Chapter Five

“Lieutenant, you have something for me?”

Grand Moff Galgen looked up from the screen built into the meeting table and watched his subordinate walk around it and up to his seat. He noticed how Terrov glanced at the shadows in the room, probably searching for Arcc Nedeen’s presence. When he was sure the force-user wasn’t in the room he visibly relaxed.

Galgen smiled at his discomfort.

“Yes, sir. I have the latest shipwide report, and details of my conversation with Komag the Hutt’s aide.”

“The ship report can wait, lieutenant. What did Komag have to say?” Galgen motioned for Terrov to sit down in the seat next to him. After making himself appear more comfortable than he actually felt, Terrov laid a datapad on the table and activated it.

“Komag’s major domo is happy we have secured the cargo to pay for his illustrious employer’s silence,” Terrov drawled. “He was, however, most insistent that you bring the merchandise down personally so that the exchange can be made face to face.”

“Did you tell him that I would not do such a thing?”

“I did, sir. He was most perplexed. I told him that it would be a simple matter for him to send a courier to the Malevolent. He refused.”

“Refused?”

“Yes, sir, refused. Apparently, the illustrious Komag the Hutt is so illustrious he has no starships to send.”

Galgen slammed a fist onto the table, causing the beverage he had resting there to jump and spill the upper part of its contents over the table.

“Damn him!” he said, standing up and pacing around the table. Terrov deactivated the datapad and sat back, waiting for his superior’s next decision. To Terrov, the whole state of affairs was ridiculous. Both Galgen and Komag were using their aides to communicate. Each one wouldn’t travel to the other because they didn’t have much trust in each other.

One’s a Grand Moff and the others a Hutt, Terrov thought. What is there to trust?

“Wouldn’t it be simpler just to send a team and eliminate Komag, sir?” Terrov suggested. “We could make it look like a gang hit if you wanted to keep the Imperial involvement out of it.”

“I have considered that, lieutenant, but my situation is precarious enough as it is. It’s simpler at the moment just to pay him off and eliminate him at a later date.”

Terrov decided it was time to venture an opinion.

“Sir, this whole affair is getting out of hand. You are a Grand Moff, and here you are cavorting with criminals and dark Force users. It’s dangerous and unfitting for a man such as yourself. Why not deliver Arcc Nedeen to the Emperor, eliminate this Hutt and just say you were playing along to capture Nedeen?” And, if my involvement in that is known, I stand to make a great deal.

Galgen stared at his lieutenant with anger in his small eyes.

“Lieutenant, do not assume that being involved with this problem gives you leeway to talk to me like that. I have considered all the avenues of possibility and this is the one that stands to reap the most rewards. We will continue to work with Arcc Nedeen and we will placate this Hutt in whatever way is necessary. You can either be a part of the solution or a problem.”

Terrov though it over.

“My apologies, sir.” He bowed his head in deference. “Where is Arcc Nedeen at the moment?”

“In his quarters, playing along at being a visiting industrial dignitary. Everyone on board thinks he’s just another subversient alien hoping to make a trade deal with the Empire. As long as no-one asks any questions, that will be how it stays.”

“Where did you find him, anyway, sir?” Terrov wanted to know. “I find it difficult to believe someone like that would approach the Empire.”

Galgen shrugged, more willing to share information with Terrov now that he was embroiled in his plans.

“It was, actually, a stroke of luck. I have a hire, a bounty hunter who does the occasional job for me and informs me of the latest goings-on in the underworld, who was doing a job for Komag the Hutt. Arcc Nedeen was working for Komag and helping him build his small gambling empire. After witnessing Arcc’s skill as a force-user during a fight he informed me, knowing that such displays were forbidden and the credits for bringing in such an individual was high. I demanded that he detain him for execution. I was suprised when Arcc suddenly asked for an audience with me. It was then I figured out I could put him to better use than just have him killed.”

Galgen had walked around the whole meeting table, hands clasped behind his back. Terrov watched him with interest. He was trying to figure out exactly why the Grand Moff had allowed himself to fall into this position, why someone who had attained such a high position had fallen so low. He shifted in his seat and picked up the datapad. Maybe it was time to call Imperial Centre before things got too out of hand. If he didn’t act soon, Coruscant may think he was a part of all this and just arrested Galgen to save his own hide.

In actual fact, that wasn’t too far from the truth.

Galgen resumed his seat and leaned forward, fingers interlocked, chin resting on his hands.

“Junduk Major called a little while ago,” Terrov said. “They wish to know our reasons for our orbit of their world.”

Galgen waved the question away.

“I’m not interested. Just tell them we do not need to explain ourselves. They should be glad we’re not here for them. It’s none of their business.”

“I have heard mumbling in the ranks on board, too, sir. Many of the men are wondering why our patrol route has been changed.”

“Tell them the same thing.”

Terrov bit his tongue and stood.

“Is there anything else, sir?”

“Yes,” Galgen snapped. “Tell Komag, or his aid at least, that I want a vessel sent to us to pick up the payment. I don’t care where he gets the ship from. I will not have an Imperial ship touch down in Raca City and draw unwanted attention. It’s bad enough being in orbit of this rock.

“Dismissed.” Terrov snapped his heels together and turned smartly, walking across the room and exiting quickly.

Galgen sat alone, staring at the screen display, reading with disinterest ship duty rotors and operations parameters. With a wave of his hand the screen shut off and retreated into the table.

He stood and walked to the wall, pressing a small stud on one of the hull supports. A huge blastscreen slid upwards, revealing a huge window that looked down on Junduk IV. As the view widened and the planet became brighter, Galgen could see clear skies and small glittering dots. Cities, no doubt. Clusters of heavy storms were swirling around the northern pole, and as he watched a pair of TIE fighters swooped past the window on patrol. Their octagonal ‘wings’ and circular command cockpits tumbled past and executed a tight turn, almost as if the pilots were aware of their Grand Moff’s scrutiny and were putting on a display for him.

A shuttle droned past and Galgen watched it head for the nearest heavy cruiser accompanying the Malevolent. The TIE fighters fell into place either side of it.

He sighed.

What was he doing? He was a Grand Moff, almost the highest of offices in the Emperor’s New Order, and here he was skulking around like a common criminal. He had enough firepower under his feet to level all the cities on that miserable world below. Why not just eliminate Komag and then use Arcc Nedeen’s talents, handing him over to the Emperor when he was done with him? Or just killing him? He was such a fool to let all this come about.

There was a bleep and a side door opened.

Arcc Nedeen walked slowly into the meeting room. His long dark cape, which now the room was brighter Galgen could see was actually a very dark hue of blue, swirled around him as he walked. His hood, as ever, was draped over his face.

Galgen watched him approach and as he sidled up next to him looked back down at the planet below.

“You have your doubts about our agreement,” Arcc said with his usual low tone and gritted-teeth speech.

“I think maybe we are going too far. This Komag thing may cause a problem. These kind of actions do not suit a man in my position and if anyone discovered...”

“You knew the risks when you found me,” Arcc interrupted and stepped closer to Galgen. “You knew them when we entered our pact.”

Galgen sighed.

“I’m just not sure of the chances I’m taking. With you. With Terrov. I’m thinking...”

Arcc’s hand waved slightly under his cape.

“You will not break our agreement,” he whispered.

Galgen looked blank faced and just stared straight at Arcc’s dark hood.

“I will not break our agreement.”

“We will remain here until this problem is resolved.”

Again, Galgen did not blink or move.

“We will remain here until this problem is solved.”

“You will carry out the next part of our plan.”

“I will carry out the next part of our plan.”

Arcc nodded, satisfied that his power, the Dark Side of the force, was being effective on this weak-minded fool. Galgen was so desperate to return to Imperial Centre he was easy to manipulate and having a man of such high prominence in the Imperial War Machine was advantageous. Access to records detailing information he wished to know to complete his quest would hurry his search by years. Galgen snapped back to the present as Arcc lowered his hand.

“Sorry, what were you saying?”

With a swirl of robes Arcc turned and headed for the exit.

“I am returning to my quarters. See I am not disturbed.”

“Of course, yes,” Galgen looked around as if suddenly becoming aware of his surroundings. “Of course.”