Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[Watching]

You know, now that I think about it Las could have probably tried to grab some of the Tom-Falk class carriers currently stuck wandering around the outer rim in patrol groups to act as a stop gap instead of making a lesser rush build of the Arbiter class to press into service. Yeah it's carry capacity is smaller and doesn't have turbo lasers but it's a dedicated carrier the size of a light cruiser with a smaller crew.

Could probably still augment the current arbiter battle groups to almost double the fighter spam too.

 

[PepeDeLosPalotes]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[Kage]

Man, Star Wars rimworlds really lives to their names: they are not that big population wise

Click to shrink...

You will note historically as well that happened a lot with colonies during the age of exploration. Barely any of them were ever given proper investment and if they had investment it was usually not to the benefit of the colony itself.

If I remember my lore most of the outer rim was founded as colonies by the inner rim. And therefore it was for resource extraction or something similar and so people didn't give a shit.

 

[Mistroz]

Excelent chapter.

 

[OrderedOrb]

You know, now that I think about it Las could have probably tried to grab some of the Tom-Falk class carriers currently stuck wandering around the outer rim in patrol groups to act as a stop gap instead of making a lesser rush build of the Arbiter class to press into service. Yeah it's carry capacity is smaller and doesn't have turbo lasers but it's a dedicated carrier the size of a light cruiser with a smaller crew.

Could probably still augment the current arbiter battle groups to almost double the fighter spam too.

Click to shrink...

I agree. The Ton-Falk is an excellent Carrier-Cruiser that could do a lot of work with a proper escort.

 

[Heidao]

All I'm seeing is that every one of these planets are like Day One Minda, and it would take the same herculean efforts in both money and muscle to make these balls of shit shine like a gem. Were they running on their own means like Las originally did.

We're gonna need Roboute levels of admin to link everyone up, cause they all got products and services they all desperately need to grow.

Luckily we do, The Guild

 

[Wratus]

I wasn't capable of speech when those games came out and I haven't really factored them in, as I know little of the lore outside the fact that none of it is cannon and some dude crashes an ISD with the force

Click to shrink...

Okay yeah funny little fact about Legends force abilities here, in legends several force users both dark side and light side have been able to use the force to destroy or rescue capital grade ships throughout time. Here we have Starkiller/Galen Marek from the Force Unleashed who used it to forcibly pull an ISD from orbit to crash into a planet while the ISD was launching TIE's and was possibly going to base delta zero him.

I think Kyle Katarn also used the force to rescue a capital grade ship from a black hole or something, i haven't read or played the games in which it happened but i remember it being mention in one of the Legacy of the Force or later novels. He did explain that it was something he did and was capable of doing when he was young, but now that he was older and wiser he didn't know if he would be able to do so again as he now would end up thinking of if he should actually do it in the event of being in a situation where manipulating such a large object to be wise or the right thing to do.

Then in the Darksaber novel we have Dorsk 81, along with other Jedi at the Yavin Praxeum, that used a massive Force push to propel an entire Imperial fleet of 17 Star Destroyers out of the system. This collective feat was mostly powered by Dorsk 81 himself, resulting in his death from the strain.

In the Clone Wars Adventures: Volume 2 (Legends), Anakin lifts a fully functional Separatist Conqueror-class atmospheric dreadnought, a ship larger than a Star Destroyer, and uses it to deflect missiles. While this doesn't truly surprise me as this is the Chosen one with only a having a cybernetic arm so not limited in his force usage at all.

And not to mention the shit Anakin did as Darth Vader where he is now limited in his force usage thanks to his cybernetics which are not made through Mechu Deru thus being non force conductive materials... yeah if Vader where to learn the principles of Mechu Deru he would be able to to fully do all the shit he did when he was Anakin, and since we are here there is all the crap Luke has done over the course of his life as a Jedi in legends and the capabilities hinted of him being able to do.

Also a honourable mention towards Yoda and some High Republic Jedi as they have some similar feats when it comes to high stress fine control and Yoda using the force to knock a Trawler out of the sky, and a Jedi Padawan that was able to use the force to break mechanical components inside of ships in order to disable them.

In conclusion the force is bullshit and i recommend trying out the Force Unleased games as they are quite good and hey maybe you end up liking Galen Marek, Ram Kota, Juno Eclipse and Galen's droid PROXY enough to include them in the story... this would be a boon to rebellion leadership and help with Luke's training in the background at least. Also bonus point as Sam Witwer the voice of Darth Maul is also the voice of Galen.

 

[bigdipper]

This is a great way to use ai without making the story ai slop. I love how you add more depth to the story with these little add on. I would like to see a chapter about a commander fighting pirates and the next chapter about a pirate pov. I love the story keep up the great work.

 

[Gordian_Knot]

The LCEAs really need some sort of catchier nickname. The acronym just doesn't roll off the tongue well enough.

 

[Freefaller]

Chp - 109 - Interlude
2.4 ABY
Xanthor Briar
Draxons Forge, Myto Sector

"Strike squadron, load up!"

Xanthor stared at his reflection in the shine of his helmet. The black, gleaming material shone in the harsh light of the hangar.

He lifted it over his head, pressing it down and securing its seals. His breath fogged the lenses for a second before the life support kicked in, clearing his vision. He could already feel an itch on his neck, but he ignored it.

Before him, TIE fighters moved on racks, pilots dropping into fighters before launching out of the hangar, screaming engines silenced as soon as they passed the magnetic shield out into space.

The hangar was large, TIE fighters stacked one atop another on the walls to either side of the room. A series of mechanical arms moved along the rails below, moving the vessels to align with the catwalks above.

The racks moved again, bringing his fighter to him as the arms raised it upwards. Within half a second of the arms locking into place, Xanthor was already reaching down.

He grabbed and twisted the handle of the TIE's hatch, bracing himself with one knee on the catwalk to avoid falling off as he hoisted the weight of the metal upwards.

Dropping into his seat, he plugged a data-wire from his suit into the ship console in one smooth motion. In seconds, his helmet's HUD lit up with ship functions while he went through the startup process.

