Denahidj: Thank you for your review. After a long time of thinking and rewriting I have decided on what my plan with Palpatine will be. Please do not let that stop you from sending me your idea's. If I here an idea that is better then mine, I will consider it. In addition to your question, about who Kuvira would side with in the Clone Wars. It is hard to say. Kuvira is all about unity and central authority based on efficient imperialism. Therefore, I think she would be more likely to support the Republic rather then the Confederacy as it leads to fracturing the galaxy. In addition, as the war goes on and the Republic gets harsher, she would be more inclined to support it.
N0tLogical: Thank you for your review. I am glad you liked the POV with Snoke. Like you I felt that he was deprived of a much larger and more awesome story by writers who just wanted to fall back into the Palpatine arch. I am also glad you liked the comedic way the scene ended. I was hoping many would enjoy that scene.
BlackJay150: Yeah, Snoke was amused very much by what he encountered in that moment. I am glad you liked Snoke's future vison. I tried to convey the awesome scope of the Force and the future as it binds the entire cosmos. Set against that, a mortal mind would find it almost impossible to fathom. I am glad you saw what I was trying to convey in that scene. I hope you like this chapter just as much.
Digital hell 12: Thank you for your review. I am glad you liked the chapter. I hope you enjoy this one too.
.2020L Thank you for your review. Don't worry, there will be no love triangles. There will be no Reylo as long as I am the author of this story.
Hunter Santana: Thanks for your review. To answer your question Snoke might have been amused by what he encountered but it was not his direct intension to link the Force bond just for Rey to see that. It was a simple coincidence. Also, to clarify, Snoke did not expand the Force bubble to allow Rey to see Kuvira. Snoke had already departed by this point. Kylo was the one who used his own power to allow Kuvira and Rey to see each other. Just so he could explain the situation Kuvira and get Rey to leave.
In answer to your other question I will need to watch 'The Mandalorian' before I know what I am going to use in my story. But if I see any elements, I like I will try to add them.
Kksambo: Thanks for your review. I am glad you liked the chapter. I agree with all your comments on Rey. A over powered mary sue with no stake in this war and no true character development beyond simple 'I am the hero so I will go and do this'. They never give her a real reason to fight for the Resistance beyond it being the first faction she actually encounters. Her powers in the Force can be naturally gifted but she suddenly achieved what even Palpatine could not without years of training. I don't think so. I intend to make Rey's story a bit more realistic. Not necessarily to her advantage.
Shade: I am glad you liked Snoke's point of view. I wrestled long and hard about what to do about him and Palpatine. But I have finally put a plan together and am ready to implement it. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others.
Guest: I will be honest; I did toy around with that idea. But I decided not too for reasons which are explained in this chapter. I hope you enjoy.
Truth's Hierarch: As always, I really enjoy reading your reviews. Like you agree that looking into the future is always a risk and, in my mind, often not worth it. Lord Scourge himself asked Revan what was the point of seeing a small glimpse of one of a billion possible futures. While Revan made an interesting response, I think it would serve the Jedi and Sith better if they did not try to influence the future in this way.
In regards to the part about Force bonds I am glad you liked the comparison between Revan/Bastila and Meetra/Kreia. I really enjoyed KOTOR and it was my first real taste of Star Wars Expanded Universe. I long for the day when they are made canon, but until then I will reference them when I can. Also, to clarify, Snoke did not expand the Force bubble to allow Rey to see Kuvira. Snoke had already departed by this point. Kylo was the one who used his own power to allow Kuvira and Rey to see each other. Just so he could explain the situation Kuvira and get Rey to leave.
Finally, on Luke's apathy and how it seems to ring the same as Yoda's. Yoda might claim he was in exile awaiting the time to train one of the twins. While Luke genuinely intends to just wait around to die. In addition, I thought about a reference in SWTOR when Ashara condemns Master Simon for meditating in his clearing while a galactic war was waging. This I think is the great flaw of falling to deep into the light side. You become an emotionless being who will quite happily watch the worst atrocities happen around you if you feel it is the will of the Force.
The Sith strive for action and to bend the universe to their will. The Jedi strive for peace and allow the Force's will to happen regardless of what it might be. Both have their flaws.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others.
Setress: I am glad you liked Snoke's point of view. I wrestled long and hard about what to do about him and Palpatine. But I have finally put a plan together and am ready to implement it. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others. In regards to your second point. I will be honest; I did toy around with that idea. But I decided not too for reasons which are explained in this chapter. I hope you enjoy.
SilverArrow123: Thanks for your review. I am glad you have enjoyed this story so far. Just to clarify, while my Kuvira maybe based of the Kuvira from Korra. This is not a crossover and there will be no other characters from LOK. My Kuvira is meant to be an OC with the original only used as a template. I hope you continue to enjoy the story.
Hunter Santana (pt.2): I am glad you asked that question because you might be excited by some things in the following chapter.
Sylphi: Thank you for your review as always. I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much.
Chapter 34 – Choices and Destiny
The Reclaimer – Command Bridge
Kuvira – POV
Kuvira stood on the command deck of her beloved Resurgent Class Star Destroyer as it hung in space above the world of Kuat.
