Chapter 18 — Joys, Sorrows

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

Or forty-fourth year, five months and twelve days after the Great ReSynchronization.

Visits to the Grand Admiral's cabin became something of a mandatory item in Gilad's daily routine. And I must say that today he had something to please the commander from the very morning.

Even though time is only a relative value for those living on spaceships, and the ships had to synchronize time with the clocks of the planets in orbit, Pellaeon preferred a dual-purpose chronometer. One set of time was responsible for all the hands of the standard, Coruscant time. And the second one is local. And the numbers on the last one indicated that it was now six in the morning. And even though Coruscant no longer belongs to the Empire, and there is no point in continuing to track what time it is on the planet after all, no one will get in touch from there and there is no need to worry... However, he continued to do this out of habit.

Just a convention. As well as the time of day, it was too early for the report — but Thrawn was never embarrassed by this.

Information is more important.

— Captain Pellaeon to the Grand Admiral,— he said into the intercom of the locked cabin door. The metal sheet slid to the side, hissing as usual. Pellaeon took a step into the darkness of a small corridor...

—Early,— a growling sound came from the darkness, which gave me goosebumps.

—Rukh! — the captain could barely control himself without seasoning his address to the Noghri with more severe expressions. —Stop doing this!

In response, he heard only a faintly audible hissing-growling laugh. Are you funny?! «It's high time you were sent to the lower decks to clean the drainage system tanks for such jokes!» thought Pellaeon. But, as always, he only remained silent, entering twilight —the usual state of illumination of the Grand Admiral's cabin.

Why the Chiss liked to stay in semi-darkness remained a mystery to the captain. As well as why Thrawn stopped contemplating the exhibits of his holographic museum. Pellaeon, in general, has no complaints; in his opinion, this is a pointless exercise. But Thrawn himself said that through art he understands the enemy more...

— Any news, Captain Pellaeon? asked the Chiss, whose eyes appeared like two coals in the darkness. The captain, already accustomed to such a spectacle, was not surprised.

—Yes, sir,— he said in a satisfied tone. — "Chimera" has completed repairs and modernization. Mounts for transporting a Corellian corvette are installed in the main hangar, and an additional shield generator is installed under the armor. During your absence, we checked its operation the systems are in order. Now we are able to pump up the deflector field directly during the battle.

— What is the power of the new generator? — Thrawn asked.

—The systems can produce up to thirty percent of our standard shields,— the Chimera commander recalled the numbers. —In principle, we can use this generator as a second line of shields...

Gilad fell silent as Thrawn began to look at him with interest. Very inquisitively, very meticulously, as if he was going through all the DNA chains in his flag captain one by one. Such unceremonious meticulousness even stole my breath. And even the fact of finding ysalamiri peacefully clinging to the back of Thrawn's chair did not smooth out the situation.

— Is there any other information? — Thrawn finally broke the silence.

—Yes, sir,— Pellaeon breathed out a sigh of relief. — Repair work has been completed on the Stormhawk, Death's Head, and Bellicose. The integrity of the hull and internal damage on the Imperative and Relentless have been restored. But they will not be operational until the convoy from Bilbringi returns. Of course, I turned the tables on the local authorities, saying that we needed spare parts, and in particular turbolasers, much faster. They agreed to send one "Star Galleon" with the necessary parts, so that in three or four days these starships will leave the repair cells. —The Nemesis is a day's journey to the base. TheJudicator and cruisers from missions in the Sluissi system are three days away. Lieutenant Colonel Astarion reports that the first batch of rhydonium is ready for delivery to Tangrene.

—Okay,— Thrawn said. — Send a medium cruiser and a patrol cruiser to the Abofar system to replace the Steel Aurora as a stationary vessel. Lieutenant Colonel Astarion must also return to Tangrene. Notify interested parties.

—Yes, sir,— Pellaeon made a note on his desk. Considering the volume of orders that flowed out from the Grand Admiral after escaping from the Obroa-skai system, the commander of the Chimera did not hope for more memory. Eh, how good it was before... Two or three orders per day...

— Are additional corvette mounts installed on all Star Destroyers? — the voice of the Grand Admiral brought him out of his thoughts.

—Yes, sir,— Pellaeon confirmed. — We have completed the distribution of corvettes among ships. Three —extra— are still hanging in orbit.

—They are by no means «superfluous» captain,— Thrawn objected. —We just don't have suitable ships for them right now. But it won't last long.

Oh, if the Interdictors had full-size hangars, like their ancestors, the Imperials, then there would be somewhere to «stuck» these three unfortunate CR90s. And so... Wait a minute! «Not for long?»

Pellaeon wanted to ask what the commander's last words meant, but he did not allow him to utter a sound.

— Any news from Captain Dorja?

The captain of the Relentless, as relentless as the name of his ship, had just reported on his activities on Garos IV. Literally two hours and thirty minutes ago. And Pellaeon could bet on anything — Dorja knew perfectly well that the commander of the Chimera was sleeping at that time. In the absence of the senior mate, the flag captain doesn't have much time to rest... But no, this... man decided to personally report what a great guy he is! Obviously he was mocking me!

—Local rebel cells have been hit,— he said. — More than forty people were killed, seven more were captured. A battalion of stormtroopers is stationed on the planet, and explanatory work has been carried out with local authorities. The hybridium deposit was taken under protection, resource extraction work was resumed in the same volumes. The first delivery is scheduled for the end of this month.

—You are unhappy with something, captain,— Thrawn noted.

—Dorja contacted me via holocom a little over two hours ago and spent the last hour monotonously telling me what successes he had achieved,— Pellaeon said. —I already sleep three hours a day...

—You are an Imperial officer, captain,— the Grand Admiral reminded him. —Stop complaining. Captain Dorja did an excellent job...

Thrawn looked at his computer monitor, searched for something for several minutes, and then said:

as soon as we complete the meeting, send a medium cruiser and one Tartan to the Garos system to relieve Dorja,— the Grand Admiral ordered. — Recall the "Relentless" to Tangrene with all the obtained hybridium. Our camouflage field prototypes will arrive soon and we need an active substance for them. Also thank the captain on my behalf for a job well done...

It took a lot of effort for Pellaeon not to grimace. Is he doing this on purpose? Thrawn knows perfectly well what their relationship is, so Gilad would rather eat the uniform without sauce than complacently say something to Dorja without...

