Princess Leia Organa
The aftermath of the Bakuran revolution was expected, yet despite it I could not help but emphathize with their hopelessness. The moment Tullius had control of the relay station, the planet's communications ground to a halt - short-range communicators or messengers had to send reports to the Bakuran Senate and revolutionary movement. Their "forces", mostly rioters and the Bakuran security forces, were focused on shadowing the Imperial garrisons at the granary and their headquarters.
The revolution had been one blunder after another, something I had foreseen though not to the intensity with which it fell apart. While the Imperial garrison under Nereus was general softhanded, being trained mostly for colonial actions, the forces from Tullius were not so restrained. They were marines and naval soldiers, if they were ever put in a combat situation before it was likely in boarding actions. They hadn't been trained on how to handle protestors or rioters - so when a group of Bakurans stormed the granary, they responded the only way they knew how. Dozens dead, many more injured, and it was only then the reality of revolution settled in the Bakuran mind. Nereus, for all his purges and blustering, had been coddling the Bakurans compared to how the Empire usually acted.
When one Colonel Raab, who had been in charge of Tullius's forces, linked up with the colonial garrison and seized their tanks and heavy walkers, the situation became even more dangerous. Skirmishes erupted along the norther districts as Raab began to occupy the capital. While they lacked the numbers, Raab's forces were the more disciplined and well-armed force.
It was a strange situation I found myself in, relegated to the observer like Nereus himself as the Bakurans grappled with the realization that they had angered the wrong sort of Imperial. Tullius had made claims about "saving his people" and "protecting Imperials", but I recognized that it was an abused ego at play rather than any dedication to his subordinates. A bruised ego that had a Star Destroyer and small army of soldiers made the situation a lot more dangerous to navigate.
I had envisioned a quiet rebellion, one to overthrow Nereus once Tullius had already left. Then again, what did I know? I only represented the Alliance to Restore the Republic, which had been fighting the Empire near onto twenty years now.
Annoyance aside, when Tullius reopened communication and the Bakuran Senate refused to let Eppie Belden talk to him again, I stepped forward to negotiate.
"Captain Tullius," I greeted him, keeping my voice respectful, "Allow me to extend my thanks for saving Commander Skywalker."
Tullius's face was still stony, as it had been at the Bakuran Senate, but now there was a lingering anger hidden just beneath the surface. How his eyes narrowed, or his lips curled down into a frown, the slightest twitches in his face as he fought down a sneer. When his spoke, his tone was as frosty as Hoth.
"You have a strange way of showing your thanks, Princess. My men laid down their lives for this world, only for me to be informed that some of them are to be detained."
"A rash decision made out of revolutionary fervor, Captain," I explained, "Of course, your subordinates will be free to go."
Some grumbling came from the present representatives, but they mostly remained silent.
"That is a good first step, but unfortunately I am not feeling especially merciful. First and foremost, any Imperial citizens still on Bakura will be allowed to leave. I will not consign them to whatever fate you have planned for loyalists, Princess. Additionally, I shall be seizing the goods in the granary my men occupied - less than was promised by Nereus, but I have no interest in staying here any longer. My section will also be seizing the Bakuran defense fleet. As a sign of good faith, the Bakuran crews will be allowed to remain," Each demand earned the Captain more anger from the Bakuran Senators and revolutionaries, but it was his last that sent them into a rage, "Governor Nereus shall also be surrendered to me."
"Unacceptable!"
"An outrage!"
"Out of the question," Eppie sounded furious at the notion, her arms crossed from where she sat next to Gaeriel. It was a sentiment shared by the entirety of the Bakurans present, all of them wanted to see Nereus tried for his actions as Governor. Despite this all, Nereus had a sure smile on his face, because he had realized the same thing I had - this was not a negotiation. Tullius was informing us what would happen next, and his guarantee came from the Star Destroyers and Colonel Raab. I took in a deep breath and sighed, planning out exactly what I would need to say to keep the Bakurans from throwing themselves on Imperial blasters.
Captain Rivejer Tullius
For all the Bakuran bluster, the aftermath was tame. They blustered, they threatened, then they tried to negotiate, but the Princess and I attempted to keep things cordial. The Alliance were far more aware of the situation than the Bakurans, and seemed to realize my demands were perfectly reasonable.
That, or the Star Destroyers convinced them. I didn't much care what gave me results, so long as I had them. The Bakurans in the defence fleet were much more pleasant to deal with, such were the bonds formed in brutal combat. They surrendered their ships without a fight, many being conscripts eager to go home to their families. The newly added ships were a nice bonus, and were a balm to my lingering annoyance.
"Governor Nereus has been brought aboard, sir," Screold told me as I looked over a report on my datapad.
"Lock him in one of the officer's quarters," I ordered, "I'll deal with him later."
I could hardly blame Nereus for the Ssi-Ruuk invasion or the situation that followed, but I disliked dealing with him since the moment I arrived in the Bakura system. I disliked everything and everyone involved with this situation, and wanted to be as far away from it as possible.
"Helm, the moment all ships are resupplied and ready to move, plot us a course out of this damned system."
Next stop, Galantos.
After a moment, I let out a sigh. It is one ladden with exhaustion rather than anger.
Hopefully it doesn't take more than a month.