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 7

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Part 1

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7.5 ABY

Hangar Arubesh II

SSD Reaper

Xerton System

Pentastar Alignment

For the first time in years, whole legions from Reaper's ground forces gathered in a parade formation. Solid white blocks of Stormtroopers stood at parade rest. Their armors shinned under the cold artificial lights bathing the cavernous hangar.

Officers in black uniforms stuck out as intended, making it easier for an observer to determine the size of the formations on display.

Two smaller blocks of pilots, glimmering in their black environmental suits flanked the Stormtroopers and separated them from the gray uniformed army troopers and vehicle drivers. They, in turn stood below towering walkers of all stripes, including two huge AT-At's, which looked better than a factory new.

Ardus Kaine stood alone in the middle of the path created by the parade formation. That was both a statement that he had nothing to fear, and a sad admission that he lacked worthy confidants.

The Grand Moff looked out of the atmospheric shield and saw a quickly approaching cluster of stars. An honor guard of TIE fighters separated, flying out of sight alongside Reaper's armored flanks. At the same time, a single large assault shuttle and a handful of her escorts flew straight into the hangar. Kaine could glimpse the silhouettes of old-fashioned ARC-170, as they broke their approach and followed the TIEs.

The shuttle gracefully bled out its speed and turned around with the familiar drone of repulsors. The large Basilisk War Droids landed with loud clangs. The rear ramp of the shuttle opened. A single man in parade uniform confidently walked out. At the same time, the cockpit pod of the nearest Basilisk rose, revealing an armored figure that nimbly jumped out. The Mandalorian paused to pat the machine's leg, which loudly hummed in content.

"Admiral on deck! Present arms!" Multiple throats roared as on, and the parade troops stood at attention.

Kaine watched it all, with a mask of cold indifference. All the while, his mind was busy observing and cataloging what he saw. The Basilisks looked formidable and were undoubtedly upgraded with modern technology. He briefly wondered how they would stand up to modern Imperial vehicles, and set that question for later.

Observing Wilhuff Tarkin walk on the deck of his ship, not only alive but truly full of vigor was heartening. The presence of the armored Mandalorian who joined the dead man walking was concerning. While the armor had a silver sheen and wasn't as much a life-support suit as anything else… The sheer presence and the aura of dread surrounding that man reminded Kaine of Vader.

The Grand Moff couldn't fail to notice the two symbols painted on the armor's shoulders and upper arms – the animal skull of the Mandalorians, was a familiar one. The stylized wheel that was so similar, yet different from the Imperial crest was interesting.

"Fleet Admiral Tarkin, welcome on board the Reaper. I'm Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, commander of this ship, and the leader of the Pentastar Alignment." He formally introduced himself and offered his hand.

Despite the durasteel discipline of the arrayed troops, Kaine could feel everyone's eyes on them. On Tarkin in particular. His presence here and now was a symbol of hope, and that was both incredibly useful, and even more dangerous.

"Grand Moff Kaine," A small smile appeared on Tarkin's face and he firmly shook Ardus' hand. "It's good to be here. I hope we'll do great things together." Tarkin's commanding voice carried over the quiet hangar. "Let me introduce you to my good friend and colleague, General Delkatar Veil, Mandalore the Restorer."

The Mandalorian removed his helmet, which wasn't exactly in line with Mando tradition from what Kaine recalled, and put it on a clamp on his belt.

It was the youthful face of the Mandalorian that took Kaine aback. He looked no older than his late twenties, too young to be a general, much less earn the title of Mandalore.

"Appearances can be deceiving, Grand Moff Kaine," Veil spoke in a smooth voice, holding a hint of an unfamiliar accent.

Kaine did his best to school his face back into a professional mask. He offered his hand to the Mandalorian, who was supposed to be a Sith too, wasn't he?

Veil offered a regular handshake, and an easy smile, that was nothing at all like Vader, yet the aura of a cold and dread remained unchanged. It was like being in the presence of the late Emperor when the old man wasn't particularly happy and didn't bother hiding it.

"Gentlemen let's retire to more comfortable accommodations, where we can talk freely," Kaine suggested and turned around after receiving two small nods. "Your ship is special too, I see. A Mandator, is it?"

"She's some of the best work KDY ever did." The Mandalorian cheerfully answered, forcing Kaine to push aside many of his preconceptions about the man.

Dull but expected small talk followed, until they reached a large briefing room, situated near the hangar, now turned into a dining hall. Kaine used the time to try and get a read on his guests, and undoubtedly they did the same.

Kaine walked inside and noted with satisfaction that as expected, only serving droids were present. There were platoons of the best commandos nearby, ready to storm in if necessary, but otherwise, the meeting was going to be as private and secure as practical.

