Welcome, everyone … as we launch into the next Volume. If somehow you have found this story via search, it might make little sense if you have not read the previous stories. Ahsoka and the Rebellion, Shaak and Maris, and especially the guide to characters toward the end of both of those epics. Otherwise, I am glad you found this. If you liked those, this one promises to be even better. Fasten your seatbelts … We are going to lay the groundwork for Shaak's Empire and the various happenings that will take place in it and around it. I had previously termed it the "second" empire but we'll see that far more is involved. Where do Ahsoka and Valles fit in with all that's happening? That will soon become apparent.
Chapter 1: Off the Ground
The background
After a long struggle, Galactic Emperor Sheev Palpatine was removed from power by one-time Jedi Master Shaak Ti, using a complex and well-conceived plan. This plan was carried out over a decade of carefully concealed activity, which ultimately led to the use of an ancient Jedi power that stripped the Force from the Emperor and left him in a severely weakened state. Shaak was a key participant in the rebellion against the Galactic Empire, which gained its first major success about a year earlier with the destruction of the Empire's first "Death Star" battle station. She began to see that the Empire was too large and well-established to be defeated directly, so she decided the best course would be to remove Palpatine and assume the Galactic throne herself. Shaak was originally born on the planet Shili, the home of her Togruta species, a people that practiced a mystical religion that was connected to the Force. She was a rather crafty individual, capable of devising and carrying out plans of great complexity with pinpoint precision.
Yet Shaak's victory would not have been possible without the assistance of the Chairlady of the Santhé Corporation, a key galactic weapons maker based on the Outer Rim world of Lianna. Valles Santhé, the granddaughter of Kerred Santhé, had taken over the firm by her 23rd birthday and used this success to gain an ever-greater role in the politics of her home world. This led to the re-establishment of the monarchy by popular acclamation with herself being installed as Queen, and once on the throne, Valles saw that Shaak's rebellion could be the key to her designs for even greater power. The two of them agreed that the existing Imperial structure should be left in place, but reworked. In the interim, from Lianna, Valles led a drive to take over many of the other worlds on the Outer Rim, with the blessing of Palpatine, once she had charmed her way into his confidence. Valles was also greatly skilled in the use of the Force and had been carefully groomed by her grandfather almost from her birth. But she had developed another skill – the ability to use the Force in a psychological way that enabled her to introduce ideas into a subject's brain. This went far beyond simple "Jedi mind tricks" and had fueled her rise to the top of Liannese society.
Shaak's plans and methods for victory were not shared with anyone else, including her most trusted associates, Ahsoka Tano and Maris Brood, both former Jedi as well. Ahsoka, another Togruta born on Shili, had grown close to Shaak and had accepted her as her adoptive mother. Maris Brood, a Zabrak Jedi Padawan at the time of the Empire's birth, had escaped certain death on Coruscant as she was most fortunate to have met Shaak on the very day the Jedi Purge – brought on by Palpatine's "order 66" – went into motion. The two of them eventually settled on the Outer Rim world of Felucia, a site of conflicts during the Clone Wars, that had been left mostly uninhabited by the time they arrived on it. Over the years following, they expanded their settlement and found other Force-adept people in the Galaxy and invited them to come to Felucia, where they set up a new order to replace the Jedi. Maris essentially became Shaak's other daughter as the two had developed a deep bond over the years.
Once Palpatine had been forced into retirement by Shaak, the new Empress moved quickly, informing the others in the rebellion of her plans and declaring the Galactic Civil War to be at an end and that it was time to plan the new model of governance for the Galaxy. A new tone would be set upon Shaak's coronation as the new Empress and there was a Galaxy-wide celebration as she spoke of a new era, one based on justice and peace. Shaak announced that she would govern fairly and see to it that even though repression would end, order would be kept.
Shili (Togruta home world) 1 ABY, 0 months 19 days
The brand-new Imperial yacht Empress Shaak had just dropped out of hyperspace and fallen into orbit around the planet Shili, the home world of the Togruta people. The Empress herself had arisen from a short, hour-long meditation session, where she started to consider all that now lay before her as the galactic sovereign. The immensity of it threatened to engulf her, so she knew she had to find a way to deconstruct it into its constituent parts. But what really were the parts that mattered? Suddenly, Shaak had found herself surrounded by people she hardly even knew, many of them brought into her orbit by her newly appointed Grand Vizier, Valles Santhé, also the Queen of the planet Lianna on the Outer Rim.
Valles had ensured Shaak that she would always spend as much time with her as she needed in order to grasp everything, and Shaak had a general idea of where she wanted to go. For starters, there was the need to assert her dominance over the Imperial military and she had to quickly determine who to retain in the important positions – the Moffs, Grand Admirals, and Grand Generals – and to also realize they also must be wondering how things were going to go under the new regime. Another area of importance was to oversee the transition of the Galactic Senate and the new House of Delegates, along with the establishment of the Galactic Court system. And these were just the governmental matters.
Shaak's personal life was also in turmoil as she adjusted to her new role. Anyone and everyone would be wanting a piece of her time and attention and sorting this out could be most troublesome. Of course, Valles was there to assist, and Shaak knew she could never do this job without her trusted ally, but at the same time, she knew Valles was playing her own game. Getting away from Coruscant for a few days would help Shaak to clear her head and decide how she wanted to proceed.
