Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

Freefaller · Mar 27, 2026

Chp-106

Darna Sabrir
Minda

HAVEN had grown significantly since its inception, and as a result Darna found herself with far more to do than before.

She'd known from the beginning that this endeavor would be difficult. It would be stressful. It would consume her life. But at the time, it'd been a distant idea.

Now she was living its reality.

Every day was one in which a little voice rang out in the back of her mind.

What if today's the day it all comes crashing down.

If she was to be honest, it was her one true fear. Every other possibility, from torture to death and worse were things she was scared of, sure. But none of them held within her that same, bone deep fear of losing what she'd built.

Every now and again, when her actions and orders made her feel distant from the people they were meant to protect, she took a walk. Out she went, disguised of course, to simply walk the streets of Accordia.

It was refreshing, in a way, to have visible proof of her actions meaning something. Her time in the Rebellion had been action packed and full of speeches and bravado, but rarely did it feel as though she was making a difference.

It always felt like she was just fighting a dying giant. She knew, instinctively, that the Rebels would win in one form or another. If not this Rebellion, then another one down the line. An oppressive government simply wouldn't last.

But the Rebellion felt disconnected to her. Distant, fighting for a cause, for a people that rarely seemed to like them. Sure, nowadays that might've changed but her memories of the Rebellion will always be marred by scared civilians yelling at them to leave, lest the Empire turn them into ash for merely being near them.

Here, in the Myto sector, she could build something. A place of real peace and prosperity. Ready and waiting so that when the Empire inevitably fell, at least one corner of the galaxy wouldn't be swallowed in the chaos.

And, more selfishly, it was a place she felt she belonged.

Because of all this, the mere thought of HAVEN being discovered scared her more than anything. When Thorne first accused her in the Governor's office, she'd felt her entire world die a little. As though the walls had been closing in around her.

Thankfully, Las had been exceedingly reasonable, far more than she ever could've expected from an Imperial. But then again, he'd always been strange for someone born in the Core Worlds, so he was likely always that way.

Not that she could say the same about Thorne. Oh, sure, they worked together. They had meetings to discuss the next steps for HAVEN, Thorne listened in on the meetings she had with HAVENs other members, and he otherwise helped coordinate the organization's efforts.

But she couldn't bring herself to like or even respect him, no matter what.

Make no mistake, he was competent. That she could appreciate. As much as it hurt to say, he was good at his job, and provided an alternative perspective that directly challenged her own. Something needed to ensure HAVEN doesn't end up developing too narrow a view.

But his zealotry was painful. With every conversation it was clear why he did what he did. He loved the Empire, it was his life, his blood. Everything he did, every person killed, every life saved, was for the Empire.

He lived for it, he would die for it, and she knew firsthand he had absolutely zero problems killing for it. Darna worked within the trappings of the Empire because it gave her a structure on which to build something better. But it would only ever flourish once the Empire finally died.

Thorne didn't. He saw HAVEN as a way to purge corruption. To clean the rot out of the Empire and make it, somehow, the nation it was always meant to be. He saw the Emperor as a great man who made mistakes, and the Empire as a great nation marred by incompetence.

He legitimately believed that Tarkin had been a traitor, at least as far as she could tell.

And he would stay that way until the day he died.

At the very least, his expertise had helped HAVEN grow safely, though the organization was still pathetically small. There had been a small boom in new personnel as wave after wave of slaves were freed. Many if not most prime material, with a fire for freedom in their hearts.

WEB, on the other hand, lacked any sort of boom. WEB and HAVEN were kept separate from each other, deliberately so.

However, WEB was mostly a passive organization. Its agents are static, rarely doing anything other than simply listening and reporting. Useful, sure, but that meant that for active spy work, they had to rely on a precious few individuals.

Zyx Mola being one of them, and unarguably the best they had. She was a cheeky woman, driven as well, though seemingly more in the pursuit of perfecting her craft rather than any loyalty to the Empire.

Regardless, it meant that recruitment was slow. But not impossible. Especially if the agents were guaranteed cushy positions.

As Guildmistress of the IGCPP, Darna had been involved in the transfer of personnel and data over to the Braxant sector. As the new BGES was being developed, she had a few WEB agents tossed in there. They would be trained already, and rise up the ranks fairly quickly.

Active agents would on occasion help facilitate their rise as well. The plan being that given some years, many higher ranked staff positions would be held by WEB personnel, funneling internal info to them.

Of course, that would take years. But she was willing to wait.

A beep from her terminal showed her a message from Thorne. Encrypted, of course, but past that the message was clear. He wanted to deploy the kill squads in an operation outside the sector to strike at a known shadow port in the hopes of slowing the pirate menace.

She sighed, already prepping her counter argument. It wasn't a bad idea in theory, but in practice there were too many problems. Not to mention any kill squad needed Las's permission to go ahead as well.

Regardless, she settled in for an hour of back and forth encrypted arguments. Truly, her headache will never end.

–

Las

"I'm Moff Las Mola, and it's a pleasure to be meeting you both."

Before me were the holograms of two Moffs. Moff Verno of the Veragi Sector, and Moff Raioballo of the Veragi sector.

In terms of appearance they were relatively unremarkable. Verno was a thin, tall man with white skin and whiter hair, somewhere in his late 60's. Peri was the opposite, wider than he was tall with dark skin and no hair at all, while appearing far younger, maybe his mid 30's.

"I am Moff Trialdonatagorangifar Verno, Moff of the Veragi sector as decreed by our great and esteemed Emperor himself, victor of the Grand Battle of Nharl, the Great Routing of Plooma, and the Desolation of Revyia." Started Verno, placing a hand to his chest. He seemed to take a deeper breath, ready to go further on before Peri interrupted.

"And I am Moff Peri Perionala, Moff of the rich and prosperous Raioballo sector, home to the shipyards of the supremely advanced shipyards of Gravlex Med, with access to industrial capacity second only to the Core itself!"

I could see in Verno's eyes that he was about to interrupt the interruption with a continuation of his speech on his virtues. And Peri would almost certainly do the same. And I didn't want to deal with this for more than ten minutes.

"That's grand! I'm grateful to have such esteemed individuals as my neighbors." The praise seemed to work, the two idiots seemed to preen under a single line of bullshit. Wow, if it's that easy then they must've been super neglected as kids. Wild. Glad that never happened to me, and I turned out fine.

"I've made this call today to speak about a potential trade deal between our three sectors. I've noticed that most merchants tend to trade within a sector. Only larger companies start branching out. I believe this to be a folly, as it reduces traffic between sectors and therefore reduces taxes. So, I propose this."

With a few taps of a button, a simple file is sent across the signal. I watch as their respective holograms tap at terminals I can't see, their staticky hologram-blue eyes dragging along the page.

"The basis of the deal is simple. Each of our sectors will reduce tariffs and border crossing fees for those bringing goods from each other sectors. This will increase the overall volume of trade, and bring in more total wealth over higher-fee, lower-traffic trade."

I could see the idea run through their minds right on their faces. The idea was simple, and made everyone rich, so it was no wonder they thought it was a great idea. I could just see the reluctance behind their eyes. Pride was their marker, and neither wanted to jump on the boat of someone else's idea. At least, not without enough money involved.

"Of course, this will create the traffic needed for more secondary businesses. Larger/more repair docks, fuel stations, and hospitality hubs will flourish. And more importantly, be taxable."

Boom. I had them. The slight widening in their eyes as they inevitably got to the page of the document that showed projected tax revenue increases. It was a pretty decent jump, especially for outer rim sectors. And the project itself was simple, with no real risk for either of them.

Though, even as greed shined in their eyes, so did pride. Neither wanted to be the first to agree. Easily solvable.

"Though, I understand that this decision is one filled with complex numbers and much thinking involved. I won't ask for an answer right away, as I expect both of you brilliant gentlemen will have much to ponder on before coming to a conclusion."

"Why, of course! I, Moff Trialdonatagorangifar Verno, am a genius of much renown, and understand that such endeavors must be carefully thought over with great consideration, lest a mistake be made! Not that I can make such mistakes!"

"As do I understand! I did not create the most prosperous sector in the Outer Rim through luck and foolish endeavors, and so I will ponder this most vexing proposal until such a time as though I feel it proper to respond!."

With that and a few more minutes of pointless posturing, the two left the meeting and I felt relief unlike anything else.

Those two were insufferable, but they were stupid and easy to talk into stuff.

Dragging the energy needed to continue the day from my body kicking and screaming, I check my terminal for any new reports, one being from Ife herself.

Its subject was the academies. A dozen had been built, with another dozen on the way within a week. To call them full academies was a joke, they were mostly prefabs. But they worked, if nothing else.

Already some 60,000 sailors were in the process of being trained, though Ife lamented that the Mando's were only adept at training the combat portions of the curriculum instead of anything, which was a small part given that these were sailors, not soldiers. We were focusing entirely on sailors first, as boots on the ground were far more common than those rated to run warships.

Regardless, these sailors would not be of a particularly great level of quality. This was only worsened by the ISB agents at each facility.

The agents had been given 'advisory roles' at each academy. They are meant to send "success reports" directly to my office and the ISB's office of course. This measure, while annoying to me, creates an illusion of potential. These ISB agents now think that they have a direct line to me in a sense, and if their reports look the best, if their academy does the best, then I'll give them special treatment.

Sure, as ISB members the chain of command was separate in a way, but as a Moff I still had influence. And if they wanted to have more power in the ISB, having the backing of a Moff was helpful.

The second part of the report was the most polite rant about how absolutely shit the ISB agents were that I've ever read. Essentially, the ISB agents weren't just lying about academy success. They were overworking trainees.

They rushed courses, insisted on extra time for the "loyalty courses" which were just the propaganda courses that had already been butchered for the sake of time, and overall stressed trainees out. It was a problem.

Worse yet, it was a problem with no real solution. I couldn't make them leave, they were ISB. I'd let them in to cater to the ISB and essentially get their approval for two dozen new academies and butchered loyalty courses. Now I was stuck dealing with this bullshit.

It was as I was lamenting my fate that Myr'those decided to barge into my office.

"Ah, vermin, this office is atrocious! Where is the carpet? The couch? The high resolution holo-projector with built in surround sound!?"

"Back on Ugea. I just haven't gotten around to ordering it to be brought up."

"Then order faster! Why, back in my day a true Sith wouldn't be caught dead in such atrociously boring quarters. Not to mention, it's located in the bowels of this station with a measly window!"

The window was quite large, actually. It just wasn't the full glass wall my last office had.

"You are the ruler of this sector! You should stand at the peak of this station's tower, watching over your domain, but instead you skulk in the shadows of the station like a pest. Pathetic."

"You're just pissed about your new room, huh."

"It's tiny!"

"It's three times the size of mine, you know."

"That is because I am more deserving of space than you. But it is still an insult!"

I sighed. "Look. The Golan is just the first step. Give it some time, and I'll be bringing in more orbital infrastructure to support the Mard. That'll include a nicer station with more space. For now, you'll have to deal with it. As for the couch, just talk to my secretary. He can get it all sped up for you."

They looked annoyed, but realized I wouldn't budge on this so instead they simply huffed, pouted like a child and left the room.

Makes me incredibly glad I wasn't reborn during the ancient Sith Empire. I couldn't deal with a nation full of people like that.

–

Yo. For Darna's section, I wanted to show her own internal flaws a little more. Specifically, how she views Thorne. She's not entirely wrong about him, not really. But she doesn't think he can change, because to her people can't change. Las isn't even an exception, she just believed he was always like that. Why is she acting like this? Because I decided I should actually write my characters like, well, characters with flaws and growth and shit. I keep forgetting to do that.

Other than that, I baked zucchini bread. Shit is an absolute banger, I downed like most of the loaf. My family got maybe two slices. Worst part, it's got like nearly 2 cups of sugar in that thing. So much for veggies being healthy. Still great tho

Something something funny quip find your own laughs.
-Freefaller

Freefaller · Apr 5, 2026

Chp-107

2.2 ABY, 2 months later

The Arbiter-Class was a sharp vessel, all jagged lines and harsh edges. Its hull was a dark grey, its bridge almost blending into the rest of its superstructure.

The one point of contrast was the name, painted gold upon the durasteel.

Vigil of Starless Night

I watched as the ship sailed from its berth, cutting through the void like it was already searching for prey, its hull glistening with weapons emplacements.

The Arbiters armaments were varied and powerful, though still lacking in comparison to a Victory-Class. It came with 24 turbolasers, a mix of 8 heavy and 16 medium spread across the hull. Instead of the massive 80 tubes of missiles the Victory came with, the Arbiter was reduced down to 20 instead, filled to the brim with concussion missiles. And dotting the hull were some 25 PD turrets, creating a formidable defense against both missiles and fighters.

But all of this paled compared to the Arbiter's true purpose, its fighter complement. 96 total craft aboard each ship. Most of that was pure fighters, but a portion was dedicated to bombers and another to troop transport and scouting. Finally, each ship had 3 TIE Patrollers on board for longer range missions.

However, this came at the cost of troop capacity. Instead of a whole 2000 troops, the Arbiter fit a single line battalion meaning some 800 troops and light armor element composed mostly of Broadswords and its variants, alongside LECA's to act as heavy infantry support. While heavier walkers were available, it was decided not to include them to dedicate as much space as possible to fighter craft.

Ultimately, the Arbiter-Class was a heavy cruiser-carrier at heart.

The berths around the Vigil of Starless Night were filled with similar hulls in various stages of construction. Two hulls per berth, with Vigil's twin only a few days away from completion. I was sure the Vigils crew would tease them about being the older twin.

Of the twenty berths on the Mard, ten had been dedicated to the new class.

My feelings on the ship class were mixed. On one hand, it was a massive step forward as a versatile, entirely home made ship class that could respond to a variety of threats without much of an escort or incurring the cost of larger vessels. These capabilities would be enhanced by its escort craft.

The escorts would vary based on what we could get, but the basic idea was that each Arbiter would be escorted by 1 Lancer-Class frigate for its incredible anti-fighter firepower, given the Arbiter would be the biggest target for bombers. Two Arquitens or, if possible, Carracks for flanking and putting pressure on enemies. And some Gozantis if needed. It was a shifting doctrine, given we used what we could get, but it was a solid plan.

However, here comes my problem with the Arbiter. Not the ship itself, but its crews. They were lacking, to say the least.

"I don't like it"

To my left stood Ife, staring out the window with eyes narrowed in thought.

"They aren't trained enough. We're going to see losses as this ramps up."

"You don't think the trained personnel we spread around will be enough?" I ask, guessing her answer but wanting confirmation.

"Correct. While we've got more experienced officers in charge, that's not going to be enough. There are more new recruits than veterans."

I sighed, knowing she was right. The academies had speed out tens of thousands of barely trained sailors who were now being given positions they weren't entirely ready for. It was a mess.

"Current estimations put potential ship losses at 23% of planned hulls."

To my right was Roius. His eyes scanned his PDA while the neural implant wrapped around his skull blinked with dozens of lights.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Ife twitch slightly when he spoke. She said nothing, but I could tell she was at least a little uncomfortable, given Roius was a cyborg and all.

Thankfully, she stayed professional despite her prejudice, else I never would've considered her for Sector Admiral. Prejudice brings inefficiencies and failures into a system, and I can't afford that.

Honestly, if not for COMPNOR, the ISB, and the Empire as a whole, I'd implement some sort of sensitivity training.

Unfortunately, cyborgs aren't considered citizens under Imperial law, so that's off the table.

23% was bad, given it was 23 of the 100 planned ships of the class. That meant not just 23 lost ships in the worst case scenario, but at maximum some 80,000 people lost, alongside hundreds of fighters, bombers, and other material.

"Sir" It was Roius once more. "The Governor-General has just sent word. He wishes for a custom order of painted, modded Whirlwinds. A squadron, for his palace's defenses."

I wanted to throw something, hard. There was the source of my current problems in just about every case.

Aren Hiral. I'd gone to him with the Mard project because I feared rebellion from my people, and decided debt was the way to go. I then continued supporting him with the Mard, gaining his protection as Governor-General.

However, it seems as though my contributions aren't seen as being nearly as important as those of his new friends down in the Mid-Rim, and it shows.

Across the Oversector, there were mobile Oversector patrol fleets, meant to move about and give help when needed. These, alongside the wider Oversector Army and Navy apparatus, where the Governor-Generals direct purview.

And Hiral decided that the Mid-Rim and all its magnates and wealth was in the direst need of protection, dragging every spare ship and trooper to reinforce his new allies' sense of safety.

Whatever opportunity Hiral had found down there, it was clearly something he found worth protecting. Likely some new connection that could get him a better position further coreward.

"Send them the fighters. But put it at the end of the current production cycle. The sectors ships come first."

I didn't want to send him shit. But as much as he wasn't doing me any direct favors, there were two things I still got from him. The public reputation of our connection to one another, which meant other Moffs tended to be a little more careful around me, and his apathy. I'd rather him ignore me than be angry at me.

Turning from the window, I made my way out of the observation deck, Ife and Roius in tow.

"How goes the anti-piracy campaign?" I asked.

"Things are…evolving." Ife replies. "Before, pirates tried building permanent bases. They were attempting to create their own raiding hubs and shadowports, all of them trying to fill what was previously relatively empty space in the underworld market. However, our more aggressive patrol doctrine and superior ground forces make this an untenable proposition for most groups, and the lesson seems to have been hammered in quite hard. Now, most have switched either to out-of-sector shadowports or mobile bases as their raiding hubs."

Mobile bases? I didn't quite like the sound of that. For a smaller group it wasn't that big of a deal, but we were seeing a lot of activity. For some groups said mobile bases might be fairly sized for what a pirate can get.

"I see. Do you require any additional resources to combat this?"

She shook her head at that as we reached the shuttle bay of the Mard. "No, even with the training quality and projected losses of the Arbiter-Class, it will be enough to handle this. The problem is that this behavior is indicative of the wider state of the criminal underworld."

By then, we'd stepped into my shuttle, settling into the comfortable interior. Mugwuffin, the spoiled brat, had her own elevated sleeping platform. And, in line with her spoiled nature, I decided my lap was better than the custom piece.

I wouldn't mind as much if she wasn't so heavy.

Indignation!

Ignoring the creature, I motioned for Ife to continue.

"I've been working closely with intelligence from Governor Mur, given his connections. It's from him that I learned about the upheaval in the criminal underworld. The Zann Consortium has been destroyed."

What.

"While information is sparse, it seems that the Empire was able to cut the head off the snake and destroy the Consortium's leadership. Some contacts of mine in the Empire corroborate this, and it explains this behavior. The Consortium rose to power quickly, and with it brought immense amounts of assets. Now it seems the Consortiums corpse is ripe for the picking, and fragmented members are fighting for scraps. Others simply seek to find their own fortunes abroad, leading to our current problem."

"There is no way the Consortium was so large as to create such a problem? It seems as though the entire galaxy is aflame with piracy? Or did it only exacerbate things?"
"Intel suggests that yes, the Consortium was large, and its death only pushed a pirate heavy Outer Rim further down the spiral. Now, Consortium ships, especially bulk freighters and larger, are being used as mobile bases for pirate groups raiding the Oversector."

I'd forgotten about the Consortium. After the Crowns, I'd been wary but nothing ever came of it, and other problems occupied me. I suppose this was always to be their fate, though I would've preferred if they could've caused fewer problems in death.

"And Oversector Command does nothing about these shadowports. Amazing." I sigh, taking a sip of coco as the shuttle docks at the Golan.

"While we've gotten assistance from the Braxant forces in searching that sector for shadowports, it'll take more time to comb it over, made more difficult by the lower pirate presence there making interrogation sparser."

From there, the discussion continued on as always. Problems were brought up, always security related, and they were either solved or shelved until a solution was found. There were more of the latter than the former, and it hurt. The pile of future work was simply getting taller.

If nothing else, some things had gotten better.

After getting back to my office, I reviewed more economic reports. Despite the piracy, the economic boom had stabilized. Things were getting back into a more predictable rhythm, but with more workers, more goods being moved, etc… Trade had reached such a volume that the pirates weren't actually creating massive problems on the normal trade lanes, but could still create problems for more fringe and frontier colonies still being developed, which was a real threat.

At least the Auditor program was going well. I couldn't wait to watch that go down.

–

Governess Liona Trya
Belladoon
Myto Sector
2.2 ABY

"-the ball is quite garish, don't you agree?" Said Liona, taking a sip of some unnamed, expensive beverage.

"Why yes, I do! Having the servants be aliens? I'd prefer droids, to be honest." Responded Governess Boltra.

The two were on Belladoon, a major industrial world in the sector. Though, given their servants were aliens now, clearly the world's status was falling to the wayside.

"I imagine it's because of the Moffs' new programs, yes? Belladoon now has far more competition in the sector." Liona continued, eyeing the Governor of Belladoon, Yriad as he stepped up onto the stage.

"Likely. Did you hear they recently lost a contract to the Mindan Yards for hyperdrives to a new factory?"

"Really? Why, what an embarrassment. How can he stand on stage in confidence, especially with the cameras?"

Before Boltra could respond, the doors to the ballroom burst open. The Stormtroopers the governor had placed about all suddenly swiveled, weapons raised, only to lower them upon seeing the entrants.

Walking in through the door was a full squad of Stormtroopers. However, these didn't wear the regular armor, but the modified armor seen mostly among troops from Minda, or in the roving patrol fleets. The design was taking time to make its way across the sector.

At the head of the squad was an individual wreathed in Imperial grey, face covered by a full helm. It was a blank thing, nothing more than a simple, featureless, gleaming metal helmet.

"Governor Yriad of the Belladoon system!" The helmeted figure stated loudly, voice distorted into a digital growl.

Before the Governor could recover his wits, the figure continued.

"By the decree of the Auditor Corp, and by the power vested in me by Moff Las Mola, I hereby arrest you for charges of tax evasion, fraud, conspiracy to defraud the Empire, collusion with criminal elements, weapons trafficking, drug trafficking, and abuse of governmental funds for personal gain!"

As Yriad yelled and made a fuss, he was subsequently stunned by blaster and dragged bodily out of the ballroom, feet dragging across the carpet. As he was, the Auditor continued, arresting half a dozen other people all on various charges. All in collusion with the Governor.

Once the Arbiter was finished, they turned to the crowd.

"I have spent the last three months gathering data on Belladoon. My comrades do the same across the sector. Do not give us something to find."

And then they left. No grand speech, no executions or lockdown of the palace. The ballroom was simply left dead quiet.

They'd all heard about that fateful day months ago, when the Governor had sat down hundreds of officials and read off their crimes one by one. They'd thought the rumor to have been exaggerated, a propaganda ploy.

Now…now Liona wasn't so sure.

"I-I believe I have…some work to do, Governess Liona." Boltra's voice startled her for a second.

"H-huh? A-ah, yes, I understand, Governess Boltra." Liona said, nodding to her acquaintance. She likely had work to do as well.

If these Auditors were hidden everywhere, were they hidden in her system? Had they found her own skeletons? She didn't know, but she knew one thing.

She refused to go to prison. If that meant having to follow the law more rigorously than she was used to, well, she'd find a way to cope.

So long as she didn't one day wake up to a silver helmet.

–

Yo. Been playing more starsector.

The UAF keeps going to war with everybody and its tanking my rep with the Hegemony! I just want to buy some Atlas's!

Other than that, this chapter took longer because this isn't the first draft. I know right? Me, making drafts? Actually planning a chapter out and re-writing it? Fucking wild. Truly, I am changing from someone who knows jack shit about writing, to someone who knows fuck all.

Trust me, there's a difference. Just need a microscope to tell.

One Piece? More like Fraud Piece, amirite? Hahahaha, I'm a fucking comedy GENIUS!
-Freefaller

Freefaller · Apr 6, 2026

OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ASSET-REPORT

SUBJECT Technical Specifications and Operational Overview of the Arbiter-Class Heavy Cruiser-Carrier

DISTRIBUTION Myto Sector Command / Naval Logistics Office / Sector Patrol Division

AUTHORIZATION Office of the Moff, Myto Sector CLASSIFICATION Restricted Asset Overview

I. DEVELOPMENTAL BACKGROUND

The Arbiter-Class was developed by Sector Command to combat a surge in piracy following the collapse of the Zann Consortium. Splinter groups, utilizing high-yield assets like Aggressor-Class Destroyers and Vengeance-Class Frigates, have significantly increased their striking power. These elements rely on logistical tails and shadow ports located outside the Myto Sector, utilizing mobile raiding bases to strike within our borders. The Arbiter-Class is specifically designed for heavy sector patrol and the interception of these mobile pirate hubs. To ensure cost-efficiency, the vessel utilizes a streamlined Victory-Class hull and a recessed, pre-fabricated Victory bridge module.

II. NAVAL ARMAMENT

The Arbiter-Class is a hybrid design, balancing the carrier capacity of the Gladiator with the structural durability of the Victory.

Primary Battery

Heavy Dual Turbolaser Turrets (08): 4 Port / 4 Starboard.
Medium Turbolaser Batteries (16): 4 Fore / 6 Port / 6 Starboard.

Ordnance and Point Defense

Assault Concussion Missile Launchers (20): 10 Fore / 5 Port / 5 Starboard.
Quad Laser Cannons (25): Distributed for 360-degree anti-starfighter coverage.
Heavy Tractor Beam Projectors (06): 4 Fore / 1 Port / 1 Starboard.

III. STARFIGHTER COMPLEMENT

The hangar is the primary offensive tool of the Arbiter-Class, housing 96 craft to provide the versatility needed to hunt mobile pirate bases.

Standard Wing Manifest

04 Squadrons (48) TIE-M: The primary shielded, missile-equipped mainline fighter.
01 Squadron (12) TIE/IN-M: Myto-pattern Interceptors for high-speed engagement.
01 Squadron (12) TIE-R Ranger: Hyperdrive-equipped scouts for tracking pirate raiding parties.
01 Squadron (12) TIE-B: Shielded bombers for neutralizing pirate capital ship escorts.
03 Units TIE-P Patroller: 60-meter heavy gunships used as sector-patrol anchors.
01 Squadron (09) Sentinel-Class Landing Craft: Logistical support for ground and boarding operations.

IV. GROUND FORCES AND DEPLOYMENT

Ground forces are organized into a Line Battalion designed for boarding actions and surface-level interdiction.

Troop Strength

01 Line Battalion (828 Personnel):
- 03 Line Companies: Standard infantry for ship security and boarding operations.
- 01 Assault Company: An armored company providing heavy support for the line elements.

Vehicle Support

Light Expeditionary Combat Armor (LECA): Small walkers that act as heavy infantry support for the line companies.
K79-S80 Troop Transports: Repulsorlift units for rapid movement of battalion elements.
Hovertank Patterns: Primary armored assets assigned to the Assault Company for heavy engagement.

V. LOGISTICAL SUMMARY

Vessel Length: 800 Meters.
Crew Requirement: 3500 Assorted Personnel.
Operational Role: Heavy Sector Patrol / Anti-Piracy Command.

The Arbiter-Class serves as the primary deterrent against Consortium splinter groups, providing the Sector Patrol Division with the endurance and fighter throughput required to secure Myto trade routes.

Freefaller · Apr 6, 2026

OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-PATROL-STRATEGY

SUBJECT Operational Doctrine and Composition of Sector Patrol Groups

DISTRIBUTION Myto Sector Command / Naval Logistics Office / Sector Patrol Division

AUTHORIZATION Office of the Moff, Myto Sector

CLASSIFICATION Restricted Tactical Overview

I. MISSION OBJECTIVE

Sector Patrol Groups (SPGs) are deployed to maintain Imperial sovereignty and suppress the proliferation of Zann Consortium splinter elements. Primary objectives include the disruption of pirate supply lines, the protection of trade corridors, and the neutralization of mobile raiding bases. While standard customs duties remain active, tactical priority is shifted toward anti-piracy engagements.

II. GROUP COMPOSITION

Each Sector Patrol Group is structured around the carrier-first doctrine of the Arbiter-Class. Assets are allocated based on the anticipated threat level of the designated patrol zone.

Command and Carrier Core

01 Arbiter-Class Heavy Cruiser-Carrier: Functions as the mobile command hub and primary strike platform. It remains in a rear-guard position to coordinate starfighter deployment and provide long-range fire support.

Flanking and Aggressor Elements

02 Arquitens-Class Light Cruisers or 04 Raider-Class Corvettes: Assigned as the primary aggressors. These units utilize superior speed to pin enemy vessels or destroy light pirate craft, preventing hyperspace escapes while TIE wings maneuver for the kill.

Specialized Escorts

01 Lancer-Class Frigate: Provides dedicated anti-fighter screening. Its reduced speed is considered an acceptable trade-off for the absolute protection of the Arbiter's hangar bays.
02 Carrack-Class Light Cruisers: Assigned on an ad-hoc basis for heavy anti-capital duties. These are deployed specifically when intelligence suggests the presence of heavy splinter assets such as Aggressor-Class Destroyers or Keldabe-Class Battleships.

Logistics and Reconnaissance

02 Gozanti-Class Cruisers: The IGV-55 variants are utilized as sensor boats to expand the group's detection radius. While not intended for direct combat, they provide essential ground operation support and can ferry additional TIE units if required.

III. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

Tactical operations emphasize a carrier-centric approach to minimize risk to heavy hulls while maximizing sector coverage.

Defensive Posture

The Arbiter-Class typically occupies a standoff position, utilizing its 96-craft wing to dictate the flow of battle. The Lancer-Class maintains a tight tether to the carrier core to neutralize incoming ordnance and bomber threads and make up for the Arbiters more spread out point defense coverage.

Offensive Execution

Arquitens or Raider elements push forward to engage the enemy's flanks. Their role is to fix the target in place, allowing TIE-B bombers and TIE-M fighters to deliver precision strikes. If a target presents significant anti-fighter capabilities, the Arbiter-Class will transition to a forward-leaning stance to draw fire and utilize itsturbolaser batteries for judicial suppression.

IV. OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

The Sector Patrol Group architecture provides a scalable response to the rising criminality in the Myto Sector. By prioritizing starfighter throughput and specialized escorts, these groups can effectively dismantle pirate logistics without the need for additional heavy-hull reinforcement from the Imperial Navy.

Freefaller · Apr 6, 2026

OFFICIAL NAVAL PROCUREMENT EVALUATION | IN-ORD-7742-L

SUBJECT Technical Assessment of the Arbiter-Class Heavy Cruiser-Carrier (Myto Sector Construction)

DISTRIBUTION Imperial Naval High Command / Core World Logistics Oversight / Naval Tactical Review Board

AUTHORIZATION Office of the Grand Admiral, Naval Procurement Division

CLASSIFICATION Restricted Internal Review

I. PRODUCTION AND ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY

The Arbiter-Class is a localized construction originating from the Myto Sector. While the sector possesses a non-standard level of industrial maturity for a peripheral territory, the vessel is a derivative assembly based upon the Victory-class chassis. Architectural efficiency is compromised by the integration of a pre-fabricated command bridge module partially recessed into the primary superstructure. This modification, intended to reduce the command profile, introduces unnecessary structural complexities that fail to align with standardized Core World engineering protocols.

II. NAVAL ORDNANCE AND DOCTRINAL INCOMPATIBILITY

The armament manifest of the Arbiter-Class represents a significant departure from established Imperial engagement philosophy. The platform prioritizes high-volume starfighter throughput at the direct expense of heavy battery density.

Comparative Battery Deficiency

Energy Projection: The dual and medium turbolaser configuration (24 units total) offers insufficient energy output for high-intensity theater operations. It lacks the requisite alpha-strike capability provided by standard Imperial-class octuple barbettes.
Ordnance Loadout: The 20-tube concussion missile array is inadequate for planetary blockade or saturation fire.
Tactical Deviation: The vessel compromises factors crucial to Imperial psychological doctrine in favor of a carrier-first strategy. This approach is fundamentally incompatible with standard Naval procedure, which emphasizes direct capital ship dominance over decentralized fighter reliance.

III. STARFIGHTER LOGISTICS AND FISCAL REDUNDANCY

Sector Command has implemented several non-standard modifications to the TIE/ln and TIE/IN platforms. These "M-Pattern" variants incorporate shielding, life support, and missile hardpoints.

Fiscal Analysis: These upgrades result in an approximate 15% increase in unit cost. Given the Imperial Navy's reliance on attrition-based mass deployment, the allocation of additional credits toward individual pilot survivability is a redundant expenditure.
Operational Drift: The inclusion of hyperdrive-equipped scouts and heavy gunship variants, such as the TIE-R and TIE-P, suggests a move toward independent, multi-role small-craft that bypasses the logistical simplicity of the standard Imperial fleet wing.

IV. PROCUREMENT DETERMINATION

The Arbiter-Class is a specialized solution to a localized problem. While effective for suppressing low-intensity piracy within the Myto Sector, it lacks the structural density of the Victory-class and the strategic weight of the Imperial-class.

Recommendation: REJECTED

Naval Procurement Division finds no utility in the adoption of this hull for broader fleet integration. It is an over-specialized platform that cedes primary offensive agency to expensive, shielded starfighters. It remains a regional asset, suited only for peripheral duties where the presence of a true Star Destroyer is deemed an excessive allocation of resources.

V. FINAL SUMMARY

The Arbiter-Class remains a localized curiosity. No further shipyard allocations or Core World contracts are authorized for this design. It functions as a sufficient instrument for regional pacification, but it does not meet the rigorous standards required for the fist of the Empire.

–

Can you tell the one writing this report is a snide core worlder? I tried to get that across while keeping things professional. And yes, there are more of these reports incoming pretty soon, I've been working on them for a while now to just have a bunch ready for when certain aspects get brought up again.

The next one will cover the many LECA variants and the roles they cover, armaments, etc... I've also got one in the works for the Myto-Pattern Stormtrooper armor featured last chapter.

