In orbit around the manufacture world of Ivotsk three freighters slowly circled the polluted greyish planet. A stream of shuttles entered and exited each ship. The three captains in charge had been given strict instructions to not ask any questions about the cargo being brought on board. They were not even permitted to use their own crews to offload the containers and place them in their holds. The droids being provided by the Tyrot Guild were to take care of everything.
The captains involved were not stupid men; they could guess what they were being used for. These men were NOT smugglers. Back before the war their ships had only conducted regular trade. They had mostly done the same during the war too. However, the shipping company they had worked for had been based on one of the worlds of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Near the end most of the merchant fleet had been commandeered and pressed into service as troop and supply transports.
When the war had finally ended everyone had just wanted things to go back to the way they were.
The Trade Federation though had been dissolved. All its assets seized and sold off to pay reparations. Suddenly instead of a single powerful employer driving trade and business thousands of local merchants and trade unions and corporations were trying to take its place. None of them had the financial assets of the old Trade Federation and they were all fighting to carve out their own economic niches and establish monopolies.
The new trade regulations from the Galactic Senate were extremely restrictive. Limits were set on the export of certain materials and trade goods. High tariffs were imposed on all worlds except for Coruscant and a handful of others favored by the Emperor. The worlds with the exemption were becoming centers of trade and flourishing.
In the Outer Rim things were very different. The tariff, the new regulations, and the breakup of the Trade Federation all meant a huge disruption in the interstellar trade markets. There was just not as much demand for long range cargo ships as there used to be.
At the same time all those same factors were feeding a booming black market. People were ready to pay for banned and restricted goods. Smugglers could also make a lot of profit bringing things in without paying the tariff.
Starships needed fuel and repairs. Crews needed food and pay. A captain who couldn't provide those would wind up without a ship. Sometimes you just did what you needed to.
That was what Captain Trudeau of the Blue Path told himself. Ten days work with no questions asked would get him a hundred thousand credits. That would pay all of his expenses for about eight months and he'd already gotten half the money. A man did what he had to.
Trudeau was sitting on the bridge with some of the ship's officers more or less relaxing. It would be three more days loading and then they set off to coordinates that would be provided to him by his unknown employers. Five days unloading and he would be paid the rest of his money.
Hopefully after this business would pick up and he wouldn't have to do this sort of work anymore.
A shrill alarm sounded and Trudeau jumped up from his captain's chair. "What's going on Henri?"
His first officer was looking at his screen. "Multiple contacts coming in from hyperspace."
"Power up the engines. Plot out a flight plan. I don't care where so long as it's at least ten thousand light years from here."
"But what about the cargo?" One of his officers argued.
"Contacts exiting hyperspace." Henri announced.
On the main screen captain Trudeau and the rest of the bridge crew saw three Star Destroyers suddenly materialize. Two more appeared, then three more, and then four more; all at different distances and angles from the planet.
"Oh, may the Force grant mercy." Trudeau whispered.
Over the com line he and the others heard a strident voice.
"To all ships in orbit; deactivate engines and prepare to be boarded."
Every man on board knew what they did to smugglers.
"Get out us out of orbit now! Prepare to go to light speed!"
"But the computers haven't plotted a course yet!"
"I'll take my chances there, better than taking our chances with them."
The men nodded. The Blue Path shuddered and rocked as it broke from the planet's gravity well and made for the gap between the two nearest warships.
XXX
"Lord Vader," a lieutenant aboard the Invincible announced. "One freighter is attempting to break orbit."
"Destroy it."
Upon the screen Vader watched as the Star Destroyer Vespasian broke towards he fleeing ship. It fired a salvo of its lazers. Its beams easily pierced the navigational shields and plating of the slow moving ship. It shuddered, and then began to explode.
Vader watched with complete disinterest.
"The remaining freighters are powering down engines and declaring they will not resist boarding."
"Send one platoon of stormtroopers to each ship and secure the vessels as well as the crews. They can make up for their crimes in the throlium mines." Vader ordered.
Throlium was a highly valuable fuel source. It was highly toxic in its natural state. There was a constant shortage of mine slaves since exposure to it normally resulted in death within eighteen months.
"Bring the fleet into orbit and begin the bombardment." Vader commanded.
"Yes my Lord."
As soon as the ships were in position they began to fire.
"My Lord, the major cities have raised shields. They appear strong enough to fend off any energy weapon."
"That was to be expected." Vader said. "Begin deploying the ground troops. In the meantime target all installations outside of the shields."
"Yes my Lord."
Lieutenant Jaeger called. "My Lord we are being hailed from the planet."
