Nine years, five months and thirty-three days after the Battle of Yavin...
Or forty-fourth year, five months and thirty-three days after the Great Resynchronization.
I wonder if anyone needs a bed and furniture that were created specifically for Palpatine? I'd give them away "not for a lot".
Because sleeping on this semblance of an airy, absolutely soft, in every sense, compliant bed is just... Terrible.
I woke up with pain and aches all over my body, as if I had fallen asleep sitting. I can't imagine how a normal person can get enough sleep. However, I was no longer going to use Palpatine's apartments in Mount Tantiss.
Too luxurious. Too... pampered, somehow. On board the 'Chimaera,' I used "barracks hospitality," familiar from my past life and more... familiar, somehow.
One way or another, but the incident in the Throne Hall of the complex only proved the fact that I defined for myself as "taboo" almost immediately: cloning Force-sensitive beings does not lead to good. I went to create a clone of Luke Skywalker out of necessity - in order to test the theory that only the murder of a person with the face of Darth Vader's son will rid Mara Jade of Palpatine's last order. This trick worked in the events of the 'Thrawn Trilogy' known to me, so I was simply obliged to check its operability in my reality. I need Mara Jade without "cockroaches in her head." And this fact was supposed to tie her to me even more, making her, if not completely loyal, then certainly not hostile or neutral.
As the old saying goes, which my sergeant loved to repeat during my conscripted service in the valiant Soviet Navy: "There is no worse enemy than an ally dol... with excessive initiative." Colonel Selid, in terms of the latter, surpassed himself, almost ruining everything that had been created with such difficulty.
It was not supposed that Luke Skywalker's clone would be given any knowledge at all - in the events known to me, this clone, known as Luuke, was created by the order of Joruus C'baoth. And at the same time, he did not remove any mind matrix from the real Skywalker... I think...
But most of all I was worried about another question.
The clone was supposed to be created only today. And judging by everything, its creation was either not completed, or, what is even more dangerous, it began to be created before my order. The question arises: "How so?". And following it, two more, eternal Russian ones, identified by great classics: "Who is to blame?" and "What to do?". Oh, thank you for them, Alexander Ivanovich Herzen and Nikolai Gavrilovich Cherneshevsky. It is curious that these works appeared in exactly this sequence: first "Who is to blame?" came from Herzen's pen, and then "What to do?" by Cherneshevsky. And since then, the Slavic brothers have been dealing with problems in exactly this order of action. First they look for the guilty, and then they think about how to solve the problem.
According to my plans, Rukh was not supposed to intersect with the clone of Luke Skywalker. In the well-known events of the 'Thrawn Trilogy,' the beginning of the end of the cooperation between Thrawn and the Noghri clans occurred precisely because of a collision between one of the representatives of this people and Leia Organa-Solo. By the smell, he identified in her the daughter of Darth Vader, who was once the ruler of the Noghri – before Vader transferred them to Thraw... to me.
And now, Rukh not only met a copy of the real Skywalker, but was also in close contact with him. Is this time - a few seconds - enough to smell another being? Yes, quite. Does this mean that I have problems now? Yes, most likely it is so.
I didn't believe in coincidences in my past life, and I won't believe in them now. Something needs to be thought about in the case of the current situation. And "think" - quickly. And as efficiently as possible. Otherwise, there is every chance to experience all the delights of cold steel entering the back of my chair and piercing organs. I am sure that this is not the most pleasant end to life.
But to "remove" Rukh just like that - is also impossible. Even if he just disappears - questions will arise. Not for everyone, but for some for sure. The history of this galaxy shows that the more claims beings have to individuals in this universe, the shorter the latter's life cycle. And I already have a fast metabolism.
In general, my bodyguard is currently in the medical bay of Mount Tantiss. In a drug-induced coma, "ensuring improved recovery". And he will remain in it until it becomes clear what to do with him. At the moment, I have only one solution - to speed up the implementation of the plan to find a planet for the Noghri and the implementation of the plan to win their loyalty once and for all. But the more the situation unfolds, the more often I am enlightened by thoughts: they will have to be told the truth. If we continue to use the Noghri clans "in the dark," it will not end well. For me, definitely.
But to fly to Honoghr and dump everything I know on them - about Darth Vader's children, and about the Empire's deception about restoring the planet's ecology (again, started by their master, Darth Vader) is currently not much better than shooting myself in the foot.
Unconsidered actions lead to serious consequences. Sooner or later, the truth will surface. The question now is only how to present it in order to minimize the consequences that are unfavorable for me and my venture.
I still did not dare to use the Throne Hall as a meeting place for my subordinates in order to receive information from them on the areas of activity. Too pretentious, somehow. Although I do not argue, the chair there is really gorgeous. It seems to be the same as in the throne room on Tangren and in hundreds of other places, whose owners tried to copy the manner and style of Emperor Palpatine. And yet, after what happened there, it's still somehow... Uncomfortable, somehow. For the first time since being in this universe, I felt on my own skin what death is, which does not breathe down your neck, but looks directly in the face. And I would have known for myself what an electric shock from lightning is - the favorite weapon of the Sith - if it weren't for the cage with ysalamiri and a blaster thrown by Mara Jade in time. An unpleasant sensation. I wasn't even so scared on the bridge of an Imperial star destroyer, protruding from the armored, thick-skinned hull of the ship, a place that can turn into ashes if one individual on a fighter or bomber breaks through the anti-aircraft barrier or successfully launches a proton torpedo or a strike missile.
And I clearly understand that I cannot tell anyone about this fear, a simple human fear. Neither tell, nor share, nor drink out of grief... Simply because it is impossible - it will destroy the aura of invincibility of the Grand Admiral. An aura that I "inherited" and that I must maintain in order to survive. No, this is not the cowardice of a person who, in a past life, sat at the headquarters and worked with information on various media, while his comrades in military duty carried out the combat missions assigned to them with weapons in their hands.
It's just a belated understanding of such a simple fact that even after the appearance of this universe, in this body, I am by no means immortal. And if I give slack now, everything will collapse like a house of cards. And I am too old (not physically, mentally) to start all over again.
And therefore, I have to step over myself and my own excitement and sit with an indifferent face in Palpatine's chair, watching Captain Pellaeon, the first of all those summoned to report, enter the Throne Hall.
