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“Welcome, Governor Tarkin. What brings you here today to seek my personal audience?” said the Emperor, sitting on a grand armchair in his quarters at the topmost level of the Imperial Palace.
“My lord,” Tarkin offered a slight bow to the Emperor, “I wish to speak with you about some delicate private matter, one that I feel would be unsuited for discussion through the comms.”
“Oh?” The Emperor quirked one of his brows curiously. “If this is about the HR complaints about you and Lord Vader’s recent fraternization allegations, then rest assured. I have already instructed the High Command to drop the case. This trivial matter of regulations should not be of concern to any of my top officials, and you already know that you will always have my full backing.”
“Thank you my lord,” nodded Tarkin gratefully, “though this was not the topic I had planned to discuss.”
“Then come here and sit.” The Emperor motioned at an armchair opposite to him. “So what is it that you wish to discuss with me?”
Tarkin took his seat and folded his hands on his lap. “My lord, I’m sure you have read the status reports on the development of our Navy’s next generation warships: the Executor -class Star Dreadnought.”
The Emperor hummed in agreement. “Yes. Go on?”
“If all things go according to plan, the eponymous prototype currently under construction will be available to us in just a few years.”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Yes, but I fail to see how that would have anything to do with your private matter? Now Governor, would you do this old man a little favor and cut to the chase?”
“Sorry, my lord,” apologized Tarkin, then he asked hesitantly, “is the rumor true? That the new Star Dreadnought we’ve mentioned earlier would be assigned to Lord Vader?”
“Lord Vader has been pushing very hard for this project, and I think it is only fitting for him to call dibs on it. Don’t you think so?” The Emperor put his elbows on the huge desk before him and steepled his spidery fingers, his gimlet yellow eyes piercing directly through Tarkin’s mind, “or do you suggest that I grant it to you instead?”
Tarkin swallowed hard, trying his best not to flinch under the scrutiny, while maintaining his nonchalant facade. “I would not suggest such things, my lord. Lord Vader is the finest enforcer of our empire and has proved to be the most worthy of us to receive such honor. However, my problem lies with the name of this ship: the Executor .”
The Emperor seemed to be genuinely intrigued now. He even scooted a little closer over Tarkin’s direction. “And?”
“And my flagship is named the Executrix ! You see the problem here, my lord?” Tarkin tried to mask his frustration, but his voice still steeped in annoyance. “The Executor and the Executrix , if it can be even more obvious. People are already spreading rumors about me having a relationship with Lord Vader! In fact, you just mentioned about all those HR complaints yourself.”
“And are you not, Wilhuff?”
“I won’t deny that Lord Vader and I… have got involved from time to time… but calling it a relationship is surely a stretch.”
Palpatine barely restrained a smile. “If you say so.”
“But that’s not the worst! Now everyone thinks that I’m the woman in this relationship!” Tarkin complained indignantly.
“And are you not, Wilhuff?”
Tarkin groaned, covering his face with his hands. He should never have let Palpatine goad him. “ You are NOT HELPING! Sheev! ”
He was answered with an evil cackle.
“…Very funny,” Tarkin said dryly, “just because I am shorter, thinner, and having a higher pitched voice than him doesn’t mean that I have to submit to him, not even with his magical force abilities in count.”
Palpatine gave him an amused look. “You know it’s no use lying to me, or are you even lying to yourself?”
“Fine! I’m the bottom! Are you satisfied now? Do you wish to know more?”
“Oh, you can keep your obscene little details between you and Lord Vader,” snickered Palpatine, then his face softened as much as its deformity allowed, “We’ve already come this far, Wilhuff, but I’ll admit that I miss this, of those talks between you and me, and of an old and simpler time.”
Tarkin smiled despite himself. “I miss it too, Sheev, even when you were laughing at my expense like you just did.”
“Well, your love life is always very entertaining,” giggled Palpatine, “although now that I think about it, it’s rather atypical of you to be bothered by rumors of such nature. You used to have your way of dealing with them.”
“I did executed several people to make an example, but I couldn’t execute all of them, or we’d face a serious lack of personnel,” Tarkin scoffed. “Besides, it’s not like I could deal with those under Vader’s command, and he refused to do anything about it at all. That bastard must think this whole thing is hilarious, can you believe that? He even had the nerve to say that he found my lack of humor disturbing!”
“Lord Vader does possess a peculiar sense of humor, especially when the situation serves him well,” the Emperor said, while drumming his fingers absentmindedly against the armrest of his chair, “so what do you suggest to solve this problem?”
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, my lord, but is it possible to assign a new ship to me?”
“I gifted the Executrix to you personally, and I have no intention to take her away from you, Governor. However, I don’t see why I can’t assign an additional ship to you.” The Emperor said, then he paused, contemplating it for a moment, “do you remember the Sovereign ? The one I assigned to you temporarily when the Executrix underwent maintenance after Agaris? And the one that got damaged in the Western Reaches? The good news is that the repairs are done and she’s ready to serve as your new flagship.”
“You are way too generous, my lord.” Tarkin bowed again, smiling genuinely.
The Emperor stood up and patted his shoulder encouragingly. “Now prove to everyone that you can be the Sovereign to Executors like Lord Vader.”