AN: To you speed readers last chapter that skipped both AN's, and those who lack logical reasoning, no there isn't a second MC, the Vader scene in the middle of the chapter was a preview of a different story.
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After collecting the pile of coins, and nabbing the Force Sword, Corvus entered Pause for an extended period of time to meditate and derez from the extreme fight he had just engaged in.
He had had no clue that such a powerful being would be waiting for him down here, but it was simply more proof that the Star Wars galaxy was lurking with all sorts of nasty creatures.
The bottom levels of Coruscant, for example, held horrors that made this Anzat appear tame in comparison. There likewise were powerful cyborgs, androids, flesh eating diseases, Force sensitive creatures, and monsters that would fit right into Warhammer 40k lurking in the background.
Even Tython, his destination, was a dangerous place rife with danger.
Just because Corvus knew a lot about Star Wars, didn't mean he could allow his foreknowledge to make him conceited.
Mentally shaking his head, Corvus allowed his mind to wander for an hour, and then he plotted out his next course of action.
Robbing the vault was only one part of Corvus's plan to ruin the economy.
Galactic Bank, for all the billions in hard currency that it held in reserve, was a trifle compared to how much its worth was listed on the stock market, and other assets. Speaking frankly, most money was held electronically, the physical cash only acted as proof that Galactic Bank held onto something of value.
Corvus had only taken billions, when the bank likely had trillions-or more-within its database.
If he really wanted to hurt this institution, he would have to go even further in his actions.
Which is why Corvus would have to return to Vice President Cirio's office, and hack his terminal.
Chairman Maw seemed like a hands off kind of leader, and considering how trusting Maw sounded when addressing Cirio, it was likely the VP took care of the day to day operations of the bank.
Hence Corvus's need to hack into Ciro's terminal. If the VP had access to all of Galactic Bank's records, then Corvus could cause some major hurt to both this institution, and the government.
Now Corvus felt bad that he would be hurting billions of people's financials, but when in a total war against a Sith, nothing was off the table.
Mind made up, Corvus left Pause, and invisibility approached Cirio.
Traveling a few miles through the vault, Corvus saw that the middle aged man was smoking, and trying to look casual.
It seemed he didn't know the fate of his master.
Perfect.
Corvus waved his hand, casting [Mind Trick], and made it seem as if Maw's voice had ordered Cirio from a distance.
'It has been too long since I have tasted a meal such as this, I have become…inspired. Galactic Bank shall take on a new policy. Return to your office, and await my command.'
"Yes, Chairman! I hope you enjoy the soup!" Cirio shouted back into the empty hall.
He then opened the giant vault door, and gestured to the droids carrying the crate filled with 120 million credits, and made his way back to his office.
Now of course, Corvus could have killed Cirio right then and there, and left him in the vault, however, that would go counter to his plan.
Corvus intended to make some impactful changes to Galactic Bank's policy, and if the VP thought that it was coming from his master, why, he would fight tooth and nail to defend it.
Chairman Maw was terrifying, and considering Cirio knew his true nature, he would be Corvus's unknowing pawn when it came to undermining the Empire.
As for Palpatine, there was a good chance that he was aware of Maw. Would he be so ready and willing to go against such a powerful and influential figure?
Perhaps Palpatine would send Vader to investigate, but by then, it would be too late.
Grinning to himself, Corvus followed Cirio past dozens of annoying checkpoints, and through a few elevators and secret passageways.
This, of course, was the other reason why he had let Cirio live. Finding his way back to Cirio's office would be impossible unless he dropped his invisibility and went full murder hobo. Thankfully he had a stealth build.
Pleased with this development, Corvus entered right behind Cirio into the office, and took a tranquilizer dart out of his inventory.
As soon as the door slammed shut, Corvus jammed it into Cirio's neck.
Catching the falling man, Corvus gently lowered him into a nearby couch.
Approaching the terminal that was on Cirio's desk, Corvus hacked into the system, and got to work.
Thankfully, it seemed that Cirio really did have the keys to the kingdom. As the trusted intermediary to a semi-immortal space vampire banker, Cirio was the one with all the levers of control.
Honestly, it was quite frightening how much power this guy had access to. Power that Corvus was going to abuse.
Amongst the many damaging things that Corvus implemented did, these were a few of the big ones:
1) Call all loans
2) Sell all stocks/assets
3) Issue a fuckton of loans at 0.001% interest to every single person who had a pending request
4) Approve all risk management applications
5) Put a hold on all purchases over 10,000 credits, and freeze the accounts on all Hutts, Boba Fett, and every criminal Corvus could recall.
