Governor's Gambit - Star Wars SI into Imperial Governor

[swtoring]

To be fair, I'd expect that prototype laser project to be a "federal" project. I doubt a moff suddenly goes "let's start research on a superweapon" without being ordered from the brass...

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I meant it as in the good Moff won the right to compete for the contract and tossed the responsibility of fulfilling it to las

 

[Yacov]

His potential replacements are fairly numerous, with Ife herself among them. I have half a mind to give her the position because I know she's decently loyal and good at her job. Though I'll have to have Dornun look further into her to determine if she would truly qualify for the job of Admiral, because competence in this case is as crucial as loyalty, and avoiding the Peter Principle is part of that.

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I forsee a 40% chance of Ife plotting to have Las assassinated if she doesn't get the job.

Krell Yakon. Chief Financial Officer of the sector, this is the guy who is in charge of signing off on all non-military financial decisions of size. The dossier is packed full of this nepo-babies various activities and lifestyle choices. It's clear to me that he was Moff Tarry's favorite, since everything Dornun was able to get points to him having been old friends with the previous Moff.

The kind of old friend that gave kickbacks on all the big treasury goals. The Myto Sector, according to recent financial reports, made somewhere in the ballpark of around 1.5 billion credits last year. This is, of course, after a whole lot was skimmed off the top. Not to mention how many Governors are skipping on taxes, and whatever financial trickery Krell is likely pulling.

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Only 1.5 billion credits? Man Myto was an effective tax dumpster fire with those numbers. That's around 7.5 million credits brought in on average for each of the 200ish worlds in the sector.

With most worlds contributing significantly less than that average with large outliers like Minda and Dubrillion system. Hopefully the Guild can pump the numbers up by improving the economy and Las' reforms can collect taxes more efficiently.

And Garbuncle probably knows things, being secretary and all. His lack of skills made up for with his ability to keep his mouth shut. Though it likely wont save him from whatever knife Hiral's hired.

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Sounds like an effective man to "detain" if you can get away with it, but probably not worth the effort.

A smug grin appeared on Oioro's face. "See, sir, Abyssal Industries hasn't been doing so well since the Clone Wars. Anti-CIS sentiment has led to unfavorable contracts and a general economic stagnation. So, when they saw the contract, they snatched it up. Despite their desperation they put up quite the fight in the contract, but in the end they agreed to set up a second headquarters here to oversee operations and start expansion."

Second headquarters? Odd phrasing. "How do they plan to expand exactly? The contract was just for exploration, right?"

That grin somehow got even smugger. "Well…I convinced them that, with so little opportunity at home, and their experience with ship production, it wouldn't be out of line for them to properly expand their businesses here! With the Guild, they have plenty of resources and support, and with the new contract they will be easing the shipyard's burden on smaller vessels once they've got their primary facilities online. As such, they brought quite a few ships to get it all done ASAP! They estimate beginning production in around 5 months or so."

Once again, I blink like a lizard. Or an idiot. Probably both.

"They are quite enthused, no? A very motivated species, the Karkadons. Their representative seemed quite thrilled when debating the contract with me, which I believe speaks to their favor."

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Yay the space sharks are recruited! Wonder if they have their equivalent of Amphibious Fighter? Technically it was a Mon Cala design, but it was also used by the CIS. Having a fighter that can go from water to air or even water to space will be very useful.

On other note, stepping up colonization for the Water Moon means it is time to update the system's Wet Navy. Bring in the Waveskimmers!

Resisting the urge to sigh, I just wave her off. "Ok, whatever. Let them know the rules, ensure they don't ruin the environment, don't give them a monopoly, and let them do their thing. I have a lot of other work."

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Given how heavily they polluted their homeworld, some extra regulatory attention is probably warranted.

As for viability and trustworthiness, there was a solid chance he was going with Hiral, seeing as though he owed the position to him from some maneuvering half a decade back or so.

