Reborn as Anakin

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Three days later. E.S.

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Enark was a rather run-down planet. It was on the very edge of the middle ring, but no one in their right mind would classify it as middle, it was classic outer ring - crime, corruption, poor infrastructure. A few large cities for an entire planet and that's it, nothing else. The locals prefer to leave for more decent jobs, and all sorts of trash constantly migrate here, thus turning the planet into one big factory for creating labour force. Enark has a government, but it's so corrupt and alienated from the people that it's safe to say it doesn't exist. The destruction of Enark as an "independent" planet began with bombing raids. The strikes were carried out mostly by the Nabuans, from assault crucicles. The combined Nabuan fleet came to the planet very quickly - no sooner had news of the destruction of part of the fleet spread across Enark than bombs fell from the sky. Spaceports, power stations, water supplies and railway transport. After only a couple of days, Enark's infrastructure was a sad sight. Fighters started attacking cities from the sky, it was too much for the Enarkians - they blamed the government for everything that was going on, or just got the hell off the planet.

Troops from the transports landed constantly - two hours after the invasion began, Naboo's battlewalkers approached the city. Light armoured vehicles. Prepared for defence, the city was taken in just six hours - first the droidekki entered the city at full speed and began shooting at the defence positions. Missiles and high-powered blasters were good for this. The droidekkas scoured the city constantly, rolling from one position to another. Following them were the pedometers and troopers. In light beskar armour and with rifles in their hands they were mopping up the last pockets of resistance. In line with them were the "devastators", who lived up to their name, shooting everything in their path very actively. Civilians, however, were not touched.

Six hours later, the capital of Enark, a city named Enainak, fell. While the question of which city is the capital is debatable, there are three more to take. The Nabuans were over the moon.

I was in the acclamator. I sat on the bench and watched the operation but did not participate. I had my loaned Crash Wing standing idle for the time being - the Nabuans were doing a good job of suppressing the air defences themselves.

To my great surprise, the whole operation didn't take a day - that's what it means to entrust command to a professional. Hortad lived up to expectations - after the capture of Enainak, the rest of the Enark cities capitulated and the army scattered. However, the fleet was never handed over. Bedlam began - it was necessary to occupy the cities, to find the government, to destroy them, in general, to establish Naboo's firm rule over the planet. It took almost three days - the search for the government was unsuccessful, after the capture of the cities they seemed to vanish.

Curfews had to be imposed, patrols and roadblocks had to be set up in the streets of the cities, and a garrison had to be provided. Mostly droids and pedometers, we had enough of them.

I first came down to the planet a day after its final capture - I walked through the streets of the town. It was an ordinary small town, with low buildings and no traces of decent civilisation. Our acclamator flew from town to town, carrying personnel and weapons. Enark's provisional government consisted of Mandalorian officers, garrison commanders. I did not interfere with their iron-fisted order, but flew away.

After taking the city, it was time to work on further operations. Briefly, the men for further expansion were already ready, but I had to personally fly to the headquarters acclamator and meet with the command.

I walked into the headquarters office. The only people there were Shin and Hortad, who immediately greeted me.

- Well, I can congratulate you," I sat down in my chair, putting my leg behind my leg, "you've done a brilliant job. Enark has been taken with minimal casualties and maximum speed. Hortad, you have earned your reward.

Bralor nodded, in a 'serving the Empire' style, and I continued my speech:

- As you are well aware, this was the first point of our war. The second was the suppression of Farstin and his satellites. Unlike Enark, this will be both easier and more difficult. Easier because half of their military forces were involved in that massacre at Chommel, so they are partially destroyed and demoralised. Unlike simply corrupt Enark, Farstin is on the Trielus route, which is used by all sorts of daredevils, so the problems will be semi-civilian rather than military. Cyn, what's the status on the route blockade?

- It's been completely blockaded for a month. We're inspecting every ship in the area. Justice has already written me a hundred complaints about it.

