Author - Like i said in the lotr fic I am sick n tired lmao, heres a new chapter. Also yes in previous chapters I said that they have made 'billions' i meant to say millions but the autocorrect changed it to billions. Someone then pointed it out and I tried to change it and update it but for 2 days the update didn't go through on either Webnovel or other website. I checked now and it should have updated now, if it is not I give up.
Also already seen someone try to re-post the story as theirs on scribblehub under a different title thankfully I do have an account there (which I dont post there yet) so pointed it out and I guess they got scared or something cause they took it down lmao.
I might have to start posting on more sites because that guy also had a paid website where he said he will post chapters in advance lmao.
Anywho the theme song for this chapter for Kael is - "HIT THE JACKPOT! (Hakari Dance) by GameboyJones
***
I stood on the observation deck of one of the captured heavy haulers, watching the organized chaos unfold across the shipyard's main docking ring.
The Iron Reaver loomed in the distance like a sleeping giant, its massive hull has stopped venting from the battle damage, it has now been patched up and the systems rebooted.
Around it, hundreds of pirate ships remained docked or drifting in controlled orbits cruisers, frigates, corvettes, haulers, skiffs, and fighters. We weren't taking all of them home, we simply could not we dont have the manpower or people experienced enough in piloting large ships. I rather have them stay here guarded than for some lieutenant to jump into the sun or crash into a different ship.
Most would stay here under guard until we could crew them properly or decide what to do with them, the plan was simple but massive in scale.
Load the highest-value loot onto the Acclamators and our own haulers. Leave a garrison of 300 mixed forces (Mandalorians, stormtroopers, and militia) to secure the yard and the ships while keeping most of the 15,000 freed slaves here for now they would help with initial security and labor while medical teams stabilized the worst cases and we prepared proper housing back on Elyria.
Only the most urgent medical cases and a small group of volunteers would travel with us on this return trip.
Crews moved in disciplined lines while crates of physical Imperial credits and peggats were being loaded first as they were the most useful and had most value.
Stacks upon stacks of Imperial credit chips, few Republic-era as well and mountains of peggats, and other currencies from a dozen systems were being moved to the most secured places within the ships.
The sheer volume filled entire cargo bays on the Resolute Dawn and Iron Vanguard.
Next came the most expensive artifacts and rare ores crates of aurodium bars, unprocessed gemstones, and the high-grade minerals we'd found in the pirate vaults, I am pretty sure that a necklace had a kyber crystal, I yoinked it because kyber crystals are priceless on the black market to collectors and the Imperium is gathering them for their little waste of credits on the roundball of death.
Medical supplies followed, bacta canisters and kolto reserves that would save lives back home. We took only the best and most portable ones while some remained for the slaves and the garrison.
I watched a squad of Mandalorians from Clan Beviin direct a repulsor sled loaded with platinum ingots into the Resolute Dawn's hold. Torv stood nearby, yet again a new fucking heavy repeater slung across his back, he was overseeing security for the loading operation.
I sigh.
Man, if I did not know about his rare visits to a certain establishment during late hours in the suburbs of the city I would assume he was gun-sexual, and very unfaithful.
Atii was somewhere on the other side of the ring, helping coordinate the final checks on the Kom'rks that would escort us back while Karlach was enjoying some top quality backta to finally heal him.
The weight of what we were leaving behind pressed on me. The shipyard itself was a prize, massive in scale and defensive measures with gargantuan repair facilities, docking arms, power stations, and storage vaults still filled with weapons, armour, and spare parts.
Apparently it was originally one of Fondors mobile repair and salvage yards before it got captured by seperatists and then after the war ended some opportunistic pirates got hold of it before dying and being taken over by one of the first members of the confederation.
The pirates did not bother with wiping or checking the data cores extensively so we had secured the data cores and everything within it, sadly there was not much useful information.
We actived and started repairing any defences and already scheduling for a fresh shield module to arrive to the shipyard to fix up the half working jurry rigged one the pirates set up.
The garrison would hold it until we could return with more crews they are there just to keep order between the slaves and root out any potential hidden pirates and to protect the shipyard from any leftovers.
I smile as I think once again about the treasure and loot we were taking now aboard our ships.
Millions in physical currency along with rare ores that could fund years of construction, crucial medical supplies that would heal our wounded and the freed slaves we probably wont be selling any of those since one can never have enough medical supplies.
There were countless artifacts that could buy favour or knowledge or just put into museums and maybe start working on founding tourism on this system, I know it might be utterly hopeless since who in their right fucking mind would travel to bum fuck nowhere southern outer rim bordering on wildspace and unknown regions? One can still hope though.
Hopeium reaching the same levels as half life fans about half life 3.
