would be scrapped or melted down. Instead, it simply disappeared.
And now we find out it's being rebuilt… A vessel with enough firepower to strip Coruscant's planetary shield in minutes, able to outfight an entire sector fleet of the New Republic. A warship known throughout the galaxy as Ysanne Isard's secret prison. And it's now under the New Republic?
— You plan to deploy it against Ciutric, right? — Solo asked.
— The ship is in the final stage of repairs, — the Bothan admitted grudgingly. — I'm certain it will be more than enough to take down Krennel and the Fourth Fleet—after we handle these Death Star fantasies. Though if we discover it still isn't enough firepower, we can always unleash it on Prince-Admiral Krennel as well.
— You'd do better sending that monstrous vessel to Lianna to force Lady Santhe to confess where her half-built "Death Star" is and whom she's building it for! — Wedge snapped. — If it's in enemy hands, the Lusankya is just as much an emblem of oppression as any Star Destroyer.
— Watch your words, General Antilles, — Fey'lya warned him with a smug grin. — We must be prepared for anything. Should it turn out these "Death Stars" really do exist, I'll see to it the Lusankya silences them for good—along with all our enemies…
Han had to fight the urge to find the nearest bar. While they thought they were outmaneuvering Fey'lya, he'd been waiting, letting them talk. They had just admitted that not one of them had a clue about these "Death Stars" and that the only surefire solution was to commit vast forces to searching for them. By extension, the eastern galaxy would be left more exposed—unless the Bothan replaced the Fourth Fleet with an Executor-class monster, which he apparently planned all along.
He wasn't upset about them using the Fourth Fleet on a pointless hunt. He'd wanted that, so the Lusankya could be moved into place at Bothawui and then launched for his own crusade. Brilliant.
They'd spent years trying to distance themselves from all things Imperial, yet now they were stomping forward, about to get whacked in the forehead by the same old farm implements.
Never mind the moral debate of employing such a ship. The Bothans clearly intended to use it.
And the worst part? The intel from Lianna helped Mon Mothma push forward in the right direction, but in so doing gave the Bothans even more freedom to do as they pleased.