Author's Notes
I don't have much to say other than yay, next chapter. Oh wait, I set up a poll to see who is the reader's favorite Neophyte. Go check it out on my profile page.
"How did this happen?!" Mace Windu shouted as he stormed into the Republic Security Council room. He was the youngest High Marshal in the history of the Jedi, one of the very few able to Master one of the non-traditional Forms of Lightsaber combat, and a Force damned war hero but even he had his limits. The utter insanity that was happening right now needed to be addressed.
"Calm down High Marshal, we were just about to begin the meeting about the incident." Lord Admiral Enzrak Tuaseng lightly scolded the younger man, much to Windu's irritation. The lord admiral was a Human from the planet Lothal. He was regarded by the public as a hero for his leadership during the most recent Hutt war in which he turned the tide of the initial disaster to an effective response. However to the High Marshal's disappointment, the Lord Admiral was a moderate that sought peace and isolationism to finishing off the gangster Hutts and securing the Hutt's space for the Republic.
With a warning glare, the Jedi took his seat at the circle shaped table where in the middle a Holo-projector was giving various news-feeds from all over the Republic. It was all in disarray, there was even some rioting. The simultaneous hack of so many screens within the galaxy was unprecedented.
"Do we have any idea just how this happened?" Mace asked and the others turned to Zanei Nis, current head of the Office of Republic Intelligence. An Iktotchi that rarely spoke up if not needing to, he was a classic of the spy game and often got on the nerves of the military types in the government.
"My men in our digital branch are still starching their heads. We simply don't understand how they were able to affect so many systems so easily. They were able to bypass multiple layers of codework and firewalls to cut to the base of the Holo-Net." Zanei explained in his normal extremely reserved and only barely professional voice. The others on the council knew they weren't going to get much out of him and so returned to focusing on what they knew. But then they were surprised when Zanei spoke once more. "We did receive a report of a security breach at a Holo-Net Server Center."
"One Server Center? It would be impossible to do this with a single center." Major General Sydana Preshep growled in frustration at this. She was Mace's ally as of late as she understood the need for war with the Hutts, though he could sense it was far darker and for more personal reasons. "This was done across the galaxy, everything connected to the Holo-Net that was either unsecured or only had commercial grade protection was hit. Only Military Grade or custom hardwired systems were able to weather this."
"So they weren't able to access our systems?" Lord Admiral Tuaseng asked as he looked to be thinking over the possible damage if this wasn't the case. Even if Mace didn't agree with the man on policy, he could respect his calm and collected approach to even the worst of situations.
"No. But the problem the Digital branch of my office is coming to is that we simply don't have a counter for whatever they did." Zanei replied quickly before slinking back away. Mace couldn't stand the slippery Iktotchi, he was also extremely hard to read in the Force making judging on his emotional state difficult. But then again that was typical for the spies of the Republic.
"Do we at least have some idea of the what they did rather than the how?" Mace said deciding he needed to interject as to remind the others that he still had a voice on this council. The Republic Security Council was a collection of the heads of the branches of the military and a few representatives of the civilian aspects of the government when it warranted it. It was technically headed by the Supreme Chancellor but the current leader of the Republic was too busy doing Force knows what.
"They effectively masked a virus as a mandatory Holo-Net update. High level military security systems require several hardwire checks to be cleared before such an update to pass through, and custom systems likely have unique processes in place to prevent unauthorized updates. But commercial grade firewalls and operating systems would be another story." Zanei explained, being usually chatty this meeting, Mace supposed it was because of the sheer scale and nature of this attack that him cooperating so much.
"I'm more concerned with content itself." Lord Admiral Tuaseng said as he pulled out an old fashioned case of smokes, a habit that was rare in the upper layers of Coruscant. Mace had read that the old Admiral came from more humble origins before signing up for the navy, so it was likely a holdover from his youth. Still didn't excuse the smell. "The message was an exposé of many high ranking members of Republic society, no evidence was given, and it was presented in a childish and immature fashion."
"Which means it won't be taken seriously." Mace scoffed as he recalled when he first heard that inane song that played with the attack.
"Wrong." Lord Admiral Tuaseng said bluntly and harshly. "We might have a tight control over the flow of information in the galaxy but even we can't believe that we will be able to keep the news of this incident contained. And by that I mean the scale of it. Within days everyone will know that this message was sent to the entire galaxy."
"And that would mean what oh wise one." Major General Preshep snidely remarked to which the Lord Admiral just took another drag from his smoke and after exhaling looked her dead in the eye.
"An infantile message that points a finger at the Republic elite was distributed all across the entire Holo-Net. That sort feat isn't done by someone on a whim, that takes planning, skill, funds, and support. Which all indicates that they have some sort of proof of the message they are sending. The scale of it and the effort people will assume it took will be what confirms their message as truth, or at the very least sow the seeds of doubt in our leaders." A grim reality fell upon both mace and the Major General as the truth of the matter came to them. The Republic had long maintained a clear control over the Holo-Net. For anyone to do what had just happened was a major breach of that appearance of control that they had crafted. Add on top of that it was done so childishly and blatantly only made them look not only weak, but fools too. "This was a masterful stroke done by an enemy who we don't even have a clue about."
"What? Are you saying we don't even know who did this?" Mace was panicking now, they always knew who the enemy was. Whether it was the Hutts or the Dark Side users hiding out in the Outer Rim, the enemy was always clear. "Who benefits the most from this? Was there any gaps in the accusations."
"And where was this Holo-Net Server Center security breach?" The Major General added on. Both Mace and Sydana looked to the Spy Master of the Republic who just gave them a expressionless glare for a moment before returning his gaze to the middle of the room, looking at no one in particular.
"So far the only group that managed to be the least targeted by the various profiles of the video, was the IBC with only three mid-level clerks in it." Zanei responded and that was not what Mace wanted to hear. The Intergalactic Banking Clan didn't benefit from someone pointing a spotlight on corruption in the Republic, that was half their business. As much as Mace hated it he knew it was true, but inner troubles could wait until one of the biggest state sponsors of organized crime was put to rest. "And the Server Center was on Corellia."
"There you have it! Those spacer bastards have been itching to secede for centuries now." The Major General shouted as she slammed a fist down on the table. But then she got several unimpressed looks from her fellow councilors. "What?" It was Tuaseng who responded.
"Some of those targeted by the attack video were several Corellian planetary governors who we know are secretly funding the secessionist movement." The Major General slumped back into her seat now coming to grips with the fact that they did indeed have no idea just who could have done this. Corellia was too in deep the Republic for it to be a Hutt attack, as Corellia didn't have a large enough organized criminal population to pull something like this off. Even so… the Hutts benefited from the criminal and corrupt so it wouldn't be them to expose it. Even for the chaos it would cause.