I felt a mix of exhaustion and quiet satisfaction go through me.
It is finally fucking over, we had shattered the confederation's back and what remained were scattered outposts and hidden vaults along with fragments we would hunt down later.
A comm chime sounded in my ear."Governor," Reza's voice came through. "Loading on the Acclamators is 87% complete. The haulers are at 92%. We can depart within the hour."
"Acknowledged," I replied. "Make sure the garrison is fully supplied and the freed slaves have basic medical and food distribution set up before we jump."
"Already done."
I turned away from the viewport and headed back toward the shuttle that would take me to the Gozanti. The corridors were busy with our people Mandalorians directing droids, stormtroopers standing guard at every junction, native workers helping move crates.
A small group of freed slaves passed me Twi'lek and Zeltron women being escorted to temporary quarters by a group of female militia, they looked exhausted and weary but alive.
One of them met my eyes and gave a small, shaky nod of thanks, I nodded back.
This was only the beginning of what we would do with everything we had taken.
The shuttle lifted off smoothly and through the viewport I watched the shipyard shrink as we headed toward the Gozanti. The two Acclamators and our haulers were already forming up, holds full of the highest-value cargo. The rest of the captured fleet and the bulk of the freed slaves remained behind under the watchful eyes of the 300-strong garrison.
I sat back in the seat and closed my eyes for a moment.
We were going home.
I then grin
And we were bringing a fuck ton of money with us.
***
The journey back to Elyria took 14 hours in hyperspace give or take.
I spent most of it on the bridge of the Gozanti, just watching through the viewport and chatting with the people there, Atii tried to drag me for some training but I said I have a meeting with Reza. The meeting being us playing star wars equivalent to chess, she looked annoyed but sat down and was watching us play with a pout.
She pouted even harder when I pointedly ignored her.
I know I will feel it later when she does drag me to the training yard but for now I will take this small win.
Once we got out of hyperspace the two Acclamators flew in tight escort formation, their massive hulls carrying the bulk of the high-value cargo while the converted haulers followed in staggered lines, holds packed with crates of physical credits, peggats, aurodium bars, rare ores, medical supplies, and the most valuable artifacts we had stripped from the pirate vaults. The rest of the fleet mainly skiffs, fighters and bombers were scattered throughout.
We brought back roughly 4,000 prisoners, with the the highest-ranking and most dangerous cuffed, sedated where necessary, and locked in reinforced cargo bays under constant guard.
I looked out the viewport and Elyria Prime along with the moon (Elyria 2) and a distant sillhouete of a gas giant (Elyria 3) filled the viewport like a promise.
The celebration had already begun before we even arrived.
Havenridge was lit up like a festival world with every street, every plaza, every rooftop glowed with lanterns, bonfires, and improvised lights. The starport was packed with people natives, Mandalorians, militia, freed slaves who had returned earlier, even some of the clone troopers who had come down from the Acclamators.
Banners hung from every building: Elyrian crimson and gold, Mandalorian iron sigils, stormtrooper black-and-white, and clan symbols. Music drifted up through the atmosphere native drums mixed with Mandalorian war chants and old Republic marching songs and imperial marching cadence.
As our shuttles and the first haulers began their descent, the roar of the crowd reached us even through the hull.
I stood on the bridge for a moment longer, watching the scene below, then I turned to Reza. "Begin unloading. Highest security on the credits and ores, prisoners to the secure holding facility outside the city. Medical teams to the freed slaves first."
He nodded. "Already in motion." I took a shuttle down with the palace guard, the moment the ramp dropped at the main starport pad, the noise hit me like a physical wave. Tens of thousands of people packed the landing field and the surrounding streets.
Native clans in their traditional robes cheered and waved clan banners while mandalorians civilians (civilians is a heavy word to describe a mandalorian since every mandalorian is a warrior) they raised their rifles in salute.
Some of the remaining stormtroopers stood in neat lines, but even they had small Elyrian ribbons tied to their armour. Even some of the freed slaves from earlier battle and raiding a few of the outposts closest to Elyria wept openly as they saw more of their people being helped off the haulers.
Atii was waiting at the bottom of the ramp, she wore her light armour, brown hair loose for once, and the grin on her face was the brightest I had seen in weeks."You did it," she said, voice barely audible before she proceeded to phe punched me lightly in the shoulder, which still nearly toppled me.
I can already feel the bruise coming. Fucking beskar and stupid mandalorian strength.
The crowd surged forward as I stepped onto the pad with the clan elders coming first, offering ritual cloths and small carvings behind them native children dressed in ceremonial and festive robes and clothing walked up with flowers and handmade gifts.
I raised both hands, now filled with flowers.
