Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[Freefaller]

Chp-43: Minda Hawk Down

Kel Loyu
RV: Champion
Certifications: Tracker I, Demolition IV, Adviser III
Edin System, Highreach

All it took was one last shot.

A blue ring fired out of her pistol, stunning the trandoshan, forcing him to the ground.

From there, it was easy to toss him in a containment cell. From there, she surveyed the battlefield. It was a small smuggling cave that had been home to a pirate band. She and her family had picked out the bounty for them.

Around her lay the corpses of many, many pirates. Some simply shot, others brutalized by Kay's latest maniacal melee weapon.

This one used sparkles. There was no reason why.

"Kay" she called over the comms. "Target has been secured. You done over there?"

The sound of harsh clanks, the breaking of bones, and many screams echoed over the comms before her sister answered.

"Yup! All finished!"

Kel muted her comms before sighing. She truly loved her sister, but the bloodlust was always unnerving.

Dragging the target out of the cave, she swept her gaze across the horizon. Wide, flat plains stretched into infinity, broken up by large plateaus dotting the landscape.

Turning back to the ship, she brought the containment unit onboard. After securing it, she made her way to the cockpit.

In the pilots seat sat Kai, fiddling with sensors and the like. Connected to his chair was an extending arm, holding up a PDA like screen. It was an easily configurable ship interface, and had been the first upgrade Kai had begged for once they reached RIII, and even now he was glued to it, fingers dancing across the screen.

"Still in love with that, ey?" she ribbed, plopping down in the co-pilot seat.

He didn't deign to look at her as he responded. "It lets me tune the entire ship from my seat. If the Force is real, then it's blessed me today."

She snorted. "I'm not sure that's how the Force works."

He shrugged. "Doesn't matter, still cool."

"Just…don't get used to upgrades like these all the time. It took 3 weeks for the crew at Forged in Orbit to rewire the ship so you could do this. You're lucky the Governor likes us, or we wouldn't have the credits to pull this off."

Just as he was about to respond, something started beeping on his console.

"Kriff… its a distress call. 1.2k from here." He looked up at her, the question in his eyes clear.

"Play it." She said, a message already sent to Kay to return to the ship.

…this is the Mindan Str…e are going d…wn, I repeat, thi… the Mi… tream and w… are under atta…

Kai was looking intently at his monitor, before he nearly gasped. "The IFF signature reads as…the Mindan Stream!"

Kel cursed under her breath, already buckling in and comming Kay.

The Mindan Stream is the Governors ship. She wouldn't let their biggest employer die.

Not until they were rich, or dead.
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Today wasn't going super well.

And I mean sure, the deals with both CEC and Rendili StarDrive had gone well. CEC would get a few berths to pump out their much beloved gunships light freighters for the many mercenaries and entrepreneurs the Guild employed.

Rendili, on the other hand, got a few of the larger berths. See, business had been booming, especially in Minda, and some companies were getting big enough to expand out of the Guilds systems. And sure, they could go out and buy larger ships, pay the extra fee's and get them shipped all the way out here.

Or…they could join the Guild. Mercenary, Trading and Mining Companies of a high enough rank could order ships from the shipyards, with a discount! Not only that, but there would be a reduction in tariffs for the goods they shipped with any freighters bought in Guild territory for a whole year! Sure, it wasn't a massive reduction, but any good capitalist knows that the little things add up.

And of course, Rendili was the only company building any ships large enough for the companies to consider using for out-of-system trade and convoy protection in Guild territory.

Overall, it was a good deal. Certainly more attention grabbing than I would've liked, but at this point I have just around 2 weeks before 0BBY, so any extra bits and bobs that made me look more accomplished would be for the best.

So why isn't my day going well?

"GOVERNOR! GET DOWN!"

That. That's why my day is going badly.

I duck down behind the cockpit of the Mindan Stream, as one of my bodyguards throws a grenade over the ship. Through the glass, I can vaguely make out the shapes of the veritable swarm of Wretches that had attacked me mid-flight.

Somewhere in that swarm was the creature that shot us down. You'd think it was some AA gun, but nope. The stupidly large spear of what looked to be bone of some kind that was sticking out of my ships left wing didn't seem like the work of a turret.

With me were the 6 bodyguards that were on the ship with me, along with Oioro and both the pilot and co-pilot. It was a small crew, but we were just flying over to the newly redesigned city of Goltri to officially open their first secondary school. Not a big deal to most, but it was the first place of education higher than elementary school there so it mattered to them, and it would make me look good on the holos.

Again my guards raised up and took aim, slinging bolts of green death down range at the advancing horde. Only generous amounts of grenades, and the two heavy security LECA's that were obligated to follow me everywhere kept the creatures from turning us into unflattering pulps of flesh.

