AN/

' ' – character thinking

"" - character speaking

BOLD – author notes

Magnus POV:

I watched as the 'Ahzek' took flight. A momentous occasion. The start of the war against the Hutts. I was escalating. I knew that, Aleesha knew that, and Kori knew that. But it didn't matter. I had to further my planet, our planet.

Taking a titan legion weakened our defences slightly. We still had another legion on the planet, that was capable of holding off virtually any invading force. The large defensive guns we had dotted around the world also aided in holding out invaders.

I considered more, forts like the Phalanx, but smaller dotted around the planet. It was something to build in the future, once I had more land under my control. It was interesting I thought to myself. What exactly was this planet? 'It isn't a democracy, I hold the power, they listen and they serve. A dictatorship? Perhaps. Monarchy? I haven't declared myself a king, but they call me a ruler.' I mused as the ship disappeared from the atmosphere.

A message was being sent to the outer-rim. We would fight back and we would win. It wasn't a question in my mind. A warmaster titan with full support would bring a world to its knees.

'The Horus Heresy must have been magnificent. To see the titan legions wage war, while systems rising up. Magnificent.'. I stopped that line of thought. Glamourising a war that killed billions slightly disturbed me, although by now I was desensitised to it. I had spent many nights deep in thought, meditating and pondering. I am myself. Not the primarch or the mechanicus member. 'I am me, and will be me. The thoughts that come across my mind now, they don't faze me as they used to.'

I turned to face the empty suits of mark X power armour behind me, the latest edition in the Imperium. Behind that were various dreadnought shells and terminator armours of different patterns. Each would house the rubrics I would create. I had given the order to capture any pirates or mercenary forces if possible. I would lead the ritual Ahriman used in Warhammer using the Book of Magnus, and they would lose their form, turning to dust and being bent to my will. The perfect army.

Indomitus, Scarab Occult, and Aegis pattern terminator armours. Each with the correct armaments, ranging from lightning claws and power swords to storm bolters. All the correct ammunition had been manufactured. All the weapons crafted. It simply needed the people that would slowly come now.

Magnus closed his one eye as he turned again, looking back up into space to see the stars. 'How quickly will this end?' he thought to himself.

Yaddle POV:

She looked out the window of the starship as it was en route to the Outer-Rim. The order had made up their mind. They needed to send someone out to find the source of the disturbance they felt months ago now. And since she was the only master currently free, she volunteered. She also wanted to investigate rumours of pirates disappearing and slaves making their own world to be free. The senate had especially pushed for the truth behind these rumours.

She sighed. She was tired of the senate imposing their will to the Jedi order. But still she had a duty to the order and republic.

Her short stature seemed even smaller in the seat. The pilot glanced back and she met his eyes nodding slowly. It was the signal to land for supplies. They had been out searching for the past two weeks. Nothing had been found yet.

She closed her eyes as the ship slowly descended. The force comforted her and she sank into its serene grace, until it disappeared. Replaced by something unnerving and peculiar. Her eyes shot open as she felt its power grow. She felt whatever it was all those months ago. She felt it was close, and the direction to go.

The shop touched down as she thought of how to approach this. She had been given all the time she would need, and only needed to update the order when she deemed it necessary.

"We have just touched down Master Jedi, we will refuel and re supply and leave as soon as we can." The pilot spoke.

"Take all the time you need, we need not rush." She replied in a caring voice. She didn't want to rush these volunteers who came with her. There was no need now she knew where to head - or at least the direction.

She stood from her seat, and slowly made her way down the small ship, taking her time as she did. She was deep in thought over what she may find.

'This feeling is concerning, it generates this sense of unease and dread. The very antithesis of what we teach in the temple, yet it doesn't feel dark, at least to me. I'm sure some masters and knights would argue of course, they always seem to. But the being or beings behind this... they must be powerful.' she concluded within her mind as she felt the ship hum and slowly lift off again. This time, she headed back to the cockpit slightly faster.

"Take this course pilot, are there any worlds or anything important in that direction?" Yaddle questioned the pilot, looking into his eyes. He turned away and frowned, obviously deep in thought and making up a reply to the small master.

"There's some worlds and moons, nothing that should be inhabited by any sentient species though Master. Do you want to visit them? We have enough supplies for a small round trip but we won't be able to stay long." The pilot replied as he started tapping buttons and typing in commands to the ship's computer.