The noise dropped to a murmur. "Today we celebrate," I said, voice carrying across the field through the speakers. "Today we welcome the freed and today is the day we begin to build something that cannot be broken, the day where Elyria does not have to fear pirates. From this day forward, every year there shall be a day of festivities in the name of freedom and liberation!"
The roar that answered shook the ground and the celebration spread across the entire system.
In Havenridge the streets filled with dancing and music with bonfires burning in every plaza.
Free food and drink from the captured stores flowed freely while in Durak's Hold the mining crews came up from the shafts to join the parties, their faces still streaked with dust.
While the tribes lit signal fires that could be seen from orbit.
Even the new Mandalorian settlements on Elyria II held their own gatherings warriors sharing stories around fires while their families unpacked the last of their belongings.
I moved through it all shaking hands, accepting gifts, listening to stories and taking offered drinks from grizzled warriors and the old elders.
I also listened from the freed slaves who had arrived earlier. One Twi'lek woman told me how she had been taken from her home on Ryloth three years ago after a corrupt official rounded up her village and sold her to Skakoan and in transit they were attacked by pirates and captured, she was crying as she thanked me.
A group of children human, zeltron twi'lek and others ran up and hugged my legs. Yeah, I am building an oprhange near the palace after this.
Hours later, as the celebrations continued into the night, I finally returned to the palace with the core group. The prisoners were already moved to secure labor camps outside the city or Duraks Hold and began back breaking work The loot was being catalogued and put into reinforced vaults.
We had brought back a fortune, and the entire system was alive with joy for the first time since the battle.
I stood on the palace balcony for a moment, looking out at the twinkling lights of Havenridge with a small smile.
***
We gathered in the main briefing room of the palace two hours after the celebrations had spilled into the night. The long table was covered with half-empty caf mugs and scattered datapads, the holotable in the center projected a simple inventory summary of everything we had brought back.
The room smelled of sweat, caf, and the faint metallic tang of the reinforced officer uniform I was still wearing.
I sat at the head of the table while Jaster stood to my left, arms crossed and Atii leaned against the wall beside him, arms folded, brown hair still messy from the flight. Reza sat directly across from me, looking exhausted but focused. Torv took the seat to Reza's right and Elara sat quietly beside him, cloak pulled tight.
Sira and Thorn were next to her, Lira and Mira had their usual places near the holotable, fingers ready on their datapads.
Harlan hovered near the back wall, ever-present and silent looking down the datapad while the clone officers Ridge, Hawk, and Viper joined via holo from their ships, faces steady despite the long day.
Just then Rusty rolled slowly around the perimeter, dome lights dim and beeping incessently at me reminding me that I have to building him a new body.
"We have more wealth than we know what to do with," I said. "The question is what we buy with it and what we do with the rest of the loot."
Reza leaned forward first. "Our priorities are clear, planetary shields, we need at least two full top quality sets for Elyria Prime and one for Elyria II. Top-of-the-line equipment for the elite units, palace guard and the best militia companies. More fighters and bombers, planetary defence cannons for the major cities and an a proper beginnings of an orbital shipyard made not only for repairs but also building ships. We could also make due with droids some simple labor models in bulk. We can use them to run the shipyard and buy or re-wire them to fly the captured fleet while we train crews, they wont be the best but they will be able to fly."
Jaster nodded. "Mandalorians will need more housing and training grounds because with this victory we might invite more small clans, while the ones we have will no doubt adopt some of the orphaned slave children and rise them in the mandalorian culture. We can use some of the credits to build proper settlements on Elyria, weapons and armour upgrades for the new clans would also be welcome. More Kom'rks or Keldebe class ships would be a boon."
Atii added with a grin, "And better medical facilities, dont get me wrong the ones we have are decent but are kind of small an all the equipment that we have not stolen from the pirates or bought from the black suns is outdated or downright faulty, we need to rebuild hospitals one at a time and build a brand new one, at least a single one that is all modern equipment."
Elara spoke softly. "The natives want to expand the clan holdings, some of the loot can be used to buy farming equipment and livestock. The crystals and artefacts we kept can be studied or traded carefully, also since the prosperity and security of the planet has risen considerably there are already beginnings of an increase in babies born and pregnancies."
Sira looked at her datapad. "Prisoners. 4,000 of them, we put them to work heavy labour in the mines on Elyria II and waste management in the cities along with any other dangerous jobs that one wants clearing old battlefields, repairing damaged infrastructure, deep-cave mining. Chain them, guard them heavily, but keep them alive."
Torv grunted in agreement. "No easy life for them, not like I care for the fuckers, let them rebuild what they tried to destroy."