"The Tarkin I knew was a no-nonsense man, who had no taste for wasting time with pointless politics and grandstanding, just like me." Kaine began as soon as the door hissed shut behind them. "Please take a seat, order what you want, and let's discuss the future." Ardus led his guests to a small richly decorated table and took a seat himself.

"I have the feeling we'll get along splendidly." Mandalore sat down and smiled pleasantly. "It's a fortunate coincidence, that both of us have no patience for the useless tedium of Core politics." He glanced at one of the droids that waited attentively for orders. "Corellian ale, chilled."

Soon, everyone had a glass of drink in front of them. Ardus noted that Tarkin did order the favorite wine of the man who died on the Death Star.

"I propose a toast, for our future prosperity!" Kaine raised his glass and carefully observed his guests.

"To a prosperous future!" The Sith was first to accept the toast and drink. He did so while having a half-smile on his lips, and looked right in Kaine's eyes.

Ardus nearly choked on his wine when Veil's eyes briefly turned the color of glowing molten metal.

"To our future!" Tarkin sipped from his wine as well and looked at Kaine with barely disguised amusement. "I must admit, it was a curious reception we received in the hangar. People tend to be either terrified of my friend, or in awe of him. I'm most curious about all the attention I received."

"The emotions filling up the hangar were very distinct, not to mention, interesting." Veil's eyes flashed golden again. "The same goes for your emotions, Grand Moff Kaine."

So much for keeping a blank facade, Ardus decided. This was going to be almost as bad as negotiating with Vader for something you needed, wasn't it?

"Our Wilhuff Tarkin had a special place in the hearts and minds of those serving the Empire." Kaine eventually said.

"That's one way to put it." Tarkin allowed. "He was a proponent of that Death Star station, wasn't it?" By the tone of voice, not to mention the tightening around the eyes, this Tarkin wasn't happy with that.

"The Death Star was the centerpiece of the Tarkin Doctrine, which governed the Imperial military thinking and doctrine for years," Kaine explained.

Veil and Tarkin looked at each other. The Mandalorian picked up his glass and gestured with it at Wilhuff before taking a sip.

"Fortunately for everyone involved, we aren't here to talk about the strengths or failures of my counterpart. We're here to discuss the future, aren't we?"

While the implications were unsettling, Kaine had to agree. They were here to negotiate the future of his state, after all.

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Part 2

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SSD Reaper

Xerton System

Pentastar Alignment

"What do you want, Grand Moff Kaine?" The Sith asked with a knowing smile.

Ardus had been about to give an answer that was second nature by now, before he had the good sense to pause and think. The Sith sipped his ale and kept staring at him with those glowing eyes.

Kaine had the sinking feeling that lying would do him no favors today.

"I want to rule." Ardus eventually admitted. "I want power and the ability to exercise it."

"Don't we all?" Tarkin saluted him with his wine glass. "As my friend is fond of saying, power can be its own reward."

"You want to see your realm grow and prosper. That would certainly give you more power." The Sith noted. "Yet, your ambition burns brighter than that, doesn't it?"

Those words subtly pushed Ardus over the edge. If he had a confidant, he could have spoken freely with, he might have been able to keep his mouth shut. He simply needed to voice the frustration he had been struggling with for years now, yet didn't dare voice until now.

"When the Emperor sent me out here as a Grand Moff, it was a slap in the face! There was nothing of consequence in Over Sector Outer! I had the thankless job of chasing pirates, while Vader went after the Rebels! There were no systems of real consequence compared to the Core! No opportunity to influence the future of the Empire! All I've built for years now still pales in comparison to the powers of the Core and could be no other way! Worlds around here simply lack the population to compete, no matter how much I build up their industrial base, and how much trade allows them to prosper! This whole place is a dead end!" Kaine fumed.

Tarkin and the Sith looked at each other.

"That was how many in the Mid and Outer Rim felt on our side as well. The Clone Wars raged, consuming system after system, while the Core played its games." Tarkin spoke in a bitter voice. "Even after those fools damned the Republic and nearly destroyed the New Order before it could become a thing, they still try to suffocate the Empire. The Mid Rim Alliance, the Mandalorian Freehold, and our allies in the Core are the major powers within the Empire that counter-balance the rest of Core on our side of the galaxy." Wilhuff looked pointedly at Kaine.

"One day, the Pentastar Alignment might be another pillar which holds up the Empire, and has a say in its future." The Sith said all that had to be said really.

Ardus looked at his guests, and sipped his drink, using the gesture to buy himself more time to think. The offer was plain to see – a future full membership into the Federated Empire, with the price being, entanglement in its politics, and support against their Core factions.