—...Given the difference in the speed of rotation of the planets, by the time our meeting ends, it will be night on Garos IV,— Thrawn finished, his eyes sparkling. — As you understand, you will speak with Captain Dorja personally. Use the holocommunicator...

It took a couple of seconds to understand the meaning of the Grand Admiral's words. A carnivorous smile appeared on Pellaeon's face.

—With great pleasure, sir! —he said, imagining how furious Dorja would be when Gilad pulled the same trick on him...

— And after the "Relentless" joins the fleet, you and Captain Dorja will either stop posing as yesterday's junior cadets and harboring grudges against each other, or bring me a report on your retirement for health reasons for approval,— slowly, but Thrawn said clearly, as if driving red-hot bushings into the parts. Gilad felt his eyelid twitch spontaneously. What?!

—Sir, I don't understand...

—Then you and I are in the same position, captain,— Thrawn said. —I also don't understand how two Imperial officers, commanders of star destroyers, can just have time for petty enmity born out of nowhere?

«I completely agree here» Gilad said mentally. «Dorja's opinion that only he knows how to do everything right is empty.»

— And since this happens, then there are only two possible answers —either both respected captains are not so diligently devoted to my cause, or they are simply no longer suitable for their positions,— said the Chiss. —Please convey these words of mine to Captain Dorja. By the time the Relentless returns to the fleet, I must either hear from both of you that the enmity between you has ended with a general surrender based on recognition of each other's qualities and merits, or see your reports. We will not return to this issue again, captain. Has there been a report from the Crusader?

—They are ready to begin the infiltration operation,— Pellaeon said. — Coordinator Sergius has developed an appropriate "legend" for infiltrating the planet. They are only waiting for your command.

—Consider that they already have it,— Thrawn said. — Have you received information about clones from Mount Thantiss?

—Yes,— isn't it easier then to read the reports yourself instead of chasing the captain of a star destroyer an hour before the crew wakes up? —No biological or mental abnormalities. They were all loaded onto transports and are being delivered to us. as did the freighters captured before, and the cloaking device prototypes being worked on at Bilbringi,— Pellaeon said.

— Great news, captain, don't you think? —Thrawn said. Gilad only incomprehensibly muttered the usual —Yes, sir. He had nothing against clones; he had fought alongside them in his time. But those were completely different guys. — Send Baron D'asta a request for food —three times the amount relative to the number of personnel we have.

—Won't it be too much? —Gilad thought, nodding automatically in agreement and making a corresponding note on the deck screen.

—Contact Sentinel,— Pellaeon was surprised to hear the name of the Interdictor-class Star Destroyer sent nine days ago to the Chasin system for patrol. —Let them prepare to leave for base as soon as the shift arrives. To replace them, after returning and repairing them, send the medium cruiser —Smashing— Commodore Dobramu. Already now send two "tartans" and the "Immobilizer" «Stalker» we have there.

—Sir, wouldn't it be better to send the Limiter that the base has at its disposal there? —Pellaeon suggested. Well, why does Moff Ferrus the Hutt need "Immobilizer»? Who is he going to catch here? There will be enough escort frigates, carracks, medium cruisers and as many as a dozen Tartans. Why leave so many ships? And it is clear that the Moff does not control most of the sector.

— "Sentinel" Thrawn repeated calmly, looking at his subordinate in such a way that Pellaeon even felt somehow uncomfortable. Not because the Chiss did it in any special way, the captain simply remembered in time how cheerfully Lieutenant Colonel Astarion performed the exercises... Oh, that's all for the Hutt! Which of the two is the Grand Admiral?

—Yes, sir,— Pellaeon made a note to himself.

—Send the Resolute, —hmm, another medium cruiser flies off somewhere, —to the Bestine system to carry out patrols, along with another Tartan. As soon as the Sharp comes out of repair after the mission to Bpfasshe, send it, accompanied by another patrol cruiser, to the Carida system. But first contact the leadership of the Academy and ask them for graduates all the ones they can provide.

—What if they refuse, sir? —Gilan asked, knowing first-hand the arrogance and swagger of the local military, who have turned for the most part into bureaucrats. But he was already thinking about it —Thrawn is condensing all the star destroyers he has into one core, including the Interdictors. Looks like a new campaign is coming.

—In that case, send the Sharp and its escort to ensure the security of the Makem Te system,— Thrawn answered simply. and inform the Imperial Ruling Council that Ambassador Furgan, who controls the planet, has left Imperial control.

—They won't do anything to him,— Pellaeon noted.

—Maybe,— Thrawn said indifferently. —Or maybe not. Send requests to Ord Tracy, Bilbringi, Rendili and Bestina IV shipyards. I want to know what repair capacity they have. On Bilbringi, inquire further about the level of readiness of the Star Destroyer that was promised to us.

—Do we have so many ships to bother anyone other than the Tangrene shipyard staff with work? — Pellaeon was surprised at the question about repair capacity, but did not object. That's the right question about the Star Destroyer, which is being completed. An extra ship in the fleet wouldn't hurt. It won't hurt at all. But why does Thrawn only rely on docks controlled by the Imperial Ruling Council?

—There are still shipyards in the Pentastar Alignment,— he reminded. — And Prince Admiral Delak Krennel.

—I remember, captain,— Thrawn said in an absolutely indifferent tone. —But we are not interested in them in the near future. Contact the latter and ask how many TIE fighters, interceptors and bombers they can offer us.

—It will be done, Grand Admiral,— Gilad assured him.

— Send a request to Orinda to see if they have orbital defense stations that we could borrow. If yes, then we need them. If not, contact the manufacturers. I want to know the production time of the three Golan II type stations, the time of their delivery to Tangrene orbit and their installation.

—Yeah! It looks like the trip to the D'astan sector turned out to be profitable,— Pellaeon mentally rejoiced. Orbital stations are good. And the purchase of SFU —even more so.

— Any messages from Niles Ferrier? — Thrawn clarified.

—No, sir.

—«Source Delta»?

—Nothing.

— Reports from the Noghri on Hypori?

—Conducting reconnaissance of the area. The complex is in working order, battle droids, Zann Consortium mercenaries and several ships have been spotted in orbit. Intelligence teams report that criminals are shipping at least one shipment of droids and droidekas per day. Destination is unknown.

