Grand Admiral

Nine years, five months, and thirty-five days after the Battle of Yavin...

Or forty-four years, five months, and thirty-five days after the Great Resynchronization.

"Jorus C'baoth. Human. Male. Born on the planet Bortras, in the Reithcas sector. 4/3/51, DATE GIVEN IN PRE-IMPERIAL CALENDAR"

Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker frowned as he saw the data on the screen of the Senate Library computer. Fifty-one years before the formation of the Galactic Empire? That is, when he attacked the first Death Star, C'baoth was already over seventy years old? And now he's almost eighty?! Of course, provided that he is really alive and Corran Horn is not mistaken.

The Jedi Knight glanced at the wall clock. Two minutes! It took him five minutes to match the data on the age of the alleged Jedi! And the reason is in this very note "pre-Imperial period." A temporary chronological patch that allows the state apparatus of the New Republic to somehow not get lost in the variety of timekeeping systems of the galaxy.

What kind of mania is this with every first regime - as soon as they come to power, they immediately introduce their own system of chronology and translate all historical dates to it? That's what the Galactic Empire did twenty-eight years ago. And still the Imperial Remnants are counting time from the date of the proclamation of the New Order - that is, they are now...

Luke paused for a moment. So. Palpatine came to power, declaring himself Emperor, in the year of his birth, immediately after the destruction of the Jedi Order and the Old Republic. Well, at least it's simple here - the Empire is as old as he is. Twenty-eight. Soon it will be twenty-nine... Yeah. Not the most pleasant comparison. But it's convenient to count.

Although, it seems, the Imperials are not so actively using the countdown from the day of the proclamation of the New Order now. It seems that they are increasingly switching to the calendar that the Old Republic used in its last years. The Great Resynchronization, which occurred thirty-five years before the Battle of Yavin. An interesting fact. The Old Republic somehow existed for more than twenty thousand years, despite the fact that almost every corner of it used its own calendars. And as soon as they were streamlined, the Great Resynchronization took place - and sixteen years later, Emperor Palpatine did his black deed, destroying this great state and creating his own on its ruins. True, it lasted a little longer from the moment the new official chronology began.

The New Republic has not gone far from the Imperials in the matter of imposing its own chronology, declaring the year of the Battle of Yavin as the date of the countdown. Why not the Battle of Endor, when the Emperor was destroyed? Or not the year of the capture of Coruscant, when the Rebel Alliance for the Restoration of the Republic finally became legitimate in the eyes of the galactic public?

And a Hutt knows why, it's the business of politicians. But it was incredibly difficult to navigate all this chronological chaos. Very difficult. Impossibly difficult. A couple more such chronological twists and turns and it will be virtually impossible to track the data, and to build the correct chronology in history lessons, schoolchildren will have to solve a couple of equations with a dozen unknowns in their minds.

Luke sighed and continued reading the meager data about the Jedi of the past. Meager... Yes, the New Republic intelligence had to work hard to restore them. However, they restored not only these files, but also the library of the Old Senate, the building of which was in the stage of a sluggish repair. It just so happened...

"Great potential in the Force... Transferred to training in the Jedi Order... At the age of seventeen, he began attending Minrikan University... After completing his studies, he went to the Jedi Training Corps on Camparas... Two years later, he became an apprentice..." To whom? Who trained C'baoth? Unknown. There are no records.

Could Darth Sidious have trained this Jedi even then? No, the thought is insane. If Luke remembered history correctly, then at the time when C'baoth was nineteen years old, Palpatine was not yet vested with absolute power even as Supreme Chancellor. And before that position, he was a senator, and before that... that's where the Jedi Knight's knowledge let him down. But it doesn't matter. It's unlikely that Palpatine, before he seized power, had time to train C'baoth or anyone else. So, it's just a crazy thought, because C'baoth is a Jedi, and they relentlessly destroyed the Sith, which means...

Well, yeah, yeah, Darth Vader was also supposed to destroy the Sith, not join them...

"Received the title of Jedi Knight... Awarded the title of Jedi Master... The title is officially recognized by the Order..."

What's this news?

Even the crumbs of information that Luke had about the past of the Jedi were enough to say with confidence - the Order gave titles to its members, and the Jedi did not call themselves what they thought was necessary. To receive each title, a Jedi had to prove himself, these are the traditions of the Order, they are inviolable...

Well, yeah, yeah, Darth Vader shouldn't have been taken for training because of his age - his father, as he was able to find out, at the time of enrollment in the Padawans was older than the years when they were taken into the Order. But for some reason, the Jedi Council changed its mind...

I wanted to howl with anguish. He understands the history of his own family with a stretch and speculates more than he operates with facts. And here he decided to understand the fate of a man who lived eighty years!

Luke massaged his temples with his fingers.

— Computer, — he addressed the voice assistant of the search system, — Display the main points of the master's biography as a Jedi.

