Ten years, the second month, and the twentieth day after the Battle of Yavin…
Or the forty-fifth year, the second month, and the twentieth day after the Great ReSynchronization.
(Nine months and five days since the arrival).
"The situation is getting seriously complicated," said General Garm Bel Iblis after Leia finished telling him and Mon Mothma the details of the negotiations with Lord Bonteri.
"More than that," agreed the head of the Alliance. "I remember Lux from his work in the Senate—both in the final months of the Old Republic and in the Imperial Senate. I would never have thought that such a decent boy could grow into such an arrogant monster."
"Sentients tend to change, Mon," Bel Iblis noted. "If someone had told me thirty years ago where we would end up now, I would never have believed it and would have mocked the one who said it."
"Be that as it may, the Tion Hegemony is determined," concluded Organa Solo.
"I would even say 'very brazenly,'" Bel Iblis declared. "The youngster, having taken the head of an ambitious, powerful, and wealthy house, decided he could dictate terms to us."
"Be that as it may, he is dictating them," Mon sighed. "Fully aware and unambiguously hinting that we do not have that many options. If we do not make a deal with them, we will leave a powerful enemy in our rear, possessing an Imperial fleet."
"Which he intends to preserve to stay in his position," Leia noted. "The Tionese want the revival of their territories, and also to profit at the expense of those they lost very, very long ago."
"And they want to do it with our hands," Bel Iblis said bitterly. "Through negotiations or military actions, but he clearly has no intention of solving the problems himself."
"One can only envy his self-confidence," Mon Mothma shook her head. "Other sectors also have sizable fleets and ambitious leaders, so counting on a bloodless annexation is overly optimistic."
"I think Lux Bonteri fully understands how much Tionese blood will be spilled if he decides to start subjugating neighboring sectors by brute force," Leia suggested.
"Yes, that's clear," Mon Mothma agreed. "They are trying to use us for something we are not happy about."
"On the other hand, if we manage to persuade other sectors to join the Tion Hegemony, it will mean a major diplomatic success," the former Alderaanian princess declared. "And we will gain a major industrial and economic ally."
Mon Mothma and Bel Iblis exchanged glances, then looked at Leia with sad eyes.
"No, I understand that it will cost us time and nerves," Vader's daughter faltered, "but when it succeeds, the whole galaxy will see our determination and understand…"
"Palpatine did not divide these sectors just on his own whim," Mon Mothma stated. "If it were only about territorial division being revenge for supporting the Confederacy of Independent Systems, one could say that the peoples would indeed not mind reuniting. But in the Senate, we saw something quite different."
"I don't understand," Leia frowned.
"Dissatisfaction in the Tion Hegemony between certain territories and others has been brewing for a very long time," General Bel Iblis came to the Alliance head's aid. "Palpatine divided the Hegemony into various sectors right at the beginning of his rule as Emperor, when he still needed the Senate to control the galaxy. So he carved sectors out of the Hegemony not 'against the grain'—that is, against the will of the majority of the population—but in their favor. Each opposing faction of aristocrats received territory where sentients loyal to them and their ideals historically live."
"And then, with the formation of new sectors, he introduced senators from them into the already Imperial Senate and thereby gained their support, satisfying their nationalist endeavors," Mon Mothma continued.
"After which he began his favorite game—giving his toadies what they wanted, but not in the volumes that would fully satisfy them and make them apathetic," Bel Iblis said. "He showed his protégés in the new territories that they could get absolutely everything they desired—but only by supporting him and his decisions."
"He substituted the interests of the local population," Mon Mothma said with a sigh. "Changed their aspirations from galaxy-wide problems to national claims and power struggles. Yes, it took him years, but as a result, now we have sectors that are utterly negative toward each other—except for the weakest ones, who understand they will fall first in case of armed seizure. The rest, like the Cronese Mandate, Allied Tion, and, until recently, Lianna—will fight for their independence to the end. The history of the Tion Cluster is a history of confrontation between peoples whose nationalist feelings were whipped up to the maximum by Palpatine and cultivated over the last two and a half decades."
"Oh," Leia sighed. "I had heard that the Tionese have numerous disagreements even among themselves, but I could not believe they were so serious."
"It's much worse," Mon Mothma made no effort to encourage. "Perhaps Lux Bonteri somehow managed to come to terms with the Thanium Worlds, but regarding the Allied Tion, Cronese Mandate, Indrexu, and Keldrath sectors, I very much doubt he even conducted any negotiations."
"Do you think he openly lied to me about his diplomatic progress?" Leia clarified.
"As if politicians who tell the truth in negotiations are a common phenomenon," Bel Iblis grumbled.
"I assume he at least embellished what was happening," Mon Mothma stated. "Perhaps secret negotiations did take place, but open ones… It's unlikely that any of the aristocrats would dare to do that. For example, the Cronese Mandate has been ruled by the aristocracy of House Cron for decades. Since the rise of the Empire, the local government and upper classes have done nothing but look into the Emperor's mouth. They have a huge military fleet of their own—and moreover, the Empire stationed one of its largest garrisons and sectoral fleets there."
"Which is logical, given that the basis of the Cronese Mandate's exports is minerals vital to the Empire for building and maintaining its exorbitant war machine," Bel Iblis added negativity.
