StarWars and all related material is property of GeorgeLucas and LFL. This is a piece of fan-faction and no money is made. I'm doing this just for fun. And since this wonderful universe belongs to somebody else the only payment i can expect is the feedback of the readers, so don't hesitate to give it.
Before you ask, i removed my other two stories „Union of the Empire's greatest Warriors" and „The tale of Darth Vader's Son" for an overwork and editing.
Pride's Prize - Part I
"Sir, all units of the fleet are in position and ready for the jump."
"Very good, Captain Gerla. Admiral ... ."
"I have heard it the first time, Commander. Captain Gerla, i want a connection to the Muun-Twelve Rugar."
"Yes, Sir."
Martel Uther focused his attention at the large hologram atop the chart-desk. To an uninformed observer the imperial fleet displayed would have looked insignificant, tiny dagger-shaped dots surrounded by even smaller triangles inside a cloud of constant electrical flickers. Just that the dagger-shaped dots were Star Dreadnoughts, the smaller triangles the images of Battlecruisers and Star Destroyers and the flickers symbolised the scores of frigates and assault-transports, that accompanied the fleet. Turning towards the image of their target his lips turned into a thin line and he shook his head. "It is not going to work this time." he muttered to himself.
"You have an objection, Commander?" his superior noted.
"I just said, i don't think, that it will work this time. People like the Yirrho simply aren't going to roll over just because we show them our mighty warships. That might have worked for the Diamala, the Dwen'myke or the Wukkarans, but the Yirrho are fiercely independent." Uther explained.
"True. But we have to give them this last chance to join the empire in peace, since the diplomatic attempts have failed so far. We can't afford to have a star nation as powerful and wealthy as the Yirrho-Worlds to stay independant. Such an example could encourage other planets, if not entire sectors to rethink their allegiance to the imperial state." the Admiral stated. "On the other side, if it is our kind of example - through their peaceful surrender or our victory in battle - one of the benefits might be the stabilisation of the entire region. Not to forget the wealth those worlds have to offer."
"As you said, if they don't take the chance we offer them we have to achive victory in battle. And that might become very costly. Just remember, what they did to the forces of the Seperatists during the clone-wars."
"I haven't forgotten about that, Commander. In fact some of our intelligence is based on extrapolated data captured from the Seperatists. We should have sufficent forces to defeat the Yirrho."
"IF those extrapolations are correct. For my taste they are a little on the low side."
"The estimates take the limitations on economy enforced by an isolationistic policy into account as well as the possible growth in population since the clone-war. Until the Yirrho increased their military men-power-pool by cloning or the use of droids there should be no justification for your concerns." the Admiral explained.
"And all those problems are easy to solve with the amount of wealth the Yirrho control." Uther argued.
"I can assure you, that they haven't done something like that so stop worrying. At the end of the day the Yirrho-worlds will be ours."
"If you say, Admiral." Martel Uther was about to give it up, but then a suspicion entered his mind. It wasn't typical for his superior to be careless so there had to be something else. "You're optimism has nothing to do with out visitor from Coruscant?"
"Visitors, Captain." corrected the Admiral. "And this is something you aren't supposed to know."
Uther cursed his tongue and curiosity. In fact he wanted to bite it of. He decided to play it down to placate his superior. "This is a warship, Sir. Nothing happens unnoticed. And rumors spread fast."
The Admiral lowered his voice until only Uther was able to hear him. "I think it is more about your old comrade Captain Gerla still feeling guilty about his old friend and class-mate being demoted to "Commander", because said friend has a position at my staff and there can be only one captain on a warship of His Imperial Majesty. So he let you in on some things happening aboard. Isn't that so "Captain" Uther?"
Martel Uther was at a loss for words. "How ... ."
"This is a warship, Captain. Nothing happens unnoticed." The stern look of the Admiral could have cut plasteel. "Let me give you an advice. Not today, but on other occasions the success of a mission might depend on absolute secrecy. Even if not, it is better to keep your tongue guarded. You're not high enough on the rank-ladder to have noticed already, but this is no longer the Republic-fleet under a different name. Things are changing and the changes are slowly, but implaccably dripping down from the top. Others might be less understanding than me. Have i made myself clear?"
"Crystal-clear, Sir." Uther suddenly felt like a cadett again. He was saved from further embarrassment by Captain Gerla from the bridge.
"Admiral, we have established a holo-communication with the Muun-Twelve Rugar of the Yirrho-Worlds."
The hologram of the Imperial Fleet and the Yirrho-Cluster was replaced by the image of a tall, broad-shouldered humanoid. The hologram appeared in different shades of blue, but Uther knew, that the man was wearing a black overall under a darkblue cloak with a high collar, exposing a lightgreen face dominated by golden eyes and a thick mane of black hair. Three thin vertical slits over a broad mouth served as nose.
"I am Rugar, Muun-Twelve of the Yirrho, human. What do you want and how do you intend to pay for it?"
The traditional greeting of the Yirrho. Revealing their only interest in outsiders and straight to the point. It wouldn't do them any good today.
"I'm Fleetadmiral Osvald Teshik of the Galactic Empire. I want the Yirrho-Worlds to become a member of the GalacticEmpire, to turn over their military ships and ground-installations to my men and to fullfill the obligations placed on states under Imperial Law. In exchange the Yirrho-people and their assets will enjoy the protection of the Imperial Military, your worlds will be only lightly garrisoned and you will be able to govern yourself. It would be very profitable for the Yirrho to join the empire, you wouldn't have to maintain an expansive warfleet of your own with the empire protecting you and you would have access to every world in the empire for trade."
"Considering what is available to you i would have expected a High-Admiral, if not a completely new rank given the way your employer is increasing his assets." Rugar answered. The Yirrho paused for a moment. "Under economic terms your offer is a tempting one, if the monetary income would surpass the financal obligations. Security and protection however are some of the few things not to be outsourced and it is the policy of the Yirrho-Worlds, that if people want to trade with them, they have to come to us. Your terms won't be accepted by the Yirrho."
"You won't get better conditions. Are your people aware of the possible costs a decline of our offer would contain?" Teshik asked.
"A consensus of all voting Muuns has agreed with seventy percent majority that increase in wealth is better achived by free entrapeneurs, than employees impeded by restrictions. It is this conviction, that has prevented us from joining the Republic, that has prevented us from taking sides during your clone-war and that prevents us from joining your empire."
"Is this your last word, Muun-Twelve?"
"If you don't offer better terms there is nothing more to negotiate, Admiral Teshik." Rugar answered and terminated the connection.
For a moment Teshik and Uther stared at the empty space where moments before the hologram of the Yirrho had been surprised and shocked by the arrogance displayed by the Muun-Twelve.
"Then it will be a hostile take-over." Teshik muttered, still using business-speak.
"I don't understand it, Sir. They have to know, that they can't resist us. Even if they're able to fight us off they can't resist forever."
"Arrogance, Captain." explained Teshik. "Their wealth and power have made them arrogant and proud. And today a lot of people have to pay this pride's prize." He took a deep breath. "Tell Captain Gerla to start the countdown for the jump to hyperspace. All ships on Condition One."
"Yes, Sir." Uther answered. He walked over to the com, preparing himself for battle. Battle and the inevitable bloodshed connected with it.
"And all of it because of a black hole ... ." he muttered.
