Not original

It has been 11 years since the great battle in the Yavin system, which turned out to be catastrophic in its consequences. At the same time, 7 years have passed since the death, or rather the first death, of the Galactic Emperor, which caused the galaxy, until then united under the scepter of a ruthless despot and tyrant, at least the part controlled by the Galactic Empire, to plunge into chaos. On the one hand, a civil war, between factions, personalities and interest groups, but on the other hand the Rebel Alliance, which in the meantime managed to transform from an organization fighting against the oppression of the empire over the Known Galaxy, into the New Republic.

7 years have passed, from the irreversible end of the old, to the beginning of the new. The old and hopeless past, gave way to an uncertain future.

Only a year ago, the deceased Emperor Sheev Palpatine returned to the galaxy, bringing with him a powerful armada of Super Star Destroyers. The event came as a shock to all, but surprisingly they moved on with it as the Reborn Emperor's fleet devastated the Core worlds time and again, bringing death and destruction to all who had betrayed the Emperor.

But all must die, and so it was in this case, for the Reborn Emperor, after less than a year of rule, was defeated once and for all, his fleet and shipyards reduced to stardust, while the unity of the various Imperial factions shattered at its foundations, leading to another period of infighting and fighting for the last vestiges of power and former glory of the Galactic Empire. Imperial patriots, such as Vice Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, could only longingly and hopefully look for some sign from fate, someone who could take power over the internally torn Galactic Empire, rallying the quarreling Warlords, political and military leaders, to a common and coordinated fight against the hated Rebels.

At that time, a blonde, petite but already 28-year-old girl, an officer first in the Imperial Navy, and later, as a result of good birth and connections, the highest-ranking naval officer of one of the many factions that had formed shortly after the Battle of Endor.

"What did you just say, Heren?" Tanya asked him, looking at him with such a large mix of different, often completely incompatible facial expressions that it was impossible to pinpoint it precisely.

She and her two closest associates were currently in the office of Tanya, Lady Admiral of the Pentastar Alignment and thus Commander-in-Chief of the Pentastar Navy. It involved many duties and a long list of careers.

In this new life, Tanya, reincarnated for the 3rd time, began her career in the fleet quite early, with her graduation from the academy at the age of 16, just in time to catch the beginning of a closely organized rebel movement.

This involved going from captain of an Imperial I-class Star Destroyer at the tender age of 18, to her current status as Lady Admiral and Commander of the Pentastar Navy. If it weren't for who her father is, or rather was, the intense and widespread sexism within the Galactic Empire would have permanently blocked her career. Despite many odds, this did not happen.

At the tender age of 21, in the days following the Battle of Endor and the massive disruption of the Imperial system, Tanya and her father made the decision to retreat to the Galactic North, occupied by the Empire, and build their own state there, using the military forces subordinate to them in the process.

Tanya had to do a lot in that time to reorganize their space forces into an efficient, well-organized navy, and in doing so, deal with the desire of the signatories of the Pentastar Alignment Treaty to have their own semi-independent fleets. It was a difficult fight, but thanks to her great determination, using all the rhetorical tricks she knew, she was able to push through the creation of the Pentastar Royal Armed Forces, headed by her father, but Tanya was given the position of Lady Admiral and thus served as the supreme commander of this branch of their armed forces.

However, power, as is usually the case, was nothing more than a very thankless burden, which, although it gave her a sense of strength and pride that she had not experienced as a battlemage of the Empire, and even less so as a corporeater, still forced her to work hard.

Tanya spent these 7 years wading through the politics of the Pentastar Alignment, which, through a policy of fait accompli, became an independent state. She set herself the goal of eradicating the growing piracy, which, however, involved fighting on two fronts. On one side, the external enemy, the pirates, but on the other, the internal one, i.e. people jealous of her sudden promotion. In addition to combating piracy, she also focused on securing the Pentastar borders, which, although not particularly vulnerable to attack, were better safe than sorry. Her efforts paid off.

Just 6 years ago, she had already begun a wide-ranging, brutal and uncompromising fight not only against piracy, but also against the corruption that was prevalent in all institutions outside the armed forces, and in the process, against slavery, for a pragmatic reason, the ineffectiveness of this relic from the eras when sentient beings had bronze objects as their pinnacle of technology, and were not familiar with toilet paper.

It meant 4 years of full commitment, proverbial watching your back and hard work, sometimes whole standard days. But it paid off. 2 years ago, she emerged victorious from this campaign, the culmination of which was the eradication of piracy, and the cherry on the cake was the destruction of Red Moons. The organization, whose leader was beheaded, but the execution was sabotaged by Tanya herself, so that the beheading of the self-proclaimed Colonel Stormcaller, transmitted to the local HoloNet, had to be repeated several times, which was bloody, brutal and painful.

