13. The Beginning of The End
"Broadly speaking, the short words are the best, and the old words best of all." – Winston Churchill
Over the next year, more and more sectors fall to the Imperial advance, the New Republics military forces are being run ragged by Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik tactics, along with his ever-growing military forces. As Teshik captures more sectors so his resources grow and the New Republics shrink.
At the end of the year, the New Republic looses the support of the Corporate Sector Authority the CSA goes over to fully supporting the Empire and only covertly supporting the New Republic with a trickle of supplies (just in case the New Republic manages to turn the tide of the war around).
Corporate Sector Authority
The Corporate Sector Authority (CSA) is the government of a free enterprise fiefdom known as the Corporate Sector, which is located at the end of the Tingel Arm. The Corporate Sector currently has several thousand systems under its control, along with several billion employees (the CSA referrers to its population and employees rather than citizens) living with the Corporate Sector.
The Corporate Sector was first formed 500 years ago, in order to resolve differences between Galactic Republic lawmakers and the heads of many of the galaxy's largest corporations. The Corporate Sector originally consisted of a few hundred star systems, in small corner of its current sector, all of which were devoid of intelligent life. The corporations where allowed to operate in this sector could purchase entire regions of space, however they were meant to be supervised by the Galactic Republic.
In the last years of the Republic, a group of lobbyists known as the Galactic Corporate Policy League, backed by such influential figures as Baron Tagge began to get in close with the then Chancellor Palpatine, presumably representing the loyalist companies in the sector, although during the Clone Wars most of the Corporate Sector supported the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
After the conflict's resolution, several of his influential corporate allies convinced him to expand the Corporate Sector to thousands of star systems, and with the signing of the Corporate Sector charter; a new umbrella company was formed from the GCPL to rule the newly expanded sector: The Corporate Sector Authority. The CSA took possession of many of the remaining droids belonging to the former Confederacy and as per its agreement with the Empire paid an annual stipend of 3% of the sector's gross product, as well as a tithe of materials and ore produced.
With the CSA fully supporting the Empire, the Empire will again receive the annual stipend of 3% of the sector's gross product, as well as a tithe of materials and ore produced, these resources and monies will go directly under the control of the Supreme Commander of Imperial Military Forces.
Giving Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik his own resources and monies without the need to go through the Imperial Council for funding for his own projects, though the Imperial Council is not stupid enough to try and deny the Imperial Military the funding they need to fight this successful war. Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik does not want the Imperial Council looking into various projects that he has been running, especially those around Sanctuary Base, with one project nearing completion soon.
Blockade Tactics
Over the past year most of the outer rim and mid rim territories have fallen, only the core sectors remain, several systems with the outer rim and mid rim territories that are extremely pro New Republic like the planet Kashyyyk have been blockaded, instead of being invaded.
The Siege of Kashyyyk
Once the New Republic Fleet had withdrawn, Teshik had deemed an invasion of Kashyyyk would be suicidal of the Imperial Army (the Imperial Army agreed with Teshik), therefore Teshik opted for an easier solution, blockade.
Any ship entering would be sized, any ship trying to run the blockade that would not stop would be destroyed, the same would go for any ship trying to launch from Kashyyyk, these ships would also be destroyed if they did not heave too and surrender.
For the past few months the blockade force led by Fleet Admiral Daala has stopped every ship trying to enter of leave Kashyyyk, this also has another advantage, it allows Fleet Admiral Daala vent her anger on these attempts to run the blockade of Kashyyyk.
Over the past few months, Teshik has gone out of his way to praise Daala on her perfect record enforcing the blockade of Kashyyyk this has caused Daala to push herself harder, to try to anticipate what the Rebels will try next. Teshik is slowly "weaning" Daala of Tarkins stupid tactics and making her use her own mind, as she had done at the Imperial Academy all those decades ago, Daala like Fleet Admiral Pellaeon and others, that Teshik is moulding them in his "own image" these senior Imperial Military Commanders are becoming extremely deadly in combat against the New Republic.
The best Imperial Military Commanders get the most powerful assets, the Imperial Fleet commanders get their own command squadron, a set of warships permanently assigned to them. These growing number of command squadrons contain the best Imperial Fleet commanders that Teshik has managed to "train up" to a much higher standard, making these Admirals very dangerous opponents.
