**Chapter 779: The Dragon's Calculus**
**Scene 1: Senate Gala – Private Balcony**
**Dagon POV**
After the dance, the girls split up to mingle. I remained near the center, nursing a glass of something expensive while my mind wandered into darker territory.
*Where was I? Right — Palpatine and the reorganization of the Republic into the Empire, with the simultaneous abolition of the Jedi Order. And the eternal questions: "Who is to blame?" and "What is to be done?"*
There's no doubt that the Republic is unviable under its current circumstances. Its political transformation is only a matter of time. This is proven both by the canonical Empire and by subsequent events. After Palpatine's death on the second Death Star, the Alliance proclaimed the creation of a New Republic. At that moment, the Empire's weakness became apparent: all power was concentrated in Palpatine, and with his death — even if temporary — the powerful state crumbled into Remnants, each led by a different warlord. This is partly similar to what happened after the death of Alexander the Great. But afterward, the situation became reminiscent of the Warring States Period in ancient Chinese history. Each kingdom sought to conquer its neighbor, but the situation remained unchanged, and the wars continued.
That's what happened here: the fragments of the Empire fought among themselves, gradually wearing down their strength. Yet any one of these fragments could easily destroy the New Republic, as Thrawn had proven. He was stopped with great difficulty, thanks to the Skywalkers. But even the Jedi couldn't support the new state forever. A period had arrived in the history of the New Republic that demonstrated its complete unviability as a political entity; the inability of the existing political system to respond adequately to the emergence of global military and political threats.
At first, the New Republic nearly collapsed due to the First Corellian Uprising, which essentially repeated the Separatist Crisis. "We have resources, we have an army — why should we obey some senators?" And once again, the Skywalkers saved the New Republic. This time with greater difficulty than before.
And it gets worse. The Caamas Document crisis soon followed, bringing the NR to the brink of a full-scale civil war between its constituent entities. It all began with the revelation of Bothan complicity in the destruction of Caamas. Then Bothan spies and saboteurs enabled the Imperials to launch an orbital strike, destroying the planet's ecosystem and turning a thriving world into a lifeless desert. The dirty laundry that surfaced drove the esteemed senators to the brink of disaster. Even Leia and Luke shrugged. Yes, they prevented war — but that was all.
And then came the Yuuzhan Vong. The full-scale invasion of this alien race initially elicited no reaction whatsoever from the Senate or the then-President Fey'lya. But even when the gravity of the new scourge became clear to all, the Senate hesitated for a long time, mired in endless debate and proved incapable of formulating a common plan of action… Sound familiar? Just look at the Senate today… Or rather, at the Senate of ten years ago, as depicted in Episode I: it's a dead ringer. Now, thanks to Palpatine's efforts, a more or less stable coalition has formed, supporting the Chancellor and pushing through the necessary decisions…
So, it's all clear. The system needs to be changed. However, there's a small problem: declaring the creation of an Empire is one thing, but creating the Empire is quite another.
Palpatine is exactly like the caveman who brought down the mammoth that is the Republic — the carcass is there, but there are no tools or compatriots who can help. The institution of Moff governors, now poorly organized and suffering from childhood illnesses, only became functional after more than twenty years. Only shortly before the destruction of the first Death Star was Darth Sidious able to eradicate one of the "relics of the Old Republic" — the Senate. A good indication that "this cannot be left as is."
Of course, from my point of view, Palpatine is the only promising figure capable of creating a new, strong state. However, some imbalances need to be "corrected." He doesn't want to create the Sith Order — fine. He doesn't want to leave the Jedi Order behind — oh well. However, wiping them all out is a bit odd. The Inquisitorius was small. So, the Order shouldn't be destroyed, but repurposed. Divide it into independent Corps. The AgroCorps does no harm, only good. They grow food, develop new varieties, and bring in money. Why flush it down the drain? The Pilot Corps boasts the best pilots in the galaxy. Why not use them?
The Empire needs an organization of gifted individuals — a proper one, not a crippled Inquisitorius — especially in the face of the Yuuzhan Vong invasion.
And what could I do? I control the Jedi Order and they've agreed to my changes, but currently all we have is Mas Amedda, who just speaks for Sidious. Sidious has abandoned the Republic for the CIS and all his plans are currently ash. Except for the basic goal: a galactic war, not just the Clone Wars but every world.
And so far, thanks to the CIS, he has nearly everyone fighting — even the Hapes with their isolationist policy. If I am to guess, they will want vengeance since I destroyed the fleet they sent to reinforce Mygeeto.
But even then, if he wants his Galactic Empire, how would he keep it with droids? That won't work. Or perhaps something similar to the Eternal Empire, but the CIS corporations are too selfish and smart to give up their entire droid army control to Sidious and Dooku. Especially after Crimson-71, which basically mobilized the Core worlds' sleeping giant, Alsakan.
No, he would need citizens or more likely loyal soldiers. But where?
He can't go to the Unknown Regions — Thrawn is loyal to me. He can't use the Yuuzhan Vong. He can't go to his Republic allies because they know him as Palpatine, not Sidious. In fact, they all hate Sidious. The Republic only believes there are three Sith Lords: Plagueis, Sidious, and their apprentice Dooku known as Tyranus. Intelligence believed when I know Plagueis is long dead. But no one else does.
Still, unless he could get a planet loyal to him like Alsakan… or probably like the Hutts with their protection racket.
*Click.* A lightbulb went off in my head. Protection. Protection. Syndicates. Crime lords.
Hutt space. The only truly neutral and powerful system that has resources to make up the CIS losses in the Outer Rim and enough various races to mobilize.
"Ethan, priority message. Get to Valentra. Code: Fat Pig. Reinforce sectors 12, 13, 4 and 14. Lock down Bothawui," I said quietly into my comm before returning to the party. It looked like Kuat wanted to say something.
**Scene 2: Senate Gala – Main Atrium**
The music swelled as representatives from Kuat Drive Yards took the central stage. Lyra, flanked by senior executives, stepped forward with a confident smile. The crowd quieted in anticipation — everyone knew what this was about.
The long-standing wager between Kuat and Sienar (and by extension, me) had reached its climax. The Victory-class Star Destroyer versus the Bothan Assault Cruiser and Sienar's latest offerings. Tonight, the results would be presented, and the winner declared.
I stood with my girls nearby, feeling the eyes of the galaxy on us once again. Sakura's hand rested lightly on my arm, a subtle reminder of poise. Miaria's tail flicked with restrained energy. The rest stayed in formation, professional and striking.
Lyra began her speech, highlighting the technical superiority of the Victory project — speed, firepower, reliability. But I could already see the calculations in the eyes of the military officers and senators. The real test would come in the field, not in a presentation.
I allowed myself a small, private smile. Let them debate ships. My mind was already three steps ahead — on Hutt space, on the coming CIS offensive, and on what I would do when Palpatine finally made his move.
The Dragon was ready.