Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[udkudk]

After that, I ran through some more stuff. An order for some more textbooks and economical analysis, alongside a bundle of philosophy texts. I was branching out, you see. That and they were on sale. But that one called Thesis on the Dichotomy of some tale or another seemed interesting enough.

Click to shrink...

Anakin, is that you? Did you finish your masterpiece yet?

"Well sir, that comes down to the TIE launch bays" He states, furry hand clicking around on the hologram terminal.

The projection shimmers as an x-ray view of the ship appears, with a series of tunnels and hangars highlighted in red.

"The mechanism allows for TIE's to be launched and landed with ease, not to mention shunted through maintenance and refueling before being put back in the launch bays. The thing is, most of this is in fact overengineered. Whoever designed it seemed to want to impress the Advisor more than build a good ship."

Click to shrink...

Did we got Battlestar launch tubes? Honestly, those would be a quite good thing for the Empire even without the Maintenance Bays.
Launch Tubes allows rapid launch of fighters, and in extreme speed as well. Which is very useful in situations where the Rebels ambush Empire ships.

 

[Civil Reader]

"I need dossiers on all the Moffs top people. Then I need dossiers on who would be best to replace them with."

"...no way" It seems he caught on.

"Unfortunately , yes."

Click to shrink...

"Of course he doesn't want the publicity of being the ruler, instead we will manouver someone else into the position and become the power behind the throne. Sasuga Las sama"-Las's inner circle

 

[NinjaMAster]

Coffee grinders work even better for things like this.
If you don't have an old grinder, check around on garage sales, or thrift shops. You can get a working electric grinder for nothing.
And then just grind normal sugar into powdered sugar.
Grind normal salt into popcorn salt.
I even ground Oat bran into flour with it.

Click to shrink...

Just make sure to clean it properly after every use, and before you use it the first time.
Nothing fucks up machinery like a fine coating of salt and neglected grain product. Between water getting absorbed by the flour and setting off the salt corrosion, starch glue maybe forming, and all the insects unsealed flour attracts, you need to keep it clean.
Also, remember your machine's intended workload. Something meant to run for 30 seconds at a time every half hour or so at most grinding coffee likely skimped out on heat management. Small batches are your friend.

 

[NegaBotMD]

Just make sure to clean it properly after every use, and before you use it the first time.
Nothing fucks up machinery like a fine coating of salt and neglected grain product. Between water getting absorbed by the flour and setting off the salt corrosion, starch glue maybe forming, and all the insects unsealed flour attracts, you need to keep it clean.
Also, remember your machine's intended workload. Something meant to run for 30 seconds at a time every half hour or so at most grinding coffee likely skimped out on heat management. Small batches are your friend.

Click to shrink...

Yes, there are grinding solutions to clean both burr and bladed grinders, but they are generally expensive.
Good way is to just grind oats with a teaspoon of baking soda. That should clean most of the dirt, and if you leave it inside for like 30 minutes it should even neutralize most of the smells. But that's for extreme dirtiness. If there are fatty stains (coffee can be very oily, and if people do not clean it, it can become sticky, hard and smelly) just keep wiping with a bit of alcohol on a piece of rag or a cotton swab.
But that's only if extremely dirty.
After grinding dry stuff, just use a soft brush and remove everything with it. Maybe blow on it a bit, or use compressed air, wipe with a damp towel. Don't use excessive water.

 

[NinjaMAster]

Don't use excessive water.

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Especially when you just ground salt.

 

[vtkun]

thanks for the chapter

 

[klip04]

Our poor boy... up the ladder he is thrown. Not climbing, no no! He wants to stay lower, but people keep throwing him higher.

Click to shrink...

He's being pushed up the ladder of incompetence, unfortunately he is very competent so on we go

 

[saylin021]

Anakin's thesis!

Click to shrink...

Is it bad that the only thesis from Star Wars is the one about Plageius from various memes?

 

[Rustic]

Chapter 81

My thoughts on this was hey another great slice of life chapter. I really like following the mc around.

So a few days or weeks ago. I watched lawnmower racing.. at first i thought what the hell is this.. then it was do i need to be drunk to watch this... five minutes later i found myself still sober and somehow actually enjoying the race.
I seen tractor pulls and such never truly watched them always thought hey that a way to waste money. However they are expensive odd and entertaining.

In chapter 81. They had the whole holoprojector screen for his r and d teams to work on projects.
I thought of something interesting he could commision built.

So in starwars. There are some very large sentient species. I don't know all of them. However there is a species that look like bipedal orcas. I thought it would be incredible humorous if a group of them was hired as star racer jockey. While building some of the smallest star fighters around the cockpit.


So the idea would be a slow race. Starting from the ground. A selection of teams would start off with a design that conforms to a race specifics.. such as rebuild a factory mech into a heavy mech they use to race. Just an example or they use a heavy tank.

I was focusing on the appeal of the tractor races and semi truck races here on earth. Giving it that star wars equivalent.

Because this race would be a distraction. The mc could throw a lots of people in groups to not only coordinate the race. The races could be done much like a batton pass. With teams and support. Displaying the teams ability to think outside the box.
First on the ground. Then a shuttle race. Up to a local sub space ship. That would ferry the cargo the shuttle orginally had to a large heavy freighter. The freighter then jumps to the next system. Dropping the monitor/ subspace ship that flies ahead drops the shuttle that drops the cargo back onto a planetary body where the next leg of the race begins. Racing to a local garage where they metaphorically pass the baton to the next team.

While this is going on the hyper capable ship repositioned itself for the next jump. While waiting for the new cargo. You could use something like automation or droids for the loading and unloading as a control group. With different teams with different skill sets having to take over. A segment of the race.

Setting up the race across the breath of guild controlled worlds. While recording the highs and lows of team as the race. Would cause a sector distraction.

 

[OrderedOrb]

Ah, the Peter Principle in action. Except our dear Mola is actually competent enough to excell regardless of how high he rises in the Imperial hierarchy.

 

[ReluctantCrusader]

"Of course he doesn't want the publicity of being the ruler, instead we will manouver someone else into the position and become the power behind the throne. Sasuga Las sama"-Las's inner circle

Click to shrink...

