Ten years, two months, and thirty-fifth day after the Battle of Yavin…
Or the forty-fifth year, second month, and thirty-fifth day after the Great Resynchronization.
(Nine months and twentieth day since arrival).
The Super Star Destroyer of the "Executor" type, the flagship of the Dominion's regular fleet, moved silently and not very quickly in the interstellar silence and darkness.
Its long and narrow hull, resembling the arrowhead of a huge archaic spear, was propelled forward by powerful engines, forcing the starship to circle around three positions where other starships of the detachment were located.
Someone might have thought that the commander of this ship had gone mad, forcing a starship of this size and with such armament to perform the duties of a guard dog, circling around its small herd, as if fearing that one of them – three Interdictor-class Star Destroyers, or three Venator-class Star Destroyers – would want to escape from here.
It could be assumed that the crews of the ships were getting bored from the mere fact that they had to be in the merciless space at a huge distance from the nearest inhabited system.
But these assumptions have nothing to do with reality.
Every crew member of these starships felt perfectly well during the ongoing operation.
Moreover, those free from duty occupied all available viewports to observe how "The Guardian," surrounded by a dozen Crusader-class corvettes, performed simple maneuvers.
Changing course, echelon, sharp "yawing" in various directions.
Small-scale attack craft from "The Guardian's" own air group repeatedly entered the giant ship at various angles, simulating an attack.
One squadron after another, replacing each other, intended to attack the ship.
And, for the most part, they failed.
Low-power laser shots could not penetrate the ship's thick deflector "skin," while in response, the "Guardian's" own laser cannons and its escort, equally harmless to the TIE interceptors' energy defenses, repeatedly fired.
The one who commanded "The Guardian" calmly watched these actions, standing on the flagship's bridge and listening to the training battle instructions from a sentient in a white uniform sitting in the command chair in the center of the central platform, adorned with a grand admiral's command bar and corresponding grand admiral's counter-epaulets.
"They are getting better and better each time," Thrawn commented on the pilots' actions.
"Yes, sir," Captain Pelleon replied in an emotionless tone. "The training of the crew of 'The Guardian,' as well as the crew of 'The Punisher,' has been allocated a large amount of time spent with practical benefit."
"Coupled with the fact that the crew of 'The Guardian' is staffed by the best specialists in the fleet, including clones, the result is acceptable," said the Grand Admiral. "We are finishing the maneuvers. Give the pilots a rest. Change the combat watch – soon we will need them full of strength."
Combat watch is the part of the ship's crew that, regardless of the specific crew member's assignment to a particular shift watch, was considered the best for representing the starship in battle.
It was they who, in case of a combat alert, had to first take their places according to the combat schedule and participate in the battle either until their death or until the end of the battle.
In both cases, they were replaced by similar specialists from the shift watches, who had a slightly less impressive service record and talent.
This was the case on ordinary Star Destroyers.
During the Galactic Empire.
At least, this is the knowledge Pelleon received through cloning from his original – the current deputy Grand Admiral Thrawn, Vice Admiral Gilad Pelleon.
And he did not consider it necessary to doubt them.
Just as he did not doubt that thanks to cloning, not one combat watch, but at least two or three, appeared in large numbers on the ships of the regular fleet of the Dominion.
This allowed even in the hottest battles not to lose the tempo of attack or defense in case of the "first number" being eliminated.
Pelleon, not having come up with a name to distinguish himself from his original, had no doubt that the creation of clones by the Dominion was the best option.
As on other ships of the fleet, "The Guardian" (and in large quantities) had regular officers and sailors, specialists and petty officers who were not clones.
And, if at first there was a big difference between the clones produced for service on this ship and the sentient beings gathered from all over the regular fleet, the best specialists in their field, then in the course of training, during exercises, this difference decreased.
The battle in the Galaanus system demonstrated that the crew of "The Guardian" is sufficiently trained and prepared to put the ship into service in the regular fleet and begin combat duty.
At the moment, Grand Admiral Thrawn was conducting training alerts to keep the crew of "The Guardian" and the crews of the escort and cover corvettes in the necessary tone.
Pelleon preferred to interpret the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's words about his team's successes as a positive assessment of the entire crew's actions.
But at the same time, he perfectly understood that there is always something to strive for and to improve the skills of his subordinates.
"All systems have been brought to combat readiness," they reported to the ship's commander from the central control post. "New teams have taken over the watch. The start of a full inspection of the serviceability of artillery, missile, defensive, and other equipment has been confirmed."
Pelleon duplicated this report to the Grand Admiral as well.
"We are starting the final check," said the commander of "The Guardian." "Estimated reporting time – six hours."
"Excellent, Captain," Grand Admiral Thrawn nodded in response, stroking the ysalamiri comfortably nestled on his snow-white trousers. "Inform me when everything is finished. Notify the ships of the formation to set the security level to yellow. The training combat alert is canceled. Those free from duty can rest."