Life support, shields, energy cycling, weapon cycling…he moved through them quickly, both hands flicking switches he wasn't looking at while the info-feed on his HUD fed him a basic overview of the current battle.

A Keldabe-Class battleship accompanied by an Aggressor-Class Destroyer and three Crusader-Class corvettes, all protecting a disabled Baleen-Class bulk freighter. Strategic ion torpedo strikes had managed to disable the ship as the raiders tried to flee, and now they were defending it while presumably trying to bring it back online.

Xanthor reasoned they held their loot in there, otherwise the pirates would've scattered by now.

On their side, two Arbiter-Class vessels supported them, alongside three Carrack-Class cruisers and six assorted Raiders and Arquitens. A formidable force, but the Arbiters were forced to stay back to avoid the Aggressor, as they were too large to dodge the ships deadly main weapon.

With a dozen switches flipped, his squadron leader barked orders over comms.

"Flight COM is sending us on intercept duty! We're shadowing MPS-Dagger to keep enemy strike-craft off them!"

A final switch started the engine, a low hum permeating the hull. He felt it through the controls, muscles relaxing slightly. A hand idly scratched at his neck while his eyes flicked over the ships diagnostics.

"Strike squadron, dropping in 3!"

A final check was all Xanthor could manage before the clamps let go. As it did, he punched the throttle, the inertial dampener kicking in until he felt only a slight push instead of the sheer g-force he would've been slammed with otherwise.

Ahead of him, he watched the rest of Strike Squadron zoom from the hangar in a line, one after the other. Each ship lit up with IFF designations in his HUD, while a second squadron of TIE's flew out underneath them from the second forward hangar. In seconds, they had left the confines of the MPS-Vigil of Justice and cleared its mandibles, quad laser cannons covering their exit.

Before him, the form of the MPS-Dagger, an Arquitens-Class, became clear. But his eyes were drawn beyond it.

The flashes of light, explosions ringing soundlessly into the void as shapes danced in the darkness. In his ears, the sound of his heartbeat quickened.

"Strike Squadron, enter protective formation! I want us all to stay level with the Dagger on approach to the AO."

Xanthor's body moved, hands twisting the yoke and bringing his TIE to the ship's right. His eyes remained on the distant battle as the protection of their mothership was left behind them.

"Hey, Xan? How many kills you getting?"

He blinked, his eyes focusing back on his cockpit. A comm channel had opened between his squadmates.

"More than you, Kora. I saw those sim scores last week." He responded, trying to ignore the cold sweat which had broken out under his suit.

He could imagine her pout. "Those sims aren't worth the scrap used to make them! Just watch, I'll show my best side." Her tone rose sharply.

"Like when you showed Zra your 'best side'?" He snickered as she stuttered incoherently over the channel.

"Ah, young love." A gruffer voice spoke up, a hint of laughter in her tone. Yirla was the second most senior member of the squadron, right after the squadron commander. Which was odd, considering there was no way she was more than a year older than he was, despite what her voice might imply.

"I-it's not love! She just saw me naked by accident, nothing more!" Complained Kora, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh? You mean Zra from Engineering? I heard all the gossip you know. A closet with unexplained noises doesn't ring any bells?" Chimed in a Daril, his voice smooth like butter.

"Oh zip it Daril! We all know you got with that Verndari during shore leave and thats why the doc chewed you out!"

"Hey, that was a perfectly reasonable choice! Those thighs were-"

"OK! I don't wanna hear any of that, please and thank you!" Butted in Xanthor as he adjusted his yoke a bit, keeping from straying too far from the Dagger.

By then, the Dagger had approached its destination, the MPS-Retribution, a Carrack-Class cruiser pushing up front. The Dagger had been sent to replace a Raider-Class that had been damaged and could no longer act as an effective point defense boat.

"Contact forward." Came the voice of the squadron leader.

The data stream from the Dagger filled his HUD, two dozen red symbols blinking into existence with identifying numbers to match. His eyes didn't bother tracking all of them, instead settling on those closest to him.

"Strike 2, commit on bombers 4 and 5. Strike 3, cover her."

"Copy, Lead. Locking 4 and 5. Engaging." Kora's voice, cold and hard.

"Copy, Lead. Covering." His own voice was next, a distant tone foreign to his mind yet in that moment, comforting.

He turned his yoke once more, throttle increasing as he came in behind Kora. They were on approach to two bombers, scrap heaps bristling with more firepower than sense. On their tail, his computer identified two StarViper Mk. II's, their strange hull shape standing out amongst the stars.

As Kora moved in on the bombers, he dragged his laser cannons in a line across the Vipers, holding down the trigger and sending a spray of cannon fire. None landed, but had the intended effect of catching their attention.

Bolts of red rip past the cockpit as he turns into a barrel roll, zooming past them.

They're on his 6 now, red death screaming silently past his cockpit. Up, over, down, the sweat drips off his brow and onto his nose and his neck doesn't stop itching and he can hear voices on comms. Bomber 4 was down.

An impact. Shields down to forty. Comms talking about a hyperspace exit. He banks hard, making for friendly AA.

The computer screams at him as he closes with the Dagger, a laser turret firing past him at his pursuers.

One IFF signature flickers, then disappears. The other speeds up, and Xan's knuckles go white as he rips the yoke to one side, break turning.

The Viper flies past, a heavier frame failing to burn speed as quickly. He brings his nose up, spraying even as the targeting computer calculates. One shot glances the Vipers wing before he's lined up.

One, two, three hits. Its shields go down, but it manages a turn and dodges downward. His nose follows, but it's already lined up.

A bolt of blue crashes into his TIE. Shields down, the itch is stronger now. His fingers hurt from holding the trigger.

Four, five, six hits. Armor crumpled, the Viper dies silently, no explosion.

"Strike Lead, shields blown."

"Copy. Break high and reset. Strike 4, cover Strike 2."

He breaks off, moving to take cover behind the dagger. Sweat drips into his eyes, and he blinks rapidly.

His breath starts to steady as he watches the emitters cycle and his shields prepare for reset.

"New Contacts, 11 o'clock off the Arquitens!"

