Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[RageKnight]

When Las was still on Eriadu? Definitely but after he got Minda that was off the table because the mother was literally on the opposite end of the galaxy. And the only one who actually reached out was Zyx and only because she got curious about his sudden competence. Hell, Alvi has been here for months and didn't do anything.

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Remember that the last thing they knew about their brother before the SI took over that he was an ENTITLED brat. You blaming them for not talking to the force ghost that made their brother a flesh puppet.

The litteral first thing that happened in this story was the SI stopping the planet's first massacre because their BROTHER raised all the taxes to steal everything before dipping out. That's the kind of person they remembered being sent to Minda. The standard imperial noble who would kill thousands if it was profitable for a year.

The SI isn't their brother and is a completely different type of human compared to Star Wars humans. He's been drowning himself in work paranoid that everything but his cat is seconds away from putting a blaster bolt in his skull.

Do you really think such a paranoid person would try to connect with anyone they knew the person they took over on the slightest chance they realize he isn't the real person? No he would rebuff every attempt of connection with excuses after excuses and end any conversation with them as fast as possible if forced into a conversation.

And guess what? He's been doing exactly that with them.

 

[Yacov]

Omake: Tales from the Mindan R&D Rubbish Bin

POV: Experimental Engineering Manager Watskin, Ugea, Mindan R&D Proposal Review Office

Watskin cricked his neck in anticipation of a long night. The department had gone through another set of proposals from overeager and under restrained scientists and engineers. Each thinking their "little side project" was worth the Governor's attention and funding.

Sadly this round of applicants were some of the worst he had seen. Writing up the reports into something presentable was going to take all night. Especially to justify the cost of collateral damage.

——
The Turbojet Podspeeder

"Explain to me again how you think adding a seat to a Podracer engine can be used for military use."

"We must use every means possible to boost our PDF forces. Podracing not only caters the lowest level of sentient, but also takes up valuable resources."

"Uh-huh. How do you intend to keep the pilot attached to your new speeder?"

"Magnetic clamps to the limb slots. We aren't grad students, manager. This will keep the rider absolu…"

"Sam! The torso on our dummy just tore off mid test! Also the Mayor of Rolling Greens' is on the line. Aggressively requesting why the Imperial Government felt the need to fire a warship missile at a Shaak Barn."

"Rolling Greens'? But the test was supposed to be conducted in Augir."

——
The Imperial Comet Glider Bomber

"It was so obvious. Cryogen gas is the coolant of the future. With the data this testbed provides we will be able to spread it throughout the Imperial navy!"

"I noticed the gas lines are precariously close to the cockpit. What would occur if these lines were breached?"

"The cryogen would flood into the cockpit and probably cause the pilot to freeze. Crashing shortly after. B-but don't worry, we have run the numbers on this and calculated the odds."

"And those odds were?"

"18%"

"Per battle!?"

"Per flight."

——
The Quad Walker Recoilless Heavy Destroyer

"Using four legs instead of two was a smart move. Unfortunately even the addition of deployable anchors couldn't stop it from falling over."

"That's what testing is for sir. Was the prototype recoverable?"

"Sadly after the small savannah fire caused by the back-blast from the cannon was contained, it was discovered burned to a crisp. The testers were recovered and are in the hospital."

"They knew the risks."

——
The Minimalist Scout Fighter

"We followed the TIE's example. Cutting all the unnecessary luxuries to make the cheapest, most compact scout fighter possible."

"You certainly did that. It is certainly novel to put the thruster right behind the seat of the pilot. One question. Given the open canopy concept, what is to stop the pilot's head or appendages getting sucked into the engine?"

"As if the Empire's elite pilots would get sucked into their own ship's engines. Their death would only prove they were too incompetent for the Empire to make use of."

——
The Life Day Bolt, an arborous insertion and extraction assault shuttle

"So you're saying the purpose of this vehicle is to "stealthily kidnap the leaders of the Rebel Alliance"?"

"It is genius! Everyone will be looking out for metal vehicles shooting out thermal energy. My Bolt will bypass all those detectors by being made entirely of wood and using propeller based flight!"

"This thing is 80 meters long and 120 meters wide. A mark 1 eyeball can pick this thing out in pitch black. Is it at least blaster resistant Dr. Life Day?"

"Well obviously no. This is a stealth vehicle. It is not supposed to be shot at. One handheld blaster could make it go up to in flames. However those soft hearted Rebels will not dare shoot at it once their leaders are secured aboard. I just need this very experimental engine from Imperial High Command and we can make my dream fly."