"Yes, sir."
A coded audible signal swept through the compartments, and immediately the bluish lighting of the combat bridge, characteristic of combat alert, was replaced by the full operation of snow-white lighting panels.
The bridge watch, albeit slightly, breathed a sigh of relief.
Pelleon spun on his heels over his left shoulder and walked with a firm step towards the communications station.
The Grand Admiral's impenetrable everyday composure was somewhat disconcerting to Pelleon.
As was his original.
But the commander of "The Guardian" was created shortly before the start of the operation at Sluis Van.
Despite the Dominion's regular fleet's greatest (at that time) losses, that operation was not just a successful raid behind enemy lines.
Not a local sortie, to which the New Republic, although prepared, could still do nothing.
It's not even a slap in the face, accompanied by ringing in the head and sobering consequences.
It is a direct blow to the head, from which the New Republic barely stood on its feet.
But for this, it had to endure many disappointing minutes of realizing the consequences.
The Sluis Van operation was planned and executed by his donor – Vice Admiral Pelleon.
And his clone would not mind being born only after the implementation of this magnificent example of military tactics.
Just to feel from the "first person" the difference between what Gilad Pelleon did at Sluis Van and what his clone is about to implement in this impenetrable place in the middle of the Parlemian Trade Route.
Because the biggest fear of clones serving in the Dominion Armed Forces is to be less effective than the original.
And the commander of "The Guardian" was no exception to this rule.
He just knew how to control his emotions more restrainedly.
Fortunately, both the original and the clone Pelleon had excellent experience in endurance and self-control when working with Grand Admiral Thrawn.
And the commander of "The Guardian" sincerely hoped that his work would be evaluated by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief no worse than the merits of the real Pelleon at Sluis Van.
Galaanus is just the beginning.
Almost like the operations in the Dafillevean sector.
The operation near Lantilles is the next stage.
A small step on the path to the same military triumph of the Dominion as Sluis Van was for Gilad Pelleon.
It is assumed that, like any operation under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the reason for the appearance of the formation led by "The Guardian" in this part of the galaxy will be an example of an effective and powerful, crushing and elegant operation, resulting from the work of a brilliant commander.
But Thrawn did not explain the specific nature of the maneuvers being carried out.
However, Pelleon, having the experience of his predecessor, already understood that the use of three "Interdictors" and three "Venators" of the "Sunburn" project unambiguously indicated that an operation against large enemy forces was imminent.
Which the Grand Admiral plans to capture.
Otherwise, why would there be as many as three representatives of each type of Star Destroyer, and also the "Guardian's" cargo holds are packed with deactivated B-1 droids?
Which were previously used as a temporary crew for ferrying captured ships and stations, mind you.
When the transmission of orders to the ships was completed, Pelleon found a communications officer next to him, who quietly informed him that an incoming request had been received from "Allegiance" – a linear cruiser of the same type, on which Vice Admiral Pelleon held his flag.
"To whom is it addressed?" the commander of "The Guardian" inquired.
"To the Supreme Commander, sir," the signaler added. "Vice Admiral Pelleon is waiting on channel eighteen."
Unusual.
The commander of "The Guardian" glanced at the Grand Admiral, but he was busy talking to the senior gunnery officer.
Disturbing him now was not the best idea.
After all, the commander of the flagship is also the deputy commander.
If the Vice Admiral's call had been urgent or confidential, Gilad Pelleon would have contacted Thrawn's comlink directly.
"Inform the Grand Admiral," Pelleon said. "I will take the call in the tactical compartment."
Heading to the indicated part of the bridge, he ran his hand along the metal railing that protected the edges of the "pits" on ships that had undergone modernization.
However, this was not the only innovation in the interior of "The Guardian" and its sister ship "The Punisher."
Dominion engineers and regular fleet technical services worked conscientiously, turning "The Executor" from a flying city into a formidable warship of considerable size, equipped with additional armament and defensive points.
Ideally, thanks to the tenfold increase in anti-aircraft laser cannons from the initial five hundred to a thousand by installing beam-type laser cannons, similar to those on Crusader II-class corvettes and located on Star Destroyers and other ships undergoing modernization under the "Trio" program, "The Guardian," like "The Punisher," did not need escort and cover corvettes.
The additional armament allowed them to deploy another defensive perimeter, leaving the beam laser cannons to defend against small ships at medium ranges, and the beam weapons to intercept enemy kinetic projectiles and aircraft in the close perimeter.
The gunsmiths promised that a new type of missile would soon be adopted. Externally – anti-ship, but in fact – one large container for delivering guided missiles with homing heads to counter the same aircraft and corvettes and frigates.
