Rivejer Tullius
I have been the acting commanding officer of the Ciutric Hegemony fleets for four months. After the excitement of the opening weeks, I was surprised by how normal everything seemed to become. My authority was such that I needed only to point at a ship and tell them to move and they would act immediately. There were no procedures or steps of command I needed to adhere to as they no longer existed. While people like Captain Pestage-Neron were technically superior to their fellows, she was still just a Captain. Her Captainacy was worth no more than, say, Harand's despite her commanding far more authority.
This greatly streamlined reorganisation, namely the expansion of the First Fleet. The Third Fleet - my personal command - remained in-force in the Ciutric system. It was simply the logical option, there was no overarching pressure for that decision; certainly not that my fleet was meant to serve as a reminder and deterrent.
The First Fleet was given the task of defending the southern arm of the Veragi Trade Route - from the Ciutric system to Vinsoth. Technically, the Ciutric system fell under their authority in that division, but with the presence of the Third Fleet, they were not needed en masse. Only the Doubtless remained of the Star Destroyers. The Second Fleet was consolidated down to Argazda, Aar and Corvis Minor. No officer stood out to me in the intervening months, so command remained decentralised down to local systems. The Corvis Minor Garrison was strengthened following the pirate raid incident months prior.
All of this was done in answer to that particular issue, at least publicly. Pirate raids had expanded from being a Hydian Way problem into a Ciutric Hegemony issue. The Hyperlane had rapidly devolved to the point that travelling it was deemed an active hazard. Grand Moff Denn Wessex had apparently pulled the bulk of his forces Coreward and wrote off the entire stretch of Imperial territory. On the good side, no one cared that we took over Vinsoth. On the downside, no one was policing the northern arm of the Hydian Way. Pirates, far better armed and organised than they should have been, were harassing any caravans moving into the Hegemony from the Core. Business had slowed and the Hegemony hurt for it.
I knew the pockets of the Pestages were hurting. My restructuring efforts served a secondary purpose, to weaken their grip over the fleet. I had no idea the depths that control went and indeed I was tempted to throw Cardon in that direction. Unfortunately, his work on Ciutric was arguably the more important issue. So, I opted for a different tactic - chaos. If I did not know who I was going to redeploy tomorrow, then the Pestages certainly didn't.
Unfortunately, my litmus test for the success of this tactic was Captain Pestage-Neron, who beyond making it obvious that she was here to spy on me gave away little else.
"Imperial Intelligence investigators have finally announced their findings. In a public announcement earlier this morning, they named the 'Shadow Council' as responsible for the assassination of Grand Admiral Rufaan Tigellinus. According to reports made public by the Imperial Security Bureau, the 'Shadow Council' is one of many renegade 'Secret Societies' attempting to destabilise the Empire and usurp the rightful stewardship of the Ruling Council. The Admiralty Board has declared any Imperial officers that refuse to rescind their loyalties to this 'Shadow Council' would be traitors. Already, several notable Imperial officers have been named-"
The report continued, naming Imperials - some names I knew, others were unfamiliar. This was the other tool I used to secure my control over the fleet under the grounds of uprooting 'Shadow Council' adherents. It would be a vast overstepping of my bounds and engender distrust if I placed my own people on every ship in the Fleet, but for the two Star Destroyers I added to my fleet, I was free to do what I wanted - drawn from the First Fleet.
As I had with the Crucible, those two enjoyed the presence of my officers and Maab's Marines to look over their shoulders.
Never waste a good tragedy. I had no idea what was happening in the Core, but with the Hydian in the state it was, I was far removed from that situation.
The news broadcast fell silent mid-sentence as a warning about a scheduled meeting pinged on my console. I sat up in my chair, nearly dropping the datapad that had been sitting on my chest, forgotten. I caught it and set it flat on the gleaming surface, tapping in my credentials and checking who I was scheduled to speak with. I agreed to more meetings than I remembered nowadays, mostly over the organisation of the fleets. What I needed was a secretary, though I had no idea how to go through getting one of those. Did I just hire one? How did I file that as an expense? Nereus was overworked trying to reorganise the industrial contracts the fleet had in the system and track down missing funds to bother with such a minor issue.
