Planet Gand, Pef Empire

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20 BBY

"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause."

―Padmé Amidala

The Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Republic barely escaped with his life, after the treacherous Jedi Order revealed their true faces and attempted to arrest him, or murder him, as the Chancellor says.

Seems Ahsoka couldn't keep her mouth shut, and told a Master Jedi what I told her with my Avatar. Possibly Shaak Ti, since they're both togruta.

Palpatine having his 'own' Jedi secret group. That tidbit.

Shaak Ti and several other Masters cornered Count Dooku on Utapau and obtained Palpatine's name from him, before decapitating him.

They called a strike team, with master Fisto and Master Yoda between them to arrest Palpatine.

And then Ahsoka told her own Master, one Skywalker Anakin, mother Shmi Skywalker- deceased, father unknown.

At this, the young emo rushed to the Senate, and interrupted the victory scene, saving Palpatine, even though the Chancellor lost a hand in this unfair fight, though still killing 7 Jedi Masters. Master Yoda and Shaak Ti were blown through the window, but their powers were enough to capture a nearby taxi and fly away.

His bald head should have been enough clue, but I guess not.

Order 66 also came, and a thousnad more Jedi died all over the galaxy, only the most skilled, or lucky surviving.

The Jedi on Coruscant went into hiding, deep into the lower levels, taking much of their precious archives with them.

Sadly, the new Darth Vader didn't get to kill his wife, or the remaining younglings in the temple, as his clone troopers from 501st and himself were all vaporized in a huge proton bomb explosion, that took out the Jedi Temple, and all its famous holocrons.

The funeral pyre for the old librarians and the legacy of the Jedi had at least 9 megatonnes yield, and vaporized everything in a 10 kilometer sphere. The shockwaves and the debris killed millions more.

"Culexus 0097, you're promoted to the name Bond 007 and the rank of Colonel, for your successful mission" I proclaimed with gravitas.

"And I want a Terminator armor, Emperor. Because I deserve it" the brave hero replied politely.

"Okay. A Terminator T-700 power armor, with 7 stygium crystals. You may choose.." I managed to say, before he interrupted me.

"Assassinorum Triumvir, if you would, Droid Emperor. The Core AI on Malagarr gives me the creeps" my droid said with a slight shudder.

He does eh? For me too. But he will be the front line when the Vong attack the Pef Empire.

Core was sending out survey droids by the hundred thousands, ignoring Mujilik's demands for better inner routes.

Well, as long as he mined the minerals and managed the production himself, the only costs came from hyperdrives.

And the new droids he made for my armies were much better than what we had now.

His new series of B11 were as fast and accurate as the commando droids, and all came with a partial energy shield that could be rotated in a second, to block laser and blaster fire, without encumbering the droids with an umbrella.

And now he was starting to design better Stinger gunships, with countermeasures against current missiles and also Biplanes and droid tanks.

He did indeed do his part, though just not with big starships, yet.

Solanus had managed to apply the work at Blueforge to replicate skin almost perfectly, although it's only blue or green for now.

We will use the green, to cover the hands and faces of our new droids, to make them more appealing to the numerous reptilian species in the galaxy. Greenskins, eh?

Along with their green and grey patterned uniforms, they'll look almost civilized. Plus a few facial expressions and better grip on the weapons.

The clone wars continue, even without Dooku to lead the Separatists.

But, a few random meteor showers crashed on various worlds with cloning facilities around the galaxy, no doubt pushed by some invisible ships.

The Jedi did it seems a good enough excuse.

My Empire policy on Jedi has changed to detain and confiscate their plasma weapons, then require them to relinquish evil and fanaticism, to be allowed residence on a few select worlds like Ruul.

"I did tell you Miss Zero. Your lightsaber, and no more evil, understand! " I told my Zero Hand, as I announced her of the new policy.

"Like Master Fay or Zao then. To roam the galaxy and be hunted by this new Sith Empire" she replied, with some concern.

"Well. This toy is not needed, my friend. I can give you a metal blade, if having a weapon beside a pistol is psychologically required. Or maybe my Avatar can figure out how to make darksabers. Cause, dark not light, see?" I said with a tinge of amusement.

"A blade please. That darksaber is a mockery" she said sternly. Well, she was always stern, but even more now.