Freefaller · Apr 6, 2026

OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ARMY-ASSET-REPORT

SUBJECT Technical Specifications and Operational Overview of LECA platform and assorted variants

DISTRIBUTION Myto Sector Command / Naval Logistics Office / Sector Patrol Division

AUTHORIZATION Office of the Moff, Myto Sector

CLASSIFICATION Restricted Asset Overview

I. DEVELOPMENTAL BACKGROUND

The Light Expeditionary Combat Armor (LECA) was developed by Sector Command as a heavy infantry support walker meant to provide support to ground troops. Despite initial setbacks regarding R&D, the design was finalized and put into limited production. Now, it is commonly utilized across Sector Army forces as a light alternative to heavier platforms. Its primary purpose is to allow smaller infantry formations to bring heavier firepower to bear without reliance on platforms such as the ATST, ATPT and others. The LECA has since then been developed into multiple variants for both combat and civilian roles.

Common Chassis

LECA units are designed with a common core chassis and modular hardpoint system, creating a modular and streamlined production pipeline. While variants make various modifications of varying complexity, the core chassis and hardpoints allow for simplified unit design and construction alongside lessened logistical strain.
All LECA units come equipped with 1 small forward facing shield generator, intended to extend operational durability and protect from powerful munitions.

II. COMBAT VARIANTS

LECA-A1 "Grunt" General Infantry Support Configuration
1. The first produced and most commonly used military LECA, the A1 is built to be a versatile multi-purpose heavy infantry platform.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary Armament: 1 tri-barreled heavy repeating blaster cannon.
  2. Secondary Armament: 1 shoulder mounted light E-WEB blaster turret.
  3. Utility: Multi-Spectral Smoke Launcher array, allowing for smoke cover over a large area.
  4. Utility: Supply pack that carries extra rations, blaster cartridges and bacta patches for infantry.
LECA-A2 "Tank Hunter" Anti Armor Configuration
1. A variant meant for use in situations where enemy armor is present, the A2 is built to deter or destroy armored targets assaulting allied infantry positions.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary Armament: L-s7.2 scaled-down TIE laser cannon featuring high penetration but a low rate of fire due to ammo and cooling concerns.
  2. Secondary: 1 shoulder mounted light repeating blaster for anti-infantry and point defense.
  3. Tertiary: 1 shoulder mounted dual tube dumb fire disposable rocket launcher that allows for high power strikes against armor.
  4. Utility: 1 Rangefinder and designator package, allowing farther ranged hits on armor.
LECA-A3 "Skirmisher" High Mobility Configuration
1. Featuring far higher speeds and mobility than its counterparts, the A3 is built to flank enemy positions faster and with more survivability than standard infantry units. However, less armor has been attached to allow for this speed, increasing the danger of heavy blaster and explosive weapons.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary: 2 arm attached TL-50 repeating blasters. The model was modified through simple means to attack to hardpoints on the arms, allowing for suppressing fire while reducing weight.
  2. Secondary: 1 shoulder mounted semi-automatic grenade launcher. This weapon allows for a variety of grenade types, however unlike the multi-spectral smoke launcher it cannot fire in multiple directions at once. Is commonly equipped with impact grenades, though some units prefer thermal imploders.
    1. CAUTION: Thermal detonators can be fired from this launcher, however the extreme explosive yield is incredibly dangerous. Recommended use by expert pilots only.
  3. Utility: 4 leg mounted jump jets. These can be used both to vastly increase jump distance and greatly increase running speed through micro boosts.
  4. Utility: 1 mapping uplink, allowing A3 units to send terrain and tactical data to allies and commanding officers for fire support coordination and other strategic concerns.
LECA-A4 "Skybane" Anti Aircraft Configuration
1. The A4 is purpose built to support infantry and other elements by posing a danger to enemy aircraft. While not as powerful or long ranged as a dedicated AA platform, the A4 presents a more mobile package that is less easily targeted and can stay closer to infantry units. However, its sensor package is a weight that necessitates the reduction of armor in order to maintain acceptable levels of mobility.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary: 1 extended tri-barreled heavy repeating laser cannon with higher projectile velocity to allow for a tighter leading of targets.
  2. Secondary: 1 shoulder mounted light repeating blaster for anti-infantry and point defense.
  3. Utility: 1 targeting sensor package.
  4. Utility: Cooling vents that allow for a higher volume of AA fire.
LECA-A5 "Mortarman" Indirect Fire Support Configuration
1. The A5 is a support platform that allows for closer and more accurate indirect fire support for infantry. While it lacks the power of dedicated artillery, its more mobile nature functions well in urban warfare situations.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary: 1 arm attacked TL-50 repeating blaster for anti-infantry.
  2. Secondary: 2 shoulder mounted mortar launch systems. Ammunition is modular, allowing for HE, fragmentation, thermal imploders and other standardized explosives.
    1. WARNING: Same warning from the A3 applies. Thermal detonators are only to be utilized by experienced pilots.
  3. Utility: Retractable stabilizer struts can be extended from the chassis to ensure stability when firing.
  4. Utility: ID10 Seeker Droid integration for spotting targets and feeding sensory data to onboard targeting computers.
LECA-A6 "Guardian" Medical Evacuation Configuration
1. The A6 is a model that sees use only in harsher conflict zones. It focuses on evacing injured troopers while under fire, and retreating to safe zones where further medical treatment can be found.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary: 1 tri-barreled heavy repeating blaster cannon.
  2. Secondary: Multi-spectral smoke launcher.
  3. Utility: 1 back mounted enclosed armor pod made to fit 4 soldiers in stable positions for medical treatment.
  4. Utility: 2 shoulder mounted manipulator arms controlled by the pilot with assistance from an attached droid brain. These arms are used to perform emergency medical field dressings, bacta sprays, and for loading wounded into armored back pods.
LECA-A7 "Shield-Bearer" Bulwark Configuration
1. The A7 is built solely for the purpose of carrying a shield generator and allowing infantry and armor to advance with extra protection. Larger than the normal LECA by nearly a meter, it is the most expensive standardized LECA variant by far and the least produced. However, its defensive capabilities provide a tangible battlefield advantage when deployed.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary: 1 arm mounted TL-50 repeating blaster
  2. Utility: 1 back mounted heavy shield generator and cooling fans. The shield bubble at maximum range can extend to cover an area of 50x50 meters.
  3. Utility: 2 forward facing shield projectors, allowing the shield to be projected solely forward as a wall. This is stronger than the bubble shield due to the concentrated energy, but lacks the size or coverage.
  4. Utility: 2 shoulder mounted deployable mantlets. These are durasteel sheets that, in the case of shield failure, can be deployed to the A7's hands in order to continue protecting infantry units and itself.

III. CIVILIAN UTILITY VARIANTS (LCUW)
The Light Civilian Utility Walker (LCUW) refers to the decentralized production of the LECA chassis for non-combat applications. Unlike the military A series, these units are manufactured by independent corporations under license. These models retain the modular hardpoint system, allowing for rapid conversion between industrial roles.

LCUW-DS7 "Stevedore" Heavy Cargo Configuration
1. Manufacturer: Pathline Inc. The DS7 is the primary logistical workhorse for orbital docks and surface-level warehouses. It is optimized for high-volume cargo throughput in environments where repulsorlift sleds are impractical.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary Utility: 3 independent tractor beam projectors (02 shoulder, 01 chest). These allow for the simultaneous manipulation of multiple standardized crates or the stabilization of oversized loads.
  2. Secondary Utility: High-torque manipulator hands with magnetic-grip palms for physical contact and fine-motor adjustments.
  3. Safety: Magnetic locking soles. These ensure the chassis remains anchored to freighter hulls or wet-dock surfaces during high-wind or zero-G operations.
LCUW-AQ4 "Hydronaut" Deep-Sea Salvage Configuration
1. Manufacturer: Abyssal Industries Designed within underwater facilities for ship-breaking and reef-mining, the AQ4 features a reinforced pressure-hull. It is commonly used to strip wrecked vessels following pirate raids.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary Utility: 02 arm-mounted heavy-duty plasma torches. These are capable of cutting through starship-grade hull plating in sub-aquatic or vacuum conditions.
  2. Secondary Utility: 01 shoulder-mounted high-capacity magnetic winch with a 50-meter durasteel cable.
  3. Utility: Integrated maneuvering thrusters and an internal high-pressure oxygen reserve for extended extra-vehicular operations.
LCUW-FR9 "Firefighter" Emergency Response Configuration
1. Manufacturer: Belladoon Walker Works The FR9 is a specialized disaster-relief platform capable of navigating collapsed structures or toxic environments that would neutralize standard droids or unarmored personnel.
2. Equipment:
  1. Primary Utility: 02 arm-mounted high-pressure cryo-foam cannons. These can suppress chemical or electrical fires at a distance of 30 meters.
  2. Utility: Multi-spectral thermal imaging sensor array. This allows the pilot to identify life signs and structural weak points through thick smoke or debris.
  3. Utility: External rebreather link. This allows the LECA to act as a mobile oxygen hub for trapped civilians or infantry.

4. LCUW-KM1 "Rock-Cracker" Mining and Excavation Configuration

Manufacturer: Khagan Motors A ruggedized, "Frankenstein" style build that utilizes reinforced, off-the-shelf industrial parts. It is prized for its reliability in asteroid mining and high-gravity excavation.
Equipment:
1. Primary Utility: 01 high-impact vibration-drill arm. Designed to fracture heavy ore veins or reinforced ferrocrete.
2. Secondary Utility: 01 shoulder-mounted heavy excavator bucket for material clearing.
3. Utility: Acoustic resonators. These sensors detect gas pockets or structural instabilities within mine shafts, providing an early warning for potential cave-ins.
4. Utility: Retractable stabilizer struts. These are identical to the A5 "Mortarman" configuration, ensuring a firm base for drilling operations.

IV. LOGISTICAL SUMMARY

The LCUW line demonstrates the extreme versatility of the common LECA chassis. By licensing the design to independent firms, Sector Command has ensured a steady supply of spare parts and skilled technicians throughout the Myto Sector. While these units lack the primary armament of military variants, the Common Tool Interface software of the LECA is compatible with LCUW chassis, allowing them to be up-armored and weaponized within two standard hours given the proper technicians are on standby.

V. REPORT CONCLUSION

The LECA and LCUM frames are highly versatile and logistically sound units that complement the growing industrial and military framework of the sector. It is this body's recommendation that LECA production be increased to match future projected military and industrial expansions, and that research continue into both the LECA platform and the overall standardization program.

–

Told yall, huh?

LECA's are something that I threw in out of nowhere, and they actually ended up being pretty neat. They've been absent for a while, a background detail at best. I hope to feature them more heavily in upcoming chapters and interludes.

Demonianism · Apr 6, 2026

Thoughts and Opinions

"Well, Admiral? What are your thoughts?" Mon Mothma asked.

Gial Ackbar had a lot of thoughts, but he rather suspected the woman wasn't interested in his political takes on her reactionary ways. The report on the other wave, written by a Kuati no doubt, was a frustrating miracle.

"We are, once again, saved by Imperial idiocy," he began. "The Arbiter class, and even more so its fleet deployment, may have been aimed at pirates but it would most certainly spell the end of our current gains. Indeed it would likely set us back more than a decade, save for our new supporters."

Moronic core worlders, finding out that they were just as likely to be oppressed as the rest of the galaxy once Palpatine was able.

He continued on, "That is not to say it will not be a threat if someone in the enemy camp manages to grow a strategic brain. The designers clearly put a great deal of thought into ease of adoption and manufacture. If the Empire's most capable ship yards were to start building them…we could see them used against in less than three standard months."

The ground pounder Syndulla protested, "But they've been experiencing fairly high casualties for Imp ships."

Obviously. Thankfully Raddus was here to prevent Gial from enlightening the fool.

"With undertrained sailors, yes. With properly trained crew? Catastrophic losses for us. The entire reason we need star fighters with hyperdrives is because we lack proper carrier capacity. It's hard on the pilots, hard on the fighters, and limits our strategic options by no small measure. Our boys are the best but going into that kind of fight, facing well rested enemy fighters, with shields, and a Lancer? We're not looking at victory, we're looking to survive."

Dodonna actually had something of a brain for strategy when he cared to exercise it, "It sounds like these ships could be an enormous boon to our own tactics."

Completely true. For a brief moment Gial imagined having just two of the carriers. Running three shifts and hot bunking they could support far more fighter craft than most could imagine. Uncomfortable, yes, but enormously effective. The amount of reach for their preferred hit and run tactics would at least tripple.

Unfortunately for his dreams the spook, Draven, was already shaking his head. "Myto sector may as well be impossible for large acquisitions. Even the info we get is little better than civvy accessible. And that's unlikely to change with how well the sector is doing. It's hard to find malcontents when the economy is roaring and the Moff is firmly in the anti-corruption camp."

"Well," Mon Mothma began, "We're just going to have to keep relying on Imperial Idiocy."

Like they hadn't been doing that for two standard decades.

———
Ackbar had more opinions than I thought he did. Typed up on my tablets' touch screen, so it's probably a bit rough.

Freefaller · Apr 6, 2026

ALLIANCE INTELLIGENCE | THREAT ASSESSMENT: NAVAL SUPPLEMENT

SUBJECT: Arbiter-Class Operational Hazards and Structural Vulnerabilities

DISTRIBUTION: Alliance High Command / Starfighter Command / Sector Cell Leads

AUTHORIZATION: Office of SpecForce Intelligence

CLASSIFICATION: High-Priority Tactical Brief

I. STRATEGIC THREAT ANALYSIS

The Arbiter-Class Heavy Cruiser-Carrier is specifically engineered to dismantle the foundational tactics of the Alliance. While a standard Star Destroyer acts as a blunt instrument for planetary subjugation, the Arbiter is a precision tool for sector-wide pacification.

Counter-Insurgency Doctrine: The vessel utilizes a carrier-first approach that directly negates our hit-and-run advantages. By prioritizing starfighter throughput over raw battery power, an Arbiter can maintain a persistent "no-fly zone" across a wide engagement radius, making it nearly impossible for our strike packages to achieve the local space superiority required for an extraction.
Anti-Piracy Heritage: Because it was designed to hunt mobile raiding bases, the Arbiter is exceptionally efficient at tracking and intercepting the low-signature logistical tails our cells rely on. Its inclusion of TIE-R Ranger units ensures that even if we jump to hyperspace, there is a high probability of being shadowed.

II. CRITICAL WEAKNESSES AND PRODUCTION FAILURES

Despite its tactical utility, the Arbiter is a product of desperation and rushed industrial cycles. Intelligence confirms these hulls are being completed in only 2.5 months, leading to several exploitable flaws.

Absence of Ion Weaponry: In a staggering production oversight, the Arbiter features no ion cannons. It lacks any organic capacity to disable our vessels non-lethally or efficiently suppress high-output shield generators. Alliance commanders should exploit this "Ion Gap" by utilizing electronic warfare suites, as the Arbiter has no way to "fire back" in the electronic spectrum.
Personnel Deficiency: While the fighter pilots are elite, the naval crews are significantly subpar. Due to Oversector Command drawing away veteran personnel and denying mass deployment of properly trained sailors, the Arbiter is currently manned by green sailors rushed through makeshift academies. Expect slow response times to hull breaches, poor gunnery accuracy, and a general lack of composure during sustained boarding actions.
Structural Fragility: The 2.5-month construction window suggests a lack of internal reinforcement. The recessed Victory-style bridge module, while reducing the silhouette, creates a localized stress point. A concentrated torpedo strike at the junction between the bridge neck and the primary hangar deck is likely to cause catastrophic decompression.

III. ENGAGEMENT ADVISORY

The Arbiter is a "glass carrier"—it can project an elite, Edin-trained fighter wing that will decimate our starfighters, but the ship itself is structurally and operationally vulnerable.

Tactical Recommendation: Do not engage the fighter wing directly. Utilize Y-Wing or B-Wing elements to prioritize ion strikes against the Arbiter's hangar bay doors. By jamming the launch racks, you trap their best assets, the pilots, inside a hull manned by a crew that doesn't yet know how to save it.

IV. STARFIGHTER CORPS ANALYSIS: THE MYTO VARIANTS

While the capital fleet suffers from rushed construction, the starfighter complement represents a more calculated threat. The "M-Pattern" refits are designed to close the traditional gap between Imperial mass-production and Alliance durability.

Enhanced Survivability: The addition of shielding and integrated life support to TIE-M and TIE/IN-M units has effectively neutralized our "one-pass" kill advantage. Pilots are reporting that these units can withstand grazing hits that would disintegrate a standard TIE/ln, necessitating sustained target tracking.
The Edin Factor: Intelligence confirms that the TIE pilots graduated from the Edin Military Academy. Unlike the green crews aboard the Arbiter-class, these pilots are highly disciplined and possess tactical proficiency exceeding standard Imperial Navy averages.
TIE-W Whirlwind "Black-Tier" Warning: The Whirlwind is a purpose-built interceptor utilizing rotary wing assemblies to create unpredictable firing arcs.
- Engagement Scale: A single Whirlwind is manageable but dangerous; expect at least one to three casualties to secure a kill. However, a full squadron (12 units) creates a lethal saturation zone.
- Standing Order: Do not engage Whirlwind squadrons without high-quality capital ship support to provide a flak screen. If unassisted, immediate tactical withdrawal is the only sanctioned response.

V. GROUND ASSET EVALUATION: THE LECA PLATFORM

The Light Expeditionary Combat Armor (LECA) serves as the primary mobile support element for the Line Companies. Its deployment is intended to provide heavy firepower in environments where larger walkers are physically constrained.

Bureaucratic Containment: Due to successful long-term efforts by Alliance assets within the Imperial Army Procurement Office, the LECA is currently dismissed by the Core World high command as "backwater scrap." This perception has successfully limited its proliferation, though it remains a staple in the Myto and Braxant sectors.
Tactical Versatility: The LECA's modular hardpoints allow it to cycle through anti-infantry, anti-armor, and AA roles with minimal downtime. Its bipedal agility makes it a significant threat during boarding actions against Alliance blockade runners.

VI. ENGAGEMENT DOCTRINE: LECA COUNTERMEASURES (THEORETICAL)

Priority Note: Alliance SpecForce currently lacks direct combat telemetry against the LECA platform due to limited proliferation and a lack of active ground operations within the Myto or Braxant sectors. The following protocols are derived from technical schematics and simulated humanoid-frame stress tests.

Tactical Environment and Deployment

Field analysts must assume the LECA will rarely be encountered as a localized solo threat. Standard Imperial doctrine for the platform emphasizes a symbiotic infantry link. The walker provides the heavy fire-chamber and mobile cover, while the accompanying infantry squad protects the walker's rear and flank blind spots. Do not attempt to isolate the walker without first suppressing the supporting fire-team.

Projected Vulnerabilities

Balance and Center of Gravity: While the humanoid frame allows for superior traversal of uneven terrain compared to traditional bipedal scout walkers, it is susceptible to similar balance disruptions as humanoids in general. High-impact kinetic strikes or localized seismic charges are projected to cause stumble-state failures. Targeting the ankle-actuators or knee-servos during a lateral movement phase could result in a total platform tip-over.
- Note: It is unknown if the LECA contains extensive enough internal technology to achieve superior balance over standard humanoids that would negate such tactics. However, the platform's size and focus on maintenance simplicity indicates this is unlikely.
Optics and Sensor Overload: Unlike the narrow viewing ports of larger walkers, the LECA appears to rely on a centralized sensor pod for the pilot's HUD. Standard Alliance flash-bangs or high-intensity ion flares are theorized to be effective against this smaller, more sensitive array.
Shield Limitations: Technical data indicates the forward-facing shield generator is a directional wedge rather than a full bubble. This suggests a critical vulnerability to flanking maneuvers or ambushes. If the infantry screen can be broken, a single thermal detonator to the rear power-coupling is the theorized best kill-method for units without heavier firepower.

Combat Recommendation: The Tri-Point Trap

In the absence of field experience, SpecForce suggests a staggered engagement. Use a bait unit to draw the LECA's forward shield and primary weapons fire, while two flanking elements target the platform's unshielded rear with explosives or other heavy ordnance.

Warning: Avoid cable-tether tactics used against heavy walkers. The LECA's humanoid arms allow it to potentially catch or brace itself against terrain, making cable-tripping an unreliable strategy.

VII. COVERT ACQUISITION AND MODIFICATION (LCUW)

The Alliance continues to exploit the sector's industrial output through the purchase of LCUW (Civilian Utility) models from independent manufacturers like Khagan Motors.

The "Slapdash" Conversion: These civilian frames are regularly modified by our technicians into improvised combat walkers. By utilizing the modular "Common Tool Interface," we can mount salvaged laser cannons or rocket pods.
Operational Limits: These converted units are inherently inferior to the factory-spec military LECA-A series. They lack the structural reinforcement and integrated shield harmonics of the Imperial models. They are best utilized as mobile fire-support platforms for urban ambushes rather than frontline brawlers.

VIII. STRATEGIC SUMMARY

The Myto Sector represents a unique logistical paradox for the Alliance. While the local military output is hazardous, the sector's administrative stability is essential to our broader regional efforts.

The Rusty Refit Mandate: Alliance High Command's primary objective in the Myto Sector is the protection and expansion of the Rusty Refit Orbital Yard. This facility has evolved into a vital logistical hub for the North and North-East regions of the galaxy. Its continued operation as a "clean" public-private partnership is a top-tier priority, any action that risks exposing our control of the yard is strictly prohibited.
Containment Strategy: The containment of Myto-pattern technologies (Arbiter, LECA, Whirlwind) remains a concern, but it is one that requires minimal direct interference. The Core-Centric attitudes of the Imperial Procurement Office and the Core World elite do the majority of our work for us. Their inherent disdain for "Rim-built scrap" ensures that these superior designs remain isolated.
Operational Directive: Alliance assets are to focus on subtle, psychological pushes within the Imperial bureaucracy to reinforce these biases. We must maintain the status quo. A prosperous, stable Myto Sector that both ensures our own logistical tail while preventing the betterment of Imperial military doctrine.

FIELD ADVISORY: Maintain low-profile signatures. Do not provoke Sector Patrol. Ensure the Rusty Refit remains the invisible spine of our Northern logistics.

Yacov · Apr 7, 2026

Omake: Trigon Class Starfighter

Production Information

Manufacturer: Curcio Dynamics (Recently joined subsidiary of BGES)

Model: Trigon Class Starfighter

Type: Starfighter

Cost: 60,000 credits

——

Technical Specifications

Engine unit(s): Koensayr brand Ion Jet Engine

Maximum atmospheric speed: 900 km/h

Hyperdrive: none

Shielding: equipped

Power: fusion generator

Hull: titanium hull

Sensors: equipped

Armament: 2 IX4 laser cannons

Crew: 1 Pilot

Cargo Capacity: 50 kg

Life Support: equipped

Consumables: 3 days

——

Usage

Availability: Licensed

Roles:

Cheap interceptor
Low priority patrols
In-system escort

Affiliation:

Private interests during Moff Surrde's rule
Imperial aligned PDFs in the Braxant sector
BGES companies

——

Description

"What do you get with half a Y-Wing, some scrap hull plating, and some really desperate buyers? A Trigon." - A joke among scrap dealers in the Braxant sector.

The Trigon Class Starfighter is a starship designed with component and supply scarcity in mind. This basic starfighter was designed during the Moff Surrde era in the Braxant sector. It was primarily sold to private actors and PDFs for defense fleets. However, it has recently seen an increase in production after the founding of the BGES.

Background

"At the rate things are going, Moff Surrde is going to run this sector into the ground. If we want to keep producing starships, we gotta make a design to account for that." - Recording of a Curcio Dynamics meeting regarding the economic state of the sector.

The Braxant sector in the years leading up to the Battle of Yavin were not what one would call prosperous. Moff Surrde's flagship Military First policy had wreaked havoc on the sector's economy. Faced with potential and realized technological regression in the private market, companies began to adapt to these conditions in an effort to stay in business.

One such business was Curcio Dynamics, a small starship manufacturer. They saw which way the wind was blowing and the need to make a change. Their solution was to set out to design a product they would be able to manufacture even should contracting with other manufacturers be unavailable. This proved prophetic with Moff Surrde's decree giving the Imperial Military monopsonistic status over a large amount of small scale starship component manufacturing in Curcio Dynamics' subsector. The plan was now even more crucial to the company's survival than ever.

The plan was to make a starship that could be assembled primarily out of old Clone Wars era components. Working or semi working models of ships like the Y-wing in the sector were long since snapped up, however the pieces and components of such vessels were still on the bone so to speak. While outdated and in dire need of refurbishing, these components were still in relative abundance in the sector given the vast amount of resources both sides but into their navies and the final stages of the war occurring in the Outer Rim. Curcio Dynamics began scouring scrapyards, bargain hunting at secondhand sellers, and using what minimal influence they had to grovel before officials in charge of Imperial stockpiles. They determined to use primarily Koensayr brand parts for the project, as they were the most abundant and therefore easier to acquire in sufficient quantities.

Design

"Look I get the firepower is anemic, but what's the point of a launcher when we can't even source torpedos anymore?" - Curcio Dynamics salesman trying to pitch the Trigon to a reluctant customer.

The Trigon is unimpressive in a vacuum. A starfighter that is mediocre or below average in most metrics. The only strong points are its ease of repair and affordability. However given the market circumstances it was designed under, the fact a small manufacturing company could continue producing starfighters at all is a small miracle.

The Trigon is named as such for the three wings it possesses. Two side wings and one vertical wing on top. This triangular shape made it unpopular with the Imperial Military mainly due to bringing up bad memories of the Droid tri-fighter. This was actually an intentional decision by Curcio Dynamics, as the Trigon was made for private buyers and the hope was the unpopularity with the Military would discourage the sector government from wanting to nationalize their company.

Protection wise the Trigon is nothing special. Armor production had been one of the few things that managed to stay stable during the Surrde years. Foundries producing for the Navy always had stock procurement officers deemed inadequate for the Imperial Military. This stock was heavily fought over by Curcio and other companies as what's not good for the military was often good enough for private companies. Procuring outdated, but useable shield generators by comparison faced even less issues due to many of Surrde's naval commanders adhering to Traditional Imperial starfighter doctrine.

For propulsion the Trigon uses a single Koensayr Ion Jet Engine. The specific model could vary depending on the supply situation. However the most common was the R200 as it is what the GAR used in their Y-wings so they were spread throughout the galaxy in large numbers. The engine allowed the Trigon to reach adequate speeds for a starfighter. However the agility of the starship was lacking as the number of maneuver thrusters on the Trigon was limited due to supply shortages. This led Trigon pilots favoring relatively high speeds and wide turns.

Adding hyperdrives to the Trigon was nothing but a pipe dream. New productions in Braxant were slated for the Imperial Military, while used models were ripped out of starfighters to be jury rigged into larger, more important vessels. Such luxuries in the Braxant sector were jealously guarded by those private owners that had them. As such the Trigon would be operating primarily in a single system with anything else generally requiring being shipped via freighter like most non-hyperdrive equipped vessels in the sector, or carried in the rare carrier vessel that was not already in Imperial Military hands. This was not a deal breaker for the Trigon's buyers as they were mainly concerned with defending their planets or convoys. The capability to launch offensive raids and other operations were not a high priority.

Armaments on the Trigon were another sticking point as there are only two IX4 laser cannons for its weapons. Launchers could be procured or produced. However the ammunition was a different story with Moff Surrde's forces seizing as many torpedoes, missiles, and bombs they could get their hands on. Even attempting to purchase large quantities would get you a visit from a stormtrooper squad or the local ISB. As for ion cannons, trying to go cheap or secondhand on those usually resulted in a finicky piece of tech that breaks as often as it works, so the decision was made not to include that either.

Production and Sales

"What do you mean Curcio Dynamics are still making starfighters in the Braxant Sector? I thought Surrde disemboweled most of the independent production with his policies." - IGCPP official reading through reports of Braxant's production capabilities.

Production and sales were slow when the Trigon was released. The issue lay more with the former than the latter. Due to the economic recession in the Braxant sector the equipment necessary for mass production was either not available for purchase or unable to be maintained due to lack of replacement parts on the market.

For most years around a dozen Trigons were produced annually. This was mainly due to having to large amounts of the manufacturing having to be done by hand and Curcio Dynamics not being a big company in the first place. Numbers picked up as the company got more experienced near the end of Surrde's reign with his final year having Curcio producing over two dozen starfighters.

Sales were usually done individually or in small numbers rather than large procurement orders. Buyers were mainly private interests looking for any form of defense when the Imperial patrols were not nearby. Users found the Trigon sufficient for dealing with the uglies that pirates were fielding due to suffering their own supply problems. The main advantage Trigon had over the uglies was the fact its parts were all designed to fit with each other and it being made in a semi-proper factory setting rather than in some cave with a box of scraps. Quality control was also drastically higher due to workers at Curcio Dynamics checking over every Trigon they produced like their company's life and their livelihood's depended on it (which it did).

The fall of Moff Surrde and the rise of Moff Delinian has begun to bring changes to the Braxant sector. Curcio Dynamics has since joined the new BGES and has secured some investment loans to modernize and expand its facilities. BGES leadership agreed to support Trigon production until sector supply chains and manufacturing can be rebuilt to the point better options can be locally produced.

Already the increased ease of trade has lead to procurement offers for the Trigon with PDFs and companies around the sector. This surge in demand is unlikely to last if Braxant manages to stitch its economy back together. However there are rumors of the development of a Trigon-2 in the works to take advantage of future component availability and the PR the brand has earned during the economic dark times.

——

A whole new sector to explore. You know what that means? New component shortages and supply issues to design vehicles around! After all, why should Myto get all the new designs? When people have regressed to using slugthrowers on the ground, the private spaceship market probably is degrading a bit in advancement as well. Curcio Dynamics represents those small manufacturers who have to adapt and continue producing products even when governments stop making economic or even reality based decisions. Curcio made it through the Surrde years through mostly spite, and the determination to get back up despite circumstances sucker punching them repeatedly.

The Trigon is basically Poor Market Conditions: the starfighter. There are a lot more limitations placed on a ship's design when there is not an economic boom or a friendly government to facilitate development and production. It uses decades old component and weapon stockpiles to make a starfighter able to do the job when everything more modern or expensive has been cannibalized or seized by the Imperial Military. Think getting access to some of a Cold War era stockpile and trying to make something to field in a modern military for a minor country. Heck Paraguay apparently is still using refurbished M3 Stuarts, a light tank made in the early 1940s, in their tank fleet today.

Inspiration for the look of this one is the Lippisch P.13a. Funnily enough it also looks a bit like the old non-canonical Imperial attack craft before it was decided TIE fighters would be the main Imperial starfighter. Was not my intention when making it, but a funny coincidence that fits the outdated theme nonetheless.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · Apr 7, 2026

IMPERIAL R&D ASSET REPORT | PROJECT-SKYFALL

SUBJECT Phase I Testing and Evaluation of Orbital Insertion Prototypes

DISTRIBUTION Minda System R&D Division / Sector Army Logistics / Office of the Moff

AUTHORIZATION Lead Researcher H. Vane

CLASSIFICATION Restricted Research Data

I. PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Project Skyfall seeks to develop a self-contained orbital deployment method for the LECA platform. The goal is to bypass the reliance on landing craft and deliver combat-ready walkers directly to the surface from a cruiser in high orbit. Testing has been moved to the industrial testing grounds on Minda-4 to utilize the planet's heavy manufacturing infrastructure and automated recovery zones.

II. PROTOTYPE A: MODEL-88 ROCKET HARNESS

This configuration consists of a standard military LECA chassis equipped with a detachable rear-mounted thruster assembly and an experimental particle shield overlay for thermal protection.

Technical Approach
The harness is designed to be a low-cost solution that detaches immediately upon touchdown, allowing the LECA to enter combat without delay. For safety and data integrity, all test units are controlled via remote automation. No live pilots are authorized for this phase of testing.
Test Log 09-B (Minda-4 Range)
The unit was released into the upper atmosphere. The particle shield successfully managed the thermal load during reentry. However, as the unit transitioned to the powered descent phase, the harness experienced a structural misalignment. The high-stress environment caused a failure in the primary mounting brackets. Upon ignition of the retro-thrusters, the uneven thrust distribution resulted in a violent flat spin. The automated system was unable to compensate for the torque, leading to high-velocity impact and total chassis loss.

III. PROTOTYPE B: INTEGRATED DROP POD SYSTEM

The second configuration utilizes a specialized, heavy-duty drop pod to encase the LECA. This pod is intended to protect the walker from both orbital heat and potential anti-aircraft fire.

Technical Approach
The drop pod is theoretically the safer method for the hardware, but it carries significant logistical weight. It requires more fuel for its larger retro-thrusters and necessitates more complex launch infrastructure aboard the Arbiter-class carriers. To keep production costs viable, the design utilized heavy-duty mechanical shock absorbers rather than inertial dampeners. Inertial dampeners of the required scale were deemed cost-prohibitive given the extreme force of the projected impact.
Test Log 12-F (Minda-4 Range)
The pod maintained a stable descent and corrected its heading effectively. The retro-thrusters fired as scheduled, successfully slowing the pod to its target landing velocity. However, the mechanical shock absorbers failed to dissipate the kinetic energy upon touchdown. The force of the impact was transferred directly into the LECA's internal frame. Both legs of the unit were crushed and the lower torso suffered severe structural shearing.

IV. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

The Rocket Harness is more cost-effective and takes up less hangar space but currently lacks the stability required for reliable deployment. The Integrated Drop Pod offers better protection during the flight phase but the weight and impact-force issues remain unsolved without the inclusion of expensive inertial dampening tech.

V. PROJECT STATUS ADDENDUM

By order of Sector Command, Project Skyfall is transitioned to low-priority status. Funding for further Phase II testing has been reduced.

Sector Command currently identifies no immediate military necessity for orbital drop technology. Current engagement data suggests that Myto Sector naval forces can achieve and maintain orbital superiority against local pirate elements with minimal resistance. Given that pirates remain the primary threat, standard deployment via landing craft is considered sufficient and more logistically sound. R&D will continue to refine these designs in the background as resources allow.

Freefaller · Apr 8, 2026

Chp-108

AUTHORS NOTE PLEASE READ:
I keep seeing people ask about this, and since it seems not many read the AN's I put at the bottom, I'm putting it here. At the beginning of each chapter, I put some numbers, like-

1.1 ABY

-This is indicative of the date. Specifically 1 year and 1 month after the battle of Yavin. Please remember this.