Making the trip home with her were her immediate family members (who had come to Coruscant for Shaak's coronation ceremony), her parents Kaa'shaan and Luu'maas, and her younger brother Tuuk. As Shaak emerged from her private suite on the yacht, wearing just a long pale pink dress, she was first joined by her mother.
"Ah, my sweet Shaak. You look troubled. Already your head is uneasy … I warned you that the job is too big, hmm?"
Shaak chuckled, then embraced her mother, stroking the old lady's rear lek.
"Mama … so little faith you have in me? I will be just fine. But you are correct, there is much to do."
Luu'maas turned around to face her, also stroking one of her daughter's lekku. "I feel you will depend too much on Queen Valles. She is a smart one, no?"
Shaak inhaled deeply and smiled. "That she is. Yes, we have developed a close working relationship. I am fortunate to have her so near at hand. Her network of contacts is unrivaled. And I believe we are in general agreement as to policy."
Her mother also smiled, but a little less brightly. "My child, do not get too full of yourself and all of this power you possess. Many will take aim at you. Your senses will serve you well, I know that. However, there is much you cannot see. Coruscant is a complex and dangerous place."
Shaak seemed to scoff a little. "Hmmpf … I know that. I have spent much time there in the past. Despite some outward appearances, little has truly changed. I enter with my eyes wide open," she stated, while making a gesture with her right hand, by spreading her fingers wide.
Luu'maas smiled, then turned away, her satin robes rustling slightly as she walked. Then she called over her shoulder. "My darling, I will be spending much time in this new palace they are building for you. I feel you will need me there."
Shaak nodded, then picked up her com device, withdrawing it from a pocket in one of her inner robes, and activating it.
"Father and I will be there shortly." The one on the other end of the conversation could not be heard by anyone other than the Empress. Shaak shook her head. "No, no fanfare. I prefer to move quietly. There will be time enough for parades and celebrations later." A few seconds later, she nodded, then switched off the device and replaced it in her pocket. Shaak then headed for the shuttle, her brother Tuuk having joined her. They walked silently together.
Coruscant (Galactic capital world) 1 ABY , 0 months, 19 days, 12 standard hours
In a newly constructed set of office buildings near the still-under construction Imperial Palace, Valles Santhé sat at the head of a large conference table. Her seat was raised about a half-metre higher than the others, giving the Liannese queen an air of being first among equals. In reality, however, she was, as those around the table were the new Minister-designates for each of the new Imperial departments in the Empress's new government and they either had all been recommended for their positions by Valles or had been approved by her. These included Defense, Citizen Services, Finance, Commerce and Trade, and the Interior; with each department being further broken down into sub departments such as Health, Education, Environment, Agriculture, Labor, Banking, Securities, and Inter-sector Relations. Valles's conception of government clearly envisioned a government that would delve into almost every realm of the affairs of sentient beings from all over the Galaxy.
The budget for this government would receive some oversight via the new two-house legislature, but it was also unclear what the Imperial prerogative might be on such matters. The Empress was little inclined at first to dig too deep into the weeds of each department, trusting Valles to manage everything. Valles, in turn, also delegated much authority to various sub ministries and these were further delineated by Galactic region. It seemed that the Queen, Lady Santhé, had already spent much time in planning everything once she knew that Shaak would become Empress. Almost nothing had been left to chance. Her keen organizational mind had already sized up exactly the role each department of the administration would play.
As they prepared to conclude the meeting, she reviewed each role in turn. A critical role would be the Minister of the Interior. This person would have authority over much of Galactic law enforcement and would also carry out the decisions of the various levels of the judiciary. Of course, this would extend to the supposed eradication of criminal activity in the Outer Rim and elsewhere. The Minister of Commerce and Trade would act as a facilitator between business and government and was empowered to resolve disputes over things such as patents, tariffs, and cartelization of industries. Valles particularly wanted to prevent oligopolies that could set prices on a Galactic scale. The Minister of Citizen Services would likely receive less oversight from the Grand Vizier's office but this was still an important governmental area and the potential for patronage and kickbacks was huge. The Empress herself would likely take more of an interest in the Minister of Finance position and Valles was well aware of Shaak's preferences here. The Banking industry would come under the greatest scrutiny and this would directly affect Her Majesty's own personal accounts and ensure that she would dominate things financially as well as politically and militarily.
Each of the Minister-designates would have to be formally appointed by the Empress, who would presumably exercise due diligence on them so as not to appear to be a rubber stamp. Until this could happen, however, Valles was pressing each of them to push ahead with their plans for each department. As she adjourned the meeting, she shook hands with each of them on their way out. Some felt they ought to kiss her hand, but Valles felt only the Empress herself deserved such deference. She remained in her chairman's seat after they had left her alone in the room. Her inner thoughts on the process went as follows:
I think this was a good meeting overall. We seem to be in general agreement that power must be consolidated if we are to govern effectively. Shaak will hopefully be grateful for our efforts, and it is crucial that she be aware of what we are doing or she could easily sink things. A delicate balance this is. Anyone who paid close attention during her coronation could see the massive power she possesses. It is likely that finding any weak spot with her will be difficult at best, or almost impossible at worst. The best approach with her is to be as supportive as possible, and let her find her way.