——
The reports were looking far from acceptable, but at least the blame won't fall on him. Hopefully this doesn't jeopardize negotiations to reopen expansion in prototyping. The department really needs the release valve.

——
Quiz time! How many of these prototypes were inspired by real world examples?

Crossposted on SV and SB

 

[AmericanNumbers]

Again, I point out that Las was the punching bag and was sent to this posting as punishment duty. No one helped him. And now he's an SI who is orders of magnitude more successful than them with little emotional attachment. I am looking forward to him laughing at his mom if she ever shows up to try to browbeat him.

 

[WanderingHive]

I think it's best for Last to keep his interaction Formal like earlier, Las is distant from the rest of the family despite his previous personality and actions so no one in the family truly knows him personally.

 

[Fanof1]

Again, I point out that Las was the punching bag and was sent to this posting as punishment duty. No one helped him. And now he's an SI who is orders of magnitude more successful than them with little emotional attachment. I am looking forward to him laughing at his mom if she ever shows up to try to browbeat him.

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He wasn't the punching bag though. They all dealt with the same shit mother who acted the same with his sisters. The only difference is that the sisters put in work and effort to get away from her, while las (prior to si insertion) was a lazy bastard who flunked the academy* and tried to squeeze as much wealth out of Minda before (trying) to run away.
And as was pointed out earlier petty politicking is the pastime of the imperial military and administrative systems. Las would have been a weak link for the two who could take him in.


*Las had to of been mad disrespectful and stupid to get kicked out of an academy his own mother was overseeing. That's the set up to get a decent job even if he only did OK. She would have

 

[paxus22]

i think he was kicked out for contradicting imperial doctrine if i remember correctly.

so being a smart ass and going against imperial doctrine/belief system

lol gonnaa need re-read now.. huh was first ch rewritten or I just remember wrong? dont remember the flunked/embarrassment part.

 

[Fanof1]

i think he was kicked out for contradicting imperial doctrine if i remember correctly.

so being a smart ass and going against imperial doctrine/belief system

lol gonnaa need re-read now.. huh was first ch rewritten or I just remember wrong? dont remember the flunked/embarrassment part.

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I probably need to reread it completely to. There was a time where we were getting (almost) consistent daily updates.

I could even have sworn that we were told that las was raised exclusively by his father for 10 years while the sisters were raised mostly by there mother. But I'd have to reread it to see if my minds playing tricks.

 

[paxus22]

yeah i remember the part about the father , not sure if still in.

 

[WanderingHive]

Yeah it seems he had never been close to anyone but his father,i don't know where the rest of the family angst even come from because his relationship can be described as a familiar acquintances at best.

 

[RedDeadShyguy]

Because his mother pretty much sent him to die in a pirate infested hole and has enough reason to believe his sisters are extensions of his mothers will.

 

[illerayn]

I don't know if I remember the story wrong compared to everyone understanding, but I'm personally a bit sad for the sisters.

Like, from my understanding of the story, the Mother was a very controlling entity, that expect great things from her children to advance her career in the empire. So she pushed hard all her children, bar the only son that stayed with his father. When he came to her care, his sisters were all already put where the Mother wanted, starting or in the military, with the schedule to match, so she also expected great things from her son, which she didn't raise.

Not being raised by her made her expect things from him that he never had to do before, which made him flunk the Academy course and disappoint her. She wasn't really abusive, but for one didn't know how to express her love for him, and also expected more from him than just being an hedonistic teenager when she, again, didn't raise him. So she posted him in a backwater planet, on a governing position so he was relatively safe, while vaguely threatening him so he could grow up and make something of himself, but without taking her career with him.

On the other hand, his sister probably had next to no interactions with him, since they already were in school or working when he got with their mother, but they were raised knowing they had a brother, they followed his actions in their own ways, and so expected a warm welcome (like at least how you would welcome a cousin you see for the first time in 10 years), not the cold shoulder of a SI who knows that he is deep in sith creek with a looming defeat for his side, who is paranoid as hell that his mother wants him dead from the feelings of the entitled teenager who inhabited the body before, and who just wants to run away and not deal with all the problems coming his way (that's not happening, he did too good of a job for him to be able to flee, especially since he is now marked on the face after the R&D accident).

So yes, I would like to see him manage to reunite with his sisters, maybe when the Empire falls, or when they try to get closer to him. (Also would love some lewd content, but it's not something that could happen for now in story anyway...).