The commander of the 'Chimaera', my constant flagship, looked dashing, without posing and false modesty at the same time.
It looks like he has good news.
— Grand Admiral — the commander of the 'Chimaera' saluted. — The attack on the rebel battle group has been completed successfully. The commanders of the 'Implacable' and 'Storm Hawk' destroyed one Republican Mark-I assault frigate, captured an Immobilizer 418-class cruiser-trawler 'Black Asp', another similar-type assault frigate and a Mon Calamari MC80 star cruiser. Ships and almost four thousand prisoners from the crew and pilots, picked up after ejection, have been delivered to the Dark Host base. There are no losses in ships and cargo, in people and small aircraft - insignificant. The repair of heavy cruisers continues and they will soon be moved to Tangren, Rendili, Brentaal IV...
Well, indeed - good news.
— Inform the commanders of the escort forces that the ships will not go to Rendili, — I said. Gilad nodded silently, but it was clear from his facial expression that the change of plans was alarming him.
Just as I am alarmed by the fact that the New Republic has spread its nets across all the main hyperspace routes under their control in an attempt to catch my fleet.
— Relocate the fleet to Brentaal IV? — the commander of the 'Chimaera' inquired, trying to guess my train of thought.
— No, — I objected, perfectly understanding that the motivation for my decisions is completely different from what I will announce to Gilad. — All ships are going to Tangren via bypass regional routes. Thanks to the impatience of the government on Coruscant and the desire of a particular botanist to know about every step of the now again generals Solo and Calrissian, we know exactly where the ambushes are located. Our ships will break through them and arrive at the base. Repairs and modernization will be carried out on Tangren. As soon as they are all safe, we will contact the shipyards of Ord Trasi and Bilbringi, perhaps they can help us there. Neither Rendili with their immature policy of loyalty, nor, unfortunately, Brentaal IV, surrounded by the territories and fleets of the New Republic and deprived of proper orbital protection, are suitable for us. Very soon the New Republic will find out who is behind the attacks on them and will strike back. By gathering all forces into one fist, we have more opportunities to fight back than to scatter them across the galaxy.
— I understand you, sir, — Pellaeon said.
— Did the training on the 'Chimaera' go according to plan? — I asked. Well, the charters are written in blood. And a good soldier is only obtained when he diligently and painstakingly improves his military skills. This also applies to the crews of spaceships. After the battle with Captain Yonka's 'Freedom', I understood this better than ever. And therefore ordered to increase the number of training sessions for personnel. On any ship under my command. Even those who performed the duties of sentinels, patrols, or stationaries - they also had to continuously improve their skills, both in the practical and theoretical fields.
— Yes, sir, — Pellaeon confirmed. — The results, of course, do not allow us to claim personal primacy in the fleet among the crews of star destroyers, but there is progress. After a series of victories under your command, even the beardless youth are not very much grumbling about the ten combat alarms a day.
— There is no limit to perfection, captain, — I remarked. — How is the loading going?
— Art objects and valuables have been loaded aboard the 'Chimaera', — Gilad reported. — At the moment, we are loading parts of the solar ionization reactor into the technical holds of the star destroyer. Sir, I would like to discuss with you the issue of transferring part of the vehicles available at the Mount Tantiss facility to the 'Chimaera' for transfer to Tangren.
— Are you talking about the Sentinel-class landing craft and Lambda-class T-4a shuttles? — I clarified. There were a lot of these almost typical representatives of the imperial military machine and transport in the mountain. Up to a hundred of each type, including the Emperor's shuttle itself (and here I am sure that it is only one of many similar ones), distinguished by greater security and improved communication, weapons, encryption systems and modified engines. A good car for the head of state. It's no wonder that I ordered it to be checked and prepared for my needs. Yes, vehicles... When the parking area of the hangar was discovered, there was no limit to joy - such ships are necessary for the fleet. Because we do not have, and were not expected to have, deliveries of this type of starships. But there was a decrease. And if there is an opportunity to reduce it, if not eliminate it altogether by expropriation, then why not? It is all an extra saving of the budget, which, unfortunately, has a huge expenditure part and a low, and not very regular - revenue part.
Having learned about the existence of this type of ship here, I seemed to have found an answer to the question of how Palpatine's agents could fly in and out of here, but... all without exception starships assigned to Mount Tantiss were here. Even the serial numbers matched. So, a puncture. You have to figure out the situation and move on.
— Exactly, sir — Pellaeon said. — The 'Chimaera' can take some even after the holds are full. Actually, we can transfer a significant part of the ships under their own power, preparing them for departure and putting our pilots at the helm.
— I have no objections, captain, — I said. — We really need the technology. Contact the 'Nemesis' — as soon as they head towards us, let them take two squadrons of TIE fighters in disassembled form from those that Baron D'Asta gave us as "spare parts" in transshipment, — and let there be only four of such squadrons, but at least something. This object must continue to be protected until its evacuation. And the only 'Victory-I' in orbit with its air wing of twenty-four fighters is not the biggest cover. As long as Wayland remains unknown to the Empire and the Republic - everything is fine. Everything is just fine. But you can't relax either. Loss of vigilance is the key to defeat. — Pilots for them here... will be made from the number of clones. Also contact General Covell. His training with the voluntary replenishment of our regular army is coming to an end. I appoint him commandant of the Mount Tantiss facility.
I need an iron hand, a cold mind and unquestioning obedience here. General Covell possessed such qualities. And also, besides, I need a genetic template and receiving a personality matrix from him to create infantry commanders. Not for the Stormtrooper Corps subordinate to me, but for the regular army, which we also have. But there are not so many commanders suitable for commanding it. Given the little desire on the part of the Imperial Remnants for cooperation, we have to use what we have. If there were more money, time and resources, I would probably have built factories for the production of separatist droids. But the trouble is that, according to data on the first fifteen years of the existence of the Galactic Empire, the war machine under the command of Darth Vader and an endless number of admirals, generals and moffs, went with fire and sword through the territories of the former separatists and their sympathizers. Palpatine was well aware of how many problems a new droid army could create, so his armed forces razed everything they found and reached to the ground. And this is most of the galaxy. In parallel with this process, "HoloNet" was purged of data on the creation of combat droids, equipment for their production conveyors, and so on. The Emperor and Vader did everything to ensure that no one, even the most daring and courageous fool, could "lay a paw" on the legacy of the Clone Wars, reprogram the droids and turn them against the authorities on Coruscant.