Since Jorus C'baoth (namely Jorus, and not "Joruus," as Wedge said!) was already a Jedi Master at that time, maybe he possesses such knowledge that Luke never even dreamed of! For almost eighty years of being in the Order, you could expand your horizons so much that...

Honestly, he was now stung with envy that Corran had flown to this mysterious Jedi alone. I wanted to touch the ancient knowledge myself, talk about the past, about the path of the Jedi and the restoration of the Order...

"Member of the observer group for the demilitarization of the population of the planet Ando... Advisor to Senator Palpatine... Member of the combat group of the Order to eliminate dark Jedi in the Elrood sector..."

— Stop playback, — Luke commanded. Advisor to Senator Palpatine? This is not even guesses and assumptions caused by the fear of the strengthening of the Dark Side, which the ghost of Ben Kenobi spoke about. This is already virtually a direct connection! — Details of C'baoth's work with Senator Palpatine.

The computer seemed to think. For a few seconds. Then it issued the inscription:

"Information unavailable."

— Unavailable or classified? — Luke asked again, holding his breath.

"Information unavailable."

A laconic answer, nothing to say.

Luke grimaced. But there's nothing to be done about it.

— Continue.

"Member of the group of Jedi investigating the case of Trinkatta Starships company about the creation of modified droid fighters... Member of the Senate Committee on Interracial Relations... Appointed Ambassador for Special Missions in the Xappyh sector... helped Jedi Master Tra to resolve the Duinuogwuin-Gotal conflict... Appointed Jedi Keeper of the Alderaan sector and participated in resolving the crisis known in history as the Struggle for Dominion on Alderaan..."

Luke leaned back in his chair and thoughtfully drummed his fingers on the table. It turns out that C'baoth was not only an advisor to the man who one fine day proclaimed himself Emperor, but also participated in the destruction of dark Jedi in the Elrood sector. Luke checked the information again. Yes, it was the Elrood sector. It could be assumed that C'baoth participated in the destruction of dark Jedi on Bpfassh in the Sluis sector, because of which the inhabitants of the planet do not like Jedi, but no. Just because of the problems with chronology and the confusion of dates caused by Imperial cleanups, many perceive these two confrontations as one. But no, the dark Jedi on Bpfassh were destroyed by a Jedi strike group, which included Yoda... oh, old friend, how I miss you now! How many questions I want to clarify!

Quiet footsteps sounded behind him, and the young Jedi felt the approach of a living being. The personal assistant of his sister, an active member of the Rebellion, and part-time - the current nanny of the Alderaanian princess herself. With prospects to become one for the twins as well. However, Winter never complained about her assigned job.

— General Skywalker? — her stealthy voice sounded.

— Hello, Winter, — Skywalker pulled a smile on his face, trying not to give out his exhausted search state. And his attitude to the title, which he parted with without regret some time ago. Winter is the owner of a photographic memory. She never forgets anything. It was not enough for the assistant to tell her sister that her brother had spent more than one day in the Library, digging into intricate archives. — Are you looking for me?

— Yes, — Winter stood next to him, peering at the screen. — Princess Leia would like to meet with you as soon as you are done, — she nodded at the screen and, with a wave of her hand, threw back her snow-white hair. — Are you studying the history of the Jedi again?

— Something like that, — Luke replied; he hated when someone, whoever it was, was interested in his activities. Luke inserted an info card into the terminal slot. — Computer, record a full copy of the information on Master Jorus C'baoth.

— Jorus C'baoth... — Winter thoughtfully repeated. Skywalker with an inner smile noted that the girl was indeed very similar to his sister. It is not for nothing that she was considered the princess's double. — Is this the Jedi who participated in a major political scandal on Alderaan?

— That's how it is recorded in the archives, — Luke nodded in agreement. — I haven't looked at the details, I wanted to ask Leia. Although... Maybe you know something about it?

— No more than any Alderaanian... — Winter replied. It seemed calm, but...

Luke felt the pain emanating from the girl. The same one that haunted Leia or any other native of Alderaan when the conversation concerned their destroyed native world.

Unlike the rest of her compatriots, for Winter, with her absolute memory, from which nothing is ever erased, the destruction of Alderaan felt as if it had happened a couple of seconds ago. A nightmare in reality, from which there is no way out.

Winter.

— The political scandal concerned the issue of succession, — Winter said after a pause. — After repeated, or rather - three, votes on the subject of the dispute - should the function of the vice-king of Alderaan go to the House of Organa or to other Houses, the population turned to the Senate with a request to resolve this issue. The delegation that arrived, which included C'baoth, needed only a standard month to resolve the crisis.

— Judging by what I know, Bail Organa became the vice-king, — Luke frowned. — Leia's adoptive father. It turns out that C'baoth supported his lineage? It's kind of... unusual. I thought the Jedi of the past chose a path of mutual agreements, when none of the parties was infringed in their interests.