(If you don't agree with me, feel free to enlighten me with either WoG or quotes )

 

[sperance]

(If you don't agree with me, feel free to enlighten me with either WoG or quotes )

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Okay. I'll even be nice and use only quotes by the sisters, so you won't be able to say it's all in Las' head.

From Alvi, chapter 6.

She sighed, as her thoughts turned to the youngest and only boy of the family. Las and her had been inseparable during childhood, but had drifted apart during their time at the Eriadu Academy. He had struggled with the subjects, and was almost always in trouble for contradicting the teachers opinions, or questioning orders, all while she had shot ahead straight into the pilot program.

And the dressing down Mom gave him was horrific. She didn't say much, but the disappointment and disgust was visceral in a way only Commandant Mola could ever do. Las hadn't just been booted from the academy, he had been stuck as a governor on a backwater. While governor was a good position, to be the governor of an outer-rim system was basically asking to either stagnate or get killed by pirates. If that wasn't enough, he had to improve the system in real and tangible ways?

Honestly, it was horrible. Alvi understood why her mother had done it, Las couldn't stay at the academy, or anywhere where he could further bring shame to the Mola family. But to threaten him with infantry service? She shuddered. To fight in the Imperial Infantry front lines was to be part of an unstoppable force that would toss as many bodies into a pit just to walk over the corpses instead of going around. Of course, she would never publicly say this, as disparaging the Emperor's armed forces wasn't a good look, and she hadn't gotten this far without some understanding of etiquette.

As she sighed deeply once more, ruminating on the fate of her brother, her com bead blared static for a second, startling her.

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Alvi says their mom is 100% setting Las up to die and her reaction is basically "he deserves it for shaming the Mola family".

More from Alvi, literally the first time she sees him after learning he almost got assassinated:

As her brother walked into the room, there was only one thing she could say.

"Why does your helmet have a nose?"

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"So that's it. This whole project that the Grand Admiral wanted so badly is just being scrapped?" She couldn't help herself. They had worked so hard on this!

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First he makes fun of the helmet he uses to hide his horrific scarring and then her only interest is that Thrwn stupidly expensive pet project isn't being continued by a system that has no need for it.

How about the middle sister, Zyx? She's a super-spy, surely she has made some covert moves to help her family?

Zyx had expected to be tracking him down as he fled by this point, but they were almost seven months in and he was making a legitimate attempt.

Click to shrink...

Whops, apparently she's decided to actually help the Commandant track Las down if he pulls a runner. Oh, dear.

All it took was a quick slice of a data port, and the entire database of the Bore was downloaded into her personal database. It would normally take far longer, and far more space, but MI let their agents have a few of the nicer toys.

After that, it was child's play to retreat. The discs would degrade on their own within minutes, leaving no evidence of her tampering save for a thin layer of dust.

From there, she retreated to her ship, the refueling finished by then. A light smirk graced her features as she sat in the cockpit of the Humble Darkness. Another successful infiltration. Sure, it wasn't an official job, but she still loved it. The thrill of it all, the feeling of digging up secrets, of knowing more than others, holding that knowledge, it was exciting.

And now, she knew a great deal about her brother's operations on The Bore. There were more places to stop by, but it was just the beginning.

She was going to have so much fun teasing him with all of this information.

Click to shrink...

She also seems to think that spying on his operations for shits and giggles makes for a hilarious prank.

Regardless, she had to report this. All agents had to report what they got up to in their spare time. Price of the job and all.

Finally, she managed to get the recorder free. She would have words with the designer who made it such a tight fit.

However, when she tried to activate it, it didn't work. Multiple times, she tried to activate it, to no avail.

Then she remembered. When she was being escorted into the labs, she, like all the members of the party, was scanned by a trooper with an odd, paddle shaped device. It was apparently meant to check for explosives and possible contaminants. Instead, it was likely meant to quietly fry communication and recording devices.

Click to shrink...

She also tried to report a rant that goes against Imperial doctrine and was only stopped from doing so because Las was smarter than she thought and fried her recording equipment.

The only one that isn't activelly offensive is Shal, mostly because

Shal chewed on the inside of her lip. Her relationship with her youngest sibling was…distant, to say the least. They were born nearly a decade apart, and by the time he was able to walk and talk she was already being trained. They had seen precious little of each other, and when they had finally met for his entrance into the Eriadu Academy, he had not recognized her. At all.

Click to shrink...

They barely know each other.