- I'll deal with Justice. If they can't do it themselves, we'll do it. Cut off the route on both sides so Farstin is cut off from supplies and evacuation. And one more thing, we're not at liberty to shine all of our forces, but I recommend that your forces, especially the Strike Venators, give the planet a bit of a thrashing before the expansion begins. Once the farstin is taken, its satellites will either be severely demoralised or surrender altogether. I do not believe they will offer much resistance. However, be careful, my friends," I motioned to them, "be careful.

This is a planet completely under the rule of the underworld. Which means everyone has a gun in their pocket. The takeover of Farstin must be completed by several large-scale raids by the police for demilitarisation and search for smuggling, drugs, slave traders. The main job is not to take the planet, the main job is to clean out the cesspool of shit that's built up there. Only then will the Farstin be ours.

- Are you sure you can do that? - Hortad raised one eyebrow, "You know, Your Majesty, it's not that easy. We have military men who are still in their infancy, and I can't vouch for their morale or their readiness for such work.

- If it works out," I smiled a little bloodthirsty, "I'll assign you police droids. They are expensive and perfect models. My orders. After the capture of Farstin, offer surrender to the other planets in the system and create a separate service - the Nabuan Militia - a paramilitary law enforcement unit. In it take from the army people capable of such work, weapons and droids, military and police models, droid-cameras, pedometers and armoured personnel carriers. As well as everything you need to conduct assault operations on brothels and caches of drugs, contraband, slaves, illegal weapons, and other illegal stuff. You'll need a mountain of police equipment as well, so that won't be a problem. And lastly, the capital city of Farstin will be home to the Justice Department. I don't trust them completely, but their presence may make a difference. The other two planets will be treated the same way - militia, i.e. militarised police, plus military garrisons in the cities.

- It will be done," Hortad nodded, "how much money has been allocated for the militia?

- About thirty billion. That doesn't take into account what you can recruit from the army. After the campaign, the Huttian sector will be Naboo's biggest problem, so we'll have to mothball some of the weapons and ships and adapt some of them to militia and customs operations. Well, I'm not giving you droidekkas or ravagers.

- Why not? These droids have proven themselves in assault operations," Hortad said in surprise.

- The droidekka in its current form is a project of the Empire. The Destroyer is an extremely valuable battlefield droid, so trading them for police work is unnecessary. I've already made arrangements with Kevin and Lin, our Justice and Droid Ministers. In... about two days, an acclamator will be arriving, loaded to the top with police droids and equipment.

Actually, I was a little imprecise. After a detailed study of Farstin and its political and criminal world, I had a lot of questions. First and foremost, how a planet could be brought to this state. All right, Tatooine, a toilet, but Farstin, a planet with a normal level of comfort, and neglected to such an extent... Orders flew in - Mandalmotors had placed an order to design and manufacture sets of police armour to work on Farstin - with good protection against surprise attacks, street brawls, a built-in computer from a police droid that could analyse the situation and display messages on the helmet's visor about observed violations, as well as serving as a video recorder of the policeman's activities.

I plunged into this problem head over heels - studying experience, information, drawing up types of equipment and staff structure of the police. I even had my own riot police to take over places where offenders, mostly heavily armed, were entrenched. Farstin was about to experience a rapid recolonisation from Naboo. Naboo has men, we have money and equipment. And common sense. Blocking this route out of the Hutt sector is worth the war effort - it would be an extremely heavy blow to the Hutts. And the militia's job is to prevent a counterattack by destructive methods from within. The equipment lists I have compiled are largely what has been purchased for the army, plus ten thousand police droids, plus armour, plus transport - speeders and wheeled rovers. A force of enormous proportions. To organise it all into a single structure... we'd have to assign one of our officers to work for the Allies on a permanent basis.

Shin and Hortad thought about what I'd said, and I wondered if I'd forgotten something. By all accounts, it appeared that I had almost everything.

