Title: On the Edge of the Empire
Author: Anedon
Characters: Arien Redan, Wilhuff Tarkin, Gideon Tarkin
Genre: Diary
Timeline: 19 BBY-7 ABY
Summary: Feeling the end of his life drawing closer Arien Redan has one final gift for his nephew. His old diary, from the days when served as the imperial protector of Eriadu.

Notes: This story is, somewhat, related to my Malek family stories, if you read those you might recognize Tobin, to whom these diaries are adressed/handed as Ilonas boyfriend and later husband.

Thanks to @Adalia-Durron for the beta and support.



Tobin, my dear nephew. The coughing is getting worse with every day and while the doctors assure me that I will be alright again soon I feel with every part of my body that my end is drawing closer. And that´s okay, I´ve accepted my own mortality a long time ago, in fact when I first set foot on this frozen hellhole that has been mine, our home for the last thirty years I was ready to end it just then and there. To just step outside into the storm and let the snow claim me. For it to bring the justice that your father spared me from. But then you came, and gave my life a sense, a purpose, a chance to do right with you where I had failed with myself. To do at least something good in this galaxy. In that way, you saved my life and for that I am grateful. I can take solace in the fact that you are such a better man already than I ever was. No that my life nears its end you will soon be forced to step into my shoes and continue my work on this world and I know you will do a great job. You have been like a son to me and so everything I own will be yours, including my old diaries, which I hope might help you. We of course talked countless times about these events, the events of my 23 years long rule over Eriadu in the name of the galactic empire. But reading through my diaries, and seeing my younger self's perspective might help you understand why I made the decisions I made. For this we have to go back, back to the last day of the Clone Wars, when I was barely thirty and the newly appointed commander of the ORSF.

This is the final lesson I hope to teach you, now that soon you will enter into a position of authority: Power corrupts. Powerful men are almost always evil men, I would know, for I was both.


19 BBY The War is over

The message reached us over secure com earlier today before then being broadcasted through the holonet. The war is over, well most of it. While a large number of CIS battle groups has shut down all over the galaxy some holdouts seem to continue the fighting. But it is still good news, I can still hear the celebration in the city below. The people are happy it's finally over, that the time of rationing food and energy are over, and that no further attacks will happen. That the rep... the new order has finally achieved victory. Still need to learn the new designations. This truly was an insane few weeks since the attack on Coruscant occurred, makes me kind of wonder if Gideon knew what was coming when he made me the new head of the ORSF. Gideon Tarkin, now Senator of Eriadu trying to outshine his brother it seems. But it's good to know he doesn´t forget his brother in law in this, especially now that Marica is only weeks away from giving birth to their first child. My little sister is becoming a mother, still sometimes hard for me to see her as more than a rebellious young teenager. I hope I can be a good uncle to the kid, as far as my new position leaves me time for it. The Quintad has decreed that to celebrate the end of the war we will hold a large military parade on Eriadu soon, including the showcasing to captured equipment and a big air show. A detachment of imperial forces will be in attendance as well as the new Sector Governor of the Seswenna Sector Wilhuff Tarkin, some rumors even speculate the new Emperor himself will attend the event. If that is the case it's even more important that everything will go perfect. This parade will be the first great endeavor of Eriadu in the new order of the empire and I will try my very best to ensure we show ourselves from our best side. Which will probably involve a lot of extra hours and too little sleep for the next two weeks. Can almost hear my mother scolding me "Arien, you shouldn´t complain, your new position is a great honor and responsibility, take it like a true Redan." Even though I´m now the military commander of our homeworld she still treats me like a child and I somehow doubt that will ever stop.

 

Excellent context. You can hear the wisdom and reflection in the prelude and then in the actual diary the sense of triumph and relief that the long war is over, and trying to get used to the fact that the Republic is an Empire

 

Thanks, glad you enjoy it so far.
Yeah in his old age he defenetly looks quite different on those events. But I think back in the day the end of the clone wars and even the rise of the empire was seen as something positive by many across the galaxy.