Finally, it led to this. Exile, a death sentence in all but name. If he wasn't killed by pirates or rebels, then when he inevitably failed he would be sent to the frontlines. A way for their mother to rid the family of a stain on its banner.

Click to shrink...

Here, Shal also agrees that their mother is setting Las up to die.

But behind the laughter there were thoughts flowing around her head. What has changed? Did the fear of death truly push Las to these heights? And when would his paranoia come crashing down around him? She wasn't anywhere close enough to protect him if that happened.

Click to shrink...

Shal is, true enough, the only one of Las sisters to ever spare a thought to actually helping him. However, as stated

"I was assigned to guard this system, Governor." She stated. It hurt that he didn't even call her by name, but they had never been close. With time…maybe.

Click to shrink...

They barely know each other and Las has no reason to trust her.

So, yeah, Commandant Mola isn't some "though love" mother trying to get Las to grow up, considering literaly every single one of her children is convinced she's just looking for an excuse to get Las killed in the frontlines.

And the sisters expecting a warm welcome is a laughable proposition considering that, of the three, one would actively help their mother, another doesn't give a single shit if he dies and the only one who actually cares has been so absent from his life that she's basically a stranger.

So, no. Las reaction to his sisters showing up (unnanounced, mind you) in his system is perfectly reasonble, because they aren't his allies.

 

[ScarredPunLover]

Dunno if they even really count as the SI's sisters. Yes, they are the sisters of the individual whose body he is now in possession of, but they are still strangers to him, and he's not exactly under any obligation to connect with them or maintain bonds with them out of some strange respect for his "predecessor." And blood is hardly the end all, be all for what determines "family."

The Mola family being distant at best is a good excuse to not have to bother with pretending to be family

 

[paxus22]

i think the mom is just a career imperial and anything other than perfect or political correct is a issue.
it's all about image rather than substance and MC is opposite .

 

[SotF]

i think the mom is just a career imperial and anything other than perfect or political correct is a issue.
it's all about image rather than substance and MC is opposite .

Click to shrink...

From other things mentioned, seems more of the straight up career military combined with her nose firmly up Tarkin's ass for things. She's also running a military academy...her son just isn't cut out for being military there.

She wanted more examples of her being superior there...getting him to try running a small, out of the way planet kind of fits that as well since it both gets him away from ruining her glory while also being able to say that at least he's doing "something" for the cause.

I've known some people who grew up in some of the scary military heritage families that were as controlling as fuck, a few of them even ended up all but abandoned because they couldn't join up for disqualifications due to various things, one Asthma and one was injured in the sports teams they'd been pushed into, and another who left the military rather than career due to medical discharge and a purple heart due to an IED. Those families are rabid about it, some even to the point about which branch someone joins.

 

[swtoring]

few of them even ended up all but abandoned because they couldn't join up for disqualifications due to various things

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and another who left the military rather than career due to medical discharge and a purple heart due to an IED

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The fuck? This one's got to be a joke it's so cartoonishly idiotic only the americans could do smthn like that

 

[SotF]

The fuck? This one's got to be a joke it's so cartoonishly idiotic only the americans could do smthn like that

Click to shrink...

Unfortunately, it's not...it's with a lot of the families that are in the several generations of being in the military to the point that it's fully expected and a "you will do this" type thing rather than normal enlisting.

It's more prevalent in families that are tied to the marines that way.

It's also not exclusive to the US there...and in some places it's not even the military but a thing of you will join this corporation that the family has been working for, or a family business that the kids will be forced to spend their entire lives working at.

 

[swtoring]

Unfortunately, it's not...it's with a lot of the families that are in the several generations of being in the military to the point that it's fully expected and a "you will do this" type thing rather than normal enlisting.

It's more prevalent in families that are tied to the marines that way.

It's also not exclusive to the US there...and in some places it's not even the military but a thing of you will join this corporation that the family has been working for, or a family business that the kids will be forced to spend their entire lives working at.

Click to shrink...

I'm more focused on the medical discharge, in my experiene it would have had to have been something serious to merit it so just being told to gtf back is wild to me

 

[SotF]

I'm more focused on the medical discharge, in my experiene it would have had to have been something serious to merit it so just being told to gtf back is wild to me

Click to shrink...

That one was heavily messed up, I only learned about his family because he used to play the star wars minis game where I did and gave him a ride back to his apartment when his car broke down there one time. He was doing rather well for himself last that I'd heard

 

[Freefaller]

Chp-58: Two Kinds of Battle

Myr'thos, Kaela
Minda System, Ugea, Accordia

Right jab, left cross.