So, the preservation of the conveyor on Hypori is only an exception that proves the rule. Especially in the part that, according to the imperial reports of the local moff, this factory, which Tyber Zann first and now me, paid attention to, was "destroyed". But it seems that someone paid well to make it look that way. Which gives a small chance that there are errors or outright lies in other reports, and it is still possible to find a couple or three more factories of this kind in the galaxy.
It's not that I desperately need B-1 type droids as "cannon fodder" on the battlefields. Still, after all, at this time my campaign is mainly characterized by space battles, and the emphasis is on replenishing the fleet and its crew members. The time for ground operations will come later. And by this time the army will be ready. And whether it will consist of droids or clone stormtroopers - only time will tell. At the moment, having the Spaarti cloning cylinders at my disposal, I do not need to spend billions on building a conveyor for the production of combat droids, their programming, arming, acquiring or capturing resources for the production of droids and their components. All this, but oriented towards the production of clones, I already have. Immediately, for free and for everyone.
In addition, one should not forget about the psychological factor. This galaxy has already experienced a war with an army of droids in the past, and now military machines are considered by the population exclusively as occupiers and invaders. While stormtroopers and clones are sometimes regarded as something closer to the populations of the worlds, animated. "Own, native".
One way or another, but the issue with droids should be resolved after I have a suitable technology for their production in my hands. Now it is much more profitable not to scatter funds on the purchase of metals and electronics for droids, but to continue the production of clones, compensating for the lack of crews and technical personnel.
Yes, on the one hand, the number of volunteers arriving on Tangren is growing, but not quickly. Moff Ferrus reports on tens of thousands of imperial and other citizens who express a desire to contribute in one way or another to the war against the New Republic. After sifting through a small sieve of the ISB of Lieutenant Colonel Astarion, those who can be allowed to work directly with equipment or weapons... are a little fewer. But their loyalty should also be verified - that is why they are being reassigned to "wolf packs". I have no desire to let those I am not sure of onto the deck of star destroyers or other ships of the fleet. Yes, the ISB cannot solve all the problems at once, simply because there are incredibly few of them. However, to talk about the small number of personnel, having only sixteen thousand working cloning cylinders in hand, which produce thirty-two thousand clones twice a month, is not a problem. It's just a matter of time.
— Sir — Pellaeon broke my train of thought. — I apologize for probably interfering in something that is not my business, but... Don't you think that refusing deals with Rendili and Brentaal IV will lead to these planets coming under the control of the New Republic?
— I am sure of it — I said. However unfortunate this fact may be. For these two planets, orders for work with the "Katana Fleet" are a way to earn a considerable amount of credits, while doing their core business. — But, planets in the rear of the enemy are practically guaranteed dissidents. Sooner or later they will betray us, refuse to obey. If this happens during a period when our ships are being repaired there - the blow will be irreparable. In the end, they will betray the Empire, not us. As in the case of Carida, who refused to help us, these planets have chosen their own path. All they are interested in is constant cash injections, and in huge amounts. We do not have such resources. Therefore, we will limit ourselves to what we already have. At the "Rendili Shipyards" Moff Ferrus and chief engineer Reyes have ordered all the necessary spare parts, excluding hyperdrives for ships. The equipment is on its way and will arrive at the outpost in the Pakuuni system in the near future. From there, the moff, under the escort of his ships, will deliver the parts to the Tangren warehouses.
— Yes, sir, I also wanted to ask about that. Why continue to use the outpost in the Pakuuni system? After all, our base is on Tangrene and Lainuri.
— It's simple, captain - we are diverting the blow from the real bases. Even if my return and the location of the operational base is not a secret for many of the imperial military leaders, most of the galaxy has not seen the one who is inflicting defeats on the New Republic. According to reports from Colonel Astarion, none of the volunteers, except for the spies sent to us, know who commands the fleet on Tangren and the true capabilities of our forces. The longer we can maintain the veil of secrecy, the more panic we can cause within the New Republic. As soon as they find out about the deals in the Pakuuni system, they will risk sending a fleet there to destroy the outpost or, at most, organize a trap for our ships.
— And then what? — Pellaeon inquired.
— As always, — I shrugged. — The victim and the hunter will change places. And it will be interesting again.
***
Strutting with excellent posture, Major Grodin Tierce entered the Throne Hall. Stamping his feet, he covered part of the distance separating us, and then froze in place, waiting for me to pay attention to him.
Just now, Lieutenant Colonel Astarion, the head of counterintelligence, which we still both called the ISB out of habit, had left me. Provided information on his line, after which, together with his subordinates, he went to the cloning laboratories - it was time to increase the number of operatives at our disposal. Even in such a non-trivial way.
— Report, Major, — I ordered, placing the deck with the "security" report next to me.
— I have investigated some basic data on the "GeNod" program, — he announced, at the same time reminding me what task he was assigned. As if I could forget.
— Intrigue is completely unnecessary, — I said. — I need information.
— As you suspected, this is a technology capable of modulating the data of a personal matrix obtained from donors under the Spaarti cloning program, — the adjutant said. — It was developed during the last year of the Clone Wars and was used for seven subsequent years until the Uprising on Kamino.
That very episode in imperial history, when the Kaminoan clondels suddenly pulled out some of the mass of Jango Fett clones they had hidden from storage, deciding that they could resist Palpatine, suspecting him of nationalizing the entire niche of clone production services. It was very wise to do so on his part. Leaving those who have experience in creating a huge army without control is, at a minimum, imprudent.
— What is its essence? — although Colonel Selid gave a small story, it is still better to have the full information.
