Nine years, five months, and twenty-two days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-four years, five months, and twenty-two days after the Great Resynchronization.
Strangely enough, I had never before wondered if a person could independently "program" their body to sleep for a strictly defined time. Without special techniques, alarm clocks, reminders, medications, spiritual practices, or anything like that. As simply as saying that a meeting should take place in five hours, therefore it will happen in five hours. But the body reacted more correctly, waking me up according to the schedule of meetings, compiled before the night training and sleep.
Yesterday, after returning to my cabin, I habitually entered my immediate plans into a kind of diary on the computer, completed a physical training program, freeing my mind from the experiences and allowing adrenaline and other hormones to be released in a productive way. Following that, I tidied myself up, and as soon as my head touched the pillow — I fell asleep immediately. Without dreams, tossing and turning in bed, millions of logical chains swarming in my head.
The body woke up an hour before the scheduled meeting with Mara Jade. Because before her, I intended to talk with a couple of other "comrades."
Consciousness cleared on its own, and my eyes opened, habitually staring through the twilight at the gray-steel ceiling of the cabin.
— Still, it's strange, — I mumbled, getting out of bed. A habitual warm-up exercise complex, morning assembly-refreshing activities, and, in fact, the Grand Admiral is ready for battle.
Fresh, well-rested, and clad in a brand new Grand Admiral uniform. The one that hung second in the closet.
In reality, the real Thrawn has a very interesting wardrobe. There is also simple clothing here, but it looks too much like something in a "military" style. There are several sets of carefully packed, completely inconspicuous outfits, which, when worn, allow one to get lost in a crowd. Of course, if you hide your blazing eyes.
However, if you think about it, Thrawn's body is a very, very perfect example of a sentient being. Of course, if you judge by my subjective feelings.
A brain that works like a computer. A flexible and strong body — I have become convinced of the fact that my body, although it looks similar to an average, lean human, is actually more resilient, stronger. Not to the point of running a marathon without panting, or parking an airspeeder with a snap of my fingers, but still. Whether this is due to genetics or the individual structural features of Thrawn's body itself, I do not know. I simply have nothing to compare it to.
Strangely enough, information about the Chiss existed in the Imperial archives. Not accessible to just anyone. But terribly superficial, although the secrecy category suggested the exact opposite. Brief mentions of the homeworld, located somewhere in the Unknown Regions, an external description, notes regarding the difficulty of pronouncing the native Chiss language — Cheunh — due to which it is believed that the Chiss have a slightly different speech apparatus. But no one was able to verify this fact experimentally — this could only be done by performing an autopsy on a Chiss. And for some reason, the Dominion did not send those willing to take on this honorable position.
However, I have some additions to this remarkable file in all respects.
Chiss can see well in the dark. Not to the point where you can hide bacon on a quiet Ukrainian night without a night-vision device, but much better than in my previous body. You can literally walk in the dark and navigate perfectly. Of course, you can't see the painting "Sunset of the Killiks," which has finally returned to my collection, in detail, but at least there is no need to turn on a night light to walk to the refrigerator at night.
And in the beginning, the voracity of Thrawn's body surprised me to a great extent. He ate more than an ordinary person — I suspected this immediately as soon as the food was delivered to my cabin from the galley for the first time. But, strangely enough, fat did not appear — even before I started exercising. From which, as well as from a number of other "beacons", I concluded that Thrawn (and possibly all Chiss) have an accelerated metabolism. Which is quite interesting, as this should logically indicate accelerated maturation of body cells, that is — rapid "aging". And therefore — old age.
The clones of the Grand Army of the Republic had genetically determined accelerated aging — twice that of a normal human. And their metabolism was also significantly higher than that of the average human. The Kaminoans made them like that. Which raises the question — is the accelerated metabolism of my body related to premature aging, or not. Unfortunately, no matter how much time I spent in thought, digging through my own memory, there was nothing defining that I could recall from what I had read or seen about the Far, far away galaxy. Either this information was missing from the lore, or, most likely, I had never encountered it. Because, in addition to books, most of which I had read at one time, there were dozens of reference books on this universe, as on many other fictional worlds. Unfortunately, my hands never got to them. I did not see the need for it.
However, it can be said with certainty that since a Chiss' body is almost identical to a human body, then with a high degree of probability, the signs of aging will be common — at least in some cases. Of course, there are also caveats — the local people, like many other races, live longer than people on Earth. Sometimes — by orders of magnitude. Thus, it is not a fact that I will face aging problems in the next fifty years. And if the first signs appear — I will notice them. After all, I've already been through this.