Imperial Command Squadrons
The command squadrons of the Imperial Fleet are growing in numbers as the Imperil Fleet grows. These command squadrons are the core of any Imperial battle fleet, though they can act on their own without support units, due to these command squadrons combat capabilities.
Imperial Command Squadrons (examples)
Hammer Squadron (Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik command squadron)
Customised Executor class star dreadnought – Night Hammer (command ship)
Customized Imperial Class star destroyer – Eleemosynary
Four Advanced Victory II class star destroyers
Scourge Squadron (Fleet Admiral Gilad Pellaeon)
Executor class star dreadnought – Reaper (command ship)
Imperial II class star destroyers – Chimaera, Death's Head, Inexorable, Judicator, Stormhawk and the Nemesis
Imperial Death Squadron (Fleet Admiral Dorja)
Executor class star dreadnought – Intimidator (command ship)
Imperial II class star destroyer – Relentless (along with five other Imperial II class star destroyers)
Grand Admiral Teshik had decided to reform the Imperial Death Squadron around the Intimidator in the aftermath of the destruction of the Yevetha species this also kept Fleet Admiral Dorja away from Fleet Admiral Pellaeon and Dorja numerous attempts to unseat Pellaeon from his command.
Maw Squadron (Fleet Admiral Natasi Daala) currently blockading Kashyyyk (includes blockade forces as well as Daala's command squadron)
Imperial II class star destroyer – Gorgon II formally known as the Firestorm (flagship)
Five Imperial II class star destroyers
Forty-five Enforcer class cruisers
Ten Vindicator class heavy cruisers
Eleven Interdictor cruisers
Seventy Rendili StarDrive light corvette class (also known as the Imperial Customs class corvette)
These few squadrons above only list a small fraction of the Imperial military forces that Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik has managed to build, the Imperial Battle Fleet is growing in size and capability as the weeks, months and years go by.
The Enemy Within
Now that the New Republic is on its knees, Teshik can deal with the most dangerous member of the Imperial Council, Moff Vilim Disra.
It is time to inform the Imperial Council that Moff Vilim Disra plans to kill several of the council members and become head of the Imperial Council this will also include killing the current head of the Imperial Council, Koron Mzdale.
Imperial Council, Bastion
The members of the inner council have assembled, supposedly to listen to Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik latest war reports from the front, this is not why they are here they will hear a report from General Delvardus on Moff Vilim Disra acts of treason.
Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik says, "Thank you all for coming, before I issue my report to this council, I would like you to hear a report from General Delvardus, General."
General Delvardus stands up and says, "Thank you sir. My report concerns one of the members of the inner council, Moff Vilim Disra." Moff Disra shifts uneasily in his seat but says nothing.
General Delvardus continues, "Item, after the death of the emperor at Endor, Moff Vilim Disra caused the death of Grand Admiral Rufaan Tigellinus, 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. As you can see the evidence is overwhelming."
There is a ripple of mummers around the council room, as they read the evidence coming up on their displays still Disra says nothing.
General Delvardus continues, "Next item is that Disra has been dealing with the Cavrilhu pirate gang, Disra also employs the services of several other pirate gangs, though from my investigation 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 and others to line his own pockets and to build up his own private military forces."
This causes and uproar in the council chamber, it takes several minutes for Koron Mzdale to quieten things down.
General Delvardus continues, "Finally I have evidence that Disra is planning to murder several members of this council including the leader of the Imperial Council Moff Koron Mzdale, so that he can become head of this council."
It only takes a few moments for the Imperial Council to eject Disra, who has said nothing, as he realizes that his game is up.
General Delvardus sits down, smiles, and thinks to himself that this growing amount of evidence will get Disra killed, as Disra is too greedy for his own good, Disra is out and that should solve many problems that were plaguing the empire. Now the members of the Imperial Council will look at each other to see if there are others like Disra that threaten there positions, that should keep the Imperial Council occupied for several years.
After the Imperial Council members has quieted down Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik says, "Thank you General Delvardus for you excellent investigation into this matter. Now I will report on the progress of the war so far."
