Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars movies, shows, books, comics or games. They belong to their respective copyright owners. This story is not for sale, or rent. The Mobile Armors, and later Mobile Suits mentioned in the story are inspired by the various Gundam shows. They obviously belong to their respective creators, and, or copyright owners.

Chapter 5

=FG=

Part 3

=FG=

Home One

Coruscant System

Eight figures sat around a long conference room. Most of them were present through highly encrypted holonet transmissions, relying on parts of the network under Republic control. The rest were there in the flesh, alongside an unperturbed-looking General Madine.

The ghostly image of Mon Mothma, the Acting Chancellor of the Republic sat at the head of the table. Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar took the seats to her left and right, respectively. In contrast, both of them were present in the flesh.

Next came Bosk Fey'lya of Kothis. He informally represented the Bothan Council. Further, the Bothan acted as the middle man between the New Republic in general, and the invaluable services of the Bothan Spy Net. His position gave Fey'lya an incredible amount of political power, and information to leverage.

Across the Bothan sat the hologram of the Sullustan Sian Tevv. His position grew in prominence after ensuring that the planning of the attack on the Second Death Star happened at his homeworld, thus binding it to the Rebel cause.

Doman Beruss was next, attending from Corellia. For the first time in years, Beruss was able to finally openly return to her homeworld. She was busy gathering political and material support for the New Republic's cause.

The hologram of, Kerrithrarr, a large dark-furred Wookie from Kashyyyk flickered now and then due to disruptions from distance and damage to the network. The Wookie was back on his homeworld, mediating yet another bloody dispute between his people, and Trandoshan raiders.

Finlay, Verrinnefra B'thog Indriummsegh, had to put on hold his negotiations with the resurgent banking clans, who offered a significant number of credits and various services in exchange for independence for the first time since the formation of the Empire.

"I understand we aren't here to finally discuss the fine points of establishing the New Republic Senate?" Beruss asked. The Corellian woman looked around her fellow councilors until her eyes fell upon Madine. At that point, she didn't hide her distaste.

"We encountered a new Imperial splinter faction, or worse," Mothma admitted.

"What can be worse?" Kerrithrarr roared. A translator built into the conference table relayed his words in a mechanic sounding Basic.

"The Imperials claimed they were a reconnaissance force sent from the new part of the galaxy. Naturally, General Hudsol didn't believe them. When they refused to leave Cal-Seti, after claiming they've annexed it, Hudsol engaged them in combat. The results were not what we anticipated."

"What was he doing all the way there?" Beruss asked. "How did we know about that new faction?"

Everyone looked at Madine after that question.

"An agent of ours noticed Imperial ships arriving at Galantos and managed to send a short coded message. As you know, we don't control the holonet deeper in the Eastern Core beyond Coruscant. Everything sent over it can and will be intercepted by Imperial agents." Madine explained. "After consultations with Admiral Ackbar, Chancellor Mothma, and Princess Organa, we decided to dispatch a blocking force to Cal-Seti. The goal was simple – we wanted to prevent Imperial incursions from that corner of the galaxy, and secure our flank."

"That's precisely the heavy-handed approach I would expect from a former Imperial officer, General Madine, however thus far, I can't fault your logic. Did we not know anything more about that faction, or whoever they claim to be?" Indriummsegh asked in a heavily accented Basic. He was looking at the Bothan as he did so.

"The few high-placed agents we had in the region pulled out with the bulk of Imperial forces months ago. Anyone else is spread through the surrounding sectors and lacks both up-to-date information, or the secure means to transmit it. At this point, we have heard nothing about this Federated Empire, that hasn't come from Cal-Seti. Bear in mind that our agents in the region are investigating how the Empire lost a significant number of ships, including a few SSDs. Allegedly. No matter how we wish it was otherwise, even the Empire wasn't corrupt enough to have all those ships exist only on paper. That is what our agents were busy investigating, just in case the Empire's reports were mistaken or altered." Fey'lya explained.

"This new faction can be the answer. Those ships might have either defected to it or were destroyed by it." Tevv spoke in his native tongue and waited for the translators to do their job. "It won't be the first time the Imperials kill each other, or defect to a different faction."

