50 Renaissance 1

We did not land the yacht on Coruscant - it was too much trouble because of its size. We flew the lambda. I needed to talk to the chancellor face to face. Erdva had reserved an apartment in Five Hundred for the week. Having already rented the apartment, and sprawled out on the couch, I wondered how to get the chancellor's attention. And in general, how to lure him out of his lair and chat without any witnesses. Just showing up for an audience was not a good idea. Firstly, there are plenty of them, and secondly, the meeting has too many purposes - I would like to discuss some issues in detail, so it is better not in a formal setting. Julian flew off to have fun, some of the crew too, and I walked around the apartment in circles, thinking exactly how I could draw the Chancellor out.

It didn't take me more than a few hours to come up with an idea. It is simply necessary to make an appointment with him, and for him to notice and remember, to pass on the invitation in a way unusual for him. The option of communication systems is out of the question - they are visible, so I cannot guarantee that the information will reach Valorum at all. That leaves the option - to pass him a note personally, so that he could not fail to read it. The chancellor's workplace was in the senate building. And the Senate building was probably the most secure building in the galaxy. Getting inside was no ordinary task.

I had no plans of the building, which made it even more difficult. It was impossible to find the plans--secret. But my own senses and the Force could compensate for my ignorance, but not as well as I would have liked.

I prepared myself well for the operation - I dressed in plain clothes, grabbed a letter, a lightsaber, and left all communications and electronics in the apartment. It wasn't too hard to get inside the building - they took tours of the Senate, but only on a few floors. I joined one such group of tourists and walked half of the route together with them. It was hard to go further - inside the Senate building there were many corridors and corridors, nooks and crannies, small rooms and other huts.

I almost got lost in the maze, but I still found the right way. Along the way I had to disguise myself so that everyone I met glanced at me, taking me for granted as an addition to the interior, and did not pay any attention to me. With electronics was more difficult than with people - the whole building was stacked with motion sensors and cameras, but I passed them with a power forging - I waited until there was nothing moving in the viewed area, and then fixed the image on the camera matrix. It's not that easy, but it's not impossible. It was even easier with the sensors - most of them were easily blocked by force. Security of the chancellor's office was more serious, but a slight deception of mind on the level of thoughts couldn't be avoided - no matter how hard one tried, he would still take a compelled thought as his own and compelled emotions as his own. There were two men in clownish blue robes standing in front of the door to the office, with weapons that were completely impractical. As I passed them into the office of the chancellor, who, incidentally, was not yet in place, I took out a letter. Valorum's office was rather ascetic-a large room, with a desk, a few couches, pictures on the walls, and a gorgeous view through a panoramic window. There were no cameras or bugs, so I relaxed after looking through the office and finding a couple of hidden devices in the chair and in the door.

The easiest thing left was to put the note on the table and go back out the same way.

* * *

I underestimated the blow to the chancellor that my note had dealt. He flew in just ten minutes after the start of his work day.

By the way, Valorum looked better than before - not so gaunt, more lively looking, and he preferred classical colors in his clothes, without the past pretentiousness. He arrived in an Aerospider, and with him a whole team of senate guards, but in the usual outfit, only with the emblem of his troops...

Valorum landed on the landing pad while I watched him through the cameras. Erdva was standing next to me and broadcasting the footage to me.

- I understand that you are to have a secret conversation? - Erdva asked.

- That's exactly right. You can stay, you already know so much, my friend," I waved my hand, "I'll go and meet the Chancellor.

I had to take a quick look at myself in the mirror, fix my clothes and go out into the corridor, where I saw Finis Valorum. He was walking ahead of his guards. I stopped and waited until he came closer.

- Mr. Chancellor? - I drew his attention to myself," I'm glad you responded to my invitation.

- Skywalker? - he feigned interest," was that you?

- Я. In person. By the way, you've looked a lot better since the Nabuan incident. And judging by the fact that one senator's proposal never saw the light of day, now we can talk without fear.