— It is a development of the Spaarti program, — so the technology for creating "Spaarti clones" is not an exclusive mechanic, but only a generalized name for a number of similar programs. — In the case of the latter, the full personalities of the donors are transferred to the bodies of the clones. At the same time, defects were revealed, including a critical flaw such as "clonic madness" - premature individuals went crazy, they were diagnosed with schizophrenia, — it is simply unreasonable to interrupt the story with the phrase: "Yes, I know, tell me something new." Firstly, "repetition is the mother of learning", secondly, the adjutant has very thoroughly studied everything that is connected with cloning technologies at the Mount Tantiss facility. And he may know more than I do. And information is half the battle. — A number of scientists have expressed the theory that this happens due to the fact that clones of the same person, with the same personality matrix, enter into some kind of resonance due to the peculiarities of the rapid growth of the body and the formation of the brain. According to statements by Arkanian cloning specialists, at least three to five years are required to create a clone resistant to madness. A year is too short a time for full maturation. However, I ordered the technicians to take tests from the clones that we have at our disposal from the first and second batches, and conduct a comparative analysis with the originals and data from the archives of Imperial intelligence on cloning programs. It is likely that these little animals, ysalamiri, with their Force reflection effect, somehow neutralize the adverse effects. Thus, a selective analysis showed that "Spaarti clones" made using your technology do not differ in any way from the originals. There are no mental disorders, higher nervous activity and other symptoms that the "Spaarti clones" had in the past. Congratulations, Grand Admiral, you have solved a problem for the study of which trillions of imperial credits were spent.
Is that so? I wish I had those trillions.
— Imperial clondels did not know about the secret of the ysalamiri, so they proceeded from the theory of the resonance of multiple copies of one being, — Grodin Tierce continued. — As an experiment, the "GeNod" program was created. With the help of the imprinting machines of the "Spaarti" technology, the consciousnesses received from donors were fragmented, leaving only useful skills. After that, the personality matrix was changed. Fictional data about the subject was placed in it, which made it possible to create thousands of other imprints of consciousness from one matrix, and different from each other. The program proved itself positively - cloned beings came to their senses, albeit external copies of each other, but still did not have problems with their psyche and considered themselves and others with their faces to be just different people. The project was considered successful and it was used until the well-known events on the planet Kamino. After that, Palpatine ordered the curtailment of all cloning programs without exception and the start of recruitment of stormtroopers from ordinary people who underwent appropriate training.
— Was Joruus C'baoth created using this program? — I inquired.
— As far as I have studied the original matrix, it was obtained exclusively from other people's memories associated with the real C'baoth, — the major replied. There's no need to argue here - it's clear enough who served as the donor. Surely Emperor Palpatine added something from himself. — The clone of Luke Skywalker was created using the same matrix. Judging by the logs of his cloning chamber, the genetic sample was placed in autoclaves after receiving your order to do so.
— Which does not negate the fact that it was created a day earlier than expected — I stated.
— This happened due to the introduction into it of a matrix obtained under the "GeNod" program — the major explained. — For some reason, this helped to reduce the production speed of "Spaarti clones" from a day to two.
— That is, now we can create them not in fifteen days, but in thirteen, a little more than two and a half standard weeks — I noted. This is, in general, good. — Are there any other advantages of this program compared to "Spaarti"? With the exception of already known information on reducing production time and creating different personalities.
— In fact, the latter is its main advantage — Major Tierce said. — With the consciousness created through editing, unnecessary questions that clones will inevitably ask each other can be avoided. We can use stormtroopers and create fleet specialists from their bodies who will not have to be hidden under helmets so that they do not recognize each other.
— Can we change the donors' DNA, making them stronger and faster than their originals? — I clarified. — The Kaminoans could do that.
— Perhaps, sir — the major did not deny the obvious fact. — But here, at the Mount Tantiss facility, they are not genetic scientists, but ordinary medics from the ship crews. They know how to operate cloning cylinders, service them, obtain matrices and embed them into bodies that are being born in incubators. But operating with DNA...
— They were able to create the consciousness of THX-0297, — I noted.
— By trial and error, sir — Grodin said. — It is no accident that he has this number. Out of three hundred individuals, he is the first who turned out to be relatively "normal". But there is still a lot of unnecessary information mixed in him. However, neutralizing it is not a problem - he is in the brig and certainly will not go anywhere.
— Don't touch the clone — I ordered. — We will watch. I understand correctly that our medical personnel at the base have learned by experience to create consciousness for clones?
— Almost, sir — Grodin said. — They partially changed the matrix of Colonel Selid, but in order for it to be a full-fledged stormtrooper, not remembering his past, as I understand it, more time and work is needed to clean the original matrix of unnecessary memories and depersonalize the matrix before generating a new personality. With stormtroopers, it's easy — they don't need to come up with names and biographies. Just letters and a serial number. But a key point in this program, in addition to creating an artificial personality, I find is that along with creating a new personality, we can also lay absolute loyalty and obedience to orders in the new consciousness. Whoever this clone may be, the execution of his commander's orders, yours, will be a priority task for him. I spoke with this clone, THX-0297. He is a completely adequate person, within the limits of his development, of course. Efficient, competent. He will go to self-sacrifice without hesitation if this is the only chance to save his commander or fulfill the combat mission assigned to him. No reservations, no assumptions, doubts, sabotage. An ideal performer who considers it his duty to serve his commander. But with all this, he considers himself a full-fledged personality. And asks no questions. Considering the circumstances - a critical problem with personnel, as well as the upcoming hypothetical confrontation with imperial military leaders, in my opinion, this is an ideal way to solve the problem of personnel shortage.
— Let's suppose, — I said. A curious dilemma. To command an army that obeys you for ideological reasons, or because it is programmed to do so and does not know about it? And what will happen if the clones are told about this "little trick"? Or if they are programmed to obey someone else? No, to blindly trust a program that almost killed me because of the initiative of one pi... pardon my sinful soul, colonel?! No, it's all good and wonderful, but we should thoroughly understand what is happening. If everything were so simple, then it would certainly be used everywhere. — At the moment, this is not a bad option for the development of events, Major, you are right. However, we will begin to implement it only when we receive confirmation of the effectiveness of the program not on the example of one clone out of three hundred random attempts, but as a result of a targeted study of the program by competent specialists. The temptation is great, I do not argue. And the benefits are more than worthwhile. But for some reason, the program was not implemented - and this, given the possibility of absolute loyalty. So, there is an error somewhere that we don't know about. Just as dangerous as it was when creating Kaminoan clones - one order, and they will turn against us. This is unacceptable. After studying all the risks, with a careful approach to this GeNod program, will we be able to create new beings with "old" bodies? Thousands of people with one face, but with different personalities?
— Yes, sir — Tierce confirmed once again, not succumbing to the control question. — Like ordinary beings, not only people, but also those sensitive to the Force.
