Chapter Text
Much of the Rothana and Ryloth sectors remained unexplored and was considered to be wild space by many. There were potentially tens if not hundreds of thousands of worlds and astrological objects that could be colonised or mined just waiting to be discovered. This epiphany, realised during a meeting with Moff Syndulla, prompted Vader to invest into a new task force. The Imperial Discovery and Expansionary Fleet was thus created with several goals in mind. The IDEF was designed to identify new hyperspace routes, not just in wild space, but between worlds within the Empire. Furthermore, the IDEF would gradually explore and map these unknown lands, analysing worlds and relaying data to the Ministry of Colonisation.
Vader had selected and promoted Admiral Dardasso to lead this force from the bridge of the Harrower-class Star Destroyer the Voyager. Emil Dardasso was a young man who displayed a keen fascination for navigation and exploration. The Rodian was initially a humble navigator on his flagship, the Avenger, but Vader saw his potential. Emil was soon promoted to Junior Captain, and, after demonstrating excellent leadership capability, Vader promoted him again to leaf the IDEF. Though Dardasso was currently somewhat inexperienced, the nature of his mission would give him time and room to grow as a leader.
The IDEF had already yielded results around the northern half of the Crystal Passage, and, once more resources were allocated and the leadership adapted to the situations, progress was expected to increase exponentially. Dardasso claimed that it would take no more than nine months to have completely mapped a hyperlane between Ryloth and the Crystal Passage. With a yearly intake of millions of immigrants, it was imperative that new worlds were discovered to both house said immigrants, and take advantage of the opportunity and potential they offered the Empire.
Vader was confident in the IDEF’s success and planned to expand the organisation dramatically over the coming years. The sheer volume of job opportunities alone this offered his citizens made this endeavour more than worthwhile. Plus, when his border reached the western end of the Unknown Regions, he would have a fully veteran force capable of leading the way into the largest area of uncharted space in the galaxy. The moment the Empire reached Bakura, Koda Station, Lipsec, Skye, or Imynusoph, the grandest expansionary expedition since the formation of the Galactic Republic would commence.
As Vader was examining the map he perpetually kept available in his office, examining the current collected data and the planned future operations, his holo-terminal began to buzz. He turned around, tugged at his uniform, and marched towards the terminal. No wonder Palpatine never left Coruscant back in the days of his Empire; he had too many calls to take. Accepting the call, Jaster Mereel, dressed in full armour, greeted him.
“Lord Vader,” he greeted respectfully, nodding.
“What is the situation, General.”
“Sir, the civil war on Melida/Daan is much worse than we assumed it to be. We’ve barely established a landing on the north-most major city of Garth. For the moment the Young and the Elders don’t seem to have taken much notice of us. Most of the fighting seems to be focused around the southern continent.”
“What is your proposed course of action.”
“General Ordo is busy with operations pushing down the Five Veils Route and is unable to render assistance. We could begin pacification operations but I refuse to waste the lives of my men.”
“That will not be necessary, General. I would have refused to allow it had you insisted. The-” Vader abruptly cut off, the force giving him a strong feeling. A familiar feeling. Ah, of course. “Hold your position and continue reconnaissance. I want a full briefing by the time I arrive.”
“You’re joining us?”
“I will have Admiral Coburn ready the fleet immediately. This is the most precarious situation yet. We cannot have the civil war escalating, nor can we forcibly conquer the planet. We must be careful to resolve the crisis without angering the population to the point they seek assistance from the Republic.”
“My thoughts exactly, sir.”
“Very good. Hold your position and make the necessary preparations for my arrival. I will deal with this civil war myself.”
Jyllian Cariss never cared about rumours and gossip. As snobbish as the phrasing may sound, she believed it beneath her. Of course there was often use in knowing such things, but that was what her talented staff was for. She never participated in the act herself. Jyllian usually cared even less when the rumours about her persisted – and persist they did, the Moff was the centre of a lot of public attention. The gossip columns were, according to her aides, absolutely bustling with rumours and the sort about her. Normally it was manageable.
Until rumours that she was supposedly pregnant spread across the Empire.
It had gotten so bad that – despite briefly addressing it in a press conference – even her mother had pestered her several times. “You should have been careful!” she said. “You’re too bust running an Empire to raise a kid!” she said. “I hope it was that Jango fellow you introduced us too, he seems like a nice young man,” she said.
Lord Vader had personally contacted her in sympathy fury, and it took over fifteen minutes to convince him not to introduce press censorship to deal with the situation. Vader only acquiesced after she raised the point that, should he have done so, it could have angered enough members of the press to leak information to the Republic.
“Jango,” she groaned, throwing her head back against the couch, “I didn’t sign up for this.”
“Well,” he begun hesitantly, “you did call Guri to ord-” he reddened and looked away when she gave him a stare that could have stayed a Rancor.
“If it was anyone else,” Arla giggled, “it’d be pretty hilarious. Vader’s most trusted Moff – allegedly pregnant! Sorry Jyll, I love you but you’ve got to let me laugh at this.”
She rubbed her forehead and sighed. Jango wisely kept quiet.
“At least Boba’s finally sleeping,” Jango’s sister shrugged.
“Arla?” Jango gritted.
“Yeah?”
“Shut up.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi wasn’t angry because Jedi didn’t get angry.
He was… rather frustrated.
Unhappy.
Not best pleased, to put it mildly.