The meeting was with Captain Rochecauld over at Vinsoth. He had been transferred over to the First Fleet during the restructuring, tasked with creating a checkpoint at the junction between the Veragi hyperlane and Celanon Spur. This was done in conjunction with the now acting Governor Isaac Verus - the absence of his superior continuing. I knew I did not have the authority to make that call, but until someone told me to stop it stayed. Verus seemed pleased in the few discussions we had since then, the credit injection his underdeveloped system received doubtlessly doing wonders for that feeling.
Already, a Customs headquarters had been constructed and delivered to the system, my attempt in strengthening the Imperial Office of Customs in the region. Customs enforcement was largely handled by the fleet previously, or else by private enforcement agencies under the bankroll of local families on Ciutric. Chief among them were the Pestages and their far weaker rivals, the Neron family. I had no mind for dynastic politics and rival families, I was lowborn after all, but I had assumed from Captain Pestage-Neron's name that they were at least cordial. That did not seem to be the case, as Cardon reported sabotage and constant bickering between the families.
A few minutes later, the meeting began. I activated my holoprojector and the miniaturised forms of Governor Verus and Captain Rochecauld appeared on my desk. The permanent scowl on Rochecauld's face persisted, clearly not forgetting the perceived snub of being sent to the edge of Hegemony space while his rival remained at Aar. While it had been my intention to remove and isolate him, I didn't know what his problem was now - Vinsoth was the far more preferable position for what I assumed was a corrupt officer. Refugees and desperate traders filtered through, and he was the absolute authority alongside Verus in the system. It seemed the perfect opportunity to enrich himself.
"This is Commodore Tullius. We can all hear each other?" I asked, to which both men voiced their affirmation. "Good. Then Governor Verus, you can start."
The man seemed to preen under his new title, despite having carried it for months now.
"Thank you, Commodore. The establishment of a permanent garrison continues unabated. The remaining Chevian nomads have been brought to order and limited in their movements. We have plans for the creation of the first cities, and expect work to begin by year's end."
Ambitious, especially given the world's lack of permanent infrastructure. At least, the lack of permanent Chevian cities. Their slave-species, the Chev, apparently had small villages and towns, but a more sedentary population was easier to control in the long run. They were also easier to tax.
"And prospecting?" The Chevians were efficient in how they used their planet's resources, but they had never dug very deep. Argazda, Aar, and Corvis Minor were developed worlds, Ciutric IV was a very developed world - there was likely a trove of untouched resources on Vinsoth up for grabs. All to enrich the Hegemony, the new Governor, and the Chevians, naturally.
"Underway. The Mining Guild representatives have already marked some regions to begin their work. However, I urged caution until the infrastructure for more permanent residences could be built nearby. Not cities, mind, but for the Chev we intend to recruit for this work."
I had to wonder if 'recruit' meant 'enslave' in this context, but I held my tongue. Whatever my thoughts were on slavery, I was too busy to deal with every issue that cropped up. If Verus had a slave rebellion later down the line, I hoped it would be after order had been restored by the Grand Moff and Vinsoth ceased being my problem.
"What of the political situation?" I asked, though that was beyond the scope of my authority. The Navy was inherently a reactive force, we only stepped in when a problem got out of hand. That in mind, I found that my patience to wait for issues was much lower than it had been before Endor. If I had a chance to proactively deal with a problem, I would take it.
"Stable. If you recall from our last meeting, the rebellious tribes were integrated into their loyalist rivals. There have been no major issues."
"But there have been issues?" I pressed, to which Verus made a face but nodded.
"These things are never smooth, Commodore. Different cultures and religious practices clash, but there have been no outstanding issues that require our direct intervention."
"Even then, I want you to keep your finger on the pulse, so to speak." I ordered and Verus nodded his head in acquiescence. I turned my attention then to Captain Rochecauld. "Captain."
"Commodore. Integration in the First Fleet command structure continues to proceed smoothly. As ordered, I have had a cordon established around Vinsoth - encompassing the local satellite systems and hyperspace dropout-points. With the increased threat of pirate activity, I have made a request to Captain Pestage-Neron for more forces."
"Good, forward that report to me." I tap my fingers on the desk for a moment before continuing. "And what of the Customs fleet?"