The 1st Fleet of the First Order was gathered in all its strength above the famous (or infamous depending on your viewpoint) Kuat Drive Yards. The colossal manufacturing, docking and construction ring that dominated the skies above the planet of Kuat. The artificial ring circled the entire planet and was the largest production facility in the known galaxy. It had the resources, and facilities to build entire fleets and it had proved this through the Clone Wars and during the Imperial reign. It was only matched by other manufacturing and engineering juggernauts, like Corellian Engineering or (formally) the Geonosian hive foundries.
It was Kuat Drive Yards and its many subsidiary manufacturing divisions that had made the planet and people of Kuat what they were today. Virtually all of the planet's economy was tied up in the workings of Kuat Drive Yards. The vast majority of the people on the planet worked for the company in some way, even if only indirectly. As a result, the company's board of directors and chairman were more like government officials then businessmen.
No law on Kuat was passed without it being cleared by the board of directors of Kuat Drive Yards. No politician rose through the ranks of the planet if they were not supported by Kuat Drive Yards. No senator lasted very long if they got on the wrong side of Kuat Drive Yards.
If something thing did not benefit Kuat Drive Yards, then it did not benefit Kuat.
That was the simple and unarguable truth of this world. It's people, its welfare and its political leanings were invariably linked to its manufacturing business.
That was what the Empire had realized long ago. When the Imperial regime took charge, it had immediately contacted Kuat Drive Yards to issue massive orders for them to fulfil. In the turbulent days after the Clone Wars ended, the Empire needed more ships and fleets to police a vast and torn apart galaxy. It needed these ships, and it needed them fast.
Kuat must have felt like it was too good to be true. The dominant power in the galaxy, the New Galactic Empire was demanding new military vessels almost as fast as they could build them at very lucrative prices for all involved. For years money and influence poured into Kuat and its economy like never before. The people of the increasingly rich planet were often afraid that they would wake up any minute to find it was all a dream.
But even then, the Empire was not satisfied. They wanted larger and larger ships to be designed and built. Each one bigger and more powerful then the ones that had come before it.
It was Kuat Drive Yards that had designed the Imperial class Star Destroyer to replace the Republic Venator model. It was they who designed and launched ships of unprecedented size, the First Super Star Destroyers into the galaxy. It was also them who had also designed many parts that would later be used in the construction of the Death Stars.
(Of course, the KDY board of directors denied having any actual knowledge of what the parts were to be used for. How truthful that statement was remained a matter of great debate to this day)
Regardless, it did not matter to Kuat or the vast majority of its people what the Empire did with the merchandise they built and sold to them. That was the Empire's business. As long as Kuat and its people continued to be safe, happy and prosperous. Then as far as they were concerned the Empire could do what it liked.
The rebellion had known this too.
After the battle of Endor, when the Rebellion had proclaimed themselves the New Republic. They had known that Kuat was continuing to churn out star destroyers for the fracturing Empire. They knew that they needed to shut down Kuat Drive Yards and deprive the Empire of one of its most valuable worlds.
So, they had gathered their quickly growing fleet and invaded the planet.
The battle over Kuat had lasted months and had been one of the bloodiest of the entire war. Thousands of lives were lost and hundreds of ships and fighters on both sides were destroyed as the Imperial and Republic fleets hammered away at each other in a fight that neither of them could afford to lose.
But the crucial difference was that the New Republic could call for reinforcements from across their territory. The Empire could not and little by little the Imperial fleet was ground down until they had no choice but to surrender control of the planet.
Though Kuat was clearly angry and resentful that the rebellion had destroyed their cash cow with the Empire. The planet had joined the New Republic after the battle of Jakku. The planet and its people might have even grown to be loyal to the New Republic over time.
If not for one crucial thing; The Galactic Concordance.
The New Republic had reduced their military spending to the point that it might as well be non-existent. Not only that, but they had forbidden the Imperial Remnant to increase their own military or arsenal. In such a galactic order. Kuat Drive Yards had no place. Its government and people were both unable and unwilling to undergo the massive task of transferring from military to civilian interests. Its orders had dried up like moisture on Tatooine and its economy and standard of living had quickly collapsed.
In one fell swoop. The New Republic had guaranteed that one of the most powerful and influential members of the Core worlds hated them and their government with a burning passion.
Therefore, was it really any great surprise that when the First Order had made clandestine contact with Kuat years ago. That the planet had jumped at the chance to establish a new Empire and regain their lost prosperity?
Under one of their subsidiary companies; Kuat-Entralla. The planet had started setting up new work facilities in the hidden locations of the galaxy. Far away from the prying but very lazy eyes of the New Republic. They had provided the designs for the Resurgent class star destroyer which the First Order had claimed as their finest ships of the line.
But the contributions of Kuat to the First Order had gone even beyond that. They had also designed and built the Mandator IV-class Siege Dreadnought, and the Mega-class Star Dreadnought that would go on to become the Supremacy and capital of the First Order.
With all these contributions and all these efforts. Was it any wonder that Kuat had formally pledged itself to the rule of the First Order the before the ashes of Hosnian Prime were cold in space?
The terms of their formal treaty were the same as all other worlds within the First Order dominion. The Supreme Leader proclaimed that no world (no matter which one) would be treated any different to any other. So Kuat had not been excused from the standard annual tribute to the First Order.
