War on the Horizon

Chapter 21
    • Chapter 21

    June 7, 3009/7948 CRC Serenno, Serenno system, D'Astan Sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "Well this is a terrific birthday present," I looked at the holographic overlay of the space surrounding Count Dooku's world. "The Banking clans are using Trade Federation droids?"

    "It's the cost-effective method," Dooku shrugged. "Most people who can afford it utilize the Federation in one way or another."

    "We outnumber them in space," Jewel said as she studied the map. "And they haven't moved to engage us yet."

    "Based on what reports I was able to get from my people, the palace has been made the headquarters of the current Banking Clan leadership," Dooku highlighted his palace on the maps that we had available. "I care not for the palace, it can be destroyed if necessary. But I believe they will have hostages, and I would like to retrieve them if possible."

    "Peterson," I glanced at the infantry officer. "I'll need you to detach a platoon to see to the hostages. "Count, I'm not sure what military experience you have, but I know that you probably have value in a special forces role. So you'll be attached to that platoon if you're willing to go with them."

    "That is acceptable," Dooku nodded. "I would like to remain informed as to the status of your objectives as we continue though."

    "If we're not jammed you'll be kept in the loop as possible," I agreed. "Paige, you and Jewel have control of space, I want those cruisers either dead or seized. The choice is yours. Sheppard, Peterson, we've got some work to do."






    "Watch your sectors, and remember that we have to secure the LZ before our tanks and artillery can offload," Sheppard ordered. "And remember to watch your fire, we want civilian casualties kept to a minimum."

    The pod around his mech turned cherry red as it began descending through the atmosphere, the ceramics handling the heat and then turning as thrusters began firing to brake the momentum.

    "This is Colonel Hull, we've got light resistance at Nav point Alpha, beginning to unload now."

    The pod around Sheppard's Cyclops fell apart and the attached jump pods fired, slowing the Assault mech down before detaching using the explosive bolts.

    "Rifle Actual is on the ground, we're engaging the enemy," Shepard fired his pair of Medium lasers into a small group of droids, the metal evaporating under the heat.

    "Enemy appears to be mainly infantry with a handful of tanks," Erika Lamb reported as the Triumph descended and began offloading tanks, artillery, and Mithril-clad infantry. "Pulling back to the rest of the company now."






    "Sting," Dooku looked at Sergeant Packer. "What an unusual name for a ship."

    "She's the first of her class," Corporal Rook offered. "Her and the Archon's Favor were refits of a much older class."

    "Hold on tight!" the pilot said over the comms. "We've got enemy AAA, I'll get you on the ground, but I might not be able to stick around for fire support."

    "Opening bomb bay doors!" the ops cargo bay Noncom yelled. "Get ready to drop!"

    "Go go go!" Packer's platoon fell from the dropship, their jump jets flaring as they descended while rifles eliminated the few droids that were waiting.

    "We're green," Packer reported. "You're clear to leave, Sting."

    "One moment," the dropship turned around, eliminating any holdouts on the ground. "Once you take out the AAA give us a call. We'll be on standby for fire support."

    The Sting took off, vanishing off into the horizon.

    "Alright Count," Packer turned to the old man. "This is your palace, that leaves you on point."

    "There is one place where they would have set up over the others," Dooku ignited his Lightsaber. "Follow me."






    I shifted the torso on my mech to the left as I sniped the last tank, the twin beams of Manmade lightning crippling the armor.

    "That's the last of the armor," I reported to Peterson. "You should be clear to engage the rest of the droids."

    "Sheppard, how's navpoint Bravo?" I turned and began looking at my Tacmap.

    "Clear, we're advancing toward the mines now," my XO paused. "They've got a helluva lot of turrets guarding this place though."

    "Check and see if Wardog is available for tasking," I advised. "They can probably clear some of that up for you."

    "That's a no-go," Sheppard sighed. "The Turrets are in high population areas."

    "Looks like we've got a slugfest on our hands then," I looked at the indicators on my map. "Let me know if I need to route reinforcements over to your location, Hull out."

    I then stomped on my pedals, breaking into a sprint as a handful of fighters strafed the area where I had been.

    "Where's our AA?" I narrowly missed the lead fighter with a PPC.

    "A little busy, Colonel!" a burst of AC fire shattered the first two fighters. "Linking my computer to you now."

    Using the help from the AA computer that the Jagermech possessed, I led one of the two fighters for a bit and then made it vanish from the map as an Archer did the same.

    "Thanks for the assist, Sniper Actual."

    "Happy to help erase anything that flies!" a cheerful voice replied. "Nice hits sir, maybe one day you can join us here in the AA club."

    "While I'm sure Kallon is pleased that we're killing more things that fly," I chuckled. "We're not here to spread the word of 'if it flies it dies'."

    "Whatever you say, Colonel."

    "Peterson, I'll leave the city to you," I turned and began moving to Navpoint Bravo. "I'm leaving a mixed company of armor and mechs to assist with the heavier elements."

    "Copy that sir, I'll keep you informed."






    "So, what is this?" Yaddle asked as she entered the cleared cargo bay of the Archon's Favor.

    "Oh, this is a tabletop RPG," Lieutenant Hober gestured to a seat at the table. "I'm GMing, and we just started a fresh game. I've got a few character sheets prepped if you want to join."

    "I am intrigued by this," Yaddle sat down. "Now please, explain how this is played."

    "Well, this is going to be a one-off dungeon crawler that I homebrewed up. But I based it off of an old Pathfinder book that I had lying around," Hober handed her a small bag of dice. "Pick your character, and we'll get started."

    Author's note: Next chapter. Hostages, reactions, and Mandalorians.
     
    • Chapter 22
    • Chapter 22

    "You have any ranged options?" Packer asked Dooku while he eliminated a few droids. "A fancy laser sword doesn't do a whole lot if someone decides to hit you with a rocket launcher or a good bullet."

    "The Force will guide me," Dooku scoffed as he deflected a few blaster bolts before using the force to throw some enemies off of the side of the palace. "I have no need of such 'primitive' weapons."

    "You are just as dead if they kill you with a pointy stick," one of Packer's men said with a sardonic twist. "You're not wearing armor, you're wearing some fancy robes and a cape."

    "In other words," Rook stepped in front of the older man. "Stay behind the people wearing powered armor."

    "I am more than capable of defending myself," Dooku clenched his hand into a fist and crushed a squad of droids as they attempted to flank. "If I need a ranged option then I will simply ask one of you to open fire."

    "Got it," Rook eyed the aging Jedi master.

    "Move up!" Packer ordered, directing one of his fireteams down a hallway. "Fireteams Alpha and Bravo, you're on the Triple A. Fireteam Charlie, you're with me and the Count. We've got some hostages to rescue."

    "This way," Dooku gestured down an open area of the palace. "I sense that this will be the best way for us to go. Although, there are alternate routes through the palace if we need to utilize them."

    "You got anything that will allow my people to take out the anti-aircraft batteries without taking damage?"

    "I believe there is a set of passageways that will lead you to the correct area," Dooku casually threw a thermal detonator back at a squad of droids. "I will send the layout of the palace to your comlinks, it will be up to you whether you utilize them accordingly or not."

    "Alpha, let's move!" Rook took charge of the first fireteam and they began moving through the palace, eliminating droids as they cleared each room one by one. "Thanks for the intel. We'll handle the AAA."

    "Alright, Count," Packer looked at the gray-haired man. "We're in your wheelhouse, so you're on point. We'll lay down covering fire and move as necessary, just remember to communicate before you do anything crazy."






    "This is kriffing stupid," Ferus Olin strained against the bindings, the Force just out of his reach. "Master, you need to wake up!"

    Siri remained motionless from her position, the drugs keeping her awake while the droids on standby ensured that Ferus didn't do more than slowly work at his bindings.

    "Master," Ferus whispered as he tried to get a feel for Siri's condition through the bond they shared. "Why won't you wake up?"
    "Because I am conducting an experiment," a voice cut in, "You see, I have long wanted to acquire a few…Test subjects as it were. And the Jedi monitor their chosen so closely, it is hard to find exactly what it is that I need for my experiments. I was hoping to attempt this on Master Dooku, but it seems that fate has brought you both into my hands instead. Now," the cultured voice continued. "Shall we begin?"

    "Sir!" a B1 spoke up. "The palace is under attack. There are Jedi!"

    "Then handle them," the man scoffed. "You should have the forces sufficient to take on one Jedi."

    "He's not alone," the B1 shook its head. "He has Mandalorians as backup."

    "I don't care what you have to do," the man growled. "Just handle them."

    "Roger roger."






    "Come, we must hurry," Dooku felt a wave of darkness cloud the force around him. "Something is happening below!"

    Fireteam Charlie began running after Dooku as the man took off at a sprint, the force granting him the speed and strength of a much younger man as he tore through a group of Super Battle Droids.

    "Remind me not to get on your bad side," one of the soldier's remarked as he took out a droid. "I'd hate to have to kill you."

    "You would be quite the challenge," Dooku smirked. "Seeing as you would not face me alone."

    "Damn straight," the soldier grinned, his faceplate depolarizing to show it. "Never fight alone."

    "Sergeant Major, we are nearing the source of the disturbance," Dooku said as they descended through the palace towards the ancient control room.

    "Copy that," Packer crouched int o cover for a brief moment. "Alpha, Bravo, we're leaving a lot of uncleared areas of the palace behind us," Packer barked into the channel. "Be wary of enemy droids hiding and waiting in the corners."

    "Understood," Rook replied. "We'll be on the lookout, Alpha, out."

    "Count, slow down," Packer ordered. "Rushing into the unknown is likely to get both us and those we're trying to rescue killed."

    Slowing down, Dooku nodded and allowed the Marksman soldiers to catch up just as a pair of Droidekas rolled down the hallway and unfolded, their shields catching the first cluster of rounds that Fireteam Charlie fired before the droids returned fire.

    "Malcom's down!" one of the soldiers went down as the droids focused fire, the top half of the soldier vanishing into a cluster of shrapnel and pink mist.

    "I want grenades at their feet!" Packer primed his own grenade and tossed it down the hallway, the ball-shaped explosive tearing apart the legs of one Droideka."

    "Medic!" another team member went down, the corpsman running over and dragging him out of the way as she fired her rifle.

    "Stay down, soldier!" She yelled as she put pressure on the wound with her knee while dumping her magazine into the wounded droid sparks flying as the machine fell to pieces.

    Anger rushed through Dooku as he felt the anguish of the mercenary squad. The sudden rush of emotions stunning him for a minute as he centered himself in the force. Then, Dooku spun around the pillar and began deflecting blaster bolts, providing cover so the corpsman could finish tending to the wounded.

    Triggering his jump jets, Packer took to the skies, cutting the jets just before he reached the ceiling and allowing gravity to do most of the work, the heavy-powered armor crushing the last Droideka as he came down in vengeance.

    "I've got these two," the corpsman reported. "Go get the hostages."

    "On me," Packer nodded at Dooku and the other unwounded members of his team, withdrawing a fiber optic cable and threading it underneath the door.

    "Two hostages," Packer reported. "Flashbangs, then breach and clear."

    "I've got point," the second member grabbed a flashbang off of his kit and pulled the pin. "On you."

    "Go!" Packer pulled the door open and the flashbang was thrown in, bouncing off of the room's wall. "Banging!"

    The man runs in after his grenade and peels to the left, eliminating two droids and standing over one of the hostages as his armor absorbs a handful of blaster bolts.

    Packer, meanwhile moves to the right, clearing the room as Dooku walks in, his lightsaber lit as he approaches the middle, his cape flaring behind him while the two Marksman clear the room, his lightsaber deflecting bolts into the ceiling as he picks up the Banking Clan member with the Force and slams him into the ground, the alien crumpling to the hard stone of the palace floor.

    "Marksman, I will need you to ensure that this room remains secure," Dooku's lightsaber ignited and cut the bindings of the Padawan. "I will tend to this one." The Count knelt and began placing Siri into a Force Healing trance, the padawan kneeling over the body of his master.

    "Clear!" Packer yells out in conjunction with his partner. "Colonel Hull, hostages are secured, the palace should be ours shortly, we need medevac and reinforcements."

    "Copy that, Packer, we're rerouting some forces to your location," Sheppard's voice responds. "Colonel Hull is a bit busy dealing with some people who thought using civilian housing as target practice was a good idea."

    "Copy that," Packer moved out and dragged the wounded into the room with the hostages. "Alpha, Bravo, clear out those Anti-Air emplacements so our people can drop in!"

    "Charges are already set, boss," Rook replied. "We're blowing them now and the meeting up with Bravo."

    "Good, we'll hold here until you arrive, I'm not leaving our wounded here without proper security."

    "Understood, we're Oscar-Mike."

    "It has come to my attention that the Banking Clans believe they can repossess an entire planet," Dooku frowned. "It is time they have been educated."

    "Not bad for a bunch of barbaric primitives," Dooku glanced at Packer.

    "Not bad for an old man," Packer chuckles. "Guess we both get to be surprised today."