"This speculation can wait. First, you need to know the magnitude of the disaster at Cal-Seti, then we need to discuss our response." Leia's steely voice put paid to the discussion. "General Madine, enlighten us, please." She viciously twisted the knife and put the Corellian under everyone's attention.

Madine rapidly summarized the scope of the disaster as of the last dispatch. The news came on board the last survived, yet heavily damaged Nebulon-B frigate, which carried critically injured personnel. Many of those beings were even now in Home One's medical bays, undergoing treatment.

"Do his last recorded speculation have merit? Are we dealing with a group that was in charge of the Emperor's special projects and now is making itself known? Or did this Piett of theirs speak the truth?" Beruss demanded. "I won't discuss the casualties we suffered right now. Doing so won't return a single soul to life. What we need to do first is ensure there won't be a second such disaster!"

"There won't be." Ackbar finally spoke. "The sensor records and After Action Reports from the surviving officers have been invaluable. Now that we know what we're facing, a simple change of tactics would prevent the enemy's specialized strike craft from tearing out our capital ships apart. However, to do so, we must keep our fighters and bombers as a defensive screen, abandoning a critical part of our doctrine. We no longer can deliver a crippling, or even decisive blow using starfighters and bombers. The known Imperial factions we're fighting have been slowly changing their tactics and strategy to counter our greatest advantage in space warfare. This new faction already has working and deployed counters to many of our most effective tactics. The obvious implication is that other Imperial factions can learn from our defeat and make any future operations against them significantly more expensive."

"That is why the secrecy surrounding Cal-Seti." The Bothan pointed out. "Sadly, I must be the one to point out the obvious. We do not control Cal-Seti. All it takes for this new faction to make our lives much more difficult is to send an open transmissions over the holonet. Then, their compatriots, who are still fighting us all over the galaxy, will become much more dangerous."

"It's actually worse. If we are to contain these new Imperials, we have three options. First, we could commit two large blocking forces to Alland and Fressia. Second, we try a distant porous blockade back to Coruscant and Ruan. It's either that, or we retake Cal-Seti." Ackbar explained. "Considering our current

military position,only two of the options are feasible. We either take Cal-Seti, or secure Ruan and take it for granted that these new Imperials can operate unhindered up to Coruscant. A distant blockade would expose two large parts of our fleets to be defeated in detail, outside of mutually supportive range. The enemy would need to take out only one of those fleets to break out of containment, and receive access to many more sectors. In contrast, any force at Ruan will be a few hours from Coruscant at worst. Light scout elements can tell us of any enemy advance."

"And we know not the nature of the threat. Is it possible that this captain Piett was telling the truth?" Their Wookie colleague wisely asked.

"We originally dismissed the possibility due to the great number of resources trying to brute force the discovery of new hyper-lanes takes. When Vader searched for us while we hid on Hoth, he could have expected to reuse most of the tens of thousands of Probe Droids he sent after us. Even the Empire could afford such expense only because of the clear and present threat we then represented by destroying the first Death Star and weakening the Emperor's grip upon the galaxy." Leia explained her part of the decision. "Realistically, it should take months of dedicated effort and great expense for whoever is on the other side to contact us."

"While at first glance your logic appears sound, it takes various things for granted, Princes." Indriummsegh countered. "The scale of the expense is directly connected with the level of technology and manufacturing available. No one on our side of the galaxy needed that many hyperspace capable probes in the first place. While somewhat useful, they're still limited production of specialized items. Change the need, and thus investment in production capacity. Change the available technology, and the logic you base your conclusion on becomes shaky. Further, the amount of expense would be something a stable galactic power could trivially afford, though you note I just made two assumptions about whoever is on the other side of the galaxy – that they're a single galactic power, and that they're stable. We're dealing with the unknown here. We should leave our preconceptions behind."

"You make a good point, Verrinnefra B'thog Indriummsegh!" Fey'lya made a point of carefully pronouncing his fellow council member's whole name. "People made assumptions, and mistakes. We will discuss them later. Now we need to focus on our response to these developments." The Bothan turned his attention to Admiral Ackbar. "They at least claim they want to talk, don't they?"

