December 12, 1928
Hyperspace
POV Tanya von Degurechaff

My ship was going at full speed towards my fatherland. I was circling around waiting for Zettour's holo-call, the minutes were hours and the hours were days while I was waiting for that call.

Finally the call came, I quickly picked up the holo-communicator and saluted Hans von Zettour militarily.

"At ease Degurechaff."

I nodded, abandoning my military salute and waited for his response. A civil war could be the worst thing that could happen to us right now, modern economic systems do not rely on tangible things but on trust and speculation. With that factor in mind, events like civil wars could cause all investors to pull out of the planet at once, causing an economic collapse that would probably send us back to the stone age.

"We have taken appeasement measures and are taking redemption measures for the peasants, granting them pardon. Although we have followed several parts of your advice and even though I appreciate your input, we have decided to ignore taking the measures to reintroduce human labor and will implement an alternative plan that you don't need to know about."

I nodded slowly. They were not incompetent. They know what they are doing. However, if they are starting to get a handle on the situation then why did they call me back to the Empire?

"May I ask what then is the reason for my return to the Empire if you are taking effective measures that do not need my intervention?"

Zettour nodded, touching something. However, the call suddenly cut out. I looked curiously at the holocommunicator until the call came back.

"Sorry about that, I accidentally disconnected the call. This Xeno technology is annoying and sometimes difficult to handle."

Zettour had a certain closeness to me and because of that he could give me a full military briefing and then in a few minutes talk to me as a grandfather would talk to his granddaughter. It was an advantage and something that was partly comforting.

"Xeno's technologies are difficult, believe me I know" I replied with a smile on my face, I could not humiliate him because even I had problems with them.

He coughed, and read some papers.

"Well, officially your ship had a malfunction and exploded at some point in hyperspace travel. Your death will be official the next day among the elites, but it will not be made public."

I raised my eyebrow. Are they going to fake my death? I can't think of any reason to take these measures. No one is after me and we are not under attack at the moment.

"This action will be part of the rearmament and militarization of the army. We have confidence in believing that our remilitarization plans will be constantly interrupted by foreign entities, even sending mercenaries to assassinate the heads of the remilitarization. Therefore this action will be done to cover your tracks."

I raised my hand a little to let me speak, he saw me and nodded.

"Does that mean I will be in charge of remilitarization?"

Zettour shook his head, "Unfortunately that will be another one. Your task will be to explore the galaxy under a false name in order to discover any kind of interesting technology for our Empire. Once you consider that it is necessary for the Empire to have that technology you will communicate with us and we will give you permission to act".

I nodded. It was really a good job. It would be less comfortable than being in a mansion helping Karl with the senate tasks, but still a comfortable job. It's almost like doing galactic tourism for free.

"Understood, how shall we proceed?"

"Your pilots know their orders, once you are in the Empire I will contact you again. With that I say goodbye."

I replied with a quick goodbye as well, closing the call.

"Visha is going to be very angry when she finds out that my death was faked."

—-

December 13, 1928

Vienna

"Collect all the documents and send them to the train!" Erich von Lehrgen yelled to the government officials. The city where he was staying had several disorganized uprisings and Zettour had ordered the evacuation. The switch from repression to appeasement was a move he personally liked, but it was also problematic.

"I don't understand why we just don't shoot them," the protocol droid said, translating for one of the several Mandalorians who had been accompanying Lehrgen lately, all known to Jango Fett and some who joined because of the promise of beskar.

"Less asking and more following orders" Lehrgen said, remembering why mercenaries were a bad idea, but they were the only option they had if they wanted to start developing militarily.

The Mandalorians nodded, following Lehrgen as he walked through the military building, overseeing that the documents were removed to the trains. For two hours they continued unloading until the final order was given to leave the city.

Lehrgen was walking down the stairs, being followed by the Mandalorians, when a gunshot caught his attention. He turned his head and saw several farmers with rifles that were older than his grandfather, looking at him in surprise. Jango Fett raised his two pistols but Lehrgen raised his hand.

"Don't kill anyone."

The protocol droid translated quickly, thus preventing Jango Fett from firing. The farmers, frightened by how the Mandalorians looked, backed away, leaving an open space for Lehrgen to continue on his way to the train station.

"Why so intent on not shooting civilians?"

Lehrgen sighed, walking quickly and seeing the train station in front of him.

"We already made the mistake of shooting when they demonstrated and that's why we have this. If we shoot now this will end in a civil war and we are trying to avoid civil war by all possible means."

The Mandalorians, who had their civil war recently, looked at Lehrgen with interest. They were used to this kind of conflict, even if it was between interest groups or clans.

Lehrgen arrived at the train, which was already starting to get ready to go, at the same time the Mandalorians entered the train. In just seconds, when the last soldier entered the train, it left towards the north, where the army had more control over the area.

"What a mess" Lehrgen said as they left Vienna, one of the great cities of the Empire.

—-

December 14, 1928
Coruscant

"Tanya von Degurechaff has died in a tragic accident when her ship malfunctioned and exploded in the hyperspace…"

Viktoriya and Karl looked at the news with quizzical eyes, almost as if it seemed impossible that such a thing could happen, almost as if they were being lied to. The person they both knew, who was days ago with them, laughing and sharing experiences was dead...

Viktoriya started to cry, she did not hold back her tears. She never thought Tanya would die, it was almost impossible for her to die. They had been through so much, so many times that she should have died. Now she dies because of a damned ship accident.

Karl shut his mouth, getting up from his couch he grabbed the closest object he had and threw it at the holocommunicator that was broadcasting the news.

"IT'S BLOODY IMPOSSIBLE."

Karl and Viktoriya had come to create a friendship during training, a friendship even increased with their bonding point, Tanya von Degurechaff, so he was not afraid to show this attitude in front of her.

Viktoriya tearfully began to speak.

"She survived Legadonia, the Republic, the Federation. She survived everything but a malfunctioning ship killed her. It's … it's simply impossible."

Karl went into his room, bolted it shut, and sat on his bed, raging about how Tanya's death was so unfair. On the other side Visha simply continued to cry, unable to do anything but cry.

—-

December 31, 1928
Near the Moon
Pov Tanya von Degurechaff.

I was looking at the planets I had to visit. I was going to make a route through the east-south of the galaxy. Starting planet Enarc, final destination Tatooine.

"It will seem easy" I said to myself, explore the galaxy incognito and buy, steal, or copy technology that is of interest. A protocol droid accompanied me and I had enough supplies for years.

Also some weapons just in case.

"Well, a few months incognito and then back to society. I hope Visha will not be angry when she discovers the falsehood." I rested myself in the chair, this ship was accommodating to the Kaissereich culture, so the look inside was very familiar to me, as if the ship was just like my office in Berun.

"Protocol droid, take me to the first planet."

The droid nodded, it was full black in color, the favorite color of the army since we entered into the Republic.

"So shall it be done Miss von Degurechaff."

These droids are a wondrous creation. I sincerely wish that the civil strife of the Empire will pass soon and we can then industrialize into the modern galactic economy. Just imagine it, droids being everywhere and everyone having one! Who knows, maybe we will be lucky and the army will also be replaced by droids. It's not like the generals will change just because the commanders are droids. Well, it's still too early to talk. I will have to learn the capabilities of the droids.

My ship soon entered hyperspace, beginning my secret mission.