- One last thing," I sighed, "from the moment the planets are taken until order is finally established on them, declare them a police operation zone. Entry and exit by authorisation only, with a full search. Where there's contraband hiding in the ships, most people already know. Smuggling is a small thing, but drugs, slaves, weapons - a serious offence, until the end of the operation I order them all to be shot according to wartime laws after a short investigation. If there are illegal weapons, confiscate the goods and the ship, put the criminals in jail.

- Do you think they'll agree to that? Justice, Naboo?

- They have no choice. All right, Hortad? Get to work. I'll fly out and take care of police business, pick up the shipments on Naboo and escort them to Enark.

That was the deal. I didn't even go into the nature of their attack on Farstin - it's clear that the planet couldn't offer any serious resistance. At least not military resistance, but crime was resisting. I took my Crucicopter and headed towards Naboo - the distance was ridiculous, it was a neighbouring planet.

Waiting for me on Naboo were Padme and Sabine. Two girls, each distinctive and beautiful in her own way. Sabine knew about Padmé, Padmé didn't know about Sabine. I wasn't in a hurry to get to know her, but I went to see Sabine. She was stationed at the military base. She was already fitted with a prosthesis, so she had no trouble piloting. I found Sabine training the youngsters. When she saw me, she came closer.

- Henya!

- Sabine," I came closer and we kissed briefly, "are you still in a hurry?

- Oh, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be there?

- Aren't you happy to see me? - I raised an eyebrow, putting my arm around Sabin's waist.

- I am, but it's unexpected.

We were at the airfield, by the way. She'd just finished briefing the locals, so now they were scattered around the ships, watching us. Staring.

- I won't be long. I've been ordered to escort a transport to Farstin.

- By the way, how's it going? - She didn't pull away, but she didn't sound romantic," she said, "I heard it was easy.

- There are about a hundred dead, but for a large-scale operation to take a city, that's a ridiculous number. The droids, then the pedometers, then the troopers... they cleaned it all up, then the rest of the cities surrendered without a fight.

- Cowards," Sabine snorted, "bored?

- Very much. I wanted to see you and...

- Korde," she finished for me, without approval, but without dislike.

- Yes. I'm leaving again now," I sighed, "then there's work to do. We'll take Farstin.

- Already? - Sabina was surprised, - you are fast, though.

- Modern warfare is fast. A week at the most.

I pulled away and Sabina went off to train the green after all, glancing at me. The base was relatively empty - everyone had already heard about the victory, and to join the army, which was about to be disbanded... although there were some individuals, joining the winners.

After watching Sabine take off, I set off for the city myself. It's a day and a half until the transport arrives, so I'll have time to sleep on a warm cot.

* * *

Sleep didn't bring much relaxation. In the morning, when I got out of bed, I suddenly, one might say, for some unknown reason, missed my relatives. Satine could use my help right now. Shiai and Ahsoka had left on my orders for their wedding journey, accompanied by a guard. I bought a separate small ship for them before their departure, a yacht the size of a corvette. They left on it, assuring me firmly that after so many years alone and on the ship they wanted to be among people and on the planet. I recommended Aldera. The place is already warmed up - if I want to get a cool summer house, I'll buy this palace. Or as fate would have it.

I had a lot of things to do besides changing management. Farstin and his Dominions, for instance.

After waiting for the transports to arrive, I headed into orbit in my Crucible. "Escorting transports" is a bit of a misnomer, because the Empire's military freighter was armed enough to fight off a small group of enemies, and fighter droids escorted the transports on a regular basis. Crestocryl didn't fall on any side here.

The transport acclamator didn't arrive alone - there were six of them. Surprised by this number, I flew to the first ship and landed there. In the hangar they were already waiting for me. Or rather, waiting for me. Lin Riekan.

- Hey, Henya! - He waved his hand, approaching, "How's it going?

- They're doing great," I shook his hand as I climbed out of my cruiser, "and you?