Honestly, it's a miracle that those thing both fit in the limited storage aboard the ship and survived the crash.

DangerFightUp!!!!

I don't question Mugwuffin's magical assistance, I just turn in the vaguely upwards direction I can feel through our connection, my pistol raised.

Just as I do, a Wretch launches themselves with such force that their legs shatter under the strain of their enhanced muscles. Flinging themselves over the ship and right at me.

My blaster roars, and only my clear vision of the creature combined with the fact that it was literally falling at me ensured I hit all my shots. Six heavy looking bolts of green plasma slam into the creature, turning its face into mush.

I roll to the side as its corpse splatters on the ground. Only the fact that the Commander insist that I and my forces use higher quality blaster gas combined with my upgraded and expensive pistol allowed me to 6 shot a Wretch. It would take a dozen regular bolts to kill one of these on a good day.

As this happens, an earth-shaking roar is heard, and through the horde comes a beast of a Wretch. Standing at twice the height, it seems to be four or so people stitched into one creature. Still bipedal, and standing at about the height of the LECA's, its many eyes stare in pained hatred and its mouths scream in wrathful agony.

The LECA's immediately focus fire on it, their shoulder mounted projectile launchers covering it in fire and death.

It keeps barreling through.

Just as it's about to reach the ship, an explosion rings out, and I instinctively duck down.

When I look up again, I see heavy laser fire saturating the area from a nearby ship. A ship I recognize. It fires off a bevy of what are normally anti-ship torpedoes, turning the entire horde into dust. A few go flying off in the distance, impacting what I assume to be whatever shot us down.

As the ship lands, I see the helmeted heads of the Loyu family walking out.

They are getting a fat fucking paycheck, of that I'm certain. And permanent jobs. Hopefully.

If you find talent, you never let go, right?
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Hi there folks! Sorry that this took longer than I wanted. These chapters are really fighting me. Cause I want to finish the arc before putting the story on hiatus, but I also want to just throw myself into writing that other fic. I have spent far too much time messing around with like 7 different magic systems.

Also, I spent like 5 hours playing DnD with some friends I don't see in-person very often. My character was a Cleric who was a scavenger that picked up a divine artifact from a forgotten goddess of life/healing, and now said goddess is forcing him to become her acolyte and spread her good word. Only problem? She has been weakened so much, she can only communicate through emotions. Like Mugwuffin. Except my character and her don't get along, so the prayer for casting Cure Wounds is more like "Bitch please heal me so your faith doesn't die" and shit like that. Really fun.

Anyways, feedback and comments appreciated.

Thanks for reading!
-Freefaller

 

[Freefaller]

Chp-44: A Million Souls

Sitting in my office, my foot tapping against the floor, I was…nervous. Really nervous. We were close to a week into 0BBY. Otherwise known as 7977 in the Coruscant Reckoning Calendar.

And things were going…well? Suspiciously so. Sure, I got shot down and almost killed, but Grant and the Inquisitor were at that moment attacking the Cult. For all the power of the Wretches, I very much doubted that they could survive the combined bloodlust of those two maniacs.

Aside from that, things were looking well. A new Imperial Mining Company was brought together to start mining the other planets in the Edin system, and I approved some more scouting of Minda 2 to see if that green deathtrap had anything worthwhile.

Hell, I had even hired the Loyu Family as full time employees! They got jobs as teachers at the Guild, and were paid extra to take on high-priority bounties and missions that I didn't trust other mercs to carry out.

No, the thing that was bothering me was the fact that my mother had yet to arrive. She said 2 years, and given what I knew about her from the og Las's memories, she was not one for being late.

But she wasn't here yet.

Maybe she was on the Death Star? But I had no guarantee, since I don't know when in 0BBY the DS1 goes boom. Mugwuffin hasn't woken up screaming, so I'm pretty sure Alderaan is still in one piece.

It was annoying. There were three empty mugs of hot chocolate on my desk, and only Oioro's judgemental look stopped me from pouring another one.

I sighed. My mission here was almost finished. If I succeed? Well then, mother dearest will clap a little, call me a success, and then I can tell her I want to stay and make it better. It'll sound convincing.

After that? I fake my death. I can grab a few bombs, and last I heard thermal detonators make quick work of any remains if they're close enough.

From there I can jump in my ship and head off into the world. With some better bacta to fix my scars, a fake mustache and an accent change back to good old 'Merican, I could hide reasonably well.

Wait a year or two, then use my hidden funds to start a small shipping company, get even more money(but not too much), and retire well. I'll be comfortable, happy, and not bored because of the company I would be running. Plus Mugwuffin would be there.

Maybe I could even settle down, get married. The whole nine yards.

But first, I had to convince my mummy dearest not to kill me.

I sighed again, which considering how much I was doing that, there was no way it was healthy.