However, Kuat could easily match the tribute requirement in the production of materials and equipment. In fact, the tribute was a barely noticeable loss against the incomes and contract orders that were once again pouring into Kuat Drive Yards.
Kuat's future with the First Order was looking very bright indeed.
That was why Grand Admiral Kuvira had assembled the 1st Fleet over the planet. They were at war and for the moment, Kuat was the most secure location for the First Order within the core regions. The planet was welcoming, the population sympathetic of not outright supporting of the First Order. Meanwhile Kuat Drive Yards board of directors was doing all they could to ingratiate themselves to her. Clearly, they wanted to make sure that their new era of prosperity was not interrupted like the last one.
Kuvira turned her gaze away from the planet below and its massive orbital space station ring. Instead she turned her focus to the assembled fleet of star destroyers that was currently moving into position in front of her. As she watched the orbital dance, she turned her thoughts to recent events.
A few short days ago she had been in her personal suite on the Supremacy, enjoying her date with Kylo Ren.
They had agreed that they would continue to see each other and to explore whatever this thing was between them. In the interests of that, they had agreed to have dinner together in her quarters. The location was chosen by Kuvira for two reasons. Firstly, it allowed them access to a large space with her personal service droids on hand to prepare their meal as a culinary masterpiece.
Secondly (and the far more important reason) it gave them almost a guarantee that they would not be observed or spotted by any other personnel on the Supremacy.
While Kuvira was not ashamed of their strange relationship by any means. But she was not ready to reveal it to their subordinates within the First Order. She knew that they were more then commanders to the people within the First Order military. They were icons to be held up as examples to follow.
Grand Admiral Kuvira; the peerless tactical genius who led their fleets to victory and all but guaranteed their conquest of the galaxy.
Kylo Ren; the unstoppable dark lord who lead their armies to victory while wielding the powers of a god of death.
This image whether true or false. It was what gave thousands of their subordinates the courage, drive and zeal to fight and if needs be die for the First Order and its cause. If that image was tarnished in anyway it could have massive repercussions within the Order.
The simple act of appearing to be human, instead of something more than that. Was an act that the Grand Admiral and Dark Lord could not do. Not yet at least.
Still, Kuvira was forced to admit that there was another more personal reason why she did not want their relationship to become common knowledge.
She had been a common pilot years ago in the First Order TIE fighter corps. Before her meteoric rise to power she had sat in the mess hall with the other soldiers and pilots and talked and laughed and joked. So, she knew very well that soldiers, pilots, technicians, custodians and all manner of personnel talked and gossiped as well as anyone else.
She knew that as soon as her relationship with Kylo Ren was announced. It would spread through the fleet in a matter of hours. It would be talked about, gossiped about, laughed about and poked fun at every opportunity.
The simple truth was that she was not prepared to make an exhibition of herself before the entire First Order, over a personal relationship that even she was not entire sure what to make of yet.
Thankfully, Kylo Ren seemed to be of a similar mind and had agreed to the date being held in her private quarters.
The evening had started slowly. Both of them had sat across from one another eating in silence. Neither of them really sure how to proceed.
Finally, the silence had grown so oppressive that Kylo Ren had initiated a conversation about standard daily matters within the First Order.
While not the most personal of conversations to have it did allow them to begin talking to each other in a way that they both were familiar with. Slowly but steadily the conversations had drifted from daily military and political matters to a more personal flow.
They had talked about the various trials and tribulations that they had both undertaken and overcome to get to their current positions. They had talked about how they felt during and before the onset of battle and how they felt when victory had been achieved.
The conversation had then moved on to other personal matters. Their favorite weapon, their favorite tactic. Their personal feelings about a certain fool named Hux.
After that the conversation had flowed easily. And while the conversation topics did not become more personal then that. There was an ease and flow to it that showed that they had both become more relaxed in speaking with each other as people instead of just an Admiral and a Sith.
They were in the middle of a very amusing talk about how Kylo Ren had found himself facing a massive Zillo Beast. When suddenly Kylo's attention had turned towards (what appeared to Kuvira) to be an empty space within the room.
For a few moments Kylo Ren had carried out a conversation with a person who did not seem to exist. For a moment Kuvira was starting to wonder if this was a side effect of his force training. Did deep immersion in the force or the dark side lead to momentary pouts of insanity and delusion?
But after a look of intense concentration. Kylo Ren had expanded what he called a Force bubble (as he would explain later) to allow it to encompass Kuvira as well. This had allowed Kuvira to see the image of the horrorstruck Rey materialize in front of her.
While she did not understand what in the Corellian hells was going on. She understood that it had something to do with the Force. She chalked it up to something that was not her concern and more importantly, not worth her time.
After she had demanded that Rey leave and stop interrupting their date. Kylo Ren had cast out with the Force and the 'illusion' of Rey had dissipated before Kuvira's eyes.
Kylo explained afterwards that he had expanded the force bubble that was created by the 'bond' to allow Kuvira to perceive what was happening with her own eyes. He felt it would make more sense if it did not appear that he was holding a conversation with thin air.
He probably wanted to make sure that the date did not end with her wondering if he was mentally unbalanced.