"What the actual fuck."
"I know you were in the marines Sydana but watch your mouth here." Tuaseng warned even as he was breaking decorum by smoking.
"How should we procced?" Zanei said getting to the heart of the situation. Both Mace and the Major General shifted uncomfortably in their seats as for the first time in a long time they didn't know their next move. The Lord Admiral calmly finished his smoke and gave the answer.
"We do nothing." That was a very unexpected answer even coming from the defense oriented man.
"You can not be serious? We were just attacked by terrorists and you want our response to be nothing?" Mace was outraged by this inaction, he had issues with the Lord Admiral but this went too far.
"I would advice to not call this that." The Lord Admiral countered and Mace was nearly snarling in anger over this. The sheer helplessness of it all had stripped away much of his Jedi trained calm and composure. The fact many of his respectable allies in the Order had been targeted by the attack weighing heavy on his mind. Even worse he wasn't and it was causing whispers in certain circles and he wasn't even sure why? Wasn't a good thing that he wasn't being accused of such horrible things? So yes, Mace was a little stressed right now. "This was not a bombing, or a mass shooting. No civilian casualties were caused, calling this a terrorist attack will only garner sympathy for those that committed this attack."
"Doing nothing however is inadvisable." Zanei spoke up and for once mace was pleased to hear such a short sentence from the man.
"Publicly we will do nothing, in the shadows will ramp up our digital security and place this new foe on our radar. But for now, with us knowing nothing about them our only option is to wait until their next move. With each action they take giving us more pieces to work with." With that he put away his smokes case and stood up from the table. "Gentlemen, Ma'am. If I were you I would also be using this attack as the chance to clean house, I certainly have quite a few members of my staff that need questioning." And with that the Lord Admiral left the chambers and Zanei wasn't far behind. The Jedi and the former marine both sat in silence as they processed what just had been unloaded onto them.
"Do you believe that this was Darth Nagash's doing?" Sidious asked his master as the two of them walked through a pillar lined hall in their Coruscant base of operations. The sounds of riots in the streets and military police landing ships filled the skies. All in all it was a very chaotic time with no clear advantage for anyone.
"I do, ever since the incident with the Gree Enclave he and his cohorts have been especially careful to not be detected." Darth Plagueis mused as he led his apprentice down the hall. In the past four years since he discovered his new rival Darth Nagash.
During those years he had attempted to sus out exactly what this Rule of Three could be. He started with the few remaining sites of importance to Revan's legacy, but those led nowhere. Then Plagueis used his contacts at the Intergalactic Banking Clan to try and discover a paper trail tying the treasure hunter Ulysses to anything… only to come up short. Much to the Dark Lord great irritation Darth Nagash was a master at keeping his secrets hidden. However, while the past was still shrouded in mystery the present wasn't so.
Plagueis had been able to piece together bits of some sort of plan Darth Nagash had for Dromund Kaas. He was working with interesting parties and setting himself up for a take over of various factions of the Kaasen society. To what end? That was totally unknown to the Muun as what good was Dromund Kaas and its daughter systems when the full might of the Republic would be on them almost immediately given the suspicion the Republic has for that sector of space. The choice of which House he was claiming as his own was also interesting, Rhyhall. A very old name, that of a Ancient Sith Lord only known in the recovered texts and records as The Wrath. The Wrath was a might Sith Lord that did indeed have sympathy for the Revanite cause but the texts were unclear if he was fully in support or merely flirted with their ideals. In the end Darth Plagueis assumed that Darth Nagash intended for the same thing, conquest of the galaxy.
"Several of my own spies have been outed. Even one whom was clean for everything but her loyalty to me. Could this have been an attack on us." Sidious asked and his master thought on it and dismissed the possibility. The intent here was to create chaos, to grow resentment and doubt in the people of the Republic to their government. But more over it was a test and show of power.
"No, I would however advise you to deal with all your at-risk contacts… even those you have yet to inform me of." Plagueis said as he looked back to this apprentice, his eyes telling Palpatine that even though he had framed it as advisement… it was anything but. Sidious bowed his head and with a bitten tongue said nothing. The Muun turned his head back and continued walking. "Right now there will be a great deal of anti-establishment sentiment. Use it. Distance yourself from the old guard, you are recently elected and could become the face of a new generation of senators. Move to a more Populus platform, our long term objectives might need to be put on hold if we are to come out of this with minimal damage."
"Yes master." Sidious said but hid his animosity for that. It wasn't like he could just change political circles like that. He had clout in the establishment and had burned several bridges with the progressive groups in order to gain that very clout. Changing his tune so suddenly and after this mess would not look good for him. His master was a great manipulator and corporate power broker but he was not as versed in the political games as he was. But he couldn't refuse Plagueis, not when his master was in one of his moods. "Will any action be taken against Nagash?"
"Yes, I have been planning for something for several years. I think it is time to initiate it."
"Okay brats this is what is going to happen." They all watched as Darth Nagash walked back into the hull of the ship they had all spent the past two days in. And in that time they had been constantly amazed, asking question after question to either Darth Nagash or a crew member of the ship. The had apparently been expecting this and so had a lot of information ready for them. "We have landed on Kylis Station, think of it like a port in the middle of the ocean but instead of water it's the empty void. It is a small trading and resupply outpost, mostly traders and station dwellers here."
"Are we in the Republic?" Victarion asked, they had all been made very aware that the Republic was the dominate power in the galaxy and was not friendly to Sith. They had also been thoroughly informed that the Jedi if they knew they existed would arrest them and after interrogating them would come and burn down Terra.
"Technically yes but not really. We are in the Corporate Sector, a area of the galaxy in which the largest corporations have official rule. It's like a collective of merchant guilds that run the place but are vassals of the Republic." Darth Nagash said trying to put into context for the Neophytes. Concepts like corporations or even now feudal based governments were a difficult thing to grasp. Two days were certainly not enough to fully understand an entire galaxy of new concepts. "This station however is pretty much independent, run by its private owner and we won't have to deal with the Republic."
"So… we're just going to go off exploring?" Cayle asked hopeful at the chance to see all the new and exciting things that this galaxy had to offer. It was all so unbelievable, and he and the others wanted to experience it all.