"The worst part is something else," Mon Mothma said. "The population of the Cronese Mandate organically cannot stand Tionese. And not only the inhabitants of the Tion Hegemony—but also the inhabitants of other sectors, whom they also consider Tionese. That is why I believe Bonteri is at least exaggerating what he did to recreate the Tion Hegemony within its historical borders."
"If you think about it, he decided to climb into a runaway reactor to fix it with someone else's hands," Bel Iblis sighed. "At the same time, I am proceeding from purely military goals. Houses Tion and Cron have the largest fleets in this region. They could easily crush their neighbors and expand their zones of control. But they do not, because they understand how hard it would be to defend their territories in case of failure. So they just wait for one of them to weaken enough to seize its territory with minimal losses to their own troops."
"They chose us as scapegoats," Leia said dejectedly.
"I'm afraid so," Mon Mothma agreed. "I would not be at all surprised if it turns out that the starships that attacked the mercenary fleet of the Tion Hegemony at Galidraan were Bonteri's own machinations."
"But according to his words, that would deprive him of the Tion Worlds, which doubted his strength," Leia said.
Bel Iblis smiled bitterly.
"Conquering the Tion Worlds for Bonteri is nothing," the Corellian said. "Especially now, when they have virtually no defense except planetary. But that means redeploying troops. Which would not escape the Cronese Mandate's notice. That's why Bonteri sent mercenaries there—he spent money to secure his investments and prevent expansion into the Tion Hegemony from his neighbors. If negotiations really took place, in time he could simply announce the annexation of the Thanium Worlds to the Hegemony. And none of the other sectors would say or do anything to him—because his main fleet is in the Hegemony and can at any moment head to the neighbors' territory. And no one would decide to take the Thanium Worlds from him—because then they would weaken their fleets in their home sectors. Pure outplaying of the opponent with minimal shooting."
"But then the destruction of his own mercenaries was not beneficial to him," Leia noted. "Otherwise, none of what you described would have worked."
"Here I see two possibilities," Bel Iblis said. "We cannot establish whether those were his mercenaries at all, or the forces of the Thanium Worlds, as they claim. Second—we cannot rule out that a third force intervened. Because, I want to remind you, the ships that attacked Galidraan transmitted identifiers of our star cruisers. Which, in turn, have disappeared. Whether they were destroyed or captured—we do not know yet. But the fact that our identifiers are involved suggests that at least our squadron's departure from Lantillies was monitored. The local security service is combing every corner to find the spy. But I think it will yield no result."
"According to Bonteri, besides the identifiers, the attacking starships had identical engine signatures," Leia said. "Identical to those that departed from Lantillies. Some reliable source told him about it—I forwarded you a copy of the data."
"And that again adds questions for us," Bel Iblis agreed. "It turns out Bonteri has his own network of informants on Lantillies. Suppose the provocation was not his doing. Then we get another spy network that had access to our ships to record their identifiers and engine operating frequencies. But that can only be done from a short distance—a couple of dozen units. In that case, both intelligence services operated directly at the Lantillies shipyards. Given that there are no degenerates in this planet's SB, admitting that they missed two spy networks at once—and networks they were, because the ships were in different docks, in different parts of orbit, and only their own crews work there—is impossible. That's complete incompetence."
"Sorry, but I've lost the thread," Leia admitted to her shame. "What does this mean at all?"
"That Bonteri is leading us by the nose," Bel Iblis sighed. "The Lantillian shipyards' Security Service is one of the best in the galaxy. I have no doubt they could not have missed five or ten spies infiltrating the shipyards. It's not that easy to get in there. So, suppose the data on engine frequencies and identifiers were not obtained on Lantillies. Then we have only two options—either our ships were captured en route, or they were destroyed, but the necessary data was recorded from them and other Mon Calamari cruisers were passed off as ours."
Leia shuddered again during this conversation.
"If we did not know that Thrawn is dead, I would start thinking all these seemingly incoherent situations are part of his grand plan," the former princess admitted.
"We cannot rule that out either," Bel Iblis said.
"Garm, we've discussed this already," Mon Mothma said sternly. "Thrawn is dead!"
"Or the Dominion wants us to think so," the Corellian stubbornly declared, clearly not for the first time voicing his argument.
Leia looked surprised at the Alliance head and the Supreme Commander.
It seemed they were not arguing about this issue for the first time.
"It would be too stupid politically to create the Dominion and pretend to have died," Mon Mothma shook her head.
"But it would free his hands," Bel Iblis countered. "I don't think Palpatine, when he shows up, will be thrilled with what the grand admiral has done. If we strip away all the fluff that the New Republic has acknowledged with its actions—the attack on Lianna, assaults on convoys from Lianna and the Pentastar Alignment, the rout of the Ubiqtorate—we can understand a simple truth: he waged war not only against the New Republic but against pro-Imperial Remnants. Palpatine would never forgive him for that. No, I think Thrawn, like Palpatine in his time, went into the shadows. And coordinates his armed forces without fear for his life."
"The New Republic acknowledged responsibility for destroying the Ubiqtorate?" Leia thought in shock.
She wanted to ask about it directly, but she did not dare pose such a question to Mon Mothma or Bel Iblis.
It would be better to cautiously inquire with Winter or Han.
Perhaps with Karrde, if he gets in touch, and not like Lando—deliver her to Dac and go about his business.