He explained that the bond that had formed between him and Rey when he had delved into her mind on Starkiller had been activated. He told her he suspected the Supreme Leader had done it in order to learn Skywalker's location. It made logical sense and his master was never one to allow am potential resource or opportunity to escape him for anything so small as personal privacy.
In truth Kylo could see the benefit and wisdom of such a course of action. He was even a little eager to begin trying to locate Rey and his former master through the bond in the future. But for the moment he cast the bond aside as he had more immediate priorities at the moment.
After that brief interruption and the explanation that inevitably followed. They had managed to fall back into their steady rhythm of conversation.
As the night wore on, they had talked about many things and had even managed to make the other laugh on two separate occasions. True they were tightly controlled laughs that lasted only a second. But given how stoic the two of them usually were, it was a great step forward.
Finally, they had stood up and the evening had finished.
Kylo Ren had donned his mask and had had departed her quarters with a simple goodnight and they had agreed to arrange another date within the next two weeks.
It was perhaps not the romantic or passionate end to the night.
Kuvira was well aware that there were many in the galaxy who would consider a date ending without at least a kiss was an evening wasted. She was also aware that there were many in the galaxy who would be eager to go much further then that on the first date.
But she was equally well aware of what those particular individuals were called.
Kuvira was stern, ruthless, cold at times. And when it came to matters of romance and the heart, she was without a doubt somewhat socially awkward.
But whatever else she was, she was not a slut!
If this relationship between her and Kylo Ren was going to develop. Then it would develop at a pace of her choosing!
Kuvira cast these thoughts aside. They had no place in her mind during these times of war. Much less while she was trying to plan a strategy around the information, she had received from multiple sources this morning.
She has received a direct communication from Director Terex of the First Order Security Bureau. He has dispatched agents across the galaxy to listen for any news of the Resistance. Most people in the galaxy were so focused on the First Order's fleets and capital ships. That they failed to appreciate the much more subtle weapons at their disposal.
The FOSB had agents everywhere. In the (now dissolved) Republic senate, in the governments of hundreds of worlds. In the mega-corporations that spanned the economic webway. In the government of the New Seperatist Union and the Confederacy of Corporate systems. They even had agents in the Hutt Cartels, the Exchange Crime Syndicate, Black Sun, the Pikes and hundreds of other criminal organizations.
This was not even including the agents, informants, and spy droids that they had scattered across the galaxy in select locations or among the main gathering points across the hyperspace lanes.
In short, the FOSB was feeding the First Order information simultaneously from all over the galaxy. From every government, every organization and every corner of the galactic community. Knowledge was power and the First Order understood that very well.
The Empire had after all been brought down by an alliance of rebels that were hiding in the shadows and working in secret locations in the galaxy. Plotting and conducting hit and run attacks before vanishing back into the void or the criminal underworld.
The First Order knew that similar tactics would be used against them by both the Resistance and new enemies that would undoubtably spring up in the course of the war. Therefore, they were determined to ensure that their espionage forces were as deeply intrenched in all areas of the galaxy. If enemies were planning to attack or undermine the First Order. The FOSB would make sure that they knew about it and were ready to deal with the threat accordingly.
Because of this, she had instructed Director Terex to use all his resources to locate the remaining Resistance survivors from the fleet battle over D'Qar. While her capture of Leia and the majority of the Resistance leadership from the Raddus was certainly a crippling blow. It had not resulted in the complete destruction of the Resistance or the capture of all its survivors.
So, she was eager to find the remnants of the Resistance fleet so that they could crush them before they had a chance to recover.
Unfortunately, the report she had received from Director Terex did not hold good news.
Terex had confirmed that he had contacted all his sources and put all their informants on alert for any news of the Resistance. However, all of his spies had reported in and stated that they had seen no sign or movement of the Resistance. Neither had they observed movements from any of their suspected allies or even seen a single known member of the Resistance on any known world.
Terex had promised to keep his sources on alert and to report in any change in the situation. But for the moment the only conclusion he could draw was that the Resistance had gone to ground.
Kuvira was disappointed by this answer. But she could not deny it was the most likely scenario.
The Resistance had been largely demolished in the last few battles against the First Order. The battles on Takodana, Starkiller and D'Qar had led to the destruction of the vast majority of the Resistance's already small military forces. The capture of the Raddus and its leadership had left the Resistance as numbering little more than a few dozen low ranked personnel and a few middle-ranked leaders.
In contrast the First Order had lost virtually nothing (with the exception of Starkiller Base). Their fleets were vast, fully manned, armed and ready for battle.
For the shattered remains of the Resistance to stand and fight against such a massively superior force would be sheer insanity. In addition, for them to move in the galaxy (even discreetly) would be far too dangerous and would risk another attack that could wipe them out.
No, the only reasonable tactic that the Resistance could invoke was to run and hide. They were holed up in some obscure bolt hole in the depths of the galactic void. In an act very similar to a small frightened animal, the Resistance was going to hide in their burrow and wait for the predator to move on. They would not dare sticking their heads above ground until they were sure that the First Order was distracted or not looking for them as diligently as they were now.
Only then would they slowly emerge from their hidey hole to begin rebuilding themselves to take the fight to the First Order again.