"Here, made it myself, just a month ago." I proclaimed, holding a hand out as Culexus 0054 placed a sword in my open palm.

"A month ago...you knew...so far back..." she mused, taking the sword absently and handing out the old one.

"Well, that vision of the future is gone now. But these girls...they'll need to be stronger. Smarter. Or they'll live here for decades"

I said gently, pointing discreetly at the weaver maids, now crafting tree houses around the garden.

"You brought more of that bota plant?" Zero asked after testing a few swipes with her sword.

"Of course. 260 doses. See you in ten days, Honored Hand" I replied gently and flew up towards my ship, as the Culexus droids deposited the crate next to the Jedi Master.

I had to go to the Redforge and finish the Meteors. All 1000 of them waiting for a force-fueled crystal to assemble their guns and turrets and power systems.

The shipyards in my empire were in no position to make such large ships, even the Strike-class cruiser clones were a hard job. We did start a thousand of them, to give the Commonality and the Centrality jobs for their workers.

Experience didn't come easy. Corvettes were doing great now, about 5000 per month, and that will keep increasing.

Deysum system and Uogo'cor in the south were now filled with a thousand of our ships, eliminating the pirates there, without Vette.

Proto one was trying gently to see if the the planet Ulmatra which lay within the sphere of influence of the Kajidier kajidic, a clan of the Hutt could be bought. It was the other tip of the route to Formos, and thus quite important.

And on Botajef, we found Natasi Daala , now much younger, which Peffy will go take care to recruit.

Because I could use a loyal Admiral. And Peffy more wives. Win-win.

Planet Dac, Mon Calamari space

Mon Calamari Council

20 BBY two weeks later

Peffy and Solana and Wialu have gone to negotiate the formal agreement with the Mon Calamari squids, the Quarren the Whaladons , the Moappa and the Knowledge Bank.

"Esteemed Council, the Republic is no more. Palpatine is revealed as a Sith Lord, along with Dooku. This new Sith Empire is no friend of liberty or autonomy. The Pef Empire wants a good relation with the sentients of Mon Calamari space, as we have proven again and again." Solana said gently, her face revealed to show her water form.

Cause, yea. For marine people, water was important.

"A difficult decision, even with the 30 trillion investment that your Empire proposes. You are new and rash, jumping into war when you just began your existence. Your fleet is already among the strongest in the galaxy, and you ask us to build us even more ships for you. We will deliberate in closed session" The Mon Calamari King declared regally, and a bit scared.

Okay then. Time to visit the big molusks.

We left a barely sketched bow and walked towards to edge of the floating city, admiring the view.

Just like the ships, the floating cities were beautiful, with curves and round forms, while outwards, platforms led to piers and spaceports. The city looked like a colony of white mollusks, coming to surface for a sunbath.

We dived off the pier and started descending into the depths, where the other sentients of the water planet resided.

"And if a few of us should burn away…more will take their place."

―The Moappa

The medusa-like Moappa were only intelligent in large numbers, like other sentients in the galaxy.

Just a few were seen as individual cells, unimportant. But a colony of a few millions would form an individual of great wisdom, and if necessary, they could gather in trillions to overwhelm an attacker.

'Yes Pef, Solanus wants them for his worlds. More people to live in his oceans would be great.' my water maid said, as we encountered the first colony of moappa.

'Okay then, what about the whales?' I asked, noting the moappa becoming interested. Huh.

'Them too, if their songs are nice enough. Plankton is easy to provide' Solana answered with an amused tone. Eh, more art.

No wonder Solanus liked Angie. Singers were always well received, everywhere.

'Okay then, we're heading for Aquarius . Moappa, are you spying on mind talk?' I asked, with a fake resentment.

'W-weeelllll. You're all like those Jedi, but not. Just curious' the medusa colony reply, with embarrassment.

'You could hop into a starship and visit new planets, you know? There's holographic and even telepathic pilot modules now.' I told the Moappa as we neared the underwater city, enclosed in a semipermeable bubble, keeping pressure away, but letting organics and gases to pass.

Much more advanced than those gungan frogs of Naboo.

The leader of the whales, called Leviathor was already waiting for us, along with a herd of his friends.

Hope I can save guys, and you'll not end up as dinner for Palpatine's officers.