Xan's radar lit up with new contacts, a whole squadron of what was identified as Aggressor-Class Assault Fighters.

He stayed back, waiting for his shields to cycle, the itch on his neck back already. Comms chatter was a blur in his ears, and the Dagger's hull hid the rest of the battle from him.

Until one red IFF broke off, cutting straight for him. Shit.

He pushed the throttle back to max, ion engines launching him back under the Dagger and towards the main dogfight. Maybe he could give someone else an opening and-

Bolts flew past him, the enemy already behind him. He pivoted, hands in a death grip as he turned his yoke every which way.

But no matter how he turned, that damned red IFF stayed there, blinking like it knew it was inevitable. Always just off target by a smidge.

Engines burning at max speed, he threw himself into a barrel roll, watching death miss him by meters before break turning hard. If he could just-

The Aggressor was more maneuverable. It gained angle on him, and he cut speed and angled down just as it fired.

Hit. He was hit, the impact slamming him to the side. Throttle was at max now, the computer screaming once more. Some part of his wing was down, he felt it in the balance. Every turn was harsher now, the inertial dampener must've been damaged.

Red lights blared as he made a beeline for the AO. If he could just get into AA range of the Dagger he could shake his tail. The signature dropped from behind him, the TIE showing its superior speed.

Checking the signatures course, however, told a different story.

"Bogey on intercept, requesting cover!"

"Strike 2, all units entangled, stay alive"

Shit. The pirate was seconds away from intercept. If Xan turned, he'd lose the rate war and get shot down. If he kept going, he'd get shot down.

He made his choice.

The fighter's nose was dragged down as he turned hard, eyes searching for any escape angle. If he turned into a barrel roll, maybe?

A bolt of red blinded him as it flew past, he turned again, spinning to shake lock, itch unbearable.

An alert screamed through his HUD, a missile on his tail, while the bogey pincered from the other side. This was it. Speed up, and the pirate shreds him. Slow down to pivot, the missile catches him.

Maybe the pirate would miss.

He redirected all power to engines, straining against his seat as the g-forces hit him. The missile was losing distance, but that fighter-

"This is Tide 6, on intercept."

That voice spoke with utmost calm, cutting through the comms chatter just a single burst of green lanced through the pirate. Each shot landing dead center, turning the vessel to dust in a fiery, silent explosion.

A shape, dark blue and angular, sped past him. The itch was gone, replaced with wide eyes as he turned his ship around to witness…

…death.

Three new fighters, Whirlwinds his mind provided, had entered the fray. No, they dominated it.

They moved unnaturally, twisting and turning like beasts, but not like beasts. Too alive for a machine, too precise for an animal.

One Aggressor tried to force a Whirlwind into a rate war. Instead of leading its nose, its wings folding to allow the turrets to fire sideways. It was a break in dogfighting logic in its entirety.

In under a minute, a dozen bogeys were turned to scrap, nothing but burned wrecks and the atomized corpses of their pilots.

And as Xan brought his TIE above the Dagger, he witnessed the rest of the battle.

Swarms of bombers ripped through enemy shields, the hull of the Keldabe-Class buckling under the weight of two squadrons of bombers.

Beyond it, the Aggressor-Class destroyer was reduced to nothing but a smoldering wreck, its superstructure rendered in two by the combined firepower of the Carracks.

And throughout it all, Tide Squadron flitted about like a pack of machine-beasts, a single mind ripping through panicked prey, streaks of dark blue only visible by the IFF signature on them.

It was…beautiful. And in that moment, Xanthor knew his goal.

To one day sit behind the cockpit of a Whirlwind.

–

Rai Trolo
2.4 ABY
Dantooine, Raiobollo Sector

"3300 credits? How can you guarantee quality at a price like that?"

"Because the Guild would fine me if I didn't! And I am nothing if not Guild compliant!"

Rai had heard about the Guild from passing merchants, and to him it all sounded like a scam. There was no chance in all the Rim that the Empire, of all people, would create an organization that actually enforced quality standards for civilian products.

Especially since every single story coming out of the Myto sector was too wild to be true! Actual anti-corruption measures? Less human centrism? Functioning public services!? No chance.

He'd met Imperials, soldiers taking a break from guarding that base they kept on the planet. They were snobs, a rude and brutish people. Dantari were more civilized than those piles of dung.

"Oh yeah? Let me see its maintenance logs then."

The merchant sighed, reaching for a PDA while Rai smirked. He'd been haggling for the past twenty minutes, just trying to get this trickster to give up the game. 3300 credits for what seemed to be a factory new Zephyr-G? That would've been half the shipping cost if he'd ordered off the holonet, not to mention the extra holonet connection cost as well. The Empire was stingy with civilians using it.

When the merchant sent the maintenance logs to his PDA, Rai was surprised.

It all looked legitimate. Nothing more than post-production inspections and two cargo checks during transit.

Rai licked his lips. On one hand, this could be a great scam. On the other hand-

"Hey there Rei, how da ya do!"

He could feel his eyes twitch as he turned, a plastic smile stretching across his face.

"Good morning, Haral." He said, tone straining against the confines of polite conversation.

Haral was a neighbor of his, a hunter like Rai. Unlike Rai, Haral came from a family of means, and as such had bought himself an FC-20.

"Nothing much, Rei. Just decided to take a gander at the bazaar. No biggie, really. Ol'reliable got me here in no time." Haral slapped the side of the speeder, chuckling to himself in a way that made Rai's teeth grind.

"How was the hike up here? I don't see much, of course, at 180km/h, and I miss the scenery so dearly! But that's the price of performance, I suppose. Isn't that right, Rei?"

"It's Rai. And yes-"

"Ah! Borzun! How are things going, my friend! Still driving that speeder truck!" Haral had already moved on, annoying some other shopper with the same five stories he had with his speeder. They seemed to change every time he told them.

Rai turned back to the merchant, hand gripping the PDA a little too hard.

"How fast did you say this was?"

"350km/h"

"I'll take it."

–

Jir Coru
2.4 ABY
Ugea, Myto Sector

Jir's work day was cleanly segmented into three parts.

