Actions have consequences

Tanya walked into a meeting room. It had been an hour since the speech had ended and the audience had long since left to act on what they were told.

"How was the speech?" Tanya asked her advisor, Max Grobelnel, who was sitting in front of her. Draneir was sitting beside Tanya. They were the only occupants of this greyish room and food and drinks had already been served.

"Honestly? It was a shit speech. The briefing section was a bit over the top in my opinion but you insisted on it."

"Was it that bad?"

"Well, when I say it was crap it's because I'm foul-mouthed and tend to exaggerate. The speech was good, but it was neither optimal nor as good as it could have been."

It seemed that the longer Max lived, the more reasons Draneir gained to regret saving the advisor's life. He felt that how straightforward Max was a negative trait that would drag Tanya and her government down. Tanya showing no sign of clear disagreement was the only thing stopping him from raising his voice on the subject.

"I understand, but I think it was necessary to inform the populace about some of my measures, to encourage them, and inform them of how things would be done from now on."

"And for everyone to start crying and complaining like the sons of bitches they are who don't respect your authority," Draneir said with venom on his tongue. "I'm more than certain a few fools will be giving you a call soon enough to complain."

Tanya smiled slightly, picking up her fork and eating a bit of what was on her plate. The dinner appeared to contain a vegetable of some sort with the meat of an animal she didn't know, but it looked pretty good.

"So, who's come to fuck around most recently?" Max asked, looking into Tanya's eyes for a second and then focusing on Draneir. "The slavers I assume, but who else?"

"The old guard," Draneir responded.

"Well, the old guard is always screwing around, I don't think it's going to change things much. Plus, look at what happened with Imperial Intelligence. I think Tanya's informed the galaxy plenty well of the consequences of conspiring against her."

"That's the problem Grobelnel, intelligent beings have the unfortunate quality of stupidity. I'm certain that more attempts will be made on Tanya's life as the years go by. They will all think that they will be the ones to succeed, that they won't fail, that they won't make the mistakes of those who tried before."

Tanya continued quietly enjoying the meat of the dish. She thought of the Imperial Intelligence's terrorist attack, which had been in fact a false flag operation that gave her the casus belli necessary to deal with the slithery organisation. It may have been an overreaction to being spied on and manipulated, but it was too late to repent... Besides, they didn't deserve a shred of mercy. They were monsters, an vile snake curled around the Empire that did little but prey on others and stab the backs of many loyal Imperials.

"I doubt there will be many more terrorist attacks against me. I have set an example that I am not to be acted against, for if I survive they will be destroyed utterly, but… it seems the terrorist attacks now seem to have turned against those loyal to me."

Draneir looked at Max and Max looked back. This morning's terrorist attack was what she was referring to. The terrorist attacks were never against mere troops but against collaborators in Tanya's upper echelons. They ate in silence for a few moments.

"Honestly, not having an intelligence service is leaving us exposed," Draneir commented.

Tanya hummed thoughtfully, then said, "The ISB was theoretically in charge now but they don't seem to be doing a very good job... Should we create a new organisation?" She turned to the other occupant of the table. "What do you think, Grobelnel?"

"Let's see… I'm a politician, not a military man, and I'm not into intelligence stuff either, however the ISB is basically in charge of all security tasks. It's such a big administrative body that it's normal that it suffers from work overload with how many responsibilities they have now. Maybe we should divide the ISB into several departments, especially if you plan to centralise the police of all the planets. That would probably fall into the ISB's current responsibilities. How many employees are there in the ISB right now?"

"It depends on whether it's the Super Sector or the Empire as a whole."

"The Super Sector obviously."

"I believe it's around twenty million."

"And how many policemen do you estimate you'll create?"

"Well, for 50,000 inhabitants it would be 500."

"And they'll be inside the ISB?"

"Okay, I get it. You don't need to continue. But how would you divide the ISB?"