Left unstated at this point was Valles's growing respect for Shaak, a feeling that was slowly evolving into something approaching admiration. She then realized something she wanted to do before leaving to return to Lianna and start to review all Outer Rim activities and organization plans. Knowing that Shaak had taken a trip to her home world, Valles composed an audio message for her:
"Your Majesty, there is the matter of the Hapes Cluster Sector .. I don't think we've talked about it much before. When you return to Coruscant, let's have some time – or you might come to Lianna, where I will be for a few days."
Coruscant – 1 ABY, 0 months, 20 days, 8 hours
At the Republika 1000 residential and shopping complex on Coruscant, Ahsoka, now Crown Princess of the Galaxy, had watched her adoptive mother, the Empress, depart Coruscant. She started thinking about what she wanted to do next. Her mind was jumbled with many conflicting needs and she just wanted to clear her head and try to come to grips with her new life. She now had significant political power, as she knew that Empress Shaak would depend on her wise counsel.
In the past, physical activity had usually worked for Ahsoka. The surge of blood to her brain due to vigorous activity was gratifying and helped her focus. And the best physical activity she could think of was to duel or spar with one of her fellow Force users, so she decided to call on Maris Brood, fellow Master of the Order, whom she had now known for almost three years. She pulled out her com device and signaled to her now dear friend.
"Hey there …"
Maris, seeing whom it was from, happily responded. "Ashli! I was just thinking about you. What's up?"
"I was hoping you might have some time. I really need to work out with you. Training sabres. The whole bit. Are you up for it?"
"Sure. You know, I was thinking much the same thing, but I thought you might be too busy. Being the Princess and all."
Ahsoka laughed. "I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to do. Palpatine never had anyone under him that might be his successor – it sure wasn't Anakin." Ahsoka paused, then asked, "Can you meet me over here near my apartments?"
"I will be there in a half hour. Looking forward to it, my friend."
Anakin Skywalker, only recently restored to the physical form he'd had some twenty years prior, could hear some of their conversation as he awakened. The two of them had continued to explore each other's mutual desires and intimacies, and as time had worn on a bit, his confidence in this area had grown. He noticed that his beloved had already arisen and he called to her.
"What's going on, love?"
She then returned to the bedroom, now fully dressed in training gear and fingering one of her twin pink-bladed lightsabres. "Ani, I am restless. Ahsoka and I are going to have a training session. Would you like to join us – or at least observe?"
Anakin had propped himself up on his elbows while still lying on the bed. "I think I need some more sleep. You two have fun. I would like to see Ahsoka but I'm sure she will have time for me later."
Maris nodded and turned to go. She made her way out of the suite she shared with Anakin and strode to the lift, which she ascended a few levels. As she exited, Ahsoka was already waiting for her. Maris rushed over to her and they hugged, then released, and exchanged smiles.
"So good to see you, your highness …" Maris smirked a little, but was clearly sincere. The Zabrak was never very good at concealing her emotions, which Ahsoka had always found refreshing.
"And you," the Togruta responded, then motioned in a general direction. She was also in training gear, with both of her cherished white-bladed sabres on her belt.
They soon entered the lobby of what appeared to be a fitness center, and were greeted by a receptionist who recognized Ahsoka immediately.
"Good morning, your highness. We are delighted to serve you."
Ahsoka smiled. "Could you find us a training room, please? This is my close friend, Master Maris Brood of the new Imperial Security Bureau, Elite Corps."
"Absolutely, your highness. Master Brood, we are honored to have you as well. Please follow me."
The man led the way, around a couple of turns, and came to a door, which opened as he flashed a card.
Maris and Ahsoka entered the training room, an expansive space, complete with weights and exercise machines to monitor heart rates and other vitals. As they looked around the room, Maris smirked at Ahsoka and noted:
"Do you think we might have wanted a setup like this on Felucia?"
Ahsoka chuckled. "Are you saying Mother was too cheap?"
"Ha! She was at first … you weren't there. But those were good times …"
As the two of them were already suitably dressed, they went to the center of the room. Ahsoka set her sabres to training intensity and watched as Maris did the same. The Togruta quickly struck a fighting pose, and the Zabrak did the same. Maris then twirled her blades by their auxiliary handles in a menacing fashion and the twin hums seemed to slice through the air. Ahsoka then made a thrust toward her, which Maris swiftly countered, then she dropped into a defensive Form III stance. Ahsoka's reaction was to slash with both blades in a scissors motion, then she thrust upward, forcing her opponent onto her back foot. The Togruta then used a new tactic – one that she borrowed from Reema Andujah, her brilliant young apprentice – and made a subtle Force motion by drawing her index finger on her right hand in a tight arc. Maris was then knocked sideways and Ahsoka quickly capitalized with a sharp thrust from her left sabre.
"Some new tricks?" the Zabrak asked, seemingly looking a bit startled.
"Nothing much … I'm surprised Anakin hasn't shown you some."