The Imperial Customs fleet was barely deserving of the name, made up of a half dozen old Kuati Armoured Transports and a single Rendili Customs Corvette, plus gunboats. In meeting with their commander, I promised an expansion of their authority and scope. This began with press-ganging the local Ciutric customs enforcement fleet into service, citing the present situation as justification. This was a temporary holdover, as I also used some of the funding to place orders on Ciutric for new ships for the Imperial Customs fleet. The production yard had the licenses for the Rendili Customs Corvette or other typical enforcement vessels, so another dozen Armoured Transports were commissioned. Alongside that, the keels of two Star Galleons were laid into the planetary production yard, construction started immediately.
Beyond that, I focused on saving credits rather than spending them. Until a detailed report was prepared by Captain Nereus, I was not sure how much we had at hand nor when we would receive more from the Admiralty Board. I was again faced with the need to secure a source of income, if only to maintain the ships I had at hand.
"Combating piracy has scaled far beyond their means. Whoever is funding these renegades has given up any subtlety." Rochecauld muttered, voicing the annoyance we all felt. The wartime-production Recusant at Corvis Minor had been concerning and unfortunately increasingly common. Old Separatist warships were joined by Imperial surplus vessels, raiding with impunity along the Hydian Way. The Recusant had been the largest so far, but when a Customs patrol was ambushed by a heavily modified Dreadnaught Heavy Cruiser, I knew that the Customs fleet was far out of their depths in this situation.
"I will speak with their leadership." I promise. "Their focus will remain on civilian oversight and processing."
I ended the meeting shortly after, neither man had anything else pressing to report. I had barely leaned back into my chair when the terminal pinged me with another warning - another meeting. I sighed before schooling my expression and getting ready.
Captain Alana Pestage-Neron
The iron fist of CompForce closed tight around the heart of the Ciutric Hegemony, though you could never tell from driving through the capital. Everything seemed normal, the familiar white armour of Cardon's thugs not present. Though I knew if I went to the financial district, I would see more of their number.
Cardon's wrath had been turned on the banking sector as more proof of their corruption became uncovered. He was not so bold as to hold public executions or open disappearances, but I had heard through my connections to the Neron family that the Ciutric banks were in a panic. The local security forces - city defense and law enforcement - were similarly under scrutiny. Evidence of that could be seen at the bridge coming out of town. The green-uniformed law enforcement officers were joined by the black-and-white armoured bulk of a CompForce agent - his presence unsettling the volunteers.
We were waved through without issue, most traffic left unbothered as they entered or left the capital city. CompForce did not have the numbers or sway to seize complete control, least of all because I doubted the Pestage family would stand idly by.
The city gave way to rolling countryside, a sight I had become more familiar with in recent months than I had for my entire life. I was a black sheep in the eyes of the family leadership, more even than the degenerate Commodore or capricious Steward. For they were of the main line, blood unpolluted by the additions of a rival. My branch of the Pestages was one that tried to bridge the gap between the Pestages and Nerons, though the reason why changed with who told the story. Was it to subordinate the Neron Clan to the Pestages? Or was it the other way around? Perhaps it was an attempt to link the families together? Whatever the cause, my surname bore the failure of that attempt, for the death of Emperor Palpatine and the ascension of Sate Pestage had emboldened the Patriarch.
My isolation only broke when they had need of me. For all their political savvy, few of the Pestages left for military service. I was a rare exception, driven to this by the more military-inclined Nerons.
The Pestage Compound loomed ahead, doors opening after the security confirmed I was who I claimed. The courtyard was more busy than had been the case months earlier, but it was a steady increase by now. Wilek Nereus and Rik Cardon - two angles of attack into the heart of Pestage influence. I knew Nereus was only an issue through comments made by other Pestages, Cardon was the far more public problem.
I was brought into the main manor house by a servant, but instead of reporting to the Patriarch, I was brought elsewhere into the building. An elevator, disguised in a wall, brought me down below the compound.
The Pestage family were paranoid to a fault, even amongst members of the family. I counted my blessings. I was not so devoid of trust, making friends in the Navy and beyond - though that was not to say I did not have my own hidden nest eggs.
