I
"How do I define Imperial internal politics?
If you ever watched a pack of saburian kyamoras after they caught their prey, you would notice a certain pattern. The pack usually consists of a leader and the rest of the pack, yet unlike other animals with a similar social structure such as nekks or simple wolves, subordinate kyamoras lack servility and respect towards their leader as well as towards members of their own pack. This obviously leads to infighting. The leader's job is to keep these fights to a minimum, to ration the kill and to keep the pack together. This is why every successful pack has a leader. However, sometimes a group of it's subjects tries to team up and tear it apart. They rarely succeed, but if they do, they condemn themselves and every other member of the pack to extinction, as leaderless kyamoras rarely survive alone. The same is true for some of our moffs, but I think that not many of them recognise that they are not the leaders."
A View from the Commander's Chair, memoirs of Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon (dating 40 years after the Battle of Yavin)
Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Empire Maker
Moff Drikl Lecersen strode down the Empire Maker's pristine corridors. Stormtroopers, pilots, and officers stopped and sharply saluted as he passed by, but he paid them no mind. He had spent too much time and energy to prepare for this. He could not be distracted by niceties right now. Finally, Lecersen arrived in his spacious private quarters and proceeded to the personal holoprojection booth in the rear of the chamber. Donning his most ingratiating smile, he entered the booth and began recording.
"Greetings, my friends. I have an important proposal for your consideration. I realize that some of us have had our disagreements in the past, but I'm sure we can put that behind us for the time being in order to achieve our common goals. We have mutual enemies in both the Galactic Alliance and Vitor Reige's faux-Empire. With your support, I am certain that our combined forces will be more than adequate to overthrow Riege and restore the Empire. Once we have successfully united the Empire, we will have the necessary strength to topple the Galactic Alliance and bring the galaxy under Imperial rule once more. I invite those of you who wish to join me in this endeavour to meet with me on Ansion in four days to discuss the terms of our Alliance. Lecersen out." He switched off the holoprojector and sent the message.
He then pressed another button on the console and a channel was opened to the Star Destroyer's captain. "Captain Blaird, have all ships prepare for the jump to hyperspace. We'll meet them at the rendezvous point at the edge of the Ansion system."
"Right away, sir", came the gruff reply that sounded more suited to a swoop biker than the captain of an Imperial Star Destroyer.
Moments later, the Empire Maker suddenly jerked forward and then was off into the swirling blue maelstrom of hyperspace.
Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Chimaera
A ping sounded on the comm display in the center of the admiral's suite. Natasi Daala crossed the room from the refresher and played the message. She enjoyed even those few seconds under a stream of warm water. But as usual her duties called. And she rarely put pleasure ahead of duty.
The gray-haired visage of Drikl Lecersen appeared suddenly before her. She felt her muscles tense.
Lecersen. He was one of the last people she would have expected to contact her. That piece of filth had tried to have her killed a year previously. He initiated a Jedi coup that had ended her tenure as the Galactic Alliance's Chief of State. She had managed to blackmail him into supporting her in her failed attempt to seize control of the Empire, but if he succeeded in convincing others to ally themselves with him, she would no longer have any power over him. On the other hand, if he was able to bolster his forces through an alliance and she did not side with him, she would be no match for the combined strength of his alliance. As much as she hated to admit it, her only option was to throw in her lot with Lecersen.
After the message was finished, one thought continued to nag at her. She was only one of many high-ranking Imperials who opposed Riege. Lecersen could assuredly gather enough support to take on Riege without her help. With so many other potential allies he could turn to for support in his coup, why had he sought assistance from her? What was his endgame?
She commed the Chimaera's bridge. "Inform all ships to set course for Ansion immediately. We'll be meeting with our old friend Lecersen, so be prepared for an ambush. I don't want to repeat the Exodo II incident", she announced. Daala's forces had been victim of a surprise attack over Exodo II the year before, when former Imperial Head of State Jagged Fel had learned of her plans to usurp control of the Empire. He launched a preemptive strike against her that resulted in heavy losses for her fleet. She kept her anger well hidden, but that defeat shook her to the core. Some things were impossible to forget.
Almania
Gant shut off the comm message he received from the man who called himself Lecersen. He was sitting in his office sniffing his spiced drink. Kueller's portrait was hanging on the wall behind him.
Despite some liberal and commercial influences on his world, his people continued to be attracted by the elegance of the more structured style of government. Would not aiding in the creation of a unified and powerful empire be the best legacy for his legendary former master?