The problem was that he had criminal connections. They were well hidden, but Hutt connections existed, and I couldn't let that slide. Any potential contacts he left behind had to be scrubbed, or it would pose a risk of the Hutts killing me.

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So a potential loose end that may remain under Hiral's protection. That certainly won't cause some issues.

General Yulitra Zantara, leader of all the ground forces in the entire sector. She was a hard headed woman of advanced age, hairs fairly grey. Apparently she held a position in the Republic military, and has been General of the Myto sector for over two decades now, having served the Moff before Tarry as well.

A true believer through and through, the dossier hazards that she maintains political connections almost solely to do her job better. A rare beacon of competence in the Empire. Hiral kept her around because she does her job well and stays away from political debacles, but he also kept a healthy distance, scary as she was. The only beef she ever had with anyone was with the various Admirals that had held the position in the sector, classic inter-service rivalries. So he likely won't be taking her with him at all.

To be honest, she sounds like something of a keeper. Thorne and Darna will have to tippy toe around her, but it's workable. And it's not like there are many good replacements. Kaela comes to mind, but she might just kill me if I promote her that far up. Generals are desk jobs, they don't get to tear people apart with their bare hands.

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Zantara is probably going to be so happy to have a Moff that not only focuses on civilian matters so she can do her job, but also provides her enough funding so she can do her job effectively. Just hope she can work well with non-humans.

 

[Beast II]

I'm genuinely curious how you can spice up hot coco aside from adding milk for more sweetness

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South Americans used to add chilli to it.

 

[Mistroz]

Excellent chapter.

 

[Z3r0Sama]

Only 1.5 billion credits? Man Myto was an effective tax dumpster fire with those numbers. That's around 7.5 million credits brought in on average for each of the 200ish worlds in the sector.

With most worlds contributing significantly less than that average with large outliers like Minda and Dubrillion system. Hopefully the Guild can pump the numbers up by improving the economy and Las' reforms can collect taxes more efficiently.

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Remember what Las said at the beginning? All the smooth brainers use slaves, meaning it impacts both you taxable base and the wider economy as a whole. I'm sure those slave using companies know how to effectively funnel the money through tax avoidance schemes and when combined with bribes, they probably pay negligible taxes.

 

[RageKnight]

Cooking with Myth the best Sith in the Galaxy. His cooking is so wonderful it makes the light go dark.

 

[Xx_BoneIdle_xX]

A very motivated species, the Karkadons.

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Did you mean the Karkarodons ? The shark-equivalent species ?

 

[Gotenks]

So. If he's appointed moff, does that meant that he would have to appoint someone to govern midna? (Or that someone else would appoint someone on the seat that he leaves vacant?)

 

[LordEdric]

"This is at best passable, mortal. Do you add no seasoning? No spices? No flavor? Simply the chocolate and heat? Pathetic. Come, you and I shall create something truly worthwhile from this basic bitch slop!"

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I love how a Dark Lord of the Sith has gone from lets enslave the masses to labor in pain for me to foodie who likes to cook and torments kids on MMOs. I seriously need Yoda or Vader to meet him and realized that there are less destructive galaxy conquering ways to express the dark side.

 

[NavigatorNobilis]

And while I'd never tell them, their version was better.

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Hot chocolate needs a small pinch of salt and a bit of chili to bring out the full potential. Or, if it's steaming hot, marshmallows. Or whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin spice. Or a splash of mint.

But yes, perfection is unattainable, there's only the pursuit of it and the lovely rest stops we find along that path.

 

[Zoolimar]

A sith with a passion for cooking... thats a new one

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Funnily enough most Dark Siders should be something like this - people obsessed with their hobbies, research, skills and so on. Sith deliberately make their acolytes to kill and destroy everyone and everything they care about until there is nothing left but desire for power. And then they kill their teacher if they can. But the damage is already done and you get assholes like Darth Ravage on the outside.