"If Luke really killed him, he clearly could not have been mistaken," Leia said. "Confusing a sentient with a droid or even a double is impossible. Visually—maybe, but in the Force… That's a completely different way of identifying sentients."
"The Empire always had plenty of ways to pass off wishful thinking as reality," Bel Iblis did not give up. "Remember how Thrawn operated! He delivered seemingly unrelated strikes that eventually led to the result he desired! And we did not understand what was happening until it was too late."
"Garm, you have an obsession," Mon Mothma stated. "You want Thrawn to be alive so you can fight him again. Your pride as a commander is at play."
"Yes, damn it!" the Corellian flared up. "This sentient led the galaxy around by the finger as if we were all little children and he was our group's caretaker, flicking the lighting system switch and saying he commands the stars! He crushed two of our fleets and vanished from scanners undefeated!"
Mon Mothma and Leia exchanged furtive glances.
An obsession in the Supreme Commander's head was a danger worse than a Mandalorian attack.
"So far, we have not a single piece of evidence that Thrawn survived and faked his death," Mon Mothma said. "But let's suppose for a moment that you are right. We currently lack the forces to attack the Dominion. Even the original plan for intervention in the D'Astan sector affairs we rejected due to lack of resources. Now we have a far more threatening situation—our fleet is holding back the advance of Imperial Space. And there is likely a danger of opening another front—in the Tion Cluster territory."
"That's practically a fait accompli," Bel Iblis waved his hand. "Negotiations, as you yourself said, are a pipe dream. So, if we need the Tion Hegemony, we should prepare for war with the sectors Lord Bonteri mentioned. I see no other options."
"We will do everything possible to prevent that," Leia assured. "One should never reject diplomacy until there is at least some chance to resolve the problem without bloodshed."
"In any case, I would not advise trusting this Bonteri's words about an alliance," Bel Iblis unexpectedly said.
"In what sense?" Leia asked.
"Exclusively in the military sense," Bel Iblis clarified. "He offers us markets, financial and other aid. But what does he ask in return? From us—territorial concessions, to give him Lianna. We disregard that he appropriates the Allied Tion, Cronese Mandate, Indrexu, and Keldrath sectors. Let's focus on this. He wants Lianna and the Thanium Worlds. By uniting the specified sectors, he gains control over a huge territory of the Perlemian Trade Route and effectively divides the Alliance into two parts—one close to the Mon Calamari sector and one close to Lantillies. At the same time, we withdraw our production facilities from Lianna, as I assume, and give him a convenient trade world, not to mention that through Lianna the Corporate Sector drives a huge number of its caravans across the galaxy. We intended to establish an outpost on the planet precisely to tax those shipments. Without Lianna, through which a network of regional hyperspace routes from the Thanium Worlds passes. In fact, if Bonteri wants, he can easily block all such interstellar lanes with his fleet and leave us with the same thing Thrawn did to the Empire, closing almost all their paths through the New Territories. And that means increased cargo transport time bypassing the blockade, higher commodity costs, increased response time of our forces to threats from one direction. Not to mention that we have Dominion fortress worlds like Makem Te, Trogan, Columex right under our nose."
"Your concerns are understandable," Mon Mothma sighed. "They haunt me too—if Bonteri gains control over all these pro-Imperial sectors, he can claim dominance in the nearest territories and compete with us."
"Well, at least here we are in solidarity in assessing threats," Bel Iblis smiled joylessly, looking at Leia.
"Be that as it may, we must acknowledge the obvious," he continued. "Bonteri knows where and how to press. And how to take advantage of the situation for his maximum benefit. While dusting the opponent's eyes with tinsel. That's why I say I do not believe in Thrawn's death—too much in the galaxy happens 'by chance.' Take the Dominion's capture of Kessel, for example. We are already feeling our stocks of potent medicines shrinking…"
Leia stared straight ahead at the polished surface of the metal table.
But now she saw much farther than just the even tabletop in front of her.
The Force came to her aid.
Raising her eyes, she looked at the Alliance head and Supreme Commander sitting before her.
"What if it was not Bonteri who staged this provocation at Galidraan?" she quietly voiced her question.
"In what sense?" Mon Mothma did not understand.
"He is the most obvious beneficiary of our intervention in Tion Cluster affairs," Bel Iblis said. "Getting what he wants with someone else's hands. Since he admires the Emperor so much, it would be like him to parody him on his regional scale."
"'Grand Admiral Thrawn and his Dominion have shown the entire galaxy what happens when states and sentients act solely out of their pragmatic interests,'" Leia said thoughtfully, staring at one point. "'Get used to it—you are unlikely to encounter a friendly atmosphere in negotiations anywhere else.'"
"What does that mean?" Mon Mothma asked with alarm in her voice.
"Not only Bonteri takes example from the strong of this world in one way or another," Leia shook her head as if shaking off a spell.
The veil that had covered her eyes.
"And yet, I do not understand why that phrase was said," Mon Mothma insistently repeated.
"The last thing Lord Bonteri said to me before ending the meeting," Leia explained. "Thrawn really had too great an influence on the galaxy. We noted that ourselves. But it was not only Bonteri who set Thrawn as a positive example for us. Remember how one of the Provisional Council members pointed out to us that the New Republic should follow the grand admiral's example in complying with interests and getting what is desired by any means."