Maris then took advantage of the lull and went to work, vaulting over Ahsoka, then doing a 180-degree spin followed with a double slash. Now it was Ahsoka's turn to play defense. She then Force-pushed Maris back about a half metre and leaned into the stance, altering the position of her two blades rapidly. The Zabrak grew slightly irritated and then switched off one sabre and tossed it aside. She then attempted to use her upper body strength to gain an advantage and was successful, as Ahsoka was pushed back and had to go on defense again. The Togruta decided to go to one blade as well and then the battle grew more intense.
"You've always had the muscle, Maris …" Ahsoka noted.
"I'll be happy to train with you, Princess," Maris smirked again. "Just say the word."
Ahsoka laughed at that. "I've got a wedding coming up. How would it look for the bride to have stevedore's arms?"
"Ah … this isn't the Ahsoka I remember …" the Zabrak chuckled, and gave her a knowing look.
The two went at it with renewed ferocity. Maris for the most part was the aggressor, cutting off Ahsoka's path and forcing her to one side of the room or the other. Each time, Ahsoka used either acrobatics to escape or some subtle Force movements. Maris didn't much appreciate those, but realized her opponent was inviting her to retaliate, which she did at times. However, neither combatant could force the other to surrender, so after almost 30 minutes – with both women sweating profusely – they agreed to call it a draw. First they bowed to each other in traditional Jedi fashion, then shook hands, and finally hugged, demonstrating the love that close friends and Members of the Order were expected to show each other.
They both signaled via the Force, and soon an attendant was coming over to them, offering bottles of water. They each eagerly grabbed one and downed it quickly. After a few minutes of idle banter, they then followed the attendant into the spa area of the center. Both Ahsoka and Maris were then attended to by two young female humans, who led them to the washing area, where each stripped off her clothing and then proceeded to be washed with sponges and scrubbing brushes that aroused their skin as they were soaped and rinsed. When this was complete, the two of them each got into separate hot tubs as the attendants demonstrated how to use the water jets, varying the intensity and direction. After about 15 minutes in the tub, Ahsoka switched off her jets and emerged from it, while an attendant wrapped her in a white robe. She then exited for the massage table and started what would be an hour-long treatment by the masseur. Not long after that, Maris was on the table across from Ahsoka, receiving a similar workover. Both of them felt wonderful as their muscles were thoroughly treated.
After that, it was time for lunch. Both ladies changed into dresses (Ahsoka in blue and Maris in red) and left the fitness center to go to a quiet bistro. As they perused the menu, they ordered drinks. Maris had her usual glass of ale while Ahsoka settled for some light wine.
"You know, I had the feeling you were a bit slow in there, Ashli." Maris noted.
"I felt like it. That will have to change. I can't let myself fall behind. I haven't told you, but that Reema, she's a serious test for me right now. You turned her into a fine swordswoman."
Maris nodded, but then added, "I really didn't do that much. She's kind of sneaky. Acting humble, but harboring some inner anger and some serious ability. We got along fine, though, but I think she was not happy to be switched to you."
Ahsoka sighed. "I could have handled that better. But who knew she'd get all prickly about it?"
The two compared notes on other topics. Ahsoka mentioned she'd be heading to Shili herself, and would be meeting her younger brother, Mako'ta, for the first time.
"That has to be exciting for you. We had chatted about that a while back. How often does an ex-Jedi – or any kind of Jedi – get to meet family members they never knew they had?"
Ahsoka nodded. "I'm never sure about anything when it comes to history, but I figured I would never get the chance. He's taking care of our mom and dad, and I guess I will get to meet them too."
"But Master Shaak became your mom … is she all right with this?"
"Well … sure. I mean, how can she object? She's always encouraged me in every sense and her family accepted me as a granddaughter and niece. I'm lucky to be part of the House of Ti, even as I honor my Tano legacy."
Ahsoka and Maris exchanged smiles, and the Zabrak reached across the table to warmly clasp Ahsoka's hand. The Togruta again changed topics.
"So, friend, are you ready to be a bridesmaid at my wedding on Lianna? I promise you won't have to wear an embarrassing dress."
Maris grinned. "Anything for you, Ahsoka … but this might come as a surprise to you – I like wearing dresses – some, anyway. Nothing too fancy or frilly."
"Aw. I'm glad to learn that. The softer side of you is very appealing. Sure won over Anakin. I've not seen him this happy since Padme."
Maris sighed. "Anakin, as you know, has a tender side to him. Once he had the operation and could leave Vader behind, it showed again. I think he really loves me."
"And how do you feel? Tell the truth, friend …"
"I'm devoted to him. He's been through so much. I had to get to know him – the whole man – to see and understand what he's been feeling, and why. That day on Hoth when we took down Palpatine … it lifted a great burden from him. His soul is at peace and he's very devoted to Master Shaak."
"So, friend, how do you feel about 'Empress' Shaak? It's just us, you can tell me anything. It won't get back to her."
Maris scoffed. "She will find out anyway. I've known her a long time, and I love her like a mother – just like you do – and I can tell you this much: she loves this role. To her, it's all about justice. She cared about the Old Republic but we can't do that again. Taking over now means being strong. You and I both know that she is."
"Of course, of course," Ahsoka sighed again. "But is she getting in too deep? Shaak is so complex. I'm afraid this kind of power is going to her head."
