14. The End of the New Republic
"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried." Winston Churchill
As the Imperial forces begin their offensive on the Core Sectors, several key systems will not put any resistance to the Imperial advance, one of these being the Kuat System.
The Core Sectors will fall within a few months.
Kuat System
The Imperial attack on the Kuat System is very quick, as the Kuat Systems own defence fleet has orders not to open fire on any Imperial warship, unless they open fire on them. The board of KDY has made a deal with Teshik, wherein they will not put up a fight against an Imperial occupation and the Empire will allow KDY to run its own system and business without (much) interference from the Empire.
In exchange for this freedom, KDY will sell exclusively to the Empire and no one else without the Empires permission.
With this agreement in place, the Imperial Fleet would enter the Kuat System, as they did the New Republic squadron engaged the lead elements of the Imperial Fleet, expecting the Kuat System Defence Fleet to follow. When they did not, the commander of the New Republic squadron was shocked to find out that the Kuat System had rejoined the Empire and was ordering them out of there system.
With no reinforcements available, the commander of the New Republic squadron was forces to withdrawn from the Kuat System, allowing the occupation of the Kuat System by the Empire in a record ninety-one minutes from start to finish.
The same could not be said for Coruscant.
Coruscant
The battle for Coruscant would last one long bloody month, before the New Republic withdrew from the system (under heavy fire from Imperial forces). The triumphal entry onto the surface of Coruscant was one of the most widely publicised events of the entire Core Sectors battles. With the securing of the Coruscant the Empires centre of operations would not initially be moved to Coruscant, instead it would remain on Bastion for the foreseeable future, as the Imperial Plaice and other building had to be search and secured, along with being rebuilt. Due to the size of these buildings, it would take several years before Coruscant would officially become the capital of the Empire again.
One of the main losses for the New Republic is the Executor class star dreadnought Guardian, this warship and its fleet covered the withdrawal of the last remains of the New Republic government during the final days of the battle for Coruscant. This was at the cost of most of the 6th fleet along with its flagship the Guardian.
The remains of the 6th fleet would be merged into the 7th fleet under General Antilles, though this amounts to only amounts to eight operational warships.
Several systems and the planet or planets within those systems that were known to be heavily pro New Republic would not be occupied instead they would be blockaded just like Kashyyyk.
One of these planets, that is, blockaded, is the planet Chandrila.
The Siege of Chandrila
Chandrila was the second planet in the Chandrila system of the Bormea sector, located in the Core Worlds, along the Perlemian Trade Route. It is the homeworld of Rebel Alliance leader and later New Republic Chief of State Mon Mothma.
As such, the planet Chandrila was seen by Teshik as a base for a new rebellion, until the new Empire had time to "settle in" the planet Chandrila would be blockaded, in the same way that Kashyyyk is. This way as with Kashyyyk the Empire would not waste time and resources trying to invade Chandrila.
The planets population would not go without food or other supplies, as the planet is a lush agricultural planet with its two main continents being covered with rolling, grassy plains. An idyllic world, Chandrila remained temperate year round, with gentle winters and warm summers. Dry seasons were interspersed with mild drizzles, leading to a lack of drought.
The planet Chandrila defence forces are based around starfighters, the New Republic defence fleet guarding Chandrila (6th fleet) was engaged is heavy fighting for several days before being forced to withdraw from the system. The command ship, Guardian, was heavily damaged during the fighting, it will take the New Republic several years to bring the Guardian back up to a fully operational level again, if at all.
Core Sectors
With most of the systems and planets in the Core Sectors secure or blockaded, the New Republic as a workable government has fallen, with those systems that are not part or strongly pro New Republic are feeling the benefits of the Empire.
The Imperial military build-up continues, with an extensive shipbuilding program along with an expansion of the Imperial Army, to guard every sector within the Empire.