Reaching the tactical compartment, designed specifically to be a place for discussing military campaign plans, Pelleon ordered the subordinate operators to leave it with an unambiguous gesture.
Which they did.
Left alone with the holoprojector, Pelleon activated the device and waited for the volumetric projection to form.
"Grand Admiral, sir," Vice Admiral Pelleon began cheerfully, looking away from somewhere and directly at the interlocutor. "The 'Allegiance' is at position..."
The Deputy Supreme Commander-in-Chief interrupted his report, realizing that he was not talking to the person he intended to speak with.
"Vice Admiral Pelleon," the commander of "The Guardian" addressed his original as an official greeting.
"Captain Pelleon," the latter replied with restraint to the formal address, noticing that the original seemed somewhat flustered at the sight of his duplicate.
Such occurrences were not uncommon – among sentient beings subject to cloning, there were those who did not fully accept the policy of their "duplication."
It is psychologically difficult to know that you never had twin brothers, and here you can meet a dozen similar technicians or pilots in one corridor who look, and sometimes behave, the same as you.
Young officers and specialists treated this quite calmly, which was due to their un ossified psyche and stress resistance.
And officers, for years and command stripes higher than the conditional commodores, especially star destroyer commanders…
Perceived such games with cloning…
Ambiguously.
Therefore, the fleet headquarters preferred to keep clones of the same type on different ships or watches, at least.
Fortunately, starships are quite large, and sometimes you might not cross paths with someone from your own watch for years of service.
Let alone other crew members.
As far as the commander of the "Guardian" knew, out of all the star destroyer commanders deemed loyal and possessing the proper competence, and consequently subjected to cloning, Vice Admiral Pellaeon had not so many "doubles" compared to other senior officers of the regular fleet.
And it wasn't that the Vice Admiral somehow didn't meet the selection criteria for cloning programs.
It was just that for some of his own reasons, Grand Admiral Thrawn believed that there should be orders of magnitude fewer clones of Vice Admiral Pellaeon in the Dominion than "doubles" of the same Rear Admiral Doria or Captain Stormaer.
"My summons concerned Grand Admiral Thrawn," Gilad Pellaeon stated in a rather sharp tone.
Familiar with the intonations of this man, the commander of the "Guardian" perfectly understood that he felt uncomfortable conversing with his living copy.
Who was repeating Pellaeon's own fate – commanding the Grand Admiral's flagship.
And therefore – participating in the most important battles fought by the Dominion's regular fleet.
"The Supreme Commander is currently busy," the commander of the "Guardian" explained. "I have already notified him via a communications officer. If you wish, Vice Admiral, I can pass him…"
"Impossible," the Vice Admiral declared. "The message concerns the Grand Admiral directly."
A muffled hiss of the entrance hatch sounded behind him.
"As you say, sir," Pellaeon replied calmly to Pellaeon. "I will ensure that…"
"Everything is in order, Captain," the commander of the "Guardian" heard the voice of the Supreme Commander. "Your message has been relayed to me. Thank you for your foresight."
Under other circumstances, the commander of the "Guardian" would have received the information for the Grand Admiral and relayed it to the recipient.
But Gilad Pellaeon wanted to speak with Thrawn face to face.
There were probably specific reasons for this.
"With your permission, sir," the commander of the flagship star super-destroyer addressed the Supreme Commander, "I will oversee the diagnostic work."
"Of course, Captain," the boss ordered in a tone as if asking for the table to be served. "I await your report immediately after receiving it from the sector commanders."
"Yes, sir."
The captain turned to the exit and left the tactical hall at a leisurely pace, without looking back at the holographic terminal.
Since the conversation is meant to be confidential, that is the command's will.
He only has to carry it out.
The Hambarin Sector could boast that the Trelen Trade Route passed through its capital system.
This crucial regional corridor connected developed planets such as Commenor, Trelena, and Hambarin.
And at the same time – it provided access to the largest galactic hyperspace highways.
And with their help, any corner of the galaxy could be reached in a short time.
Being near planets like Neimoidia, Kuat, Balmorra, and also – a little further away – Corellia, Duro, Coruscant – allowed this sector to develop over millennia.
Hambarin (to the right of Kuat).
The industrial and economic growth of the Hambarin sector allowed it to become one of the richest and most developed parts of the Galactic Republic centuries before the Clone Wars.
Hambarin could only compete for leadership in technological and economic terms with Kuat and Corellia – its closest neighbors, also located in the Central Worlds.
Despite its power and influence, during the Clone Wars, the sector, although it had reliable defense forces, was invaded by the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
The Republic's failed defense tactics for this treasury led to many worlds in the sector switching to the separatists' side.
And then, two years after the start of the Clone Wars, the sector's capital, the planet Hambarin, was subjected to a devastating orbital bombardment by General Grievous's forces.
