[4 BBY]
[Roos Tarpals Military Academy, Shores of Lake Paonga, Otoh Gunga Province, Naboo, Naboo System, Chommell Sector, Mid Rim, United Federal Empire]
Rugor Naas stood, giving a friendly two handed wave, as the cadets of the Academy, soldiers of the Grand Army, paraded with their veteran instructors. As a youngling Rugor remember enjoying parades of warriors, and as Boss it been even more of joy…now there was an unease to it within him. In what glories he had wanted to achieve, and, like a cursed wishing-bubble, had received in achieving more even than his great and illustrious ancestor, Gallo. Before him marched a great warbeast, lean, mean, and almost hungry for battle across the stars as even the Naboo were guarded by, the Grand Army patrolling cities, guarding the skies as they had always guarded the oceans.
An impossible dream of a youngling. Given suddenly, almost without warning or desire, and with a great and terrible price that few could see it felt to Rugor. He had retired as Boss as it started…and returned as Boss when the Council had panicked during and after the latest Confederate Invasion of his world a decade ago. A dangerous crown that Rugor almost wanted to refuse despite it being all he'd wanted for so very long; for a decade ago it was clear what way the currents were running, and, in the end, here they had flowed. Warriors, no, soldiers, clad in optical camouflage 'light' armour, armed with better weapons than a generation ago, including many with weapons that were banned all those years ago.
"They are looking good" Tobler said beside him as they turned away, sitting behind the privacy screens of the balcony as they had the interlude between celebrations on the graduation ceremony "Proper, as it should be Boss"
Tobler Ceel was proud of the growth Nugor knew, his old friend being an old friend again and not just a former comrade-in-arms who'd stayed military fit while Nugor went unto other, what he'd believed, were greater things afterwards "Very different to when I served with you Grand Bombad General, you have done well, as have all involved in the new Academy"
The Roos Tarpals Military Academy was a large, and rapidly created, military base and training facility, built near enough to Otoh Gunga to contribute to its defence from orbit or air attack, but not so close as to stop the loud and destructive training conducted on land and in the waters. He would have complained of the sheer cost of the facility, but the truth was bitter;- despite the funding construction by cannibalising the vast debris fields around Naboo meant the facility had come in under budget. Funding that had been pumped into training and ensuring future payments for many years to come…
'Every Gungan is a warrior, yes' he thought wearily taking his sea, then his drink from one of the attractive attendants 'But every warrior a killer? Such eyes they have!'
"The Chancellor will arrive for Empire Day?"
"Yes, his last before retirement" Nugor answered shaking his head, wanting to shake off bad thoughts on a joyous day 'With the Emperor most likely, but that we can't mention any time soon'
Jar Jar Binks….yet another of his good 'bad' decisions in life Rugor knew. The male was an idiot…but apparently an idiot who was as lucky as he'd always been, but also smart enough to have smart people around him advising him. That he'd risen so high, that any Gungan had risen so high, was a source of constant stress and near panic amidst the Council during the first term…and now the second was ending the festival at Jar Jar no longer being a potential risk of…being Jar Jar in such power was reason to get gloriously drunk for several weeks afterwards. Nugor couldn't help but give a shake "Ooooo, security will be tight, so your feasting will be later I must say sorrowfully"
"Less I talk to Jar Jar the happier I am" Tobler replied solidly "Have big mansion, waters and lands, with pretty female maids, good looking, an ugly Nabooan too even. Put Jar Jar there. Far side of planet. Plenty of security"
"That is a good idea"
"Yes" was his friend's response "Have similar, in mountains, if Ami-dumba decides to return"
"Carefully now my friend, the Naboo like her" Rugor pointed out "I like her, she not so bad when you think of her as female, less smart, human Jar Jar"
"Hnn" came an acknowledgment, then a shift to actual business "Before he retires you need to make sure he sees to increasing the Imperial Garrison, or gets the academy here as part of the Stormtrooper Corps Course as talked about. We will be a target if war comes again, and the Naboo…aren't going to hit targets"
'As you well know Boss' was the implied, but unstated, grumpiness there, and, worse, it was true as he was dealing with the fallout of War even now, years later. All the crisis, from the first invasion of the Trade Federation, to the Blue Shadow Crisis, and then the devastating final assault, and battle in both space and on their world in the Imperial-Confederate War…
Had been a blow to all of the world, but had been heavily concentrated on the surface dwelling Naboo, with their capital, Theed, effectively reduced to a ruin in the aftermath. Between the battle, the seizure of the Palpatine Estates, and the change in galactic economy, the Naboo's own military and noble houses had defacto rebelled against their own government. Oh, they hadn't done it officially, but they had contacted Rugor and the Gungan Grand Army during the Battle, and, then, when it had ended, the remains of the Naboo Royal Military had either joined the Empire, or some few were now under his control. The Empire had retained the old Royal forces nearby, under General Panaka, but almost any who were warriors amongst them were in the Imperial military, leaving Rugor in the unfortunate position of the Grand Army defending, and essentially running, the planet's military and anything above law enforcement.