—Interesting,— was all Thrawn said. —I need a detailed report on the enemy forces in the Hypori system. I was counting on a droideka assembly line, not the second coming of the Confederate Army.

—I will order that all reports be delivered to you immediately,— said the Chimera commander. —Sir, can you resolve the question?

Thrawn nodded silently and barely noticeably.

—Wouldn't it be correct to turn directly to the Santhe family on Lianna for supplies of TIE-type equipment, and not to the Siutrix Hegemony? —Pellaeon blurted out a question that had been tormenting him for a long time. Yes, there are certain pitfalls associated with the independence of the patrimony of the Santhe family and the official reluctance and even practically hostility towards the heirs of Sienar from the Imperial Space, but... Can we at least try? If Thrawn needs all the possible TIEs that Krennel can provide, then something big is probably afoot, which the Grand Admiral has not yet deigned to notify him about. However, since the Chiss found an approach to Baron D'asta, perhaps it will work here too?

—Good idea, captain,— Thrawn said what the commander of the Chimera least expected to hear from him.

—I... um... Gilad hesitated. What?! Thrawn, the most famous of the grand admirals, who so easily defeated the rebels in the Dafilvean sector and planned his operations almost three or four steps ahead —DIDN'T THINK OF THIS OPTION?! What is he doing all this time?!

—There is no need to fall into confusion, captain,— Thrawn said. —The proposal is indeed correct and timely.

«Oh really?» —Gilad thought skeptically. «Well, yes, well, yes, we know these answers. They will reject me as soon as I am out of sight. A subordinate shouldn't tell his superiors...»

—We will definitely check the viability of your theory when the opportunity arises, captain,— Thrawn stunned him with his answer. «Really?!» Gilad found himself raising his eyebrows, demonstrating his surprise at the Chiss's reaction. —I don't reject useful ideas just because they don't belong to me,— the Chiss seemed to read his thoughts. It became awkward. Are Thrawn's race telepaths? And then you never know...

The Grand Admiral fell silent, thinking about something. Then he looked up at Pellaeon again:

arrange for my shuttle to be prepared for departure in two hours. That's all, captain. You can be free.

Having given the statutory salute, Gilad turned on his heel. And then he almost jumped to the side, seeing in front of him the yellow, twisted face of the exotic. Only imperial training and peripheral vision, which noticed the appearance of other holographic projections of objects of art, helped him control himself.

Calmly passing through Thrawn's —holographic museum—, the captain walked outside the Grand Admiral's quarters. Exhaling heavily, he smiled wryly.

Well, now it's clear why the Chiss decided to «harness» his flag captain in the morning —in order to admire his precious objects of art longer.

Yeah, not much changes in this galaxy. However, perhaps it's even better.

***

On this day, Garm Bel Iblis realized that his quiet, calm world had cracked. So big that all those bright, kind and pure moments of his last years of life that still remained began to be shoved into this crack. Even the rather cooled joy from the battle on Tangrene, where his small fleet smashed the imperial base to smithereens, snapping the nose of the Ubiqtorate, no longer warmed him.

The last big victory... After which he sat exactly at his base «Peregrine's Nest» and did not show any light, preferring to switch from combat operations to diplomatic duels.

And now, it's as if Palpatine himself is laughing at him from the grave.

—That's for sure? —he asked hoarsely.

—Yes, sir,— Irenez said, trying not to look at the commander's face, darkened with well-concealed rage. —Sena and her people died on the Vande Coral. The second cover group, before the appearance of the New Republic ships, searched the site of the death of the cruise ship far and wide, following the instructions of the beacons. The bodies were partially deformed by pressure and sea life, but Sena and both fighters from the first group were identified.

—How did they die? — Bel Iblis asked hoarsely. — Drowned?

—No, sir,— Irenez spoke calmly, in clearly chopped phrases. But Garm knew that the same anger was splashing inside her that envelops his middle-aged heart. The severity of the loss of comrades is an invariable moment in the war they are waging. But getting used to this means saying goodbye to your humanity and turning into a droid. From bones and meat. —They were shot.

—Hoffner? — The former Corellian senator frowned.

—Perhaps so,— Irenez said uncertainly. —The second group did not have time to search the entire ship —only a tiny part. But no one found Hoffner's body. Perhaps he was in another part of the ship at that time, however...

—What was Sena doing in his cabin then? — asked Bel Iblis. — Why are there dead security soldiers nearby? What were the soldiers from the first cover group doing there? No! —He hit the table with his fist. —They were killed during the deal!

—I doubt that Hoffner could defeat Sena and six men,— Irenez shook her head. according to information received from our Bothan ally, some of those who were killed near Hoffner's cabin died from mechanical injuries to the body, and not just from blaster shots.

—That is, there was a struggle,— Garm noted. His nostrils sucked in air. The rage briefly lowered its intensity and the quality that helped the former senator survive all these years came into play.

Ability to compare facts.

—Sit down,— he ordered, waving his hand, after which the assistant sank into a chair. —Let's start to figure it out. Have the bodies of our people been delivered?

—Yes, we took them out before the New Republic ships arrived,— the woman said.

—Make sure they are buried with dignity,— ordered Bel Iblis. He himself pulled the sheets of flimsiplast towards him, took the marker in his hands, and removed the lid from it.

Irenez smiled faintly —the Corellian did not know long mourning. After all, they are his comrades in arms, almost family. Almost...

But this does not mean that Bel Iblis will not take revenge for their death and will not try to figure everything out.

—Let's draw the line based on what we know,— he said. And there was no longer any sadness of loss in his voice. Now sitting in front of her was the commander for whom she, the late Sera, and tens of thousands of other sentients went against the Empire. — After the defeat of Zsinj by the forces of the coalition of the Empire and the New Republic, after the redistribution of the occupied territories, there was a relative calm. About two months ago, the Empire suddenly launched a raid on the Saarn system. One Star Destroyer, we assume it was a Stormhawk unless the engine signatures are camouflaged. The Empire destroys the New Republic base.

— And in response —no reaction,— Irenez noted.