    "Indeed," Dooku stood up once he was finished with Siri. "Sergeant, I require some of your men, it is time that I reclaimed my world."



    "Take Fireteam Alpha when they arrive," Packer instructed. "Rook will make sure that it gets done."
     
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    • Chapter 23
    • Chapter 23

    “So, we’ve cleared out the Banking Clan,” I looked at Count Dooku of Serenno. “Now they will be back. And I don’t have the numbers to garrison two worlds.”

    “What do you recommend?” Dooku looked over the damage reports from the battle.

    “I can leave behind a short company to serve as trainers, they’ll both recruit for my company as well as train the forces that you’ll need. As well as maintaining a reinforcement contract,” I looked at the reports. “We’re going to leave you with the few ships that we captured from the enemy,” I sighed as I looked at the cost write-ups. “We’re going to have to take most of the fleet that we brought with us back to a shipyard for repairs. And that’s going to eat into the funds that you paid us for this. If I were you, I’d look at getting some technically proficient people here to train yours on the tech side. Maybe hire some people from the Mid-Rim to move out here. We’ve found that Twi-Leks, Zabraks, and Togruta are more than willing to sign up for some danger as long as the pay, training, and benefits are decent.”

    “So you recommend that I build up my own personal forces instead of relying on a mercenary unit such as yours?” Dooku raised an eyebrow. “Would that not deprive you of your main source of income?”

    “Not exactly,” I shook my head. “For one thing, you’re going to be paying us to train your troops, so I’ll have a long-term income stream there, even if it is a bit on the small side. For another, unless your troops fight in multiple engagements, they’ll still only be rookies at the end of the day, training can only do so much. That’s where my company comes in and provides the veterans and elites you’ll need to truly do what needs to be done.”

    “Hmm,” Dooku considered this as he stroked his goatee. “I would like to see evidence of this training program. As well as what your plan would be for us to acquire the weapons required to arm such a force.”

    “It ain’t gonna happen overnight,” I laughed. “I’d say a minimum of two years to get more than a small militia force trained and kitted up. If we were in a more industrialized world, then it would probably take less time. “But this is going to be bigger than just training people to fight. You’re going to need the logistics base to support the forces.”

    “I understand that there will be a need for that sort of thing,” Dooku nodded. “But there are going to be significant costs to do that sort of thing. And I am uncertain that my world can afford to do so currently.”

    “Take out a loan if you have to,” I shrugged. “You’re going to need it. And the costs will justify themselves when your new army is able to stand off an attack.”

    “I will need a skilled accountant,” Dooku mused. “We have the resources to build and make the factories a reality. But I will need much more than just resources.”

    “It’s your world,” I shrugged. “I can only offer suggestions.”

    “Oh, you would not seize my world from me if given the opportunity?” Dooku asked, his brow arched.

    “Not a chance in hell,” I scoffed. “I very much have enough on my plate as it is. I have no desire to run a planet.”

    “I will need some time to look over what you have recommended,” Dooku stood and looked out the window at the great forests below. “I trust that you will remain for a while?”

    “We’re here for at least three more months,” I nodded. “You’re the contract holder. That makes you my boss right now. We’re going to be salvaging and repairing for the next few weeks anyway. So let me know if you need to pick my brain again.” I stood up and made to leave the room, collecting the paper reports I had brought with me and sliding them into an armored rucksack.

    “Tell me, Colonel Hull,” Dooku said as I was about to exit. “What would you do if you were approached by a great evil, and had no way of eliminating it without disrupting the entirety of the current system?”

    “Find a different way to kill it I guess,” I turned around and stroked my beard in thought. “There’s always more than one way to fight an enemy. Getting locked into one pattern of thought is what leads to defeat on the battlefield.”

    “Explain…” Dooku turned around, his hand gesturing as my chair pulled itself back out. “I would have your opinion as a military man and leader.”

    “Alright,” I gulped as I sat back down. “Where do I start.”

    “The beginning, teach me as if I were one of your new recruits. It has been some time since a Jedi has received training or education in military matters.”







    “No,” Yoda shook his head. “Send more Jedi to assist Dooku, we cannot. Down that path, great darkness I sense.”

    “With or without your approval I will find some who are willing to come with me,” Yaddle retorted. “This council has become blind to the current nature of the galaxy. It is more than the corruption of the Senate. The galaxy stands on the edge of a cliff, the entirety of the Outer and Mid Rims can see it. Why can this council not?”

    “Stop you or others, I cannot,” Yoda sighed. “Ask that you reconsider, I will.”

    “I will not,” Yaddle shook her head. “I can and will prevent a friend from falling to the Dark Side. Here,” Yaddle unclipped her lightsaber and left it in the middle of the council chambers. “I have no further need of this. I shall find some who are willing to stand with me, and we will ensure that there are some remnants of the Order left when this Temple falls.”

    Yaddle left the room, the doors sliding shut behind her as silence reigned throughout the temple.
     
    • Chapter 24
    • Chapter 24

    "It seems that my plans have been accelerated," Sidious mused as he looked over the movements of the Senate, the Trade Federation and Banking Clans were eager to return and impose 'order' on Serenno, and the rest of the politicians were in a deadlock.

    "The Tarkin power bloc has moved to support Serenno," Amedda said as he looked over his own data. "And oddly enough, they have somehow persuaded the Sullustians to support them in this."

    "The war that is on the horizon shall be brought about differently than expected," Sidious agreed. "Plans will have to be changed."

    "And what of Dooku and the Tarkins?" Amedda asked.

    "They shall fall in line, or they will be destroyed in the coming conflict," Sidious smirked. "I believe some of my plans are coming to fruition, with Master Yaddle leaving the order, and Skywalker and his master out on Mandalore, I may have the opportunity to persuade some more members to break away and look into other ways to practice the force."

    "The murmurs from the Mandalorian Sector of space have been worrying to many," Amedda replied. "We may be able to position planets to begin rearming before the Senate approves, thus driving division further."

    "And our plans to discredit the Jedi?" Sidious asked.

    "Everything is moving as planned in most regards. But there seem to have been a few switches made in the Seekers that were deployed to certain areas. Instead of the hardliners that we had arranged to be sent, a Jedi Master named Faye managed to persuade the Council to do otherwise for the Outer Rim."

    "It is of no consequence," Sidious waved it off. "The Core will begin to foster a hatred of the Jedi, and that shall be all that I require for the Grand Plan to succeed."

    "Then all that is left is to begin setting the pieces in place for the war to begin," Amedda stated.

    "I shall have someone dispose of Syfo Dyas, and then we shall begin," Sidious agreed. "Dooku is out of our reach at the moment."






    "I thought you said you had experience with the Mandalorians!" Anakin yelled as he ducked behind a wall, blaster bolts flying around the duo.

    "I do!" Obi-Wan replied as he deflected a few blaster bolts. "This is a different faction, and it seems that they took offense to the statement you made about their armor."

    "How was I supposed to know that it was an insult?!" Anakin yelled back.

    "If you had done the reading I asked you to, then you would have known."

    The blaster fire began tapering off, the Mandalorians appearing to lose interest in pursuing a quarry that only seemed to run away.

    "I think they're done, Master," Anakin smirked.

    "Anakin, Mandalorians don't give up like that," Obi-Wan cautioned. "Especially when they held the advantage."

    A gunship then dropped out of the clouds and began heading right for them.

    "What did we say about tempting the Force?!" Kenobi pulled his padawan out of view from the sky.

    "That it was a bad idea because the Force has a sense of humor," Anakin muttered.

    Then Kenobi's Comlink began beeping.

    "Kinda busy at the moment!" Kenobi opened the device as a group of Mandalorians dropped out of the sky, their jetpacks flaring.

    "Oh?" Duchess Satine arched an elegant eyebrow. "I take it you don't want my assistance in stopping this, Ben?"







    "Yaddle," Jocasta Nu sighed as she looked at her diminutive friend. "You did not have to do that."

    "Yes, I did," Yaddle smiled sadly. "I have an unusual request for you, old friend."

    "If I can arrange for it to happen, then I will do so," the Archivist replied.

    "I want copies of the texts used for instruction," Yaddle settled into her seat. "You of all people should know that hoarding information in one place is asking for it to be destroyed," Yaddle raised her hand to stave off an argument. "I am not asking for all of our information, but merely that which we allow even Padawans to take with them so they can continue their learning while on assignments."

    Jocasta was silent for a few moments as she considered the idea. "I suppose I can provide that much," Jocasta sighed. "You, Dooku, Jinn, you are all leaving me behind."

    "Everything fades over time," Yaddle smiled sadly. "But friendship does not need to fade as other things do. Should you have need of me, you know where to find me."

    "I suppose I do," Jocasta smiled. "If you're still looking for people to take with you, I might have a few suggestions."

    –
    –

    Feemor sighed as he sat in his quarters in the Temple, his Togrutan Padawan asleep in her section while he instead stared out the window with a cup of Caff in his hands.

    As he sipped on the coffee and thought of days long past, he was startled by a soft knock on the door.

    Standing up, he moved and opened the door to reveal a small figure.

    "Knight Feemor?" The figure asked. "We have much to speak of."






    "So, these Mandalorians that are spoken of have moved closer to us," Pre Vizsla spat. "Bo-Katan, take your Nite Owls and go see if they are true Mandalorians or not. I know that you would prefer to not hide in the shadows, so do not. I am certain that Count Dooku will require skilled warriors and will not turn you away."

    "You would send me away when there are Jedi here? On Mandalore?" Bo asked, her eyes narrowing at the leader of the Death Watch.

    "There is no more important time," Vizsla argued. "We need everyone we can use with us, yes. But we also need to determine if these others are False or True Mandalorians. Or if they are merely pretenders in the armor."

    "And if they are pretenders?" Katan asked. "What am I to do then? I will have a fraction of their numbers, and I expect that it will not be long before they try to eliminate me for knowing their secret."

    "I merely need you to observe for now," Vizsla explained. "What we do in response will have to be determined after we have reunified our people."

    "That, we agree on," Katan sighed. "I and my Nite Owls will do as you ask, but should we find that you have done nothing in our absence, we may find that the leadership of the Death Watch is in need of some… Changes."

    "If you can manage it," the man scoffs. "Now get to work, there has been enough mystery surrounding these "Marksman."
     
    • R&D Sidestory 1
    • R&D Sidestory 1
    May 15, 3009/7948 CRC

    "I want the prototypes," Doctor Rogers said bluntly as she sat down in Colonel Hull's office.

    "Good morning, Doctor Adamina," Hull smiled. "How are you today? Is there anything important and relevant to our meeting that you wanted to discuss?"

    "I'm fine, yes, I want the prototype fighters that the Nemoidian had on his ship," Rogers eyes narrowed. "I think I can modify them and start working on mass production."

    "Alright," Hull stroked his beard as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm listening."

    "So, I've been working with some of the local engineers, and we want to use these prototypes as testbeds for some new weapon systems as well as take them apart to see if we can make some of our own."

    "Estimated costs?" Hull asked as he leaned forward. "I'm not going to promise you anything, but I'm willing to consider this. If you can come up with a budget proposal and an actual plan for how long it will take to get them into production I'll allocate funding beyond the initial research."

    "Give me two days," Adamina stood up and bolted out of the room. "I'll be back!"

    –
    –

    "So, ye wan mae on this?" McAllister asked.

    "Yes!" Adamina yelled over the sound of the machine shop. "You and that pretty assistant of yours!"

    "We just fix things," Sanal replied. "What do you need us for?"

    "McAllister here is a trained engineer and Mectech. I want him to help with the practical ideas," Rogers shrugged. "He's the head of all refits anyway so I'd have to clear using some of the workshop space with him."

    "How much space do ya need?" the burly man asked.

    "Two bays," Rogers replied. "We'll need the storage space attached as well."

    McAllister looked over his charts to see if he had the space before nodding to himself.

    "I can make the space," he shrugged. "But I want to borrow some of your people in return. I think I have a way to tweak the efficiency of some of our machines."

    "It's a deal then," Rogers stuck out her hand and they shook on it. "I'll get with you on the details later. I can see that you're busy."

    "Aye, we had some damages to repair from the operation on Serenno," Sanal spoke up. "We'll have to work out some kinks in our logistics if we want to do more missions of that sort."

    "The Lucrehulk is being worked on, they're about halfway done with the initial work," Rogers shrugged. "We'll be able to start production on the infantry equipment from there once it's finished. The other factories will take a little while."

    "As long as it gets finished sooner or later," the Twi-Lek shrugged. "We're expanding faster then our equipment can keep up currently."

    "We're working on it," Rogers shrugged. "But these things take time."

    "Time and money, the two thing that there never seem to be enough of," Sanal agreed.
     
    • Chapter 25
    • Chapter 25
    July 4, 3009/7948 CRC Serenno, Serenno system, D'Astan Sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "So, anyone want to tell me why I was woken up at such an ungodly hour?" I asked as I sipped at a cold cup of coffee.