"I still do not understand what that means," Bel Iblis frowned. "Perhaps Mon's and my brains have rusted…"
"Pragmatic interests," Leia, unable to contain her overflowing emotions, jumped from her chair. "Let's put the facts together. Who among our acquaintances will walk over heads for their interests? Who called us radicals who will walk over heads? And now you yourself said that the New Republic, disavowing the destruction of the Ubiqtorate and attacks on convoys across the galaxy, suddenly acknowledged all of it."
"Fey'lya?" Mon Mothma assumed doubtfully. "No, he would not meddle in our territory to…"
"To repeat the grand admiral's tactic and simulate an attack with foreign forces?" Leia clarified. "Bonteri directly said that the Dominion sold the New Republic all its trophy Mon Calamari star cruisers. And not long ago we heard that the New Republic, retreating due to lack of capital ships, suddenly struck the Empire's rear base. Where did they get extra combat starships?"
"They cannot even repair the ones they have," Bel Iblis thoughtfully voiced. "They have plenty of damaged Mon Calamari cruisers—the shipyards at Rendili and Bestine IV are clogged with them. Combat-ready starships are not as many as it seems…"
"And now imagine that Fey'lya, who has already suffered reputational losses after our intervention in the battle at Lantillies, decided to use a staged attack to prevent our alliance with the Tion Hegemony," Leia continued heatedly, feeling her blood beginning to boil from discovering the right path while wandering in the fog. "He kept these ships in reserve for several months, and now—a massive strike that delays the capture of Carida. And an attack on Bonteri's mercenaries—disrupting a direct alliance with us. And instead of immediate aid from the Tion Hegemony, in the best case we get an ally in a few years."
"If we get one," Bel Iblis corrected her.
"And here's the answer to where the data on engine frequencies and our starships' identifiers leaked from!" Leia continued excitedly. "There were no spy infiltrations we assumed. Simply, at the Lantillies shipyards there are those who sympathize with the New Republic, not the Alliance. Recording the necessary data would be no big deal for them!"
"That is possible," Bel Iblis furrowed his brows. "But to risk so much just to prevent the Alliance and Hegemony alliance…"
"On the contrary," Leia interrupted the Corellian. "That's exactly in Fey'lya's spirit. The Empire's offensive has already begun to stall due to excessive losses. And the Bothans decided to prevent our strengthening so as not to let us go on the counterattack!"
"The Imperials have not reached Carida and are forced to conduct planetary battles," Bel Iblis continued. "The New Republic is holding the last lines in that direction. Rumor has it Grand Moff Kaine's Reaper has come out of repair and is heading to the front. If we went on the counteroffensive with the Hegemony's forces, we could recapture many systems from Tanab to Brentaal IV. We would have superiority in starships, and then…"
The Corellian stopped short.
"Are you thinking the same as I am, General?" Mon Mothma asked, exchanging glances with the Corellian.
"If Fey'lya can destroy or capture the Reaper, as well as its battle group, that would finally make the Pentastar Alignment's offensive choke," he replied. "If Fey'lya has reserves—at least a dozen star cruisers and accompanying combat escort—he can deliver a counterstrike after that and force the Alignment to retreat. And we, deprived of Hegemony support, would be forced to sit on Lantillies and beyond. If Fey'lya really intends to strike Kaine and defeat him, again just an assumption, he might use Thrawn's tactic of broadcasting his victory across the galaxy. Without the Reaper and its group, the Alignment's fleet is a mass of heavy cruisers that cannot cope with New Republic star cruisers. And if new star destroyers are indeed being produced at Rendili, the counterstrike could push the Imperials all the way to the Zero Sector."
"To Coruscant," Mon Mothma said with bated breath.
"Now do you see how beneficial it was for Fey'lya to disrupt our negotiations?" Leia clarified.
"He does not want to allow our victories and counterstrikes, but intends to glorify himself," Mon Mothma slowly nodded. "But we understand that. How can we convince Bonteri that Fey'lya or someone from the New Republic is behind the attack on his mercenaries?"
Leia, inspired by her logical victory, deflated.
"In no way," Bel Iblis said instead of her. "It is clear to us that Bothans are adept at and love underhanded games. And selling someone out for extra gain is normal behavior for them. Now we certainly understand where the rumors come from that cargo ships transport military equipment for the Dominion across half the galaxy—Fey'lya, lacking means, agreed to take on the New Republic the blame for what Thrawn did. And as a bonus, he gives him Imperial junk. In return, he got ships with which he messed up everyone around. But these are no more than guesses, not based on facts," the general said disappointedly. "Just like my assumptions that Thrawn, who did not die but went into the shadows, is behind everything. But without evidence—it is just a hypothesis. The same with Fey'lya's involvement in the provocation against the Alliance and Tion Hegemony alliance. Bonteri will laugh at us if we do not provide evidence. But—" seeing Mon Mothma open her mouth to object, he raised a warning finger. "If Fey'lya is not an idiot, and he is not, especially after being in captivity and feeling Thrawn's genius on himself, he has long destroyed all evidence pointing to his involvement. Engine frequencies can be reprogrammed by replacing partial equipment or engines entirely. Perhaps that's what they did—after all, they have no spare parts supply from Dac for their starships. And transponders can be forged. Unfortunately," he sighed heavily, "we will prove nothing to Bonteri if the Bothans do not confess."