That was the smart thing to do in the long term. Whether or not the Resistance would follow this long-term tactical goal was debatable. Especially with hot heads like Poe Dameron within their ranks as one of their few remaining leaders.
However, this placed Kuvira in an unfortunate position.
The destruction of the Resistance and the image of hope and defiance it cultivated was a priority for this war to succeed. The Supreme Leader was right in his comment about hope living as long as Skywalkers lived. However, she also applied that thinking to the Resistance as well. As long as the Resistance (however diminished) survived. Then the change for it to rise up and pose a threat to the First Order one day remained.
It would be worse than the situation the Empire had with the Rebel Alliance. For while the Rebellion originally had to slowly come together over the course of years to build up their unified organization. The Resistance offered the possibility of an organized symbol for rebel groups to rally too right from the start.
She needed to destroy the Resistance completely and utterly before they could regain their strength in the shadows.
But how was she to accomplish this if they could not locate where the Resistance had gone?
Kuvira turned the problem over in her head several times.
She briefly considered turning the torture droids and interrogators loose on the captured Resistance personnel. After all, there was a chance that some of them (especially the leaders) had known where the Resistance survivors had intended to go after the escape from D'Qar.
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
Information obtained through torture was never reliable. Eventually the victim would say anything simply to make the pain stop. In addition, the subject would very likely provide a multitude of false answers before they gave out the real one. That was assuming of course that they ever gave out a real one or that they did not die from the torture beforehand.
The famous example of how Princess Leia had lied to Grand Moff Tarkin about the location of the Rebel Base just proved this point.
If Tarkin had been wiser. He would have verified the information before he destroyed Alderaan. Instead he had simply taken her at her word and had proceed to remove any leverage he held over the young woman. Thus, ensuring that she would never betray the location of the Rebel Base.
But even if Kuvira applied these methods. The First Order did not have time to search potentially dozens of planets for the Resistance base. Not with their advance into the galactic core at such a crucial phase. All their fleets were needed in place to complete their conquest quickly and effectively.
This was why the destruction of the Resistance had needed to be done quickly. But now that objective had been foiled.
Thankfully she had received recent reports from the FOSB that might provide her with the opportunity to draw the Resistance out of hiding. If she played the situation to her advantage. But it was still an uncertain thing, rather then a guarantee.
Kuvira's lip twitched ever so slightly before it reset itself into its usual stoic expression. This was the only physical sign of her distaste at the situation.
Accepting that the Resistance was (for the moment) out of their reach. She turned her mind to other matters. The 1st Fleet would need to be redeployed. It had originally been tasked with destroying all traces of the Resistance, but now that plan had to be discarded.
She had to decide where her fleet would be best deployed to serve the First Order.
Chandrila, Mon Cala, Coreilla, and Lothal had all fallen to the First Order, with many other worlds either surrendering or seceding to their banner.
Coruscant remained outside of their territory at the moment. The plan had been to eventually reclaim Coruscant, but now that timetable could be advanced.
Coruscant had been one of the worlds that had no love for the New Republic. While rebel propaganda often claimed that the citizens of the throne world had celebrated the death of Palpatine and the victory at Endor. The truth was that many of the citizens of Coruscant had no more love for the New Republic then they had for the Empire in its later years.
A large reason for this was simple ego.
Coruscant had been the capital of the Republic and all its previous incarnations for thousands of years. It had enjoyed immense prestige and benefits for holding this special status. It had continued to enjoy them under the Empire as the Imperial capital.
Its citizens had naturally expected to enjoy the same status under the New Republic.
But once again the New Republic had failed to live up to the expectations of its citizens.
The New Republic had determined that the capital would move between member worlds to allow for greater unity, equality and understanding between its citizens. The capital had been on Chandrila first before moving to others until it finally ended on Hosnian Prime.
As a result, Coruscant and its people were enduring something they had never faced before; Obscurity.
After millennia of being the center of the galaxy, they had felt deeply insulted that the New Republic had failed to recognize their obvious preeminence. This, combined with other failures had led to the Coruscanti quickly growing hostile to the New Republic and its alignment with the centralist party.
In addition, the planet actually fell under the control of criminal syndicates after the Empire's fall. The chaos had allowed the criminal gangs of the underworld to claim large swathes of the planet no longer patrolled by Imperial stormtroopers. These days even the respectable areas of Coruscant were roamed by gangs. Tourism to the once-galactic capital had all but vanished, and, for an individual to be safe, they needed to afford protection like droids and armed guards. Accordingly, the city world was not a symbol of galactic possibilities. Instead, it represented the disturbing realities of the galaxy's current time period.
Coruscant's fall from grace had left the planet and its trillions of citizens impoverished, embittered and looking for someone to blame for all that had befallen them.
The target they chose was often the New Republic. The Empire may have been tyrannical and strict. But under Imperial rule their planet had been prosperous, respected and stable. Whereas the New Republic had brought them nothing but ruin.
This resentment had allowed the First Order to gain a foothold in the planetary senate and the populace was ready and waiting to embrace the new regime
While the Supreme Leader would continue to use the Supremacy as the true capital of the First Order. The planet of Coruscant would be allowed to maintain some delusions that they were to be the first among equals in the First Order dominion.
Either way, it looked like it was time for the 1st Fleet to make history by bringing Coruscant back into the Imperial fold.
