Limits of trust (III)

"How familiar are you with the inner workings of the fleet, Lieutenant Colonel?" I inquired, settling into my work console in the apartment.

"I'm not sure I follow, sir," he responded honestly. It's rare to see such frankness from an Imperial Security Service operative.

"You mentioned that your work revolves around the fleet," I reminded him. "But how extensive is your knowledge of the services that maintain the functionality of the Empire's starships? For example, their history?"

"It's more of a side interest," he admitted. "I focus mainly on the present tasks of my role, analyzing the causes and outcomes of various situations."

It wasn't exactly what I was hoping to hear, but it was better than nothing.

"Perhaps you could help clarify some information we've received from the informant who provided us with two Tartan-class starships," I suggested, turning to the computer and displaying the relevant data on the holoprojector.

"This is a list of Executor-class Star Destroyers built by the Empire over the years," I explained, pointing to the holograms of thirteen wedge-shaped vessels. "The fate of each is fairly well-documented. However, I recently learned that just before I took command, a group of Imperial officers defected from Anaxes, taking with them a Super Star Destroyer and numerous secret projects, including substantial naval resources and tactical ship formations. Do you know anything about this?"

"Yes, sir," the operative confirmed.

"Then why is there no mention of this in the archives of the ISB, the Ubiqtorate, or Imperial Intelligence?" I asked, keeping my gaze fixed on the lieutenant colonel. "All I found was a brief note that the Imperial Navy forces in the Core Worlds sectors were destroyed."

"Yes, sir," he nodded. "The information was classified by order of the Imperial Ruling Council."

"And why is that?" I pressed.

The lieutenant colonel hesitated, seemingly weighing whether he was authorized to disclose classified information to the Supreme Commander.

"There was a betrayal," he finally confessed. "The entire fleet of the "Azure Hammer" sectoral army deserted."

"I want all the details," I demanded. The logic was simple: if someone decided to cover up a fact, it must be extremely troubling. Someone was trying to conceal the truth.

"After the rebels took the Imperial Center, our presence in the Core Worlds and Sector One," as Coruscant and the surrounding sector were referred to in military documents, "remained strong," the lieutenant colonel explained. "When Grand Admiral Oswald Teshik was killed, Admiral Fayette Keyes took command of the Azure Hammer sectoral army, leading from the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer Tide."

"I don't see that ship listed among those built by Kuat or Fondor," I observed.

"After our defeat in the Yavin system nine years ago, the Emperor issued a special order to conceal the existence of certain army and navy units," the lieutenant colonel explained. "All records of their numbers, composition, and commanders were erased from archives, aimed at thwarting rebel spies. Following the Emperor's death at Endor, Imperial Intelligence Director Ysanne Isard ordered another purge. This was partially carried out in sectors under her influence or directly dependent on Coruscant. The Azure Hammer, based on Anaxes, was also subject to these directives, but it wasn't under Isard's direct command. That's why there's no mention of the Tide or more than fifty other ships—including Star Destroyers, battle cruisers, and several Super Star Destroyers—under Admiral Keyes' command. Last year, the admiral and all operational ships under his command vanished without a trace, leaving Anaxes and Sector One defenseless. Admiral Osted Vermis, the commandant of Anaxes, surrendered to the rebels, effectively gifting them the base and its warehouses to secure his loyalty. This allowed the rebels to solidify their control over the Core Worlds, boasting that the Empire had grown so weak even seasoned commanders would join them without a fight. The Imperial Ruling Council ordered a counter-propaganda campaign to mitigate the demoralizing effect on the military. They announced that the rebels had destroyed Admiral Keyes' entire fleet and captured Anaxes in a direct assault. This happened last year, shortly before you assumed command of the fleet. More recently, a few months ago, we learned that some commanders within the Imperial Remnant also deserted, disappearing without a trace."

"It seems the counter-propaganda didn't work well if even common pirates know Keyes and his fleet fled rather than being destroyed," I noted.

"The idea was sound, but the execution was flawed. The ISB and Imperial Intelligence operated independently, leading to conflicting reports about the timeline of events. This inconsistency allowed the truth to surface," Astarion explained.

"And there's been no word from Admiral Keyes or his ships since then?" I asked.

"No, sir," confirmed the lieutenant colonel.

"And the most recent deserters?"