"IP, Imperial Police, would be in charge of policing, obviously. The ISB... Come to think of it, what does the ISB do apart from storing population data?"

"Internal Security," Draneir answered. "In charge of demonstrations, making sure all organisations within the Empire comply with the New Order, spying on the population, in charge of identifying rebel cells..."

"That's it then," Max said in an interesting tone. "The ISB with the new reforms should eventually fade away and be diluted into several different organisations, no?"

Draneir and Tanya looked at each other for a second, ignoring Max.

"I don't think so," Tanya said, to which Max grumbled.

"How is it that an organisation that specialises in identifying rebel cells that are different terrorist organisations has got nothing in the last few months on the terrorists attacking Eriadu?" Draneir said aloud. Max shut his mouth and looked at Draneir curiously.

Tanya grimaced, a familiar feeling beginning to creep up from inside her. She tried to nip this in the bud, saying, "No, Draneir, please don't do this to me, don't make me get paranoid. I don't want to live every day doubting my allies."

But Draneir did not heed her plea, continuing. "With all due respect I ask again. How can an organisation that specialises in identifying terrorists not have found the terrorists in three months, with them doing an attack almost every week?"

"Well they must be very good terrorists Draneir. We already purged Imperial Intelligence because they turned against us, and by doing so we turned the ISB in our favour! There's no way the ISB would turn against us now!"

Max ate with curiosity as the arguments for and against paranoia unfolded. The vegetables and meat were of the highest quality and denoted the difference between the private elite and the public elite. He always belonged to the former, his banquets often lavish and sickly, however this dinner was fair and measured. It was not about excess but about bringing the best nutrition with the best taste. It was not eating for wealth but eating out of necessity, but with perhaps a pinch of luxury. Maybe it was Tanya and her Mandalorian-esque lifestyle? Max couldn't say.

Looking around the table he noticed how there was only water to drink. There was no wine at all... When was the last time Tanya had wine? Yesterday? No, the day before yesterday. She had gone a whole day without drinking alcohol, he thought.

"If you want, you may use my Deathtroopers to keep an eye on the ISB for a couple of weeks. If you find no reason for suspicion then cancel the order and be content. I do not intend to continue this conversation if all it does is feed my paranoia. I'm not in the right frame of mind to even consider suspecting my own allies."

"Interesting you should say that," Max said, interrupting the conversation after sipping from his glass of water. "Aren't you already acting against your 'allies?' You ignore what Coruscant has established and break its institutions."

"It is in my power to do that," responded Tanya, "In the way the Emperor established the rule of the Moffs and the Grand Moffs, the latter who are emperors who themselves are loyal to the Emperor. In the old days, the title of Emperor was when someone that ruled over kings. In this system we are in, every Moff is a king and every Grand Moff is an emperor. Where does that leave the position of Emperor?"

"I don't know, you tell me."

"It was said that there was only one thing above the Emperor, God."

"God? What uncivilised thinking."

"Yes... I couldn't agree more. But we are getting off the subject. I am, as I have explained to you, Emperor of this land and therefore my power is absolute."

"Absolute in what sense?"

"In the sense that the Emperor — or if you want to use the story I told you before — God was the only one who was above me, the only one who could order me to stop. I think that's where the problems of the Empire now come from. Every Moff is King and every Grand Moff is Emperor. They don't think of the great work of galactic unity that is the Empire, but rather only their own territory. Acting out of self-interest rather than for the benefit of the Empire."

"And where does that leave you?"

"Me? I'm the last Imperial ruler," Tanya said with a smile. Draneir laughed, remembering that fateful day a few months ago. When everything seemed so dark, when they began their plans after the conquest of Eriadu. Time passed so quickly.

"How pretentious."

"More or less than the Council of Moffs that governs the army and many systems? More or less than the Regent Council which is illegitimate because there is no law of succession in place?"

"Less, obviously. I never really agreed with the ruling council, they are scum and always will be scum regardless of how much legitimacy they have."