The result of this barbarity was the complete destruction of the surface of the capital world.
The few survivors fled the planet, which eventually led to the desolation of the entire sector.
The remaining enterprises barely managed to find orders for themselves and provide work for their personnel.
The Hambarin catastrophe is a harsh lesson of history that the galaxy has never learned.
The Galactic Empire absolutely didn't care about this sector – they only offered a formal show of concern.
And minor interventions to prevent the situation from spiraling into an abyss.
To be honest, Admiral Duplex did not have information on whether Hambarin had joined the territory of the New Republic or not.
But at the moment, when a dozen "Republic" class star destroyers, supported by two dozen star cruisers and assault frigates, materialized in the sector's capital system, he was only thinking about how to win the upcoming battle.
The enemy clearly did not expect to be attacked by such large forces of the New Republic.
Divided into three identical detachments under the command of Admirals Duplex and Sey'lar, the New Republic ships, from the very first minutes of their presence in the Hambarin system, found themselves in a position of superiority over the enemy.
The repair and supply stations deployed in orbit of the dead planet reacted sluggishly to the invasion.
Even more slowly, one "Victory-II" class star destroyer and three dozen "Avenger" and "Dreadnought" class heavy cruisers, corvettes, and frigates rushed towards the attackers.
Despite the parity in strength, Duplex didn't even need the notorious Jedi Force.
Even without it, he could see that the enemy was demoralized by the previous defeat.
And whoever commanded them, he perfectly understood that even half of these forces would be enough to destroy the Commonwealth starships without the slightest problem for themselves.
Not without damage, but victory was assured.
And, before the enemy could figure out what was happening, a third of the fleet – the assault frigates – jumped again.
Straight to the industrial systems of the sector.
From where strings of ships with equipment and metals for repairing the enemy fleet were drawn.
Thanks to intelligence, Admiral Argentis knew perfectly well that even one assault frigate was enough to ensure the New Republic's control over the sector's territory.
All that remained was to destroy the fleet of the Five Star Commonwealth.
And that would not be a problem.
"Launch the air force," Admiral Duplex ordered. "Turn the Imperials into stardust."
The Hambarin beating of the Empire began.
"Are there problems, Vice Admiral?"
The voice, like the appearance of Grand Admiral Thrawn, was impeccable.
But they do not negate the fact that problems indeed exist.
And ignoring them now is not the best course of action.
"Yes, sir," Gilad replied. "More precisely, one problem."
Well, away with fears.
Thrawn can be told everything as it is, without fear that he will use Darth Vader's signature move and cut off oxygen supply to Pellaeon, as sometimes happened on the ships of the Death Squadron.
"One must assume that this problem has white hair, wears aristocratic outfits, and loves expensive wine?"
Gilad's breath caught.
He glanced beyond the projector, where the source of all the "Allegiance" crew's problems was located.
As always, Thrawn was right down to the smallest detail.
Before the assault on Serenno, it was decided to take the legitimate ruler of the D'Astan sector aboard the flagship.
The notorious Baroness Fina D'Asta.
And along with her, about a hundred servants and advisors of the aristocrat boarded the "Allegiance."
And a whole container with that very wine and two more with outfits.
"For your information, Grand Admiral," the Baroness entered the projection sector, and thus her white-blue figure, a quarter of her actual height, was supposed to appear before the Grand Admiral. "My hair is not white, but pearlescent-platinum."
"Baroness," Thrawn addressed the new participant in the conversation, his face not betraying a single muscle twitch. "To what do I owe this?"
"The assault on Serenno is being prepared," the headache of the entire "Allegiance" crew declared. "I would like the leaders of the rebellion to be captured alive. And their property – palaces, factories, and the rest – to remain unharmed."
Either the holoprojector was faulty, or a shadow of irritation had just crossed Thrawn's face.
"May I inquire about the reasons for this desire?" Thrawn asked.
"I consulted with my entourage and concluded that a public condemnation and execution of the rebel leaders would have a great public resonance among the sector's population," the Baroness explained. "And after the peoples of the systems comprising the sector see through the holonet broadcasts the proceedings, that the rebels are condemned and face inevitable real punishment, it will protect the sector from future uprisings. The reasonable will understand that armed rebellion is not an option, as it entails real punishment. And any disagreements will henceforth be resolved through compromises and negotiations between all interested parties."
"Your idea is clear to me," Thrawn announced. "But I must disagree with you."
"Is that so?" the Baroness, as expected, began to raise her voice and exert verbal pressure on her interlocutor.
Pellaeon smirked stealthily.
Before, the Baroness could still fray the nerves of the "Allegiance" crew, as she seemed to be the mistress of the flag on whose side the Dominion was fighting with mercenaries.
And the more the latter's intervention shifted the boundaries of the contact line, the more the Baroness "grew bolder" and voiced her demands.