Maris looked sideways at Ahsoka for second, then responded. "Wouldn't that happen to anyone? Come on, she's not going to be like Palpatine. That man was pure evil. Shaak has a loving heart. You and I both know that."
Ahsoka nodded again, slowly. "I just hope you're right."
Maris again grasped Ahsoka's arm, and looked her in the eye firmly. "You know I am."
Shili – 1 ABY, 0 months, 20 days
As the unmarked shuttle dropped from orbit around Shili, it headed for a spot a few hundred kilometres outside Corvala before landing in a flat area. Night had begun to descend over this part of the planet as Shaak and her father, Kaa'shaan, disembarked. They were then met by a receiving party of four Togruta elders in ceremonial red robes who bowed deeply before the Empress, each solemnly taking her outstretched right hand and gently kissing it. They showed her and her father aboard a speeder van that whisked them away and into a cave-like entrance. As they disappeared into it, the door slid shut behind them and the speeder stopped as all the occupants dismounted. A lift took them deep below the surface, where they exited into a cavernous room that seemingly held hundreds of people. But on this night, the various pews of this underground temple were empty.
Shaak proceeded to seat herself on a beautifully carved wooden throne that seemingly had been prepared for her arrival. Her father then stood behind the throne, a bit to his daughter's left. The four elders dropped to their knees and prayed before her, their arms outstretched as they leaned forward, their foreheads touching the floor of the temple. One of them recited a short incantation in the Togruta language that was translated thus:
To our living god, the supreme Za'an Kaa'duul, we are greatly honored by your presence tonight. We humbly ask that we may be instruments of your peace.
Shaak nodded, then softly commanded. "Rise, all. I am here this night to bring the treasured Force knowledge home to the Togruta people. We have long awaited this day and now it is our time to be blessed with the Power of the Force."
With that, Shaak rose and allowed her robes to open, revealing a shimmering red gown that reached the floor of the temple. Her father lifted her robes from her shoulders and then the Amulet of Kalara could be plainly seen as it began to glow in alternating tones of crimson and midnight blue. All four of the elders fixed their gaze upon the ancient relic as it sent beams of radiant Force energy to each of them from within the Empress herself. She then spoke again, as another mysterious instrument suddenly flew into her left hand. As she grasped it, the object suddenly burst into a violet shade and emanated a halo around Shaak that spread to engulf her worshippers.
"With this wand, I command the power of Shili to embrace my loyal servants of the Force. The long night of terror and evil has now ended. The Wand of Waa'maa'kuu is now alive again. Not since the early years of our forefathers and mothers has this been possible. No one shall threaten our world so long as the Wand remains alive. I – Za'an Kaa'duul – have willed it to be so. We now take our place in the Galaxy as the Chosen World. Let us pray …"
As her father and the four elders stood before her, they turned to face what had become a gathering of hundreds of their fellow Togruta. Males and females alike had quietly entered the Temple Sanctuary and each was clad in a beautiful red and black robe that covered over their montrals. What had become clear at this point was that Shaak had called for all of the Togruta priestly class – the Kuu'gru – to join with her.
"All, be seated, and reveal thy selves before the Force."
The various members of the congregation of Kuu'gru seated themselves as one and uncovered their montrals. Shaak raised the Wand high, spoke a few words and then plunged the gathering into darkness.
"And the word was given – Let There Be Light – and there was Light." At this exact moment, a rainbow of the visible spectrum emanated from the Wand, bathing the Temple Sanctuary in ripples of color. She then caused a current of warm Force energy to pass through everyone in attendance. There was a visible thrill on the faces of the congregants as they firmly believed they had been anointed by the most powerful force in the Galaxy, their fellow Togruta, Empress Shaak Ti.
Most everyone on Shili had watched the coronation ceremony live from Coruscant and there was a strong sense of pride felt by all. It was time for the people of Shili to celebrate their heritage and culture and now the Empress had arrived. As the Temple proceeding concluded, Shaak gave her permission to spread the word that she had arrived and the next day would be designated the Day of the Empress on her home world. As she prepared to leave the Temple, it seemed everyone wanted some time with her, so she spent a few minutes with each small grouping of Kuu'gru and left them all excited over her presence. Each fervently believed he or she had a personal relationship with Za'an Kaa'duul and that she was a loving god and cared deeply for her people. The four elders who had brought Shaak to the Temple then took possession of the Wand of Waa'maa'kuu and returned it to its sacred vessel for safekeeping. For the first time any of them could remember, the Wand had come alive when being wielded by Shaak, further proof that she was their anointed ruler and guardian and that she would always protect them.
As Shaak and her father left, the speeder returned them to their shuttle and they flew to the Ti estate outside of Corvala. Shaak happily reentered the family home and spent a few minutes with her mother and brother before retiring to the guest room and preparing to sleep. These thoughts went through her mind:
The feeling I had a few months ago has surely returned. I am a venerated deity to my people and this is a supreme responsibility which I must take seriously. As if I needed even more pressure … but my people can also be a source of strength for me going forward. I must never let them down. All they have to do is believe in themselves. If I can help bring that about, it will be an achievement to be proud of.