I nodded. "Agreed on the prisoners. They work, they eat and they live in chains. As for the battle details, we keep them hidden from the wider Empire for now, we don't deny what happened if someone asks and downplay the scale of battle and the loot if something, but we don't broadcast it either. Pellaeon's loyalty test is still hanging over me and he probably has eyes on us, along with others but they wont have the clearest of details. The less the Core knows about how rich we've become, the better."
Harlan spoke up from the back with a yawn. "Logistics on the loot, we store the bulk of it in secure vaults here with most of the ores going to Elyria II. Use the most valuable pieces for trade or bargaining, the rest we keep as reserves."
Ridge's holo image added, "The clones can now go back to training crews for the captured ships, but with the pirate ships we can now do hands on training and on different sizes and calibration ones."
I looked around the table. "Now? We go on a shopping spree." I say with glee. "However, we need to buy smart about the things we discussed. After that, we stockpile the rest and buy anything that might come in handy or invest in companies so they bring back dividents. As for Ores, metals, medical supplies we keep them for long-term growth."
Lira tapped her datapad. "I'll start drafting the shopping list, we can send agents to neutral systems or even criminal ones like Nar Shaddaa, Tatooine, corporate spaces like Kuat and the Hypes Consortium, even some places in the wild space. Trying to go under the radar of the empire and since they are either not in the empire or nominally part of it the prices should be fair and not skewed like they tend to be in heavily imperial occupied commercial sectors. Also we should get in contact with the Black Sun for the more… discreet purchases, since we already have a positive relationship with them and are nearby."
I nodded. "Exactly.
"The room filled with quiet conversation as people began pulling up their own lists and priorities.
***
The meeting ended with quiet determination with everyone filling out to do their assigned tasks.
I stayed behind in the briefing room for only a minute longer, staring at the glowing inventory list on the holotable, then I moved to my private office. Lira and Mira were already waiting, datapads ready while Atii had slipped in behind , leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, brown hair still slightly messy from the flight, Harlan stood quietly near the door while Rusty rolled in behind me, dome lights flickering as he linked into the secure comm array.
I sat down at the desk and activated the main holoprojector.
"Let's start spending," I said with a wide grin.
Lira nodded and opened the first channel. "Bulk droids first, simple labour models, we're ordering through three neutral brokers one on Nar Shaddaa, one in corporate contact at Kuat. Five hundred thousand units total: Basic astromechs of various models primarily R3 and C1 models, maintenance droids like protocol and The MN-2E general maintenance droid, T3-series utility droid, cargo handlers, and general labour units like BLX or ASP-7. Delivery is predicted to be in batches over the next three months."
Mira added, "We're also sending agents to Tatooine and a Hutt cartel contact on Nal Hutta for another two hundred thousand specialized mining and construction droids, and an additional eighty thousand piloting droids mainly reconfigured B1s and fourty thousand security droids mainly N5s, they'll arrive via encrypted transports within the end of the month."
I watched the orders populate on the display. Credits flowed out in waves tens of thousands to a million disappearing into anonymous accounts. The numbers were dizzying.
I felt a rush of excitement mixed with disbelief, a month ago we had been scraping by on skimmed taxes and whatever loot we sold from previous skirmishes, now we were buying small droid armies.
"Planetary shields next," I said. "Two full sets for Elyria Prime, one for Elyria II. Top-of-the-line models from Naboo I dont know if we should get encasing shields or shuttering ones but I think we will go with the encasing ones, include redundant generators and backup power cores from the planet in wild space, they have some top quality stolen ones from Corelia apparently."
Lira's fingers flew across her pad. "Confirmed. Delivery in four weeks."
Atii pushed off the wall. "Defence cannons, At least forty batteries for the major cities and the shipyard. We're sourcing the heavy ones from Kuat contacts and the lighter, more mobile versions from a syndicate dealer on Nar Shaddaa. They'll be delivered disassembled and assembled on-site, predominantely v-150s Ion cannon and W-165."
I nodded. "Elite gear for the palace guard and top militia units, top-of-the-line armour, weapons, and personal shields. Same sources. Make sure the Mandalorians get priority on beskar upgrades where possible. The soldiers sure will be happy to fire some DLT-19s or M-45s and get some IB-94 for sidearms."
Mira confirmed the orders. "Agents are already en route, they'll use separate identities and encrypted accounts."I leaned back, watching the credits drain and the assets pile up on the display.
More fighters and bombers, another 40 headhunters, 70 V-19s and even 10 N-1 starfighters. As for bombers it is around 25 Y-wings, 40 BTL-A4 Y- and 5 NB-1 bombers that are purchased as a pack with the N-1s all of them are from black-market sources in the Unknown Regions and outer rim.