—No,— Iblis objected. — Fey'lya says that Mon Mothma reacted —she ordered the base on Saarn to be removed from the list of operating ones. The planet is no longer of interest to the New Republic

—I wouldn't trust Fey'lya,— Irenez noted cautiously. —That slimy bothan...

—No one takes anyone's word for it,— said the Corellian. —I am familiar enough with this subject to understand a rather simple idea: he smiles at us because he needs us. Otherwise, the botan would have gnawed our throats out long ago, exposing us as an illegal armed group.

—Is there anything wrong with the fact that a significant part and half of our fleet was bought with his money? asked the assistant.

—Take my word for it —Borsk Fey'lya would not have helped us so clearly if he could not wash himself off from possible attacks on his precious skin,— Bel Iblis noted. —What did we have next?

During the conversation, he placed several circles on paper, symbolizing events.

—Imperial raid into the Draukyze system,— Irenez reminded. — Everything is the same as on Saarn. The destroyer arrived, destroyed the outpost, there were no survivors. The data was obtained from random witnesses.

—Given the position of the Empire, these two raids will be considered a victory,— said Bel Iblis. after this, we know that the Empire launched a raid on the Obroa-skai system. What they needed there is not entirely clear. But they obtained a copy of the information database from local residents.

—It's pointless to explore the archives—you never know what could interest the imperials,— Irenez said, just in case.

—Yes, it's almost impossible to isolate what they needed there, given the amount of information they stole,— the man agreed. —But there is something important about the behavior of the Imperials in Obroa-skai.

—They retreated without accepting the fight.

—That's right,— agreed Bel Iblis. — The bases on Saarn and Draukyze were not ordinary —they had both guns and aircraft. But the Imperials defeated them. And here they escaped from under the noses of four escort frigates and escort fighters falling apart as they moved.

—I wouldn't say that the ships of the New Republic were just falling apart,— Irenez objected. —Yes, the vessel is not the freshest, but should we talk about it?

—But the Imperials could easily have entered the battle,— Iblis noted. —Yes, they would not have defeated the New Republic group, but they could have caused significant damage to them. But they chose to retreat. Why?

— They were scared? —Irenez suggested.

— But at the same time, they got into the system far from their borders during the period when negotiations were going on about Obroa-skai joining the New Republic? —Bel Iblis asked with a bit of irony. —No, they rushed there because they really wanted to take possession of something. Something that might have eluded them after signing the papers.

— And they received this —something valuable,— Irenez continued, developing the thought of Bel Iblis. and we decided not to risk it, and therefore we ran away.

— And I think so too,— agreed the Corellian. after this, after some time, we learn that the Empire is literally under our noses launching attacks in the Dafilvean sector. Simultaneous, coordinated, across all systems at once...

— According to everyone known to them,— Irenez corrected. —If they knew about the existence of the planet on which we placed Peregrine's Shelter, they would have come to us too.

—Undoubtedly,— Bel Iblis agreed. —Consequently, the search for information about the secret systems of the Dafilvean sector can be excluded from the options for the reasons for the raid on the Obroa-skai system. Therefore, we can conclude that the Imperials did not come for us. Otherwise, they wouldn't have left here until they surrounded everything with spy droids. This means they don't know about the location of Peregrine's Shelter. For now, anyway, that's how it is.

— Do you think that such information exists somewhere? —Irenez clarified.

—I won't rule out something like this,— Bel Iblis admitted. —The Empire took advantage of the opportune moment—when the local sectoral flotilla was weakened. They sent a significant force here —no less than four Star Destroyers in the Crondre system alone. It is unknown how many of them participated in the destruction of the base on Ord Pardron.

—They could be the same ships,— Irenez noted. after all, they destroyed the bases with the help of asteroids.

—Maybe so,— said Bel Iblis. —Or they want to convince us of this. Why was it necessary to drop the orbital defense station on the Crondre medical base?

—She prevented them from getting to the planet,— the assistant suggested.

—Four Star Destroyers —one station? —Bel Iblis clarified. —No, they would have destroyed it in an hour, if not earlier. And besides, they dropped it at the base —that is, it seemed like they had no intention of landing. What then?

—Strikes, like they did on Saarn and Draukis,— the woman suggested. — Destroying New Republic facilities.

—But at the same time, they didn't subjugate the sector,— Bel Iblis noted. —Illogical. If this is a war for territorial expansion, then the Dafilvean sector could become part of the Empire. Having established a base here, the Imperials could quickly subjugate two or three more nearby sectors, and then it would become a whole enclave on the southern borders of the New Republic. But they didn't. Instead, they simply left. They killed the fleet and left.

—Irrational,— Irenez concluded.

—On the contrary,— Bel Iblis smoothed his mustache. —Saarn and Draukyze a test of the combat capability of the New Republic. The raid on Obroa-skai gave something to the Imperials. What exactly, we don't know. Then they go to the bottom for some time and after that they destroy the New Republic in the entire sector. And after that, they simply leave, leaving behind the ruins of two bases and scrap metal instead of a fleet. And again —calm. No, Irenez. I think the Imperials gained some benefit from their visit to Obroa-skai. They found or created something that allowed them to launch a coordinated attack on the New Republic in the Dafilvean sector. They defeated the fleet, destroyed the bases and left. Or they are trying to make us think that their goal was precisely the tactics of terror. But the obvious results —the subordination of the sector —were not realized by them. This means that the goals of the Imperials are not obvious.

—Let's guess —what are they this time?

—We'll think about it,— Bel Iblis corrected her. —Obviously, the Imperials are commanded by someone who is thinking through his steps in advance. The raids on Saarn and Draukyze were not carried out at the same time. In the Dafilvean sector —coordinated and perfectly aligned. Obviously, my idea of ​​obtaining some kind of superweapon to destroy the New Republic fleet in an entire sector is correct. Perhaps this particular sector was not so important to the Imperials —they chose it because of its distance from large bases and small defense forces. No, Irenez, I am sure that the Imperials in the Dafilvean sector tested their weapons. Judging by the fact that they calmed down for some time, and now they have revived again, there will be another blow soon. Perhaps even more powerful than we can imagine.

—I don't dispute your point of view, commander, but are you sure about this?

—I'm afraid even I, with such scanty information, cannot guess what exactly the Imperials have in store for us. But I have no doubt that the attack on Coral Vanda, the attack on Nkllonand the triple raid on the Sluissi sector are all part of the same plan.