I thought that would be him accepting that he would become Moff and was planning on replacing the cabinet with people of similar skills so he wouldn't lose everything that was maintained by their predecessors.

 

[Yacov]

Omake: Brave Newish Worlds

POV: Greska, Ripoblus Guild Explorer, Kontor Prefabricated Outpost, Hirta IV, Hirtas system, Myto Sector

Greska settled her MRX-BR Pacifier on the Landing Field Class Duracrete Spaceport. Taking off the helmet of her modified Versatex Survival Suit allowed her to take in the smells of civilization for the first time in weeks. This outpost may be the barest fingertip of galactic civilization, but compared to days of scanning plants, people, and dirt, it felt like Coruscant.

On a second glance, the Kontor Prefabricated Outpost looked just as dinky as she left it. Still, she had come to love it, given the other accommodations available on this dirtball. Not like the only Imperial Milbar on this world would let her in unless it was an emergency. Stationed all the way on the another continent and used for little more than monitoring signals, recording ship traffic, and to have a punishment posting for those that particularly displeased the Governor.

"Hey there Orun! How's the view been? Enjoy getting assigned Can Duty again?"

The Cragmoloid huffed as he emerged from the Can and propped his doubled barreled rifle to the side. He had been on low alert Df. 9 turret duty. The most boring job in the Kontor for Guild security. At least being posted at the gate had the infinitesimally small chance of talking to a visitor. Can Duty just meant looking over plastcrete walls and staring at Hirta IV's vast plains for hours on end, and low alert meant you did not even have the two technicians to chat with.

"Same old, same old. How are these natives you have been snooping around for? Anything interesting about them?"

Mention of Greska's job brought up her mood. Working for the Guild Exploration and Colonization Commission was way better than being private like she was previously. The Empire had an exploration department, yet it often subcontracted to explore minor and uninteresting worlds.

The Empire usually foisted off worlds with little galactic value to private contractors like her. Most of worlds the Guild got contracted to explore were Second Lookers. Worlds that had an initial survey to confirm the location and climate of the planet, but were not estimated to be valuable enough to warrant a second Imperial look. Little chance of finding a planet as rich as Ugea or a species as populous as the Vendari on a Second Looker.

"Nothing too surprising. The natives are decently into the Feudal technology level. Eager for further contact and willing to trade for offworld goods. Estimates put them to be concentrated in a couple settlements with a few dozen burgages they call quarters. At most a couple thousand humans scattered with around a three day flight radius from the Kontor. Mainly clustered in the small hill valley to the north.

Apparently they have been recovering from poor harvests that plagued them in the last generation. They have taken to hunting avians in the cliffs more and more to supplement their diets. Hopefully wider galactic interest can help them get their numbers back up. Starvation is never a pretty way to go."

Hirta IV was typical for a Second Looker. Poor soil quality making any scale of megafarming unprofitable combined with not many indications in the way of mineral wealth. The weather was often cloudy with a high chance of windstorms looking to blow down tall vegetation or an unprepared sentient. There is enough on Hirta IV to sustain a low level of population, but nothing impressive enough to mark it for even a low priority of colonization by the bigger players. Compared to Hirta Prime which was so much more fertile and mineral rich, Hirta IV stood on the periphery as a barely remembered fact only meant for trivia nights in the system.

Even the presence of native sentients did little to rouse interest from the Imperial government. Initial estimates put the population in the low thousands at best with little chance of unique technology or resources. The Empire deemed Hirta IV's "primitive natives" inadequate for use in Imperial projects, even before taking into account the vast and treacherous asteroid field separating IV and Prime. That wasn't enough to deter the Guild from setting up shop in a Kontor, hunting for profit.

"Any special aspects about their culture? I could always use some fresh ideas for the next chapter of my novel."

Greska shook her head at the amateur novelist's antics. Kontors were not exactly designed to be bustling settlements. The little over 50 people in the Kontor let Greska safely memorize everyone's faces so she could sleep easy. Visitors in these early stages were virtually nonexistent besides the occasional freighter to trade or deliver the supplies needed to keep the whole operation running.

However that also meant Orun must be starving for new ideas. One could only draw so much material from maintenance crews complaining about the Draxton fusion power generation station being on the fritz again, or the Razalon FC-20 scouts talking about interesting terrain features and cloud formations they saw. Poor Orun is probably hoping once the native Hirtans start visiting they will end the drought he feels has formed in his mind.

"Nah, these guys are just came from a crew that got stranded probably a dozen generations back. Their descendants regressed back to savages when no one showed up to rescue them. Their language has firm roots in Basic and their shrines were overgrown ship debris. Protocol droid barely needed a second to translate.

Their villages are called Bays, despite being nowhere near a large body of water. The buildings are wood, thatch and stone for the most part, with a smattering of more advanced materials from a long distant era. Maybe a "relic" of technology long since obsolete to the rest of the galaxy. From the ground it just looks like any other primitive village of a degenerated people.

However take to the sky and you can still see the remnants of the ship they flew in on, even without a scanner. The shape of the ship buried, but still poking out of the ground only a scant few kilometers from where the Bays are now. Like claws from some great dead beast still trying to claw out of the dirt that has been layered over the centuries.

You know, the same decicred a dozen tale you hear from any explorers that have been in the field long enough. Nothing out of the ordinary."

They had even called their village chiefs abbot-officers. Would it kill them to not be so stereotypically Castaway Colony? It is like they walked straight out of one of Greska's texts at Explorer's Academy. One can only listen to so many tales of heavenly arks laid low by demonic legions before it all becomes white noise.

Greska still felt kind of bad when they started dancing and cheering as her Pacifier touched down. The natives had ranted about how the galaxy had forgiven them for their ancestors' "original sin against the Contispex Pantheon" of losing their ship after "being led by the vile deceptions of the great demon Bauce into the fields of annihilation". The truth was no one in the galaxy was left to remember or care about whatever their gods thought. At least it means they will be receptive to setting up ties to galactic civilization again.

"Feke. Here I thought joining a Subsidy Company would give me inspiration in my writing. Instead there is so little around here all I am doing is waiting until I qualify for the favorable education grants. No one is going to take my work seriously unless I have a degree."