Also, for those asking about Legends and Canon, I am going for a mix of both with a sprinkling of my own AU stuff post-endor. I will not be bringing the Vong in at all, and when it comes to Thrawn I'm still deciding on what happens there, though he will be back at some point.

Thank you for your time.

-Freefaller

Chp - 108
2.3 ABY
Minda System
Outskirts of Accordia

The wind blew in from the east, rolling over the compound and bringing with it the scent of recent rainfall. The plateau was dotted with prefabricated buildings, while construction sites for permanent installations sat between them.

Construction workers from a local Accordian company had been assigned their contract, their workers mingling with clan members while on break.

Alor Kharta Udanta stood on an elevated landing pad, eyes roving over the land. Within her mind, she could visualize the finished compound.

Pressing a button on her PDA, she spoke into its microphone. "Note. Remember to build an extra anti-aircraft tower on the southern wall. It lacks overlapping coverage.

Clan Udanta had come to the Myto Sector seeking a way to survive. A gamble made from desperation that now brought them great prosperity.

On the north western edge of Accordia, upon a flat plateau that sat in the hills that surrounded the city, Clan Udanta had been granted the permits and materials to build a new compound.

A new home.

From behind her, Kharta's son and heir approached her, armored boots clanking on the metal of the platform.

"They seek to bind us."

Kharta sighed. "You see only part of the whole."

She could imagine the expressions hidden under his helmet. A motherly instinct she'd honed over the years.

"They give us land, weapons and money so we may hunt their enemies like {hunting animals}?" His voice was tight with frustration. She knew that more burdens had been placed on his shoulders as her heir. Unlike other clanners his age, he'd turned to duty instead of basking in the spoils of this new age for their clan.

She was unimaginably proud of how he'd grown, but she wished he could enjoy his youth before the march of time took it from him.

"You see chains. I see desperation. The Empire is stretched thin protecting this sector. So it has turned to us. In its fear, the local government has done what the Empire could never do."

"And what's that?" He said, voice softer now. She could hear the soft tapping of his fingers on his leg. A tick he'd picked up, one she knew he used to keep himself focused even if he never spoke about it. His willingness to listen and learn had been why she'd chosen to name him heir.

"They asked for help. An act of humility, something the Empire could never lower itself to."

Above them, the hum of engines pierced the clouds.

A second later, a shape parted through the clouds, sharp hull bristling with powerful weaponry.

A Teroch-Class cruiser, moving to set down on the landing pad. The ship was a spoil of war, won from a skirmish with pirate forces. The orbital refit yard had fixed the ship for them, readying it for their clan operations.

Its hull gleamed with Clan Udanta colors, the clan emblem gleaming alongside it. Below, its name was etched into the plating.

Kad Udanta. The Sword of Udanta.

"They let us have one?" He asked, tapping stopped as he gazed at the ship. His breath caught as he saw the name.

Kharta let out a soft chuckle.

"Don't you see? They don't have a choice. The Consortium's fall means pirates are running around with more firepower than they expected. They need us."

The two watched the ship for a while longer as two cargo LCUW's used tractor beams to load up cargo and supplies. Clan members organized around it, celebrating their newest acquisition. Many could be seen posting pictures of the ship to that new forum of theirs, bragging about their clan.

–

Ife Veers

The holotable cast a bright green glow across the otherwise darkened room. The light burned Ife's eyes, but at this point it didn't matter.

The display showcased a map of the sector and its 8 subsectors. Every reported pirate incursion, with numbers indicating rough strength, dotted the map.

And the map told a story. The incursions came mostly from the Myto's Arrow trade route, specifically from the direction of the Obtrexta sector. From there they seemed to spread, fanning out across the sector.

Her eyes jumped to the statistics running down the side of the map. A list of all roving Sector Command patrol groups. Nearly 40 of them were the new Arbiter groups, and the numbers were not looking good.

A week ago, an Arbiter and its patrol group had to chase a pirate flotilla. The flotilla had an Aggressor-Class Destroyer, and its weaponry blew a chunk into the Arbiters hull. Casualties could've been kept to a minimum, but the crew panicked.

And now Ife was staring at a casualty counter, numbers glowing red.

268 dead, and an Arbiter forced back into the yard for repairs, slowing construction of further hulls. If only the Academies were worth a damn!

Her hand reached for her mug, gulping down the last sip of her coffee. It wasn't enough.

Irritated, she looked at the coffee machine. Empty, the display read.

"Already? Ugh, I filled it not ten minutes ago!" Her hand tightened around the mugs handle, a hairline fracture forming under the stress before she let up.

Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she sighed as she looked around her office. It was dark, though the tiniest bit of light peaking through the blinds told her dawn was around the corner.

Still, her eyes returned to the holo, and the flood of red from the Obtrexta sector. A memory, unbidden, surfaced in her mind. Of a time long past when she still spoke with her family regularly.

Her father, he'd had old friends in that sector, didn't he? Some ground pounder he'd made friends with.

If she could contact him, maybe…she couldn't even remember his name. Another sigh, deeper this time.

The medals on her wall gleamed in holo's harsh light. She'd come so far so fast.

She set the mug down, eyes glaring at nothing.

"Fine!" she said to no one, grumbling as she picked up her PDA.

Maybe he'd take an order of LECA's as a gift. Though he might just consider them an insult to his precious walkers.

That damn old man and his AT-AT's!

–

Las

The view from my new office was wasteful. The window too large, the office too comfortable. I preferred the cluttered space of my old Gubernatorial office, but that was out of reach now.

Mugwuffin, on the other hand, seemed to find no complaints. She'd busied herself with chasing around a poor mouse droid as though she was a cat and not a fully sentient, intelligent being.

"Grown ass woman playing with toys."

Her head snapped towards me, eyes narrowing in contempt.

Indignation!Maturity!

"If you're so mature, why don't you learn to read and actually do some work, huh?"

At that she froze, and I turned away, harumphing in triumph.

Then, my PDA fell from my desk, slamming against my foot.

"AH! Ouch…" As I rubbed my foot, I caught Mugwuffins smug face before it was replaced with a mask of pure innocence.

IgnoranceInnocence

"You scaled rat!... You're lucky I love you, you little fuckin…" My voice trailed off into indistinct grumbles as I sat down at my desk, terminal already online.

If nothing else, the new station I now worked and lived out of had exceptionally fast holonet speeds. This was courtesy of the station pulling double duty as both my headquarters and a holonet relay nexus.

From this station, the wider holonet relay system could be monitored with ease. An outage could be seen faster than a system could report it. Not to mention that, as an Imperial product, it was purpose built for spying on people.

We did more of it than I was comfortable with, but I suppose it's the price one pays in a dictatorship.

The other price I paid was my time and effort, of course. Taking a long sip of my morning hot coco and a bite out of my first of many nutrient bars of the day, I opened the first report.

OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ECON-SUBSIDY-ALLOCATION

SUBJECT Identification of Systems Eligible for Industrial and Economic Subsidies

DISTRIBUTION Office of the Moff / Myto Trade Commission / Sector Treasury

AUTHORIZATION Sector Ministry of Industrial Development

CLASSIFICATION Internal Economic Assessment

I. REPORT OVERVIEW

This report is for the purpose of listing all systems designated as Fringe systems (Check File Sys-Classification) in order of need and ability to act on subsidies granted for industrial and economic concerns and infrastructure. These factors have been into two main categories, Need and Absorptive Capacity.

Need: Need is defined by multiple factors focused mainly around labor statistics and economic/industrial decline. These include unemployment rate, labor force participation, median household income relative to sector average, rate of deindustrialization, infrastructure deficits, and demographic flight, among others.
Absorptive Capacity: Absorptive Capacity is defined by factors relating to economic diversity and existing industrial capacity. These include the systems economic complexity index, manufacturing readiness level, labor elasticity and skill alignment, and institutional quality, among others

The report went on for a while, detailing the many, many systems designated as Fringe systems.

Of them, some needed subsidies more than others. For example, Draxon's Forge. As a system, it was on the lower end in terms of population, sitting somewhere around 380k people.

But it had experienced plenty of economic growth, mostly as a result of joining the Guild early, and as such was growing at a steady pace. Any subsidies here would only serve to boost the already growing economy.

On the other hand, a system like the Rodu system. A system with a single agriculturally focused world and only around 150k people, it had few prospects and fewer people willing to bet on them. But an agri-world is useful no matter what, so subsidies there would be focused on expanding crop production.

Specifically, crops bioengineered to survive and thrive in a variety of different situations and environments. Local farmers tend to grow what they find or simply herd animals, but by subsidizing the spread of cash crops that can also be used to sustain the local populace, it opens the door for population and economic growth.

Of course, it's not as though I planned to give planets a single subsidy for a single thing. The subsidies came in packages, with each part meant to support one another. For example, the package subsidized the infrastructure needed to spread these seeds, store the new abundance of crops that would be expected, and more.

Developed systems had no need for these, at least not in the same manner that Rodu did. In theory, Dubrillion needed subsidies to help with its overcrowding problem, as much of its citizenry was crowded into massive cities in order to keep the rest of the planets beaches and resorts free of middle and lower class people so the rich could enjoy them.

In practice, this could be solved by simply allowing and funding outward expansion of cities and the creation of new cities with the mountain of profits Dubrillion made each year, which was exactly what they were doing.

The Arbiters had scared some sense into the Governors of the sector, so if nothing else I knew the program was a success as expected.

But what I hadn't expected was the industrial pushes the Developed and even Settled worlds were making.

Shipyards. They were building shipyards.

There were already a few in the sector aside from the Mard, but they were local, small. Hell, Abyssal Industries underwater yards were already the second largest in the sector because the company was just that experienced at what they did. And they brought over much of the material.

But now planets like Belladoon were beginning the construction of their own yards. They previously had some, but those were local ground based operations. These were orbital yards, clearly created to cater to the same scale as the Mard.

Subsidies would be given to these projects, though the money had strict conditions attached to its use given I didn't trust these Governors. I'd make sure to send an Arbiter to sniff around those I felt most likely to misuse the funds for another public arrest, as to ensure the other Governors knew the consequences of misusing taxpayer credits.

If too many of them were found messing about, I'd just take control of the yards directly. It would be a mess, no doubt, but if these grown children can't do their jobs then I'm not going to hold their wrinkled hands while the learn how not to embezzle funds.

I mean, look, its easy!

I sit there for ten minutes, staring into space, doing nothing.

See! Easy!

Now if only these pirates could stop attacking my ships and people, that would be great.

R&D already started work on the Arbiter-II of all things, which isn't actually a sequel to the Arbiter. It's more like the original design.

See, the original design was a full 900 meters long with more fighters, more firepower, and overall more. Problem is, piracy was running rampant and we couldn't spend more time on it. So a smaller version, a working prototype that was smaller and functioned more as a proof of concept was put into full production, with the team only having time to fix the biggest of its problems.

Meaning one day, the Arbiter class would be slowly replaced with its original design. Well, more like existing Arbiters would over time be retrofitted to the standards of the original. I'm not entirely sure how R&D planned to give the hull an extra hundred meters, but I wasn't that worried.

Of the few organizations I trust, R&D is one of them. They may have permanently scarred me for life, but they always delivered a working product no matter what.

Now if only they'd stop requesting permission to build a so-called "New Star Destroyer Class" I'd like them more.

—

Yo. Made fettuccine alfredo and chocolate sheet cake for easter sunday. Got both recipes from this huge ass cookbook I was given recently, the Joy of Cooking. Its thicker than all three of my college textbooks combined and its amazing.

Food was aight. The tips of the fettuccine stuck out of the pot and I only realized halfway through so some of it was undercooked. And I didn't have a whisk attachment to make the Russian Buttercream topping I wanted for the cake so I had to settle for making whipped cream instead.

Oh, and would y'all be interested in the full version of that report I posted mid chapter? Its not fully made, but I could make it.

God I wish I had a stack of pancakes.
-Freefaller

Freefaller · Apr 9, 2026

OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ECON-SUBSIDY-ALLOCATION

SUBJECT Identification of Systems Eligible for Industrial and Economic Subsidies

DISTRIBUTION Office of the Moff, Myto Trade Commission, Sector Treasury

AUTHORIZATION Sector Ministry of Industrial Development

CLASSIFICATION Internal Economic Assessment

I. REPORT OVERVIEW

This report is for the purpose of listing all systems designated as Fringe systems (Check File Sys-Classification) in order of need and ability to act on subsidies granted for industrial and economic concerns and infrastructure. These factors have been into two main categories, Need and Absorptive Capacity.

Need: Need is defined by multiple factors focused mainly around labor statistics and economic/industrial decline. These include unemployment rate, labor force participation, median household income relative to sector average, rate of deindustrialization, infrastructure deficits, and demographic flight, among others.
Absorptive Capacity: Absorptive Capacity is defined by factors relating to economic diversity and existing industrial capacity. These include the systems economic complexity index, manufacturing readiness level, labor elasticity and skill alignment, and institutional quality, among others

II. PRIMARY ALLOCATION CANDIDATES

The following thirty systems are the most suitable candidates for immediate funding based on infrastructure gaps and the potential for rapid stability.

Rodu (157,862): This single world system focuses on agriculture and remains ripe for investment in genetically robust crops and larger scale industrial farming, which would improve local food security.
Malgoaan (1,845,648): This system has a high potential for assembly plant growth if provided with equipment grants to utilize its large labor pool.
Relalon (1,814,047): Strategic funding for subspace transceiver arrays will improve coordination with nearby trade routes and reduce signal lag.
Dromunon (1,813,328): This system requires grants for heavy machinery to revitalize its primary mining zones and stop the trend of people leaving for other systems.
Vantulal (1,810,252): Investment in localized holonet relay nodes will allow for better integration with the sector economy and trade networks.
Xisios (1,799,613): This system has high manufacturing potential but suffers from power grid instability that requires immediate repair.
Rykeixia (1,696,996): Funding for salvage processing units will turn this system into a primary hub for recycled materials.
Yularis (1,676,803): This system shows a need for better resource refining tools to increase the value of its primary exports.
Belsuus (1,673,186): Subsidies for vocational training centers will align the local workforce with modern technical needs and shipyard standards.
Muraarminor (1,663,971): This system requires infrastructure grants to build larger transport hubs for industrial goods.
Vunisminor (1,654,548): Investment in chemical processing vats will allow this system to support the sector needs for industrial fluids.
Harnonal (1,648,862): Funding for automated orbital defense platforms will secure this system against pirate raiding and cargo theft.
Gromeaan (1,602,566): This system has a large workforce that would benefit from grants focused on light manufacturing and assembly.
Mytixix (1,582,782): Strategic investment in hull plating factories will support the naval production goals of the sector.
Yuleis (1,530,712): Subsidies for agricultural drones will help expand the limited farming output of this system to neighboring areas.
Malgaral (1,521,621): This system shows high potential for electronics assembly if provided with modern workstations and assembly tools.
Kalaxmajor (1,497,658): Funding for subspace comms units will fix the persistent connectivity issues found in this outer system.
Kalosv (1,487,202): This system requires grants for waste management systems to support its growing urban centers.
Tioniv (1,464,831): Investment in fuel refining tech will make this system a vital stop for military and civilian ships on the fringe.
Feltulmajor (1,449,522): This system has a strong labor pool that needs funding for specialized tool manufacturing.
Vantaen (1,406,150): Subsidies for housing development will reduce the rate of people leaving for the settled systems.
Draxuon (1,398,528): This system shows a need for improved landing pad infrastructure to handle larger cargo vessels and freighters.
Belsosix (1,358,986): Funding for local security forces will protect industrial assets from the current rise in piracy.
Vantulon (1,354,349): This system would benefit from grants for clean energy arrays to lower the overhead of industrial production.
Dromunos (1,352,933): Investment in mining safety equipment will allow for deeper extraction in its primary moon belts.
Krakaxix (1,305,918): This system shows high absorptive capacity for heavy vehicle production if provided with initial capital.
Sienosos (1,304,529): Funding for holonet relay stations will connect this isolated system to the sector capital for better trade data.
Reloen (1,299,007): This system requires subsidies for water reclamation plants to sustain its growing industrial districts.
Harnosv (1,282,396): Strategic grants for shipyard repair tools will allow this system to service local patrols and scout ships.
Prakoal (1,282,232): This system is ripe for investment in atmospheric scrubbers to improve the quality of its manufacturing zones.

III. CONCLUSION

The systems listed above represent the best opportunities for the Myto Sector to improve its infrastructure without relying on external support. By focusing on systems with both a high need and a path toward industrial expansion, the Ministry can ensure the sector grows as a unified economic entity. The Rodu system in particular remains a priority due to its potential for high yield industrial farming.

–

Here it is. The one benefit of AI is that it can make names and numbers quickly. The downside is that I then must go and write out a description of each and every world's industries. This was not as fun for me as it might be for you.

Freefaller · Apr 10, 2026

Chp - 109 - Interlude
2.4 ABY
Xanthor Briar
Draxons Forge, Myto Sector

"Strike squadron, load up!"

Xanthor stared at his reflection in the shine of his helmet. The black, gleaming material shone in the harsh light of the hangar.

He lifted it over his head, pressing it down and securing its seals. His breath fogged the lenses for a second before the life support kicked in, clearing his vision. He could already feel an itch on his neck, but he ignored it.

Before him, TIE fighters moved on racks, pilots dropping into fighters before launching out of the hangar, screaming engines silenced as soon as they passed the magnetic shield out into space.

The hangar was large, TIE fighters stacked one atop another on the walls to either side of the room. A series of mechanical arms moved along the rails below, moving the vessels to align with the catwalks above.

The racks moved again, bringing his fighter to him as the arms raised it upwards. Within half a second of the arms locking into place, Xanthor was already reaching down.

He grabbed and twisted the handle of the TIE's hatch, bracing himself with one knee on the catwalk to avoid falling off as he hoisted the weight of the metal upwards.

Dropping into his seat, he plugged a data-wire from his suit into the ship console in one smooth motion. In seconds, his helmet's HUD lit up with ship functions while he went through the startup process.

Life support, shields, energy cycling, weapon cycling…he moved through them quickly, both hands flicking switches he wasn't looking at while the info-feed on his HUD fed him a basic overview of the current battle.

A Keldabe-Class battleship accompanied by an Aggressor-Class Destroyer and three Crusader-Class corvettes, all protecting a disabled Baleen-Class bulk freighter. Strategic ion torpedo strikes had managed to disable the ship as the raiders tried to flee, and now they were defending it while presumably trying to bring it back online.

Xanthor reasoned they held their loot in there, otherwise the pirates would've scattered by now.

On their side, two Arbiter-Class vessels supported them, alongside three Carrack-Class cruisers and six assorted Raiders and Arquitens. A formidable force, but the Arbiters were forced to stay back to avoid the Aggressor, as they were too large to dodge the ships deadly main weapon.

With a dozen switches flipped, his squadron leader barked orders over comms.

"Flight COM is sending us on intercept duty! We're shadowing MPS-Dagger to keep enemy strike-craft off them!"

A final switch started the engine, a low hum permeating the hull. He felt it through the controls, muscles relaxing slightly. A hand idly scratched at his neck while his eyes flicked over the ships diagnostics.

"Strike squadron, dropping in 3!"

A final check was all Xanthor could manage before the clamps let go. As it did, he punched the throttle, the inertial dampener kicking in until he felt only a slight push instead of the sheer g-force he would've been slammed with otherwise.

Ahead of him, he watched the rest of Strike Squadron zoom from the hangar in a line, one after the other. Each ship lit up with IFF designations in his HUD, while a second squadron of TIE's flew out underneath them from the second forward hangar. In seconds, they had left the confines of the MPS-Vigil of Justice and cleared its mandibles, quad laser cannons covering their exit.

Before him, the form of the MPS-Dagger, an Arquitens-Class, became clear. But his eyes were drawn beyond it.

The flashes of light, explosions ringing soundlessly into the void as shapes danced in the darkness. In his ears, the sound of his heartbeat quickened.

"Strike Squadron, enter protective formation! I want us all to stay level with the Dagger on approach to the AO."

Xanthor's body moved, hands twisting the yoke and bringing his TIE to the ship's right. His eyes remained on the distant battle as the protection of their mothership was left behind them.

"Hey, Xan? How many kills you getting?"

He blinked, his eyes focusing back on his cockpit. A comm channel had opened between his squadmates.

"More than you, Kora. I saw those sim scores last week." He responded, trying to ignore the cold sweat which had broken out under his suit.

He could imagine her pout. "Those sims aren't worth the scrap used to make them! Just watch, I'll show my best side." Her tone rose sharply.

"Like when you showed Zra your 'best side'?" He snickered as she stuttered incoherently over the channel.

"Ah, young love." A gruffer voice spoke up, a hint of laughter in her tone. Yirla was the second most senior member of the squadron, right after the squadron commander. Which was odd, considering there was no way she was more than a year older than he was, despite what her voice might imply.

"I-it's not love! She just saw me naked by accident, nothing more!" Complained Kora, and he couldn't help but laugh.

"Oh? You mean Zra from Engineering? I heard all the gossip you know. A closet with unexplained noises doesn't ring any bells?" Chimed in a Daril, his voice smooth like butter.

"Oh zip it Daril! We all know you got with that Verndari during shore leave and thats why the doc chewed you out!"

"Hey, that was a perfectly reasonable choice! Those thighs were-"

"OK! I don't wanna hear any of that, please and thank you!" Butted in Xanthor as he adjusted his yoke a bit, keeping from straying too far from the Dagger.

By then, the Dagger had approached its destination, the MPS-Retribution, a Carrack-Class cruiser pushing up front. The Dagger had been sent to replace a Raider-Class that had been damaged and could no longer act as an effective point defense boat.

"Contact forward." Came the voice of the squadron leader.

The data stream from the Dagger filled his HUD, two dozen red symbols blinking into existence with identifying numbers to match. His eyes didn't bother tracking all of them, instead settling on those closest to him.

"Strike 2, commit on bombers 4 and 5. Strike 3, cover her."

"Copy, Lead. Locking 4 and 5. Engaging." Kora's voice, cold and hard.

"Copy, Lead. Covering." His own voice was next, a distant tone foreign to his mind yet in that moment, comforting.

He turned his yoke once more, throttle increasing as he came in behind Kora. They were on approach to two bombers, scrap heaps bristling with more firepower than sense. On their tail, his computer identified two StarViper Mk. II's, their strange hull shape standing out amongst the stars.

As Kora moved in on the bombers, he dragged his laser cannons in a line across the Vipers, holding down the trigger and sending a spray of cannon fire. None landed, but had the intended effect of catching their attention.

Bolts of red rip past the cockpit as he turns into a barrel roll, zooming past them.

They're on his 6 now, red death screaming silently past his cockpit. Up, over, down, the sweat drips off his brow and onto his nose and his neck doesn't stop itching and he can hear voices on comms. Bomber 4 was down.

An impact. Shields down to forty. Comms talking about a hyperspace exit. He banks hard, making for friendly AA.

The computer screams at him as he closes with the Dagger, a laser turret firing past him at his pursuers.

One IFF signature flickers, then disappears. The other speeds up, and Xan's knuckles go white as he rips the yoke to one side, break turning.

The Viper flies past, a heavier frame failing to burn speed as quickly. He brings his nose up, spraying even as the targeting computer calculates. One shot glances the Vipers wing before he's lined up.

One, two, three hits. Its shields go down, but it manages a turn and dodges downward. His nose follows, but it's already lined up.

A bolt of blue crashes into his TIE. Shields down, the itch is stronger now. His fingers hurt from holding the trigger.

Four, five, six hits. Armor crumpled, the Viper dies silently, no explosion.

"Strike Lead, shields blown."

"Copy. Break high and reset. Strike 4, cover Strike 2."

He breaks off, moving to take cover behind the dagger. Sweat drips into his eyes, and he blinks rapidly.

His breath starts to steady as he watches the emitters cycle and his shields prepare for reset.

"New Contacts, 11 o'clock off the Arquitens!"

Xan's radar lit up with new contacts, a whole squadron of what was identified as Aggressor-Class Assault Fighters.

He stayed back, waiting for his shields to cycle, the itch on his neck back already. Comms chatter was a blur in his ears, and the Dagger's hull hid the rest of the battle from him.

Until one red IFF broke off, cutting straight for him. Shit.

He pushed the throttle back to max, ion engines launching him back under the Dagger and towards the main dogfight. Maybe he could give someone else an opening and-

Bolts flew past him, the enemy already behind him. He pivoted, hands in a death grip as he turned his yoke every which way.

But no matter how he turned, that damned red IFF stayed there, blinking like it knew it was inevitable. Always just off target by a smidge.

Engines burning at max speed, he threw himself into a barrel roll, watching death miss him by meters before break turning hard. If he could just-

The Aggressor was more maneuverable. It gained angle on him, and he cut speed and angled down just as it fired.

Hit. He was hit, the impact slamming him to the side. Throttle was at max now, the computer screaming once more. Some part of his wing was down, he felt it in the balance. Every turn was harsher now, the inertial dampener must've been damaged.

Red lights blared as he made a beeline for the AO. If he could just get into AA range of the Dagger he could shake his tail. The signature dropped from behind him, the TIE showing its superior speed.

Checking the signatures course, however, told a different story.

"Bogey on intercept, requesting cover!"

"Strike 2, all units entangled, stay alive"

Shit. The pirate was seconds away from intercept. If Xan turned, he'd lose the rate war and get shot down. If he kept going, he'd get shot down.

He made his choice.

The fighter's nose was dragged down as he turned hard, eyes searching for any escape angle. If he turned into a barrel roll, maybe?

A bolt of red blinded him as it flew past, he turned again, spinning to shake lock, itch unbearable.

An alert screamed through his HUD, a missile on his tail, while the bogey pincered from the other side. This was it. Speed up, and the pirate shreds him. Slow down to pivot, the missile catches him.

Maybe the pirate would miss.

He redirected all power to engines, straining against his seat as the g-forces hit him. The missile was losing distance, but that fighter-

"This is Tide 6, on intercept."

That voice spoke with utmost calm, cutting through the comms chatter just a single burst of green lanced through the pirate. Each shot landing dead center, turning the vessel to dust in a fiery, silent explosion.

A shape, dark blue and angular, sped past him. The itch was gone, replaced with wide eyes as he turned his ship around to witness…

…death.

Three new fighters, Whirlwinds his mind provided, had entered the fray. No, they dominated it.

They moved unnaturally, twisting and turning like beasts, but not like beasts. Too alive for a machine, too precise for an animal.

One Aggressor tried to force a Whirlwind into a rate war. Instead of leading its nose, its wings folding to allow the turrets to fire sideways. It was a break in dogfighting logic in its entirety.

In under a minute, a dozen bogeys were turned to scrap, nothing but burned wrecks and the atomized corpses of their pilots.

And as Xan brought his TIE above the Dagger, he witnessed the rest of the battle.

Swarms of bombers ripped through enemy shields, the hull of the Keldabe-Class buckling under the weight of two squadrons of bombers.

Beyond it, the Aggressor-Class destroyer was reduced to nothing but a smoldering wreck, its superstructure rendered in two by the combined firepower of the Carracks.

And throughout it all, Tide Squadron flitted about like a pack of machine-beasts, a single mind ripping through panicked prey, streaks of dark blue only visible by the IFF signature on them.

It was…beautiful. And in that moment, Xanthor knew his goal.

To one day sit behind the cockpit of a Whirlwind.

–

Rai Trolo
2.4 ABY
Dantooine, Raiobollo Sector

"3300 credits? How can you guarantee quality at a price like that?"

"Because the Guild would fine me if I didn't! And I am nothing if not Guild compliant!"

Rai had heard about the Guild from passing merchants, and to him it all sounded like a scam. There was no chance in all the Rim that the Empire, of all people, would create an organization that actually enforced quality standards for civilian products.

Especially since every single story coming out of the Myto sector was too wild to be true! Actual anti-corruption measures? Less human centrism? Functioning public services!? No chance.

He'd met Imperials, soldiers taking a break from guarding that base they kept on the planet. They were snobs, a rude and brutish people. Dantari were more civilized than those piles of dung.

"Oh yeah? Let me see its maintenance logs then."

The merchant sighed, reaching for a PDA while Rai smirked. He'd been haggling for the past twenty minutes, just trying to get this trickster to give up the game. 3300 credits for what seemed to be a factory new Zephyr-G? That would've been half the shipping cost if he'd ordered off the holonet, not to mention the extra holonet connection cost as well. The Empire was stingy with civilians using it.

When the merchant sent the maintenance logs to his PDA, Rai was surprised.

It all looked legitimate. Nothing more than post-production inspections and two cargo checks during transit.

Rai licked his lips. On one hand, this could be a great scam. On the other hand-

"Hey there Rei, how da ya do!"

He could feel his eyes twitch as he turned, a plastic smile stretching across his face.

"Good morning, Haral." He said, tone straining against the confines of polite conversation.

Haral was a neighbor of his, a hunter like Rai. Unlike Rai, Haral came from a family of means, and as such had bought himself an FC-20.

"Nothing much, Rei. Just decided to take a gander at the bazaar. No biggie, really. Ol'reliable got me here in no time." Haral slapped the side of the speeder, chuckling to himself in a way that made Rai's teeth grind.

"How was the hike up here? I don't see much, of course, at 180km/h, and I miss the scenery so dearly! But that's the price of performance, I suppose. Isn't that right, Rei?"

"It's Rai. And yes-"

"Ah! Borzun! How are things going, my friend! Still driving that speeder truck!" Haral had already moved on, annoying some other shopper with the same five stories he had with his speeder. They seemed to change every time he told them.

Rai turned back to the merchant, hand gripping the PDA a little too hard.

"How fast did you say this was?"

"350km/h"

"I'll take it."

–

Jir Coru
2.4 ABY
Ugea, Myto Sector

Jir's work day was cleanly segmented into three parts.

First, in the morning, she did inspections. These ranged from inspecting a ship to testing a mercenary's aim at the range. Occasionally, she addressed conflicts between members or ensured local arms manufacturers and security companies were up to code.

In the afternoon, she filed reports on all the morning's activities, alongside updating ranks or issuing warnings or fines.

In between these two segments sat an hour long lunch break.

Jir sat at her desk, fingers clacking against her terminal input as she filed her most recent report. Her hands never faltered, every word typed a certainty.

A chime rang throughout the office, indicating break time had commenced.

Around her, the myriad of officeworkers started talking, stretching, and making their way out of the building for their lunch.

Fools. Didn't they know they were being inefficient?

Jir reached one hand down into her bag, eyes never leaving the screen as her other hand typed, and grabbed a nutrient packet. Tearing the corner off with her teeth, she made to drink it before a voice interrupted.

"Heya Jir! Me and some friends are gonna go check out this new place down the street. Wanna come with?"

Melandre, a bubbly younger Torgruta woman who Jir found tolerable at best. Her attitude was unacceptable by her standards. Melandre had addressed no less than three senior Guild personnel by first name, maintained subpar workplace cleanliness and did not press her uniform with any regularity.

Jir also noted that she was consistently the first to arrive and last to leave, which kept her from reporting her to GuildCom.

That, and GuildCom kept rejecting her reports on coworkers. And kept telling her that they were called Sapient Resources. A thoroughly unfitting name for a branch of the sector's premiere institution.

Regardless, Melandre was someone Jir tolerated. But this? A step too far.

"I am far too busy for such frivolities. I have all the sustenance I require right here." She gestured with the hand holding the nutrient packet, eyes already moving back to the screen.

"Oh come on! We've been working together for months and I barely know you. Would it kill you to make a couple of friends? At least an acquaintance or two! It physically hurts seeing you lonely every lunch break."

Melandre's voice took a turn at the end Jir couldn't quite place, but it mattered not. What mattered was the word acquaintance. Otherwise known as a connection. Perfect.

"I…suppose I would not be entirely against such a proposition, Melandre."

The smile on Melandre's face felt like it was blinding her. "Great! And haven't I already told you to call me Mel?"

"I refuse. It is thoroughly unprofessional conduct, Melandre." The girl pouted, pouted! Like a child before relenting, instead dragging her over to a pair standing near the door.

One was a tall Vurk, the other a Duros shorter than herself.

"The workaholic, right? I'm Vebral, an Industrial Liaison." the Duros said. He was quite short for a Duros. A potential source of insecurity which Jir filed away for later.

"And I am Colber." Said the Vurk, voice deep yet distinctly feminine. "I am from Accounting." The Vurk spoke quietly, too quietly. Socially introverted?

"You may call me Jir Coru. I am a Mercenary Liaison."

"Alright, now that we're all introduced, let's get going! We've only got an hour, after all!" Melandre butted in as soon as the introductions were over, practically jittering in excitement.

Upon leaving the building, they were immediately thrust into the midday crowd. Midday was break time for the entire Guild, and so the streets were full of employees making off to various eateries. One could scarcely take a step without bumping into someone.

"You know" Vebral said "I heard upper management is thinking of downsizing the cafeteria because so many people leave for lunch."

"Ah, that is unfortunate, as I greatly enjoyed the delicacies afforded there." replied Colber, standing a head taller than much of the crowd.

"Well, it won't compare to this place, I guarantee that!" exclaimed Melandre, the orange skinned girl jumping into the air to get a glimpse over the crowd.

Jir slipped through the crowd, avoiding physical contact with anyone as she tracked the other three.

Eventually, they reached the restaurant. A Karkarodon seafood establishment.

As they entered, Jir took in the place. It was small, a rectangular shape longer than it was wide. The kitchen and bar stood to the right, booths to the left, and a bathroom and emergency exit at the rear.

The windows were too open for her taste. And the bar left one's back exposed. The optimal solution was the booth at the end, near the emergency exit.

Melandre sat them by the window.

As they leafed through the menu, Jir observed each of them discreetly.

Melandre seemed excited at every turn of the page. Verbal seemed to be counting prices. And Colber hadn't turned a page past the first, seemingly content to read just the entree's.

"Oh, this fish looks amazing! They have 32 different herbs and spices all stuffed inside!" Melandre shoved the menu in their face despite the fact they all had the same one.

"And it costs a whole 40 credits. Why do that when you could get a dozen rolls for just 10?" Responded Vebral.

"Maybe we could share?"