— My decision about the latter will never change, — I said sharply. — No experiments with the DNA of the gifted. That's an order.
— Accepted, sir — Grodin replied. — Do I have the Joruus C'baoth matrix removed?
An intriguing proposal. Do I need a copy of the "patchwork personality" of a despotic Jedi, a mad clone of whom is involved in my plans to destroy the reputation of the New Republic?
On the one hand - it is necessary to get rid of it as soon as possible. If it was the matrix of the real C'baoth, wherever it went. But the madman who was created only because Palpatine "remembered" him and decided to have a pocket pet that would store his favorite warehouse of antiquities... This is different. This is a dangerous and extremely unpredictable action that can have far-reaching consequences. Who can guarantee that the use of the Force will not outweigh the existing program in the mind of a being? What if this incomprehensible magic of the Star Wars universe can break all programs, and then another "Grandpa Joruus" will appear, who will intend to build his own empire. And perfectly possesses the skills to subjugate the minds of beings to himself, weaving them into a single "organism" that is not inferior in efficiency to seasoned professionals? I have twice pulled off this "trick" with a fleet consisting of seventy percent of recruits and yesterday's cadets who hadn't sniffed tibanna. And what will happen if the crews of ships with professional skills and tempered in battles come under the control of such a "Jedi"?
On the other hand, remove personal memories from it, create a fake personality and that's it, make yourself pocket Jedi. And each of them can "shoot" lightning, and also use Battle Meditation... And if it also turns out to prescribe "loyalty", then this is something unreal.
And then a third option comes out of the darkness...
Remove everything "unnecessary" from the mad matrix, placing the existing knowledge of the Force into the body of a non-Force-sensitive being who will serve only as a living teacher for all those Jedi and Jensaraai who will side with me? Interesting. It seems to be the least problematic of the proposed options. But it can only exist due to the absence of problems with the program. And this can only be checked in one way.
— Order the transfer of the stormtrooper THX-0297 to your command, major, — I said. — Do not use him as a donor of material or consciousness until a special order. Establish covert surveillance over him. Everything that deviates from the usual behavior of the stormtrooper must be immediately reported to me. The C'baoth matrix must be removed from the laboratories, placed on a separate data chip and given to me. The same goes for the "GeNod" technology. Without my direct order and participation, this matrix and program should never be used. No research on cloning programs should be carried out at the facility without my permission. All technologies for this process not related to the "Spaarti" program must be removed immediately and transferred to the 'Chimaera'. The same applies to Kaminoan technology.
— It will be done, Grand Admiral, — Tierce said without a shadow of a smile. But he's not much of a joker anyway. However, he should also be watched.
— Have you already participated in the selection of genetic material and the creation of a personal matrix, major? — I inquired.
— Immediately after the report, I will go to the laboratories, give orders regarding the curtailment of data and equipment, and also supervise the work, — the adjutant reported on his plans for the future. — My fighters are currently undergoing the procedure, following the engineers of Mr. Reyes and the operatives of Lieutenant Colonel Astarion.
Well, that's good...
Stop. Three hundred attempts of the "GeNod" program. THX-0297 is only the two hundred and ninety-seventh out of three hundred. What about the other two hundred and ninety-nine clones?
This is the question I asked Tierce.
— Destroyed, sir — he said, causing his right cheek to twitch nervously. — Lieutenant Colonel Astarion is currently examining the remains in the labyrinth — Colonel Selid used unsuccessful clones to test deadly traps on the lower levels.
— Well, that's how it is — I said. If even an Imperial Guardsman cannot but show his negative reaction, then how did the colonel manage to keep ordinary stormtroopers from taking revenge on him? — Tell the lieutenant colonel to conduct an inquiry into the garrison and the service personnel of the facility to find out the reasons for their lack of reaction to the actions of Colonel Selid. Mount Tantiss is too important for us to allow those who can betray us to remain here.
— It will be done, sir, — Tierce said with a stone face, but gratitude could be read in his eyes. Almost three hundred clones. Experiments on people, albeit copies of real people, but still! This is half a battalion, it is the crew of a small starship... And a simple three hundred clones in one of the batches!
Lost in thought, I didn't even immediately realize that chief engineer Reyes was standing next to the major. And when did he manage to enter the Throne Hall?
— Sir, I wanted to say...
Then why didn't anyone find the "shortage"? This is still an armed force, not a tavern in the Wild West! There is strict reporting and movement of troops, logistics, in the end! We don't have so many ships that they come half empty!
— Major, — I addressed the adjutant, who had just been listening to something intently from the engineer. — It is necessary to find out how Colonel Selid managed to bypass official documents and provide us with at least three hundred fewer clones than required.
— Grand Admiral, sir, — Grodin sighed. — This is exactly the news I wanted to tell you. About the personnel, their lack of reaction and the clones. Colonel Selid informed the staff that it was your order to conduct cloning experiments. He also ordered the removal of the copy of Luke Skywalker from the cloning cylinder a day before final maturation - this was established by the autopsy and confirmed by the testimony of the laboratory assistants. And the last thing... Regarding the number of clones. I double-checked the deliveries. Exactly sixteen thousand clones of the first batch arrived in Tangren and... a similar number from the second one.
This cannot be. How? Is there another cloning lab here?!
— Did he make up for the shortage of clones by transferring some of the stormtroopers from the base garrison? — I suggested the most obvious version of what had happened.
— No way, sir, — said the chief engineer. — Those cloning cylinders that were not functioning... They were repaired a little over three weeks ago. All of them. Colonel Selid created not three hundred clones. He created four thousand clones under the "GeNod" program. But he removed only three hundred from the incubators - an equal number every week. He tested them, and after that, recognizing the results as unsatisfactory, he sent them to the labyrinth. It is thanks to these sacrifices that he was able to explore this area so quickly.
— That is, we have three thousand seven hundred and one problems with Colonel Selid's face, — I summed up, feeling how I begin to boil inside.
— No, sir — the chief engineer flashed his ocular implant. — They all have different faces. But with one imprint program — stormtroopers in which the knowledge of Colonel Selid is embedded. And they are all already fully mature.
And I thought yesterday was a tough day.
— Extract them, — I said wearily. — We will deal with what we have. Maybe not everything is so bad.
Although, who am I kidding?