"Not a chance." Darth Nagash quickly shot down that hope fast. His face then turned even more serious and looked down on the Neophytes with a grave look in his eye. "I brought you here for one thing and one thing only. To show you all just what is at stake. The petty little games back in Westeros… that's just one planet. Admittedly, a very important planet. But one nonetheless. The goal of the Rule of Three is to bring Balance to the Force, that can only be done once we control all of the galaxy and enforce that goal."
"My lord, we are ready to let the first group go." The Neophytes were taken out of their deeper thoughts on what they had just been told as Major Ingall came in from one of the side rooms.
"Good. You lot will be divided into groups of three threes and a duo. No you don't get to pick your group." Darth Nagash answered before any of them could ask. "First group is Victarion, Thoren, and Mysa. You will be escorted by the Major, as Neophytes… he outranks you."
"What?!" Both Thoren and Victarion exclaimed as both boys weren't used to a mortal man outranking them. Even their teachers as Acolytes were in all technically below them in the social ladder.
"Hm, it seems you are keeping your promise my lord." The Major gave a little half smile at this turn of events. To the young men and women of the Sith, the major was just a man that looked to be in his later years though with a worn and gritted look to him with short cut white hair and a few scars edging at his collar. He was out of his Imperial uniform and in a more civilian garb but if one had a trained eye they would see he was far from defenseless. "Listen up Neophytes, long ago even the lowest of ranked Sith still could order around the generals and admirals of the Empire. They never did as their superiors in the Order would likely kill them for doing so. Those days however are not to return. Darth Nagash has promised that proper analogs in the rankings would be made. As such, what he said is true and I am your superior in the Imperial hierarchy."
"Both of you shut your mouths. It's about time you two get some humility." Mysa smirked as she looked to probably the most blood purist leaning Neophytes. Neither of them were particularly bad, all of those had left the Order, but they certainly weren't good either.
"Second Group will be Karne, Royn, and Jadith. I will be overseeing you." Darth Nagash said as he looked to singled out Neophytes with a warning glare. "The rest of you will wait in the ship and wait for us to return. Then we will take you all to a hotel in the station where we will stay the night. The next groups will have their time tomorrow and then we're leaving."
With their order given the Neophytes prepared themselves for the wonderous new experience they were about to embark upon. The landing ramp of the ship lowered and they followed their guides out. First went the major's group, they would be leaving at separate times as to avoid any possible thieves or informants connecting them. Victarion, Thoren and Mysa all followed behind the Major, while at the same time staring at everything. It was all more metal, everything around them was some sort of metal. A sickening feeling was filling their guts as they realized that there wasn't any solid ground under them but likely was more metal and then the emptiness of space.
"Stay close to me, and if someone speaks to you avoid giving direct answers." The major whispered to the young adults as they walked through the hanger that their ship was docked at. "And try not to openly gawk at everything." He added quickly as he noticed them blatantly staring at several hanger droids that stood at attention.
"Easier said than done." Thoren grumbled as he tore his eyes away from the mechanical men. It was one thing to be told about droids and another seeing them for himself.
The three followed the Major into the space port and tried their best to appear normal. Even as they saw a entirely new society before them. They walked into an average port section of the station where dozens of hangers connected to and where people unloaded onto the bulk of the station. Ship crews and travelers alike past through either to return to their ships or to rest, relax, or shop in the interior of the station. Most of them were humans but mixed in with the crowds were various alien races that were as familiar as a Twi'lek or strange as a Dug. The Neophytes shifted closer to the major's side as a pair of Aqualish traders past by.
"By the Drowned God." Victarion muttered as they moved to a set of benches where the major gave them a bit of time to collect themselves. "Hearing about these… aliens… was not enough to prepare me for seeing them with my own eyes." The other two Neophytes nodded their heads in agreement, all the strange and odd faces and bodies was far more than they had expected. To them different skin and hair colors were exotic, entirely different species were a cut above that.
"First time off homeworld." The trio of Neophytes looked up to see a smiling average looking man walk up to them and the major. "I was the same way when I left my little fishing village on Lelmra. But I wanted a more out of life than stinking fish and tangled nets." He gave a deep laugh and the Neophytes felt a little uncomfortable with this stranger acting so friendly. Granted he was human so it wasn't as bad as it could be.
"Taldo, I thought I messaged you to stay at your hotel." The Major spoke up making the younger adults feel at ease knowing that this wasn't some stranger but a ally of sorts.
"Change of plans, there was brawl between some big shot merchant and locals. Apparently they thought he was one of the Blue Sky victims. The authorities have closed down my hotel while they investigate." Thoren and Mysa's shoulder slumped forward at hearing this as they now assumed they would have to bunk once again in the ship. Meanwhile Major Ingall was scratching his chin in thought at this news, and partly blaming Darth Nagash for this turn of events. "Crazy thing huh, people are already fighting over it. And it's only just the start."
"It will create chaos but unless someone comes out to claim responsibility or people organize around what happen, it will be meaningless." The old officer knew that Naraiz or anyone would take credit, or at least no one creditable would. And it was unlikely the people of the Republic could organize with how little they could privately communicate with each other. This had been a test of the Holo-Net backdoor Cipher Nine had placed and a bit of chaos to distract the Republic. Nothing more. "Return to your business Taldo, the funds will be transferred to regardless."
"Keep your credits, the entertainment of seeing the Republic leaders gasp like fish out of water is payment enough." He said before looking to the Neophytes. "And I had the honor of meeting the next generation of the… you know what." Major Ingall gave his contact a warning glare, as even if they were on a middle of nowhere station with no real connection to the Republic even hinting at the idea of Sith was dangerous. "Take it all in slowly, and know that everyone be they human or alien is just another person trying to live out their lives."
With that the smiling man left the Neophytes, walking into the crowd by the exit of the port and disappearing beyond it. His parting words doing a good job at grounding the young adults' feelings. Taking away some of the unknown of the aliens, the idea that they too were just normal people trying to survive. It was a sobering and comforting knowledge that helped immensely.
"Who was that?" Mysa asked as the curiosity got the better of her.
"That was Taldo Grimis, our main contact here on the station. He's also a good example of the kind of person that supports us." The major remembered one of the many stories that he had heard since he had joined Darth Nagash's seedling Empire. That of a young man that left his homeworld because a large pirate group took it over. They installed their own barbaric tyranny, thinking they were smart by having the people continue to pay their taxes to the Republic and all the other such things that might cause notice. It was a agri-world for the most part, providing foodstuff to the rest of the galaxy and the pirates expected that if the shipments of goods kept going out and taxes were stilling paid they could use the world as they pleased. No, the Republic came down on them hard, and what was worse they considered the civilian as accomplices due to their compliance. Despite the fact that they would have been killed if they fought back. And once the invasion and cleansing was finished, the Republic did what it did best and put their own spin on it and their side of the story was the only one told. Now there was a small time hotel owner on the edge of the galaxy that couldn't even morn his family out of fear of being called a sympathizer of criminals. An untold number of these stories existed across the stars, it was no wonder that Darth Nagash was able to find support for his cause.
