Chapter 3 - Administration
Despite the spectacle of Emperor Vader's first appearance, politicians and bureaucrats were variously surprised, pleased, shocked, and horrified to discover the self proclaimed master of the Galactic Empire was capable of handling the onerous tasks of administration. More than that, in fact. He showed a particular skill in navigating the byzantine labyrinth of legal framework built layer upon layer, much like Coruscant itself. Whether it was a result of the Sith Lord being Force sensitive or a natural talent, nothing stopped the giant cyborg. Not even bureaucracy.
It didn't hurt that Vader showed an unflinching willingness to kill any and all who crossed him. Whether as punishment, an example to others, or both it was the fool who thought to skim a little off the top. And with the power of the Force at this disposal, lying to the new Emperor was a fool's gambit.
Worse still, the common people adored him for it. Not only would he execute those judged as corrupt, he personally lead the teams sent to bring them into custody. For the first time in living memory, the leader of the civilized galaxy put his own body on the line to carry out his orders. Old hands at the political game, or at least the clever ones, quickly realized how out gunned they were. Vader was now the undisputed ruler of the Empire. No matter what the politicians argued, the citizens accepted him.
And it wasn't only corrupt politicians, but criminals as well. From the rich and powerful to violent street gangs, none were outside Vader's grasp. Quite a few were happy to rat out any connections they had if it meant getting away with their necks intact. Lastly, Vader wisely broadcast his escapades. For the citizenry, seeing a politician with their generous backsides safely planted in plush seating within well-appointed offices was bordering on an insult. However, when they returned home after a hard days work and turned on the holovids to see the Emperor himself wading through muck, hunting down a criminal? It didn't take a political genius to see which way the wind was blowing. A team of his newly appointed Imperial Guards, the evolution of Palpatine's personal security, followed him into every arrest and execution. No clone troopers, these were composed of volunteers, and the recruitment stations across Coruscant were spoiled for choice. As for the clones themselves, they'd been sent out as an advanced force to other worlds. No doubt some would fall as Vader's control extended out from the seat of the newly established Galactic Empire, which suited the Sith. He didn't trust that Sidious hadn't left something else behind along with the control needed for Order 66. When the time came they were to be granted some form of retirement. Until then, he would slowly expand control and begin solidifying his reign across the core worlds.
As these events unfolded, Senatorial factions were made and and unmade every hour. Sundry groups, dozens of dozens of competitive interests, and plenty of parlaying and coalitions. Mostly, however, these factions vied amongst each other, rather than directly against Vader himself. For his part, Vader seemed disinterested, if not outright oblivious, to the politicians as they jockeyed for position in the internecine conflicts of day to day bureaucracy.
Amongst them was one lead by Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan.
"How can you all give up on the Republic?" he asked his gathered allies in a secure room nestled deep within one of the unused quarters of the Galactic Senate. When a government had been around as long enough, it was no surprise that more than a few wings of the old building, covered in dust and cobwebs, found themselves repurposed as clandestine meeting places in this new Imperial Age.
"What else is there?" one asked. "You've seen the news! If Vader walked in here and killed us all with his lightsaber, Coruscant would celebrate our deaths!"
Senator Mon Mothma, ever concerned over the fate of the people, concurred. "We have only ourselves to blame. For too long we tried political solutions. To our detriment it seems. Now Palapatine's apprentice arrives and cuts through the bureaucracy. Literally, at times. And if we attempt to explain the political realities, we look like those selfsame corrupt politicians the polis were happy to see Emperor Vader cut down."
"So, you all find yourselves at something of a crossroads," one man said.
"You have something to add, Tarkin?"
The recently appointed Moff gave a thin smile and stood up from the table they'd all sat around. Thanks to Palpatine, Tarkin was technically the ranking member representing the military. "Well, not much more than you already know. The simple fact is, you have few moves available. Unless of course, you'd like to foment rebellion, either open or subtle. But I doubt you want to expose your own people to the sort of reprisals we all imagine Lord Vader is capable of. Nothing I've seen suggests the man is inclined towards mercy."
"Tarkin is right," Bail said. "If we rebel openly, the galaxy would view us as bitter politicians throwing a petulant tantrum. And if we do so in secret at this juncture, with Vader so close?"