It is unknown why Thrawn ordered her taken aboard the flagship before the completion of the last assault and full control of the sector.
But she caused Pellaeon more moral torment than she weighed.
It was in vain that she chose such rhetoric.
Thrawn will not forgive such things.
So one can relax and watch how the Supreme Commander of the Dominion literally smashes the quarrelsome woman into a thin layer.
"Yes, Baroness," the Grand Admiral declared unequivocally. "I cannot agree with your demands. Your assessment of the consequences of keeping the rebels alive during the investigation is not objective. It is impossible to destroy any rebellion as long as its leaders are alive. Conducting a humane trial over them, keeping them under investigation, will allow the population to view these reasonable beings as martyrs. The investigation, trial, and subsequent punishment, whatever it may be, is merely delaying the inevitable. You will give the enemy additional opportunities to use the judicial proceedings as a platform from which they can continue to inspire their followers, who have gone unpunished, in their defense speeches."
"Are you absolutely sure about this, Grand Admiral?" the Baroness asked sarcastically. "All political and legal theories say the opposite. We must show that the D'Astan sector is a state that is not afraid to openly try criminals."
"Any state must demonstrate its strength and the seriousness of its intentions through actions, not words," Thrawn objected. "Because any delay between the crime and the punishment is a big mistake. The longer the process is drawn out, the more the people observing it will think that the state machine is weak if it cannot solve the problem in a short time. Thus, your theories are mistaken…"
Pellaeon nodded affirmatively, in agreement with Thrawn.
Why all this fuss when everything is already clear?
There is an enemy who has raised an armed rebellion.
In fact, initiated a civil war between the peoples of one sector.
What kind of trial and investigation can be discussed?
Destroy on the spot, step over the scoundrel's corpse and shoot the next one.
Fast and reliable.
"I am not mistaken, Grand Admiral Thrawn," the Baroness cut off haughtily. "I believe this will be better for the entire sector. You may dictate the line of power in the Dominion from the shadows, but I have no reason to keep silent about what is happening. I demand that the rebel leaders be found and arrested!"
A short pause ensued.
Pellaeon, grimacing, imagined the lifeless body of the Baroness hanging by the neck from one of the "Allegiance's" antennas.
Of course, not because she behaved so brazenly with the Grand Admiral in the presence of a subordinate.
And not even because she very imprudently interrupted Thrawn's speech, which he also disliked, but perhaps the most foolish thing this woman could have done now was to contradict the ruler of the Dominion.
"Excellent, Baroness," a low hum came from the holoprojector's speaker. "Issue the appropriate order."
Fina D'Asta opened her mouth, ready to object to the Grand Admiral, but it seemed she had absolutely nothing to say in response to such an unexpected reaction from Thrawn.
Admittedly, even Pellaeon himself was taken aback.
"But… how… to whom," the woman clearly couldn't figure out what to answer. "After all, the united group is commanded by Vice Admiral Pellaeon. And he is your subordinate and…"
The woman slumped.
"I know that your armed forces and the Dominion's troops are under the command of Vice Admiral Pellaeon," the Grand Admiral continued, not at all embarrassed by this circumstance. "It is obvious that you have a short memory, Baroness. And you have forgotten that the Dominion's direct intervention occurred due to your military's inability to reclaim the sector. Even with our supply of weapons and ammunition. You agreed that our forces would act under a single command. And the commander would be from the Dominion. This allowed us to liberate your sector in a short time. I find your recent words, which diverge from the position of the command of the united group, to be caused by dizziness from the successes of the current campaign. And, since our positions diverge, have the courage to say it directly."
The Baroness remained silent.
But from her gaze, it was clear that she was pondering something.
"I think I should help you with proactive thinking," Thrawn offered good-naturedly. "As soon as you declare that our alliance is breaking up, all the Dominion's armed forces – ships, crews, army, equipment – will be immediately returned to the territory controlled by our state."
"I have already understood this, Grand Admiral," the aristocrat grumbled, interlacing her fingers. "You decided to stoop to blackmail? Do you want to remind me that most of our army flies your modernized fighters, fights with your weapons, and in principle does not have any serious forces to complete what has been started? I perfectly understand – if you leave now, we will not be able to win."
"I just want to be sure that you will no longer try to use the Dominion for your own interests, Baroness," a slight threat broke through the Grand Admiral's polite intonations. "It is repugnant for me to think that the daughter of Baron Ragez D'Asta could turn to me at a moment when her rights to rule the sector and all her inheritance were in danger, only to declare at the end of the entire campaign that you want to seize the reins of command and make additional demands. Which will lead to excessively large casualties among the Dominion's ground and space forces. Because, allow me to remind you, your own armed forces do not pose a great threat to the remnants of the enemy.
The aristocrat pursed her lips into a thin line.