"So, I consider myself the last Imperial because I hold the values of the Empire, I think of the Empire. I don't think of my territory as my centre of power but instead as a part of the great machinery of the Empire".

"You are quite arrogant," Grobelnel criticised good-heartedly.

Tanya stopped for a moment, looking quietly at the meat and vegetables that cooled. She began to cut and eat away at her food, leaving the table in silence as she finished her plate first and then drank a glass of water.

"I think calling me arrogant might be correct."

"No, of course not!" Draneir said, his plate already finished. "How can you say that about yourself! You are the most humble and good person in the Empire, I'm certain of it. And I don't say that out of politeness or because you're my superior, but because it's my honest opinion."

Max laughed at how quickly the topic of conversation had veered off course. They had started talking about how people would complain about Tanya and now they were talking about whether or not she was arrogant. It certainly put his mind at ease. She was human, or perhaps she acted human enough. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened to the cameras, the tablet... and those eyes.

"What are you laughing at all of a sudden?" Draneir asked harshly.

"At how quickly the conversation has changed, Belisarius. From how different it was when we started to what it is now."

Tanya let out a laugh, "Let's get back to the subject of the ISB then."

The two men nodded, their plates of food empty and the glasses of water almost finished. Draneir felt the urge to call for a waiter and ask for water and a cooler or even a drink, but then he remembered that since the conversation with the Ahsoka Tano, Tanya had not had any wine and the thought was put out of his mind. It was better not to call Tanya's attention to her lack of drinking over the past few days.

"I would say that maybe we should keep the ISB and create two other organisations, one in charge of surveillance of politicians and terrorists, one in charge of citizen security and one in charge of citizen administration." Max said leaning back in his chair, stretching his arms and spreading his legs to be in the most comfortable position for him.

"Basically, disappear the ISB and integrate its assets into three separate organisations," commented Draneir.

"Imperial Police, Imperial Archives and what? Imperial Security?"

"Imperial Security sounds boring," Max said. "Something that has to protect the Empire from external and internal enemies has to sound threatening. Its name alone should bring people to their knees."

"I will hunt the corrupted, I will conquer the rebel, I will crucify the traitor." Draneir quoted, leaving Tanya and Max a bit confused.

"That was my favourite part of the speech, it's a strong and powerful slogan but full of promise for a better future. I'd say I could make a better slogan. Watch the Terrorist, Burn the Corrupt, Crucify the Traitor. The Imperial Inquisition will not let evil take root in the Empire."

"The Imperial Inquisition, I like it," Max commented. "Let's call it the Imperial Inquisition, you could make great propaganda with it. It's a powerful name that will spread easily. Everytime someone in the streets says 'inquisition,' all enemies will tremble."

"Well, I said inquisition for the sake of argument, I just wanted to create a slogan," said Draneir.

"I really don't like the name inquisition, there are certain religious implications in that name that don't appeal to me."

"Belisarius," Max began, causing Draneir to turn to him resentfully.

"What?" he barked.

"If you help me convince Tanya to call the future Internal Security organisation the Imperial Inquisition, I'll stop calling you Belisarius. I'll even sign a contract if you want."

Draneir looked for a second at Tanya and then at Max.

"Oh come on, don't screw with me Draneir." Tanya said in a comically weak tone of voice.

"Deal."

"Motherfuckers," Tanya said with a laugh. "Well this is just talk, I don't think we're really going to do it. It's just a matter of passing the time until..."

As if fate was laughing at Tanya, the holo-communicator began to beep.

"Until trouble calls," Tanya finished, placing the holo-com on the table.

"Slavers, the old guard or Coruscant?" Max asked.

"I'll bet 200 credits on slavers," said Draneir quickly.

"200 on the old guard," replied Max.

"200 on Coruscant," Tanya predicted, accepting the call as she finished making her bet. A holographic figure formed over the time of a few seconds until an imposing individual became recognisable. Bertroff Hissa. Draneir and Max made a face, not because they lost 200 credits, which was nothing compared to their salary, but because Coruscant was calling.