- Same. By the way, our builders did their best to send you five large and several thousand small construction droids. And a construction material production line.

- That's a lot. Where am I going to use all this stuff?

- You'll find it. All the same, they're just standing there, growing moss. After Cinnagar, all forces were thrown into the small Koros, but a few construction droids were left idle.

Construction droids are a good thing.

Lin and I chatted some more before heading straight to Enark. There we had to organise law enforcement. Gathering as much as we could

* * *

Farstin.

* * *

The war is over.

That was the statement Shin, the commander, greeted the assembled commanders at headquarters.

- But if anyone thinks we can celebrate victory, you are sorely mistaken. The planets have been conquered, but they still pose a threat. On Farstin, crime is rampant and will be a thorn in the Nabooans' side if it's not eliminated in time.

- Isn't that the job of the Justice Corps? - wondered one of the young commanders from the paratroopers.

- You believe in the Justice Corps? - The Admiral raised an eyebrow," he said, "but... they do some things, but they are incapable of restoring order. Farstin was under their nominal control before, and nothing has changed now. No, if it's to be done right, we have to do it ourselves. The Emperor has already thought of everything, for this purpose a special regime will be introduced on the new planets, in order to stop criminals from trying to bribe, intimidate or otherwise try to get in touch with the new power. Some naive people think that nothing has changed with the transition of the planet under the jurisdiction of Naboo, but this is not the case. In the near future we will have to create a service called "Nabuan militia", which is a paramilitary law enforcement unit. Their main task will be to patrol the cities, search and destroy brothels and illegal goods dens, and eliminate organised crime. The aim to destroy them physically is not in front of the service - it is simply unrealistic. It is necessary to make it so that the comfort of staying on the planet became zero for them - constantly conduct raids, not letting them relax or regroup. Also to inspect all arriving transports, to close the planet according to the standard pass regime - to let everyone out, not to let anyone in without permission.

- Who's going to do it? - the same commander asked.

- It's a voluntary matter. First of all, I rely on the Mandalorian commanders as organisers and staff of the Nabuans.

No one had any objections. The process of absorbing the two systems has begun.

* * *

Naboo, E.S.

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The weather was fine, but not perfect. There was a light wind, but not cold. The Nabuans were celebrating their victory over Enark, but things were not as rosy as they thought. First of all, the attack on Farstin had been planned by me out of the blue. In the process, it just so happened that without occupying these systems, peace would be impossible. After the military advisor's report, I was summoned by Cinna. By the way, I was staying at the same hotel, as the rest of the squadron was gathered on Naboo and was just killing time.

Cinna's image appeared above Erdwa.

- Good morning, Your Majesty. May I congratulate you on your victory?

- You may, but don't. Did something happen?

- You could say that," Cinna nodded, "there are some very interesting conversations going on in the palace and court circles. Are you aware that a lobby has been formed among the Nabuan nobility in favour of monarchy?

- You mean a real monarchy? - I wondered.

- Yes. Their source is the Queen's counsellor, and he has many supporters among the nobles. For the role of the queen he is looking, of course, at the "queen", - Cinna took a deep breath and, not hearing any questions, continued, - at the moment I ordered two agents to closely monitor all conversations and exchanges of information over the holonet. Any orders?

- Wait, I need to think," I thought hard.

There is a party within the ruling elite that is in favour of making Amidala a true queen. And this party is quite strong, so it's up to Padmé to decide. What will she choose? Will she be queen? She's not a stupid, naive girl, but she's not a person like me. What does that mean to me?

On the one hand, if Amidala becomes a real queen and not a showy queen, she will be a good marriage partner to some extent. Once the Nabuans occupy Farstin and Enark, they can put their fleet here, making life unbearable in the Hutt sector, which starts a couple of thousand light-years away from Farstin. Not the whole sector, of course, but a couple or three Hutt planets would be a backwater. Besides, four planets in the asset outside the core is a valuable asset. On the other hand... I don't give a damn about origin, I judge reasonable people by their degree of reasonableness. I personally don't need anything from Naboo - I have everything I need, plus it will be an unnecessary pain in the arse outside the Empire. I have enough to do without them.