This was the one fortress every Pestage family member was aware of and swore on pain of death to keep secret. It was a sprawling fortress, long tunnels meant to make attack all but impossible. Provisions, weapons, bunks, escape routes - everything defenders would need to survive should the compound or even planet fall. I had been here once, when I was a young girl. I was shown the entrance by one uncle or another before being brought back up.
When the elevator opened, I was greeted by a vaguely familiar scene. Heavily armed and armoured House Guard manned fortified positions arranged in a wide half-circle before the elevator, meant to shred anything that stepped off of the elevator. Not just E-Web turrets either - full laser cannons, rotary blasters, and a host of other weapons joined them.
I had surrendered my blaster at the front door above, but I was still subjected to a search. Everything but the clothes on my back were taken - my code cylinders, my rank plaque, my communicator. Only when the brutish thug had finished rooting around my boots was I allowed to move ahead.
It was strange, seeing this bunker in person. The Pestages had so often appeared superficial, as obsessed with showmanship as they were anything else. This place was a show of function over form - hallways designed to offer attackers no cover and defenders plenty of positions to fight from.
My walk ended at a conference hall - a raised platform at one end as seats descended from the upper entrance. There were more Pestages here than I had ever seen in my life - though I doubted anywhere near a hundred filled the chamber. They were speaking - some quietly with their neighbors and others yelling. It was like a townhall meeting - I was struck by the strangeness of it all. The Patriarch sat on the raised platform alone, slumped in a plush chair like a doll. He was illuminated by a harsh overhead light, making his already pale skin take a more sickly pallor. He looked ancient like this - like a corpse that just so happened to still be breathing.
I sat high and close to the back of the stands, looking out for any familiar faces. I picked out the Commodore instantly, he was around the middle row, head lolled to one side as he slept. The Steward was missing, but that was nothing new. It was said he was more loyal to Sate Pestage than he was to the Pestage Clan, and it seemed that extended to blowing off this meeting.
After a few more members trickled in, the Patriarch held up a hand for silence. It would have been thematic if silence came with that call, but it was not so easy. Minutes stretched by as members shushed each other until finally, silence.
When the Patriarch spoke, his voice played through a speaker system dotting the room's perimeter.
"We are gathered here today to discuss a grave threat against our family. Our many years of work are being undone. Rik Cardon and his agents of COMPNOR have launched their investigations into the financial district and planetary defense forces. Rivejer Tullius has seized control of our fleets and upset our influence. Perhaps most dangerous of all, Wilek Nereus draws closer to uncovering the depths of our control here."
"Damn that Sate for sending them here." Someone a few rows ahead of me cursed. "What was he thinking? I've had half my accounts frozen because of this!"
It seemed many in the Pestage Clan had grown relaxed thanks to the control they had over the Ciutric Hegemony, though I doubted any of them were really hurting - the smart ones, anyway. We might be far from COMPNOR influence, but it was not wise to keep all your credits in one bank.
Still, I had not considered the Tullius angle - nor the issue of the family's influence in the fleet. I suppose it was naive of me, but I had divided my world from theirs. There was a bitter feeling in my heart, one that came with the knowledge that my life was forever stuck in the orbit of the Pestage Clan.
"What of the droid storage that CompForce stooge found?" One voice spoke up, high and nasally. "Whose damn fool idea was that?"
"Those droids were a failsafe!" Another voice called, offended at the mere insinuation that he was doing anything wrong. "No one seemed to find issue with the idea when it was first offered."
"A vault of highly illegal, poorly hidden droids-"
"Enough." The Patriarch breathed, and this time he did silence his audience. He remained seated, sunken eyes scanning the crowd before landing on Commodore Pestage - still slouched. "We must first understand the depths of our enemy's corruption before we can counter it. Fellik."
He must not have been asleep, or else was roused at his name - Commodore Pestage straightened in his seat immediately.
"Hmm… The defensive network remains untouched. Commodore Tullius has opted to leave its organisation under my control." I envied him for that: while I ostensibly maintained control of the First Fleet, Tullius had done his level best of mess with the organisational structure to the best of his abilities.
"And what of the fleet, Alana?" That piercing, ancient gaze turned to me next - freezing me in place and locking my thoughts down. In the bright light, the Patriarch was far less physically intimidating, but his voice commanded a degree of respect and trepidation ingrained in my mind. I rose to my feet and cleared my throat, buying myself time to get my thoughts in order.