—If it weren't for the attack on the Dafilvean sector, we would not have sent Sena to a meeting with Hoffner to buy more dreadnoughts from the Katana fleet,— Irenez complained. —Perhaps they were killed because of this...

—I'm sure of it,— Bel Iblis said bitterly. —Probably the Imperials decided to step on our tail to take revenge for the attack on Tangrene. They were probably watching Hoffner or Sena. Our people did not surrender without a fight, but Hoffner... This one could have been captured.

— And then he'll tell them everything,— Irenez turned pale. Garm nodded his head.

—I don't believe Hoffner, who says that he has only ten heavy cruisers,— said Bel Iblis. —It looks more like he was selling ships that were in good condition. And the entire fleet is somewhere out there, lost between the stars...

—Commander, if the Empire takes control of the Katana Fleet... whispered Irenez, imagining what would happen if almost two hundred old, but still strong, starships appeared in the vastness of the galaxy.

—Nothing irreparable on a global scale,— said the Corellian. — Each ship needs to be repaired, recruited and trained. It will take the Empire years to do this...

—Unless they already have nearly half a million trained sailors,— the assistant objected.

—If there had been, we would not have raided Tangrene with such ease,— said Bel Iblis. and the Empire would not sit quieter than water, lower than the grass. No. They can lay hands on the "Katana fleet", but they will not be able to take full advantage of it —until the end of this year for sure, and most likely until the end of next year. Remember how long it took us to train our subordinates to manage them? Year. So, we have time to track down these ships, no matter where they are based. And attack them —either destroy or capture.

—I would like your optimism, commander,— Irenez said.

— After the Empire almost covered Peregrin's Shelter, this is no longer optimism, but luck,— Bel Iblis smiled bitterly. — With their new superweapon...

—But eyewitnesses say that these were the most ordinary ships,— Irenez protested. —No Super Star Destroyers, no Death Stars...

—Coordination,— Bel Iblis clarified. —The Empire gained the ability to coordinate its attacks in several places in several systems with pinpoint precision. Because under normal circumstances such a trick is impossible to pull off.

Irenez was silent for several minutes, thinking about what she had said.

— According to Fey'lya's reports, attacks on New Republic bases in the Sluissi sector were not of the same coordinated nature as in the Dafilvean sector,— the assistant said.

—There could be various reasons for this,— Bel Ibliss noted. —Maybe they are covering their tracks, trying to disguise the destruction of the bases on Crondre and Ord Pardron as a coincidence. Or their superweapon has a limited range —in which case this argues in favor of having a Jedi rather than a mechanical device.

—This is unusual and dangerous,— said Irenez. — Until now, the Empire has demonstrated superweapons only in the «big gun» or «big ship» versions. And now... sentients. Have you ever heard of anyone doing something like this?

—Frankly, never,— Bel Iblis did not bend his heart. —There were rumors before and during the Clone Wars that some Jedi could somehow influence their allies, but a lot is attributed to the Order —not only what was true, but also outright fiction, like that they eat children, excessively rich, they themselves started the Clone War and so on. I don't know anyone who could have witnessed something like this. Probably a fiction, but let's leave it as one of the working versions. Although, the combination itself —the Empire and the Jedi —is not only jarring, but can hardly exist as a given.

—Moreover, the only living Jedi in the galaxy is on the side of the New Republic,— Irenez agreed. —So it's unlikely that some traitorous Jedi is giving them this coordination.

—The only one known,— Bel Iblis corrected her. —No matter how Palpatine claims that he destroyed all members of the Order, two years before the Battle of Yavin IV I saw one capable boy and his teacher a famous Jedi general. And take my word for it —if I hadn't seen what this guy was doing, I wouldn't have believed that such a thing was possible.

—But Luke Skywalker joined the Alliance shortly before the destruction of the Death Star...

—I'm not talking about him,— said the Corellian. — Galen Marek and Rahm Kota. Warriors I would like to have on my side... The last one is a Jedi General. The first is the son of a Jedi, raised by Darth Vader and then betrayed by him. At least that's how his story was presented by his associates.

—You never talked about them,— Irenez said. —Maybe we should turn to them for help? After all, if the Empire has a Jedi...

—I don't know where they are,— Bel Iblis admitted. according to rumors, Marek captured Darth Vader a year before the Battle of Yavin... Rahm Kota was also there —they had their own resistance cell...

—Judging by the fact that Darth Vader lived for another five years from the events described, all the way to Endor, Galen Marek and Rahm Kota could not hold him,— Irenez noted.

—They couldn't,— Bel Iblis agreed, his voice suddenly quiet.

—Commander? — Irenez was worried. are you okay?

—Yes,— Garm said just as quietly. —I just thought... Galen Marek demonstrated abilities that went beyond the most powerful Jedi I have ever known. And now the Imperials have someone or something that can coordinate their actions on an unimaginable level. It is possible that he is a Jedi, perhaps a surviving Jedi hunter according to rumors, they also once belonged to the Order. But what if it's...

—Galen Marek? —Irenez clarified. The Corellian nodded silently. —Even if so, we can always give information that he is on the side of the Empire to Luke Skywalker or one of his friends. For example, General Solo. He's a Corellian...

—We once met Captain Solo,— said Garm. —True, he was much younger and hardly remembers it... But as a last resort, it will do.

—Fey'lya might be a good option as a last resort,— Irenez said.

—I doubt it very much,— said Bel Iblis. — If the Botans found out about Galen's whereabouts, they would not only not try to stop him, but most likely they would lure him to their side.

— To have a counterbalance to the faction of Princess Leia Organa Solo and Luke Skywalker? —Irenez clarified.

—No,— said the Corellian. —Rather, in order to destroy it. Fey'lya can tell all kinds of tales, but his game is clear —he intends to climb as high as possible in the hierarchy of the New Republic. Perhaps even to the chair of the head of state. And since it is now formally occupied by Mon Mothma and she has a large circle of supporters, the Bothans will either wrest power and influence from her, triumphantly presenting our Resistance group to the New Republic in order to ride as high as possible on our reputation. Or they will simply eliminate it.

— With the help of Galen Marek? — the assistant asked. Garm nodded affirmatively. —Sir, well, the Bothans will have one of their own Jedi. Mon Mothma has Skywalker...