In terms of personal relationships, it's complicated. If it weren't for Sabine, I'd continue with Padme, maybe even take her to the Empire and give her some not too responsible position. No, I need a man with durasteel balls to be a senator, but as head of the department for relations with Alderaan and other core worlds, she'd be good. But, come to think of it, I didn't swear my love for her, and I don't have any special love for her like I had with Ali and Tosi. I'm not sure what it can be for a man who's been through so much and been beaten up by life - sympathy, yes, there is, and a lot of it. But I can say the same about Sabine, just a fiery girl, because you don't take just anyone to be a pilot, especially in the Guard, you need a strong character and courage. Padmé probably sees it all as an affair between a noble lady and a young officer, a situation not uncommon in Earth history. However, she is not a gift either - all right, she fooled me on the first day by calling herself a maid, but further on - pure trickery. I understand her - she was afraid, after all, between the queen and the lieutenant there was a gap in class.

So it was a strange situation. If I want to continue my relationship with Padme, I can either support the monarchist party or support the conservative Democrats. In the first case I will get an ally and a potential person for a political marriage, in the second case it will be a person for a personal marriage, even if not for love, I am not so sure that this feeling is necessary and necessary, but a real one. Padme could be taken to Koros. And the third option is to abandon Padme and give in to Sabina. The girl clearly told me that she wouldn't get "off" me if I didn't drive her away. Sabina was also right in her own way, if her feelings were one-sided, she needed to put the question on the table - either yes, a possible relationship, or no, "sorry, I already have another one".

With Sabina I already chose, despite the short acquaintance, I liked her for her straightforwardness, honesty, courageous, or rather sincere understanding of reality. This is not Padme, always hovering in her obscure feelings and on her own wave of female consciousness, as illogical as it is turbulent. I've seen women like that, and they can act completely stupid. For example, will take offence at me for the fact that I hid my name from her and, despite the fact that she did the same, I will declare me guilty. The main thing is that she should not be like one of my very old acquaintance - that at any of her shoals finds someone to blame, turns the tables, goes into unconsciousness, and if you shove the evidence under her nose, crying and moaning in the style of "what are you all bothering". She doesn't realise that all she has to do is say "my bad, I'm sorry". No snot, no tears, sincerely, clearly. So far, there have been no signs of such behaviour from Padme, but there's no evidence to the contrary either.

- Tell you what, Cinna, let's support this party. It'll be... interesting. If Padmé agrees, so be it, if not... it's not meant to be.

- Yes, Your Majesty," the nerd purred, "Anything else?

- I should be asking you. Is there anything else?

- No, nothing. Promote the queen to the throne in earnest, or...

- No, I don't need a major operation. Just support from the media and agents of influence.

The nerd passed out, and I sat on the bed tiredly. So much has happened! And yet, I'm not even close to confession and breakup. We didn't have permission to stay on Naboo any longer than necessary, we hadn't made an alliance agreement, and I had no intention of using the Empire's resources to defend Naboo. It was enough of a headache as it was; they could handle it without me.

Erdva interrupted my idle musings in bed.

- Ani, you've been credited with combat pay.

- How much? - I didn't bother to get out of bed.

- Two hundred thousand.

- A lot," I turned on my belly, "get me in touch with Sin.

Half a minute later, the Admiral's holoprojection appeared above the droid.

- Your Majesty," he bowed, "what can I do for you?

- Listen, I'm here about the reward. How much did you charge the soldiers there?

Shin looked away for a few seconds, then read from his tablet:

- Those who didn't take part in the fighting, but were trained and stayed on Naboo, about five-seven thousand, landing troops who landed on the planet but didn't take part in the raid, ten thousand, those who did take part - fifty, pilots who took part in the battle one hundred thousand, those who didn't take part thirty, Guardsmen two hundred and fifty, squadron commanders three hundred, families of the dead one hundred thousand. That's it.