***
— You will clearly not be surprised at what I will say — Mara Jade said, getting to her feet. The girl would lean on her right knee each time when the time for an audience came. The funny thing is that I did not require anything like that. And yet, the girl continued this strange ritual, in my opinion, which was hammered into her subconscious by her previous owner. Something is happening to her, because today, despite the fact that she is trying to look cheerful, something is happening to her. Forced smiles, perfunctory curt answers... It is useless to ask — not the type of woman to fall with her head on her chest and cry on the shoulder.
Maybe she's just tired?
— Most of what was missing from Palpatine's personal warehouses was borrowed not by Colonel Selid — I said, studying the data from the deck. Lieutenant Colonel Astarion and his subordinates were conducting a parallel investigation. Given that there were simply more of them, compared to a lone red-haired beast, it is not surprising that they completed the investigation earlier. They even found some of the stolen goods. In the colonel's room. Small trinkets and precious stones.
— I think so, — the girl said. I looked up from reading the document.
— It wasn't a question or an assumption, Mara Jade.
— I understand, my lord — her voice trembled slightly. — I apologize for the mistake.
— You don't have to call me that, — I said. To be honest, all these "lords," "masters," "rulers" and other pretentious titles make me sick to my stomach. They have turned the enlightened space age into the middle ages. — I have a rank, I have a position. There are no crazy ambitions. Remember that.
— I remembered, Grand Admiral, — the girl said in an unwavering voice.
— The catalogs of what is in the Upper Storage are missing — I said. — Can you tell me what was there?
— Trophies — said the red-haired Hand. — Jedi and Sith shrines. Holocrons. Lightsabers, crystals for them. Training droids. Artifacts. Ancient scrolls and manuscripts. In short, everything that Palpatine had or acquired after the destruction of the Jedi and the Great Purge. Almost all of it is gone.
— I doubt that this is exactly how it is — I stated. — Considering the destruction and editing of data in the base's computer, cloning laboratories, it is most obvious that Palpatine's servants arrived here after the death of his body over the forested satellite of Endor. They cleaned up the base so that none of those who got to the planet would have reliable knowledge about the military machine of the Galactic Empire. They took the information on cloning in order to use it to recreate the Emperor's body. And they took with them his personal collection of valuables related to his religious teachings. It is quite possible that the Reborn Emperor needed new Force-sensitive servants, and they needed to be trained somehow, to gain knowledge from somewhere. They left only what is not of great value.
— I wouldn't say so — with the elimination of the mental pressure of Palpatine's last order, the need for Mara Jade as my adjutant has disappeared. She no longer needs to be near the ysalamiri and I no longer need to somehow justify her presence nearby. Therefore, her fleet uniform was replaced by a traditional black combat suit. Enhanced with elements of light armor. And at the moment, the red-haired agent has unfastened a cylindrical object from her belt. — This is the lightsaber that the mad clone had. I was able to cut off the emitter and the weapon became useless, which is why he stopped using it during the battle. I examined the design - it is a very ancient technology, many parts have long been discontinued, and others are used only in collectible archaic droids. From which we can conclude that at least this lightsaber was created several decades, or maybe even centuries ago. The design, though ancient, is durable. Someone from his followers could have been armed with such a weapon, instead of leaving it on the shelf.
— We do not know the reasons why all objects without exception were not removed from the Mountain, — I reminded. — The only one who can enlighten us on this issue is Master C'baoth. But he, to put it mildly, is not the best interlocutor.
— To put it mildly — the girl could not hide her disgust at the mention of the dark Jedi. Well, she can be understood. Nobody liked this madman, except himself. But at the moment I need him — until I can secure the support of the Jensaraai, whose leader is currently visiting Moff Ferrus' residence on Tangren, awaiting my return.
— What do you say about this lightsaber? — I took in my hands a small cylindrical hilt, devoid of any buttons or regulators, familiar to Jedi weapons. The girl approached, took the hilt in her hands. She examined it, frowning.
— Something... strange — she said after a couple of seconds. — I feel a focusing crystal inside, permeated with the Force, its Light Side. It is dull, but still there. But... There is no activation key here, and the entire body is made of a metal called electrum. But how to activate it? A defect in the creation? — she looked at me expectantly.
— Have you ever heard anything about a Jedi Master named Mace Windu? — I inquired. The girl displayed a short work of thought on her face.
— One of the four Jedi Masters who organized the assassination attempt on the then Supreme Chancellor Palpatine shortly before the end of the Clone Wars, — she said.
— If we believe in the point of view that Palpatine himself adhered to, then yes — I clarified. — According to my data, the Jedi tried to arrest the Chancellor because of his affiliation with the Sith Order - the ancient religious and philosophical enemies of the Jedi. The Jedi Order made its move - sent four masters to arrest the Supreme Chancellor. And they lost. Mace Windu was the initiator of the arrest attempt. And he really intended to destroy Palpatine, believing that the arrest would not correspond to the goals and objectives of justice due to the large number of Palpatine's supporters in all structures and hierarchies of power. In the end, they decided to kill the Supreme Chancellor. The assassination attempt was prevented by the Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. In the near future, the galaxy knew him under another name - Darth Vader.
Mara Jade was silent, digesting the information that had fallen on her red head. And I waited patiently, building one line of defense after another that I would need in case of additional questions that she would undoubtedly ask. She can't help but ask, since she doesn't have an additional source of information — only my words. And now is an extremely acute moment of testing — will she believe me at my word, or will she continue to be suspicious.
— Take this lightsaber — I said. — It previously belonged to the aforementioned Mace Windu. His fate is unknown, but there is no doubt that the Jedi will not need it anymore. Lieutenant Colonel Astarion found this weapon among a collection of precious stones in the room of the late Colonel Selid. Obviously, the latter was seduced by the rarity of the weapon and thought to sell it for a lot of money.
— But how do you activate it? — Mara Jade asked in bewilderment, curiously studying the hilt of the weapon.
— You tell me — I suggested. — This still falls within the competence of your knowledge.
The girl, frowning, took a couple of steps back. For several minutes she studied the weapon, examined it, froze, closing her eyes. Perhaps the only thing she didn't do was try the weapon on her tooth.
I was about to open my mouth to demand the trinket back when a dim purple beam of light about a meter long appeared in Mara Jade's hands.