"That creature would provide enough sustenance for a score more than we have here. Mayhaps you should choose a different meal." Colber butted in, voice slow as though each word was carefully chosen. It seemed to contradict her previous analysis. Perhaps not an introvert, simply differently educated? Potential family connections to a richer sphere?

Silently, Jir had already chosen her meal. A small platter of lightly cooked strips of fish and a creamy sauce covering it. The smallest, cheapest meal on the menu, allowing her to later consume her nutrient package without overeating. All without ordering an entree and standing out, perfectly planned.

As the food was prepared, the conversation turned to the Guild.

"Did you guys hear about that case the other day? One of the Mandalorian clans got angry at a construction company because their landing pad cracked under their ship's weight." Melandre pulled up a story on her PDA, the device left on its stand for all to see.

"It seems that they must in the future take into consideration the weight of their vessels and the tolerances of their landing pads, yes?" Replied Colber. "If they were to be more considerate of their material circumstances perhaps they could have avoided such an unfortunate incident."

"Nah, no chance. If that company was hired to build a pad big enough for all their ships to land on, and it was for a mercenary company? They'd build it strong with the assumption large combat ships would be landing there. I gotta blame the company, must've used subpar materials to cut costs, or they just didn't listen to their clients."

Verbal's critique was cutting, but Melandre was more focused on something else.

"Though, it gets you thinking. The clans are already getting their own compounds, right? They've got cruisers and corvettes and are apparently in talks to continue their foundling traditions to expand their ranks. That's a lot of permissions, more than most other mercenary companies."

"But have they not proven their worth in battle many times over? The numbers tell a grand tale, as the credit worth of the salvaged ships and equipment they acquire through battle is of no small amount." Colber interjected.

Here, Jir decided to jump in. If she could not inject herself into this group, she could never make any connections.

"The Mandalorians are mediocre in regards to their organizational abilities as mercenary companies. They are carried forward almost solely by individual capacity rather than the clan as a whole. Frankly, I find it a waste to give more permissions to them when sector forces could be better funded."

Here they turned to her.

"I cannot say I am in agreement with you, Jir Coru." Spoke Colber. "Perhaps the Mandalorian Clans are lacking in the large-scale organization seen within entities such as the Empire or larger mercenary companies, however the effect the Clans have had on the sector has been undeniably positive. Perchance, have you seen the piracy statistics in systems to which the Clans have been deployed?"

"I have not, as such I will retract my point until I can consult the evidence." Jir didn't actually agree. She'd spent years studying the effectiveness of the Imperial machine, and could've broken down how the Clans were not effective enough to be worth the investment with enough detail to fill out a ten page report. Who was this woman to tell her how things were? But she decided to remain conflict free during this crucial, initial stage. Instead, she pivoted.

"Though, I must ask, Colber. Your manner of speaking is unique to me. Where were you taught?"

"This is the traditional method of speaking, common amongst my peoples for its ability to elucidate complex concepts clearly and without miscommunication."

"Nah, she's just weird." Vebral said, sipping on his drink loudly. Colber shot him a glare before responding.

"Nay, this manner of speech is most common indeed. Your lowly person has simply not been privy to the heights of Vurk culture. Perchance if you deigned to raise your lowly sense of culture, you may well be able to find your ever elusive soulmate" She turned her head away in protest, while Melandre simply laughed lightly.

"Hey! The Totally True Adventures of Baddassatron the Galactic Hero is an incredible franchise that's just a little down on its luck! Trust me, the 53rd movie will be the one to save it, and then I'll be emotionally ready to settle down!"

An insult? A showing of vulnerability? The interaction before her didn't align at first, until it clicked. It was an act, of this she was certain.

She was the outsider still. Clearly, they knew this, and this was all a ruse in order to portray themselves as more foolish than they were. If she was to gain access to the group properly, she would have to endure this and discover a way in.

Once the food, the table turned more to silence as they ate. Upon finishing, the four of them returned to the office, slipping back to their respective branches.

Just as Jir was to return to her desk, mind filing away the event for later deep analysis, Melandre stopped her.

"Same time tomorrow?"

Jir froze for a split second. Same time? Was she in? No, not entirely. This was just the beginning.

"Of course."

The smile that was her response was impressive in how real it seemed.

–

So, for the first battle, I think it's fair to say the Empire would've won that, even with the pirates having two very large ships. Sector Patrol simply had them outnumbered, and I figured the Arbiters after that previous incident would try to stay farther away from the Aggressors big gun.

Also, the MPS in front of the ship's names stands for Myto Patrol Ship.

As for the writing itself, this is one of my longest chapters, I think. That battle at the beginning takes up most of it, and it was a doozy. I've been trying to move my writing to a more show don't tell format, since it just works better. And most of the story has been telling, given Las is an administrator.

But I don't want the alt POV's to feel like Las. He's up high making big choices, so everyone else has to feel those choices and be more present, which necessitates a better, more focused writing style which I think I've managed to do here. More sensory details, thoughts injected into descriptions, etc…

I'm particularly proud of the dogfight. I had to look up terms like turn breaking, rate war and more to understand how dogfights work, but it was worth it.

Other than that, I made more chocolate sheet cake. This shit is heavy though, can't eat much before I feel like I'll burst. Or maybe I've just eaten too much.

Oh, the pains of baking incredible treats. My waist will expand ten feet!

Keep goofin, goobers.
-Freefaller

Yacov · Apr 10, 2026

Omake: Pirate Processing

POV: Silvaka Birgbird, convicted pirate, Imperial Penal Colony 2-4-9-N, Cockaigne, Cockaigne system, Myto sector

Silvaka glared at the clear sky as she was led off the loading ramp. Cockaigne's star looked as if a slightly larger dying ember amidst its peers, which were still visible. Before her was the harsh and searing shine of Imperial Penal Colony 2-4-9-N which robbed her of her night vision with a single glance. The artificial light still needed in midday due to the distant starlight being insufficient for most sentients on the system's sole world to see by. All that would greet her if she looked beyond the glow of the prison would be the inky blackness concealing a frozen, desolate landscape.

"Move it convict! No trying to get frostbite on your day as an inmate thrall!"

Silvaka fought off the urge to try and take a bite out of the Detention Block Guard as they moved between blocks. She had been fighting back the urge to shiver since they got off the Kiltirin-class dungeon ship, despite the thick jumpsuit they gave her. She didn't want to take her chances in what passed for solitary confinement.

Warden droids were patroling the outside and the usually unoccupied sections of the prison. Even if she could get out of the prison, the freezing temperatures and total darkness outside the facility were used as a method to keep its prisoners from causing trouble afterwards. A rough shove through the door struck what further thoughts were beginning to form in Silvaka's head.

"In front of the imager and then to the medical droid. The sooner you get your mugshots and locator chip, the sooner I get to stop dragging you around."

Processing was as quick as it was humiliating. The imager felt invasive while the anesthetic was light enough that the place they implanted the chip still felt sore. The pain made Silvaka think of how just a bit earlier this situation was reversed. Wasn't too long ago her crew would be filling this world with slaves, not occupying it. The weak are meant to submit to the strong, Silvaka's crew just helped make the truth a bit starker.

Her captain had a deal going with Cockaigne's Governor to offload "criminals" as inmate thralls and in exchange he would keep their ship's transponder off the records. However once news of their patron getting arrested surfaced, they tried to record race out of the sector for more welcoming space. Unfortunately a patrol of Guild mercenaries "happened" to come across the route they were taking. Probably a rival crew from Revik set them up to try to take control of the sector's flesh trade. Good luck to them given how frustratingly vigilant the sector's navy was being.

"In you go thrall! You're lucky today's work shifts are done! You get to sleep before your first day of picking and carving up ice begins."

Ice carving. Carving Ice on Cockaigne was a fate joked about in Myto's Underworld. Whenever someone didn't come back to the ship after shore leave they'd joke that their missing crewmate was probably carving ice. Something brought up as a probable fate for failed criminals and bumbling fools. Guess Silvaka counts as the former now, doesn't she?

"So you are my cellmate then? About time they got around to it after they started letting all the soft meat go. Name's Yuspin."

Silvaka was unable to hide her disappointment at the sight of the Moyn sitting on a bed bolted to the wall in the brightly lit cell. The captain had been taken away by the ISB almost immediately following their arrest. The rest of the crew were shipped to Cockaigne after their trials were over. She had lost track of them on the dungeon ship as their captors had wisely kept them separated. She had hoped against hope that she would share a cell with one of them.

"Name's Silvaka. Was a pirate before this. So what'd you get sent here for? Don't want to share a cell with someone who can't tough it out."

She could already hear Tito's sniveling in the back of her mind. Their enslaved tech who was led away after they were brought to the authorities. Probably gave some sob story to get sent to a minimum security prison. Little whiner wouldn't last a day here.

"Nah used to be a marauder. Was carving flesh before carving ice. Had a sweet gig going where the humans in our crew would dress up like Army Imps, "scare" us vicious raiders off, and then "requisition" the loot from villages. We "arrested" anybody that resisted and the rest weren't too keen to ask too many questions when they didn't come back. Got caught when a new general got put in charge of the planet's forces and the Imps stopped acting like we did.

You won't find any brittle folk here these days. Order from on high. Cockaigne is an exclusive club now. Only for sentients with 20 years or more on their sentence with a violent crime on their record. A dumping ground for all the criminals who avoided a summary punishment in this latest crime wave. Bit silly considering they also shut down the gladiator pits."

Shut down the gladiator pits? But that was the most fun you could have in a prison and it was how they freed up the cell blocks for new intake. Silvaka had already been thinking of new and fun ways to break her fellow convicts.

"That must not have been popular. How are the regular buyers for stables offworld supposed to refill their stocks if they can't pick from the prize fighters?"

One of the lesser known exports from Cockaigne besides inmate-mined ice and mineral water was gladiator and pleasure slaves. The fighting pits and the deadly cold made it simple to "lose" a convict or two for the right price. The flesh trade was so frequent that the former Warden-Governor had sentencing papers and death certificates pre-signed in case the captain came across any potentially profitable "bounties" while perusing the slave markets.

The prison population was complicit in the practice as well in order to have a chance to not die on this iceball. Trapping rivals in fixed fights and scarring their beautiful features with icicles was commonplace among inmates. Competition was fierce if you were aiming to get yourself a chance of getting sold. Only the toughest and the most ruthless got a chance of a more enjoyable enslavement, as is proper.

"Didn't ya hear? Cockaigne got a new Warden-Governor. Hand picked by Moff Mola. Has the new guy by the hairs. When the Moff says jump he asks how high.

Mola is a pretentious and tyrannical Imp. First thing he did after getting the job was throw a tantrum and imprison a load of petitioners. Thinks seeing someone with a collar walking around his cities is intolerable. When his lackeys protested the move, he had them all "disappeared" for daring to contradict him. He would rather all the slaves be pushed to the dark corners of the sector where no one privileged with freedom will see. All the comfortable or fun jobs for slaves are being cut off, leaving nothing besides hard labor. Like he wants every slave in his sector to suffer just because they wear a collar.

So now the new Warden-Governor is trying to keep the prison above board. Old channels for contraband are getting plugged, guards search your cell even if you try to bribe them, faces that used to show up to pick up the goods are now either a distant memory or a constant presence. Only way to get off this icy hell these days is to qualify for a posting in an offworld chain gang, and they only give those out to brownnoses who have been on good behavior for at least seven years."

Emperor's Folds. How have there not been slave revolts across the sector? No wonder pirates were hitting this sector so vigorously. All the places to slake their baser thirsts were losing their suppliers. How can someone enjoy their rightfully pillaged wealth if there is nowhere to spend it on warm bodies and bloodsport?

"So what, people are just enduring the cold and wagging their tails to the Guards now? How is this prison not shut down from frequent riots with all the fun gone?"

Yuspin gave a chuckle like he had been expecting Silvaka to say that. It bothered her how he had been leading the conversation. However she had never been on the other side of these cell doors. She could deal with some patronizing if it increased her chances of survival and power.

"Nah it ain't all boredom and brown nosing. Part of the Warden-Governor keeping things above board is that he's got to make a better show of following regulations, even the safety ones. Did you know prisons are supposed to have gyms and libraries? I didn't.

Ice carving is less lethal than it used to be. Cold weather gear got less holes in them even without bribing. The prison is even giving access to cheap prosthetics to inmate thralls when the frostbite sets in, instead of sending them to "gather snow outside" when they get too crippled. Most of them are either low powered or completely mechanical, but they work well enough for simple things like carving.

Still restricted to simple tools on work shifts. However guards got new laser ice-cutters in sealed rooms above the work areas to cut up large chunks of ice for the prisoners. Let's us process more ice, so maybe the Warden-Governor struck a deal with a smuggling ring under the table to line his pockets from increasing exports. Either way it leads to more work points for down at the store or the cafeteria. There is even a weekly choice of fruit or dessert provided you ain't being punished. Frozen of course."

Well isn't this just a slice of paradise. Silvaka let the Moyn prattle on while she slipped into her machinations. Just because she wasn't expecting to get enslaved doesn't mean it will stop her plans. Step one is getting to that gym and bulking up. Just because the gladiator pits are down doesn't mean physical power isn't still respected here.

From there it is a matter of gathering resources and influence and waiting for the rot to set back in. No institution like this can avoid seeping back into corruption. It was a proven fact of the galaxy. When the natural order does return she'll be coiled and ready. Silvaka spared a glance at a CAP-2 Captivator walking down the hall of cells as she has planned her rise back to power.

——

A look into how the prisoner-slave underclass of the Myto sector is doing in a dark, cold corner of the sector. The ones who are definitely not getting emancipated by Las' legal audit. Penal colonies are actually a thing during the Republic and are also still a thing with the New Republic. With the flood of pirates galavanting through the sector, small local prisons on frontier worlds are probably not going to cut it. Even if Las finds the practice of prison planets and prisoner-slaves distasteful, intake and enslavement are probably picking up in places like Cockaigne given a lot of pirate crews are not going to try and fight to the death. Pirates are not exactly known for the zealotry or discipline needed for last man stands.

One interesting thing to remember is that a lot of Las' abolitionist policies like HAVEN's activities tend to be clandestine by necessity or otherwise have a different public excuse. We the readers get the benefit of looking into Las' head to understand what he's thinking. Many people in the sector haven't been to the Minda or Edin systems and don't try that hard to keep up with sector politics. They know some of Las' actions and often none of the motivations or background context. People like Yuspin are going to draw their own conclusions about Las' motivations from the information they can gather and process it through the lens they view the galaxy through into an explanation they see as reasonable.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · Apr 17, 2026

CRIMSON DAWN SHADOW LEDGER | ENTRY 8842

SUBJECT Asset Analysis TIE Whirlwind

RECIPIENT High Command Shadow Syndicate Leads

ORIGIN Minda System Myto Sector STATUS High Threat Low Proliferation

I. ORIGINS AND PROCUREMENT The TIE Whirlwind emerged from the Minda System during the tenure of Las Mola as Governor. It was the centerpiece of a localized upgrade initiative. While technically superior to the standard line, the unit was deemed cost-prohibitive for Imperial mass manufacture. Consequently, it remains restricted to specialized ace wings. Crimson Dawn agents should view this craft as a bespoke instrument of the Myto Sector elite rather than a standard Imperial resource.

II. TECHNICAL PROFILE AND PERFORMANCE This variant occupies a niche between the standard TIE and the Interceptor. It is faster than the former but lacks the raw velocity of the latter. Unlike standard TIE units, the Whirlwind is equipped with shielding, granting it a level of survivability uncommon in the Imperial starfighter corps.

Primary Armament: Two dual laser cannon turrets
Secondary Armament: Two concussion missiles
Maneuverability: The wings and integrated engines are capable of independent rotation. This allows for rapid changes in flight geometry and rotation that defy standard intercept trajectories.
Firing Arcs: The dual laser turrets operate independently of the cockpit orientation. Combined with folding wing panels, the pilot can engage targets in nearly any direction including the rear, above, and below the chassis.

III. TACTICAL THREAT ASSESSMENT The Whirlwind is a masterwork of unorthodox engineering. Because the flight profile is so erratic, standard combat maneuvers are largely ineffective. An ace pilot in this craft can punish even the most experienced opposition.

Engagement Protocol: Total avoidance is recommended. The craft is lethal because of its maneuverability, not its armor.
Pilot Limitations: The learning curve for the Whirlwind is exceptionally steep. The number of Imperial pilots capable of utilizing the craft's full potential is negligible.
Syndicate Integration: The high unit cost makes it an unsuitable asset for Crimson Dawn fleet acquisition. The ship is too conspicuous for our operations and requires a logistical tail that contradicts our preference for stealth.

IV. SYNDICATE POSITION The Imperial Procurement Office continues to reject Myto-specific hardware in favor of Core World standardized designs. This bureaucratic friction ensures the Whirlwind will not see widespread deployment outside its home sector. Crimson Dawn operations are not currently threatened by this unit in significant numbers. We will monitor the situation but interference in production is not required at this time. Maintain observation of the Minda labs for any further deviations from standard Imperial doctrine.

–

Honestly couldn't think of how the Dawn would write a report. Then I remembered their entire thing is info gathering and sneaky stuff, so they'd be just as capable of bureaucratic nonsense as the rest of the galaxy. If I think of a better way to write this, or if someone suggests one, I'll rewrite this and make the next Dawn report in the same manner. Cause this, it just doesn't feel right.

Freefaller · Apr 21, 2026

Chp-110

Las
2.7 ABY 3 Months Later

"...and make sure to double check every single request for more subsidy money. Those new industries must prove they aren't getting lazy. Remember to force them to try and sell sector wide or they won't stay sharp."

"Of course, sir. This is the third time you've said this."

I refrained from saying it a fourth, though Force knows I wanted to. I was going to be away for a week and a half, which felt like far too much time.

"And I'll say it as many times as I need to. If I return to the sector to find it burnt to the ground, there will be pay cuts!"

Roius's face scrunched up a tad, in the way one does when they're holding back a sigh.

"As you say, sir."

"Well, I do say! Also, please be sure to give Grant something to kill. She's been cooped up in the Minda system for too long. I keep hearing things in the walls."I shudder, the memories of sleepless nights filled with strange screeches returning to me. The tunnels on the station weren't even that big, and I have no idea how she got the droids up here.

"I don't care if it's her 'expert tunnel combat training', it's unacceptable for her to be fighting repurposed commando droids in the maintenance tunnels. Get her some exercise, please."

"Understood, sir. Do you have any specific instructions regarding the ICM Construction Stations? They've nearly arrived."

I paused for a second, thinking back over my previous plans. The stations were mobile, but required hyperspace tugs to move about. The plan was to use them to quicken the building of projects designated as important to the sector at large. Shipyards, for example, among other things.

"No. Go ahead as planned. I trust you to figure it out if any complications arise, though they shouldn't."

And that was it. My work is done, for now. I took a seat in the comfort of my executive shuttle, watching out the window as it took off into space.

From the station, the shuttle made a beeline towards an Arbiter-Class. Vigil of Starless Night, the very first of its kin, not counting the Arbiter herself, though she was but a prototype.

Vigil had been the first from the yards, and the first to get a retrofit. The worst of the structural problems had been rectified, alongside a myriad of other, smaller issues identified by crew over the months. Apparently, the shipwide intercom had a habit of either being too loud or too soft, with no inbetween.

Regardless, I hadn't wanted to take the Vigil. It felt like a waste to drag a perfectly good patrol ship out of its role just to escort me to Coruscant.

However, the situation was no longer as dire as it had been 3 months prior. The Consortium remnants were just that, remnants. While outside shadowports kept them afloat, they simply couldn't bring to bear any semblance of a unified front. Ultimately, the largest were felled. Estimates put the number of Keldabe and Aggressor class capital ships still wandering at under 10 for each, a sheer drop from previous estimates.

Combined with the Guild finally getting a semblance of standardization going in its patrols and things were going good. They'd started a contract with Abyssal Industries to procure cruisers to act as the baseline for patrols. The Reef-Class it was called, fairly good at what it did though from the price tag it was clear it was built to be affordable first.

All of that combined meant that for the first time in a long time, I could safely leave the sector alone for a week and not have it all burn down around me. Incredible, I know.

Once aboard the Vigil, I was given my own private quarters. Honestly, they were larger than my regular quarters. Officers live well, I suppose.

Regardless, I settled in quickly, taking the time to review my thesis and presentation. Mugwuffin found a nice spot with a window view and Myr'thos had taken residence next door. I could only imagine the kitchen staff would be terrorized in the coming days as they tore the place apart for ingredients.

Myr'thos's obsession with making the perfect drink was…odd. Especially given that the perfect drink already existed.

I took a sip from my thermos and sighed in contentment. Perfection. If the Jedi had this, they never would've fallen.

–

Coruscant was many things. Big, glittery, noisy, rich. But above all…

"This place is a shithole." I said plainly, staring out the window of the Imperial Hotel in the Imperial Center. Naming geniuses, this lot.

"Oh? You are not in utter amazement at the grandest center of the galaxy, peasant? Maybe you have some hope yet if you are not enthralled by its seductive beauty."

Myr'thos's voice was as smoothly grating as ever.

"Yeah, well it's kind of hard to be enthralled by the single biggest concentration of corruption ever made. Honestly, I'm surprised this entire planet isn't a darkside nexus already."

"Hah! Oh, there was once a plan for something like that. Those fools on the Dark Council never went through with it, though." Myr'thos laughed as they plopped down onto the rooms couch, sinking into velvety cushions that probably cost more than a TIE.

And funnily enough, that was a statement to this hotel's affordability. In order to keep up appearances as a Moff, I had little choice than to stay at a hotel such as the Imperial. Sure, this was one of its cheapest rooms but it was still absurdly expensive. Thankfully, we'd only be here a few days at best.

"Now, peasant. I'm famished. If this establishment is as exquisite as it claims, it should have premium dining, no?"

I wanted to sigh, but my stomach growled instead. "Fine, I guess I could do with a bite. And that restaurant did seem pretty nice, like, no prices on the menu. Might as well."

It didn't take long for us to get ready. I just put on a clean uniform, while Myr'thos got out a nice outfit Garp had gifted them.

It was almost a mix of a dress and a formal suit. A clean, simple designed suit and pants with flowing stretches of fabric that stretched to their knees sprouting from the torso. All of it color coordinated in beautiful purples and golds. The suit stretched up their neck, stopping only at the lower portion of their sharp, angular cheeks.

Clearly, they'd noticed me staring as Myr'thos hit a pose. A bodybuilder pose, stretching one arm down before curling it, muscles bulging.

"Stunned, mensch? Of course you are, for I am worthy of no less!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Stunned by the quality. What bet did Garp lose for him to make you this?"

"The tailor gifted this piece to me for free, as a return for allowing him to gaze upon my beauty!" They said. My eyebrow went higher, and they coughed a bit. "And I may have sabotaged his competition…just a tad."

"Huh. Didn't know Garp had it in him." It was then that Mugwuffin came sauntering into the room. The little lizard had somehow, someway, gotten ahold of an outfit. A tiny tuxedo of sorts, far too well made to be anything but a custom job.

I stared at her. She stared at me. We both stared for at least a minute before I gave up and just turned away. Sometimes, acceptance is the only way forward.

"Now, cur, escort me forward! Now is the time for elegance, grace, glamor! And such glamor demands that you show favor towards the best of those here." Myr'thos exclaimed, holding an arm out for me to link with.

"Hah! No." Then I turned, making way to the door. Behind me, I could hear Mugwuffin snorting in her strange, lizard-like laughter.

"You lowly creature! Honorless cur, one must respect their superiors!"

"I pay you." Was my only response.

–

Somehow, we made it to the restaurant without causing a scene.

Surprisingly, we weren't turned away because of Myr'thos not being human. Nor because of Mugwuffin being, well Mugwuffin.

The staff themselves were all aliens. Many being twilek's of both sexes. Sex sells, after all, even in an establishment this upscale.

It also helped that I was an Imperial Moff, my simple uniform holding the colored pips indicating my status.

Once we were seated at a booth, menus were quickly given. The noise of the establishment was higher than I'd have expected from a place such as this, but the ambiance seemed worth it.

Not a single price tag, so I could only assume I'd be paying a light freighter worth for whatever we ordered. Internally, I winced at the idea. Sure, I had a much higher salary now, but I was still a miser at heart.

Ordering was an ordeal in and of itself. I chose some sort of steak, and Myr'thos grilled the server on the drinks for nearly 15 minutes. But Mugwuffin decided that she just had to order for herself. Nevermind the fact she wasn't trying to hide that she was fully intelligent and could read. She spent another 15 minutes playing charades with the server to communicate exactly how she wanted her fish prepared.

"At this point, you need to learn to speak Basic, because it's getting ridiculous."

Denial

I sighed. "I'm never taking you two anywhere ever again."

"I have no stake in this conflict, cur. Why must I be included with the likes of this rapscallion!?"

"Because you spent just as long as she did asking about whether they used 2 week or 3 week old orban fruits in their mixes. Obviously the server didn't know!" I resisted the urge to slam my face into my palms, instead turning my focus to my PDA.

On the screen sat my presentation. 32 minutes worth of slides, evidence, and a whole lot of yapping. It was actually severely shortened, as my original had too many details and was closer to 3 hours.

"Reconstructed Institutional Frameworks and Transaction Cost Reduction in Frontier Economies: A Re-examination of Pre-Imperial Development Models Using Contemporary Evidence from the Myto Sector", it was called. The pre-Imperial developmental models mentioned were things I found after creating the Guild, funnily enough.

Of course, in 25 thousand years of history, others in the Republic had come up with similar ideas. Once I went looking for them, I found plenty of examples. Most pretty local, with few ever going up to the sector level and rarely staying there for long. The combination of outer rim backwater and total Imperial autocratic control gave me the perfect testbed, apparently.

"This presentation of yours, how certain are you of victory? Your fear has been so obvious, to miss it would be to somehow miss the storms of Dromund Kaas." Myr'thos asked, elbows propped on the table as they leaned forward. The din of the restaurant was lower now, and their voice lowered with it.

"There isn't a 'victory' here, Myr'thos. That implies a conflict to be won. And no, I'm not super confident. I don't think I'll do poorly, but this is the University of Coruscant. They work on a different level, you know."

"You are engaging in a thesis defense. Therefore, you are in a battle of wits, meaning victory is achievable." They said, taking a sip of their complimentary water before spitting it out. "Not nearly filtered enough. Pathetic."

"...ok, point. However, it's a discussion on economic systems and how those I've constructed back home function. If this were a military discussion on, say, the functioning of the Arbiter-Class, or an intelligence discussion on the effectiveness of the Auditor program, then maybe 'victory' would be more applicable. But given it's not, I still don't think it fits."

Before Myr'thos can continue this banal argument, we both notice something. The restaurant which had previously been filled with the din of diners and servants was now hushed, almost silent.

Looking around, I found the source.

A woman wearing a striking dress, pure white contrasted with deep red. It was a harsh, jagged design, all angles and not a single piece of fabric left to flow freely.

Her appearance was more than that, however. Her hair was dyed, the front portion that framed her face a white so natural looking it was as though only those hairs had decided to age. Her face itself was pale, but not in an unhealthy fashion. A strong jaw and few wrinkles told me she either used plenty of products or was on the younger side.

Given we were on Coruscant, my money was on a 200 year old lady who kept herself looking 30 through the blood of orphans or something equally heinous.

But it was her eyes that caught the most attention. One blue, the other red. Both sharp, intelligent, almost predatory.

Especially since they were staring at me.

Off to the side, I saw the server coming back around with our food before he spotted her. For some reason, he decided to back away.

Was there something wrong with the food? Shit, maybe they were more speciest than I thought. Is a Moffs badge not enough to dissuade them?

By then, the woman had reached our table. From the coiling in their shoulders, Myr'thos seemed ready to pounce. Or worse, say something too heinous to ever leave an online lobby. I gave them a light kick under the table, one that was returned with such swiftness and ferocity I was fairly certain I heard something break.

Still, it worked to keep them quiet, and I bottled my pain deep inside as I turned to the new arrival.

"Ah, hello there. Can I help you with something, Miss?"

She quirked an eyebrow, though if it was curiosity or annoyance I couldn't tell. Her face was so neutral it might've been carved from marble.

"You're not from around here, are you good sir." She said simply, though the undertone was clear. She was someone who expected answers.

"Well, I was born here. My family moved to the outer rim when I was young, and this is the first time I've been back in many years."

"Hmmm. An Outer Rim Moff then? Which sector?"

"The Myto Sector. Up in the Northern Dependencies, Bright Jewel Oversector." She was starting to get on my nerves, now. I wasn't one for ego or pride, even with my office. But she was just plain rude! Hadn't even introduced herself.

Before I can ask her name, she barrels forward. "You mentioned an Auditor program. I wasn't aware the Treasury had designated their Auditors as part of a 'program'."

"Oh, they haven't. As Moff, I created my own local program to train Auditors whose task it is to audit individual systems and planets within my sector. They work to keep Governors honest, and encourage clean ledgers all around. In fact, productivity and tax payouts have risen nearly 10% since they started working, though–"

She held a hand up, and I stopped talking. Again, rude of her, but I was going on something of a tangent so I let it slide.

Can you blame me? No one ever asks me questions about these things, and I really like talking about it!

"I see. Good day, Moff."

From there, she walked off, posture and gait perfect as though the eyes on her were meaningless. At the exit a pair of red armored stormtroopers met her, hulking forms larger than normal.

"You allowed her to simply walk over your work, fool. It is clear you lack the pride needed to lead." Myr'thos grumbled, as the server finally arrived.

Shaky hands delivered platters of fine smelling cuisine, and I handed the man a 150 credit tip.
All the while, I tried not to slam my food into Myr'thos's face.

"Look, not being rude to people is social behavior rule #1, you know."

"Rules are for the weak!" They grumbled, taking a sniff and then tentative sip of their drink. "And these orban fruits are only two and half weeks old, they need to be fermented for longer! By the Force, this planet never ceases to disappoint.

Mugwuffin also made a show of snobbily picking at her plate, clawed hands using utensils to poke and prod at a fish a quarter her size that she'd never finish. Finally, she abandoned any pretenses and started shoving the entire thing into her gullet.

I sighed and looked down at my food. Maybe I could finish my meal before I die of embarrassment.

Oh, who am I kidding.

–

Yulitra Zantara
Sector General
Myto Sector
Cril System
Criloptima

"Please, this way General. We have an observation room waiting."

The man's voice was low, with a positive tilt to it. The kind you only heard when someone was pandering to you, or trying to sell you something.

In Yulitra's case, it was both.

The observation room was a lavish thing. Soft seats, snacks plated on expensive, hand carved tables. To one side sat an array of drinks, chilled to perfect and ready to be poured.

It was clear that Cril Robotics and Automotive Ballistics was pandering, and pandering hard. She could understand why, if nothing else.

The Cril system was on the rise, trying to compete with the industrial heavy hitters like Belladoon, Destora and Artorias. A few larger companies had scored contracts with larger merchant concerns and mercenary companies. And now the largest was trying to score a military contract.

If not for her schedule being clearer these days, she would've refused. As it stands, the Moff was insistent on ensuring that higher ups such as herself got around. No holing up in her office all day.

If he wasn't her superior, she'd call him the biggest hypocrite this side of the mid rim. Considering what he was like, she might just get away with doing it too.

Regardless, as she sat down, enjoying the plushness as her one escape from the buffoonery, the company CEO entered.

"Lawrence B. Ster, madam General, at your service." He said, voice rushed.

Lawrence was a large man, his suit straining to contain his bulk. His skin seemed a perpetual shade of red, as though he was constantly sunburnt.

"I say, it is an honor to have you here, madam. I surely hope you are pleased with our newest product demonstration." He continued, pulling at the collar of his suit as though it were strangling him.

"I hope so as well, Mr. Ster." She replied simply, already turning back out the observation window.

Outside was the flat, grey expanse of the company's test yard. A series of obstacles and targets had been placed about at various intervals, creating a simple test course.

The testee itself kneeled not far from the observation deck itself. A bipedal walker of some kind, swarmed by support staff.

"Ah, our company's pride and joy! I say, it's quite the machine. The Tactical Unit for Next-gen Armor is its name. A bit of a mouthful, but that can always be changed. Why, my father always said…"

She'd tuned him out at this point, eyes scanning the machine itself.

It was large, larger than a LECA at least. A LECA stood at around 3 meters tall. This was at least 10 meters tall. That's a meter taller than an AT-ST.

The next thing she noticed was its armor. Or seeming lack thereof. Oh sure, there was the appearance of armor, metal covering the frame. But she'd been in the industry of war her whole life. She knew what armor, real armor looked like.

This seemed like a cheap imitation.

"...and on the shoulders sit our proprietary folding laser cannon technology. They provide potent anti-armor firepower without burdening the hands! I say, those eggheads down in R&D are right geniuses they are! Now watch, the test is set to begin."

The walker stood from its position as support staff scurried from its frame. As it activated, lights across its torso seemed to activate in sync. They blinked on, one by one up the frame until finally its eyes blazed to life in a baleful green.

"I say I say, if this doesn't terrify those pirates into submission on the spot, I don't know what will!"

The frame turned towards the obstacle course, crouching down into a runners pose. Yulitra leaned forward. The armor might've been a fluke, perhaps. Or a stopgag measure. But if this thing could deadsprint, at its size?

The possibilities were potent, to say the least.

Thrusters flared blue as the walker burst into a sprint. Its armored feet slamming into the pavement while its arms pumped up and down.

Yulitra's mind raced with analysis. The applications were-

On the fourth step, a laser cannon fell off.

On the fifth, an arm popped from its socket, crashing to the ground.

On the sixth, both legs seemingly decided to disconnect at the same time.

As the frame's torso slammed into the ground, Yulitra slowly turned her head towards Lawrence.

If the man was red before, now he was scarlet. She wasn't aware a human being could produce that much sweat. Maybe he was a near-human of some kind?

"I-i say, I say, that is…" He took a gulp of air, pulling on his collar so hard she could hear a slight tear. "...t-that is absolutely not an a-accurate representation of our company's prowess! Why, I never seen such a sight, and I swear to you–wait, w-where are you going!?"

Yulitra was already walking out of the room by the time he noticed.

She walked the entire 15 minute walk back to her shuttle with Lawrence on her tail, trying his very best to both keep up, breathe properly, and somehow explain his way out of this mess.