And it would seem, why all this reflection against the backdrop of yesterday's victory? I wish I knew. It just came out on its own as soon as I sat down at the computer, unlocked it and saw the file icon about the Chiss. Located directly in the center of the "desktop" of the central of the monitors, encircling my desk in a semicircle. H-m. It turns out that questions about the race to which my body belongs are much more interesting to me than I thought. After all, I received this document from the archive even before arriving at Tangrene, read it, and thought that I had sent it to a folder with documents that had already been processed. But it turns out that I haven't. It seems that the unconscious is manifesting itself.
The door to the cabin swung open — Rukh, who was constantly standing "on duty" in the vestibule of my cabin, knew perfectly well that if I had scheduled a meeting with anyone, that being could be admitted without additional notification to me. After all, the Grand Admiral does not forget anything. Maybe the real Thrawn did just that, but I just write down meetings and plan my workday. An analyst's habit. Very useful indeed.
— Grand Admiral, sir! — a middle-aged man in a black jumpsuit — the standard uniform of the Imperial pilots, froze at attention in the doorway. — Captain Tomax Bren has arrived at your command!
— At ease, Captain, — I said, pointing to a place opposite my desk. The pilot silently approached and stood before the desk.
Having settled into our places, we were silent for a few seconds.
— You are the only one who survived from the entire Scimitar squadron, — I broke the silence as the senior officer by rank.
— That is correct, sir, — it is difficult to deny the facts.
— You were transferred to the Chimaera because your unit on board the medium cruiser in the Bpfassh system performed exceptionally well, — I reminded. — With minimal losses, you achieved your goal — you inflicted the maximum possible strike on the enemy, depriving the New Republic base on this planet not so much of aircraft, but of fuel and tracking systems. The results of your raid were censored and classified by the New Republic government so that information about their base on Bpfassh being virtually defenseless, and that the covering air force would be unable to operate until fuel supplies, would not reach the media. And tracking movements in the sector is now impossible. This is certainly a masterfully executed job. But in the next battle, you lost all your subordinates, Captain. And you returned to the Chimaera alone. What is the reason?
— My people were destroyed by enemy fighters, — a formal answer to a formal question.
— Were your subordinates poorly trained to carry out the mission and return to base?
— No, sir, I was personally responsible for the training of each of them. All of them are professionals in their field and excellent pilots.
— Then what is the reason for the failure, Captain?
— We completed all the tasks assigned to us, sir...
— When out of twelve pilots who went on a mission, only one returns — it's a failure!
The bomber pilot's posture is tense; he speaks in extremely simple, monosyllabic phrases. He has something to say about the matter, but he does not go beyond the bounds of a formal report. Meanwhile, this particular Imperial in the events known to me made a significant contribution to the development of Imperial bomber aviation. That is why he is on board the Chimaera.
— Stating well-known facts is not a way to solve the problem, — I noted. — You are an ace pilot. The only bomber ace on all the ships under my command. From you, I want to know the reasons for the failure — whatever they may be. If you intend to continue making formal excuses — you are free to go, Captain.
Tomax Bren did not stir.
— Do you have anything to say to me, Captain? — I asked.
— Yes, sir, — the ace pilot said a little quieter.
— In that case, report, — I ordered.
— TIE bombers are not suitable for the purposes that were set before my squadron, — the pilot replied.
— Is that so? They've been suitable for more than twenty years, and now they're not?
— This machine is larger and less maneuverable, sir, — Bren said. — In conditions where the enemy has X-wings and A-wings — this type of bomber, like all the TIE-type light attack crafts in the service of our fleet, is not suitable.
— Explain, Captain.