"And they would sooner wallow in mud than admit to backstage games," Mon Mothma summed up disappointedly. "And now, for the Alliance to live, we will have to play by Bonteri's rules, hoping to get a strong ally. Because now it becomes clear—if Fey'lya does not disdain such dirty games, he is definitely intent on confrontation with the Alliance…"
"Unless Palpatine stops him," Leia objected.
"Strangely enough, that's the only hope," Bel Iblis smiled bitterly. "We can only not let the Empire advance further and slowly build up our armed forces. Fey'lya, apparently, does not particularly believe in Palpatine's existence and his secret fleet in the Deep Core, since he abandoned a similar containment tactic. He rushes forward and clearly intends to crush the Pentastar Alignment and Imperial Space piecemeal. Until Kaine suffers too much damage, Orinda will not even stir to help."
"And vice versa," Mon Mothma noted.
"Moreover, Imperial Space has aimed its main forces at us," Leia reminded. "And until we get interdictor ships, we may face attacks…"
"We have already returned the old interdictors to service," Bel Iblis waved off. "The problem is we do not have enough of them. We need ready solutions to increase the number of our ships, but building Imperial or Corellian variants is too long and expensive…"
The Force helped her this time too.
"Loronar Corporation," Leia said. "They had projects for Strike-class medium cruisers with gravity well generators."
"They did," the Corellian agreed. "Nothing to write home about, but…"
"They build quickly, cost little," Leia pointed out the advantages. "Besides, you yourself said Admiral Eclipse is supposed to strike Loronar to drive Moff Getelles out of there."
"I did," Bel Iblis grimaced. "But I do not think she is ready for that…"
"Garm," Mon Mothma entered the conversation. "We need those ships. How did the Dominion slip to Kessel? How could they attack our star cruisers?"
"Only if the enemy penetrated our borders," Bel Iblis absently agreed. "Yes, we need more interdictor ships. I will talk to Eclipse to prepare for the attack."
"If we can set up patrols on the regional routes Thrawn loved to use, and surely Pellaeon continues to do so, we can block reinforcements and supplies to their group on Kessel," Leia developed the thought. "And prevent enemy ships from breaking through and moving on our territory."
"How is Kessel connected here?" Bel Iblis frowned.
"Kessel is spice, and spice is money," Organa Solo explained.
"Leia, I'm from Corellia," the former senator smiled kindly. "I know what spice is…"
"Imagine if we could control its sale to medical organizations across the galaxy?" the former princess asked.
"That is huge money, not to mention replenishing our own stocks of potent medications," the Alliance Supreme Commander finally understood. "And then we will not need financial aid from the Tion Hegemony!"
"And we will not have to wage war with half a dozen sectors, weakening ourselves before Palpatine's arrival!" Leia continued. "Instead, we can deceive Bonteri!"
"What?" Mon Mothma was stunned. "How?"
"We will pretend to conduct negotiations on his behalf with small sectors," she said. "But not for their annexation to the Tion Hegemony, but offer them to join the Alliance! I am sure that, seeing what threats await them from the Allied Tion, Tion Hegemony, and Cronese Mandate, they will not hesitate long in choosing sides."
"Bonteri will be furious when he learns he was deceived by his own instructions," the Alliance head said. "He may lose his temper, make a deal with the Cronese Mandate, and attack us…"
"And we will be smarter," Leia narrowed her eyes. "What else did he want from us? Lianna? So let's give him the planet, stripped of all our industrial production. Evacuate all specialists and population who do not want to join the Tionese."
"I still do not see the logic," Bel Iblis frowned, as he often did. "We give him the planet as compensation for several sectors? Who would fall for that?"
"Probably those in whose sector Lianna is included," Leia smiled, pleased that she had tactically outplayed the general. "Moff Gronn, by rumors, has recently strengthened his army and hidden most of his fleet somewhere. We will not tell anyone that we are giving Lianna without all the industrial equipment Gronn so desires, will we?"
"The Tion Hegemony and Allied Tion will start a war over Lianna's production, which will not be there," Mon Mothma understood, rounding her eyes. "This… is a multi-move combination that they definitely do not expect from us. From Thrawn, Palpatine, Iceheart, the Bothans—maybe. But not from the Alliance, which has never built multi-stage plans. It might work."
Leia felt a slight unease in the Force when Mon Mothma mentioned Ysanne Isard.
The fate of Iceheart is still unknown.
Her skill in manipulating enemies, on the contrary, is too well known.
But by indirect signs, the Alliance believed that Iceheart either perished during General Madine's operation on Lusankya, or (which is true even if she is dead), her subordinates took the Super Star Destroyer to the Deep Core and joined the Emperor.
Of course, unless Bel Iblis's opinion is correct—that Isard is indeed dead, and the ship is in the Dominion.
Along with the one that doomed Admiral Ackbar's fleet.
But Bel Iblis could be wrong due to his manic certainty in Thrawn's survival.
Because some time ago he claimed that Thrawn might indeed be dead, and Ysanne Isard controls the Dominion, saving reserve forces for the reborn Emperor's needs.
But none of this had the slightest confirmation.
The Alliance had more pressing problems to solve here and now.
And preferably solve them conditionally "yesterday."
But seasoned fighters for democracy were used to being in the role of catch-up.
"And, as we assumed, seeing their weakening, the Cronese Mandate may attack them," Leia continued. "If by then we can build up our capital ships to the required number, it will be us, not them, who come and finish off the remnants of pro-Imperial regimes."