6) Commission the production of 10 trillion new credits
7) Dump 50% of the cash flow into the bottom 20% of the bank's clients. (Giving to the poor).
8) Create 1,000 slush fund accounts with random amounts of cash ranging from 10 to 100 million credits each.
9) Invest 30% of all available money into fine art, amongst these holdings, a substantial amount were Alderaanian in origin.
10) All remaining cash was diverted to Palpatine's banking account. This information was set on a timer to be released to all tabloids, blogs, news media, and any interested party by next month.
Taking a snapshot of all this information, Corvus leaned back in the comfortable executive chair, and nodded proudly to himself with what he had accomplished.
This stab into Palpatine's back was certain to drive the old man insane. Yes, maybe the general populace would be pleased with this act, and Corvus was loath to aid Palpatine in any way. However, he couldn't in good conscious fuck over the plurality. But acting like Robinhood aside, this move from Corvus would turn the elite class against the wizened prune.
Which, in the realm of politics and business, it was the opinions of the bourgeoisie that actually mattered. The will of the people could be powerful, but on average, the real movers and shakers were senators, shareholders, CEOs, and planetary leaders. By making these people unhappy, Palpatine would be sure to feel the pressure.
Afterall, as powerful as Palpatine was, he didn't dissolve the Senate for 20 years. It wasn't until the Death Star was revealed to the universe that he became comfortable enough in his position.
By enacting this change, Corvus hoped to foster resentment amongst the most influential people in the galaxy. Palpatine had promised them peace, and security. Well with the war raging, and their businesses about to collapse, financial security would be pressing on many minds.
This pressure would build up, forcing senators to act. Palpatine, master politician that he was, was sure to find chinks in Corvus's plan, to undermine this plot into a moral victory. However, words could only go so far when money was on the line.
Whatever ploy Palpatine enacted to counter Corvus's plot, it wasn't as if he was a static entity, and had to sit still to take it.
Whenever Palpatine made a move, Corvus would be sure to proactively counter it. Either personally, or with his allies.
It was due to Palpatine's genius machinations and connections that Corvus recruited someone like Fang Zar. His associates would help to gum up the senatorial process, and act as a thorn in the nascent Emperor's rise.
In fact, Zar was but one piece on the board, Bail Organa was the true prize.
A charismatic man who ruled an entire system, Corvus couldn't wait to meet this friend and ally of the Jedi Order.
So many had turned their backs on the Jedi, that Bail was like a breath of fresh air in a galaxy filled with scum and villainy.
Principled and good natured, Bail was the monarch of a planet, and ruled with strength and justice.
It helped too, that Alderaan was the planet he governed. That gave him power, influence, and leverage that few other worlds could match.
This wasn't some mid rim no-name planet like Naboo. No, this was Alderaan, one of the founders of the Republic.
Their cache was immense, and the planet's influence stretched eons. It was no joke to claim that it was one of the cradles for humanity, and that hundreds of colonized planets could trace their roots & their culture back to Alderaan. This shared identity fostered trade, and gave the planet a kind of soft power in media that was the equivalent of the USA's post WW2.
Fang Zar could be casually imprisoned, but the likes of Bail Organa held a sort of primacy that was not so easily dismissed.
Given this planet's storied past, it was no wonder Organa was so against the Empire. Whether it be on principle, economics, or the threat to Alderaanian power, Organa had to make a stand.
Given how important Alderaan was to so many in the galaxy, it was no surprise then, why so many people joined the Rebellion after it was wiped off the face of the galaxy.
This influence was so substantial, and Organa was such a chad, that Corvus simply had to recruit him to his faction.
As Corvus planned out his meeting with the Prince of Alderaan, he finished up any last minute adjustments on the terminal, and stood up to leave.
Glancing at a clock, Corvus realized he probably spent more time working on this terminal, then the time it took to free the prisoners, confront the officers, and battle in the hangar.
Cracking his knuckles, and rolling his shoulders, Corvus took the 120 million from the crate, and on the way out, hit poor Cirio with another [Mind Trick].
'The masked man has taken his money and left. Soon after, Master Maw telepathically instructed you to enact his policy shift. His instructions are recorded on the terminal.'