— C'baoth did not support any of the parties, — Winter objected. — On his instructions, Bail Organa married Breha from the House of Antilles - her lineage was Organa's competitor on this issue. The conclusion of a dynastic marriage raised Breha to the throne as queen, and made Bail vice-king. Formally, neither side had any complaints.

— On his... instructions? — Luke widened his eyes. — You're not mistaken?

— I'm never wrong, — Winter noted coldly. Not proudly, not haughtily. Just stated a fact.

— This is... incredible, — Luke whispered. — How could a Jedi tell someone what to do? Moreover, give orders...

— On Alderaan, the Jedi were always revered and it was considered an honor to be friends with the Order, — Winter explained. — But yes, you're right. C'baoth's behavior was actually an ultimatum. They agreed to it only because feelings broke out between the future king and queen, and...

— And this option suited everyone, — Luke summed up, still amazed by what he had heard.

— Looks like I've learned all I could, — Luke agreed, taking out the info card. But if the archive is right... — You said Leia wanted to see me? — he asked, getting to his feet.

— If you're free, — Winter nodded. — She's in her office now. The meeting of the Provisional Government has ended...

Luke caught the understatement in the girl's words.

— Something happened?

— Counselor Fey'lya has made accusations against Admiral Ackbar, — Winter said.

— Luke stopped so abruptly that he almost tumbled down the corridor.

— What other accusations? — maybe it's some kind of joke...

— In treason, — Winter sighed. — He and General Cracken organized a network of traps in the hope of destroying the Imperials who are striking our rear.

— Yes, I heard this from Ackbar himself, — Luke confirmed. — Good tactics...

— We've lost contact with three such groups, — Winter announced. — One disappeared almost in full force, the other two were completely destroyed. And not the slightest trace of the enemy.

— What the heck is this... — Luke muttered. — I hope Han and Lando are okay?

— They were the ones who discovered the missing groups, — Winter said as they approached the turbolift leading to the landing pads. — Their reports became the reason for the accusation.

***

— Grand Admiral, — Captain Pellaeon appeared on the threshold of the cabin. — The information you requested has arrived.

— Thank you, Captain, — I took an information chip from the commander of the Chimaera. — Is there any data from the "Tantiss Mountain" facility?

— An investigation is underway, no additional data has been received, — Gilad reported. — The Chimaera's communication system was also checked. No one contacted Wayland except for me. The communication log was not subjected to purges and adjustments - we checked this thanks to the archives of the central computer using the highest access code that you gave me.

Well, even like that. It turns out that I was wrong and Colonel Selid was really acting on his own initiative? Or I was not mistaken, but I just can't find the right "threads"? Well, I'm an analyst, not an investigator. It seems that the situation is an accident. But I don't believe in them. "If you have paranoia, it doesn't mean that you are not being watched."

And even though I have no proof of the infidelity of Major Thiers, I don't fully believe the story about the guardsman who betrayed Palpatine. Maybe it's in vain. But for now, his access to information should be limited, since he has something to do now - training the recruits.

And for now, Pellaeon will serve me instead of him.

— Contact the Nemesis, — I said. — Convey additional instructions to Colonel Himron and Lieutenant Colonel Astarion: "Leave people at the facility to continue the investigation. The rest should arrive on Tangren to receive a new assignment."

— It will be done, sir, — Pellaeon said. — Are there any orders for Mara Jade?

— I will personally give orders to my adjutant, — the red-haired lady deserved to receive orders firsthand. Not in disgrace. Moreover, she is still undercover as my officer for special assignments. Let it remain so for everyone. A pretty girl with an elderly exot, and even in such a rank... Well, who of the outside Imperials, not involved in my fleet, would think that she is a spy, and not a beautiful doll-simpleton, who is kept for entertainment? — Did Captain Doria report on the damage to our ships during the raids?

— Several non-critical breaches, — the gray-haired officer reported with poorly concealed joy. — The enemy's losses are much more significant.

— Six Mk-II assault frigates and two Immobilizer-418 class interdictor, — I recalled. — Yes, this is an impressive result. Especially considering the fact that our preventive operations to clear the paths of the Katana Fleet resulted in a political scandal in the New Republic and the removal of Admiral Ackbar from his post.

— However, now we will have to fight with Generals Solo and Calrissian, — Pellaeon noted. — They seem to be simple smugglers... but they caused a lot of problems for the Empire.

— Our active actions would certainly force the enemy to pull as many experienced military personnel from the reserve as possible, — I noted. — This is a logical step. I have no doubt that a proposal will soon come to return to service for the former Grand Admiral Octavian Grant.

— Traitor, — Pellaeon hissed through his teeth. — The only one of all the Grand Admirals who, after the death of Palpatine, did not even try to correct the situation.

— You are looking at the situation one-sidedly, Captain, — I noted. — Grant has bargained for himself immunity and the absence of criminal prosecution from the New Republic, while the rest of the Grand Admirals died without much benefit. From the point of view of a person who hates exotics and droids - this is the pinnacle of thought. It would be worse if he had gone over to the side of our enemy.