Ivuc watched over the construction of another empty city that would hopefully be filled with his people some day. Hanging from the glacial skies and above the semi-frozen oceans of Helska, their new homeworld. Kamino had been entirely abandoned as it was too far south from the eventual Imperial borders to be safe. The Republic had destroyed their home once and would not do so again. The world was not perfect as it was generally inhospitable outside their environmental controlled habitat cities… but his people were used to such conditions by this point.
But Helska had one good point besides being slightly reminiscent of their previous homeworld, albeit quite a bit colder. And that was its top layer of ice. The entire planet was covered in a crust of ice above large oceans of shifting sloshy water, thick enough to where even orbital bombardment would take months to crack its surface. It made communication rather difficult but that could also be used to conceal themselves from Republic patrols for the time being. Their new world was a harsh place to live but it was safe and with Infinity Engine Seeds working hard to create entire cities and infrastructure it was quickly becoming a true home for the Kaminoan people.
"He really did keep his promise didn't he." Lama Su said as he approached Ivuc, the young and bright Kaminoan male was being groomed by Ivuc to take over leadership of their people once Ivuc left to commit to his duties in the Sith. Succession had never been something that Ivuc had given much time to, and it was made very apparent how big of a mistake that could have been.
"Yes. My master has indeed saved our people." Ivuc in the last four years had now fully embraced his position as the Apprentice of Balance. Through meditating under the knowledge of many Holocrons, lessons given to him by his master personally, and absorbing knowledge off the Holo-Net… he had become truly worthy of the title of Darth. He still hadn't achieved full Balance yet, but he felt he was close. His master said he would once he finally learned to let go of his people and take something for himself for a change.
"But only time will tell how we save ourselves." Lama said as he handed over a data-slate to Ivuc, on it detailed the current progress of the Kaminoan people on rebuilding their populations. "People will be upset to hear that the Second Generation seems to be far more productive than the First."
"It truly seems the Ancestors have dictated our fate if that is true." Ivuc sighed as he read over the reports from the various geneticists and fertility experts. The First and Second Generation Projects were the two methods by which the Kaminoans were trying to claw back their numbers from being near extinction. The First Generation was using the skill and knowledge of genetics and the now limitless resources of the Infinity Engine Seeds to genetically alter a select number of their population to have higher viable egg clutches. The Second Generation was relying on the older method of Cloning more Kaminoans, and using DNA scrambling methods to create essentially new people from the Cloning process. "While I'd much prefer us grow out of the shackles of our past… survival matters far more.
"If I see any of you doing something that will get the cops involved I will personally make it mission to turn your lives into such a living hell that you will be begging to be made Acolytes again." I warned the three young adults with all the murderous aura I could muster while still looking like a normal man. Karne, Royn, and Jadith all nodded vigorously as we stood outside one of the few bars of the station.
I had started showing them around, letting them soak in the fact they were somewhere other than Terra. It was a experience that needed to be handled carefully… and of course the two boys started asking me where they could get drunk. Jadith wanted to visit the markets but this station wasn't large enough for a full blown market. It had a grocery store and a public food depot but little else. This station had accommodations for a small population of those that lived here full time and the rest was handled by droids, everything else was catered to traders and travelers passing through.
"We promise, now let get goin'." Royn tried to peel off into the bar but I easily caught him.
"First things first, you three are coming in with me and we are going to stay for a few drinks and that's it. If anyone talks to you, don't… but I doubt anyone really cares. If there's a problem I will handle it." I explained to them and then let go of Royn. Leading them into the bar, I scanned the room for anything that was worrying. The patrons were mostly human or humanish with the oddest of that bunch was a Nikto bartender. Meanwhile the only non-humanoid was a Dug looking like he was about to pass out on the floor. The atmosphere was relaxed but definitely focused on something. The Holo-Screens around the place had none stop coverage my little prank on the Republic.
Four long years of Cipher Nine's work to infiltrate, spy, rumor shop, and buy info off brokers paid off with a massive exposure of corruption. However given the fact no real evidence was laid out, all that material we had on those listed people was still useful as they were all now denying it. Every time one of those called out in my video it would make all the others look even more suspect, and even more desperate to not get outed for real. Not only was it making utter Chaos in the Republic but it was also making the secrets and evidence we had even more valuable. Now even small time dirt we had would be worth its weight in gold. And the best part is, it can't be traced back to this attack. Wait a little bit and if you try to blackmail someone they could easily assume that we're just someone that caught the trail of their dirty secret because of the video. And I got fuck with the galaxy using Mr. Blue Sky… so I'm pretty pleased with myself.
As the Neophytes walked up to the bar, I was smiling at the sight of a Republic new anchor trying very hard to remain composed as she read off the taking points her bosses handed her. My small amount of pity for the poor newswoman changed to irritation as I got a alert of a incoming call from ID I couldn't ignore. I put the call on hold and looked to the bartender who didn't look too happy to see three young looking humans swarm his bar.
"I'm going to need to see some IDs." The bartender growled as the Neophytes were staring at the many different colored bottles filled with mysterious liquor. I walked up to the bar and slid over a Credit clip that had more than enough for the bartender to overlook such a minor thing such as IDs.
"Give them whatever they ask for and won't kill them, I'll also need a private room… a padded one." The bartender nodded his head in understanding as he took the Credit clip, flicking through the small bars to check just how much there were. He nodded to the far back room and I gave one last warning glare to the kiddos to just remind them that even if I wasn't watching them… I was watching them. With that last threat I left them to explore the bartender's section as I contended with business.
I walked into the secured room, any bar worth a damn in the corporate sector had a room that sensitive dealings could be carried out safely. But even so, once I close the door behind me I tapped a few times on my wrist-comm and several small sparks perked up around the room. I might not be the god that Cipher was when it came to this spy stuff but I knew how to handle a few listening bugs. Then with a grumble I finally answered the call that I really didn't want to deal with.
"-Hello Lord Rhyhall.-" The woman speaking on the Holo-call did not address me with that title as others did but instead it was thinly vailed mockery. Calthina Droa smiled up at me knowing that behind my helmet I was scowling at her.