–

She wasn't of the belief he had any way of salvaging this.

His desperate pleas only stopped once the shuttle doors had closed. She breathed the tiniest
sigh of relief, glad to have escaped his buffonnery.

She took a seat, settling into the rigid yet nostalgic seat of the Nu-Class shuttle. An Old Republic keepsake she'd manage to keep, even with the Empires general disdain towards symbols of its past.

Sure, the Moff had his fancy, out of production Incom executive shuttle, and the Sector Admiral never flew in anything smaller than a Sentinel. But the Nu-Class was just different. Though, if she could've managed one, she'd still be flying around in an LAAT.

Once her shuttle was back in the air, she took to her PDA to check her schedule.

She had a meeting with her staff in a few hours on the general readiness of sector forces which she was not looking forward too. While she';d tried to cultivate an inner staff of professionals, some fools slipped through the cracks. But the information gathering was ongoing, and a purge was being prepared. She just had to be patient.

The one after that was on the pirate situation. These had been getting shorter and shorter as things improved, which was a good thing. Not because the piracy was getting better, though that was a reason, but because the first few were over 3 hours long.

Finally, a meeting with other Sector Administrators on the plans for the Academies.

Frankly speaking, at least half of the meetings on her calendar for the next few days wouldn't be there if the Moff was still in the sector.

Regardless, at least the Academies were finally seeing change. Yulitra was lucky enough that ground troops of decent training were more plentiful than crewmen, or else she might've been stuck with idiots all the way down like Veers was.

She pitied Veers. 18 lost ships in 6 months would be bad attrition during wartime, but peacetime? Awful.

An alert on her PDA refocused her attention. A message from one of her secretaries. And yes, she had multiple. The Moff was just enough of a workaholic to barely leave enough work for one.

Anyways, she'd been forwarded a message from another Cril based company. An invitation to view one of their products, in the hopes of winning a contract.

They even sent ahead a dossier on their product. How thoughtful.

Opening it, she was greeted with a walker.

A TIE walker.

Yulitra turned off her PDA and resisted the urge to fling it against the shuttle wall.

She failed.

–

So I figured various companies sector wide would see the success and spread of the LECA and try to copy it, or make their own, better version. Some would, of course, try. And fail, as this company did.

Maybe others will succeed in the future in one way or another, but this company certainly didn't. I'm of the opinion that people in all industries try to copy trends, even in something as serious as the military industrial complex. Whether they ride the wave or drown is up to them.

I'll admit, I've been watching some Legends of Avantris and Jean Claude stuck with me a tad, which is why Lawrence was tossing out "I say!" as much as he was.

Other than that, sorry for the delay. I got sick for the entire week of spring break and it sucked balls. Then I got sucked into the delightful game of Pragmata, while sick. So all in all it was not a feel good week for me.

Did cook though. Fried chicken breaded with lays chips. Burnt like half of em cause I put too much oil and was not on top of timing things. Still turned out aight, though I lament my current lack of cumin/paprika.

Also made a chocolate lava cake, or tried too. I didn't have chocolate bars, only cocoa powder, so I had to make do with less of a cake and more of just the lava part with some cake-like bits mixed in. It still tasted great, but it's cake so that's expected.

And I'm begging, praying to god ya'll catch the puns I made this chapter. I'm real proud of em.

Well well well, if it isn't the consequences of my actions…
-Freefaller

TheManW/oAPlan · Apr 21, 2026

(((OOC, not my best omake but an Imperial Spy would definitely overthink the conversation. Watch Las fail upwards!)))

The young lady in red and white sighed. She had been hoping to get more out of the Moff. She had expected bad pick up lines, expected him to boast about his sector's military strength, but he chose to discuss taxation policy. Even if he was not attracted to her, he should have been more willing to talk to her about something less benign. After all, everyone should knew who she was. As much as she sometimes hated the fact that her heterochromia gave her away in field work, it was undoubtedly useful in being noticed. She had expected asking for favors, asking for a date, maybe asking to be left alone, but he had done none of those. He was completely nonplussed and wanted to discuss economics. Pulling up the dossier on the Moff, she noticed that he intended to focus almost to an absurd amount on economics, and generally let other people handle the other aspects of his sector. Though the presence of non-humans in nearly all corners of his administration was alarming, his focus on economics did bear fruit.

She then realized something. He was talking to well known Imperial intelligence agent about economics. What was he trying to tell her about? Granted, she generally did not care much about the administrative aspects of her work but perhaps that was a mistake. Pulling up a spreadsheet, she began to cross check the reports with the treasury reports. She frowned. While she had expected some discrepancies, she had not expected to find them that quickly. She was not a forensic accountant, so if this was what a cursory review did, perhaps she should bring this up the chain. A week later, she was in formal military dress kneeling before his Imperial majesty.

"Your highness, I am concerned with some of our accounting numbers. A moff brought it to my attention, and I believe he is correct to be concerned. As such, I would reque -" Palpatine raised is hand. She stopped talking.

"You are a faithful servant. You have earned enough trust that if you believe something should be looked into, it should be looked into. What specifically do you require of me?" Palpatine requested.

"My lord, clearly the man is an economic savant. He has somehow governed a backwater of a planet into a productive one and his sector appears to be undergoing the same transformation. Given his esteemed rank and loyalty, I thought it would be best if you order him to do an audit for the benefit of the Empire," she explained.

"Granted. You are dismissed," the Emperor ordered.

Three weeks later, in the Moff's office...

"What do you mean I am doing an audit of the entire Empire!" Las yelled.

"The order comes from the Emperor himself. Apparently you impressed someone on your last trip to Imperial Center." Zyx commented.

"Is there any way to get out of this?" Las aswked.

"Sorry bro. The orders came from the Emperor himself. Sometimes the reward for good work is more work," Zyx replied.

"But I wanted to take a vacation..." Las whined.

Yacov · Apr 22, 2026

Omake: Tales from the Skull Market

POV: Tak Gwut
RIII: Guardian
Certifications: Negotiator IV, Infiltrator II, Adviser III
Head of Administration of the Mynock Pailers, a RII: Alliance Mercenary Company,
Vio's Indoor Skull Market, Edin system, Highreach, Edinspire, 2ABY

Tak gave a stretch as she entered the indoor market. Cargo lifters and speeder trucks lined the floor in a roughly organized manner. Some makeshift stalls lie on trailers dragged behind the former two. Spots near the entrance and the center were fiercely competed and bid for. Some cargo containers were even stacked on top of each other until they reached the ceiling.

"Reminds you of when we were two chumps wandering around a Guild-A-Gear, doesn't it?"

It certainly brings back memories. Only instead of a calm, almost sterile atmosphere, there was a fevered and humid anticipation as hawkers shouted their offers to all who could potentially hear. Of course they were always a few squads of RIV mercenaries on hand to prevent things from getting out of hand. Petty thieves looking to get lucky were in for a rude surprise. Most didn't bother to look up at the surveillance droids watching the area.

"Let's keep our eyes on the prize Garik. We have to find some upgrades for the Pailers, not gawk at every stall in this Skull Market."

Skull Market was a term for the network selling goods seized from pirates in Guild space. A network that had only grown and become regulated with the Zann Consortium's failed push into the sector. Quality of these used goods were often questionable, but the markups were low in exchange. Plenty of low ranking independent merchants try to get their start stocking up at forfeiture sales hosted by the Guild and sector law enforcement, then attempting to turn a profit selling it off piece by piece at the Skull Market. It was seen as a proving ground by the Guild merchant community.

Protection and regulation of the Skull Market is taken very seriously by the Guild. The concerningly paramilitary nature of some of these pirates meant the equipment seized could be heavily restricted. Only those with the proper permits and licenses could open a stall at one and submit themselves to inspections at any time. The Guild paid well for high ranking mercenaries to patrol and monitor Skull Market locations. These measures prevented most illegal practices, although a few brave criminals still tried their luck on occasion.

"Yeah I guess you're right. Don't want to let that monkey swindle us more than he already did at his cantina."

Garik was still fuming with the Skull Market's manager. The Andrennian had played him like a drum by making her partner pay to introduce him to the Market's owner. Only to take his Credits in one hand and hold out another to introduce himself. It was only a few Credits, more of a prank really, but it still stung Garik's ego.

The Cantina owner had predicted the Skull Market's rise and had prepared accordingly. He purchased and renovated a warehouse owned by a defunct smuggling ring in Edinspire to set up an indoor market. When the Guild started looking for a place to set up shop on Highreach, he showed up before they made a public announcement. Now Skull Market Traders rent out his stall spaces to peddle their wares while the Guild pays him for the privilege of using the land.

"Alright enough staring at the big picture, let's go find some upgrades for the Pailers."

Their SKZ Sporting Blasters were alright for low rank jobs around Minda-4. However the Pailers had begun to look into contracts offworld ever since the contract for Dewbacks ended. If they wanted to be taken seriously with the likes of Mandalorians roaming around, upgrading their equipment is a requirement. Speaking of taking things seriously.

"Garik stop making googly eyes at that row of boarding armor. We are looking for more equipment, but we are not made of Credits. Besides the Hurt Wagon is geared for transport over combat, even with the three fighters we have."

With the nature of piracy primarily being a problem in the void, a lot of the gear on sale was for space combat. Guilders looking to grab an onboard amenities unit or a Plasma Cut Boarding Device had a decent chance of coming across a used model. They wouldn't find anything truly restricted like a shift coffer in a Skull Market. However it was obvious where the pirates spent most of their time. Starship weapons were a bit rarer and more heavily regulated by the Guild. Merchants selling them tended to be housed in a dedicated building with a constant guard detail, but a high enough rank could give one access to that stock.

Unfortunately the lack of carrier space on the Pailers' main ship limited their area of operation by how long their fighter pilots can stay in their cockpits. Most mercenaries weren't keen on sleeping and doing their daily business in a starfighter for days on end. As a result the Pailers could only take contracts a system or two away from their base on Minda-4 unless it was long term or well paying enough to justify spending the Credits for out of house transportation.

"Alright, alright. Let's head over to the ground vehicle section to see if we can get a more impressive ride for the Pailers than a cargo speeder."

That isn't to say the Skull Market catered exclusively to spacers. Most crews had at least something if an opportunity for a Dirtside Raid ever presented itself. Plenty of merchants bought up a lot of one type of good to consolidate and build up a reputation as the local "insert good here" merchant of their Skull Market. The dirtside selection may be sparser than the space selection, but suppliers still managed to accumulate a decent stock.

"Looks like a lot of Starhawks this season. A bit outdated, but still usable and ubiquitous enough that people still produce spares for them. Could give the Pailers some added mobility."

Their primary options for small patrols were either the Arrows or their blurrgs. A stable of speeder bikes could allow them to respond to alarms and minor threats much quicker. Might have to organize bike lessons to keep anyone from crashing their Starhawk on their first patrol. Riding an animal and riding a speeder bike were two different things.

"Aw don't tell me you are thinking of adding side-cars. How are we supposed to intimidate our enemies scrunched up in a lame side-car?"

Garik does have a point. Appearances have a quality all on their own. Plus adding a side-car would decrease the speed somewhat, but it would still be a step far above blurrg speed. However the trade off of being able to bring more bodies and firepower to a situation should more than make up for it. Now how to phrase it to her partner?

"If they think we are weak because of a side car, they'll regret it when we attach repeating blasters or mortars to them."

The temptation of bringing squad level firepower to bear seemed to mollify Garik long enough to consider the option. Sure they were not expecting to lay siege to another base anytime soon, but being able to disorient or disperse a crowd with smoke or stun gas was always helpful. Especially if they were taking contracts outside of Minda in systems where public security is less stable. After consenting to at least trying it out, the two made their way to the infantry gear section of the Market for the meat of their purchases.

"Alright we both agree stun grenades for the individual Pailers' kit and the mortars are a must. We want a way to take care of groups and they are the easiest to get licenses for. Better armor would be nice to have, but lower priority at the moment. The last major item on our list is blasters. Quantity matters more than quality given pirates aren't exactly known for standardization. As long as it is within the budget and better than the sporting blasters we are currently using."

Blasters were something that was always in great supply in the Skull Market. Dozens of the same type of blaster markedly less so. Garik cracked a joke about making every Pailer a gunslingers by giving them each a C-10. All Tak could think of was having just brought their rifle marksmanship to above rookie standards, only to go back and have to drill them all to use heavy blaster pistols. She admits she took more time than necessary admiring a bryar rifle. Long enough for Garik to comment using collector's items as a standard weapon would give their logistics a heart attack.

Eventually they settled on purchasing a merchant's entire stock of three dozen GLX Firelances. The Republic design was popular with bounty hunters and pirates alike for the strong stun setting it came with. Both of them agreed the lower body count the Pailers left behind after a contract, the better. This loadout would encourage them to take more security contracts than wiping out pirate bases. Settling on a theme would also encourage similar contracts in the future. All the old crew back at base had experience with that from the Dewbacks contract, so the necessary skills were already in the company. Seems like the Pailers were going to be known for security utilizing outdated tech. Not the worst thing to be known for out in the Rim in her opinion.

They had to hire a dozen more recruits so they could have a garrison at their base when a contract took them offworld. Even had to promote a new lieutenant, an Anomid named Tear, to hold down the fort. Tak would have to disperse the new recruits amongst the old blood so they could pick up their tricks. However the fact they even have a veteran/rookie divide shows the Pailers are no longer the fresh faces they started out as. Hopefully Garik and her can take the company even further up the ranks.

——

POV: Mwork, Aqualish Head of Security for Vio's (legal) commercial empire, apartment courtyard not far from Vio's Indoor Skull Market, Edin system, Highreach, Edinspire, 2ABY

"Mwork, got eyes on those cases of Savareen brandy? Supplier is starting to get antsy."

Mwork gave a sweep the area from his Corona Limited. He was almost tempted to stay in his kudana leather seat and let the droids handle it. Almost because he was aching for some proper action. Vio forbade him from any shockboxing matches until the Market was fully established. Tasks like these were the only way he could stretch his feet and fists.

Someone had hit a merchant in Vio's Skull Market. Naturally this was an insult to Vio's protection and demanded a response. His boss assured the merchant that he would be sending "his best men" to retrieve the goods. While the merchant probably thought that meant Guild mercenaries, he contacted Mwork to get the job done quietly while trying to persuade the merchant to keep their mouth shut. No need to have a record of Vio's new business getting hit so early in its operation.

"I am at where the locator is. Unless the thieves knew ahead of time where it was hidden, they shouldn't have been able to remove it in such a short time. Heading in now."

As Mwork got out of his new-to-him landspeeder and adjusted his suit while double checking the coordinates. The supplier's locator pointed him to an apartment a few blocks from the Skull Market. It was actually part of his old gang's turf for a bit back in the day. Course it was cleaner and more well kept than back then. He didn't even have to step over any broken glass or trash.

"Aw how precious. This looks like baby's first larceny."

As Mwork leaned into the courtyard he found a gaggle of youths. The youngest looked no more than 17, the cusp of adulthood. Unfortunately they were standing around the cases of brandy he was sent to find. Their excited shouting was about their "big score" sealed their fate as the thieves he was looking for. Poor fools hadn't even set up a lookout to watch for any retribution. You don't hit the biggest game in town then stop running after ten minutes.

Reminded him of the time he hotwired his first speeder for the Rancor Maws and they let him bring it home after redoing the registration. Thing ran like a gungan with its legs broken and everyone laughed when he showed up in it, but that didn't matter because it was his. Guess after almost every gang was wiped out in the Purges, Highreach's next generation of criminals didn't have anyone to show them the ropes.

"You three, stick to the background unless someone flashes a blaster. I will handle these kids myself."

The shiny black and blue droids brought a hand to their saucer heads. With a flourish of their capes that Mwork knew was excessive, the security droids holstered their blasters and retreated to the shadows. No idea where they learned that given all they did was follow him on his rounds. He was still getting used to working alongside droids, but working closely with the Guild gave them options for the more… high performance models seized from criminals. The boss even had some fancy trade permit he had been approved for mounted on his office wall, said it showed off his growing influence.

Vio's operations were getting big enough that more manpower was needed to prevent wandering eyestalks and appendages. Unfortunately most of the reliable organic muscle market on Highreach had been cornered by the Guild. Most toughs Mwork knew found it easier to get good work with a Guild certificate, even if reporting after every job was a hassle. Despite staying on friendly terms with the Guild, the boss wanted the core of his network loyal to him and not report to some multi-sector spanning institution every little thing they did. So until the boss could train up more meat from the ground up, servos would be handling a lot of the lifting. Either way, it was showtime.

"Good evening everyone! You appear to have the brandy my boss sent me to find! If you just hand it over nice and easy, I promise to only leave some facial bruising to show what happens to wandering appendages."

The laughters and snickers stopped as Mwork strutted up and made his announcement. His words bounced around the kids' empty skulls while their eyes tracked him with confused wariness. That wariness turned into youthful cockiness as the snickers returned with a vengeance. Their eyes betrayed their lack of education in street smarts.

"And what are you going to do about old man? Swing that fancy cane at us? Why don't you beat it before you throw out your back."

Now that was just uncalled for. He was just in his late thirties! His abs were only beginning to devolve into a gut from a lack of fighting! Frakking kids don't know how to respect their elders. Not showing deference to someone well dressed and calm in a potentially violent environment was a good way to wind up face down in a gutter during the Dark Years. Well Mwork tried it the easy way, but if they were going to ease his guilt by mocking him, hard way it was.

"Guys I think my words gave old man a senior moment. Let's pack up the stuff annnn-oof!"

These idiots were so busy laughing at their bad humor they stopped watching him. Made it easy to walk up and throw his cane the air. Eyes drew upward by the sudden movement as he gave Loudmouth a haymaker to that mouth. If they had been watching him, he never would have gone for something so telegraphed. Loudmouth wobbled for a moment before crumpling into a heap as the cane ended its flight.

Snickers responded to his friend's fall by pulling out a shiv. Bad move. He swung wide which allowed Mwork to seize his arm and pull him off balance. A liver shot and he is doubling over in agony. The shiv clatters across the ground and out of anyone's reach. Not that it would have done much to the armored vest he had under his suit. Lucky it wasn't a blaster or Snickers would have ate a bolt from the droids.

Chuckles looks at his mates on the ground before meekly raising his hands. Kid should have thought of that before rejecting his offer. Mwork winds up a bolo punch sends the kid flying in a way that would have brought cheers in the ring. The kids where left on the ground quiet or squirming and no fourth opponent emerging from the shadows. The calm signaled the fight's end as Mwork picked his cane back up. All in all a bit of a disappointment. He didn't even have to activate his shockmitts.

"OI MWORK! WHAT YOU ROUGHING UP THOSE LADS FOR!?"

And there is Ms. Whitamayj, right on cue. Mwork glanced up at the aging Togruta hanging out her apartment window. The bat was old back when he was first initiated into the Rancor Maws gang. Always gave baked goods to the younger criminals and retaliation was swift for anyone who gave her trouble. Her screeching was background noise for the local community.

"Just teaching a lesson to some kids who thought they could steal from Vio, Ms. Whitamayj!"

"WELL THEN GIVE THEM A GOOD STOMP ON THE CROTCH FOR ME MWORK! VIO'S GOOD PEOPLE! HELPED ME GET THE PARTS SO I COULD WATCH MY STORIES!"

Good thing Vio insisted on "giving back to the community". If Vio couldn't be feared without going to prison, he figured he might was well be loved. A few cheap bits and bobs sent to the folks for free and suddenly everybody is singing his praises. The boss planned to use that goodwill to build up manpower independent of most of the Guild's influence. They'd still go to the Guild for training and licensing, but he'd have his hooks (and their loyalty) from the beginning. Yet being loved and being soft are too different things, as Mwork had just plainly demonstrated.

"Halt citizen! My sensors have detected a violent altercation has occurred! Do not attempt to flee and explain the situation at once!"

Just after dealing with one obstacle, another pops up. A 501-Z trunged into the courtyard looking to fulfill its peacekeeping programming. Of course it arrived just after things died down. Ah frak it is still staring at me. What was it that Vio told him to say if this happened?

"I was just, uh, performing a citizen's arrest and reclaiming some property for the Skull Market officer. Here's the credentials for the goods and my identification."

One good thing about working with the Guild is Vio gets a bit of leeway when it comes to violence. Leeway which is extends those under him like Mwork. As long as the violence is kept controlled and the right flimsiwork is filed afterwards, roughing up some criminals like this shouldn't draw much heat.

"Scanning…processing documentation…documentation registers as legitimate…beginning preliminary analysis of crime scene…level of force registers as within acceptable levels for Highreach's legal code…very well. Please remain here while a vehicle arrives to take these criminals to the station. Would you like your bounty payment deposited in a personal or business account?"

Well there goes keeping this quiet. Even if Vio clamps the supplier's mouth shut, a police report is going to ensure word gets out. Maybe if Mwork gives Vio the whole bounty it will soothe his anger. The chance to throw some really damaging punches was more than enough. He was getting punch-starved after spending so much time without setting foot in the ring.

——

Whenever there is a crisis, someone is going to try to profit off it. At least the Skull Market is relatively better regulated than most Black Markets in Star Wars and the legalized gunrunners are less likely to shoot you. Vio's indoor market looks a bit like an indoor market like Kirkgate Market in Leeds with the feverish and mishmash aesthetic of an Outer Rim bazaar. Only instead of selling produce, knick-knacks, and assorted jewelry, it sells blasters, raiding gear, and assorted jewelry seized from pirates. Why the guards don't even take bribes or collect "additional" fees!

Mwork's section was intended to demonstrate that despite Las bringing law and order to the Edin system, it still retains some of that "rough and tumble" charm from when it was a hive of scum and villainy. Also poor Mwork really isn't that acquainted with "high class" fashion. The closest he has ever got to fancy folk is guarding the entrance to the VIP section of a nightclub in Highreach and that one time he watched over a businessperson his gang kidnapped for ransom.

Mwork: "I am no longer a gang enforcer. I must look like a respectable security consultant for a legitimate and growing business. A look that says: there goes Mwork, a high class and respected man."

Also Mwork: Comes out of his local suit rental having purchased something like this and walks with his superfluous cane to his fancy used speeder.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · Apr 23, 2026

Chp-111

Las

The University of Coruscant was a simple name for an institution so ridiculously glittery.

It sat in the Imperial Center, of course. It was an important institution, or so it claimed, and as such had to stick to the center of power.

I think it had more to do with sucking up, but I wasn't going to say that out loud, was I. No, the copious number of Imperial flags slapped onto every surface did that for me.

"This hall is severely lacking in-" I quickly elbowed Myr'thos in the ribs to shut them up. This was neither the time nor place to be talking smack about the institution about to give me a diploma.

I could feel their stare boring into the back of my skull, promising retribution in private. My mind succinctly shut that thought away for later as we walked to the grand doors of the building.

They were, in a single word, large. Like, at least 6 or 7 stories tall. At the base sat a series of perfectly normal sized doors instead.

And yes, we walked to the front door instead of taking a shuttle. Apparently, the University liked wasting people's time.

Upon reaching the base, we entered to find an equally large hall stretching out before us. The roof was a glass skylight, and the hall was lined with statues of various people rich enough to pay for one.

To either side, corridors ran to the college's various wings. A myriad of students milled about, all human and all looking as though they were raised by nannies while their parents cheated on each other.

Despite the hall's size, it was surprisingly bereft of activity. Students and staff milled about, certainly. But for an institution of this size one would expect more students.

Then again, considering the cost of tuition, it was a surprise anyone could afford to attend in the first place.

The reception desk was ironically quite small, the clerk behind it clearly cramped.

"Moff Las Mola, here for my Doctoral defense." I said quickly, keeping my arms held behind my back despite the growing pain in my elbow.

Why is their armor so damn hard? I should've never given that program adequate funding.

The clerk's eyes widened a fraction at hearing the word Moff, posture straightening up in an instant.

"Ah of course Moff Mola! Let me just check the system here and get you set up."

As he went through the system, his posture slowly slouched down once more.

"Here you are, Moff. This pass will let you through the needed sections. This map will lead you to the correct hall." A chromium token was placed on the counter between us, engraved with the Universities logo. The clerks' tone was the same you got from service workers after a double shift. Painful.

"And my bodyguard?"

The clerk sighed as though this was the most unimportant event to ever occur. He even rolled his eyes!

What was it that wuxia novels always say? Oh, right. You are courting death!

Given the way Myr'thos twitched in the slightest way, it was true. This clerk was a single sarcastic statement away from getting beheaded.

The clerk proceeded to slap a second token down after a few seconds of typing. At this point, I wasn't sure if he wasn't going to literally wave us away, but I wasn't taking any chances with Myr'thos's attitude.

Instead, I swiftly followed the map, Myr'thos in tow.

"That one will suffer."

"Please wait until I'm off-world. And at least keep it untraceable? I don't want to get my diploma revoked because you got pissy."

They didn't respond, content to grumble under their breath. Mugwuffin let out that strange laugh of hers from her position curled on my shoulders. A weight I was getting tired of carrying.

"You're getting heavy, you know? Might want a harness or something."

Indignation!

"If I didn't exercise, I wouldn't be standing upright you scaly rat."

Annoyance

She then proceeded to poke at my belly. So what, I like hot coco, sue me!

Our argument continued the entire walk there, drawing stares from passerbyers as I seemingly argued with a lizard about weight. All the while Myr'thos stalked to my side, every step an opportunity to aura farm.

They were enjoying their new armor way too much. The hooded helmet and monochrome color scheme made them a walking shadow, and Myr'thos took every opportunity to make the drip clear as day to all.

Well, it is a drip or drown world, after all. If only I had my helmets of old, I could aura farm as well. Unfortunately, I was stuck with just a measly uniform.

The walk itself was long, nearly half an hour of gilded halls and statues of business magnates with more money than sense.

It didn't help that every staff member we passed was floating along on a repulsorlift hoverboard of some kind, ignoring all those around them.

One of them fell over, faceplanting so hard I was certain I saw blood. From Myr'thos's quiet snickers, I had a suspicion it was no accident.

Eventually, we reached the meeting room. As the door slid open, the first thing I noticed was the smell.

Perfume utterly saturated the place. And not just one smell, but dozens deigned to assault my senses. Any one of them would've been fine enough, but the combination almost made my eyes wander.

See!? This is why I wore those helmets, they had filters!

The room itself was as ostentatious as the rest of the academy. Every seat in a lecture hall built for maybe 200 students seemed fit for a king. With adequate leg space, cushioned arm seats and cup holders.

In the very front row sat a single person. A corpulent man to put it lightly, the armrests of his chair raised to allow his girth to remain unconstrained.

Considering there was not a single other soul in the lecture hall, he could be the only source of the perfume.

A snore ripped its way out of his gullet, a bone shaking thing.

"This is the elite of the most prestigious university in the galaxy? Pathetic. Mongrel, do you truly value any simple piece of parchment these fools allot to you?"

Moving over to the podium at the front, I took to connecting my PDA and readying my presentation as I responded.
"Well, considering we're 45 minutes early, I'm surprised anyone showed up at all. Still, it's not about the people who run the University as much as it is about proving myself to, well, myself."

The holoprojector lit up with uncharacteristic quickness, a testament to the best consumer electronics one could buy being the norm at the academy.

"Ah, so it is a lack of pride that drives you. Pathetic, but I've come to expect no less from you mensch. Now, I am off to acquire refreshments from the nearest cafe. They seem to have quite the selection in this building alone."

"Cool. See if they've got coco please."

Myr'thos left without another word while I took to doing a quick test of the projectors capabilities to ensure everything was functional.

It was effectively a slideshow with 3d graphics. Instead of a normal graph, I had projections that covered the entire Myto sector. Instead of boxes of text and images, I had 3d simulations and videos. All standard stuff.

It was around 5 minutes before the presentations started that I noticed something was off. No one else had arrived, and I was certain I'd come to the right room. Maybe that clerk fucked up? Seemed lazy enough for it.\

"HRRK!"

The loud sound shook me from my mind as the only other person in the room woke with a snort.

Indignation!

You're a rat, shut up.

The man seemed to shake himself away, long robes barely hiding how the folds of his fat rolled like waves.

"H-huh? Where…oh. Who are you?" His confusion lasted mere moments before locking onto me.

"I'm Moff Las Mola. I'm to present a defense in this room in a few minutes for a diploma by experience."

His eyes widened in recognition. "Ah, yes, now I remember. That was why I chose this spot for my nap. The seats here are quite comfortable."

"You're one of the examiners then? Pleasure to meet you, Mr?"

"Doctor Quinzeltion Burtra, head of the Butra family and majority stockholder in Butra Electronics. That holo projector is one of my company's products."

That it was, the Butra logo shining on the side in blue light.

"Well, again, it's a pleasure to meet you Doctor Butra. Do you know when the other examiners will be here? Its almost time to begin."

"Bah." He waved a hand my way. "They'll be here when they see fit. Best focus on preparing your defense. Something about taxation law?"

"Actually, it about transaction cost reduction using-"

He waved again, interrupting me. "Yes, yes, I remember." The Doctor yawned, a hand reaching into the depths of his robes to retrieve a crumpled bag. From it, he pulled a strange purple and orange pastry easily the size of my hand, half of it disappearing into his mouth a second later.

I decided to ignore him as he did me, focusing instead on re-reading through my presentation and notes, ensuring I was prepared for every question that might come my way.

When the meeting time came, the only one to walk through the door was Myr'thos, holding two drinks.

They handed me one, sipping on the other with the straw poking through an open port in the helmet.

"Thank you."

Myr'thos said nothing, even though the feeling I got was that a barb was hidden, waiting.

Instead they settled into a corner, their new perch giving them a view of every entrance and exit.

"My bodyguard." I told Doctor Butra, answering the silent question on his face.

He simply hummed, returning his attention to his pastries. He'd produced a half dozen more from his robes when I wasn't looking.

It was only 15 minutes after the presentation was meant to begin that people started to trickle in.

Various doctors and assorted professors in robes worth more than the shuttle I flew in on. They chatted and laughed, none bothering to even look me in the eye, much less greet me.

Though they shot curious looks at Mugwuffin on my shoulders, and wary ones towards Myr'thos.

Eventually, nearly 25 minutes after the designated starting time, the final examiners had arrived. The front row was filled with around 15 or so people, strange given I had been told my committee would only be around 6 people total.

Once they had, I decided I needed to start quickly. The quicker I was done, the quicker I could get off the planet.

"Hello esteemed members of the University. I am Moff Las Mola, of the Myto Sector."

None of them responded back, boredom clear. Some were still talking amongst themselves, and Doctor Butra was completely absorbed by his pastries, zoned out entirely.

"My presentation is on Reconstructed Institutional Frameworks and Transaction Cost Reduction in Frontier Economies: A Re-examination of Pre-Imperial Development Models Using Contemporary Evidence from the Myto Sector."

From there, it began, starting with the history of the topic. The Guild wasn't a new type of organization, but in this galaxy few things were given there were some twenty five thousand years of history. Being original in these things was hard, and many went more for a rediscovering and reapplication of older concepts.

As the section continued, I was pretty sure I heard a snore.

Eventually, I got into the meat and bones of the system and the proof of the Guild's benefits. The rising employment rate and subsequent boom of taxes was a large part of it. It was here that I got my first question.

"You claim this 'Guild' is more productive and better suited to industrial concerns. Yet your anti-monopoly practices seem to favor low-class individual businesses. How can your system hope to prove itself productive when all you seem to do is coddle the small ventures of the peasants?"

The woman who asked was rail thin, in a way that would be considered unhealthy if not for the fact that I knew such a body type was actually quite in vogue right now amongst the elite. Her unnaturally green eyes seemed to glow with malice, contrasting her taut, molasses colored skin.

"Well, that's because monopolies actually fail to hold up in terms of long term, high yield productivity in the same way. A monopoly has no competition that necessitates higher quality products or services. They just have to keep their competition out of the market, and tend to spend more time and money currying political favor and ensuring no competition arises than actually refining their internal processes or eliminating waste. Data from the Myto Sector has shown quite the opposite under the Guild. Actually, I have more material on this I cut for time."

I took a little time bringing the info up, a complex chart appearing from the projector. A variation of a later map of the sector, but focused on the individual productivity averages of small to medium businesses in the sector.

"Based on the data gathered, it was shown that smaller businesses were on average through the Guilds systems able to grow and showcase productivity and output more efficiently than mega-corporations. While lacking the individual scale, they make up for it by virtue of being easier to start thanks to Guild sponsored classes and resources."

A click brought me to another deleted slide. "Now looking at data from the Kuat system, the dominance of KDY as a corporation has led to immense production of ships. However, this dominance comes with an oppression of other, smaller companies attempting to compete. The average small business productivity rating in the Kuat system is much lower, and if it was at the same rate as the Myto Sector, the Kuat system would see a near 18% increase in productivity overall."

I paused to take a breath and a quick swig of the mediocre swill this establishment dared to call hot chocolate. Should've brought my own.

As I did, the room seemed a tad quieter. Maybe those in the back had stopped talking and started snoozing instead. At least the sloppy sounds of eating had reduced. They could stand to be nicer, I was missing my lunch for this meeting!

"Now, I have about a dozen more pages of notes on this topic specifically, but for the sake of time I'm going to return to the main presentation. I'd be happy to speak further on it after the defense is over." A few more button presses, and I was back on the main presentation.

Specifically, the part regarding slavery and the tax base.

After going over some of the basics regarding the Guild's bylaws, especially regarding slavery and how the focus on smaller businesses was affected by them, another question arose.

"Forced labor of local alien populations has been economically proven to extract resources at the maximum rate with minimum cost. Your model seems to eschew this entirely for the sake of giving aliens benefits they have no need of. Is the outer rim so lacking in proper human administration that you must make such concessions?"

This time it was an older man, seated next to the previous questioner. His long white hair was braided into elaborate patterns, interconnecting with each other and held together with rings I was pretty sure were made of aurodium.

"Thats actually answered here on the next slide." I replied, taking another sip to calm my nerves. This was getting irritating, if you have a question make sure its good! These guys sucked.

"As seen here, yes, the cost of maintaining a well paid labor force with mandatory time off and workers protections does start off more expensive. However, these workers now have the time and money needed to go out and engage more proactively with the economy."

