10. Preparations for War and Imperial Unification
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." Winston Churchill
New Republic, Preparations for War
A month after the destruction of the Yevetha and the securing of the Koornacht Cluster as an Imperial Protectorate, the New Republic military is on high alert, though Teshik has yet to make his move against the New Republic. The New Republic knows that this will soon come, though they do not know that date of the attack, the New Republics military has been building up its forces, with two new fleets being formed around the two Executor class star dreadnoughts, Guardian (6th fleet) and the Lusankya (7th fleet).
The 6th and 7th fleets are being formed from former Imperial warships that had been captured when the New Republic was the Rebellion, in addition there are various warships that had been donated by friendly governments during that time period. However, as the Rebellion became the New Republic these older warships where mothballed and replaced with newer ones, now however even these old warships will be needed against the reunited Empire.
The New Republics 6th and 7th fleets, are in reality no bigger than Imperial sector groups, making them "light" fleets, though not with the number of star destroyers that would normally be found in an Imperial sector group. The 7th fleet does have an Executor class star dreadnought giving this fleet considerable firepower.
General Wedge Antilles commands the Lusankya and the 7th fleet, along with being the home of two of the New Republics elite fighter squadrons, Rogue Squadron and Wraith Squadron. In addition, the Lusankya would become the unofficial "home" or mobile headquarter of the Jedi, mostly due to General Antilles association with Luke Skywalker.
Onboard the Lusankya, General Antilles, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade are discussing the re-emergence of Grand Admiral Teshik.
Luke is stating, "We only know for certain that most of the Grand Admirals are dead, even Thrawn death is unconfirmed, along with others one or two mother Grand Admiral that the New Republic is not certain that they are dead."
Mara replies, "We know that eleven of the thirteen Grand Admirals are dead. We know that Teshik is alive, we are uncertain about Thrawn. All this information comes from New Republic intelligence, however I am uncertain that Thrawn is still alive, if he were we would have seen him by now. That only leaves Teshik."
Wedge asks, "What do we know about Teshik?"
Mara replies, "When I was the Emperors Hand, I know that the Emperor held Teshik is high regard, I also know that Teshik was the first Imperial Military Officer of the senior Imperial Fleet Admirals to be promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral."
Wedge says, "That would make Teshik nominally the most senior Grand Admiral?"
Mara replies, "Yes it did, even amongst the Grand Admirals there was a hierarchy, with Teshik at the top."
Wedge asks, "I know that Teshik commanded the Azure Hammer Command, even before he was promoted to the rank of Grand Admiral, after that it seems as though his command did not change that much."
Mara laughs slightly at Wedge's comment Luke asks, "What is so funny?"
Mara still smiling replies, "Well after his promotion to Grand Admiral Teshik was given command of all military units within the Imperial Centre Oversector, which included the capital world of Imperial Centre and all of the Oversector's Fleets."
Wedge whistles than says, "That is quite a command, even for a Grand Admiral?"
Mara who is now grinning replies, "Yes it was, there is more. Teshik only answered to the Emperor, not even Vader could order Teshik, though Teshik never crossed Vader so this was never put to the test whether Vader would obey Teshik if Teshik gave Vader an order or even if Teshik would obey and order given by Vader."
A shocked Luke asks, "You mean in theory Vader was subordinate to Teshik?"
Mara replies, "Technically speaking, yes."
Luke says, "I have never heard about that."
Mara replies, "Very few people knew about this, the Emperor made sure of that. After Yavin IV Teshik assembled Vader's fleet, including the Imperial Death Squadron, though for propaganda purposes it was made to seem as though it was Vader's choice."
Luke says, "I never realised that either."
Mara smirks are Luke's comment and continues, "Just over a year after the Battle of Yavin, this changed when Imperial Advisor Coh Veshiv was abducted from a space station above Esseles, just after the destruction of the first Death Star. By the privateer frigate Far Orbit Palpatine tasked Teshik with the retrieval of Veshiv, as the advisor had been abducted from within Teshik's own domain. The Emperor personally threatened Teshik with execution if he did not immediately deal with the ship and its captain, Dhas Fenoep Vedij."
"However, Teshik failed to rescue Veshiv and kill Vedij, so Palpatine ordered the Grand Admiral to attack the isolationist Hapes Consortium with insufficient forces and materiel as an example to the other Grand Admirals that even they were not beyond reproach. Teshik met in battle with the famed Hapan war fleet, composed of Hapan Battle Dragons and Nova class battle cruisers, during the battle Teshik was nearly killed."
