Wayland Planet
Lanz looked at Adela and she looked back. They didn't have to say anything, even if they didn't completely agree on the case they were put before.
Adela seems like she wants to help him and talk him out of it. Lanz interpreted her feelings in this way, although he himself had a completely different opinion on this matter. If a person wants to die, the least... unfavorable option is to let him go in peace.
Adela, however, saw things differently. She took off her mask and helmet. "Is there any way we can help you?"
I used to think I was a naive person. However, this is on a completely different level. Lanz assessed it this way, but not mockingly, but rather felt sorry for her because of it. Trying hard to help those who don't want it is only putting yourself at risk of emotional suffering, without bringing tangible benefits or support to anyone.
The overseer just chuckled in response, humorlessly. "I am more of a machine than a human being. Everyone who loved me disappeared from this world a long time ago. I am a living dead in all but name, I have no past or future."
His eyes, although devoid of eyebrows around them, were at this moment, for some reason Lanz couldn't understand, much more pleading than anything else. "Besides, I feel very strongly that nothing of what I saw and felt will ever disappear from my mind, that it will always be a part of me. I just want to end this and rest."
How similar you are. A voice inside Lanz spoke directly to him, with a mocking undertone. Only he lost everything, and you, even though you haven't lost anything, want to die because the universe and responsibility overwhelm you. Or at least that's what you think and that's why you wanted to die.
The voice seemed to come straight from the deepest recesses of his heart and mind. It wasn't pleasant to hear, especially since it touched him deeply. You have always been afraid of responsibility and that is why you have never wanted power or an important position. You always thought your presence would do more harm than good. You would rather stay at one point, unable to move on.
Hearing this was extremely painful, and Lanz felt as if his subconscious was tearing him apart inside, being both judge and executioner of everything he had ever been. And now that you have found yourself in this alien and familiar universe at the same time, you would like to die! All you ever did was create some pathetic makeshift state just for yourself, for your primitive survival!
However, what disturbed him the most and shook his peace was yet to come. You have always spoken so willingly about the survival of the species, about its development, about the paramount importance of community and the need for self-sacrifice - both small and large - but have you ever sacrificed anything and anyone for the common good! No, because it was always about you and your own good!
Lanz was glad he was wearing a mask, otherwise no one would have seen the decisive leader he wanted to be. Yes, you always liked to think of yourself as someone who could change the face of the world! As arrogant and self-centered as all those individualistic scoundrels and hypocrites who can't see beyond the tip of their own noses!
He now had the impression that this powerful voice was coming to him from everywhere, that it was no longer just internal, and at the same time it was as if he was scolding himself. As if all this was a remorse of his conscience, his subconscious, of what he was and what he really wanted. "And this is the great Lord Regent Lanz! A man who only wanted to survive and had whims of being the next Galactic Emperor! He thought he could be a prodigy who needed only a minimum of effort to achieve brilliant results, but you would achieve nothing and leave nothing behind if you did! The only thing your pathetic self-centeredness and individualism will bring is literally planets full of ashes and nothing else! Either you start thinking decisively about the collective interest of the community of citizens for whom you are responsible, or you will only bring death and destruction!"
Lanz almost began to breathe heavily, but fortunately for him, that was when everything went quiet and he was left with great confusion in his mind. What exactly was that in the Force?
Receiving no response, he was brought back to reality by the overseer's chuckle. Adela looked at the Lord Regent as well, though she followed the once human's gaze in obvious confusion.
"It appears that you are currently experiencing conflict, Inquisitor." The overseer said confidently. "Because of my history? Of course not, because you knew perfectly well what the Emperor was doing, you knew about these and similar operations, perhaps even more than you would like. It doesn't matter much now, because all that matters is who emerges from this internal storm. Will the old become stronger, or will it die and be reborn stronger?"
"If you say so…" Lanz had no desire to answer it directly, instead choosing to remain somewhat evasive and feign indifference.
"You're fighting internally!" The overseer raised his voice, banging the table hard as he did so. "I don't need to see your face to know that. You can deny it, it doesn't matter, because you seem to already see a new direction in which you want to go. You can try to deceive yourself and your companion, but there is no point in masking your feelings, and it doesn't matter that much to me."
One for many. Lanz thought, then decided to take off his helmet and let it fall to the ground with a thud. "Then why did you talk about it if it's not going to matter that much to you, cyborg."
Although Lanz clearly used the term offensively, the overseer did not react violently or offended, instead he shrugged. "Maybe small, but I don't want my death to be completely meaningless. Simply put, I prefer that the Emperor's data and treasures go to someone with a vision and a plan to make it come true."