And Coruscant only called for two things: promotions, or to alienate Tanya further.

"A not-so encouraging report has reached me through Imperial Intelligence about your intentions, Tanya Degurechaff."

"It is Grand Moff Tanya Degurechaff, dear Moff Bertoff Hissa. Good morning to you too."

"Don't play games. Did you just declare independence from the Empire?"

Max and Draneir were taken aback by the accusation, quickly sitting up straight and eyeing the half-alien, half-human figure with suspicion.

"No, you skipped the part of the speech where I said I will crucify the traitor, that part implies that I will kill the Empire's traitors, not that I will turn against the Empire."

"Then to what do you owe the following phrase said by you in that infamous speech?" Hissa said before picking up a holographic tablet and beginning to read the contents on it. "'In the absence of the Emperor and any higher authority, the sovereignty of this government shall therefore be made in the sovereignty of its people.'"

"It is because there is no authority superior to me. In the Empire there were only two persons who were superior to a Grand Moff. First, the Emperor, and second, My father who was Lord Vader."

"Your father was...? That explains your arrogance, Tanya Degurechaff. You accepted the rank of Grand Moff from the Council of Moffs. You accepted their authority when we promoted you. Now you reject the authority of the Council of Moffs when it suits you and you've already sucked all the blood out of the Empire?"

"With all due respect, when you promoted me, you were of a higher rank than me and according to Imperial law there is no clear definition of what ranks can or cannot be promoted to Grand Moff. However there are clear laws that state that only the Emperor and Lord Vader can command a Grand Moff. In accordance with Imperial laws and with loyalty to the Empire I have taken the laws to the letter and acted accordingly."

"You have abused Imperial law for your own benefit by ignoring any decency established in the Empire. Yssane Isard warned me about you when you purged Imperial Intelligence. I should not have ignored her then."

"Did she also tell you about how Imperial Intelligence frequently made attacks on both myself and my officers? On the Grand Moff of the South Galactic Super Sector? If I were you I would watch who I associate with, as your allies don't seem to respect ranks as much as I do. Even with all the insults and accusations you throw at me, I still treat you with the proper respect deserving of your rank."

Hissa and Degurechaff. The only two people who thought of the Empire rather than themselves, looked at each other, resentment and competition suffusing their gazes. Two people who could have been allies but whose ideologies were virtually incompatible with each other.

Enemies who could have been allies, but who never would be, all because the Empire was headed by an intentionally flawed system to entertain the whims of a sith.

"Be honest about your intentions. How far do you intend to take your sick and corrupt mentality?" Hissa said, contempt in his eyes as his hologram looked down on Tanya.

"As far as you force me. You sent me to die in the Galactic South. You expected the New Republic to take this territory and you abandoned it, leaving me behind, hoping that the 'problem' would take care of itself and now that I have defeated the New Republic, you fear revenge."

"Is this then your personal vendetta against the Moff Council?"

"No, I never said that. I said you fear revenge. I don't take revenge on anyone. I don't need revenge to know that your future would be bleak if you even thought of going to war against me with such stupid excuses like me 'declaring' independence."

The conversation escalated steadily as Max and Draneir both felt pressure envelop the room. Tanya only hours ago had doubted her position, her authority, her right to rule. All of sudden, she had an unwavering will that allowed her to spit in the face of those who ruled the Empire without so much as a shudder.

Draneir smiled at this and Max looked on in contemplation.

"War? Who said anything about war?"

"You, for by saying that I have declared independence, as a 'true' Imperial, your job would be to conquer me. To accuse me of rebellion implies that you are prepared to declare war on me... Are you prepared to destroy the Empire in a civil war that you will not win? I destroyed the New Republic on all fronts and if you try to kill me, I will destroy you too."

"Our total forces outnumber yours ten to one."

"I've won worse battles."