— Useless squabble, — Pellaeon sighed. — Of the twelve grand admirals, only you are trying to correct the situation, not aggravate it.

— From the point of view of the radically minded part of the Imperial Remnants militarists, my aspirations are also considered treacherous, — I noted. — We are alive only because only a few people know about my goals. And it should remain so in the future, Captain. By the way, speaking of the consequences, — I took the info chip out of the computer and handed it to Pellaeon. — Use this information in case I am killed. Or if you hear such rumors.

Frowning, the commander of the Chimaera looked at me warily, and then took the chip.

— The information on it is encrypted, — I added. — The cipher has a time timing. When the time comes, the chip will let you know.

— Sir... — Gilad tried to object to me, but I interrupted him with a gesture.

— We are waging a war for our future, Captain, — I reminded him. — On our way, we sometimes encounter insurmountable obstacles. My death or even rumors about it should not be the end of what was planned.

— Yes, Commander, — Pellaeon said, clenching his lips, putting the chip into the inside pocket of his tunic.

His whole appearance showed that the man was unpleasant about the conversation itself. I found in his eyes, and, to be honest, in the eyes of the entire fleet, almost mystical significance. The fighting spirit is held exclusively by the belief that under my command we will continue to win further. Until the situation with what happened in the depths of Tantiss Mountain is resolved, insurance is needed to understand that events will not go along the same rut as in the literary universe known to me. In Timothy Zahn's books, after Thrawn's death during the Battle of Bilbringi, Pellaeon, not knowing what to do next, ordered a retreat. And then he went to serve the Reborn Emperor. Which led to a certain chain of events. Well, the commander of my flagship Star Destroyer, even in the event of my death, should know the truth about future events and my advice regarding his further actions. Whether he believes what is indicated on the chip, will follow the advice - this is already a question. I'll hope he will follow.

— So, tell me about what happened on New Cov, — I asked.

— Moff Ferrus sent Captain Vain to seize a batch of biomolecular mass, — Pellaeon said. — Upon arrival on the planet, Vain found that his ship had been destroyed along with the entire crew. He engaged in battle with six heavy Dreadnought-class cruisers and was able to disable one of them. He damaged the other five.

— Six Dreadnoughts, — I said thoughtfully. — Do you understand what this means, Captain?

— You said that Captain Hoffner sold six heavy cruisers from two hundred that were part of the Katana Fleet to the Corellian Garm Bel Iblis, whom everyone considers dead, — Pellaeon said.

— And here, we meet them on New Cov, — I noted. — Where we made a deal with the local governor. What does the ground team say?

— The pirates were attacked on the surface, — Pellaeon replied. — They retreated, taking part of the cargo. In orbit, the dreadnoughts tried to shell their transport ship from ion cannons. They attacked. Yazuo Vain's starship was destroyed by return fire.

— Interesting, — I said. — You said that Captain Vain arrived on New Cov separately from his fighters. Explain.

— We paid Vain about forty-five million credits for his help in capturing the Errant Venture, — Pellaeon recalled. — I don't know where he got this antique, but he got a Separatist Providence-class carrier destroyer.

— Another legacy of the Clone Wars, — I clasped my fingers together. — Intriguing. Did you order Captain Vain to return to Tangren?

— Yes, sir, — Pellaeon confirmed. — I'd like to know where he got such a ship. You need about thirty thousand crew members there!

— Just over twenty, — I corrected. — In its time, the CIS replaced the crews on ships with its combat droids. Many of the starships were lost after the end of the Clone Wars. Some of them fell into the hands of the Rebel Alliance. Including Providence-class. It is not surprising that some of these starships have survived somewhere else.

— Do you want to requisition this antique? — Pellaeon asked.

— I want to direct Mr. Vain's aspirations in the right direction, — I clarified. — One carrier Star Destroyer on the enemy's supply routes is a great help. No, we will not take the ship away. On the contrary, we will help him to be even more convinced of his rightness in his desire to take revenge on the enemy for the death of his comrades-in-arms. The ship will remain with him, but we will help him with the crew - we have a considerable number of volunteers. Let them serve not only in "wolf packs," but also on board the ships that we will make ours... well, let's say, auxiliary forces. In the upcoming battles, we will need many starships. Even if they are outdated.

— Are you hinting that Vain has more hidden Separatist starships?

— I am directly saying that this sentient had the opportunity to sell us this starship, and for a lot of money, — I recalled. — But he didn't do it. And only after receiving a significant amount of money - the ship appeared. Perhaps it required repairs, but I am more inclined to believe that Captain Vain acquired the ship immediately after receiving cash from us. Which gives grounds to believe that his contact person also has other starships.

— But why do we need Separatist ships? — Pellaeon was surprised. — You have the coordinates of military warehouse RZ7-6113-23. According to the information, there may be ships of the Grand Army of the Republic.