    "We've got ships moving into the system," Sheppard reported. "Mostly small craft so far, but there is a Frigate with them."

    "Have they identified themselves?" I sat down and looked at the tactical map of the system.

    "Just something about 'Nite Owls'," Sheppard shrugged. "I've got no clue what it means. And neither do any of our locals."

    "I might be of assistance here," Dooku entered the room, his cape flourishing behind him as the two Jedi who had been rescued flanked him. "The Nite Owls are part of a larger sect of the Mandalorians. Members of the so-called Death Watch."

    "They are among the more radical groups among the Mandalorians, they are deadset against the pacifists, and are not willing to concede even to the moderates that are a part of their culture. The Death Watch are petty bandits at best, and pirates at worst," The Count signaled for a droid to enter and put down a holographic transmitter. "While I sympathize with the Mandalorian's plight, the way that they are pursuing it is barbaric and uncalled for."

    "So treat them as unwanted guests," I nodded. "Got it. Anything else I should know about them?"

    "Yes," Dooku waved a hand and a holographic image of a Mandalorian appeared. "They are vastly different from a group such as yourselves. While individuals among the Mandalorians would enjoy and even thrive among your group, I fear that as a whole they will find ways to clash with you. Do not strike first, but if necessary, ensure that the only blow you strike is lethal, lest they decide that you are easy prey."

    "Get me a link to Jewel," I looked at my XO. "I want these people stopped in orbit. I don't care what their intentions are."

    "Right away, Colonel," Sheppard vanished into a nearby Mobile HQ.

    "This is your world, Count," I looked at the old man. "How do you want us to handle this?"

    "As you would anyone else that approached a territory that you were hired to defend," the man sat down at the table. "You have been hired and have performed admirably so far, so let us see how you handle what else comes your way."






    "This is Commodore Victoria Jewel of the Marksman Mercenary Corporation," A voice came over the ship's communications systems. "We have been hired for the defense of Serenno. If you come any further into the system you will be deemed hostile and treated as such."

    "Seems they are more prepared for visitors than we expected," Bo-Katan lounged in the command chair. "It seems their takeover happened faster than we predicted."

    "What do you want us to do?" A Nite Owl asked.

    "Hail them back," Kryze smirked. "Let us see if they accept negotiations as the pacifists do."

    "Signal is locked, you're connected."

    "This is Bo-Katan Kryze, I seek to land with a small shuttle and potentially negotiate the hiring of some of your forces. I should hope that you and your superiors are prepared for such an eventuality."

    "Message is transmitted."

    "And now we wait."

    –
    –

    "We'll let them land with a single shuttle," I informed my command staff. "But only the one shuttle and it's to be escorted by no less than the entirety of Wardog on the way down."

    "These guys came with a force large enough to deal some damage to us," Sheppard agreed. "They're not really here to negotiate, they're here to take our measure."

    "They will seek to push your boundaries," Dooku stroked his beard. "Do not allow them to dictate the pace of anything or they will think they are superior."

    "You heard our expert," I stood up. "Treat them the way we treated the Wolf's Dragoons."

    "So like arrogant self-righteous assholes?" Sheppard snarked.

    "Exactly," I laughed. "Exactly like that."





    Coruscant

    "So, extra passengers?" Lieutenant Hober asked as Yaddle boarded the Archon's Favor with a small group of six or so Jedi in tow.

    "Indeed," Yaddle smiled. "These are the ones that have chosen to follow me for the time being, and we have some extra luggage as well. Information that will be of use to myself and Yan."

    "Are there any detours that we'll need to take on the return trip?" Hober walked back toward the cockpit. "I'll have to send a report to HQ before we leave."

    "Yes," Yaddle stated. "We must go to Dantooine. I believe that something waits for us there."

    "I'll plot the course and let the Colonel know," Hober nodded. "Just make sure your people know not to get in the way should we encounter any pirates or the like on our way. I'd hate for one of them to get hurt."

    "I will inform them that they are to act as guests while onboard the ship," Yaddle agreed. "Loading should only take a few more minutes, and then we will be on our way."

    "Understood," Hober sat down and exchanged glances with his copilot. "Let us know when you're ready and we'll head out."

    –
    –

    "Everything looks to be going fairly smoothly," Hover said as they dropped out of Hyperspace a few days later, a lush green world below. "Now, if you'll let me know where to set this ship down, I'll go with you to take a look at what you think is down there."

    Yaddle frowned for a moment as she closed her eyes. "Yes, I believe that I will need you and Feemor and his apprentice as well. What lies on Dantooine requires a varied skill set. And you will suffice for one of the roles."

    "Sounds good to me," Hober shrugged. "I'm cross-trained with the Marines, so I'm no slouch with a rifle."

    "I believe that the rifle will not be necessary," Yaddle smirked. "But you should bring it all the same. The Force loves to spring surprises, after all."
     
    • Chapter 26
    • Chapter 26

    "I requested your help so that you could help me peacefully resolve this, Ben" Duchess Satine glared at Obi-Wan Kenobi. "Not so that we would have to fight it out."

    "I would have loved to find a peaceful resolution to this," the man smiled and sat down across from the current ruler of Mandalore. "But unfortunately, my padawan here saw fit to offend some of the more… violent of your people."

    "You of all people should know that we are balanced on the tip of a spear," Satine sighed. "But all the same, it is good to see you again. I merely wish that the circumstances were more favorable."

    Anakin simply glanced between the two adults before slipping out of the room, using the Force to direct inquiring minds away from him as he left the small palace.

    Sneaking past the guards, Anakin grinned as he felt the Force nudge him in a specific direction, toward the poorer districts of the city.

    "What'll you have?" a droid asked as Anakin took a seat at the bar.

    "Just some Jawa juice," Anakin set down a credit chit and began to listen to the conversations around him.

    "Anyway, I'm taking the kids and wife and leaving," a man shared with some of his buddies. "I'm a farmer, and I'm tired of the pacifists telling me that I can't defend my own livelihood and property."

    "You sure you can afford that?" one of his friends asked. "I know things have been tight since the last harvest."

    "We're selling the land," the man shrugged. "And I've still got my armor, if I need to I can get back into the game to make some extra creds."

    "Don't do that," another friend shakes his head. "I've been thinking about leaving too. The rest of the family on Concordia have about had it with the Death Watch too," he sighs. "Let me talk to my wife about it and get back to you. We might be able to pool some resources and get a light freighter for all of us."

    Right as things started getting interesting, Anakin's comlink began to buzz.

    "Yes, master?" Anakin asked after he left the cantina.

    "Anakin, where are you?" Obi-Wan asked.

    "Doing some investigations into the local politics, Master," Anakin snarked.

    "Fine," Kenobi sighed and knuckled his head as he felt a small headache appear. "Come back to the palace, we have more information on the local issues and where Duchess Kryze needs us."

    "I'm on my way," Skywalker put his hood up and vanished into the shadows as he made his way back.






    "You showed up with a ship and enough fighters to threaten this world, and now you're rendered speechless?" I raised an eyebrow at Bo-Katan. "We're not Mandalorians, and we don't even want to be associated with your group of brigands."

    "Brigands!" a Nite Owl snarled and stepped forward, her hand on her blaster. "We are not criminal scum!"

    "The Death Watch certainly acts they are," My eyes never left Kryze's as Dooku's hand rested on his lightsaber and Mathis shouldered his rifle. "You Mandalorians have had your moments of worth, but you are a warrior culture with all that it entails. Me and mine, we're soldiers. If you want to fight another warrior culture, go out into the Unknown Regions, I'm certain that you'll be able to find some there. But should you try to attack those who are under our care, then you'll find that soldiers are quite capable of violence on a level not seen in this galaxy for nearly a thousand years."

    "I wish to challenge you," Bo-Katan finally said after considering my words. "You claim to not be Mandalorian, yet you speak as if you were from one of the old clans," She smirks. "Should you win, then I will bring my Nite Owls under your banner for a time. But should you lose, then I will claim some of your war droids and bring them back with me to Mandalore. And you will personally train my people in their use and maintenance."

    "I refuse," I shook my head. "I have no need of your forces and you would simply be a burden that needs to be retrained anyway. Now, unless you have something else to do, leave Serenno and go back to your system," I stood up and walked away from the table, my back turned to her. "I have enough on my plate without adding bloodthirsty Clan Marauders to it."

    "Bo-Katan Kryze," Count Dooku's voice echoed in the small room. "You are not welcome in Serenno again unless you have forgone your association with the terrorist group known as the Death Watch. Should you dare to breach this, I will have the Marksman exterminate your group with bonuses for every helmet that they bring to me."

    "You can try to stop us, old man," one of the Nite Owls accompanying Kryze scoffs.

    "Do not test me," Dooku holds said Mandalorian with the Force. "I have little patience for arrogant fools, and the last time I faced a group of Mandalorians, I eradicated them. Now leave, and do not return."






    "I'm pretty sure that spelunking involves ropes, and less spider-like monsters," Hober grunted as he dropped down from a ledge and onto one of said monsters, the green blood spraying on the cave walls.

    "You would think so," Feemor sighed. "But it seems that you and I are alone in our feelings about this experience."

    "Your kid does seem to be enjoying this more than you do," Hober chuckled.

    "She loves exotic creatures and studies them," Feemor shrugged. "This is her dream come true."

    "I just want to know what we're doing here," Hober said as he stepped further into the cave and saw a lack of insect eggs and webs.

    "Because the Force has willed it," Yaddle finally said as she settled down into a meditative stance, a series of crystals in the walls glowing in response to her call in the force. "If it were just about a new lightsaber, then I would not have pursued this. But there is something further in this cave system that is waiting for us."

    After a few moments, a blue crystal detached itself from the wall and floated over to Yaddle's outstretched hand.

    "It seems that war approaches," Yaddle sighed as she tucked the blue fragment away. "We must press on."

    Yaddle stood and began walking deeper into the caves, followed closely by Hober.

    "What we seek lies up there," Yaddle pointed at a small opening in a side cave. "I will need your assistance to get there."

    "Alright," Hober swung the Jedi Master up onto his shoulder before using his Jump Jets to propel himself into the next cave. "This work?"

    "Yes, now prepare yourself. There is always a test of some kind if I am correct about what it is that lies ahead."

    "I'm ready," Hober shouldered his rifle. "Just say the word."
     
    • Chapter 27
    • Chapter 27


    "I'm ready," Hober shouldered his rifle. "Just say the word."

    "I will need you to watch over me as I unlock what lies before us," Yaddle settled into a meditative pose and closed her eyes.

    "Great," Hober sighed. "It's an escort mission." A small group of large batlike creatures began flying towards them as a cluster of the spider-like creatures that they had fought earlier climbed up behind.

    "Should have stayed on my ship," Hober muttered as a burst from his rifle tore apart the first of the spiders before he shifted to take out a handful of bats. "I don't have to worry about acidic blood, or stupid flying bats when I've got the Archon's Favor."

    Hober continued complaining as he tossed a grenade behind him, the concussive shock stunning the bats long enough for him to kill most of them.

    Then, the swarm of enemies began to get larger, more of the flyers and insects were drawn in by the sound of the grenade, and Hober began falling back to shield Yaddle with his armor.

    "I see that it has been busy," Yaddle opened her eyes as a section of the cave wall began to split apart. "Allow me to assist."

    Yaddle stood and stretched out her hands, freezing the host in their tracks.

    "I can only hold them for a few minutes," she began backing up into the cave wall. "Please move into the archive."

    Hober ran in and turned around as Yaddle dropped her hands, the creatures no longer suspended by the Force.

    Holding down the trigger, Hober mowed as many of them down as he could before the entrance shut itself and locked the two beings in.

    "I hope that Feemor and his apprentice weren't caught in that," Hober tapped his helmet to see if he still had comms.

    "The youngling led him off into a side cave where she found some interesting creatures, they will not be bothered by those who chased us," Yaddle smiled. "Now, come, I need your assistance to open the other side, there is much here to load into your ship."

    "There's nothing here except for a bunch of crystals," Hober scoffed.

    "They are crystals, but these are not what you would require for a lightsaber," Yaddle shook her head. "No, this is something that was left behind eons ago. You see, Dantooine was once host to a Jedi Academy of its own, and they came under attack by Darth Malak. But some of the masters had the foresight to hide away that which was most valuable. These, are the holocrons of masters long since past, the knowledge they contain would be considered heretical by some in the Order today. But I believe that the Force led me here for a reason."

    "Is the other entrance a place where we can set the Archon's Favor down at?" Hober asked as he peered into a side room and noted containers filled with datapads, books, and scrolls."

    "Yes, that is where you will come into play," Yaddle smiled. "While I am strong in the force, my form is still somewhat… limited as they say, it is why I chose to play as a Barbarian in your games on our journey. The other entrance requires someone a bit larger and stronger in stature than I am."

    "I'll open the door and get on the horn with my copilot," Hober replied. "I'm not playing pack-mule to get all of this stuff out of here."






    "How did your meeting go?" Vizsla asked Bo-Katan.

