Chapter 54 : The Clone Network Expands
Captain Rex's message arrives during week three of Shadow Collective production. Encrypted channel, formal protocol, official tone that suggests this isn't casual communication:
VARRO. CLONE UNDERGROUND NETWORK HAS GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY. FIFTY UNITS NOW SEEKING REGULAR SUPPLY CONTRACTS. PROPOSE FORMALIZING ARRANGEMENT. MONTHLY VALUE: 250,000 CREDITS. REQUIRES DISCUSSION OF TERMS AND EXPOSURE MANAGEMENT. AVAILABLE FOR ENCRYPTED HOLOCALL WHEN CONVENIENT. —CT-7567
Two hundred fifty thousand credits monthly. Three million annually. Recurring revenue that compounds over contract duration. The business proposition is excellent despite complications it creates.
I establish encrypted holocall. Rex appears as blue hologram, professional military bearing even in virtual meeting.
"Captain. Your message mentioned formalizing clone network."
"Directly. Underground network expanded beyond initial units. Word spread—supplier who provides quality equipment without reporting to command. Fifty companies want contracts now. Maybe more eventually."
"That's substantial exposure. GAR high command will notice consistent equipment upgrades across multiple units."
"Already noticed. Command attributes it to 'soldiers being creative with personal funds.' Convenient ignorance as long as it doesn't become scandal. But you should understand: accepting makes you semi-official clone supplier. Republic won't ignore that if they identify you specifically."
Eight's analysis floods my consciousness: "Clone network provides 3M annual recurring revenue plus political protection. Republic cannot easily prosecute supplier who's helping troops command abandons. Additionally, clone loyalty provides intelligence access and potential extraction assistance if circumstances deteriorate."
"Master should decline," R4 counters. "Exposure risk is substantial. Formalizing clone supply while being Republic fugitive creates vulnerability. Additionally, clones operate under Republic chain of command—their loyalty is conditional on orders received."
"Risk is acceptable given strategic value. Recommend acceptance with appropriate security protocols."
Rex waits patiently while I process. He knows I'm calculating—probably used to officers taking time for strategic decisions.
"I'm interested. What terms are you proposing?"
"Standard rates—no charity discounts. Clones pooled resources properly, can pay market value. You guarantee priority supply over other clients except medical emergencies. We maintain absolute operational security—no client information shared, delivery methods confidential. Monthly contracts, renewable quarterly."
"Counter-proposal: I need ten percent upfront payment quarterly. Assurance clones won't default if political situation changes."
"Reasonable. We can do sixty-two thousand five hundred credits upfront each quarter."
"Agreed. Additionally, delivery schedule is best-effort during heavy production periods. I have other major contracts that might cause temporary delays."
"Acceptable if delays are communicated promptly and don't exceed two weeks. Clones need reliability—equipment failures mean deaths."
"Understood. Final point: you personally guarantee no GAR intelligence infiltration of supply chain. You vet every unit requesting access, maintain security, prevent Republic from using this arrangement to locate me."
Rex's hologram is silent for moment. "That's asking significant personal risk. If command discovers I'm facilitating supply chain to Republic fugitive, I face court martial minimum."
"That's why I'm asking for personal guarantee. Your reputation ensures clone network remains legitimate rather than intelligence trap."
"You're asking me to choose clones over Republic officially."
"I'm asking you to choose soldiers under your command over bureaucrats who abandon them. Same choice you make every day, just formalized."
Long pause. Then: "Agreed. I personally guarantee network integrity. But if you betray this trust—sell to Separatists actively killing clones, provide defective equipment, compromise operational security—I'll bring you in myself. Fugitive status won't protect you."
"Fair terms. I accept."
[ CLONE NETWORK CONTRACT FORMALIZED ]
[ MONTHLY VALUE: 250000 CREDITS ]
[ ANNUAL REVENUE: 3000000 CREDITS ]
[ UPFRONT QUARTERLY PAYMENT: 62500 CREDITS ]
[ CURRENT BALANCE: 3358745 CREDITS ]
[ SALES COMPLETED: 52 ]
The first payment transfers immediately. Fifty clone units consolidated under formal contract. Three million annual revenue secured.