Yaddle hummed in agreement to the idea. "Very well, take us there and keep us safe pilot" she softly spoke as she hoisted herself up to her seat using the force.

PBF Officer Roman POV:

It was an easy job being here. All I said was that I used to work as a guard for some shops in a commercial ship, and here I am now. In the 'Prospero Border Force'. Magnus for some reason believed we should monitor the skies like this was Coruscant. It didn't surprise me to be honest. We had all be through so much. The majority of us were slaves and we had no intention of being beaten and going back. So we all took our roles seriously.

BEEP

The sudden sound made me jump. I hurriedly took to my feet and went to the nearby station to see a ship had exited hyperspace. Nothing was flagged, no known affiliation to a pirate. And the ship's ID came from... Coruscant. Shit I thought to myself.

"Unidentified vessel, you are approaching Prospero's atmosphere. Respond with your intention and who you are." I ordered, trying to intimidate whoever it may be. The ship wasn't large, not like the ones in the fleet that Commander Kori had taken off somewhere, no it was far smaller. Maybe enough for fifty people, but it was a cargo ship. I could see that. There would be far less.

"This is Jedi Master Yaddle, here to investigate strange reports from the outer-rim... I was unaware of any world called Prospero in the outer-rim too. I take it this is a recent change?" The Jedi master questioned.

Fuck. This was far above what I was meant to deal with. A certified Jedi Master, and one sent to investigate around us. I had to get someone, someone who knew what to do. Someone who - "I'll handle this Roman, you can go take a break." A deep voice spoke behind me. I knew this voice, it was his.

I turned in my seat to look behind me. It was Magnus. He was shrunken down to fit in the room but it was him. No one would dare impersonate on this planet, especially after all the things we've seen him do.

I nodded slowly, and got up, sliding my chair out for Magnus to sit in. He obliged and thanked me softly. I didn't want to overstay my welcome now he was here. I swiftly exited the room. A small bead of sweat dripped down my forehead. I was just in-front of the most powerful being I have ever seen, and he thanked me... I needed a drink, and a smoke. I took my uniform's hat off and slowly walked down the corridor. My shift was almost over anyway.

Magnus POV:

I didn't expect for this to happen so soon. It didn't matter however, I could keep them here for long enough so that Kori and Aleesha who I sent as support would finish their job, or at least a large majority of it. I decided to introduce myself.

"I am Magnus, Lord of Prospero. What are you looking for Master Jedi?" I questioned, my tone stern and demanding an answer.

"We have come to look for the source of a disturbance in the outer-rim Lord Magnus. But we appeared to have come across something else we were looking for. The senate has asked us to look for an enclave of freed slaves so to speak. Can I presume we found it?" Yaddle questioned me.

Among all the Jedi I was happy it was Yaddle. Perhaps Qui-Gon or maybe some other more liberal Jedi would be useful. But Yaddle I could work with. Even with my limited understanding of Star Wars I knew she held power, yet was kind enough to listen to us.

"That may be correct Master Yaddle, I am sending coordinates to your ship on where to land, make contact with the ground and you shall be escorted to me." And with that, I cut the voice channel. I would need to speak to her in person, and I would need to see where her true loyalties lie. If she truly was here just to explore, then it would be fine. But with how corrupt the senate is, there may be a larger plan in play.

I could almost instantly rule out Palpating and Palegius. We are unknown to both mostly, and they wouldn't waste their time on a 'weak group of slaves fighting for freedom' as they might presume. Maybe the future members of the CIS? Untapped world full of resources may interest them. There are a possible amount of culprits, but I didn't know enough to make a guess just yet.

At this point it didn't matter though, I had a master to meet and entertain. And I needed to make an impression on her.

So here is an another chapter for you all. I wanted to start influencing the main story at some point, and the lead up to Phantom Menace seems right. I don't know how far behind that I want this to be though, a year, a decade. I don't know yet so i'll have a think about it all.

I used Yaddle simply because she is kinder and more likely to listen and in my opinion, slightly distort the truth. Not fully, but instead of saying they are making weapons she would say they are making a weapon. A difference in wording is big in politics after all.

Next chapter will have them both meet, and talk and make decisions together. And i'll also start with the war writing. Nothing crazy, just a couple of clashes and taking prisoners to be used for rubrics or other experiments I'll be writing

That's all from me today, I'll see you all soon