The scale at which I am spending credits is staggering, and I still have more along with even more outposts and vaults to raid.
I felt a rush of pure excitement sharp and totally giddy.
Feels like winning 12 games of ranked in rainbow six siege.
Months ago we had been fighting for survival with patched ships and barely trained militia and natives who were sceptical at best and hostile at worse.
Now? We were building a fucking fortress.
Though I do still have some paranoia with the ISB no doubt will be paying me closer attention after this, probably someone in the upper echelons of power will try to finish the job or poach me from Pellaeon, and thats that as well. Pellaeon's loyalty test, he sure will be ectatic.
Also heard that Thrawn is still in the unkown regions so he will probably get back to me once he is back to civilization. Wonder what's he doing there, setting some bases for good ol' palps? Perhaps visiting Chiss?
Maybe unlike the comics and storybooks he got himself a girlfriend?
"Keep the orders rolling," I said. "Buy everything we discussed, and keep on buying. We have the credits to burn."
Lira and Mira worked in silence for the next hour, confirming shipments, rerouting agents, negotiating delivery windows.
Atii stayed, occasionally offering suggestions on weapon specs and fighter configurations while Harlan handled the paperwork trails, making sure nothing could be traced back too cleanly.
***
The next day I sat alone in my private office, the door locked and the lights dimmed to a soft amber glow, the excitement from yesterdays meeting still buzzed in my veins, but it was tempered by the cold, familiar edge of caution.
Every credit we spent was another step toward better security and better quality of life, so that I can provide myself and all those under me a good and even luxerious life.
I needed more.
Specifically, I needed droids that could fight since I cannot just magically poof decent fighters out of thin air and paying for mercenary armies would not be conductive to the security and peace of the system.
The Black Sun contacts were the logical next step, they had been trading with the confederation for years and us for almost a year in their 'catalogue' they listed that they even have a Lucrehulk. If anyone still had Separatist-era battle droids in storage, it would be them.
I activated the secure holo channel and entered the encrypted frequency the connection took only a few seconds.T
wo Falleens appeared in the projection Thalornator Xixrzan and Lyrin Kasandor. Both wore their usual tailored dark coats, their pale-green skin catching the light with that faint iridescent shimmer. Their vertical-slit pupils fixed on me with the same calculating calm.
"Governor Voss," Thalornator Xixrzan said smoothly. "We did not expect to hear from you so soon after our last arrangement what can the Black Sun do for Elyria and its people today?"
I kept my tone even, professional. "I'm looking for droids, confederate-era models you may still have in inventory. Vulture droids, B1 battle droids, B2s. Along with any tactical droids and super tactical droids if you have any commandos as well I am to purchase a rather large quantity."
Lyrin Kasandor tilted her head slightly, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth."You're building an army, Governor. How ambitious."
Thalornator Xixrzan leaned forward slightly." We as a whole syndicate do have a significant stockpile of those models, leftover from the Clone Wars and subsequent trades with some separatist holdouts as well as just scavanging old battlefields. Thousands of vultures, millions of B1s and B2s. A few hundred tactical and super tactical units even thousands of small number of commando droids. All in various states of repair, but most are functional."
I nodded. "I'll take a few hundred thousand."
Lyrin Kasandor's smile widened. "There is also something else, a Lucrehulk-class battleship one of the original Trade Federation models. Fully intact, it has been in storage for few years now with no buyers. Would you be interested in the entire vessel?"
I felt a jolt of surprise, quickly masked as I knew I could not afford it even with all my newfound wealth.
A Lucrehulk, one of the massive ball-shaped battleships that had defined the Separatist navy. The scale was enormous, carrier, troop transport, command ship all in one along with bristling guns decent engines and shielding.
But the cost…"I don't have enough credits for something of that size," I said honestly.
"Thalornator Xixrzan exchanged a quick glance with Lyrin Kasandor." We can negotiate," he said smoothly. "The droids alone would be a substantial order. The Lucrehulk along with its untouched cargo, droids, data and everything else in is… that is a different conversation. One we are willing to have with one of our good trade partner, shall we discuss terms?"
I leaned back in my chair, heart beating faster, the conversation had just become much more interesting.
over 390-400+ quad turbolasers, hundreds of assault laser cannons (~472-520), and over 150-185 point-defense laser cannons, often supplemented by numerous tractor beam projectors
"Very well, since you agreed to negotiate about the price of lucrehulk I wont make any other orders since it will have more then enough of what I need inside." I say.