Unlike the Emperor, Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik is not using the harsh draconian techniques that the Emperor, instead Teshik is using a lot more "Carrot" rather than the "Stick" that the Emperor tended to favour. This involves reducing unemployment by continuing the military build-up, his build-up involves giving each sector a full sector group of warship and troops this is a massive investment in money a resources.
This build-up is fully backed by the Imperial Council, as every council members sector is eager to have a fully equipped military protecting "there" sector, though unlike the old Empire the sectors Moff's only have limited control of their sectors military forces. Teshik does not want to create the same problems that the Emperor did, the sectors military forces will be regularly rotated so that they do not "go native" as they did after the death of the Emperor after Endor.
In this way, most "conquered" systems are unwilling to rebel against the Empire for fear of losing their very lucrative Imperial contracts this has allowing the Imperial Military to focus on the few "problem" systems that are currently blockaded. Once sufficient forces are available, some of these blockaded systems will be occupied eventually, though some like Kashyyyk will not, as that if far too dangerous.
The Kashyyyk system will remain blockaded for the foreseeable future, after all the Empire is in no hurry to try to conquer Kashyyyk.
Six Months Later
With the fall of Coruscant, the "seat" of the New Republic government is now the Executor class star dreadnaught Lusankya.
Lusankya, Flagship New Republic Fleet
After much, verbal prodding by Chief of State Fey'lya, General Wedge Antilles is appointed Supreme Commander of the New Republics military forces, now being called the New Rebel Alliance, with a promotion to Fleet Admiral.
Fleet Admiral Wedge Antilles is reviewing the remaining of the New Rebel Alliances military forces, this equates to the equivalent of just two Imperial Sector Groups. The manufacture of spare parts for the Rebel Alliance fleet has begun using former bases that where abandoned when the New Republic was formed, these bases will take another year before they are anywhere near full production.
To add to Fleet Admiral Wedge Antilles problems, the headquarters for the New Rebel Alliance is now onboard the Lusankya. That means that Chief of State Fey'lya and the Alliance council is based onboard Admiral Antilles command ship and means that the Lusankya cannot be used in direct combat, instead the Lusankya will be used as the New Rebel Alliances mobile headquarters.
The Lusankya is also the base for Jedi training, with the Jedi council also onboard the Lusankya to add to Fleet Admiral Antilles problems.
The new Rebel Alliance is having problems recruiting allies, as most of the governments that backed the old Rebel Alliance (then the New Republic) are unwilling to back the new Rebel Alliance, as the new Empire is proving to be much more effective than the old Empire and the New Republic. The lack of harsh repression of the old Empire, that mass disappearances and executions of the old Empire are gone, leaving people wondering why they need to back a fresh rebellion.
No one wants another war or even another rebellion.
Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik has a strategy to effectively neutralize the new Rebel Alliance and unite the galaxy under the new Empire.
Night Hammer
Onboard the Night Hammer, Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik is pleased with the progress his Empire is evolving into, with the harsh repression of the past gone and the continued build up of the Imperial military continuing to provide jobs, the population of the Empire is content.
The final Imperial holdout, the Protectorate has joined the Empire, with Adalric Cessius Brandl becoming Grand Admiral Osvald Teshik right hand just as Vader had been to the Emperor.
This is just as Adalric Brandl hand seen in his visions.
The Protectorate under the Empire would remain semi independent (to keep Adalric Brandl happy) of the Empire. With Fleet Admiral Feyet Kiez, begin moved to command one of the Elite Imperial command squadrons, with his flagship being the Imperial II class star destroyer Empire.
The rest of the Imperial military forces would remain behind to protect the three systems of the Protectorate, even though these forces could be used elsewhere, Grand Admiral Teshik deemed it worthwhile, with a Sith at his side.
Adalric Brandl's son, Jaalib Brandl would simply travel around the Empire in his own Imperial II class star destroyer, the Elusive, pocking his noise into other people's business and finding trouble, becoming a troubleshooter at large for Grand Admiral Teshik.