Vision. Lanz thought, but one thing resonated in his head. One for many.
However, he frowned after a short while. No, claiming such a limitless dedication is a direct path to corruption, having said that...
Feeling the eyes of both of his interlocutors, he decided to take a more proactive approach. "I have visions, I have - I think - a sensible philosophy of conduct. However, the plan? No, honestly, I've never planned anything in detail. Yes, I had ideas and considered many possibilities, obstacles that might appear on my way sooner or later, I would be a fool if I didn't do it."
"Are you acting without a plan?" Adela asked in shock, at the same time her previous feelings were replaced by rage. "I cannot believe that the fate of me, my people and billions of other beings rests in the hands of someone like…!"
Although at the last moment she refrained from making a harsher statement, Lanz had no difficulty in guessing what it was supposed to end with, only a fool would not guess it. "I understand your anger, Adela, because I also would not like to be led by someone who, in my opinion, has no idea for a common future for… countless sapient beings."
Lanz saw no point in using intimidation tactics where subtle and sincere persuasion was necessary. "I believe that it is better to set a general goal and then create plans for the most important issues at a given moment, rather than creating thousands of, perhaps even perfect, plans, most of which will quickly become outdated. Simply put, I prefer flexibility and adaptability over dogmatic adherence to one way to achieve a specific goal.
I can no longer hesitantly or use evasive answers, I must be precise and decisive! A time of uncertainty, a time of quick and easy victories, a time resulting from chaos and uncertainty after the rapid collapse of the old order, called the New Order not so long ago. The time for bold maneuvers and relying on bold moves is over, now it is the time for long-term and sometimes complicated strategies. It's time for clearly defined priorities, time for a specific course of action, time for reasonable maneuvers and tactics!
However, there was another, much and definitely darker side of these times, which Lanz realized less readily. The time for one-sided fighting against the rebels has passed, and instead the time for total war has come. A war in which everyone alive is involved, and it does not matter whether it is a soldier on the battlefield, a member of a garrison on a backwater planet, or a starving civilian trying to achieve 100% of his daily work quota in a factory or shipyard. Everyone is involved and no one is safe, enemy or ally. However…
He then turned to the cyborg. "I know what I want to strive for, what I should strive for, just like every intelligent life form in this galaxy."
"What then is the purpose, Inquisitor?"
Lanz turned to the Force once more, demanding an answer that would be consistent with his personality, and in a moment he received it. However, he would have been a fool to accept something given to him so easily without analyzing or correcting it, which happened quite quickly. His mind was working at an extremely fast pace, analyzing the deeper implications as he did so.
"For this, my dear overseer, that the few make the most important decisions, suffer and all this for the many." He answered him with absolute conviction that left not even the slightest trace of doubt. "A few for many."
His interlocutor's eyes were watching him carefully, and Lanz felt a presence in the Force pressing against him, but he had no intention of making it difficult for him, because he had absolutely nothing to hide at that moment. On the contrary, he could afford to show all his determination that he had gained in the last dozen or so minutes.
"You believe in your own words, that's unquestionable." The overseer nodded at him. "Now there is only one question left to ask: are you ready to back up these words with actions?"
"You must be joking!" Adela, who had been silently waiting for the outcome of this conversation between them, was outraged. "I understand killing in the name of the Empire and even torturing, if the circumstances and the need to obtain key information simply require it. But despite everything, this man was kidnapped, indoctrinated and even though he fought against us, he killed our people but he had no choice! He was loyal to the Emperor's orders, we cannot kill him!"
A simple approach, undoubtedly clear and leaving little room for speculation. However, the straight path is often inflexible, with no room for ambiguity. It's the same with morality, either someone is good or bad, and everything in between is de facto assigned to one of these two categories if you stick rigidly to one, i.e. behave as morality requires. Lanz was ruthless in his assessment. This is a way of thinking worthy of children, even less bright ones. Life is not easy, and neither are the choices made during it, especially when an individual has the burden of power on his shoulders. The only thing I can do is to be ethical and ask myself about the validity of my actions in terms of benefits and losses.
"It will be his decision, he asked me for a quick death, Adela, I can only shorten his suffering." Lanz replied to her calmly, looking straight at the visors of her mask. However, it's not like this man has much choice. His entire life was ruined by the Emperor. Those who knew him, loved him, supported him or hated him were long gone. Even his humanity may be questioned, due to his state of being half machine and half human. This is the type of person who has nothing to lose but his chains. In this particular case, the shackles of life.
