Chapter Text
"You are now under my Command!" He roared to the gathered crowds, spittle flying from his mouth, eyes rimmed red and pale face pasty in the light.
He looked skeletal, sickly, as though recent events had taken a toll on the red haired General.
Flanking him on either side, were two polished Stormtroopers. Their guns poised as though ready to fire at any moment. The crowd erupted into a series of low murmurs, jewelled hands sheltering their mouths as their eyes trained on General Hux. Eyes from all over the huge meeting room, chandeliers clinking together serenely, as opulence radiated from the numerous tiered balconies.
There would be no resistance on this planet from the might of the First Order. Corellia had grown lazy in its riches, and guile, more concerned by gossip and court intrigue than the affairs that blew like a storm beyond their planet.
Her grip tightened on the golden banister, as the sounds of armour clanking filled the air, replacing the usual whispers and ambience of the fountains trickling, chandeliers swaying softly, with the noises of violence. Stormtroopers seemed to pour into the Council Chamber, prompting a few alarmed screams of shock.
"The First Order shall ensure your protection from resistance scum, as long as you cooperate."
The pale General smiled with glee over those gathered.
"We shall cooperate fully." Governor Yan Fenir spoke, breaking from the murmurs, his fat belly spilling over his velvet regal gear. "Corellia has long watched the movements of the First Order, hoping for the protection of a group mightier than the Empire."
He had always been a centrist, secretly against the New Republic, pinning for the old Empire days. She had known many such men and women, operating in the New Republic pretending to follow the rules and customs. Pretending to accept the new way. But behind closed doors they would plot against the New Republic. It sickened her.
Like the flock of sheep they were, the murmurs agreed with him, whispers behind hands, eyes glancing around. Yan Fenir had always had a grip on Corellia, his name carrying more worth than he deserved, hence why he had been elected as the New Republic Governor despite his turncoat tendencies. He had slowly poisoned Corellia from the Rebellion.
Her grip tightened once again, her fists turning paler, but her face remained impassive, stoic. Around her stood four figures clothed in light robes. She turned her head as a man closest to her, with neatly slicked back dirty blonde hair and a finely chiselled face, moved closer to her whispering in her ear:
"As if we could stand up against those who destroyed the Hosnian Sytem."
She inclined her head to acknowledge his words. That show of strength from the First Order had appeared barbaric, even to the Core Worlds, including some of those in Corellia who watched in fright.
"Shall we sow more seeds of doubt?" Jacen spoke without barely moving his lips.
She smiled.
"The First Order is fighting over a new Supreme Leader. Is this a show of power in that struggle?"
The pair shared a look. Jacen nodded slowly and with a fluid and subtle move whispered into another ear what she had just repeated.
"I need more than just your honeyed words Yan Fenrir." General Hux seemed to almost spit down on the fat man. "Bow to the power of the First Order."
Without hesitation Yan Fenrir gesticulated on the floor. Soon the whole room paused in whispers, as everyone kneeled to show their alliance. Be grudgingly she lowered herself to the floor, the silks of her light blue dress pooling about beneath her.
"It is a shame." General Hux began to pace the dais, shaking his head. "I want to believe you... Corellia is such an important planet, it would be a shame to see the ships you design in flames. Yet among you is a spy. A small weed that bears allegiance to Organa. A small weed that risks every life form on this planet."
More murmurs rise, numerous names thrown around the room. General Hux grinned with triumph, believing that in such a place of gossip, the spy would not last long surely. She stared down at him: How wrong he was.
"A s-spy? Here? You must be mistaken."
"Mistaken, I am not." General Hux paced over to Yan Fenrir, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck. "Encrypted messages, the acceptance of the resistances feeble plea for help before we wiped them into non-existence. Traced to this planet. To this city. Spread out. Question and find."
He dropped Yan Fenrir and stalked away as the Stormtroopers began their search.
Whoever the spy was, despite the smug assuredness in the Generals face, they were safe on Corellia, as all they could do here was tell lies.