Ten years, two months, and twenty-three days after the Battle of Yavin…
Or forty-five years, two months, and twenty-three days after the Great Resynchronization.
(Nine months and eight days since arrival).
There are many roads leading to the Corporate Sector.
And even more are hidden within this region.
The hyperspace route known as the Shaltin Tunnels began in the territory known as Farana, located in the northern part of the Corporate Sector, crossed it from north to south, and further, through the Vil, Chorlian, and other sectors, led directly to the planet Lianna.
And from there, via regional hyperspace routes, or through the Perlemian Trade Route, one could reach almost any point in the galaxy.
If one had the desire and time for such a journey.
At a distance of just one and a half light-years from the invisible borders of the Corporate Sector, practically in interstellar void that was not yet part of the Vil sector, but possessed one undeniable quality – there were no planets, asteroids, or even nearby stars here, at the point of the Shaltin Tunnels hyperspace route, starships transitioned to sublight speed.
They did not activate transponders or identification systems.
Most of them were not even armed.
A significant portion of this fleet consisted of transport starships, which, one way or another, had previously been simple (or not so simple) civilian transport ships.
But the outcome of their mission depended on almost more than the actions of a lone Imperial-class Star Destroyer and two Providence-class carriers, holding themselves on three sides of the transports.
"The ships have arrived in full, sir," the watch officer addressed Captain Astorius. "No losses among the transports."
"Good," the commander of the 'Stormhawk' calmly gazed at the interstellar void, clasping his hands behind his back and not taking his eyes off the transparisteel of the central viewport. "Begin deployment."
"Aye, sir!"
The three destroyers were the first to get to work.
Spreading out like a wide net, they began to eject dozens of spherical objects into space.
Each was the size of a TIE Interceptor cockpit, but the contents of these craft were entirely different.
And their quantity was not as great as the commanders of these destroyers would have liked.
But one way or another, the mass-shadow mines were being placed in their designated spots according to the general mining plan.
As soon as they were installed in the center of the hyperspace route and began to appear on scanners, the destroyers left the mining zone, giving way to unarmed ships.
The battle-worn transports took their place and began dropping mines of a more conventional design, equipped with sensors, explosive charges, and maneuvering micro-thrusters.
These mines were placed around the mass-shadow mines in several echelons, creating truly enormous barriers in the path of travelers.
Hours passed, and the transports continued their work.
Dozens of mines.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Tens of thousands.
"Who would have thought that these rusty buckets would ever be needed," Captain Astorius remarked, watching as the starships, most of which were in such a deplorable state that they could hardly have continued functioning for another few standard years, were engaged in activities for which the Empire had created specialized mine-laying vessels.
But such starships simply did not exist in the Dominion's arsenal.
Super Star Destroyers, destroyers, battlecruisers, heavy cruisers, patrol cruisers, corvettes, frigates, gunships – of all types and for every taste, yet none of them were suitable for such a role.
Not to mention that all of them, without exception, had their designated combat missions, which they were currently carrying out.
Of course, if we were talking about those that had full crews on board.
"Mine deployment is complete, sir," the watch officer informed Morgoth. "All mines have been placed according to the plan."
"Good," the commander of the 'Stormhawk' said. "Request pilots to report on the condition of the starships. If there are no malfunctions – we withdraw to the supply point, load new mines, and proceed to the Hydian Way. We still have a lot of work ahead of us."
"Aye, sir," the watch officer saluted, turning sharply over his left shoulder and quickly heading towards the 'pits'.
Morgoth gestured to the communications officer to open a channel with the ships he was interested in.
"The 'Stormhawk' is calling the 'Black Pearl' and the 'Colicoid Swarm'," he said, addressing the holographic images of the commanders of the auxiliary ships. "We are preparing to return to base."
"It's about time," a yawn came from under Captain Tiberos's mask. "I've even gotten a bit bored guarding these slowpokes."
"Is the principle of minefield construction clear?" Morgoth clarified, ignoring the former privateer's demonstrative dissatisfaction.
"Crystal clear, sir," Captain Irv, commander of the second 'Providence', replied calmly.
"Captain Tiberos?" Morgoth looked at the second hologram.
"Clear as a Tatooine noon," he responded in his usual non-regulation manner. "Easier only to bash heads."
"I hope for your attentiveness, gentlemen," Captain Astorius continued. "Because you will be carrying out the next mine deployments yourselves, detached from the 'Stormhawk'."
Irv reacted in no way.