Hissa took a slight step back, before quickly regaining his previous footing. He would not be cowed so easily.

"From now on before you make any reforms you must report directly to the Moff Council and you will be expected to accept our authority from now on."

Without giving Tanya time to respond, the call closed and the hologram disappeared.

"Bring me a bottle of wine," ordered Tanya, in an authoritative tone.

"Wouldn't it be better to call a waiter?" asked Max, but Draneir was already up, turning the table around and grabbing Max by the collar of his suit and dragging him out of the room.

Once they were out, Max took the moment to question Draneir, rather upset by the impromptu manhandling. "What are you doing?!"

"Listen to me, because you are now a part of Tanya's inner circle. If Tanya tells you to do something, you do it. She just had a direct argument on her own against the Moff Council and won. However, Hissa implied there was an ultimatum to begin with."

"What sort of ultimatum?" Max asked, following him this time at his own pace.

"Implying that the Moff Council was prepared to declare war on her, and/or assassinate her. If she asks for wine and for us to bring it, it is to prevent anyone from poisoning it."

Max and Draneir were silent, walking down the corridors to the wine room.

"I think this was all planned by Tanya," Max said. "A small rebellion against the central authority that forced Coruscant to respond. And seeing the response forced them to accept her autonomy. Her words seemed overly prepared and she had a lot of conviction. Yes, I'm sure she planned the whole thing."

"She's almost always like that, she's always ten steps ahead of everyone else," Draneir replied with a proud smile, proud of the person he pledged his loyalty to.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"AAAAAHHHH!" Tanya shouted in frustration, hands on her head. "You sons of bitches! I didn't expect this! What the fuck!"

Tanya von Degurechaff was sitting at the table looking at Tanya.

"But you handled it so well. Your unbreakable will has successfully guided you through this crisis. It's how we've always done things."

"I almost caused a civil war between the Imperials!"

"But you didn't."

"But I almost did! If I'd known the Moffs would threaten war against me for the speech I wouldn't have done it!"

Tanya slumped back in her chair tired and stressed. She had sent Draneir and Max to get the wine because she needed a moment alone to unburden herself of so much stress and suffering and the day had only just begun. She was still expecting many more calls from different interest groups.

"I almost caused the death of trillions," Tanya said. She felt her stomach rise to her mouth but swallowed it down to avoid the disgrace of vomiting in the living room. The acidity in her mouth and tongue were uncomfortable, so she drank water to wash the bad taste away.

"I've pushed things too far. I should start to relax my actions, being so extreme is starting to turn the situation from bad to worse."

Tanya von Degurechaff laughed.

"You are weak, but you can't help it that your will is superior to yourself. In times of pressure your will comes to the fore and you oppose the world with such vehemence and power."

"Shut up or I'll take schizophrenia pills!"

"If you think you'll get rid of me with a few pills, you'll find that you're wrong. I'll leave you anyway though, for now at least..."

With that, the Rusted Silver vanished and Tanya took a deep breath.

"I want to drink wine and sleep but I still have to work for so many hours…"

—-----------------------

Within the living room of Tanya's and Draneir's quarters, Max watched as Tanya continued to drink wine from a comically large glass.

It barely took a moment of rest before a second call came over the holo-communicator. Tanya grimaced and accepted the call. Before her appeared Ranio Resuci, director of the ISB in the Super Sector.

"Grand Moff," the man greeted, saluting militarily and showing the proper respect for Tanya and her position as Grand Moff of the Super Sector. A respect that Bertoff Hissa threw aside when he called her out.

"Director," Tanya replied. "I'm afraid a call from you always means trouble. Please be brief."

The man nodded.

"There are several slave rebellions and many more are being organised on various planets following the announcement that you are going to free the slaves. I request permission to deploy the Imperial Army to put an end to these revolts."

"Damn it!" Tanya muttered, massaging the bridge of her nose in frustration at the news of the slave rebellion. She was freeing them! They could hardly wait a month for it to be done in an organised manner, could they?