— And equipment from the same period of time, — I confirmed. — The more we requisition for our own needs, if there really is at least something left there, the better. Yes, by the way. Don't forget to send reconnaissance droids to the RZ7-6113-23 system. I want to know if there is any point in going there at all. Or is the base plundered by marauders.

— It is possible that there are protection systems there, like minefields, — Pellaeon said thoughtfully.

— Then you agree with me that we should not fly there headlong, — I said. — Do you have any idea who tipped off Bel Iblis about New Cov?

— Honestly, I thought it was an accident or Bel Iblis's own intelligence worked...

— Maybe so, — I agreed. — However, I am almost certain that he was given a tip. And this will need to be sorted out in the future. I do not intend to forgive such a thing.

— Are we attacking New Cov? — Pellaeon asked.

— Yes, — I confirmed. — But not right away. At the moment, we are in the midst of an operation to transport heavy cruisers across the galaxy. There will be an operation on Hypori. It is necessary to go to Lianna and clarify the issue of assistance to our cause from the Santhe family. In addition, we have agents at the Hest and Sluis Van shipyards. Not to mention the problems on Wayland. There is absolutely no need to accumulate a pile of problems, we will solve them gradually. Here is our goal, — I projected a hologram above Gilad's head. — Kai Fel.

— A supplier of hyperdrives? — Pellaeon was surprised.

— We have a high demand for them, — I reminded. — The manufacturer has a large supply. In my opinion, everything is within the limits of a market economy. Send scouts to this system. I want to know their entire defense scheme.

— It will be done, Grand Admiral, — the commander of the Chimaera said. — Should I order the navigators to calculate the course to the RZ7-6113-23 system immediately after arriving on Tangrene?

— For what purpose? — I was surprised. No, seriously, what were we just talking about?

— By the time we reach the base, the scout droids will already be in place, — Pellaeon explained. — If the situation there is favorable...

— If the situation there is favorable, then this is a reason to think about the fact that a trap is waiting for us there, — I said with a sigh. — Do you really think that among the hundreds of Imperial warlords after Palpatine's death, there weren't a couple who would like to increase their fleet by absorbing the place of conservation of outdated ships? For a second - after the end of the Clone Wars, the Empire used starships from the war with the Separatists for about ten years. The battle in the Rugosa system convincingly showed that even outdated ships can cause a lot of problems. If the Venator had a modification developed by the end of the war - we would have had a very hard time.

— Are you talking about the self-propelled guns installed in the lower hangar? — Pellaeon clarified.

— Exactly about them, — I confirmed.

— A relic of the past, — Pellaeon frowned.

— Has it lost its effectiveness because of this? — I asked.

— Probably not, sir, — Gilad said uncertainly.

— We don't need assumptions, Captain, — I said. — The legacy of the past, which can be effective right now, must be obtained by us.

— Sir, I dare to note that in this case our shipyards will simply be overwhelmed with the volume of work, — Gilad said. — They are already barely coping with the repair of the ships delivered to them. If the number of technical personnel can still somehow be compensated for by clones, then without additional orbital docks, the repair of the Katana Fleet may take months...

— What do you think, Captain, what is the purpose of the raid on the Halma shipyards? — I clarified. It's easy to call everyone stupid and uncomprehending when this plan was born in your head. But I am surrounded by ordinary people who do not have extraordinary abilities and they cannot look into other people's minds. And the fragmentation of information, which I use to avoid a complete leak, allows me to keep a significant part of my plans secret. If one fails, then the other will work.

— Support for Baron D'Asta? — Pellaeon suggested.

That's why Thrawn was considered a genius among the Imperials. The ability to calculate at least a couple of steps ahead is an almost unique ability for the military machine of any state and military leaders in this galaxy. It is not surprising that those "simple" combinations that I read about in books seemed to the locals the height of cunning and ingenuity. But in my past life, this happened every day in any sphere of life.

To ensure the proper security of your plans, it is enough to promote several operations at the same time, and then the assigned tasks, even in the event of an information leak, will not help to assemble a single picture. But it's not worth delaying either, otherwise the quick-witted enemies (and there are not so many idiots around) will guess to break the puzzles and put together several pictures from them.

And then there may be a problem.

The expression "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed is king" involuntarily comes to mind.

— Including, — I confirmed. — He supported us, we will repay him in kind. Think again, Captain.

— There is Imperial equipment there, including fighters, shuttles, and Star Destroyers, — Pellaeon continued the development of thought.

— Good, — I approved. — We already have a second reason to go there. Especially considering the fact that the ships are in orbit, and the crews are on the planet. And - in a reduced composition. Everything necessary for the completion of the starships will arrive later.

— But Lieutenant Rederick has not yet provided information, — Pellaeon frowned.