"Lady Droa, you know that my house isn't fully recognized and so I still don't have lordship yet." While my house was making connections in the right places for my plans, were it was lacking was in official and accepted circles. I wasn't a criminal House but Rhyhall was still considered a dead line and to the vast majority of Kaasen nobility I could be a pretender using a old name to claim legitimacy.
"-Mmm, those interesting pieces that you seem to stumble upon are recognized for their worth.-" She countered and I said nothing to that. "-Regardless, I may not know how it is you procure such fine samples but would I be wrong to assume that you would not be interested in the mean s to find more?-"
"Talk woman." I didn't like her beating around the bush. The only reason why I couldn't outright ignore her was because she had too many friends both in and outside of the Kaasen systems. If I played my cards right she could make my plans for Dromund Kaas go smoothly or the alternative equally as possible.
"-I am planning an expedition to the surface of Dromund Kaas. It's all above board with the Republic if your concerned about that. But one its backers insisted that you'd be the one to lead it.-" Few guesses as to who that could be. However I wondered what Plagueis was going at here? Was it a means to get me somewhere where he could set a ambush or assassinate me? Or perhaps this was a test to prove myself to him, he could still be fishing to make me his apprentice or something to that effect. "-He and I believe that during this time where the Republic is… occupied with their current public relations crisis, that now it is best to carry out this expedition.-"
"This is rather sudden." I say knowing that I have plans and the such going but honestly I just don't want to step in the quagmire that this Plagueis's schemes. I've done a good job at avoiding him and Plapy for the past two years. The last time I had to deal with him and that fucking IG unit of his was just before I zipped off to steal a pair of Gree Hyper Gates. Thankfully going into Gree Space made them lose the trail and they hadn't really gotten it back.
"-Oh don't worry, there will be roughly a standard galactic month of planning preparation. You are not needed during this, all we require from you and your associates is your skills in procuring goods.-" And to do that requires planning, so the fact I won't be apart of that is suspect to say the least. This is starting to get sloppy and I don't see the point in it. But that also draws me because I want to know what Plagueis is playing at here… I also really want to get down to the surface of Dromund Kaas to see what was left behind. Knowing that the Republic shelled the world, literally, means that they weren't able to outright destroy a good percentage of it. And so while I know that I'm walking into a trap, the prospect of loot is too good to pass up.
"I'll be sending you my contract, review it with your investor and talk it over." I said before cutting the line before she could say anything. I wasn't worried about being rude here, it wasn't like it was going to cost me the job. So with sigh I then walked out of the private room and then immediately ran over to the bar just slap a drink out of Karne's hand before he killed himself.
"Hey!" He shouted before looking up to see it was me, then he shrunk down with a gulp. I meanwhile was focused on the bartender.
"I said don't give them anything that could kill them. Why are you giving them Sephi Temnat?" I knew this particular brand as it was one of Vette's favorites and was ninety seven percent alcohol plus some other chemicals that didn't exactly help the digestive tract but damn did it get you wasted real fast.
"It's legal, it ain't like I handed them Gamorrean swill or anything. And the loud one kept barking about giving him the strongest thing I had." I glared right back at Karne for that and totally cursed the fact that this was my fault for rushing them out here. I hadn't gotten them to a doctor droid to have them get fixed up, there was quite a few things I should have done before bringing them to the galaxy.
"These kids are just off homeworld and don't have their shots yet." At that the bartender slammed his hands down on the bar top and snarled at me.
"You fuckin' trying to get me shut down! I should call the cops on your ass!" He threatened and I just growled inside my helmet as I pulled out Credit chip that had plenty of preloaded Credits on it. Unlike before, the amount needed to bribe my way out of this was more than straight cash could get. I tossed over the chip and then yanked the two boys off the stools. I heard the bartender swipe the card as we left and given that the local authorities weren't called I assume it was enough.
"Getting the strongest drink, what the fuck were you thinking?" I snapped as I pulled them off into a maintenance alley.
"We didn't exactly get the chance to hit the taverns back in Harrenhal did we?" Karne grumbled with Royn nodding in agreement. Only Jadith was innocent here as the bartender did the smart thing and just give her a mixed drink. Standard tactic, keep the pretty girl only mildly buzzed to attract new customers but get the boys roaring drunk so they keep ordering more.
"You should still have some sense to not get drunk in a unfamiliar place. This station is safe and doesn't have anything that would take too much advantage of you… those that would can't because you don't have a working ID or IBC account." This was still in the corporate sector and so instead of pickpockets and muggers you got pushy salesmen and con artists posing as agents of this company or that company.
"What did you mean we didn't have our shots yet?" Jadith asked and I'm happy one of them was paying attention.
"A routine medical procedure is you get a injection of tiny machines that sit in your stomach and in your throat. Their job is to destroy irritants and heal damaged tissue. They won't save from poison or anything that's outright incompatible with your natural biology but they will prevent you from getting sick because you ate or drank something not from your native ecosystem." With so many different worlds and environments in the galaxy it would be impossible for there to be a set number of foods and drinks that every single species could eat that wasn't nutrient bars. So in order to make things easier, one of the early medical advancements that the very early Republic made was Digestive Nano-Machines. They did exactly as I said they did, allowed for people to eat alien food without too much issue. It was a needed solution to the logistical problem of trying to feed everyone in the galaxy. "A fun side benefit to these shots is that it allows you to drink booze that normally would kill you because it was too strong."
"Uh… tiny machines?" Karne and Royn said together and I sighed. The concept of nanotech was apparently too advance for them. Ugh… I still have a lot of work ahead of me.
"Has Darth Nagash entered the system?" Fabricator-General of the Imperial Mechanicus, it was a title that created for him and he still had issues with the idea of working with others. Huldrak Otantre looked out onto the void from his workshop in the broken shipyard rings of Rakata Prime. Out there was the stolen Gree Hyper-gate that churned and spun as intricate creation of Gree Technology, it's sister gate was located in the Sol system so Darth Nagash had no reason to not come quickly.
"No, Lord Fabricator." One of the Kaasens that scuttled about his ship yard answered and the behemoth of a cyborg made his equivalent of a grunt. His situation was both better and worse since agreeing to work with Darth Nagash. While on one hand he had access to new and wonderous technology, a small amount of likeminded scientists he approved of, secrets of the Force that appealed to him, and now a greater goal in the form of spreading his pursuit of knowledge across the galaxy… all this came with draw backs. He had to kneel to a witch-king of a Sith… even if said Sith was also a believer in science and progress he was still also a mystic. But worst of all Huldrak now had to share his discoveries and innovations with others, that grated on his mind.