Greska rolled her eyes at Orun's long bemoaned complaints. He would fall back on them whenever he was frustrated with this posting. Really she did not know what he expected when he signed up to become a Subber. Doing long, boring work was the reason Subsidy Companies existed in the first place.

Subsidy Companies were what happened when a bunch of inexperienced civilians have the bright idea to try and "game" the Guild system. They would pool their resources to arm themselves with a bunch of surplus and confiscated gear and train just enough to meet the Guild's minimum qualifications to take on mercenary company contracts. Afterwards they would pick only long, low risk contracts with a minimum chance of seeing combat.

The end goal for most Subbers was to avoid ever being in a fight and accumulate enough service time to qualify for the Guild and government subsidies, programs, and privileges given to veteran Guild members. Respect from their peers in the Guild was sadly not included in that list of benefits. Especially among fellow Guild mercenaries who often deride Subbers as cowardly parasites and accusations of being a Subber has led to more than one brawl on Guild premises.

"You only have yourself to blame for getting yourself in this mess. Subsidy Companies aren't really focused on "seeing the galaxy" or "meeting interesting people". Just count yourself lucky the Guild is expanding rapidly enough to let you rack up the easy contract time filling in the gaps.

Look on the bright side. At least you will hear enough mindless chatter to make effective background characters and scenes. Who knows? Maybe the next light freighter captain dropping off supplies will have some interesting tales to tell."

The Guild and the Empire allowed the practice to slide because they were not technically breaking any rules and it gave them a pool of cheap and willing warm bodies for little upfront cost. Subbers were useful to throw at quiet, unimportant areas given they could be paid less than an Imperial Army garrison or a standard mercenary contract. Their poor quality and focus on accruing service time leading them to accept less than average pay for their services. The seeming lack of care for quality didn't stop the Guild from sending the odd inspection or two to make sure a Subsidy Company adhered to Guild regulations.

Still, Greska's attempt at finding the silver lining fell on deaf ears. Yet she could tell Orun didn't hold it against her. Artsy types like him just needed to vent on occasion to get it out of their system, and she was always willing to listen to some griping after days of being away from another sentient being. It was part of the reason they got along so well.

"Well I have kept you here long enough. Better report to the administrator on your progress. Unless you want to hear about my brother's progress as a sculptor? I just used my allotted time on the subspace transceiver in the main hall to learn that…"

Greska made polite noises and reminders that Orun needed to get back on the Can before running away from the situation as fast as her legs could carry her. Even she had her limits. Family talk was not her favorite topic. Orun was a nice guy, but he could still talk your ear off for hours about family like any Cragmoloid.

——

"Explorer Greska reporting on the progress of her contract ma'am."

Administrator Kannamino crawled out of the aquarium turned personal pool in the office. The yellow Patrolian having converted it to take breaks in between bouts with flimsiwork. A luxury afforded to her by being the highest ranking Guild member on the planet.

"Greetings Greska. How are things progressing with our trade preparations?"

A large part of the reason the Guild was willing to shell out the credits establishing Kontors was trade. Most of the well known routes were heavily flooded by bigger players. Systems with high tariffs, mega corporations trying to monopolize certain trade lanes, not to mention the occasional coalition of pirates looking to drain the blood vessels of the galaxy.

Trying to set up new routes was costly, but it could pay off in the long run for the chance to establish influence from the start. The foundation was laid when Guild gathered together some of their Merchants with less than reputable pasts and offered them large sums of credits and privileges for their knowledge of little known routes around the sector. Most of the worlds chosen for this forming network may not be worth much individually, but together they offer new paths to move goods through the sector and around barriers to trade.

If you wanted to set up a series of small outposts with little paperwork or pushback, Second Lookers were a good way to go. They don't attract much attention from corps or government organizations, which means the usual interference and up bidding is often absent. No one official usually lobbies for colonization rights for worlds like these unless it is for storage or a research site. Everyone else would just ignore the law entirely and go the wildcat route.

The fogies in the Imperial Colonization Board tended to approve the flimsiwork for Second Lookers comparatively quickly. The lack of competition meant that this may be their one shot to get the world colonized officially during their time in office. Better they take what relatively little favor and influence someone like the Guild offers them for colonization rights than have another empty world left on their record.

"The natives have proven more than willing to engage in trade with the Guild. Currently their excess harvest is enough to fill the hold of a small light freighter. Maybe two if they have a bumper crop. Their plants were originally sourced from their shipwreck and are close enough offshoots to the galactic strains to pass inspections easily."

The ability to see a return on the Guild's investment lifted a visible weight off the administrator's shoulders. The costs for setting up a small settlement like a Kontor were not inconsequential. Not even the atmosphere being good enough to not need a dome lowered expenses that much.

A lot of credits were spent both on this Kontor and an agreement with the Governor on Hirta Prime. The Guild's shipments exported from Hirta IV would not be tariffed as long as it was sourced directly from the natives. Paid for by the Guild and out of Kannamino's own pocket.

"Excellent. That Governor thinks he was paying little given the asteroid field in between IV and Prime. However, I have already sent a request for Ugean agricultural texts through the HoloNet. The fact their language has not drifted far from Basic means we should be able to hire some agricultural specialists and get a cheap droid to read it to them before the literacy program gets off the ground.

That along with selling the natives cheap machinery I have been stockpiling for harvesting, planting, and milling should increase the trade's value by an order of magnitude. A simple wind farm on top of the hills should be more than enough to meet the energy needs of the natives' industrialization."

Greska could practically see the credit signs in Kannamino's eyes. The Guild has always been stocked with ambitious folk. You do not set out to try to build up a below average dirtball without some conviction and grit. Guess it comes with territory. Being in such an underdeveloped region of the galaxy where even a minor starport can make or break a planetary economy.

This expansion of galactic infrastructure is setting up the sector to grow for centuries to come. Greska can understand where this enthusiasm is coming from. People like Kannamino are trying to use this opportunity of funding being provided to do as much as possible before the next crisis comes around and the tap gets turned off.

