#Domina Tagge | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

aeon2407 · 2 years ago

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Pyro's Pyrotechnic Love Life - Chapter 9: Lesser Evil

For @contentment-of-cats. Also on AO3.

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Imperial Palace, Coruscant

Palpatine was... worried. It wasn’t a feeling he experienced often, but there it was. Vader, his most utilized enforcer, was nowhere to be found, once again chasing down Kenobi, this time somewhere in the Deep Core, right after the initial battle on Krownest was over. That damn obsession the weakling Skywalker had for his old Master would be Vader’s downfall, and Palpatine needed to find a backup apprentice soon. That redheaded boy that’d been harassing his operations would be quite a Sith from what he’d seen, he’d be a suitable replacement.

Thrawn was occupied with Krownest, and until that portion of Mandalorian Space was stabilized he’d be indisposed. Palpatine was aware enough to recognize the Mandalorians for the threat they were. Thrawn was the best option, even if he’d rather have him elsewhere.

And then there were the Tagges. It was no secret to anyone that Domina Tagge was making moves at every moment of every day. He’d hope that having Killian and Sanya Tagge be high-ranking Separatists would’ve weakened The House when the CIS inevitably lost the war, and he’d be able to nationalize TaggeCo as part of the reparations.

He did not foresee Cassio and Domina Tagge committing parricide and completely cutting out the Separatist leadership, or TaggeCo starving the entirety of Serreno when Dooku decided to move on Tagge Space by force. He ruled the galaxy, but the Tagges controlled it, and nothing short of a brutal and public incursion to seize TaggeCo would take that control from them. They were a problem, a problem he didn’t know how to solve.

And was that dread in his stomach? Something was about to happen, he could feel it in the Force, but what?

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Containment Cell Two, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

Hera was thinking over the offer. If what Lapin Tagge said was true, the Tagges fully intended to remove Palpatine from power, one way or another. Should they succeed, the Rebellion would be rendered irrelevant and unnecessary unless the Dynasty proved to be just as bad or worse than the Empire. The offer was simple. Join the Armada or any department of their operations and they would guarantee amnesty for her. She’d get a stable paying job no matter which department she chose, along with healthcare and other benefits.

But what made her truly consider it was them saying TaggeCo could restore Kanan’s vision, and that they had an hour to decide before the ISB’s Major Partagaz came to interrogate them and the offer expired. She’d heard of Partagaz before, a Clone Wars hero that was involved in so many secrets his name had to be redacted, leaving only ‘Partagaz’ on his illustrious, medal-filled record. She’d also heard horror stories about his interrogation techniques. The man was psychological warfare personified.

Hera caressed her stomach. She was deciding for two. The offer was made almost an hour ago. She was running out of time. The toggle was flicked. “Tell Lapin Tagge that I accept the offer.”

If any of her family rejected it, she would only be able to watch as they were taken away. The child inside her was the priority now.

It took ten minutes for a guard component to arrive and release her. She looked down the hallway to see Sabine, Kanan, Zeb, and Tristan being guided out of their cells. Chopper was nowhere to be seen, and Ezra was looking at them with stubborn eyes through the ray shields. She wanted to talk to him, to beg that he accepted before it was too late, but that was the moment two ISB officers arrived. She recognized Wullf Yularen, and the other must be Partagaz.

Hera stared back at Ezra with pleading eyes as she was escorted away and the two officers made their way over to her son.

“Where are you taking us?”

“To The Lady. The specifics of your arrangements still need to be made.”

Well then, time to see what her future would look like.

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Recovery Room, The Levinbolt, Task Force Spearhead

“Wait, you two were engaged?” Yana was looking between Yissa and Artur in shock, all three of them now somewhat dressed and on a different bed while Merri blissfully twitched on the other one, barely conscious. Yissa was blushing lightly and Artur just shrugged.

“Our families arranged it. Yissa chose me out of a lineup and Aunt Mina gladly paid the bride price to get the Hammerlys into the blood web. By the way, Yissa, six million was criminally low.”

“Well, I didn’t have much of a say in things, Artur.”

“Alright, cut it out, both of you. What happened after you got engaged?” Yana interrupted before they could argue again. She’d only just managed to make them get along.

Yissa looked at her wyf. “Well, we got engaged, went on a few dates mostly for the publicity, and then on my wedding day I found a note detailing the best route out of the building to the nearest recruiting station. The rest you already know.”