— The enemy's machines are all equipped with deflector shields and ejection seats, sir, — explained the bomber pilot. — Our bombers also have the latter, but in a prolonged battle, almost all the pilots who eject die — the enemy simply shoots them down or they die due to the lack of the necessary oxygen supply for breathing. In the case of damage to a vehicle in battle, the enemy has every chance to survive. Our pilots, with a comparable barrage of fire, simply have no opportunity either to defend themselves or to maneuver. The TIE bombers have a slightly thicker hull compared to the fighters and interceptors of the series. However, the existing pair of laser cannons are positioned in such a way as to fire exclusively straight ahead. But at the same time, if fighters and interceptors are able to break away due to maneuverability and speed, the bomber has no such advantages. It becomes an easy target for this kind of enemy. The cassette ammunition rack allows you to carry only one type of payload — either shaped-charge missiles, or proton torpedoes, or bombs, which when colliding with an enemy does not allow us to fight them off on our own. We have to resort to the help of fighters and interceptors, who themselves are not particularly coping with the large number of new enemy machines. If we had faster, more maneuverable, protected vehicles in service, we wouldn't have to lose pilots on every first combat mission. This is a complex problem, sir — the obsolescence of our air fleet. This results in irreparable losses for our pilots, and as a consequence, this deprives them of the opportunity to improve and more confidently resist the enemy in the future.
— I see, — I said. — Do you think we need other bombers?
— Yes, sir, — he said. — A more maneuverable and faster model. With deflectors. Most likely — in addition to the pilot, there should also be a bombardier who will take on the duties of a gunner from a turret, which should also be installed on the machine. It is also necessary to revise the principle of ammunition stowage — we must have shaped-charge missiles, which have proven themselves perfectly in the fight against enemy aircraft, in addition to a laser turret and one type of payload on our constant armament. That is, whatever we load into the bomb bays — bombs or torpedoes, but missiles as a means of attack and self-defense must be present.
— A rather detailed and comprehensive analysis of the problem, Captain, — I said. — Considering that the battle ended a few hours ago, and you spent the time allotted for rest to work on mistakes... You can be proud of yourself.
A small logical trap and a test for honesty.
Because I knew perfectly well that the officer sitting in front of me did not spend his sleep preparing this report. TIE pilots do not think about this after a combat flight — they understand perfectly the vulnerability of the equipment they have to fight on. And after the battle, they always go to sleep, and not to build brilliant conclusions. Because they know that the next flight may be the last.
So let's see how honest the commander of the destroyed squadron is with me. Is he the person I need?
— No, sir, — he admitted. — I prepared this concept and the specifications for the new bomber order a long time ago and even submitted it to the Armed Forces competition, but the technical specification was not considered by the commission as "excessive."
— They had enough of TIE bombers, — I said. — And yet, what do you think will happen in your opinion, Captain Bren, if your specifications are approved by me?
— Sir, I... — the pilot paused, interrupting himself. — It will be a completely new machine that will incorporate all the best from the TIE series.
— Are you aware that we do not have assembly lines for the production of your types of ships? — I clarified.
— Yes, sir, — he said. — If you give permission to produce prototypes, allocate people and resources, then we will produce a sample that fully corresponds to the specializations I have specified. Most likely, the new machines will have to be assembled manually at first, but it is definitely worth it!
— I agree, — I did not begin to pull the Jedi to the Dark side. — You have my permission to create a prototype. Resources and equipment will be allocated. In what time frame will you be able to provide the first flight-capable prototype for testing?
The pilot was silent for a few seconds, thinking.
— Two months, sir, — he said confidently. — In this time, I will be able to prepare the machine from scratch.
— Good, — I summed up the meeting. — For everything you need, contact Moff Ferrus and Chief Engineer Reyes on Tangrene.
— Yes, sir! — a smile appeared on the bomber pilot's lips.
— You are free to go, Captain, — I allowed the pilot to leave my chambers.
After the door closed behind him, I sat for a while longer, watching him go.
Did it work? Or will it be a waste of time and money?
It is difficult to say now, having nothing in hand except promises.
But the probability of the appearance of Scimitar-type bombers, which Captain Bren created in the events known to me, required at least an attempt to implement this type of ship.
If everything goes well, then industrial production will be no problem. If the resulting Scimitars in reality will be similar to their "literary prototypes", then there will be one more line of combat-capable light attack crafts in my fleet.
***
— Grand Admiral, — a red-haired girl, dressed in a fleet uniform with lieutenant's rank insignia on the command panel, greeted me. Two red ones above two blue ones. Nothing strange.
— Mara Jade, — I returned her courtesy, continuing to view the summaries of the decipherments of the "Delphi Source" on the screen. And also, waiting for a response from the equipment, I opened the personal file I needed. — Which of the planets is best for us to land the former slaves?
— Sir? — The Hand looked at me in surprise.
— You do not think that we will drag them to our front or rear bases and release them from there? — My left eyebrow rose in surprise.
— That would be unwise, — the girl agreed, showing with her whole appearance that she had not even considered the option I voiced seriously. — In general, I thought that releasing them would be a big mistake.