"Sounds like you are planning for this place to be more than just a trade outpost. Mind giving me a glimpse for what you intend to do?"

Everyone knew Kannamino intended to make this Kontor her nest egg. There was even talk of Kannamino tutoring one of her kids to take over the position when she retired. It was why she was investing more resources than necessary to make this planet profitable to the Guild even if she wouldn't see a return. It left a creeping feeling up Greska's spine.

"Certainly. Your report about the natives already dividing up their lands for private ownership means we can move forward with our expansion plans. I have got a map I have been putting together over here.

Outside the northern gate we can begin designating plots for a native quarter. Hopefully encouraging further cooperation and integration with the locals. While out the South Gate we can make a few lots for an offworlder quarter. That we can encourage outside investors while keeping unfortunate unmonitored interactions between the two groups to a minimum.

The Kontor proper will be kept for building more utilities and services the Guild can offer. Expanding from that Duracrete lot we call a spaceport was always going to be the first step. Servicing and trading with light freighters and shuttles will remain the Kontor's main source of credits until other revenue sources rise from the waters.

Current plans for new revenue sources have us setting up an expanding data center for individuals and small businesses in addition to a counting house for small scale financial transactions. For any needs for manufactured goods beyond the basics we will continue to rely on offworld shipping or native industry. A focus on trade and administrative services will keep the Kontor profitable while fending off any suspicions of power grabbing.

We will have to arrange a shipment of droids to handle some of these new services and take over some of the menial tasks. This should allow us to expand what we offer without suffering manpower shortages. Worst case we can always hire some native second sons or unwed daughters to handle some of the simple labor."

The plan seemed fine on flimsi. Yet it only seemed focused on growing the Guild's bottom line. As if Kannamino expected the natives to lift themselves up all on their own. It stunk of the old days in Greska's career and brought memories of days even older. Of coming back to places from her past to find slums and poisoned water, with the locals left naked and gutted in gutters.

"All this talk of providing services, but I do not see much to directly improve the natives' lives. I hope that includes services like medicine and business lessons. Wouldn't do for the Guild to get an exploitative reputation by having the natives relegated to second class citizens."

Part of the reason Greska signed up with the Guild was assurances she wouldn't be made the emissary to the destruction of peoples. That kind of work brought up memories of huddling in the dark to avoid Dims hunting for Rips through the city rubble. At least the Empire and the Guild will keep things stable and orderly.

Well, that and the easy access to maintenance. Any explorer worth their weight knew logistics equals comfort. You don't really value that until you have to bathe in river water for weeks because the refresher is busted or had to sleep in a DuraShelter because your atmospheric scrubber started pumping methane into your ship due to a malfunction without the parts to fix it.

"What do you take me for, the Trade Federation? No the natives of Hirta IV will be able to chart their own path. Whether that be developing into a minor agriworld feeding this part of the sector, or centralizing into a city or two to begin more urban development.

Either way the Guild will be providing assistance uplifting their society. We won't let them die of a plague or lose all their wealth to swindlers. Just so long as there is a seat at the table for a representative of our companies once whatever united government they choose forms.

Good call with the medicine suggestion though. A small clinic may be a great way to ingratiate ourselves to the native if we can get the mortality for infants and mothers down. We could even get the clinic's budget as a tax credit with some creative flimsiwork. Maybe even get a bleeding heart back in Minda to pay for the construction."

That commitment to the uplifting the natives was a bit mollifying. If Greska was the kind of person who believed in letting people die of easily treatable diseases and famine in order to maintain their "noble savagery", she wouldn't have gotten into this line of work. When people are bleeding and starving in rubble you don't wax poetically about their heritage, you help them.

She could accept the Guild wanting a share of the pie in exchange for installing the oven. Jumping up the tech levels isn't cheap and someone has to foot the bill. At least the Guild has a known reputation of treating the people under them right. Those that oppose or betray the Guild's values on the other hand…

Let's just say Greska was relieved that the natives were so willing to cooperate so sincerely. There is a difference between being nice and being polite, and the Guild is very polite. The stories that got out of ex-Guilders who broke the letter or spirit of the rules did not paint the prettiest picture, and she knew a thing or two about retribution.

"Right I will let the natives know to expect the truckspeeder shortly after harvest season. With the right phrasing we might be able to convince them to sell come artisan crafts as well. Maybe it will start a fad on Prime."

Speaking of the arts, perhaps she should suggest Kannamino sponsor an expedition of artists. Artsy types would love spaceship ruins overgrown with nature and it would be good for publicity. Nah, better let Orun have first crack at it.

"Great! I got a Collective Merchant Company with a need for an adrenaline kick willing to add us as a stop once we give the go ahead. Now write up a report and then go play Sabacc or whatever you can find to unwind at the Kontor. I have an afternoon transceiver message from headquarters and I will need my third caf energy for that."

Greska nodded and headed back into the main hall. Depositing the report she already wrote while out in the wilds to one of Kannamino's assistants. Walking out the door to find the cramped, but homey welcome of the Kontor. The prefabricated buildings making the small personal touches left by their residents stand out even more. Feeling more like a big campground rather than a commercial settlement. She supposes that will change in the coming years if Kannamino has her way.

Right, a night or two of R&R then it is back to traveling the stars and exploring new worlds. Her Spacer's chest was getting pretty light after condensing her notes, depositing her samples, and burning through all her supplies. Hirta Prime would be a good place to stock up now that she had enough practice dodging those asteroids.

Another chapter set to conclude on the brave explorer Greska's life of adventure. She was living the dream of her younger self as she flew away on a refugee ship from her world and Sepan. Her old life growing small as her horizons expanded. Now if only that dream didn't involve sleeping in temporary shelters while heating up rations. The more things change…

——

Homestead Mk. 2: Less Insane Edition to celebrate the promotion. Now that I have the cost of a building, I decided to make a small trade outpost for the Guild to construct on underserved worlds like Hirta IV (and to provide a different end than the people on its namesake). A place to begin to introduce galactic utilities like space travel and interstellar communications. Not like the Guild is going to want to operate out of mud brick hut or whatever housing lower tech sentients in the Outer Rim live in. It won't stand up to a modern strike force, but it is not designed to be built for those anyway as it is meant for low danger worlds.