    "I have never felt so enraged in my life!" she shook with anger. "They called us bandits and claimed that we would be a burden to them if we were to somehow join them. "My Nite Owls are anything but a burden, anyone in the galaxy would be grateful to receive our services."

    "I agree," the leader of the Death Watch nodded. "We are dealing with a pest of our own here in the system. It seems that your sister has once again decided to call upon the Jedi and Coruscant for aid."

    "What harm can they do that she has not already done?" Kryze scoffed. "She has already begun to erode the will of our people. And the pirate attacks only seem to be increasing underneath her watch. It is only a matter of time before they revolt and decide to dethrone her as the leader of our nation."

    "Yes, that is indeed the case," Vizsla shifted a bit uncomfortably. "Either way, the priority has shifted, I would like for most of your Nite Owls to return, a small group can stay if they believe that it is worthwhile, but we must reinforce our position here otherwise we may run into further issues. Jedi have a nasty habit of putting their noses where it doesn't belong after all."

    "I will dispatch my Nite Owls to you," Bo-Katan replied. "I wish to observe these Marksman to see if they stand a chance against a real warrior."

    "Just remain cautious. They are working closely with Count Dooku after all, and he has a reputation."

    "I shall remain aboard my personal ship and listen to their comms. I have slicers that are specialized in that, after all."

    "Very well then, I look forward to your forces' return."






    "So, I have a question," Hober said as he stacked some crates to be moved on board the ship. "How did you know that all of this was here?"

    "I did not know," Yaddle shrugged. "There are no records of this place to be found among our Temple. But sometimes, echoes of those long past can linger in the Force and nudge those of us who dwell with it the present in the direction that we need to go."

    "And you believe that happened here?" Hober asked.

    "I believe that it is as plausible an explanation as any for why I felt drawn to this world and then led into the caves," Yaddle shrugged. "Sometimes that is enough. But regardless, the results have spoken for themselves."

    "Indeed," Feemor grinned as he slapped Hober on the back. "Now get back to work, we have enough left to do without one of us slacking off."

    "Dammit, man! I'm a pilot, not a cargo master! Hober protested as he hefted some crates and began carrying them to the ramp of the ship. "Should have stuck to my chair."


    Author's Note: Hober is actually based off of the guy who requested this fic. So this is an early update for him.
     
    • Chapter 28
    • Chapter 28

    Anakin glanced over to make sure that his master was asleep before leaving the quarters they were assigned, a blaster tucked into his belt while his lightsaber was tucked snugly into a small pouch in his sleeve.

    "Sorry master," he whispered. "But I think you're wrong."

    Then, with a breath, he leapt down from the window and a cushion of the Force caught him as he extended his arm down. And putting the hood of his cloak up, he knew that there was something that Obi-Wan and the Duchess were missing. He would find it, and then there would be peace here.

    Spotting a path that led to where he wanted to go, Anakin moved through the shadows and into an alleyway before using a nearby pipe to climb onto the roof and began heading in the direction that the Force was nudging him.

    "Let's just hope that the calming tea that Master drinks works," Anakin muttered. "Because he's going to need it after he finds out what I'm doing."

    As he reached his destination he dropped down and grinned. This was the sort of place he was born to be a part of.

    "Swoop racing, huh?" He asked the closest person. "What does it take to get into one of the races?"






    "Alright HK," I looked at the ancient droid. "We're cutting you loose."

    "Smug satisfaction: I knew that you would eventually release me, meatbag."

    "We're going to give you a Gozanti and a blaster before shipping you off into the Unknown Regions," I made sure that my windows were closed. "I have a job for you there that you might be interested in."

    "Interested Questioning: Oh really? What does this job entail?"

    "There's the possibility of an extragalactic species preparing to invade," I grinned. "And they hate all forms of mechanical technology. Their ships, weapons, and everything else are made out of biotech."

    "Statement: You have my attention."

    "I want you to go out there and have fun making sure that they never get to reach the main part of the galaxy. And to do so, I'm sending whatever armaments will fit into the Gozanti's holds."

    I held up a hand to stave off his next question.

    "The only mech I'm willing to give you is the only Locust that we have in the entire unit. It's the Steiner variant, which means you get a medium laser and two SRM-2 launchers. The mech's a death trap. But you're welcome to it if you're willing to use it."

    "Begrudging acceptance: I will accept this seeing as I will not be able to persuade you otherwise."

    "Good," I looked into HK-47's photoreceptors. "I do not want to see you again, ever. I know what Revan used you for, and I want no part in the madness that follows you."

    "Stern warning: if I return, you will have other problems that concern you."

    "Your ship is waiting at the Starport," I showed a hologram of the Gozanti that was waiting for him.

    "Accusing statement: you knew I would accept the Locust before I came into the room."

    "Aye, it was your only option," I nodded. "I've got a tech ready to remove your restraining bolt just before you board."

    HK simply stared at me with his red eyes for a moment before turning and walking away, the rust-colored droid emanating smug satisfaction with every step.






    "So, you might have some of the best people in the Galaxy to turn into soldiers," I said as I looked at the farmers and loggers that had signed up for the initial training and recruitment.

    "And why is that?" Dooku asked, his eyebrow raised.

    "Because farmers, hunters, and people who come from an agricultural background are less likely to shy away from hard work," I shrugged. "Now, don't get me wrong, we're still going to have to break them down and build them up. But they're somewhat acclimated to the kind of environment that exists in a professional military."

    "Hmm," Dooku stroked his beard. "Interesting. Are you against recruitment from the cities?"

    "No," I shook my head. "Of course not. People who come from certain backgrounds just have an easier time acclimating to the conditions is all."

    "So where do you start?"

    "With breaking them down and forcing them to work together as a unit instead of as an individual," I replied. "And that starts right about now."

    A Drill instructor seemingly appears right in front of the recruits, the front row shying back as she begins to yell at them.

    "Is the yelling necessary?"

    "Not strictly," I sighed. "But it helps with simulating stress and combat. Combat will always be loud and messy, and by triggering their stress responses to it and training them we can bypass some of the natural reactions that everyone has to it."

    "There's an entire science behind training soldiers," I explained. "And a lot of it involves psychology. We are going to have to adjust things because different species will have slightly different reactions, but overall, the results will speak for themselves."

    "We shall see, Colonel Hull," Dooku turned and walked away. "We shall see."






    "Once again, the senate fails to assist us," Wilhuff sighed. "I am grateful that we were able to bring Sullust into the fold, we would be scrambling to repair the ORSF if we had not done so."

    "Agreed," Gidion sat down. "I am beginning to believe that we might do better without the Senate hamstringing us at every turn. Perhaps we should look into some… Alternate solutions."

    "I would advise caution and patience for the moment," Wilhuff argued. "We do not possess the means to effectively accomplish that for now. At least not without relying on those who I would rather see rot."

    "So we begin the process now," Gideon smirked. "I think that if we negotiate well, we may be able to persuade Kuat Drive Yards or another shipbuilding company to begin construction of shipyards here. We possess the resources they will need, and we are far closer to said resources."

    "Hmm," Wilhuff considered. "No, Kuat is tied too closely to the core. We will need to befriend a smaller corporation, one that would be indebted to us."

    "I will look into that," Gideon replied. "There are likely many that would like to break into that market."

    "We will have to be careful to not offend the Sullustians though," Wilhuff advised. "They have been our rivals for too long for them to not see it as a threat."

    "Regardless, we must make preparations," Gideon sighed. "I will speak with the various PDFs and begin coordinating the training together. I will not have us fold should things turn for the worst."

    "And I will try to see if there is anything left of the Republic to recover," Wilhuff smiled sadly. "We have come too far for us to merely abandon it immediately."

    "I know. But we must also do what is right for Eriadu," Gideon dipped his head. "They are our people, and we must see to them first."

    "Then let us begin," Wilhuff stood up. "We have much work to accomplish."
     
    • Chapter 29
    • Chapter 29

    September 11, 3009/7948 CRC Serenno, Serenno system, D'Astan Sector, Outer Rim Territories


    "This is not quite what I meant when I asked you to see if the Council would support me," Dooku looked at Yaddle as dockworkers began unloading crates of learning material, holocrons and other assorted goods that had been removed from Dantooine. "I did not set out to create my own Order."

    "This is not a new Order as of yet," Yaddle replied. "But you know the history just as well as I do. The Order will be threatened again, and the Temple on Coruscant may fall. Should that happen, we will not only want Enclaves set aside to be hidden. But we will need a place of safety where we can begin to grow the Order again."

    "And you believe that this is the way to go about that?" Dooku asked.

    "Yes," Yaddle nodded as they began to walk into the palace complex. "The Old Ways are different from what we have today. But I believe they will have merit when applied to what is coming on the Horizon."

    "Yes, I have seen it too," Dooku stroked his chin in thought. "War is coming, I do not know when, but when it does, I will stand ready."





    September 25, 3009/7948 CRC Beloria System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "So, our first completed artillery piece rolls off of the line today," Peterson looks at the rest of the Marksman that had been left behind to safeguard the home base as well as the planet's senior officials. "We've got the most experience crew available on hand to make sure that the first test goes well."

    "The Ballista has been around for over five hundred years," Peterson explained to those who didn't know the background. "We've had to break down some of our own piece by piece in order to manufacture more. So we're going to be testing and ensuring that every artillery piece and tank is tested and goes through quality control before we even attempt to sell it."

    "Is there a reason why it is not mounted on repulsors?" The mayor of a local town asked.

    "One, we're still testing to see if that is a workable idea or not. And two, treads offer a stability that many things don't. It's capable of moving through most terrain and can tow a trailer with extra ammunition if necessary."

    "Yes, we understand," a representative of the ORSF stood up. "I'm here to see the test and verify that your product is worthwhile. So if we could accelerate this, it would be appreciated."

    "Begin test with dummy rounds and then move through the arsenal," Peterson ordered, the comms system transmitting to the crew of the gun. "I don't want any of our ordnance left out."

    The crew's spotter called out the coordinates and the crew adjusted the angle of the gun, a distant rumble as if from thunder echoing before the round came over the horizon to impact the designated target, throwing up a small steam of dirt into the air.

    Then the crew reloaded the gun and opened fire, and putting the new equipment to the test, began firing as fast as they could load, the barrel of the artillery piece smoking as explosions cratered the field that was used for testing.

    "A most impressive display," the ORSF rep smirked. "Let me know when you're ready to test the other vehicles. Our requisition officers will be in touch to acquire a small number of these Ballista. And should they prove to meet our needs, you can expect more regular purchases as well as a contract."

    "I'll relay that information to Colonel Hull," Peterson shook the man's hand. "And I'll have a quote ready for you before your departure."





    Coruscant

    "I believe that we will need to slow down the rate of decay," Sidious looked over the information that he had available as he drew in the Dark Side of the Force. "We have pushed the Galaxy too close to the edge, and the conflict, should it happen now will not be controlled by those who I desire."

    "I can begin pulling the strings of several senators," Mas Amedda agreed. "Eriadu's power bloc has been weakened in the core and strengthened in regards to the Outer and Mid Rim as of late."

    "Hmm," Sidious considered as he looked at a map of the galaxy. "With Dooku out of reach at the moment, we must consider alternatives."

    "There are few withing the Trade Federation and others that are charismatic enough to take on the mantle of a separatist movement."

    "They exist," Sidious smirked. "They just need to be… nudged in the right direction."

    "Such movements will need to be subtle. And may take years."

    "The Grand Plan has no time constraints," Sidious waved off his ally. "We have the time to ensure that the Republic collapses in the way that I envision."

    "I shall direct the Banking Clans to begin pulling back," Amedda nodded. "But their trust has been shattered in the Outer Rim."

    "Then it will ensure that the tension begins to rise. And when all is ready, we shall topple the Jedi Order and the Republic."





    Mandalore

    "You're pretty good at this, Kid," a shorter man patted Anakin on the shoulder. "You ever consider trying to find a sponsorship to go pro? Swoop bike races are big money around here."

    "Maybe in the future," Anakin smiled. "For now I just enjoy the hobby."

    "Well, the drinks are on me after the amount of money you won me these past few weeks," the bike owner grinned. "Come on, I know just the place."

    Anakin followed the small group into a hole in the wall. Dancers were hidden behind an opaque holographic field, and the bar was full of the racers from the day.

    "To the kid!" the first racer raised a glass, the rest following suit.

    "Come on, you've gotta tell me how you knew to take that jump," one of them leaned in. "Even my old man wouldn't have tried that in the old days before things went to hell."

    "I just went with my instincts," Anakin replied with a shrug. "It's what I've been told since I started racing."

    "Well, they serve you well," they laughed. "So, what brings a nonnative to our Swoop tracks?"

    "I'm circulating the different circuits to see what I like best," Anakin sighed. "It's illegal in the core in many places, and I've heard rumors that it was about to be outlawed here on Mandalore."

    "Not yet," a man slammed his drink down angrily before signaling for a refill. "Not that it'll stop the Duchess from trying. And don't even get me started on the Death Watch. If you're not a warrior you're not one of them."