Yana did know. It was broadcasted live a week after the Youth Corps placed her on Corulag. The Runaway Bride, climbing down the side of the Hall of Citizens with no less than thirty kilos of jewelry on her dress, hotwiring a speeder, and gunning it for the nearest Imperial recruiting station will forever be imprinted in her mind. Yissa had inadvertently inspired her.

“Who placed that note there? Did you know?”

“I don’t. Whoever it was didn’t leave a name.”

Artur spoke up. “I do.”

Both women looked at him, and Yissa’s eyes widen as she registered the look on his face. She tackled him in a hug. “Thank you. Thank you so much. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.”

Yana was connecting the dots. Artur left that note, making sure to keep himself from suspicion in the process. Why? Did he not like Yissa? Or was it the arranged marriage he didn’t want? Did he not want to get married? To anyone? To her? What if he-

No. Stop. Bad brain. He loved her, that much she knew. That was enough. Now, just one last thing.

“What are we gonna do about Merri?”

Before any of them could deliberate on it, Lapin poked their head in. “Everyone, check your personal message stack. Artur, Operation Titanfall is a go. Get dressed, you’re needed on the bridge.”

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Conference Room One, The Acquisitor, Tagge Armada

The trip from the Levinbolt to the Acquisitor was silent, save for Lapin relaying instructions to the pilot and giving a clearance code on approach. The Spectres were all huddled in one corner, heads down. They all took the deal. They were selling out. They were leaving the rebels, leaving the cause, behind to save themselves. Chopper was missed, but Lapin had assured her that the droid was safe and untouched, and that she’d get him back eventually. Ezra, on the other hand…

Why was he so damn stubborn? Hera knew why, but this was unwinnable. You didn’t go up against the Tagges and expected to survive. You just didn’t. If it was the Empire she would’ve been right there with him, ready to die before giving up or giving in, but it wasn’t. Unlike the Empire, the Tagges realized that while not everyone could be threatened into submission, anyone could be bought, you just needed to find the right currency.

She had been bought. They offered her a damn good life, and even promised new eyes for Kanan as a ‘signing bonus’. In the end, she was selfish. For once in her damn life, she chose the selfish, self-serving option.

Did she regret it? Maybe. Too late to back away now.

Sabine was staring at her boots, leaning on Tristan for support. Her father was still in the brig, so was her riduur. She needed to use this opportunity to negotiate their releases, secure them protection like what they offered her. Some cynical part of her brain told her to leave her mother out of it. Ursa Wren abandoned her own family, let her see what it felt like. That line of thought did nothing for her guilt.

She was running away again. First her family, now the Alliance. Once a coward, always a coward, she supposed.

A voice snapped them out of their thoughts. “We’re here. Landing now.”

A squad of guards in gray, red, and gold escorted them from the moment they left the shuttle to the moment they walked through the doors of the conference room. Lady Domina was there, sitting at the head of a long table, datapad in hand.

“Captain Syndulla, Commander Dume, Captain Orrelios, Lord and Lady Wren. Sit down, if you please.”

Eyebrows raised at the formal address of their ranks, or title in Sabine’s and Tristan’s cases, but the five of them sat down at the other end of the table.

“I’ve been told that you five have accepted my offer. This meeting is just to finalize some finer details and give each of you a chance to… negotiate.” Her eyes turned to Sabine. “Your parents, in particular, can still be spared, if you can offer me something equally valuable in return.”

Sabine and Tristan both glared at her, rage bubbling up. Their parents were people, not bargaining chips. But to this woman that’s exactly what they were. “What do you want?” Sabine growled.

A smile, deceptively sweet. “A life for a life. Your father, mother, and husband, for Jan Dodona, Gial Ackbar, and Saw Gererra.”

All four sets of eyes widened. “Why Saw? What’s so special about him?”

Sabine felt, rather than saw, Domina’s eyes hardened. A screen appeared in the middle of the table and a news report from HNN was played.