But Tiberos hesitated for a moment, then regained his proud posture of a confident sentient being.
"We'll manage," he declared.
"I hope so," Astorius replied. "Because for failure, you will answer personally to Grand Admiral Thrawn."
"Not for the first time," Tiberos stated.
"And one last thing," Morgoth approached the main console. "Ensure that the mass-shadow mines are not activated and their transceivers are operating at the set frequency. The barriers must remain a secret to our enemy until the Supreme Commander gives the order for their activation. This is critically important for all operations."
"The task is clear, sir," Irv responded.
"Likewise," Tiberos echoed. "But I would gladly continue intercepting 'corporate' convoys."
"Your personal desires interest no one, Captain Tiberos," Morgoth cut off the 'auxiliary'. "You are part of the regular fleet. You have received an order – you carry it out. There can be no other way."
"Actually, the Grand Admiral himself set our tasks earlier," Tiberos countered. "Therefore, it's a bit unclear to me why we should follow your orders without Thrawn's confirmation."
"I have no such misunderstanding," Irv shook his head.
Morgoth looked at Tiberos with a stern gaze.
"My orders come from Grand Admiral Thrawn," he explained. "Whether you like it or not, they will be carried out.
"Purely hypothetically – what if not?" Tiberos chuckled.
"Purely hypothetically – then I will grind you to dust," Morgoth said quietly but firmly. "Anyone who dares to disobey the order. I think I don't need to explain in detail what will happen to you. Any questions, captains?"
Naturally, there were none.
Once Captain Astorius's hologram dissolved, and their small fleet jumped into hyperspace, Irv massaged his temples with his fingers.
"I don't like this whole setup," Yazuō suddenly said seriously, appearing beside him. "Astorius, of course, isn't Shohashi, just a mediocre middle-ranker, but I tend to believe his promise to deal with us."
"If we don't follow orders," the head of Aut-O rasped. "I don't think our ship's commander has any such desire."
"I only have one desire right now," Irv muttered. "To scream like a bantha being dismembered by a rancor. Because time and again, as soon as I outline a new goal for our journey – Thrawn comes up with some new task for us."
"Yes, this alien knows how to ruin the pleasure of self-importance, thinking you are supposedly independent corsairs," no, droids can't giggle. "When he wants to, you do what he needs. My logical chains break and fly off to the Maw Cluster at the thought of what pathetic pirates I am forced to serve currently."
It all seems to him.
Droids cannot express or demonstrate emotions.
Simple lack of sleep, nothing more.
"Since when did your head start aching about your droid destiny?" Yazuō asked deliberately loudly, demonstratively shifting his vibro-pike from one hand to the other.
Aut-O's head intently followed his actions, as if a tactical super-droid genuinely feared that the deputy commander of the destroyer might harm him in the presence of the ship's commander.
"Since the moment one of the KNS's three best ships began to be commanded by a traitor," Aut-O stated.
Irv, ceasing his activity, gave the tactical super-droid's head a playful pat.
"You can pray to your god, Aut-O, but nothing else will change," Irv warned. "You and I are the last 'separatists' in service. And it so happens that you will serve me."
"Hope so, human," no, the metal thing definitely snorted. "Since you contacted this Thrawn, I've been functioning successfully, even without engaging tactical protocols."
"And do we really need him?" Vein clarified.
"Definitely," Irv confirmed, turning his head with optical sensors towards him. "Now, strain those praised protocols of yours and calculate the situation – what and why are we doing this at all?"
"We are deploying mines," Aut-0 stated imperturbably. "For the uninitiated, I explain, according to the 'Regulations on Tactical Defensive Actions'. 'Mine deployment is carried out for the purpose of...'"
"Stop," Irv interrupted the wordplay. "I know the theory, I understand it. I've laid mines myself more than once. It's a defensive weapon first and foremost. Secondarily, a blocking one. But what does Thrawn have to defend in the Corporate Sector?"
"The question is different – why do it now? And specifically at the Shaltin Tunnels?" Wayne chimed in.
"Based on our raids and the deployment of buzz droids in the Chorlian sector, we can assume that it is through the Shaltin Tunnels that goods and objects that Grand Admiral does not wish to export are being siphoned out of the Corporate Sector," hypothesized Out-0. "Then this would confirm the theory of using minefields as a blocking weapon. More data is needed for a more accurate analysis."
"It doesn't add up," Irv shook his head. "Astorias himself said that our mining operations would increase in number – the next deployment will be by three groups immediately. Consequently, three more routes will be blocked. But which ones – is unclear."