"We cannot count on the Mon Calamari in this matter," Mon Mothma stated regretfully. "They build their newest ships quickly, but not quickly enough for our plans."
"But we have the star destroyers captured at Lianna," Leia reminded.
"Yes, I promised them to General Solo," Bel Iblis said. "To strengthen Lianna's defense."
"However, if we withdraw troops from there, we have no need to hold Lianna," Mon Mothma reasonably noted. "Control over spice mining and sales will more than cover our financial difficulties. We will not need Lord Bonteri's support or taxes on Corporate Sector shipments at all. By capturing Kessel with free forces, we will solve all the Alliance's current problems."
"At the same time eliminate the threat in our rear and capture their territories, industry, economy without dubious deals," Bel Iblis drummed his fingers on the table. "Yes, I think this is the best way out of the situation we find ourselves in. Leia, you are a born tactician!"
The former princess modestly lowered her eyes, considering it unnecessary to reveal the name of the one whose developments she had actually used.
After all, she was the one who put them together into a single picture, not Winter.
***
Bossk's eyes narrowed, finally rejecting any hints that Trandoshans had evolved.
"You sssay that Korkruss was subjected to orbital bombardment?" his voice literally resembled serpentine hissing.
"Not the entire planet," "Serg" said. "Only the capital—Vlarnia—and the spaceport were destroyed."
"For me, there isss no differenccce," Bossk hissed irritably.
"Well, there is a difference, actually," Marg Sonat noted, sitting to his boss's right. "The rest of the planet was unaffected. There is still local population there that was not harmed…"
In the next moment, the Ithorian was already flying onto the deck plating, knocked off his chair by a powerful punch from the Trandoshan to the head.
"Silence!" Bossk roared. "I don't care about the whole planet! I don't care about the natives! I needed the 'Kiuzimi Survivors' and other gangs! And now they are destroyed!"
"I do not think all of them," Sergius grimaced. "The Republicans landed Wookiee troops, so someone was clearly taken prisoner."
"It's strange that you survived," Sonat said, rubbing his large head as he rose from the floor and sat at the other end of the table—farther from Bossk. "Or did it happen not by accident?"
Sergius gave the toady a menacing look.
"What are you hinting at, scum?" he asked threateningly, rising from the table and clenching his fists. "Want to say I led them there?"
"But your prisoner escaped from you!" the Ithorian continued, fawningly looking at his boss.
"Only because someone clearly helped him," Sergius raised his voice, drilling the Ithorian with his gaze. "While I was searching the ruins of Vlarnia for survivors! Because I intended to complete the assignment given to me! And not sit here like you, stuffing both mouths with licking the commander's ass…"
"Enough!" Bossk hissed at both of them, who had been pondering until then. "What's done is done. We mussst move forward. They outplayed usss, but we are ssstrong."
"Did that human I captured in the ruins of Vlarnia say anything else besides what I pried out of him?" Sergius asked.
"Nothing that contradicted your words," the Ithorian grunted. "As if you are saying the same thing…"
Sergius looked at him like the Emperor at a junior Gungan senator from Naboo.
"Are you an idiot or what?" he asked. "Everything I told about what happened on Korkruss—I know from him."
"That's what you say," the Ithorian objected. "But you were late…"
"Because you need to see what flying scrap metal you give me!" Sergius declared. "And what freaks you send as guards. I smell it, Sonat—these two 'guards' who wanted to kill me in my sleep are your doing."
"Don't talk nonsssenssse," Bossk intervened. "I sssent Maka and Paka. And no order to kill you wasss given to them."
"Sorry, boss, but I do not believe those two idiots could decide to kill me on their own," Sergius shook his head. "Such filth under the claws never does anything on its own initiative. Someone set them on me. And the only one I have misunderstandings with in the entire organization is Marg Sonat," the agent pointed his index finger at the Ithorian. "I have no doubt it was he who wanted to kill me and jeopardize the mission. If I knew the Lambda's systems even a little worse, I would have been breathing vacuum long ago!"
"If I wanted to kill you—you would be dead!" the Ithorian boomed with both mouths, jumping up as if scalded. "And I would have done it myself, not entrusted it to some bunglers who cannot string two words together, let alone kill someone!"
"I sssaid—ssshut up!" the Trandoshan roared, slamming his hand on the table. "Both of you!"
Sergius obeyed the order.
But Marg Sonat did not.
"Bossk, we need to get rid of him!" the Ithorian babbled. "Since he appeared in the organization, there have been nothing but problems. You send him on a mission—and immediately the most prepared groups' secret base gets raided. Our plans for Kessel are going to…"
The Trandoshan did not tolerate the arguing.
Like a wild beast, he jumped from his seat and pounced on his subordinate with fists.
Marg Sonat managed to stand up and even block a couple of blows, but in the next second he was on the floor, crawling into the corner.
"I!"
A kick to the stomach threw the Ithorian farther back.
"Sssaid!"
This time Bossk drove his powerful leg into the Ithorian's face.
"Shhhut up!"
Another kick to the face—and Sonat was thrown into the corner of the room, bleeding from his smashed face and one of his two mangled mouths.
Sergius silently watched the scene of the boss's retribution against his closest subordinate.