“Controversy from the Senate Building today as Senator Ulric Tagge of Tepasi accused several other senators, including Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Bana Breemu, of colluding with notorious terrorist Saw Gererra to cover up a planetwide genocide on Jegsziv, a world in the Expansion Region that has long been classified as a Class-4 bioweapon after a supposed mining disaster infected the planet’s atmosphere. Along with that, new evidence from the ISB has apparently been brought to light on supposed connections between several senators and the insurgent organization known as the Rebellion or the Alliance. All of the accused senators have, at this point, refused to comment on the allegations. This is Alton Kastle, reporting live on HoloNet News.”

She looked at the four stunned rebels. “Before you ask, no, that wasn’t propaganda. The allegations are real. Every single one of them.”

Kanan could feel the truth from Domina Tagge, so at least she fully believed what she was saying, and he told the rest of them as much. Hera was disgusted. Not exactly surprised, not with Saw, but she was surprised about Senator Organa or Mon Mothma covering it up.

Regardless, there were also the connections between the senators and the Alliance. If those charges stuck, and the ISB being confident enough to arrest two prominent senators publicly was alarming, the Alliance would lose their best assets in the Core, their eyes and voices in the Senate, and would also have to mount a rescue mission that was likely an ambush.

No matter which way this went, the Alliance just took a possibly lethal blow. Morale would be low, and if either of the senators talked the Empire would have enough information to rout the entire rebellion.

Sabine was… glad. Shamefully, she was glad. If the Alliance was doomed, then there was almost no reason for her to stay when there was an alternative that would end up overthrowing the current regime anyway, and with many more resources under them. Wait. Idea.

“How would you feel about including Alliance personnel into the deal? My parents, Ezra, and the Alliance. The same deal you offered me.”

Domina raised an eyebrow. Bold, this one. Expectedly so, but still bold. “Unlike your Alliance, Lady Wren, I operate on guarantees, not hope. Defined terms. Hard boundaries. So, make me a proposal, and I will consider it. Until then, this negotiation will be strictly focusing on your immediate family.”

Shoulders sagging, Sabine nodded regardless. It was objectively reasonable. The Lady was being generous enough. Testing that generosity was not the best idea, not right now. “Fine, but I’m coming back to that later. I’m not leaving them to fend for themselves, not if I can help them.”

A nod. “Fair enough, although you understand that you need to betray two important rebel commanders to get your parents back, don’t you?”

Hera took control of the situation before Sabine could answer. “We need some time to discuss. And some privacy.”

Lapin looked at Domina, got a nod, and escorted the four rebels into a side room. “You have five minutes. Again, I hope you choose wisely.”

Hera waited until the door is shut before turning around. “I’m going to ask this very seriously. Are we going to give up Admiral Ackbar and General Dodona to save the Wrens and Ezra?”

Sabine looked around. If it was just up to her, she would do it in a heartbeat. At least Dodona and Ackbar had a chance to escape whatever ambush was coming their way. The others were doomed if they couldn’t help them, right here, right now. Her found family seemed to share that line of thought, and Kanan confirmed that Domina was being truthful.

“I’m not part of this Alliance, and this is a choice between two strangers and my parents for me. I’m choosing my parents.” Sabine nodded in agreement at her brother’s statement. Despite what her mother’s actions might have indicated, family truly was everything to a Mandalorian.

It came to a vote. Zeb was hesitant, but eventually he relented that at least the two rebel commanders had a chance to evade capture. Hera looked around. “Alright, we’ll tell Domina where to find them. Hopefully they can escape. Now, what about Gererra?”

Sabine looked at Tristan. “I have an idea, but I need you to agree to it.”

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“So, do you have a proposal for me?”

Sabine stared at those eyes, those icy blue eyes, and almost buckled. Somehow, the woman looking at her was more terrifying than most of the beings she’d encountered so far. “Yes. We’ll give you intel on Ackbar and Dodona, in exchange for my father, Ezra, and protection for any Alliance personnel that wants it.”

“And Gererra?”

“We don’t know where he is.”

“Shame. Amnesty for your father, Commander Bridger, and consideration for any defecting Alliance personnel in exchange for Ackbar and Dodona. That’s my final offer.”

Sabine looked around, getting one last round of confirmation. “Done, but we need to get them back before you get your intel.”

“Perfectly reasonable. What about your mother?”

A second of hesitation. Domina analyzed it. Ah, so that was how she wanted to do this. If her guess turned out to be correct then Wren was more ruthless than she thought.

Her guess was proven right when Sabine turned back to her. “She abandoned her son. Her family. Let see how she likes it.”

