Chp-30: Meetings
I was once again back to work, and in a new office at that. I had considered requisitioning an Imperial Planetary Occupation Facility, like the one on Lothal, but thought against it. It's quite expensive, and is something of an eyesore.
Also, I can't fill that thing with people. I literally lack the staff necessary.
So here I am, inspecting the previous Governors office in Edin City's Capitol Building.
The Capitol building was an ugly thing, a large, blocky tower that tapered off into an antenna at the top. It towered over the rest of the city, which itself was not that great.
Sure, the buildings that surrounded the Imperial center were luxurious and tall, but only a few blocks after that was where the slums started. No real middle class to speak of.
I'd have to fix that before it started causing problems.
The office I was in was…gaudy, to say the least. Twice as large as my own office, there were valuables scattered about. And gold. So much gold. Gold isn't even that valuable, he just wanted to feel rich.
Turning around, I looked over at my new secretary. She was a Chiss woman who had been assigned to me because her high scores from Theed University were so good, not hiring her would be seen as speciesism. After that speech I gave? Hell no.
Her name was Brocso'ior'ovinor, and went by Oioro. I also didn't trust her at all. I mean, a Chiss? As I understood it, Chiss were rare outside of the Unknown Regions, and Thrawn is only out here because of the Yuuzhan Vong and all that. Meaning, any Imperial Chiss is for sure a fucking spy.
Worst part? She's actually fucking competent, meaning I can't even complain about her performance and fire her, cause I really need a good secretary.
Just gonna have to quintuple check my secret messages and shit beforehand.
"Oioro, have the design teams get rid of…" I wave vaguely in the direction of the office. "...All of this. The gold hurts my eyes, and the paintings don't fit. Have them sold at auction, any historical ones can be set aside for a museum or something. Just get them out."
She nodded, tapping away at her PDA, waiting for me to continue.
"Also, please make sure to check for bugs. The previous governor was deep in criminal pockets, and I don't want any spyware while I'm here."
Again she nodded. As she noted down my orders, a feeling came over me. A wave of emotion from around the tower, yet it was focused. Looking down, I noticed Mugwuffin was staring at one of the paintings, spines tingling. Focusing, I felt…something behind it. Or, someone. Someone who could feel emotions.
Fucking space cats man. Where on my character sheet does it say my class is Ranger, cause familiars are their territory, right?
Pointing at the painting, an ugly thing depicting the previous governor near naked in some sort of classical pose, far skinnier than he actually was.
"This one worth anything?"
Oioro looks up, scans it with her PDA, then shakes her head. "No, sir, it was a custom piece and likely has no valu-" I cut her off by pulling out my Vindicator and firing four shots through the painting.
The K-3 Vindicator was a hefty heavy blaster pistol, its chunkier barrel giving it an extra kick.
Whoever was behind the wall certainly felt it too, a yelp of pain emanating before a silence filled the room.
Not two seconds after I fired, my security busted into the room, scanning the room for threats.
"Behind the painting, there's someone who shouldn't be there. Deal with them." I say, nodding my head towards the painting while I holster my blaster.
They comply, dragging out the body of a duros. They were equipped with a scattergun, clearly hoping to deal with me up close and personal.
Again I turn towards Oioro, ignoring her now slightly wider eyes. "Please have the construction crew be extra thorough when doing their scans, I want a full map of all the secret tunnels and such around the entire building."
One of my guards, while inspecting the tunnel, calls back out. "These tunnels seem to stretch far. The system must be massive."
Before I can ask 'you know what's massive?', Mugwuffin slaps my leg with a paw.
"You have no sense of humour."
Sense of disbelief.
"Don't give me that, my jokes are hilarious."
Sense of amusement.
"I'll prove it. Hey, Oioro, was my joke funny?"
She seems confused for a second. "You…didn't tell a joke, sir."
Sense of amusement increases.
"Oh shut it you little rat. It would've been funny if you hadn't stopped me from telling it."
Sense of horror.
"It wouldn't have been that bad."
Before the smug asshole could send some garbled emotions my way, I realize that I've been having a conversation with a fucking cat, and stop my stupidity.
Sense of amusement.
I don't deign that with a response, even as the emotion persists. Instead, I look towards my new secretary.
"What's next on the agenda."
Clearly shaken by my amazing sense of humor, she clears her head and checks. "Well, sir, it seems that you are being called for a meeting by one…Grand Admiral Thrawn. It's not on the schedule sir, should I ask for it to be pushed back."
Thanking my helmet for hiding my quickly paling face, I steady myself before answering.
"No. I'll take the call on my shuttle. Have the building secured, and start sending droids into the tunnels for a preliminary search. Don't want to overburden the designers."
Without waiting for a response, I make my way up towards my L-99 shuttle, sitting pretty on the building's external landing pad just to the right of the antenna.
The entire way there, my mind is filled with a repeat loop of 'oh fuck oh shit oh fuck oh shit'.
Sitting down in the lounge, I make sure I look presentable, and remove my helmet, Oioro giving me a look that reminded me she had never seen me without it. Sure, it looked pretty good(Darna looks had told me she disagreed, even though she never spoke a word about it.) but to wear a helmet I didn't need at the moment to address a superior? It would be rude, to say the least.
Is Thrawn my superior? I'm not sure if we're on the same chain of command. Then again, he orders around Pryce, so maybe?
As Oioro connects her PDA to the holotable, I banish those thoughts. Regardless of chain of command, he's got more power, connections and support. His lack of political acumen means nothing when he has sheer weight behind him.
The projector flickers as Oioro leaves the room, and there stands the bust of Grand Admiral Thrawn.