— But the New Republic has kindly given it to us. — I noted. Seeing that the captain does not understand, I explained:

— Their repair regulations are the same as those of the Empire. If something works, then why try to change it, right?

— I didn't even think about that, — Pellaeon admitted. — Although the thought was there...

— Will you try to state the third reason why we will attack these shipyards? — I asked.

Judging by Pellaeon's expression, he clearly did not expect that there was anything other than the first point.

— Um... — Gilad thought. — The shipyards themselves?

— Exactly, — I said. — And to be more precise - two first-type orbital repair workshops. And their Golan-type defensive stations. I think now there is no need to clarify that the subject of the raid is not only Imperial ships, right?

— But these are stationary objects! — Pellaeon reminded me. — They do not move in hyperspace, they do not have hyperdrives and...

He broke off. The gaze of eyes, wise with life experience, shone.

Understanding has come.

— Sir, — the commander of the flagship shook his head. — I... I don't know what to say. If everything works out, then we will provide Tangren with everything necessary and...

— This is not done for the sake of Tangren, — I stopped him.

— But isn't our base there? — he clarified.

— There, — I confirmed. — But should it be the only one?

— Oh, now I understand, — Pellaeon nodded. — Sorry for taking up your time, sir.

— Spend ten minutes to explain now or hours to explain later? — I asked a rhetorical question. — Captain, sharing your ideas with an ally is not a waste of time. This is the key to a successful future. One day you and other Star Destroyer commanders will command squadrons and you will have to make important decisions. Let's hope that by this time we will all become better military leaders than we are now. Please contact Captain Vain and invite him to Tangren. If I'm right about the hyperdrive class of his new ship, then this trip will take him about three to four days.

— Will we be waiting for him at the base? — Pellaeon clarified. — Isn't it too risky - after all, the ships of the Katana Fleet should arrive by this time?

— There are a lot of systems in the Morshdain sector, including uninhabited ones, — I reminded. — But no, you're wrong. Our time is too valuable to waste it waiting for a privateer. We will leave as soon as we unload and receive a report on the current situation.

— May I know where to set the course? — Pellaeon asked.

— Of course, — I nodded. — Syutrik IV. Tell Major Thiers to notify the Prince Admiral of our visit. I would not want to irritate him with the sudden appearance of an Imperial Star Destroyer directly in orbit of his precious capital.

— Will we be buying additional MAs from him? — Pelelon asked.

— Including, — I did not exclude a reasonable option. — But at the moment, I intend to talk to him about transferring prisoners from Tangren to his planet. There are too many events revolving around our rear base to simply allow the enemy to admire even the stars in the night sky.

Glancing at the picture "Killik Twilight" hanging above the exit of the apartments, I squinted.

Borsk Fey'lya has taken the step I needed. But he did it earlier than planned. In the absence of suitable evidence, the case against Ackbar will fall apart very quickly. The New Republic should be given more headaches.

And not only them.

The "Matryoshka principle" has not been canceled by anyone.

— Captain, — my voice stopped Pellaeon at the very door. — Wait. I will have additional instructions for you. Secret, of course.

***

— You know, — Sergius demonstratively picked at his teeth with a toothpick, carefully avoiding looking at the customs officer. — I am grateful to you.

— For what? — the girl smiled. Now she looked as beautiful as any other human female who had chosen to go on a date in a third-rate cantina with a young man whose habits do not allow him to be brought into decent society.

— You found me a job, — Sergius said. — It's good in the warehouse. Clean, quiet, calm. Just pick the parts and make inventories. Easy! And what kind of money do they pay?! A whole three credits per hour! I'm rich!

The customs officer chuckled discreetly.

— Why are you laughing? — Sergius expressed the greatest surprise that he could dare to take, without the risk of overacting.

— Do you really think that three credits an hour with a forty-hour five-day work week is a lot? — condescension appeared in the girl's tone. — You work all thirty-five days without days off?

— Well, yes, — Sergius rummaged with a fork in the slop, which they called soup here. Maybe once this bantha feed was soup, but before someone ate it before their pair. — They told me that I would receive as much as eight hundred credits!

— To be more precise, eight hundred and forty, — the girl corrected him. — This is just simple multiplication. Three credits per hour of work; eight hours a working shift per day; five working days a week. And there are seven such weeks in a month.

— Well, yes, — Sergius nodded. — It turns out to be eight hundred.

— Eight hundred and forty, — irritation and notes of arrogance appeared in the girl's voice. Truly, the old proverb is true: "Better a stormtrooper son than a customs officer daughter." Such hubris and disdain for loved ones... Yeah, it seems that the rebels have absorbed all that they have hated the Empire for so long. Completely forgetting that the Empire is not just people in power. It's also an idea. The Empire is alive as long as those who remember the best of the New Order are alive. And the rebels seem to have decided to revive all the most disgusting things.

— Well, okay, — Sergius shrugged, as if he didn't care. — So I'm richer by forty credits. And how much do you earn?