"However, the question remains for me: Are you sure you want me to end your life, overseer?" Lanz asked him again, and internally he began to feel anxious, very anxious, and he began to feel as if he was getting warmer and warmer. "Although I doubt the existence of free will, because by definition it means making decisions independently of various external factors, I will not do it without your consent."
The overseer's look seemed to take on a much more mocking tone and subtext. "I have no past, it was lost in the flames and bolts of the throwers. I have no present, it was taken away from me when directives and commands were abolished. Finally, I have no future and nothing that will allow me to ever find something to fill the void left by the past. I just want to die, end this agony, and maybe see my family."
"You're wrong!" Adela screamed, then hurriedly removed her helmet, revealing her reddened eye area and slightly glassy eyes themselves. "We only have this one life, after this there is nothing more! I used to be of the same opinion as you, but I was able to find a future, maybe not the same as before, but something definitely better than death! No one will give you a better future, no one will fill the void in your heart, you have to do it yourself!
The overseer just looked at her, his tone becoming slightly mocking. "So you are definitely stronger and more resourceful than me, or maybe you just have never experienced what I have, you don't know what it means to lose everything before your eyes, to feel it, and with the knowledge that you yourself were the cause of it."
So this is the highest possible expression of arrogance, judging others hastily and even with your own measure. Lanz almost said it out loud, but restrained himself, putting more emphasis on his own inner monologue and quiet contemplation. Ultimately, however, we are not the same, we have a different sensitivity, a different view of the world or even the human species and its place in the universe. Why would anyone ever usurp the right to morally judge other people, for reasons other than arrogance and a secret desire to be a tyrant, judge and executioner all in one?
At the same time, however, Adela tried unsuccessfully to convince the cyborg that he could live, but he did not give in to her arguments, even the hardest and most personal ones.
"The time has come to decide, my lord." The overseer then turned to Lanzo. "Will you commit to following your own words and fulfilling them, or will you choose the easier path of not taking on the responsibility of being one with great responsibility?"
"This is not right!" After a while, Adela began to cry openly, devastated, and her sadness almost made Lanzo himself feel melancholy. "No one should end their life so quickly."
"And yet, you are still an agent of ASB, and formerly ISB." Lanz remarked, not understanding why a person who undoubtedly engaged in many practices that were questionable to average people would cry over the need to be put to death. "Killing one man, and to spare him suffering, should not be so difficult or so unacceptable to you."
"That's not the point." Adela replied less violently and the emotions in her heart guided both males to the right track.
"I remind you of myself." The overseer noticed. "However, I sense that you yourself are well aware that we have never experienced the same thing. I give you one piece of advice, do not feel sorry for those who have lost everything and want to leave this world. Rather, you should feel sorry for the living who, despite having a past and a future, cannot use it and give meaning to their lives.
He then turned to the Lord Inquisitor after Adela had calmed down and accepted what was about to happen. "And now, Inquisitor, it is time to complete your declaration."
Lanz activated his lightsaber in single blade mode, which was then readied in a swing position. He spent a few moments trying to gather the strength to strike. Not physical, he had too much of it not to do it. Instead, he tried to mentally gather himself to do what the situation demanded of him.
Funny, I've killed at least hundreds directly or indirectly, and yet I can't bring myself to extend an act of mercy to a broken man. Lanz realized as the feeling of warmth began to intensify, along with a tightness in his stomach that made the Lord Regent feel like he was going to vomit for a moment. Is it hypocrisy on my part that I am unable to fulfill my words, my declaration? Or is it simply the curse of being an intermediate state between an animal and something more, an Übermensch? The curse of being neither rational nor fully subject to drives and instincts, but instead a being that rationalizes my own actions?
Questions swirled in his head, as did his growing reluctance to kill this man, even if he wanted to be able to.
As Adela and the overseer could see with their own eyes, it was one thing to kill a man on the battlefield, to the accompaniment of battle drums and with the approval of his comrades. But killing someone you feel sympathy for is something completely different. Proof that there is no such thing as an experienced killer, at least not for a mentally healthy being.
Meanwhile, Lanz felt more and more emotions swirling inside him and he didn't know how to proceed. I feel like if I kill him now, something inside me will die.
"You can not do it?" Although it was a question, it was of the purely rhetorical kind to which no answer was expected. "Ah, your consciousness and reflexes are holding you back. I'm surprised the Emperor or Lord Vader didn't rid you of all these weaknesses to make you the perfect agent. On the other hand, it would make sense if they didn't want an ambitious and powerful agent potentially looking to replace them."