First, in the morning, she did inspections. These ranged from inspecting a ship to testing a mercenary's aim at the range. Occasionally, she addressed conflicts between members or ensured local arms manufacturers and security companies were up to code.

In the afternoon, she filed reports on all the morning's activities, alongside updating ranks or issuing warnings or fines.

In between these two segments sat an hour long lunch break.

Jir sat at her desk, fingers clacking against her terminal input as she filed her most recent report. Her hands never faltered, every word typed a certainty.

A chime rang throughout the office, indicating break time had commenced.

Around her, the myriad of officeworkers started talking, stretching, and making their way out of the building for their lunch.

Fools. Didn't they know they were being inefficient?

Jir reached one hand down into her bag, eyes never leaving the screen as her other hand typed, and grabbed a nutrient packet. Tearing the corner off with her teeth, she made to drink it before a voice interrupted.

"Heya Jir! Me and some friends are gonna go check out this new place down the street. Wanna come with?"

Melandre, a bubbly younger Torgruta woman who Jir found tolerable at best. Her attitude was unacceptable by her standards. Melandre had addressed no less than three senior Guild personnel by first name, maintained subpar workplace cleanliness and did not press her uniform with any regularity.

Jir also noted that she was consistently the first to arrive and last to leave, which kept her from reporting her to GuildCom.

That, and GuildCom kept rejecting her reports on coworkers. And kept telling her that they were called Sapient Resources. A thoroughly unfitting name for a branch of the sector's premiere institution.

Regardless, Melandre was someone Jir tolerated. But this? A step too far.

"I am far too busy for such frivolities. I have all the sustenance I require right here." She gestured with the hand holding the nutrient packet, eyes already moving back to the screen.

"Oh come on! We've been working together for months and I barely know you. Would it kill you to make a couple of friends? At least an acquaintance or two! It physically hurts seeing you lonely every lunch break."

Melandre's voice took a turn at the end Jir couldn't quite place, but it mattered not. What mattered was the word acquaintance. Otherwise known as a connection. Perfect.

"I…suppose I would not be entirely against such a proposition, Melandre."

The smile on Melandre's face felt like it was blinding her. "Great! And haven't I already told you to call me Mel?"

"I refuse. It is thoroughly unprofessional conduct, Melandre." The girl pouted, pouted! Like a child before relenting, instead dragging her over to a pair standing near the door.

One was a tall Vurk, the other a Duros shorter than herself.

"The workaholic, right? I'm Vebral, an Industrial Liaison." the Duros said. He was quite short for a Duros. A potential source of insecurity which Jir filed away for later.

"And I am Colber." Said the Vurk, voice deep yet distinctly feminine. "I am from Accounting." The Vurk spoke quietly, too quietly. Socially introverted?

"You may call me Jir Coru. I am a Mercenary Liaison."

"Alright, now that we're all introduced, let's get going! We've only got an hour, after all!" Melandre butted in as soon as the introductions were over, practically jittering in excitement.

Upon leaving the building, they were immediately thrust into the midday crowd. Midday was break time for the entire Guild, and so the streets were full of employees making off to various eateries. One could scarcely take a step without bumping into someone.

"You know" Vebral said "I heard upper management is thinking of downsizing the cafeteria because so many people leave for lunch."

"Ah, that is unfortunate, as I greatly enjoyed the delicacies afforded there." replied Colber, standing a head taller than much of the crowd.

"Well, it won't compare to this place, I guarantee that!" exclaimed Melandre, the orange skinned girl jumping into the air to get a glimpse over the crowd.

Jir slipped through the crowd, avoiding physical contact with anyone as she tracked the other three.

Eventually, they reached the restaurant. A Karkarodon seafood establishment.

As they entered, Jir took in the place. It was small, a rectangular shape longer than it was wide. The kitchen and bar stood to the right, booths to the left, and a bathroom and emergency exit at the rear.

The windows were too open for her taste. And the bar left one's back exposed. The optimal solution was the booth at the end, near the emergency exit.

Melandre sat them by the window.

As they leafed through the menu, Jir observed each of them discreetly.

Melandre seemed excited at every turn of the page. Verbal seemed to be counting prices. And Colber hadn't turned a page past the first, seemingly content to read just the entree's.

"Oh, this fish looks amazing! They have 32 different herbs and spices all stuffed inside!" Melandre shoved the menu in their face despite the fact they all had the same one.

"And it costs a whole 40 credits. Why do that when you could get a dozen rolls for just 10?" Responded Vebral.

"Maybe we could share?"

"That creature would provide enough sustenance for a score more than we have here. Mayhaps you should choose a different meal." Colber butted in, voice slow as though each word was carefully chosen. It seemed to contradict her previous analysis. Perhaps not an introvert, simply differently educated? Potential family connections to a richer sphere?

Silently, Jir had already chosen her meal. A small platter of lightly cooked strips of fish and a creamy sauce covering it. The smallest, cheapest meal on the menu, allowing her to later consume her nutrient package without overeating. All without ordering an entree and standing out, perfectly planned.

As the food was prepared, the conversation turned to the Guild.

"Did you guys hear about that case the other day? One of the Mandalorian clans got angry at a construction company because their landing pad cracked under their ship's weight." Melandre pulled up a story on her PDA, the device left on its stand for all to see.

"It seems that they must in the future take into consideration the weight of their vessels and the tolerances of their landing pads, yes?" Replied Colber. "If they were to be more considerate of their material circumstances perhaps they could have avoided such an unfortunate incident."

"Nah, no chance. If that company was hired to build a pad big enough for all their ships to land on, and it was for a mercenary company? They'd build it strong with the assumption large combat ships would be landing there. I gotta blame the company, must've used subpar materials to cut costs, or they just didn't listen to their clients."

Verbal's critique was cutting, but Melandre was more focused on something else.

"Though, it gets you thinking. The clans are already getting their own compounds, right? They've got cruisers and corvettes and are apparently in talks to continue their foundling traditions to expand their ranks. That's a lot of permissions, more than most other mercenary companies."