Abandoned by his master, Obi-Wan had been cast out of the Jedi Order due to his decision to help the Young in their survival. Together with Cerasi, they had held the line and maintained control of several key cities, but the war was not yet over. It was clear that unless they decisively ended the conflict there would be no chance at peace.
It caused a dilemma for him. As a Jedi, he was supposed to be a keeper of the peace, but what does one do when the only way to make peace is to make war?
As much as he was enjoying his new friendships with the Young, he just wanted the war to be over. Maybe, since he didn’t have an Order to go back to, he could stay on Melida/Daan. There would be a lot of effort needed to rebuild, and even more to move forwards.
But that was a problem for later. For now, Obi-Wan had to keep his friends alive. The Elders had launched a major attack on Quadri which, if successful, would sever the Young’s communications in the northern continent. That would be enough to turn the tide in several places, prolonging the conflict further.
“Cerasi! They’ve got heavy weapons!”
“We can’t hold them off!”
“Kenobi! Can you-”
Before he could formulate a plan to somehow stop the endless offensive, something unexpected happened. The sounds of weapons-fire increased exponentially, but it was no longer directed at them. Had they received sudden reinforcements? From their positions inside the building, it was difficult to tell. He reached out with the force and sensed… … amusement...?
“Cerasi,” he whispered, “there’s another force-user outside.”
“Are they on our side?”
“I… I don’t know.”
He could sense the presence clearly, but the man on the other side of the walls had great mental shielding. Kenobi could get nothing. Then, without warning, several Mandalorians poured into the room. They kept their weapons low but Kenobi knew they would be able to turn on them in a moment’s notice if the Young attempted anything rash. Yet they didn’t attack. In fact, they had seemingly wiped out the Elder forces who were trying to seize the building.
And then he saw him.
A tall, powerful man clad in black and red armour, a unique helmet, and a long cape confidently walked into the room like her owned it, flanked by two other Mandalorians who had rows of red and blue squares on their chest. More strikingly, he held a black lightsaber.
The man and his subordinates walked past the others and straight up to him and Cerasi, deactivating his lightsaber and placing his hands on his belt. For a moment, there was nothing but silence – and the sound of soft mechanical breathing.
“Kenobi.”
“That’s me,” he quipped, frowning.
“Jedi,” a Zabrak he hadn’t seen before sneered.
“Not presently,” he scowled back.
“Maul, behave,” the man chided. “The Jedi are not our enemy.”
“Who are you?” Cerasi interjected.
There was another pause.
The man removed his helmet, passing it to a uniformed man who had just entered – also wearing the red and blue squares – revealing a youngish looking face. The stranger only looked young, however, as Kenobi could sense a maturity and authority that came with many years.
“I am Lord Vader, ruler of the Galactic Empire. We have come to end this conflict, rebuild the planet, and welcome you into our realm. Cerasi, General Mereel here informs me you are the leader of the Young. I suggest you take a few hours to talk with him. He will connect you to a holo-call with Moff Cariss, who can explain the benefits of joining the Empire far better than I.”
“Yes sir,” the gravely Mandalorian nodded to his left, gesturing lazily with a hand before leading Cerasi off.
“Lieutenant Lekauf, please contact Admiral Coburn and instruct him to begin operations.”
“As you command, my lord.”
Initially, Kenobi assumed Vader to be announcing himself as a ruthless conqueror. To the standard eye, he might even seem as much. But despite a tame darkness lingering within his aura, there wasn’t an ounce of fear or hatred Obi-Wan could sense from any of the man’s forces in the room. There was respect, affection, loyalty, and protectiveness, but not a soul present held negative emotions you’d expect the subordinate of a ruthless conqueror to radiate.
“I expect the civil war will be over within a week,” Vader stated confidently. There wasn’t an inkling of doubt in the capabilities of his forces. “Which only leaves one issue. You.”
“Me?” Kenobi replied, feeling a hint of nervousness.
“Indeed. If you return to the Jedi you would no doubt inform them of my Empire’s activities in the region. This would be enough to prompt a wider investigation that could reveal my Empire prematurely. This is… unacceptable.”
“So you’re going to kill me?”
“May I?” the dark Zabrak asked eagerly with a terrifying grin on his face.
“There will be no killing!” Vader angrily commanded, spinning around to face Maul with an aggressive point of the finger. To this, the Zabrak rolled his eyes, gaining a snicker from the girls next to him. “Don’t give me that attitude, and don’t encourage him!” he admonished, making the three turn their eyes to the ground.
Obi-Wan barely suppressed a chuckle.
“Anyway,” Vader continued, “Killing you would cause more problems than I’d like, but I cannot let you return to the Temple.”
“That’s good, I wasn’t going to go back anyway,” Obi-Wan responded defiantly. Vader actually looked mildly surprised for a microsecond.
“Interesting. Most interesting. Then you may be more open to my proposal than I had hoped.” At a raise of Obi-Wan’s eyebrow, Vader continued. “Return with us to Arkanis. I will let you tour the Empire and see what I have accomplished. You may speak with me and my subordinates, you may learn our plans. You may serve as a Jedi within our borders if you so choose, though you’ll find your services are not in as high demand as other regions of the Outer Rim.”
“And what do you get out of this?”
Vader smiled. “I am confident you will be convinced of my plans and my actions. I doubt you’ll even want to return to the Temple. If you would like, I would offer you full citizenship and a place in my Empire.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then we shall return you to your Republic when the time is right.”