It wasn't their training that wasn't fully effective, quite the opposite. Lanz mentally sneered, for his memories made it clear that the murderous trials had made the inquisitor a murderously effective machine for enforcing the Emperor's will, even if there were no Jedi left in the galaxy. This combination of two different but deeply similar personalities brought all these doubts, but also a much broader perspective.
"If you are who you think you are, if your self-image matches reality, then you will not hesitate to do what you think is necessary." The Overseer seemed to be becoming more and more desperate, but at the same time he clearly sensed another internal conflict within the Lord Regent. "My Lord, if you set a standard for yourself, you either strive for it or you end up in an unstable state, struggling in between and having no unified justification for your attitude. I have seen and sensed this many times in many of the Emperor's advisors and agents, far too many."
The overseer then jumped out gracefully and in a moment found himself in front of his desk, spreading his arms and waiting for what was his greatest desire.
Lanz, however, still had trouble motivating himself, but tapping into the Force gave him the peace and solace he needed. He felt his emotions draining away from him, mainly fear. The fear, uncertainty and decision paralysis gradually passed away, and at the same time Lanz had the impression that he was just winning against the animal, the wild beast that was inside him. He felt like he was taming all his feelings, like he was on the way to becoming their master and controlling them.
No one should feel sorry for those who have passed away or are the living dead. Only the truly living can be pitied. Was it a whisper from the Force, or perhaps his own distorted and modified thoughts?
"I hope it won't hurt, I don't want to give you more pain than you've already received, Overseer." Lanz felt confident, readying his lightsaber in the proper stance for the action he was about to take.
The compound's overseer just laughed mockingly, then sneered. "The only suffering he receives is having to breathe and remain in this world for a few more moments."
"Then…" Lanz swung his lightsaber, making a precise cut and achieving the intended goal, and after a while the expected effect also came. "... Rest in peace, you have already fulfilled your duty and received the reward you asked me for."
The overseer's skin on his head, around his forehead, sides and back burned for several moments before the flames died down and the room was filled with the stench of burnt skin that assaulted Lanz's and Adela's nostrils.
The Lord Regent executed the cut as he had planned, bisecting and critically damaging the brain of the Compound Overseer. After a moment, the smaller half began to slide, and the body began to fall as well, until it all hit the ground. Although it was a seemingly gruesome end, Lanz deliberately cut and thus critically damaged his brain so that the overseer would end his life as quickly as possible while minimizing pain.
Adela vomited at the sight, surprising the Lord Regent. "I thought that working at ISB familiarizes you with this type of view, what has changed?"
"Go to hell!" Adela seemed to have forgotten who she was talking to, furious and still full of sadness at the same time, which was an explosive mix. "He deserved better than death, and I certainly didn't deserve this sarcastic and disgusting ridicule!"
"It's not mockery, Ela." Lanz decided to shorten her name, which was met with annoyance, as if she didn't like being called that. "But if even the ISB couldn't prepare a man for what he could do with a lightsaber, then I really don't know what could, other than experience with the weapon."
After these explanations, Adela calmed down a bit, but only slightly, she was still inhaling and exhaling after vomiting. "Why did you kill him in this painful way?"
"If it were painful, it would scream louder than some animal species known to more or less people in the galaxy." Lanz replied. "I damaged his brain in one move. The lightsaber penetrated skin, flesh and bones like a vibroblade penetrated wood or like an ordinary kitchen knife penetrated butter. How much of this do you think he felt before life and sentience left his body?"
Adela pressed her lips into a very stiff line. "Not much, he was loyal after all and didn't deserve such a fate."
"This is not the first time that a man who has done a lot and suffered a lot did not get what, at least in our subjective opinion, he deserved." Lanz replied to her. "I could only fulfill his wish for him to die, and that's what I did. I have no intention of forcing anyone to be happy if they don't want it. Besides, if you're going to blame someone, blame our late Emperor, he's the one who put him in this state. It wouldn't be the first time he had done something like this or something similar."
"Not the first time?" Adela asked, although Lanz didn't feel as much surprise as he expected. "I heard from unofficial sources about many massacres of rebelling natives on plantations and even the execution of the infamous Base Delta Zero. Still, most of them struck me as plain or exaggerated."
"You're talking exaggeratedly." Lanz sat down on the desk, then gestured to the seat next to him. "What do you mean exactly?"
Adela took a seat next to him anxiously. "All this from unofficial sources, to put it directly from subversive news channels, and very often no details were provided or sometimes even contradictory information. In the worst cases, the information provided was extremely contradictory. He had no reason to consider it anything more than false information, calculated to spread disinformation and incite anti-imperial sentiments."