Hopefully Grant's little murder spree was going well.
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Seventh Brother
Edin System, Highreach

As he commanded his LECA to swing its blade, he felt elated. The ease with which he cut through the hordes of Wretches was practically euphoric.

As one of the recently named Grave Titan's swung a meaty arm made of arms, he simply jumped back, the wings of his newly named Dread Unit flaring, the repulsorlifts flinging him upwards.

The blaster on his arm roared as he landed, peppering the creature and weakening a limb.

It swung again, its many mouths screaming in agony. He could feel the rage, the anger, the pain of each of those trapped in it. Their minds and bodies twisted to this extent.

Regardless, his hands twitched around the controls, the LECA dodging the swing easily. His sword flashed upwards, and the arm fell to the ground, writhing. As the creature wailed once more, he swung once more, the oversized vibro-blade cutting through the flesh with ease.

The Force screamed at him in a different tone than usual, and he instinctively dodged as another of the creatures attacked from behind.

Before he could retaliate, a barrage of green laser fire turned the creature into ash. Turning, he saw the Commanders much larger, bulkier Imperial Shield. It lumbered forward, its many weapons annihilating the creatures in droves.

They were at one of the cults larger hideouts, clearing it out with less backup to allow more forces to be directed against the other hideouts. This combined with a near constant amount of orbital bombardment kept the cultists stuck inside their hidey-holes.

With the Edin System's Vindicator in orbit, throwing the occasional turbo laser shot in the known locations of cult bases, they weren't leaving anytime soon.

Looking around the large cave, Seventh could sense life no longer.

"That seems to be all, Commander. Let us proceed."

She gave her affirmative, and the two made their way to the transport.

Mere minutes later, they arrived at the main base. Already, their forces were entrenched in the canyon, flinging copious amounts of fire down at the wretches. There were large craters where the Vindicator had provided covering fire, but the canyons weren't stable enough to sustain such a thing, and if the entrance to the cave system collapsed it would delay their efforts and allow the enemy to potentially escape.

Still, as the transport dropped them off, a trio of LA-AG's swooped by, their wing mounted beam weapons cleaving through the hordes.

As more fire rained down, Seventh made a choice.

Gathering up the remaining LECA's, he ordered a full frontal assault on the compound. They would cut their way through the cave system.

He could hear the Commander's laughter through the comms and she obliterated the creatures, and he couldn't help but agree.

As the Dark Side flowed through him, enhancing every swing, pushing the servos to the max, guiding his movements, he never felt more free.

Cutting through the myriad of forces, little was left behind. As they advanced deeper into the caverns, the Dark Side only grew stronger.

And stranger.

The Force felt…odd, here. Like it was chained. Not unlike how he visualized it within himself, but here it was more…real.

As they entered the center room, it opened up before them. A massive cavern, easily four times taller than the Commanders , and very open. In the center was a raised podium, upon which stood a robed figure.

Immediately, the soldiers opened fire, only for their blaster bolts to ping harmlessly on a shield.

A shield of the Force.

In front of the figure was a dagger that reeked of the Dark Side, of an ancient power that raised every hair on Seventh's arms. It was shattered, the dagger, but its metal fragments were arranged in its original shape. It floated above what seemed to be a large stone box of sorts.

Around the podium were other robed figures, cloaked like the central one.

It spoke.

"Hello, pitiful creatures." it's voice rasping and cruel.

He activated his loudspeaker. "What manner of creature are you?"

It laughed, a rasping, dry sound. "I…I am one of the chosen!" it exclaims, throwing off its hood.

Beneath is what once might have been a recognizable sentient creature, but is now a twisted mound of flesh. Many eye's sprout out of its face, its cracked lips and jagged teeth twisted into a smile.

"Chosen…by the will of our Eternal Master to raise a grand army, and await His return!"

It turned towards the knife once more, the Force practically screaming. In agony, in ecstasy, in a million things. He shut it out, and ordered a full frontal barrage on the enemy.

It was too late.

The creature slammed the knife into the box, cracking the stone. Simultaneously, the bowed supplicants around it started to bleed, from every orifice.

The creature retracted the knife, and watched the box. From it rose…

Power

A humanoid figure, clad in pitch black armor, chains of ethereal energy linking it to the knife. It twitched, the anger, rage and fear evident through the Force. Whoever this was, they were trapped.

Unfortunately for them, Seventh didn't really care all that much.

Already his blaster was raised, a stream of death flying towards the figure. Their head jerked towards it, and up went their hand. The bolts diverted course slightly, just barely missing the figure as they kicked off of the podium with incredible force.

Seventh knew he couldn't win head on. Thankfully, he had the Dread Unit.

Engine roaring, he zipped around the air, dodging the figures' wild swings. Eventually, they grew tired of the chase, and with a pained roar, swung their saber sharpley. The Force itself seemed to coalesce, becoming an invisible blade. He just barely dodged, his senses screaming at him to movemovemovemove!