— Closing the contacts with the help of the Force... — the girl whispered. — How... simple, and at the same time ingenious.
— As far as I remember, you had a lightsaber of the same color — I said. Mara Jade looked at me with curiosity and confusion of anticipation. — Take it, it's yours.
— Really? — the girl was surprised.
— I am not used to joking — I had to remind her. — You are my ally. The only one I can trust with such artifacts of the past. Wield it if it will be useful to you. During your sparring with the Skywalker clone, I noticed that the hilt of the lightsaber you previously gifted was too wide for your palm. This one is already thinner and should fit.
— Thank you, my lo... — Jade bent down, faltered. — Grand Admiral.
A Freudian slip? I wanted to smile and joke about it. But... the circumstances are not right.
It's funny, but I haven't heard about the fate of this weapon in the events of Star Wars known to me after the crippled Jedi was thrown out of the window of his office by Palpatine's lightning before the start of the implementation of Emergency Order Sixty-Six. But he has an interesting history. Based on fragmentary data gleaned from the databases of the ISB and Imperial Intelligence available to me so far, Mace Windu's lightsaber, approximately one year after the proclamation of the New Order, was part of the personal collection of one of Palpatine's close associates and was even put on public display in the office of this dignitary. Subsequently, the bureaucrat was transferred to another position, actually demoted both in the hierarchy of the Empire and in the eyes of the Emperor's entourage. Apparently, the weapon was also confiscated from him and became part of Palpatine's own collection.
Why is it here, and not taken to Byss, for example? It's hard to say. Perhaps to avoid annoying the Reborn Emperor? Or was it just forgotten here?
— Can I change something about it? — Mara Jade asked quietly.
— Now it's your thing — I reminded. — Its further fate is beyond my control and depends only on you. So, you didn't manage to find anything connected with the Force? — I clarified.
If so, then I will have to look for knowledge for the Jensaraai, in order to win them over to my side, in another place. In what? It is not yet clear, but the most obvious location is Darth Vader's fortress. There must be something suitable there. Probably. If it wasn't looted by Palpatine's marauders either.
The girl, having hung a third lightsaber on her belt, looked at me with a sly look.
— I didn't say that — she said slyly. — There was a hiding place in the wall of one of the storages. Very extravagantly executed — with biometric locks set up for Palpatine himself. If you don't know that it's there, you won't find it at all.
— Is that so? — I was surprised. A secret in a secret? Although, what is there to be surprised at, this is a Sith lair. On the contrary, it would be worth mourning if something like this had not been discovered. — And how did you know about its location?
— I was his confidant — the red-haired beauty shrugged. — Some of his tricks are known to me. And those who came here before us, most likely — no. I found the "Book of Sith" in the hiding place.
Oh, mother of god through the pipe with a small boatswain's bend with three ends on the cheeks!? Yes, to be dragged under the keel four times naked and with crayfish on the body!
Everything inside me constricted. I don't know how I managed to maintain composure, but most likely, let's be honest, I just froze, struck by what I heard.
The "Book of Sith" is a work by Darth Sidious, in which he accumulated a considerable amount of historical Sith data that he received in the process of his formation as Darth Vader's teacher, or took out from the Jedi Archives after the destruction of the Order on Coruscant. This is a guide to universal evil, containing the darkest. The most disgusting, the most vile and monstrous Sith secrets of the last thousands of years. And she's smiling so nervously at this?! At this?! Because she has already gleaned these very Sith secrets and the Dark Side has made her head spin?
Hutt, yes, I just gave her another lightsaber. What is stopping her from killing me here and declaring herself Empress? How many times has this happened in the history of this universe?!
Hutt, how stupid... Why didn't they find the book earlier?!
As far as I remember, this book was distributed by the holders of the Star Wars franchise, but I was no longer at an age to chase after my teenage hobbies. So I did not know the details of its content, limiting myself only to short indirect mentions, which I found somewhere in the literature on the universe.
But... How did this book end up here, on Wayland?! Could Palpatine's servants have forgotten THIS?! No, I won't believe it. I won't believe it for anything! This is actually a guide for any Force-sensitive being on how to become the sole ruler of the galaxy!
If it was stored here, then it should have been evacuated first! Such evidence of his criminal nature is... Yes, this is actually a sincere confession, a confession! If Wayland is really not Palpatine's main "stash", then... WHY IS IT HERE!?
— You don't even imagine how insignificant and disgusting this person was, Grand Admiral — unexpectedly, anger sounded in the girl's voice, and a grimace of pain distorted her face. — I served him for years! I believed everything he said! To how he fought for the well-being of the galaxy, how he had to take power into his own hands in order to save the Republic from disintegration during the Separatist Crisis?! Oh, how many lectures I have listened to about the betrayal of the Jedi...
With a lightning-fast movement, which I could not have avoided even if I had wanted to, the girl reached behind her back and tore off a small backpack from her shoulders, which I had not seen on her before. Throwing it on the floor, she opened it, showing... a book.
This is indeed a book!
A fairly thick tome, with a hard red cover, dotted with symbols and geometric patterns. Thin sheets of flimpsy paper, with a familiar rustle of pages, were flipped through by the girl until she reached a certain place where there was a bookmark. Now I have no doubts — the girl was studying this work.
But... I'm still alive... Does this mean that she does not intend to kill me?!
— "Unlimited Power" — she snorted. — The entire "Book of Sith" literally stinks of the Dark Side - it cannot be missed. But from this, the sixth part... When I first entered the vault, I thought he was standing behind that wall in which the passage to the hiding place was walled up. And then I realized that this was not the radiation of a living being... I made a passage for myself and found... his "creativity". He could not resist and included here his own thoughts and reasoning about how he climbed the steps of power. How he manipulated senators, bankers, scientists, Jedi, the military, separatists, the leader of the CIS, Count Dooku. He directed the Clone Wars to destroy the Jedi and seize power! He pointed out how he manipulated them in order to win Skywalker to his side. How subtly he used the edited audio recording of the failed arrest attempt to pass it off as an attempt on his life and slander the Jedi... He had been working towards this for most of his life, and the rest, as if suddenly losing their brains, blindly obeyed, doing what he wanted. But worst of all is the other, — the girl sobbed, handing me the Sith work. Slowly taking it on the indicated page, I saw the title.