"Well, maybe some of it was false, but I tell you with full conscience that the rebels were far more likely to tell the truth than to lie or manipulate the facts, I can guarantee you that, first-hand." Lanz, sensing her desire to know more, decided to continue. "I could tell you a lot about the Ghorman Massacre, or the destruction of Alderaan, or the occupation of Mon Calamari, Lothal, Utapau, or Ryloth. Much of this was the result of what could be described as the blind and lackluster swinging of a powerful ax with no clear purpose other than to spread fear. However, as it turned out, only a tiny spark and a symbol were enough to show that the empire could be defeated and trigger storms of general rebellion.
Adela listened to him, but without details she was not willing to believe his words, so he decided to give her something specific. "Let me tell you how one of the Emperor's most powerful and fearsome servants, Lord Vader, came to be. Do you know how?"
"According to official information, he was almost assassinated by traitors from the Imperial power hierarchy who collaborated with the remnants of the Jedi, but the only result was extensive bodily injuries. I understand that this is not the whole truth."
"Not even in the slightest." Lanz snorted mockingly. "In reality, Vader was an unhappy and torn man, destroyed by the Emperor who promised him the ability to master death to save his loved ones. It's a pipe dream, but over the centuries there have been those who have come more or less close to it. However, this does not change the fact that Vader was de facto destroyed by the Emperor. The man who wanted to save everyone was ultimately transformed into the archetype of the dark knight, burned on the fiery planet Mustafar and encased in this armor. "Tell me, does it really surprise you to know that the man who destroyed a person like Vader might not have been capable of anything worse?"
"Was." Adela wasn't going to argue. "You knew the Emperor better than I, who never met him. In fact, deep down, I think I always knew that the state I served committed acts of unnecessary or even unjustified cruelty. Acts that only increased the hatred of the galaxy and its inhabitants for our cause.
Lanz sensed, however, that this was not all. "There's more to it, isn't there?"
Adela sighed before answering. "To tell you the truth, I considered joining the rebels for some time. Even though I consider the return of democracy and the Old Republic, the corrupt and rotten system of this country, to be stupid, I have come to see it more and more as a lesser evil."
"What changed that made you decide not to do this, and why exactly are you telling me this?"
"Because you too are not blind to the flaws of our Galactic Empire, which is definitely not much better than the Old Republic, Lanz." Adela answered him, now as if with great conviction and an inner, almost inspiring fire. "And I didn't turn away from the empire because it was the easy path. It was too easy for me to throw away everything I was raised with in favor of madness and trying to destroy the country. I decided that the right course of action was to at least try to change the system from the inside, to fix it, even if I made mistakes or suffered personal failure in the process."
I would like to be like her. A person with a lot of emotions and experiences that I can feel even now, and yet who, despite her own great problems, loneliness and the need to force herself to make great efforts, is strong and determined. I admire and envy her for this. Lanz looked at this woman differently than before. "So maybe we understand each other much better than I originally thought. At least we can understand each other much better as friends."
"I never had many friends, Lanz." Adela admitted sadly, not very happy about this fact, but ready to share this information with him anyway.
"You already have one, Ela." Lanz decided to put a hand on her shoulder in a friendly gesture, with the intention of confiding in her some of his own feelings. "I also never had many acquaintances, let alone friends. I was always plagued by internal doubts, many of them, and I always envied those who were confident, determined and ready. Even now, I have doubts whether the path I have chosen in the form of Alignment of Powers is the right one and whether it will bring beneficial results for the galaxy and its inhabitants."
Adela looked at him, then giggled mockingly, flames of joy dancing in her eyes. "I always thought that you inquisitors were just grim agents who would obey the Emperor's every order without thinking and kill literally anyone in his name without blinking an eye. You are more human than I ever expected."
"Well, after all, I'm human, so nothing human is alien to me." Lanz smiled, then decided to trust her fully, sensing complete sincerity on her part. "Can I count on your help, especially mental and emotional, when I need it on this difficult path?"
"Always, Lord Regent." Adela also placed a hand on his shoulder in response. "For the new empire, Lanz."
He didn't think long before correcting it. "For new and better empire, Ela."
They stared straight into each other's eyes for a few moments. The rubies stared at the two ambers, noticing their similarities. Lanz had the impression that it would last forever, but then sparks began to fly from the door that closed behind them as they entered, and there was a terrible sound of metal cutting through other metal. Even if the rotary saw is based on vibro-blade technology, it sounds equally terrible.
