Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[Rubén Martínez]

Las: I didn't ask for this. This duty was forced on me. But by Jove, no matter how much I hate it, if I'm going to do it, I will do it well.

Somewhere, somewhen, a pigtailed martial artist dressed in a green-accented sailor suit and carrying an oversized skeleton key nodded in commiseration and approval.

 

[Vattensnok]

What goofy 40k fic?

 

[Yacov]

Why? Well, today was the day that the 20th and final berth of the shipyards had been brought online!

With all 20 pumping ships out, the full backlog would be finished within just a few more months. By the start of 2ABY, the full backlog should be finished, and the yard can begin profiting the sector.

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Huuzah! Now that Las is going be Moff, he can use the Mard for his political benefit. No one but the Empire dictates what order you sell to people after all.

They plan on entering the market with a new class of medium hauler, I hear. One meant for the many, many mid-sized companies in the sector, thanks to the Guild. With the benefit of building entirely in-sector, their lower prices and shipping times might just give them the edge they need

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Oooh, a Medium Freighter? Those things can haul hundreds of metric tons at minimum. Maybe even add some of the Separatist design philosophy with rounded edges and pointy antennas.

The second is from Thorne. It confirms much of Darna's information, and also includes reports on suspected rebel elements in the sector. Not many, and what is there seems to be mostly logistical. The plan is to keep an eye out, reinforce the yard, and blow up a few pirates every now and again and call them rebels. Keeps them thinking their hidden and safe, and away from important infrastructure.

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Ah yes, this is probably what you would call "controlled opposition". Train your enemy to stick to non-demolition actions and punish them if they step out of line.

He also included a cheeky little warning that the ISB were looking into me, as the next Moff, and were likely to send someone to meet with me soon, likely not long before the promotion. Calmly, I send an encoded message to Darna and Thorne to keep things on the down low for now.

The ISB may be Imperial, and therefore corrupt and inept, but they were still the ISB, the Emperors janitors, and not to be fucked with. I'd gotten lucky with Thorne. It wouldn't happen again.

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Would an approval message from Thorne be less or more suspicious?

But I decided that this route was safer. That it was safer for me to stick to this path and wait for the Empire to fall, for the galaxy to fall to chaos, before I make my escape. After all, what's one missing Moff in a galaxy on fire?

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It is something very different when said Moff is beloved by the people of his sector.

Regardless, the fact of the matter is that I chose to continue down this path, and that means that for as long as I hold this office, no matter how much I hate it, I will fulfill my duty to the people.

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And just like that Las is already more well intentioned than 95% of Moffs. Wonder how the ISB is going to feel when they investigate him and find out he actually believes that.

So no, I can't roll up to the Moffs chair, sit down, and declare slavery illegal. I'd get shot. Instead, I have to play the long game, and that involves a lot of information gathering, political games, and economic pressure.

Suffice to say, I'm going to make slavery very, very expensive.

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Taxes can allow you to do very funny things to societies. Take the squirrel tax that used to be in the US state of Ohio. It wasn't a tax on squirrels, it was a tax you could pay with squirrels. A species was overrunning the state.

And right now, Poti wanted nothing more than to raise his blaster and hose the two of them down. He'd been a slave, seen the worst the system had to offer, watched his family be destroyed by it. But he couldn't do it. Not now.

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How did this man get hired here? Oh right slavery and laxity tend to go hand in hand.

Still, as the day ended and Poti returned to his barracks, in the back of his mind he hoped that the day would soon come that he could use those thermal detonators he'd buried out in the hills. The people here would be saved.

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Alright, who gave HAVEN thermal detonators? Those things could level buildings if put in the right place.

 

[Mistroz]

excellent chapter.

 

[Rustic]

I mean. Muscle mommy doesn't have to weird unless you make it weird and approach it naturally like the MC getting nervous because sonehow the only red skinned pure blood sith in existence is trying to seduce him for some reason! Must be a plot, a scandal just waiting. Is fraternizing with bodyguards a expressly forbidden rule?.
Just think. We could have had a sith trying to have the MCs kids both for passing down the bloodline and to leverage the children for influence over the MC because that's how she was taught to think about marriage and children. Then we get some character development as she socialized with others and breaks the warped sith perspective on using relationships for nothing but power dynamics. And see the path to wholesomeness occur. Muscle mommy ends up becoming a muscular mommy. And we end up seeing her take bodyguard work much more seriously as she gets possessive over her little slice of heaven.

