The New Empire. It was a noble sentiment, but one that he had little faith in. He wasn’t the first to utter those words, to think that a return to the old ways was the path to the future. But Hux wasn’t so sure.
There were elements of the Empire that were important– and, indeed, the whole idea of an empire, in its purest form, was precisely what the First Order stood for. But the Empire had failed, and he didn’t intend to repeat their mistakes.
He nodded. He could assemble a team. He could call in a few favours– from royal families he had dealings with, a few old friends. Even those he had.. lost contact with, over the years. He could get politicians, he could get military. He would be proud to represent what the First Order could be, what he had been working for for so long. But he couldn’t lead the political front, and it worried him to know that he would have to step back, and leave choices to people with more.. expertise than him.
“I can have a team assembled by the end of the day, ready to meet with you, to make a plan. I can have dignitaries visiting as early as next week, provided we are prepared to receive them.” His mind was reeling. Did the First Order need an Embassy? Would they need ambassadors? It wasn’t something he had ever considered. He hadn’t been trying to be part of the New Republic, he had thought himself above that. And now, suddenly needing to formulate a government– before their victory– it was a strange concept.
“My lord–” he wasn’t entirely sure how to say it. “Should I make the Supreme Leader aware of your plan, or would you prefer to keep it..” he paused, choosing his words carefully. “Off the books, until it is in motion?”
“If you inform Snoke then I’ll have your head.” Vader quipped casually, as if he were merely discussing the weather. “By the time this is over, I intend to wrest the entire First Order from his control as well. Foolish, decrepit, old man... Trying to be the next Palpatine in the same way that my grandson is trying to be the next me. It’s pathetic.”
Vader sneered as he blatantly voiced outright treasonous thoughts. But what did he care? Snoke was below him. A pale imitation of his former master. Snoke inspired no true terror. Not like Sidious had... But even the horror of the Emperor had lessened over time. It was hard to be afraid of someone who he had so easily killed.
“Assemble this team. Recruit who you wish, although I have final say in who is trustworthy or not. If I find any lacking...” The consequences went unsaid. Needless to say, any untrustworthy recruits would not be leaving that room alive. This was a delicate matter. There could be no leaks.
“...You are still somewhat wary.” Vader commented without prompting. “Good. I prefer a second-in-command that can think for themselves. Make no mistake, General Hux, the old Empire made several critical mistakes. As did every empire before it. For as much as we refer to the Empire as the Galactic Empire... It was terribly short-lived compared to its predecessors. I have learned from the mistakes of Palpatine and that of his ancient predecessors. We will not fail.”
snowghoul
theartofmadeline