"No word on them either, sir. I suspect they've joined warlords like Teradok, Harrsk, Delvardis, or Moff Foga Brills, who are based in the Deep Core."

This is bad. Very bad.

It's likely they all serve the Reborn Emperor now, which means his fleet has grown even larger. An Executor-class Super Star Destroyer alone wields the firepower of an entire fleet...

And now, at least, I understand why this information was erased. I'd bet that some of the current members of the Imperial Ruling Council are Palpatine's loyalists who would gladly serve his clone, if they haven't already. Palpatine's agents, I suspect, ensured the secret survival of his armada.

And considering the rumors that Ysanne Isard was Palpatine's lover and made certain moves to appease the Emperor's clone in hopes of gaining his favor and regaining control of Lusankya, her involvement in this makes sense.

So, there's at least one more Executor out there. And it's in the hands of people I'd rather not be anywhere near. Or perhaps there's more than one?

"Lieutenant Colonel," I addressed him. "Do you or anyone else have information on how many ships Admiral Keyes had and their types?"

"Unfortunately, no, sir," the operative said, disappointing me. "The investigation has been challenging. What we do know is that all research projects and experimental prototypes on Anaxes were stolen by the defectors, along with a strategic reserve of stygium stored on the planet."

"I was under the impression all the stygium in the galaxy had been used to build the Terror super star destroyer," I remarked, though I knew that wasn't entirely true. One of the warlords in the Deep Core was rumored to be building his own Executor with stealth technology.

"Most of the Empire's forces believed that as well," Astarion confirmed. "But the reality turned out to be quite different."

This is not good at all.

"Thank you for your candor, Lieutenant Colonel," I said. "You mentioned that several defectors went missing. Are the names of the others known?"

"Absolutely, sir," Astarion confirmed. "One of them, for instance, was Admiral Enos Fanada, who oversaw the Vata sector. He commanded an entire fleet of Star Destroyers, many of which were in the final stages of repair or construction. They vanished along with the second-class shipyards. Their current location remains unknown."

Second-class orbital shipyards are vast metal frameworks capable of accommodating Star Destroyer-class ships for repairs within their docks. Unlike first-class shipyards, they can not only repair damage but also construct new ships. This can be done swiftly if there are skilled personnel, sufficient resources, and adequate funding.

I'm confident the Reborn Emperor faces no issues meeting these requirements. He wouldn't have secluded himself on a secret planet without access to ample resources, technical specialists, and financial backing. After all, those monstrous World Destroyers were built somewhere, leaving the New Republic aware of the threat posed by such weapons.

"This has been an enlightening conversation," I remarked. Colonel Astarion remained at attention before me. As the hologram above him dissipated, I pondered whether it was wise to continue collaborating with this intelligence officer.

On one hand, he's clearly attempting to earn favor by showcasing his knowledge and zeal. However, we must not forget that he's an ISB officer. Trusting such individuals can be hazardous. Though he possesses a sense of honor—both personal and toward the Empire—this old-school loyalty could either aid or hinder our objectives.

It's necessary to test his loyalty, using him to achieve short-term goals. Therefore, he must be removed from the ship's immediate environment to minimize his influence on the crew.

"I have a task for you, Lieutenant Colonel," I finally decided.

"Yes, sir," he replied promptly.

"At this moment, the Empire needs to execute a series of military operations crucial to the success of the first phase of my plan, the details of which you don't need to know. Are you familiar with the history of the conflict between the Old Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems?"

"Superficially, sir," he admitted. "It occurred during my youth, and much has been forgotten."

"In that case, I'll refresh your memory," I said, recalling the names and events from the Clone Wars animated series. "About twenty-nine years ago, a strategic Republican conference was held at a station in the Karida system. The Separatists attempted to disrupt it by crashing a Venator-class Star Destroyer, controlled by droids, into the station. Had they succeeded, much of the Republic's military leadership would have perished, and the course of history might have changed."

"I vaguely remember something like that," Astarion said, frowning. "Yes, that's right. The Star Destroyer was called Glory. It was loaded with explosives—rhydonium, if memory serves. This incident was analyzed during my academy days. The New Republic employed similar tactics against Warlord Zsinj to damage his Super Star Destroyer, Iron Fist."

"Exactly," I agreed, pleased that the lieutenant colonel recalled the substance's name since I couldn't. "Do you know what rhydonium is?"