It is basically the Guild version of a cross between the Empire's IMF-455 modular garrison, a truck stop, and a fur trader outpost. I estimated it at about 570,000 credits including shipping, handling, and assembly in the same sector. That may sound a bit expensive for a base, but a small trade network of say a dozen worlds with these things built on them, adding in a trade fleet of 20 used light freighters to do the trading, would probably come to around 7.5 million credits in upfront capital costs and 700 personnel to met the requirements to staff everything. For a comparison, that is around the price and crew range for a decently new Nebulon-B frigate that is a bit understaffed.

Spoiler: Kontor Prefabricated Outpost

Guild Kontor Prefabricated Fortification Outpost

Inspiration: Kontors of the Hanseatic League

Price: 485,000 credits production costs. 570,000 credits sold with shipping and assembly.

Buildings: 275,000 credits total

8 "expanded" plastcrete homestead style buildings: 160,000 credits. 4 Housing units for Guild civilian personnel, 8 per unit. 2 barracks for 20 Guild security personnel. 1 unit for utility purposes. 1 unit for transient personnel and guests.

1 main hall and command center: 100,000 credits. Equipped with a subspace transceiver for connecting to the wider galaxy, spaceship traffic control facilities, and offices for all Guild work needs. Also contains apartments for the local Guild Administrator and their staff.

Draxton fusion power generation station: 5,000 Credits. A bunch of draxton medium yield fusion power generators in a small plascrete building. Meant to provide power for the day to day running of the whole outpost.

Landing Field Class Duracrete Spaceport: 2,000 credits. Basically a plowed field that was paved over with some landing markings and lights. Space reserved in the Kontor's design for some amount of upgrades and expansion.

Open Air Vehicle garage/hangar: 8,000 credits. A place to keep vehicles out of the elements and preform minor repairs.

Defenses: 124,000 credits total

plastcrete walls: 30,000 credits. Constructed in a Guild factory offworld. Made in a rectangular shape. Broken into slots and shipped to the site. Includes indentations for slotting in turrets.

The walls are comparatively thin. However this is mitigated by bulldozing several meters of packed dirt to brace the walls to prevent any blaster fire or other projectiles from getting through.

Designed to be able to slot a habitation dome into the walls if planetary atmosphere requires it. Cost not accounted for in the above ticket price.

4 Df. 9 turrets: 60,000 credits, built into the walls, positioned in 4 directions.

1 FPC 6.7 Anti-Aircraft Battery: 14,000 credits, built on top of the main hall.

2 deflector shield generators at the two main entrances: 20,000 credits

20 contracted low level Guild mercenaries: For manning the Kontor's defenses, doing patrols, and escorting Guild personnel. Cost dependent on rank, level of hazard pay, diet, and other factors. Cost not accounted for in the above ticket price.

Vehicles: 86,000 Credits total

1 Guild Suppressor or equivalent infantry fighting vehicle: 43,000 Credits. The Outpost's main mobile defense vehicle.

Guardian 5e Personal Defense Speeder or equivalent VIP transport: 20,000 Credits. Meant to ferry important Guild personnel and security guards around the planet for meetings.

A-A4B truckspeeder or equivalent freight vehicle: 15,000 credits. Meant to move large loads for the Outpost.

2 Razalon FC-20 speeder bikes or equivalent speeders: 8,000 credits for the pair. Meant for scouting and low level personal transport.

Occupants

55 permanent residents expected to be housed in a Kontor. Around 12 additional transitory personnel and guests can be housed in relative comfort in the base configuration without building or converting additional structures to house them.

32 low level Guild civilian personnel: meant to do all the low level labor, maintenance, and clerical duties. May be drafted into non-combat roles (such as being support crew for the turrets) in case of an emergency.

20 Guild security personnel: low level Guild mercenaries on a year long renewable contract. Most only stay a year. They garrison the Kontor and escort Guild personnel when they need to leave on business.

1 medium rank Guild administrative staff and 2 assistants/specialists: The highest ranking Guild personnel assigned to a Kontor. Handles all the high level negotiations, interstellar communication, spaceship traffic control, and paperwork duties. The Guild administrator and the assistant have personal apartments in the main hall.

Crossposted on SB and SV

 

[Faralis]

Ironically, if he is made a Moff, he will outrank his mother...

 

[frozone]

Ironically, if he is made a Moff, he will outrank his mother...

Click to shrink...

he could be emperor and still be scared of her, which i don't blame

 

[Freefaller]

Chp-82

The dossiers on Moff Hirals people tell me quite a lot about them, far more than any standardized report. I suppose that's the benefit of knowing an info broker. Though its somewhat surprising that he managed to get all of this in only a few days.

Eh, he probably had some info already.

Forun Heeter, current Admiral of the Myto Sectors defense fleet. He's new to the position, but competent with nearly a decade of service in other, more dangerous sectors. He got booted out here the same way everyone else was, through political maneuvering.

He owes his Admiralty to Hiral, and so it's quite likely Hiral will simply promote him to Fleet Admiral and push aside whoever is in the position already. So I'll have to replace him.

His potential replacements are fairly numerous, with Ife herself among them. I have half a mind to give her the position because I know she's decently loyal and good at her job. Though I'll have to have Dornun look further into her to determine if she would truly qualify for the job of Admiral, because competence in this case is as crucial as loyalty, and avoiding the Peter Principle is part of that.

Clicking away from that, I check on the next dossier.

Krell Yakon. Chief Financial Officer of the sector, this is the guy who is in charge of signing off on all non-military financial decisions of size. The dossier is packed full of this nepo-babies various activities and lifestyle choices. It's clear to me that he was Moff Tarry's favorite, since everything Dornun was able to get points to him having been old friends with the previous Moff.

The kind of old friend that gave kickbacks on all the big treasury goals. The Myto Sector, according to recent financial reports, made somewhere in the ballpark of around 1.5 billion credits last year. This is, of course, after a whole lot was skimmed off the top. Not to mention how many Governors are skipping on taxes, and whatever financial trickery Krell is likely pulling.