"Adela, please check this datapad and open the door, I think I'm going to go crazy." Lanz told her and she nodded.
"You're not the only one, Lanz." She quickly put on her own helmet and took up the device, which took her some time to work on. "I have it!"
After a moment, the door opened, revealing a squad consisting of a mix of death troopers, commandos, and gray stormtroopers.
"My lord, Commander, are you alright!?" The cluster commander, whom Lanz identified as Lieutenant Hort, asked with more than obvious concern.
"We are safe and sound." Lanz stated, but didn't have a chance to add anything else.
"And the defense systems in the complex will soon be fully deactivated, while the guards will be sent back to their posts and put to sleep." Adela added, meanwhile sitting behind the desk and working intensively on the devices. "We won't have to fear anything anymore."
Several commandos ran to her to help, while Lanz approached the Lieutenant. "As soon as communications are restored, contact Major Kolotay immediately and have him get backup here. Then establish contact with the fleet, they are to bring more technicians here as soon as possible to fully secure this location."
His order was quickly fulfilled and soon additional troops began to arrive in the complex to secure the facility. Immediately after them, technicians began to deal with the systems and possible search for hidden traps, and additionally helped to operate the command center. As it turned out, everything could be turned off quite easily, so it was possible to start searching the entire complex without any major difficulties, which was much larger than it might seem.
First of all, the first floor, or rather the ground floor, where the command center was located, which they entered first, was one of several. The third, highest one, located at the top, was called the hangar and according to data, there were supposed to be 5 shuttles there, including one Delta-class T-3c - and several TIE fighters, of an unspecified type. The second floor was supposed to be, according to the descriptions, a warehouse for genetic tests and their results, which could mean literally anything. Mysterious, but not my main problem.
Meanwhile, the first floor was to have living quarters, equipped with numerous terminals, living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, a small food warehouse, and pipes and pumps specially supplying water there. Not to mention the small library. As if a hiding place, specially prepared for the Emperor or someone from his entourage, if it became necessary to disappear for some time. As usual, the Emperor thought of almost everything, but not the fact that he could be defeated or even killed.
In addition, there were several underground floors that Lanz decided to walk through himself. However, for a long time it was boring and basically consisted of looking through old mosaics, devoid of the Force or any affinity with it, jugs, bas-reliefs or scrolls that were almost completely faded and impossible to read. Apparently Palpatine was truly cautious in this matter and preferred to save, or rather hoard, all these items with the idea that they might one day become useful. It's strange to think this way about a man who pumped trillions of credits or better into machines that were theoretically a perfectly reasonable tool to bring his order to the galaxy, but which were often destroyed relatively easily.
Only after a few long minutes and walking from one room to another, he found the holocrons, as many as 5 of them, obviously Sith ones. After the initial delight, however, Lanz's enthusiasm waned significantly. All 5 were broken, damaged, or had some other form of defect. I expected much more, but after all, maybe it can still be used somehow.
Meanwhile, the stormtroopers and technicians he sent to the upper floors informed him that the genetic research floor was filled with something very, very specific. So this is where the Emperor stored all the technical data, genetic samples and test results about cloning research!
Lanz couldn't hide his excitement, especially when he heard some details about the findings that almost made his eyes pop out of his head. Cloning machine plans, complete cylinders. Prototypes and plans for a new type of Spaarti cloning cylinders. All documentation and research on the most efficient cloning methods, all prepared by the late Dr. Royce Hemlock! According to the technicians, it's complicated, very complicated, but with the recruitment of specialists and a staff of pioneers in this field, perhaps I could create my own clone army, not to mention the benefits for the inhabitants of my future, permanent country.
This was great news for him, not even spoiled by the fact that the TIE fighters in the hangar were prototype TIE/Advanced types. TIE Advanced prototype, 2 TIE Advanced x1, TIE/x3 starfighter, TIE/ad starfighter and 2 TIE/Ad x7. Advanced prototypes, most of which function as mass-produced models. It's of little use to me. Especially since these prototypes are most likely full of original factory defects and technical shortcomings, which should have been eliminated long ago by the time they were implemented into mass production.
Moving on and to the next level, he encountered one of the more interesting finds that could be an extremely valuable aid.
In a dark as night and small storage room, illuminated only by a dark red light. If it weren't for the helmet and the protection provided against certain types of light, being in this room would not have been a pleasant experience for Lanz. But then, his eyes saw a droid, almost 2 meters high.