Or dead, when Dac gets bombarded from orbit, like in my memories.

Hmmm. A faint tingle in the force as well. This huge white whale was force-sensitive, unlike the other whales.

He started singing something to us, but I didn't have that language in my partition.

Wialu just floated ahead, and placed a palm on its forehead. Right.

Living force. Peffy could do it too.

Let's see, animal bond ?

'That's rude, Avatar Greyshade' the wise whale replied in my mind.

'Jedi invented this ability. Those guys also tried to murder the leader of the Republic, you know?' I answered with a mental shrug.

'So we heard. Calamari and Quareen debate what to do, but you already know what will happen. Like pictures, you seen the future' Leviathor replied with a sad wail.

Uh, maybe not a good idea to connect mentally with a brain 100 times larger. He stole memories.

'The Mind Library knows. In these waters, what you know, they know. All is revealed, Sun of Suns.' the whale leader replied with a dismissive tone, and turned to leave.

Uh. This was a short talk.

'You know already Peffy. The future is clear for their kind.' Solana sent gently, removing a glove to wave her hand in the waters.

'Well, what now?' I asked confused.

'Solanus is talking with the Knowledge Bank. I am his Voice too' Solana answered calmly.

Oh, right. 11 oceans, linked into a single mind. He could deal with a few glowing mollusks.

'Yes. Colonies on every ocean. Full database of all Calamari tech. Safety for the small ones. Allies against Vong. The wills are five' Solana replied with a strange powerful tone.

Okay then, keep the booming mind scream on the low.

The mollusks were almost like those yammosk of the Vong, connecting everything in the oceans, and absorbing their memories.

Just like the killiks that formed the Celestials and the Joiners.

And those pearls inside their shells? Force crystals.

Just like Solanus could simply will kyber crystals into existence.

So, why wouldn't the Vong be just as wise? Why?

Oh well. Maybe they'll turn peaceful, after I reduce them to a single city, on a single planet, the rest glassed and vitrified.

But as they were now, poised to map the galaxy and preparing to enslave what survivors they left...

Nah. We have laws against slavery, wrote them myself.

'We can go up now. The shell has finished its upload' Solana declared as a green and yellow kyber crystal formed in her palm and floated away, heading into a deep underwater trench.

Great, more secrets.

Let's go give our new Calamari allies 30 trillions, so they can expand their inner routes and mining planets, and produce a million starships for me.

An MPT for starters, till the Separatist threat is over.

And meanwhile, I'll have to run around, turning every neutral polity out there, into an ally.

Hapes, Bothan, Mandalore, Taris, Senex, Javin and the Gordian Reach. Just for starters. The Hutts would much harder.

Peffy was gonna get a lot more wives. This personal union would be a full time job. Good thing he doesn't get tired anymore.

Planet Gand, Pef Empire

20 BBY, next month

Although the new Galactic Empire has declared the Clone Wars over and won, that's only a partial truth. The Clones part.

The ability to mass-produce clones was reduced by 90% due to iron- nickel asteroids crashing into the all known facilities in the galaxy that produced clones.

Millions of growing clones were snuffed out by waves of water or fire, and the Imperial Army has to recruit poor citizens to fill the ranks of depleted clone divisions. The quality and training of these fresh recruits is abysmal , and thus delaying the Rim Reconquest.

Planet Mustafar and Muunilist and Yag'Dhul are still coordinating massive droid armies

and the hyperlanes have been blocked with asteroids, as envisioned by the Gavin species

mathematocracy's leading council, the Body Calculus .

Our fleets have stepped in, to help at Kashyyyk, and advanced southwards to Nanth'ri and New Apsolon.

The CIS fleet at Teth had withdrawn, possibly not considering that front of importance anymore, leaving the system in our hands and the planet still partitioned, and the clone troops being eroded constantly by the wild life and the remaining CIS droids.

A space station over Carida, where the new Imperial Navy has gathered their leading experts for a strategy conference was impacted by a captured Republican Venator star-destroyer, filled with explosives, and subsequently obliterated.

Planet Rendili has surrendered to the Galactic Empire, but unfortunately, they do not have shipyards anymore, and many skilled workers are gone as well. Riots and unemployment plague that 600 billion people world, and 10 Imperial stormtrooper legions have to forgo helping on the frontlines, and instead are sent to pacify the population.