Honestly, it's a miracle he kept his job. According to the dossier, as soon as Tarry was gone, Krell started sucking up big time to Hiral. Not even to climb any ranks, but just to keep his job. He seems much like Tarry. Content with a sedentary, luxurious lifestyle. Chances are, he'll be left behind and I'll have to replace him. Can't have him skimming the payroll.

As for replacements, there are plenty of options. I thought of Oioro for a second, but her skills lie in more competitive realms where she can engage in corporate contract warfare. I'm skeptical of her ability to administer the treasury of an entire sector. The other options are all people I haven't heard about, though that's likely a good thing.

If I haven't heard of them, then there's a good chance its because they arent horrible people willing to punt toddlers into wildfires for a promotion and are actually skilled at their jobs instead of skilled at giving their superiors metaphorical sloppy for a pay raise.

Next is the Moffs Overseer. His secretary, for all intents and purposes. Roy Garbuncle, a thin man that has a passing resemblance to the Moff himself. Likely because their cousins, if distant. He's not that great at his job but has a team of other secretaries to make up for it. However, chances are he's not going up with Hiral.

In fact, chances are he's getting assassinated soon. If Dornun's contacts are to be believed, then Hiral has had a falling out with his extended family recently after a whole lot of them got caught engaging in some fairly illegal stuff. Nothing that normally couldn't be blown off, but it apparently got fairly public on Dubrillion and Hiral wanted to keep his chances of promotion so he's distancing himself while Kaine is sniffing around.

And Garbuncle probably knows things, being secretary and all. His lack of skills made up for with his ability to keep his mouth shut. Though it likely wont save him from whatever knife Hiral's hired.

So, I'll have to get a replacement. Garp is good, but I know he has other dreams, and he's made enough here that he'll likely start his own fashion brand sooner rather than later, so I won't hold him back. I'll just have to go secretary hunting again.

Here, Dornun's dossiers come in handy, with plenty of promising candidates. Some are truly strange as well, but I don't judge. I just want them to do good work.

Before I can check on the next people, a call is forwarded to me.

Picking up, I steel myself for more bad news. Its all I seem to get, really.

"What is it, and why couldn't it be a message."

Oioro chuckled a bit on the other end of the line before speaking.

"Well, sir, it's an odd situation. We've got a small fleet in orbit right now."

I look at her hologram. I blink slowly, one eye at a time like Mugwuffins ugly mug does.

Annoyance.

Rat. I then sigh, a deep thing that rattles through my bones and creates an even greeted craving for hot chocolate.

"...explain."

"Some weeks ago, I was contacted by a company called Abyssal Industries. They were asking after the open contracts on Minda 2-A's exploration and infrastructure that you had us put out."

I vaguely remember something like that…Through our connection, Mugwuffin opens up a drawer from the wall of filing cabinets in my office with the Force and places the file on my desk while also starting some more hot chocolate. Ever since I'd learned of my impending doom promotion and my little episode she'd been more attentive and clingy than ever.

Reading through it, I remembered more. Minda 2-A had been neglected ever since I came to power because as a moon almost completely covered in water and of fair size, it would take specialist equipment to explore that I couldn't afford in the early days. So I'd forgotten about it past some anti-poaching ships placed around it. Recently, I'd thrown some contracts out to the wind in case someone bit.

"And how does this connect to a fleet at our doorstep?"

A smug grin appeared on Oioro's face. "See, sir, Abyssal Industries hasn't been doing so well since the Clone Wars. Anti-CIS sentiment has led to unfavorable contracts and a general economic stagnation. So, when they saw the contract, they snatched it up. Despite their desperation they put up quite the fight in the contract, but in the end they agreed to set up a second headquarters here to oversee operations and start expansion."

Second headquarters? Odd phrasing. "How do they plan to expand exactly? The contract was just for exploration, right?"

That grin somehow got even smugger. "Well…I convinced them that, with so little opportunity at home, and their experience with ship production, it wouldn't be out of line for them to properly expand their businesses here! With the Guild, they have plenty of resources and support, and with the new contract they will be easing the shipyard's burden on smaller vessels once they've got their primary facilities online. As such, they brought quite a few ships to get it all done ASAP! They estimate beginning production in around 5 months or so."

Once again, I blink like a lizard. Or an idiot. Probably both.

"They are quite enthused, no? A very motivated species, the Karkadons. Their representative seemed quite thrilled when debating the contract with me, which I believe speaks to their favor."

Resisting the urge to sigh, I just wave her off. "Ok, whatever. Let them know the rules, ensure they don't ruin the environment, don't give them a monopoly, and let them do their thing. I have a lot of other work."

Another smile and she's gone. I swear, sometimes I forget she's a spy, then she pulls some shit like this. Fucking spooks man.

Continuing on with the dossiers, I look at the next person in line.

General Yulitra Zantara, leader of all the ground forces in the entire sector. She was a hard headed woman of advanced age, hairs fairly grey. Apparently she held a position in the Republic military, and has been General of the Myto sector for over two decades now, having served the Moff before Tarry as well.

A true believer through and through, the dossier hazards that she maintains political connections almost solely to do her job better. A rare beacon of competence in the Empire. Hiral kept her around because she does her job well and stays away from political debacles, but he also kept a healthy distance, scary as she was. The only beef she ever had with anyone was with the various Admirals that had held the position in the sector, classic inter-service rivalries. So he likely won't be taking her with him at all.

To be honest, she sounds like something of a keeper. Thorne and Darna will have to tippy toe around her, but it's workable. And it's not like there are many good replacements. Kaela comes to mind, but she might just kill me if I promote her that far up. Generals are desk jobs, they don't get to tear people apart with their bare hands.

After that is the Chief Planning officer, Nyla Orji, in charge of keeping hyperspace lanes clear, monitoring comm buoys, planning sector wide infrastructure projects, etc… The position held a lot of responsibility that didn't seem like it should all fall under her until I read further. To cut down on costs, Krell, the Financial guy, had cut a variety of positions with Tarry's approval and put the burden on Nyla, the new hire.

So, the fact she had held it all together this long was impressive, but also explained why there were as many problems in the sector. And why I had to invest into comm buoys myself.