— If you have ready-made proposals — I am ready to listen to them.
Actually, I called her to discuss other points, but we still have a lot of time before arriving at Tangrene.
— You indicated that you intend to build a new state on different principles than the Empire, — she said. — In particular — to abolish the oppression of aliens. I understand that this is a kind of PR move for the masses who listen to republican propaganda?
— Without a doubt, — I agreed. — Those who are smarter understand perfectly well that the Empire in the past was negatively disposed only towards rebellious peoples — including humans. For most other races, the internal policy of the Empire was tolerable. Of course, with the exception of the fact that very few of them were allowed to the higher echelons of power, — going through my conversation with Baron D'asta in the context of the human-centric policy of the Empire, I could not agree with the fact that the baron turned out to be so uneducated in matters of internal policy. Such ignorance could rather be expected of me, due to a long absence in the known galaxy and upon return, I would find an increased dislike for aliens against the backdrop of the Empire's defeat. No, there is most likely something else entirely behind this. And I think I know what it is — the baron has found a "simple scapegoat" whom he can use for his own purposes. Most likely, he needs me only to regain his past political positions, because he does not really seriously consider our union. Or maybe — something else. But the fact remains — before actually getting into the hell of the Hoth shipyards, the situation should be thoroughly considered to avoid pitfalls.
— You could make the freed slaves citizens of the Empire, — she noted.
— Issues of migration and acquisition of citizenship are handled by completely different state bodies, — I objected. But I understand her train of thought. However, I am even more interested in her arguments.
— But as Supreme Commander, you could recruit them into military service, — Mara threw her leg over her leg, looking me in the eye challengingly. No matter how she wanted to work for me, the girl still had a sharp character and a provocative nature.
— Are you so sure of their loyalty? — I clarified. Mara hesitated with her answer. — Wookiees are not the kind of people who, because of one act, a couple of affectionate phrases, will believe that any changes have occurred. Not to mention the representatives of the other races on the starship.
— And at the same time, we can try to play the card of their ideological processing, — she said.
— An interesting proposal from someone who was treated similarly, — the girl's pragmatism in this matter surprised me at the very least. Leaning back in my chair, I looked at her with a studious and interested gaze:
— What are you planning, Mara Jade?
— Right now, the former slaves are in the crew barracks on the Venator. By the time they exit hyperspace to Tangrene, they will not have information about where they have arrived. I propose to go to them and make an offer to become part of the Empire.
— And why should they agree? — I asked.
— You will offer them service in the Imperial Fleet, — she said. — They were already part of the crew of this Venator, right? So they are familiar with its systems. If at least some of them stay on board, it will already be a good step on the path to forming a crew. A much better step than offering former defectors and pirates to become Imperials.
That's what she is getting at. The logical emphasis of her whole reprise falls directly on the last phrase. And, therefore, everything was conceived for its sake. However, I cannot help but say that there is a grain of truth in her words. Something can indeed come out of the freed slaves — a new face of Imperial propaganda for sure. However, I intended to simply land them somewhere on a republican planet, providing them with food supplies and some money (a hundred thousand for everyone is not so much, considering that many times more will be received from the sale of pirate trophies). The appearance of slaves liberated by the Empire should have had the effect of a bombshell — primarily among the civilian population of the New Republic, which could never have expected such behavior from their ideological opponents. Because to recruit someone from them for service means to force the nascent counterintelligence to be overwhelmed with work at the start. Not to mention the fact that the same Wookiees do not speak Galactic Basic — and therefore there are obvious communication problems in the crews in which they will be located.
— There are no intentions to open the doors to the Imperial Fleet to every first pirate, defector, or anyone else, — I said. — When expressing a desire to join us, each of them pursued only one goal — to save their own skin. If they wanted to fight on the side of the Empire, they would have done it a long time ago. No, no matter how tempting the offer is, I am not going to implement it. But I did not have extra crews at hand to move trophies to the base. It is pure mathematics — after the battle with the fleets of pirates and smugglers, after the application of C'baoth's Battle Meditation, the entire watch is exhausted and worn out, so it is foolish to replace them with another and send them to trophy ships. Tired subordinates are doomed subordinates.
— And what do you intend to do with all this number of prisoners? — she asked.
— Regarding some — those who surrendered in exchange for help in delivering the ships and transferring them to my disposal — I will keep my word and release them, — I admitted. — The Republicans will remain in captivity until the New Republic suffers a few more blows — strong enough for them to start taking me seriously.