A click brought up the next slide, showing the wider effects on the sector economy.

"While at times harder to see on a case by case business, zooming out to the wider economy shows that this increases the overall money flow of trade, as businesses have more customers to sell to. The increase in economic activity then plays into the previous points mentioned about small businesses."

"More importantly" I continued, flicking to the next slide. "Tax revenue has seen a dramatic increase. Not only that, but this increases the size of the tax base as well. This increases the states fiscal capacity, allowing more investment into infrastructure, military and other programs. Not only that, but it reduces costs in a myriad of other ways."

Here, once more, I was forced to bring up slides removed for time. "As seen here, extractive operations that utilize forced labor in the neighboring Veragi sector report vastly increased military costs. Droids, soldiers, and a bevy of monitoring equipment is needed to ensure slave revolts don't break out. And for putting them down when they inevitably do. As it stands, a non-humans needs or wants are irrelevant, only their productive capability. And the data shows that these concessions allow that capability to rise."

"Next, as seen here, the skill ceiling is important. While this may not be a concern here in the Core, in the Outer Rim skilled workers are rarer. By allowing non-humans to engage in the economy and educational system more freely, an engine is created that allows higher difficulty positions to be filled quicker. A slave cannot be whipped into becoming a systems engineer."

"Is this system competitive to neighboring sectors who do use slavery? How does this Guild ensure companies' margins are maintained and people stay to do business?"

Out of nowhere, another question erupted. Turning around, I saw it came from none other than Doctor Butra himself. His pastries lay forgotten on the desk before him, arms propped up by the elbows, hands intertwined before his face. His eyes, however, seemed wide, almost confused by the words coming out of his mouth.

"Ah, good question Doctor Butra." And to my surprise, I was sincere. "The Guild reduces intra-sector friction and has extensive programs aimed at easing trade between sectors as well. Overall, it's easy to both do business in the sector and with the sector, though more of the former than the latter. More than that, slave sectors save on wages but bleed in security costs."

Another projection, this one from the Veragi sector I had scrounged up.

"The average cost of security per slave per capita is 237% higher than what it would take to pay even the barest minimum wage. They are effectively running expensive prisons that happen to produce something as a byproduct. This, combined with all the other evidence, is inefficient."

From there, the tune of the presentation changed dramatically. The questions seemed to almost switch. Now, the panelists seemed more engaged. Their questions aimed at less obvious but important gaps in my theory and practice.

At one point they started discussing with one another as well as with me. They even stood from their chairs, the group congregating around the podium to utilize the holoprojector and holonet connection to bring up various data points and research from the school files.

I ended up pulling a great deal of those removed slides and files up throughout the entire discussion. I'll be honest, it was some of the most fun I'd had in a long while.

A legitimate academically engaged discussion on topics I was interested in with peers in the field. Many of them had read the same papers I had. Some had even written those papers.

The energy was almost exciting, and at times I watched figures such as Doctor Butra engaging rigorously in serious debate on the potential failure points of the Guilds patrols specifically in regards to said patrols effects on the economic stability of a region.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere came to an end as an alarm rung out, my alarm. A quick tap at my PDA silenced it.

"My apologies, my alarm was ringing to remind me of a dinner reservation I made this morning." I glanced at the clock. "Unfortunately, I'll have to take my leave within the next half an hour if I wish to make it . It's at The Pinnacle, you see."

I received some understanding looks as myself, Mugwuffin and Myr'thos were ushered out of the room while the panel debated.

"You should praise my ability, for I was able to maintain a state of readiness throughout the entirety of that inane babbling." Said Myr'thos, body contorting into seemingly bone-breaking stretches, sighing as their body received that relief.

"Isn't your body built to be a perfect weapon? You should be perfectly capable of sitting still for a little while. See, even Mugwuffin did it!" I poked the lizard-cat-thing, but all I got in response was a little snore.
"The truth, peasant, is that nobody, born or made, could ever hope to withstand nearly four hours of such mind-numbing boredom. Only the combination of my perfect body, unbreakable mind, and durasteel will allow me to survive this encounter."

"Fine! Next time I'll make a presentation on the fruit market. You wanted two and a half week old orban fruits, right?"

Our banter lasted at least fifteen minutes, back and forth on whether mixed fruit smoothies or coco blends were the superior drink. I know I won, no matter that dirtbag fruit-lover says.

When the doors opened once more, we were ushered back inside. There, the entire committee stood, Doctor Butra at its center.

"We've come to a decision, Doctor."

–
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Legally obligated. You see, I typed the number 6, and then within a word typed the number 7, and as such I have no choice. My brain is rotting in a peculiar way.

Been looking into expanding info on the Myto Sectors ground forces. After all, outside of the LECA's and the Broadsword hover IFV's its all bog standard. Obviously the Imp military has some decent stuff, if it was all awful they'd lose all the time. But I figure there has to be places they can improve, so tossing ideas/art of vehicles/weapons/strategies and more in the comments would be amazing, cause I am as far from a general as possible. Not even an armchair general. Mechs can be included, given the LECA, but keep them star wars themed and grounded to an extent. No Gundams flying around lobbing battleship killing nukes.

Honestly fairly proud of this chapter. Really wanted to showcase how Coruscant is kind of a glittery shithole through the academy. But at the same time, I figured there had to be people who were actually passionate about their field of study under the pomp. After all, this is just one lowly Moff, so they wouldn't send the trust fund babies with 0 passion, just the ones who are 50/50 on passion and profit.

And yes, you're right, this is a 1 POV chapter. That's because it's late but I don't want to spend another 3 hours writing up the second POV or wait until tomorrow to finish it. It was going to be Grant. Don't worry, she'll be first for 112.

While this new and hopefully improved style of writing takes longer to write chapters for, I will be uploading more often. Multiple times a week if possible. I'll be honest, I saw how Sera's seems to top charts every week and I got maybe a bit jelly.

Eh, I'll get over it with the help of carnita's filled bean dip! Perfect dinner, I tell ya.

Even the reaper files a 1040 come April
-Freefaller

Yacov · Apr 24, 2026

Omake: B-65 Colonial Defense Rifle

Production information

Manufacturer: Primitech Solutions (Guild of Commerce, Production and Protection Subsidiary)

Type: Slugthrower rifle

Cost: 300 Credits

Physical and technical specifications

Size: Medium

Materials: Common metals

Weight: 3 Kg

Capacity: 20 round magazine

Range: 150 meters

Rate of fire: 30 rounds a minute

Usage

Availability: Civilian

Roles:

Minimum industry service rifle

Affiliation:

Colonial militaries
Fringers
Remote farmers

——

Description
"Alright got a good number of generators, some air and water filters, some rations, the prefabs, and some B-65s. Anything else we need before setting out?" - Expedition leader prior to setting out to establish a colony on a remote world.

The B-65 Colonial Defense Rifle is a weapon designed by the Outer Rim for the Outer Rim. Following increased interaction between the Myto and Braxant sectors, Primitech Solutions started exploring potential opportunities in the latter's primitive firearm market. The result was a semiautomatic slugthrower marketed as "a young military's first service rifle". A low power, yet reliable firearm meant to allow colonies isolated by choice, age, or circumstance to be able to field a standardized military.

Design

"What makes a B-65 so easy to maintain? I can count the amount of moving parts in the thing with one hand." - Toydariantalking about the B-65.

The B-65 was designed from the ground up to be simplistic, easy to maintain, and requiring next to no offworld support outside of the initial purchase. To accomplish this both the firearm and the ammunition were made out of metal and other materials commonly that could be produced on most worlds such as steel, aluminum, and brass. The chemical makeup for the gunpowder was also kept to commonly available variants.

Weight was kept light due to expecting soldiers not to have access to vehicles and have to march on their own feet. Most able bodied sentients could lug a B-65 around in long marches without too much difficulty. A wooden stock was sometimes used to further lighten the weapon, but a metal option was more widely used.

However what truly made a B-65 a dream for armorers was the lack of moving parts. There were only three moving parts in the whole firearm: the trigger assembly, the magazine and the recoil spring. B-65s had no firing pin, rather they relied on a milled-in nub that served to smash into the rimfire primer and set off the cartridge as the bolt slammed forward. There wasn't even a dedicated ejector for the shell casings. Instead the B-65 was manufactured in such a way that the blowback was directed so the casing would be ejected out of the barrel in reaction to the gun being fired.

Overall the B-65 is an efficient slugthrower that sacrifices quality and performance in exchange for ease of manufacture and reliability. The simplicity and cheapness allowed the B-65 to be produced en masse without too much industrial investment on Primitech's part to keep costs low. The firearm can be used for decades without much decrease in functionality if it is kept in decent condition and storage.

Performance
"Might not have the same punch as a high quality hunting blaster, but I can crank out the parts and ammo in my workshop and I don't have to take a trip to the Starport every month. - Fringer discussing the maintenance benefits of the B-65.

Performance wise the B-65 is fairly lackluster. Choosing to scrimp on the materials did lead to a decrease in long range accuracy. The B-65 was designed with unarmored sentients or local wildlife as the main intended targets. It can penetrate leather and armorweave even if it may struggle a bit. However things like durasteel are almost entirely resistant to a round from a B-65, let alone things like an armored vehicle or a megafauna. Droids were also fairly resistant, although of a round can hit the joints or make it to the internals it can still do some damage. Even a sentient with fairly tough skin such as a Trunsk can take over a dozen good hits to incapacitate. Most of the time colonial militaries use things like explosives such as grenades or rockets, or fixed defenses like turrets rather than relying on their B-65s for the heavier opponents.

So how does a B-65 make up for its poor firepower? Mainly through quantity and volume of fire. Remember the B-65 is designed to be used as a service weapon. It is meant to be used on the squad level, not the individual level. When you are being shot at by a B-65 it is usually not just one rifle, but rather ten to a dozen firing at once. Whatever small raid or pack of animals that is attacking tends to be smaller than a colonial military in total. If they can bring those numbers to bear, then quantity can usually outweigh the quality of the weapon.

For that reason the B-65 is encouraged to be used in a defensive manner. In order to more easily concentrate as many firearms to the location under attack as possible. B-65s are optimally used behind a fixed position in a large group. Thankfully most new colonies only have one or two locations worth defending anyway, so this situation tended to happen without much intention. As an added benefit, a defensive stance usually meant most colonial militaries are right next to their main supply base, negating most of the logistical downsides of using large amounts of slugthrowers.

Sales
"Do you know far out from the common hyperlanes we are? The shipping costs for the gas alone would break our budget. Just order some B-65s, spend a few weeks training a new armorer to keep the things working, and move on." - A yearly budget meeting on a newly settled world discussing defense spending.

The B-65 targeted a very specific clientele at a specific point in their lives. B-65's were marketed towards new colonies in the process of setting up their first military formations. While it is not that hard to acquire a blaster in the Outer Rim, getting hundreds of fairly uniform blasters and the infrastructure to keep them running was beyond most colonies in their initial years. Even more so if they were in a remote part of a sector away from the main hyperlanes. Also at those amounts an organization had to almost always buy new instead of used given tracking down hundreds of used guns of a specific model is usually not worth the additional effort and time needed. To say nothing of the erratic rate of equipment failure that would cause in a military.

Analysts at Primitech estimated the period a colony starts forming a military beyond an emergency militia was around when the main settlement started getting above the 20,000 number in permanent residents. Large enough that the colony could sustain raising a company of soldiers out of the unemployed and the unspecialized, too large for the few squads of law enforcement to handle every threat, and still too small to reliably import or manufacture blasters. The B-65 was meant to arm these initial colonial militaries with cheap and reliable weapons until their budget and infrastructure grew large enough to equip their military with blasters like most PDFs. The B-65s were often kept past this period as a weapon to be given to third and fourth line formations instead of spending the extra Credits on blasters for soldiers unlikely to see any action.

Primitech primarily sold in bulk orders with their most popular size being the company size. Company size was enough B-65s in to arm every soldier in a company and enough ammunition for a quiet training year for about 50,000 Credits plus shipping. By the time the purchased ammo runs out a local workshop is usually converted to make spare parts and ammo which means no more reliance on offworld trade or industry.

For reference, arming a similarly sized company with new A280 blaster Rifles would cost 187,200 Credits. To say nothing of the additional cost in infrastructure and supplies needing to be built, shipped in, and staffed to maintain all those blasters. If a frontier colony could acquire that kind of machinery in the first place, which it likely could not in its starting years. Even if a colony had the option to outfit their military with A280s, most would probably prefer a company of poorly armed soldiers over a platoon of decently armed ones to patrol all the hopefully empty land surrounding their still developing colony. If a patrol with the B-65s gets eaten, then at least it was a smaller percentage of their forces and the colony now knows which direction to position the rest of the military.

In a bid to make the B-65 more marketable to its customers, every order of over fifty rifles came with complementary detailed technical manuals for how to set up manufacturing for spare parts and ammunition for the B-65. The manuals used simple language and had options for manufacturing by hand or with whatever machinery could commonly be found in a workshop in a new colony. This often meant Primitech lost sales in those ammo and parts, but its buyers were often so remote that the shipping costs would have eaten up all the profit anyway. Also a colony that survived was more likely to purchase B-65s for a second and third company than one that ran out of supplies and died to pirates or hostile wildlife.

Another group of buyers Primitech found for their weapon was among isolationist worlds and communities. Worlds that for one reason or another wished to keep industry and starship traffic artificially low. These could be Luddites who reject advanced technology, nature worshippers who despise pollution, hyper-specialized artisan communities who do not want to commit the resources for extensive arms production, or just isolated exclaves seeking to remain separate from the wider galaxy for ideological or other reasons. These fringe communities saw the B-65 as a way to increase their self sufficiency while not sacrificing too much collective self defense capability.

Sadly the B-65 found far less success among individual buyers. Outside of the occasional fringer wanting to play hermit, a farmer looking for some self defense, or the occasional slugthrower enthusiast, most individual buyers preferred purchasing blasters over the B-65. This was especially true in the Guild with its robust logistics network. Mercenaries saw the rifle as a weapon meant for hicks in remote worlds and generally not worth the space it would take up in their loadout when even a sporting blaster could perform better in a lot of metrics.

Overall the B-65 is considered a financial failure by Primitech. The target market was too niche and the profit margins were too small to warrant the capital spent on the project. For every military contract they made with a colony, that often equated to less than 250,000 Credits in sales with higher expenses than was standard due to the remote nature of their clientele. Other military firearm contracts broke a million Credits per world easy even if it was just a support weapon. Even if the B-65 did break even, it barely did more than that. Prices couldn't be raised and improvements couldn't be added lest the B-65's small market share dry up to the then cheaper alternatives. Add in its durable nature and ease of maintenance and repeat sales per world were limited at best. The gun was made too efficiently for the company's own good.

Production was only kept open due to a combination of good PR, government subsidies and contracts, the current rate new worlds are being settled in the galactic area, and the prestige that came with the B-65 being included in development aid packages. The moment any of the above four start waning, Primitech is likely to halt production. However that would do little to stop the usage of the B-65, as the dissemination of technical specs in the manuals means copycat designs are liable to appear to pick up the slack should that occur.

Conclusion
"How did this dirtball get so many frakking guns!? *gasp!* Killshot nooooo! Don't go off into that bright looiiiiight! - Pirate experiencing the effectiveness of coordinated B-65 fire.

Two words that can be used to describe the B-65 would be purpose built. The gun was made for colonial militaries in their infancy to defend themselves and it does that job well enough. It gives any world in the galactic area a solid dependable floor in terms of military strength. B-65s may not be used for long in the relative scale of a world's history. However more and more planets are going to have their PDF's history started with some former day laborer clad in nothing more than fatigues and a helmet, carrying a B-65 in their arms.

——

Meet the B-65. A tier zero rifle designed to be used by military formations on distant underdeveloped worlds. Something you would see starter units use in a RTS game before you did any research in the tech tree or built any special buildings. Worlds isolated enough from the rest of the galaxy's logistics network can often struggle to maintain blasters long term. No matter how snazzy a gun is, most militaries won't adopt something en masse unless they can maintain it reliably.

The B-65 was created to showcase the difference between a mercenary wanting to arm themselves out of their own pocket and a squad of infantry being armed with a defense budget. In the latter case, quantity and reliability often win out over quality and flashy bits. The B-65 was tailor made for the best case scenario for using large numbers of slugthrowers in Star Wars, and even then I struggled to justify making it more than a barely profitable niche product due to the logistical costs and the Forever Pencil Problem. Blasters won the war for logistics and mass quantity for a reason.

Inspiration for this one is the Gevarm E1, a semi-automatic rifle made by the French in the 50s.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · Apr 27, 2026

Chp-112

Las

The rest of our time on Coruscant was oddly peaceful. A dinner in a private booth at The Pinnacle and plenty of rest in a hotel orders of magnitude nicer than any accommodation I'd ever lived in was a pleasant way to end the trip.

Yet, despite this, I was firmly of the belief I'd never wish to return. Sure, I was walking away from the place a Doctor of Political Science, and the only thing the planet had really taken from me was money and time.

But that didn't change the fact that it felt slimy on an almost spiritual level. Maybe it was the Force bond with Mugwuffin, maybe it was just my preconceptions of the place, but it was almost as though every surface was covered in a thin coating of lies. The glitter only served as a cover.

Stepping foot back into the Vigil was in a weird sense comforting. Even more comforting was sitting in my quarters and reviewing the reports sent back from the Myto sector.

Things had gone surprisingly well since I'd been gone. A part of me feared I'd return to ash, but if these reports were correct things were moving smoothly.

Darna, as Guild Headmistress, was putting a great deal of interest in helping build the BGES up. The report stated she wished to create more economic prosperity by ensuring the sister guild was well built and efficient.

I was certain once I returned, an encrypted report would detail exactly how many spies and she'd embedded all throughout the BGES. And then another report from Thorne on how he curtailed her worst habits, then another from Darna complaining about Thorne and so on.

If not for the extremely secretive nature of our operations, I'd force the two of them to attend some sort of HR team building exercise or something. As it is, I'll just have to maintain their stupidity.

Aside from that, the funding increase born from an increased tax base which itself was born from the economic boom had born fruit!

Ever since I'd taken the seat of Moff, I'd been inundated with work. And it wasn't all sector development. Oftentimes I was dealing with disputes between Governors. I was dealing with minutia that frankly speaking was inefficient.

What made it worse was that I wasn't massively familiar with the cultures of those subsectors. I wanted to tour the sector properly, visit every single world and get something akin to a read on them but with so much work it wasn't really a viable option for me.

So my solution? Subsector capitals! These roaming administrative centers would exist for the purpose of ensuring taxes were paid, mediating trade and political disputes between governors, and auditing subsidy money to ensure it was being used properly.

Essentially, it would take a load off of the work I and others at the capital deal with on the daily.

Each would have an escort element, Arbiters not yet retrofitted to newer standards. This gave the older models something to do other than sit around in sector with a far reduced pirate presence. And it's not as though these sub-capitals would be juicy targets, since they aren't carrying around precious cargo.

The vessel to carry each sub-capital was to be a Strike-Class Cruiser. An unusual ship in the Imperial line up, and not the first choice. Originally, it was to be Imperial Complexes towed through hyperspace given they are capable of space flight.

However, it was deemed cheaper to simply design an in-house administration module for the Strike-Class. Especially since it shared many parts with its sister ship, the Eidolon-Class which itself was a modified Strike-Class design.

These administrative models would expand the living quarters to more comfortably accommodate the expanded crew, alongside adding extensive offices to give said crew the ability to do their jobs effectively.

As for who runs these things? Well, as far from career politicians I could find. They would be paid generously, and their finances monitored extensively to ensure they weren't taking bribes. Them, and all those working there, would not be from that subsector at all to ensure few if any local connections.

And most of all, they would be on mandatory rotation. No more than 3 years in any given subsector for the higher leadership, 6 years for lower workers. Meant to prevent corruption. Of course, information from these rotations would be given to the next rotation to ensure continuity of information flow and that the next workers knew what they were dealing with coming in.

Admittedly, if this was a tool of direct governance, it would be a poor one. But it's not, its duties are well defined and narrow enough that the scope won't overwhelm them. They exist to take a load off of the capital's shoulders by helping locals deal with local problems.

Anything past that isn't what they're paid to do, and I will never ask a worker to do more than their job requires without compensation.

A few more reports were read through, though nothing of massive importance. Subsidies were going well, staggered as they were and requiring thorough auditing. Immigration was on the rise, with people coming in from neighboring sectors after finding job opportunities on planets with growing economies.

The reports were clear that production of essential goods like food, water, fuel and more were still well within projections, capable of sustaining a population roughly double the sector's current ~500 million.

After all the reports, however, was a meeting.

"General Zantara. Good to see you."

"And you, Moff Mola. Was your trip successful?"
"Considering I'm Doctor Las Mola now, yes, thank you. Now, the meeting request stated a desire for more funding towards the army."

Yulitra's hologram flickered for a second, the connection not the best in transit. We were half a galaxy away, and honestly I found it incredible that we could even communicate. The wonders of this universe would never cease to amaze me.

"Congratulations, sir. And yes, I do believe the Sector Army requires greater funding."

Her hologram disappeared as a series of charts and diagrams took her place. At a glance, they indicated readiness levels and average equipment age.

"As it stands, the Sector Army is not up to snuff. While individual governors outfit their troops as they see fit, the wider army apparatus is pockmarked at best in terms of readiness. The pirate surge has seen the vast majority of engagements be on a naval level, and most ground engagements therefore utilizing Stormtrooper forces. Army engagements outside of that showed far worse outcomes."

Another graph. This one made the data clear. Casualties for army engagements with pirate forces were noticeably higher than those with Stormtrooper forces.

"While this can partially be attributed to incompetence in the officers, the effect of shoddy equipment and lackluster training cannot be ignored. With the pirate surge mostly over, the importance of the sectors naval forces has dropped somewhat. I believe that funding that was used to accelerate naval development can now be redirected towards the army for the same purpose."

Ah, now I get it. No wonder Ife wasn't on this call.

"I see, General. It's understandable. And the state of the sector army isn't acceptable. Once funding permits, which shouldn't be too far in the future, Army academies will be opened, or already existing academies will be expanding to provide you with a better stock of officers."

I pause here, pulling up sector funding tables from my PDA while the hologram switches back to Yulitra herself.

"As seen here, the extra funding for the navy is no small amount. Much of that funding is now be allocated towards refitting and revamping the original, flawed Arbiter's. However, upon such completion a naval audit will be done. The funds freed will therefore be allocated as needed. I'll be sure to send some of that your way, though as always a proper audit of that money will be expected every month, as always."

"Of course, sir."

"Oh, and try to keep as many military procurement contracts in-sector as possible. It works best to invigorate the local economy."

"I will try, sir. But the local military contractors are not up to standard. Multiple companies have contacted me in an attempt to acquire contracts for new walker types, and none have been anything more than expensive wastes." Her eyes narrowed slightly at that part, shoulders ever so slightly tensing before relaxing once more.

"That's…not ideal. Alright, how about this. I'll send an order over to the Mindan labs. They'll get into contact with you and you can try to hash out what they can build for you. Then you can take whatever tech they magic up and contract its construction out to local factories. If the skunkworks down there are good at anything, it's making entirely new vehicles out of ones we already produce."

"Understood, sir. I'll work closely with them and the administration to choose the best manufacturers. Also…'skunkworks', sir?"

"Ah, just a nickname. From an old story, older than both of us I reckon. Regardless, I wish you luck, General Zantara. Be sure to keep in contact with the Navy to ensure their ships can properly carry the new units."

"Of course, sir. Good day, and safe travels." With that, the hologram blinked from existence, its glow disappearing with it and leaving the room dark.

A second later, the lights flickered on. A swig of coco sent a jolt of energy through my tiring frame and I turned back to my temporary desk. Mugwuffin lay curled in that lizard-cat-tree of hers she refused to part with for anything more than a day.

The terminal flashed back on, as reports came streaming back in. Including a real time data stream that kept a tab on the sector's economy. Prices for all goods lined up and down, changing in miniscule amounts in real time as factors changed.

I started reading through the reports, lamenting that it would still take another month at least to fully implement the subsector capital plan.

As I got lost in fiscal allocation and more, I noticed something from the corner of my eye.

The economic tracker. It'd stopped. Each price was frozen solid on the screen, not changing an inch.

A second later, the screen flashed.

CONNECTION LOST

Huh. Well, shitty wi-fi is a problem even in Star Wars I guess.

–

Kaela Grant
Rykeeor System

Lighting flashed through a dark sky, though no rain fell. The lower atmosphere was too hot for that during these months.

Kaela approached the door before her. It belonged to a tall building, a skyscraper. Rykeeor had just enough people in the system to justify a large capital city with buildings this size.

LAAT/le security gunships hovered above while additional security forces encircled the building. Lights shone on its every surface, ensuring none could exit.

A simple scan of the door revealed two life signatures beyond it. Guards there to make sure none entered through the service entrance.

The Beast snarled, hungry. She complied.

Her foot slammed the door open, cheap metal bending under her armored heel. The first guard snapped up, blaster moving to track her.

But he was too close. Her fist lashed out, his neck snapping as she twisted her body behind the new corpse. The second guard was already firing, panicked, every bolt of red finding purchase either on the walls or on his friends body.

A blast of green burned through his skull, the shooter a stormtrooper already moving into the hallway. Their matte black armor seemed to absorb the light itself as they and three others moved to cover the hallway.

By then, Kaela was already moving forward. Around the corner, six more lifesigns. Four in the hallway, another two in an adjacent room. Grabbing a grenade from her chest, she activated it and moved.

Around the corner, her blaster fired. It slammed into the knee of the first man, a mere meter from her. She kicked him forward, the movement putting him into his allies line of fire.

One second.

Her blaster was already up. One shot to the head of the one she kicked. As the force of the blast tilted his head back, it opened up a shot onto the second one. One more trigger pull, one more corpse.

Two seconds.

The third is moving away, body twisting to run. His friend is the opposite, bulky Gamorrean frame hoisting a heavy blaster. Her eyes track the barrel's trajectory. A step to the right just as he pulls the trigger sends a stream of red just inches past her. Her own shot doesn't miss, slamming into heavy blasters trigger.

Three seconds.

A second shot slams into the Gamorreans shoulder as his mouth opens in pain and anger. A third lands in his mouth, blasting out the back of his skull. A fourth shot is sent into the neck of the one running, right in the gap between his helmet and chest piece. The door to her left is opening.

Four seconds.

Her foot lashes out, connecting with the woman opening the door. The grenade is tossed in after her, Kaela slamming the door shut with the same arm as she walked past it.

Five seconds.

An explosion rips the door off its hinges, cracking the wall across from it as it lands. The other troopers follow up behind her as she stalks forwards.

The Beast hungers, and now for the first time in months she's been given the chance to slate that hunger. The newly installed Governor of Rykeeor had requested assistance in a purge of meticulously documented criminal elements, and Kaela was both experienced and more than happy to comply.

The hallway opened up into a larger room, some kind of cafeteria. A dozen lifesigns at least.

Her troopers flanked her, taking cover as the blasterbolts flew. Kaela instead got low, grabbing the end of the metal table before her and pushing it upwards.

Armed with her new mobile cover, she pushed it forward, the metal screeching on the ground as she fired from around it.

The Beast hadn't always been there. Once, when she was very little, she remembered a time where it wasn't. But that had been so long ago, it felt like a dream.

A disarmed ganger came at her, vibroblade in hand. A simple chop disarmed his blade and broke his wrist, then the same hand grabbed his head and slammed it through one of the tables legs.

And for so long, the Beast had simply been a fact of life. For a while, she'd even assumed everyone had their own Beast, and that they must've been far better at keeping it in check.

Her foot kicked the falling vibroblade up while her blaster turned a man's eye into ash. She caught the blade in her other hand, deftly throwing it into the spine of a ganger trying to crawl away. A few new gangers tried to join the fight, busting into the cafeteria through a separate hallway only to be gunned down by her troopers.

But now she knew they didn't. For a little bit, she thought maybe Myr'thos had one. But no. They were their own Beast. She was…different.

Another Gamorean, this time with a vibroaxe, charging from around the corner as she moved towards the exit. A bolt to the leg sent him down, her armored boot following soon after, leaving only the rough idea of a head.

She'd kept going to therapy, even after her mandated period was up. It felt nice to be able to simply speak about her life, and not have an endless parade of disgusted looks and whispers sent her way. And there she'd learned a few things.

The next hallway started filling with corpses fast. Gangers burst from doorways only to be gunned down by the troopers. One shot for most, two or three for those with armor or heft.

The Beast was not her. At least, not entirely. It couldn't be. After all, the Beast hungered for only one thing. But she hungered for more.

At the end of the hallway, a scrap built LECA frame trundles out, slapped on rotary blasters spinning up in preparation. Only to find an implosion grenade plopping down before it.

The Beast always snarled at woodworking. As though the knife she used to shape wood should be thrown into someone's jugular. As though the wood should be turned to a bludgeon or spear instead of a building.

The path beyond was clear. The squad crammed themselves into an elevator, shooting themselves up to the highest floor. After all, the problem was at the top.

As the doors opened up before her, two things happened at once.

First, her team moved forward, blasters raised as a horde of gangers turned to the elevator, weapons in hand.

And second, her comm rang with a message from her second in command.

"Ma'am, something's gone wrong. The local holonet seems to be down, I can't get a signal out of the system."

Truth be told, by the time her second finished that sentence, Kaela was too covered in blood to care.

–

Honestly I was legit considering the Imperial Complex from Lothal as the subsector capital, but then I did some research on how many people it takes to administrate such a small amount of duties for a region with tens of millions of people and its surprisingly little, like at max 1-1.2k people, though apparently in the EU its closer to 400-700.

As for the Strike-Cruiser, I realized it was kind of the perfect option. Armed enough it's not defenseless in a fight. Modular so no big interior retrofit. It's an Imperial design, so no having to fiddle with Republic ships and older parts that aren't made anymore. And it's a sister to the Eidolon, which is already produced in sector and likely shares a decent amount of parts, making it cheaper and logistically easier.

Second real action sequence, this time in CQC. Different tone for sure, since Grant is far calmer and in her element. Quite proud of it, since before this and the TIE scene a few chaps ago my action scenes were drier than a 30 year marriage.

Also, been trying to find mechs that actually fit star wars and holy shit is it hard. Nothing seems to fit aesthetically, and the two I used for Yulitra's POV previously were not what I consider particularly up to snuff. Maybe it's just me, but most of it lacks that star wars vibe, that lived in mechanical aesthetic. It's either too clean, too realistic, or too dirty in a way that's more post-apocalypse than star wars.

Also, I made some more stuff. Chicken cubed and seasoned with that classic paprika/cumin/salt/black pepper/garlic/sugar mix, alongside pasta with some sauce just hits so good. Then for dessert, a triple whammy of cinnamon sugar cookies the first day, a chocolate chip pizookie (pizza cookie) the next day though I fucked up the salt on the syrup so it was kinda ass, then white choco chip cookies tonight. God I love my life.

Keep cooking good looking! Unless you're ugly, then keep doing it but not where I can see.

–Freefaller

Yacov · Apr 27, 2026

Omake: Dlazblaster Carbine

Production information

Manufacturer: Delkanor Munitions (member of BGES)

Type: blaster carbine

Nicknames: The Garbage Gun, The Hand Firework, The Blaster With Alcoholism

Cost: 500 Credits (10 Credits a power pack)

Physical and technical specifications

Size: Small

Weight: 2 Kg

Capacity: 40 shot per Shrud gas power pack

Range: 40 meter

Rate of fire: 120 rounds a minute (if no malfunction occurs)

Usage

Availability: Licensed

Role:

Poor quality, but available blaster

Affiliation:

Low ranking BGES mercenaries
Braxant Locals

——

Description
"Look if you want blasters in the Braxant sector, Delkanor is the way to go. Even if they tend to be malfunctioning pieces of slag." - An independent mercenary advises a rookie on getting a firearm at the tail end of the Braxant Blaster Drought.

The Dlazblaster carbine represents the Braxant Sector's slow climb back from its technological regression. A low yield blaster using low grade blaster gas. Nevertheless this weapon shows how much a Sector can endure and recover once its leadership changes.

Design
"Why does your blaster always smell faintly of booze and burnt vomit?" - A comment from a sentient with a sensitive nose about the Dlazblaster's unique aroma after firing.

The Dlazblaster was designed by Delkanor Munitions, a founding member of the BGES. Specializing in larger weaponry and some mining equipment contracts. The dearth of blasters during Moff Surrde's reign caused them to begin researching a variant of blaster gas that could be produced cheaply and locally. Their research concluded and refineries were online shortly before the end of Surrde's term and life. The mix would be come to be known as Shrud gas.

Shrud gas is a mix of ingredients either already in Delkanor's supply chain or could be easily acquired in the Braxant Sector. Its primary ingredient was solid fuel slugs used in beamdrills that were liquified, heavily diluted, and then evaporated. The other two main ingredients were a bit more novel compared to conventional mixes. Chemicals harvested from the bile extracted from the pellets of Buffle Hens were added to improve the power of its bolts to below mediocre levels. Acquisition was simple due to the Buffle being a common livestock on some agriworlds in the Braxant sector. Finally some Edicetus brand 140 proof absinthe to give the mix some much needed stability and shelf life. Further research being done to deal with the smell after using Shrud gas is ongoing.

Delkanor then built an economical blaster around the use of its newly invented gas. Mostly because using Shrud gas in other blasters was considered a waste of a good blaster. Shrud gas tended to produce thin bolts so a carbine design was settled on. Gas was kept in a drum-like blaster power pack which was inserted into the bottom of the Dlazblaster. Braxant's low level of industrialization and technological advancement necessitated a more uncomplicated design. Components were kept cheap and easily made with a focus on quick fixes over long lasting use. Overall the Dlazblaster was a cheap carbine that performed below the galactic standard. However it was cheap and available, two things that made it attractive in the Braxant Sector during the early ABYs.

Performance (Issues)
"The Dlazblaster is a great way to learn trigger discipline. Mainly because if you don't exercise it, you might end up losing that trigger finger." - Advice on how to use a Dlazblaster.