"Captain Piett suggested that the fate of the battleship they boarded and were in the process of securing be decided over diplomatic channels. I should note that from what little we've seen from internal security footage, is that we can't even slow down their elite infantry without heavy anti-tank weaponry. Our remaining assets in the system would have to destroy that ship. Doing so will kill any crew imprisoned or cut off on board. That is what is going to happen if they're to deny it to the enemy by military means. After deploying the bulk of our ground forces to Cal-Seti, the battered survivors of the task force don't have the troops to guarantee they enemy won't be board as well. Retaking that battleship is out of the question."

"We need more and better equipped warriors!" The Wookie declared. "Our ground forces are a far cry from the Clones who fought to defend Kashyyyk during the Clone Wars!"

"We need many things, my friend, yet our resources are limited and stretched thin. We need to keep building our momentum and expanding." Fey'lya said in a soothing tone.

"Before we decide on a response, we need to decide if we're dealing with another splinter faction, or with a different Empire altogether." Mon Mothma finally put her foot down and focused everyone's attention on a single issue. "That decision will ultimately color how we respond to the military defeat at Cal-Seti before the obvious military lessons we learned."

"We might as well toss a coin. We lack enough information to make a reasoned decision. It could be either!" The Sullustan exclaimed. "What we really need to decide is if we'll talk with those Imperials while figuring out how to best subvert their position. It's either talk or pick up a fight we don't need with them. Second, we need to account that no matter what we want, they can be heading here to take Coruscant after field-testing their new weapons. No matter what we decide to do, we need to reinforce our positions in this part of the Core."

The council still debated what to do, when the next message from Cal-Seti arrived, this time over the Holonet.

Mon Mothma had to raise her voice again, shushing everyone, so they could watch it in silence.

Moths of light formed the image of a striking, oddly familiar woman, in a regal dress.

"Citizens of the galaxy, I am Empress Satine Kenobi, head of state, and co-ruler, of the Federated Empire. I greet you today with both joyish and tragic news. Our forces securing the Fondor Exclusion Zone found a hyper-lane connecting our part of the galaxy with the former Unknown Regions. They have been replaced by a mirror of our own well-explored corner of the galaxy. Intercepts from their holonet, and the discoveries from a reconnaissance force led by Captain Firmus Piett, confirm the truth, no matter how impossible it sounds.

"Our galaxy had been sundered in two, and half of it replaced with a twisted mirror of what we know. The new regions of space are roughly twenty years ahead of us, timeline-wise, yet their future is a different and bloody one. I regret to inform you that while first contact with inhabitants of the other side had been peaceful, that did not remain so for long. But first, I need to explain what little backstory we're certain of.

"The equivalent of our Empire on the other side is currently tearing itself into a civil war, after the death of Emperor Palpatine. Its military has fractured. Unfortunately, some of the Warlords vying for Palpatine's throne do not live up to the promises of the New Order, and the vows they took when donning the uniform. Indeed, one of those Warlords, an Ysanne Isard, unleashed a biological weapon upon her Coruscant. She did it when it became clear that she would lose control of the system to forces of a different faction – a rebellion aimed to restore the Republic.

Further, as Captain Piett found upon reaching the other galaxy's Cal-Seti, their Empire had stripped whole sectors of their defenders. Those who did so, abandoned their sworn duty, and the people they were sworn to protect, to the dubious mercy of rebels and pirates. The situation on the ground was so dire, that Commandant Jaxx, the military governor of Cal-Seti begged for membership into the Federated Empire, and our protection. In exchange, all they had to offer was all available information on the new galaxy we have to all live in. As of two days ago, Cal-Seti's civilian and military leadership ratified a treaty making the system a part of the Federated Empire. However, less than a day later, forces claiming to belong to the New Republic arrived in the system and declared their intent to seize it. A diplomatic overture from Captain Piett fell on deaf ears, and in the resulting clash, both sides suffered heavy casualties. At this time, Cal-Seti remains under Federal control, and heavy reinforcements are on the way. Further, despite this unprovoked act of war, we will not change our minds. The aid convoy for the other Coruscant will depart on schedule, with a heavy escort. The relief fleet will also carry representatives from the Imperial Diplomatic Corps and the Imperial Senate. Their task is to open talks with the New Republic, and if feasible, find a diplomatic solution to the clash at Cal-Seti."

The message terminated at that point.

After a few moments of tense silence, pandemonium erupted within the conference room.

Only Leia and Mon Mothma remained silent, if for different reasons.