"Negotiate with the slaves, calm them down and don't you dare shoot. Liberate any group of slaves you can. Take the opportunity to start registering all the slaves as members of the citizenry and give them their identification. Follow protocol and send them to any sanctuary planet where there are schools set up to reintroduce the slaves into society. Once they are finished they should be given 20,000 credits to start their lives. Follow the planet, it still can be used even with his… disaster"

When the liberation of the slaves was initially drafted up, it was estimated that it would take two months on civilised worlds and one year on uncivilised ones to complete the process. Twenty sanctuary planets would be established for the slaves where they would be relocated. The sanctuary planets were pacifist planets, with little crime and a social culture of caring for the underprivileged.

Tanya did not consider herself idealistic enough to believe no issues would arise from this. So much immigration would inevitably cause crime to increase among the planets those slaves migrated to. For even though they suffered a lot of injustice, she was not stupid. They will steal each other's money, beat each other up and create criminal gangs. That's why the safest planets were chosen and the whole situation was prepared in advance.

The Queen of Naboo was the main person in charge of preparing the planets for this project. When Tanya told her about it a few weeks ago in a holo-call, she volunteered to organise everything. Naboo was one of the planets in her territory with less crime and more loyalty to the Empire so far.

"The Queen of Naboo is acting as the main organiser of the reintroduction of slaves into society. If you must communicate with me on this matter, do so with her. If there is a crisis however, you may contact me. By the way, do we know how many slaves there are in total in the Super Sector?"

"It's estimated to be about two trillion."

Tanya's eye twitched momentarily but forced herself not to frown too much. Slavery was so normalised by this point that it made her want to smack the Emperor and the Grand Chancellors of the Old Republic for failing to solve this social and economic cancer.

"What a disgrace, really," said Tanya. "Anything else you need from me?"

"About this morning's terrorist attack, we recognised one of the dead. Oran Turman, a known mercenary and Hutt collaborator."

Tanya turned her gaze on Draneir and he frowned at the implications that his paranoia was unfounded. Then, however, he smiled at Tanya. For she had proven to be more composed than he had been, as was to be expected.

"The Hutts... have funded pirates in my territory, given troops to my enemies, and now hire mercenaries to act as terrorists on my own planet, to act against my loyalists?"

"We in the ISB believe their intention is to force you to negotiate."

"They want me to negotiate?" Tanya changed her expressions to a very serious one. "Call the Hutt representative who came here a month ago, I want to speak to him personally."

"Understood. I bid you farewell for now, Grand Moff. Long live the Empire!"

"Long live the Empire!" replied Tanya and the holocom call cut out.

"Are you going to negotiate with the Hutts?" asked Draneir.

Tanya held up her finger to silence her aide as she picked up the wine glass, slowly sipping its contents. Upon finishing, she placed it elegantly and slowly on the table and smiled.

"I think I like it better when I'm under pressure on all fronts, it makes me think less about my own mental failings," she said quietly. "I'm going to negotiate with them, but my way."

"What's your way?" Max asked.

"The one where I'm not even threatened by God."

Tanya knew how the Hutts worked, they wouldn't declare an open war… They are not like the Moffs… An evil smile appeared in Tanyas face.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahsoka Tano was walking down the street while Rex angrily strode beside her. "Does it bother you that much?" she asked.

"They are forcing us to either become their auxiliaries or to stop our activities entirely."

"I wouldn't know what to tell you Rex. I got a good impression of her. In person she is very likeable, and politically speaking her ideals are strong and good, that's why there must be people behind her. I don't think she was the one who crucified the traitors."

"She is Imperial, corrupt in mind and soul. She's tricking you into accepting her rule and then she'll slowly tighten the leash until she chokes the life out of us."

Ahsoka grimaced. She knew Rex had a deep trauma with the Empire and honestly she did too, but they couldn't live forever with that trauma dragging them down when they needed to act in the interest of the clones.