Bossk delivered blows one after another, literally turning Sonat into a piece of bloody meat.
In criminal groups, everything happens very quickly.
Including punishment for disobedience.
The information Sergius reported to his employer, as expected, enraged Bossk.
Arguing from his closest subordinate, who had already made mistakes, only fueled his rage.
The legend, though hastily invented, could not be refuted except by the words of "Serg" himself.
Staging an alleged attack on him by both guards was not difficult.
After all, Sergius had vast experience in subversive and provocative activities.
A few simulated damages on the Lambda with trace marks from both corpses while they were not yet completely cold was not the biggest problem.
Finding and dragging in a survivor was far more problematic—and Sergius added this milestone to his plan after departing Korkruss and his "official" arrival.
But the words of the human, one of the "survivors," only complemented the picture of what happened.
The pirates, and they undoubtedly tried, could not find the slightest trace that he had contacted anyone using the shuttle's equipment.
The surveillance systems the ship was packed with were either damaged in the "fight with the guards" or gave no informative recording—thanks to the Noghris and the slicer they delivered.
And the vivid account of the sole "survivor" about how Mon Calamari cruisers bombarded Vlarnia, and the landed Wookiee and other alien troops mercilessly cleared out those who survived the attack—was the best demonstration that the groups on Korkruss were destroyed not by a pro-Imperial government.
When Marg Sonat finally fell silent in the corner, Bossk's rage diminished but did not vanish entirely.
Sergius could tell by his deep breathing, narrowed pupils, and twitching fists stained, like his legs, with the Ithorian's blood—the one who did not know when it was vitally necessary to shut up in time.
"Now you are my right hand, Ssserg," Bossk ordered heavily, licking blood from his fists.
"As you say, boss," Sergius said without a hint of smile or triumph, not even paying attention to the piece of meat in the room's corner. "What are your orders?"
"Firssst, we need to contact our alliesss," Bossk pulled a rag from his belt and wiped the blood from his hands. "I wasss counting on the 'Sssurvivorsss' and other organized gangsss. Without them, it will be hard to capture Kessssel."
"Kessel is good, of course," Sergius nodded. "Controlling the largest source of pure spice, especially glitterstim—of course we need to. Then the entire market will be under us. But since when is that a problem? There are plenty of good and dangerous guys in the mines, guarded by Imperials who have not received reinforcements or pay for who knows how long. Let's just offer them to join our gang, and that's it? Everyone wants to eat—abandoned Imperials too."
Naturally, he had no intention of demonstrating his knowledge of what had recently happened on Kessel.
Bossk hissed.
Only a couple of seconds later did Sergius realize the Trandoshan was laughing, not raging.
"Smart guy," he praised the agent. "That'sss what we intended to do, but we would have had to fight the leadership."
"Why's that?" Sergius was surprised. "Such stubborn idiots?"
"They worked for another group," the Trandoshan explained. "We intended to bribe some authorities there to overthrow Moruth Doole during one recent scuffle, but Pellaeon's soldiers beat us to it. Now it's the Empire there, not Doole's weakened soldiers. We will have to fight. That's why we needed the 'Survivors' and other groups from Korkruss."
So, Bossk's group intended to stage a coup on Kessel, controlled by Black Sun—the front for the Zann Consortium.
And they planned to do it by bribing several authoritative criminals in Doole's entourage.
And pull it all off "during one recent scuffle"—the attack by Chimaera and its group on Kessel.
At the same time, the enemy knows Dominion troops are still there.
Given the standard regular fleet tactic of clearing—jamming further communication—it is unlikely anyone could report the attack during it.
But Bossk knows the Dominion is still there.
Consequently, they somehow receive information from Kessel, almost in real time.
Unpleasant news.
"So that's what this whole army is for," Sergius nodded understandingly. "Building strength to fight for spheres of influence."
"Something like that," the Trandoshan vaguely replied. "We need Kessssel to control the sssspice market. War requiresss money. Lots of money. Take Kessssel from the Dominion—deprive our enemiesss of money. And fill our pocketsss."
"Spice is a hot commodity," Sergius agreed with the Trandoshan's arguments. "We can jack up prices. Especially if we subjugate a few more deposits besides Kessel. Then we can hire a bunch of fighters across the galaxy—and become the strongest group."
"We already are the ssstrongest," Bossk declared. "As sssoon as our ships are completed on Nimban, we will crush all our enemiesss. The Scorekeeper will be pleased."
"Sure," Sergius smirked. "So, boss, will someone tell me what I am supposed to do on your flagship?"
"Of course," the former bounty hunter grinned. "But firssst, we are flying sssomewhere."
"No problem," Sergius shrugged. "Can I at least choose a cabin now?"
Bossk gestured toward the exit and left the compartment first.
Sergius, showing respect, let his new patron go ahead.
Then, with one long stride, he crossed the room and stood over the bloody Ithorian's body.
Bending over it to hide his hand movements, he finished the work that would guarantee him career growth in Bossk's organization.
If you know how, you can make sure a representative of this species is truly dead.
But Marg Sonat was breathing.
Barely noticeably, but still alive.
"Not for long," Sergius thought, pressing several points on the unconscious criminal's body.
It took a few seconds for him to give up his filthy spirit for good.