The execution of the living symbol of piracy in the region of the so-called New Territories, was in a sense the quintessence of the nature of an extremely brutal campaign, during which the navy showed absolutely no mercy to pirates. Tanya's philosophy in this case was simple, not to give pearls to swine.

Ultimately, however, the goal was achieved to the extent possible, with the huge dysfunction of the Pentastar's administrative and police institutions, such as the Politorate branch, Insurrection branch, and Judgment branch.

Tanya proved to everyone that she was more than capable, although if asked, she would never describe herself as a brilliant tactician. She won against the pirates by conserving her own resources, tracking down the pirates, attacking them with overwhelming force, and ultimately suppressing the enemy. She was no brilliant tactician, but her experience with resource management made her an adept strategist.

Ultimately, thanks to her, the Pentastar Alignment made a small expansion into Wild Space, gaining several systems with access to many important strategic resources.

"Exactly what came out of my mouth a few moments ago, Lady Admiral." Heren replied, he was a rather short and inconspicuous man, in a silver-colored armor. "If you don't believe me, then Commodore Xenia can confirm that."

It wasn't silver though. The armor, with the addition of a jetpack and a small concussion projectile, was covered in a thin layer of chrome. High Colonel Heren Ramcke wasn't the only one with such armor, as each of the Silver Commandos had the same, but the unique thing was the rank insignia on the chrome plaque. A row of 4 reds on a row of blues.

Regardless, Tanya couldn't believe it. Was I crazy? The young woman couldn't find the answer to that question.

"So confirm it, Xenia, if that's the case, because I think I have a hearing problem."

The two people, High Colonel Heren Ramcke and Commodore Xenia Ozzel exchanged nervous glances before the answer came from their side.

"I'm afraid your ears are not deceiving you, Lady Admiral." Xenia said as calmly as possible. "Exactly 20 standard minutes ago, I personally received a specially encrypted message from the 21st Reconnaissance Squadron, informing me… that the remains of the Lambda shuttle the Black Star, along with the cold… and rigid remains of your father, had been found in the Palanhi system."

Xenia Ozzel, niece of the disgraced and slain admiral of the Galactic Empire, had always been an oasis of calm and sincerity. Traits that, to Tanya's own surprise and disapproval, were quite rare among Imperial officers, who were very often simply pompous puffs convinced of the inevitability of victory.

Tanya had learned at the end of her two previous lives, especially at the very end of her first, that something like security and assured success was a dangerous illusion that clouded the perspective of reality and potential dangers. She tried to instill this same notion in her subordinates, for example, sometimes giving them more or less clear hints that with just one command she could order their destruction.

"This is a bloody disaster." Tanya leaned back in the comfortable and large armchair. She was not angry or furious, but she could not help but groan and complain, to give at least a minimal release to her frustration on the one hand, but emotion on the other. "Sithspit, in our current situation, is much worse, it means destroying the delicate balance between all interest groups."

Basically, the Pentastar Alignment was built on diplomacy and far-reaching compromises. The boundaries could be gradually pushed, but it did not change the fact that holding it all together was a challenge worthy of heroes, but only a few mortals.

Tanya's father, Grand Moff Ardus Kaine, might have been an indecisive and even unstable man in her opinion, and in some circles he was very unpopular, but he was a great speaker, able to keep people interested and compromise. Because of this, he was able to create and hold together for all these years something that, without Tanya's own efforts, would have been a loose and weak, bordering on anarchy, conglomeration of interest groups for whom the most important priority was to maintain the status quo.

"Why did I persuade him a year ago to return the Reaper to our shipyard on Yaga Minor and upgrade it to a new class?" She asked herself as she settled into the black plush armchair that easily accommodated her small frame. In a way that was an insult to all military discipline.

The upgrade of the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer to an entirely new, experimental and potentially even more destructive class could not have happened without the technical support of the Reborn Emperor.

Tanya, at that moment when Emperor Palpatine first contacted them, experienced a genuine shock along with her father. Although they were more than aware of the existence of the Force, thanks to the existence of Lord Vader and the Inquisitors, the return to life was somehow too abstract and improbable, even for them.

In any case, it was the Reborn Emperor who entrusted them with many valuable secrets and technological data, in case of unforeseen circumstances, so that none of it would be lost. Among all this data, there was a new super star destroyer, a new class, very similar to the Reborn Emperor's flagship, the Eclipse. The Sovereign class, with its powerful dimensions and firepower, the quintessence of which was the superlaser.