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While i do find female body builders scary. I have a female friend who is i think 45 with a live in 26 year old daughter both have huge jugs but otherwise look very slender and just good.
So while i am not certain what the term muscle mommy exactly means. it mentally pops up as my female friend then followed by female body builders. Who are rather scary.

 

[HereForWhy]

This dude is gonna be on his death bed of old age, still in charge of Minda, thinking about how he's gonna leave and be a smuggler any day now

 

[Psyckosama]

Yo. I hath returned. Christmas in South America is a special sort of humid hell. But then again, the original plan was to visit LA, and its pouring over there right now. Also, I've been writing for other stories as well. I've decided on a rotation of sorts. As much as I love this story as my first, it's an absolute behemoth to wrangle now, so I figure rotating between this, my other star wars fic, my original work and my new goofy 40k fic, I can keep myself from burning out.

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Christmas in the parts of North America that actually have WINTER isn't much better.

I herd you like ice, so I put some freezing rain on your hail and snow so you can more ice when you deice your ice.

Green Hell or Ragnarok, chose your apocalypse....

*somethingsomethingrainofjaguarssomethingsomething*

 

[Yacov]

Omake: How Do You Do, Fellow Mercenaries?

POV: Guild Administrator Farva, Guild Recruitment Office, late third shift

"Hello sir, how can I help you?"

Desk duty was supposed to be calm in the early morning. That mystical time when the sun had not even fully risen yet. The mercenaries and traders would be sleeping off their hangovers, and the businesspeople would be too busy doing their daily makeup routine in preparation for the day.

"Greetings Ma'am! I am Captain Gron! I heard that this is where you enlist in military contracts! The, uh, private ones I mean."

So why was there a flat faced mammal as dark as black melon giving her a crisp four fingered military salute she doesn't recognize? The helmet held under his arm occasionally gleamed into her eyes due to a rotten angle of the rising sun. The crack of dawn was not a time to deal with this nonsense.

"You are correct sir. This is where mercenary bands register for accepting Guild work. I assume you are here to sign up with the Guild. What name would you like to register your company under?"

The captain snapped to attention. His chest puffed up with air and pride and he began belting out what he probably saw as a long and storied tale.

"Ma'am the Arcetron Guard has been in service as a formation for over eight decades. We have faithfully served to bring order and stability wherever we go. While we may be young for an independent military unit from the Iotran Expanse, our dedication to quality and loyalty is top notch!

Our most recent client was located in the Corporate Sector. We served alongside the Security Division for over two decades combating various pirate bands and criminal syndicates. Our service was applauded and our commendations earned are listed in our records. Unfortunately due to financial constraints, they elected not to renew our contract.

Left without an employer, we began to search for a new chain of command. We heard from some of our brothers and sisters in arms remaining on Muunilinst that the Guild was doing its part to bring order to the Myto sector. We have determined that Myto can become a bastion of long term stability for this section of the Outer Rim. As such we decided to offer our military service in order to support these efforts."

Farva rubbed her temples as the Captain went on and on. She just asked for a name, not an entire biography of the group. She interrupted him before this lasted the rest of her shift.

"That is very impressive, and what specialties will your group be aiming to provide?"

Stumbling slightly, the Captain reoriented his line of thought before snapping back into the perfect picture rendition of a recruitment poster and unleashing another verbal broadside.

"Ma'am! The Arcetron Guard brings over 500 soldiers with it along with the necessary support personnel. Each one has completed their universal conscription time under the Iotran Police Force.

Every serviceperson has completed and maintain their rifleman training with a number being able to act as long-riflemen. I am willing to submit our records and give personal assurance that they have been completing the necessary range hours to maintain their current certifications."