—I'm afraid that if Galen Marek is alive and not on the same side as Skywalker, then the latter doesn't even have a chance,— the Corellian said. —You see, Luke Skywalker is a good guy... He destroyed the Death Star, he killed Palpatine and Darth Vader... But he never threw an Imperial Star Destroyer from orbit onto the surface of a planet with just his bare hands...

***

It's a shame to admit this fact, but even the analytical mind of a Chiss is not immune to errors. However, is it right to blame the computer if it was the user who made the mistake in calculations and planning? Most likely no.

Hutt, it was necessary to miscalculate small things like that!

Santhe family! Owners of the production facilities of the company organized by the Sienara family! Yes, I should have been the first to run to them to order the small aircraft I needed! And not to some Krennel!

Okay, calm down.

We analyze.

The TIE series was created by a citizen named Wright Sienar. He rose high during the New Order and until the death of the Emperor at the Battle of Endor, he did not know grief, selling SFUs to the Empire at an excellent price-quality ratio. Considering that the Empire never had problems with the number of recruits, the option of ordering expensive fighters and other small fry was immediately rejected. We needed cheap but practical cars. And losses among the personnel of the imperial warriors never worried —it is always easier to train new ones. And cheaper.

I once again turned to the Imperial Archives available on Tangrene. After the escape of the Ubiqtorate, the most accessible and practically non-secret information remained there.

For example, indicating that Raith Sienar was killed three years after the Battle of Yavin. A year before the death of Palpatine himself. The file I studied indicated that the killers were never found. But there were investigative versions pointing to the involvement in the death of the head of the company of someone... from the Sienar company itself.

Yes, snake nest there is obviously a decent one.

After the death of Sienar, who left no heirs, power over the company passed into the hands of the Santhe family, who are co-owners of the company. At the moment, a lady named Valles Santhe is in power. The woman, it must be said, is not very attractive in appearance (again, if you believe the voice-overs), but she is power-hungry. After the death of the Emperor, she declared the independence of her planet Lyanna from the power of the Empire. Nor did she join the New Republic. Attempts to diplomatically or otherwise put a paw on Lianna's industry did not bear fruit. After a series of huge scandals, Mrs. Santhe decided that it would be more correct to trade with both warring parties.

This fact infuriated the impatient Imperial Ruling Council, but there was no information about further forcing Lyanna to return to the Empire. Obviously, the Imperials suffered misfortunes. That is why such a wide scale of production of TIE-type equipment is not observed. Those who have something preserved are welcome.

And if so, then there is a high probability that the Santhe family has bigger and better equipment than the same Crennel. No, I do not deny the fact that the Prince Admiral can satisfy my requests in the necessary equipment, however... not now.

But quite the opposite is needed.

I have already managed to familiarize myself with the data sent to me on Lando Calrissian's project for the Nomad and the scout mission on it. I didn't know much about mining this way. Even a blind person could see the indication in Mr. Rederick's report that the basis of the moving enterprise is a heavy cruiser of the Dreadnought class. As well as converting some of the premises into hangars...

Consequently, with the proper resources and capabilities, the ships of the Katana fleet can be equipped with an air wing. Hardly large a squadron, maybe two. Although, probably, there is still one —the size of the ship is confusing, it's too small.

But even in this case, simple mathematics howls at the numbers. For good measure, let's take two hundred dreadnoughts. Let's assume that each will carry only one squadron of TIE fighters. Each such connection contains twelve machines. Let's multiply these numbers. Two thousand four hundred cars. We multiply this number by the price that the Prince Admiral put up for one fighter —seventy thousand credits... One hundred and sixty-eight million. And this does not take into account spare parts, consumables, maintenance...

A third of the funds I have are just for the purchase of fighters from the Ciutric Hegemony. Considering that there will inevitably be losses during battles, this amount increases by... an indefinite amount. But there are also Tangrene's planetary squadrons, there is an air wing at an orbital station that will soon arrive in the orbit of the planet, there are escort frigates, which also have somewhere to stick fighters, there are star destroyers and cruisers, which also need to replenish their equipment...

Is it a lot —five hundred million credits? No, not much. If only two hundred million can be safely spent on completing the ships I have and a small reserve. But you still need to spend money on repairs and modernization of "dreadnoughts", purchasing spare parts, providing them with fuel and tanks for naval artillery... And there are also projects with a cloaking device...

Well, we definitely need to pay a visit to Lianna —if we manage to purchase the vehicles at their factory price of sixty-five thousand, then to supply the dreadnoughts with an air wing we will already need one hundred and fifty-six million credits. Twelve less than originally planned. And for such a difference you can take a small fleet of light ships, the same CR90.

But first, you need to find out exactly what stock of equipment and the limits of its production are available in the Ciutric hegemony. Because, if memory serves, in the chronology of this universe known to me, after the defeat of Thrawn, troubles began for Krennel. And so serious that in the end the Prince Admiral died, his fleet was defeated, and the worlds of the Hegemony joined the New Republic. Which, based on a false tip, arranged such a «debriefing». Taking control of everything that remained untouched after the end of hostilities. Hmm... an interesting development of events, of course. This situation should be added to the list. And turn it at all sorts of angles.

So, the further plan of action has been outlined. As soon as the fleet returns to combat-ready condition, we begin the active part of the operation. However, at my disposal at the moment there is a significant number of combat-ready ships suitable for completing the assigned task.

Chimera, Stormhawk, Death's Head, and Bellicose. Another four will either be out of repair or return to base in the near future. The «Warrior» will require repairs and modernization after being «fried» on Nklonn. Two Interdictor-class destroyers and one on the way. One medium strike-class cruiser. Three «extra» Corellian corvettes of the CR90 type, but you can requisition for the needs of the operation five more starships of the same type, waiting for their star destroyers. Even a DP20-class frigate. Two Tartan-class patrol cruisers. A combat group whose power is enough to properly crush the sides of a proportionate enemy. And given the presence of C'baoth on board and his direct interest in what is happening, there are chances for something more.