Shaak then noticed the audio message from Valles and played it back. She decided to respond in kind:
"Thank you, Valles, for bringing this to my attention. I would very much like to reach out to Hapes and Queen Vestalia and welcome her into my Empire as a loyal sector. I am aware that you intend to marry her son and I am happy for you on that. I will return to Coruscant in about seven days. You can meet with me then. Please inform your Hapian friends of my intentions."
Falleen, Xizor's Estate, 1 ABY, 0 months, 21 days
Lady Qi'ra, head of the Crimson Dawn organization, had returned to Falleen Prince Xizor's (a regional "Vigo" in the Black Sun syndicate) lair and they had called together a "summit" of Outer Rim syndicates. Any who wanted to attend was welcome, and it was strongly advised due to sweeping changes coming to the Galaxy with the rise of Empress Shaak Ti. As the new Empress had made clear, there was a "new sheriff in town" and Shaak was ready to commit Imperial assets toward the goal of eradicating their activities in the Galaxy, but this was only referred to in a general sense during her first Galactic broadcast some weeks earlier. There were about a dozen syndicate leaders from around the Outer Rim, from other "chapters" in the Black Sun organization, the Pykes, and a pair of Imperial Moffs that were also involved in the payouts from illegal activities that Palpatine's Empire had mostly turned a blind eye to.
The group had agreed to meet at Xizor's "country estate" on his home planet of Falleen, a world that was mostly on good terms with the Empire overall, one where the local Moff had his hands in a number of illicit activities. The understanding around the Empire was that Emperor Palpatine paid little attention to existing criminal activities and was not interested in expending resources for their eradication as they were not a threat to his rule overall. Best to tax them and keep them in line via more indirect methods. This enabled a setup that was rife with corruption, but was really not much different than it had been for centuries. Just different bosses to pay off and keep things moving. But the rise of Empress Shaak threatened to change all of this, and anyone that observed her coronation ceremony, with its impressive display of pyrotechnics – which were subtle reminders that she was greatly skilled in the Force – had to heed the implied warning. Her earlier reference to the "general foul presence of organized crime and piracy" had to be cause for concern, if not alarm.
Xizor spent the first few minutes reviewing what was generally known about the new Empress, from her Jedi background to her current statements, but it was clear that none of them had a good feel for her and what she might actually do, versus what she had said. Xizor's pal, Moff Gafir Stetmene of the Mid Rim world of Mon Gazza (a major Spice mining planet and asset to the Pyke Syndicate) in the Lambda Sector, was a fairly clever individual – part human, part Falleen – with a nose for profit. The Pykes had little choice but to cut him in on all Spice running activity, but, in return, he had developed some contacts on Lianna, due to the assistance of Qi'ra, who was running another connection through the northern District of Hordaland, run by the ever-greedy Countess Janne. Of course, a Liannese "blue blood" such as the wealthy countess, would never set foot on a planet like Mon Gazza, nor associate with "undesirables" such as the Pykes, so the suave Moff was able to handle things for her and stock some emporiums she owned in Lianna City. The trade with Lianna fattened the Pyke accounts and they were glad to have the assistance of the Moff. The Liannese would pay well for high-quality Spice, especially in the City, and it appeared the new Capital City of Vallesia as well. Valles's upcoming coronation promised to be a real "bell ringer" for various "mind altering" substances, most of which were "street legal" on Lianna.
After some time discussing the ramifications of the new Empress on the Spice trade, Qi'ra stood up to offer her ideas.
"Gentlemen, I think we're going to need to set up businesses that will be seen as legitimate operations such that we can funnel our profits through them. This should be adequate to keep the Imperial big-shots satisfied, so they can report back to the Empress that her coming crackdown is being heeded."
Xizor shot her a glance and quietly gave her a thumbs-up gesture, whereupon Moff Stetmene asked, "My Lady, is Crimson Dawn making inroads in these areas, as of yet?"
"My good Moff," Qi'ra chuckled. "It just so happens that our friends on The Wheel have already sold us some space. We're going to set up a commercial banking operation there, and there will be a connection to someone I've been working with from Muunilinst, who once was tight with the IGBC."
"Most interesting …" the Moff muttered, and gave her a smile. "I might be able to get us set up via the Imperial Ministry of Finance."
"Ah," Xizor snorted. "I'm sure that agency will be one of the first places Empress Shaak will move to put her stamp on. The word is she is quite the banking expert."
Stetmene laughed. "A lot we still have to learn about our Togruta ruler … but it means we had better know what we're doing in this area."
"No reason we can't run a clean bank," Qi'ra interjected. "Our trading activities will be a bit more intricate, but folks on Coruscant don't pay much attention to the Outer Rim – unless it's Lianna. The Empire has made that a key world in the Galaxy … and … there's another promising area: various artifacts and art works from all over the Galaxy. You can never find a set price on much of it. That leaves lots of room for …"
"Right …" Xizor laughed. "But your point is well taken. We all know we can stick to the tried-and-true, like narcotics and Spice, but we're dating ourselves. The banking operation could be just what we're looking for. I've spoken with a couple other Vigos and they'd like to get into securities brokerage. With all that Liannese money sloshing around various Outer Rim planets, the demand will be there for a way to allow investment banking. Some of these worlds are going to see some huge changes – everyone's going to want to get in, especially Coruscant and some of the Core."