Leia wondered if Empress Kenobi was in any relation to General Kenobi. The same veteran of the Clone Wars, who briefly trained Luke and ensured not only her rescue but that they got the Death Star's plans in the nick of time.

At the same time, Mothma managed to place the face and name in her mind. She wondered how a dead Mandalorian Duchess, who was more committed to peace, then but a handful of people she ever knew, ended up as Empress.

=FG=

Part 4

=FG=

MFW Victory

Eruadu

Eriadu System

Mid Rim Alliance

Ranks of Star Destroyers, and escorts stood in a parade formation like a serrated wall of gleaming blades. Behind them, rings of Golan Stations and repurposed Lucrehulk hulls surrounded the shining gray orb that was Eriadu.

Near Eriadu's moon, another fleet, made of smaller locally built cruisers of various types hovered in a less elaborate parade formation. It offered a barrier between any potential threat and orbital rows of docks still under construction.

"I see Wilhuff pulled out all the stops this time," I noted from the hangar, where we watched the show from one of Vicky's holographic projectors.

"If I got my politics right, by helping him create the Mid-Rim Alliance, you made Tarkin and his family, some of the most powerful and influential people in the whole galaxy," Victoria noted. Her droid avatar wore a Mandalorian armor polished until it gleamed with reflected light.

Behind us, my Basilisk shuffled its large form in anticipation. "We're leaving soon, Rex. You'll be able to stretch your legs a bit."

A mechanical thrill came from somewhere deep within the war droid.

"Speaking about the show outside, we'll be making our own on the way down. The smoke pods are attached and tested, right?" I looked at the cluster of engineers standing proudly around each Basilisk, which was ready for deployment.

"They are, boss-man!"

"You know, this is one of the things I like about my Mandalorians. The crazy bastards know exactly who and what I am, yet most of them don't give a kriff, and aren't afraid to show it."

"Did all the groveling, barely suppressed fear, or the obvious intent of too many people to backstab you the first time they think they can get away with it, get old?" Victoria asked in clear amusement.

"Just a bit." I agreed. "There is such a thing as too much of a good thing."

"I am a warship, dad. I can happily disagree with you."

"As long as you have your crew and targets, you're a happy girl. Well, at least one of you."

"And I always have targets! Some of them might be nice friendly targets, but they aren't crew." Vicky chirped, and her holographic avatar appeared next to the projected image of the show outside her hull.

"You've gotten a bit too two-dimensional, other me." Victoria chided.

"That's what happens when you lose two hulls to crazy droids!"

"Ladies, behave. Boys and girls, it's time to put up a show to our allies. It would be only appropriate! After all the trouble our hosts got up to arrange this greeting." I pointed at the holo image of the parade formations outside.

My security detail, read backup, cheered at the prospect of finally doing something interesting, and eagerly boarded their Basilisks.

"Ladies first, Victoria."

The droid avatar moved with inhuman speed and grace, flowing over the deck and Rex's armored hide until she was in the co-pilot's seat.

Not to be outdone, I used the Force to jump on top of Rex and got inside in a more sedate manner.

Rex's control panel came to life as I strapped myself into the seat, and linked my armor's systems to those of the Basilisk. My HUD lit up with a new display. The cockpit closed itself, and the canopy polarized, giving me a 270% degree view from many cameras. Two displays showed images from the rear cameras, ensuring that there were no blind spots.

"All systems online. Biometrics match. We ride?" Rex's gruff voice echoed throughout the cockpit.

"We ride to red dawn and the world's fall! We ride to blood and the clash of steel! We ride to victory."

"Passphrase accepted. Command systems unlocked. We ride!"

=FG=

Thirty-one Basilisk droids loped over Victory's deck until they reached the atmospheric shield and jumped out, into the void. Their engines came to life, and the War Droids plunged towards the gray world below.

Hundreds of cameras caught their descent, sending the images to the GNN, and through them, the two fractured galaxies smashed together by the will of the Force.

On Mandalore, Tobi Dala ran into his best friend's veranda, where Fenn Shysa drank cool Corellian Ale. He was resting and entertaining his linguistic hobby by practicing reading Shyriiwook. Knowing the language not only helped when dealing with Wookies, but a few times could be used as a short-lived substitute for a code. There were only a few people in the galaxy actually able to speak the language. It was almost impossible for those who didn't to repeat what they heard in passing. Unless you got overheard by a speaker, a properly programmed Protocol droid, or recorded, the Shyriiwook was as good as a secret language.