— And the destruction of the sectorial fleet group, the destruction of the pirate and smuggler fleet, the capture of a star cruiser and a star destroyer — are these not serious enough blows? — Mara Jade asked with distrust.
— The fleet in the Dafilvean sector was weakened and outnumbered — that's why it was attacked, — I said. — Pirates and smugglers are a significant force, but they are not directly related to the New Republic. Two capital ships, captured with all crew members — yes, of course, this is a significant argument for starting a dialogue. But insufficient.
— Insufficient for what? — Mara Jade asked.
— We'll talk about that later, Mara Jade, — I smiled. — First, we need more captured Republicans. That is why it is necessary to remove Karrde from this equation.
— Because he participated in the battle? — Mara clarified. — And he could become a problem with his network of agents?
— Exactly. My patience is not limitless, — I said. — While he was playing "in the dark," that's one thing. But yesterday he actually acted against my ships. And this already puts him in the category of enemies.
— Claw may not have known who Terrik was calling him to fight, — Jade said thoughtfully. — Perhaps he guessed, but he certainly wouldn't have known — otherwise the sectorial fleet of the New Republic would have come for our souls.
— Maybe so, — I shrugged. — However, there is one circumstance that cannot be overlooked. Smugglers identify Imperial and Republican ships by the spectrum of engine exhaust. It is impossible not to recognize the Chimaera in this case. And establishing a causal relationship between my flagship and the Imperial starships in its ambush is quite simple. I have no doubt that Karrde is capable of this.
The girl nodded silently.
— Karrde attacked my ships, — I continued. — He caused damage. Imperial military personnel were injured. Therefore — he is now an enemy.
— Technically, we were the first to destroy several of his starships, — Jade noted.
— Technically, the "neutral" had nothing to stop him from withdrawing from the battle, contacting the Chimaera, and reporting the mistake, — I objected. — Immediately after the problem with Palpatine's last order is resolved, there will be another assignment for you besides searching for the Guardian. It can be completed in parallel with the search for the star dreadnought.
— What will my new assignment be? — she asked.
— After the Nemesis completes its mission of escorting our damaged starships to Lainuri, the ship will be repaired and re-equipped, and then it will be transferred to your disposal, — I explained. — The capture of Republican servicemen opens up new perspectives. Events are gaining momentum, and therefore, there is a need to act on several fronts at once. Acting as my representative, you will visit Imperial worlds on the Nemesis to determine the extent of their possible cooperation with us. You served Karrde for about six months and know exactly how he does business. It will be easy for you to find out which of the Imperial moffs and governors are cooperating with him. After that, we will decide what to do with them next.
— And how will this deprive Karrde of influence? — Jade clarified. — It would be easier to hire bounty hunters. Especially since the Dark Side is in your pocket.
— The ships are not on Tangrene yet, which means they are vulnerable, — I said. — Karrde's losses and the failure on Rugosa will definitely lead to the fact that the New Republic will still find the means to purchase the necessary information from him. And, therefore, the time is not far off when they will send significant forces of career military personnel against us. By this time, the starships of the Katana Fleet will already be partially in service, which will be a surprise for our opponents.
— And I kept wondering how exactly you intend to capture even more prisoners, — Mara chuckled. — Are you going to lure an entire fleet into a trap?
— As long as Karrde does not know that the Dark Side is with me — he can only report what he knows, — I said. — Namely — the location of my bases, the composition and number of the fleet. The continuation of raiding operations will force the New Republic to worry about the security of its own territories, forcing sector fleets to stay in place to protect trade caravans and supply routes. And it will also slow down the process of forming a fleet directed against me. This time will allow us to repair the dreadnoughts and form crews for them.
— And accordingly, when they descend on Tangrene... — Jade's green eyes flashed dangerously, — you will lure them into a trap and destroy them?
— If there is no other choice — then yes, — I agreed.
— With the Katana Fleet, you could already start conquering the territories of the New Republic, taking away sectors from them, while your raiding groups are attacking throughout the galaxy, — she noted. — A month or two, maybe six months to a year, and you would have the strength to resist Palpatine.
