[17 BBY]

[Office of the (Acting) Chancellor {Southern Regions}, formerly Governor's Palace, Eriadu, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"Chancellor"

"Come in Gideon, we have much to discuss, and, as always, limited time" Wilhuff Tarkin, Chancellor of the Galactic Republic (Acting) (Outer Rim), and Grand Moff of the Grand Army of the Republic (Galactic South), said to his brother without turning from where he stood looking out the window. The windows were sufficient to stop anything short of a light to medium turbolaser blast, and the Chancellor was tired, but still focused on looking out at the vessels heading into orbit as he concentrated on matters of state. But, most of all, he was weary, as the war made, and dealing with so-called allies, made one weary to the bone.

"As you say" his brother replied, also sounding weary "Enjoying the view"

"I am enjoying the departure of certain business interests from my world" Wilhuff replied honestly, back straight, hands together behind his back as his eyes watched the various flashes in orbit "It has been a…difficult day"

"Ah, the Figgs?"

Wilhuff gave a nod, still looking out the window "Yes, indeed, Figg & Associates, of the Figg Conglomerate, to be precise, as well as the loyal fellows from SoroSuub"

"Loyal or loyal?"

"Hmm" Wilhuff turned about in a collected and precise manner, turning to face his brother "They wish to confirm their loyalty to the Republic of course, and of the benefits that they can provide to the cause"

Gideon sat as Wilhuff gestured at the chair "And all they want in exchange is…"

"What they are owed as they see it" he told his brother with distaste as he filled two mugs of strong kaff, and the brought it over to the table "In this case titles, legal frameworks, and other such things that better enable them to…conduct business in these difficult times"

"Ah" Gideon answered with a nod as Wilhuff sat "So nothing overly vexing"

"Their presence and attitude was vexing, but…no, nothing that is overly onerous. They are committed to the imposition of a New Order" Wilhuff answered then gave an irritated frown "With compromises"

"Politics is the art of compromise I've heard tell" his brother replied drolly "Such is the fate of those who carry the duty and heavy weight of Chancellor of the Republic"

"Indeed" Wilhuff scolded his brother mildly with his tone, but Gideon merely gave a thin, weary, smile "Much compromise, and, as ever, the carrion birds seek to take advantage of perceived weakness. And I'm sure several of those loyal businesspersons are already plotting on some way to shift allegiance should we be defeated"

Gideon gave a doubtful "I'm rather sure Ningo will kill them if he ever returns after their rather public denunciations of his people, and then exiling of their dependents"

"Yes, I'm sure they are aware of such" Wilhuff agreed as the Separatist Admiral was rather put out with his homeworld's current leadership after their 'betrayal' as he and other traitors saw it "But it shan't stop them trying if the tide does turn against us. But it is causing significant pressures Gideon"

His brother winced "I'm aware, between the Bothans switching sides, and what appears to be a general retreat from our Coruscanti allies…"

Wilhuff sipped his kaff as his brother trailed off. They both agreed that Coruscant, and in truth it was Alsakan pulling the strings, were allies of convivence in truth. So, he nodded "It was not unexpected"

"No, it was not" Gideon agreed looking into his own, frowning "But not the ideal timing"

"In war brother it is almost never ideal timing, except for the enemy" he pointed out to his brother "Druckenwell and Falleen will soon be relieved as such and then, within weeks, they strike at Christophsis, Rodia, and Geonosis I would expect. As well as the other axis towards Yag'Dhul, Bestine, and Fondor. Steps have been taken, but holding those positions is highly unlikely"

"You repositioned Geen?"

"Yes, and I've Maarisa to resupply with Moff Rahm's forces attempt to delay that axis of advance in her absence" he detailed "I have ordered Lucas to begin limited offensives and deep raids from the Arkanis Sector to delay the advances coming through Bothan territory now. Seventh Fleet will reinforce him from Ryloth if needs be. We must make it very costly for them"

Gideon gave a sigh "I do believe that will be the case brother…considering efforts made and orders given"

Wilhuff gave a simple, faint, nod "Yes, it will buy time, and, one hopes, leave little left for our enemies to use against us…as we have used theirs against them till now. No, we must show them our will is unbreakable, and defeating us will be no easy task as they seem to believe. We need time to continue to bring order, control, and the rule of law to the lands the Republic abandoned, as recruitment has surged, and we have production, we just need…."

"Time" Gideon answered for him "Yes, time indeed, and to formalise things to a greater degree I believe? That was what our good business sphere allies are concerned over?"

"Of course, I believe the whole galaxy is having that problem" Wilhuff mused coldly, again taking a drink and gather his thoughts. The rising concern was that the Galactic Credit Standard had, essentially, been collapsing since the Coup on Coruscant so many months ago. With the Intergalactic Banking Clan falling into chaos from destruction on much the Coruscant Financial District when someone still unknown had detonated atomsplitters, and more and more regional chaos…

He looked at his brother calmly "We cannot afford to retain the Galactic Credit Standard. There is no faith in it, and what faith remains is backed up by the strength of our enemy"

Gideon looked into his kaff, took a sip, then sighed, frowning "You wish to take advantage of the Cortosis mines, the tibana gas extraction deal?"