"Teshik survived only by using all the skill that he possessed. Teshik also managed to preserve a number of warships, including his flagship for the mission to Hapan, the Imperial I class star destroyer Eleemosynary. Teshik survived his injuries, upon returning to the Empire, his life was saved only by replacing almost seventy-five percent of his body with cybernetic parts. Teshik retained his position and rank as Grand Admiral, however he was the target of much abuse and discrimination because of his cybernetics."
Wedge interrupts and asks, "The Emperor did not execute Teshik?"
Mara replies, "No, all that the Emperor did was take both the Imperial Centre Oversector and the Azure Hammer Command from Teshik as his punishment he retained command of the remains of the forces he commanded against the Hapan's, as his "new" command squadron."
Luke asks, "That is quite a mild punishment for the Emperor to impose, is it not?"
Mara replies, "Yes it is, this shows how strongly the Emperor still viewed Teshik, even after his failure to rescue Veshiv and kill Vedij, though not many at the Imperial Court saw it that way."
Both Wedge and Luke exchange nervous glances.
Night Hammer
At the same time Mara is talking about Teshik, Teshik is busy assuming command of several of the remaining Imperial Warlords including Admiral Daala forces.
Grand Admiral Teshik after accepting Admiral Daala forces back into the Empire during a ceremony onboard the Night Hammer, says, "Admiral Daala you will continue to command the forces within the Deep Core."
Admiral Daala replies, "Thank you sir" trying not to show now relived she is at being allowed to maintain her command or even her life, after what she had done to "reunite" the various Imperial factions within the Deep Core.
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "However, I will need some of your forces to act as a guarding forces for the Koornacht Cluster as this is now an Imperial protectorate."
A pleased Admiral Daala replies, "Yes sir, how much of my command will be needed?"
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "I will transfer half of your Imperial class star destroyers and just over two thousand other warships and support vessels. Here is this list I have prepared." Teshik hands Daala that data pad containing what is needed.
After quickly glancing through the data pad Admiral Daala replies, "I can get these forces moving within a few days of returning to my command sir." However, Admiral Daala cannot really say anything else.
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "That is good, dismissed Admiral Daala." Admiral Daala salutes and leaves for her command.
Later…
After Admiral Daala has left, Captain Frisk enters and says, "We have one Imperial faction that has not indicated that they will join with us."
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "The Protectorate?"
Captain Frisk replies, "Yes sir, what shall we do about this?"
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "Nothing for the moment, I do not want to go up against a Sith, this would be very costly in terms of ships and manpower."
Captain Frisk in an uncertain tone replies, "Yes sir"
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "Do not worry Captain, unless we attack The Protectorate, they will not bother us. From my readings of the Protectorate, Lord Brandl just wants to be left alone. However, we should try to get an embassy located on Trulalis."
Captain Frisk makes a note and says, "I will inform the Imperial Diplomatic Corps of this."
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "Good, what is next?"
Captain Frisk says, "The ongoing military preparations and build-up to deal with the Rebels."
Grand Admiral Teshik says, "You may begin."
Captain Frisk begins to inform Grand Admiral Teshik is the state of the Imperial military's preparations and levels of readiness, along with the repairs to those warships that were damaged during the recent conflict with the Yevetha, along with their estimated repair times.
The Empire was alive again and then some!
Trulalis
On Trulalis, Fleet Admiral Feyet Kiez had just finished with the Imperial ambassador, next he would see the New Republic ambassador, Lord Brandl has left such matters to Kiez. Though Admiral Kiez was better at military matters than this diplomacy, he was quickly learning that the two were quite similar in many ways.
As the New Republic ambassador, Admiral Kiez greets the ambassador and they sit down, the ambassador starts by saying, "Admiral Kiez I have been asked by my government to ask you what your government's position is regarding the return of Grand Admiral Teshik and if your government is going to join with Grand Admiral Teshik?"
Admiral Kiez had been expecting this question and had put this question to Lord Brandl who had given him the answer, Admiral Kiez replies, "Ambassador, the Protectorate will remain neutral in this conflict, unless the Protectorate is attacked by either side, then the Protectorate will have to reconsider its position."
The New Republic ambassador nods and says, "Admiral Kiez I would presume that the Protectorate is not interested in a mutual defence pact then?"
Admiral Kiez smiles and replies, "Ambassador, you are correct the Protectorate is not in a mutual defence pack, we wish to remain neutral in the coming conflict."
The New Republic ambassador asks, "You are certain that there will be a renewal of hostilities between the New Republic and Grand Admiral Teshik Imperial faction?"
Admiral Kiez replies, "Yes ambassador I am certain of it and I am also certain that the New Republic will lose a lot of territory to Grand Admiral Teshik coming attack, as the New Republics military forces are not strong enough to deal with the Empire."