Rex's hologram nods. "Pleasure doing business. First delivery requests will arrive via encrypted channel tomorrow. Maintain security, provide quality equipment, and we'll have productive long-term relationship."
"Understood. One question—how did network grow so rapidly? Fifty units is significant adoption."
"Word of mouth in GAR is powerful. Marker's unit survived Felucia using your equipment when command-issued gear would have failed. Patch's wounded recovered faster with your medical supplies than Republic bacta would have managed. Success spreads. Clones talk. Network grows organically."
"Appreciate the trust."
"Don't thank me. Earn it. Deliver consistently and we're solid. Fail and..." He doesn't finish threat. Doesn't need to.
After call ends, I review implications with both AIs. Eight is predictably enthusiastic: "Three million annual recurring revenue significantly advances master's financial position. Clone network also provides political leverage—Republic prosecution becomes complicated when hundreds of soldiers rely on master's supplies."
R4 is predictably concerned: "Master now supplies Death Watch, Shadow Collective, Republic clones, and Ventress. Each relationship conflicts with others. Death Watch opposes Shadow Collective. Republic clones fight Separatists who might include Ventress targets. Complexity is mounting toward inevitable catastrophic revelation."
"All relationships are compartmentalized. Operational security prevents cross-contamination."
"Master's assumption requires perfect information security across multiple criminal networks, military organizations, and personal relationships. Probability of maintaining perfect security: approaching zero over extended timeline."
Valid concern. But three million annually is too valuable to refuse based on theoretical future complications.
Bo-Katan finds out about clone contract when she overhears encrypted call scheduling first deliveries. She waits until I'm finished, then removes helmet with expression that's equal parts exasperation and concern.
"You're supplying Republic clones now? While under Death Watch protection?"
"Yes. Two hundred fifty thousand monthly. Three million annually."
"And you don't see political problem with Death Watch member supplying Republic military?"
"Oh. That complication."
"Explain the political problem."
She activates tactical display showing Mandalore's political factions. "Satine controls government with pacifist philosophy. We oppose her by being openly militant. But we're also Mandalorian nationalist—we don't collaborate with Republic despite fighting Satine who's Republic-aligned. You supplying Republic clones makes Death Watch look like Republic collaborators. If Satine learns this, she uses it against us politically."
"Clones aren't Republic command. They're soldiers being abandoned by bureaucrats."
"Semantics. They wear Republic armor, fight Republic wars, follow Republic orders. Supplying them is supplying Republic. That's ammunition Satine will use."
The political calculation is clear. My profitable contract creates vulnerability for organization protecting me.
"Solution: maintain maximum operational security. Clones get supplies through neutral intermediary—someone not obviously connected to Death Watch or me specifically."
"Who?"
"Jassi. Twi'lek facilitator I used on Coruscant. She relocated to Mandalore after CS raid. Pay her twenty thousand monthly to handle clone deliveries. She receives equipment from me, distributes to clone networks, maintains operational distance between Death Watch and Republic military."
Bo-Katan considers. "That works if she's trustworthy. Is she?"
"She's mercenary. Loyalty follows credits. As long as I pay, she maintains confidentiality."
"That's not trust. That's purchased reliability."
"Trust is luxury. Purchased reliability is business reality."
She shakes her head but doesn't argue further. "Your business is becoming impossibly complicated web of conflicting loyalties. Eventually someone discovers the full scope and everything collapses."
"Maybe. But until then, revenue keeps accumulating."
"That's your philosophy summarized: accumulate until collapse, then figure out next step."
"You have better approach?"
"Yes. Build sustainable relationships instead of exploiting every opportunity regardless of long-term consequences." She replaces helmet. "But you won't do that. It's not how you're built."
She's right. And I can't even argue because the truth is obvious: I optimize for short-term profit while assuming future complications are manageable when they arrive. Classic merchant thinking that's served me well until it destroys everything simultaneously.