On more democratic worlds, calls for abolishing the slavery of the poor clones is being brought up more and more by the media and politicians. Alderaan and Naboo and dozens other worlds voice their outrage in the Imperial Senate, citing the very words of Emperor Palpatine, saying the Clone wars are over.

A simple solution would be to replace the clones with droids, but the public opinion is harshly against it.

On Thyferra , till now a CIS stronghold, major battles take place, as the Galactic Empire is desperate to regain access to bacta, and heal their wounded organic troops.

Many facilities are destroyed in the fighting, the droids often blowing up the bacta treatment culture, before retreating into jungles or mountains.

Planet Ando, the capital of Hyper-Communications Cartel has fallen though, and the Cartel was promptly nationalized by the Palpatine's Empire. Well, the facilities in reach of the Empire at least.

Pef Empire has prompty done the same, declaring all assets of the Cartel becoming property of the Empire. Not that they weren't, de facto till now, but de jure sounds legal.

It is a race, that the Galactic Empire will win, through sheer numbers and proximity, but the point is not to win everything.

Just enough to delay a strong Galactic Empire for a decade.

More and more colonists and other people fleeing from whatever reason, board whatever ships they can, and flee to the liberal regime of the Pef Empire.

50 million immigrants this month. Yay! 25 millions of them from Renastasia though, so...not really. But reducing poverty and population pressure on the planet will help too. One million youngsters joined Centrality's Army and Navy, attracted by the glamour of tanks and starfighters.

The giant sarlacc has been finally tractored to the Wheel, the huge gambling station near Centares, and installed with sublight engines and large domed malls and museums and opera halls, where the angels can sing of the wonders of the galaxy, while millions of rich people pay 1000 credits for a ticket to the Ancient Abyss theme park. Every day.

In a year, the botomless Abyss will pay the whole medical care for the empire. Make a note, add more parks and restaurants.

It's 150 kilometer long, plenty space.

The sarlacc it's still alive, for some reason, cause if magma pressure and temperature 150 kilometers deep didn't bother it, vacuum wouldn't either.

In fact, zero G makes it relax, as there's no more weight to tear at it's old flesh. Lucky guy.

Bits of his body were sent to Bluforge and Sol V, to try and reproduce the amazing properties of this skin.

Heals amazingly fast, and it's even harder to damage. Energy weapons have little or no effect. More so after I drained all the dark stuff from its stomach.

Feels a little like Miss Fay now, pure and ageless, but still vicious enough to rip you to shreds, if you cross in front of its maw.

And on our Navy, 1000 Meteors and 5000 corvettes have began trials and will be soon operational. Millions of regular citizens from my empire demand to be allowed as Imperial Servants, then train as officers and command starships too. Sure, why not?

You don't have to be a liberated slave for that, it was just the instrument of abolishing slavery.

The Corporate sector is finally conquered, having cost me a trillion credits in material and fuel. But...that's very little to my wealth now.

I'll listen to Lira and Dora, and go build more cities and factories, all over the core of my empire.

Because, now that the Galactic Empire is starting to oppress people, more should come.

A hundred dead agents of my third Hand's have been recovered and brought back to life with the Scepter of Ragnos, but they seem a bit off.

Still good for work, and decanting secrets, but more vicious and hateful. At their killers, for now...but...

'We'll have to use them up Pef. Send them out again and again, till they die for good. That scepter is not like your Voice.' Lira declared with a certainty in her tone. Well, you're the one who did die, so you'll know better.

Talzin and Daka have a similar means, called Bardottan Sphere , which works like the scepter and the soul snares into one.

And more, since it adds the strength of the one drained to the user.

I know how to make my Voices stronger now, even after the bota stops working, which should be soon.

Which is why Peffy is now on Dathomir, with the said scepter, and two maids to show the Mothers some results.

Planet Dathomir, Pef Empire

20 BBY

"Honored Mothers, I am Avatar Greyshade, the Voice of the Emperor" I said politely towards Daka and Talzin, as my maids went to greet their sisters, and gossip things.

"Oh, a strong boy indeed! And Nightsister Talia seems three times stronger, than 3 months ago." Old Daka said with a light tone. Not actually impressed, just amused.