Straightening up with a crooked smirk on his face so any surveillance could capture it, Sergius shook his head:
"Bossk, what a machine," he added genuine admiration and respect to his voice. "Killed with bare hands… This Trandoshan must never be let down, or I'll end up like this piece of meat."
Then he headed for the compartment's exit.
The performance for unknown viewers continued.
Though he was already beginning to guess who was behind this group and where all these backstage games were leading.
***
Delusion.
The most underestimated and poorly covered sin in Imperial military doctrine inherent to a commander.
It arises from a lack of real intelligence information and replacing unknown variables with one's own assumptions.
The latter come from ignorance and belief that what fits so well into the criteria of what is happening is fact.
Guesses are dangerous and harmful.
They lead to failures.
Along with underestimating the enemy.
Often they appear to a commander directly on the battlefield and decide the outcome of the battle.
From which the outcome of the entire campaign may depend.
It is good when there is time to evaluate new information and sort it out.
But if last year I had plenty of time to create ideal and long-term plans, now I have to adjust multi-moves almost on the fly as fresh intelligence arrives.
Yes, that was my big mistake—to assume Palpatine does not know crime has gained strength.
The most rational would be to pit two opposing groups against each other.
And finish off the survivors.
If I knew then what I know now, the campaign against Tyber Zann would have developed quite differently.
But what is done cannot be undone.
And now I must adjust plans to slip between multi-sided millstones with minimal losses for myself.
Unfortunately, I still lack information about what is happening in the Deep Core.
And that is most alarming.
As is the fact that Palpatine is actively implanting agents into the ranks of the most influential opponents.
That should have been foreseen.
Error.
Note the thought.
Such must not be allowed.
Another point is that now I have truncated information.
Without delving into conspiracy, what is known about Palpatine's actions against forces in the Corporate Sector?
That there was at least one of his agents there.
But at what level was this agent?
Was he embedded in the Corporate Sector's armed forces?
Black Sun?
Zann Consortium?
Yes, in conversation with Ventress, he mentioned Palpatine would attack when the criminals tear each other's throats out.
But criminals to Palpatine were also the Jedi who wanted to overthrow him, based on their moral right to destroy Sith.
Can he call "criminals" the "corporates" who deconserved old Imperial storage and brought a considerable part of Imperial "defense industry" in the sector under their control?
Yes, quite possibly.
But still, unlikely that in that case he would not call them "traitors."
Danaan Kerr is a person not very independent in preemptive actions.
From this, we can conclude that by "criminals" regarding forces in the Corporate Sector, he meant those sentients whom Palpatine himself called so.
Flattery is the highest form of imitation, after all.
So, let us take as a starting point that Palpatine knows about the Corporate Sector being in criminal hands.
It hardly matters whom exactly he considers the instigator—Black Sun or Zann Consortium.
This person did not throw all his forces into attack when he realized his pet Imperials could not cope.
He is waiting.
Does it follow that he is still not a psychopath?
Undoubtedly.
He probably has not gone mad enough to charge headlong.
Well, failures on the front will push him to that.
One just needs to wait.
Moreover, I already know how to "let off steam" to my opponents and force them all to switch to defense.
And I will implement this plan.
The steps are quite risky, but they will pull opponents out of "hibernation" and waiting.
Tyber Zann is an extremely vindictive and vengeful person.
Consequently, he will not leave unaddressed the Dominion's strike on Bossk.
Since destroying the forces left by Moff Harsh in the sector and disrupting cargo supplies did not force him to act weeks ago, since he silently swallowed the rout of the group in the Karthakk sector and attacks on his convoys, then destroying the Picket Fleet in the Yubosf sector should properly enrage him and force a response.
Especially since he has all the necessary "bookmarks" on Dominion territory for that.
Our actions on the other end of the galaxy should convince him that reaction speed is more important than strike weight.
Accordingly, he will choose forces sufficient to destroy the group that crushed his troops in the Bossk sector—and the surviving enemy commander will "suggest" to him what forces acted and what to expect from them.
At the same time, he will discount territory defense—meaning strike forces will be increased manifold.
Will he use a rear strike through the Chiloon Rift?
Yes, he should—it will help him quickly advance to the Dominion's center.
Plans for attack in the Bossk sector—simultaneous strike from several directions—directly show he can build not the simplest tactical combinations.
Consequently, the strike will be from several directions—those ensuring him trophies and agents.
This part of the plan is worked out.
As is the second phase.
All that remains is to wait for Tyber Zann's reaction.
He is already ready.
He craves revenge—not personally with me, but at least with my legacy.
He will come.
Soon.
I only have to wait.
And ponder how deeply Palpatine has penetrated the galaxy's criminal world.
And exactly how his fleet was destroyed in the events known to me.
Oh, how I lack agent intelligence from the Deep Core…
Well, prolonged silence from agents gives grounds to assume it is reasonable to proceed from the opinion that it will never arrive.
Consequently, one must rely solely on one's own combat-ready forces.
And one's understanding of military science.
As well as understanding the enemy.
Whether it is correct or not—we will judge by Tyber Zann's planned attack on the Dominion.
I looked at the monitors.
Each displayed holographic photographs of Tyber Zann's personal quarters aboard his last flagship, heavily damaged in battle with the Empire.
And then destroyed.
The investigators did excellent work fixing the setting while examining the wreckage.
Much can be gleaned from observing the interior.
But not everything.
Too many gaps.
And they will have to be filled purely empirically.