19 BBY The Day before the Parade

Have barely slept the last few days, there has been work everywhere, never thought that being in a position of authority was so much hard work. Since it was confirmed that the Emperor himself will be in attendance it got even worse, every minute of my day I get either called by people who tell me that we cannot, in no circumstance allow anything happening to him when he comes here, and people who hope I can get them close to our new ruler for a meeting. As if I could even decide that, when I'm not called by nobles its various other people wanting to tell us about possible or actual planned attacks. We have gotten so many hints on allegedly suspicious people we can't even check most of them. Was bad enough when people where accusing their unloved neighbors of being Jedi in disguise, but now the whole world has gone mad it seems. Those 'Jedi' are another issue, I read the reports on them and the majority seem to be utterly innocent, while two seem to be honestly mad. Wouldn't make sense for a Jedi to flee to Eriadu anyway, their meddling in the past has made them many enemies in the nobility. But now the empire demands me to hand all the people we arrested over for 'interrogation' clearly breaking the law on the sovereignty of Imperial member worlds. Asked Senator Tarkin about it but he just shrugged it off and told me to go along with the Imperial demands. Great, but back to the parade where we will have to rely on our own preparations and the fact that most Eriaduans seem so far accepting of the New Order. The Emperor will spend the majority of his stay shielded from the public and protected by his own bodyguards as well as an additional unit of the ORSF, during the parade we have an energy shield strong enough to withstand artillery fire over his balcony at all times. We have heard the Emperor's new right hand will be in attendance as well, but no one I know has ever heard of this 'Lord Vader' before, don't even know where he comes from. After the parade the Emperor has a few meetings with members of the Quintad, including mother who coms me every two hours to make sure I got the timing for it right. Honestly when this is over I might need to sleep for the entire following week. Might at least take a few days off to get some rest, spend some time with Myria, haven't been able to see her at all during the last few weeks. Maybe if mothers talks with the Emperor go well I could even ask her about the two of us again. Doubt it will do much, but maybe she will be more accepting this time. At least better than what she told me last time "Arien, you have to marry a noble woman, take the girl as a lover in secret if you must but she is not suited to bear the family name". It's not uncommon for nobles on Eriadu to have lovers, some couple even have 'arrangements' allowing both to see whoever they want in private, but I don't feel Myria would be thrilled at the idea. Even though she is a maid she is too headstrong to ever stand in the shadow of someone else, which is what attracted me to her in the first place. Guess we will see, first we all have to survive this parade I guess.

 

Arien's musings on thwarting would-be attackers and mob/crowd control, very slice of life. Liked reading about Myria. It sounds like she is definitely capable to handle the demands of a public life, since she is strong enough not to stand in another's shadow/tolerate a rival ...

 

Thanks
Myria would defenetly be capable of handling such a life, it her birth that has Arien's mother not want him to marry her. Its not befitting a noble in her mind.



19 ABY

Almost a week has passed since the parade and only now am I finally able to write this down. Turns out I was wrong, it wasn't the parade itself that I should have worried about. Though it was probably good that I did my duty on that front. To make it short, it went well, or as well as the visit of an Emperor could go I guess. We had a few instances of suspicious people trying to get close to the Central Square and at least four cases of people in fake ORSF uniforms being discovered. Good thing is nothing exploded an now shots were fired at the new head of state. Most people it seemed considered the visit more as an excuse to celebrate the end of the war once more. Had to keep several people away who apparently desired little more than to personally meet our guest of honor, a few even asked me if I could get them an autograph. If I had known a week ago it would go like that I would have laughed, but now that is gone. The actual problems arose less from what Eriadu might have done to the Emperor and more from what he did to it. We now have an Imperial Force Garrisoned on the planet, granted so far it's a small one but Imperial forces? The jurisdiction here is in our hands. Who authorized that? I tried to get into contact with an old friend in the Republican, now Imperial, military, but heard he had recently retired now that the war is over. Dug a bit deeper and it turns out he was actually arrested on charges of high treason. What is going on here? The Empire is clearly violating numerous treaties already. Talked to Marcia about it when I visited her, she will get into labor soon but seems in a good mood. She told me to keep my voice shut about my concerns, said it was dangerous, that Gideon had warned her as well. He said the Tarkin family had everything under control and the current developments where nothing but reassurance. Not sure if I can believe that, not after talking to mom. She was the stalwart tyrant of the family who would never accept a 'no' from any of her kids, or anyone else really. But after her private meeting with the Emperor she doesn't seem to be the same anymore. She speaks slowly, as if in a lucid dream, her hands are shaking, even though she tries to hide it and she seems to have aged at least ten years in the last week. Told me the same as Marica, to do my duty listen to my brother and don´t cause trouble with the imperials. She didn´t even protest when I said I was going to take the next week of at our estate. Expected her to ask if I would take Myria with me and then to protest but nothing. It almost seems she barely cares anymore. Something terrible must have happened to her, when dad died she barely showed any reaction, how can this one meeting have shaken her up so much? Will leave that for after this week, need some rest now, spend some time with someone not having dark clouds hanging over them. Meet Lucien tonight as I was packing, he seems to be taking the reigns of the family into his hands now, he and I where never as close as me and Marica are but I know he is reliable when it comes to things like that. Told me to have a good time and that he would cover for me just in case mom did realize what was going on. Thankful for that. These are dark times and it's good to know I can still rely on my family.