Will this be enough to complete a short-term task, or am I playing it safe and Booster Terrik's «response» will not be as significant as expected? Interest Ask. Without a doubt, you can strengthen your fleet at the expense of existing privateers, because witnesses are not supposed to be left alive. Neither Booster Terrik nor his colleague Talon Karrde officially identify themselves with the New Republic. Therefore, there will definitely be no problems with determining their fate. On the other hand... An interesting option is to remove Karrde from the «big game» not by murder, but, say, by discrediting him. And how to spread the news of his failure... If you bet on the speed of the operation...

But in what territory should it be carried out?

Stop. Recorded the thought.

Am I being too optimistic about the future? Already planned the expenses for the Katana fleet, as if Captain Hoffner had already given its coordinates. I'm already anticipating Booster Terrik's possible reaction, although there's no word from Ferrier. Maybe "Sniff" wasn't impressed by the idea of ​​taking revenge for all the «good» things that were done to Terrik and Karrde, and that's why he just ran away?

Well, it's very easy to check —nwith one personal call on a holographic communicator.

But first, you must make a challenge to Mount Tantiss.

I have a request-order for them. Very delicate. On which more than just someone's life depends.

Someone's death depends on it.

***

The Millennium Falcon's holoprojector blinked and the figures on the projection table were momentarily captured. Leia looked at her husband.

Han looked away. Sitting next to him, Rogue Squadron commander Wedge Antilles diplomatically pretended that what was happening did not concern him.

The Alderaanian princess sighed and lightly hit the side of the device. Nothing happened.

— A little stronger,— Han advised, continuing to study the ceiling of his own ship's wardroom.

—Or you can just fix it,— Organa Solo remarked to her husband.

—Well, or so,— he said diplomatically. Chewbacca, standing in the passage leading from the cockpit to the wardroom, growled quietly. The Wookiee approached the faulty communication device and hit the other side of the device as hard as he could. Wedge groaned involuntarily. Han winced as if his teeth hurt. Leia smiled at the hologram of Mon Mothma that appeared above the projector.

—Thank you, Chewie,— Han muttered. The Wookiee growled something in response. Han didn't answer. The former smuggler's companion waved his hand, saying, —What should I take from you,— and headed to the cockpit to prepare the Millennium Falcon for flight.

—One day he'll break your ship,— Wedge said quietly.

The commander of Rogue Squadron is Commander Wedge Antilles (check comment).

—Never,— the compatriot objected to the commander, grinning, seeing Wedge blowing on his bangs so that they would not fall into his eyes. —Should you cut your hair or something...

—Later,— the pilot waved him off. —Now we'll deal with the task here, return to Coruscant, and then, perhaps, I'll get out of the cockpit of my X-wing...

—Do you yourself believe in what you say? — Solo asked looking at Antilles.

—I reassure those around me,— he answered simply. —There are already rumors that I sleep in the pilot's seat.

—Not such rumors,— Solo noted. — When we were chasing Zsinj, I saw you in this state a couple of times...

— Ah-ah,— Wedge said quietly. —So that's who told... Well, thank you!

— And what is wrong? — Han asked innocently. —You love your X-wing. Like Luke. Every screw, every wiring has already been sorted out...

—I know a retired general who does the same thing with his freighter,— the commander returned the joke, smiling brightly. —But you have a family and children...

—Boy,— Han said tiredly, —one day I'll beat your neck.

—It would be an act of treason,— Wedge poised. after all, I'm the commander of an elite squadron—I can't be beated.

—Even if I am a former general, is this necessary for educational purposes? —Solo clarified.

—Han, you're only eight years older than me,— Wedge sighed. and you behave like a mother hen.

—Have you eaten today? —Han played along with him.

— And even cleaned his blaster,— Antilles assured him. They were silent, not really listening to what Leia and Mon Mothma were talking about. —Han...

—What? — Solo continued to look at the ceiling. And he unobtrusively winced, understanding what was about to be discussed.

—Go back,— Antilles looked at him pitifully.

—I'm not going anywhere,— Han understood that such excuses would not work on his compatriot. Wedge himself talks his teeth into anyone —it's not for nothing that he got away with refusing the proposed promotion so many times. There was even a sign —if you meet Admiral Ackbar, who is steaming, it means Antilles has again refused to become a general. And the Mon Calamari boil-i-i-n...

—You know what I mean,— Wedge sighed, still struggling with his unruly bangs. —Get back your general standards.

—No,— Solo answered firmly. —They're pressing on my chest. I can't breathe normally. It all seems that Fey'lya is standing behind me and breathing down my neck... So carefully, brazenly, everything is waiting for me to stumble and they can devour me whole. And after me — Leia.

—Fey'lya is busy right now,— Antilles shared secret information. — Whispers in Mon Mothma's ear and tries to piss Ackbar off. A little more and he will finish it off. And we will have so few people left capable of fighting the Empire that...

—Shut down the reactor, little one,— Han said suspiciously, glancing sideways at his compatriot.

—Han, I'm thirty years old... the commander of the Rogue Squadron tried to protest.

—But no mind,— Solo said.

—I'm a fighter pilot,— Antilles reminded. —I don't need him.

—In that case, you would be flying an A wing ,— Solo objected. — and not on the X-wing.

—Makes sense,— Wedge sighed. —Can not argue with that.

The pilots of the RZ-1 A-wing interceptors, known among pilots as simply ases,— enjoyed the reputation of being brave guys who loved dizzying speeds, but were not particularly smart. No, they themselves, of course, denied these dirty insinuations, but the X-wing pilots knew...

— Was it Ackbar who asked you to start the comeback record again? — Solo clarified, although he himself guessed the answer.

—No, Fey'lya,— Wedge smiled in a very boyish way. —He says that General Solo is such a great guy, he got rid of Zsinj so cleverly... True, it took two visits and Skywalker in addition...

The talkative squadron stalled like a faulty engine when he came across Han Solo's not promising anything good look.

—Yes, Ackbar,— Wedge said, hanging his head and sticking out his lower lip like a boy. Solo just shook his head. This young man has more kills to his name than some flying units combined. And for his —slicksters— he is a father-commander who knows everything and can do everything; the relations between the pilots are the most friendly. But surrounded by his closest friends, the young Corellian did not stop fooling around. —He wants to organize a squadron to search for and strike at those Imperials who did all this here...