Behind him, the swing impacted the cavern wall, creating a multiple foot deep gash in the stone.

This game of deadly cat and mouse continued while the Commander poured her power into trying to take down the energy shield created by the cults leader.

"Commander! I can't hold this one back much longer!"

"The shield won't fall!" she yelled back, before noticing something. As the figure slashed the cavern's walls, the floor trembled, and the cult leader with it.

Her eyes widening, she commed the inquisitor again.

"Get that thing to slash the shield!" she yelled, aiming some of the smaller blasters towards the figure and firing. Predictably, the figure dodged with ease, deflecting the rest, but it gave the Inquisitor enough time to move into position.

Dodging and weaving, he traded blows with the figure, and yet was unable to hold out for long. While the Dread Unit's vibro-blade was powerful, its material was not dense or strong enough to resist lightsabers for long. And even then, the figure was stronger than the LECA itself.

It terrified him.

Another dodge, but a second too slow, and his sword was shorn in two. Cursing he dropped the handle and reoriented, firing an inciendiary fromt he projectile launcher. As he did, he fired his blaster. The figure dodged the projectile, and deflected the blasters, but failed to realize his plan.

The bolts landed, detonating the incendiary behind the figure, pushing them forwards towards him. It was the perfect opening for them, and they used it, bring down their saber. Again, the Force screamed at him, and he listened.

Putting every ounce of power the Dread Unit had towards the flight systems, he dodged in the last second, rocketing to the right as the saber came down.

The sheer force of the attack ripped the Dread Unit's left arm off without even touching it, as the attack careened towards the shield.

Then, it impacted.

The force was immense, the two powers raging at each other. An unstoppable force versus an immovable object.

However, the ground below the shield was not so immovable. It shattered, breaking the podium and unbalancing the cult leader. It dropped the dagger, shattering into pieces on contact with the floor.

As soon as that happened, the shield fell, and the Commander turned the creature into paste.

All the while, the figure which had almost killed him, which had near effortlessly outdone him, fell to the ground unconscious.

Dread Unit slammed into the other side of the cavern, repulsorlifts barely keeping it from being flattened.

Seventh just…sat there. Breathing. Being alive. For a few seconds there was nothing. No Force. No obligations. No imminent danger.

Just him, his cockpit, and his breathing.

Then it all came back, and he hit the emergency release, popping the door off the cockpit and stepping out, nursing his wounded ribs.

A few minutes later, they were securing the area. The shards of the dagger were being put in separate containment units, to be transported with him back to Coruscant once properly secured in a dozen layers of confinement. He would have preferred a quicker process, but the Governor, upon hearing about this daggers seeming ability to create Wretches, insisted on the extra layers of security.

Seventh was too tired to truly argue against a measure he agreed with, no matter how inconvenient.

The figure, on the other hand, was different. They were a key component of all of this, and would undoubtedly help raise his standing in the Inquisition back to its previous place if he brought them back alive. Their lightsaber was taken and put in containment, and the currently they were working on removing the armor, which was somehow stuck to its wearer.

So there he sat, on a piece of rubble outside the cavern, a bacta patch healing his ribs. Contemplating his next moves. The other Inquisitors would be less than pleased by his success, but would refrain from moving against him so soon after a victory. Especially with their order having few members left.

As he contemplated this, something happened.

He felt it through the Force. Unimaginable death.

A million souls crying out in terror.

A million souls silenced.
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Hi there folks! Sorry for posting this chapter at an odd hour, I spent most of the day goofing off and planning the first chapter of that PJO fic I talked about. This is the second to last chapter of the Arc before Governor's Gambit goes on hiatus. The next chapter will take a little longer to be posted because I'll be posting it in tandem with the first chapter of the new fic, so I can link it at the end.

The PJO fic will follow an OC-SI dropped into a much expanded version of the PJO world. I'm talking about different magic systems, factions, and much more. I always thought that the magical underground felt small in those stories, like there was so much just out of sight. It came to me that maybe that could be intentional in-universe. Demi-gods, especially those in the Camps, are known for getting quests, getting into trouble, and generally having more Divine attention on them. Any magical underground of people with the Sight, like mercenaries, mages, and even governmental organizations dedicated to regulating magic would steer clear, cause no-one fucks with the Gods and gets away with it easily.

To me, that says that so much could be just out of sight. And I want to make something that follows that. I probably could just make it into a standalone low-fantasy story, but the PJO name means more attention which means more feedback which I really need. It also helps fill in worldbuilding gaps, and gives me more overarching plot points to hold onto, like how the fall of the Empire is super important to Las even though he's in such an isolated area of the world.

As always feedback and commentary is appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

-Freefaller