"Of those leading from the explored galaxy into the Corporate Sector, only the Hydian Way remains," Wayne said after thinking. "Which two other routes does Thrawn intend to block?"
"The analysis is incorrect – we don't know the available information," Ayt-0 repeated. "It would be more expedient to draw conclusions based directly on the coordinates we receive upon returning to base."
"That will be a separate mission," Irv reminded him. "And I don't particularly want to get involved in it without understanding exactly who we intend to pull a fast one on with a hyperspace exit in the middle of a minefield."
"The nature of the weapon used gives grounds to believe that the most probable target is ships using modern tracking systems," Out-0 suddenly stated.
"Explain," Irv frowned.
"The simple mine models we just deployed have a minimal set of active sensors," the tactical superdroid's head explained. "Like micro-engines, they give a small signature on modern scanners, or are invisible on older versions. The design features of the mines do not allow them to approach the target faster than is done in more modern mines, like those used by Kuat Drive Yards to protect the secret route to the planet Rotana. Considering that the Dominion has the unique technology of Kuat Drive Yards – mass-shadow mines – it can be stated that they have data on the best weapon models, but deliberately use one that is slow in delivery to the target. It can be assumed that this is done to specify the targets – ships of a non-modern design, whose scanning frequency range, as well as processor speed, are certainly worse. This allows simple mines to reach the ship before countermeasures are taken."
"Modern design..." Wayne repeated. "What kind?"
"Scanning installations manufactured no later than forty years ago fall under this category," the droid explained. "Due to the lack of more recent databases, I am unable to provide you with more precise information. However, I must note that according to the requirements of the Anaxis Military Academy, system updates occur every decade."
The men exchanged glances.
"Consequently, the trap is designed specifically for ships that were commissioned before the Empire's heyday," Irv realized. "Venators. Acclamators, Dreadnoughts… Even Victories – these are no longer 'modern ships.' And the equipment on them is, at best, ten years old. As far as I remember, they stopped modernizing them around the tenth year of Imperial rule in the galaxy."
"It turns out pretty cool," Wayne chuckled. "Then... Let's recall the 'corporates'' signature move – buying old junk, but in large quantities."
"So the trap is created specifically for their fleet," Irv nodded. "Of course, it's too early to judge from one mine deployment. But, I think, the picture will be exactly the same in subsequent ones."
"But there's still a question," Yazuō persisted. "What exactly does Thrawn want to achieve? Block the 'corporate' fleet within the sector, or prevent outside help from reaching them?"
"I don't think we have the kind of loyalty that would allow us to get a truthful answer to this question," Irv said with a sigh. "Well... If Thrawn's target is the 'corporates,' then we don't have to worry too much. Our 'Colicoid Swarm' is roughly in the same weight class as most of their fleet."
"It would be, if you earned more money for its modernization," Out-0's voice sounded grumbling this time.
"That's why I'm still single," Irv concluded. "I wouldn't survive a second brain-saw."
***
As soon as the hologram of the Shadow Guard, former Inquisitor Reynar Obscuro, formed, overcoming the interference caused by the masking systems, our gazes met.
"Grand Admiral, your assignment is complete," he said.
"Excellent," I replied. "Therefore, we can state that you are aware of the timeline for the activation of the destroyers captured by the Alliance at the Battle of Lantilles?"
"Yes," the man replied. "In twelve days, they will be fully combat-ready, crewed, and ready for deployment anywhere in the galaxy."
"Faster than expected," I noted.
"Work at the shipyards has accelerated," Obscuro explained. "The restoration of ships, not only these, but all that the Alliance delivers there, is proceeding twice as fast."
"Have additional workers been hired?"
"Yes. As well as increased requirements for our own security and inspections of every worker starting a shift," the former Inquisitor said. "The hiring of new workers is carried out under the vigilant eye of the shipyards' own security service. Only local residents with a high public rating are hired. Others are screened out as unreliable. But this does not affect the number of people wanting to get there – the increased pay rate plays its role."
"I see," I leaned back in my chair. "Is your source of information reliable?"
"As reliable as a shipyard chief can be," a smirk appeared on Reynar's lips. "And he knows about everything happening exactly to the same extent as he is susceptible to tipsy Twi'leks."
Well, the last sentence explains how Obscuro obtained the information I was interested in.
"Return to the Shadow Guard base," I ordered. "You will receive a new assignment later."