Domina smiled. “As you wish. Lapin, arrange transport for Alrich Wren and Ezra Bridger from the Levinbolt. Now, regarding your positions within TaggeCo, have any of you given any thought as to what you want to do?”

Hera was the first to speak. “Piloting. I want to fly, and none of that orbital nerfshit either. I want to travel deep space.”

Lapin checked their datapad. “There’s always a cargo pilot position open at TaggeCo, and 3rd Scout Platoon on the Enterprise is requesting a new pilot. I’m guessing you’d want a job away from combat?”

Hera frowned. “How’d you figure?”

A pointed glance at her stomach. Of course they knew. Of course. “Yes, I’d like something calm for a while at least. I’m guessing I’ll be hauling cargo across the galaxy?”

“Not right away. There’s a training course on procedures and protocol, then you’ll fly shorter deliveries first. Understand that all of you are effectively on parole, and you will be treated as such. You will be under surveillance, your movements and access will be restricted, and you can be subject to randomized check-ins from a TaggeCo enforcer at any time. This is the only way to peacefully keep Great Uncle Wullf off your backs.”

Hearing Colonel Yularen, Scourge of the Rebellion, referred to as ‘Great Uncle Wullf’ was jarring, but Hera forced herself to move on. “I’ll also need the Ghost back. It’s a modified freighter, I can use it for deliveries.”

Went unsaid was that the Ghost has been her home for over a decade, and she didn’t want to lose it too.

Domina shook her head. “TaggeCo has very strict standards for the vessels in our fleet. Besides speed, the Ghost doesn’t meet any of them. You can have it back as a personal spacecraft after the ISB is done examining it.”

The tone left no room for debate. Once again, Hera had no desire to get on this woman’s bad side. Domina turned her gaze to Kanan. “Every freighter requires a copilot and a security officer. Once we restore your sight you can get both certificates in three months. Would that be acceptable, Commander Dume?”

Kanan frowned. “It is, but how did you know-?”

“Your original name? We have access to the Jedi Archives, Commander, including the list of members and their blood samples. A simple DNA test was sufficient.”

His brows shot up. “You have access to the Archives!?”

“A replica of it, yes.”

“How!?”

A chuckle. “A Lady needs her secrets, Commander. A Tagge even more so. Now, your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow, and you all will be processed into our system a week later.”

Her eyes turned to Sabine and Tristan. “If either of you want to join the Armada, there are positions available for you both in either Weapons or Engineering. All enlisted, no officer posting. The next intake for the NCO Academy is full so you both will have to start at Private E-1. Not to worry, with your skill you’ll be promoted to Spec-4 soon enough. Any further and you’ll have to take the NCO exam.”

Sabine thought about the ranks for a second. “Wait, you-“

“Use the same rank structure as the Imperial Army? Yes, up to Marshal. No sense fixing a system that works. The Navy ranks are similar.”

Sabine thought about it. “And you’re sure there are no officer posts for us?” Being an officer would come with privileges and authority, and they’d also get paid more.

Domina shook her head. “No, but even if there were neither of you have a baccalaureate, so you’re both ineligible for commission. You’ll be given the opportunity to earn one as you serve, but I’d recommend rising through the enlisted ranks first before you go for a commission.”

Sabine looked at Tristan. He nodded. He wanted to keep fighting. “We’ll enlist.”

Lapin tapped their datapad. “You’ll be sent to our primary facility on Tepasi for basic training, then assigned to a ship or a planetside base. We’ll make sure you two are assigned together. I’m classing you both as Weapons Engineers. Your new uniforms and rank devices will be provided before you leave. Here are your contracts, take your time reading, feel free to ask any questions.”

While Sabine and Tristan read through the contracts, Lapin shifted to Zeb, who was offered the chance to become a Dax by Master Ordis and was eager to take it. While the Armada patrolled and protected Tagge Space, the Dax acted as protectors of Tepasi itself. The elite warrior sect of the Temple of Lotus, the symbol of Tepasi faith, and under the command of the revered Grandmaster Teshin, who was once a Dax himself, they protect and serve Tepasi, not any family or faction.

Zeb had met them before, when he escorted the Royal Family to Tepasi for a diplomatic trip. They were honorable and just. To be a Dax would be an honor.