Both dodged within centimeters.

Grant lashes out with a low kick, and Myr'thos deftly jumps over it, nary more than a light hop.

Now, a counterattack.

Myr'thos's posture lowers, ancient muscles rippling. They feel the Dark Side, but do not allow it. This is a test of pure physical power and skill, and they would not besmirch such a thing.

Grant steps back, breathing lightly, but still fresh and ready to fight. She brings her arms up to her chest, ready to block, her stance solid. Analyzing the mysterious bodyguard across from her, she takes notice of a few things.

Their stance is low, hands nearly clawed. It looked archaic, beastly, and animalistic.

It looked deadly.

Myr'thos strikes, covering the ground between them with surprising quickness, arms lashing out for gaps in the Commanders defenses. Kaela blocked one, two, three strikes, all quick as lighting.

Her eyes were whipping around, taking in as many details as she could. The beast snarled within, but she kept it leashed. To lash out now would be to lose.

There!

A gap, a small opening as Myr'thos turned slightly to gain momentum. Kaela moved, her fist lashing out as she stepped right into the warriors guard. Her figure blurred, her stance putting a great deal of her bodies power behind this strike. Her fist flew and…

…missed. Just barely. She felt her fist graze Myr'thos, but they were suddenly up high.

Their stance had changed in barely a second, from a low posture to an almost casual stance. One arm was even behind their back, completely relaxed!

Yet, it was their other arm that Kaela worried about. She tried to shift her stance, but she had overcommitted, and was unable to stop the simple yet brutally swift side chop from slamming into her left shoulder.

The power behind it was immense, and she was sent to the ground, quickly falling into a roll and recovering in a second.

Myr'thos studied her. She was strong, of that they were certain. Still, that had not been the full extent of their purely physical abilities. Regardless, the fact that she took the blow and rolled back into a battle ready stance was impressive.

Maybe the warriors of this era have some mettle after all…

Out loud, they said "Not bad…but you overcommit. A foolish mistake."

"I saw an opening." she replied, eyes studying them as she circled, angling her right side to protect her injured shoulder.

"You saw a ruse. Battle is as much a game of the mind as one of the body."

Kaela gave a light nod. "Thank you for the instruction."

Myr'thos controlled their reaction. They had no wish to instruct some plebian, but they were bored. Their For Glory account was temporarily banned at the moment because apparently calling a Mon Cala seafood was 'against TOS'. Fools.

So, they were here, sparring in the barracks gym. Other troopers, and a few of those clones had tried, but all had failed. Their skills were adequate for their positions, but few ever put up a good fight for more than a few seconds.

Grant, however, was far more skilled. Every time she moved, attacked, there was a gleam in her eyes. She wasn't just fighting, she was learning. And yearning for a greater challenge.

Combined with an odd, if small connection to the dark side, she could prove a useful pawn upon their freedom. Still, this was just a preliminary test. Her potential could go further, but only time would tell.

As they prepared for another round, their PDA rang, and they remembered the appointment the cretin had today. He was doing a pointless interview, and they had to be there as a bodyguard.

It grated on them that they were bound to a politician. If the cretin had been a warrior or general at least then they would've enjoyed themselves a little more.

"This spar is over." They stated simply, throwing their robes on. It would've been so simple to will the clothes back onto their body, but they had to hide their abilities in the Force. Again, anger flared from within. To be forced to hide like vermin…it grated against their Sith sensibilities.

Still, they were alive. And if they were alive, then they had a chance at victory.

Through victory, my chains are broken.

-

Staring into a camera, sitting on a chair that looked more comfortable than it was, I flashed a smile.

Fake, of course, but my acting skills were quite good by now. Necessity saw to that.

Of course I got stuck here. In a fucking interview of all things. Speeches were bad enough, but now this? Why did Gary have to sign me up for this!

Worst part? I can't even be mad at him! Sure, both Darna and Oioro are more skilled than him, but the two of them are administrative freaks. Also, Oioro's a spy.

Gary, on the other hand, is slower on the workload, but more than competent enough. He's also been really good at PR, helping coordinate with the PR department to keep the propaganda lowkey but effective.

It was why I agreed when he said that I should do another public appearance. Said if I stay involved with the populace, it makes me seem more approachable.

For the same reason he asked that I go helmetless. I initially refused him, cause my upcoming new helmet was set to look sick as fuck. Then, he called Darna, and she talked to me like a mother does to a small child who doesn't understand what they've done wrong.