"Put it on the main viewer." Vader ordered. He knew this would be a pointless conversation, but he expected the ground assault would take some time so there was no reason not to have it.
The image of a typical Neimoidian appeared with the typical red eyes and slimy green skin. This one wore a stiff pale green collar around his neck. Vader was immediately reminded of Viceroy Nute Gunray who along with Count Dooku had been the main leaders of the Separatists.
Vader had killed them both.
Dooku had met his death with dignity and courage as befit a true warrior. Gunray had cried and begged for mercy like the pathetic coward he'd always been. Darth Vader could not help but feel an instant dislike for this individual. All the Neimoidians he'd ever encounters had been greedy and ruthless when they held the advantage; and cowardly and spineless when they were in a position of weakness.
"What is the meaning of this attack?" The Neimoidian demanded.
Obviously he does not understand his situation. "My apologies Viceroy Rastpostin."
His adversary froze and seemed to shrink back.
Ah, Vader thought with some satisfaction. I think he is beginning to understand.
"I am sorry Lord Vader; you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Samalander and I am merely the Guildmaster of the Tyrot Guild."
"You are Tode Rastpostin; last Viceroy of the Trade Federation and a wanted war criminal. Along with your other crimes you and your other associates are trying to incite civil war."
"No!" Samalander raised his hands pleading. "I am nothing but a harmless businessman! I would never want to make war against the empire! I am but a faithful and humble subject of the empire!"
"The construction of military droids has becomes strictly regulated. They may only be built to fulfill Imperial contracts. The construction or ownership of such is forbidden and punishable by death. You have been building military droids here in the hope of sparking a new war."
"No! No! No! I am innocent I swear it! I am just a businessman! I am…"
"You are a traitor and a war criminal." Vader declared cutting him off. "Lower your shields and surrender unconditionally and I will guarantee you a quick death." He knew better that to bother mentioning the rest of the planet's population. He was certain that Samalander would only care about his own fate.
"No! I beg you to spare me Lord Vader! I can be an excellent ally! Let me serve the emperor and prove my worth to you!"
Disgusting, Vader thought. "The Emperor needs no allies. You will serve him best as an example of what happens to all those who plot rebellion against him." With a nod to the communications officer the image was gone.
"Begin landing our ground forces. Once each shield generator is eliminated we will obliterate the target from orbit. We will leave no survivors and not a single building standing on this entire wretched planet."
The bridge crew accepted his orders without a single murmur and set about to carry them out with professionalism and pride.
There were likely to be tens of thousands of droids down on the planet's surface as well as about ten million inhabitants. Planet Ivotsk would put up quite a struggle and would not fall easily.
It didn't matter.
He had all the resources of the empire at his disposal while Samalander and his ilk were all alone. Vader could call in as many ships and troops as he needed to exterminate them.
One more nest of traitors destroyed, how many hundreds more are there? The entire galaxy was seething with rebellion and fury. There were traitors everywhere trying to sow discord and chaos. Their enemies ranged from idiotic Jedi trying to restore a republic that was already dead and gone to criminals and corrupt politicians who thought they could carve up their own little empires during these difficult times.
Hundreds of tiny little fires that needed to be put out before they could spread. Countless selfish people interested only in their own wants were threatening to tear everything apart and drown it in chaos.
The galaxy was crying out for order and only the empire could provide it.
The Jedi Order had always put their faith in the rationality of most beings. They had believed that if they were just and merciful most would see the wisdom in doing what was in the greater good. In essence the Jedi believed that people (most of them) would choose the right path if given a clear choice.
Looking back on it now he couldn't believe that just a ridiculously naïve system could have lasted for thousands of years. The surprise wasn't that the republic had grown corrupt and fractured because those in power had only acted in their own self interests. The surprise was how long the process had taken.
Having lived as a slave Darth Vader had always understood that people did what they wanted. They only acted decent when others were watching them or when they felt they had to. When a person had a real choice they did what was best for them without thought to the greater good.
The fact was that peace and order could only be maintained though force. The people needed to fear their new masters. The current problems were proof that the population had not been terrorized enough. Only once that was accomplished could there be real peace in the galaxy.
The emperor had faith in the Deathstar Project. He believed once the galaxy witnessed its raw power no one would dare to rebel for fear of planetary annihilation.
Vader had his doubts. (About the method not the goal.) The power to destroy a planet was still nothing compared to the Force. He was certain that in time he could be more feared even than this weapon. After all, he'd been the child of prophesy. He had brought balance to the force, though in a way none of the Jedi could have ever imagined.
That had to mean he was the one who could bring this troubled galaxy peace and order.
Vader was sure that together with his son he could do it.