Lapin finalized some of the paperwork. “Well, if you’d come with me, Commander Dume, we’ll get you prepped for surgery. Any preferences on eye color?”

Kanan turned his head to Hera, feeling her out in the Force. “Blue. Bright blue.”

“Done. Follow me. You can accompany him, Captain Syndulla. Captain Orrelios, you’ll need to swear in and be initiated into the Tepasi faith. Seeker Rell will guide you to the ship’s prayer room to get the process started.”

A short man in a white set of leather armor approach the door, hood drawn up to the forehead and head bowed. “Follow me, Initiate Garazeb. I will guide you on the first few steps of your new journey.”

Zeb shot one last look at Tristan and Sabine, still sitting at the table. He waved them goodbye, nodded at Kanan, saluted Hera, then followed the Seeker out. A new journey. An honorable one.

Sabine waved him off. “Will we get to see him again?”

“That depends on scheduling. You’re allowed leave while on duty, and the Dax have ample free time between shifts and missions. Captain, Commander, if you two will stay here a while more, your exchanged prisoners are docking now.”

The door opened five minutes later, both Ezra and Alrich escorted through the threshold in cuffs. Ezra was also sporting a Force dampener around his neck. Kanan felt a chill through his spine. He could hear his apprentice, and by tomorrow he would be able to see him, but he couldn’t feel him. Where there should’ve been a bright conduit of the Force, there was only… a Human. A normal Human. It was jarring, and terrifying, and… stop. Stop that line of thought. As long as Ezra could behave, he’d be just fine.

Things would be just fine. As long as The House kept its word and there were no other complications.

…

He just jinxed them all, didn’t he?

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Docking Bay 74, Coruscant Spaceport, Coruscant

One ‘Codi Lerobi’ checked through customs at the spaceport and made his way to the central hub. He needed to get information, reorient himself with the Core, then make it back to Bay 81 in time for his flight to Tepasi. He didn’t notice the plainclothes ISB spoof sending a message through his comms.

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The Stinger Mantis, Tanalorr, Koboh Abyss

Life was good for Cal Kestis. He had an integral part in the Hidden Path, he had a daughter to care for, friends to hang out with, a safe world to settle on, and, after a slip up with Merrin about using his last name on her citizenship forms since she didn’t have one of her own, he had a very scary and very loving wife.

So of course the galaxy decided that now was the perfect time to drop a bomb in his lap.

“Kestis? It’s Jung. Obi-Wan Kenobi is on Coruscant. He has a ticket to Tepasi at 2115 today under ‘Codi Lerobi’. I got a holo enclosed with this message as proof. Thought you’d want to know. Gonna try to keep ISB away from this as long as I can. Jung out.”

Cal tried his best to not get his hopes up as he opened the file and looked at the holo. That… that was Master Kenobi. No doubt about it. Older and rougher, but that was him. He should… he should go meet him, right? At the very least Master Kenobi would be safe on Tanalorr, and a Jedi like him surely had many things to teach.

But he promised Kata he’d be there for her natal day next week, and Merrin was so excited about it…

“BD, calculate travel time for me. Here to Coruscant.”

“Beep boop.”

He winces. “How about to Tepasi?”

“Beep beep boop.”

“That’s better. We’re going there. Extraction job, quick and easy. No one needs to know, right?”

“Boop boop bah.”

“Don’t be like that. She won’t even notice! Come on, get the engines started.”

They were just lifting off when his comms cackled to life. “Cal, where are you going?”

Cal froze. Shit. She was supposed to be busy with some ritual in the basement. “Just a quick check in with a contact, making sure everything’s still safe over there.”

“Over where?”

“Uhhhh…. Naboo. Yeah, the cell on Naboo. I’ll be back in two, three days tops. Tell Kata I love her?”

“…You don’t need backup?”

“Uh, no. No, it’s okay. Just a standard check in, shouldn’t be any trouble. Besides, one of us needs to arrange things for Kata’s natal day and we both know I’m useless.”

“Yes you are. Alright, be safe. You take care of him, BD.”

“Beep boop.”

“Alright, gotta go. I love you, Merrin.”

“Love you too, Cal.”

“Beep beep bah!”

“Yes, and you, BD.”

Cal laughed as the comms cut off. “Alright BD, set course for Tepasi and take us out.”

Time to get a Jedi Councilor back. What could possibly go wrong?

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