The dossier instead came with a list of candidates for new positions and departments that would need to be opened in order to properly delegate responsibility. As for Nyla herself, she seemed competent enough though her family connections raised some possible corruption and nepotism concerns, but nothing concrete yet.

The final person on the list was the Sector Administrator, Tannis Baraton. He was in charge of dealing with the nearly 200 inhabited systems in the sector, not counting those under special rule. While the Moff focused more outwards, he did a lot of the more inwards stuff. The only reason I hadn't interacted with him during the Guilds expansion was because I had intrigued the Moff personally. As for viability and trustworthiness, there was a solid chance he was going with Hiral, seeing as though he owed the position to him from some maneuvering half a decade back or so.

The problem was that he had criminal connections. They were well hidden, but Hutt connections existed, and I couldn't let that slide. Any potential contacts he left behind had to be scrubbed, or it would pose a risk of the Hutts killing me.

The potential list of replacements was long and boring, but thankfully I was interrupted before I could get through it by my door being kicked open.

And who else would possibly be this rude except everyone's favorite Sith, Myr'thos.

"Behold, peasant, my creation!" They said triumphantly, holding up a clear cup of some dark blue drink.

I blink. "Looks nice. Is it poisoned?"

"If I wished for your scrawny being to be dead I would simply cut you down! Now, taste my masterpiece!"

Reluctantly, I did so. To my surprise, it was fairly good! It had a fruity taste, like a mix of strawberries and apples, with a hint of something faintly nutty. Not as good as hot chocolate, but solid.

Upon telling them as much, they gasped in offense.

"How can this…slop be better than my creation!" Before I can stop them, they grabbed my mug and took a gulp. Immediately, they started badmouthing it.

"This is at best passable, mortal. Do you add no seasoning? No spices? No flavor? Simply the chocolate and heat? Pathetic. Come, you and I shall create something truly worthwhile from this basic bitch slop!"

From there, I'm dragged to their apartment, Mugwuffin in tow, and am forced to help spice up my hot chocolate.

And while I'd never tell them, their version was better.

-

Yo. Re-read some of the apocrypha, I really liked Blood in the Water. But since that was set way back when, I had to rework a bunch of details to make it work and all. So the omake will stay non-canon. Still, thanks to Roadripper for all that stuff, kudos, its great work. Any future Abyssall Industries Omakes will likely be made canon, so long as they remain reasonable.

-Freefaller

 

[Lokabrenna]

Ineresting breakdown. Only one problem:

He owes his Admiralty to Hiral, and so it's quite likely Hiral will simply promote him to Grand Admiral and push aside whoever is in the position already.

Click to shrink...

There are only twelve beings who hold the rank of Grand Admiral, and the only being who can appoint them is the Emperor himself. In this case, where Heeter goes in terms of promotions depends on his actual rank. For a backwater sector like Myto, there's a good chance they might have a Rear Admiral or even a Commodore (one step up from Captain, one step down from Rear Admiral) in charge of the sector fleet. At most, maybe a Vice-Admiral. In which case, he could just be bumped up a grade. In the event that he is already a full Admiral, there is no higher rank for him to attain without Palpatine's direct involvement, so the "promotion" would just be reassignment to a more prestigious, more powerful command.

Basically, even if the guy is technically the same rank as the various Sector Admirals around him, as the Oversector's Admiral, he would de facto outrank them in the military-administrative hierarchy, and would wield power over them as if they were of lower rank.

 

[theoretisch cool]

Nice.

 

[Mager1221]

Ah... time to reopen a lot of those posts, including a Coast Guard expy

 

[bazerkerking]

A sith with a passion for cooking... thats a new one

 

[Yeetboi]

Ah... time to reopen a lot of those posts, including a Coast Guard expy

Click to shrink...

The puddle patrol will have major type advantage against any criminal element that seeks to entrench itself into the Myto sector.

 

[lancelot]

Yo. Re-read some of the apocrypha, I really liked Blood in the Water. But since that was set way back when, I had to rework a bunch of details to make it work and all. So the omake will stay non-canon. Still, thanks to Roadripper for all that stuff, kudos, its great work. Any future Abyssall Industries Omakes will likely be made canon, so long as they remain reasonable.

Click to shrink...

If any of the current omakes are Canon can you add that to the title in the index?
(canon) I was thinking adding something like that at the end.

Also if possible where when they'd be set in the main story, like which chapter they happen after and such.

 

[AldariSiradla]

"How can this…slop be better than my creation!" Before I can stop them, they grabbed my mug and took a gulp. Immediately, they started badmouthing it.

"This is at best passable, mortal. Do you add no seasoning? No spices? No flavor? Simply the chocolate and heat? Pathetic. Come, you and I shall create something truly worthwhile from this basic bitch slop!"

From there, I'm dragged to their apartment, Mugwuffin in tow, and am forced to help spice up my hot chocolate.

And while I'd never tell them, their version was better.

Click to shrink...

Sith Alchemy...
This is Sith Alchemy at its finest.
Making the greatest hot coco the galaxy and the Force has ever known!

 

[Gotenks]

So, the rebel dubrillion raid on 3 ABY hasn't happened yet? Or it was butterflyed away?

 

[swtoring]

So, the rebel dubrillion raid on 3 ABY hasn't happened yet? Or it was butterflyed away?

Click to shrink...

There were so many "prototype death star composite laser(s)" it may as well have been butterflied away since creating the main weapon for ds2 is a major undertaking, not to mention a political fight to the death due to all the budget involved so unless the good Moff tossess this responsibility to las i doubt he'd seek out the dubious honor of putting his name on the list of contributors to the ds2 project

 

[readsalot]

From there, I'm dragged to their apartment, Mugwuffin in tow, and am forced to help spice up my hot chocolate.

And while I'd never tell them, their version was better.

Click to shrink...

A much needed break and also best thing to never say that to the Sith, otherwise he will get the most Smug of Smug looks

 

[UndeadLord22]

From there, I'm dragged to their apartment, Mugwuffin in tow, and am forced to help spice up my hot chocolate

Click to shrink...