Pleased with himself, Corvus dropped his invisibility, and made his way out the front doors of the bank, and took in the city skyline.
When he entered these doors, it had been mid afternoon, now dusk was approaching, and the sun glittered beautifully off of Coruscant's many skyscrapers.
Approaching the Falcon, the hatch hissed open, and Tann strutted down to meet him.
Barking happily behind her, Huego, the Vornskr, wagged his tongue, and lurked behind Tann.
'Traitor.' Corvus thought about the alien hound.
"You sure took your time." Tann crossed her arms.
"Crippling the economy only took about 4 or 5 hours of hard work, I'd say I was right on time." Corvus replied in a cocky tone.
"My, you don't do things by any half measures, do you?" Tann quirked an eyebrow, and took a step closer, moving into his personal space. A blue hand began to trace itself down his mask, and she placed her other hand on his pectoral.
Corvus ignored this flirtation, interpreting it as an act to ply more information out of him.
"I do have a penchant for going all in, but enough about me, have you reached out to your contacts? Do you have a grasp of the war?" Corvus leaned forward and gripped her hand.
"Utterly abysmal. It's quite the mess you've left me. When I spoke with some leadership within the CIS, they were none too pleased " Tann twirled around like a dancer, then leaned her backside into Corvus's front.
'Firm.' Corvus unconsciously thought as he felt her cheeks press into his crotch.
"I was out of this galaxy for most of this conflict, I only arrived recently. I did tell you about the droid shut off code though, did I not?" Corvus replied.
During their flight to the bank, they had discussed a few things, and returning Tann to her role as Grand General had come up. Being imprisoned a month after the war started wasn't a good look. Apprentice to Dooku, she had a lot of credibility, but to the veterans of this conflict, she was no better than a wet-behind the ears, stinking Gamorian. So Corvus had told her that Palpatine had access to the droid shutdown code, information that could be used to bargain with the CIS leadership.
"No wonder you know of the Vong. And yes, telling the ruling council about that little tidbit got me in their good graces, but it wasn't enough." Tann squeezed tightly on his hand, and craned her neck backwards, and looked up into his visor.
"Do you need my help?" Corvus questioned, at the same time, he couldn't help it, and something shifted in his pants.
"You're sweet Revan, but don't push your luck. A girl has to do some things on her own." Tann smirked, then pulled away from him.
Corvus felt her warmth leave him, and sighed in disappointment.
"Give the Empire hell. They aren't ready for a Chiss with brains and beauty like yours."
Tann slowly smiled, and then approached him once more.
This time, she didn't say a single word, and placed her hands on the release clasp for his mask.
"Tann, I-"
The hot blue Chiss raised his mask just an inch, and placed her lips on his.
Red met purple as their tongues entwined, and Corvus felt electricity coursing through his veins as they kissed.
For a brief second, he became vulnerable in the Force, and the two of them let themselves go.
An odd sensation came over him, and he found he had a base idea about Tann's emotional state, and her location.
A Force Bond had formed between them!
And then, as suddenly as this magical sensation began, Tann pulled away, and looked at him again, this time with a satisfied smirk.
"Nice lightsaber, we'll have to fight sometime."
"With you, anytime." Corvus replied with mirth.
Sashaying away without another word, Tann strutted forward, and a sleek ship landed in front of her, and lowered its ramp.
"Hrn!" Huego ran towards Tann, then back to him, then back to her.
The alien dog clearly seemed conflicted. Evidently they had become friends during his interlude within the bank.
"Go to her. Protect her." Corvus commanded.
"Heuh." Huego looked at him with sad eyes, and then ran to board Tann's ship.
Cupping his hands to be heard over the sound of the city, and the ship's engines, Corvus shouted up at her.
"Sev'rance Tann, don't you die out there, you hear! Your blue ass is mine!"
Tann crossed her arms, and the door to her ship snapped shut, then she was off.
Corvus stared forlornly in the spot she was for a moment, then pulled himself together.
Hunching his shoulders, Corvus felt as if he lost something, however, a pulse of coldness-the kind of refreshing coldness one would feel after stepping outside a stuffy room-came to him through the bond.
Straightening his spine, Corvus smiled.
"I've still got it." Corvus said to himself, and entered the Falcon with a spring in his step.
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AN: 20% off Summer Sale at: https://www.patreon.com/c/KarpQQ
We're at chapter 66 over there rn.
I update there Mon, Tues, Wed, Th
Publicly on Fridays