— Was one hunt for Zsinj not enough? —Han sighed. actually, we got ourselves into quite a bit of trouble back then, thinking that we had destroyed both him and his super star destroyer. If it weren't for the hatch and that story with the Hapans, Zsinj would have gained strength on Dathomir and broke us in on the first day.

—But he didn't broke us,— Wedge noted.

—Because Luke was with us,— Solo winced.

— Ackbar said something about how if you return to duty, Rogue Squadron will be under your command,— Antilles pretended to be trying to pick out the dirt under his fingernails.

—It's tempting, but no, little one,— Han said. —You yourself can become a general and successfully lead a search squadron.

—No, no, no,— Wedge said, a frightened expression appeared on his face. It was like he saw Darth Vader. Straight into his favorite TIE. And even chasing after Wedge himself, who is trying to run away from the Lord of the Sith, sitting in a canoe and rowing a broken oar against the current. —I'm a fighter pilot through and through! It is contraindicated for me to command from the bridge of a ship that can accommodate more than one sentient.

—Well, well, well,— Han squinted. —Did Ackbar tell you that he will raise you, regardless of the fact that you are against it?

Wedge, realizing that his simple combination had been exposed, nodded his head dejectedly.

— And you decided that if you persuade me, he will leave you? — the former smuggler continued to guess.

—Well, well,— Antilles drawled. He blew air, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. He looked at his dirty nails. Scratched his nose. Back on the nails.

—Wedge, I'll definitely beat your neck! —Han threatened.

—I have a choice —either accept the promotion and lead the search squadron, or negotiate with you, for example, or Lando, so that you take the blow on yourself,— the compatriot surrendered. ackbar promised that if you or Calrissian agreed, he would lag behind me for a couple of years with annoying demands for promotion.

—Wedge, I wish you had a full hold of vacuum instead of spice before meeting with customers,— Han sighed, shaking his head disapprovingly. No, he was not angry with his long-time friend for using such a not particularly cunning plan to try to retain the right to fly his beloved fighters. Maloy acted more out of desperation, knowing full well that Solo was his only option. We still need to fly to Calrissian, and the fact that he will respond to the proposal...

—Little one,— Solo said sadly. —Under other circumstances, I might have agreed, but... I have a pregnant wife, I have Chewie, «Falcon»... As my smuggler friend said, I became flabby, started a family and became decent. Try your luck with Lando, he has altruistic motives...

—I'm afraid Lando is not an option either,— came the princess's voice. Han understood from her voice that the girl was clearly not in high spirits, as she had been at the beginning of their conversation. After all, she was able to reassure the local authorities that no one would offend them again and...

—What happened? —Han asked. Wedge, instantly stopping moping, stretched out as if he had swallowed a crowbar.

—It's all very sad,— Leia said. —Han... we will have to fly to the Sluissi sector.

Wedge put on a satisfied smile, but it was clear from his eyes that he was not at all happy. Because you will have to fly again across half the galaxy. And there can only be one reason.

—The Empire has struck again,— Solo stated. The wife, stroking her stomach, nodded.

— Sector Sluissi? —Wedge clarified. — Besides Sluis Van, there are at least three or four of our bases there...

—The commandant of the base on Sluis Van did not take measures to attack the invading forces,— Leia explained. —He was afraid that they were playing the same trick on him as here in the Dafilvean sector. As a result, he kept all six Mon Calamari star cruisers and three dozen smaller starships at the base. While the Imperials destroyed our base on Intonn II, using proton torpedoes, turning it and more than two thousand people in the underground levels into a fused piece of rock. In the Bpfassh system they failed to strike properly, but...

—But? —Wedge clarified.

—The Orto system,— Leia said. —The Imperials destroyed the covering forces from the local garrison, landed on the planet, requisitioned all the ships that they could lift into the air, and destroyed the rest.

—I don't understand,— Wedge admitted. —What for?

—Fuel and minerals were extracted on Ortho for the shipyards of Sluis Van,— the princess explained. — The Imperials attacked with a medium Impact-class cruiser, and a little later a Star Destroyer and two more cruisers gathered in this system. Together they captured more than a dozen captured Imperial supply starships, with tanks and holds full of fuel and mined minerals. And after that the fuel plant was blown up. And those ships that they could not take with them. And... that's the only thing we know. Well, except that the mines for the extraction of heavy metals, as well as the plasma drilling rigs operating on them, are now radioactive. Or they may be destroyed —no one can get close enough to them to give an assessment. Perhaps everything there is mined, since the Imperials spent almost more time there than looting warehouses and tankers...

—Oh, Hutt spawn! —Han almost howled. —Everything there is now contaminated with radiation!

—The Ortolans, praise the Force, have left the affected area, but they are furious that no one protected them,— Leia sighed. —We are flying to Sluis Van to repeat our mission here. Wedge and the —sneaks— accompany us. General Cracken flew from Coruscant to investigate the actions of the commandant —this was demanded by Fey'lya. Yes, the military is also offended. There are rumors of betrayal. The Bothan lobby is literally growling at Ackbar after all, it was he who gave such vague instructions to the sector commanders, behind whom the fleet commander in Sluissi hid. Han, Wedge, this is some kind of madness...

— And we should be in the very center of it? —Han asked. Leia nodded affirmatively. Solo rose from his chair. — I went to prepare the Falcon for departure.

And silently headed towards the cockpit.

—I'll give the order to the guys,— Wedge activated the comlink on the general frequency of the pilots of his squadron.

—Sunny,— Solo, as if remembering something, returned. —You said that Lando would not agree to return to his duties. Why is this?

—Because the Star Destroyer, who led the sack of Orto, first visited Nklonn,— Leia explained. and plundered it. And it did damage. And the fleet commander and the commandant of the base on Sluis Van refused to provide ships to pull Lando's enterprise into orbit and repair it. Despite the fact that Calrissian, like the Ortolans, are the main suppliers of metals and ores for the shipyards of Sluis Van. The local command considered these attacks to be diversionary maneuvers in order to strike at Sluis Van...

—So, if we hurry, we must be in time to help Calrissian,— Han said. —The Falcon, of course, won't be able to handle the plant, but if you come out of retirement for a day and requisition the ships...

—Han,— Leia said wearily. —There's no need to rush anymore. "Nomad" burned down in the rays of a local star more than a day and a half ago.

P.S. Preety hard with all this ISDs names.