Unlike Vader (and his farther) Jaalib Brandl does not execute crewmembers who fail, instead he gives them a chance to correct there error, if they still fail they are transferred of the Elusive (this has all the hallmarks of Fleet Admiral Feyet Kiez methods that seem to have rubbed off on Jaalib Brandl). The methods that Jaalib Brandl employ's will turn the Elusive into one they growing number of elite number of Imperial II class star destroyers.
The Imperial II class star destroyer Elusive is classified as a command squadron even though it is only one warship, giving the Elusive and Jaalib Brandl to call for reinforcements if needed.
Teshik would leave the running of the civil administration to the Imperial Council and the running of the expansion of the Imperial Military to the Imperial High Command, as they will be so occupied with doing this. Teshik correctly assumed they would not be in a position to do anything else for at least five years, allowing Teshik to run the Empire with a relatively light touch.
Once certain members of the Imperial Council become a problem Teshik would simply expose them to the other members of the Imperial Council that would deal with the troublemakers. This way the Imperial Council members are always watching their backs and making sure that they run there sectors as efficiently as possible, otherwise they will lose everything.
Captain Frisk is saying, "All the key systems are now under the Empires control, production is up, as is recruitment to the Imperial military."
Teshik states, "That is good, that means that the various members of the Imperial Council will be fully occupied for the next few years, in addition I have ordered the sectors commanders to keep a close eye on the sector governors just in case they try anything."
Captain Frisk says, "Yes sir that should be strong enough to stop any of them building up their own personnel fiefdom, as Disra had tried to do."
Teshik asks, "What about the project at Sanctuary base how long until it is completed?"
Captain Frisk looking as his data pad says, "The last report from General John's reports that with the recent increase in supplies and personnel the project should be completed within the next twelve to eighteen months."
General Stephen John's (formally Brigadier now fully General) is the commander of Sanctuary base of General Johns has been expanding Sanctuary base since Teshik assumed command of Thrawn's forces after Thrawn's death. Since then Sanctuary base has expanded at a slow but steady pace, with the recent influx of resources and personnel (thanks to the Corporate Sector Authority) Sanctuary base has been able to accelerate the completion of one project that the Emperor has given Teshik to finish.
Sanctuary base has become Teshik secret research centre and construction site of several projects.
Teshik asks, "What about the remains of the so called New Republic military?"
Captain Frisk looking as his data pad says, "Intelligence reports that the remains of the New Republics military forces have dispersed, most seem to be located in to Outer Rim Territories. Intelligence suspects that they are activating there old bases that they abandoned when the Rebels became the New Republic."
Teshik interrupts and says, "That would the most likely course of action for them, they are simply going with what they know best though this time I suspect that not as many systems will support a new rebellion, due to my preparations in dealing with those governments that supported them the last time."
Captain Frisk says, "Yes sir, all in all, the Empire is relatively secure, until the Imperial Navy and Army are at full strength in each sector, we will have to keep 'shuffling' forces from one problems sector to another. Fortunately there are very few problem sectors, as the military build up is keep the unemployment levels well down, thus not providing a 'breeding ground' for a new rebellion."
Teshik asks, "I would assume that this also includes non-human races as well?"
Captain Frisk says, "Yes sir, as per your orders, this is working wonders will the non-human races within the Empire."
Teshik states, "As I expected it to do."
Pausing for a moment Teshik looks at the date, then says, "Captain, inform the fleet that my command squadron will be out of contact for a few weeks, they are to continue as ordered."
Captain Frisk says, "Yes sir, I will issue the orders" Captain Frisk and the Imperial military do not find these orders unusual, as they all know that Teshik has a secret base somewhere in the Unknown Regions. During Teshik's visits to this base, he is out of communications for several weeks.
However, this time Teshik is not going to Sanctuary Base Teshik will be going elsewhere in the Unknown Regions, a location Teshik has been searching for, for a long time.
Three hours later the Teshik's command squadron into hyperspace.
To be continued.