- Let me guess, you split the rest of the funding so there'd be no tails?

- That's right. As long as the money's been written off, there's no need to worry.

- In that case, we can expect a financial boom on the planet. After all, that's a lot of money being given to the citizens.

- It won't last long, - the admiral calmly answered, putting aside the tablet, - the money will run out quickly.

- But the results will remain. Well, I don't need to tell you that it's not money for a fourteen or seventeen-year-old kid who enlisted in the army.

For obvious reasons, inflation is rare in the galaxy, at least locally, the galactic market is one.

- We can expect a baby boom in nine months. Nearly a million well-to-do young Naboans..." Shin thought for a moment, "I'll report this to the Queen.

- And the consequences, too. Now, I have a question about the withdrawal.

- We leave on the same transports. Purchased goods remain local, we leave the military base, transports will arrive tomorrow. By the way, there's gonna be a problem.

- What kind of trouble? - I made myself comfortable on the bed, dangling my legs in the air.

- Rewards. The Queen will most likely want awards, the issue of military honours she raised earlier, after the capture of Enark. I assume that Lieutenant Hennia will not be deprived of some medal either....

- Hmm..." I thought for a moment, "I've already received my award from the Queen. And I have to admit, it's better than any medals..." I smiled, making Syn cough.

- Your majesty, you don't mean to say that you've...

- Met a little, got to know each other a little... well, you know what I mean. A very nice girl. I'm even thinking of getting married.

- That's none of my business, - the admiral avoided answering, - well, what are we going to do with you? Are you going to get your reward?

- I don't think so. Sabina deserved it, she was wounded and fought hard, just like the rest of our squadron. I'll give the guys a bonus for testing the first fighters in combat.

- They should rest, after all, they've been through a tough battle, and the war is over.

- And this too. Don't forget.

- One more thing," Shin looked at me, getting serious, "while we've been fighting here and while you've been away, the last type of ship came off the slipway. THE SZR.

- Oh," I jumped up on the bed, "where is it?

- It's currently crewed. Due to its size, most of its systems are automated, but it needs at least fifty thousand people to be fully operational.

- All right. Get your squadron of Venators up here, and their transports, and we'll be on our way.

- Aye! Shin's gone.

The squadron was bound to come to us anyway. They'll be replaced by the militia and justice, so there's no need to worry about them leaving, and the planets are locked down tight. The operation involved five Venators and one aircraft carrier, as well as several dozen frigates. They did their cruising job and cut off the enemy's supply lines.

While there was time, I walked away from the room, there was still much to do. But, to my regret, as soon as I left the hotel, another message arrived. This time it was official - an invitation to a reception, tomorrow, a dinner party in connection with the victory. The general staff was invited, that is, Sina and Hortad, the Guards, the commanders who had distinguished themselves in battle. Word had apparently reached the Queen that we were about to dismount and fly away.

Thinking about the NWR, I decided to come up with names for the ships, because they are labelled too schematically. SPR - a fool, a little smaller than the executioner, inferior to it in power and armament, but nevertheless extremely dangerous. It is impossible to kill such a ship by the forces of a linear and medium-sized fleet, you need other similar ones, and it is too expensive to maintain them, it is impossible to buy them, so the number of probable opponents is close to zero. The flagship of the fleet... - while I was travelling, I was thinking what to call the ship, or rather the whole series of similar ships. The thought of naming it in honour of someone or something came to mind, was studied and found suitable. And if so, it was time to remind of the Empire, a name in honour of the planets of the Empire would do. Tython is fine. In general, it is not customary to bother with names, ships and classes have always been given simple names.

Along with the official invitation came an unofficial one, from Corde's number. Corde asked to meet at "that restaurant" as soon as possible. I had to turn away and fly to the right place. Here we go.