- Why the spectacle, young man? - asked Valorum, especially with the note. And how did you manage to plant it?

- About that later. Believe me, I had my reasons for wanting to see you. And I thought I asked you to come alone?

- I prefer not to part with my guards," answered the Chancellor.

- I understand. But if I wanted to hurt you, I could have done it when I was in your office. Oh, don't worry. I invited you exclusively for the purpose of negotiation.

- All right," said the Chancellor, turning to the head of the guard, "wait for me.

We walked to the suite, where I had already introduced my iron friend to the Chancellor:

- This is the droid Erdva. He travels with me and is quite aware of what's going on.

- Good morning," the droid greeted Valorum. The chancellor looked at Erdva with interest, but didn't answer. I went into the living room, where I had already invited the chancellor to sit down and be seated. There were no waiters - I made a couple of cups of tea myself, putting one in front of the chancellor, with the words:

- I am sorry if I am taking up your time, but this is how the situation is.

- First, I'd like to ask, are you really Skywalker? And why do you look... somewhat older?

- Some of the temporal anomalies I've fallen into. The galaxy really is full of wonders, Mr. Chancellor. I've seen that more than once. However, I am me, my papers have been restored, I have recovered all former business contacts, so I am back to my past life. Now I am in a rather delicate situation, and I am looking for a way out of it.

- What kind of situation? - Valorum asked, without drinking his tea, "Can I help you? I owe you my chair, after all. I don't think that I owe you anything, but I'm not a stranger to anything human...

- I see. It's not even about what's already happened. Are you familiar with such a region as the galactic core? The deep core?

- Of course," nodded the chancellor, "a dead zone.

- It's hard to argue with that," I pulled out the printed photographs from under the table, "take a look...

Valorum went deep into the viewing. I printed out the pictures from the video file, selecting the most savory shots.

The chancellor flipped through some of the pictures, some he looked at for a full minute. When the file was over, he put it on the coffee table in front of the couch he was sitting on.

- What's this? - he nodded at the folder," It looks like ruins.

- It is. It's Koros. Big Koros, a month ago.

- It can't be! - The chancellor was surprised, and sincerely so," You found a route to the center of the galaxy?

- No, I didn't. There is no itinerary and there cannot be, the core is too unstable. However, I did make my way to Koros, and even deeper. And found a number of mineral-rich worlds there. I would even say very, very rich.

- И? - The chancellor couldn't stand it.

- I am interested in the prospect of taking them for myself.

- Which ones? - Valorum asked suspiciously.

- All of them. Everything," I said.

- It can't be," brushed off the Chancellor, "it's illegal.

- Is there any other way? - I raised an eyebrow, "I'm the only one who can fly into the core. Think of it as a personal ability, I've never heard of anyone being able to do the same. The core remains a dead asset of the Republic-though it is the richest sector of the galaxy in terms of precious base metals and minerals, it is inaccessible.

Valorum couldn't stand it and stood up, beginning to walk back and forth along the back of the couch. I didn't stop him from thinking.

- And you, you claim, can penetrate the core unhindered?

- Why unhindered? - I lied, - it's quite hard work. One flight cost me a lot of energy and nerves.

The chancellor sat back on the sofa and thought. For a long time, I didn't disturb him and sat and waited, too. After about ten minutes Valorum died off:

- Okay, young man... Suppose I believed you, suppose I was okay with it... on the other hand - what's in it for me? Besides a potentially strong player with unknown goals?

- Why unknown? - I shrugged, "I'm a Jedi master. Yes, I know I haven't even gone into a modern order, but I'm rightfully so, and I have all the proper rights, and the records are in the great holocron and the archives of the Jedi temple. And I don't intend to harm you or the Republic - I outlined my political course even before the Nabuan crisis, preventing Palpatine from giving you a vote of no confidence.