"Maybe we could get into the resort and vacation business," noted another Falleen at the table. "Vaynai was so good to us – at least until the Liannese Queen decided she wanted it."
"Ah, very expensive, and huge overhead," Xizor frowned, shaking his head. "But, with the right people involved, it can work. Of course, we'd be setting up gaming operations."
The meeting went on this way for at least another hour. When it ended, Qi'ra had emerged the "winner," in the sense that she had gained valuable new contacts and had been successful in convincing the group of the need to be pro-active regarding future moves from Shaak's Empire.
Felucia, New Imperial Palace, 1 ABY, 0 months, 23 days
A one-on-one meeting was called by the Order's new manager, Knight Frehya Lumoxa, with Duchess Ana Capra of Lianna's Livornia District. The Duchess had been given dominion by Queen Valles over Felucia and other planets on the North and Northeast Outer Rim, and Felucia was one of the more important of these, due to the Empress's long-standing relationship with that planet. Frehya wanted to know how the new relationship with Lianna would work, given Shaak and Valles's growing friendship and their cooperation on managing the Imperial government and administration.
More recently, office space for Order functions had designated in the new palace, which had been constructed for Shaak in the newly developed area that had been dubbed "Felucia City." This area was within a few kilometres of the Order's Assembly Hall and other buildings that had first been constructed years ago by Shaak and Maris Brood, then added onto as the Order grew in size and scope. Frehya began to feel more and more at home at the new palace and decided that she would take up an apartment within it as her new primary living space. She had previously stayed with Shaak (in her small home) in the months after the Battle of Yavin, when her responsibilities had changed from being Ahsoka's apprentice (along with Hedala Fardi) to being Shaak's direct subordinate. Alongside the Order Grand Master, Frehya's education continued, and her managerial talents – originally developed during her years in the Almanian Navy – were put to good use, as she gradually became the organizer of the Order's facilities and saw to all maintenance and development initiatives.
Ana Capra was one of the two leading Liannese noble ladies, with the title of Grand Duchess having been bestowed on her by Queen Valles during the past year. Her family was well established in the tropical district of Livornia and owned large tracts of land where they grew various fruits and vegetables, along with wine grapes that produced some of the finest vintages on Lianna. She was one of the most adept at planetary politics, having recognized Valles's talent at an early age and grown close to the Queen well before the monarchy had recently been restored. Ana was clever and cunning, and quite shrewd at sizing up a situation and acting accordingly. But she had something else, something known to very few on the planet: Force sensitivity and adeptness. So, upon learning that she would be meeting directly with one of the Empress's most trusted people, she saw it as an opportunity to better position herself for Shaak's benefit.
As Frehya waited in her new office, Ana soon arrived, precisely when expected (following in the manner of the Queen, who insisted on punctuality from everyone on Lianna that met with her). As the diminutive (she stood about 155 cm) Duchess entered the room, Frehya rose and the two bowed to each other as equals.
"Good morning, Knight Frehya. It's good to see you again, you're looking well." The knight had on a dark green velvet dress (part of dress attire for members of the Order), and her breast-length brown hair was down and relaxed.
"And to you, your highness. I'm glad you could make it on such short notice. I would expect your time is most valuable."
Ana chuckled softly. She had on a cheery yellow silk sundress (which made a sharp contrast to her solid black long hair), as she figured Felucia would be as hot as ever, but the new palace had climate control and the temp was set to a comfortable 25 degrees (Celsius). Frehya stepped forward and gestured toward her office door.
"I planned for us to take up a conference room for this session. There are some slides I'd like to present to you."
"Ah, I'd like that. Everyone has told me that you are a fine manager. I've brought along some myself that we can review after your material."
The two of them entered the room, which had a clear view of the emerging Felucia City through a large transparisteel window that took up an entire wall. Ana gazed out of it, and remarked, "they are making great progress, as Ry had mentioned to me this morning."
"Yes, yes," Frehya smiled. "I'm quite impressed with the speed of the project and its organization. Lianna has this reputation, which, I see, is well-deserved."
"The main part of the City ought to be complete in another two weeks, Frehya. We aim to please, and the Empress gets our total attention and devotion."
"Okay, let's get down to it." Frehya took a chair at the head of the table, then launched her presentation, as Ana sat down next to her. The two ladies were starting to get a good feel for each other, and Frehya was pleased with how things were going so far. She then proceeded to narrate the slides as they appeared on the holo projector in the center of the large conference table (made of Wroshyr wood from Kashyyyk). The slides covered the expanse of land being used by the Order, including its plant facilities, which extended to all spacecraft landing areas and maintenance hangers, and the blockhouse, with its underground bunker and control room for the planet's atmospheric maintenance and alteration capabilities.
Ana took careful mental notes (using her Force ability), then asked, "I understand Ry, Countess Kyver, was working with the then Grand Master on some of this, do I have that right?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact. Shaak seemed to hit it off well with her. I wasn't present for most of their meetings, but the GM learned a number of things from her. I'm very impressed with the work the Liannese have done on Avalonia as well."
"I'm most proud of that planet, Frehya, and the Empress is very happy with her new palace there and all of the surrounding developments, for her contingent of Togruta staff and assistants."