"His presence is needed." Huldrak said back to the Kaasen attendant who had drawn the short straw to who would be the minder of the massive and crazy cyborg.
"Major Ingall sent back a reply saying that Darth Nagash is currently busy inducting the Neophytes into the galaxy. They will likely be a few days then will arrive in system." Loth Tulis replied knowing that the Fabricator-General would not be happy with that answer and would continue to grumble and whine in his own way for the next few days. When Loth first joined the Imperial Dragoons he had been hoping to be some kickass rebel fighting for the return of the glory days of his people. Getting deep and dirty with Republic ORI operatives, making secret deals with bounty hunters and mercs, all that cools stuff… not being the baby sitter to a ten feet tall metal crab centaur man. Granted he was living on the Infinity Shipyards in the mythical Lehon System but still… he expected a little more action.
"We have finally found one of the keys to reawakening the glory of the machines of this venerable relic and need a Force User of extreme talent to further progress. Darth Nagash is needed." Huldrak rotated and moved away from the large window to the void and back to the center of his lab. Prototypes and projects are strung through the large private quarters of the scientific leader of the Imperial Loyalist Faction. While he had moved much of his operations to Lehon in the wake of the Infinity Shipyards he still considered Trogan his true center point in the galaxy. It housed his base and the Infinity Engine, his first discovery into the bounds of science that only so call gods had access to. But for now his duties and curiosity kept him here as he knew a great many secrets of the Engine but little of the Shipyards.
"My creator is a busy man Huldrak, his priorities are his to decide." BI-6 said as she came into the room with a tray of nutrient tablets and a sandwich. A mechanical tendril coming from Huldrak's back came and scooped up the nutrient tablets. "Private Tulis, I assumed you would be in need of nourishment, and assistance in handling the Fabricator-General."
"Yes and very much yes." Loth said gratefully as he took the meal from the beautiful droid. She certainly was one of highlights of the job… when she wasn't in one of her moods. The Kaasen at first thought that she was just one of those pleasure droids that rich lonely folk get but then one day BI-6 got really mad at something Huldrak said and turned into a mass of liquid metal terror.
"Fabricator-General, I am also here to remind you that by your agreement with the crew that I am to clean your body in exactly two hours and thirty two minutes. Please keep that in mind." The cyborg just grunted out his displeasure at having to conform to the standards of the Imperials living on the shipyards with him. And part of his irritation was with BI-6 as well, what he initially expected to be a treasure trove of exciting new avenues of research turned to a deadly overseer that would enforce impossible standards upon him for very little in the way of compensation. He knew he should have asked for more in his bargain with that damned witch-king.
"I would call this little venture a success." I smiled as the ship pulled out of the space station and started its way into the void. The third and forth groups of Neophytes had their chance at seeing this small bit of galactic life and it played out similar to the first two. Amazement followed by a bit of trouble.
"We got another message from the Fabricator-General, he is demanding that you come to Lehon." The major said as the pilot flew us closer to the edge of the system to send us into hyperspace. It wouldn't take much time to see what Huldrak was harping about, just a jump through those fucking Hypergates. Traveling through Gree hypergates were not pleasant, it was a sudden and sickening snap that lasted for minutes. Like your whole body was in a state of toe stubbing. It however was the only feasible way for me to have the Lehon System all to myself.
"What does his minder say about it?" I asked and the major flipped over to the second report on his data-slate. It had been his idea to place a secret handler for Huldrak in the form of a low ranking attendant. Brilliant idea but I felt sorry for the poor lad who got the job.
"Private Tulis reports that Huldrak believes that your action is needed to unlock the next phase in the Infinity Shipyard's activation. But this would be the third time that Huldrak theorized that the next phase would be achieved." Yes but the likelihood that this time was correct was pretty high. As the Star Forge required a powerful Force User in order to function. And the Infinity Shipyards were just essentially a bunch of more advanced Star Forges cobbled together.
"Drop me off at Lock-Warden, and then take the kids down to the surface. I'll visit on my own." My schedule had some leeway. I was planning on visiting Dorne once I got back, the Red Viper has escaped the clutches of the Maesters and was back in Sunspear and I wanted to meet him before he left for his travels of Essos. But I'm sure I can delay it a day or two. Rathari and Fay can handle the Neophytes while I'm gone.
"Yes sir." The major replied and turned to leave me to my observations of hyperspace. But once he opened the door he found Jarman standing there about to knock. "Neophyte Buckwell, is there something you wish to speak to me about?"
"Yes… my lord." Jarman was the most reluctant out of all of them to accept the reality of the what was happening. Not the whole galaxy thing, they all were handling that pretty well. It was the… truth of the situation where it came to my activity in Westeros. Me using the Seven Kingdoms, playing them, changing them to suit my needs. It conflicted with his sense of loyalty to his people and pride in the knightly code of honor he was raised with.
"Major, you know my orders." I said before I turned away from the window and walked past the major and led Jarman down the hall to a unused storage room. Not completely used, the crew had set up a Sabacc table and a small stash of other recreational goodies. I closed the door behind Jarman and he teased up. "You are not in trouble if that is what you are worried about."
"No my lord, I'm just… conflicted." He said unevenly and I could sense a good deal of uncertainty in him. "What I've seen, I know it makes what happens back home less… important but-"
"No." I interrupted him. "Not less important. What happens in Westeros is very important. It's just smaller in the grand scheme of things." I explain and I doubt that he fully understands what I just said but I can sense that he feels assured by that. Like his concerns weren't as ridiculous as he first thought.
"It's wrong to break your word. It's wrong to lie and cheat and steal. And killing should only be done to the evils in man or in self defense." He listed off and it sounded more like he was reminding himself than telling me. I just stayed silent, giving my agreement with that. "I have decided to swear myself to the Sith to try and make sure that it doesn't turn into a order without honor. But now knowing that from the beginning it was made to take over the Seven Kingdoms, the realm that you swore to the king to serve, it's wrong. It's just wrong." He said looking at me like he was ready to defend himself and that statement to the death.
"Jarman, you should know that many conspire. That they break their oaths in secret, they all play the Game of Thrones. The difference between me and them is how I play it." I said as paced in front of Jarman. He was talented young man, and easily a prospect for the first Grand Master of the Sect of Manwë. Time would tell if that was true but for now I had every intention on making it so.
"And how do you play it?" He asked like he was sick just acknowledging that what I said was true. He had a very black and white view of Westeros, the fairy tale of chivalrous knights and lordly lords. And so the idea of the gray, scheming, power hungry reality was antheses to that ideal he had.