She felt for a moment the need to talk to Rex, to help him with his trauma, but it wasn't the right time. They were in public, and he was angry.

A sound from her holocommunicator began to play. Raising her arm she accepted the call and a small hologram of an ISB officer appeared.

"Queen Ahsoka Tano?" the officer asked, to which Ahsoka nodded, confused as to why she was being called by her title.

"I am informing you that officially your planet has been registered and validated in all Imperial documents. Welcome to the Empire and Long Live the Empire."

"Long Live the Empire," Ahsoka replied, with a tone of irony in her voice. She remembered the time when she fought for the Republic, how as a child soldier she killed hundreds, if not thousands, for a cause greater than herself.

The hologram disappeared and Rex laughed darkly.

"You see, this is the Empire. You make a friend in high places and the bureaucratic red tape goes from almost a year to a single day. I really don't understand how you can't see the corruption, nepotism, and incompetence of the Empire."

Ahsoka laughed. "For once having friends in high places helps us, and you complain," she said before calling Tanya with her holocommunicator. The call was instantly accepted and Tanya's figure appeared sitting at a table.

"Ahsoka?" she asked in surprise. "I wasn't expecting a call from you."

"I wanted to tell you that I greatly appreciate your help with the bureaucracy."

Tanya's face lit up and then her cheeks flushed as she tried to put on a more professional mask. Ahsoka couldn't understand how such an unfeminine woman was so cute at the same time. "Well theoretically agents will be sent to corroborate the data. It's only a temporary measure until the data is confirmed, then it will be permanent, but I'm glad to be of help."

"Would you like to have dinner tonight somewhere?" Ahsoka asked, as Tanya seemed to look at someone who was out of sight of the hologram.

"Can it be tomorrow? I have a busy day today, you know, the day after the speech. Everyone's calling in angry, complaining."

"I can imagine. What time tomorrow?"

"Nine o'clock in the evening? Same restaurant as yesterday. Is that okay?"

"Yes. Great. Thank you very much again and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodbye," Tanya said, ceasing the call and making the hologram disappear.

"If you want Rex, you can stay on the ship tomorrow while I take care of the big bad Imperial."

"Please," said Rex, wearily.

"Cranky old man," Ahsoka said with a chuckle.

"And yet I'm younger than you," Rex replied wryly.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ahsoka sat at one of the tables, watching as the men who had denied her entry two days ago stayed silent. She felt glad that these bastards were no longer opposing her for such a stupid reason as race.

The door of the restaurant opened and a woman entered. It was Tanya Degurechaff, but for the first time she appeared to be out of uniform. In its place came an elegant but old-fashioned suit that Ahsoka didn't recognize. It was completely black except for the white dress shirt beneath her jacket. The buttons were gold and her hair was rather neat in comparison to her past few public appearances and the day they met.

Tanya walked slowly to the table with Ahsoka and sat down. She seemed to be alone, but Ahsoka felt eight pairs of eyes watching from the rooftops in case something happened. Security for important figures was something that had been around since the time of the Republic... Her old friend Senator Padme had been very paranoid about her security as well.

"I've never seen you in civilian clothes. I thought you only had military fatigues," Ahsoka commented upon seeing her. You could tell she wasn't comfortable in the suit, as if she didn't want to wear it.

"I was forced by Grobelnel... Well you don't know him. I was forced by my political advisor. He wants people to understand that I'm not just a military woman, but I'm also a civilian."

"He's a good advisor apparently."

Tanya grimaced, resigned to wear the (in her opinion) unnecessary clothing. "He's very annoying when it comes to how I dress. Anyway, let me treat you to the house specialty."

"Of course, if you're offering," Ahsoka happily replied.

Tanya called the waiter and ordered the speciality of the house. Eisben, a meal that reminded her of her second life, when she could enjoy good food without the worry of war. She also ordered wine for both of them.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that the administrative problem was solved. Though the agents will still have to go to the planet to corroborate data with what was recorded."

