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Throne Room, Dooku's Palace, Serenno, Confederacy of Independent Systems space
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To say he was angry would of been a monumental understatement for the Sith Lord. Staring at the lime green circular window and it's decorative pattern carved into the expensive glass he recounted the two separate reports he received, one reliable and the other missing many details out from his faults. It was simple mission that turned out to be a huge disaster and the fear from the man responsible was all he could sense around the room.
Keeping up his usual calm demeanour he turned from the window to see Admiral Laden still kneeling on the floor, his head down and his second in command a T series tactical droid, it's designated number TO-17. Commando droids stood at attention in rows running along the sides of the room, their emotionless faces fixed ahead. He walked over to his metallic desk peering his yellow eyes down at the culprit as he scooped up a datapad he read over at least twice since he was informed of the botched mission.
"I've just been going over your report Admiral" The Count said glancing at the pad for a few seconds "To say that I'm happy with your results would be a lie of great proportions"
"My Lord if I could explain-"
"Silence!" Dooku seethed at the man "I ordered you to establish a base of operations for future invasions into Republic and neutral systems. But instead you have given the Separatist Alliance two new enemies, whose strength has proven to have the very high potential of becoming a great threat to our cause" He slammed the pad down on the desk.
"I had attempted to establish a dialogue but both were rejected outright and they attacked us" He tried defending himself with a lie so poorly conjured that even a lowly citizen could tell without the assistance of the Force. Dooku gave Laden a hard glare, making the weak man drop his head back to the floor like a true submissive coward.
"Tee Zero Seventeen, is Admiral Laden's statement correct?"
"No Count Dooku, Admiral Laden's actions were aggressive and reckless. He had threatened both factions with violence and claimed to be doing it in your name, my Lord. After of which he had invaded the world's belonging to both factions" The tactical droid recounted from it's earlier report. The Admiral snapped his head in shock, his face twisted into an expression of fear whilst glancing up at the unsympathetic droid.
"Th-that's no true. He is lying my Lord, they were the aggressors!" He tried protesting his innocence but the Count had enough.
"Laden you have put our government in jeopardy. Our struggle for independence and right of existence has now become an even greater hardship because of your failure!. I do not need to tell you of the punishment for such an act of treason" He looked up at the approaching figure behind the snivelling Admiral.
"P-please Count, I have did everything you ask-" A snap hiss echoed around the room as Laden's chest was illuminated by a light green plasma blade impalement, the searing hot weapon taken from a fallen Jedi as a trophy from its owner went through his heart. A look of horror was on Laden's face for a brief time before being replaced by his eyes closing shut for the finally time, as Grievous snuffed the incompetent Naval officer's life out.
"Please dispose of the mess" He coldly commanded to a pair of Commando droids, not paying any more attention to the dead fool. He sat on his throne chair and began reading the little information they had on their new foes and their capabilities. It was always said the Unknown Regions possessed many strange places with the possibility of threatening the known galaxy and here was a good example of it.
It was an interesting contrast to say the least between the two new powers Laden had found and idiotically provoked. One was an highly advanced civilisation and the other was relatively on par with both the Confederacy and the Republic, but only much smaller in terms of territory.
The biggest worry Dooku had was this 'Chimeran Empire' the Admiral had first attacked. He foolishly believed they were an small, early spacefaring power and the worlds he had attacked were just all they had, until the tactical droid pointed out in the report that it predicted these aliens had many more. Data recovered from the ground and space battles showed frightening results with grave consequences if a possible peace treaty wasn't established with this government.
The task force the Sith had gathered numbered up to 100 ships to both spread Separatist influence and establish a new strategic front against the Republic but of the vast fleet he ordered out, only four ships returned. The power of these Chimeran ships was unlike anything he had ever seen before. They came in a range of sizes and the number that came to counter the invasion into their empire supported the claim the had more worlds.
If everything the droid had reported was in fact accurate then they were in serious trouble. The Chimeran warships ripped theirs to shreds to a frightening degree and their soldiers far out classed any of the droid units deployed in the conflict. A very powerful energy cannon used by these aliens was said to destroy a fully shielded cruiser in just one shot.
Then there was the other one which they had even less information on called the 'United Earth Commonwealth', a human government by all limited accounts. They fared better against these people, on more equal footing when it came to another disastrous attack. At first it amused him that they used primitive based weapons but nonetheless held their own until the Chimeran Empire intervened and supported this Commonwealth.
The assumptions made was one; they knew of each other and two; they were likely allies. Had Laden conducted it correctly Dooku was certain he could of got both governments on his side to eventually join the war effort, especially these Chimera. Unfortunately now a new front looked to be opening on the many growing in this war, a front they really could not afford to fight on since statistics were showing of a Republic victory within a year.