"You are portraying me in a bad light, Grand Admiral," the Baroness said with a grim intonation. "I have already informed my advisors that it will be so."
"I am not urging anything, Baroness," Thrawn stated. "You have already made it clear that you have a completely different vision for the end of this conflict. Well, fruitful partnership did not work out. A pity. Vice Admiral Pellaeon, prepare to withdraw our forces."
"It will be done, sir," Pellaeon confirmed receipt of the order with undisguised pleasure.
Looking at the Baroness, he could barely restrain himself from saying to her face: "Well, what, you ate it?!"
"If I remember correctly, it is your ships that are currently blocking all routes from the Serenno system to other parts of the sector," the Baroness said. "And if you withdraw them, it means the enemy can easily escape from my ships and resume their atrocities in any part of D'Astan! This is unacceptable, Grand Admiral!"
"Of course. We will not allow that," Thrawn remarked. "Vice Admiral Pellaeon will do everything to prevent such a thing. Immediately after he withdraws our forces to territories controlled by us."
Gilad was stunned.
What was he supposed to understand from this?
Instead of pushing this fool from Nez-Peron aside and finishing off the enemy, and then dictating his will, Thrawn decided to make a grand farewell gesture?
Allow the rebels' ships to slip away and hunt them down throughout the sector, thereby facilitating the capture of Serenno by the loyalists?
Thrawn couldn't possibly do something like that!
Gilad was as sure of this as he was that more gray hairs had appeared in his hair than there had been information raids in the Obroa-skai library last year.
In fact, that's where it all started.
No, no, no!
Thrawn couldn't do this!
It's absolute stupidity.
The Grand Admiral never acts rashly, and therefore there must be some other meaning here.
He just needs to see it and…
Gilad couldn't suppress a smile.
During the conversation, the Grand Admiral repeatedly mentioned the withdrawal of Dominion troops to "territories controlled by us."
A very interesting turn of phrase.
If there's one thing Gilad knew, it was how to look for a double, or even a triple meaning in the Grand Admiral's words.
"As you command, Grand Admiral!"
Pellaeon unconsciously straightened up.
I wonder if the Baroness will understand…
"You're hiding something, Grand Admiral," suspicious notes appeared in the aristocrat's voice. "What specific controlled territories are you referring to? Why are you talking about them, and not about withdrawing ships to the established borders of the Dominion?"
"Because the Dominion's intervention in the civil war in the D'Astan sector has expanded those borders," Thrawn declared unequivocally. "At the moment, we control more than half of the D'Astan sector's star systems. The Dominion spilled blood for their liberation, and therefore – these territories belong to us. Of course, we will not allow rebels or other beings hostile to the Dominion to penetrate them. But those star systems that are under the control of your loyal forces, Baroness, can of course continue to be considered as such."
Fina D'Asta opened her mouth silently, unable to control her extreme surprise.
"But… This is…" it seemed the "problem" couldn't find the right words. "You… You are occupying us?!"
"Not at all. All the controlled systems of the D'Astan sector will become part of the Dominion with all the rights and obligations arising from them," the Grand Admiral announced.
Pellaeon looked at the Baroness with grim triumph, who was morally crushed by the revelation that had befallen her.
The Vice Admiral even felt that he himself, having been involved in the Grand Admiral's plan, had grown taller.
"You understand that you will look like an invader?" the Baroness asked suspiciously. "The population will not accept their fate as passive observers. Will you suppress rebellions by force, kill civilians to maintain power?!"
This certainty almost made Gilad laugh.
Looking at the Grand Admiral's hologram, Pellaeon seemed to see the Grand Admiral's dark smile before his eyes.
"The answer to your second question is: 'No.' The answer to your first question is similar to the first," Thrawn replied. "I assume the population will be extremely outraged by the fact that the territories have come under Dominion control precisely because the Dominion itself liberated them. In your interests, Baroness. I am sure they will be offended by the fact that the wealth of the D'Asta family was not enough to pay for the supply of military equipment, weapons, and uniforms for your army, so we had to enter the war. Allow me to modestly omit the fact that my subordinates died to prevent your abduction and death. Allow me also not to remind you of curious information regarding your origin. We are merely receiving payment for our services. With star systems."
A long pause followed.
"The Baroness is not a fool," Pellaeon decided.
The aristocrat perfectly understood what the Grand Admiral meant.
For all the months that the Dominion supplied what was needed for the ingloriously defending D'Astan army, not a single credit was received in payment.
Yes, the Dominion used this conflict to advertise its military equipment, how effective the modernized equipment of the Grand Army of the Republic could be.
And this ensured stable orders for such supplies.
But facts are stubborn things.
Nothing is given for free.
The Baroness had to understand that by accepting help, she still owed Thrawn.
And a lot.
She took this risky step to preserve her power.