    "Kriff," Anakin shook his head. "Seems like racing is a dying sport everywhere than."

    "I hate to give credit to those bastards on Eriadu, but they've got their heads on straight," another Mandalorian said to groans from the rest of the table. "You know I'm right. They might be our old enemies, but they didn't try to get rid of their military, and we all know that they never got rid of their racing circuits."

    As the table devolved into an argument that the group seemed to have had on more than one occasion, Anakin slipped out of the cantina and put his hood up before making his way back to the palace under the cover of darkness.
     
    • Chapter 30
    • Chapter 30

    "It is wondrous to see what has changed," Obi-Wan said as he looked at the recovered sections of Mandalore, the scars slowly being retaken by growth as the machines did their work.

    "I was able to devote most of our resources to restoring Mandalore's biome," Satine smiled as she looked over the scars from the bombing centuries ago.

    "Many people are not happy with the state of things though," Anakin said as he looked at the greenery. "Peace is all well and good, but there are times when you have to fight to preserve that peace."

    "I believed that once," Satine nodded at the young padawan. "But I have seen the results of war and want no part in it again. If I can spare my people from it, I will do."

    "And what of preserving your culture?" Anakin asked. "Surely that is important."

    "A culture of ignorance and savagery?" Satine asked. "Of endless war and efforts to conquer the galaxy?" She shook her head. "No, I aim to change that. No longer will the Republic or our neighbors be scared of a band of Mandalorians rising up to threaten them."

    "I believe you have asked enough questions, Anakin," Kenobi cut in. "We have the information required to perform the task that has been asked of us. So we should go and handle it."

    "The Death Watch is going to be attempting to destroy the machines we're using to restore Mandalore," Satine sighed. "My sister and I disagree on many things, but even she acknowledges that they are necessary. So occasionally, she slips me useful information."

    "We'll handle it," Obi-Wan agreed. "But patience is a must if we are to catch them in the act of sabotage. We need proof to bring before people for them to believe us."

    "Proof that hopefully will provide itself as they commit the act," Satine agreed. "Please limit damage to the structures themselves, they are far from easy to replace."





    Beloria System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "Reason for enlisting?" a bored Twi-lek asked as she read over the paperwork.

    "I hear the pay and benefits are nice," a man grinned as his T-Shaped helmet was held to the side. "I've got a family to support and, if I'm honest, they're kinda tired of living life onboard a ship," the man gestured back to an older Corellian freighter. "Besides, sometimes the competition is good enough that you might want to join them. Well, that and you told that Death Watch bitch to get lost."

    "Alright then, Kit Strurn," the Twi-lek handed him the datapad with his instructions on it. "You'll head out to boot camp in two weeks, and we'll assign your family temporary quarters while you're in training."

    "Everything looks good to me," Strurn shrugged. "Do I get to keep my armor?"
    "You'll be issued kit according to the job that you end up with," the woman sighed. "We have a pretty distinct uniform," she gestured to the black uniform with gold trim that she currently wore, the chevron on her collar indicating her rank. "We're a professional military here, not some militia unit."

    "Got it," the Mandalorian clapped his hands together. "I'll start working on getting my wife and kids moved into the housing that's been set aside."

    "I'll send over the team assigned to handle that when you signal you're ready."

    –
    –

    "Dad, why are we staying here?" Kit's oldest asked.

    "Because I'm tired of exposing you and your siblings to danger," he knelt and pulled his daughter in for a hug. "I want what's best for all of you, and sometimes that means that we have to do things that we didn't expect."

    "We're Mandalorians," Kit's heavily pregnant wife smiled. "But we're as we are supposed to be. We hold to the traditions because they bind us together as a culture, but we also know that time changes, and that we must adapt to them or we die. We are not pacifists, nor are we terrorists, we simply are what the old ways dictated. And now we have found a group that we can join. Just as Canderous Ordo joined with Revan in the days of the Old Republic."

    "And, now I don't have to worry about Pirates taking you hostage nor us going hungry if I have failed in hunting a bounty," Kit picked up his daughter and tucked her into the bed. "Now get some rest, we're going to see some of the simulators for the big droids tomorrow."

    "Thirteen weeks of training is a long time," Kit's wife said as he closed the door to the kid's bedroom. "You might miss the birth."

    "I don't think that they'll prevent me from being here," Kit pulled her in and kissed her forehead. "And they've got good medical care here. Not many mercenary groups have dedicated hospital ships. That this one possesses one speaks much about their values."

    "I just worry," she leaned her head against his shoulder.

    "I know," Kit held her close for a bit before pulling her into their bedroom. "Let me ease some of your worries for a bit," he wagged his eyebrows and winked.

    "You're insufferable," she groaned. "But I love you anyway."






    "Sienn, please stop, can't you tell the poor boy is already about to burst?" The grizzled veteran chuckled as his girlfriend made the waiter turn bright red in the face.

    "Aww," the Twi-Lek frowned. "But it's so much fun."

    "I don't need us temporarily banned from my favorite bar," the drill instructor glared. "Again."

    "I'll be good," she sat down directly onto Thompson's lap and wiggled a bit before grinning. "And someone's happy to see me."

    "Thanks," Alan nodded at the waiter as the young man brought over their drinks, the blush still showing heavily on his face as he refused to make eye contact.

    "You promised me meat," Sienn spun around to face Alan after the waiter left.

    "You'll get your meat," the man chuckled. "One way or another, at least. I'm supposed to be meeting with Packer. He said something about making my current position permanent."

    "So you'll be stationed here permanently?" Sienn asked.

    "Thompson might well have to be stationed here with situational awareness like that," Packer grinned as he patted his old friend on the shoulder before taking a seat at the table. "But I can understand you were somewhat preoccupied."

    "There a reason why we're here instead of doing this at work?" Alan took a sip of his beer as Sienn moved off of his lap and into her own seat.

    "I just got planetside," Packer shrugged. "I need a break before diving back in."

    "Fair enough," Alan shrugged. "So, food first, or business?"

    "Let's get business over with, then move on to food," Packer flagged down a waitress to ask for a drink. "So, you've got a choice. You can stay here on Beloria and keep doing what you're currently doing. With the Instructing on the side and deploying as we get contracts. Or we can move the two of you to Serenno. Where you'll be getting a pay bump and a leadership position training all of the new cavalry that comes from there."

    "How long are you willing to discuss each position?" Sienn cut in. "Because we can get the rest of the details later."

    "I've already got the documents written up for both," Packer shrugged. "I'll send 'em over tomorrow for you to look over them."

    "In that case," Alan leaned in. "What was the first real action against a military force here like?"

    "Really fuckin' odd," Packer started. "First…"
     
    • Chapter 31
    • Chapter 31

    Author's Note: This is a time skip. I'm letting you know that now, even though I'm putting dates in this chapter. You'll find out what happened to Obi-Wan and Anakin later. Also, I may have slightly altered Chapter 30 to better reflect the previous chapters.





    January 1, 3014/7953 CRC Coruscant Galactic Senate

    "Oppressed citizens of a once free galaxy, I am Count Dooku of Serenno. For most of my life, I served as a Jedi Knight, and for a time, on the Jedi High Council as well," the hologram of the man stood tall as he seemed to stare through everyone watching.

    "I dedicated my life to the pursuit of peace and justice, undertaking countless missions and risking my life for the sake of what I thought was right. I have protected people and communities, and brought many criminals, pirates, terrorists, tyrants, and corrupt individuals to justice," Dooku paused to allow the information to sink in, the Council chambers remaining deathly quiet.

    "And yet, it was not enough, no matter how much I attempted to do what was right, I was being thwarted by the very institution that I trusted to do the right thing. The Galactic Republic, and its senate, have become a pale reflection of what it once was! The Senate mired by corruption and decadence. The Senators pay lip service to the people they are supposed to serve while they whore themselves and their people out to the highest bidder!" Dooku's fist slammed down on the podium in front of him.

    "They allow you, their own people to suffer from lawlessness, piracy, abuse, and injustice while they lounge in luxury on Coruscant.

    The Republic has created layer and layer of bureaucracy, which is enormously expensive, stifles your voice, and makes even the simplest aspects of governing frustrating and ineffective.

    They have rid themselves of their military, forcing the Outer and Mid Rim worlds to fall into chaos, and the hyperlanes to be overrun with pirates. And to make things worse, they have punished and ridiculed the systems that try to militarize in self-defense to prevent those very same pirates from harming them.

    To make matters worse, the Republic has stifled the local economies, it imposes extreme taxes that are only made worse by the sector and planetary government taxes. And yet, those taxes do not go to pay for your safety, or to secure your liberty. No, those taxes pay for the Senate's lavish lifestyles, the Republic's bureaucracy, and the whims of the highest bidders.

    The Republic has such contempt for you, the people it was created to serve, that they refused to even consider voting on the recent Financial Reform bill. And the Senator that drafted the bill was even assassinated by those who favor the status quo.

    The Outer and Rim worlds are slaves to the Republic in all but name. And the Jedi often enforce that slavery, whether they are mislead or not, they have all too often been the boot on the slaves' neck. I myself have been mislead by the Senate when I was a Jedi, as I trusted those in power to look out for those who they were supposed to serve.

    I was wrong. The Jedi all too often enforce the will of a Republic that has ceased to be anything but a bloated corpse and shadow of itself."

    Dooku stopped and looked out at the croud that was assembled in Raxus, the people flanking him standing still as if they were statues.

    "From this day forward, I declare that we will build a new government that addresses the Republic's failures, with core values that reflect that of the people of the Republic. Until this government has become fully established, I will personally see to it that the Hyperlanes are patrolled, and that piracy is curbed.

    But do not be alarmed at what will soon happen. The Republic cannot allow you to break off and be free to self-govern, for if they do, they lose all of the power that they have accumulated over the generations.

    Today, we throw off the yoke of those who claim to be representing us, today, we decide to stand up and declare our freedom. Today, we separate ourselves from the bloated corpse of the Republic. And should they decide to send people after me and mine. I say let them come and throw themselves on our swords. As for me and my house, we will stand. You may join me, or you may decide to stay with the Republic, the choice is yours."

    The Senate chambers erupted into noise as everyone began speaking over each other, the calls for Order from Mas Amedda doing nothing but encouraging the frenzy.

    "The Councils should be informed of this," Mace Windu glanced at Yoda from their private booth.

    "Already know, they do," Yoda replied as he turned his chair to leave. "Broadcast across the galaxy, this was."

    "I will issue a general recall order," Mace stood to follow.

    "Only prove him right, you will," Yoda shook his head. "Strongly believe this, Dooku does."

    "The galaxy is at a shatterpoint," Windu sighed. "But I do not know how it will break."

    "Trust in the Force, we must," Yoda and Windu boarded the speeder and signaled for the droid to take them to the Temple. "And a decision to make, we have."






    "Thank you for lending me your talents," Dooku looked at me from his desk. "Should you decide that the mercenary life is not for you then you may consider speechwriting."

    "I think I'll stick to shooting things," I chuckled. "It generally doesn't give me the same headache."

    "Ferus is reporting that the Senate's response is about what we expected," Siri Tachi reported as she entered. "And we've received a number of responses from Outer and Mid Rim worlds since we published the details of the government we intend to form."

    "Good," Dooku replied. "The Tarkins of Eriadu have privately indicated that they wish to see how we do before joining. As have some of the other worlds that have been greatly affected by the Senate's corruption as of late."

    "The Republic doesn't have anything to respond with militarily at the moment," I looked at the two Jedi. "But that can and will change. They've got a greater industrial capacity then we possess currently. So we need to begin building up now. If it comes to a war, we're going to lose once they bring all of their might to bear. And the PDFs aren't going to be enough. Not when you've promised to patrol the Hyperlanes."

    "I have some people working on that," Dooku agreed. "Should they prove to be successful, we will have the core of a capable navy."

    "I've said my piece," I looked around. "If that was everything you needed, Count, then I'll be back to my troops. Raxus is a hotbed right now, and I don't want to have to pay to get some people out of prison."

    "You have done as I asked, Colonel Hull," Count Dooku smiled sadly. "Go take care of your people."
     