Tanya, knowing that conventional construction would take too long, was able to convince her father to use his flagship, the Reaper, which also formed the core of their fleet's strength, to use the ship as parts for a much better and more powerful class. However, Tanya did not expect that the end result would be her father sending her on a personal negotiation mission, with only one Lambda-class shuttle.

She may not have loved him, and they may have had a difficult but easy relationship. He was a very important politician in the empire, working hard to implement the ideals of the New Order and High Human Culture, although the latter was half-heartedly disdained by Tanya. As such, he had no time to spend with his daughter, especially since the child was the product of a political union devoid of feelings or passion.

This was the main reason why their conversations were usually limited to exchanging pleasantries, discussing the changes, their political situation, and potential threats.

Only occasionally did the Grand Moff praise her extraordinary achievements in science or military service, unusual for such a young woman. However, for the most part, their relationship was devoid of almost any familial warmth. Especially since her father clearly did not know how to start a conversation with her about something more personal. Meanwhile, she, as emotionally distant, almost psychopathic, from other people, was also unable and did not particularly need such a relationship.

As always, Tanya was aware of her basic shortcomings as a human being.

After all, Grand Moff Ardus Kaine was still her father, and she could appreciate that at least he had given her a comfortable life, with a practically ready and easy career path in the Imperial Navy.

"Do you know what actually happened there?" she asked matter-of-factly, glancing from Xenia to Heren every now and then. "Anyone?"

Finally, Xenia decided to answer. "Well, I spoke to Admiral Sauckel quickly about it, and according to his version of events, the Grand Moff was supposed to have received a secret, encrypted message from former Grand Admiral Octavian Grant about his desire to defect back to us. Due to the upgrade, or should I say cannibalization, of the Reaper for the new structure, he decided to travel there in his own shuttle. It's not clear who directly attacked and dealt the decisive blow, but it was either the mercenaries or the Rebels themselves."

Grand Admiral Octavian Grant was one of a long list of people Tanya simply couldn't stand, and the hatred was mutual. It was almost like a "plebeian, blonde upstart" hatred against an "aristocratic, snobbish jerk," which was one of the mildest insults the two of them had a habit of throwing around.

Tanya hated him all the more because not only was he a snob, convinced of the absolute superiority of all nobles over the rest of the galaxy, but he was also incredibly cunning and astute as a military commander.

Despite everything, he was a man with no political involvement, which after the Emperor's death turned out to have disastrous consequences when he found himself without supporters, with limited resources of his own, and with this, he had to beg Grand Moff Kaine for shelter in the Pentastar, only to escape to the New Republic a few years later, giving them known Imperial secrets, in exchange for immunity and a lifetime pension.

Tanya couldn't understand how her father, a seasoned politician, could trust someone like Octavian Grant, who had no loyalty and was willing, figuratively and literally, to do anything to ensure a soft landing as the Galactic Empire lost campaign after campaign.

Tanya wasn't angry at her father, or even at the last living Grand Admiral, she could only blame herself, or so she thought, for not being there with the Grand Moff to advise him properly. But then again, who could have predicted such a turn of events?

"My father was unwise to trust a man who changed his allegiances like gloves." Tanya returned to her usual cold demeanor, expression, and manner of speaking to others, which many compared to the creator of the Doctrine of Terror. "More, complete and unbelievable in every way, especially after this incident, a political bankrupt who, apart from a pension from the New Republic for his treason, currently has no resources, much less sympathy on either side."

It was quite clear to her that what had happened could not go unanswered. "The former Grand Admiral is to become a target for all the most prestigious bounty hunters. Let them be sent out, with or without intermediaries, it does not matter that I want the head of this political Bantha. I have enormous personal financial resources, losing a few million credits will not make much difference, especially since it will be clear how I deal with such scumbags."

"My lady…" Heren hesitated, then decided to change the tone of the conversation. "Tanya, let's be clear, revenge for the death of the Grand Moff is not the most important thing at the moment!"

Indeed. No one had to tell Tanya herself about this, not once, let alone several times, because she remembered the chaos and uncertainty that had arisen after Endor in the Known Galaxy. Her father had also left no will or designated her as a direct successor, but only an enigmatic document stating that the Pentastar Council had designated a successor.

"Of course, the nebulous matter of succession and command of this country, to which I naturally have the greatest right by virtue of my blood…" Tanya had no doubts as to what her priorities should be at the moment. "And by the way, having elite forces."

