Although Naval Intelligence was a branch within Imperial Intelligence, their command structures were markedly different. This was largely because Imperial Intelligence operated with a strict hierarchy and clear chain of command, whereas Naval Intelligence was far more decentralized and autonomous.
Naval Intelligence was essentially a network of covert operatives and listening posts, where agents often worked independently.
Beneath Naval Intelligence was a small special forces unit called the Intelligence Marines. They served as the muscle of Naval Intelligence—interacting with covert operatives on behalf of Intelligence agents and establishing listening posts.
Naval Intelligence operated as a loose collective of independent agents, sharing only one thing in common: information. Whether small or significant, all intelligence was funneled up to Naval Intelligence High Command, which then relayed it to Imperial Intelligence.
But that wasn't all. Naval Intelligence agents were frequently assigned to Imperial ships—there was generally at least one Naval Intelligence agent dispatched to every squadron across the Empire.
This was on a smaller scale similar to how the ISB placed an agent onboard every Imperial Star Destroyer.
"Naval Intelligence, Special Agent Hannah, at your service," she said casually, letting the information slip easily. Most officers were wary of intelligence personnel and preferred to keep their distance.
Judging by her age, she seemed young—early twenties, most likely.
"So what's a young agent like you doing on Kuat? I'd assume they'd send an old hand to watch over this place," Aaron asked. Hannah chuckled, surprisingly easygoing and energetic for a Naval Intelligence agent.
"I come from the Tyrren family. We're mostly unknown but serve as a sort of vassal family to the Praji. My father worked in Naval Intelligence as a liaison for the Praji family, and his eldest son was supposed to take over."
Aaron was struck again by how open she was—sharing her family background within moments of meeting.
"Long story short, my father died. Although my brother was meant to inherit his information network, he's apparently a genius and has already surpassed my father's achievements. He didn't even need to merge with my father's network."
She ordered a bottle of Eriadu wine and continued, "So I skipped half of the Naval Intelligence Academy to take over my father's network."
Aaron sighed inwardly. This was going to be troublesome.
"I see. Have you had any luck so far?" he asked.
She sighed. "It's coming along, I suppose. But I haven't received any real assignments, so I don't have an efficient way to utilize it."
"Well, you could try to—" Aaron started, but their conversation continued, the wine flowing as they talked well into the night.
Aaron was captivated by her outgoing personality—a complete contrast to the typical intelligence officer, who was usually cold, strict, and loyal. Hannah was one of the most lively individuals he had ever met.
They quickly bonded, both young and relatively new to the Empire.
But unlike Aaron, Hannah had connections. Her brother had become the most effective Naval Intelligence agent by the age of 29, and her father's prestige still carried weight among the social elite—he was seen as the Praji family's right hand.
The Praji family sat atop the social hierarchy, with their patriarch commanding the Fleet Admirals of the Inner Cluster Sector—a system of great value and strategic importance. The Fleet Admiral commanded 57 Star Destroyers across the sector.
Through Hannah, Aaron was introduced to a multitude of influential figures—ranging from Imperial Intelligence special agents to senators.
Most interesting to Aaron was Ross Farli, one of the lead instructors of the Death Trooper program. His unique strategies and disciplines resonated with Aaron's own, and they talked for more than an hour—until Hannah pulled him away to meet others.
Aaron also drew the ire of one ISB agent, after debating the pitfalls of relying on stormtrooper helmet comms. Yet he earned the favor of Grant Riro, a colonel at the Imperial Special Forces Directorate.
He engaged in intriguing tactical discussions with military officers of various ranks—from naval admirals to stormtrooper generals and even imperial army generals.
It was during these conversations that Aaron's unique perspective began to shine.
Earth, despite all its faults and hardships, had a way of refining even the smallest details. It had experienced a vast array of scenarios in a relatively short time.
The galaxy had little reliable historical record before humans on Coruscant mass-produced hyperspace technology and began their expansion. Though some species developed hyperspace earlier, their records were unclear or lost.
Millennia had passed since then. Histories were fragmented or missing entirely. The sheer volume of modern records was overwhelming.
Lessons from conflicts were seldom learned fully. Strategies were developed and then forgotten amid trillions of other archives.
Combat doctrines changed constantly. The galaxy's seemingly endless supply of cannon fodder meant advanced strategies were often discarded—why optimize when you could just throw more bodies at the problem?
The galaxy's diverse cultures, races, and ways of thinking slowed focused development.
On Earth, nations and talents evolved constantly, adapting creatively to their circumstances. Earth's inventiveness was unmatched elsewhere in the galaxy, but this new thinking wasn't widely applied.
Most Imperials believed victory hinged solely on firepower. This was true against droids, which marched mindlessly. But the rebels were not droids.
The galaxy's complexity, combined with the Imperials' stuck mindset since the Clone Wars, explained why they struggled.
Aaron's inventive methods sparked interesting debates with influential figures, but he knew nothing would change. After all, why risk a new approach when massed firepower and overwhelming numbers worked?
The rebels were forced to adapt to survive; the Imperials didn't realize adaptation was necessary—until it was too late.
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patreon.com/pondsfyre - +20 chapters, alongside 4 other stories of mine. Each 50+ chapters.