"By letting others play it." I said and that seemed to puzzle him. "Thanks to my visions of the future, I know how things will play out should I let them. The realm will tear itself apart without a single action of my own being taken. This will happen twice. The first time is righteous, deserved. The second time is due to the quibbling and mistakes of a few."
"And you know this for sure?" He asked and that was a fair point. Could things turn out differently, I had introduced a great deal of change into Westeros with my advancement. I had removed the Faceless Men and who knows how they could have effected things during this period that Martin never mentioned. And Robert and Lyanna were on the road to true love, that was a big change. But the Mad King was still mad and his son still believed in prophecy… and to me those were the two most deciding factors in Robert's Rebellion happening. Beyond that? Yes… things could change drastically unless I did some trickery to course correct fate. But the important bits that would convince Jarman were true.
"How about this Jarman, I will promise you that I will not stick my fingers into any plots or schemes. I will act as an honorable and fair lord as you think I should. Commit to my oaths that I have made." I said knowing full well that I could do that. As technically I have been doing that for awhile now. The only mental command I have been giving the King has been those involving his wife and I don't see that as being a part of this conversion. "And should the realm be thrown into chaos still, you will know that I am correct. You will understand in time that the future I intend to build will be built on a solid foundation and not a bed of lies."
He looked conflicted, I'm sure a part of him wants to believe me but the rest is weary of trusting me outright. He doesn't say anything but backs away and leaves the room. I crack my neck and give out a sigh, convincing people like Jarman will be difficult but hopefully I can earn his trust before I start to really fuck with things. My plan for Essos is by far pushing things as there I am deliberately creating a threat to Westeros for the purpose of gathering everyone under my banner. Sure Jarman and others that follow a code of honor in the Sect of Manwë that will be going along with me as I sit back and let Westeros destroy itself but there is a limit on what I can do. Then there will be the power hungry Dark Siders of the Sect of Morgoth that will scheme for my throne. My hope that the bulk of my Order will be centered in the Sect of Revan is… a long term thing. But those were issues for later.
The time spent returning to the Sol system was uneventful, the Neophytes spoke among themselves or asked more questions. They also asked if I could bring them any technology from the galaxy to Westeros and shot that down. I told them that all of this was a secret and to not tell a soul about it. Not even their juniors in the Acolytes or the staff in Harrenhal. They deflated a bit at this but understood the secrecy. But eventually we returned back and docked with the massive Center-Point sister station that we called Lock-Warden. On it was a small crew of droids and a few Imperials to oversee them. Right now it was mostly a science team and a pit crew for any ship that was staying in system for my various lifts out. The major dropped me off and headed back to the surface to let the Neophytes off.
A ship already prepared for me was waiting and I was back in the void in no time. I headed for the massive construct at the edge of the system that was the Gree Hyper-Gate. I grunted in displeasure as I flew into it and then felt the sickening effects of this form of Hyperspace travel. Unlike with established Hyperspace routes that are plotted to avoid celestial objects' shadows in Hyperspace, the Gree simply use advanced technology to create curves in the Hyperspace tunnel around those objects. Such a simple concept is actually very difficult to pull off and is hell on the body which is only compounded by the extra acceleration that the gates create.
The Gree were not happy when I stole these two sacred relics of their people. The largest and most valuable of their Hyper-gates capable of transporting entire fleets between two points. The heist had nearly killed me several times and Vette and her crew as well. Creating a Force Portal large enough to transport the constructs out of Gree Space and into the Sol and Lehon systems alone had nearly drained me to nothing. And I'm sure now that the Gree will be willing to work with the Republic once they find out that my Empire was the one that stole their stuff. However this was a acceptable risk as now the Infinity Shipyards have direct access to Sol and won't have to travel either the core of Republic territory or all the way down south and back up around the Galactic Core to get to my territory. That was an incredibly valuable.
Then it all stopped and I lurched forward in my seat. I forced down the nutrient bars I had eaten knowing that I would be doing this. I continued on and flew deeper into the system where Rakata Prime was waiting, it's recovered surface split in half by the ring of the Infinity Shipyards. On the world itself, nature had fully taken back its place and there was little remains of the Rakatan civilization. Only the largest and most well built of structures had lasted through the years as unlike Taris Rakata Primes had an ecosystem to attack and crumble the signs of intelligent life. The orbital stations had long since fell out of orbit leaving behind only the Infinity Shipyard ring as a sign of the Infinite Empire.
Flying into the small section of the shipyards that were livable, I didn't think that this meeting would result in much. I hoped it would, I genuinely hoped that by the end of the day the Infinity Shipyards would start producing the first ships of my fleet.
I exited my ship as several Kaasens saluted my arrival. I was being very insistent on the chain of procedure, no bowing or reverence until I had succeeded in bringing back the Empire and taking the title of Emperor properly. I made my way through the halls and still under construction hulls of the massive ring. This place was the key to much of my strategy and it needed to be fixed soon, but I also won't pretend to know how to fix it. I will leave that in the capable hands of my Fabricator-General. Plus, he whines when I try and touch his toys.
"-Darth Nagash.-" I hear his voice over the intercom. "-I requested your presence days ago. I am beginning to think that their arrangement between is not to your priority.-"
"The last three times that you had requested my presence I ended up doing jack shit while you tried to get me to reprogram BI-6 which I can not do. I have tried." I said knowing that while Huldrak was a man of his word, it was one of the few morals he still had, he also was not happy with his side of our deal. Turns out his fascination with BI-6 ended when he figured out she couldn't be controlled. He knows how her liquid metal body works but can't figure out how her mind does. His attempts at recreating her have resulted in some success, but all of them have a solid core where the main droid mind is set. "So forgive me if I am a little slow to take your requests seriously."
"-We have discovered that your power in the Force is needed to reactivate the central computer system for the ring.-" Ok never mind, that was pretty damn important. With that knowledge in mind I raced down the halls, flashing lights along the walls guiding my way. And through several corridors and two ferry rides through the void later I was at the central hub of the shipyards networks. Here the walls were still bare of plating and circuitry and wires were all exposed for the technicians to work on. Cables were strung all through the halls and even hanging from the ceiling, it was obvious this was where they were giving the most attention. The Infinity Engine Seeds were in the process of fixing the superstructure and all the fine little necessities of the shipyards and the ring itself, however they seemed to be ignoring anything that had to do with life-support, control interface, and general ease of living for the crew. Meaning there was still a great deal of work that needed to be done by our own hands.