Kuvira turned her head to Captain Peavey, who was standing on the bridge awaiting her instructions. "Captain, order the fleet to begin the preparations for the jump to hyperspace. Set course for Coruscant. We will begin preparations to conduct the annexation process for the planet.
Captain Peavey nodded his understanding. "Understood, Grand Admiral. How many ships should we leave to defend Kuat?" He asked respectfully.
Kuvira did not hesitate in her response. "None, the entire fleet will be making this journey." She replied.
Captain Peavey stared at her in undisguised bewilderment. "We are leaving Kuat undefended?" He asked as if he was not certain he had heard correctly. "Should we not leave an orbiting force incase the New Republic attacks?" He recommend.
In many ways Peavey's comment made sense. A world as valuable as Kuat was vital to the First Order as an industrial and manufacturing resource. To lose it so soon after claiming it would be a large lose to the First Order.
But Kuvira seemed unconcerned with this. "He who tries to defend everything, ultimately defends nothing, captain." Kuvira recited with the tone of a proverb.
Peavey's expression remained confused however. So, after a few moments Kuvira elaborated. "If we leave ships to guard every world we claim in this war, our fleet will become smaller and smaller. Very quickly we will have gutted our fleet so completely that it will be a viable target for whatever existing remains of the New Republic military to assault." She explained.
"With our forces concentrated and strong the New Republic will unlikely to stand up to us in a direct fight. When the holdouts of the galaxy see that the New Republic is both unable and unwilling to fight us, they will quickly loose faith in it. This makes them more likely to embrace us, in the end no one wants to back the losing side." She stated with supreme confidence in her viewpoint.
"I am fully aware of Kuat's value, Captain. But the planetary defense forces and orbital defenses are operational and formidable. I doubt the New Republic will waste their limited resources attacking the planet. Even if they do attack the planet, even if they manage to claim the planet. They cannot hold it. Soon one of our fleets would return and they would be forced to fight to keep a hostile planet, and be destroyed. Or they will be forced to retreat and will have suffered heavy losses for no reason or reward." She concluded.
"Whoever is in charge of the enemy's forces. I doubt they will be that careless. Kuat can remain safe and productive without our immediate presence captain." She finished.
Captain Peavey nodded his understanding as he silently admonished himself for failing to see the obvious military situation that an attack on Kuat by the New Republic would be in reality. Grand Admiral Kuvira did not condemn her subordinates for not understanding her strategies. While she was not willing to pander to idiots. She did not expect them to be in complete step with her own mind and tactics.
Still, it rankled Peavey when he was proven unable to match or keep pace with the Grand Admiral when forming strategies. He knew that the Grand Admiral was a brilliant military leader and tactician. He was a fair one. He knew these facts and accepted them as the reality.
Still, he did not enjoy being reminded of that fact.
Before he left, he felt he should remark on a final point. Especially if it might be relevant to this plan to leave Kuat and other vital worlds undefended.
"Grand Admiral, we have received reports from the FOSB that a New Republic Fleet is gathering in the Duro system. Reports indicate that they number roughly thirty vessels. Mostly frigate and cruiser class. But the latest reports indicate that the fleet has been reinforced by three Starhawk Battleship dreadnaughts. Two Mark I's and one Mark II." Peavey waited for a reaction from Kuvira. When none appeared to be forth coming, he continued. "We have received confirmation from our sources and informants that the fleet is commanded by Fleet Admiral Garm Bel Iblis. In addition, General Hera Syndulla has been named second in command of the join fleet."
For a moment Kuvira said nothing as she continued to watch the fleet get into position for hyperspace. Then after a few moments she responded.
"Thank you for the information captain." She said calmly. "Though the Director already contacted me with the movements and locations of the enemy fleet. I was not aware that they had received reinforcements in the form of Starhawks. That will make matters more interesting." She said with tranquil surety.
Peavey knew based on her reaction that Kuvira was clearly several steps ahead of him when it came to this enemy presence. But he felt he should ask the next question, even at the risk of exposing his own ignorance.
"If we know where the enemy fleet is gathering. Should we not postpone the attack on Coruscant and move to intercept and destroy them?" He asked in genuine curiosity. To his mind leaving an enemy force to potentially grow stronger while attacking mostly useless targets was folly. He was confident that the Grand Admiral knew this as well. But it seemed Kuvira was unconcerned with the gathering of the enemy fleet.
He wanted to know why.
Kuvira still did not turn away from the viewport as she watch the fleet assemble. But she answered Peavey's question nevertheless.
"Those skilled in warfare, move their enemy. And are not moved by their enemy". Kuvira recited with her words once agains taking on the tone of a proverb. "Tell me Captain, what was the greatest strength of the Rebellion during the civil war?" She asked.
Peavey considered. He was familiar with what Kuvira was doing. She was not a person who simply told her subordinates the answer when they were unable to grasp something. Instead she was a firm believer in guiding them to figure out the answer for themselves. She believed that it made them better commanders and allowed them to learn to see opportunities and resolutions that might not be obvious otherwise.
She was trying to guide him to understanding her choice of tactics himself. He considered her question for a moment before reaching a conclusion.