"It is less taking advantage of, than it is merely one piece of a puzzle we must solve if we are to survive" he replied simply "Centralization efforts are proving successful, yes, but for over a year now we have maintained continuity with ad-hoc solutions, and that itself was based upon years of wartime measures simply being extended. This Separatist Grand Offensive is merely bringing matters to a head as it were brother mine. And it is not I that is bringing them to that situation, our….allies…wish change. If we do not begin to move soon, then the chance will slip away. Perhaps fatally"

The difficulty was they needed the military now, and it was being forged even now, every step in creating the machine to save their position was requiring more and more steps as each one was taken. Wilhuff could see the New Order he had dreamed of, that his Father had begun to grasp at before, on the distant horizon, but it was clear that it would be even greater work than original thought. Those were the dreams of naïve young military officer who had yet to truly see war. Now Wilhuff had seen war, had lived it, and had seen the depravity and betrayal of those so-called allies he had once aligned with. But now…now, there was only he and his that he could trust. If they had failed then he, himself, Wilhuff Tarkin of Eriadu, a 'Rim Savage' would bring forth a New Order to the galaxy. There would be Order. There would be Law. There would be Control.

Unfortunately, the harsh nature of the war so far had taught him the very important lessons that one could not simply impose order in the same manner a child would wish to 'own' a pet krayt dragon. While he would never publicly admit it, or perhaps even here, he could see now the consolidation of both the position of Chancellor and Grand Moff had been a mistake. For while it brought Power…it also brought grasping simpletons that, sadly, must be pleased to ensure things functioned as they must, no matter how much Wilhuff wished to blaster them all to death. No, much like a military campaign the logistics needed to be prepared…

Wilhuff found himself standing, pacing, with kaff in hand, coming back to the window, seeing the lights of the fleet guarding Eriadu "We may have to make rather grandiose seeming actions"

He could feel his brother frowning, tensing, behind him "How so Chancellor?"

"Approaches have been made about formalising our rule through a monarchical arrangement" he stated simply looking out the window "Or, perhaps it should be better put that several factors wish for formalisation of known factors for stability"

He turned, looked at Gideon "Faith in the Republic is dying, as faith in its credits let alone what few intuitions remain. If we are to ensure those institutions survive, then they must be further stabilised by what means that they can"

"What are talking about brother?"

"I'm talking about becoming Emperor as it were, of a rather rump Galactic Republic, though it perhaps would be Empire now I suppose" Wilhuff mused for a moment before continuing "No, this is not an ideal thing Gideon, as it will require giving up powers to other factors. Many of our allies have faith in us, The Tarkin Family, or those allied under our banner, not in the position of Chancellor itself. If we are to maintain faith for more than a campaigning season, ah, then we use that capital to shore up this remnant Republic's position"

'Because we cannot achieve all I need to achieve in the short term. The New Order is there, on the horizon…but it will be the work of generations, not just a lifetime I fear' Wilhuff thought as his brother let out a slow breath, putting down the coffee and looking at him "That is a great deal to consider Wilhuff, a great deal…and will cause great troubles. Though we are already there I admit"

"Yes, we are very much in great troubles as you so succinctly put it" he answered with no amusement, just weariness and vision mixed together "It is a means to an end, a way to shore up support in the flagging institutions of the Republic we have inherited. We shall have to consider some manner of secondary Senate for those others we grant titles, as we likely will have to pay some of our future military in titles and prospective colonies, at least till we have a State sufficient to actually pay for all such things"

That would also, assuming they survived that long, allow them to settle defended 'border march' worlds as the actions of these mysterious Grysk was showing the Republic Civil War was drawing attention from beyond known space. It would also be much easier to pay certain forces off in colonies with full representation and a hundred years of tax exemption than in credits they didn't currently have, largely because the needed a new currency. Wilhuff had already done such an agreement, of sorts, with the Stormcrow and his allies in these empty and/or unclaimed/not-recognised rulership systems on the border of Wildspace were in bad need of defence. The cortosis mines on this Mokjiv being owned by the State, but an agreed amount…

Whatever the case, it would kill several rancor with the one artillery piece "You are intent on this course?"

"It has been used several times in history by the Old Republic, I do not see why we cannot copy it" he responded to Gideon, finishing off his kaff. In part it would allow him to deal with his 'Jedi' problems, though that was more the Galaxy's 'Jedi problems' than his forces. But history, and now combat reports, showed the useful of loyal ones. Loyal ones, and Wilhuff did not trust the Temple Order the Jedi had established, and yet tried to establish as best he could tell. Fine then, he would establish his own vassals if need be as Chancellors had done with more military minded Jedi in the depths of history. The Force User, Ventress, the turncoat, was a useful example there in bringing a world to their side. He nodded.

"Whatever it takes to survive and bring about the New Order. Whatever it takes…"

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