- And you're telling me your views haven't changed? - He asked incredulously.

- They have, but not much. That the republic cannot exist the way it existed before those events was obvious. It would lead to a full-scale civil war, and that would already threaten me and my family.

- You exaggerate," Valorum disagreed.

- Perhaps, perhaps... however, I am still firm in my conviction that the republic was headed full throttle into the abyss. I have already made my choice - the further development and recovery of the republic.

- That's right..." Valorum nodded, "however, you haven't answered my question - what will we gain from it?

- Besides big taxes? An ally. I intend, with or without your approval, to act for the good of the republic. Of course, here we are talking not just a sector, but the richest sector of the galaxy, which, if fully developed, could compete with the entire techno-union...

- It's in full development," the chancellor caught the words, "as far as I understand, it will not be achieved in the near future?

- Of course, Mr. Chancellor," I agreed, "and the navigational nightmare in the core is severely holding back the pace. However, if possible, I will not refuse to help you within reason...

- Within reason, how? - The chancellor wondered.

- Whatever a very rich and isolated sector can give. What cannot be done where everyone can fly in and fly out. Would you like me to build a war fleet that is personally yours? And no one in the whole galaxy will know about its construction and existence - all the resources are already in the core. Would you like me to give you money? Or maybe provide you with territories? In a region that is naturally protected, so that no one can get in and out without permission?

- That's a tempting offer..." the chancellor pondered, "but secretly building an entire fleet is unlikely. You'd need men, and they can't be put into storage...

- That's true... but we can solve the problem with people. And that is not the point. Believe me, with our cooperation in the development of the core and its riches, both sides will get more than enough. If you need money or the implementation of any projects, research, industrial production... for all these purposes, there is no region more suitable than the galactic core.

- All right," the chancellor sighed, "you've convinced me. You're right, there's nothing wrong with securing this region for your forces. What do you want in return? - The chancellor asked.

- For starters, legalization of my right to this region.

- That would be difficult," sighed Valorum, "just to give up a large sector.

- I've already thought about it," I interrupted him, "there was an empire in the core. The Koros Empire. Before the destabilization of the core. It still exists, except without a population. The planets are perfectly habitable, though, and Coros isn't going anywhere.

- It still exists? - The chancellor raised an eyebrow.

- Yes. The Constitution says that anyone can become emperor, provided that the aristocracy, represented by several councils of aristocrats, doesn't object. As you understand, there is no mention of the absence of these very aristocrats. However, it does de jure fulfill the conditions...

- And you wish to declare yourself the next emperor?

- No, it does not require any public declaration. I simply declare it to you. None of the aristocrats of the empire were against it. It's up to the republic...

The chancellor grinned," Now all you have to do is write your empire into the documents...

- You'd be surprised, Chancellor," I replied to his chuckle, "but it was never crossed out. However, money for the maintenance was allocated on a regular basis, with zero taxes ...

- Here," the Chancellor slapped on the armrest, "and all these years...

- Millennia, Mr. Chancellor. All these millennia, the Koros sector has been part of the Republic. Yes, they can steal from you, that's true... But now all I need is not to have unnecessary noise about my person and the very core, that the tax and trade bodies of the Republic participate in the work of the Empire... I will provide the extraction...

- It can be arranged, - the Chancellor leaned back in his chair tiredly, - as I understand, you can not give any guarantees? - asked the Chancellor.

- "True. Except on my honest Jedi word. The thing is, no one can give guarantees.

The Chancellor calmed down, and, judging by his emotions, began to think how to take advantage of the situation. I did not disturb him - I just looked through my emotions to make sure he would not try to cheat me.

Preliminary agreements were reached - we can discuss the details later, and the main thing is already behind us. Valorum thought a little more and said goodbye to me - he has a working day and the Chancellor cannot just take off somewhere. In the absence of the chancellor and his entourage, the apartment was immersed in silence, interrupted only by the buzzing of the droid, which turned its "head" in all directions. The time was early-it was only morning. It was time for the work to begin. The enormous, titanic work of restoring an entire empire. I liked the idea itself - instead of dancing around the already existing political units, to grab myself a small but protected and rich territory.