— It is impossible to build the same fleet that Palpatine has in such a short time, — I reminded. — It is impossible to raise an army of clones in the same time. He has the most destructive weapons that the Empire has ever created under his command. Not to mention the fact that he has returned more than one military leader with their armed forces to his service. No, such quantitative superiority cannot be defeated by small forces. Even with the use of the Katana Fleet. Even if you start conquests, while continuing the search for the remaining secrets of the Empire, this step is actually pointless. Palpatine has dozens of star dreadnoughts at his disposal — the Executors, Avengers, Eclipses, Sovereigns, and so on. Thousands of smaller ships, millions, if not billions of soldiers. A commensurate force is needed for a reliable confrontation with him. The New Republic will play the role of a kind of buffer, allowing me and my followers to survive the entire upcoming crisis at a secret base.
— In the Unknown Regions? — Jade clarified.
— Including there, — I did not go into details. On the one hand, revelations with her are another reason to demonstrate to Jade the reinforcement of my thesis that I am honest with my allies. On the other hand, yes, she may not be loyal enough at present, but in light of recent events, the circle of those involved needs to be expanded. Even if it turns out that she betrays me, defects to Palpatine or other enemies of mine — nothing critical will happen. After yesterday's defeat of three opponents at once, loyalty to me from the officers of the fleet has increased by orders of magnitude. The upcoming campaign will only strengthen the existing effect, securing it on a permanent basis. And besides, having come face to face with C'baoth, the girl once again confirmed her opinion that I was right about Palpatine's madness. And she won't go near him. Ridding her of his mental command will be the last brick in the foundation of our cooperation. — Now it is necessary to take everything that Palpatine can use in the war — in one form or another. To take everything out of his reach and put it at my service.
— It seems that you know much more about the forgotten secrets of the Empire than you are willing to tell now, — she noted. A provocative question. Timely.
— Yes, — I did not deny it. — Too much has been thrown into the dustbin of history for supposedly unnecessary. Whereas all of this can be put to use, and it will bear fruit. But again, as I said — in due time.
— That's why you are emptying Mount Tantiss? — Jade clarified. — So that Palpatine, on the occasion of his official return, cannot use it?
— Exactly, — I confirmed.
— But you are using this to fight the New Republic, — The Hand reminded. — At the same time, you claim that the rebels should become the force that will destroy Palpatine. What's the point of weakening them and at the same time hoping for cooperation with the rebels in the future?
— First, we should not forget that the Rebel Alliance is no longer the same bunch of thugs that it was nine years ago, — I said. — The roles have changed. If we continue to call them rebels, this will not diminish their strength. There is no point in constantly humiliating the enemy, and if it is not supported by facts of victories, then it is generally foolishness and empty bravado. It is necessary to respect your opponent — and then we will fight with them as equals. And they deserve this and have proven it more than once. While we are only fighting over the fragments of former greatness.
— So that's why you call them Republicans, — Mara Jade squinted. — You are stating their real position.
— Yes, — I confirmed. — And the correct terminology is also found in your speech. Repeat it more often and you will be able to see the whole picture.
— Well, since it is not available to me at the moment, would you be kind enough to describe it? — Jade asked with a touch of sarcasm, without a malicious joke or mockery.
— Not at all, why not, — I shrugged. — As my Hand, you must have the correct view of things, without embellishments and assumptions. Yes, I do not intend to fight Palpatine — the Republicans will do it for me. This thesis has been repeated many times. But it does not change its essence — even despite the fact that you think my actions are weakening the New Republic. To some extent, this is indeed the case. However, they control almost the entire galaxy. They have a huge fleet and army, compared to what I own and what the Imperial Remnants own. Having lost one, two, five, ten sectors and the military and fleet units covering them, they will not lose their combat effectiveness as a whole. But by destroying small enemy formations, my armed forces will be able to gain the experience they so desperately need in the future. Take my word for it — we will need it.
— But why, if you do not intend to fight Palpatine?
— The general strategy is precisely this — to allow sworn enemies to destroy each other on their own, — I confirmed. — But we should not discount the fact that my plan may not work. I am still confident in the key sequence of events — Palpatine will definitely try to put the Skywalkers in his service. And he will crush the worlds and armies that stand in his way. Without a doubt — with the help of his own fleet and the armed forces of the Imperial Remnants, who will switch to his service. His madness and hatred will play their part, reminding the inhabitants of the galaxy the reason why they hate him. And, therefore, by the time Palpatine falls, his troops will be left to their own devices. The Endor catastrophe will be repeated, and, therefore, the New Republic will go on the offensive against the Imperial territories. With all their might. During these conflicts after the death of Palpatine, I intend to step out of the shadows onto the stage, conducting my own campaign and policy, different from the Empire's. If they join me, accepting the conditions of my realities — well, I will only be happy, extra forces will not hurt anyone. If not, by this time I will have enough strength not to be afraid of revenge from their side.