"And what would we do until such a hypothetical day arrives?" Ardus inquired.

"Why, we trade, build up ties, and make a future transition acceptable for everyone involved, if we decide to go that far," Tarkin said. "At any rate, trade treaties and technological exchange will benefit us both."

"After facing the New Republic in battle at Cal-Seti, we've found that you people have some curious deficiencies in ship design. At the same time, you've had the time and resources to put into building tougher, harder-hitting capital ships." The Sith continued.

"Did you stumble into a war with the New Republic?" Kaine asked. That wasn't something his agents had found out. Then again, the distance involved was huge, and these days the Republic controlled parts of the holonet.

"That remains to be seen. We sent a large aid convoy, with a proper escort, of course, to your Coruscant. It should have arrived shortly before we came on board." Tarkin explained. "It's up to the New Republic if they would graciously accept our Empire's aid and make reparations for their unprovoked attack. Otherwise, we might have to do something about them."

"My Apprentice is part of the diplomatic delegation. There has been no combat yet, though she's been rather excited as of late." Veil admitted.

For a moment, Kaine felt like snorting. It was as if they expected him to believe that the Sith could use his space magic to keep in touch with someone on the other side of the galaxy! Yet, even as he thought that Veil raised an eyebrow at him.

"A few things are impossible with the Force if you have enough power and the right tools." Two pools of molten metal stared at Kaine while the Sith spoke.

For some odd reason, Kaine had trouble disbelieving that statement. It was perhaps the chill he felt, despite the carefully regulated temperature of the compartment.

"Let's get back to the topic at hand, Delkatar. Most people in this part of the galaxy have no idea who and what you're, my friend." Tarkin carefully defused the situation. The Sith looked at him, nodded, and sipped his ale.

Ardus didn't fail to note that whatever relationship those two had, it wasn't one where this Tarkin could order the Sith around. That was certainly unlike what he knew of his Tarkin and Vader.

Yet, this Sith didn't need a life support suit to walk around. Veil wasn't obviously crippled, unlike Vader.

"When we have a provisional diplomatic agreement, we can leave the career diplomats and economists to make proper deals for our approval." Veil nodded and refocused his attention back to Kaine.

"I have no problem with signing a set of appropriate trade deals and authorizing a technological exchange, provided they aren't one-sided against my nation's interests. As for the future? We'll see." Kaine stated after shaking away all thoughts about the Sith and his unnerving abilities.

"That is something we can agree on. However, there is the practical issue of where our realms connect." Tarkin grimaced. "Koda Station and the whole region is a heavily garrisoned exclusion zone for a good reason. From what we could gather so far, in comparison, your Clone Wars were a relatively tame and clean affair. Ours were anything but. On top of all the other butchery, we had to face a Droid uprising. The Confederacy caused it by making too many of their war droids too smart for anyone's good."

"Going by preliminary report of what you and the New Republic deploys as standard ground forces…" The Sith grimaced, "Your ships are going to be extremely vulnerable to boarding actions. You also apparently lack an equivalent of Guardian or Umbrella System, and that only makes the danger greater."

"During the war, we had to invest extensively in improving the survivability and lethality of our infantry. The reason was simple - so we could keep up with the Confederacy when they began to field more and more state-of-the-art war droids." Tarkin explained.

"What do you compare your ground forces to?" Kaine inquired.

"How easy our boarding parties took a Republic Bulwark battleship at Cal-Seti. The frankly pathetic infantry weaponry and armor of the regiments they landed on that planet. Tests against Stormtrooper armor and blasters from those who chose to join the Federated Empire over there." Veil listed several examples. "At best, what they consider standard equipment, would barely compete with early Clone Wars standard. Compared to what everyone fielded at the end of the war…" Veil shook his head. "Facing modern infantry, ours, Confederacy's, or from the Rogue droids, would be suicide for your standard infantry. In case of boarding actions, the odds of your Stormtroopers even slowing them down are remote."

"This brings us to the issue at hand. Until now, the region around Koda Station has been of secondary importance. The primary goal of the military units stationed there was to prevent the rogue droids from building up or causing too much damage to the populated worlds in the exclusion zone. While they would not try boarding one of our task forces, the same couldn't be said for trade convoys passing through. Those would be a prime target for the clankers."

"What exactly are we talking about here?" Kaine demanded.

The Sith put down his ale and opened his palm. A small data chip flew from somewhere in his armor to his hand, where it floated in the air.

"This has standard information about the ground forces the Black Rebellion fielded at the end of the war, both heavy combat platforms, and various infiltrator units." The Sith explained.

The small, inoffensive chip floated forward until it landed on the table in front of Kaine. Ardus looked at it as if it was a poisoned pill.

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