So, here I am. Sitting in the studio of the Myto Informant, a sector wide news network headquartered in Dubrillion.

Across from me, sitting on a desk, is Gorin Fad, interviewer for today. He was human, as this was a more widely televised show and they wanted to appeal to more Imperial populations. They had roughly discussed what kinds of questions would be asked, so I knew what I was in for. They also knew that there are some things you just don't ask an imperial official. Thankfully, most of the questions were economic in nature.

After a quick intro sequence in which both me and the corpulent man introduced ourselves, the questions started to flow.

"So" started Fad, blue eyes contrasting his dark skin with a stark brightness, "Both Minda and Edin have been growing at an unprecedented rate ever since you came to power, in particular the economic and industrial sectors. What's the key to this rapid success?"

I shifted slightly, laying one leg over my other, creating a more assertive posture. It was a subtle thing, and my first time trying it since I read about it in a psychology textbook, The Body Language of Humanoid Sentients. Interesting read, really.

"Well, there isn't a whole lot to say on that end, Gorin. Both Minda and Edin were simply jewels in the rough. All the variables were already in place, all the resources waiting to be harvested. All I had to do was show people there was opportunity to be taken, and they did just that."

"Is that why the Guild came to being?"

I shot him a finger gun, to showcase a more casual effect. Kinda like the 'fun boss', where I keep a sense of authority but still appear somewhat approachable. After all, its best to be both loved and feared.

"Thats right. When we started to lease out claims in the asteroid fields, larger companies and pirate gangs started to take notice. I wanted to ensure that smaller groups and individuals got first pick. So, I started the Guild to regulate all of that. Now, merchants, miners and mercenaries all work in tandem to bolster one another without having to worry about massive mega-corporations dominating the market."

"Incredible, just incredible." Fad replied, nodding in a vague manner. A generic response, but it was expected. This was essentially a propaganda interview more than anything.

"Now, as we understand it, you recently went and bought a whole shipyard from Rothana Heavy Engineering. How did that come about, and what are your plans going forward? How will this impact the population and immigration?"

"That's a good question." I replied, the answer already on the tip of my tongue. "The purchase was a strategic decision, made with the support of Moff Hiral, who helped provide some of the initial funds. See, we realized that the Outer Rim lacks solid ship-building capabilities. This makes repairs and replacements expensive, pushing Outer Rim planets and colonies lower down the list."

"Rothana had almost no ship-based contracts, and had become a financial burden on its parent company, KDY. So, we offered to purchase the yards and ship them here, to Minda. While expensive and time consuming, it is far cheaper than building our own yards, which would take one to two years at a minimum to build just one of the twenty berths we've purchased. With the yards, we can start building ships locally, and getting them to the planets and sectors that need them, reducing the burden on the Core worlds and on the Outer Rim."

"As for population and immigration, we are currently working on that. The Rothana yards, as a consequence of them having been secret for most of the company's existence, are heavily automated. Still, at least another 10,000 workers will be needed if not more. Right now, we are working on building more housing and expanding cities planetside. In the future, residential space stations might be purchased and shipped, but that is speculative at best."

There. A whole tirade. I made sure to make it not too long, but not too short. Too long, and people would get bored. Too short, and people might think I'm hiding something, or don't know what I'm talking about. This allows me to hit that middle ground between competence and simplicity.

"That sounds great, can't wait to see the yards in action." Fad responded, giving the camera another Oscar-winning smile. It didn't reach his eyes, but it didn't need to.

Turning to me, he asked another question.

"Now, about you, Governor. How have you governed so effectively? What drives you in this line of work, Governor Mola?"

This one was fairly simple, all things considered.

"In terms of effectiveness, I ask questions. There are many aspects of this job that are not my area of expertise. While I study when I can, at the end of the day if I want to help the economy, I ask an economist. If I want to help the ecosystem, I ask an ecologist. No person is an island, and to govern as if I was one would be folly."

"As for why? Simple."

"It's my job. Nothing more, nothing less. I was given a job. I will do it well, or I won't do it at all. There is no inbetween for me."

Before Fad can continue on to the next question, something about security concerns, an explosion rings out.

As dust, ash and screams start to emanate from all around me, I hit the deck, pistol in my hands as quickly as I can manage. Behind the cameras and away from the facade of an office used to conduct the interview, I can see figures moving through the smoke, blasters firing as they contest with the Stormtroopers outside.

I see to my right my bodyguards moving towards me, Myr'thos among them, when blaster fire streams towards them.