"Unfortunately, Commodore Tullius has taken considerable interest in the function and formation of the fleet. He had divided the Hegemony's forces and claimed the defense of the Ciutric system for himself." This did not seem to come as a surprise to most of the Pestage family members present, though a low muttering filtered from a few. I had not considered the damaging effect Tullius' restructuring of the fleet would have, given the resistance I faced when I made my intention to join it known. I might have offered more than token resistance to the Commodore if I had - though a petty part of me might have wanted to allow it all the same for the contempt I was faced with for my career choice. The Patriarch had played it as if he allowed me to take this path for some overarching reason, but that did not wash away the bitterness I felt in my younger years.
"Was your purpose not to distract him?" One Pestage asked, his tone waspish and accusing. "He had made his nest in this system - our system."
"I cannot create problems where they do not exist." I snapped back, heat rising in my chest as I grew defensive. "What issues he is capable of responding to himself were solved far quicker than I thought he was capable of."
Commodore Tullius was much like the late Admiral Keld in that manner, oddly diplomatic and delegating specific issues to his subordinates. For a man so thoroughly in the pocket of COMPNOR or CompForce or whoever else, he was way too level-headed.
"And so you do nothing." The speaker continued, rolling his eyes. "Are you so lacking in creativity that you cannot envision some other way to distract the man, girl?"
My annoyance shifted quickly to fury as I immediately latched onto his insinuation, wishing in that moment I had my blaster. A bizarre fantasy of me jumping onto the seats below and launching myself at the man flashed through my mind's eye, but I kept my temper in check. I was saved from having to formulate a response to such an insinuation by the commanding voice of the Patriarch.
"Young Alana has conducted herself as expected, nephew. Be seated and silent." His tone brooked no argument and the Pestage sat down - thunderous but silenced. Those dark eyes turned to me once more. "Have you anything to report that may be of use to us?"
I reigned my emotions in and focused on that question. The most obvious were the recent events coming in along the Hydian Way.
"His attention has been redirected southward." I said after a moment of hesitation. "The pirate raids have been of particular interest to him and he has dedicated more resources to the First Fleet as a result."
"And your command of the First Fleet remains unquestioned?" He asked.
"For the most part. He interacts directly with the other Captains, but they are largely left to my command. Those ships he has taken for his personal fleet have been infiltrated by his supporters and subordinates. Bridge officers and his 'marines'."
I had seen a few of that unit, though they had not been in a position to fight while Tullius had been in the Hegemony. Outwardly, they appeared to be merely well-outfitted Navytroopers, but the reliance Tullius placed on them hinted at another conclusion.
"Has he expanded these infiltrators to your command?" The elder Pestage asked, but I shook my head.
"No, that has remained limited to any ships under his personal command."
"So far." Another Pestage interrupted, looking from me back to the Patriarch. "He has already used the chaos in the Core and along the Hydian to strengthen his position and the tireless investigations of Wilek Nereus are proof enough he is wary of us. This problem needs to be dealt with, before he strengthens his position further and takes complete control of the fleet."
I returned to my seat as the discussion moved on, redirecting into a topic I was less familiar with. My righteous anger had dimmed somewhat, allowing me to refocus myself.
"Nereus has been investigating the CSC more intensively, using his position in the Navy to get access where he could not previously. His direct line to Tullius has made my employees unwilling to deny him."
"The CSC is privately owned, he does not have the authority to do that." Another Pestage interjected, though a harsh glare from the speaker silenced them.
"It does have contracts with the Imperial Navy, which officially entitles them to ask questions and access our records. This is not about protecting trade secrets, this is about keeping a decade-long lucrative business of corruption hidden from a man who answers to a CompForce lackey. Something I fear he may already have an inkling of understanding about, if Rik Cardon's focus on the banking sector is any indicator."
"CompForce is looking in the wrong place." A third speaker countered.
"For now. It could be just as well that Cardon is meant to distract us, lull us into a false sense of security while Nereus completes his investigation."
"Forgive me for offering a simple solution to a complicated problem, but is eliminating Nereus not our best option here? He is the greater of the threats - his investigation is more likely to upset our operations than anything CompForce or Tullius can dredge up on their own."