    • Headlines Interlude
    • Headline Interlude

    – "Serenno throws off the yoke of the IGBC in battle of the ages!-- 7948CRC Outer Rim Publications

    – "Mandalore renegotiates deal with the Banking Clans even amidst terrorist attacks!" 7948CRC -Coruscant Information Network

    –"The ORSF counters a massive pirate attack intended for Sullust. Sullust fully opts into the ORSF in response, setting aside long-held rivalry." -7949CRC Eriadu General News

    —"Count Dooku called to stand trial in response to actions taken against pirates and slavers" 7949 Outer Rim Publications

    — "Marksman Mercenary Company and Manufacturing continue to grow with latest defense contracts." — Bounty Hunters Monthly

    — "Executive Security Solutions forms in response to the Outer Rim's cry for more protection, the competition in the mercenary market grows more fierce!" — Business Insiders

    "Tension builds as Outer Rim begins building up planetary fleets without Senatorial approval." -Coruscant Information Network

    —"Senator Jheramahd Greyshade drafts a bill to address and fix the financial crisis!" — Outer Rim Publications

    —"Senate refuses to vote on the Financial Reform Bill! Mass Protests happening throughout the Mid and Outer Rim!"— Holonet News Network

    – "Outer Rim petition to receive funds for industry and critical infrastructure is struck down, while taxes are increased. Leaving many worlds to struggle as their cost of living increases." Business Insiders


    –"Droid prices skyrocket as the Outer rim purchases massive groups of construction and refurbished B-1 droids from the Trade Federation!" Outer Rim Publications

    "Kuat Drive Yards restricts sale of ships to the Core and Mid Rim in recent push to derail potential piracy." –Coruscant Information Network

    "Sullust begins reactivating old shipyards and designs as planetary defense fleets increase while Rendilli Star Systems begins to reactivate and fund new shipyards among the Outer Rim."-- Holonet News Network

    "Senator Greyshade found Dead in his quarters! Jedi are dispatched to investigate as the Outer Rim begins protesting once again!" –Outer Rim Publications


    Author's Note: I suck at writing headlines. I'm never doing this again.
     
    • Chapter 32
    • Chapter 32

    January 14, 3014/7953 CRC Eriadu System, Seswenna sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "You are certain that you wish to remain with the Republic?" Gideon asked his brother.

    "Sullust and ourselves are the leaders of the systems that have joined in the ORSF," Wilhuff replied. "While Sullust might feel that it's time to separate. It is not. This is the time to continue to build up. The Republic may yet decide to change as a result of this."

    "You know that they will simply continue to obstruct those of us who intend to preserve the ideals that the Republic was founded on," Gideon sighed.

    "Yes, but we will still remain as the bastions of integrity that we have been for years," Wilhuff replied. "Should we waver now, then it will destroy the reputation that we have built for so long. No, we will continue on this path until the way to best protect Eriadu has revealed itself."

    "And yet, we will continue to sell this Confederacy of Independent Systems ships?" Gideon raised an eyebrow.

    "Of course," Wilhuff smirked. "We have always supported the Outer Rim arming and defending itself from pirates and slavers. As we upgrade our own defense fleets and that of the ORSF we shall continue to sell our older vessels to our neighbors in the Outer Rim."

    "There are those in the Senate who may take offense to that," Gideon remarked as he lounged back in his chair.

    "None who matter will oppose the destruction of evil," Wilhuff stood and looked out the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "And it will show where our true allies are."






    "How do we address this situation?" Ki Adi Mundi asked the rest of the Jedi Council. "Dooku has separated from the Republic, and he has brought members of our Order with him."

    "I believe that we should exercise caution," Windu said after some thought. "Dooku and Yaddle have shown themselves to be trustworthy. They have never made moves against the Order before this speech."

    "The Order was only mentioned a handful of times," Plo Koon replied, his hologram shaking its head in disagreement. "This was targeted at the Republic, not at the Order as a whole. And who among us can say that he was wrong?"

    "I am tempted to go to Dooku directly to see if it is possible for a resolution to be found," Coleman Trebor stated as he reviewed a transcript of the speech. "There have been no calls for violence, and while they have hired a great deal of mercenaries and begun purchasing ships, they have also actually had those same ships patrolling the hyperlanes as he said they would."

    "I for one, am curious to see what Yaddle has to say about this," Shaak Ti finally responded to everything. "She has not spoken to any of us since she left this Council and the order itself."

    "Knight Tachi has been in contact with us recently," Windu leaned forward. "She said that she and her padawan would be visiting and bringing some messages from Yaddle and Dooku."

    "Wait and see, our only option is," Yoda finally spoke, the grandmaster opening his eyes for the first time since the meeting started. "Move aggressively, we should not. Shifting, the Force is."

    "I think we should all take the time to meditate on this," Windu said after Yoda stopped speaking. "And those of us who are not on missions should prepare a response for the Senate."






    "It's a pleasure to meet with you again, Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan gave a small bow as he smiled.

    "It is a pleasure indeed," she replied. "I'm glad to find you in good health. Though I was hoping I could see Anakin as well."

    "Anakin was very sick when I left Coruscant," Kenobi frowned. "We came into contact with a local virus on an Outer Rim world while rendering aid and so he was told to remain behind when your request came through."

    "I suppose it's better this way," Padme sighed. "Best not to get the entire delegation ill."

    "Considering who you're negotiating with, I would have to agree," Obi-Wan stroked his beard. "I must say that it is a bit unusual to have negotiated with two peoples that were bitter rivals in the past."

    "You are referring to Eriadu and Mandalore?" Padme asked.

    "Yes, they have long warred with each other through history. But I suppose the ORSF is the reason you're negotiating?"

    "The ORSF wishes to trade with both us and the Gungans for different things," Padme smirked. "I believe you'll recognize the one who's going to be negotiating for the Gungans."

    "Obi! Meesa is so excited to see you again!" A voice cheered as Obi-Wan sank his face into his palm.






    "I was hoping to speak to Queen Reillata," Maarisa Zsinj gave a small bow. "Especially considering what we were hoping to negotiate."

    "She delegated the task to me," Padme replied. "I'm hoping that we are able to reach a satisfactory deal."

    "That will depend entirely on how entrenched you are in demilitarization," Zsinj replied honestly. "Master Jedi," she shifted to greet Obi-Wan.

    "Admiral Zsinj," Kenobi smiled as he greeted the woman. "I've heard good things about your work in the Outer Rim."

    "Eliminating the pirates who were trying to blockage Zonoma Sekot was common sense," the Admiral shrugged. "They were grateful enough afterwards to help Incom and Subpro build new Starfighter factories on Eriadu."

    "Regardless, you stepped in and did a good thing, and I personally am grateful. I have friends on Sekot and wish them well."

    "Now, I believe you've already finished negotiating with Representative Binks," Padme cut in.

    "Yes," Zsinj nodded. "Shred trader that one. I barely managed to get close to the deal that I wanted."

    Padme and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance before shaking their heads.

    "Anyway, You wished to purchase some of our N-1 Starfighters and the ability to manufacture more locally in your own yards, yes?" Padme began.

    "That was indeed our aim. "While we have some plans to develop something new, we are currently limited to the Z-69 Sweeper. Which, while a decent fighter, is getting up there in age."

    "I am firmly against arming anyone," Padme replied. "But I will do my best to represent Naboo in this."

    After that statement, the haggling began.
     
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    • Chapter 33
    • Chapter 33
    March 19, 3014/7953 CRC Republica 500, Coruscant

    "Tell me Amedda," Sidious glanced at his trusted servant. "How would you adjust the Great Plan to account for the way things have changed of late?"

    "There are a few ways that we could accomplish parts of your plan," Mas Amedda replied. "But there are no foolproof ways to execute it as of this moment. It will take time for tension to build properly and for us to generate the hatred needed."

    "The Clones will be sufficient for a temporary fighting force when it comes to it," Sidious looked out the window. "But we will have to generate the tension. I believe it is time we begin to seed the fruits of discontent."

    "What is it you desire to do?"

    "I believe that it is time that the Corellians fell into the fold," Sidious smirked. "Divert some funds to a select group of pirates. I believe Senator Iblis will oblige us with the tension we need."

    "How do you plan on ensuring that he will follow our plans?"

    "He will go forth willingly," Sidious moved over to his desk. "He has too much pride to admit when Corellia or he has done wrong. That will be both his undoing and that of the Republic's."






    "The Confederacy is in your debt," Dooku smiled at Jedi Master Fae as she handed him the datapad. "I know that we have disagreed on many things in the past, but we can both agree on protecting those who need it."

    "That is one of the reasons I have decided to assist you," Fae replied. "The other is that you have done your best to ensure a peaceful transition. That only those who have voted to can join your Confederacy."

    "I am not a Tyrant," Dooku shook his head. "I did not even desire to be elected as the Head of State."

    "Be that as it may," Faye rippled through the Force. "But this is the position where you are meant to be. Just as I am supposed to help you."

    "I will do my best to follow the Will of the Force," Dooku nodded. "I will take this information to the ones who can best make use of it."

    "I will speak to you again when you are available," Faye agreed. "Yaddle has requested that I meet with her while I am present. So I shall take my leave."

    –
    –

    "I… Have no idea what I'm looking at," I glanced at the Confederacy's Head of State.

    "It is the beginnings of the Confederate Navy," Dooku smiled. "The Hyperlanes will be safe, and this will be our core, driven and able to defend our new and fledgling nation."

    "I don't have two hundred thousand sailors to throw at this problem," I replied as I considered the data. "I'm barely keeping up with the training requirements for my contract with the CIS."

    "I have considered this," Dooku stroked his beard. "I have also discussed this with the representatives that are available to meet. We will be pulling training cadres and providing funding to recruit more people for the Confederate Navy."

    "You can throw money at us all day long," I scoffed. "But that doesn't fix the root problem."

    "Which is?" Dooku raised his eyebrow.

    "We can't just use bodies," I sighed. "We need specific skill sets, and while we can train them from the ground up, that will always take more time than finding people's current skillset and repurposing them."

    "What do you need?" Dooku asked.

    "Give me a few weeks," I looked down at my paperwork. "I'll have something thrown together before we make the trip to the desired location."

    "I shall work to get the people that you need," Dooku turned to leave. "Do not deprive the Hyperlanes or the worlds you guard of their protection. While I desire your help in this, Colonel Hull, I do not wish to expose anyone to the barbarism of piracy while we are away."






    "More and more Outer and Mid Rim systems continue to leave the Republic to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems," A Zabrack reporter stated to the recording device. "While the debate in the Senate rages on, the Confederacy establishes its constitution, affirming the rights of its citizens and establishing a foundation to operate off of."

    "We were able to reach out and get some recordings from the newly elected officials from the CIS. They had this to say."


    "On this day, we make a stand against the corruption of the Senate and of the bureaucrats that make up the Republic. So long as you adhere to the basic rights as listed in our new constitution, every planet and system is free to do as they wish. No longer are we to be shackled by the core worlds by excessive taxes. We are Free!"

    "The Galaxy stands on the edge," a man leaned back in his chair as he cut the feed to the Holonet News Network off, a mask against a nearby lamp as he smoked a death stick. "How interesting. I wonder where this will lead?"

    He shrugged and walked out to his porch, the rain streaming down onto the roof.

    "It's not my problem anymore," He muttered as he sat down in a rocking chair. "I'm retired after all."

    With a pull of the Force, the mask floated over to his hand as he stared into the slits where his eyes once went.

    With a sigh, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow's problems could wait until tomorrow.
     
    • Chapter 34
    • Chapter 34

    May 21, 3014/7953CRC Onboard Pueblo-Class dropship Messenger

    "Everyone able to hear me?" I asked the group both around the table and tuning in from the Archon's favor.

    "We read you five by five," Hober replied. "Kinda curious as to why we're out here in the middle of nowhere though."

    "We've got a mission from our employers," I leaned forward and looked at every member of the team I had assembled. "You were all handpicked for this one because you know how to keep a secret."

    A hologram of a ship projected over the table, the dark gray ship looking brand new and fresh.

    "This is a Dreadnaught-class heavy cruiser," I began. "More specifically, this is the Katana, the flagship of the Katana fleet. It is one of two hundred such vessels that went missing over twenty years ago. We've got four possible locations of where the fleet might be. We're going to search each location and then locate the flagship of the fleet."

    "Why are we only going to find the flagship?" Sanal asked. "And we don't have nearly enough crew to get even one of those things moving."

    "Normally," I replied. "You'd be correct, but the Dark Force has something special going for it. All of these ships are slaved to the flagship via droid brains. And with automation improvements that were made, each ship only needs a crew complement of around two thousand to run properly instead of sixteen thousand. Once we have the flagship, we'll be able to program the coordinates for the point we want them to move to in Hyperspace. From there, we'll have a mobile shipyard going over them to ensure that they don't have any permanent damage. Then the CIS will begin working crews over from planetary defense forces that have decided to join the centralized military."

    "Quite a few of the more well-off planets do have experienced Dreadnaught crews," Knight Siri Tachi agreed. "Colonel, this is your mission, I'm merely here to observe and assist if something comes up that I am needed to handle."

    "Consider Knight Tachi our mercenary Liaison from the olden days," I glanced at the crew from my original universe. "She's not directly in our chain of command, but she's here to help where she can."

    "Now, are there any questions before I move on to the rest of the briefing?"

    "Yeah," Hober's projection nodded. "Do we know what happened for the fleet to go missing?"

    "Negative," I shook my head. "So when we board, we're in sealed Mithril until we can confirm the environment is safe. And once we bring the fleet to the rendezvous point we're going to be both Biowarfare and Hazmat teams going over every ship."

    "Anything else?" I asked.

    A group raised their hands.

    "What are the salvage rights?" a Togrutan asked.

    "We get to keep ten of the ships provided we can crew them," I replied. "Along with everything that's onboard. Next question."

    "Are we sticking as one group or are we splitting up our small fleet?"

    "One group," I replied. "The Messenger is the main ship here for a reason. We've got enough ECM gear here to disguise our movements and keep us hidden. But it'll only work if we're all together."

    "What do we do if another group is trying to salvage the fleet?"
    I sighed as I thought about this one, glancing at the Jedi Knight seated at the table.

    "No witnesses," I replied. "We've got a job to do, and we can't do it if a bunch of treasure hunters and other groups are trying to steal it out from underneath us. Now, that can mean that we capture them and hold them until after we've left, or it can mean that we eliminate them. We'll have to determine that when or if we find the fleet."

    I waited a few moments for more questions and when none came I stood up.

    "You're dismissed, remember to get some rest, we're all gonna be working around the clock on rotation to narrow this down."





    Coruscant
    "I thank you for being willing to meet with me," Palpatine smiled at the Senator from Kuat and the lawyer that entered behind him. "I believe that I have something that will be of interest to us both."

    "And what might that be, Chancellor?" Risi Lenoan asked.

    "I believe the Republic is facing interesting times," Palpatine replied. "And that if we desire our beloved Institution to continue, then there are things that should be done."

    "Such as?" the Kuati lawyer asked as he took a seat next to Senator Lenoan.

    "Such as ensuring that your famed institution becomes the premiere shipbuilder for the Republic. It has become clear to me that Rendili is in support of the Confederacy of Independent Systems and cannot be relied upon," the Chancellor leaned forward. "While they may pay lip service to the Republic, they continue to license their designs and assist in building shipyards among those systems. I know that Kuat can be relied on. And should you assist in the push for this, I will see to it that you are rewarded for such service."

    "It will not take much to convince Onara of this," Risi reclined in her chair. "But she will need some reasoning in which to sway the board. This would result in a loss of profits, after all. No matter how temporary they may be."

    "There will be no loss in profits," the man grinned. "I am certain of it."

    "Let's start getting some details hammered out," the lawyer stepped forward. "Assurances are all fine and good, but we at Kuat deal in contracts."

    –
    –

    The Dark Side of the Force flowed as the Kuati Senator and Lawyer left with no recollection of the details of their meeting. As far as they were concerned, they had just met with the Chancellor to support a bill he had been working on.

    "Now," Sidious smirked. "We wait."

    Reaching for the terminal before him, Sidious typed a few commands in, creating a bounty for an individual and setting a price that ensured the hunters would pursue it.

    "You seem capable, Colonel Hull," Sidious looked at the bounty picture. "Should you survive, you may have a place in my Empire."

    With a final push, the bounty contract was set, the glowing lines in Aurebesh showing a large number of credits before the screen winked off.

    "Let the tension rise," Sidious murmured as he began to leech the Dark Side Presence from the room. "It is time to prepare for war."
     
    • Chapter 35
    • Chapter 35

    April 7, 3014/7953CRC Serenno, Serenno system, D'Astan Sector, Outer Rim Territories


    "Sarge," a recruit gasped as he came to the end of his run. "I thought we were supposed to be armored cavalry, not infantry."

    "If you think that after boot camp that I'm just going to hand you the keys to a Tiger and walk away, then you've got another thing coming," Sergeant Alan Thompson grinned. "All of you have been slacking off in the last few weeks, you've gotten soft. Well, before you ever set foot in a tank you have to prove that you can hack it with the best of the infantry. I learned my lesson the hard way so that you don't have to."

    "What lesson is that?" another recruit asked.

    "Dismounted ops are a thing, just because you're a tanker doesn't mean you won't have to go clear a building or two. Nowadays, you've got more armor, but back in my day, I had to double up on the front plates to survive. So, yeah, we're making sure that you know how to do both jobs inside and out," Thompson nodded to himself as they started to relax. "Now get moving! We're to be back at base in fifteen. If any single one of you falls behind, you all are going to be taking apart the tank and cleaning it before putting it back together. By hand!"

    The platoon bolted off, the recruits putting the shorter and slower members in the front to not leave them behind.

    "I should probably catch up to them," Thompson sighed. "Fucking old knees ain't worth shit."






    "Everything alright?" Sienn asked from the kitchen.

    "Yeah, just getting old," Alan sighed as he eased himself down into a chair by the table. "I've got the kids half convinced I'm invincible though."

    "And why is that?" Sienn brought over two plates and sat on Alan's lap before trying to stick her tongue down his throat.

    "Well," Alan shifted Sienn over to her own chair. "For one thing, I managed to land you. The rest of it has more to do with me keeping up and performing their exercises better than they can."

    "Well, I can show up to help keep the image up if you'd like," the Twi-lek smirked. "The way that they react… It's just fun."

    "No," Alan shook his head with a wry grin on his face. "I think you've tortured the young soldiers enough."

    "Aww," she pouted.

    "You get plenty of opportunities outside of work to mess with people," Alan chuckled. "You'll just have to endure."

    "Fine," a fork was pointed at the grizzled old mercenary. "But you have to take me somewhere nice for dinner this week."

    "Fair enough," he agreed. "I think Packer and his wife wanted to invite us out anyway. What with the Colonel busy winning hearts and minds across the Outer Rim."

    "Not just him," Sienn pointed out as she dropped the teasing tone in her voice. "Your entire unit does a good job at that. Now, I've been meaning to talk to you about a job offer that I got from someone you might know."

    "Oh?" he raised an eyebrow. "And what offer might that be?"

    "The guy who's in charge of the Intelligence side of your unit, I think his name is Dunkirk, offered me a spot, and I wanted your opinion before I gave an answer."

    "His name is Dunham," Alan laughed. "And he doesn't make job offers lightly. If you think this is the right opportunity, then go for it. I'm stationed here for training purposes unless war breaks out. So I give it another couple of years before I go on active deployments again," he paused in thought. "But ultimately, it's your choice."

    "I told him I would think about it," Sienn sipped at her drink. "I want to make this, work. And I'm not willing to do anything that would mess with our relationship right now."

    "Take your time," the Sergeant began eating his meal. "Unless Dunham put a time limit on the offer, it's probably good for at least a month if not two."

    "I'll have to sleep on it some," the Twi-Lek agreed. "And see if I know anyone else that works with him. I don't want to make a decision like this blindly."

    "Sounds like a plan," Alan stood up and groaned. "Speaking of sleep, I'm gonna head off to bed. I'm exhausted."

    "How exhausted are you?" Sienn licked her lips. "Too exhausted for some fun beforehand?"
    "I'm never too exhausted for that."






    "So, nothing yet?" I asked as I stepped onto the bridge of the Messenger, a cup of coffee in hand.

    "Just some sensor echoes. Nothing concrete yet, but we're also taking it slow, Don't want to miss something because we sped through it."

    "Stop," Knight Tachi stormed onto the bridge. "We need to stop here and wait. If we continue at our current speed, we jeopardize everything."

    "Hold up," I cautioned. "I understand that some of you Jedi have foresight. But I'm going to need a bit more to go on than a simple warning. So, is there anything specific that you were warned about?"

    "No," the Jedi Knight shook her head. "There are times when the Force is clear, but it was not on this one."

    "Then we move forward even slower," I glanced at my comms officer. "Get our escorts on the horn and have them ready to shoot anything that shows up."

    "Hear that, Hober, get your gunnery teams on alert."

    "I read you," the Sting pilot replied. "We're keeping an eye out."

    The bridge grew quiet as we braced for something to happen. Five minutes of silence, then ten, after fifteen minutes of nothing happening, we began to relax, a few people even letting out sighs of relief before a silver blur flashed out of hyperspace in front of us, followed by a golden blur.

    "Is that a fucking dragon?" Hober asked after the silver streak continued moving away from the golden blur.

    "Aye," I replied after a minute. "And it was chasing a space whale."

    "I… Did not believe that the Ether Drake existed," Knight Tachi said after a moment. "There have always been rumors of it, but never any proof."

    "Are we good to move again?" I asked after the two giants seemed to move into hyperspace again.

    "Yes, we are clear to move forward," Siri responded. "I will inform you of any further premonitions."

    "Thanks," I nodded at the Jedi Knight. "I'm not going to promise that we'll do exactly as you recommend, but we'll at least listen and utilize the information."

    Author's Note: The Ether Drake is stolen from Stellaris. Rumors of space dragons being a thing are something I think makes sense. They travel mainly through hyperspace, so running into them would be a very rare thing.
     
    • Chapter 36
    • Chapter 36

    Jedi Knight Siri Tachi slowly opened her eyes as she felt a shift in the Force, the ship dropping out of hyperspace simultaneously.

    Shifting from her cross-legged meditation stance, she stood up and stretched before opening the door and heading toward the cockpit.

    “Knight Tachi,” a crew member greeted her as he adjusted a neck seal before tucking his helmet underneath his arm. “Would you like some assistance getting into something rated for the void?”

    “I’m sorry,” the blond raised an eyebrow. “Would you care to explain?”

    “We’ve found something,” the crewmate explained. “While not mandatory for normal conditions, if we suspect we might enter combat we’re required to put on our Powered armor or something else rated for space. “We also vent the atmosphere if there’s combat. We’d rather not have to put out fires onboard a ship.”

    “I assume that you have something that I can use?” Siri asked.

    “Yes ma’am,” the crewmate nodded. “Follow me.”

    Turning the corner, the crewmate showed her an armored suit that looked eerily similar to what a Mandalorian might wear, only the helmet marking it as different.

    “Thank you,” Siri stripped down to her undergarments and began to pull on the undersuit, then followed the man’s instructions on the proper wear of the armored portions along with the power pack and the oxygen tank.

    “You’ve got a carbon scrubber in there, and enough juice for up to fifteen hours of use without an external tank,’ He explained as he handed her the helmet. “All of it’s armored, but I don’t recommend taking fire in one of these unless you have to. And ensure the seals are good, death in a vacuum is one of the worst ways to go.”

    “Thank you for your assistance,” Siri inclined her head. “I believe we both have duties to attend to now?”

    “Aye, Ma’am,” he chuckled. “I’ll be on my way, Just let the Colonel know if there’s any problems and we’ll do our best to get things straightened out.”

    Siri then left the locker room, clipping her lightsaber to the belt and examining the odd helmet, the blue polarization and the wide faceplate seemed out of place. But that was something to consider later. She needed to move to the bridge, immediately.

    –
    –

    “Knight Tachi,” Colonel Hull greeted her, his bearded face looking at the screen before him while his eyes flicked over to her. “I thought we might see you pretty soon.”

    “There seems to be a disturbance nearby,” Siri accepted a datapad from the Colonel. “I assume it has something to do with that vessel?”

    “Aye,” the man stroked his beard. “It doesn’t match any information we have on ships made in the last thousand years. And it’s definitely not a member of the Katana Fleet. Maybe you have a better idea of what it might be.”

    “It seems familiar,” Siri said as she considered the ship. “But I cannot recall where I remember it from.”

    “Well, it’s here, and it’s what pulled us out of Hyperspace,” Hull shrugged. “We’re already armored up too, so we might as well check it out.”

    “Our Stings might fit into the hangers, but it’ll be tight,” Hober’s voice came in from the comms station.

    “It wouldn’t hurt to investigate,” Siri offered. “Anyone else exploring this area will likely be pulled out of Hyperspace as well. And, they will not be as prepared should any dangers be on board.”

    “We’ll send the Marines in first,” the Colonel replied. “Let them clear out the landing bay and move on from there.”







    “She’s old,” the report came in. “But we’re not seeing anything too crazy here. Just looks like it’s a derelict.”

    “I’m gonna come onboard with Knight Tachi and another fireteam,” the Colonel stood up and sealed his helmet. “Start clearing out the rest of the ship.”

    “Wilco, sir!” The woman turned and gestured to members of her fireteam. “You heard the Colonel, let’s move!”

    “They seem eager,” Siri raised her eyebrow.

    “I’m paying them,” Hull chuckled. “And they get hazard pay for this sort of thing even if there wasn’t any combat. Also, they’re trained for this, and the Marines don’t get to do all that much until they’re needed for boarding actions. So they get a bit bored.”

    Siri nodded and gestured for the Colonel to lead the way.

    —
    —

    “Welcome aboard,” the fireteam leader greeted them. “So far the ship is dead as a ghost. We’ve got some power resorted to sections, mainly for us to resupply oxygen, but we haven’t found anything else major. There are some destroyed panels, but we haven’t made it far enough in to see anything else clearly.”

    “I sense something here,” Siri reached out with the Force, trying to understand the warnings. “I believe the answers we seek are buried within the bowels of the ship.”

    “Fireteam One; I want y’all to head for the bridge, we brought some techs with us. Slice into the systems and see what we can get,” Hull commanded. “Fireteam Two, you’re with me and Knight Tachi, let’s see what’s hiding here.”


    Author’s Note: Would continue writing, but I’m gonna end it here. I’ve got Hurrican Idalia trying to say hello. Shrugs. Sorry guys, but I wrote most of this chapter before I got home and started prepping. So this is what you get.
     
    • Chapter 37
    • Chapter 37

    "You're the precog," Colonel Hull gestured at Siri. "Which direction are we headed in?"

    "There is something stirring among the ship's reactor," Siri stated after a minute, allowing the Force to whisper in her ear. "But we must be wary, for that is where the darkness lies."

    "Ensure your seals are good," the Colonel barked. "And make sure your safeties are off, people. I'm not planning on dying today."

    The fireteam checked their own suit's seals before turning to their battle buddies and checking theirs.

    "Come here," Colonel Hull waved Siri over. "We don't have any clue what the conditions are like in the rest of the ship if it's been damaged, or if there's even atmosphere at all in some sections."

    Siri shuddered for a moment at the thought of being exposed to the vacuum of space while inside a ship and allowed the Marksman's CO to check over her suit's seals, the man signaling with his hand for her to turn so he could check the air tank.

    "You're good," the man nodded. "Have you run checks before?"

    "Not with your suits, no," Siri replied.

    "Alright then," Hull turned. "Rooster, get over here and check my suit! Flirting with your squadmates isn't something I want from you right now."

    "Aye sir," the marine walked over and went over the Colonel's suit, patting his shoulder pauldron and giving a thumbs up once he was done. "Everything checks out."

    "'The Dwarves tell no tale; but even as mithril was the foundation of their wealth, so also it was their destruction: they delved too greedily and too deep, and disturbed that from which they fled, Durin's Bane,'" Hull murmured quietly as they began moving deeper into the ship, the pitch of his voice fitting the tension that fell over the fireteam.

    "What is that from," Siri asked after the Colonel had finished speaking.

    "A book series," Hull replied after a moment. "One that set the stage for many tales after it. And I found that quote fitting as we move deeper. The Fellowship didn't know what was going to meet them, and neither do we, but as the darkness grows, so too must the light to combat it."

    –
    –

    "This is Fireteam 1," the report came over the comms. "Bridge is secured, looks like the reactors need a good refuel from here, but the rest of the ship is mostly intact. She probably needs an overhaul, but the Leviathan seems to be in pretty good shape."

    "Keep an eye on the systems from there," Hull instructed. "I'll see if we can have an astromech brought up, we might end up trying to limp this thing back home. Some refits, and we'll have another decent ship for our fleet."

    "Understood sir, We'll lock her down until we receive further instruction."

    Siri moved ahead and opened the next door before igniting her lightsaber, the beam lighting up the dark passage.

    "You've got vision modes," the Fireteam lead called out. "Don't use your lights unless you need to, don't give away your position."

    In the distance, lights flickered as a shadow passed underneath, a red glow igniting as the figure ignited its lightsaber.

    "You trespass!" the dark figure screamed, the force augmenting it and forcing half of the fireteam members to their knees as they held their helmets where their ears would be. "This ship, is mine!"

    Siri stepped forward and drove the figure back, the light of her blade revealing that the figure itself was wispy and nearly see-through.

    "Begone shade," Siri immersed herself in the Light side of the force, her violet blade shining brightly as she dueled with the figure, shifting into a Soresu stance and deflecting the blades before switching deftly into Ataru, lunging forward and driving the dark back and into the corridor.

    "Keep them secure," Colonel Hull commanded the members of the fireteam that were still on their feet. "I'll go back up our precog."

    With his rifle in his hands, the CO moved into the next corridor and noted the two combatants locked into combat, their blades clashing and illuminating the whole corridor for moments at a time.

    Then Siri shone more brightly than before, her lightsaber coming up in a parry before thrusting itself into the shade's chest, splitting it and causing its lightsaber to fall to the ground with a "snap-hiss" as it shut off.

    "The Dark Side will linger for a short time," Siri turned to face the Colonel, showing the burn marks on her armor where the duel had come too close to harming her. "But the ship should be safe to finish exploring."

    She nearly collapsed forward before the Colonel caught her, picking her up into a fireman carry and moving back to the fireteam.

    "We're all good here," the fireteam leader reported. "Took them a minute, but my team's ready to move forward."

    "She says that we should be good to go," Hull indicated the woman unconscious and slung across his back. "But, given what she just fought, I'd rather us wait for her to be back on her feet before we push forward."

    "If we're close to the engine room, why not push further into there and bunker down?" The fireteam leader asked. "I'd rather push forward than fall back."

    "Colonel Hull, the Tech team and our droids are here," the voice of Fireteam One's leader echoed. "We've got access to the ship's systems and what looks like a pretty comprehensive map. It doesn't account for damages, but I figure it'll be useful."

    "Roger that," the Colonel replied. "Give me a few minutes and I'll figure out where we are so you can give us directions."

    "Copy that sir, I'll be on standby for when you need assistance."






    "Good, you're awake," Hull's voice greeted Siri as she slowly regained consciousness.

    "The shade!" Siri's eyes snapped open and she tried to sit up, only to meet Hull's armored gauntlet as it pinned her in place while he glared.

    "Easy now," the Marksman pushed her back down onto the pillow. "You got hurt pretty badly, your suit didn't do much, and you've got quite a few burns across your body. You did manage to take out whatever that thing was though."

    Siri looked at Hull, reaching out with the Force to see if there were any signs of darkness infesting the rest of the ship or his people.

    "We shut off the Interdiction field, and a small group of Marines is going to limp the Leviathan back to Serenno while we push on to the big haul. You've done your part, Knight Tachi. Now get some rest. We've still got a lot of work to do, and I'd hate for you to miss the find of the century."

    "I expect to be informed if we come across anything else like that," Siri stated as she allowed herself to finally relax. "Your crew is unable to handle a Dark Side shade such as that. And if I had not been there."

    "Then we would have found a way to kill it," Hull countered. "You're not the only one with a fancy laser sword," he indicated a hilt at his side. "And I might not have your magic abilities, but it looked to me like you killed it with a blade. Anyway, get some sleep, we've still got quite a lot to do."

    –
    –

    The Messenger dropped out of hyperspace along with her escorts, the shift rousing Siri and causing the Knight to try and leave the medbay and begin limping toward the bridge.

    "I'm pretty sure I told you to stay in bed," the Corpsman growled at the Jedi as she tried to leave.

    "You heard, Doc," A marine stood up from his bunk. "He's in charge around here, and no one ignores Doc, not even the Colonel."

    "I need to know why we have dropped out of hyperspace," Siri tried to explain.

    "You need to get back into that bed, young lady," the grizzled old veteran glared. "You've got second and third-degree burns on various parts of your body. And you're not leaving until they're healed."

    "Will you at least ask what has happened?" Siri sat back down on her bed.

    "Fine," the corpsman's eyes softened a bit. "I'll see what I can dig up for you. But you don't get to leave until I say so, understand?"
    "I understand," Siri nodded, laying her head back down as she chuckled a bit. It seemed there were quite a few people who took their jobs seriously among the Marksman. It was not just the Marines.
     
    • Chapter 38
    • Chapter 38

    The Messenger dropped out of hyperspace, a handful of barely lit ships filling the viewport.

    "Looks like we found something," Colonel Hull muttered from his seat. "What are we picking up on our scanners?"

    "Sensor traces are coming back with positive IDs. Scans confirm them as refitted Consular class escorts that were supposed to have been attached to the Katana Fleet."

    "Anything else in the immediate area?" Hull asked.

    "It'll take some time, but we may have just found what we were looking for."

    "Let me know when we've fully scanned the sector," Hull stroked his beard. "And have some of our people check on these escorts. If possible, I want them slaved to our ships so we can bring them back with us. Captain, I believe this is your show," Hull stepped off of the bridge to allow the captain of the Messenger and the commander of the fleet to do his job.

    "Bring us about to heading 160, and angle us down forty-five degrees. I want our sensors to pick up everything we can about this area of space."






    Ferus Olin barely deflected the strike from Master Dooku, his small Soresu stance doing little to dissuade the older man from striking hard.

    "You must learn to adjust as is needed," Dooku barked. "Do not let your fear over your master consume you or it will be your undoing!" the Count of Serenno disarmed the younger padawan with a flick of his wrist as the training saber flew across the room.

    "You are talented with both a blade and with the Force," Dooku recalled the other training saber to himself. "But you are too consumed with emotion at the moment to learn anything."

    "I felt something happen to Master Siri," Ferus sighed. "There was something dark facing her."

    "Regardless of what happens to others, it is you that must master your own emotions, no one else can do it for you. Anger, hate, jealousy, the things that we are told lead to the Dark Side as younglings will come and go, it is how we respond as Jedi that dictates how and what we become. There is not a being across the galaxy that does not feel anger when a known criminal gets away with his crimes."

    "You are young," Dooku sighed and helped the young man to his feet. "And have much to learn about yourself and how to manage the more base impulses that come with existence."

    –
    –

    "Head of State, the council has asked for a meeting to determine how the spacelanes are to be divided up and protected from pirates and the like," a Twi'Lek with a datapad walked up beside the Count.

    "Did we not already cover this during the first meeting?" Dooku asked.

    "Unfortunately, aside from the notes that were taken at the meeting, there was no firm foundation for the patrols set."

    "I see," Dooku paused. "Call for the meeting at their earliest convenience, we will need to begin drafting our response to any Republic overtures."

    "Yes sir," she nodded as she jotted down a note. "Is there anything else you need?"

    "Yes," Dooku nodded. "Please ask Master Yaddle and Major Sheppard to join me in the meeting, they may be needed to assist with soothing bruised egos over the patrols."

    "I'll get right on that," she hurried off.

    "Why did I ever agree to this," Dooku reached out to the Force, allowing it to soothe the headache that formed from the stress of leading a stellar nation. "I should have refused this position."






    "One at a time!" Sheppard barked at the planetary representatives. "If you'll each stop trying to speak over each other then we'll be able to get this done much faster. Now, I believe the Chair was speaking."

    "Yes, thank you," the older representative nodded. "We've already gotten most of the patrols sorted out, the problem is that we lack the forces to cover all of the hyperlanes that we are supposed to protect at the moment, which leaves us with a potentially disastrous hole in our protection plans."

    "The Marksman have a plan that may suit your purposes for now until we can heavily patrol the sectors and hyperlanes," Sheppard explained, stepping forward. "We've been exploring doctrine over the last few years, and have landed on a plan that will work, at least temporarily."

    "Where is Colonel Hull?" someone cut him off. "Why are we not speaking to the leader of the Head of State's pet Mercenaries?"

    "Because Colonel Hull is currently indisposed upon my request," Dooku spoke up. "Now, I believe that Major Sheppard was about to explain how we would rectify the holes in our sectors."

    "Yes, thank you," Sheppard made a gesture and a handful of Corellian light freighters appeared via hologram to his side along with a half-squadron of hyperspace capable fighters. "We believe that light freighters modified with good sensors and supplemented by fighters will be capable of handling most individual pirates," Another gesture brought up the hyperlanes with some specific planets highlighted. "For everything else, we have what we call QRFs on standby."

    "QRFs?" A woman asked.

    "Quick reaction forces," Sheppard explained. "They'll likely be small battlegroups on standby able to jump into any action if given the word, this will allow us to patrol a larger section of space without compromising the security."

    "What if one of said patrols is overrun?" another representative asked. "What will we do then?"

    "That's why every patrol will be equipped with a 'Black box'," Sheppard shrugged. "There's no such thing as a perfect system, but this will allow us to use the resources we have available to us in the most efficient manner. And we can always add more patrols or even reinforce the ones that we have as we build up the military that we'll use for this."

    "The central military force is in the process of being trained," the Chairman explained. "But it takes time, and even with volunteers from various Planetary Defence fleets, it will take credits and time."

    "Now," Dooku stepped forward. "I am having the exact plans for the patrols and the forces that each planet is expected to contribute for now drawn up, we will hold the final vote on the subject tomorrow with the option to review it as things change."

    "Now, we can move onto the next item that we were to go over," the Chair pushed a button, causing new legislation to appear. "We're to go over the taxes and how we are to establish a precedent here."

    "If I may have the floor?" the Representative of the Regency Worlds stepped forward, the older gentleman leaning on a cane.

    "Of course," the Chairman allowed him to speak.

    "While there are some worlds that are wealthy, such as the one that my family hails from," the old man started. "There are just as many worlds that have struggled under the burden of the Republic's taxes, I believe that we must establish ourselves in a different manner, I call for a motion of a flat tax of a world's total earnings, and it may be paid in either credits, or in aid rendered to the patrols that we maintain."

    "Seconded," a man from one of those poorer worlds stood up. "What we lack in credits, we will contribute in fuel and in food for the patrols that keep us safe, and one day, we may be able to stand with those such as Arkanis and contribute our own credits and soldiers in the defense of this Confederacy of Independent Systems!"






    "Colonel Hull, Knight Tachi, please report to the bridge, we have found the Katana Fleet, I repeat, we have found the Katana Fleet!"
     
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