- Erdva, get me Julian.

The droid stopped, drove closer, and a two-dimensional image of the living room appeared above his head. Five minutes later Julian ran into the living room. Unfortunately, it was too insecure to communicate over the common communication channels, so I used a closed encrypted channel that had only three communication nodes - the bridge, the living room, and Erdva.

- Ani? - Julian smiled," What is it? Why are you so sad?

- Sad? Because we have a lot of work to do, Ju. The chancellor agreed. We're protected from legal trouble. I am now officially Emperor of Koros, so we can begin the restoration work.

- That's good news," he smiled, adding slyly, "your majesty.

- Oh, no! - We're not in public, so don't make jokes about it.

- Alright, Julian sighed, you still haven't told me your plan.

- Fly in, I'll tell you on the spot. And bring Shia, Makoi... Oh, and tell Cal that for the next two weeks the yacht should be at the outer raid of the post-orbital anchorage. Tell him to give the crew some time off, but not all at once...

- I got it. I'll let you know. All right, I'm on my way..." Julian cut off communication.

Ten minutes later a second Lambda descended on the landing pad of my quarters, and down its ramp came all the summoned faces. Shia ran off quickly and sprinted in my direction, Makoi followed, and Julian was the last to descend, surveying the scenery of Coruscant and walking leisurely at the tail of the procession. Shia came running in first:

- Dad, Dad, why are we here?

- Wait, little one, I'll tell you later.

Maekoe caught up with the boy and took him by the hand and led him into the apartment. Julian came up:

- Are you to be congratulated?

- That too. But more of a sympathy. I am, after all, a specialist bureaucrat, with a degree. I know what we're in for, so I'm not happy about it.

- All right, let's get in the apartment, it's too cold in here...

Julian and I went inside. Shia had already run around all the corners of the apartment and was now climbing onto the couch, under the disapproving mutterings of Macaw.

- So, ladies and gentlemen. Though you, Mekoi, are the last to be concerned. The chancellor gave his consent, though he made no demands.

- No demands? - Ju wondered, "No demands at all?

- I've already given him plenty of detail. I promised him a lot, so...

- And how much did you promise him? - Ju frowned.

- Not money, of course. I promised him the natural privileges of using the system. The right to house and store any industries there, personal support, and so on and so forth. He also promised a fleet. Small, but strong enough.

- And where would you find it? - Julian sprawled out in his chair and feigned surprise.

- We're in a situation where... a lot of people will want to suck up to the money and the influence. Pirates, I bet, will dream of intercepting our cargo, and many will want to get their hands on it. So the Coros Empire is the kind whose army must be born ahead of everything else and protect.

- Well, well, stop," Julian raised his hand, "let's go in order, your majesty, what are we doing now?

- Right now we're in the business of hiring personnel to solve the nation's problems. There's going to be more than a lot of those problems-we have to deal with construction, military affairs, technical affairs, of course, mining and finance, the media, so they don't pay undue attention to us, and some unspoken matters... and all of that requires specialists.

- Where do we get them? - Julian did not understand, - just go out and call?

- Yes, that's a problem," I agreed, "we won't be able to find them that easily. At least I don't need the Alderaan mumblers who studied with me.

The staffing issue came up for a second time, and this time it was already very acute.

- So, we start with preparations and transportation issues. I'll take care of that, because I'm the only one who can get the ship into the core. And the more cargo that goes through in one pass, the better.

- Then you need a heavy transporter," Julian agreed with me.

- What's that? I don't remember one," I really hadn't heard of it.

- No wonder. They're gigantic and only used for special cargo transfers to colonize planets. Or emergencies. A big space train of ten cargo blocks...