"But have they not proven their worth in battle many times over? The numbers tell a grand tale, as the credit worth of the salvaged ships and equipment they acquire through battle is of no small amount." Colber interjected.

Here, Jir decided to jump in. If she could not inject herself into this group, she could never make any connections.

"The Mandalorians are mediocre in regards to their organizational abilities as mercenary companies. They are carried forward almost solely by individual capacity rather than the clan as a whole. Frankly, I find it a waste to give more permissions to them when sector forces could be better funded."

Here they turned to her.

"I cannot say I am in agreement with you, Jir Coru." Spoke Colber. "Perhaps the Mandalorian Clans are lacking in the large-scale organization seen within entities such as the Empire or larger mercenary companies, however the effect the Clans have had on the sector has been undeniably positive. Perchance, have you seen the piracy statistics in systems to which the Clans have been deployed?"

"I have not, as such I will retract my point until I can consult the evidence." Jir didn't actually agree. She'd spent years studying the effectiveness of the Imperial machine, and could've broken down how the Clans were not effective enough to be worth the investment with enough detail to fill out a ten page report. Who was this woman to tell her how things were? But she decided to remain conflict free during this crucial, initial stage. Instead, she pivoted.

"Though, I must ask, Colber. Your manner of speaking is unique to me. Where were you taught?"

"This is the traditional method of speaking, common amongst my peoples for its ability to elucidate complex concepts clearly and without miscommunication."

"Nah, she's just weird." Vebral said, sipping on his drink loudly. Colber shot him a glare before responding.

"Nay, this manner of speech is most common indeed. Your lowly person has simply not been privy to the heights of Vurk culture. Perchance if you deigned to raise your lowly sense of culture, you may well be able to find your ever elusive soulmate" She turned her head away in protest, while Melandre simply laughed lightly.

"Hey! The Totally True Adventures of Baddassatron the Galactic Hero is an incredible franchise that's just a little down on its luck! Trust me, the 53rd movie will be the one to save it, and then I'll be emotionally ready to settle down!"

An insult? A showing of vulnerability? The interaction before her didn't align at first, until it clicked. It was an act, of this she was certain.

She was the outsider still. Clearly, they knew this, and this was all a ruse in order to portray themselves as more foolish than they were. If she was to gain access to the group properly, she would have to endure this and discover a way in.

Once the food, the table turned more to silence as they ate. Upon finishing, the four of them returned to the office, slipping back to their respective branches.

Just as Jir was to return to her desk, mind filing away the event for later deep analysis, Melandre stopped her.

"Same time tomorrow?"

Jir froze for a split second. Same time? Was she in? No, not entirely. This was just the beginning.

"Of course."

The smile that was her response was impressive in how real it seemed.

–

So, for the first battle, I think it's fair to say the Empire would've won that, even with the pirates having two very large ships. Sector Patrol simply had them outnumbered, and I figured the Arbiters after that previous incident would try to stay farther away from the Aggressors big gun.

Also, the MPS in front of the ship's names stands for Myto Patrol Ship.

As for the writing itself, this is one of my longest chapters, I think. That battle at the beginning takes up most of it, and it was a doozy. I've been trying to move my writing to a more show don't tell format, since it just works better. And most of the story has been telling, given Las is an administrator.

But I don't want the alt POV's to feel like Las. He's up high making big choices, so everyone else has to feel those choices and be more present, which necessitates a better, more focused writing style which I think I've managed to do here. More sensory details, thoughts injected into descriptions, etc…

I'm particularly proud of the dogfight. I had to look up terms like turn breaking, rate war and more to understand how dogfights work, but it was worth it.

Other than that, I made more chocolate sheet cake. This shit is heavy though, can't eat much before I feel like I'll burst. Or maybe I've just eaten too much.

Oh, the pains of baking incredible treats. My waist will expand ten feet!

Keep goofin, goobers.
-Freefaller

 

[RageKnight]

Ha. She's been adopted by an extrovert, and she's so socially retarted that she hasn't realized it yet.

 

[Wratus]

Ahhh knowing what i know about Togruta culture and evolution i will say you perfectly portrayed how a young metropolitan Togruta would be here with Melandre, afterall their species is even more social than what us Humans are.

 

[Natelord28]

I definitely liked the dogfight, really felt it!

 

[Arisen gunmen]

you did a good job with the dogfight. i felt the tension. thought the guy was gonna die at the end. i did not see the aggressors coming. i mean i thought maybe he would pull off some kind of maneuver or make it back to the corvette cover. so well done.

 

[Nisiris]

Why... oh why does Jir remind me of Tanya Degurechaff, not fully, but in so many aspects, she seems so alike...

 

[ActionJHW]

Damn those pirates have proper capital ships. Admittedly they were probably leftovers from the Zann Consortium and probably not in the best state of repair but those ships are still well above what the average pirate hunting fleet should be facing.

 

[Yacov]

Jir froze for a split second. Same time? Was she in? No, not entirely. This was just the beginning.

"Of course."

The smile that was her response was impressive in how real it seemed.

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The robot lady is learning how to interact in a less rigid bureaucracy.

Sector Patrol simply had them outnumbered, and I figured the Arbiters after that previous incident would try to stay farther away from the Aggressors big gun.

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Arbiter captains are going to learn it pays to be a coward in fleet engagements. They have some of the most numerous and potent fighter wings in the galaxy, there is little reason to get in the enemy's face unless there is an overwhelming advantage.

For comparison, here's some common combat ship complements of the Arbiter and some other mainline ships.

Arbiter Class Heavy Cruiser

Ship combat craft: 96

• 04 Squadrons (48) TIE-M: The primary shielded, missile-equipped mainline fighter.
• 01 Squadron (12) TIE/IN-M: Myto-pattern Interceptors for high-speed engagement.
• 01 Squadron (12) TIE-R Ranger: Hyperdrive-equipped scouts for tracking pirate raiding parties.
• 01 Squadron (12) TIE-B: Shielded bombers for neutralizing pirate capital ship escorts.
• 03 Units TIE-P Patroller: 60-meter heavy gunships used as sector-patrol anchors.