Which she didn't really have the right to, given that she is a clone of the real Baroness.
Any DNA analysis would confirm this.
But the worst thing for her is something else.
As soon as the sector's population learns that she is just a copy, her entire war will look not like a liberation movement.
But like an attempt at usurpation.
And no one will care that she did not have full information about her origin.
That she herself is a victim of circumstances.
It would be absolutely unsurprising if she were held responsible for the disappearance of the real Baroness and the death of Baron D'Asta.
The situation is so delicate that the consequences will be, to put it mildly, irreversible.
It will be practically impossible for ordinary beings to uncover the real truth.
And Thrawn had more than once shown how skillfully he manipulates facts, thereby remaining in the winning position.
Unlike most of the galaxy, the Grand Admiral knows how to wage hybrid wars and win them.
"What do you propose?" the disgraced and morally crushed baroness asked quietly.
"It's simple," the Grand Admiral declared. "The campaign continues and concludes according to plan. No prisoners among the rebel leadership and no show trials. We bring you to power over the sector, and you will initiate the territories' accession to the Dominion. Details of the sector's situation will be discussed later with Grand Moff Ferrus."
"So, your ships and the armed forces of D'Astan will not leave?" the baroness asked in a dejected voice.
"Precisely," the Grand Admiral confirmed. "Where the flag of the Dominion has once been raised, it will never be lowered again."
Pellaeon coughed upon hearing the last phrase.
"Wow!"
These words could have been spoken by the emperor of some state with a huge army and fleet.
But such a statement from Thrawn, who is actually considered dead, and whose Armed Forces (as Chief of Staff Gilad knew this for sure) are experiencing a monstrous shortage of personnel.
Military equipment, ships, combat vehicles, weapons – for the most part, all this is available, being produced or modernized.
But there are simply not enough people to incorporate all the Dominion trophies into the fleet, or even a significant part of them.
With the approach of a two-tiered Armed Forces, achieving massiveness in the near future will be impossible.
And, it seems, Thrawn decided to further stretch the borders of the Dominion, extending them along the Hydian Way.
But...
To do this now?
Openly?
When it is understood that everyone who is not lazy is watching the Dominion, and on the borders, it will soon be necessary to fight almost all over the north of the Hydian Way, finishing off the satellites of the "Zann Consortium," this is not the most logical step.
If the galaxy did not know that Thrawn was dead, then this move would have worked – opponents would have been wary of trying to counterattack the Dominion.
Simply because they would have thought that Thrawn had prepared traps for them in case of revenge.
They are unlikely to fear Pellaeon as much.
"Is that all?" the baroness asked in a completely broken voice.
"The details will be specified in the alliance treaty, but if you are so interested, I can inform you that the sector's armed forces will no longer be subordinate to the D'Asta family, but will come under the control of the Dominion," Thrawn continued. "This is as inevitable as the state's participation in large production campaigns located in the sector. I think you understand that all the property and enterprises of the rebels will be transferred to the Dominion without any extra conditions on your part?"
"Including my family's merchant fleet?" a spark of anger appeared in the baroness's eyes. "Will you also take it into your possession?"
"Your family's?" Thrawn clarified. "In my opinion, the emphasis is misplaced. But, I think I can agree to leave you control over some areas of activity previously belonging to the D'Asta Family. Of course, in exchange for concessions on your part, Baroness. Perhaps, if you do not delay the integration process and do not want to contradict the Dominion, understanding the advantages in the region's development that we will provide, a Moff will not be appointed in D'Astan. You can manage the sector. On our behalf. Under our careful guidance, of course."
Judging by how the aristocrat's lips, pressed into the thinnest line, turned white, she had never been in such a position before.
Humiliated and spineless.
And perfectly understanding what was happening.
First, the Dominion gains direct control over the defense forces and deploys its troops in the sector.
Then it subordinates the largest businesses as co-owners – and a large part of it belongs either to aristocrats who are no longer alive, or to the D'Asta Family.
Which, in turn, means complete control over the production of food, weapons, ammunition, combat equipment...
Before you know it, the entire sector will become one large pantry for the Dominion's war machine.
And the former aristocracy will be reduced to mere backup singers.
There is no doubt that Thrawn intends to return control of the sector's remaining merchant fleet to the baroness, which means her income will be indecently high.
The only problem is that they will never see anything that belonged to the family and was nationalized by the rebels again.
But the alternative is to stand by, biting your tongue, and watch the sector be taken away before your eyes, leaving nothing.
Since the new borders will pass through the sector's territory, the Dominion's isolationism will also apply to those systems that the baroness intends to try to keep under her rule.
It will not be a year before the worlds rebel – who wants to live under blockade by the Dominion fleet?
Thrawn will surely ensure that communication between systems, which the baroness is counting on, is interrupted.