"An explosive, sir?" Astarion ventured.

"And that's one of its notable qualities," I said. "But more importantly, it's a highly explosive fuel. Few use it today, just as in the past, due to its volatility. However, it's extremely efficient. Even in small quantities, it can power engines for extended periods. I need this fuel. Find out where rhydonium was mined during the Clone Wars. I'm assigning you the Victory-class Star Destroyer Steel Aurora. Captain Kalian and his crew will provide all necessary assistance."

"Thank you for your trust, sir," Astarion responded, clicking his heels.

"We're running out of time, Lieutenant Colonel," I emphasized. "I need rhydonium as soon as possible, in the largest quantities available. Its presence will ensure the success of the operation. Its absence would be a significant setback. Do you understand the expectations placed on you?"

"Yes, sir," Astarion replied with clear determination.

"I don't doubt it," I nodded. "Start immediately. I need preliminary results by the time we reach our operational base."

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed," I said.

The "security guy" executed a sharp turn and nearly marched out of my quarters.

Left alone in silence, I reflected on the twists of fate. Here I was, thrust into the body of a brilliant strategist, albeit without his full knowledge. I faced a choice: ensure that the New Republic was battle-hardened by Thrawn's campaign and better prepared for the Reborn Emperor, or steamroll through it with the benefit of hindsight. Should I crush them now or play a longer game?

Losing is easy—just do nothing. Winning isn't much harder—Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy almost reads like a step-by-step guide on how to bring the New Republic to its knees. With the knowledge Thrawn lacked, it's simple to avoid his mistakes or at least minimize their impact.

Yet, I can't shake the belief that the New Republic is the only force capable of stopping Palpatine. I have faith in the "plot armor" surrounding Skywalker, which I shouldn't interfere with—yet.

However... Hmm...

Should I win now only to lose when the Reborn Emperor's campaign begins, or lose now so the New Republic can triumph and prevent a madman from ruling the galaxy? I often grapple with these questions, and I rarely find a clear answer.

Why should I sacrifice Thrawn's promising start to ensure the New Republic can defeat Palpatine? So that this madman doesn't unleash terror and genocide across the galaxy? What difference will it make to me if I'm dead? And death is the only outcome that will prevent Palpatine from extracting every bit of knowledge I possess.

No, I can't allow one side to strengthen while the others crumble. Everything could collapse if that happens.

But why should I care about the galaxy's fate if Palpatine wins? First, because a madman will commit atrocities as he did in the events I remember. With nothing to hold him back, he has an overwhelming arsenal at his disposal. Second, because I don't condone mass bloodshed if it can be avoided. Analysts don't thrive on indifference to losses or civilian casualties. From what I recall, Thrawn also abhorred such methods—he knew how to achieve victory with minimal bloodshed. If I resort to extreme measures, I'll alienate my closest allies and subordinates.

So why not use all my knowledge now to ensure that if I perish, it's with a bang? I could give the New Republic a severe thrashing, or perhaps even the Imperial remnants...

But why bother if my fate is sealed? After all, there are only two options—die or surrender to vivisection...

Or is there another way?

I leaned forward, opening a file on the computer. How likely is it to walk such a fine line without cutting too deep?

The odds are slim, especially since it would require immense resources. But those who never try are the ones who fail, right? My thoughts have been coalescing, forming a plan involving rhydonium. While reflecting, my mind has been piecing together the puzzle, forming a complete picture.

It's time to merge everything.

Transferring memories and thoughts from my head to "paper" took a considerable amount of time. A semblance of a global plan has taken shape. That's a good start.

The only downside is that the scale of the campaign, both main and superficial, doesn't allow for my personal involvement. Consequently, I'll have to delegate a significant portion of operations to my subordinates. They cannot be trusted with the full scope of the plan, and certainly not with the knowledge of Palpatine's resurgence in the Deep Core.

I'll have to use them "in the dark," carefully masking the true situation and the "hidden agenda" of the tasks assigned to them. This will be extremely challenging. Every step must be meticulously calculated. Failure means death. But I want to live, and that desire drives me forward.

So, I'll have to navigate this carefully.

The key is to place all the necessary pieces on the chessboard at the right time and in the right places. When the plan begins to unfold...

It will be a masterpiece.