MC90 Star Cruiser

Ship combat craft: 72

• starfighters of assorted models and quality, with X-wings generally being the most potent in a dogfight

Victory I-Class Star Destroyer

Ship combat craft: 24

• 24 TIE Space Superiority Fighter

Star Destroyer I-Class

Ship combat craft: ~72

• 48 TIE Space Superiority Fighter
• 12 TIE tactical bomber
• Probably a couple TIE Interceptors given the TIE replacement program
• 5 assault gunboats
• Some Skipray Blastboats

——

In terms of capital ship combat, it really comes down to speed and maneuver with how well an Arbiter would do. An Arbiter is likely going to lose a shooting match with any Imperial capital ship. However, if an Arbiter can keep out of that magical 100 km turbolaser range? Then it stands a decent chance of whittling down even an Imperial Star Destroyer's fighters and PD, leaving it open to bomber strikes.

Post-Endor I can seen a refit of the Arbiter that strips some of the turbolasers for more engine power so it can harry and hunt down enemy Imperial warlord capital ships. With the extreme range combat capability of the TIEs taken care of, it just becomes a matter of staying ahead of that 60 MGLT of an Imperial class.

I'm particularly proud of the dogfight. I had to look up terms like turn breaking, rate war and more to understand how dogfights work, but it was worth it.

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If you want to laugh or cry, look up the insanity that is early aircraft warfare. The myriad of ways pilots died or got maimed flying those wood and paper death traps is frankly ridiculous. The workarounds can be equally ridiculous like putting the propeller behind the copilot.

 

[Watching]

A Keldabe-Class battleship accompanied by an Aggressor-Class Destroyer and three Crusader-Class corvettes, all protecting a disabled Baleen-Class bulk freighter.

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I think you messed up the link for the Crusader class corvettes cause they lead to the Aggressor class destroyer page.

An alert screamed through his HUD, a missile on his tail, while the bogey pincered from the other side. This was it. Speed up, and the pirate shreds him. Slow down to pivot, the missile catches him.

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I guess he has no time to calibrate his fighters E-war suit to jam the missile coming for him?

Especially since every single story coming out of the Myto sector was too wild to be true! Actual anti-corruption measures? Less human centrism? Functioning public services!? No chance.

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Sounds like Myto sector has reached mythical status in the outer rim. Stepping into the sector must feel like visiting a mirror universe.

3300 credits for what seemed to be a factory new Zephyr-G? That would've been half the shipping cost if he'd ordered off the holonet

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Haral came from a family of means, and as such had bought himself an FC-20.

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So do these speeder bikes come with some sort of mini ray shielding or something cause they seem to lack a windshield?

"Well, it won't compare to this place, I guarantee that!" exclaimed Melandre, the orange skinned girl jumping into the air to get a glimpse over the crowd.

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I think this girl might be living in an anime.

So, for the first battle, I think it's fair to say the Empire would've won that, even with the pirates having two very large ships. Sector Patrol simply had them outnumbered, and I figured the Arbiters after that previous incident would try to stay farther away from the Aggressors big gun.

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Yeah, they could have probably moved the Arbiters in to get their crews some more combat experience after disabling the Aggressors main gun as that thing probably doesn't have the turbo lasers to keep up in a fight with other capital ships.

 

[Heidao]

Great battle POV, it may seem that our pilot mayhaps have some measure of force sensitivity, just enough to scream to him that some actions are leading to death or a measure of his enemy's intentions in their actions.

Hehe, time for loot~
As a certain isekai'd MC that decided to be a self proclaimed evil space overlord, pirates are treasure boxes.

Wow, The Guild has reached to Dantooine. And already by that interaction, you can hear the weight of corruption and multi-sector tariffs if bought from anywhere else. It seems the Tri-Sector Trade Treaty is allowing Guild associated merchants cheaper travel between sectors to reach further out from them for them, undercutting whatever trade groups living in the Imperial "Norm" of trade.




*Laughter in the Void*
Jir thinking the trio is a bunch of weirdos, not realizing she joined as a quartet.

If what was observed by Jir is correct, Melandre is potentially a coworker equal if not greater than her in work ethics. She's just a sloppy extrovert. But she was also competent to gather other seemingly competent people from the other departments, who also happen to be quirky.

A short (lol) Duros nerd as an Industrial Liaison

An introvert Vurk from Accounting

And our cold, pragmatist in Mercs

She's able to get any info and outsider insight from all angles

 

[Freefaller]

Great battle POV, it may seem that our pilot mayhaps have some measure of force sensitivity, just enough to scream to him that some actions are leading to death or a measure of his enemy's intentions in their actions.

Click to shrink...

Not meant to be force sensitive, it was just a tick to show his fear. It starts during the prep phase, goes away during the convo, comes back during battle.

Tri-Sector Trade Treaty

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I'm stealing this name, its great

 

[Heidao]

Not meant to be force sensitive, it was just a tick to show his fear. It starts during the prep phase, goes away during the convo, comes back during battle.

Click to shrink...

Only thought so cause most depiction of Force danger sense is the feeling of the Force "screaming" at them. So an unnoticed Force sensitive with no training or contextual knowledge like a Jedi would get the Han special of "I have a bad feeling about this"

 

[Orangeduke38]

I thought the Zanns didn't have any of the battleships until after the empire started fracturing.

 

[Yacov]

Omake: Pirate Processing

POV: Silvaka Birgbird, convicted pirate, Imperial Penal Colony 2-4-9-N, Cockaigne, Cockaigne system, Myto sector

Silvaka glared at the clear sky as she was led off the loading ramp. Cockaigne's star looked as if a slightly larger dying ember amidst its peers, which were still visible. Before her was the harsh and searing shine of Imperial Penal Colony 2-4-9-N which robbed her of her night vision with a single glance. The artificial light still needed in midday due to the distant starlight being insufficient for most sentients on the system's sole world to see by. All that would greet her if she looked beyond the glow of the prison would be the inky blackness concealing a frozen, desolate landscape.

"Move it convict! No trying to get frostbite on your day as an inmate thrall!"