To be honest, he didn't care. But he had to maintain the reputation of a provincial fool who had left the limits of his native agricultural fields.

— Actually, it's tactless, — the girl wrinkled her nose. — Women are not asked either about their weight, or about their age, and especially - how much they earn by honest work!

"Oh, enough spinning like a Hutt in a pot," Sergius mentally grimaced. "Your salary is probably at a rate of twenty-five credits per hour. Therefore, for five weeks of work, you receive seven thousand credits. The dress on you is new, the shoes too. There are no jewels on the body, but there are traces of a chain, bracelet, and rings. All this harmonizes on a tanned and fit body. Therefore, your expenses are high. So, if one of your unfortunate relatives did not leave you housing by inheritance, then you are clearly renting an apartment from someone. And therefore, you do not save money and spend it on yourself. A typical squanderer of life, who has taken a position higher than her idea of the level of comfort and enjoying the present. Without any hint of prospects in the future."

The statement of this fact took him a few moments.

— You this, well, sorry, if anything is wrong, — he sniffled. — I'm from Tanaab, you know.

— It's okay, — the girl smiled, sipping caff from a mug, — tell me, how do you like your work?

— Ah, well, nothing complicated, — Sergius shrugged. — They bring me the cargo, I accept it, send it to the storage area, keep records. Nothing complicated.

— I'm glad you like it, — the girl smiled. — And, if it's not a secret, what do you store there?

"You're customs, you give the go-ahead," Sergius was surprised. Strange lady. Then she helps with work, then she tries to jump into bed, and after all that, she asks about labor activities. A strange lady. At least she wants to seem like one.

Sergius did not believe in friendship between a man and a woman, between a man and a man, and, in particular - between women. Everyone needs something from the other. Admittedly, he was waiting for this conversation. I wanted to understand why a customs officer with a good salary is eager to get him a job. Obviously, she had some kind of her own interest. And not at all idle. The question about the contents of the warehouses was clearly asked for a reason.

— Yes, all sorts of junk, — he said indifferently. — All sorts of guns, bombs there...

— Guns? — the girl was clearly playing naive surprise. Oh, how. It's getting more fun. — Bombs?

— Well, I'm not local, I don't know what all this is called, — Sergius said in a nasal tone, scratching his nose. So, the girl is well aware that the warehouse she advised him to get a job in, and even so intrusively, almost threw herself on his neck, stores weapons removed from the disarmed ships of the New Republic: turbolasers, launchers, lasers, ion cannons, proton torpedoes, and assault missiles. Thousands of copies, both Imperial and Republican. Consequently, not only the annoying-looking Mon Calamari starships were converted into cargo ships, but also the military trophies of the Empire.

— And I thought that they were bringing confiscated food products there, — the girl blurted out an absolute nonsense. Not a single pipe with a cooler was brought to the warehouse where Sergius worked, in order to turn this storage into a refrigerator.

— No-o-o, — Sergius drawled. — Weapons. A lot of weapons.

— And what, are you coping with everything alone? — the girl's eyes gleamed mysteriously.

Well, it looks like the girl is part of some kind of gang that is engaged in stealing goods and selling them on the black market. It would not be surprising if, in the end, this equipment gets back to the Empire. However, you will have to pay a lot for the fact of the purchase. But, the question is, why spend Imperial credits to search for this kind of cargo? Clearly, in order to return them to their place one day and return to the two hundred warships that were constantly arriving in the sector for unloading some useful cargo and loading others.

— Of course, alone, — Sergius proudly puffed out his chest. — Who else will guard the military warehouses, if not military goods? — the question is, of course, rhetorical. — Except for me, there are no guards, no watchmen, no patrol droids - why, if everyone here is from the New Republic, who would want to steal from whom? We won the Empire together, we should trust each other.

— Well, yeah, — the customs officer laughed, extremely strained and absolutely artificial.

In fact, now it becomes clear what's what. It explains her inexplicable desire for a simple guy. And the desire to learn more about Sergius himself. Whoever this lady is, she intends to visit military warehouses, after extracting all the necessary information from Sergius.

And then, when the loss is revealed, the "security officers" will receive several leads to him. And a circle of evidence will be found, completely determining the near future for Sergius. And it clearly did not shine with colors - only the color of the prison uniform, where he will be sent by the Security Service fighters of the Sluis Van Shipyards, when they understand everything that is happening.

So, the coordinator of the Ubiktorate is against an unknown gang of marauders who intend to steal military property, which he himself is already gaping at, but cannot do it now, so as not to destroy his own legend.

Well, it's even more interesting this way. Perhaps he will contribute not only to the fact that the Grand Admiral will lay his hands on warehouses and ships waiting in the wings. Already now, there are more than two hundred line and escort ships of the new Republic of various designs cruising through the galaxy without weapons, with filled holds of various expensive and important types of cargo.