Thalornator Xixrzan gave a slow, elegant nod. "Understood, Governor. The Lucrehulk-class battleship. One of the original Trade Federation models, over 390-400+ quad turbolasers, hundreds of assault laser cannons (~472-520), and over 150-185 point-defense laser cannons, supplemented by numerous tractor beam projectors, it is fully intact and operational though it has run out of power. It carries 1,500 Vulture droids in its internal hangars. 50 C-9979 landing craft. Roughly 329,600 B1 and B2 battle droids in storage and ready racks. It was also configured to transport over 550 Multi-Troop Transports and 6,000 Armored Assault Tanks, along with a complement of tactical and super tactical droids. The cargo bays are still loaded with additional supplies and a significant amount of Separatist-era data cores."
Lyrin Kasandor smiled faintly. "It is a mobile fortress with a complete army in one hull along with some cargo and good data that could be useful to you. And it has been in our possession since the end of the Clone Wars, the syndicate itself has no need of the information or the ship or its cargo itself that is why it has been sitting in a secured and friendly space near "
I felt the weight of those numbers settle in my chest, this wasn't just a ship. It was a ready-made invasion force in a battleship that also has stores of data and some resources.
I kept my voice steady."I want it. "Thalornator Xixrzan's smile widened just enough to show the edges of his teeth. "As you said that you do not have the required credits what do you propose in exchange?"
I sit for a bit before answering them calmly "We have approximately 2.3 million peggats. That converts to roughly 92 million credits at current rates."
Then it was Lyrin Kasandor that continued. "Since you are asking for such a large haul and some of our contacts have noticed few transactions with the end destination being Elyria, meaning you either already fought the pirates or are about to, so we will also take a few of the biggest captured haulers that you have, around 5 should suffice. The ones with the strongest engines and largest cargo capacity."
"Agreed."
She tilted her head. "Additionally, we want all the spice and drugs currently in your possession. Every crate, we will also take a selection of the rare ores and a large stash of weapons you will no doubt come into posession, last projected numbers came to around 60 million worth of drugs and spice and some estimates place around 75 thousand blasters or more they have in storage, we propose to buy at least 40 thousand, nothing that would weaken your defences, of course. Just enough to make the trade worthwhile."
I nodded once."Acceptable."
Thalornator Xixrzan leaned back slightly."And finally, an agreement, we have quite a lot of legitimate businesses, so I propose that our legitimate trade businesses will be allowed to dock and operate in your sector with reduced tax rates and repair and refueling for the next 5 years. Nothing illegal. Simply… preferrential status. With hope for further deals between us."
I met his gaze directly."Five yearsreduced rates on legitimate goods only, no slaves, no spice through my ports under that agreement. Everything else is negotiable."
Both Falleens exchanged a quick glance, Lyrin Kasandor smiled. "We have a deal, Governor." The holo flickered as the contract terms populated on my side of the screen. I reviewed them once, then pressed my thumb to the biometric scanner.
The agreement locked in.
Thalornator Xixrzan inclined his head. "The Lucrehulk will be delivered within the month. Along with its full complement of droids, landing craft, transports, tanks, and data cores. We look forward to a long and profitable relationship."
The connection cut.
I sat back in my chair and let out a long, slow breath.
I have no regrets what so ever, I even think this was a preferential deal on my side.
I stood up slowly, walked to the viewport, and looked out at the lights of my Havenridge below.
***
One month had passed since the Lucrehulk negotiation.
I stood on the upper balcony of the palace, the evening wind carrying the faint scent of the plains and the distant hum of construction. Havenridge stretched out below me, lights glowing in every district.
The starport was busier than ever, with new landing pads already under construction and with plans for more the city felt alive in a way it hadn't before.
The payments to the Black Suns had gone through without incident, every peggat, every crate of spice and drugs, every selected ore and weapon we had agreed to hand over. The haulers had been transferred and the five-year reduced tax agreement for their legitimate businesses was signed and active with details of what they can and cant carry.
In return, the Lucrehulk and its full complement of droids will be delivered soon exactly as promised. The scale of what we had gained still stunned me every time.
Hundreds of thousands of droids now filled our yards and storage facilities, the majority were simple labour models maintenance, cargo handling, mining, and construction units but a significant portion were capable of being rewritten for combat roles or combat-ready: thousands of B1 and B2 battle droids, hundreds of vulture droids, tactical droids but sadly no super tactical units or commando droids.
They were being integrated slowly, programmed with new loyalty protocols and assigned to guard the shipyard, patrol the outer system, and support planetary defence.
Planetary shields were now active over both Elyria Prime and Elyria II full redundant systems with backup generators, forty plus planetary defence cannon batteries had been installed around the major cities and the shipyard, their massive barrels pointing skyward like silent guardians.