Silvaka fought off the urge to try and take a bite out of the Detention Block Guard as they moved between blocks. She had been fighting back the urge to shiver since they got off the Kiltirin-class dungeon ship, despite the thick jumpsuit they gave her. She didn't want to take her chances in what passed for solitary confinement.

Warden droids were patroling the outside and the usually unoccupied sections of the prison. Even if she could get out of the prison, the freezing temperatures and total darkness outside the facility were used as a method to keep its prisoners from causing trouble afterwards. A rough shove through the door struck what further thoughts were beginning to form in Silvaka's head.

"In front of the imager and then to the medical droid. The sooner you get your mugshots and locator chip, the sooner I get to stop dragging you around."

Processing was as quick as it was humiliating. The imager felt invasive while the anesthetic was light enough that the place they implanted the chip still felt sore. The pain made Silvaka think of how just a bit earlier this situation was reversed. Wasn't too long ago her crew would be filling this world with slaves, not occupying it. The weak are meant to submit to the strong, Silvaka's crew just helped make the truth a bit starker.

Her captain had a deal going with Cockaigne's Governor to offload "criminals" as inmate thralls and in exchange he would keep their ship's transponder off the records. However once news of their patron getting arrested surfaced, they tried to record race out of the sector for more welcoming space. Unfortunately a patrol of Guild mercenaries "happened" to come across the route they were taking. Probably a rival crew from Revik set them up to try to take control of the sector's flesh trade. Good luck to them given how frustratingly vigilant the sector's navy was being.

"In you go thrall! You're lucky today's work shifts are done! You get to sleep before your first day of picking and carving up ice begins."

Ice carving. Carving Ice on Cockaigne was a fate joked about in Myto's Underworld. Whenever someone didn't come back to the ship after shore leave they'd joke that their missing crewmate was probably carving ice. Something brought up as a probable fate for failed criminals and bumbling fools. Guess Silvaka counts as the former now, doesn't she?

"So you are my cellmate then? About time they got around to it after they started letting all the soft meat go. Name's Yuspin."

Silvaka was unable to hide her disappointment at the sight of the Moyn sitting on a bed bolted to the wall in the brightly lit cell. The captain had been taken away by the ISB almost immediately following their arrest. The rest of the crew were shipped to Cockaigne after their trials were over. She had lost track of them on the dungeon ship as their captors had wisely kept them separated. She had hoped against hope that she would share a cell with one of them.

"Name's Silvaka. Was a pirate before this. So what'd you get sent here for? Don't want to share a cell with someone who can't tough it out."

She could already hear Tito's sniveling in the back of her mind. Their enslaved tech who was led away after they were brought to the authorities. Probably gave some sob story to get sent to a minimum security prison. Little whiner wouldn't last a day here.

"Nah used to be a marauder. Was carving flesh before carving ice. Had a sweet gig going where the humans in our crew would dress up like Army Imps, "scare" us vicious raiders off, and then "requisition" the loot from villages. We "arrested" anybody that resisted and the rest weren't too keen to ask too many questions when they didn't come back. Got caught when a new general got put in charge of the planet's forces and the Imps stopped acting like we did.

You won't find any brittle folk here these days. Order from on high. Cockaigne is an exclusive club now. Only for sentients with 20 years or more on their sentence with a violent crime on their record. A dumping ground for all the criminals who avoided a summary punishment in this latest crime wave. Bit silly considering they also shut down the gladiator pits."

Shut down the gladiator pits? But that was the most fun you could have in a prison and it was how they freed up the cell blocks for new intake. Silvaka had already been thinking of new and fun ways to break her fellow convicts.

"That must not have been popular. How are the regular buyers for stables offworld supposed to refill their stocks if they can't pick from the prize fighters?"

One of the lesser known exports from Cockaigne besides inmate-mined ice and mineral water was gladiator and pleasure slaves. The fighting pits and the deadly cold made it simple to "lose" a convict or two for the right price. The flesh trade was so frequent that the former Warden-Governor had sentencing papers and death certificates pre-signed in case the captain came across any potentially profitable "bounties" while perusing the slave markets.

The prison population was complicit in the practice as well in order to have a chance to not die on this iceball. Trapping rivals in fixed fights and scarring their beautiful features with icicles was commonplace among inmates. Competition was fierce if you were aiming to get yourself a chance of getting sold. Only the toughest and the most ruthless got a chance of a more enjoyable enslavement, as is proper.

"Didn't ya hear? Cockaigne got a new Warden-Governor. Hand picked by Moff Mola. Has the new guy by the hairs. When the Moff says jump he asks how high.

Mola is a pretentious and tyrannical Imp. First thing he did after getting the job was throw a tantrum and imprison a load of petitioners. Thinks seeing someone with a collar walking around his cities is intolerable. When his lackeys protested the move, he had them all "disappeared" for daring to contradict him. He would rather all the slaves be pushed to the dark corners of the sector where no one privileged with freedom will see. All the comfortable or fun jobs for slaves are being cut off, leaving nothing besides hard labor. Like he wants every slave in his sector to suffer just because they wear a collar.

So now the new Warden-Governor is trying to keep the prison above board. Old channels for contraband are getting plugged, guards search your cell even if you try to bribe them, faces that used to show up to pick up the goods are now either a distant memory or a constant presence. Only way to get off this icy hell these days is to qualify for a posting in an offworld chain gang, and they only give those out to brownnoses who have been on good behavior for at least seven years."

Emperor's Folds. How have there not been slave revolts across the sector? No wonder pirates were hitting this sector so vigorously. All the places to slake their baser thirsts were losing their suppliers. How can someone enjoy their rightfully pillaged wealth if there is nowhere to spend it on warm bodies and bloodsport?

"So what, people are just enduring the cold and wagging their tails to the Guards now? How is this prison not shut down from frequent riots with all the fun gone?"

Yuspin gave a chuckle like he had been expecting Silvaka to say that. It bothered her how he had been leading the conversation. However she had never been on the other side of these cell doors. She could deal with some patronizing if it increased her chances of survival and power.