"Lord Nagash, the Fabricator-General is awaiting your arrival." One of the few scientists that had started following Huldrak's ethos said as I approached the main network hub's entrance. They weren't wearing the red robes of Mars but they were pretty close to the Tech-Priests of 40k. Dressed in heavy white robes, slowly but surely replacing their body parts with cyborg augmentations… except for their left arm. They also were starting to get very preachy about the idea of progress at the cost of all else. I guess it was better than venerate the old to the point of no innovation.
"This better not be another trick." I grumble but I was fairly certain that it wasn't. It made sense that a powerful Force User was needed to operate the Shipyards. This thing was after all made in part of the Star Forge that Revan used to make his fleet. Now it was just combined with the natural shipyard of the Lehon system, in that sense it really wasn't a fully built shipyard ring but instead a ring of junk and relics of the Infinite Empire. All smashed together due to the will of the Force and the chance of time.
Walking into the central hub of the ring's patchwork system network that because even more obvious. As it looked like several different stations and ships all cobbled together with the innermost piece being the command center of the Star Forge. This was where Revan and Malak stood, where they planned the their conquest. I should feel honored but the moment was ruined by my knowledge of how Revan must have felt for that time in hindsight. Regardless of those matters, Huldrak stood as close as his size would allow to the raised command deck of the Star Forge's remains, meanwhile BI-6 and Huldrak's minder were standing upon it.
"Creator, it is good to see you once more." BI-6 said curtly, she was still mad I tried to make another one of her. Private Tulis just gave me a respectful imperial salute as all my men should.
"Darth Nagash, your efforts in reactivating the soul of this wonderous machine is needed. Please make yourself more available in the future so as not to delay such progress." I ignore the cyborg's words as I we both know full well that outside of his little cheat zone back on Trogan I could kill him easily.
I walked up to the main console and glared down at it. Wasn't like it had obvious tools to connect with the Force. Sighing I just decide to start tapping away at the touch screen, running through the various systems that showed up on the screen. Then as I closed out a window and pressed… something… I felt a pull in the Force. Blinking I was in the void of nothing, then matrix style code started falling from sky. The feeling I had was similar to what I experienced when the Maiden pulled into her little fantasy land. I was in the Force, a tiny part of it that only existed in the confines of the Infinity Shipyard but I was once again in the Force. The world around me started to turn a dull gray color and the lines of code flipped back and forth from white to black. They also seemed to… wave like the surface of a ocean. Yup, this was the Force alright.
No sound but there was a rumbling vibration that I could feel as something moved behind the many layers of code that surrounded me. My guess is that if the Iron Throne had a another millennia or two it would also have something like this as this was very similar to what happened with it when I first encountered it. The Star Forge was a semi-alive creation of the Rakatan technology and the use of the Dark Side of the Force. It's legacy, the Infinity Shipyard, would of course have some holdover from the Star Forge's Force Mind, and given the time it's had to develop I'm not surprised that's this complex.
It continued to move behind the walls of data, hiding from me. The last organic beings it knew were not exactly the most friendly, fuck you Malak, so I understood its caution. But I didn't have time to play nice, not only that but this was still a Dark Side entity. I wasn't going to have it play the same tricks it did with Revan and Malak. Turning those that worked here into Dark Side thralls or corrupting them into genocidal maniacs. The Dark Side was powerful but unlike Revan at that time, I have found Balance in the Force.
"Submit to me, or this will not be pleasant." I warned once, giving this thing a chance as one act of mercy. It didn't take it. A monstrous octopus like creature made of angry red code and with head of a Rakata but with it's lower jaw sealed off like that of Malak. It didn't get far as I let the Light Side of the Force flow through me, and then amplified it with the Dark Side born out of my annoyance at having to deal with the remains of Malak's fuck up. The entity recoiled in pain as the Light Side latched itself onto it, its trashing slowly subsiding and I could feel it's will draining. Eventually it just hung there, dormant and unmoving. The Light Side of the Force doing a great job at dulling it's will. No it should be unable to imped our progress.
"What did you do?" I heard Huldrak demand as I came out of my trance. I could hear sparks and the sound of machines coming to life.
"The Dark Side entity that inhabits this station was blocking all your attempts to take control of the shipyards. It's been dealt with." I said as I stare down at the terminal waiting for something to happen but nothing did. "The next problem you will have to contend with is the procurement of matter for the Shipyards to turn into ships. My recommendation is bring another Infinity Engine Seed to start constructing some sort of system to harvest and bring Star plasma given that's what the Star Forge used."
"Very well." Huldrak replied and began his way out of the chamber. I stayed and continued to stare at the screen and began to swipe through the small trickle of internal reports that were starting to come in. This had been a very big step in the long road of getting my fleet, and a small step in the even longer road in claiming the galaxy as my own.
Author's Notes
So we had the Neophytes experience the galaxy a little bit. There will be more of that later on but for now they just got a little taste. Also a check up on the Kaminoans, and now Naraiz is one step closer to getting his fleet.
Next chapter Naraiz will head down to Dorne and meet with Oberyn and possibility others. He will also head back up to space and handle whatever plot and scheme that Plagueis has in store.
Also, I have roughly ten planets set for Legion Worlds, if anyone wants to suggest one I'm open to ideas with the only requirements being they be in the galactic North and not be too important to the Republic.
Reviews
Gabe2000 - Yes, the higher ranked Astartes will get Force Alchemy grade gear.
AO Black - Thank you for pointing that out, I went back and fixed it so that Thoren doesn't make that remark. Maybe Arthur, the problem with Barristen is that I don't think he would approve or agree to the idea.
Imc9389 - yes, yes he does.
ZhaWarudo - Naraiz has settled in comfortably by now and let's his guard down more than he should when it comes to how he acts. Keep in mind that he also fully believes that this life is a gift given to him by God and so doesn't feel the need to hold back in most cases and doesn't feel any regret in how he behaves. This will eventually come to heads with reality. As for Fay I will admit I'm taking liberty with her character a bit and the past few times we have seen her she's hasn't been the most serious she can be but eventually the bubble that she's been in for past few years will burst and things will get real again for her.
Reads too much - Yes, Naraiz is very much aware of how useful Cipher has been and I am planning a short spin off story focusing on him that will take place during that four year time skip. Naraiz has not made contact with the Mandos yet given that he is still setting up his own presence in the galaxy. For the mandos to take him seriously he either needs something like the Mandalorn's mask or be some proof that he's worth their time. Jango will be a Clone Template, he just won't be the only one.