— I bet you will be acting at the opposite end of the galaxy from the new war between the Imperials and Republicans, — Mara Jade snapped her fingers. — Will you give them a choice — to fight on several fronts, or to solve their primary tasks?
— Of course, — I agreed. — To return the Empire within its former territories will be a matter of honor for the New Republic. I would even say an obsession. The attack on the Dafilvean sector and the Sluis sector only demonstrates their typical behavior — having suffered a defeat that is not critical for themselves, they will once again assure all the victims that this will never happen again. In this context, the recapture of territories from the Empire will be a priority step for them, necessary to preserve the state as such. I assume that the campaign of the Revived Emperor will be characterized by excessive cruelty, and therefore, in any case, we ourselves will have to face the remnants of Palpatine's troops in order to win back the sectors we need. Only we will position ourselves as liberators — humane and respecting all sentient beings and races without exception. I have thought over your proposal regarding slaves — it satisfies my long-term strategy. Those of them who wish to join us can do so. They will become the face of the new Empire, under my leadership, and a real example of the implementation of the theses of equality that we will declare. And when between the sentient beings occupied by the ruthless Imperial butchers of Palpatine and the New Republic, which has not drawn conclusions about strengthening its own defense capability after my current campaign, and my forces, positioning themselves as humane defenders of their allies, what will they choose?
— Personally, I would choose the latter, — the girl admitted.
— As would the majority, — I agreed. — This is how we will acquire territory, a loyal population. It goes without saying that in battles with other military leaders, we will capture their territories by force of arms — and annex them to ourselves. And again, the calculation is made on the psychology of the races — which master is better to go to? To the one who oppresses and executes, or to the one who promises prosperity and has already been noticed in this field?
— Again — to the latter.
— Thus, striking at the territories occupied by Palpatine's Imperials in order to liberate the inhabitants of these sectors, as well as simply luring planets and systems under our control with the promise of protection, will bear fruit in the form of creating a resource base for the army and fleet, which will allow both to defend and to attack.
— But wouldn't it be easier to appear in the Empire immediately after the death of the Revived Palpatine and demand the leading role for yourself? — Jade asked.
— And deal with xenophobes who carried out Palpatine's criminal orders? — I clarified. — To lead the Empire that the majority of the politically active population of the galaxy hates? Truly, this is a direct path to a crisis and one's own demise. No, I am not going to fight with anyone for power over the remnants of the Empire — they will either join me themselves, of their own free will, turning to me with a request, and thereby putting themselves in a less advantageous position in negotiations, or they will remain to fight against the New Republic themselves. I am sure that there will be representatives of both variations of the development of events.
— You reason as if you intend to acquire forces comparable to his own during Palpatine's campaign, — Mara Jade noted.
— I'm afraid that even if I start doing this right now, I won't make it, — a smile echoes a smile on her face.
— And yet, for some reason you are sure that the New Republic will primarily seek to destroy the Imperial Remnants, and not you, — Mara stated. — Isn't that too presumptuous?
— This is an assumption that is based on the available facts and prerequisites, — I answered. — At the moment, a political struggle is taking place within the New Republic. Certain forces are seeking to increase their political weight and are seizing every opportunity to do so. My current campaign will contribute to the fact that the most rational part of the government of the New Republic will be disgraced, and certain successes in the political arena will be achieved directly by those forces that imagine themselves to be great and formidable, but understand absolutely nothing in the matters of military art. Thus, in the period of time that interests me, the New Republic will be no more than a colossus with clay feet, unable to protect all the territory that they have gathered with such difficulty over the previous years. The population of the galaxy is passive for the most part, but at the same time it does not lack brains when it comes to satisfying its basic needs. And first of all — in security. Which we will give them.
— Provided that we will stand out favorably both against the background of the Empire and against the background of the New Republic, — Mara Jade clarified.
— Exactly, — I confirmed. — Therefore, it is necessary to spend the time of the campaign of the Revived Emperor outside of active events — to accumulate forces, to improve the training of our own armed forces, to develop a further strategy.