"That Force of his." Tarkin supplied.
"So we find ourselves stuck for the moment, at least," Mon Mothma said, putting to bed any current hopes for the revival of the Old Republic."
"Crime is down, the economy is up. No matter the reasons, will any be rushing to join us if crossing Vader means a downward spiral?" Tarkin asked. "Will families thank us for granting them freedom if it means their children go hungry? And thats not mentioning Vader's promises to carry out raids on slaver planets at the edge of Imperial territory in the Outer Rim. Imagine you defeat Lord Vader, then tell the citizens that he was evil, but now the Republic is back so we can return to the days of do-nothing politicians. I'm sure that would go over well. Your success would mean rebels popping up on every world. The New Republic would be stillborn."
None of them wanted to admit it, but Tarkin was right. Vader had them between a rock and a hard place.
"So, for the moment," Bail said, rising from his seat, "any form of rebellion would play right into Vader's hand. Force knows he's already gone after everyone else who tried to cross him. For now at least, we wait."
###
"Name, sir?"
"Ben. Ben, uh, Kenobi," Obi-Wan said and then wondered at the wisdom of using his actual surname. Not that there weren't, probably, other Kenobi out in the wider galaxy, but he imagined the new Galactic Empire would be looking for that name. Not that he could do anything about it now. The paperwork supplied to him was already in place. Kenobi himself was exhausted. He'd been working on the bare minimum of sleep for the last few weeks and it had long since caught up to him. He snatched naps where he could, but even with Artoo and Threepio at his side, the Jedi was understandably on edge during the journey to Naboo. On the up side, he now looked the part of a haggard survivor caring for two children. Mostly because thats exactly what he was.
"Your status as war refugees is confirmed. If I may ask, where is your wife?" The customs agent was looking down at the twins in Kenobi's arms.
"Ah, their mother passed in the last days of the Clone Wars. Their names are Luke and Leia." Obi-Wan was hardly going to explain how he wasn't related to the two. It wouldn't look good if he said he was a total stranger to the twins, but it was fine. He was secretly a member of a fallen order that the galaxy at large blamed for the end of the Republic and wanted by the Emperor. And these infants were, in fact, the children of that Emperor who I recently left for dead beside a lava flow. Kenobi shook his head and dispelled the thoughts. The lack of rest was catching up with him. Sooner or later he'd need a few hours of shut eye, Force willing.
"Your paper work is all in order. Welcome home Mister Kenobi," the customs agent said. With help from Artoo and Bail Organa he'd managed to arrange falsified documents stating he was a native of Padme's home world, kept away due to work. Extending his will through the Force, he'd made sure no one looked too closely at his credentials along the way and it looked like he was finally safe. "There is one last thing, mostly a formality."
Obi-Wan's blood froze. The negotiations aboard a Trade Federation ship all those years ago were supposed to be 'mostly a formality' and now he faced this.
"Something else?" he asked with what he hoped was a relaxed, friendly smile.
"We need to check your droids for anti-Imperial data. A few worlds already dealt with traitors trying to smuggle information within their non-organic personnel."
Kenobi glanced at Artoo who readily rolled forward and whistled at the Customs agent.
"Excellent. This will only take a moment," and a cable was slotted into the port Artoo willingly opened up. Only Kenobi noticed the slight distortion on the holoscreen. Turning back to his station, the agent gave it a glance and nodded. "All clean. Next the protocol droid, please."
Threepio turned around while rattling off all his worries, but once again the diagnostic came back clear. With a smile and a nod, the customs agent bid them farewell and wished them the best.
"Well done Artoo. I can see why Anakin never flew with any other Astromech," Kenobi said.
The little droid beeped as if to say 'naturally' and rolled on ahead.
"Master Kenobi," Threepio said. "What will we do next? The children would be best served by a stable environment, not a refugee camp."
"Well, we're in luck, my shiny metal friend. A home was already prepared and we'll be meeting our escort soon enough."
Sure enough, when they left the star port, Obi-Wan and his entourage encountered Padme Amidala waiting for them in a small transport car.
"You truly look like her," Kenobi said.