 

[oscar e Sampedro Lopez]

Thanks for the chapter Great story as always

 

[Jeman]

apple fritters

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Apple fritters~

Made my own once……. Was disappointed

 

[vtkun]

thanks for the chapter

 

[Jao]

Next is the Moffs Overseer. His secretary, for all intents and purposes. Roy Garbuncle, a thin man that has a passing resemblance to the Moff himself. Likely because their cousins, if distant. He's not that great at his job but has a team of other secretaries to make up for it. However, chances are he's not going up with Hiral.

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they're*

 

[krahe]

basic bitch slop!"

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Oh no, the internet is corrupting our sith boy!

 

[Yacov]

Omake: Affordable Training

POV: "Colonel" Vep Vem
RIII: Guardian
Certifications: Adviser III
Main shareholder of the League of Proper Drillers, A RII Alliance with a specialty in Consultancy
Dfertini, Myto Sector

"KEEP IN STEP RECRUITS! A RAIDING PARTY WILL NOT WAIT AROUND FOR YOUR LALLYGAGGING!"

Colonel Vem made sure the command boomed like a mortar. Verbally whipping his charges another lap around the base's crop fields. He had been employed to whip these "Dfertinin Cantonists" into shape and by the almighty Credit he was going to do just that!

"DO YOU THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CARRYING THOSE WALKING STICKS THIS IS A LEISURELY HIKE!? EVERY STEP TAKEN QUICKER IS ANOTHER LIFE PROTECTED! SO GET PROTECTING!"

What Colonel Vem had found when he landed was a bunch of illiterate farmers. Apparently the Crown had just abolished serfdom on Dfertini in an attempt to modernize and meet the requirements to join the Guild. They definitely needed the outside help. Why most of the people on this world still used livestock as currency, the savages.

"YOU MUST THINK YOU ARE HOT FECES GIVEN YOU WERE WALLOWING IN MANURE BEFORE COMING HERE! BUT ANIMALS DON'T FIRE BACK WHEN YOU ARE HUNTING IN THE WOODS!"

All those farmers being able to move from the land they were previously bound to came in just in time with the sector becoming more dangerous. Plenty of available antsy recruits looking for an excuse to leave the farm. The rise in pirate raids caused the agriworld's government to start mustering new formations to bolster the world's PDF.

"TURN! FACE! NOW GET TO THOSE POSTS FOR FIRING DRILL 23A! I WANT SHOTS SO PRECISE IT BORES THROUGH THEM!"

Luckily these fools were not completely without hope. Their leaders had the sense to stock the armories of the Cantonists with RG-4Ds. Good model and easy to hold in two hands, although most were a bit worn. Luckily they also had the illustrious Colonel Vem to show them the ropes and instill them with elan!

Sadly Colonel Vem's first attempt to embolden them by brightening up their uniforms from those drab fatigues went poorly. The Cantonists strongly resisted the idea, citing fears of some long outdated sumptuary law. Too afraid of being subjected to the lashes their forefathers had to endure for breaking some superfluous dress code in their culture.

"NOW USE YOUR SCOPES! YOU LOT HAVE BEEN GIVEN THEM FOR A REASON! EYEBALLING IT CAN ONLY TAKE YOU SO FAR!"

This first failure did nothing to discourage Colonel Vem. It may have been a few decades since Colonel Vem's time in the Corps. However he had never lost his edge, that's for certain. He is just as spry and ready for action as when he was commissioned.

"LEFT FLANK YOUR AIM IS ATROCIOUS! MY LANCERS HAD BETTER AIM AND THEY WERE MELEE TROOPS! IF I DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE DESTITUTE I WOULD DOCK YOU A HEIFER!"

Oh what Colonel Vem wouldn't give be ride with his lancers again. His peers were always too scared to utilize them correctly. You do not command a speeder bike charge from the rear. You do it from the spear tip screaming as you shove your power lance into the heart of the enemy! Even that Durge fellow understood this simple truth.