This will only mark a delayed end to the rule of the D'Asta baroness's clone.
On the other hand, she is offered to step down from power in the sector and engage in simple business.
Yes, it must be understood that subduing the sector during the occupation of territories will require time, strength, and resources, but the Dominion has them.
The baroness will undoubtedly have supporters who gained experience during the civil war.
And they will certainly try to fight.
They will not succeed – there will simply be more space debris and deaths.
And for the conquest of the baroness's planets, Thrawn will not need much effort, in fact.
It will be enough to demonstratively destroy the resistance on one of the planets during the military campaign, and the rest will become sensible.
This is exactly what Thrawn intends to implement on Serenno.
But for the entire sector.
To destroy all seeds of discontent with one blow.
Quickly, ruthlessly, and quite in the spirit of the Grand Admiral.
A multi-move combination with only one winner.
And don't say that the Grand Admiral didn't get involved in the civil war in the D'Astan sector without considering this scenario.
Pellaeon could not find an answer to how he himself would act if he were in the baroness's place.
But her fate is unenviable.
Either lose almost everything, but retain power, albeit significantly reduced.
Or lose everything – and also create mountains of corpses.
It is unlikely that in the case of the latter outcome, someone would not kill the baroness's clone.
Perhaps even the Dominion's special services.
What "perhaps" there is.
Most obviously, that's what will happen.
"Alright, Grand Admiral, I agree to become your puppet for the sake of the Dominion people's lives," the baroness finally said, her voice filled with doom and defeat. "But before we proceed with integration, I want guarantees that I will not serve as a mere icon to calm the sector's people and for their soft subjugation."
"Of course," Thrawn readily agreed. "I guarantee your inviolability, provided you comply with all clauses, without exception, specified in the integration treaty."
Pellaeon thought that most Imperial senior officers would not have resisted gloating in such a situation.
This is the height of diplomacy – to start a conversation over a trifle and lead it to the capitulation of your opponent.
And, without any threats of executing the "Base-Delta-Zero" order!
As the proverb said?
"Is the word stronger than a turbolaser?"
It seems that this folk wisdom has found its real embodiment.
But the Grand Admiral's small courtesy, as always, as far as the captain knew, was as carefully calculated as the previous attack. Allowing to surrender while retaining dignity, and no one will resist the Dominion until it's too late.
"Emissaries will be sent to you, they will discuss the details of our agreement with you," Thrawn continued. "Including the clause on guarantees. And responsibility in case of its violation. Immediately after the storming of Serenno and the suppression of the rebellion. Until then, our ships will exercise full control over all star systems of the sector."
"Of course, Grand Admiral," Pellaeon felt in his gut that the sarcastic tone, full of poison and malicious triumph, was literally bursting the baroness. "But any document can be circumvented. You have already shown me how it's done. I need guarantees of a different kind."
Pellaeon felt goosebumps run down his spine.
This only happened when he commanded the "Chimera" and Thrawn revealed the essence of his traps for the enemy.
It seems the shock effect on the baroness has passed, and now the twisted harpy has awakened in her, who will not let her own slip away.
But what else does this crazy blonde need besides the treaty and its clauses?
"Explain yourself," the Grand Admiral ordered. "What would you like to receive as more reliable guarantees?"
"One way or another, there will still be dissatisfied people," the baroness's voice sounded triumphant. "The sector's population has always supported the aristocracy – to one degree or another, if not one Family, then another. I think you understand that the weakening of my Family's position will be perceived strictly negatively – since there will soon be no other families left in the sector. And you, in the context of conflicts, do not need distractions from unrest in the rear. Especially in D'Astan, which is so conveniently located between the Dominion and the Hydian Way."
"Let's assume," Thrawn agreed in an ordinary tone. "Your proposals, Baroness?"
"On this matter, the aristocracy has long invented a mechanism that will certainly guarantee the fulfillment of obligations by both parties to the agreement," a smile appeared on the baroness's lips. "A legal document is good. But for the D'Astans, other relationships between the powerful are much more familiar."
Her pearly teeth seemed like polished metal to Pellaeon, with which she intended to sink her teeth into Thrawn's throat.
"And what are they?" the Grand Admiral's expression did not change, but Pellaeon thought that he seemed somewhat bored.
The baroness was preparing, rather crudely, for some fiery phrase that. Probably, should strike them all down...
And they struck.
Down for the count.
With just one phrase.
At that very moment, Gilad witnessed what he considered impossible.
He saw the Grand Admiral Thrawn flustered, coughing in surprise at the words of the triumphantly smiling aristocrat.
Despite the idiocy of the situation, Pellaeon felt uneasy.
If Thrawn doesn't know what to answer – the situation smells of the Death Star exploding.
Or something worse.
And the whole point is that Baroness D'Asta said:
"Marry me, Thrawn."