He had sent these reports off to his Master and was still waiting for a response, one of which the Count was sure was not going to be a pleasant one. If these two factions entered the war all his Master's plans would without a doubt be put on on hold. Right now however he had to think of a way to halt an invasion from these two governments. If the Republic and Jedi got wind of this they would seek them out and try coaxing them into joining them on their side, a prospect the Sith Lord could allow to happen.
"Grievous" He called over the cyborg General.
"Yes, my Lord?" He asked him in his slightly wheezing voice.
"I need you to halt off your attack on the Toydaria system" He pressed his back into the chair.
"My Lord, the fleet is ready. If we don't leave now we-"
"Grievous!" He interrupted the head of the Droid Army "A new situation has arose that we can't afford to dismiss" Pressing a button on his desk, a holo image of an alien popped up "Do you know what this is?"
"No" Grievous glanced at the image. Dooku could sense the frustration from the Kaleesh cyborg.
"This is called a Chimeran, a species of which the late Admiral had invoked the wrath of after attempting to conquer their territory" The Count glanced down briefly at the spinning image, looking at the heavily armoured alien with an appearance to a creature that said to be living in the Chaos.
Most of the limited recordings displayed all of them had their faces covered by helmets except for one droid managed, before being destroyed, captured one. The being was estimated to be over seven foot tall and the facial structure of the alien would disturb many.
"So?"
"At this moment in time it doesn't take a genius to sum up we could be facing a counter invasion from these beings. Right now I need you to send the fleet to bolster the defences around our controlled systems near the Unknown regions"
"We will beat them back just as we have with the Jedi, many times and with no mercy" He curled a metal fist in complete conviction of his statement.
"I wouldn't be so sure General" The Sith stood up from his chair, walking back over to the green tinted window "The reports I received from Tee Zero showed remarkable strength from this empire that could cause a devastating blow to our forces"
"What of the other you spoke off?" He quizzed him, standing in the same spot.
"It is likely they'll be making an appearance but it is not them who worry me. Be prepared to depart within the hour" Dooku ordered his top General, keeping his eyes on the outside.
"Yes, my Lord" He heard the clanging of Grievous' clawed feet head out, leaving him the only organic being in the room. His thoughts remained on the oncoming storm the CIS were about to endure. Though he wasn't great a believer of peace he hoped this time it would work out, only now he would have to inform the Parliament of one man's dreadful mistake.
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Chancellor's Office, Senate Office Building, Coruscant
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Sidious kept his mastered persona of Chancellor Palpatine as he waited patiently for this meeting to finally end and review the interesting pieces of information his apprentice had sent him earlier. Though it bored him to listen to yet another discussion on sending aid to hard hit area of the Republic suffering from the war, he had to at least put on a show to these soft hearted fools he pretending to care.
"I'm afraid it is getting late and I have one more important meeting to attend to before the day is out" He stood up from his desk, the other Senators doing so too.
"Hopefully this can be resolved before the next supply ships are sent out, Chancellor" The Senator from his homeworld said gave a small bow to him.
"Of course Padme, it's my hopes too" He gave her false smile. Deep down he wished to rid her, her usefulness to his goals was waning but she was the personal interest of a certain Jedi he had plans for.
Watching each one leave his office was a relief and his fake interest evaporated immediately after the door at the end of his office closed. Other matters were of more concern to him than a system battered by the war, like why had his apprentice allow a large task force to venture into the Unknown Regions and potentially bring two new sides into the chaos that was the Clone Wars.
Sitting down at his desk he punched in his security code bringing up highly sensitive, top level information transmitted to him from his second from the Confederacy. There was little information on one side called the 'United Earth Commonwealth' but the other, this 'Chimeran Empire' grabbed his attention. Beings with a military capable of obliterating a whole invasion force in a short space of time was a troubling subject. It was written these beings possessed highly advanced technology and weapons that would put both the GAR and Droid Army to shame.
The report stated a high chance of a counter invasion was inevitable and resources needed in the fight against the Jedi and the Grand Army of the Republic would have to be diverted, weakening their forces. No matter, he thought to himself. It was likely his plans were going to have to change or put on hold until this new threat was dealt with, however there was opportunity here.
For now he would wait and see the next course of action these governments were going to take, then work out a way to try and get them to side with the Republic. To open relations with an empire with such technology at their disposal could help him in his plans to rid the blasted Jedi Order forever and accomplish the plans of generations of Sith.
Then again it could cause other problems. What if they didn't want to join in his help to combat the Separatists, what if they turn on them too. At this point he knew it was all speculation, he would have to see these newcomers have in mind in the next few weeks. For now he would have to keep this information to himself when the time was right, find out their intentions and see how thing go from here.
Nothing was going to stop him from accomplishing his ambitions.