Glorious. Wonderful. The dream of his ancestors made real; the Naboo defeated, pacificated, and under gungan control and not endangering things anymore.
Yet that was not actually the way it was, or that he would wish it. The Naboo cities were, somewhat, bouncing back, but it was an effort under the older Houses, and they'd elected the most recent Queen under the clear instructions of 'Do what Boss Nass tells you!' essentially. Backed up by provincial militias he'd watched them push for the more decentralised system his own people worked under, with shifting allegiance to his 'planetary government' than their Queen. If things continued as they were, and he could feel the tides both above from the Empire, and below from the people, then the believed situation would become the actual, and standing on the galactic stage, even wealthy, was…distressing at the best of times.
And having more vassals was the last thing Rugor Nass wanted these days. He was having enough trouble with his original ones without more being added after all!
Primarily with the Muskeg Gunga, who, to his constant anger, were smart enough in the wake of the last battle to temper their fanatical belief that gungans should be the only sentient species to settle this world. Not that they'd stopped believing that, but instead had taken a more pragmatic and long-term view of things…largely helped along by their growing wealth from plasma sales like several gunga, Rugor's especially. No, they were playing a gratingly hard game in that they played the part of 'caring, wise, true rulers of the waters' to the galaxy beyond with heavy adoption of Naboo war orphans. In areas now being settled by the Muskeg Gunga after cutting a deal with the Naboo House Reimket to divide up the Palpatine estate and ruined coastal towns of that province. Win-win for both.
But Rugor knew what they were doing; they'd taken in those young Naboo, made sure to divide up the females from the males, and then send them to the most religious of the religious of their gunga. Males to the warrior lodges to given all the skills needed that life in the Imperial military, or travelling the galaxy as a bounty hunter or mercenary, was easily available. Females similarly, but away from the males and thought the focus on raising clutches…in gungan only, ensuring there was as little contact as possible to avoid accidental matings as young were wont to do. It was a cynical, problematic, and very hard to deal with action by them to gain control of the province entire. Only the fact that it was a better treatment than many orphans on other worlds had, on holo-vid, received, meant he was stuck dealing with them and their cultural genocide efforts for the years to come.
"I'll make sure to have you meet whoever you need to in the run up to Empire Day" he said after a moment considering the matter "There will be interest, and with the salvaging set to continue for several more years at the least…"
He trailed off, waving it off. There were other reasons too of course, with Naboo an important trade, patrol, and depot hub for both civilian traders and the Imperial military, but also because the Grand Army was an important part of the 'elite aquatic forces' of the Empire at large. Not Rugor's favourite thing, even if it was universal popular amongst his people, but it did mean that funding could be found, and no matter what his friend thought a Stormtrooper training facility would be placed here. He didn't want it, and had found excuses without making excuses, but here it would be soon enough. All that mattered, truly, was that their world had orbital defences and a planetary shield should the worst turn out to be the worst once again…
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