While the invention of a new blaster gas is a notable achievement, utilizing the Dlazblaster as its testbed and flagship product had left the carbine with a myriad of issues. Users of a Dlazblaster were encouraged to keep a Blaster Repair Kit on hand to prevent a malfunction from cascading into lasting damage. To the blaster or the user.

For one Shrud gas has tended to overheat more frequently than standard gas mixes. This was not helped by the subpar quality of the components used in the Dlazblaster's construction. Attempting to fire an entire power pack of ammunition at once was unlikely to succeed without some malfunction happening. This did not stop some from trying anyway and potentially losing a hand. Thankfully the low yield of Shrud gas made these explosions mostly survivable, especially given the pack was usually low on gas when the blaster went off.

Speaking of explosions, the Dlazblaster also had an issue where the remnants and byproducts of Schrud gas had a tendency to build up in the gas chamber without more frequent clearing than standard. This build up had nasty habit of igniting whenever the XCiter ever got too hot from overheating. These usually small ignitions were barely noticeable until they eventually wore down the chamber. Most users recognize the wear and swap out the chamber before anything goes wrong. Those that don't tend to meet a similar fate as those in the above paragraph.

To further discourage holding down the trigger, the Dlazblaster had a nasty kick despite the low power of its bolts. This can lead to the barrel jerking erratically without an iron grip on the weapon, further decreasing the weapon's lacking accuracy. Typical firing was done in bursts with two hands from the hip to minimize spread. Precision shooting wasn't too common given the weapon's low power being insufficient to secure a kill in one shot.

Conclusion
"It's over Officer Plainclo Thesman! My boys got you surrounded with Dlazblasters ready to fill you full of holes!" - Rodian Holodrama villain Furjo Bfangafika in the Plainclo Thesman action series.

Delkanor's experimentation reminds the galaxy that when a sector was hit hard, it can attempt to recover with surprising vigor. However that doesn't make the Dlazblaster carbine and its Shurd gas anything more than an attempt to fill the void until more standard blasters take over the market again. Still, if one wants some light suppressing fire on the cheap, the Dlazblaster is at least affordable on most budgets. As long as one ignores the lingering smell after every firefight.

——

This is my exploration into the examples of blaster weapons that are made below normal galactic standards. We see mainly galactic brands like BlasTech in most Star Wars media, but there probably exists a quality/ubiquity level below that at the sector or sub sector level. The Dlazblaster looks like a sketchy TEC-9 with the long magazine replaced with a drum shaped blaster power pack you slap on the bottom. To further cement Braxant's status as Myto's poorer and more suspect sibling.

As for Shrud gas, there exists hundreds of blaster gas mixes in Star Wars and some of them have some pretty wacky ingredients. Like the one that adds berries and Morodin slime secretions for that extra kick. With how gutted Braxant's blaster market is, it leaves room for the less… appreciated mixes to gain some market share. This particular mix comes from researching strange things people have tried to make gunpowder out of and trying to come up with similar ingredients for the Star Wars galaxy. Old gun smoke tended to smell like rotten eggs due to high sulfur content in old gunpowder, and that was before some people tried adding brandy and manure byproducts to the mix.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Yacov · May 2, 2026

Well I got inspired by all the suggestions and designs. So here's a potential ground vehicle for Myto's Imperial Army

Omake: Ferdana Light Tank

Production Information

Manufacturer: Myto Sector Imperial Government

Model: Ferdana Light Tank

Type: Light repulsortank

Nicknames: The Trainer, Young Reliable, Ablative Armor, The Crib Coffin

Cost:

38,000 Credits

——

Technical Specifications

Engine unit(s): Repulsorlift

Speed: 250 km/h

Shielding: Equipped

Power: Fusion generator

Hull: Armored hull

Sensors: Equipped

Armament:

1 light repeating blaster
1 medium blaster cannon

Crew: 4

1 driver (front station)
1 gunner (top station)
1 tank commander (center station)
1 comms and sensor operator (back station)
1 optional seat for a free hand or instructor (small side seat near the front station)

Minimum crew: 1

Cargo Capacity: 200 kg

Life Support: equipped

Consumables: 8 days

Other systems:

Integrated fire control and assistance
Standardized crew stations with PAD screens

——

Usage

Availability: Military

Roles:

Low skill floor armored vehicle
Fire support
Flanking attacks
Skirmisher
Insulating attrition
Trainer vehicle

Affiliation:

Myto Sector Imperial Army

——

Description
"Eyes on your screen and easy on the handles cadet Cawsei. Now run the course while cadet D'reno handles the aiming." - Myto Imperial academy instructor guiding new cadets through their first drive with a Ferdana.

The Ferdana Light Tank is an armored ground vehicle designed to accommodate an expansion of the Myto Sector Imperial Army. An increase of training facilities and graduates in the Sector was predicted to lead to an increase in undertrained tank crews until the academies' curriculum and staff could be properly organized and tested. This hovertank was made simple and easy to control to allow green crews to be fielded with minimal risk of catastrophic accidents due to inexperience.

Design
"Look we are in the strange position of having more production than skilled crews. Let's just use the former to make up for the latter." - Myto Sector Imperial Army procurement committee.

A Ferdana is as uncomplicated as a tank can get. Its chassis is a rectangular structure with a single rotatable turret on top. Said turret at base contains a single blaster cannon for armored targets and a repeating blaster for fighting infantry. Nothing from its armor to its engine is that innovative. It uses typically well known components from well known manufacturers with the fact it is an Imperial Military vehicle giving it access to some good supply contracts to keep the price down.

The most notable thing about the Ferdana is the focus placed on ease of use. Locomotion is handled by a repulsorlift that is designed for stability and handling over top speeds. The low armament means there are fewer weapons for the crew to keep track of in the chaos of combat. Care was taken to make the structural layout of the Ferdana simple to understand and easy to traverse. Quality of life additions such as enhanced temperature controls were also added to minimize stress on deployment. All this is meant to keep inexperienced crews calm on their first deployment and allow them to focus on the enemy rather than becoming anxious about if they twist some knob left or right.

This focus on ease of use is exemplified in its standardized crew stations. Each Ferdana contains four crew stations. One in the front for the driver to control the vehicle, one on top for the gunner to aim and fire the weapons, one in the center for the tank commander to issue orders, assign objectives, and designate targets, and one in the back for the sensor and comms specialist to facilitate internal and external communications. This division is to allow each crew mate to maintain focus on a single aspect of the tank to make full use of their limited experience and skill in doing that one thing.

Each crew station is designed in the same layout as the others. The two handle bars in the driver's station for driving the tank are the same type of handle bars for the gunner to aim the turret and fire the weapons with the other stations having empty slots for those handle bars as well. The internal communication system for the tank commander is structured the same as the external communication system the comms specialist uses. All four stations use the same PAD screen for display and they all use the same program structure and operating system. Even the chairs are kept similar so swapping from one to other feels familiar to the crews no matter which station they are switching too. This also helps if a crew mate gets incapacitated as it is fairly easy to have another crew mate substitute and perform the bare minimum of that station.

This standardization also allows a Ferdana to be controlled from a single crew station if said station was configured correctly. However by the point someone demonstrates that level of proficiency and multitasking, they should have been moved to a more advanced vehicle to better make use of their talents. It is still just a Ferdana after all.

Performance
"Wow this feels just like the trainer."

"That's because it is the exact same model as the trainer." - Two fresh graduates out of a newly opened Sector Army academy in Malgoaan.

In terms of performance the Ferdana was an unimpressive, if reliable tank. That reliability combined with its price allowed it to be deployed basically anywhere in the Myto Sector with minimal concern for logistics or terrain. However it was slower than the more ubiquitous and popular Imperial-class repulsortank line. In addition to the stigma of being made by an Outer Rim designer meant it did not see wider adoption. Most Imperial Army commanders saw the Ferdana as an unnecessary compromise between the light and medium Imperial-class with none of the flexibility of having interchangeable parts between the light, medium, and heavy variants of the latter. Yet there were plenty of other roles the Ferdana could fulfill besides acting as a main battle tank.

The Ferdana proved quite popular with light formations primarily made up of infantry. A single Ferdana could serve as a fire support platform and armored anchor for their infantry platoons. Expected opposition for these formations was infantry and light vehicles, both of which would consider a Ferdana a significant threat. This came at minimal logistical cost since the Ferdana required barely more advanced maintenance facilities than the personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles already in use by these formations. A Ferdana would basically act as the heaviest option in a light force.

Armored formations also learned to appreciate what the Ferdana had to offer. In these groups Ferdana tanks tended to act more as insulation for heavier or specialized vehicles such as Broadswords and LECAs. Whenever a need for skirmishing, flanking, or vanguard duty came up, most commanders found it easier to risk relatively more expendable Ferdanas while keeping their heavier metal in reserve. This allowed these formations to maintain peripheral operations without running the risk of having their elite troops and powerful vehicles unavailable for the primary battle due to damage or destruction from attrition. A Ferdana would basically act as the lightest option in a heavy force.

On a lighter tone, the Ferdana also made an excellent training vehicle. There was enough room next to the driver station for a small seat. An instructor could sit there, connect an academy PAD with the proper codes they brought with them to the Ferdana's stations. Doing this allowed them to instruct the cadet crew while also being able to monitor what each cadet is doing at their station. This lead to the driver station being nicknamed the Hotspot by Ferdana crews due its proximity to the instructor during exams.

Conclusion
"I don't need no baby tank! I am going to ride a real tank the first day out of the academy!" - Recording played at a disciplinary hearing after a new graduate crashed a heavy Imperial-class into a warehouse.

The Ferdana was never going to be the next big thing in tanks. It was designed to meet a purpose that was outside the purview of most other models and it does it quite well. Providing green crews with a safe and reliable first vehicle was never a real concern in the Imperial Military. However as the chaos of the Galactic Civil War forces cadets into the field earlier and earlier, the Ferdana will provide that little bit of comfort in increasingly desperate times.

——

With the coming investment and expansion of the Imperial Army, the proportion of green soldiers is going to grow a lot. If it is anything like the naval expansion, then their quality post-graduation is going to be called into question at best. So here is a dead simple to operate light tank to stick them into until they get some experience and learn what not to apply from the ISB's "helpful lectures".

The Ferdana is for those groundpounder regiments just out of the academies that are either semi-permanently planetside or attached to larger generalized formations. I went for handle bar controls because it was fairly easy control system for me to pick up on back when I drove riding mowers at an old job. One could actually be pretty agile with those mowers once you got good at it. Inspiration for this chassis is the KhTZ-16. A Soviet improvised fighting vehicle that ran on a tractor engine. If want a mental image just imagine one of those, but it's a hovertank, rotatable turret, and a bit more quality of life additions.

As an aside, sweet Force is the Imperial-class repulsortank a good, slightly generic vehicle to pump out a metric ton of and be usable in 90% of situations. It felt odd being on the other side of the "make everything parts compatible" line. Still, at least the Ferdana has ease of use over it. Hopefully.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · May 8, 2026

Chp-113

Roius
Minda System
Chaos.

Numbers ran through his mind, the information cable plugged into his neural interface pumping data directly to his brain.

The sector was in chaos.

As the data compiled, it spoke of consequences. Shipments not arriving, ports clogged or empty, patrols sailing through darkness, no way to find the threat.

And all he could do was run the numbers.

The info cable detached with a hiss while his head burned with the new depth of information.

"Secretary Roius, the courier ships have returned. Reports indicate a rise in piracy sector-wide!"

Opportunity. They could smell it. With the entire holonet system offline so suddenly, remaining pirate elements were bound to take advantage of the chaos.

"Get into contact with the Sector Admiral. We need her expertise immediately! And order any patrols we can contact to hold position near hyperlanes, check every ship going through."

The aide nodded, running off to complete the order. If the situation had been different, he would've taken a second to appreciate the respect he received. A rarity for a cyborg like him.

This was not the time.

A ping through the local system. A ship, Guild IFF with high level clearance. He accepted the call.

"This is Guild Ship Aurora, we have an urgent message for the Moffs Office." The voice was rushed, an undertone of panic clear.

"Affirmative. This is Secretary Roius of the Moffs office. Go ahead."

"The Guildmistress has ordered emergency Guild actions to create stability. She has ordered Guild vessels to act as intermediaries and is attempting to ensure supplies flow. The full list of orders she's given the Guild is being transmitted now."

His PDA, connected to the station's systems, pinged with the new information. He quickly plugged the PDA into a smaller neural port in his augments meant for smaller data streams.

Within a few seconds, his understanding of the situation increased. Guildmistress Sabrir had correctly identified the three day rule. Any on-demand economy, such as the Myto sectors, relied on constant streams of supplies instead of massed local storage.

Meaning most stores, especially those dealing in food, only kept enough product for three days. Now, thankfully the Myto Sector hadn't been an on-demand economy for more than half a year, so local storage was still common even if reduced. But that only extended that time period to a week at best.

The bigger problem was financial. The report covered orders to have every local Guild office issue a notice that they would only be dealing in direct transfers. After all, they couldn't well connect to the bank accounts of people three star systems away without the holonet.

Smart, and it would stifle some of the worst effects. But there were other concerns.

Medicine. While many planets in the sector were still somewhat self-sufficient in terms of food, medicine was often an import. Sector officials had spent months assisting governors in structuring their taxes and other income in order to allow nearly every system to have adequate medical facilities. But those facilities relied on imported medical products.

The info cable told him other things.

A list of ships continued jumping into the system, demanding to know what was happening. Some were governors, others private concerns. From magnates to Muun bankers to ISB agents.

The system was never meant to deal with a load like this. Not without the central pillar. Not without the Moff here to deal with the political side of things.

"Sir, the Vigil has just entered the system!"

Roius didn't sigh in relief. He wasn't a man who sighed. But he wanted to.

"Get in contact, immediately!"

After this, he was taking all three months of yearly PTO he got at the same time.

–

Las

Chaos was a part of the job I'd come to find. Sometimes, it was low and simmering. The kind of chaos that was waiting for the right release valve, the kind that built rebellions. And other times, chaos was just bullshit. As though life was a particularly precocious chimp that had decided to throw fecal matter at you because it was funny.

My job, though at this point I found it more a duty to the people rather than a job given my employer was quite shit, was to deal with such chaos when it arose. There were many other duties, of course, but this sat chief among them in times of crisis.

This meant that all other duties, such as dealing with high level officials not pertinent to the solution, or otherwise playing the various political games that kept things running, were of secondary importance at best.

The ISB apparently thought otherwise.

"This crisis is temporary, Agent, of that I can assure you. While the cause is still indeterminate, it will take no more than a week for the relays to be brought back online. Once priority problems are dealt with, the ISB will receive a full report."

That seemed to anger the man before me, a rail thin and unhealthily pale individual wearing the uniform of an ISB agent. Still, he kept walking beside me, Myr'thos, and Roius as we made our way down the hall, my goal being the situation room.

"Are you implying that the ISB is not a priority to you, Moff Mola?"

I took a deep breath and stopped, bringing the group to a halt. Turning to him, the face he held was one of poorly hidden smugness. A new recruit, or maybe just the dumbest the Lieutenant had available. Prick.

"My duty, Agent, is to administrate this sector by order of the Empire. This sector is currently undergoing a crisis. Over a hundred systems face shortages of vital medical supplies. Critical production lines are stalled. The sector is in crisis. So no, my priority is not the ISB, because unless the ISB can fix this crisis then it is of secondary importance."

The angry look returned, but by then I'd already started walking again. His attempts to catch up to me were waylaid by a quick gesture to Myr'thos.

I would've liked to watch as he was bodily dragged back to the hangar bay, but I had bigger problems to deal with.

The situation room itself was not very large. The design was spartan, plain grey walls and a holo projector and computer in the center.

Around the projector stood a few people. Sector General Yulitra, Sector Admiral Veers, Guildmistress Sabrir and myself, alongside Roius.

"The attacks seem a mix of deliberate sabotage and sophisticated cyber attacks." Started Roius, a cable from his skull to the projector allowing him hands free control.

"There are approximately 382 holonet relays sector wide. Of them, we've identified the status of just 40 through courier ships passing messages. 12 showed signs of physical damage, some form of ion-based explosive seems the best early guess. The remaining 28 had no evidence of physical attack, but show signs of internal code damage. Slicer teams are in-route."

"How long until we have a positive ID on all relays?" Asked Yulitra, eyes narrowed as she studied the projection.

"Based on the current rate of identification, 3 days. Likely less as governors send for inspections independently."

"I've already sent orders to patrol groups to stay put at hyperlane exits, but it's a patchwork job at best. Piracy will see a major increase until this is done." Said Veers.

"We need supplies…" I murmured, reading the data straight from my PDA. "The sector produces the bare minimum in medical supplies, and requires a bare minimum of 80,000 tons a week. Roius, get me a death toll projection for that."

"Of course, sir."

The problem was simple, to be honest. Demand. Specifically, on-demand shipping. Before the holonet upgrades, bandwidth for the holonet was limited. Only Imperial officials, or those with money, had the ability to make real time calls.

Which meant most companies couldn't get orders until well after the message was sent. So they stockpiled everything. Food, raw ore, finished ships, it didn't matter. On planets like Belladoon and other industry-focused areas, warehouses made up nearly 90% of any industrial parks space. They needed to keep 6 months worth of supplies on hand at any given point in time.

But with the holonet? That dropped to just shy of 60%, with parts and supplies being moved in and out constantly. Any given part was liable to be in a warehouse for a maximum of 30 days before it was used or moved. Oftentimes, far less. During production booms, a part would sometimes be on the shelf for no more than a few hours.

"Our food situation seems secure…" I continued. "That'll be a critical point. We'd need to ensure deliveries continue and stockpiles are made. Rationing shouldn't be needed but…"

"I'll send the order to have local army units spread word of rationing techniques. They aren't official army doctrine, but every boot camp worth its salt teaches it on the side. It should help with any local shortages." Said Yulitra. Her voice was calming in a sense. She was the oldest here, and could reasonably pass for the mother or grandmother of the others in the room. That sort of experience was reliable.

"Guild ships are already organizing merchants, sir. We've offered premium short term contracts to merchants to continue shipments ASAP. Though I'd like to coordinate mercenary detachments with you, Admiral." And there was Darna, talking with the same tone of voice she seemed to never drop. A professional calm of sorts. Veers responded with a nod, PDA already out as they traded data.

"Good. As for me…" I could feel a headache start to stir in the back of my skull. "I'll have to make a call. How long until the local relay is up again?"

"Engineers are nearly finished, sir."

"I'll be in my office then. Alert me if anything occurs."

The trek to my office did nothing to assuage my headache, though mercifully it stayed low and out of my way. Mugwuffins reassuring purrs vibrated through my body from her perch on my shoulders helping soothe the stress.

Once in my office, I connected to the holonet. It was a fuzzy connection, but it worked well enough.

My first two ideas on who to call went out the window as soon as they materialized in my head. The Braxant sector barely produced their own blasters, I doubted they had medicine to spare. And the Governor-General had been increasingly distant and unreliable.

So I had to look closer, unfortunately.

Despite our preexisting trade arrangements, the Veragi and Raioballo sectors lacked any medical infrastructure, or they wouldn't import it through the Guild. And they'd barely agreed to my proposals for Guild expansion as it was. The two idiots would demand I kowtow a thousand times and give up my seat for one of their kids or something.

As such, my first call went out to a neighbor. Moff Moew of the Obtrexta Sector.

"Moff Mola? What a surprise." The first thing one noticed about Moew was that she was clearly trying too hard. She showed all the signs of someone who'd undergone extensive cosmetic surgery, and given you could see most of the signs it was the expensive core-world kind either.

"Yes, its quite a surprise for me too, Moff Moew. Still, as much as I'd like to engage in pleasantries, I am quite rushed."

She pouted, which just looked wrong on a woman likely twice my age with cheeks that looked too smooth to be skin. Clearly she felt younger than she was. "What a shame. Well then, what is it? Are the Muuns giving you trouble? I'm always happy to help negotiate."

A lie, that much was clear. Even I had a better working relationship with the banking clans than she did, despite her sector housing Muunilist. She'd spent years in internal political plays that I wasn't about to get involved in.

"Not today, no. Recently, my sector has undergone a crisis. Some sort of coordinated attack has crippled the holonet relays sector wide. It caused blockages and major delays on all imports, most importantly medicine."

The gleam in her eyes sharpened at that. "Why, that sounds terrible! I'd love to help, you see. But those Muuns, they keep blocking my efforts! Their machinations make it impossible to do anything, you see…"

Shit. Getting on the banking clan's bad side was a no-go, especially since we had a working relationship.

A ping on my PDA alerted me to a message. It was for Roius, the death toll projection was two thirds done. The ache in my head moved forward now, closer to the eyes.

"...How many tons of medical supplies could you provide within the week?"

A finger went to her chin as she pursed her lips, eyes jumping to the sky in a childish thinking pose. "Well…I'd have to look at the specifics, but at least thirty thousand tons. Triple that within the month."

Not enough, not even close to enough. "Thank you for the kind offer, Moff Moew. I'll have to consult with my people, but I'll be sure to get back to you."

"Of course, Moff Mola. I wish you well in your…endeavors." She blew a flirty kiss at me through the holo, and I forced my grimace down, smiling instead.

The next call went to the Clacis sector Moff, Callron. A man with a gnarly handlebar mustache and overall biker look that clashed with his Imperial uniform.

"Moff Mola." He said simply, once the connection went through. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I wish it was a pleasure, Moff Callron. Unfortunately, my sector's holonet relays are down due to some form of sabotage. Medical supplies are scarce, and the sector is in need of an infusion."

He raised a single, solitary eyebrow. Him and I had never formally interacted before this, so it was no wonder he was surprised.

"It seems, Moff Mola, that you simply lack the experience to deal with this on your own…It's a miracle the Governor-General ever saw fit to promote one as young as yourself." Each word was said with weight, as though he was speaking the word of God. He couldn't quite hide the smugness in his tone.

Before I could respond, beg, anything, he cut the line. Fuck. I knew my promotion to Moff wasn't the most popular thing, given I wasn't even thirty and had no political connections beforehand. The fact that I supported Hiral's rise to Governor-General likely didn't help.

Another message from Roius. Projections nearly complete. The ache was pounding now. Hot coco only seemed to make it worse.

I looked back at the list of sectors. Some were too far away for what few relays we had functioning to reach. Others simply lacked the production of medicine or trade connections to achieve what was needed.

Until my eyes fell on one sector. One that, despite every bone in my body telling me it was wrong, fit all the criteria.

The Velcar Sector.

–

Shorter than usual, but I don't feel like writing more or stuffing more into a single chapter. Bloat might take the tension away.

Trying to use this as an opportunity to showcase the political sphere a little more since its gone unused for a little while.

And sorry for being gone for so long, just haven't felt that spark ya know? The muse hit for a dozen other ideas, chief among them being a Battletech (Been playing a lot of MW5M) story but not much for this. And yet, this is the story I must finish. Every time I've tried to branch my attention, I fail. So I'm ride or die for this story till it ends and I start another one.

On the baking front, I tried making banana bread cockaigne and it was pure unfettered ass. I love the Joy of Cooking cookbook but this shit stinks man. The lemons don't do jack for me, gotta be honest. But that Texas sheet cake recipe is still a banger no matter how many times I make it. Peak.

Remember kids, if your 'Mech isn't carrying ten of the same weapon, it's shit.

-Black Knight laser boat gang.

Yacov · May 9, 2026

Omake: Manda, Tanda, Tomato, Tomoto

POV: Warchief Plainsbleeder of the Windnotcher Clan, Head of Breeze Shear Companions LLC, a RII Alliance Mercenary Company in the BGES, Nuyerum, Braxant Sector

"Warchief, the prey is making their way through the valley."

Plainsbleeder jolted as Grassslice's words spoke through his earbud commlink. The Tanda Warchief was still not used to the whispering stones gifted to them. One of the many signs of favor from Marv Delinian, the local High Chief of the Grand Imperial Confederation that ruled most of the galaxy. It had only been two generations since the Tanda clans first encountered peoples from the stars. Now they had gone from sporadic contact to traveling those same stars under the patronage of one so high in galactic society.

"When they pass the tip of the middle mountain, we shall emerge from our camouflage nets, not a moment sooner. Let us repay the gifts our patron has granted us."

It all started when the High Chief's representatives, the Beegees, visited the Tando clans and announced a great contest to find and honor the greatest of local warrior peoples across the Sector. The clans that joined would be shipped to a world filled with enemies of the Imperials. Whomever could bring plenty of the enemy dead would enjoy bountiful boons from High Chief Delinian. While the Windnotchers clan may be small compared to our peers, we contained some of the fiercest warriors of our people. Naturally we participated in the contest, where we were declared the Breeze Shear Companions LLC by the Beegees Flimsitalker in charge of managing the contestants.

Over the course of that first contest we returned with many hearts and heads to the Beegees outpost. The latter being requested after the first bagful of the more traditional former. Not that the High Chief seemed bothered. He had clapped his hands at the sight of the organs splayed across the reception desk, declaring that they would be the equal to the Manda clans in the Myto sector. Plainsbleeder did not know of these clans, but they must be mighty indeed to be considered the Tanda's peers.

High Chief Delinian had proven true to his word, offering many technological wonders to his people and the promise to host further contests across the sector through his Beegees. Many clans had jumped at the opportunity to earn more glory and wealth. Warchief Plainsbleeder had chosen the Voidwind as their primary prize, so that the entire Windnotcher clan might dedicate themselves to traveling world to world indulging in the Guild's contests of blood and honor.

"Now my companions! Let their cries birth new sorrowwinds across this world!"

The Windnotchers emerged from the camouflage net and their Gutkurrs screeched to the skies wearing their new armor. Plainsbleeder's companions charged down the hill. The vicious beasts bucked and leapt, but the Tando had long since learned to move and shoot with the rhythm. A flurry of blades from Vac Attack disc launchers and slugs from looted pistols cut into their quarry's pale flesh and vehicles alike. Yet another earned improvement over throwing knives one by one.

As the companions drew near the pig men squealed and scrambled to respond. Their slugthrowers prove incapable of penetrating Tando chitin armor. Eventually the warband got close enough to fire stun net launchers at priority targets. Plainsbleeder had instructed his companions to aim for the ones with the most opulent decorations. Those were usually the ones who the Beegees pay the most for alive.

"See them scatter and quake! Run them down and grant them a coward's reward!"

These walking pigs proved a poor substitute for the ferocious green ones whom Plainsbleeder tangled with in the past. Now that their quarry had routed, it was time to wet their blades to save on ammo. Gutkurrs happily tore into those that ran, while the companions' shotels proved even more deadly after being upgraded into vibro-weapons. It did not take long for those that resisted to be mauled, dismembered, and finally beheaded.

"Another successful hunt. Call Groundnicker and the others to bring the repulsorcanoes to carry the loot and captives back to the Voidwind."

Gone were the days of having Gutkurrs pull warcanoes across the plains. The High Chief's gifts made hauling heads, captives, and loot a breeze. The non-Tanda merchants are appreciative our Gutkurr no longer attempt to chew their soft bits off whilst haggling. Too many times a deal has soured by a the cry from a bleeding stump or other portion being taken.

Now those beasts were turned to their true calling, that of the hunt. Tando calvary range ahead as outriders and chase down those Imperial warbands are too unwieldy to catch. This change has led to better temperaments among the Gutkurrs as noted by the Mandiblescritchers. Such as Groundnicker and the others who arrive to carry back their prizes. Someone calls Plainsbleeder's name before he can inquire how the rest of the herd is doing.

"Plainsbleeder! A fine haul you have secured for this contest. Have you given much thought to where the clan share will go? Perhaps towards that proposal I mentioned?"

The voice belonged to Wallscraper, the chief Flimsitalker of the Windnotchers. Most Tanda know enough letters in Aurebesh to interact in non-Tanda settlements. However these specialists are those that make it their primary role in the clan. It is they who handle the obscure and complex mysteries that the wider sector operate under in order to safeguard the interests of their kin.

Many a Warchief has learned not to dismiss their Flimsitalker's expertise in light tablet incantations of the HoloNet Plane and the mysteries of the clerical cults who interact with the Bureaucratic Plane. Wallscraper had explained to him that these near-invisible Planes lie adjacent to our physical reality and to each other. The rest of the galaxy had learned rituals and invocations to manipulate these alternate Planes for their own survival and benefit. Apparently there are whole worlds dedicated to these Planes and to the entities that lurk within them, seeking to enact their will upon the physical reality.

"I had been considering purchasing another voidship. The Voidwind has been becoming rather cramped when the clan, the Guttkurrs, and the repulsorcanoes all stuff in there. However the ritual you and the other Flimsitalkers learned from the Tall Folk sounds interesting."

The Windnotchers and the other clans have done many favors for the Tall Folk by guarding their voidships and collecting on favors owed. Truly nothing gives Plainsbleeder more pleasure than righting the scales of balance and ensuring justice is maintained in the sector. In exchange the Tall Folk have provided generous payment and loot allocations, in addition to instructing the Flimsitalkers in further mysteries of their craft.

Lately Wallscraper and the Flimsitalkers of the other clans been in many meetings with each other. They say it might be a time to enact a grand confederating ritual that the Tall Folk have taught to them which they call the Corporate Merger. Many non-Tanda in the Beegees and beyond utilize this ritual's power to increase their wealth and prestige. Performing a Corporate Merger ritual would involve much oath swearing and gift giving as well as many hours of complex incantations being etched into the light tablets. Wallscraper says the ritual will bind the names, fortunes, and power of the Tanda clans to summon forth a new entity onto the Bureaucratic Plane called Tanda Confederated Incorporated. This entity shall be under the clans' collective power and can be used to ensure the prosperity and security for the Tanda people.

"Very well, Wallscraper. I shall put both my own and the clan's share of this contest towards the enacting of the Corporate Merger. I shall sacrifice so that the winds may guide your hand when conducting the ritual."

Truthfully Plainsbleeder does worry the Windnotchers may be changing too fast too soon. However he also sees the powers and rituals the rest of the sector use for even the most mundane task. The Windnotchers were always going to have to change the moment they left their homeworld. It is not a question of going back, but of how to ride the winds they are now caught up in.

It will be Plainsbleeder's job to ensure his clan is not flayed alive by the great winds that blow through the Braxant sector. In order to accomplish this, the Windnotchers must continue to complete contests and earn further prestige and wealth. So that when the time comes to summon forth Tanda Confederated Incorporated, he shall be named to be on the Board of Directing and be able to guide this new entity for the good of his clan and all Tanda.

——

Eh, bloodthirsty Mandalorian warrior clans, bloodthirsty local warrior clans, tomato, tomoto. One is heavy infantry flying on jet packs, the other is light calvary riding vicious bug mounts, it is all the same isn't it? I can see Moff Marv wanting to mimic Las and get his own mercenary Mandalorians, but also being lazy enough to take some shortcuts and settle for whatever warrior peoples he can find at home that sound close enough. It is not like straight up bare chested, loincloth, wearing, barbarians are that hard to find in the Star Wars galaxy, especially in the Outer Rim. There is something amusing to me about the concept of a bunch of primitive barbarians being given access to sci fi technology and then trying to fit things like ordering takeout from a website on a tablet or navigating labyrinthine bureaucracy into their worldview. Surely empowering a bunch of semi nomadic barbarian tribes with sci fi technology and scattering them across the economically depressed and under equipped Braxant sector will have no consequences in the future.

The Tanda clans may not have the Mandalorian's equipment, training, technology, or general knowledge of the wider galaxy, but they got spirit and a willingness to use newly discovered tools to their advantage. Really the Tanda clans' greatest strength is having a class of people who understand the levers of galactic society and decide not to exploit that knowledge to the point of their people's collective detriment. They still exploit it for their own personal benefit, just not enough to try to screw over everyone else in their society. That's the model of restraint compared to some other examples *cough*Senator Dorr-Femi-Bonmi*cough*.

Wallscraper's explanation equating corporations and bureaucracies to something akin to spirits and bureaucratic flimsiwork and utilizing the HoloNet as rituals is factually incorrect. However, it is contextually correct enough that the average Tando can conceptualize it and start adapting and utilizing these concepts for their own purposes. Essentially connecting A to D without getting bogged down trying to understand the complicated mechanics behind B or C. One doesn't need to know a mechanic's knowledge of how a car works to get that gas pedal make car go and turning steering wheel make car turn.

Plainsbleeder doesn't need to understand the exact bureaucratic mechanics involved in a corporate merger. He just needs be informed enough of what the requirements and effects of the merger would be, and how to delegate performing that process to those skilled and trusted enough to make it happen i.e. the Tanda Flimsitalkers. People make those kind of decisions about mechanisms of society they are mostly ignorant of all the time. Trying to explain the in-depth intricacies to someone who is technologically illiterate of how an IT Wizard fixes their computer, someone who is financially illiterate how a Financial Planner transmutes their savings into a retirement fund, or the average citizen who has been in a presidential republic their whole lives how a parliamentary election works will tend to earn you a similar uncomprehending stare followed by a one-two eye blink the average Tanda does trying to understand the HoloNet.

Just because someone is ignorant of something, doesn't mean they are unable to interact and benefit from it. The floor of understanding required to utilize complex societal institutions is lower than a lot of people think. Plenty of sentients in Star Wars are going to operate at that level when thrust into the wider galaxy with little to no perpetration. Especially if it is not by choice like being captured and enslaved by pirates or the Empire.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · May 10, 2026

Don't worry, I'm not putting this GG on hiatus, chapters just won't be as frequent. But the last chapter was strangely hard for me to write, I just haven't been feeling it as much. Probably why its not my best. So I decided to entertain my muse for a little while and start a story that's been bouncing around my skull for a while.

The Human Element (Literally) is set in Battletech, and follows another OC/SI as his pride gets the better of him, and he decides he's going to prove that a mercenary company can be fully successful without ever using a mech. All the while bungling up the politics, cultures and conventions of the Inner Sphere and beyond.

Its taking on a more comedic tone compared to GG, though it'll still have its fair share of company-building and administrative paperwork chapters.

Regardless, thank you all for the support with GG, its been a wonder to right and will continue to be so until its finished.