Oh by the void make it stooooop. It is too early to be this loud and energetic. Unfortunately the captain interpreted her suffering as doubt and sought to address his assumptions.

"Worry not Ma'am! Any concerns about our being able to maintain our combat effectiveness are unwarranted. The Arcetron Guard maintains supply lines back to the Expanse for both resupply and reinforcement.

Unfortunately the current offensive by the Rebels has resulted in some delays. While we won't be able to sustain constant charges headlong into lines of repeating blasters, we will still be able to maintain our numbers through the duties you assign us."

Maybe if she asks about something boring he will be quieter. It's her only chance to avoid a migraine.

"And what equipment will these troops be using? We are willing to accommodate you if your equipment is a bit specialized."

There. Equipment specs and logistics are a dull topic. It reminded commanders of all the paperwork they have to do. That should get the Captain to quiet dow-

"I am glad you asked Ma'am! As you can see, every member of the Guard has a uniform consisting of a Tuff1 Combat Jumpsuit and an armored half-vest which they keep in excellent cleanliness down to daily polishing! Each and every soldier carries a StarSlasher Blaster Carbine and studiously maintained their blaster to near perfect condition. Perfect for dealing with destabilizing elements such as pirates and dissidents.

That being said, we would not be adverse to using more local resources. Should the local armorers and quartermasters meet our standards, then we would welcome the chance to reduce our logistical burdens on our homeland. The thought of streamlining our supply chains fills me with joy!"

Logistics was a mistake. Captain Gron is obviously one of those psychopaths that enjoy talking about supply lines. Better plow on through and take the painkillers later.

"Will you be requiring transportation in space or on the ground?"

Gron was somehow beaming even more than the breaking dawn. There was something definitely wrong with him. He looked like a child excited to show a 100% on their school test. Not a look one would expect from a professional killer.

"Ma'am the Arcetron Guard take pride in our mobility capabilities! We are able to fly to any location our client demands of us in the ITSP Jackboot. Our customized AA-9 Freighter-Liner has been reinforced to conduct operations from evacuations, to combat drops, to assisting with allied forces, to full blown beachhead securing.

As for planetside vehicles, the Arcetron Guard boasts a stable of civilian repulsorcraft for logistical support with a squad of X10 Groundcruisers for escort. This does not even include the pride of our two Strikebreakers! They were graciously gifted by the Security Division for our exemplary service in suppressing a particularly chaotic uprising in Duroon and our creative usage of their stun barricades!"

Okaaay. That should cover everything. Now to close it out and get this guy out of my life. He was starting to loom over my counter and clenching his hands when he started talking about the uprising. Which was impressive for someone who didn't break two meters.

"Well your resume is certainly impressive Captain Gron. I will forward to my superiors to process your application. You can look forward to a response in 2-3 business days. Although I am sure with a group's work history it may be even sooner. Now if you'll excuse me, my shift is almost up and I need to pack up."

Finally, an end to this claws on a dinner plate of a conversa…

"Of course Ma'am! To prove how serious we take our duties. Allow me to provide escort out of the building! While we wait let me tell you about my time in the Guard. It all started when I joined a junior cadet academy at my eighth season. Late I know…"

Gron continued to "extol the virtues of the Guard" as she prayed for the first shift to relieve her. Farva really hopes this isn't some elaborate courting ritual. She gets enough of that kind of talk from her parents.

——

I figured with Minda and the Guild's growth it was time for them to start attracting more higher end mercenary groups. Meet the Iotrans: order obsessed military nuts from a homeworld with universal conscription whose army moonlights as PMCs (with an emphasis on the Military part of the acronym) to keep the lights on. It's kinda like the Mandalorians, only without the wacky technology, less industrialization, and no galaxy conquering tendencies.

The Imperial Army would still wipe the floor with them from the resource and tech gap alone. Still, in the eyes of the common galactic citizen, Iotrans probably seem like terrifying killing machines in a fight. Force help any pirates and gangsters they come across. Especially Captain Gron, who you may have noticed is showing a lot of Red Flags amidst all that enthusiasm.

Crossposted on SB and SV