"You are a fool if you believe concepts such as guilt or proof concern CompForce or their supporters." The Patriarch growled, the closest he came to anger. "Should Nereus die, then that will be all the proof Tullius and his agents will need to eliminate us. No, dealing with Wilek Nereus will require a degree of subtlety."
What that entailed, he did not say - but the conference moved on to other topics. Dealing with family assets and warnings on where Cardon seemed to be headed next. All this meeting seemed to be was a chance to inform the majority of the family about what was happening outside their businesses, as the leadership appeared to have their own plans moving forward. I was faced with the difficult task of trying to keep Tullius' attention elsewhere.
Fortunately, a situation would reveal itself and provide the perfect distraction.
Rivejer Tullius
It had been years since I was on the open water, years since I had seen a lake with my own eyes. There was no sign of urban development for miles around, just the distant shores and forests beyond. I had almost forgotten the quiet sounds of open waters, how a ship rocked even in the calm.
I was standing at the helm of the Wishful, a civilian boat I had purchased on a lark - the words of Nereus still present in my mind. She was no fishing trawler, but then again I wasn't here as a commercial fisher. It had been long enough that I barely remembered how to do it, but this was not an expedition where I expected to leave with my icebox full.
I had forgone my uniform for the first time in what felt like years, adorned in civilian clothing I had found stored away and a vest. A tackle box sat at the bow, filled with a motley assortment of bait and equipment. I had bought some local bait and lures for common species. When fishing privately or for sport, my father had used his own hand-made lures - I had never bothered to learn how or why and I doubted those techniques were applicable on the other side of the galaxy.
I stepped out from the small bridge, greeted by the towering forms of my guards. They stood out on this sleepy boat, still adorned in their armour and regalia. I knew they would not stay behind, so I did not bother trying. I assembled my newly purchased rod, something the store owner assured me was top of the line and great for fly fishing. I had purchased it outright, alongside a simpler spin casting rod - to refamiliarise myself with the basics of angling. I started with the spin caster, a real 'fire-and-forget' rod compared to its fly fishing cousin. I cast the line with some sort of local grub as bait, watching the float bob in the distance. Satisfied, I set the rod down in its stand and took up the fly rod next. This was no fly boat, or whatever fly fishing boats were called, but given I was pretty much starting as a novice I decided it didn't really matter.
The lure was brightly coloured with feather-like protrusions, apparently a common prey species on this part of the planet. A plague on the lakes spread due to the rapid industrialisation making Ciutric a more inter-connected world, allowing the species to invade other water bodies. They bred like rodents, despite being a prey species for many other fish. At least, that was what the salesman claimed - he had gone on a long rant about the species when I was at his shop.
I cast my line, watching the vibrant fly lure splash into the water. I was operating on half-remembered lessons, but even still… This was relaxing.
I had not realised how stressed I had become, how stiff my shoulders were or how used to the constant throbbing in my head I had become. There was nothing here but the lake, my new boat and the open air.
And the guards, but they remained silent.
I drew my rod back with short, jerking motions - one eye still on the float from the other rod. Professional fishermen would scoff at my setup, but bully to them!
This affair was allowed to run for an entire hour before my communicator came to life, calling me back to the fleet. I sighed, not having caught anything yet, but began reeling my lines back in.
A convoy arrived at Vinsoth, made up of old transports and Carrack Light Cruisers - carrying with them concerning news. They were sent with all haste to Salin, directed along the hyperlane to Ciutric. I met with one Commander Hillian, who was quick to make his report to a ranking authority.
"The fleet turned on the government, overthrew the Governor of Axxila in the interest of 'security'." The officer explained, now in my office and sat across from me. He was a haggard older man, a veteran from years past. He outlined the situation, the anti-piracy fleet and garrison rallying together under one man to depose the local government.
The position of Axxila was an interesting one, formerly having been a jewel in the Ciutric Hegemony crown. Before Ciutric IV had begun its rapid industrialisation and development, Axxila was the undisputed industrial heart in the region. It was split from the Hegemony after the Clone Wars, fully becoming a part of the D'Astan Sector. I did not know what the political stance of the Hegemony's leadership was on that fact, but allowing a rogue and aggressive renegade to persist on the border was not a good idea.
This would need to be dealt with.