"Mara Jade." Written by hand in a sweeping, confident and unmistakably masculine handwriting. Neat letters of the higher galactic language, painfully reminiscent of earthly English, drawn in an almost calligraphic hand. For some reason, I remembered that this language is no longer popular in the galaxy and is used only in the official names of large companies, and in high aristocratic circles, which is actually synonymous with snobbery, ambition and arrogance. Symbolically...
— He described everything here, — she said bitterly. — How he found me, how he trained me, how he treated me, what my successes and failures were. Oh, he even gave me a characteristic. "A thoughtless doll whose purpose is to hear my voice and carry my will to the Empire. My personal courier, with an inflated conceit about her own importance in the Empire and under me. She is useful as long as her faith continues to be supported by legends. Weak and untenable as an acolyte or Sith. Her fate is to deliver and voice orders, to carry out my will. And to believe that she is the only Hand that I have"...
— But the worst thing is the other, — the girl said. — He was really looking for immortality. And I am sure that he found it for unforeseen circumstances. As you predicted, his secret cloning and resurrection laboratory is on the planet Byss. You were right about his plan. To die, to go into the shadows, to set his enemies against each other until he gathers enough forces under his command to conquer the galaxy again!
— Have you read everything? — I clarified.
— Only what Palpatine himself wrote, — the girl said. — The last, sixth part of the book. "Unlimited Power." That was enough for me to understand what kind of person he really is. No — she shook her red waterfall of hair. — Not a person. A monster. To lie so skillfully to everyone — from the first to the last person...
The girl fell silent, biting her lower lip.
I stared at her without looking away.
And I understood a simple thing.
Psychology is a delicate science. It is not for nothing that they say "to play on the strings of the soul". And the fear of any guitarist is not to disgrace himself on stage during a performance, but to cut his throat with a piece of a string that has broken off from over-tension.
It is the same here. She is at her limit. It is likely that the girl did not assume that everything, absolutely everything, I said was true. She allowed some justification for Palpatine's actions towards herself within herself, she was torn between choices - betrayal and loyalty. But what she discovered here... This is the point of no return. The boiling point.
And a sign, as if given from above.
Never and under no circumstances will I reveal the secret of my origin in this galaxy. Maybe I will have to carry this secret with me for the rest of my life, maybe I will ever open up to someone, but...
It will definitely not be Mara Jade.
She has already been betrayed once.
She will cut off the head of whoever does it a second time. Or something worse.
— This must be destroyed — I said hoarsely, closing the book.
— There is also a chapter about you, Mitth'raw'nuruodo, — the girl said quietly. — "A wonderful performer." "The most competent of the lickspittles around me." "A threat." "Salvation." His thoughts and assessments of your abilities changed each time you either followed his order, or disobeyed and did not send personnel to their deaths... He respected you and... Feared... There is no direct mention, but...
— Do you believe me now? — I asked, looking her straight in the eye. The girl nodded her head. I don't know what she read about herself in this book, but it clearly threw her off balance. — This monster must be stopped. And all his efforts must also be consigned to the flames. None of the secret knowledge that he collected and used to achieve his goals should see the light in the future.
With these words, I got up and went to the central part of the throne room. To where, after the collapse of a complex of computer panels on the head of a stormtrooper, a dent was formed with a depth of half a human skull. I threw a book in a red cover into the man-made pit. I turned around to look at the girl standing silently behind me. Our eyes met. I held out my hand:
— An incendiary ammunition, please, — Mara Jade obediently unfastened a small disc from her belt. An incendiary detonator designed for ignition. A rare thing, but sometimes useful. If there were such things in my past native planet in the city of Salem, or with the Catholic Inquisition, the heretics would burn much faster.
Leaning over, I connected the device to the title page. The cover may not flare up immediately, but will be burned through, but the pages will ignite instantly.
— We could have studied it — Mara Jade said unexpectedly. — There must be some of his secrets there that could give us a clue on how to fight this monster.
— We already have an answer — my heart was beating faster. My temples throbbed. What if she kills me now, having broken down before the desire to gain "Unlimited Power" in her hands? To learn the secrets of the Sith... — We will destroy him and his Empire of evil the way we planned.
— But we could have become stronger ourselves — her voice whispered, and her breath seemed to burn my ear. — An invincible armada. My Force and your genius... We will bring the galaxy to its knees...
All I need is to press the detonator button. All she needs is to grab her lightsaber and stab me. She won't arrange a hand-to-hand fight. She will finish me off here and now. She will take the "Book of Sith" and... Everything I was afraid of.
However, is there any point in trying to avoid this fate? With the Force as an ally, she is faster, more agile and more deadly. And if, she managed to read at least some terrible secrets from the book... There is no worse enemy than a deceived woman. And specifically for this one, it will not be particularly important whether she was deceived by someone who rules one or another part of the galaxy. She will sweep away everyone who stands in her way...
Just when I thought the crisis with the Luke Skywalker clone had passed, here's a new one....
— Mara — I said, looking at the girl. — No power is an easy path to greatness. It is hard work, the value of which you understand only when you achieve your goal through long and persistent work. It's not a reward - it's a duty. To yourself and to those who trusted you. To become a monster and a butcher in order to destroy the same? The one who defeated the monster by its rules becomes a monster himself. We don't need the "Book of Sith" to win. We will do it, but on our own terms. Without losing who we really are. We will not become monsters.
With these words, looking straight into the girl's eyes, I pressed the detonator. Until the very last seconds, until the work of several thousand years of the greatest Sith burned. To the last page. Mara Jade stared at the handful of ashes that remained in the place of the "Book of Sith". Then, she looked at me.
— Palpatine was wrong about you, Grand Admiral — Mara Jade said unexpectedly in a firm, confident voice, devoid of pretense and seductive timbres. — Although you are different from people, although emotions and compassion are alien to you, and logic, calculation and the study of the culture of other races give you an undeniable advantage over the enemy, although you have a different skin tone and you look completely different, there is humanity and compassion in you. Much more than in some people. This secret will die with me, Commander-in-Chief.
With these words, she lowered herself in front of me on one knee:
— What will be my task, Grand Admiral? — she asked, not raising her eyes.
How many times has my world turned upside down this day?
While I was making plans and arranging checks for my subordinates, the red-haired beast checked me. And issued a credit of trust lasting a lifetime. If only I knew the interest rate.