- I think I've seen one of those somewhere," I nodded yes, "how much cargo can a space train carry?

- A lot. About fifty million tons in each carriage. And half a billion tons in the whole transporter. But it can't be loaded or unloaded fast like all the other starships, because it unlocks above the planet, and the cargo blocks go down on repulsors. It's a lot of work to assemble and equip one, and most planets don't do that.

- Well," I nodded, "for now we need to deliver a large number of worker droids. I have my first candidate for chief droid officer.

- Oh, yeah? Who's that?

- A friend of mine," I grinned, "I don't have time to go to him myself, so I'll send an invitation along with someone from the yacht crew...

* Three days later, Correlia, Anakin Skywalker.

- So, please, Mr. Skywalker," Mereel said.

We were in a large circular office, at a small table, classic for meetings. Along the table sat the color of the KMK, three members of the board of directors, though Mereel was in charge, the chairman and controlling owner. KMK was owned by the Correlian government, or vice versa-the Correlian government was owned by KMK. Either way, the corporation's influence on Correlian life could hardly be overstated. Now it was up to me to run my idea by the main partners.

- Thank you. So, I'll start at the beginning. As you know, there is an order of Jedi. They are people who have paranormal abilities and use them for the good of the galaxy...

Those present nodded in agreement, all except Mereel. I continued to speak, with my empathy running high:

- Among these abilities is one that allows you to travel through hyperspace without the use of any tools or calculated routes. Even in the wild and unknown, or ever-changing space. This is the ability I possess... But that's not the point. With these abilities, I have access to regions that are not open, as well as those that are closed to any traveler.

- Such as? - Mereel asked.

- For example, the core of the galaxy.

Everyone was surprised, but the chief stopped the noise and turned to me:

- Go on.

- I've already flown to the galactic core, and I found a completely abandoned sector there. The planet Koros, which was once a developed world, is now only the ruins of a former civilization. But that's not the main thing, the main thing is the presence of huge deposits of valuable minerals in the core. Gravitational, electromagnetic and hyperspace instability, together with the region's closed nature and high matter density compared to the rest of the galaxy, have done their job - there are a number of major deposits in the region. Some are known to us from past experience, one of the planets extremely rich in singing steel was discovered by me. According to the most rough estimates, the region is the richest in minerals sector of the galaxy.

- Except that it's impossible to get there," grinned one of the directors.

- "Wrong. I told you, I've already been there and quite successfully picked up there three thousand tons of singing steel, which I sold you just a week ago. But that's just for the sake of experiment. Of course, I will use my privileges as the only one who can cross the exclusion zone. Legally, I have already declared myself the Emperor of Koros," and then those present smiled, "and I have negotiated with the republican authorities, represented by the Chancellor. The Korosian Empire never left the Republic, so I have both the minerals and the right to market them. The only question is that the mining has to be organized.

- And you've come to us with that question? - nodded, "Why don't you ask the mining corporations?

- I'm not interested in leasing my own land, now. I intend to mine and sell valuable metals. Which is not insignificant, very insignificant. That's why I propose that your corporation form an alliance. You are one of the largest consumers of valuable metals in the galaxy, so I am willing to sell you metal at a substantial discount. The price of the discount is the establishment and maintenance of the mining industry and a formal alliance between the Koros Empire and KMC. Of course, over time, the mining industry will be localized, but the discount won't go anywhere.

- Interesting," Mereel sighed, "but how can we be sure that what you say is true?

- I'm not suggesting a one-time contract, am I? - It's simple, you allocate some of your resources to work for your partner, and in return you get twenty percent off the official market value that other companies charge. The profit is directly proportional to the volume of production, i.e. after a certain level of investment, the discounted amount will be higher than the investment. In addition, the investment is a one-time thing - once built, a steel plant can run for centuries. As I said, over time, your specialists will be replaced by mine, and I will support them, and the discount will not go anywhere.