— Palpatine, even in a clone body, is unlikely to be a fool, — Mara Jade said with doubt in her voice. — At least the clone of the Jedi C'baoth is capable of adequate comprehension and constructive analysis. While Palpatine, in any case, at all times had a galaxy of both sycophants and quite competent sentient beings. If you disappear from the galaxy just like that, taking with you all the fleet and army that you can, he will definitely wonder what happened to Thrawn and where his subordinates disappeared. At least, if not him, then his close associates.
— It all depends on how artistically the "leaving the stage" is left, — I noted, hinting that I do not intend to reveal this detail of my plan to her. As well as the fact that I fully admit that my current actions may greatly weaken the New Republic, as a result of which Palpatine's Imperials will have enough strength to subdue much larger territories than in the events known to me, where his territorial conquests were limited to a good hundred sectors. Which, however, were successfully lost in the subsequent infighting. However, there is also an action plan for this case. Which I am not going to voice, because I suspect that it is it that will have to be implemented, and not the fairytale picture I described. No, I am sure that all those parts of the plan I mentioned, which depend on my actions, will be implemented as needed. The Republic will indeed lose its most "brainy" representatives — not "for good," but only for a time sufficient for me to successfully complete the current campaign. Such is the cyclical nature of the history of this galaxy — heroes come, achieve peace throughout the world, after which they are replaced by seasoned politicians who have a black belt in the discipline of "raking in the heat with someone else's hands." Heroes retire and return in times of extreme need — and even if now I get rid of or critically weaken the influence of Admiral Ackbar and his team, the Skywalkers and others on the New Republic, with the return of Palpatine, they will play their roles. Simply because they will not be able to stand aside, seeing how others are suffering. Such is the essence of heroes, and they cannot overcome it.
As I said earlier — if you can't overcome "plot armor", then make it work for you.
— Captured Republicans, — Mara Jade unexpectedly stated. — With their help, you intend to elevate someone in the New Republic, proving that this very "someone" is capable of solving military problems peacefully.
— Brilliantly, — I smiled. — Yes, the captured play an important, but not critical, role in my plans.
— The Empire has never released prisoners of war before, — Mara Jade noted. — The rebels have always achieved the return of their comrades from captivity only through military operations. The one who can agree on such a thing bloodlessly from the side of the New Republic will gain enormous influence and power.
— That's the calculation.
— But in the end, he can become a dangerous opponent, — The Hand noted. — Precisely because of the increase in his influence on the New Republic.
— Of course, — I confirmed. — Therefore, the "peacekeeper" should be someone who only imagines himself to be sufficiently competent in matters of military strategy. Someone who is blinded by power and wants to get as much of it as possible and is ready to use any chance to climb as high as possible. An unprincipled sentient, who does not know what honor, comradeship, and brotherhood are. Someone who only uses the others to achieve their own goals.
— I think I guessed who you are talking about, — Mara Jade smiled wryly. — Inventive. But won't his innate suspicion and distrust work against us?
— It will be enough to play the cards correctly, — I said. — And he will fall for it like a charm. Let's show him that his ideas are brilliant and successful, and other people's are insignificant. And he will do half of the work for us himself. We just need a suitable incentive. And the defeats inflicted on the New Republic will only strengthen the opinion that the current military leadership is incompetent and needs to be changed.
— He will never buy the fact that the Empire just decided to hand over the prisoners like that, — Mara Jade warned.
— No one is going to play scenes of altruism, — I noted. — To achieve the desired result, it is necessary to convince him that we are playing by the same rules as he is. To implant in his mind the idea that all the ongoing operations are necessary only to gain strength and make a mirror image of what he himself dreams about. Like attracts like. Such is the nature of his race — to be loyal only to the struggle for power. Convinced that I am only interested in power and control over the Imperial Remnants, and that I am ready for a secret alliance with him and the subsequent division of the spoils, he will be ours with his guts. And when he realizes what's what, it will be too late — I will get what I want one way or another. No matter how they hide it from me.
— So what do you want to get by flirting with the enemy, Grand Admiral Thrawn? — Mara Jade asked with a smile on her face.
— The best version of the Empire under my leadership, — I said without blinking an eye. — A just, strong one, without oppression. Capable of resisting any threats — both within this galaxy and from the outside.
— Global, — Jade assessed. — And I have already heard this during the conversation in Moff Ferrus's residence in the past. Prisoners... As I understand it, you intend to capture as many of them as possible in future raids, so that the stakes in the game are on your side. So what are you ready to exchange them for that is so significant?
Smiling, I answered.
Mara Jade's eyes widened in amazement.
— You must be kidding!?