September 30, 2552 CE

Cygnus Spacedock around New Taegu, Taegu System, Cygnus Sector, Valkorion Governance Sphere, Imperial Territory in the River Galaxy...

Admiral Forn Dodonna of the Galactic Republic Navy took a deep breath and strolled into the conference room, where one of her colleagues was already speaking.

"...Uiharu III marks our third defeat by Alliance forces since Operation Caine, and now our forces have been pushed out of the Kardashev Sector entirely…" Admiral Betl Oxtroe of the Imperial Navy paused upon seeing Admiral Dodonna. "Good to join us, Admiral Dodonna."

"Apologies," Forn inclined her head slightly as she sat down. "I was reading the latest field reports."

"With respect, not only has the Imperial Navy failed to penetrate Alliance lines," The Trade Federation envoy to the Valkorion Governance Sphere, Vicelord Kav, commented dryly. "All the while, Alliance-sponsored piracy and terrorism ravage trade and commercial routes. Why hasn't the Imperial Navy made any headway in this other front? Are you aware of the damage Alliance piracy has on the economy of late? Not just the Trade Federation, the Banking Clan and Corporate Alliance have-"

""We're aware of that," Admiral Oxtroe replied smoothly, seemingly unfazed by the Neimoidian's disrespectful tone.

Admiral Dodonna admired the tactful but incisive calmness with which Admiral Oxtroe had interrupted the Trade Federation official. Personally, Dodonna despised the money-grubbing Neimoidians, even more so than many of the other treacherous and corrupt corporations that propped up the Confederacy of Independent Systems- she wasn't sure she could've stayed calm under the Vicelord's accusations herself.

It was hard to imagine there was a time when the Republic once fought alongside the Confederacy against the Galactic Empire as it launched its blitzkrieg to dominate their known galaxy- the First Galaxy- years ago. Now the CIS was little more than an Imperial client state- like her own Galactic Republic. A once-proud Republic brought low, reduced to a rump state by years of war against the Empire, now degraded to a collaborationist lapdog running errands for their former enemy.

Dodonna shook her head- now was not the time for such thoughts.

"The… esteemed Vicelord has a point," Imperial Admiral Saul Karath barely concealed his disdain for the Trade Federation representative in his tone. "While we await more Imperial reinforcements, we can only hold the line as best we can. Riverine piracy, especially Alliance 'privateers' are a major threat to our supply lines and depots, but we need every warship we can on the front lines. Admiral Oxtroe, what's the piracy count for this month?"

"Twenty-six convoys hit, I believe."

"Twenty-seven… actually. There was a raid this morning, on a Mining Guild convoy in the Maygar System," Admiral Dodonna corrected, wiping the sweat from her brow before continuing. "Republic Navy and Judicial patrols are already at their limit. Where is the Trade Federation's security force, then? Or the Confederate Navy? Vicelord Kav, if you're so concerned about piracy, why don't I see Trade Federation forces doing something about it?"

Vicelord Kav shifted uncomfortably, clearly irked. "I… will... bring this to the Trade Federation board and the Confederate Council about this." He muttered grudgingly, no doubt bitterly considering how much such an operation would cost Federation coffers.

"How about other unconventional forces?" Admiral Oxtroe proposed. "The Alliance- and other Riverine states- have privateers- pirates with political agendas- so why can't we recruit our own privateers? The supergalaxy has no shortage of pirates, and the Empire's got the coffers to pay for it- as does the Confederacy." Oxtroe glanced at Vicelord Kav, who gulped.

"Counter-pirates? Like snipers and counter-snipers," Admiral Dodoanna mused.

"We could offer them amnesty for past charges- and look to recruit irregular forces. Hunter-killer groups- recruited from the home galaxy's crime syndicates and mercenary groups- I'm sure they have forces specialized in this- reach out to the Black Sun, the Exchange, the Shadow Collective, the Bounty Hunters' Guild, the Hutt Cartel, the Migrant Merchants Guild, the Zann Consortium, the Mandalorians, the Interstellar Regulators… you name it. That's where we get the ships and manpower."

"Out-of-the-box thinking," Admiral Karath nodded. "But ludicrous! How can we trust or rely on the dependability of criminals and galactic scum! We should be put them down, stamping them out, not cutting deals and trusting them with military ops!"

Admiral Dodonna sighed- Karath was known for his inflexibility and law-and-order stance- an highly-impractical position, but one endearing to certain Lords of the Sith. "With all due respect, Admiral Karath, if the Empire hasn't been able to stamp out these elements in the Imperial Galaxy for millennia, why would we be able to do so now? Besides, for someone who's always in the core Worlds or leading expeditions, you may not know, but the Empire regularly deals with these crime and mercenary syndicates on a daily basis. So do the Sith you so revere."

"You dare blaspheme the Sith?" Karath narrowed his eyes. "These disorderly elements only exist due to the protection that the corrupt Republic, Alliance, Confederacy, and Confederation provide!"

"No, I am just speaking the truth," Admiral Dodonna snorted derisively. "Unlike you, most of the Sith are actually a lot more practical than you, Karath."

"How dare you? The reputation of the Empire and the Imperial Navy is on line!" Admiral Karath leapt to his feet. "Republican scum like you could never understand! Right, Admiral Oxtroe?"

Admiral Oxtroe looked away, barely holding in a snicker while casting a sympathetic glance at Admiral Dodonna.

Vicelord Kav, no doubt relieved at this chance to take the heat off the Federation and the Confederacy's lack of action, was also looking somewhat-sympathetically at Admiral Dodonna.

"Unbelievable," Admiral Karath growled. "Women…"

Admiral Dodonna bristled at that remark, but was preempted by Admiral Oxtroe. "Grand Admiral Grant will be arriving to meet with Archon Revan and the Valkorion Sphere's sector Moffs on Valkorion Prime in a few days, before going on an inspection tour of nearby sectors. Let's bring this up to them then."

Admiral Karath grumbled discontentedly, but nodded reluctantly. "Fine- then this meeting is adjourned, for now."