"Governor Mola, I presume?"
"Correct, Grand Admiral. How may I be of service" Please be nothing please be nothing please be nothing
"I heard about you from your sister, one Alvi Mola. She has spoken well of you, and the Minda system as a whole. I find myself agreeing with her sentiments"
"Thank you, Grand Admiral." I say with a slight nod of the head. Gotta show deference and all that.
"Tell me, Governor. What do you see when you look at the Empire? And please, speak your mind. I want an honest answer."
My entire being stills, and time seems to slow to a crawl. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a light bluish glow emanating from Mugwuffin. Crazy ass space cat with crazy ass space powers.
Sense of amusement.
Fuck off. Anyways, I take this opportunity to compose myself. He wants honesty. And he's Thrawn. That means real honesty. Kinda.
I can't just call the Empire a gaggle of fascist toddlers run by a sadistic pedo(don't think he is, but he sure looks like it). But, I can appeal to his sense of efficiency, and focus on calling out the Empires more logistical and morale based failures. Hopefully, I can avoid talking smack about Ol'Puckered Anus and his little Sith game.
As my perception of time resumed its normal course, I looked him in the eyes. Seems like the right thing to do, give him that kind of respect.
"The Empire is a beast with a strong jaw and weak legs. For all the power it can bring to bear, it lacks flexibility and undervalues the smaller, individual parts of the machine. It survives only because of its momentum and the fact that there is no major force to contend against."
He raises an eyebrow, studying me through the holo connection.
After a few tense moments, the smallest hint of a smile appears on his face.
"Governor Mola, I just so happen to share your sentiments. After hearing about your system, and later the TIE variants and retrofits you've had designed, I wished to approach you regarding a…deal, of sorts."
I give a slow nod. "What kind of deal, Grand Admiral?"
"Your willingness to expand and innovate is a quality I find of great importance. Recently, my bid for funds to continue a project I have been championing has failed, due to other projects vying for the credits and the main factory of said project going up in flames just a few days ago. While I no longer have the backing of the Empire's monetary reserves to fulfill my ambitions, you might."
I appreciate the offer, Grand Admiral, but I must warn you. For all that I am governor, neither of the systems under my control are particularly rich. And most of my forces and revenue are tied up in dealing with Edins criminal problems. I'm not sure I'll be of much use."
He gives a light smirk. "I know. The plan is to have you hold the schematics of the project and continue background research until such time that I am able to secure the Empires funding. After which research and later production would be moved to Minda. Of course, this will be a boost to the Mindan economy and prestige once the project is finished."
I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him to fuck off back to the unknown regions, but I stayed myself. Realistically, while the Grand Admiral had no official authority over me, in truth he had enough power to screw me over.
"That sounds like quite the project. The prosperity of the systems under my command are my priority, so I humbly accept your offer, Grand Admiral. Pray tell, what is this project you speak of?"
Its at that moment that my PDA pings. A quick look shows me multiple files, each containing unique TIE designs. I looked back up.
"I believe that we can make this work. The techs would love to get new designs to tinker with, after all."
His smile widened a bit. "That is very good to hear, Governor Mola. I would love to visit-
Fuck no please no stay the fuck awa-
-but I have pressing matters to attend to-
Hell yeah!
-and will be away for some time. One day, I hope to see Minda myself."
"Of course, Grand Admiral," I say with another light nod. "We will welcome you with open arms. Safe travels, and godspeed."
"Hmm…godspeed. I like that. Good day, Governor."
As soon as the holo shuts off, I nearly collapse into my seat. Fucking hell, that was goddamn terrifying. Only reason I agreed to this shit is cause I have little recourse, and because if things go like they should, he get's tossed into the fucking void by some whales.
Now, I just need nothing else to go wrong.
Sense of irony.
"Fuck off."
Sense of amusement.
"Rat"
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Commander Kaela Grant
Edin System, Edin 2, AC-AT Bulwark
As Kaela sat in the officers quarters aboard the Bulwark, scanning over her tac-map, she couldn't help but smile.
It was a predatory smile, that much she knew. But, she also knew that it was worth it. Things were looking up on Edin.
All across the planet, teams of stormtroopers and pilots and LECA units devastated what few known criminal hideouts remained. The rest had either been dealt with, or turned to dust from orbit.
As she ruminated on her next steps, like the beginning of a better local milita, her PDA pinged with a priority report.
Checking it, her brows furrowed.
A small horde of people, from a variety of races, all…insane? She checked further. Increased strength, speed, durability against blasters. It took a LECA to put them all down.
They had come from a cave found in one of the gang hideouts. The local officer had ordered small scout droids down, and found what seemed to be a hidden laboratory of some sort.
Pressing her comm, she spoke. "Have an investigative squad sent to site 8-12-F. Make sure they have biohazard gear, and be extra cautious. Refer to report 8-12-F-778 for further information. Tell them to keep it quiet."
"Yes Ma'am."
With that, she leaned off the comm, and started drafting a report. It would, of course, go straight to the Governor himself. That new secretary was competent, but she was new. Darna had proven herself to be competent and trustworthy, this new 'Oioro' has not.
This had the makings of a new threat. One that she would take pleasure in dealing with.
Her fun was just beginning.
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Hi there folks! Finally planned out the new arc, with this as the start! Welcome to Governor's Gambit second Arc, Whispers in the Dark! Obviously, I won't be giving much away, can't be out here ruining all the suspense, but I will say, a new companion awaits Las at the end of this arc. One that he will be both grateful and scared by in equal measures. And no, it's not Thrawn.
As always, feedback is appreciated.
Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller
