"That's obscene!" King Garrand yelled. "There's no justification for this at all!" He stepped forward and took Pina by the arm. "These are citizens of the Empire too. By the Void, you can't–"
"The Empire has no citizens, King Garrand," Karion said menacingly. "It has only subjects. Now, if you do not unhand my officer I will have you arrested for assaulting one of the Emperor's representatives. You know what that will mean for you."
Pina was suddenly aware that two stormtroopers had advanced to his side, their heavy blasters aimed at the King.
Queen Myr's hand took her husband gently by the shoulder and the rage in him died. He took a breath and backed away.
"You have no authority to arrest me on my homeworld," he replied. "Even us ex-members of the Senate have some power left to us and as one of the Elder Houses I–"
"Power?" Karion repeated with amusement. "Very soon, King Garrand, you and all your like will perceive what that word actually means. In a few short hours, the Emperor's grand design will be unveiled to the galaxy."
"What have you done Admiral?" the old ruler asked.
"A second Death Star," Karion answered. "Already operational."
Pina couldn't hide his shock. He was aware of Queen Myr's gasp and the younger lady's dismay. He somehow perceived the physical pain the words caused the old king.
"Is that true?" Pina muttered unthinkingly. "A second one?"
Karion gave him a look of near disdain and he realised he had spoken inappropriately.
"Indeed it is, Captain Pina. No doubt many of you have heard rumours of a secret Imperial project. This is it. When the rebel fleet is destroyed over Endor, its existence will be broadcast across the Empire. And this time, there will no alliance left to oppose us. We will have stability. We will have peace."
Silence fell. Pina saw the devastation on the faces of the dignitaries. Even Governor Mazier was in shock.
"Now that you perceive the new reality, you have no choice but to comply," Karion continued. "The refugees must be taught to obey. To respect our laws. To serve as an example for others who contemplate insurrection. Now Captain Pina, please carry out that order. Ten thousand, if you please."
Pina couldn't move. His mind and soul and heart were locked in a battle of doubt. He couldn't obey such an order.
"Are you unwilling to obey my orders, Captain Pina?"
Karion spoke quietly, and Pina found that more threatening than any outburst.
"N-no sir. I just . . . if we have a second Death Star that is as capable as the first, then it seems to me that ten thousand executions on Farsalt demeans our power." He saw Karion's curiosity grow. "It might appear vindictive, sir. Such a paltry sum in comparison to what we can really do–"
"Nonetheless Captain, it is a demonstration of our will, not our capability. Proceed, if you please."
Pina nodded. He didn't know why, but he knew it was an unconscious decision to allow him time to think. To find a way of preventing such a crime.
"Admiral Karion!"
The young lady stepped forward. Pina felt her presence in a strange way, in a manner that he had never felt before. Her face was determined. She stared into Karion's artificial eyes with an intensity that forced the admiral to turn his head away. Pina had never known him to do that.
"You know that there is a rebel cell operating here, in the camps," the young lady continued, the spirit of her words somehow more potent than the detail. "As do I. As do we all. If I can persuade the leader of this group to give themselves up, will their head do for your bloody lust?"
Pina felt she had given an opportunity.
"If he is of sufficient rank, then that would be most interesting," he said, getting his words in before Karion could speak. "I shall deploy the Sentient Fences as a precaution. They shall start on their selection," he looked at the woman, "just in case you can't deliver your rebel. I shall start with a mere five hundred, as a reminder."
Pina signalled the Imperial Technician who stood at a respectful distance.
"Have the Sentient Fences prioritise the old and the sick." He felt Karion's attention on him. "If we have to execute ten thousand of them, then I shall show them the mercy of picking the infirm."
Karion remained curiously silent. The woman's attention had not deviated from the admiral for a single moment.
It was odd. Pina had suspected that Karion might disapprove of his orders.
"Proceed," he commanded the technician.
From the Imperial landers the Sentient Fences slid out into the open air. Boosters slowed their descent and they spread out, each one forming a long line a kilometre in length and fifty metres in height. As they slowly fell toward the ground above the camp, flashing shield radiation turned the sky into a million tiny brilliant rainbows. In his training at the academy, Pina had been on the receiving end of these droid shield walls. It was impossible for any humanoid being to pass through the shields and avoid being corralled like dumb beasts. Four of them would link up and form a square over a wide area and descend to surface level. At first the shields would be weak enough so that individuals might pass through them, until, once the required number had been met, they would gain strength. Then, as Pina recalled, no amount of physical effort could make a breach.
The Sentient Fences reached the ground. From the camp, desperate cries echoed over the tree tops to reach Pina's pained ears.
"Well. Can you find the rebel leader for the Admiral?" Pina asked the young lady.
For the first time, her attention turned fully to him. Her cool eyes regarded him for a long and uncomfortable moment.
"We will have to go into the camp together," she said. "You will come with me."
Pina nodded. He found he wanted the excuse to spend time with her.
"Indeed. Admiral, I will go into the camp with her. She might need protection."
"Very good, Captain," Karion said quietly. The admiral said nothing more and marched briskly away.
"Shall we go, Captain Pina?" she asked.
"Yes. But first I will leave this behind."
He undid his blaster belt and handed it to the nearest stormtrooper. The young lady watched him with puzzled interest.
"I am under your protection," he told her. "A single sidearm will not do much to keep me safe from millions of refugees who hate any who wear the Imperial uniform."
Her puzzlement didn't diminish.
"I had not expected such from an Imperial captain."
"No. But there is something I must know. Your name? You were not in the records I reviewed when we approached Farsalt. I would have remembered."
If he had expected warmth, he didn't receive it. Her face remained impassive and unreadable.
"I am the Lady Jish, handmaiden to Queen Myr. But I should warn you Captain, it isn't pleasant inside the camp. Now, shall we proceed?"
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Well, Captain Pina has tried to temper the extreme orders of Admiral Karion by picking the weak and infirm, but is that really a moral action? Surely these beings would be worthy of more protection, not less? This chapter also shows off one of my proudest lines in this story: "The Empire has no citizens. It only has subjects!" That sum ups the true nature of Imperial rule over this galaxy in an accurate way: citizens would have rights, but subjects don't. The people have finally been traduced to mere chattel for the Emperor and his inner circle, a fact that is beyond debate now that the existence of a second functional Death Star is known. And when evil becomes so entrenched and so powerful, how can you resist?