- Interesting," Mereel looked at his colleagues, "what do you think?

- I have a question," stood up one of them, a young man with a thin mustache and in fancy clothes, "you said that only you have the ability to navigate in the core...

- Yes," I nodded.

- But how will we be able to bring in and take out resources? Or would you take care of everything personally?

- Personally. However, to save me time, we'll use the heavy transports of the XRT and FSCV series. The more we move in one trip, the less hassle it'll be. In addition, in the mining colonies themselves, we will have to increase the level of localization, and calculate interaction with a minimum level of space travel. Ideally, each planet should have a large processing center, which will be brought ore, and there, in place, the finished products in the form of ingots metal will be loaded into the transport blocks. Up to fifty million tons in one block, although I will return to this issue later. With this scheme of work the essence of delivery will be reduced to visiting all the planets once a year and docking loaded containers, and then delivering them to Correlia or wherever you want.

- Then we're talking about a lot of money! - If I buy a billion tons from you at one time... if a thousand credits per kilogram, it's a trillion! The budget of the central world for a whole year!

I chuckled:

- When it comes to the central world, my empire is at the very core of the galaxy. It couldn't be more central. Besides, how much will it change? Suppose instead of buying up lots of metals from large corporations you go to a single, long-term supplier, for centuries to come you don't have to search for metals all over the galaxy, and I give you a discount...

- It looks very tempting," Mereel agreed, "especially the discount. It's rather alarming, you know.

- It's simple," I smiled for a moment, "I, as the Emperor, do not intend to go into business. And if I do, I don't intend to sell my raw materials, but to work directly with the products. Therefore, I am interested in a stable and reliable partner, with whom I will not have to quarrel over every loan. And that's why I clearly set the price - the official market price, minus a twenty percent discount, so that you don't have to change partners.

- Okay, Mr. Skywalker... or "Your Majesty"?

- As you wish," I brushed the question aside, "as I understand it, you can't accept such an offer without consulting and thinking through the details...

- You are right," Mereel smiled in relief.

- In that case, gentlemen, I dare not disturb you. You have communication with me, my temporary residence is in apartment nine hundred and three, in the five hundredth house on the Republican. I will be glad to see you or your representatives..." I bid farewell to the board of directors, and left the office. The offer was made. It was a little less lucrative than selling on the market myself, of course, but it untied my hands. Now they will cling to me and the core, whatever I do not go to their competitors ... And at the same time will help me, providing the budget with money. I didn't mention that I'll be selling metals to others, only without the discount...

* * *

Six hours later, Coruscant.

* * *

It was the middle of the night on Coruscant. Or rather, in the area where the Five Hundredth House was located, it was a deep night and everyone was asleep, everyone except Julian. My friend was waiting for me with news and he waited. I didn't expect him to come out to meet me, but Ju walked up to the shuttle I had flown in and greeted me:

- How was it?

- Not bad," I looked at his face, in the light of the city lights and the shuttle's headlights, "let's go inside...

Already inside settling down, I heard the news:

- Your candidate has arrived. He arrived the very next day. By the way, I had to tell him about your story with the temporal anomaly, otherwise it would be difficult to explain that you are now in your twenties and your son is already growing up...

- That's right," I nodded, "I'll talk to him in the morning.

- Well, can you tell me briefly what? Did you agree to it?

- Not yet, - I satisfied his curiosity, - such things are not solved quickly. However, judging by their emotions, almost all of them could not believe that a man came to them and offered them a cheap raw material... but, apparently, soon the first impression will pass and they will agree. And if they don't, there's the Kuat, there's the Republic shipyards, there's several other steel companies, so we won't be without customers.

Julian rubbed his hands together:

- Then they'll definitely agree, they're greedy guys.

- By the way, it's time to deal with the staffing issue. Tomorrow I'll go to Valorum and ask him for a temporary lineup for the first jobs.