The blond Mandalorian looked from his father's rocking chair, stunned at Tobi's state. His buddy was lost for words and simply gestured into the house.

"Mandalore! Basilisks!" He finally managed to spit out. Tobi grabbed Fenn's shoulder and dragged him into the living room, where the large screen was playing a news broadcast.

It took Fenn a few moments to comprehend what he was seeing. Outside of historical records, no one had seen a Basilisk intact, much less in flight, in about four thousand years now.

Yet there was no mistaking those armored forms. Every Mandalorian worth their salt had seen recordings of them, pictures, or at worst, got a painstaking description of those lost treasures.

"This is Brosk Tonfa, with the evening news!" A Rodian's face appeared in the upper corner of the screen. "After yesterday's revelation about the Event by Empress Kenobi, we now have more news about the new part of the galaxy. As you can see, Mandalore the Restorer, Delkatar Veil, just arrived on Eriadu. He is there for a brief state visit, before heading to represent the Mandalorian Freehold in diplomatic talks with a faction from the new part of the galaxy. After the grand welcome by elements of the Eriadu Defense Fleet and thirty-first Imperial Fleet, we now see Mandalore, and his combat retinue make a show of their own on their way down!"

Airborne cameras focused on thirty-one falling stars, each letting a contrail of a red smoke behind, like during an air show. The burning stars quickly grew up, until they were clear for everyone to see. They were large, clawed beasts of metal, bristling with weaponry. On their backs, where the raider should be, stood large armored pods, obviously cockpits. The live-streamed video from across the galaxy confirmed Fenn's suspicion. There were smoke pods attached to the rear legs of the Basilisk, which were simply breathtaking!

Shysa's heart hammered within his chest, painfully yearning for the opportunity to ride such a beast! No Mandalorian with the heart of a true warrior would feel differently!

The cameras panned out, showing the expert coordination of the Basilisk's and their partners. First, the descending War Droids formed a stylized fire-bird symbol, which was clear to see either from above or below as multiple cameras showed.

"The descending Mandalorians just painted Eriadu's sky with the Mid-Rim Alliance's sigil – the symbol of the Rim's rebirth from the ashes of war and those of the collapsing Republic." The Rodian happily narrated. "After thousands of years, the Mandalorian Basilisks are no longer a symbol of dread, heralding an invasion! These days, the Basilisks are instead symbols of liberation! Ever since the mass orbital drop in support of GAR Shock Trooper divisions during the Core Sieges, the sign of a Basilisk has been a symbol of hope!"

As the holonet transmission from the other part of the galaxy continued, more and more Mandalorians in thousands of systems stopped whatever they were doing to watch.

On the screen, thirty Basilisks briefly cut off the smoke and gathered around a single leader. They slowly descended for a bit, before bursting forth, and sequentially re-activating their smoke dispensers, expertly painting a second symbol into the sky. This one was a familiar one to every living Mandalorian in two galaxies – the skull of a Mythosaur.

"And this, gentle-beings, is the symbol of the ancient Mandalorians, now proudly representing the Mandalorian Freehold, and its people, as proud members of the galactic community!" The Rodian confirmed what Fenn knew in his bones.

The show wasn't over. The Basilisk formation collapsed upon itself, before bursting forth a third time, to paint one last picture on the canvas of Eriadu's gray skies. Fenn's fingers clutched into fists, and he stared with gritted teeth as the Imperial eight-spoked cogwheel came into being.

"And finally, the Basilisks painted the Federated Empire's crest, symbolizing unity, stability, and security." The Rodian kept ranting.

Meanwhile, Fenn struggled with conflicting emotions. The sight of the Basilisks was like an impossible childish dream come true. Yet the implication that a Mandalore and his people served the Empire, or an Empire willingly, that didn't stand well, not at all! What Hutt-spawned insanity was going out over there?

As if that wasn't bad enough, when the Basilisks landed smoothly, the cameras revealed who was the head of the delegation greeting it, which left Fenn speechless.

There were at least two dead men over there, and one of them was arguably the most hated Sith-spawned bastard in the whole galaxy.