Elite units like the palace guard and the top militia companies now wore upgraded armour and carried top-of-the-line weapons and personal shields while stormtroopers carried better weapons. The difference in their appearance and confidence was noticeable every time they passed me in the corridors.
The other trades we had made through neutral agents had also borne fruit.
Kuat and the Hypes Consortium had delivered additional fighter and bomber squadrons. Nar Shaddaa and Tatooine contacts had supplied more obscure but effective ships and equipment. The Unknown Regions brokers had sent bulk shipments of rare components and advanced sensors.
In the weeks that followed, the cleanup of the remaining confederation outposts, group vaults, and personal hidden bases proceeded with methodical precision the scattered remnants yielded far less than the shipyard but still added meaningfully to our growing strength.
Across 12 outposts and 7 group vaults we secured roughly 500 or less prisoners mostly low-ranking enforcers and technicians who had been left behind to guard the sites.
We also recovered 75 elite security droids of various makes, there were hundreds more but in the ensuing battle they were either destroyed completely or unable to be repaired while some needed light repairs and a handful where at the charging station: 28 Arakyd Viper probe droids repurposed for perimeter defence, 19 Cybot Galactica 3PO protocol units modified for guard duty, 14 Industrial Automaton R2 units with combat upgrades, and 14 Baktoid Combat Automata droidekas that had somehow survived the purges.
They also gave us around 45 small ships mostly private yachts, modified light freighters, and a handful of ARCs and Skipray blastboats, along with 3 small frigates and 2 corvettes that had been used for personal escape routes.
The loot was modest in scale but useful: small stockpiles of weapons and armour, limited food and medicine rations, and very small amounts of bacta and precious metals. We freed around 700 slaves from the various sites, many of them in poor condition but alive. What stood out most were the personal collections hundreds of artefacts, rare artworks, luxury items, ancient coins, and private libraries along with several million credits and other currencies scattered across encrypted accounts and physical vaults.
Nothing on the scale of the shipyard, but enough to further bolster our reserves and give us leverage in future negotiations.
Elyria was transforming and I had spent the past month overseeing it all approving deployments, watching the droids come online in waves, walking the new defence grids, meeting with the freed slaves who were slowly integrating into society. The prisoners were already working in the mines and waste facilities, chained and guarded but contributing to the rebuilding.
"Governor," Reza's voice came through. "The Lucrehulk has arrived with its escort. A small Black Sun flotilla mix of escort frigates and trade ships. They are requesting docking clearance for their first legitimate business run in our sector."
I felt a small surge of anticipation."Grant it. I'll meet them at the starport. Have the others join me and get me an armed escort as well."
"Understood."I turned away from the balcony and headed inside.
The Lucrehulk was here and with it, the next phase of what we were building.
***
The Lucrehulk hung in low orbit above Elyria Prime like a small moon made of durasteel and menace. Its massive ball-shaped hull filled the viewport of the shuttle as we approached, the Black Sun escort ships a mix of sleek escort frigates and heavily laden trade vessels have moved towards the port of Elyria.
The Lucrehulk's surface was scarred from decades of storage, old scars of war and minimal maintenance, but the hull integrity was intact. No visible battle damage, just the somewhat eerie quiet, patient waiting of a war machine that had outlived its original purpose.
I sat in the lead seat of the shuttle as Rusty rolled back and forth in the aisle, dome lights flashing impatiently. He started beeping. Again about the same thing he has done for a while now
"Captain," Rusty beeped for the third time in as many minutes, "new body? Please? I beg you my creator I tire of being a rolling trash can." I glanced down at him. "When we're done here, Rusty. I promise." I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose as he let out a low, sulky whistle.
The shuttle docked smoothly at one of the Lucrehulk's secondary landing bays. The ramp dropped with a hiss as the armed guards fanned out first around us only then did we steppe out into the cavernous hangar.
The scale hit me immediately seeing rows upon rows of droids folded up along or in silent formations thousands of them.
B1 folded down in front ranks or side of the walls, B2 super battle droids clustered in heavier groups, vulture droids hanging from overhead cradles like sleeping bats. C-9979 landing craft lined the far walls, their massive ramps sealed. MTTs and AATs filled entire bays with Multi-Troop Transports and Armored Assault Tanks in perfect lines, their repulsor lifts dusty from years of disuse.
Cargo containers were stacked to the ceiling: spare parts, weapons crates, and sealed data vaults, as expected no supplies for biologicals. There is also no fuel, except the ones the black sun pumped in to move the ship here.
There were many more such as heavy construction equipment on repulsor sleds, construction droids, repair cranes that sat dormant under tarps.
Jaster let out a low whistle while Atii's eyes were wide.
Ridge stepped forward, scanning the ranks. "Separatist stockpile, intact." He then mutters "fucking clankers" as we move past a group of B2s.