Lanz stared at it for several long moments before he recognized the design of the machine and his eyes widened, not for the first time and definitely not the last. Super tactical battle droid? What is he doing here? I expected many things from this place, but a Clone Wars relic was definitely not one of those things.
He looked at the deactivated machine for a few more moments, at every detail, and came to one conclusion. It's not something I would be able to recognize. Some model that operated outside the presented screen.
Pure, almost pure space black, it was decorated with many red and silver patterns, with the aesthetic typical of this type of droids. The machine's head, meanwhile, even in its deactivated state, still looked extremely menacing. Well, at least it seems to be functional and the designers at Baktoid Combat Automata knew what they were creating to create the right level of fear. However, I am curious whether it is fully functional.
With the help of the Force, he reached his hands to the droid's control panel on his back, and attempts to activate it worked. As it turned out, the tactical droid was only disabled and no components were missing.
"ST-018, super tactical droid, also known as Khagan, reports on command and ready to obey orders." He reported, in his deep, robotic and absolutely, not even inhuman, inorganic voice.
Lanz closed the panel and took a few steps back so that Khagan could turn to him and thus focus his three crimson eyes on him. "And who are you? He doesn't recognize this type of armor, the uniformity of color and level of sophistication virtually precludes the identity of a mercenary or bounty hunter. Meanwhile, the crest on your pauldrons is reminiscent of the Galactic Republic, so I suspect you represent some sort of successor state. Is that so?"
"You're not wrong, tactician." Lanz decided to address him politely, as he usually did to allies or a few friends.
"Then I can assume that the Confederacy of Independent Systems was victorious and managed to absorb the Galactic Republic into a new, fully democratic government?" The super tactical droid's intonation seemed almost self-satisfied, but the robotic nature of the voice left much to interpretation.
"No, definitely not." Lanz shook his head and was honest with him. "The country you served and fought for fell apart after the death of Count Dooku, General Grievous and the killing of all members of the Council of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the droid army was deactivated and the country fell into a state of chaos. Meanwhile, the Old Republic was reorganized into the Galactic Empire. The first empire with a pan-galactic scope."
"Impossible, the confederation had an advantage over the republic 10-1, it's absolutely impossible, even considering the deactivation of the droid army!" Khagan argued, trying to be completely rational. "Although I am still inclined to believe in the transfer of the republic, because the Supreme Chancellor accumulated enormous power throughout the entire period of the so-called Separatist Crisis."
"Well, the logical factor of opportunity doesn't really apply here, tactician." Lanz shrugged. "Believe what you want, but the Old Republic no longer exists. Although there is currently a war for her restitution in the galaxy."
What could be described as the Khagan's eyebrows dropped slightly. "What you are saying is illogical. Why try to restore a country that has already collapsed under its own weight but has nevertheless undergone, if I understand correctly, a peaceful transformation."
Lanz just clicked his tongue and then proceeded to explain the current situation in more or less detail. First of all, a shortened path to the Galactic Civil War. The Tarkin Doctrine, which resulted in the construction of two powerful super weapons with enough power to destroy planets and which was intended to intimidate the galaxy and prevent a rebellion, was instead the spark that ignited it. Everything was commented by a super tactical droid.
"An impractical use of resources, although it made sense from an ideological point of view, and perhaps, had it not been for the Battle of Yavin IV, this type of doctrine and defense would have had the intended effect, at least in the short term. Still, a much better use of resources would be to build dozens of star dreadnoughts, each of which could wipe out life on an entire planet as a warning to other worlds."
Further, Lanz talked about the disintegration of the Galactic Empire after the death of the Emperor and the chaos in the galaxy that followed. Which led to the current situation, the collapse of the doctrine of universal terror as a method of exercising power in the galaxy.
"First of all, there is an internal war between various Imperial commanders, more or less direct." Lanz continued. "I, as an inquisitor and agent of the Emperor with extensive access to the empire's strategic resources, decided to make a move as quickly as possible before the New Territories, which are one of the more developed parts of the Outer Rim, would be torn apart by fighting or fall into someone else's hands. Thanks to this, I now have access to extensive strategic, raw material, military and industrial resources. Despite everything, the rebels continue to grow in strength, the empire may not survive this test, and various warlords are busy fighting for resources and the expansion of their small micro empires."
"So the galaxy is burning, because of a series of wrong, unfortunate or irrational decisions." Khagan summed it all up in that one sentence. "The Confederacy of Independent Systems no longer exists, the rebels want the restitution of the country I was supposed to fight against. The logical conclusion would be to join the Empire, despite being the successor to the Galactic Republic."