As if to ensure there was no mistake, the Rodian was quick to drop names.

"Now we can see Fleet Admiral Wilhuff Tarkin, and his younger brother, Governor Gideon Tarkin! The heroes of the Clone Wars, greet their good friend, and esteemed colleague, General Delkatar Veil… As our viewers may recall, Mandalore the Restorer still retains his rank as a General in the Imperial Military. It's the rank he wore during the war. Delkatar Veil served as a General during his time as the Supreme Commander of the GAR Combat Forces. Later, when he was in overall command of all forces allied to the Grand army of the Republic…"

=FG=

While countless Mandalorians struggled with their new reality, the news emission from the new part of the galaxy hit the Alderaan survivors as hard, if not harder.

Onboard Home One, Princess Leia Organa dropped her teacup, which shattered into countless shards, and splashed her feet with scalding hot liquid. She never noticed the burning pain. It was nothing compared to the fury threatening to consume her.

The Mandalorian military display was interesting, and nothing unexpected. The people this other Mandalore was going to visit were anything but. However, it wasn't until Leia saw the smug cold bastard, who had the gall to not only look younger, and full of vigor, but to smile happily, that she lost it.

Leia could never forget that man, much less what he did! Yet, the mass murderer was back to darken the galaxy, alive and happy!

There was no mistaking it now! This Federated Empire was the real thing, and no mere splinter faction. And it was as vile and corrupt thing as Palpatine's rotten creation!

=FG=

Within hours, over a dozen Imperial Warlords all over the galaxy watched the news transmission coming over the holonet. Few of them cared about the Mandalorians, and what they represented. It was the Tarkin brothers, who were obviously very much alive, and having a high place of honor within the New Order on the other side that got everyone's attention. Further, the news broadcast offered priceless bits of strategic information fed to common fools who had the attention span of a freshly mind-wiped droid.

The words of the Federated Empire's Empress stung the pride of many a Warlord. They infuriated several of the Warlords, while others reconsidered their actions and options. Now there was apparently a new and stable base of the New Order, one unmarred by Palpatine's mistakes and the civil war-ravaging the galaxy.

=FG=

And at the same time, now that they had confirmation about the Event's nature, the Triumvirate and Confederate Senate quickly authorized multiple loyal droid fleets to begin searching for ways in this new galaxy. The CIS needed all the allies, trade partners, and resources they could get their hands on, for the war everyone knew would one day come.

=FG=

Tarkin Family Compound

Eriadu

Eriadu System

Mid-Rim Alliance

Meanwhile, none-the-wiser, of the wildfire their show ignited, the Tarkins and their guests dined and drank priceless wines in a domed garden.

"Now that we've caught up and done with the small talk," Wilhuff glanced at his wife, who promptly rolled her eyes at him in an unladylike-like fashion, "we can get to the important part. What have you foreseen, my friend?"

"We all know that, when we're in front of any other audience, it is vital to keep proper etiquette. We can't have the Core nobility believe that we are anything but just like them! If we do, they would dismiss us as Rim yokels they can take advantage of, instead of fellows who might be almost equal!" Thalassa chided. "You!" She jabbed a silver dessert fork at Veil, "You Sith, can get away with acting like an uncultured barbarian when you like. No one sane would dare cross you, and those who would, won't care if you were the very model Coruscant nobility should aspire to be!"

"My reputation does have its benefits," Veil smirked at that and raised his wine glass in a toast. "To the new opportunities in front of us, and the undiscovered country with all its wonders and terrors!"

"When a Dark Lord of the Sith speaks of terrors, one can't help it but stop and take note." Gideon pointed out after slowly sipping his wine and enjoying its aroma.

"There are both great opportunities and great dangers this Event offers us," Delkatar said in a serious tone. "I've glimpsed some of them. There will be a war touching both our galaxies, though the details are blurry right now. I'm reasonably sure, it's not the New Republic we need to worry about. That said, the opportunities are going to be incredible as well."

"The Warlords then." Tarkin nodded. "Zsinj is being a…" Wilhuff glanced at his wife, "his charming self over there as well, I understand. And that Isard woman," He shook his head. "Of all possible ways to try and make their Coruscant into a poisoned pill for this New Republic of theirs, she had to choose such a foolish way."