"Yes, it's beautiful."
Ana then took the occasion to load her presentation into the conference room system from her com device. The slides covered some general information on the Galactic Outer Rim organization that she was overseeing, and some details on the Peacekeeper project. Frehya had some questions on the latter.
"Ana, these are the new versions of Palpatine's Death Star, correct?"
The Duchess nodded as Frehya continued. "What was the reason for rebuilding them and how many are planned? I may assume the Empress is on board with it …"
Ana simply smiled at first, then responded. "Frehya, we do not refer to the 'death star' name any longer, but the Queen and the Empress are in agreement that these platforms will be most useful in helping to maintain order in the Galaxy. Although Her Majesty the Empress desires Peace and Justice as among her primary objectives, she is well aware that not everyone in the Galaxy is going to simply submit to her rule. We are planning a total of eight Peacekeepers, with the first one underway in the Endor system, and the second will be in the Almania system on the northeast Outer Rim."
Frehya gasped for a second, as Almania was the world of her birth and where she had served in the military as a younger woman prior to the Clone Wars.
"Ana – that's my home planet. Do they … know about this?"
"Absolutely. They jumped at the chance to be one of the early systems involved. It's going to bring fame and riches to your home. We've been working with President Je'har to establish all logistics. The Peacekeeper will be constructed in a deep orbit – beyond Almania's two moons – and will use many local materials in its construction. It seems your home has some deep veins of metals we need for the structure of the facility."
Frehya was quite taken aback by all of this information, but then realized it had been a long time since she had been home and that much likely had changed. For a second, she thought wistfully about her one-time Almanian lover, Tri'ku Je'har, who now was engaged to Ahsoka Tano, with their wedding scheduled in a few weeks on Lianna. I can see that our relationship was doomed – but mostly as a result of poor communication that led to a misunderstanding.
Ana noticed Frehya's change of mood, and took a supportive tone. "Frehya, please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have about the program. I have been tasked by the Queen with its completion and successful roll-out."
Frehya smiled, and snapped out of her thoughts. "I would like that, Ana. What is the target date for completion?"
"About two years out. I suppose that seems aggressive, but the reality is the first one of these only took as long as it did due to Palpatine's insistence on secrecy, and to the slow construction methods of the Geonosians. We won't have that worry. Already the Endor project is close to being halfway done, I am told."
"Wow!" Frehya gasped. "You Liannese don't waste time. I suppose you have droids doing much of the work."
"Oh, absolutely. But we also have our fabrication methods that construct whole sections and then these are shipped to the building site via our large platform ships. Much of the construction is a matter of fitting these pieces together. Once the overall blueprint is ready, we just take it from there. The original Imperial design was where we started and then we just looked for efficiencies we could gain along the way. It always helps to know what worked, and what did not."
"I see," Frehya nodded. "And will these new versions of the Death Star still have planet-destroying capability?"
"Actually, from what I've been able to learn … they will not. It seems the Empress has little need for that level of destruction, and the Queen agrees with her. But we will be able to handle almost any hostile ships that we may encounter."
"Hmm. This seems very much a work in progress, but I would imagine Shaak will fill me in on what I need to know once a couple of these platforms are operational."
"That would be between you and Her Majesty," Ana smiled, giving Frehya a slight smirk.
Frehya returned the expression, and the two women gazed at each other for a moment in silence.
"Well, I guess I had best be going. It's been delightful having this meeting of the minds, my dear Lady Frehya – is that your title in the Order? I didn't want to assume …"
"Sure. Lady Frehya. I kind of like the sound of that. Ana, it's been wonderful. I can see we are going to get on famously."
The two walked back to the corridor, traded hugs, and Ana was soon headed back to her shuttle, which would take her to her yacht Concordia II that was in orbit overhead.
Group 17 open space near the Primary Galaxy, 1 ABY, 0 months, 25 days
Magnifica and Lizza were eating together on the Light Ship, a vessel of incredible power and capability, about the size of Earth's moon, with technology considerably in advance of anything in the Galaxy. But these two powerful Force-adepts were getting ready to pay it a visit and were briefly discussing it.
"I'm planning to visit Coruscant," Lizza announced. "It's been a long time since I was there."
"Very well, my sister," Magnifica responded. "I'm going to rest on the Dark Ship, once it's back. I received word that the maintenance work is done, and I'm going to have a little fun. I've been spending so much time studying. Maybe we can work out together later?"
"I'd love that," Lizza answered. "We should keep our skills sharp."
"Oh, yeah … looking forward to it, sis. And another cuddling session later …"
Lizza waved bye as she headed for a hangar deck elsewhere on the ship. Once there, she boarded a vessel about the size of a small corvette. But this was no ordinary military ship – as would be immediately evident to anyone in the "Primary" Galaxy. Once she had taken her position on the flight deck – this ship practically flew itself, so there was no need of any additional crew – she punched in the destination, and waited for a response. The Light Ship was now about 1 million light years from the center of the Primary Galaxy, which was now coming up in all its glory on one of the view screens on the flight deck. Her ETA came back to her – about 1 standard hour.
Lizza chuckled, "see you soon, Mister Menoway."
To be continued …