Most take cover while, out of the smoke, droids step out. Basic B1 battle droids painted a deep, blood red with a black five fingered handprint on their heads.

My bodyguards return fire as I crawl towards cover, breathing heavy. I can feel myself start to hyperventilate.

That's when a droid spots me. As it turns its blaster, I fire off a desperate shot, my heavy pistol slagging its chest.

Through all of this, Myr'thos is dodging and weaving between blaster bolts, newly made vibroblade cutting through the droids like a hot knife through butter. On occasion, they would raise their arm and fire out a stream of blaster fire from the integrated weapon on their wrist. A holdout weapon that they had complained was unfit for a Sith of their caliber. I had told them they needed a ranged option.

Now behind cover, I took a calming breath.

And almost immediately screamed as a thermal detonator was flung into my hidey hole. In a panic, I grabbed it and threw it back, watching as it exploded smack dab in the middle of a group of droids.

Mugwuffin, having been kept backstage, finally found her way to me, curling up next to me. As I petted her, more for my own sense of calm, I felt the bond thrum.

Protectshieldhiderun

I got the gist of things. She was making sure that the droids just barely missed me or the other troopers. Not crushing them, just messing with their aim a little.

It was as I caught my breath, and the droid deluge got smaller and smaller, I saw something. As I sat behind an upturned metal table, my back towards the entrance while I faced the backstage entrance, a glow shone through the darkness. Two glows.

Eyes.

Immediately, I drew on the glow, firing off shots into the darkness. As the bolts flew through the air, the glow of the plasma illuminated the figure.

A Commando Droid. A fucking COMMANDO DROID!

Mugwuffin, having noticed my panic, was already responding, guiding my hand through our bond. My next shot tore its gun arm off, but it simply pulled out its vibroblade and lept towards me like a metal beast from hell.

Before I or even Mugwuffin could respond, the droids blade was deflected. A quick glance told me that Myr'thos was there, having taken care of the other droids in short order.

The exchange of blows between the two was fascinating to watch.

The droid attacked with quick, efficient strikes. A slash into a stab into a low sweep. Each move made to kill on contact, a death sentence with each swing.

Myr'thos moved differently. Every block and parry was near casual, like they were showing off. Only when the droid attacked the head did they kill it. As soon as the vibroblade got within an inch of their face, the arm holding it was cut off with swift precision. Before the droid could model its next course of action, it was missing its head, decapitated in a swift, brutal strike.

As my guards rushed around me, checking me for injuries and escorting me to my shuttle, I tapped at my PDA. A quick comm to the Commander, to understand the scale of this attack.

For a few seconds I got nothing but static, before Grant's face appeared on my screen. She looked somewhat disheveled, and…

"Is that a blaster mark on the wall behind you?"

"Yes sir." she responded. "Some assassin droids attempted to kill me."

"...Are you okay?"

Her eyes seem a tad confused for a second before she responds.

"I am fine, Governor. However, the situation is not. Multiple attacks have been reported across Accordia. It appears an insurgent group is using droids to attack multiple key facilities and personnel."

Shit. Double shit. Triple shit! Dugtrio? I shake my head to rid myself of pointless thoughts and focus.

"Where? And who?"

"A bombing of MegaBuilding C's construction site, an attempted suicide run into the barracks with a ship, and droid attacks against both you, me, the R&D labs, and the Mindan Council chamber while they were in session."

Shit, they hit the council? I don't imagine they did much damage against the labs or barracks, but the Council was never super well protected. After all, they were really just a council of elected representatives that would organize the concerns of the people of Minda and send them up to me to be dealt with. Sure, half of my paperwork comes from them, but without it I wouldn't be running this place so well.

Like the growing land disputes in Rolling Greens, or the opening of new towns and small cities by settlers straining local water and power infrastructure, increasing the judicial/administrative forces to account for pop growth, and even mediating with some of the locals, which I wasn't aware of until like five months ago.

They're called the Tula, are all nomadic, have really cool landshark looking mounts, and play some sick ass instrumental beats for their rituals. They got a whole section of the museum for them, and a bunch of land rights. Even gave me a handcrafted ceremonial bone dagger as a gift. It's sick as hell.

"How many dead?"

"Currently? Casualty numbers are unclear, but the suicide ship was shot down and the droid attacks were repelled well. We estimate no more than 5 deaths right now."

Shit. That's still bad. Sure, it could be worse, far worse, but I remember that quote. 'One death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic.' Yeah, it's Stalin, and yeah, it was probably an excuse to be generally an assholish leader, but it rings true through the identifiable victim effect. If a thousand people had died, people would rally, sure. But now that only a few died?