I'm genuinely curious how you can spice up hot coco aside from adding milk for more sweetness

 

[Gotenks]

There were so many "prototype death star composite laser(s)" it may as well have been butterflied away since creating the main weapon for ds2 is a major undertaking, not to mention a political fight to the death due to all the budget involved so unless the good Moff tossess this responsibility to las i doubt he'd seek out the dubious honor of putting his name on the list of contributors to the ds2 project

Click to shrink...

To be fair, I'd expect that prototype laser project to be a "federal" project. I doubt a moff suddenly goes "let's start research on a superweapon" without being ordered from the brass...

 

[averagejoe32]

I'm genuinely curious how you can spice up hot coco aside from adding milk for more sweetness

Click to shrink...

Lots of ways actually. If anything spiced hot chocolate is actually closer to how it was originally drunk.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaYPEvDuo1I


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mRMCgE39e3E

 

[swtoring]

To be fair, I'd expect that prototype laser project to be a "federal" project. I doubt a moff suddenly goes "let's start research on a superweapon" without being ordered from the brass...

Click to shrink...

I meant it as in the good Moff won the right to compete for the contract and tossed the responsibility of fulfilling it to las

 

[Yacov]

His potential replacements are fairly numerous, with Ife herself among them. I have half a mind to give her the position because I know she's decently loyal and good at her job. Though I'll have to have Dornun look further into her to determine if she would truly qualify for the job of Admiral, because competence in this case is as crucial as loyalty, and avoiding the Peter Principle is part of that.

Click to shrink...

I forsee a 40% chance of Ife plotting to have Las assassinated if she doesn't get the job.

Krell Yakon. Chief Financial Officer of the sector, this is the guy who is in charge of signing off on all non-military financial decisions of size. The dossier is packed full of this nepo-babies various activities and lifestyle choices. It's clear to me that he was Moff Tarry's favorite, since everything Dornun was able to get points to him having been old friends with the previous Moff.

The kind of old friend that gave kickbacks on all the big treasury goals. The Myto Sector, according to recent financial reports, made somewhere in the ballpark of around 1.5 billion credits last year. This is, of course, after a whole lot was skimmed off the top. Not to mention how many Governors are skipping on taxes, and whatever financial trickery Krell is likely pulling.

Click to shrink...

Only 1.5 billion credits? Man Myto was an effective tax dumpster fire with those numbers. That's around 7.5 million credits brought in on average for each of the 200ish worlds in the sector.

With most worlds contributing significantly less than that average with large outliers like Minda and Dubrillion system. Hopefully the Guild can pump the numbers up by improving the economy and Las' reforms can collect taxes more efficiently.

And Garbuncle probably knows things, being secretary and all. His lack of skills made up for with his ability to keep his mouth shut. Though it likely wont save him from whatever knife Hiral's hired.

Click to shrink...

Sounds like an effective man to "detain" if you can get away with it, but probably not worth the effort.

A smug grin appeared on Oioro's face. "See, sir, Abyssal Industries hasn't been doing so well since the Clone Wars. Anti-CIS sentiment has led to unfavorable contracts and a general economic stagnation. So, when they saw the contract, they snatched it up. Despite their desperation they put up quite the fight in the contract, but in the end they agreed to set up a second headquarters here to oversee operations and start expansion."

Second headquarters? Odd phrasing. "How do they plan to expand exactly? The contract was just for exploration, right?"

That grin somehow got even smugger. "Well…I convinced them that, with so little opportunity at home, and their experience with ship production, it wouldn't be out of line for them to properly expand their businesses here! With the Guild, they have plenty of resources and support, and with the new contract they will be easing the shipyard's burden on smaller vessels once they've got their primary facilities online. As such, they brought quite a few ships to get it all done ASAP! They estimate beginning production in around 5 months or so."

Once again, I blink like a lizard. Or an idiot. Probably both.

"They are quite enthused, no? A very motivated species, the Karkadons. Their representative seemed quite thrilled when debating the contract with me, which I believe speaks to their favor."

Click to shrink...

Yay the space sharks are recruited! Wonder if they have their equivalent of Amphibious Fighter? Technically it was a Mon Cala design, but it was also used by the CIS. Having a fighter that can go from water to air or even water to space will be very useful.

On other note, stepping up colonization for the Water Moon means it is time to update the system's Wet Navy. Bring in the Waveskimmers!

Resisting the urge to sigh, I just wave her off. "Ok, whatever. Let them know the rules, ensure they don't ruin the environment, don't give them a monopoly, and let them do their thing. I have a lot of other work."

Click to shrink...

Given how heavily they polluted their homeworld, some extra regulatory attention is probably warranted.

As for viability and trustworthiness, there was a solid chance he was going with Hiral, seeing as though he owed the position to him from some maneuvering half a decade back or so.

The problem was that he had criminal connections. They were well hidden, but Hutt connections existed, and I couldn't let that slide. Any potential contacts he left behind had to be scrubbed, or it would pose a risk of the Hutts killing me.

Click to shrink...

So a potential loose end that may remain under Hiral's protection. That certainly won't cause some issues.

General Yulitra Zantara, leader of all the ground forces in the entire sector. She was a hard headed woman of advanced age, hairs fairly grey. Apparently she held a position in the Republic military, and has been General of the Myto sector for over two decades now, having served the Moff before Tarry as well.

A true believer through and through, the dossier hazards that she maintains political connections almost solely to do her job better. A rare beacon of competence in the Empire. Hiral kept her around because she does her job well and stays away from political debacles, but he also kept a healthy distance, scary as she was. The only beef she ever had with anyone was with the various Admirals that had held the position in the sector, classic inter-service rivalries. So he likely won't be taking her with him at all.

To be honest, she sounds like something of a keeper. Thorne and Darna will have to tippy toe around her, but it's workable. And it's not like there are many good replacements. Kaela comes to mind, but she might just kill me if I promote her that far up. Generals are desk jobs, they don't get to tear people apart with their bare hands.

Click to shrink...

Zantara is probably going to be so happy to have a Moff that not only focuses on civilian matters so she can do her job, but also provides her enough funding so she can do her job effectively. Just hope she can work well with non-humans.