"Nah it ain't all boredom and brown nosing. Part of the Warden-Governor keeping things above board is that he's got to make a better show of following regulations, even the safety ones. Did you know prisons are supposed to have gyms and libraries? I didn't.

Ice carving is less lethal than it used to be. Cold weather gear got less holes in them even without bribing. The prison is even giving access to cheap prosthetics to inmate thralls when the frostbite sets in, instead of sending them to "gather snow outside" when they get too crippled. Most of them are either low powered or completely mechanical, but they work well enough for simple things like carving.

Still restricted to simple tools on work shifts. However guards got new laser ice-cutters in sealed rooms above the work areas to cut up large chunks of ice for the prisoners. Let's us process more ice, so maybe the Warden-Governor struck a deal with a smuggling ring under the table to line his pockets from increasing exports. Either way it leads to more work points for down at the store or the cafeteria. There is even a weekly choice of fruit or dessert provided you ain't being punished. Frozen of course."

Well isn't this just a slice of paradise. Silvaka let the Moyn prattle on while she slipped into her machinations. Just because she wasn't expecting to get enslaved doesn't mean it will stop her plans. Step one is getting to that gym and bulking up. Just because the gladiator pits are down doesn't mean physical power isn't still respected here.

From there it is a matter of gathering resources and influence and waiting for the rot to set back in. No institution like this can avoid seeping back into corruption. It was a proven fact of the galaxy. When the natural order does return she'll be coiled and ready. Silvaka spared a glance at a CAP-2 Captivator walking down the hall of cells as she has planned her rise back to power.

——

A look into how the prisoner-slave underclass of the Myto sector is doing in a dark, cold corner of the sector. The ones who are definitely not getting emancipated by Las' legal audit. Penal colonies are actually a thing during the Republic and are also still a thing with the New Republic. With the flood of pirates galavanting through the sector, small local prisons on frontier worlds are probably not going to cut it. Even if Las finds the practice of prison planets and prisoner-slaves distasteful, intake and enslavement are probably picking up in places like Cockaigne given a lot of pirate crews are not going to try and fight to the death. Pirates are not exactly known for the zealotry or discipline needed for last man stands.

One interesting thing to remember is that a lot of Las' abolitionist policies like HAVEN's activities tend to be clandestine by necessity or otherwise have a different public excuse. We the readers get the benefit of looking into Las' head to understand what he's thinking. Many people in the sector haven't been to the Minda or Edin systems and don't try that hard to keep up with sector politics. They know some of Las' actions and often none of the motivations or background context. People like Yuspin are going to draw their own conclusions about Las' motivations from the information they can gather and process it through the lens they view the galaxy through into an explanation they see as reasonable.

Crossposted on SB and SV

 

[Heidao]

Mola is a pretentious and tyrannical Imp. First thing he did after getting the job was throw a tantrum and imprison a load of petitioners. Thinks seeing someone with a collar walking around his cities is intolerable. When his lackeys protested the move, he had them all "disappeared" for daring to contradict him. He would rather all the slaves be pushed to the dark corners of the sector where no one privileged with freedom will see. All the comfortable or fun jobs for slaves are being cut off, leaving nothing besides hard labor. Like he wants every slave in his sector to suffer just because they wear a collar.

Click to shrink...

Wow

That is either outdated hearsay, further shaped by theoretical bias or the whispered propaganda from rival governors that were around back then, shaped and twisted as it went down the grapevine.

OR

A very successful lure campaign to make outside criminals think the slave market is still there and Las is denying paying customers the supply.

 

[PepeDeLosPalotes]

Thanks for the chapter

 

[Yacov]

Wow

That is either outdated hearsay, further shaped by theoretical bias or the whispered propaganda from rival governors that were around back then, shaped and twisted as it went down the grapevine.

OR

A very successful lure campaign to make outside criminals think the slave market is still there and Las is denying paying customers the supply.

Click to shrink...

Yuspin is more an example of what someone in the Underworld might believe Las is like instead of what a common citizen might believe. Criminals like Yuspin have been feeding themselves off the galaxy's corruption for years, not exactly a stretch to assume everyone at the top to be just as corrupt and out for their own gain as themselves. Especially when there are so many Imperials providing examples to support that assumption. Why wouldn't Las be like the rest and have a self serving agenda?

Strangely enough while Yuspin is the realistic cynic, Silvaka is written as actually a bit of an idealist. It is just those ideals are Might Makes Right, the Weak Should Serve the Strong, and All Institutions will Fall to Corruption. She genuinely believes those are the universal truths the galaxy operates under. And really, take a look at the Late Republic, the Confederacy, then the Empire and tell me there isn't some historical evidence to support those ideals.

 

[Rustic]

Chp-109
Alright, I was thinking about it. I think I agree with jir on the usefulness of the clans. Great for one on one and pirate hunts however, I believe other merc units will be better. Also clans take up pirating pretty quickly. I agree that they should be limited on how large of a ship they are allowed to keep. At least as it is set up.
Less special treatment.

 

[Tookie_breh]

Xanthor stared at his reflection in the shine of his helmet. The black, gleaming material shone in the harsh light of the hangar.

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Anybody have any good Fighter Pilot Art or 3D Renders? The black fit is cool and all, but I imagine the normal stormtrooper helmet would still restrict the pilot's vision too much, no? Picture a fully sealed mix between modern fighter pilot and astronaut helmets with a wide polarized visor like the EVA from Halo with a big oxygen mask(plus the mic and all that jazz...) and tubing on the bottom half going to the life support systems on the flight suit. Unfortunately, I have no talent for drawing nor 3d rendering in Blender, and no money for commissions. There is nothing we can do...

 

[GrimmKenway8646]

"Hey! The Totally True Adventures of Baddassatron the Galactic Hero is an incredible franchise that's just a little down on its luck! Trust me, the 53rd movie will be the one to save it, and then I'll be emotionally ready to settle down!"

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The fuck? Is that Bumblebee?
A TFOne reference in this economy?!

 

[Freefaller]

The fuck? Is that Bumblebee?
A TFOne reference in this economy?!

Click to shrink...

nah I forgot about that movie entirely. I mean yes, that was my intention, keen eye treasured reader!