People would have names to rally around. The social upheaval this could lead to, not to mention the potential imperial crackdown that could follow, has the potential to ruin me.

So, what do I do?

Lock the fuck in.

I gotta make an address soon, mold the narrative, maybe put up a memorial?. I also gotta get these fucking assholes found and killed in some dungeon. But not before they undergo a very public trial where they lose very badly. It would have to be well orchestrated, cause I couldn't have them making actual good points in court, but it could be done.

I'm sure Oioro could pull it off, creepy ass spy that she is.

Turning towards my shuttle, I start stripping off my bacta patches. The wounds might hurt a little, but they'll add authenticity to the whole thing.

Maybe I could redirect military LECA's to help clear rubble? I would have to talk to Grant, see how feasible it is, cause if possible it would look real good on the Empires part, and therefore my part.

As my shuttle made its way towards the Island so I could make my address, the only true recurring thought that rang throughout my mind was…

I'm cooked.

-

Hi there folks! Originally was going to include a scene where Kaela fought the assassin droids, but then I thought of the sparring scene and now I'm all pooped out on fight sequences. Way harder to write than I thought, so any advice on that end is greatly appreciated.

Aside from that, I am sorry for the reduced upload schedules. OG's from the ancient times of 4 months ago remember when I updated daily. Yet, the hard times of the dreaded Finals Week approach, so things have been hectic to say the least. Fear not, however, as I get two weeks off before my Summer semester starts so I'll be far more active.

As always, feedback and commentary is appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

-Freedaller

 

[ServingPlate]

Turning towards my shuttle, I stop, stripping off my bacta patches. The wounds might hurt a little, but they'll add authenticity to the whole thing.

Click to shrink...

You need the comma here for it to read as him taking off the patches, which I assume was what you meant. Otherwise he's "stopping" removing them: aka leaving them on.

 

[RageKnight]

How this live broadcast looked from the other side gotta be crazy. The governor acting goofy and patriotic only to lock the fuck in.

He shoots a Droid, dodges shots by Inches, CATCH a grenade and throws it back, shoot into a random corner and HITS A COMMANDO DROID, and makes a call checking if everyone else is alright.

GOATED IMPERIAL LEADER. Just aura farming while hiding a panic attack

 

[Nisiris]

Call out those bastards, so many dead under uncaring Droid faces?

That's sounds like old Empire would do, even other rebel forces would need to save face after this.

Loved the chapter.

 

[SneakyScoundrel02]

Las Mola the Ciaphas Cain of the Empire, this is terrific (in a good way). Can't wait for him to accidentally off a jedi with a frying pan.

 

[Battle_Unit_3]

Bro is once again both getting cooked and cooking.

Can't wait for Las to make a speech about this and accidentally light a fire unelder everyone's ass.

 

[Kuroji]

Imagine watching this being broadcast live watching him actively fight back instead of cowering in fear, watching him scream in rage and throw a freaking thermal detonator back at his attackers.

Bro, you ain't cooked, you're cooking.

 

[buildanon]

Yeah, that's a PR disaster for rebellion. Trying to assassinate the one imperial governor actively making people's lives better on live television, or whatever the SW equivalent is. The dude just announced 10k jobs + however many they need to support those people, then started playing catch with grenades.

As for the imperial side, people are going to make memes about how badass the governor is.

 

[Aeroeng]

Oh, the rebellion is fucked, the optics here are god aweful and there's nothing they can do.

One of their cells just committed terrorist actions on civilian targets, using DROIDS FROM THE CLONE WARS.

not only that, it was on live television, and will probably be spread across the galaxy, and then people are going to look into Minda and Eden, realize it was everything the Empire promised to be and more, and get super fucking angry because they just proved the rest of the Empires actions at least a little right.

 

[piledriven]

It was why I agreed when he said that I should do another public appearance. Said if I stay involved with the populace, it makes me seem more approachable. Just last week, he had

Click to shrink...

That's an incomplete paragraph there.

Editing in reaction:
The audience had a live action on Las Mola going from an in interview to being an absolute badass with no breaks then immediately straight to work without panicking. And he's worried about being cooked because of the deaths because of rebels?

We have a real Ciaphas Cain right here folks! Hero of the Empire Las Mola!

 

[buildanon]

And to make matters worse, the main casualties are going to be from the democratically elected council. How much worse could this possibly look? Rebels are cooked.