 

Ooh, a gentle crackdown

 

I kinda feel given that Eriadu`s rulers the Tarkin family are allies of Palpatine since even before the war Eriadu would probably be treated more gentle by the empire, at least at the beginning. But as the chapter showed, things begin to change even there.

18 ABY

Haven't been to our estate for several months now and really forgot how beautiful it is here. The house is a bit smaller than one might expect from a noble family, located next to a lake, in the dark forests of our homeworld. Surrounded by an energy fence to keep the creatures out. Managed by two old retainers of my family, who consider Myria as something of a surrogate daughter. Was near years on our first evening there and so the four of us celebrated it together, probably drunk too much of the home made liquors and maybe said a few things I shouldn't have but here, amongst friends I think its save. The silence of the wilderness is almost unnerving after spending so much time in the city. When Myria's breathing is the only thing in my ear each night it's almost as if something is missing. Feel its similar for her as we didn't get too much sleep in the first few nights here, though admittedly that had other reason as well. During the day she and I take a boat over the lakes or wander through the woods. Out there we are the couple we want to be, having each other's backs and sharing everything. Gods my writing is clumsy when it comes to this... As if I still was the shy sheltered child I have been when I met Myria for the first time. An orphan from one of the worst parts of our world our family took her in as a servant. She was different from our other maids and servants in that she never gave me any respect for my birth but instead bullied me in doing her work for her, to take care of my clothes and room myself. I should have disliked her, but the opposite was the case I was intrigued by her, for she was the one person in my life treating me as an equal. So I sought her out and we would spend time with each other. I taught her how to fight with a sword and she taught me how to take care of my chores. As our friendship grew I learned how to be more confident while Myria became a more agreeable and laid back woman as well. In the end we did almost everything together, from chores to sneaking out on adventures in the capital city. Sometimes Marica came with us and once or twice even Lucien. We had a great childhood and where best friends, but never realized there was something more. Until the day mother wanted to send Myria away, because she had found her behavior unacceptable, didn't want a maid to treat her kids as equals. It was possibly the one time in my life I was able to get my will against mother. Had to promise her to keep Myria 'in check' but she did relent and let her stay. Maybe because she saw that being around her made me more confident. In that night, I told Myria I loved her and we shared our first kiss. Continued to spend most of our time together until I joined the military, since then we can only see each other when I get time off duty. Time that will be even less now with my new position. One day when we where wandering through the forest we started joking about just running away, leaving Eriadu behind and head to Nar Shaddar, getting married, selling family heirlooms to buy us a ship and the necessary equipment to start a new life of adventure together. But as fun as it was to dream, it will never be more than that. My mother, even my siblings would send every bounty hunter in the galaxy after us. Still it's great to be together with her again. And to hear her joking about the Empire and its leader, helps me clear my mind and get over the dark clouds having gathered in the last few weeks. Seems even in these days she doesn´t let anyone forbid her mouth or thoughts.

 

Excellent to read of their friendship and the way they bring out the vulnerable and genuine in one another.

I can well imagine how utterly tempting it would be to chuck everything and just be folks having grand adventures somewhere away from the demands and pressures of political life.