"It is your decision, after all there is no one to join, since the death of the Emperor and the assassination of the Ruling Council, Grand Vizier Mas Amedda is powerless to do anything. The initiative fell to local commanders, primarily Admiral Rae Sloane, who can be considered the commander of the main bastion of resistance against the rebels." Lanz said, he had no intention of revealing his intentions so quickly. Obtaining this tactical droid would be invaluable support for me. Ultimately, artificial intelligence, despite its sometimes inappropriate approach, can be a valuable advisor, some of whose advice I can apply.
"Even though I have nowhere to go, technically I'm free, but you woke me up and explained the situation, it's good to know that." The Khagan seemed somewhat grateful and practically seemed to have one foot on the Lord Regent's side.
"I could use a combat-experienced advisor with some tactical knowledge." It was only at this point that Lanz presented his offer directly. "Self, I wouldn't describe myself as a tactical genius, or even an average commander. So far, I have been successful solely due to a mixture of luck, chaos and the unpreparedness of my enemies. However, when the initiative is out of my hands and it's time for stabilization, I can't count on it any time soon and I need someone experienced at my side, especially since the software of the ST series tactical droids is now almost legendary in the galaxy."
"I'm glad to hear that, after all, what would be my formal rank and position in your structures?"
"My personal advisor, and as for the formal degree, you can still think about it." Lanz admitted. "Anything else."
"Indeed, I am a specialist in raiding, guerrilla warfare, and I desire complete freedom to pursue my personal projects should the need ever arise." Khagan explained and set his own condition. "That will be all I ask for, except for a request for a thorough MOT."
"Done." Lanz agreed lightly, not seeing any major problem with it. "As long as your projects do not prevent me from winning, achieving my goals, and it is not something irrational, especially from a cost perspective, then we can come to an agreement, no problem."
At the same moment, Khagan extended his hand to shake. "I'm glad to hear it, then, my Lord Regent."
"Then it's a deal." Lanz then took out and activated his personal communicator. "Commander, I am sending an extremely valuable addition to our case to the upper floor, have the technicians inspect it for any damage or technical faults."
"As you wish, my lord." Adela replied to him and the communication ended.
"If you encounter soldiers in black or gray armor, or commandos in black uniforms and not full armor, tell them that you are with Lord Regent Lanz and that he sent you." He decided to inform Khagan, not knowing how his men might react to the sight of a super tactical droid. "Also warn them that if they damage you or cause irreparable destruction, then they will feel my wrath."
"As you wish, Lord Regent." Khagan clumsily tried to bow, but apparently the metallic limbs were not as dexterous as they might seem at first glance.
Finally, the droid limped towards the elevator to the upper floors, after reviewing the complex's layouts and receiving information on the current location of Lanz's men.
Meanwhile, Lord Regent himself moved on, which led him to another room with countless low-value items. However, even in the midst of death, sometimes there are real treasures, and that was the case here. His eyes saw, among centuries-old antique urns, vases, sculptures, tapestries, stone tablets and bas-reliefs, a pyramidal shape. Distinctive, scarlet, a Sith holocron, and undamaged.
Without hesitation, Lanz tried to open this small thing with the Force, but despite trying to use anger or other feelings associated with the Dark Side of the Force, it did not bring much result for a long time. Finally, a message came from the Force itself that seemed to tell him how to do it, and very quickly the Lord Regent complied.
Opening the holocron resulted in a flash of lights bordering between yellow and red, but Lanz's eyes saw nothing else. No, this particular holocron was something else, as it redirected dozens of codes and explanatory information into the Lord Regent's mind, which - to his surprise - were in Galactic Basic.
He had no major problems understanding the information. Codes to dozens of bank accounts opened in banks from the Corporate Sector space, which contain hundreds of billions of imperial credits. After all, it is undoubtedly a small fraction of the wealth that the Emperor had at his disposal, I feel and I know it. This amount is simply too small to constitute his entire estate.
Turning off the holocron and taking it in his hands, Lanz moved on. Perhaps other caches contain more. Still, this will have to be enough for now.
Heading further, after reaching out to the Force to help him navigate, he spotted another holocron. This one, however, was completely different from the other, typically Sith ones. Although still in a pyramidal shape, it was free of red and instead blue. Additionally, it emanated delicate and pleasant feelings, as if its creator wanted anyone who touched it to be automatically calmed.
"Jedi holocron." Lanz didn't think much about it, because only someone who didn't know anything about it could have guessed it.
AN: That's all for today, see you in the future. -King's Snake