"Of course, I wouldn't expect anything else. Is it alright if we talk about politics now, before the meal, but when the food comes to the table we'll move to more pleasant topics?"

"Of course," Tanya said, a smile plastered on her face. Ahsoka felt Tanya's happiness was honest. "Ask me anything you want."

"Well, I won't deny that there is some concern among my people about a planetary tax regarding the system of our planet, as well as what will happen to the mercenaries."

"Ah well, of course these are entirely understandable concerns. As you are a commune you do not generate monetary benefits of any kind either individually or on a planetary level. By law we will not force you to change your system as we respect that you have achieved a functional society. However, you will have to allow the Empire to exploit the resources of your planet. No private company, it would be public."

Ahsoka gave a half grimace.

"The clones... they don't have much acceptance of outsiders meddling in their affairs. We've always lived in isolation."

Tanya put on an understanding face and a rather pitying smile. "And I understand that, however I want to be fair to my government. If I tax planets and people I can't not tax communes, so instead of taxes, you will allow public industries to take resources from your planet. Obviously you will have the responsibility of negotiating with any enterprising company."

Ahsoka felt insecure, bringing people and companies to her idyllic planet, the clone utopia, but it was the price of having no money as a society.

"Okay. And the clones? Theoretically we're a mercenary planet."

"How do you organise yourselves?" Tanya asked, curious.

"Well, there are five founding legions of the city that make up the capital of the planet. Around this city many settlements began to form in a hexagonal sort of shape. Each city is inhabited by a legion's worth of clones. All members of the society are either skilled soldiers or trainees and when it comes to mercenary missions usually half of the legion leaves the city to work on that operation."

"You don't have a permanent mercenary force?"

"No, nothing like that. Whenever there is a job a public announcement is made and one of the city-legions volunteers to participate. When more than 5,000 soldiers are needed then more city-legions are called in."

"What an interesting system... and quite functional. You really are a social marvel. I honestly think the best option is for you to dissolve your mercenary jobs, and if not, this system can be used by the imperial army."

"In what sense can it be used by the Imperial Army?"

"That when the General Staff needs it, they can send you requests to raise a city-legion to work. You will be paid according to your interests of course. Just because you can only work for the Empire doesn't mean you won't be paid."

Ahsoka thought about that silently, when suddenly the thump of glass against wood interrupted her thoughts. She turned her gaze and saw two crystal goblets. The waiter carrying an open bottle of wine had placed one glass with Ahsoka and one with Tanya. He filled both glasses and took the bottle away as he left the pair.

Ahsoka took the glass and moved it gently, making the contents swirl. She looked at Tanya through the wine.

She was beautiful.

Ahsoka took a sip and then set the glass on the table. "I think we could work with that. It doesn't seem too far-fetched."

Tanya smiled in response. "Though I may be a tyrant, and many see my actions as brutal... I only act brutally against the unjust, the wrongdoers and those who harm others. It is important to me that when I do my deeds to be as just as possible to the innocent and as horrible as possible to the guilty."

"Any examples?"

Tanya laughed. "Last night I was visited by a Hutt. I treated him as he deserved."

"And how was that?"

Tanya laughed again. "I'd better not tell you, I want to enjoy this dinner with you. Please tell me more about your clone society. I'm interested."

—-------------------------

The Hutt Council met to speak to their representative who had been sent to Eriadu to talk with Tanya after she requested negotiations, one of their own race to demonstrate the relevance and importance of these negotiations with the Grand Moff. They had pressured her with various tactics of dissuasion until she finally agreed to negotiations.

A Hutt servant from the group that was sent to negotiate came through the door, carrying a backpack. When he arrived he knelt as if begging for mercy. The Hutt looked around but did not see one like him enter the room.

"Where is Kalai?"

The servant, with trembling hands, removed his satchel and slowly began to pull out blocks of soap with a signature written on them.

'Hutt's soap. The best for your skin!'