Woah, watch the hard R. We got a chill and friendly clanka with us, though Rusty does not seem to care to be honest.
We moved deeper into the ship, the armed escort of 20 palace guards fanning out around us in a loose protective diamond, the corridors were wide and echoing, designed for droid armies and cargo sleds.
Every few meters we passed more racks of and few tactical droids standing in silent rows, there was also a room that had its wall blown up or teared out that had a squad of commando droids. Fucking jackpot.
The air was cool and metallic, the faint hum of dormant power systems that only recently have been brought to life they were vibrating throughout the deck plates.
We finally reached the central command elevator, it was massive built to carry entire command staffs and droid platoons.
The doors opened without resistance and we stepped inside, the ride up was quiet except for Rusty's occasional incessant beeps of "New body?" he asked again, dome swiveling toward me.
Another sigh came out of me "Later, Rusty."
He in turn let out a long, dramatic sigh-whistle.
The elevator doors opened onto the main command bridge.
The space was absolutely enormous multi-level, with tiered consoles and a central holotable that could display an entire sector. The main viewport showed Elyria Prime turning slowly below us, and at the far end of the raised command platform, sitting on a command chair, was a super tactical droid.
It was powered down, arms at its sides, red photoreceptors dark, body plated in matte gray with faded Separatist markings. It looked almost regal in its stillness, I walked forward slowly.
The others followed, Lira and Mira moved to the central console first. Rusty rolled up beside them, already linking into the nearest data port."Powering up the main console," Lira said. Her fingers danced across the controls.
The bridge lights flickered on soft blue emergency glow shifting to full illumination. Consoles hummed to life and the super tactical droid's photoreceptors blinked once, twice, three times then stayed dark as the system ran diagnostics.
Mira accessed the data core. "Downloading now," she said. "It's encrypted, but the Black Suns left the keys in the handover packet. We're in."
Rusty's dome lights flashed rapidly. "New body?" he asked hopefully.
I look down at him and chuckle despite myself. "After we see what's in there, Rusty." I pat his little head, a few ideas for the body already coming to mind.
Meanwhile, the data core began to populate the central holotable nnd the bridge went very quiet as the first lines of text appeared.
***
The main screen flickered to life.
Lines of Separatist code scrolled upward in pale green text old, angular and unmistakable. Mira cross-referenced the data packets while Rusty interfaced directly with the core, beeping excitedly as he pulled streams of information.
The holotable bloomed with a galactic map.
Red markers appeared — hundreds, then thousands then hundreds of thousands of them.
Scattered across the galaxy in what were the borders of the CIS, curiously though there were some in the Outer Rim, Wild Space, and even deep into the Unknown Regions. Separatist droid bases, hidden depots and maybe droid foundries or something similar.
Some were stated to be massive complexes, others tiny outposts buried in asteroid fields or on forgotten moons. Coordinates, access codes, transponder frequencies, everything.
Lira's golden-yellow eyes narrowed. "These are all the Separatist automated bases, even the black sites. The Lucrehulk had the master list, though it is incomplete, it seemed as if it was mid purge before stopping."
Mira started tapping markers and they kept on showing as grey. "Transponders offline," she said quietly. "Every single one, raided abandoned or shut down. The Empire must have swept through after the war or others did."
I stared at the map.
Entire networks of droid factories, storage depots, repair yards and fortified war worlds. All dark now.
All looted or destroyed.
But something else caught my attention, I pointed to the Lucrehulk's own status log, running along the bottom of the display."Timeline," I said.
Lira scrolled it up, the ship's activity log was continuous. Last major Separatist command input: 19 BBY, end of the Clone Wars the shut down order. Then… nothing official. But the Lucrehulk had remained active.
Power draw records, minor system checks with the occasional course corrections and subtle maintenance cycles.
The log continued.
Past 19 BBY,15, 13.
All the way to 12 BBY.
7 AFE in imperial calendar.
So it was active 2 years ago.
The bridge went quiet, Ridge's voice came calm but edged with surprise. "This vessel was never fully decommissioned. It was kept running, someone was using it." Lira traced the activity spikes."No major crew logs after the war, no command overrides from the Empire. Just… automated systems."
I stared at the super tactical droid, its photoreceptors were still dark, I stepped forward. "Power it up fully."Lira hesitated for half a second, then nodded.
Mira and Rusty moved to the command console beside it. Rusty linked in with a soft beep, Lira entered the activation sequence while the guards and others raised their weapons towards him slightly.
The super tactical droid's photoreceptors flickered once.
Then glowed a steady, cold red.
Its head turned slowly, scanning the bridge.
It looked around, and stared at me.