The Silver Commandos, commanded by Heren, were a truly elite formation, although limited to just one brigade divided into two regiments. Each of the commandos, sometimes called "Silver Wings" in the media on the Pentastar, had been trained by Tanya's own order by the Mandalorians, whose services in this regard were reluctant and expensive, but paid off. Each of the commandos had real gadgets at their disposal, armors referring in appearance to those worn by clone troopers during the second half of the Clone Wars and technically being refined in every inch. In addition, each of the Silver Wings received their own jetpack with a single concussion projectile, an E-11D blaster rifle, developed at Tanyia's request by BlasTech Industries, to this 4 grenades, a blaster pistol and a vibro blade in form of the knife.

Tanya personally oversaw the development, equipment and training of her elite elite, distinguished not only by their high level of training and equipment, but also by a fanatical level of loyalty to her. In the back of the young woman's mind was always the need to expand the Silver Commandos into something more than a single brigade. A full Corps force at least.

"Have the Pentastar Council representatives made any significant or drastic moves so far?" she asked, her gaze never leaving Xenia, who undoubtedly had the most to say on the matter.

"No, both I and the High Colonel have done our best to narrow down the scope of those who know of your father's death, and who could potentially spread the information, but time is working against us at this point."

"Either we seize power at this point..." Heren wanted to begin.

"Or you and I will suffer an ignominious fate." The Lady Admiral summed up the situation without a blink on her part. "In the worst case scenario, we die. In the best case scenario, either we will have a civil war within the Pentastar that will drain our resources, or we will have to gather as many resources as possible and then go to the Deep Core, solely to carve out our own fiefdom or support one of the Warlords. Either way, it would be a political death sentence for me."

Heren and Xenia exchanged nervous glances, but the former swallowed nervously, which was audible even under his chrome-plated helmet.

"If that's what you say and believe…"

"I have no faith in this matter, or even in other matters, I simply have beliefs based on certain, more or less rational and logical foundations." Tanya leaned over the desk and began typing commands into the console. "That said."

Then, the previously inactive holoprojector flashed blue, displaying a map of most of the known Galactic North, with particular emphasis on the New Territories, 14 of which were within the boundaries of the Pentastar Alignment.

The rest of the territories, however, at the time of their conversation and as the map perfectly reflected, were torn between the New Republic, the Imperial Warlords, the Mandalorians, the Corporate Sector, and the recent addition to the ranks of local powers, the so-called Crimson Empire, led by the self-proclaimed Emperor Carnor Jax.

"At this time, we must seize power as soon as possible and obtain, if possible, an oath of unconditional loyalty and service to my person, under penalty of loss of office or life." Tanya moved on from this announcement to issuing orders directly to her subordinates. "Xenia, let the Platinum Wrath Squadron, along with the Salamander, depart for the Entralla system immediately. I will personally call a meeting of the council."

"Heren, contact Admiral Sepp Torbec as soon as possible, have Scourge Squadron depart from Sartinaynian to the Yaga Minor system, to the planet of the same name." Her eyes were as cold as durasteel, her voice stronger and as if capable of breaking even the strongest of metals. "They have a clear goal, to secure the shipyards there, in case any of the Moffs or other military commanders should have something reckless pop into their empty heads."

"Tanya." Xenia addressed her informally, a privilege reserved only for Heren and her. "Do you really believe…"

"I am convinced that beyond the universe, there may be an infinite amount of stupidity of organic beings and thus their unpredictability." After these words she deactivated the holoprojector and folded her hands. "Now leave me, you have your orders and I want to think everything over in solitude."

They both left her office, and as the durasteel doors adorned with the Pentastar crest closed, Tanya turned her chair towards the porthole behind her, from which she had a good view of the airspace.

The room itself, her office, although undoubtedly modest and utilitarian, nevertheless perfectly told the story of all her adventures and accomplishments to date, first as an officer in the Imperial Navy, then as Lady Admiral of the Pentastar Alignment.

Memorabilia from the Battle of Yavin, as commander of her first Star Destroyer, however, a Victory-I class, the Executive, which had participated in the blockade of the planet and managed to shoot down several insignificant Rebel transports. A few artifacts from local temples and her old blaster, made of Mandalorian Steel on her personal order. Another interesting item was a long and ceremonial dagger, which she received as a gift from one of the officers on the Second Death Star, where she served as the executive officer aboard the massive structure, but despite the fight and destruction of the structure, she managed to evacuate and join her father.

A plan slowly began to form in her head, for a quick and possibly bloodless takeover of power, which however required fast action. Not only that, but also a plan to take advantage of the last conflict, which for both the New Republic and the Remnant of the Empire, had extremely catastrophic consequences. Consequences that created opportunities for her.

However, in a moment of contemplation, her mind was violently torn from them by a tunnel of blue light. It was an unmistakable sign that her personal Bellator-class dreadnought, had entered hyperspace.

"To my future successes." She said, regretting at the same time that she did not have a cup of coffee with her. "Kampai!"