Chp-47: New Course
As the Mindan Stream, which now that I think about it sounds like a euphemism for piss, speeds through hyperspace, I send out other messages, giving orders across both systems.
One is a general information lockdown. Any news or communications mentioning the Death Star that aren't Imperial are cut, news channels told to shutter their windows on these topics. I want the narrative under wraps for now.
The other thing I'm doing is monitoring official(and unofficial) Imperial channels. I don't know how the greater Empire is handling this, and I want my story to line up at least somewhat with the greater narrative.
As much as I'd rather grab my hidden ship and skedaddle on out of here, never to be seen again, I can't. Not with how things are going.
I don't show it outwardly, but I am freaking the fuck out. My plans are in goddamn shambles, and its all because mother dearest apparently has fucking scheduling problems.
Per her own instructions, and based off of every memory I can drag from the remnants left behind by the previous inhabitant of this body, Commandant Mola is a precise being that is always on time. Always punctual.
A punctuality I was relying on. Once she shows up, I show off my shit, get her to leave, fake my death in an industrial accident, run for the hills. With my job done, she will have less attention on Minda, letting me cover my tracks better.
All of this was supposed to occur before Luke became a war criminal. Now, farmboy did a Hiroshima and I'm stuck dealing with an Empire that would investigate my death with a fine toothed comb. I can't hide from that.
As I spiral into my own mind, hunched over the desk in my shuttle, Mugwuffin takes notice.
She lays at my feet, curled around my legs, and purs. The sound and vibration calm me, and I center myself.
Shit is bad, but it's not critical. I'm not dead yet, and if I'm not dead I haven't lost. Fate? Destiny? The Will of the Force? Horseshit. Wack-ass metaphysical concepts ain't got shit on my indomitable human spirit!
Is that xenophobic? But how else should I say it? Sentient spirit? Just call it the indomitable spirit? But that sounds like the name of a ship. A good name too, I should see if I can get one of the next MSDF ships named that. But-
Amusementcalmcontent
You sly dog! You had me monologuing! I scratch her in that one spot on her back she likes and get a happy pur in return.
I'm fine. Things could be better, but, like I said, I'm not dead yet. I'll crawl until I'm free or dead, no inbetween!
The fire in my soul relit, I continued my preparations in a more calm manner.
With the start of the Galactic Civil War, rebel cells around the galaxy would start rising up for real. That means that the rebel free life I've lived may very well come to an end.
Bad times.
So, I need to ensure that people like living here. That means keeping the populace happy.
I could probably explain the high alien population thing away pretty easily, but production is another matter. I was originally going to introduce new, harsher schedules to increase production enough to meet any new quotas without too much overworking, but that would still cause a low level simmer.
Which would compound over the 4 years before the Empire falls. I would much rather take on a set 50% to 70% percent risk now then live with a 10-20% risk for the next four years. I haven't really done the math, but it seems the worse deal.
Therefore, to increase production, I'm going to have to have new resource extraction lines opened, which is going to suck major balls. Cause with the DS2 slated to start construction sooner rather than later, resources and the means to produce them will be dried up.
So, I have to act fast.
"Oioro, when were the last resource surveys for Minda and Edin?"
She checks her PDA quickly, her speed and efficiency still kind of annoying. Like, come on! Just fuck up once! I need a reason to fire you!
But no, the totally-not-a-spy is quick, efficient, professional, and learned how to brew a mean cup of hot cocoa whenever I forget to do it myself. Always on my desk in the morning. The professionalism would be really cool if it wasn't bad for me.
Why do the competent ones always gotta be spies! Except for Darna. She's the GOAT. I should get her a present of some kind. What does she even like? Shit, I don't know jack about her, does that make me a bad boss?
As I spiral into this odd rabbit hole of professionalism and my lack of it, Oioro finds the data.
"The last survey for Edin was two months ago, and the last survey for Minda was five. There are multiple locations that hold promise for new mines but weren't looked into."
"Well, look into them. I want surveyors scanning both systems from top to bottom. Then, contact the Moff's office, tell them about the new resources found, and get mining equipment out here. Hire locally as much as possible. Buy out some of the smaller mining companies if you can, but keep it on the downlow. The sooner more production centers are set up, the better."
As she nodded in assent, notes being taken at practically superhuman speeds, I continued.
"Slow down immigration rates, and prioritize those with actual work experience and skills first. Especially those with higher education. Offer incentives and benefits, we want them all. I also want a reassessment of all of Minda and Edin's key resources. What do we need, how much do we produce and how much is imported. Also, slow down production of the TIE variants in the system. Start stockpiling 50% excess resources, and contact any corps we have resource contracts with and get them to renegotiate into a smaller contract. We won't be hauling as much with the trade fleet."
She kept taking notes, but stopped at the end. "Sir…many of those resource contracts are with incredibly large mega-corps, and those contracts are ironclad. How can we get them to the table?"
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Oioro
As she asked that question, there was genuine confusion within her. Oioro had grown used to the governor's antics. His style of leadership was different from the usual imperial format, but clearly functioned. He could be an odd character at times, talking to his pet like it was a person, or taking on a former enemy as a bodyguard.
Who was in the corner watching them like a predator, eyes narrowed and permanently judging. She wouldn't admit it, but the red skinned warrior scared her.
But right now, Las Mola was different. Right now, she saw not the statesman, or the young man trying his best, or the bright eyed child that shone through his eyes when in space.
No, right now, she saw the same man who executed that Rodian through the painting in one fell swoop. The man who walked into a room alone with a being who could've easily slaughtered them all.
The man who looked her in the eyes, and said;
"You have connections. Get it done."
The cold, hard eyes of someone who knew. Knew who she was, who she worked for. She had never thought to guess that he suspected her, his distance seeming perfectly professional. Her cover as perfect as can be, her mannerisms carefully crafted to hide her true intentions.
But in that moment, he saw through her. Past the secretary, the university student, the Imperial employee. An agent. A spy. If he knew now, then he must've known before they took off. Before they stepped onto the shuttle. She could end him, but that was too hasty, especially with Myr'thos here. He was already turning away, stepping over to the shuttle door as it set down on the capitol building of Accordia.
He knew. And he did nothing. No, that's not wrong.
He knew, and he trusted her. She allowed the slightest of smiles to cross her face. This one would certainly be of interest to the Ascendancy. Regardless.
She had work to do.
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Hi there folks! Little late of an update, but I wanted to get it out. Las has his freak out(dare I say, freak session~?) but has reaffirmed his goals and is on the right track. Hopefully. We'll see how it goes. I would've made this one earlier in the day, but I was busy debating whether or not to refund the Oblivion remaster. I eventually did, cause while it certainly looks very nice, and plays decent, I thought it was a proper remake. In one of the trailers it even says it has dark souls inspired combat, so I thought this was Bethesda remaking one of their older games with a more modern style, closed to Avowed than Skyrim, with some better elements to the combat, world, etc…
But I still have to go through a loading screen to enter a house. The AI is mid, and the combat feels clunky. Make no mistake, that Oblivion charm is clearly still there, but I have no nostalgia for it. I was born just a little over a year before the original release. So, I decided to refund. Not bad, but not my cup of tea.
Clair Obscure Expedition 33, on the other hand, looks fucking fantastic. So that's where I'll be for the next few weeks. I might pop up. Hopefully. We'll see.
Feedback and commentary appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller
lol.