For the next few hours, Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik will brief the Imperial Council on the progress of the war so far, this will be in a summary form, so that Teshik does not give too much away to any potential leaks that may occur.
Meanwhile, the onboard the Lusankya...
Lusankya Flagship New Republic 7th fleet
After the past few months of fighting, General Wedge Antilles fleet has been reduced in numbers by one third, with very few replacements forthcoming the only recent replacement warship is the MC90 cruiser Victory. This crew of this cruiser seem to have different battle tactics to the rest of the military forces under General Antilles, these tactics are much better at dealing with Imperial forces that General Antilles tactics are.
Luke Skywalker and Mara Jade are discussing the war against the empire, Mara is saying, "Grand Admiral Teshik is not present at every battle, that would be impossible, but he seems to have had input into the planning of each major battle, this has led to our forces having heavy losses in each encounter with Teshik forces."
Wedge asks, "So what is the answer, how do we stop an Imperial Grand Admiral, what tactics do we need to use?"
Mara replies, "The only time a Grand Admiral was defeated in direct battle like this was when Grand Admiral Demetrius Zaarin tried a coup against the Emperor and failed."
Wedge asks, "But how did the Emperor win?"
Mara replies, "The Emperor used another Grand Admiral against Zaarin."
Wedge says, "Oh, well we do not have a Grand Admiral, well not that I know of anyway, which Grand Admiral defeated Zaarin?" Wedge is unaware of the "Grant incident"
Mara replies, "Thrawn"
Wedge and Luke exchange glances and Luke asks, "Does Teshik have any weaknesses that we can exploit?"
Mara replies, "No, none that I know off."
Luke asks, "There has to be a way to defeat a Grand Admiral?"
Mara replies, "Not in direct battle there is none, you must remember that all of the Grand Admiral were and are all exceptionally gifted officers, creamed at the time from the best of the Imperial military, the Emperor chose the best a brightest Imperial military personnel. He even overcame his own prejudices against aliens by appointing Thrawn to the rank of Grand Admiral."
Wedge says, "So you are saying that the only way to stop this Imperial offensive is to kill Teshik?"
Mara replies, "Yes, but even that that idea has problems, from what we know, Teshik command squadron, is constantly on the move, only Teshik and the ships of his command squadron know where he is going. So finding out where Teshik will be at any one time is virtually impossible."
Wedge says, "Well that rules out killing Teshik."
Mara replies, "Yes, it is worse, we know that Teshik has been using a clone body, it is possible that Teshik has access to a single cloning cylinder, which would mean even if we killed Teshik, another clone would just take his place."
Wedge nods and says, "Agreed, though New Republic Intelligence is still uncertain whether it was the Emperor who cloned Teshik or Teshik himself, if it is the latter, that would mean that Teshik has access to cloning technology, but no enough to produce clone troops."
Luke says, "Well that is a bit of luck, though not much, if true, that should slow Teshik advance up."
Mara replies, "Yes, Teshik advance has been slow so far."
Wedge says, "You call this rate of advance slow?"
Mara replies, "Yes I do, if Teshik had access to a cloning facility like the one Thrawn had then he would have advanced much more quickly, he would control most of the galaxy by now."
Wedge says, "I would suppose Teshik next offensive will go for Coruscant and the Core Sectors."
Mara nods and replies, "He will, several of the system in the Core Sectors, will probably not put up much or even any fight, such as the Kuat system, as the orders for warships from the Empire has rapidly increased. KDY does not want to upset it biggest client by fighting them."
Wedge says, "There is a New Republic squadron guarding the Kuat system, I would think that KDY would be grateful?"
Mara replies, "No they are not 'grateful', as after the New Republic was 'born' KDY lost it major orders, as the New Republic switch to those firms that backed them, I doubt that you will find any friends in the Kuat system."
Wedge says, "Yes that was not the New Republic finest decision."
As they go on to discuss what the Empire will do next, the Imperial Military forces are already positioning themselves to start the final phases of major offensive operations against the New Republic, to remove the New Republics major industrial bases. Once these operations are complete the New Republic as a government will have ceased to exist.
The Imperial offensive to take the Core Sectors will see the downfall of the New Republic and the beginning of a New Rebellion.
To be continued.