"They hid in the shadows in small groups while performing hit and run tactics. This made it impossible for the Empire to destroy them openly and it allowed them to inflict heavy damage on the Empire by attacking and then disappearing." He replied confidently.
Kuvira nodded in approval. "Correct. They thereby forced the Empire to react to them and to fight on ground of their choosing. Guerilla warfare, while often slow is undeniably effective. Especially when facing a foe with overwhelmingly superior resources and firepower. If the New Republic was smarter, they would have already organized this fleet into smaller groups and dispersed across the galaxy."
"If they had done so, we would have been fighting smaller battles and proxy wars for years while being forced to crack down on the planets that held sympathies or allies to their cause. This would in turn cause us to undermine our campaign to gain the hearts and minds of the people. In the end we would be faced with the same problem that the Empire faced."
She paused as she allowed the reality of the situation to sink in before continuing. "But the New Republic has made a mistake." She trailed off and it soon became clear that she was expecting Peavey to come to the conclusion himself.
He thought for a moment and although it took longer this time. He eventually provided the answer. "They have kept their fleet out in the open in a direct challenge." He stated.
Kuvira nodded. "Indeed. Fleet Admiral Garm Bel Iblis is an efficient military leader. But he is still a Corellian at heart. That stubborn streak of open defiance has always been present in him. It is one of the many qualities that makes him a believer in the 'decisive battle strategy'."
Peavey did not need Kuvira to elaborate on this. "The believe in assembling all one's forces and throwing them at the enemy's full force in a single deciding confrontation until one side breaks. Thereby allowing the victorious side to claim victory." Peavey said with heavy skepticism. "Such thinking is reserved for the most basic military strategy or for primitive warlords. Garm Bel Iblis cannot be such a fool to think that he can take our forces on directly."
Kuvira nodded. "Of course not. Garm Bel Iblis may be many things but a fool is not one of them. He knows he cannot defeat us in a single decisive engagement. But I have studied his personality profile in detail along with his military history. Garm was always the most reckless and most openly challenging of the Rebel leaders during the civil war. Before the Alliance formed, his rebel group was constantly involved in direct attacks on Imperial targets. Even when the Alliance was established, he was always held in check. But his eagerness for open battle was clear. He even made his pilots sleep in their cockpits when a real battle was potentially looming."
Kuvira continued as Peavey listened with rapt attention. "But now he does not have Mon Mothma, Bail Organa or Leia Organa to keep his aggressions and ego in check. And the result is clear to see."
"Garm does not believe he can defeat us all in one battle. But he still refuses to disband his fleet into hit and run units. Instead he amasses it openly as a direct challenge and a direct statement. To the loyal people of the New Republic he proclaims openly that the war is not lost and that they are still willing to fight for the Republic, democracy, freedom etc."
"To us, he sends a different message. He says 'Here I am, I defy you, I resist you. Come and face me if you dare'."
Peavey considered for a moment before asking another question. "So, why do we not send the fleet at him. If we crush Garm and his fleet it will break the morale of his men and be a resounding victory for the First Order in this war.
Kuvira shook her head. "I admit there would be some benefits to crushing Garm Bel Iblis and the Republic fleet now. But the benefits of waiting far outnumber them. The main ones are as follows."
"Firstly, if we crush his fleet now, his surviving fighters will learn their lesson and disperse into the galaxy. They will be joined up with sympathizers and allies who have not had time to rally to Garm's side yet. If Garm survives and escapes he will also learn the lessons and become an inspiration. If he dies, he becomes a martyr killed before he had a chance to fight us openly."
"However, if we allow him to rally more of his supporters to his side, we can draw them out of hiding and identify them. If we are fortunate, the Resistance remnants will make contact with him and join his forces. We can make it so they can no longer hide in the shadows of the galaxy. He will draw all our enemies out into the open and will allow us to annihilate them quickly and cleanly instead of chasing them for years."
"Secondly, we will allow the peoples of the galaxy who support the New Republic to feel hope in their hearts that the fleet of Garm Bel Iblis might be able to lead the fight and somehow achieve victory over us. They will begin to believe that maybe, they can win this war. This will make it even more demoralizing when we destroy Garm Bel Iblis and his fleet. We must allow our enemies to feel hope before we rip it away from them. For true despair is only felt when desperately needed hope is proven to be false. This will make the defeated far easier to pacify in the future.
"Finally, the other main benefit to waiting is to allow Garm Bel Iblis to make our case for us. As his fleet grows stronger, he will need fuel and supplies to keep it operational. While he is a competent military leader, he is a fighter by nature and I doubt he has ever given much though toward logistics and supply issues. So, he may not yet appreciate the fact that like any animal. The larger something grows the more it needs to survive. He will need to resupply his forces, but we have claimed almost all the planets and installations big enough to outfit and feed a fleet of his size. We will claim the rest of them in the near future."
"Even if, he manages to locate and restock at an unknown location, he will face issues in paying for it. Without the funds of the New Republic or wealthy benefactors like Bail Organa. Garm will be unable to pay for the supplies he will need. While he might be able to survive for a while on charitable donations from loyal planets, wealthy supporters or rationing resources. Eventually those sources will dry up. Then he will be forced to take what he needs by force or see his hard-built fleet start to diminish."