"Yes, Grand Admiral," the man bowed, and his white-blue volumetric projection dissolved into the air.
I turned my gaze to my adjutant, who stood silently beside my desk, on which lay a data slate with operational summaries.
As expected, he provided them, filtering out routine reports and presenting only a dry summary of the Dominion's internal and external affairs.
The Triumvirate, within its competence, could handle smaller matters independently.
"The reinforcement of security measures on Lantilles is not accidental," Groddin stated.
"Yes," I agreed. "The Alliance is intensifying its efforts to combat agents within its ranks. The incident with their cruisers and our use of their starships to create a point of tension in the Thanium Worlds has played its role. The enemy learns from its mistakes. Though they draw incorrect conclusions."
Which, of course, plays into our hands.
I need a "buffer" for some time.
And the Alliance, with whom negotiation is impossible, is perfectly suited for the role of a structure that can hold out for several months under tripartite pressure.
At least, while they are busy searching for agents, which we have not had and do not have on Lantilles, I don't have to worry about them interfering in my dealings with the Zann Consortium and acquiring new sectors adjacent to the Perlemian Trade Route as allies (or conquering them).
"Meanwhile, they intend to pit the Tion Hegemony and the Allied Tion against each other," Tierce reminded me.
"True," I agreed again. "Misconceptions lead to unpleasant consequences, which they have yet to face. The results of this confrontation will not please them."
"Yes, sir," Groddin Tierce replied, looking at the data slate and indicating that he intended to move on to more important reports. "Our scouts report a large number of unknown ships moving in the northern part of the Mieru'kar sector. Surveillance stations are noting engine signatures characteristic of Aggressor-class Star Destroyers and Vengeance-class frigates. The Zann Consortium continues its offensive."
"Is that so," I narrowed my eyes. "An interesting priority of targets."
"They ignored the obvious target in the Korva sector," Groddin said in a measured tone. "They probably decided they could distract our forces from the center of the metropolis to the borders. Observers have recorded the presence of transport ships escorted by combat starships. I assume they have moved to the second phase."
"It's unlikely that such an idea is directly driving them," I stated, lost in thought. "No, this is a carefully calculated maneuver. They tried to attack our perimeter, but did not achieve any significant success. Now they are using the notorious path through the northern territories of Mieru'kar, unknown to us, to reach the Tiraggi system. They will deliver a second blow through Galaanus."
"An attack on Tiraggi could force us to withdraw some forces from the perimeter deeper into the territories," Tierce made a logical deduction.
"Indeed," I agreed. "It could have. But the formations will remain in their positions. The enemy knows the location of our secrets, strives for them, and is filled with the desire to win..."
I cut off my own words, not finishing the thought.
Quite an interesting combination, it turns out.
A double strike.
With all forces?
I did everything to ensure that this was exactly the case.
The question is different – how strong will the second flotilla be, which I intend to stop at this line?
Is it worth risking the possibility of a hypothetical breakthrough, if one can avoid risk and play another combination?
It will not be easy in either of the unpleasant scenarios.
Whatever the Zann Consortium fleet moving in my direction may be, they will clearly thin out the defenses of the Perimeter in this sector.
Is it reasonable to take such a risk, knowing that there may be more than one Palpatine agent in this organization?
By destroying the invasion fleet with a defensive line, I will significantly deplete the latter.
Can the Emperor take advantage of this?
Given his advantage in the number of armed ships – I am more than confident that this is exactly what he will do.
The question is this – are the others ready to withstand such a blow?
It's not easy to say.
After all, a conscious trap was created out of thin air and is hardly suitable for fighting there at full strength...
Recalling formations from the front line is also incorrect – after all, a double strike might not be as serious as a diversion of attention for a breakthrough in a completely different direction.
Therefore, we will have to make do with small forces.
Small – in quantitative terms, but not in qualitative ones.
It turns out funny...
Tschel suggested withdrawing the ship, and I objected.
Now I am considering the exact same option.
And the young captain will not fail to remind me of this.
Well, I won't be lost for words either.
"Contact the commandant of the defensive sector," I ordered. "I order the 'Perimeter' in our sector of the front to be deactivated."
"It will be done, sir," Groddin Tierce said in a routine tone. "Should I inform Captain Tschel myself that we are leaving the station?"
"We won't spoil the young officer's moment of glory," I smiled. "I will inform him personally that he was right after all."
"As you wish, Grand Admiral," Tierce gave a regulation salute and silently left my office.
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan