War on the Horizon

Chapter 39
    • Chapter 39

    "Records and markings ID that as the Katana," the sensors officer reported. "What are your orders, Colonel?"

    "Have our Marines suit up, I want us prepped for full NBC warfare," the Colonel glanced at the Jedi Knight that had limped onto the bridge. "I'd recommend you stay in the med bay until the Corpsman releases you. But I recognize that you're not technically a part of my Chain of Command."

    "I would like to watch the proceedings from the Bridge," Siri stated. "I will not ask for more than that as I am not yet recovered enough."

    "I own the ship," Colonel Hull shrugged. "But I'm not her captain."

    "If the Corpsman clears it, I will allow it," the captain finally sighed after a moment's thought. "And Colonel, I don't think that you should be going onto the Katana until it has been cleared."

    "Looks like you're going to have two guests on the bridge then," Hull shrugged. "I'm perfectly willing to let Paisley's experts do their job."

    "Then we get to monitor everything else," the captain sat in his chair and strapped himself in. "Archon's Favor, I want you to get close, see if we can get the bay doors open and those marines deployed."

    "Aye, sir!" Hober's cheery voice replied. "Moving to engage in salvage operations."

    "Sting, I want you to start patrolling the area, there's no telling what kind of scavengers might be in the area."

    "We'll light up the void if there are any orcs around," the pilot chuckled. "Beginning patrol, Messenger."

    "And now we wait," Colonel Hull leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a minute. "The worst part of being the CO of any operation. Waiting to see if it's a success."





    Count Dooku's Palace, Serenno

    "Master Yoda," Dooku greeted his old Master as the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order descended down the ramp of a Consular Class cruiser. "What a pleasant surprise."

    "Hmm," Yoda grunted. "Disgruntled you have become in your old age."

    "Disgruntled," Dooku chuckled. "Master, I haven't become disgruntled. I've merely decided to do what needs to be done. I am tired of the state of things in the Republic, the corruption has gone on long enough."

    "So become a Jedi Lord you have, Hmm?" Yoda asked his gimmer stick at the ready.

    "Jedi Lord," Dooku full-on laughed. "I didn't even want to be elected to this position. Much less have to fill this seat. But now that I am here, I will see it through."

    "Come to inspect the Jedi that has come to you, I have," Yoda finally said, his gimmer stick easing back. "Learnt much, it seems you have."

    "There comes a time when one must look back on the legacy that they are leaving behind," Dooku sighed, seemingly aging as he somewhat lost his regal bearing for a moment. "I am honoring Qui-Gon in this. No matter how much we disagreed, we both were aware of the faults of the Republic. I would be dishonoring him if I did nothing. Just as his padawan would be dishonoring him if he did not honor his request to train young Skywalker."

    "Refused to meet them, I heard," Yoda sat down on a nearby stool as Dooku settled into a chair.

    "I did no such thing," the Count shook his head. "I had duties and responsibilities and told the two of them that it would take time for me to take care of such things before speaking with them."

    "Stubborn, Kenobi is," Yoda smirked. "Remind me of another youngling, he does."

    "I have looked over Kenobi's records," Dooku's eyes narrowed. "He has always been a promising Jedi. That Qui-Gon was willing to throw him to the side shamed me in many ways. Had I been present I would have taken him on to be my own apprentice."

    "Know this, he does not," Yoda mused. "Think you consider Qui-gon and he failures, he does."

    "I disagreed with my padawan," the taller man sighed. "I never considered him a failure, no matter our disagreements."

    "Brought the two of them, I did," Yoda closed his eyes and stretched out in the force to sense the others. "Reconnect, you should. Speak of what we have spoken of to Obi-Wan, you must."

    "And where will you be going?" The Count asked.

    "Changing, the Galaxy is," Yoda smirked. "Long time, it has been since I journeyed to the Outer Rim. Speak with Yaddle and Faye, I must."

    "Just don't let her rope you into those sessions she has," Dooku chuckled. "You'll be shackled to a table for hours."

    "Go now," Yoda closed his eyes. "Meditate I must. While you speak with other younglings, yes?"

    I suppose that my schedule is free enough to spend some time sparring with the two of them," Dooku stroked his beard. "But our conversations are not yet over, master."

    "Speak later, we will rest now, we must."

    "Insufferable gremlin," Dooku muttered after the door slid shut. "Now I have to clear my schedule, otherwise he will find a way to make me regret it."






    "Bay seems kinda messed up," the fireteam leader said, the comms package sending his helmet cam footage directly to the Messenger's comms station. "It looks like some of the people went a bit crazy here."

    "Does any of our intel actually tell us what happened to the people?" One Marine asked as he poked a corpse.

    "Negative, you're going to want to keep your helmets sealed and let the Corpsmen take a look at anything before we lift the NBC procedures."

    "Copy that, Messenger," the NCO responded. "You hear that, Hober? You don't get to come adventuring with us this time."

    "Fine by me," the pilot chuckled. "I'd rather not get bitten by a zombie or anything, I've seen that vid."

    "Zombie Kerensky isn't real," a marine snarked. "We all know that the old man died."

    "Sure, but I wasn't talking about those B-flick vids," Hober sighed. "Never mind, just let me know when it's all clear."

    "Wilco. Fireteam Alpha, I want you to move to the reactor, and make sure that it's secure, Fireteam Bravo, you make sure that we've got secure corridors between the bridge and engine room. Charlie, we're taking the bridge. Which is conveniently located in the fuckin' middle of the ship."

    "You mean some people actually can build and design something without an exposed CIC?" a voice asked sarcastically.

    "Well, there had to be someone sane in the galaxy," the NCO laughed. "But not too many of them, otherwise we'd be out of work."

    –
    –

    Knight Tachi looked around the bridge of the Messenger as the different screens showed different fireteam views.

    "Are they always like this?" She asked the Colonel.

    "No, sometimes they're worse," Hull laughed. "They're nervous, and it's a ghost ship. If they're laughing and messing with each other then they're alert enough to fight anything that shows up."

    "They are your men," Tachi shrugged. "I merely do not understand why they speak to their comrades in this way."

    "You and a couple of Knights that you trained with are willing to joke with each other, right?" Hull asked. "This is the same, only we don't get some space magic to cool our nerves, so we do it the old-fashioned way. With good-natured teasing and messing with each other."

    Siri nodded and turned her gaze to the screens, the squads had found something interesting…
     
    • Headlines/News Interlude 2
    • Headlines/News interlude 2 (I said I wouldn't do this, but here I am…)

    "Breaking! Confederacy of Independent Systems finds the lost Katana Fleet begins refitting them for patrolling the hyperlanes! Republic scrambles to respond!" –Holonet News Network

    "Republic Senate attempts to send Judicial Forces to reclaim the Fleet, claiming 'It was built for the Republic, and so it still belongs to them.'" –Coruscant Information Network

    "Mercenary leader Colonel Hull is summoned to speak before the Senate!" –HNN

    "Rendili Stardrive offers to assist in repairing any damages the Katana fleet suffered," –Business Insiders

    "The Honorable Colonel Hull is attacked by assassins, no word on his survival as of yet. When asked questions, his Second in Command had this to say. 'We're currently conducting our own investigation. Rest assured that the Marksman will continue to hold to any contracts they've signed." –Outer Rim Publications

    Confederacy of Independent Systems begins patrolling hyperlanes at unprecedented levels, Bringing Piracy in many sectors of the Outer Rim to a low not seen in centuries! Governor Tarkin is working with them to ensure coverage continues." –Eriadu General News

    "Republic Senate is at a deadlock as the Trade Corporation increases rates among the Core!" –Business Insiders

    "Core Worlds begin rearming programs, with Planetary Defense fleets increasing due to the CIS threat," –Coruscant Information Network

    "Jedi Order refuses to comment on Jedi leaving Coruscant for the Outer Rim!" –HNN

    "Colonel Hull speaks at the Senate, causing more Mid Rim worlds hang in the balance between the CIS and the Republic!" –Outer Rim Publications.

    "Ryloth unlawfully votes to secede from the Republic despite protests from their Senator!" –Coruscant Information Network

    "Kuat, Rendili and other ship manufacturers begin increasing production, skilled worker pool diminishes as shipyards take on more employees." – Business Insiders

    "Tensions rise between the Outer and Core worlds. The galaxy stands on the verge of war!" –Eriadu General News
     
    • Chapter 40
    • Chapter 40

    Author's Note: A bit of a step back, but an important one






    "Count Dooku," I greeted the Count as he stepped into the starfighter bay of the Katana. "Welcome aboard the Katana, Flagship of the Dark Force."

    "You found the entire fleet," Dooku observed. "I admit, I did not expect for you to have such success."

    "It took a bit, but we've got all two hundred ships plus their escorts slaved to the Katana. So, your Confederacy of Independent Systems now has the capability to secure the hyperlanes that you promised to."

    "After some refits are made, yes," Dooku looked at the dark painted ship. "Colonel, I believe that you and your people should be compensated fairly. Name your price, and I will see to it that you are rewarded."

    "I want the Flagship and the other ten ships we were promised," I shrugged. "That's what was in my contract, and I'll stick with that. Although, some of the refitted Consulars wouldn't be amiss. Escorts are just as important as the dreadnaughts after all."

    "You shall have your escorts," the Count promised with a smile. "And we'll ensure that whatever refits you need done are paid for in full."

    "I've got to get the crews trained up for these behemoths first," I chuckled. "Now, who are the two gentlemen that escorted you aboard my fine craft?"

    "Colonel Hull, this is Jedi Knight Obi Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker," Count Dooku introduced us.

    "It's a pleasure to meet you, Colonel," Kenobi smiled behind his beard. "We've heard a great deal about you."

    "All good things I hope," I smiled. "Anyway, I'm not sure if any of y'all have been aboard a Rendili Star Dreadnaught before but this one's layout is a touch different due to the modifications that were made before the fleet was lost."

    "How so?" Skywalker stepped forward, clear interest in his blue gaze.

    "Well, for one thing, this ship requires a fraction of what the typical cruiser does, with many of those jobs taken up by droid brains, it means that the crew is able to focus on different aspects of combat. Now, I won't call the design perfect by any means, but it's a significant improvement over the usual manpower requirements."

    Anakin began chattering rapidly about the virtues of droids and different planning languages as I glanced at Obi Wan and Dooku. Both of whom had vanished from sight and left me with the chatterbox of a teenager.

    "Great," I muttered as I facepalmed. "Real mature guys. Real mature."






    "Siri," Obi Wan nodded at his fellow Knight. "I'm glad to see that you're in good health."

    "Good health," Siri began to laugh. "Obi Wan, I'm still recovering from combat with a Shade. And I am now indebted twice to your mercenary unit, Count."

    "I am not so certain that Colonel Hull or his troops will see it that way," Dooku stroked his beard. "They will simply see it as a part of their duties while under contract if I have read them correctly."

    "All the same," Siri replied. "I will repay that debt."

    "Where did you encounter a shade?" Kenobi changed the subject. "And how were you able to cleanse the taint of the Dark side so thoroughly?"

    "There was a derelict deep in the void," Siri sighed and sat down in her chair. "I have no idea how old it was, but there was minimal power and the Dark Side was entrenched in the place where the Shade had made its home," Siri glanced at the ground before inhaling deeply and exhaling her worries.

    "After your combat with the Sith that slew your master, I delved deeply into the archives, hoping to find something that would enabled me to fight against the Dark Side if the worst of my visions had come to pass."

    "So you fought the Shade and overcame it," Dooku nodded in affirmation. "It is good that you were able to overcome it, even if you do retain some injuries. Tell me, how did Colonel Hull and his soldiers react."

    "It was strange," she noted. "They seemed more upset that I attempted to fight it alone than that I tried to defend them. In fact Colonel Hull is in possession of a lightsaber and believes that he could have dispelled or banished the Shade."

    "Did he inform you of how he came to possess said saber?" Obi Wan asked. "That is a dangerous weapon in the hands of someone who is not a Jedi."

    "The man owns warships," Siri palmed her face. "A lightsaber pales in comparison to the damage that one of his vessels can do when combined with the rest of his soldiers."

    "And I would wager that the good Colonel does not see that lightsaber as anything other than a top to be used in combination with the rest of his soldiers weaponry," the Count added. "I caution against attempting to reclaim said lightsaber. He and his people take salvage rights very seriously."

    "Surely not that seriously," Kenobi arched an eyebrow.

    "Obi Wan, they found an ancient derelict, boarded it, allowed me to kill a dark side shade, and then decided they were going to take it back to get modernized," Siri sighed. "Trust me, they take salvage more seriously than any species I've ever encountered. And they've spread it to their new recruits as well. They have dedicated teams that are trained to pull enemy vehicles and equipment off of the field while under fire to drag back for repair and use."


    "Surely you are joking," Obi Wan leaned forward.

    "She is not," Dooku spoke up in a quiet voice. "I was able to oversee some of the training that they gave to the militia on Serenno, and they indeed train people on how to pull salvage off of the battlefield while under fire. They are skilled engineers and talented at picking apart what may be used in a short period of time. Their training seems to be oriented on the basis that they will always have limited resources and that they must make do with the what they can recover from the field. They have equipped their teams accordingly, and are always ensuring that they have ample supplies of food and other stuffs. They are strangely concerned with starvation more than with the potential of running out of munitions."

    Dooku then paused and held up a hand as the door slid open, revealing a still chattering padawan and a harried looking Mercenary commander.

    "Thank God," Colonel Hull sagged in relief. "Dooku, I leave the padawan in y'all's hands. I.. have an inspection to go perform."

    "Of course," Dooku smirked. "An Inspection, you say. Perhaps you can give me a tour of the ship as well?"

    "Absolutely," Hull noted the look in Dooku's eye. "Knight Tachi, you are familiar with the Katana, surely you can have your own apprentice board so that you may show him around."

    Siri glared at the Colonel for a minute before sighing heavily with a nod of assent.

    "Yes Colonel, I'm certain that Ferus will be ecstatic to see one of his fellow Padawans," Siri turned to Obi Wan. "In fact, I believe our padawans should spend some time reconnecting, yes?"

    "Yes, Anakin, you will wait in the starfighter bay for Padawan Olin, while I continue to speak with Siri and the good Colonel, here."

    "Yes, master," Anakin rolled his eyes as he could clearly see what was going on. "I'll be waiting in the hanger bay."
     
    • Chapter 41
    • Chapter 41

    "You've got your fleet," I said to Count Dooku once it was just the Head of State, Knight Tachi and myself alone on the bridge. "What's the next step?"

    "Your Executive Officer had several ideas that we are going to be implementing in the whole of the Confederacy," Dooku moved to a holographic table that was centered on the bridge of the Katana. "Given that it will take time to refit the Dreadnaughts to what we need, we are going to go with another plan in the meantime, and adjust as necessary."

    "What'd Sheppard come up with?" I asked. "We went comms silent until we got back and I haven't had time to catch up on my paperwork yet."

    "This, is a CR-90 Corellian Corvette," a ship appeared. "We have negotiated with Corellia for them to produce a variant capable of storing a full squadron of Starfighters and with a Class 1 Hyperdrive." Dooku waved a hand and a generic snubfighter appeared. "We will be purchasing as many of them as we can afford, they'll be our primary antipiracy forces along the Hyperlanes."

    "I can see where he was going with this," I stroked my beard. "Enough firepower to take on most pirate forces, or at least hold them off until something big enough has arrived."

    "I agree," Siri nodded. "This seems to be a good plan. But how will the Dreadnaughts be refitted to assist in this mission?"

    "The Katana Fleet shall be the spine of our fleet," Dooku explained. "With Rendili offering to see to both refits and repairs at cost, we will be making some changes now that we are not limited by the Republic's laws for warships. We are modernizing both the power plants, the deflectors, and adding a few extra starfighter bays. While also ensuring that the Dreadnaughts can keep up with their escorting forces."

    "Class 1 Hyperdrives to every ship?" I whistled. "That's gotta be pricey, and will be a bit harder to maintain."

    "Yes, yes it will," Siri agreed. "Rendili doing the modifications at cost will help, but that still leaves two hundred capital ships to refit along with the escorts that we slaved and brought back with us."

    "The CR-70 and Consular class ships that were used as escorts will have a quick run in the yard and then will be shifted to the duties that will be filled by the CR-90s," Dooku replied. "Once we possess ships in the numbers we need, we'll be reassigning those ships back to escort roles."

    "Still leaves you with a capital ship gap," I pointed out.

    "We'll have to live with substitutions from planetary defense forces for large engagements until our ships are done with the refits," Dooku shrugged. "There are risks no matter what direction we decide to move in, this is the most feasible path for us to accomplish what we have set out to do as a nation. And to have it done in the most efficient and economically way possible."

    "And what is the Order planning to do?" I asked, clearly indicating Obi Wan and his apprentice.

    "They are waiting and observing for now," Siri replied. "I expect that should the Republic come into conflict that they will attempt to remain neutral."

    "We'll see," I shrugged.

    "They were asking about your saber," Siri said. "And I realized when they asked, that I am not aware of how you came into possession of that weapon."

    "Oh," I chuckled. "It's not a big deal, it's not like I killed a Jedi for it or anything. In fact, it's kinda dumb really. Pirate captain of the first band we dealt with had it."

    "I take it he was dealt with swiftly?" Dooku asked.

    "Of course," I reply. "He was a slaver. We don't let those sorts of people live."

    "And the one who possessed the lightsaber before the pirate?" Siri glanced between me and Dooku.

    "When we seized his records we only found out that he had bought it on the Black market," I laughed. "He talked it up as if he had killed a Jedi, and that's why he was in charge. In reality, he simply had enough money to buy it on the market."

    "May I?" Dooku asked, holding out his hand.

    "Sure," I placed it in his hand.

    "This is an old saber," Dooku ignited the violet blade. "At least five hundred years old, if not from before the Ruusan Reformation."

    "How can you tell?" Siri asked.

    "The markings along the hilt," he explained. "And the slight curve. The one who wielded this was likely a master of Soresu with a secondary specialization in Makeshi given the slight curve of the handle here."

    "Meh," I shrugged. "It's just a tool to me," I accepted the hilt back and hooked it to my belt.

    "While you are not a force user, you may still benefit from training," the Count commented. "Should you be willing to learn, let me know and I will clear some time to ensure that you are at least adequate with the saber at your belt."

    "I'll think about it," I shrugged. "We're both pretty busy right now, after all."

    "Just keep it in mind," Dooku seemed to look off into the future. "There may come a time when it saves your life."





    November 4, 3014/7953CRC Beloria System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories

    "So, I see you've been busy," I glared at my XO from my full desk.

    "We figured you'd enjoy the mess we left you," Sheppard smirked, unphased by my anger. "You got to have your fun, now you get to do your job."

    I sighed. "Go be free and enjoy your vacation, I'll make sure that you get the time off barring an emergency."

    "Thanks," he stood up and stretched. "I'll be back in a month."

    I waited until he left before glancing down at the paperwork and standing up myself.

    "I can do this tomorrow," I walked out. "I'm not doing paperwork on my first day back."

    As I drove off, a flaming snub fighter flew overhead, smoke trailing from the engines as a Stuka streaked by and a cluster of PPCs and Autocannon shredded it to pieces.

    As I watched this happen, I nodded as the Stuka's wingman killed the pilot that had attempted to deploy his a jetpack and escape.

    "Good work," I muttered to myself as I turned to climb into my car as a small object that I missed fell from the sky and impacted one of the buildings, an explosion throwing me into my vehicle and setting small fires across the settlement as the emergency services began to respond.

    "What the hell is going on?" I grabbed my comms device and tried to hear over the ringing in my ears.

    "Colonel Hull, we had a light freighter and a handful of escorts try to breach our perimeter!"

    "No shit, Sherlock," I deadpanned. "How'd they get as far as they did?"

    "Pushed engines to max and we had to play catch-up," Blaze reported. "That last one was probably their best pilot, he evaded until he hit atmosphere and held his ship together long enough to enter our airspace."

    "We're going to have to layer our system so that this doesn't happen again," I glared at the sky. "Odds are they were trying to hit me." I climbed into my truck and shifted into gear to head to the bombed site. "Let me know when you're on the ground, Blaze. We're going to have to have a command staff meeting. We're going to have to retaliate, and I want all of us in on this one."

    "Yes sir," Blaze's voice was nearly lost in the static. "We'll make 'em bleed."
     
    • Chapter 42
    • Chapter 42

    Date: December 14, 3014/14.12.7953CRC
    Location: Unknown

    "Y'know, dad wouldn't exactly approve of all this," the man sighed as his sister tossed some extra belongings into a duffle bag.

    "Dad wanted us to retire, Jacen. But we both know that if we stay in retirement that we'll end up just wasting away here," she paused at the mask hanging over a lamp before running her fingers over it and setting it down gently in the top of her bag.

    "He wouldn't have wanted us to get involved in the first place, Satele," Jacen kneaded his temples. "If the Order finds out that we're alive, it'll cause all sorts of problems."

    "The time of the Jedi Lords is past, little brother," Satele Shan (The Second) ruffled her little brother's head. "But we both know that it's time to come out of hiding."

    "Look sis," he helped her pack some things away, a spare lightsaber tossed casually into a hidden compartment along with a handful of holdout blasters and a small slugthrower. "I'm not the one that spent time exploring all of the old sites and communing with our ancestors. I've just done the adventuring along the Outer Rim."

    "Exactly," Satele grinned. "And that's why we're both needed for this. You know the Outer Rim better than I do. And I know the Dark Side and how it influences more than you do. We both know that the CIS is the best thing to happen to this section of the galaxy in a long time. They're going to need our help."

    "They've got billions of sentients," Jacen slung his pack over his shoulder. "They don't need two washed-up, has-been Jedi descendents."

    "Look," Satele paused on her way out the door. "If you wanna stay in retirement, then be my guest. But I'm taking the spare gear."

    "I do want to stay in retirement," Jacen replied. "But I don't want you to leave without anyone to watch my back."

    "I've got T3," Satele shrugged. "I should be fine."

    "Look, I still disagree with having given him the HK subroutines in the first place," Jacen locked the door to the hut behind him, a small force field descending over it. "You know that."

    "So you're coming with, then?" Satele tapped her thumb and a small ship began its descent from where it had been waiting.

    "Yeah, I'm coming with," Jacen fiddled with the death stick in his hands. "Force knows you need someone to watch your back."

    "Good," Satele turned and stuck her tongue out before grabbing the mask out of her bag and tugging it down over her face before pulling the hood up.

    "You're not Revan, sis," Jacen sighed and shook his head. "I don't know why you obsess over the mask like that."

    "It's cool," she shrugged. "Besides, it's not like you ever use it."






    Date: December 20, 3014/20.12.7953 CRC
    Location: Republica 500, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic

    "What few reports we have indicate that the Colonel was injured by one of the assassins and bounty hunters that were after him," Mas Amedda slid the report over to Darth Sidious. "It seems to have mobilized his mercenary unit into a frenzy as they look to retaliate against whoever ordered the hit."

    "Good," the Sith Lord smirked. "It will set the Republic against the Confederacy even more, and push us onward in this path. I have foreseen it."

    "And if it gets traced back to the Republic and to us?" Amedda asked.

    "It will not," Sidious replied. "I have ensured that the trail ends with certain pacifist movements if they should manage to get that far."

    "And what of the Jedi? What will their response be?" Amedda raised what passed for an eyebrow.
    "There have been arrangements made to weaken them and ensure that there is no trust between the public and their order," he smirked. "All will come to fruition in time, and nothing shall stand in our way."

    –
    –
    "Spent time with Dooku we have," Yoda sat on his seat in the Council chambers while Obi-Wan and Anakin stood before the assembled Jedi Council. "Assured that he has not fallen to the Dark Side, I am."

    "And what of his stance against the Republic?" Windu raised his eyebrow at Obi-Wan.

    "It is well reasoned and logical," Kenobi stroked his beard. "Once the Confederacy has firmly established itself he intends on stepping down from his elected position and returning to Serenno to live out the remainder of his days."

    "I believed he was intending to reestablish the Jedi Lords," Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi stated. "It is a relief to hear that he is not."

    "And what of the mercenaries that he hires and makes use of? They concern me in other ways," Shaak Ti leaned forward in her chair. "These mercenaries seem content to utilize Twi'leks and Torguta to further their agenda."

    "The ones we encountered were there of their own volition," Anakin was finally allowed to speak up. "And many seemed to enjoy their work."

    "We will investigate these Marksman further," Windu finally stated. "Master Ti, you will head a small unit to begin this, see to it that they are indeed what they say they are."

    "Now, onto other matters," Windu changed the subject. "Where do we now stand on the Separatist systems?"

    "If I may," Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke up. "We must remain neutral, if we take a side, then war will soon follow."




    Location: Beloria

    "I'm home!" Kit Sturn called out as he entered the door.

    "Dad!" two of his kids rushed him at the door and began holding onto his legs as his wife rounded the corner with a toddler in hand.

    "Well, it seems that someone's glad to see me," Kit picked up his daughter and threw her over his shoulder while pulling his son up to his chest.

    "Now, I'm not sure what this "Christmas" holiday is," Kit grinned as he carried two-thirds of his family around. "But we're going to enjoy every minute of it."

    –
    –

    "Why did they let you come home early?" Sara asked once the children were in bed.

    "I'm being deployed," the Mandalorian sighed. "A lot of us are being pulled for this op."

    "They're going after the ones responsible for the attack, aren't they?" Sara asked.

    "Yeah," Kit laid his head on his pillow and stared up at the ceiling. "If they let something like this slide then we'll see more attacks like this, and that could put you and the children in danger."

    "Just make sure you come home," Sara pulled her husband around to face her, her voice heavy with emotion. "Otherwise, you'll miss baby number five."

    "Five?" Kit questioned. "We only have three though."

    "I'm pregnant with twins," Sara rolled on top of her husband. "And you've got a lot of babysitting to make up for."

    "I'll take as much leave as I can once this deployment is up," Kit grinned. "I can't believe we're having twins!"

    "Well, we both wanted a large family," Sara's face stretched to match her husband's smile. "I just didn't know that we were heading towards a full Clan."
    "Nah," Kit shook his head. "We're just a bit larger than average. From the stories we've heard about the Colonel, he grew up with a full clan."

    "Whatever stories there are, they can wait," Sara began kissing her husband. "Right now you have other duties, Mandalorian."
     
    • Chapter 43
    • Chapter 43

    Date: January 11, 3015/11.01.7954CRC
    Location: En Route to Karthakk system

    "We managed to trace the starfighters and lone ship used to attack us at Beloria to the Lok Revenants," I looked out over the command staff. "When we're finished, I don't want any remnants of these 'Revenants' escaping.

    We're bringing the Leviathan to blockade the system with the upgrades we've made as long as she's operational, they won't be able to leave.

    Now, Commodore Jewel will be in charge of the space battle while I bring in our forces to take out what they have on the ground.

    Official documentation and orders have been sent to your datapads, review, revise, and submit your own operational plans by the end of the week," I stared at some of the junior officers. "Any questions?"

    "Just one, sir," a hand was raised by a Second Lieutenant. "Aren't these guys against the Trade Federation?"

    "Just because we have one common enemy doesn't make them our friends," Sheppard took over. "The Lok Revenants and their friends the Mere Resistance have been harassing every hyper lane they can reach. They just kicked out the
    Federation so they didn't have any local opposition."

    "Now, you've got your orders, and we've got a plan, but remember that plans can and will change when we get to the battlefield, so remain flexible and listen to your senior officers, dismissed."

    As the different officers peeled out of the briefing room to head back to their units, a lone man remained behind.

    "Colonel Hull," he saluted when I acknowledged him.

    "Lieutenant Commander Sturn," I read the rank insignias and his nametag. "Is there something I can help you with?"

    "No sir," He replied. "But there is something I can help you with."

    "And what might that be?"

    "I operated in this area until I joined up with the Marksman," the Mandalorian explained. "I know of a few ways they might try to leave from if we don't block them off."
    "You're in command of one of the Gozanti's correct?" I asked.
    "Yessir," he replied. "I brought my own ship with me when I joined up, but it's in the refit yards at the moment."

    "Get this information to the Commodore," I waved Victoria Jewel over. "You'll want to hear this."

    "I'm all ears, Commander," she turned her attention to the other officer.

    "Well, if we can pull up a map of the system, I can point out a few of the routes that the locals use to mess with any potential enemies they might face. We're not the first group to try and take them down, and unless we do it right, we'll end up surrounded. We might have the edge in both skill and firepower, but there are a lot of them, ma'am, and I don't want us to end up pinched in a trap due to bad intel."





    Date: January 21, 3015/21.01.7954 CRC
    Location: Republica 500, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic

    "This.. was not what I expected," Palpatine sighed as he looked at the latest reports Amedda had handed him. "They were supposed to be led to the Republic, not to another band of pirates."

    "It seems that the ones that picked up the contract were based out of the Karthakk system," Amedda replied. "And that they overestimated their chances of success."

    "We shall now have to contend with Corellia making a fuss," Palpatine sighed again. "They will be extremely belligerent now that they are no longer able to fence goods from the pirates that they allowed to plague the nearby hyperlanes."

    "Will that not further your plans to set the Confederacy against the Republic?" Amedda asked.

    "Indeed it does." The chancellor mused. "I must speak with the High Council and the Senate, there is much to set in motion."

    As soon as Palpatine finished speaking the doors to his office burst open to reveal an obese Twi'lek waddling into the room flanked by two gorgeous aids.

    "Chancellor, we must do something!" Orn Free Taa gasped for breath. "Ryloth is declaring their independence as we speak, and are about to join the Confederacy."

    "Of course," a grandfatherly smile appeared on Palpatine's face. "We must call a meeting of the Senate immediately to address this issue. It is most dreadful. To think that they would ignore their own representative, unthinkable."





    "When you were put on loan to me from Colonel Hull, I did not expect this," Dooku glanced up and down at the Twi'lek that was attempting to look innocent in front of him. "You weren't supposed to actually bring Ryloth to the Confederacy. You were to begin sounding them out to see where they would lean."

    "While I would like to claim the credit for this," Sienn smirked. "I can't. I really was just performing basic intel gathering ops on the slaving rings that were being run out of Ryloth."

    "Then how did we end up with this?" Dooku gestured towards the hologram showing breaking news from all of the major networks.

    "Some of the Marksman that only served their four year term decided to go back home," she shrugged. "Turns out that once they had a taste of what being treated properly was that they didn't want to leave others languishing there."

    "So I have Hull to blame for this?" the Count raised his eyebrow.

    "Not really," she shook her head as she glanced down at a ring that lay on her left hand. "Ryloth was already halfway on this path, and they were sick of that fat slob Taa claiming to represent them and then turning his back on the slaving rings that were being run behind his back."

    "I have no further questions," the old Jedi Master sighed. "You may return to your lover."

    "Two more years," Dooku laid his head on his cool desk after the woman had left. "That's all that I have to endure and then I get to retire, two more years of this nonsense."

    "Head of State," a secretary knocked on the door. "There's a representative from Rendili Stardrive here to speak with you as well as a group from someplace named Zonama Sekot."

    "Send them in," Dooku sighed. "Two years," he muttered. "Two long years."
     
    • Chapter 44
    • Chapter 44

    Date: January 20, 3015/20.01.7954CRC
    Location: On board the Leviathan Karthakk system

    "All ships, remember to use the Ion cannons first, we want to capture as many ships as possible," Jewel looked out over the holotable, the magnetic seals on her boots anchoring her to the ground. "Paige, your marines ready to go?"

    "Ready to launch as soon as you have targets for us," Paige checked the chamber of her rifle before sitting down in the bay of the boarding craft.

    "Ma'am, we're dropping out of hyperspace in two minutes!"

    "I want confirmation that everyone's in their vac-suits," Jewel looked at the captain of the ship. "The Leviathan is yours."

    "Aye ma'am," the Captain began barking orders at his bridge crew.

    "I want the Grav generators powered on as soon as we exit hyperspace, and get those fighter squadrons out, I want them to hit anyone nearby," the Captain sat down in his chair, exchanging a nod with the Commodore.

    "Exiting Hyperspace in three, two, one!"

    The flowing starfields receded as the Karthakk system greeted them.

    "Grav generators are deployed, the exit is locked down!"

    "You have comms ma'am," the comms officer reported.

    "This is Commodore Jewel of the Marksman," Commodore Victoria Jewel calmly started. "The Lok Revenants and their allies the Mere Resistance launched an unprovoked attack on our base, resulting in the death of our civilians. Surrender and you'll get a fair and just trial. But if you decide to stand and fight, then we'll make sure that you don't get the chance again."

    "Give them five minutes to respond," the Captain ordered. "If they don't, they're to be considered hostile."

    "Enemy fighters are being launched!"

    "Blaze, you're in charge of the CAP," Jewel looked at the pictograms representing the ASF fighters. "I want those fighters gone."

    "We'll handle them," the pilot replied. "Squadrons Alpha through Charlie, you're covering the big ships, Delta through Foxtrot, begin bombing runs. Golf and Hotel, you're on escort duty, make sure those Marines make it in safely."

    Groups of fighters split up and began following his orders and Blaze sighed as he looked at the lone fighter remaining in the bay. He longed to be out there in the middle of the furball, but with rank came responsibility, and his was to ensure that the Aerospace wing was coordinated properly.






    "Remember boys and girls, we've got a lot of flak between us and the planet," Alvin "Chopper" Davenport said as his sensors began picking up the enemy starfighters. "Keep your cool, remember your training, and stick to your wingman and we'll all go home," Chopper smirked under his helmet as he switched channels. "Leviathan, Alpha Squadron has the honor of escorting your fine ship today."

    "Flattery will get you nowhere, Chopper," Lieutenant Colonel Kei "Edge" Nagase cut in. "You know that they muted you a long time ago."

    "It's because of my charm," Chopper laughed as the distance between the opposing forces lessened. "We both know that they wouldn't be able to handle me if I were stationed on a ship. Ladies love an Ace like me."

    "One of those things is certainly true," Edge laughed. "Now focus up, it looks like the welcoming party is here."

    "Alpha, we've got a projected intercept course, long range precision targeting is a go," Chopper's tone turned serious. "Lasers and PPCs first, then missiles, wait on the guns until you're certain of a kill shot, and remember, Ammo is cheap, lives are expensive, if you need to save your wingman, then hit 'em with everything you've got."

    After giving the final words of wisdom, Chopper sent a signal to Archer and hit the afterburners, quickly reaching a speed that would have been unheard of back home.

    "Thank you inertial dampening," he muttered as he tracked a white streak across the void of space. "Now, who's first on the list?"






    A trio of modified Gozanti cruisers began heading for the Leviathan, their quad laser cannons and single turbolaser batteries scattering harmlessly across the ancient ship's shields.

    "Shields are at eighty percent and holding!"

    "They've hit us with their best," the captain smiled savagely. "Let's repay the favor."

    As one, a cluster of ion cannons fired, the first volley shattering the first Gozanti's shields before a handful of turbolaser slagged the engine, sending the modified vesssel spinning wildly off course.

    "Ma'am, enemy ships dropping out of hyperspace, they're flanking us."

    "Time to call in the big guns then," Jewel smirked.

    "Copy that, bringing the Katana to bear."

    The dark gray vessel appeared behind the flanking ships, its turbolaser batteries shattering the ships as the modified Rendili Star Dreadnaught dominated the battlefield.

    "You called for a Hammer?" Captain Kaylee Frye asked cheerily.

    "Indeed we did," Jewel replied. "How's the new girl handle?"

    "Like a massive whale with a lot of guns," Kaylee replied. "But aside from that, she's sexy and sleek."

    "Glad to hear it, mind watching our flanks? We seem to be having a bit of a pest problem."

    "Copy that, moving to holding pattern Yankee," Kaylee replied. "We'll keep the flies off of ya."






    The waiting was the worst part of any military operation. Being stuck in limbo, not knowing what happened to the soldiers and sailors that you sent ahead, praying that you hadn't wasted their lives in the pursuit of nothing more than a petty agenda.

    "Colonel, direct comms from the Commodore!"

    I tuned my helmet into the comms station.

    "You got a report for me?" I asked Jewel.

    "Aye sir," I could hear the savage grin on her face. "We have met the enemy and they are ours. They never knew what hit them, you should be clear to land and engage on the ground."

    "Anything else to report?" I asked.

    "Yessir, we've got some Senator from Naboo demanding to speak to our leader, something about negotiating a peace settlement between us and this band of pirates."

    "We don't negotiate with terrorists and pirates," I replied. "I'll meet with the senator and try to explain that."

    "Good luck sir," Paige shook her head. "She's got quite a chip on her shoulder."

    "Sheppard, proceed with the invasion as planned," the Messenger jumped into hyperspace headed for the Karthakk system. "I'll join you once I've dealt with the Republic's watchdogs."
     
    • Interlude: Some Conversations are Worth Having
    • "Senator Amidala," I greeted the petite woman with a sharp nod. "I've got an invasion to run, so is there any chance we can make this quick?"

    "The Senate has attempted to reach you with a Summons for quite some time now," She sat down, making it clear that this would not be a short conversation by any means. "All of our communiques have been ignored."

    "Ma'am," I looked her in the eye and took off my helmet, my hair and beard looking a bit crazy. "With all due respect, I don't answer to the Senate. I answer to my employers, and to the moral code written out in the Marksman's founding. So, unless you're here to take me in on trumped up charges, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ignore you."

    "I believe it would benefit you tremendously to make a case before the Senate," Padme raised an eyebrow. "After all, if everything you are doing is legal, then you will have nothing to fear."

    "Fuck it," I exhaled. "Amidala, I'm going to be blunt. These pirates attacked my people and killed my civilians. I'm not going to negotiate with them, I'm going to eradicate them and send a message to pirates everywhere. I have recordings of what they did, and I have multiple reporters recording exactly how this campaign goes. And no, I refuse to appear before a senate and defend myself when I have done nothing wrong. I also won't have anything to do with a hypocrite.'

    She moved to speak but I cut her off with a glare.

    "You, Senator Padme Amidala, claim to be a pacifist, but you are not one. No, you are among the worst of those who love peace. You see, if you were truly a pacifist, you would have laid down your arms and surrendered to the Trade Federation. But instead, you went and fought against them, those are not the actions of a pacifist." I slammed my gauntleted and armored fist against the table, leaving a dent in it as my nostrils flared.

    "You do not even have the strength to stand by your convictions," I said after a moment. "I know of those who were true pacifists. Those who refused to even pick up a weapon to fight, even in a war that was just! They at least had the strength of character to stand by their beliefs. Venturing out into battlefields to help those who were dying and injured. But you? You picked up the blaster yourself, you waged war, you fought. Nay, you fled when your people needed you to be strong and overthrow their attackers."

    I sighed as a tear fell from her eye as revelation began to dawn on her.

    "I wish that we lived in a perfect galaxy and that war were not required. But we do not live in such a galaxy. And as such, I ensure peace remains the way that it must be maintained. Si vis Pacem, para Bellum."

    "If you really want me to speak before the Senate, then try talking to Tarkin, he's one of my employers, and can ask me to speak on one of my contracts if necessary."

    I turned and began to leave the room.

    "And Senator. When you're ready to talk about the real world, you know where to find me."






    "That was a pretty harsh dressing down," Jewel said after I stepped out of the room. "I'm glad you had me record it, I'm sure our Drill instructors will be impressed."

    "It needed to be done," I replied. "You can let the Representative out of his holding cell, provided he's still frozen in carbonite, that is."

    "He's not set to unthaw for another day," she took up a position on my left flank. "Sheppard is getting ready to make planetfall as we speak."

    "He's on schedule then," I reseated my helmet. "Time to finish this and get back home."
     
    • Chapter 45
    • Chapter 45

    Date January 20, 3015/20.01.7954 CRC
    Location Lok, Karthakk system, Outer Rim Territories

    "Sheppard, talk to me," I stood on the bridge of the Leviathan and looked down on the planet below.

    "Anti-aircraft guns are pretty much nonexistent," the man reported from his Cyclops, the camera angles showing the battle around him. "Bravo Battalion is pushing to take control of the factory while we move on to the pirate's main complex."

    "Copy that, Major, keep me updated," I cut the transmission as I sighed. "Commodore, can you summarize the space battle for me?"

    Victoria nodded before gesturing to a small briefing room just off of the bridge.

    "Minor casualties and those we did take were in equipment, not manpower," she slid a sheet of paper over. "Here's the estimated casualties, damage, and salvage we've tallied up so far."

    "Looks good for the most part," I glanced at the sheet, skimming through the data. "Our Gozanti refits aren't exactly keeping up with the rest of our ships though."

    "We're running them in wolfpacks for now," Jewel replied. "It's working for now, but we're gonna have to phase them out or into other larger groups to fill gaps."

    "They're ships we need right now, even if we can't use them as effectively as we might have hoped," I grasped. "Any ideas on what we can do to improve our situation in space?"

    "I'm working on something," She smirked. "But we don't have the infrastructure to build anything of our own, so I've got the Argo working on some specs for me, and then I'm going to see if we can talk a shipyard into building them for us," She gestured for me to get comfortable. "Now, I think that you and I need to work on some doctrinal changes if we're going to be in space this much. And given some of the lessons we just learned, it's probably better that we work on them now."






    "Oh look, they've actually got tanks!" James MacAfee grinned as his Archer's battlerom registered movement. "Looks like we've got some Trade Federation knock-offs, boss."

    "Hold!" Packer ordered. "Mithril, disperse into the surroundings, I want to see how our Tigers and Goblins measure up. 'Mechs, you're on standby for support, I want the Archer's ready to receive fire support missions."

    After he gave the orders, the company dispersed, with MacAfee shifting behind a small hill along with the other two Archers and a Toro, the fireteam's last two members being a bit slower seeing as they were twin LRM carriers.

    "Our tanks are doing a pretty good job," James sighed, disappointed that he would be denied action once again.

    "This is Rifle Actual, we've got what appears to be some sort of artillery platform in the distance, standby for fire support mission."

    James cracked his neck as he waited for coordinates, the mobile HQ tied into the group's systems giving his battlecomputer exactly what it needed as it generated a set of coordinates from the spotters and gave him the right path to arc his missiles over the hill at the enemy.

    "Fire for effect," the fireteam lead ordered, a small timer counting down for the group to release the hailstorm of missiles.

    James pulled on the triggers for his twin LRM-15s, his heavy 'mech rocking backward for a minute as the missiles flew towards their targets, the cockpit seeming to heat up suddenly before cooling off again as the desert heat did nothing to help with the cooling of his 'mech.

    "Good effect on target!" the Mithril operator reported. "We're moving in to secure the survivors. Thanks for the assist."

    "'Mechs get ready to push up and relieve the tanks, it looks like the Revenants dug out some more tanks out of nowhere, and I want them dead and gone before we push to that factory."

    James pushed his 'mech up to speed to crest the hill, standing atop it in the armored giant as his sensors revealed fifteen more tanks pushing out from hiding to engage the Marksmen's own vehicles.

    "Pick your targets and take 'em down," Packer ordered. "The Infantry are near to the factory, so it's left to us to finish being the distraction so they can make sure that the pirates didn't leave behind any traps."

    James' computer rang with a targeting lock as he enhanced and zoomed in on a cluster of four tanks in perfect formation as they tried to engage the Goblins and Tigers.

    Squeezing his triggers again, thirty missiles left his torsos, the LRMs dropping on top of the four tanks, causing two to spin out of control as their repulsors failed and damaging the other two before two bursts of autocannon fire put them out of their misery.

    "Sensors show we're in the clear, Major," the CO of their company reported. "I'm pulling back to repair and rearm."

    "We'll see you back at the dropship," Packer responded. "Good work out there."






    "The locals seem friendly," I remarked as a wad of rocks and mud struck the outside of the SUV I was riding in.

    "They think we're just taking the place of the pirates and the Trade Federation," Sheppard shrugged. "It'll take time to prove that we're not either of them."

    "We just conquered their world," I looked at the young boy whose fist was still outstretched from the throw. "We're taking over the factory, and tearing down Nym's palace to rebuild anything we destroyed."

    "Factory was staffed by slaves after the Federation pulled out," Sheppard sighed. "They're gonna be just as angry as any of the locals."

    "We'll offer them transport to their homeworlds if they still have family left alive," I replied. "If they don't have anywhere to go we can offer temporary housing locally, or we can send them to the destination of their choice," I looked at the arid near-desert that led into steppes across this section of the world. "We can afford to give them a lump sum equivalent to three months' salary for having worked in the factory immediately, but everything else is up to them, we can't afford to be more generous than that."

    "Not without cutting into our bottom line on this op at least," Sheppard agreed. "I know this was a retaliation op, but that factory is the only reason we're gonna be breaking even."

    "The factory alone was worth this op," I shook my head. "Our local Neimoidian gave us some details on the sort of output we can expect and how to reprogram this sort of thing."

    "And?" Sheppard raised an eyebrow.

    "Depending on the size of the factory and what we want it to manufacture, we're looking at an overstrength battalion of tanks every two months," I grinned. "And if we manage to finally finish the program that some of the techs are working on we'll be converting everything over to Fusion engines."





    Date: February 4. 3015/04.02.7954 CRC
    Location: Nubian J-Type diplomatic barge


    "Typho," Padme glanced at the guard captain. "I have a question for you."

    "Yes, senator?" the man looked at his charge.

    "How would you prepare Naboo for another Trade Federation Invasion?" She asked, sitting down and giving him her full attention.

    "How long do I have to prepare, ma'am?" He asked in return. "Because a lot depends on how much time I have.'

    "Let's call it a year," Padme replied. "What would you do given a year to prepare?"

    "Take volunteers and expand the Guard to do more than take care of the palace," he immediately responded. "Begin importing blasters and heavy weapons to store for future use. I'd then get with the Gungans, start running drills so that we're not getting in each other's way. I'd have more starfighters built and I'd see about hiring some of the Marksman's bigger ships," he glanced out the viewport at the Katana. "We'd still have some people hurt, but the Trade Federation wouldn't be able to pull off what they did the first time."

    "And what of negotiations?" Padme asked.

    "With all respect, senator," Typho looked her dead in the eye. "The Trade Federation has proven that they won't respect anything other than force. They weren't willing to try the first time, I doubt they'd be willing if it came to a second one."

    "And why the Marksman?" she asked one last question.

    "They've proven that they'll hold to the letter of their contracts," Typho shrugged. "They might be lethal soldiers and mercenaries, but every piece of intel we've got on them suggests that they're good people. If given the option between them or someone else, I'd pick them every time," he then shook his head. "Why these questions all of a sudden?" he asked. "It's not like you to be shaken by anything."

    "The Colonel may have confronted me on some of my beliefs," Padme sagged in her chair. "And I am afraid that he may be right in some of them. That I may have been hampering peace in the Republic by some of my actions."

    "Well," Typho stroked his chin in thought. "If you believe that he is right in some way, then do research, you are friends with the Jedi, yes? Surely their records of history could help you understand."

    "I will have to make an inquiry of the Temple," Padme hummed in thought. "Typho, after we evaluate the status of those in the system set a course for Coruscant, I believe that there is much for me to do."






    "C'mon little bro," Satele walked down the ramp of an odd ship. "I want to see what we're dealing with."

    "Well, It's no Basilisk War Droid," Jacen followed. "But it certainly looks deadly."

    A giant bipedal machine turned from where it had been cutting down a tree, a a bubble-shaped cockpit popping open as a Twi'lek looked at their ship.

    "You're not allowed to set the ship down here!" she yelled out over the distance.

    "What do you mean?!" Jacen yelled back.

    "The Marksman control all airspace over the planet, unless you got clearance, expect a visit shortly!"

    As soon as the Twi'lek's voice finished echoing a handful of ASF fighters streaked overhead, the sonic boom as they passed rattling the ship below while an oddly shaped ship set down right next to the Shan's ship, a group of armored soldiers piling out and pointing weapons at them.

    The siblings raised their hands with their palms out, showing that they weren't trying to engage in hostile behavior, the holsters for their weapons on their hips and out of easy reach.

    "Not lookin' to start a fight 'ere," Satele smiled at the soldiers. "Just haven't been 'round these parts in a while."

    "You were broadcast a flight and landing pattern," one of the soldiers stepped forward. "Why did you not follow it?"

    "We've got some old comms gear," Jacen sighed. "I've been meaning to get it fixed, I just haven't had the time."

    "We'll need to get some records, and you'll have to come with us," the soldier responded. "We'll leave your ship here for the time being, with a promise not to move it or touch it until you've been properly cleared."

    "You're going to want our weapons, aren't you?" Satele raised an eyebrow.

    "Unfortunately, yes," the leader looked at her kit. "We do allow people to carry weapons, but not onboard our ships unless they've been properly vetted."

    "Perfectly reasonable," Jacen unclipped his holster and set it on the ground, a silver cylinder and a handful of Vibroknives joining the pile on the ground."

    "Boot knife too," another soldier commented.

    "Fine," Jacen sighed. "But if a single one of them is missing."

    "None of it will go missing," the leader stated firmly. "We're professionals, not some bandits from the Ouskirts of the 'Sphere."

    Satele quietly set her weapons to be collected as she continued to examine the armor the soldiers wore.

    "I haven't seen powered armor in a long time," She stepped forward. "Where'd you get it?"

    "Classified," someone replied. "Join up, and maybe you'll get to find out."

    "I might have to take you up on that offer," Satele smirked as she boarded the dropship. "Not like I got much else going on."


    The dropship lifted off once they were aboard, her ASF escorts heading back towards the base with a cargo of importance that they didn't even know they possessed, for a Mantle and Guardian traveled with them.

    Author's Note: Seeing as I'm only really updating once a week, I'm going to try for chapters between 1500-3000 words from now on. Might even increase that number as things go on, we'll see.
     
    • Chapter 45
    • Chapter 46

    "Thank you for allowing me to use the Jedi Library," Padme bowed to the older woman. "I did not expect such a rapid response."

    "It is not often that anyone from outside the Order requests to look at our records," Jocasta Nu smiled. "Now, there will of course be some records that are restricted that you will not have access to, but most of it should be free for you to research and peruse as you wish."

    "Am I allowed to retain any copies of works that I might wish to continue reading while I am not here, Master Nu?" Padme asked as she took a seat.

    "That will have to be a decision made on a case by base basis," Jocasta replied. "Now, if you need any assistance, there are many padawans and assistants that should be around to help."

    "Thank you once again," Padme smiled as the Jedi Librarian stalked off to stop someone from archiving something in the wrong place, again.

    And with that final statement, the Senator of Naboo began her search into the past and what it would mean for the future of the Republic.

    –
    –

    "Senator Amidala," Obi-Wan greeted the woman. "It's a pleasant surprise to see you here."

    "Obi-Wan," Padme smiled at the older man. "I was just getting ready to leave. But if you have time later, I would love to meet with you and get your opinion on some things."

    "Of course!" the man stroked the beginnings of a beard he was growing. "I don't have your comms frequency though."

    "Here," Padme handed her comlink to Kenobi. "Input your frequency there and I'll get to you later. Unfortunately, it seems I'm running late for a committee meeting and have to leave."

    "It was a pleasure to see you again, Senator," Obi-Wan moved out of the way as Amidala rushed towards the landing bays and her waiting speeder, a familiar astromech droid following as fast as his wheels allowed.

    "Very peculiar," Obi-Wan shrugged as he entered the library. "I wonder what all that was about."






    "The Confederacy is going to fund our development project," the CEO of Rendili Stardrive looked at the table, the holograms for the owners of all of the shipyards that built licensed products seated around it. "This, is the basis for our project."

    "Sir, that looks like Old Republic tech," one of them pointed out. "Why would be go backwards in time?"

    "Because this, isn't licensed or in production anymore," the CEO smirked. "And the tech isn't that much older. The owner of said antique allowed us to make detailed scans before we modernized what we could on the ship. She might be older, but if what the shipwrights and engineers tell me is correct, we'll have the best cruiser in the galaxy. Built for anti-piracy operations and ready to be sold to both PDFs and the Confederacy Navy at large."

    "How long will development take?" An older woman asked.

    "Six to eight months," the CEO replied. "Which gives most of you time to finish the refits of the Katana Fleet and prepare your shipyards to build it in bulk."

    "That's just a light cruiser though," someone pointed out. "The Confederacy is going to want something larger if there's any major fleet actions. And there's only two hundred ships in the Katana fleet."

    "That's why we're going back in time again," another image was shown. "We're making some modifications due to complaints we have received about the Command and Control systems, but we're bringing back several designs that were easier to manufacture, and with improved power infrastructure, we can make adjustments that will mean the Confederacy has the most modern Navy in the Galaxy."

    "Why the Confederacy though? Surely the Republic is going to be exploring options as well to combat the build up of the Confederacy."

    "The Republic has turned to Kuat Drive Yards! Ignoring everything that we have sacrificed over the last few thousand years to ensure its survival!" The CEO slammed his fist on the counter, the droid hand leaving a crack in the obsidian table that extended all the way to the end. "No, we and several other smaller companies are turning to the Confederacy. You are not beholden to us, so I will not ask you to side with us. But know that we will not be licensing the new designs to your yards," he held up a hand to stave off the rage. "You may continue producing whatever you are already licensing from us provided the proper fees are paid. But do not expect more than that. As of next week, we will begin breaking off all contracts with the Republic's government. Now, any questions?"

    All of the yard owners stood up and began shouting at once, barring a few older men and women that exchanged short messages, looked at the CEO and nodded at him as he met their eyes before the holograms winked out.

    "Calm down the lot of you!" someone physically present shouted down the rest of the group. "One at a time or he can't answer any of our questions."

    After a few more minutes everything simmered down, the pot was still near a boil, but it had slowed.

    "Now, one at a time."

    "Where are we going to get the starfighters to fit with the cruisers?"

    "I'm working on contracts and licensing with several manufacturers," the CEO explained. "I should have some more solid information by the end of the month."

    "What about selling to the Planetary Defense Forces of planets that are still within the Republic?"

    "It's your yard," the CEO shrugged. "The Confederacy has first rights of refusal to any of the cruisers that we manufacture though. It is a part of our contract."

    "But what about…






    "What is your business on Beloria?" A harsh voice asked.

    "Same as most of the people who visit these days," Satele shrugged. "I'm here to meet with the most interesting group on this side of the galaxy."

    "We're going to need more than that," the man looked at the woman through his helmet's visor.

    "It's the truth in this case," Satele shrugged. "The ship we brought is my brother's it's been passed down for a long time and while he upgraded and modernized most of its components, he might have forgotten the communications suite."

    "We've got a team going over your ship now," the man leaned back in his chair. "If your story is true, then you have nothing to worry about."

    —
    —
    Meanwhile, in another interrogation room…

    "And Satele, she just doesn't understand that fixing a ship costs a lot of money, I'm three to four million credits in debt but she still thinks that I'm fine because I've been on the same planet for the last fifteen years," Jacen complained. "I mean, do you see how ratty my jumpsuit is? I'm barely able to make the payments I've got now, much less able to finish the last upgrades the Hawk needs."

    On the other side of the table a soldier was making periodic marks on a sheet of flimsy, while another behind the see-through mirror was writing a detailed report on all of the information they were getting.

    "I know what you mean," the soldier took off his helmet to run his fingers through his hair before tucking it back down. "Family can be tough sometimes."

    "And to make matters worse, it's me and five sisters, I'm barely able to keep Satele out of trouble. But no, Jacen has to make sure all of the girls stay out of trouble and stay in school while mom and dad go off bounty hunting around the galaxy."

    "I'm going to need to swap places here in a bit," the soldier commed the Sergeant in charge. "I know we're getting good intel, but I'm starting to fall asleep here."

    "We'll call it quits in fifteen, Josh. Their story checks out for the most part."

    "Thank God," Joshua breathed. "I've been listening to this guy complain all day."

    "I'd get used to it," Sarge chuckled. "You're the guy's handler for his stay here."

    "Who'd I piss off?" he muttered.

    "You impressed me," a voice broke into the channel. "It's not every day that our Security Forces have to deal with someone like this."

    "You heard Major Dunham," Sarge shrugged. "IT looks like you're getting picked up by the spooks."

    "Fuck me," Joshua breathed. "There goes my retirement."

    "At least the pay's better, right?"

    "Not enough to justify the paranoia," Joshua replied. "Now shut up so I can hear this guy finish up."
     
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    • Chapter 47
    • Chapter 47

    Date: June 20, 3015/20.06.7954 CRC
    Location: Serenno, Serenno System, Aubek sector, Confederacy of Independent Systems

    "It is obvious that you have never handled a long blade before," Dooku led Hull through the basic kata and stances of Form-I. "But it is clear that you have handled some form of bladed weapon before today."

    "I learned a bit of knife combat," Hull shrugged. "But most of the time if you're that close to someone, either they're dead, or you are."

    "I did notice that you do not remove your standard attire for this," Dooku adjusted Hull's stance, kicking his feet into the proper placement. "I assume there is a reason for this."

    "Train like you fight," Hull immediately responded over the hum of the training saber. "I'm going to be wearing armor on the battlefield. I'm going to have all of this kit on me. A lightsaber would be a last resort for me. Rifle first, handgun second, and then melee if all else fails."

    "All the same, should you run into someone who has some Jedi training, I would prefer it if you were able to defend yourself properly," Dooku smirked. "It would not do for one of my closest advisors to not know how to properly utilize a weapon."

    "I'm not going to be able to pick this up right away," Hull shifted into another stance. "Honestly, it would be better if we put me under stress. I tend to perform and remember things better that way."

    "Then let us begin," Dooku launched himself at Hull, his saber ignited and prepared to strike one of the less armored sections of Mithril, only to be narrowly parried by Hull shifting weight and locking blades.

    "Good," Dooku laughed. "Now, we can really see what you are made of."






    "There is improvement," Siri Tachi and her Padawan Ferus Olin watched as the Mercenary Commander launched an offensive against Dooku, a training blaster in his right hand to mimic his usual sidearm.

    "It is not that he is better with a lightsaber," Ferus pointed out. "It is that he is not as rigid as we are, and is willing to do things that we were cautioned against as younglings."

    "Hmm," Siri contemplated the less graceful but nevertheless effective movements of Colonel Hull. "Master Dooku will retain an edge. But I believe that if he had a squad of his Marines that Hull would overcome the Count. If with losses."

    "Master," Ferus turned his full attention to Siri. "I have noticed that you seem increasingly fascinated with military action and strategies. I worry that you may be focusing on the potential for war."

    "Ferus," Siri smiled sadly. "War is coming. I did not understand it at first, for my visions of the future have often been plagued with conflict for that is where Jedi are most often called to settle things. But this, this goes beyond that. I have glimpses of what is to come, and if we are not ready for it, then the Galaxy as we know it will cease to exist in a recognizable way."

    "But war?" Ferus shook his head. "I thought we were the defenders of peace? That's what Jedi are supposed to do!"

    "And pray, tell," Colonel Hull's voice cut in. "How do you expect anyone to defend peace unless they are prepared to sacrifice their own for it? There's a saying from my homeworld, and I feel as if it's wisdom has been forgotten here. 'People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.'"

    "I've not heard that before," Dooku stroked his chin. "I shall have to make a note of that, it seems useful for keeping the need for a military present and at the forefront of the CIS."

    "Listen," Hull looked Ferus in the eye. "I wish we lived in a perfect galaxy, but we don't. And until the universe eventually dies off we're going to be stuck with the hand we are dealt. People fight, for many reasons, some of them noble, but many…" Hull seemed to look into his own past. "Let's just leave it at that. People fight, they start wars, and others step in and end said wars. The cycle of peace y'all have had is impressive, but it is at its end. So prepare for the war of the future so that you can ensure that peace will endure afterward."

    "Now, Siri, it is your turn to step in," Dooku sat next to Ferus. "Our Colonel here must get used to fighting enemies with different and varying styles, otherwise he may get familiar with how any one person operates."

    Siri leapt up and ignited her blade, a grin on her face as she began dueling Hull, a front flip over the man allowing her to strike from his blind spot as he spun around to continue the engagement.

    "You are too slow," Siri taunted. "Where is all of your vaulted experience now?"

    "I wasn't allowed to bring grenades," Hull grunted as he caught her violet blade on his own, a kick driving her back into a front flip as she brought her guard up.

    "Of course, flashbangs are a little unnecessary at this junction," Siri replied.

    "Who said anything about flashbangs?" Hull grinned as he pulled out a tubular device from a hidden pack and pulled a pin, bright red smoke filling the arena as his visor hid his face once again.

    "I thought you said you weren't allowed to bring grenades?" Siri covered her mouth with a small section of her tunic as she focused the force on slowing her breathing.

    "I'm not," Hull's voice echoed from a few different spots. "But that doesn't mean I didn't bring them anyway."

    "Never fight fair," Siri sighed as she recalled a statement I had made while we were looking for the Katana Fleet. "I had forgotten how ridiculously far you take that statement."

    "A lost fight or battle means more dead," a flurry of blaster bolts came from a section of the smoke and were casually deflected by the knight. "I prefer to win," the larger and armored figure appeared in front of her, his blaster firing rapidly as he narrowed the gap, his saber meeting hers and pinning it in place as the training blaster stung at her skin and burnt some of her tunic.

    Then Siri did something odd, she allowed one of her hands to leave her blade and shift to the small of her back where a small holdout blaster was located, with a quick twist of her wrist, she fell back, allowing Hull's blade to strike the ground as she squeezed off shots of her own, the armor absorbing some, but the simulation settings showing that he was still taking some damage.

    Then the smoke cleared as massive fans and other aspects of the new training room manifested itself and Dooku stood between the combatants.

    "Unfortunately, we shall have to end this here, as entertaining as it is," Dooku looked at Hull. "There is a situation. A group called the Ryloth Rising Storm has taken their new representatives hostage and are demanding that the Confederacy return Ryloth to the Republic immediately."

    "Count," Hull took off his helmet, revealing sweat dripping down the bearded face. "You can't negotiate with terrorists or their ilk. They'll just demand more."

    "Then what is it you recommend?" Siri asked. "They're likely to kill the hostages if nothing is done."

    "I'll get the hostages out," Hull stated firmly. "Or die trying, but you cannot give them what they want."

    "Can you guarantee the safety of the hostages?" Dooku closed his eyes and reached into the force for a brief moment.

    "No one can guarantee anything in this life," Hull replied. "But I'll be damned if I let terrorists lead anyone I'm serving around by the nose."

    "You have one month," Dooku's eyes snapped open. "If this goes on longer than that I will broach other options to the Confederacy government."

    Hull nodded and took off at a jog towards where his personal vessel was in the landing bay.

    "Siri, Ferus," Dooku looked at the two Jedi. "I believe that he will require your assistance. The Future is clouded and dark at the moment, but you two will be required."

    "Ferus, go fetch our packs from our quarters," Siri instructed. "I will meet you at the landing pad."

    "Remain cautious," Dooku cautioned the Knight. "I do not believe that this was a happenstance, and those who are responsible will seek to ensure that they are secured and hidden from view. And keep an eye on Hull, I sense a unique danger ahead."






    "How long will it take you to put together a hostage rescue team?" A hologram of Colonel Hull greeted Paige from a pedestal in her office.

    "Three days," Paige replied. "I take it there's a lid on this intel?"

    "We've got a month to rescue hostages," Hull informed her. "I need tight lips and good operators without twitchy trigger fingers."

    "Got it," Paige nodded. "What kind of resistance are we expecting?"

    "Unfortunately, we don't have much intel, and the usual channels aren't bringing up enough to satisfy me."

    "Fuck," Paige sighed. "Mark, this sounds a lot like a trap."

    "I know," Mark stroked his beard. "But we can't take a chance when it comes to a new government and terrorists or hostages."

    "How'd they manager to capture them?" Paige asked.

    "Small escort, and the Federal government doesn't provide transport for the individual planetary or system governmental officials," Hull responded. "They wanted to avoid the very image of corruption, after all."

    "Alright," Paige looked at the limited data she'd been sent. "I'll meet you in orbit in three days. Godspeed, Colonel."

    "Godspeed, Major," Hull replied. "Godspeed."
     
    • Chapter 48
    • Chapter 48
    Two Weeks later…

    "I assume you have a plan," Siri looked around the holotable we'd installed in the Messenger's briefing room.

    "We do," Paige stepped forward. "I've got two companies of Marines here, and some of Dunham's intel people. Sienn is in charge of the intel squads."

    "What we have here are some of the remnants of the groups that benefited from the old Status quo on Ryloth," Sienn's purple and olive hands touched a control on the table, bringing up an image of an armored Twi'lek. "They've banded together and are hoping that they'll be able to convince Ryloth to return to the fold of the Republic. Now, we're not certain, but some of our traces point to them being funded by Orn Free Taa."

    "Terrorist actions funded by the old regime," Paige agreed. "Based on the reports I've read, they won't hesitate to execute the hostages if they think they're going to get caught."

    "Also, Colonel, you're going to want to stay in the ship," Sienn glanced in Hull's direction. "There are a lot of bounty hunters on the planet, and considering that there's a pretty lucrative bounty on your head…" She trailed off.

    "I thought this was just a backwater," Hull glanced at Siri, the Knight nodding in confirmation.

    "It doesn't even have a name," Siri agreed. "It's just a number in this sector."

    "Doesn't matter," Paige looked at the map of the warehouses and other assorted building "below" them. "We're not going to make a bunch of noise down there, we're going to get in, quietly take out the terrorist and then exfil. No springing traps, no running battles, we do this like professionals."

    "I've got three people tailing the 'Rising Storm' now," Sienn agreed. "Once we get the location of the hostages we'll be making a HALO jump from a Gozanti."

    "We've got two of them dressed up like standard freighters," Paige explained. "We'll make it seem like they were badly maintained and suffered a failure, having cargo and other things drop from the cargo hold to conceal my Marines on their descent. Upon landing, we'll group up and begin moving through, securing the hostages first and then clearing out the terrorists so our ships can land."

    "And we're ready for failure points as well," Sienn continued. "In the event that something goes wrong, we've got a Sting on standby to provide Close Air Support."

    "We'd rather not need it," Paige sighed. "But I won't protest some air support on hand."

    "Once the hostages are secured, we're transporting them in the Sting to Raxus, we have multiple ships on standby from the CIS to provide escorts and a medical frigate for any medical assistance they might need."

    "I'll keep an eye on things from here then," Hull nodded. "I'll be sending Knight Tachi with you, she knows to follow instruction and will stay out of the way, but you might want someone with some precog to assist."

    "We've worked with Tachi before," Paige nodded. "She'll be a welcome addition to the team."

    "I'll work with the splicers we have," Hull said after a pause. "If we can get access to the systems they're using we might be able to trace things all the way back to whoever's behind this."

    "Half of my team specializes in data recovery," Seinn glanced at her assistant. "We'll rip everything we can from their databanks."

    "Alright," Hull clapped his hands together, the sound echoing a bit. "We've got a plan, let's execute it."






    "Hey Xito, mind if I snag one of those?" Pra Cusinn eyed the death stick in the hand of his buddy.

    "Nah, go ahead," Xito held out the pack, allowing Pra to grab one. "It's been a long few weeks."

    "You think that they'll actually respond to our demands?" Pra asked, squeezing down on the end of the stick with his thumb and index finger as the ignition device at the end hissed as it lit the stick.

    "I'm just here to admire the beauties," the other Twi'lek shrugged. "You saw that Togruta that the boss has, right?"

    "Fine piece of ass on that one," Pra smirked. "I'd love to have her dance at my place."

    "I want her on her knees," Xito puffed on his stick. "The things I'd do…"

    "She's just as liable to cut it off if she gets the chance," Pra snickered. "The boss had to inject her with that special drug to get her to calm down."

    "Yeah," Xito shuddered. "I like spice as much as the next guy, but not when it's like that."

    "Whoever ends up with her is going to have to deal with the symptoms," Pra agreed. "That's going to cost as much as any extra training."

    "Boss is planning on selling her to the Hutts anyway," the other Twi'lek stubbed out his Death stick before continuing his patrol. "We should get back to it. I'd hate to be stuck out here when it's time to rotate shifts."

    As the two moved to continue their patrol an explosion sounded far in the distance, a couple of freighters overhead trailing smoke and debris.

    "Kriffing backwaters," Pra snorted. "That sort of thing wouldn't happen if they maintained their ships properly."

    "They probably haven't seen yard time since they were built," Xito snickered. "Bet you fifty credits they're Outer Rim manufacture."

    "You're on," Pra laughed. "Now let's go find the lazy bastards who're supposed to fill in for us."

    As the two terrorists meandered their way back through their routes to inside, they narrowly missed a handful of lights that shined like the stars among the debris that drew close to the ground, over fifty suits of Mithril hit the ground with dull thuds, and two suppressed rifles coughed, sending both Pra and Xito to their afterlife.

    "Sitrep!" Paige barked.

    "Five wounded, two dead" Jenkins replied soberly. "They didn't hit the ground right and broke some bones. The two dead hit the debris on the way down."

    "Bravo, you're to stick with the wounded," Paige ordered. "Alpha, Charlie, you're with me, let's move it people!"

    "Delta, we're to begin securing the perimeter," Jenkins ordered the remainder of the Marines. "I want the LZ clear for our wounded and the hostages."

    "Knight Tachi, you're to stay on my six," Paige looked at the armored robes of Siri Tachi. "We'll need you to calm down the hostages once we have them secured."

    "Got it," Siri nodded.

    "Stack up!" A noncom barked as they neared the closest doorway, the sensors causing it to remain shut for a moment.

    "Flashbang going out!" a Marine pulled the door open for his partner to toss a grenade in, a bright flash and thud echoed as the marines moved in. The flash barely showing inside of the Mithril's helmets as the visors polarized to compensate.

    The first squad finished breaching and continued down the building, Paige bringing up the rear with a second squad and the Jedi Knight in tow.

    The first hallways and rooms were cleared quickly as the alert hadn't yet been sounded, the squads each branching off to clear different sections of the facility as Paige, Siri, and Fireteam Charlie moved to where Siri had sensed the hostages.

    "This next room has the hostages," Siri stopped the fireteam before they breached the next door. "I would caution you against using lethal options in the next room."

    "Flashbangs and stunners," Paige ordered, allowing her rifle to dangle from its sling as she grabbed the stun blaster rifle from her pack, her marines doing the same. "On you," she nodded at Siri.

    Siri took a deep breath and then slammed the door open, a flashbang tucked into her had that was released and controlled with the force to hit the best spot to blind the room's occupants.

    Then Paige breached the room first, clearing out a corner with her stun blaster as Siri leapt in afterward and knocked out the leader of the terrorists with a swift punch.

    "Corpsman!" Paige called for the Doc after the room had been subdued. "Get in here! We've got wounded!"

    "Room's clear, Major!" the leader of Fireteam Charlie reported. "Permission to prepare prisoners for transport."
    "Granted," She looked at the group of Twi'lek men and women huddled in the center of the room. "But keep them separated from the hostages. If they get ahold of the prisoners we won't have any intel to collect from an interrogation after they're done with them."

    "Yes, ma'am," the noncom nodded before ordering his fireteam around.

    "Jenkins, we've secured the hostages, please tell me you have good news."

    "Perimeter's clear except for a small group," a bit of gunfire was heard in the background. "Give us a few and we'll have them dealt with."

    "Copy that," Paige knelt down and unpolarized her helmet so that a shaking representative could see her face. "I'm calling for evac, these people need to get out of here."

    "Archon's Favor, we've cleared out the Tangos, you are cleared to land."

    "Roger that," Hober's voice sounded chipper. "Your ride is on its way."

    "Make sure your Doc's ready," Paige pulled out her medkit. "We've got wounded."
     
    • Chapter 49
    • Chapter 49

    "You're staying here?" Siri asked as Paige walked off of the loading ramp of the Archon's Favor.

    "Yes, ma'am," Paige waved some of Jenkin's men onto the ship. "Intel's landing in a little while and I want to make their job a bit easier."

    "What do you mean?" Siri asked, a blond eyebrow raised as she considered that statement.

    "We'll separate the prisoners and begin asking some pointed questions," Paige removed her helmet to move a hair that had come free from her bun, tucking it back into the rest. "Once we have more information from their computer systems we'll start cross verifying and checking their information."

    "Ah," Siri sighed in relief. "I believed that you were going to torture them."

    "Torture's an unreliable method of obtaining information," Paige said bluntly. "Sometimes chemical cocktails work, but finding exactly the right ones that work within a specific species or even person's body can be hard to dial in. It's easier to simply find a weak link and use basic psychology against them."

    "I will remain behind," Siri held up a hand to stave off any arguments. "Not because I do not trust you. But because I may be able to assist. If I was angry at the treatment of the hostage, then I believe that you felt much the same."

    "If you can play at being a lie detector it'll help," Paige agreed. "I take it you'll send the Apprentice with the wounded?"

    "Yes, Ferus needs to be exposed to that sort of emotion otherwise it may take control of him," Siri sighed. "I know that I was once that young, but it feels like it was so long ago."

    "Feel old later," Paige snorted. "We've got work to do."

    The two women walked further into the compound, eventually seeing Colonel Hull speaking softly to Sienn Thompson.

    "Make sure to get everything you can out of them," Hull eyed a small pool of blood from one of the dead terrorists for a second.. "I'm going to be heading back to Raxus with the hostages."

    "And my Padawan will be accompanying you," Siri said as Paige and herself walked up. "I believe that the Archon's Favor will be leaving shortly."

    "It is," Paige confirmed. "It's probably for the best that you get them back. Even if they are in terrible shape."

    "Just so you're both aware," Hull sighed. "We're going to have some negative fallout because of this. Now, don't get me wrong, we're going to be applauded in public, but a lot of people will be asking pointed questions like 'Why did it take so long?' and 'Why didn't you prevent the injuries?." He seemed to age a few years as he spoke, a few wrinkles around his eyes looking deeper. "If any reporters try to ask questions simply refer them back to me or one of the PR people. I don't want anything coming back to bite any of y'all in the ass."

    "I'll send out the memo," Paige responded. "But I'm not going to promise that my Marines won't say anything stupid."

    "I'm not expecting perfection," Hull smiled. "Just that they don't get themselves into more trouble."






    "Alright Rook," Sienn sat down next to the technician as he dove into the computer systems next to an older Togrutan. "What do you have for me?"

    "A paper trail," the man smirked. "I've got information on funds and where they came from, I'll just have to trace them back."

    "And that's where I come in," The Togruta began typing away at a datapad. "I'm a financial auditor and accountant, it's my job to look at these sorts of things and determine where they come from."

    "Kurassh here is a bit of a special case," Rook shrugged. "He used to cook the books for a Hutt and when the Hutt got caught, they just locked 'em all up. He's technically serving out his term by assisting the CIS in a military capacity."

    "I'm hoping to get out early on good behavior," Kurassh smiled. "I've seen the contracts you Marksman give out and I'd really like to sign on once I've finished my sentence."

    "I'll leave you to it then," Sienn chuckled as the two dove back into the electronics.

    "Any luck?" Siri asked as Sienn walked into one of the rooms that had been hastily repurposed into an interrogation room.

    "We're slowly verifying our information," Sienn replied, her lekku twitching as she crossed her arms over her chest. "We'll have most of the real information extracted in a week or so. Which is a lot faster than it normally takes. Being able to tell whether someone was lying or not helped tremendously."

    "A lie detector would have served much the same purpose," Siri waved the praise away.

    "No, lie detectors can be more easily fooled," Sienn disagreed. "Now, once we finish up here we'll exfil and head on back to Beloria. Do you want to come with? Or are you planning on returning to Raxus?"

    "That will be decided upon the information we receive," Siri stated. "Should it prove valuable enough, I believe that there will be much more for me to do."

    "The reward for good work is more work," Sienn laughed. "I can't wait to take a vacation after this op. Alan won't be able to walk for weeks after I'm done with him."

    "I don't need to hear more of this," Siri simply rolled her eyes at the Twi'lek. "You've regaled me with enough stories of your love life by now."

    "I just figured I'd let you live vicariously through me," Sienn smirked. "After all, it's not like you're going to get to try all of the different things I can."

    "Temple Jedi are not celibate," Siri deadpanned. "They just are not allowed to form attachments."

    "You mean that there's a lot of raunchy one night stands then," Sienn grinned wide. "Do tell."






    Date: July 15, 3015/15.07.7954 CRC
    Location: Raxus Secondus, Raxus System, Aubek sector, Confederacy of Independent Systems

    "Colonel Hull, you were said to have information for us," Vinon Korra leaned forward in her chair, the other members of the Security Council doing the same.

    "Yes, Minister Korra," Colonel Hull's barren uniform matched the atmosphere of the room. "After we recovered the hostages and brought them back-"

    "Not without harm," someone muttered.

    "We began running dedicated slicing attempts and interrogating what prisoners we were able to take, eventually culminating in a series of funding transactions that we traced back several steps," a hologram appeared showing the names of various banking and investment firms in the galaxy. "Thankfully, we were able to utilize some of the Confederacies own people for this part of the investigation, and one of your accountants was able to trace the root of the funds all the way back to someone on Coruscant."

    The Hologram shifted to show the large figure of Orn Free Taa.

    "This is the person responsible for the attacks on the representatives from Ryloth," the Colonel stated, his voice almost soft. "I leave it to this August body to decide what is to be done about this."

    "You may be dismissed, Colonel," the minister nodded in thanks. "Please wait outside for us to discuss what is to be done."

    "So, it is as we feared," an old man sighed in his chair. "This is only the beginning of the problems we will have with the Republic at our doorstep."
    "We must bring Orn Free Taa to trial," someone agreed. "But we must do it in such a way that shows the Republic that we are not to be trifled with."

    "We need someone who may have a foothold on Coruscant to allow us access," Korra thought out loud. "Someone who can represent our interests and defend themselves if it comes to poison or an assassin's blade."

    "If I may," the young politician who had muttered earlier made himself known. "The Republic Senate has already summoned the Count's pet Colonel," the man sneered. "Why not order him to make himself known. After all, even if he is slain, it is not something we should be all that concerned with. He is a Mercenary, and there will be others to take his place."

    "The idea is not all bad," a Quarren shrugged. "While I may disagree with the Representative from Raxus Prime, he raises a fine point. Colonel Hull does have a way to speak to the Senate and request for this criminal to be handed over for Justice's sake."

    "From his recent engagements with the Lok Revenants, he has even made contact with the Senator from Naboo," the old man pointed out. "I do believe that we should make a request that he be escorted by Temple Jedi as well as our own, that there will be no doubt he is there to represent our interests and those of the people of the Confederacy. We may be young, but we will not cower away in fear."

    "We will draft this plan and bring it before the Representative Body," Minister Korra sighed as she called in a few aids. "Let's begin, I believe that we would all like to break for dinner as soon as possible."

    "As if," the younger man scoffed. "I can do this all day."

    "How rude," a cane slammed down into the table beside the man, the older man from the Regency Worlds standing firm. "It would serve you well to learn manners young man, acting in such a fashion will make you many enemies, and none here will defend you should it end in blood."

    "Then you are no better than the Republic," the young man spat.

    "Should you desire it, I will gladly duel you over whether I am right nor not at a later time," Cassius glared. "You serve at the behest of your people, do not forget that."

    "Mister Clay, if you will please allow me," Minister Korra smiled at the old Abolitionist. "I'll handle this."

    "Representative Cerhine, should you act out like that again, I will have you removed from this council. I do not care who your backers are among the Representative Body. We were appointed here to serve the interests of the Confederacy and the worlds which it represents. We are to consider defense and security. That is our mandate, and I aim to keep this nation alive as long as I draw breath. So if you want to go stir up trouble, the Core is that way," Korra pointed in the general direction of Coruscant. "We're from the Mid and Outer Rims, we don't have time for that sort of Poodoo here."

    "Very well," Cerhine stood up, his fancy clothing shining in the light. "I see where I am not desired."

    "Damned fool," Cassius scoffed. "Let's get this plan drawn up, I've got a speech to make in an hour."

    "Alright," Korra slapped her hands down on the surface of the table. "Let's do this."
     
    • Chapter 50
    • Chapter 50

    "Which ships are you taking for escort?" Sheppard asked Hull as he threw some clothing and weapons into a duffle bag.

    "I'm leaving the Leviathan with y'all," Hull checked the chamber on an ancient looking handgun before sliding it into a holster underneath his duster. "I want to make an impression though."

    "So you're bringing the Katana," Sheppard grinned. "You just live to piss off the politicians, don't you?"

    "What gives you that idea?" Hull grinned as he tucked a few extra magazines into some concealed pouches and allowed the duster to cover them.

    "The fact that you're planning on smuggling weapons onto the Senate floor," Sheppard began counting off of his fingers. "Showing up in the flagship of their old fleet, you had a representative frozen in carbonite-"

    "That one was completely justified," Hull glanced up. "He's a menace, and there was no way I was allowing him to wander the Leviathan while we were still in a combat zone."

    "You still did it though," Sheppard pointed out. "Even if you did make it look like he stumbled into it by accident."

    "We're moving on from the subject," Hull straightened up and slung the duffle bag over his shoulder. "You've got the notes for the expansion and the promotions."

    "Yeah," Sheppard nodded. "I do."

    "Then enjoy yourself, Lieutenant Colonel," Hull saluted.

    "Great," Sheppard groaned. "Lemme guess, more paperwork?"

    "Always," Hull chuckled. "Anyway, you have full authority to negotiate more contracts while I'm gone."

    "And if you end up in a Republican prison somewhere?" the XO asked.

    "Then I fully expect a professionally done jailbreak," Hull retorted. "I don't expect to be arrested, but I'm going to make some contingencies if it happens. And the Count is helping with some of that planning."

    "Godspeed, Hull," Jack brought his friend in for a hug before patting him on the back and nodding. "Show 'em how a true Marksman does it."






    "So, it seems you're just always assigned to me," I glanced at Siri as she stepped up on my right flank.

    "It's better to have someone familiar with you and how you work," Siri shrugged. "That, and it's never a dull moment around you."

    "Colonel," A man in the Marksman's gold and black uniform saluted. "Lieutenant Kit Sturn, I'm the one who's been put in charge of your bodyguard detail."

    "Lieutenant," I returned the salute. "I don't think we've met before."

    "No, sir, we haven't," Kit moved to the opposite side. "I joined up a while ago, been working my way up the ranks ever since."

    "Well, we're glad to have you," I smiled. "You got any family, Lieutenant?"

    "Yessir," Kit reached into his pocket and pulled out a holographic frame, five young faces appearing and a gorgeous woman smiling at the camera. "Got five kids, and might have a few more on the way soon."

    "That's awesome!" I grinned. "I love large families. Lieutenant, if you need anything to help take care of them you just let me know. I'm all for helping out the large families. Now, tell me a bit about them."

    "Well, my oldest is Xan," Kit smiled as he pointed at the girl who was starting to enter puberty. "She's a fiery little Mandalorian, just like her mother, Sara. I think she's on the ASF track right out of school. She wants to be a pilot, and really likes those ones that you guys developed and improved on."

    "The modified Aethersprites?" I raised an eyebrow.

    "Yeah," Kit rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "I may have let her pilot the family freighter a time too many when she was growing up."

    "Well, we did make them safer than they originally were," I pointed out. "Doctor Rogers is a very talented engineer."

    "Yeah," Kit shrugged. "I just don't know where I went wrong. I tried to teach her to be a good groundpounder but it didn't seem to take."

    "I'm sure one of them'll take after you," I replied.

    "Ullal wants to become a 'mech pilot," Kit continued. "He's not old enough to do anything more than play with those small sims that you guys put in the schools, but he loves the war droids. He thinks they're right out of the old stories."

    "Old stories?" Siri spoke up.

    "Long time ago," he waved a hand to indicate it was a very old story. "Old Republic era, the Mandalorians had Basilisk War Droids, rode them down from orbit in attacks. There are poems and songs written about it and we've passed them on down."

    "Well, while orbital insertion is an option," I snarked. "We'd rather not put that sort of wear and tear on our units unless it's required."

    "Believe me," Kit shuddered. "Once I got into O-School they showed us the stats on different battles and the casualty rates. I'd rather not do a contested orbital insertion if I can help it."

    "Well, Lieutenant," I paused as we reached my quarters. "It was a pleasure meeting you, I believe that I'm in good hands. Get some rest and call your family. They'll want to spend some time talking to their dad."

    "Yessir!" The man saluted before heading off to his own quarters, leaving me alone with Siri Tachi.

    "A very interesting man," Siri said as she took a seat at the small table in the quarters I had been assigned. "Why the focus on such large families though?"

    "I'm the oldest of fourteen," I sat on the bunk bed as I cast my mind back quite a few years. "And I used to have a handful of kids of my own. If I hadn't been separated from them I'd probably have had six to eight kids myself. But it seems that there were other things in store for me."

    "Fourteen," Siri smirked. "That is nearly the size of one of your squads is it not?"

    "I didn't come up with the fifteen man squad," I chuckled as I realized what she meant. "But I can see how it looks that way."

    "I do not mean to pry," Siri finally said after some thought. "But what happened to your family? It seems that most of your group brought their families with them. I've met Peterson's wife, and many of the others had their families. But you, you alone do not seem to have anyone like that."


    "Well," I stroked my beard. "It's a bit of a long story."

    "We have time," Siri replied. "It will take at least a week to arrive at Coruscant, if not longer."


    "So, it all started about fifteen or so years ago," I began. "When I woke up on a derelict called the Manassas."
     
    • Chapter 51
    • Chapter 51
    Date: August 30, 3015/30.08.7954 CRC
    Location: MMS (Marksman Mercenary Ship) Katana, en route to Coruscant…

    "Representative Clay," I nodded at the man who had been selected to come and assist in the negotiations with the Republic. "It's a pleasure."

    "Always," he grinned as he settled down into a chair. "Now, we need to discuss the main talking points and get things agreed upon before we enter that snake pit."

    "I was planning on being straightforward," I shrugged. "The CIS is a sovereign and independent state similar to the Hapans, we should be treated with the same dignity and respect."

    "Aye," Cassius leaned back in his chair. "We should, but they won't acknowledge that. We're going to have to fight them every step of the way. So, I'm going to warn you in advance," he smirked. "I don't accept compromises, so I expect we'll have quite a few death threats and potential assassinations coming our way."

    "And we want Senator-in-Exile Taa admitted to our court systems," I nodded. "I have a feeling that they're not going to want to do that."

    "No, they will not," Clay replied. "They do not see our government as legitimate. And until we have established that we are both sovereign and not in rebellion we will continue to face this issue."

    "So," I interlaced my fingers, propped my elbows up on my desk, and leaned forward. "Where do we begin to do that?"

    "We begin, with the allies that you have already made," Cassius smiled. "You are well known in the Seswenna sector, and despite the fact that you are a member of the CIS, many of the senators that fall in line and support Eriadu will likely be in support of this. And let us not forget that Rendili will be likely to support the CIS as well."

    "So, we have the beginnings of support, now we need to figure out how to leverage that," I hummed.

    "Indeed," Clay paused in thought. "While also remembering that to compromise is to lose."

    "Right," I sighed as I racked my brain for ideas. "We have a week to get our shit together, so I guess it's time to dive into the politics."

    "I'm afraid so," Clay relaxed. "Just remember to write things down, I might be a bit forgetful in my old age now."






    "Captain," I stepped onto the bridge of the Katana. "I believe you asked for me?"

    "Yessir," the captain shifted in his chair. "We have a ship asking to dock with us and speak to you."

    "Oh?" I raised an eyebrow.

    "A Senator Padme Amidala and her escorts are requesting permission to dock and come aboard," he explained. "How would you like us to proceed?"

    "Let her board," Cassius made his presence known. "I would like to meet one of those who would be our opponents."

    "I just hope she's been struck by a bout of common sense," I sighed. "Captain, give them the go ahead. Lieutenant," I turned to look at Sturn. "If she's accompanied by a Gungan named Binks, then there's a standard protocol that's been created for such a situation. Follow it to the letter. Do not deviate or we will all regret it."

    "Heh, I'm sure he's not that bad, boss," Kit tried to laugh my concern off before he was halted in his tracks and turned to face me, my hands on his shoulders, the smile falling off of his lips as he met my gaze. "Follow the protocol to the letter, got it."

    "I've heard the stories about Binks," Siri agreed. "Kenobi had quite a bit to say."

    "And I'd prefer to avoid adding to said horror stories," I allowed Lieutenant Sturn to continue on towards the bays. "Once you collect the Senator, please escort her to the office that Representative Clay and I have been using."

    "Yes, sir!" Kit continued on his way.

    –
    –

    "Senator Amidala?" Kit asked as a small group walked down the ramp of the silver ship.

    "Yes," a petite brunette inclined her head. "Are you my escort?"

    "Yes, ma'am, I'm Lieutenant Sturn" the Mandalorian nodded in greeting as he introduced himself.. "I'm also supposed to ask if you have Representative Binks with you."

    "No," Padme tried to cover and conceal her laughter behind her hand before giving up and failing. "No, I believe he is still on Coruscant."

    "Oh, good," Sturn waved at the group of men that had been intended for implementing Protocol 11. "Then your people can retire to a nearby mess hall while I take you and your chosen escort to Representative Clay and Colonel Hull."

    "Captain Typho," Amidala looked back at the captain of her guard, allowing him to make the choice.

    "Senator," Typho inclined his head as he moved to flank the woman.

    "After you, Lieutenant."






    "Ahh, Master Yoda," Chancellor Palpatine smiled gently at the diminutive Jedi Master. "It's a pleasure to see you and Master Windu grace my office with your presence again."

    "The Senate is asking us to provide escorts for the delegation from the Confederacy of Independent Systems," Windu took a seat as was indicated. "But while we maintain a positive relationship with the Head of State of the Confederacy, we are not willing to break any appearance of neutrality between our Order and the Confederacy. Many of our Knights are in the Outer Rim after all, and their travel being impeded could mean life or death for many sentients."

    "Requested the Senate has, responded, have we," Yoda finally spoke. "Take sides in a potential conflict, we will not."

    "But of course," Palpatine replied. "I would not expect anything else from your honored Order. After all, I have the utmost respect for the services you provide to the Republic. However, I do hope that you will be present for the negotiations. Especially considering how precarious these negotiations may be."

    "Attend the proceedings, we shall," Yoda nodded. "Be absent, the Order will not."

    After discussing a few missions that several Jedi had been dispatched on and inquired as to the status of Anakin, Palpatine dismissed the leaders of the Jedi Order, a sinister smile creeping across his face as the door slid shut.

    Standing up from this chair and looking out the transparisteel of the window, he contemplated his next move before nodding to himself. Yes, it was time to begin casting suspicion on the Order. And the best way to do that was to allow some of those whom he had twisted in the last year to make an appearance. After all, a disposable weapon that was pointed in the right direction would cut all that lay in its path, heedless of those that it would harm. Oh, the damage that would be wreaked on the reputation of the Order. It would be Glorious! All that was left, was to orchestrate the timing.
     
    • Chapter 52
    • Chapter 52


    "Senator Amidala," Colonel Hull stood and greeted the woman, helping her into a chair as he moved to the other side of a small table. "This is Representative Clay, he'll be representing the Confederacy of Independent Systems in the talks with the Republic."

    "Senator Amidala," the older man stood and kissed her hand. "It's a pleasure."

    "Colonel Hull, Representative Clay," Padme acknowledged the two men. "I had originally only thought to meet with Colonel Hull, here. When we last met, you said something in a language I had never head before, and my protocol droid was unable to translate it with any true success."

    "Oh," Hull raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to refresh my memory a bit, I've had quite a few important meetings happen since then."

    "You said Si vis Pacem, Para Bellum," Padme replied. "You also told me to find time to meet with you if I wanted to discuss more of this. So," she spread out her hands. "Here I am. Now, explain please."

    "The words you were unable to recognize are from a dead language from my homeworld," Hull finally said after a moment. "In Basic, they would most closely translate to. "If you want peace, prepare for war."

    "That ties in heavily with what I have been studying as of late," the brunette finally said after a moment of thought. "Colonel, Representative, tell me. Do you desire a war with the Republic?"

    "God no!" Hull shook his head. "I've got enough work with pirates and other scum that I don't need a war to feed my people."

    "The CIS would like to be at peace with everyone," Cassius stated firmly. "I however, am personally pushing for a war with the Hutts. Slavery is a bane everywhere among the galaxy, and I would have us firmly stand against that evil no matter where it attempts to lie hidden."

    "Then why secede?" Amidala asked. Why not try to change the system?"

    "Do you think we were idle?" Cassius sighed. "No, we attempted every legal means that were available to us to change the system. And some of us attempted illegal means to do so. But it was not enough. The Republic is bloated, and many of them refused to listen or even move to assist us when we were dealing with pirates. If they would not move to help Eriadu, one of the staunchest supporters of the Republic among the Outer Rim, then why would they listen to the likes of my homeworld?"

    "I see," Padme sighed and seemed to deflate a touch as she considered Clay's words. "What are your intentions for the negotiations. If they are not unreasonable, then I will do what I can to support you."

    "It's simple," Clay met the Senator's eyes. "We want the Confederacy recognized as an independent and sovereign nation. And we want Orn Free Taa handed over to our courts so that justice may be rendered."

    "And what will this justice consist of?" Padme crossed her arms over her chest. "I will not agree unless it can be made plain that he will be given a fair and just trial."

    "There will be one judge," Clay stated. "He will be able to find an attorney, or one will be provided by the CIS. Regardless, it will work much the same as the courts in the Republic. Only we have some more strict penalties for the crimes that he was engaged in."

    "Then you have my support," she replied. "Now, onto some questions I had for the colonel regarding the formation of a military for a planetary defense force."

    Cassius leaned back and simply listened as the next generation began to discuss what the future held, and smiled as he closed his eyes. Regardless of which side was chosen, the future was in good hands.





    September 2, 3015/ 02.09.1954 CRC

    Senate Building, Coruscant, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic

    "How long does this drag on for?" Hull leaned forward, a pained expression on his face. "I've been sitting in this chair for hours, and it's really uncomfortable."

    "Would you rather be standing?" Sienn asked from her chair, the gown she had chosen flattering her figure but not revealing the sheer amount of concealed weapons she carried.

    "Honestly?" the Colonel sighed. "Yes. I'd rather stand in the sun or fight on the battlefield than be here."

    "Patience," Siri cautioned. "The Senate often deliberates on subjects such as this for hours on end. We may not even get an audience for another day or so."

    "Unacceptable," Clay shook his head. "We are not some backwater cluster of planets that can be dismissed so easily," the old man typed a message into the pad in front of him, and two different heads met his eye as he gave them a sharp nod. "Now, we shall see how they handle this."


    "The Senator from Naboo motions to allow the Representative from the Confederacy of Independent Systems a chance to speak," Mas Amedda announced.

    "Corellia seconds the motion," Senator Garm Bel Iblis glanced at Clay. "They have made an effort to attend, they should be allowed to speak."

    "Eriadu agrees in full," The entire floor seemed shaken as Senator Gideon Tarkin from Eriadu stood tall in his military-esque uniform. "The Confederacy are made up of systems that are our brothers and sisters among the Mid and Outer Rim. They were within their rights to choose a differing form of government. If they should desire it, then we should treat with them. Let us not find ourselves lacking in Governance or in compassion in regards to other nations."

    "The motion carries," Amedda spoke. "The Chair recognizes the Honorable Cassius Marcellus Clay and Colonel Mark Hull as the representatives of the Confederacy of Independent Systems."

    "Good afternoon," Clay gave a small bow as the pedestal moved out to the middle of the senate floor. "I am, as the Chair said earlier, a representative for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. And I stand before you, God, and those who we represent to demand one thing."

    "And what might that be?" another senator scoffed. "It's not as if we've done anything that could possible harm you?"

    For once, the senate floor was silent as each of the pedestals chirped with the receipt of a message, and it was clear where the message was from as the silence was broken.

    "Justice," Clay said softly. "Justice for those who were harmed by the one who was supposed to serve those who he represented. Justice for those who were sold like cattle into slavery because of the policies that were applauded and put into place. Justice, for those who were recently captured as hostages, simply because they wished to find a better way of life. Justice, for those who Colonel Hull rescued that had been raped, tortured, and God alone knows what else.

    I say to those of you who have any sense of morals and ethics left in your veins. See to it, that good is done today, that the wrongs are righted. Orn Free Taa has done something reprehensible, and we, as law-abiding citizens of any nation, cannot abide by such a thing being done. Whether it is within, or without our borders."

    "And what would you do with him, were he to be admitted into your care?" Senator Mon Mothma asked. "Would you simply allow your citizens to do as they desired? Would you let him be tortured or for any other means of cruelty to come to him?"

    "What manner of beings do you believe us to be?!" Clay recoiled as Hull put his hand on the representatives shoulder as he stood up.

    "Senator Mothma from Chandrilla, was it?" Hull asked.

    "Yes," the woman nodded.

    "Are you aware of my chosen profession?"

    "I know that you have chosen war to be your profession," she replied. "What has that to do with justice?"

    "That, is where you are sadly mistaken," Hull allowed his hands to rest calmly at his belt. "I am a mercenary, not merely a soldier who is told to go and fight for a his nation in a foreign land. What that means is that my word and promise are unbreakable bonds, that whatever contract I sign I am not only responsible for holding to the letter of, but to the spirit of also. Without such trust, I have no work, and I become a step closer to a common bandit as I drift about looking for a way to feed those in my care. If you cannot trust anything else, you can trust that I will personally see to it that Orn Free Taa is kept safe until his trial. And, should he be sentenced, I will also ensure that he is alive to see his sentence carried out. Anything after that, will be beyond my concern."

    After that statement, the Senate dissolved into chaos as it usually was, with the various power blocs arguing over what was to be done while Amedda uselessly called for order while the CIS's pedestal drifted back into place and locked itself down.

    "And now we wait for the storm to settle," Siri leaned back. "After this, we shall see where we have to apply pressure in order to get the cracks to spread."

    "It's just like being on another op," Hull sighed, his duster falling back as he stretched. "Which means that something's about to start shooting at us, mark my words."


    Author's Note: I had this written earlier this week. I figure Christmas Eve makes a decent Christmas present for y'all. 😝 have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year, all!
     
    • Chapter 53
    • Chapter 53​
    Unknown date and location…
    "Your existence is pain." The voice of his captor whispered into his ear as he raged against his bonds reaching for a connection that slipped away again and again. The force had abandoned him long ago, and all that was left where light and life had once been was a burnt-out husk.

    Then, as if a switch had been switched, the pain stopped for a brief moment, and the fog of red that had long ago descended over his eyes lifted enough for him to see his tormentor and the room that he was in.

    Duracrete walls and barren floors surrounded him. The only thing preventing him from leaving his tenuous connection to the force and his inability to move a single muscle with the electric current still spreading through his muscles.

    "Would you like for this to end?" The cloaked figure asked quietly.

    The man tried to speak, but his voice broke as he opened his mouth.

    "Of course," the cloaked figure spread his arms out grandly. "Where are my manners?"

    A droid brought a small plastoid water bottle and straw over, allowing the tortured to whet his throat.

    "I'll do anything," he croaked. "If it is within my feeble power, then I will see to it that what you desire is done."

    "Good, good," a hand was raised, the Force breaking loose the shackles as the tortured was picked up by a droid. "See to his injuries, and inform me of when he is capable of doing what I desire."

    The cloaked figure walked out as the droid carried him to a nearby medical bed. Then, the droid wheeled him into a room where a Bacta tank and other medical equipment were waiting to be used.

    "Be still," a medical droid's baritone instructed. "You require fluids and other procedures to restore your muscles to proper functionality."

    The droid injected the man with a sedative and began the grisly work of restoring the tortured to some form of health.





    September 2, 3015/ 02.09.1954 CRC

    Senate Building, Coruscant, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic

    "Well, it seems that a decision will not be coming from the Senate today," Clay sighed as we left the pedestal. "Thankfully, I managed to arrange for us to get lodging close to the Hapan Embassy."

    "And that's important, because?" I raised an eyebrow, the name hitting a few notes of memory, but not enough to ring any big bells.

    "Because they're one of the few interstellar nations that are not a part of the Republic. And we've yet to work out any agreements with them," Cassius turned a bit red. "And they are home to some of the most beautiful women in the galaxy. You'll not find many like them."

    "He's not wrong, Colonel," Lieutenant Sturn agreed. "If I hadn't settled down with Sara I'd have been willing to travel to find someone from that region. They make for damned fine Mandalorians."

    "I'll look into opening some recruitment there," I stroked my beard, humming as we moved through the wide yet crowded corridors that surrounded the big open space of the Senate 'Floor'.

    "Wait here," our second Marksman bodyguard went through the outer door to check our speeder, the team on the other side being the rest of the squad.

    The large speeder was checked over by a trio of Marksmen, each one checking a subsystem while a bomb tech checked for any potential explosives.

    "We're clear," Sturn opened the door and waited for us to move through. "We've got some ASF on standby to provide escort."

    "How did we get permission for that?" Siri asked. "Coruscant traffic control must have fought you on every level for that."

    "We didn't ask," Sturn replied. "Our charges are more important than their traffic rules."

    We climbed into the armored speeder and entered the traffic of Coruscant, a quartet of our variant of the Aethersprite fighter falling into formation around us as we sped off toward the rooms that Cassius had managed to get for us.






    "This is a nice place," I looked around at tasteful and solid-looking furniture, everything seemed humble until I took a closer look and saw that master craftsmen had touched each and every single piece. "Well made, but humble."

    "This place isn't as well renowned and in the view of citizens like the 500 Republica," Cassius sat in a comfortable-looking chair. "And their privacy is better by far."

    "Isn't there supposed to be more traffic outside?" Sienn asked as she peered out of the transparisteel window.


    "Yes, there is," Clay poured himself a decanter of some sort of liquor and took a sip, savoring it before leaning on his cane and standing up, his coat vanishing to reveal a pair of holstered blasters. "Lieutenant, we are likely to receive some unwelcome guests shortly. You may wish to contact the Katana and see if we can acquire reinforcements. Assassins are sometimes subtle here on Coruscant, but we are foreigners, and many will gladly cover up our deaths."

    "Siri," I said calmly as I slid my duster back and brought up my sidearm, the positively ancient weapon of polymer and metal sitting comfortably in my hand as if it were an old friend. "Remember the Leviathan?"

    "Yes," she used the Force to bring her lightsaber to her hand. "What about it?"

    "I'm pretty sure that we've got a similar problem on our hands," I checked the chamber on my 9mm and reholstered it before accepting a laser carbine that Sturn handed me. "Please tell me we've got something ballistic," I passed him the laser carbine back. "I'm partial to things that go boom."

    We ensured that all of us were armed appropriately, and then we waited. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the first five minutes passed, then fifteen, and just as some of us started to relax, a red glow lit the other side of a door.

    The red lightsaber burned slowly through the reinforced door, the acrid smoke and smell of molten metal stinging our noses.

    "This is Bravo-One, we're beginning to rappel down now, ETA two mikes," the calm voice of Mathis announced as the blade began to circle back around to complete the cut.

    "I fuckin' knew the other shoe was about to drop," I sighed as I checked the chamber on the rifle I'd swapped the laser carbine for. "Remember people, if it's a Jedi then you make absolutely certain ballistics go first. Molten metal moving at the speed of sound is just as lethal as the solid projectile."

    Then, the blade shut off, or withdrew, I wasn't exactly sure which as the cutout was shoved through the hole by an invisible force and ejected out the window, striking a speeder on the way down as the entrance began to be filled with smoke.

    And as if mirroring an event far into the future of this universe, A red blade was the only thing shining from the other side as it moved through.
     
    • Chapter 54
    • Chapter 54​

    I let out a breath that I had been holding as I squeezed the trigger of my rifle, the harsh "Crack!" of the supersonic bullet extra loud indoors as a figure made its way out of the smoke, an armored droid pockmarked with holes stood with a lightsaber in hand before it was headcapped by a laser from Sienn, her laser carbine smoking as an eerie silence filled the air before more droids started flooding into the room.

    I engaged the droids as they entered the room, my rifle rounds knocking them back as the blaster and laser fire from the other Marksmen erased what was left. "They're flooding the room with numbers!" Lieutenant Sturm barked. "These are IG models, tough as nails and hard to put down."

    "What weaknesses do they have?" I asked, reloading as my magazine ran dry.

    "Sustained fire," Sturn replied as he ducked back into cover as a blaster bolt nearly sheered his head in half. "Or the lasers seem to be making short work of them."

    "You heard the man!" I yelled. "Marksmen, tag team, I want this sorted!"

    We rapidly picked up on a method, with the ballistics hitting first and knocking the droids back before a blaster or a laser finished the droid off. But then another smoke grenade was hurtled in, and we were blind aside from the flickering of enemy blasters cutting through to kill us.

    "These guys are smart," Sienn got close to my ear. "They're gonna wait for us to run out of ammo. They likely have more- A red lightsaber carved the cover that Sienn and I were using as cover in half, a masked and cloaked figure growled angrily and snapped his hand out, throwing the Twi'lek spy across the room with the force while I grabbed at the lightsaber on my belt, snapping it up and igniting the violet blade as the angry red blade of the Dark Jedi carved my rifle in half.

    Throwing the half in my hand at the Jedi's face, I pressed forward as he flinched, Dooku's training coming to the forefront as I pushed an advantage against an enemy that was better trained than me.

    But I had one distinct advantage over my enemy. I had been trained by and fought against a master of Jedi dueling. But, I wasn't a duelist at heart. I, was a soldier, so I acted as a soldier would.

    Rapidly exchanging blows, I read my opponent's movements from body language, eventually locking blades as my eyes darted back and forth searching for any form of weakness. "Siri!" I snatched my pistol off of my hip while holding enemy lightsaber in place, eventually sliding it off and into the floor while I swept my foot up and into his face, "I could use some help here!" I squeezed the trigger of my handgun while I held it at my hip, the slide rocking back and forth as I pulled the trigger as rapidly as it reset, the rounds bouncing off of some sort of body armor before one of the rounds found purchase and the enemy snarled, his hand darting in a slashing motion sending a large chunk of debris at me and launching me out of the already broken skyscraper window.

    "Corellian nine hells!" Sturn swore, dumping a magazine into the back of the Dark Jedi now that the Colonel was clear, the heavy rounds carving a bloody swathe through his torso. "We've got a man out the window, he's going to need a rescue before he ends up as bloody paste all over the undercity!"
    It took me a moment to regain my bearings as I fell through the Coruscanti sky, my hand still holding an ignited violet blade. Shaking my head, I thumbed the activation switch, fighting against the air around me to tuck the hilt of the lightsaber into my belt before spreading out into the position we'd all been trained on.

    I knew that coms would be useless with the wind rushing through my mic so I focused on what I could do, and found that it wasn't all that much. Any attempt to arrest my momentum with a cable or anything would result in broken bones at the smallest, and with me dead at the worst.

    I wanted to freak out, but I had entered into that weird state of calm that always seemed to happen after the worst accidents I'd ever been in, from totaled car wrecks, to broken bones, it wouldn't faze me until after the worst had passed by.

    So, for what seemed like minutes, but was only a few seconds in reality, I took stock of what I had in my possession, pistol, check, lightsaber, check. Duster, check.

    Duster, I could use that.

    Shrugging the coat down, I grabbed on and allowed it to billow out, the air catching and slowing me down with a sharp jolt, my left arm groaning as a collarbone that was already sore protested at the torture I was putting it through.

    Now slowed down, I looked up just as a slow moving open topped tour bus glided through the air, my legs catching on part of it and driving the wind out of me while I slid down into the seat at the back.

    The occupants of the bus simply stared at me, my odd uniform and weapons marking me as different, and not to be messed with.

    Holding up a hand, I indicated for them to wait as I held a hand to my chest and stood up, catching my breath for a second. "I need to speak to the driver."

    "You can have whatever you want!" a man shielded his family. "Just leave my family out of this."

    "I don't want any of your shit," I rolled my eyes as I limped to the front of the bus. "I've got to get back to my people."






    "No!" Sturn and a giant of a man clad in Mithril grabbed Siri and pulled her back from the window. "We're not sending anyone back out there without a vehicle or an escort to recover the body."

    "But he's still alive, I can sense it," Siri protested.

    "Leave it," Cassius looked at the Jedi Knight. "These men know what they are doing."

    "You think we don't want to go after him?" Sturn asked, his knuckles white around his rifle. "Of course we do, but we have a responsibility to those who are here and alive. And if we leave now, whose going to ensure that the Representative or Ms. Sienn here are kept alive?"

    "We've got a team heading down to the likely landing point now," the giant unpolarized his faceplate. "Knight Tachi, I know that you were friends with the Colonel, but we need you to liaison with the Jedi on this. The last time something like this happened was on Naboo, and I'd hate for this to come back to haunt us or the Confederacy due to us not following proper protocol."

    "Right," Siri closed her eyes, taking her emotions and releasing them into the force, allowing the peace and light to fill and calm her before she exhaled, driving the fear and worry out with the rest of the turmoil. "I'll need to contact the Order and Count Dooku right away."

    "I'll get you access, the Mithril-clad man nodded. "I'm Captain Mathis, any authorization you need can go with my stamp of approval."

    The man gestured for another person to come over, an antenna pointing over the woman's shoulder.

    "Knight Tachi, Corporal Schmitt here will help you with whatever you need," Mathis locked eyes with the Jedi before his faceplate repolarized and he turned away and began barking orders, a couple of fireteams moving to block any police from entering while another group contacted the Katana and began requesting extra hands on deck to begin documenting the scene.

    "No, you're not allowed to pass," Mathis glared at a Coruscanti police officer as he tried to enter.

    "Look, I'm here to take Representative Clay and Colonel Hull into protective custody," the officer began to sweat. "I'm trying to make sure they're safe."

    "We've got that well under control," Mathis stated coldly. "Now, you and your fellow officers can leave. Or we will remove you… By force if we must."

    "I'll go ask my superiors what they want me to do," the officer walked away, not willing to turn his back on the soldier. "But I'm not sure they'll back down."

    "Then it is up to you to convince them," Mathis's HMG shifted in his grip. "Or they can come speak in person, and I'll persuade them. But you will not cross this threshold."







    "Thanks for the ride," I nodded at the family that owned the tour bus. "Sorry for the mess," I glanced at the blood I'd left behind. "I'll make sure that you're compensated for the loss of revenue."

    I then turned and looked at the tower.

    "And I just bet the fuckin' elevator's broken," I muttered as I entered and looked up at how many flights of stairs I would have to climb if the elevator was indeed broken.

    "Welcome, how may I help you today?" someone asked as I entered and headed for the elevator.

    "Look," I glanced at the Zabrak. "I'm trying to get back to the top," I shook my head. "Or as close as I can get."

    "Are you alright sir?" He glanced at the bloodied uniform and the way I was cradling my left shoulder. "I can get you to a hospital."

    "No," I shook my head. "I've got to get back to my people, and I can't trust anyone in the hospital."

    "Well, the elevator is working, but it only goes up halfway," the Zabrak pointed out. "You'll have to take another elevator and quite a few flights of stairs to reach the hotel portion on the upper levels."

    "Of course I do," I sighed, walking to the elevator and punching the button for the tallest floor. "Because what else was going to happen?"
     
    • Chapter 55
    • Chapter 55​


    “No, you may not pass,” Mathis glared at the robed figure attempting to enter the now completely secured hotel room.

    “It’s our responsibility to see to it that this is properly investigated,” Windu crossed his arms. “You will let us pass.”

    “No, I won’t,” the Giant of a man before putting on Mithril towered over the small group of Jedi. “My team is going over things now. If you want to assist with our internal investigation you can follow the rules and procedures detailed in Bill 103, subsection 3.2 recently passed by the Confederacy of Independent Systems. As mercenaries directly contracted to provide security to Representative Clay, we’re not to allow anyone under the command of a foreign nation to investigate until we’ve completed one of our own.”

    “But you’re not in the Confederacy, and this is under the Jurisdiction of the Republic,” a second Jedi argued as Windu stared at Mathis.

    “Actually,” a female voice spoke up from behind them, a small group of guards surrounding her.“This building from floors one Thousand and five to the top floor is designated as part of the Hapan Embassy, and as such, not under the Republic’s Jurisdiction, but instead to be internally managed by the Hapes Consortium. Now, we of Hapes respectfully ask that all police and investigative forces of the Republic leave until both ours and the Confederacy’s investigators are satisfied. We will share our findings once we are finished.”

    “Anita Talpav,” Windu growled at the gray-haired woman.

    “Ahh, Master Windu, it is always a pleasure to see you!” she smiled wide. “Would you like to know how-”

    “We’re leaving,” Windu swept out of the room like a gust of wind, the few knights and masters following suit.

    “Anita,” Clay smiled at the Hapan leader. “It’s been a while.”

    “It has been too long,” she turned her attention to the older Representative. “I see that you’ve got quite a lot more gray than before.”

    “I’m not the only one,” Clay chuckled. “Thanks for the assist by the way. It’s been rough keeping the Coruscanti police out, much less the Temple.”

    “We are lucky that it was Windu and not another master,” the Hapan cautioned as she followed them into the destroyed room “I’ll not have leverage like that on another master.”

    “Right,” Clay sighed. “And given the damages,” he gestured towards the wrecked room and the priceless furniture that had been scarred and destroyed by the skirmish. “We’ll pay for them, but there’s a bit of a problem.”

    “Moreso than an assassination attempt?” Anita raised a refined eyebrow/

    “Ha!” Clay gave a harsh barking laugh. “I wish it was just an unsuccessful assassination attempt. There was a Dark Jedi among their midst,” Clay pointed out the lightsaber damage. “Which means that the Jedi do have jurisdiction here. You know the treaty just as well as I do.”

    “Please tell me that’s the last of it,” Anita pinched the bridge of her nose to stave off a headache.

    “Colonel Hull’s lost, probably dead,” Clay sat down on a destroyed desk, leaning on his cane as he looked out the damaged window at the patrolling Archon’s Favor and squadron of ASF that supported her. “The Dark Jedi threw him out the window, and it’s a fucking long way down.”

    “Fucking?” Anita mouthed before shaking her head with the new information. “That settles it, you’re going to war with the Republic soon enough.”

    “I’m aware,” Clay sighed. “Hull’s group is extremely popular within the CIS, even though his group is mercenaries, they have recruitment across all of our worlds, and provide training to most planetary defense forces.”

    “They’re thoroughly imbedded in your nation, aren’t they?” Anita asked.

    “Aye,” Clay nodded. “For all that some make fun of them as ‘Dooku’s pet mercenaries’, they are more akin to the Confederacy's independent troubleshooters.”

    “Cassius,” Anita looked him dead in the eye. “The ruling family is interested in negotiating, but we can’t until this mess is sorted out. I’m being given leeway in letting you stay in our Embassy, but you’ve got to get this handled, and soon. Before the Republic decides to rid itself of any need of a ‘Hapan’ embassy.”

    “Anita, we’ll handle it,” Cassius grinned. “I’ve got some of the best people in the galaxy on it. We just need a little time.”

    “And while those people investigate?” Anita raised an eyebrow.

    “I’ll be taking care of the job I was sent here to do,” Clay’s eyes and voice hardened. “He enabled the slave trade that has ravished this Galaxy, and I’m going to see to it that he’s brought to justice. And then,” he turned and looked out the window. “Then I’m going to start working on the rest of the galaxy.”

    “Always the same,” Anita stood up to leave. “Never change Cassius, never change.”

    “After this is all said and done, we’ll have to get a drink,” Clay stood up to see her out. “I still haven’t gotten to hear what the Twins and their brother have gotten up to.”

    “I’ll hold you to that,” Anita replied, moving to the elevator door as it slid open, a bloodied man falling from where he had been leaning on the doors.

    “Medic!” Mathis jolted into action, his hands checking the pulse of the fallen. “Pulse is still strong.”

    “I’ll take it from here,” the medic slid into view, his partner stopping to pull out scissors and begin cutting the gold and black clothing from the bearded man.

    “We’ve got glass embedded into parts of him where it cut through his uniform,” the first medic began diagnosing the injuries. “He’s in partial shock, pulse is beginning to drop. We’ve got quite a bit of blood loss here too.”

    “We need to get him to the Katana,” the Medic began putting pressure on the largest of the wounds. “He’ll need surgery for some of the glass.”

    “Archon’s Favor, we need a medevac on the roof,” Mathis’s voice stated on the radio. “And someone get Knight Tachi on the horn, She’s in the Undercity with Lieutenant Sturn trying to track down the Colonel.”

    “What do we tell them?” the comms operator asked as he pulled the massive device off of his back.

    “Tell them the VIP is secured, nothing else over an open channel,” Mathis responded.

    “Well,” Anita turned to Cassius. “I suppose that’s one problem solved.”

    “I certainly hope so,” he glanced at the downed Colonel.






    “Representative,” Amidala glanced at the older man. “I’m glad to see that you’re alive and well.”

    “It’s not the first time someone’s attempted to assassinate me,” he waved a hand. “I’m sure that you understand more than most.”

    “Unfortunately, yes,” she frowned. “I wanted to let you know that I’ve managed to get some small support for your request. But it will be up to you to see to it that Orn Free Taa is released into your custody.”

    “Indeed,” Clay nodded before turning and heading for his own pedestal.

    “Are you sure you want to do things this way?” Lieutenant Sturn looked at Cassius.

    “I’m old, and I find that I do not want to spend time in this cesspit any longer than necessary. It is better to offend and make an enemy than have an uncertain and untrustworthy neutral body.”

    “The Chair recognizes the Representative of the Confederacy of Independent Systems,” Amedda exchanged glances with Palpatine, receiving a small nod in return.

    “Thank you,” Clay stood up and leaned on his cane, his blaster now visible for all to see along with the weapons of his bodyguards. “People of the Republic,” he began and then let the silence settle fully upon the chambers.

    “I am certain that many of you do not wish to hear the words that I have to say, so I will be utterly clear and concise. Orn Free Taa is not just the man responsible for the deaths of some of my countrymen and women. He is also responsible for allowing the slavery of his own people to continue unchecked. He has profited off of the harm of his own constituents, even breaking the Republic’s own laws in order to do so.”

    Clay then pulled out a stack of various religious texts and set them on a table beside him. “For those of you who believe in the laws of gods, I make to you this argument against slavery and to return Orn Free Taa to our courts. For those of you who believe in the laws of the Republic, I set this argument before you,” he pulled out a copy of the Republic’s founding documents and set it beside the religious texts. “For those of you who believe in neither, I set to you this argument,” he set his blaster on the table and then sat down as the chamber erupted into chaos once more as a man fell onto the Representative’s platform, a blaster bolt flying from the man’s pistol and striking his chest, sending Clay to the ground as Lieutenant Sturn and his partner began to engage the other two assassins that had followed while Cassius Clay staggered to his feet, drawing a knife and stabbing the first assassin multiple times, sending the unarmored man to the afterlife before turning and addressing the Senate floor.

    “You have one more chance to hand Orn Free Taa over,” Clay spat blood onto the ground. “Before I come for him myself. I have been attacked twice now, a third will ensure that I no longer operate under your laws, but instead the Confederacy’s.”
     
    • Chapter 56
    • Chapter 56

    "It is unfortunate that they survived both attempts," Sidious muttered to Mas Amedda, but this is not a failure. No, this will stoke the fires that have already been burning in the hearst of both the Republic and the Confederacy. Leading them towards war in an even shorter time frame than I originally intended."

    "The Republic would be on the losing end of such a conflict at first," Amedda cautioned. "I am uncertain as to how that would further your plans."

    "The Outer Rim possesses the resources to fight a prolonged war. But they do not have the manufacturing capacity to do so," Sidious explained. "Unless the Confederacy allies themselves with the Banking Clans and Trade Federation."

    "Which would be nigh impossible for them at this time," Amedda nodded in understanding.

    "Which will lead to a burning resentment of those who desire peace with the Confederation," Sidious smirked. "Yes, the future is not quite as certain as it once was, but the Grand Plan can always be… Adjusted as necessary."

    "And what of losing Orn Free Taa?" Amedda asked.

    "An inconvenience," The Sith Lord waved the concern away. "He was a blunt instrument, and while he may have been a useful tool at one time, now he is merely another to be sacrificed on the altar of the future empire."

    "We must remember to disguise your meetings with Kuat," Amedda stood up to leave. "There are many questions that have been raised of late, I would not have us discovered."

    "That will be handled shortly," Palpatine seemingly changed from a sinister figure to a kindly old man as he lowered his hood and smiled genially. "I have already secured the funds needed to further our agenda with them. When it is time, we will have a fleet to secure the Outer Rim."






    I woke up to the sound of medical devices, the familiar noise of an EKG machine allowing me to relax a bit.

    "Ahh, Colonel," A Togrutan nurse greeted me as I blinked through blurred eyes at her. "You're awake!"

    "Anyone get the number of the bus that hit me?" I asked as I rubbed at my eyes, wincing at pain that radiated from several different places.
    "Well, I'm pretty sure it wasn't a bus," Siri spoke up from the doorway she was leaning on. "Now, I think we need to have a discussion about Windows," she crossed her arms. "They're for looking out of, not falling out of…"

    "I was thrown," I protested as the Nurse began running checks. "Believe me, I didn't go voluntarily," I watched as some tension drained out of my friend. "Now, how long have I been out?"

    "Five days," the Nurse answered. "You were in pretty bad shape when they brought you up here. The Human body is not supposed to withstand anything approaching the sort of speeds that you endured before you interrupted your fall. Now, we're going to keep you for further…"

    The Nurse's voice faded as I tuned her out. I knew that whatever she was saying was important, but right now I couldn't bring myself to care. I was tired, and after we got back from Coruscant, I was taking a vacation.

    "Do you understand, Colonel?" the Nurse's voice broke through my thoughts.

    "I understand," I replied, leaning back against the bedframe. "Now, can I get an update on what's happening with the negotiations?"

    "Orn Free Taa is in the brig now," Siri replied. "We're just ensuring that all of our personnel are aboard and that the Hapans have the information they need to establish an Embassy with the Confederacy."

    "I think I missed something," I raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember that being a part of our job here."

    "Clay asked for us to remain until he had finished up with the Hapans," Lieutenant Sturn stepped into view. "Major Mathis is currently ensuring that he remains secure. And, honestly, given how successful it seems he is, we might have another ally soon."

    "More allies is good," I closed my eyes for a minute. "What are our odds of persuading more neutral factions to join the Confederacy?"

    "If you can persuade the Mandalorian People, then the current ruling faction will follow," Sturn shrugged. "They are nothing, if not democratic."

    "Nevermind," I sighed. "I'm going to lay here, and heal up. And when I'm done, I'm finding a beach in an extremely well guarded compound and staying there for a month. I'm taking a fucking vacation."





    "So, I can expect a diplomatic assembly to arrive at Raxus by the end of the month?" Clay leaned back, his cane tapping on the floor as he spoke with Anita.

    "Ta'a Chume, the Queen Mother has confirmed that she would like to establish trade ties at a minimum to much of the rest of the galaxy. And given that the Republic has been… Less than open to such of late, she will accept an alternative."

    "And your Daughters have been left alive?" Clay asked. "I know that the Embassy was closed for a time when the Jedi were expelled from the entirety of the Consortium."

    "Had it been Master Windu who was present, such a thing would not have happened. But after what happened," Anita sighed. "My Daughters were considered tainted at first. But since they have proven themselves, they are considered a valuable part of the Navy."

    "That is good to hear," Clay leaned back in his chair. "Is Ni'Korish alive? I have heard nothing of her in decades."

    "There has been no news from the family aside from ruling edicts," Anita shrugged. "We are currently the strongest we have been in generations, and piracy has all but been eradicated."

    "We're not quite there yet in the Confederacy," Clay replied. "But we are well on our way to ridding us of that plague among the stars. Our largest fear lies not with pirates at the moment. But instead, it lies with the Republic."

    "That is the one reason that I believe an alliance would falter," Anita agreed. "The Queen Mother will not be favorable to an alliance should it drag us into a war with any faction at present."

    "We're hoping it never comes to that," Cassius eased himself up onto his feet, leaning on his cane and looking at his old friend. "The Republic is sending along independent observers to ensure that we don't just execute the fat bastard. You and your representatives are invited as well if you wish to be present for trade negotiations."

    "Who have the Republic chosen to send?" Anita asked.

    "Various Senators and their entourages," Clay smirked. "Which means they'll be beyond surprised at the size of the Confederacy's assigned quarters and staff for their elected officials."

    "If I'm not selected, I may take some leave and travel with an old friend," Anita smiled in response. "Watching those sorts of upper class brats being surprised with reality is always enjoyable."

    "Well, let me know if you manage to find the time," Clay began to exit the room, twin bodyguards in Powered armor falling in behind him. "We'll be leaving in six hours."

    "I know where to find you," Anita replied. "You'll be in the thick of whatever mess you've managed to land yourself in this time."

    "Always," Cassius turned and waved jauntily. "Always."

    Then he entered the elevator and was gone, leaving Anita to once again deal with the bureaucracy of the Republic by herself.

    "What's my next appointment?" Anita asked her secretary, the man jolting up and quickly closing out the Pazaak game he'd been playing.

    "Umm, you have a meeting with Eriadu, but that's not scheduled for another week or so," he stammered.

    "Good," Anita leaned forward. "Begin the paperwork for a travel request. We're going to see if we can't get our vacation paid for by the Queen Mother."

    "Yes, ma'am," the secretary began typing rapidly. "Is there anything else that you need?"

    "Ensure we get one of the faster and well armed ships. We're not taking any chances on this one," she paused. "And make sure that we've got some of the better looking girls. This is a chance to steal some of the best of their gene pool for our future daughters after all…"
     
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