-Freefaller

Yacov · May 18, 2026

Omake: Auxiliary Matters of Least Concern

POV: Bria Cur, Imperial Auxiliary Private, Imperial excavation site H-745, Vantaen, Myto Sector

"I spy with my little eye… something blue!"

Corporal Curti groaned at Bria's challenge. This was her favorite challenge back during her indenture aboard the Cramped Hindquarters. She had joined the advanced trade vessel to see the stars like other Shaull. A fellow crew mate taught her this challenge to help keep her eyesight keen on long voyages. It was harder to stay active and trained on a ship than when she was back on her homeworld.

"Let me guess, the blue grass all around our outpost?"

Drat, Private Pelto was always so good at this challenge. Was he reading her thoughts somehow? Bria heard some especially capable Imperials could do that from the gossip among the Auxiliaries, but she didn't put much stock in it. Why would Private Pelto be in the Auxiliaries if he had such a potent ability?

"Aaarrrgghh! I am sick of standing around doing nothing! I am a loyal Imperial citizen who joined to defend her home! Why am I stuck in the middle of nowhere!?"

Bria flinched as Corporal Curti threw her blast helmet on the floor. Poor Corporal Curti did not take it well when she heard about the HoloNet going down and the possibility of it being enemy action. She was always so passionate about their work. Bria had spied the Imzig staying up late reading through protocols while they were being shipped to Vantaen. She probably expected to be out in an Arbiter, combating pirates every other day and being showered in the applause of rescued civilians. Not to be left in the middle of a barely settled region spending days keeping watch over near empty plains.

"You are here because some crusty old fop in the Imperial Archeological Division claims to have uncovered "the find of the century" at the ruins a few kilometers behind us. He didn't have the political capital to pull a detachment of Stormtroopers for security detail from IMSDP like he wanted, so got our company instead."

Although Private Pelto's explanation was a bit mean to Professor Blarmsmorth and his invaluable work, it was accurate. After their battalion gathered up we were immediately assigned to the Imperial Military Secondment Deployment Pool. IMSDP was a designation for Imperial units to be put on standby and be available for planetary governments, Governors, or high ranking Imperial officials to request a deployment of seconded troops to protect interests valuable to the Empire. Bria was honored at the speech where Professor Blarmsmorth announced that small part she and her company would play in such a grand discovery. She even got to help in the initial digging with her entrenching tool before her squad was sent to man this outpost.

"Of course you are fine with this Pelto. You only joined the Auxiliaries for pay and food. Well some of us joined for more than steady pay and rations. Some of us want to defend our families from the chaos that keeps haunting the Sector."

Okay now Corporal Curti was lashing out. They all had received much from the Empire. If the Empire hadn't intervened when Bria's former captain tried to "uphold" her indenture after the ship was damaged beyond repair, she would still be "indentured" to the man today. Luckily the local Imperials got very upset with him when he tried to convince her that was how things were done. Corporal Curti disparaging the gratitude they felt was stepping over a line.

"Corporal Curti I understand you are upset at not being able to draw blood to those that endanger your kin, but we are doing important work here. Professor Blarmsmorth's discovery was important enough to the Empire that someone was going to get sent. If the job has to be done, better it be us so our better trained and armed comrades can take the fight to the enemy."

Bria is sure their commander Major Scham would also want to get into the fight. She still remembers the Major's inspiring tale he gave when her company left of how he defeated a whole Rebel platoon single-handedly. A war hero who had fought in a hundred battles for the Empire must be raring to lead their battalion into fray. If the Empire was willing to send someone as capable as him to lead us mere Auxiliaries, then they must have the situation well in hand.

"Look I may not be as patriotic as you two, but Bria has the right attitude. Just because we can't see the impact we are making, doesn't mean we aren't making a difference. While I am mostly in this Auxiliary gig for the pay and to get out of the slums, I don't want the Sector to fall either. Can't exactly spend my Imperial Credits if there is no Empire in the area to say they are worth anything. We are all invested in the Empire's success in our own way."

As Private Pelto continues to try to calm down Corporal Curti, Bria notices movement in the corner. She sees a fanged maw open up a meter from Corporal Curti's exposed neck. Too close to trust the shoddy accuracy of her CDEF rifle. With a practiced motion she takes out her knife and throws it straight into the eye of the creature. The feathery reptile is left impaled into the wall of the outpost hanging limply with a slight sway. The sudden instance of violence snaps her two fellow Auxiliaries out of their conversation.

"See. Like Private Pelto said. We are keeping watch over this place for potential dangers to the Empire. We are the eyes of the Empire in its most distant corners so its heavier hands can roam freely. Now who wants to check in back at base to see if this beast is edible? The rest of our squad will be back from patrol with the X-34 and the speeder bike soon and some fresh meat stew should be just the thing to cheer everyone up."

Bria had already taken out her knife and begun butchering and skinning the beast with habitual ease. The motions reminded of those massiffs she killed and skinned back when some pirates attacked the Cramped Hindquarters. Just like then they should not let good skin and meat go to waste. Imagine her squad's faces when Bria waves them in for some fresh food. She'll have to wash her hands and face of the blood before the cooking begins. They all needed some relaxation to unwind. Maybe when they get some leave time Bria will invite the two on a trip to Tantooine. She heard from the squad that they have great water parks there. Oooh they could make it a beach trip! She has never been on one of those before.

——

Imperial Auxiliary Battalion Order of Battle and Doctrine Reviewby General Gras Umbra

IAB Order of Battle

Type: Light Infantry

Sub-type: Low-cost screening unit

Troop numbers (excluding support personnel and droids):

650 per battalion
149 per company
36 per platoon
9 per squad

Standard Auxiliary trooper equipment load-out:

Blast vest
Blast helmet
CDEF rifle
Entrenching tool
Comlink
Small backpack for food, water, ammo, and other miscellaneous supplies

Company level sub weapons:

3 BlasTech light repeating blasters
2 "Light Sport" hunter hunting blasters for snipers
A small amount of anti-vehicle grenades

Battalion level sub weapons:

4 short range mortars
8 BlasTech light repeating blasters
2 light blaster cannon emplacements

Company vehicle pool

4 open top or fabric top cargo speeders for transporting troops and equipment
1 speeder truck as a command vehicle
2 civilian speeder bikes for recon
1 X-34 landspeeder for patrol
1 towed anti-air blaster turret

Battalion vehicle pool

2 shuttles for rapid or priority transport
2 speeder trucks for battalion command transport
12 open top or fabric top cargo speeders for logistics and company level relocation.
4 military speeder bikes
1 two man Imperial scout walker
1 Ferdana Light Tank

Typical IAB deployment

The typical Imperial Auxiliary Battalion is a light infantry battalion. The highest level of organization is kept to the battalion level due to anonymous and signed reports of concerns from Imperial Officers of the possibility of mass defection. Keeping their level of organization artificially limited was a compromise so they can be outmaneuvered by regiment level tactics from other Imperial formations should the worst occur. IABs are primarily used for screening or picket deployments where they assigned to defend areas as large as a planetary region under low levels of threat.

IABs are expected to operate independently in the area of operation with minimum resupply once deployed unless given orders by a higher ranking commander. Due to the spread out nature of their areas of operation, IABs are often split up and dispersed across the area typically at the company level. These areas are often sparsely populated with little to no room for quartering a company. When a company has to be deployed to a new area, a platoon is shipped via shuttle to secure the area and prepare for the company's arrival. The rest of the company arrives by speeder transport supplemented by the battalion's vehicle pool.

Once the entire company arrives, they select or are selected a position for their main base and begin digging in. Trenches are dug, fencing was set up, prefabs are assembled, and towers are raised to ensure their base is as secure as they can make it. Each Imperial Auxiliary is provided an entrenching tool to assist in the fortification process. Minimal droid and utility vehicle assistance is provided due the low supply priority of IABs.

With a base of operations established the IAB will begin running patrols by foot, landspeeder, or speeder bike. Periphery outposts may be established and assigned a squad to provide more passive and static watch over an area. An IAB's main focus is maintaining defensive positions and reporting any threats that come their way. Offensive actions are only encouraged to be undertaken if there is a large advantage in manpower and firepower.

A company of Imperial Auxiliaries can be expected to withstand an assault from light forces of lesser numbers on the defensive. Should a force of equal strength be encountered, the company shall report to the battalion command and aid shall be sent to reinforce the company. This aid can come in the many forms. Additional Auxiliaries may be sent from another company to provide extra numbers. Vehicles may be dispatched such as the two man Imperial scout walker and military speeder bikes driven by crews from the battalion command's security platoon to provide mobility, reconnaissance, and firepower in poor terrain. If the situation is particularly dire, battalion command can send the battalion's sole Ferdana Light Tank to provide anti armor capability and armored support.

Should an enemy force exceed an Auxiliary Battalion's capacity to defend in local or total, the battalion should contact nearby Imperial forces on the planet to request support. IABs are typically deployed alongside Imperial Army formations that are assigned to more important areas of the planet, so this aid should be sufficient for most threats outside of a planetary invasion. Should a planetary invasion or similar threat occur, the battalion shall contact the highest ranking Imperial Officer they can contact and subordinate themselves to their wider battle plan posthaste. Even if it should normally take them outside their assigned area of operation or engage in operations normally outside their normal activities.

Finally it has come to the author's attention that some commanders have begun to refer to a company of Auxiliaries by the term "pocket sand". While this may be accurate to how some commanders utilize IABs under their command for distractions and feints to disrupt enemy reconnaissance, the term itself is seen as derogatory. It is the recommendation of the author that a directive from Command be issued to discourage the use of the term.

——

A look into how the Imperial Auxiliaries are doing. They might be inexperienced and brittle, but at least they are taking up assignments so the stormtroopers don't have to. Despite her naive nature, rose-tinted worldview, and ignorance of the concept of sarcasm, Bria is correct in seeing the value of essentially being bodies to take up space. Seriously there are so many times stormtroopers get deployed to some random ruin or excavation with nothing militarily valuable anywhere nearby. A lot of the time there isn't even some force artifact or especially dangerous defenses to protect the archeologists from, they are just needed so a protagonist has something recognizably evil to dispatch when they show up.

The IMSDP was a designation I came up with to integrate these often frivolous assignments into the Imperial Military structure. The designation is a way to earmark reserve formations in a Sector to be dispatched piecemeal on mook duty assignments for self-important Officials. Mainly so these idiots don't try to pull a company of soldiers on active duty to go comb a barren desert or something. Not like it would be a bad concept to have in theory. A planet or Imperial Asset worried about a potential imminent threat or someone who discovered a valuable technology or resource deposit can call up the Empire to request an Imperial garrison or escort (or an addition to an existing one), and the Empire has a ready pool of troops to draw from. Would also be useful post-Endor for some old fashioned protection-selling to bring errant worlds back into the Imperial fold.

As for the IAB Order of Battle, oh boy did the Empire screw these unfortunate sentients over when it comes to armaments for cost and ideological reasons. Here's an example of just how poorly equipped the IABs are. If you take all of an IAB's sub weapons, (weapons stronger or more specialized than their standard rifle), an Auxiliary Battalion can equip just over 1 sub weapon per platoon. The typical Imperial Army formation on paper at this time has at least 1 sub weapon per squad. Things get even worse when you compare the vehicles since a majority of vehicles the IABs are using are just civilian vehicles without weapons or significant armor. At least the doctrine they use gives them some slack and the instruction to scream for help whenever something vaguely threatening and organized comes their way.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · May 19, 2026

Chp-114

Las

Ten minutes.

I'd called using an emergency line, and they put me on hold for ten minutes.

"Oh! Moff Mola, is that you? What a surprise! I heard your holonet was down..."
Moff Ecressys's voice was smooth, almost warm with concern.

But I could feel it, a texture to his being. Like a film of slime, thing and sticky, covering what appeared to be almost a person, but not quite

"I appreciate the concern, Moff Ecressys. These are dark times for the Myto Sector, and the road to recovery is long." I rubbed my eyes, making my exhaustion clear. It helped that my headache pounded on, and for a quick second I caught his expression shift.

Like a vulture catching wind of a corpse. Good.

"Truly awful, my friend. Do you have a plan for recovery?" His smile was wider now, almost grandfatherly. Not quite as good as Palpatine, though.

"We're doing what we can, but trade has been massively disrupted. We can scarcely keep our lanes safe, much less move cargo. It will take weeks, if not months to reactivate the entire network." My voice came out a little scratchier that time, an intentional affectation. I took a sip of coco as though to soothe my throat.

His eyes shone, even while a frown overtook his face and he wrung his hands.

"Truly horrible. Tell me, is there anything I can do to help? The Velcar sector is more than open to assist you..."

In the background of the holo, a figure appeared. Not for long, just a second, and I saw few details, far away as they were.

But I did catch one thing. A slave collar, not unlike the ones I'd seen on thousands of people when the Slaver Coalition had still been around.

A bile seemed to rise in my throat, and I took a longer chug of my coco to chase it away. Could I do this? I'd know, for every second of every day of my life, where that medicine would come from.

An alert on my terminal screen. The death count was done.

5000 people. That was the minimum.

I had no other choice.

"I hate to inconvenience you, but it would be a great help. The factories are closing and warehouses are empty. But worst of all, our sector lacks adequate medical production, and we have a great need for life saving medicine. What we have will not last, and people will die."

I knew what people said about me. They looked at a job well done and whispered about a bleeding heart. They saw no political ambitions and thought I was either a knife in the dark or a fool elevated for ease of control.

And the best way to lie to someone was to play into their preconceived notions of who you are.

"Why, the Velcar sector can certainly help. We have plenty of local medicinal production. I'd be glad to send shipments of medicine, and more to the Myto Sector. Though, I must admit the merchants of my sector would want…compensation."

He wasn't even being subtle about it.

"The sector isn't in the greatest shape. I'm not sure how much compensation we might be able to give…but its for the good of the Empire, so we will make do."

From there, the discussion devolved into a trade deal. He made increasingly exorbitant demands, and I accepted most but not all. After all, by letting him have a few bigger wins, he'd ignore the smaller things.

Ultimately, the deal hashed out as such. For the duration of the holonet blackout, Velcar merchants selling high-priority goods such as medical supplies would be paid double the market rate for the supplies, face neither tariffs or fees of any kind for any other goods they traded, and be given all the premium Guild benefits.

For a prospecting merchant, it was the perfect opportunity. So long as they were selling medical supplies, they could gain all the benefits of a premium, top of the line Guild member. Meaning it would be far easier to get a company up and running and establish contracts.

Of course, the actual crisis wouldn't last more than a week. And in that week, well, the Guild would be in panic mode, and wouldn't have all that much time to process Velcar merchant paperwork, now would they.

Once the conversation was over, I slumped back into my seat. My brain no longer seemed to be beating my skull with a hammer, downgrading instead to a baseball bat.

"Roius" I said, hand on my comm unit. "I got the medical supplies. Velcar sector merchants. I'll send the list of benefits they get."

"...Understood, sir."

"And spread the word, discreetly, to port masters dealing with them. I want a full report on how they conduct business. Every detail you can find."

"Of course, sir. Shall I also send up comparative documents on Guild merchant practices?"

"Yes please. And once they're done terrorizing that ISB agent, ask Myr'thos if they've got a concoction for headaches."

"Considering they had one that induced hyper-rapid hair growth, I'm sure they have something, sir."

"Good, thanks. Anything else to report?"

"We've established communications with Akahista. The Governor is quite displeased we drew forces to reinforce the trade lanes."

Akahista. What a pain in my ass, that planet. Ostensibly just a normal Imperial planet, in reality it holds The Hub, a central supercomputer that helps coordinate the entire Imperial Navy. It has two rulers, the Governor beholden to me, and an Admiral beholden to the Emperor.

We had no authority over the Admiral's forces, but could call on the Governor's oversized fleet to help squash piracy in a pinch. Unfortunately, that rat bastard had political power, and would be a pain in my ass in the days to come.

For now, I just wanted this damned headache to end.

–

Yo, what's popping. Shorter chapter than I'm usually cool tossing out these days, but I needed to get back into the flow of writing Las once more. I've been quite preoccupied with my Battletech fic, nearly a chapter a day with a wildly different protagonist so I decided to move slowly when writing Las once more.

Next chapter will be longer, some ~5k words as I've been trying to hit.

Keep it breezy, steezy.
-Freefaller

Yacov · May 30, 2026

Omake: Elipur Speederwalker

Production Information

Manufacturer: Minda Imperial R&D

Model: L1-PR "Elipur" Speederwalker

Type: Speeder bike/Walker

Cost: 55,000 Credits new

Technical Information

Max Speed:

70 kph (walker)
280 kph (speeder bike)

Hull: lightly and sparsely armored

Armament:

2 light blaster cannons

Sensor system: limited

Other Systems:

Transformation system (non-combat)

Crew: 1 Pilot

Cargo: 10 kg

Consumables: 2 days

——

Usage

Availability: Limited production run of prototypes

Role:

Long mixed terrain patrols
Scouting
Exploration

Affiliation:

Imperial scouting forces in the Myto Sector

——

Description

"We have combined all the strengths of speeder bikes and walkers! Now nothing can stop us!"

"Except any weapon heavier than infantry weapons. Or someone with good aim with an infantry weapon." - Conversation at the Minda R&D celebration party following the completion of the first Elipur Speederwalker.

The L1-PR (Layout 1 Prototype) Speederwalker nicknamed the Elipur is an experimental vehicle produced by Minda R&D. An attempt to combine the speed of a speeder bike and the terrain maneuverability of a walker in one vehicle. Initial testing has proven the design is viable, if still able to benefit from some refinement.

Design

"No no, see here? We put the legs on the back, and they can deploy to walk around."

"Hard to make it out with the brandy stains, but I think I get it." - R&D scientists discuss the initial blueprints for the Elipur Prototype.

The impetus for the Elipur's creation was an incident where a Minda R&D scientist witnessed a Shekelesh gunship land in a spaceport before trundling along on its legs during one of his vacation days. It got him thinking if walker functionality could be added to spaceships, why couldn't it be added to something smaller like a speeder? After a trip to the cantina later that night, the Elipur project was proposed the next day with some alcohol-stained initial designs written on napkins.

The flagship component of the Elipur is its transformation system. This system allows the Elipur to switch from a speeder bike configuration to a walker configuration as needed in order to prioritize speed or rough terrain capability as needed. First the Elipur comes to a full stop to prepare to switch modes. When the TS is engaged in speeder bike mode the legs unfold from the rear of the vehicle and plant themselves on the ground. A small repulsor jump is done to boost up the body before settling into its walker configuration. When the TS is engaged in walker mode, the legs bend to allow the body to plant itself on the ground. The legs then fold into the rear before the repulsorlift is fully engaged to allow the Elipur to move in speeder bike mode. The TS' simplicity had allowed for a quick turnaround time from drawing board to working prototype for the Elipur.

In order to test the transformation system as throughly as possible, various accommodations have been made to the Elipur's design. The legs of the walker mode have been increased in size in order to ensure stability and ease of testing while in walker mode. Weight reductions were implemented in the form of less armor and a smaller, uncomplicated control system. The walker and speeder controls both use handlebars and sensor and electronic equipment is kept to a minimum despite the Elipur's scouting designation. The TS itself was designed to favor reliability and consistency over speed of switching between modes. Armaments were kept light to dedicate more power and chassis space to the TS while still allowing for some self defense capability.

Cost wise the Elipur comes in at significantly more costly than a AT-RT while costing less than a full on AT-ST. This was expected given the Elipur was a prototype and required non-standard parts by design. The Elipur is slower in walker mode and far less armed than the most other walkers such as AT-RT. Still the ability to travel long distances at over 200 kph is argued to be a potentially acceptable trade off. In terms of speeder bikes the Elipur is a bit on the slow end which limits its potential as a pursuit vehicle against speeder based forces.

Performance Review

"Well it doesn't actively kill the testers when they use it, so already better than a lot of prototypes. It just aids the enemy doing so with its slow transformation time." - Opinion of the commander of a scouting force assigned an Elipur for field testing.

The short turnaround from design blueprint to working model left the designers of the Elipur admittedly a bit over enthusiastic. They quickly did a limited production run to make a batch before rubber stamping their approval for field testing. These testing units were then sent out to scouting forces across the Sector to evaluate their performance. Reviews say the Elipur served adequately as a scout vehicle. However numerous areas of concern were brought up before any tester would recommend going into full production.

For one, the Elipur's main feature, its transformation system, takes a painfully slow 45 seconds to complete switching between modes. This is an eternity in combat and makes drivers incredibly stressed about their vulnerability during the process. Drivers were reluctant to transform even in relatively safety due to not wanting to be vulnerable outside of their main base. Multiple Elipurs being deployed on the same patrol helped alleviate that reluctance. Although it lengthened their patrol times as drivers would only transform one at a time while the other Elipurs guarded its vulnerable sibling.

These concerns were not heightened by the lackluster armor strength and coverage of the driver. Outside some coverage on front prow protecting the mid and lower torso, the driver is completely exposed to potential enemy fire. While there have been no fatalities, fears are constant of drivers being shot out from their seats in walker mode should Elipurs be brought into battle.

These fears of enemy fire are far less in speeder bike mode where speed is seen as armor. Although being slower than most other speeder bikes raises its own concerns among testers. This is exasperated by the Elipur's relatively poor handling. The bulky legs of the walker mode are stored in the back of the speeder mode. This leads to weight imbalance and drag at high speed and turns, which causes drivers to be more hesitant to engage in high speed maneuvers compared to other speeder bikes.

Technicians servicing the Elipurs pointed out their own areas of improvement, primarily concerning the transformation system. The TS is a relatively novel use of existing technology so most technicians understand the theory behind it. However even that level of novelty brings unfamiliarity. That unfamiliarity combined with debris occasionally having a habit of being caught in the system mid-transformation has led to increased maintenance times as technicians try to figure out how to repair and maintain this new system. Every time a driver breaks or stresses an Elipur in a new way out in the field, technicians not only have to figure out how to fix it, they have to fill out reports on their methods back to R&D so they can be inserted into new updates for the Elipur's technical manuals.

All these performance issues are well within the estimated levels for testing prototypes in the field. The Elipur was designed to prove a concept, not be the most optimal of vehicles. Most testers have agreed that the Elipur had at least met that low bar. The fact the Elipur can function in the field is already an achievement according to testers given how other "working" prototypes performed in that metric.

Conclusion and avenues for improvement

"Look I get the Elipur is not the most impressive vehicle. However not every prototype has to be an ultra high spec wonder weapon flash in the pan like the TIE Defender. That's what refinement and iterative design is meant for." - R&D scientist advocating for further funding to continue research into speederwalker technology.

Overall the Elipur is currently a passable scouting vehicle with multi terrain function. As a combat vehicle it is lacking, although it may work on lightly armed and unskilled infantry. Scouting forces that have received prototypes say the concept works, but it is obvious that there is room for improvement. Currently R&D has two options for improvement should funding be provided.

One option is to focus on limiting weight and improving the speed of the transformation system. This will make the new design geared entirely towards scouting and movement while minimizing combat potential. Focus on limiting weight should reduce the cost of individual units and allow the new design to be deployed to scouting formations to ensure the enemy has little terrain they can hide in. This reduction in cost should allow this new design to be converted for civilian and law enforcement use once the transformation system is no longer labeled a military secret.

The other option is to bulk the armor, armament, and hull of the new design into the mass of a small landspeeder. This would give the new design durability more suitable for combat roles. The reinforced hull will allow the new design to have front and side armor to protect the driver regardless of which mode it is in. It would however increase the costs of the new design which would impact the feasibility of mass production. While the transformation system will still leave the new design vulnerable when switching modes, outside of that vulnerability the new design should be equivalent of a light combat vehicle. A quicker and more maneuverable walker design compared to our AT-ST while still not being as technically complicated as the LECAs.

Either way, Minda R&D will register the Elipur as a sufficient proof of concept design. We at the lab hope to be allowed to further improve the concept in the future.

——

This is my attempt at making a realistic prototype and testing unit in Star Wars. I added a bit of a scientist report tone with this one for fun. Speederwalkers I think are new to Star Wars. However with stuff like the Vulture and the Shekelesh being able to go from ship flying to walking on the ground, I feel the pieces of technology are already there to make something like this. Of course just because they are there doesn't mean combining them for the first time isn't going to lead to some initial problems. Still I think the Elipur is good foundation for speederwalkers, even if it is not an optimal speederwalker itself.

The inspiration for this one is the GTF-13M, a snow bike that can transform into a walker from the Lost Planet game series. Lost Planet has some good designs for "down to earth" walkers.

Crossposted on SB and SV

Freefaller · Jun 1, 2026

Chp-115

Las
2 Weeks Later

"...and stockpiles have begun to grow. Full recovery will take nearly a month due to the stockpile mandate, but should be doubly resistant going forward."

Governor-General Hiral's expression was like stone, flat and unfeeling. At least, that's what it appeared to be.

The slight twitch of his fingers, the way his eyes couldn't help but make quick glances around the room.

He was afraid, at least a little bit.

"...I see. That's good. But the perpetrators? Under no circumstances should they go unpunished." His voice was solid, deep, deeper than normal in fact. He was trying to affect authority.

I nodded. "Investigations are currently ongoing. Full cooperation with the ISB. Whoever was responsible for this attack will be dealt with."

Mention of the ISB provoked a response, his eyes widening for a fraction of a second. Good.

Hiral didn't like the ISB all that much. But he didn't see me as siding with the ISB, my reputation saw to that. Instead, he'd compete with them-

"I see. I'll be sending more resources your way. Catch these damnable criminals and bring them to justice soon, Moff Mola."

-and send me resources that I desperately need. It made me feel slimy, the politics of it all. But it was the price paid, I suppose.

"Of course, Governor-General. I will do everything in my power to make it so."

The conversation didn't last much longer after that, Hiral running off to appease his various political supporters. For someone in such a high position of government, he was beholden to a variety of people with no political positions at all. The price he paid for his power.

As the holo-call disconnected, I took a second to sip my coco. Conversations with superiors were always stressful.

Once I'd collected myself, I turned to my daily briefs.

I received a bevy of reports every day, of course, but at the beginning of each day I had a small stack of papers before me. Yes, papers. I liked having physical reports at the start of each day, it harkened back to my days as an office worker.

Well, office intern, never got to be a proper employee, but I liked physical paperwork. I especially liked marking it up with highlighters, which made me feel quite professional.

Grabbing the sheet at the top, I took a second to run my hands over it. The bright white, the perfect alignment, the way the lettering was structured. It even had custom borders in that classic Imperial grey!

Mugwuffin snickered somewhere behind me, but I ignored her. She didn't understand the aesthetic.

The briefs themselves covered a wide number of topics, explaining what had happened while I was asleep.

First up was the brief on the economic recovery.

It wasn't as fast as I'd like, but for good reason. I'd mandated a stockpile law, effectively requiring all systems to keep stockpiles of essential goods in the event of a trade or holonet breakdown. Not unlike what had been the norm before the net upgrades, though in this case I was mandating a larger stockpile on average.

It was worth it, though. If this had gone differently, the situation would've been far worse on average.

The Velcar Sector and its merchants had been just fine, however. They'd been eager to jump on the Myto Sector, their merchants flooding the hyperlanes with absolute markets full of medicines of all kinds.

All charging ridiculous prices, which were all paid for from the Sector Treasury directly. They overcharged so much, we paid nearly 300 million for what should've been at best 20 million.

The cause? I said I'd pay double the market value, and given most local medical production or procurement was situated in the Velcar Sector, the market value just so magically happened to jump up! Fucking scammers, the lot of them.

Still, despite the abject robbery, they were only there a single week. The crisis used as the perfect excuse to delay any and all paperwork for the creation of companies or connections. After the net was back up and trade was moving along, the deal ended.

A part of me worried about the potential repercussions of my trickery. I wasn't so foolish as to believe they wouldn't retaliate. Oftentimes slavers might seem like businessmen of sorts. Caring only about profits, and taking pragmatic action to increase said profits.

The truth? Slavers are insecure. Their society is one built on how they are viewed, on some twisted idea of honor. To their humanoid and near-human slaves, they see themselves as paternalistic, providing care and guidance to species that are, to them, inherently incapable of navigating life.

To the truly alien ones, they see them as only cattle.

And to each other, they see a need for dominance. Slavers can't live a life imagining they aren't on top. They're emotional, irrational. They need to break others to feel alive, and spend every minute justifying it.

So a slight like this? It's not the biggest slap in the face, at least not from me. I'm just the poor Moff who got lucky.

No, I imagine it'll be Moff Ecressys's problem. After all, he promised them untold profits, and slavers are greedy beyond belief. 300 million split between all the merchants won't be enough for them, not even close.

I turned to the next brief, this one shorter, yet carrying more weight.

The holonet shut down. It was orchestrated, but none know who. To shut down an entire sector's net was no easy task, so they had to have resources, time, and will.
The rebels are the first obvious villain here. The ISB was likely drowning in their own drool at the idea of catching some rebels. But I wasn't so sure.

Why would the rebellion care about the Myto Sector? The people here were treated better day after day. The sector had a strong economy and industrial capacity, but it wasn't as though it would cripple the empire. Myto was a blip on galactic production numbers.

Not to mention, what would they have to gain? Downing the holonet caused trade disruptions, sure. It could've killed people, sure. But there were no reported major raids or thefts. Pirates attacked, that's for certain, and they caused damage, but nothing so major as to assume it was the rebels.

While I wouldn't put it past extremist groups, those rarely had the resources needed for such an attack.

My theory was that it was one of my neighbors. I suspected Velcar, of course, but that felt too obvious. I'd say it was the ISB Lieutenant, but this sector was under his supervision, meaning there was no chance he'd let something like this happen.

My only option was that, once again, someone wanted to make the Governor-General look bad. He'd risen too quickly for most people liking, and was now beholden to those who raised him there. If he was made to look bad, they might toss him to the sharks.

Regardless, the investigations had yielded nothing, and until they did I was left with no recourse. So, I decided I'd move onto a more interesting brief, this one longer than the others.

The sector's population had been experiencing a major boom over the past few years. Almost all of it due to immigration. Sure, there was natural population growth, which had resulted in some 3 million births a year, give or take.

But it was really immigration. The Myto sector and the Guild effectively advertised a higher than average standard of living compared to neighboring sectors. Considering the nearby sectors along the Entralla trade route had much higher population numbers, in the tens of billions, immigration had surged.

From a conservative estimated population of 500 million, to somewhere in the ballpark of 521 million. It was nothing short of explosive, driven by the frontier settlement program pushing new migrants towards underdeveloped worlds that needed the manpower.

As a consequence, the tax base was increasing, as was the need for industry. My plan in that regard was simple.

Self sufficiency. So that the sector is not wholly reliant on any other sector for vital resources.

Medicine and medtech production was a high priority, but also the slowest of the bunch. The Bacta cartel was a powerful one, kolto had been abandoned so long ago it was a nightmare to find even the barest hint, and overall it was expensive. As such it was becoming a long term project

But as various systems industrialized, I pushed for specialization in various sectors of industry. We didn't produce the most complex parts yet, like the navigation computers for starships, or hyperdrives larger than frigate sized, but we would get there, eventually.

It was simply the process of time. Things took time to build and advance, and rushing would only create problems.

However, there was something I could do to boost local production. Something tangible.

See, people had a bad habit of just leaving behind perfectly good equipment. Salvage was plentiful if you knew where to look.

Now, it wasn't the Katana Fleet, the salvage of which could be used to build many more ships. That thing was fairly well hidden and even if I'd started the process of looking, I didn't expect to find it for a while.

But there were others. Not far from here, a battle had occurred in the Noonian Sector. One in which Lord Vader himself had tracked and attacked a rebel base of significant importance.

A base that had been left behind, untouched by any after the battle and forgotten by history.

So I was going to do what salvagers do best.

The Strategic Transfer of Equipment to Alternate Locations.

That is to say, I am going to S.T.E.A.L Mako-Ta. It was only right, after all. No sense in leaving it there.

I mean, come on! The yards were just sitting there! I had some scouts go out and check, the local government never followed up with it.

So I hired some teams and hyperspace tugs, and over the course of the next month, Mako-Ta would be shipped over in pieces. Can't drag the whole thing over, but I can take it slow. Don't want the local Noonian sector Moff getting pissy about it.

It would be placed in orbit of Belladoon. The Governor there had been arrested by the Auditors some months ago and his replacement was miles more competent and willing to work with the authorities to get the rats out of the walls. So I could trust competent governorship if nothing else.

But it might be seen as favoring one industrial system over another, which could be a problem. It's not as though I can give everyone a shipyard.

Maybe mandating the factories that feed the yard are in those systems? Could spread the economic gain, but might also lead to the factories being used as political leverage.

"Sir" came Roius's voice through the intercom "an ISB agent is here to speak to you again."

God dammit these fuckers were relentless!

–

Yo. This shit fought me like nothing else, I swear to god. I spent three whole days building an entire map in Inkscape for the post-endor period, flags and all, because I just couldn't bring myself to write.

I originally planned for at least another 2k words spread over two more POV's but shit, man. Weeks almost up, and I try to get one out a week. So instead of quality, you get 1500 words of exposition. See why I refused to ever get paid for this? Not worth cash, I guarantee you.

Other than that, no real news. I got decent at frying chicken in a pan, and I made more of that sheet cake. Once I've got the ingredients imma try cinnamon rolls next.

<Insert Joke Here>
-Freefaller

Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

Know what you're doing yet?

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OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ASSET-REPORT

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OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-PATROL-STRATEGY

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OFFICIAL NAVAL PROCUREMENT EVALUATION | IN-ORD-7742-L

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OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ARMY-ASSET-REPORT

Not too sore, are you?

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ALLIANCE INTELLIGENCE | THREAT ASSESSMENT: NAVAL SUPPLEMENT

I trust you know where the happy button is?

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IMPERIAL R&D ASSET REPORT | PROJECT-SKYFALL

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Chp-108

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OFFICIAL SECTOR ADVISORY | MSD-ECON-SUBSIDY-ALLOCATION

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CRIMSON DAWN SHADOW LEDGER | ENTRY 8842

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Getting sticky.

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I trust you know where the happy button is?

Know what you're doing yet?

I trust you know where the happy button is?

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I trust you know where the happy button is?

Know what you're doing yet?

I trust you know where the happy button is?

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