"From what I've seen, too many of those so-called Warlords know nothing but blunt brutality. Fortunately, most of those got themselves killed."

"Not all of them, sadly." Gideon pipped up. "I understand that at least two of us on this table are dead over there, is that right?"

"Perhaps the four of us. From what we got from Cal-Seti, I was no factor in their Clone Wars. So I either died above Korriban, lived up my life in the Sith Empire, or I'm yet to emerge alongside the ORR over there. As for you, my friends…" Delkatar winced at that.

"So we finally taught you a bit of tact!" Delkatar's droid adopted daughter, who was also a Mandator SSD, chirped.

For all the insanity surrounding his Sith friend and Master, this one was among the hardest to wrap your head around, Tarkin decided.

"I'll spare you the trouble, father. Governor Tarkin, you died about eleven years ago, their time, during some kind of rebellion on Eriadu."

"We'll have to watch for such problems then." Wilhuff looked to the right, where beyond the lush greenery of the garden, and the dome's wall laid the capital city of Eriadu.

"And your counterpart, Fleet Admiral, Sir, got blown up on their first Death Star, days after he blew up Alderaan. That was supposed to be the pinnacle of your counterpart's Tarkin Doctrine. Commandant Jaxx wasn't sure what happened with you, Lady Tarkin." Victoria politely, yet bluntly explained.

Wilhuff winced at that. He had had long talks with Veil about how they would keep the galaxy together. While the threat of overwhelming force would be naturally needed, simply relying on it would be a damned cause. It wouldn't last, and in the fullness of time, it would ensure you were more hated than feared. Instead, what you needed was a cause to bind people to your side. You had to be both feared and respected, even-handed when offering rewards and punishments.

"As you know, I'm pretty sure I am familiar with the basic concept. Kenobis' newest headache, Sienar, created it, and a few years before the war I presented it to Palpatine. It was supposed to be a heavy combat platform, and mobile fleet base, able to crack heavily defended systems."

"And we decided that the investment of resources and manpower would be better spent anywhere else, even when we have the economy and industry fully recovered." Delkatar nodded in agreement.

"That's the first time I'm hearing of this." Gideon looked at his brother incredulously.

"It was an interesting idea, however one too expensive to be feasible. Besides, if we need to kill worlds, we don't need such a huge terror weapon. Your friend Zash, and the Freedom's crazy engineers did come through, didn't they?"

It was left unsaid that their guest was perfectly capable of depopulating worlds and ignoring their defenses. Everyone in the know believed that his former Master, Zash, was capable of the same as well.

"I'm old enough that there aren't too many things that can leave me speechless." Delkatar nodded.

"I'm sure that everyone was speechless when you decided to get back to Sullust after running in that trap the first time. Not to mention what you did when you got back there!" Gideon raised his wine glass in appreciation.

"The Freedom was combat ineffective, and we were yet to achieve our objectives." Veil shrugged.

"You didn't act as any sane commander in your position would do! Instead of retreating after such a setback, you went back after modifying your wrecked flagship to ignite a gas giant into a brown star!" Wilhuff chuckled. "I remember hearing your proposal, and can assure you, my friend, everyone in the CIC who heard it, looked at me, wondering if you had lost your mind due to the stress."

"And when I asked the engineers if we can detonate her reactor and hyper-matter stores in the right way, their first thought was about creating black-hole weapons…" Delkatar shook his head. "Then it was my turn to stare at them, wondering if they lost it."

"Speaking about that idea?" Tarkin asked.

"There are prototypes on the drawing board. Just like the Nova project."

Tarkin didn't push for more, no matter how secure the place was.

"Let's get back to a more uplifting topic. You mentioned opportunities?"

"For now, Kaine and his Pentastar Alignment would do. He has been busy industrializing his small corner of the galaxy for years now, with no sign of stopping. He has access to advanced technology we need, we can offer him and the corporations supporting him both resources and new markets." Veil smiled like a hungry shark. "And who knows, in the fullness of time, our new friend might see what's best for his realm and ask to join the Federated Empire. That will not only secure our flank here but greatly expedite upgrading our technology."

"Sooner or later, you're going to make him an offer he can't refuse, then?" Gideon asked.

"It depends on how smart and pragmatic Kaine is."

=FG=

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