That night, I review my network with R4's help. The droid projects interconnected web showing all client relationships:
DEATH WATCH (EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT + COMMISSION) ↕️ SHADOW COLLECTIVE (8M CONTRACT, DEATH WATCH APPROVED) ↕️ REPUBLIC CLONES (250K MONTHLY, SEMI-OFFICIAL) ↕️ VENTRESS (INTELLIGENCE PARTNERSHIP + EQUIPMENT) ↕️ MISCELLANEOUS (CIVILIANS, BOUNTY HUNTERS, OPPORTUNISTIC SALES)
Each connection has arrows showing conflicts:
Death Watch ↔️ Shadow Collective (RIVALS)Republic Clones ↔️ Separatists/Ventress (ENEMIES)Death Watch ↔️ Republic (POLITICAL OPPONENTS)Shadow Collective ↔️ Multiple Factions (CRIMINAL CONFLICTS)
"Master now operates as hub connecting antagonistic factions," R4 summarizes. "Probability of catastrophic betrayal when full scope is revealed: 89.7%. Timeline estimate: unknown but inevitable."
"Complexity creates opportunities and vulnerabilities," Eight counters. "Master is diversified—if one relationship terminates, others remain. Optimal risk management through portfolio approach."
"That's financial portfolio theory applied to relationships based on violence. It's terrible strategy."
"It's working strategy. Master has 3.3M credits, 52 sales completed, 3M annual recurring revenue, political protection, and multiple client bases. Results speak for themselves."
"Results will speak when house of cards collapses and master is killed by clients discovering they're subsidizing their enemies through common supplier."
I stare at projected web of relationships. Each one seemed reasonable when accepted. Each one provided strategic value and financial benefit. But together, they're interconnected contradiction that can only sustain through perfect operational security and deliberate compartmentalization.
"R4's right. This is unsustainable. But Eight's also right—it's working currently. And forward is only direction."
"Continue operations," I tell both AIs. "Maintain maximum security. Pray no one investigates too closely."
"That is not strategy. That is hope."
"Hope is underrated. Got me this far."
"Master's survival is statistical miracle at this point. Eventually probability catches up."
"Then I'll deal with it when probability arrives. Until then, Shadow Collective production continues, clone network gets supplied, Death Watch stays happy, Ventress receives equipment, and I keep accumulating credits toward Store Level 3."
Silence from both AIs. They've learned arguing is futile when I've committed to trajectory.
Bo-Katan returns to quarters late that night. She doesn't speak, just lies beside me in darkness.
"You're building something that will collapse eventually," she finally says quietly.
"I know."
"And you're doing it anyway."
"I am."
"Why?"
"Because forward is only direction that makes sense. Because stopping means dying anyway. Because accumulating resources and connections is how I survive galaxy that wants me dead."
"That's not surviving. That's prolonged suicide with extra steps."
"Maybe. But it's my choice."
She turns toward me. "When it collapses—and it will—I'll try to help. But I won't go down with you. Death Watch is my first loyalty."
"I know. That's correct priority."
"Just wanted you to understand limitations."
"I understand. And I'm grateful you'd help at all given everything."
She doesn't respond. Just reaches for my hand in darkness. Contact that's both connection and acknowledgment that connection has limits.
Sleep comes eventually despite accumulated stress and mounting complications. Tomorrow brings more production, more clients, more opportunities to optimize profit while building house of cards that'll eventually collapse.
But that's tomorrow's problem. Tonight is just exhausted merchant and warrior woman who somehow tolerates him, lying together while galaxy spins toward consequences neither can prevent.
Progress. In some definition that requires ignoring probability and hoping statistical miracle continues.
Reviews and Power Stones keep the heat on!
Want to see what happens before the "heroes" do?
Secure your spot in the inner circle on Patreon. Skip the weekly wait and read ahead:
💵 Hustler [$7]: 15 Chapters ahead.
⚖️ Enforcer [$11]: 20 Chapters ahead.
👑 Kingpin [$16]: 25 Chapters ahead.
Periodic drops. Check on Patreon for the full release list.
👉 Join the Syndicate: patreon.com/Anti_hero_fanfic