"Hey Vep. Just finished putting my company through its paces. Good enough to use 'em for garrison duty, running convoys, or as a screening force. Still wouldn't trust them to hold a line in a field battle let alone participate in an attack if it can be helped. Yours holding up well?"

Sure Colonel Vem's methods led to his legs getting blown off charging into a pirate band. And sure his injuries caused his superiors to force him to sit out the Clone Wars. However, that still does not disprove that aggression is key in warfare. Oh if only he had his legs back then. He would have mowed down those bio droids by the hundred with his lads.

"Ah Books! Colonel Vem would kick them in the rears if they weren't so delicate. One swing of metal and they would start whining that their bones are broken."

Still, Colonel Vem would not let a little something like lost limbs keep him from the military. He called in all the favors with his Iotran mates for training manuals along with after action reports during the war. If he was not allowed to get stuck in anymore, then he would teach the future soldiers how to make their enemy bleed. A way to secure his legacy beyond just the traditional means.

"I know you got your methods, but these guys aren't like your droids or my brothers. That law on rural fire safety and blaster gas storage means most of them haven't held a blaster before becoming a Cantonist. Maybe it would be best to ease up a bit?"

Yet despite Colonel Vem excelling in his self education, his superiors on Muunilinst refused to reinstate him even with the thousands of messages he sent over the years. His ties to a formation that sided with the Separatists had left him blacklisted from military appointments. Leaving his vast experience and comprehensive knowledge unused.

"Nonsense! Colonel Vem has spent decades learning how to whip children into fighting troops! Colonel Vem did not languish this long just to not put them into practice."

Colonel Vem's salvation came during his 28th granddaughter's birth when his 6th daughter brought him word of a new commercial venture in a nearby sector. This new fangled Guild was opening its doors to all who could do useful work, with little care for their background. It was a sign from the almighty Credit that his time had come.

"As long as our employers aren't complaining, I guess it's fine. You're the main shareholder of the business after all."

Colonel Vem immediately used his savings to found the League of Proper Drillers and began gathering like minded individuals. Those unable to take the field, but still wishing to pass on their lessons to the next generation. He found himself working alongside men he would have shot earlier in his life, but were now brought together in purpose.

"Now do not go calling Colonel Vem boss! We are all in this together! United in our purpose of becoming the forebears of a new doctrine of warfare!"

Colonel Vem's fellow Drillers were like a second family to him. People who saw the direction the sector and the galaxy at large was heading and sought to equip the next generation as best they could. Sworn to see every conscript, farmer, and reservist given the skills to fend off pirates and raiders who would prey on their loved ones.

"Vep you are speaking in the third person again. Did I catch you another one of your inspirational internal monologues?"

Now his League was spreading across the stars. Instilling wisdom and discipline into the defenders of civilization. Ready to throw themselves into the conflagration of battle as stalwart guardians against those that would pillage and ravage their homes.

"You know it Books! Proper self motivation must be maintained when partaking in any endeavor! Speaking of which. ARE YOU PLANNING TO BLOW THROUGH YOUR ENTIRE STOCK OF TIBANNA?! COLUMN FORMATION ON THE DOUBLE!"

That is right Colonel Vem! You are going to bring these slackers up to snuff! They are going to kick some barbarian band butt and show everyone your methods work! Those fools on Muunilinst are going to send apologies by the dozens once they realize they were wrong! Colonel Vem has got this!

——

"Colonel" Vep Vem is a play on those officers who hold onto their commission far beyond their best by date. Still makes him one of the most experienced military personnel on the planet. PDFs are often beggars, not choosers. Fun fact: American Major General Hains served in both the US Civil War and WW1. Having around 50 years in service total.

At least now these systems have the Guild and the ability to post Consultant contracts. With the incoming Moff spreading the Guild's services, even destitute, backwards, non-fantastical worlds like Dfertini can buy some level of military training to prepare for the ongoing pirate push into the sector. Not every mercenary contract has to involve going into battle after all.

Crossposted on SB and SV