On her belt, she wore the shrunken skulls of the Vong prisoners, now decorated with alchemic inscriptions. Eh, it's tradition here. I think.

"Yes, she is. Now, I have a lot to learn, and just a week to spare. Do your worst, most learned one" I said softly, and pointing with my chin towards her cave.

"Brave too. Well then, everyone breaks. Let's see how long it takes for an Avatar" the witch whispered as she transformed into green mist and flew into the cave.

The next part was going to be painful. And it was.

3 days of torture and 'lessons' just to gain a modicum of respect from Daka.

"So, now that you've proven that you deserve to marry those girls, what else do you need, boy?" the old witch asked, dismissing her acids and plasma utensils, to whatever pocket dimension they came from.

Huh, just three days?

"Let's go outside, Honored Mother. My droids were told to stay out." I explained politely, and went to take the armor back on.

"Oh, a secret? I love secrets!" the Nightsister Mother mused with a tea cup in her hand.

No you don't. I'd say you absolutely detest not knowing something.

Culexus 0053 waited invisible at the entrance, and handed me the scepter.

Now. let's start...whoa!

Now this was a real nexus, not some tree or a worm.

The Rakata sacrificed billions here, mostly Kwa and Duros, distorting the nexus inside out.

My hand thrummed with energy, as the scepter drained and drained, storing all the hate and pain inside its force matrix.

Daka looked curious at the old spear, then around, noticing the change.

"What does the thing do, with all this power?" she wondered out loud.

"What I tell it to do. Make normals into witches, revive the dead, fire energy blasts..." I enumerated, with a bit of strain.

Too much power, a force vortex was forming around me, like a planet sized hurricane.

"Stop it now! Do it at once and all life on the planet will die..." Daka said with a bit of concern.

Right, a planet was pretty big.

But I guess I did steal one or two percent already. Enough to make a million people force users.

"Ten minutes, Old Daka. It won't change much, but allow me to create a big enough army" I replied with some excitement.

I now had to hold the scepter with both hands, and use the power armor's servomotors just to hold it steady.

"Always rushing, every young one...I'll go select some young failed sisters then." Daka declared in a weary voice, and a sigh.

Hmmm. I should bond these girls to Peffy though.

No point in giving powers to potential enemies.

Natasi came out of the ship, attracted by the comotion. She won't be a Galactic Admiral now, but a Pef Admiral.

She took to the memory imprints like a sponge, absorbing every single battle, every tactic and strategy, and looked to make better ones.

And her long red hair...

"More magic, Avatar?" she asked curious, as the armor strained audibly to contain the vibrations.

Fine, let's not break the Terminator armor with force induced oscillations. Release.

"Just charging the device, fabulous maid. There's some..." I started to say, when the old witch came with some 50 girls, all sick and scared, with dirty garments and cuts all over. Probably plant gatherers or something. But why scars?

Right, jungle world and no force. Normal people would get sick and hurt rapidly, then die in pain.

"Old Daka, you have a million droids now, and modern housing and hot water. Why are my citizens like that?" I asked sternly.

"The jungle awakens the failures, sometimes. Or they die. " the witch replied in a careless tone.

Kriff. Not cool, old monster. Some of these girls are 7 or 9 years old.

"From now on, they are mine. And I'll let the other clans know as well. Next time I see my citizens mistreated, I'll be upset. And perhaps sterilize you all, if you don't treasure your children" I said in a harsh voice, amplified with air alter.

The old witch opened her mouth to respond, then eyed the scepter in my hand and remained silent. Yea, this thing might ruin your day, if you make me use it to attack.

"Savages and child abusers. Why do you even need them, Avatar?" Natasi Daala wondered, going to fuss around the smallest girls.

"The Nightsisters are distant relatives, through my wife. Which they sold into slavery. Backward world, if you didn't know..." I answered with a sigh, and went to heal the girls, then gift them the force.

Just a second, to bestow the scepter on their heads, gently.

And a tiny force-sensitivity appeared for the new Nightsisters, along with a feeble Force-bond, to let me know their state and location.

"You do have a number of wives, eh? Spreading the love?" Natasi said, with some envy and amusement.

"Hey! I love all my wives, and their kids will be rich and educated. The least I can do, with a quadrillion credits to spend on frivolous things..." I muttered with some despair.

Can't someone have a harem in peace?