"The moment he starts seizing valuable assets at blaster point and with threat of force. The New Republic fleet becomes a pirate fleet. Even the most loyal New Republic system will not stand for a large military force taking everything from them while giving nothing back. Loyalty does not extent that far. He cannot occupy a loyal world, expand his territory to form a power and resources base because he knows that we would reclaim those worlds at greater loss to him. As his frustrations grow, he will begin to lash out at available targets and will begin to utilize tactics that the alliance restrained him from using. Once that begins it will only be a matter of time before someone contacts us to rid the galaxy of this menacing warmongering fleet once and for all. Which we will be enthusiastic to do."
Kuvira finished her analysis as she finally turned to look at Peavey over her shoulder. "In the end, we will wait for the right moment to strike at our enemies. They might win some battles in the meantime. But we will win the war. The forces and hidden allies will be demolished. The hope that they inspire in the galaxy against us will be crushed. And they will be forced to show the galaxy that when their back is to the wall. The New Republic and their glorious rebel heroes will do anything to survive, no matter how distasteful. It will result in the image of the Republic begin stained and the First Order will be all the better for it." She concluded with supreme confidence.
Peavey was momentarily stunned as he tried to comprehend the vastness of the Grand Admiral's military and social plotting. Her vision and clarity for the future was truly something to be admired and deeply respected. While he could not say for certain that all she had predicted would come to pass. He had to admit that when it was all explained openly. It did seem to be the far more likely scenario to play out.
He saluted. "Understood, Grand Admiral. I will ensure the fleet is ready to move on Coruscant within the hour." With that he turned on his heel and strode down the walkway of the Reclaimer's bridge.
Kuvira remained were she was as she continued to stare at her fleet, and the cosmos it would soon rule.
Ahch-to – Jedi Enclave Island
Rey – POV
Rey stood and watches as the Millennium Falcon rose into the air. She watched with feelings sadness and uselessness as the engines roared and the iconic ship shot off into the sky. Before long it had ascended past the stars and disappeared from view as it broke through Ahch-to's atmosphere.
Rey stood in silence as she watched the spot in the sky where she had lost sight of the ship entirely. She was not sure how long she stood there. But as she considered her recent choices. She doubted it made much of a difference.
Han and Chewie had prepared the Millennium Falcon for launch.
This was after all three of them had tried one final time to get through to Luke. They had tried with all their might to get him to agree to come back with them. They had explained, and pleaded. They had goaded and threatened. They had appealed and had derided him. They had used every argument and every reason they could think of to get him to leave his self-imposed exile and return to the Resistance with him.
They had tried to make him see that the Resistance, the New Republic, the galaxy needed him. It needed the Jedi Order. It needed Luke Skywalker back.
It needed the hero of legend who had stood against Darth Vader and the Emperor, had managed to defeat them and bring down the mighty Galactic Empire.
But Rey was beginning to think that the hero of the stories was dead. If indeed he had ever existed in the first place. As Master Skywalker seemed to claim otherwise.
Master Skywalker had refused to leave his island. He had refused to help his old friends, and had closed his ears to those in the galaxy who needed him.
After they had failed to persuade him. Han had made good on his promise/threat and had prepared to leave on the Millennium Falcon. He had spat at Luke and told him to stay on this island and rot if that was what he wanted. He personally would rather go to certain defeat and death, then stand here pleading a moment longer.
He and Chewie had been ready to depart within the hour.
Before he had left, he had asked Rey what she planned to do. He told her that whatever she had expected to find her was clearly not going to happen. He asked her to come with them on the Falcon. They could return to the Resistance and she could see Leia, Finn, BB-8 and all the others again. They could actually get out there and help the galaxy.
They would fight the First Order, with or without Luke Skywalker.
Rey had been tempted. Faced between seeing her friends again and actually helping the Resistance. Or of remaining on this island with no other company except strange natives and a grumpy old hermit. It had not been the hardest choice of her life.
But for a reason that Rey could not hope to explain. She had decided to remain on Ahch-to.
Something, some feeling within her was telling her that this was where she needed to be. This was where she would find her destiny. This was where the Force (even though she was still not sure what that even was) wanted her to be.
She could not even explain it to herself so she had no chance of explaining it to Han.
But he seemed to understand. Or at least he had decided not to fight her on this.
She suspected he had plenty of experience with Jedi mysticism and needing to travel to strange godforsaken locations for no apparent good reason.
He had simply nodded his head and pulled out a communicator. He had given it to her and told her that this com was linked to the Resistance main frequency. If she ever wanted to leave the planet or wanted to contact them. Then all she had to do was activate this commlink.
In exchange, she had given them the signal tracker bracelet that Leia had given her. So that they would be able to find the fleet and get back to the rest of their friends.
After that, she had embraced both Han and Chewie before she had stepped back and watched as they entered the Falcon and depart the planet.
Rey sighed as she looked out over the vast expanse of ocean. Storm clouds were gathering on the horizon. It was clearly going to be an unpleasant night on the island.
She sighed once more, picked up her staff and began to make her way back up the hill to the main settlement. If she was going to stay here. She might as well pick out a hut for herself to live in. She would also need to think about making herself some warmer clothes.
She had a horrible feeling, that she was going to be here for a long time.