Since he has been assigned this task, he should take care to ensure that this treasury is not plundered by someone other than Grand Admiral Thrawn.

***

So, the chip that Pellaeon delivered to me.

Data on a sentient recommended to me by Chief Engineer Reyes.

Ryan Zion. Sixty-seven standard years. A native of Kuat. Comes from a family of hereditary engineers of the Kuat Drive Yards.

By education - a military shipbuilder engineer. Holder of diplomas in a number of related specializations - small ships, medium ships. Well, and the main profile is everything except Star Destroyers from Imperial and above. That is, ships up to a thousand or one and a half (I don't remember the exact terminology introduced by the Anaxes Military College) are loved and adored by him, but longer... Specific logic, it must be admitted.

Training in the field of: "Optimization and modernization". Hmm... not the most popular in the Empire, by the way. Preference was given to the creation of new ships, and not to upgrading existing ones. Well, after the collapse of the Empire, it is not surprising that he turned out to be in demand - there is no money to build a fleet, but starships are needed.

High qualification, repeated encouragements in service. He owns a decent fortune, valuable securities of Kuat Drive Yards... well, that's the least interesting to me.

He has a considerable number of prostheses - mostly implanted in the body. He is able to see in the infrared spectrum - a high-cost implant is installed instead of his left eye, which allows him to use a thermal imager and a number of other settings. Wears an eye patch so as not to show the external prosthesis of the eye.

The left arm up to the elbow is replaced by a high-class cybernetic prosthesis, there is no synthetic flesh coating, part of the external elements of the prosthesis covers the installation site. There are no built-in weapons, the prosthesis is equipped with a comlink of his own design, most likely a long-range device.

He has undergone repeated genetic changes, due to which he has strengthened his skeleton, as well as... well, even like that? I did not know that in this universe there is medical intervention that allows to prolong life. However, I do not have one hundred and five billion credits for such modernization of the body. And the desire to lose an eye from side effects is also frankly absent.

And what's next is already interesting... Not a supporter of the New Order. He is indifferent to exotics, phlegmatic in everyday life. In the professional environment, he is arrogant, ambitious, conceited.

Left-handed. He carries a blaster of his own modification on the right side of his body, presumably a disintegrator.

He took a direct part in the refinement of Victories and Acclamators after the end of the Clone Wars. So that's who we owe such projects to. He did not participate in the design of Imperial II because of a quarrel with colleagues from the design group. The details of the conflict are unknown.

He is the chief designer among those who work at the shipyards on the planet Yaga Minor, belonging to the Pentastar Alignment.

The last postscript even amused me.

"Dreams of having his own shipyard."

The desire is extremely interesting, especially considering the fact that all the slipways in the Alignment or any other Imperial Remnant are subordinate to the government. In modern realities, in fact, as well as in the recent past of the Empire and the Old Republic, owning your own shipyard means being a rich person. Because there are always orders - or almost always. In addition, it is an opportunity to independently manufacture ships according to your own designs - these are popular among various kinds of rich people. As far as I remember, in the last millennium of the Old Republic, it was forbidden to produce warships serially, but it was not forbidden to manufacture space giants, armed to the teeth, but for the needs of private individuals, oddly enough. Moreover, such ships sometimes cost hundreds of millions.

A poor long-haul driver who does not want to become the owner of his own transport company.

So the desire of this sentient is quite understandable, and even to some extent justified.

The only question is what keeps him in the Five Star Commonwealth?

As an option - a high salary, because the state of Grand Moff Kaine is the richest of all the Imperial Remnants.

Ideology? No, hardly.

I think that Mr. Ryan Zion's loyalty is also influenced by the fact that the basis of the fleet of the Five Star Commonwealth is not Star Destroyers, but heavy cruisers. I don't know what his dislike for them is, but it's clearly something personal. Or materially justified. In any case, this needs to be addressed - and the sooner, the better.

The holoprojector came to life, following my call. A miniature figure dressed in a tight-fitting black armored suit, a red shock of hair... And a lightsaber hanging on his belt. Only one. Belonging to Mace Windu, if I understood correctly. How interesting.

— Mara Jade, is there any additional information on Tantiss Mountain? — I asked. No, well, maybe something happened?

— No, Grand Admiral, — she replied.

— In that case, I have a task for you, — I said. The girl looked at me expectantly. — Go to the Yaga Minor system. There you need to meet with the shipbuilder engineer Ryan Zion. I'm sending you his file, — a copy of the document escaped from the computer through light years.

— Should I eliminate him? — the girl asked. Well, yes, the most reasonable question.

— No, — I shook my head. — Lure him to our side. I suspect that Talon Karrde is doing business with the Five Star Commonwealth, as the most stable of all the Imperial Remnants. This also needs to be investigated. And one more thing, — "a good thought comes later"... — rent shipyard workers to work with asteroids.

A misunderstanding flashed in the girl's eyes, but the Hand did not consider it necessary to express it aloud.