"That was the idea," Sabe replied. Being Amidala's body double, first as queen then senator, meant she didn't merely look the part. The bodyguard and duplicate of the late Padme could almost perfectly mimic her friend's voice and mannerisms. "Get in, we've arranged everything." Once everyone was inside, she lifted off and pulled away from the platform and angled towards one of the more rural settlements on the planet. "Is that them?" she asked glancing at the babies.
"It is. Feels like I've been carrying them for months." Right now they were in a little sling over the Jedi's shoulder's and deep asleep.
"Almost. It took a while to set all this up, but after you're settled, we'll use a virus to erase the data that a Kenobi and his family ever passed through customs. As far as the planetary government is concerned, you've lived here all your life.
"What is my cover?"
"Farmer in the low lands. Not too rich, not too poor. The land isn't particularly valuable for anything else and its far enough from any city. No one will come looking to buy it off you or have reason to dig into your background. Still…"
"Still?" Kenobi asked.
"You couldn't have come up with a better alias!?"
"Blame Organa! He set all this up!"
Artoo beeped from the small cargo space in the back.
"Yes, and you as well. Although using my actual name was risky, hmm?"
"If the droid isn't worried we must be fine. That little fellow has been with us since the day you and your master's arrival back during the Trade Federation fiasco."
"I suppose I've just been worried. I've felt useless this whole time." Obi-Wan admitted.
Sabe rolled her eyes. "Haven't we all. This Vader… he isn't a fool. Our agents on Coruscant are stymied. For now we can't do a damn thing!"
Obi-Wan smiled. "Oh, that isn't true. We can trust in the Force. And we can look to the future." He glanced down at Luke and Leia, sleeping peacefully. Taking a long breath, Kenobi drifted off to a deep, dreamless sleep.
###
Kshhhhhh
"They don't intend to fight?" Vader asked from his seat behind the Imperial Desk. The former Jedi Temple was cleaned out by the end of Vader's first month and now the Council room was his own office. A fitting reprisal, the Sith Lord thought.
"They are politicians after all, Lord Vader," Tarkin said. "No matter how much they claim to hate the state of their former republic, taking up blasters and charging into the fray is a bit of an ask."
"A hesitation they didn't show when sending clones and Jedi to far flung worlds."
"I tend to observe that introspection is no friend to long-term politicians."
Vader would be the first to admit his wife was unique in that regard. Despite the annoyance he felt dealing with fools who wanted to bring back the crippled, decaying Republic, a part of him respected those who refused to bow and scrape. Even in his presence there remained the spark of defiance in their eyes. And that spark would prove useful to his Galactic Empire.
"Tell me Moff, why side with me? I've given you little proof that I should be in charge."
"On the contrary, Lord Vader. Although I've had small reason to deal with them, the Inquisitorius seems to show you a deal of respect bordering on fear. Beyond that, your economic, political, military, and enforcement reforms have proved to be master strokes. The exact nature of your ascension to the seat of Emperor will be of supreme interest to the historians, of that I've no doubt. All I need to know is what I've already seen. You took the reigns and the core worlds have already improved, to say nothing of remaining stable. Criminal organizations are shrinking or being folded into the Empire. The economy is far better than it ever was in the waning years of the Republic. Lastly the leader, you, has the will of the people. The Mandate of the Force, if you like. Whatever else, the citizens support you. After those last years they might support anyone offering a change, but you have maintained that support and given it the means to grow."
Kshhhhhh
"You know, I hope, that flattery means nothing to me," Vader said and stared at the Moff. "Several of Palpatine's sycophants tried such methods."
Tarkin looked into his own reflection on the black lenses without blinking. "Yes, and it served them about as well as Mas Amedda's bluster."
Vader stood from the desk and walked to the window overlooking Coruscant. The sun was high in the sky and traffic was busier than he'd seen it in years. New residents to the ecumenopolis arrived weekly now and distant systems requested means to join the young Empire every day judging by the reports he received. If Tarkin were Force sensitive, he would feel the ripple in the Dark Side as a restless Vader allowed his anger to surge. A week passed since he last joined his newly appointed Stormtroopers on a mission or summoned the Imperial Guard for a raid. He was growing restless and reports from Moff Tarkin did nothing more than whet his appetite for violence.
Kshhhhhh
"I sense a disturbance in the Force," Vader said flatly and the lightsaber he constructed after his first appearance before the Senate flew into his hand from its stand on the desk.