The New Republic ambassador, who is slightly annoyed at what Admiral Kiez has just said, though does not show it asks, "Admiral Kiez the New Republic is very capable of dealing with Grand Admiral Teshik coming attack, we have seven fleets, these fleets are growing in size as each day goes by."
Admiral Kiez shakes his head slightly and replies, "Ambassador the New Republics fleets are the size of sector groups, the Empire has nearly fifty such fleets guarding its territory, which does not include the Black Sword Command or any other forces that Teshik has managed to gather. I would suspect that Teshik has divided his fleet into two sides, one for offensive action and the other defensive, as to the composition of the two I do not have that information."
The New Republic ambassador makes a mental note of what Admiral Kiez has just told him, though he assumes that New Republic intelligence already has this information, that is why Admiral Kiez is telling him this, but you never know.
Admiral Kiez then asks, "Is there anything else ambassador?"
The New Republic ambassador replies, "No thank you Admiral and thank you for your time."
Admiral Kiez says, "Any time ambassador" shaking the ambassador's hand then the ambassador leaves to report to his government on the conversation and the information that he has been just given by Admiral Kiez.
After the Ambassador has left, Admiral Kiez thinks to himself, this is going just as Lord Brandl has predicted, feeding trivial information to the New Republic and they will leave us alone, the Empire under Teshik will not attack as long as there is a chance that the Protectorate may rejoin the Empire, thus keeping both sides as bay.
Admiral Kiez has to admit to himself that he is enjoying this game, though he much prefers commanding a battle fleet to diplomacy.
Imperial Preparations
At the same time that Admiral Kiez is meeting the New Republics Ambassador on Trulalis, Grand Admiral Teshik preparations are almost complete.
Just as Admiral Kiez has stated Teshik has divided his fleet into two main parts, the first part will remain behind to guard the Empires current fifty sectors and that Deep Core, these warships are older types such as the Dreadnought class heavy cruiser and other similar types, along with a number of Imperial class and Victory class star destroyers.
The second part is the offensive arm this consists of the bulk of the Imperial class II star destroyers along with other modern warships and fighters, along with ground assault troops. This offensive arm will commence the attack against fifty sectors, with luck the New Republics fleet will be spread so thinly that they will be unable to bring sufficient forces to bear against any of the attacking Imperial battle groups that they will be unable to stop from capturing these first fifty sectors.
Onboard the Night Hammer Teshik is eager to get into battle a defeat the Rebels, however he is also aware that he should not overestimate his enemy as others have done in the past. The Imperial Council (formally known as the Council of Moffs) is also eager to increase the number of sectors, but they defer to Teshik on military matters, as his recent victory over the Yevetha has strengthened Teshik position within the Imperial military.
One person in particular is trying to ease himself into a position of more power this is Moff Vilim Disra of Braxant sector, home of Bastion the capital of the Empire. Most of the members of the Imperial Council do not trust Disra however so far no one has found any incriminating evidence against Disra, so no one can unseat him.
There is one person that is keeping an eye on the Moffs, especially Disra, this is General Delvardus who is acting under Grand Admiral Teshik direct orders, General Delvardus has found a growing amount of evidence against Disra.
The first piece is that Disra had another Grand Admiral executed, just after Endor Disra engaged in political "manoeuvring" that resulted in the assassination of Grand Admiral Rufaan Tigellinus, allowing Disra to take his place on the Committee.
The second piece is that Disra has been dealing with the Cavrilhu pirate gang, though Disra also employed the services of several pirate gangs, mostly the Cavrilhu gang under Captain Zothip.
Instead of using these links for the benefit of the Empire Disra was using this alliance with the Cavrilhu pirate gang to line his own pockets and to build up his own private military forces.
General Delvardus smiles and thinks to himself that this growing amount of evidence will get Disra killed, as Disra is too greedy for his own good.
Lusankya, Flagship, New Republic Seventh Fleet
Several days later, General Antilles, Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade, along with the command staff are discussing strategy that could be used against the anticipated Imperial attack.
As they are discussing strategy the comm goes off and General Antilles says, "This is Antilles, what is it."
From the other end of the comm the reply is, "Sir, this Imperial attack has begun."
For several moments, no one says anything then General Antilles asks, "Do we know how big the attack is?"
From the other end of the comm the reply is, "Yes sir the Imperials are hitting between twenty to thirty sectors."
General Antilles exchanges glances then says, "All hand to battle station, prepare the fleet to get underway, I am on my ways to the bridge have the fleet brought the battle alert."
From the other end of the comm the reply is, "Aye sir"
Teshik's attack has begun.
To be continued.