[21 BBY]
[Confederate Navy Providence-class Carrier/Destroyer Invisible Hand, In Orbit Milagro, Milagro System, Chaykin Sector]
He hated the cough. He hated the pain. He hated the never ending hate even. He hated what they had done to him. He even hated that they believed him too foolish to not have noticed their attempts to leash him, or that he had neutered those bombs and collars. But most of all he hated the Jedi, and he could tolerate those other lesser hatreds for the chance to kill as many of those wretched monsters as the Heavens would grant come within range of his vengeance. Unfortunately now was not to time to indulge that hatred, no, now he was draw it within him and bide his time.
"Hhag...hhag...are all preparations complete?" he demanded of the droids aboard the bridge. His droids, code changed in the wake of what had happened to those fools destroyed by Republic's Outer Rim force, and more importantly since he had heard of the failed ending of Ventress. Confirming what he had always believed since San Hill, and then Dooku, brought him in to command the Separatist fleets; once you had lost your usefulness, then you would be disposed of. And he would not allow that to happen...though sadly he could say little it had done little to improve the intelligence of the idiotic windup soldiers.
"Roger, Roger, departure on your order General"
He hated them, the stupid things. He hated that they were not his Kaleesh. That they were not as competent, that he had come to resemble them in body. Now though was not the time to waste on that rage, or on the failings of the machines. No, now was the time to attack and restore himself as the terrifying General Grievous the terrible and swift demon of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the scourge of the Republic, and slayer of the damned Jedi. The Republic was crumbling, slowly perhaps but it was, and now it would pay for all the crimes that it had against his people, against him.
His hated droid hand slammed down on the arm rest of the seat. No feeling. No touch of skin. Just the cold empty pain and burning flame of rage within to still feel alive "The begin! All vessels to initiate hyper-space...hhag...hhag...to the Mon Gazza system! Operational Plan Beta-Four is now a go!"
"Hey...weren't we supposed to strike Naboo..."
Stupid droids, how he wished he had the blood left to make boil with their infuriating idiocy "Silence! Operational Plan Beta-Four is in Effect! BEGIN! NOW!"
"Roger, Roger" echoed back from the bridge as he stared coldly at the screen. The Beta Plan had been the 'less likely' option he had proposed to Dooku, with an immediate strike on Naboo under Plan Alpha being the intended one till earlier today. But that had been contingent on Naboo not being reinforced, which it had, and there wasn't time to inform Dooku beyond a brief confirmation the Operation was underway with an alternation in plans due to tactical concerns. Yes the Sith Lord disliked such, but Republic Intelligence was too dangerous to not change plans based on their reading his communiqués; the disaster those fools in Sluis Van had suffer a sure sign of this.
Even the fact that Naboo had been reinforced, observed by his infiltration and scout droids, shortly after he had detailed his plans to the Count showed this flaw. Toth and Fett, as much Dooku wished them dead, had indicated similar concerns, and with Ventress alive that danger was worsened till the fools changed their access codes across the board. No, he would hit KENOBI first, shatter the Jedi's fleet [and ideally kill KENOBI at last] with his own reinforced fleet above what was detailed, and then move unto Naboo immediately afterwards. Yes Skywalker had been reinforced, but not enough, and with KENOBI force eliminated there would not be any surprise ambush.
'No, no there won't' he thought tapering down on the flare of HATE and urge to just seek out the wretched Jedi and slay them. But that would not do, not yet anyway. No, first had made them think that useless world was his true target...and they had had conveniently concentrated their mobile fleets on his southern flank there to hold the Chancellor's homeworld. With one heavy blow he would shatter that reserve, and then be free to strike up the hyperlane at his true target; the Republic's Second Sector Army at Denon. Denon with its industry and, currently, struggling great mega-corporations.
The Yam'rii had had similar weakness, and that bastard human Toth had shown the Republic had the same weakness. If he was judging correctly then devastating that world would make the credit crisis so much worse, and open the hyperlanes to threaten Corellia, Rendili, and Exodeen. Not...that he would strike at Corelia when it was sitting out the war, or any of the others following its lead; but merely having the threat would force fleets away from other sectors to then sit idle. No, he was FEARED and that FEAR meant he could win merely by shattering the initial Republic defensive fleets and then merely threatening the Core...
--
[21 BBY]
[Chamber of the Galactic Senate, Galactic Senate, Coruscant]
Orn Free Taa shook his head "They're being too obstructive Chancellor, I have managed to switch three votes from their bloc, but someone is spending a great deal of credits to oppose the bill"
His friend Sheev Palpatine nodded, an unhappy smile on his grandfatherly face "Ah, not exactly the best of news I'm afraid my friend, but you have done significant better than others. It's Alsakan and Columus of course, and perhaps the Corellians as well"
"I'm sorry to say that seems to be the case, and they are flaunting the rules bringing such increased large security details with them! It is a disgrace!"
"Oh I know my friend, it's that Corellians during the military reforms all over again" Sheev Palpatine replied far more politely and calmly the Orn would have been in his situation. Why, he would have been positively seething and wishing physical harm upon these arrogant fellows from the Core worlds! "...and sadly we are as limited as we were there. Dusting off ancient and rarely used rules for no reason but to cause trouble! Indeed, it is disgraceful in this dark hour when we should all be pulling together for the Republic"
"Yes, they should have been grateful with the increase security you had, and have, implemented over the Senate and individual Senators even before the Separatists turned to their murderous and tyrannical tactics in full force!" he furthered with a sigh "...though I dare say; I am less and less approving of the helpfulness of the Jedi at times"
Sheev held up his hands in a placating gesture "Orn, my friend, I assure you the failings of some are not the failings of all with the Temple. Or at least one would hope so. I have done my best to resolve the differences between yourself and the current General on Ryloth, but the Jedi have power over any matters relating to their faith and a number of these fallen Jedi serving Dooku are reported within the region"
"I understand Chancellor, and I thank you from the deepest levels of my heart for that help. It is just...matters that were settled have been reopened by careless outsiders. Master Krell may be an excellent Jedi, and hunter of criminals, but he is a less skilled Military Governor and administrator"
He hated having to deal with that violent revolutionary radical Syndulla and his ilk, but something of a truce had been arranged between them. A truce that had proven profitable for Orn himself, and popular with the citizens; and now this Jedi had strolled in, started arresting people engaged in technically legal trade, and having Clones raid and shut down a number of his businesses. Similar had occurred with Syndulla apparently; rigorous enforcement of the law, Republic rather than Ryloth, seemed to the Jedi's mental block. One that was causing growing tension where there need not be any. He sighed.
"Has there been any positive news of late?"
Sheev smiled warmly "Do not be disheartened my friend, while we have suffered some setbacks our strength will but grow and then we shall go on the offensive once again. Even our losses on Kuat will soon be made good, even if the means by which we have achieved such is less efficient and cost effective than one would desire I'm afraid"
"Rendili finally came through?"
"Yes, though they are one of a number once we opened up the bidding for production lost from KDY's Kuat yards. I must admit I am less than happy with such greed in this time of crisis, but borrowing and expanding our fleets from outlier worlds such as Mon Cala simply must be done..." Sheev replied with a shake of his head, before taking a sip of his kaff "...and your own Ryloth of course. Such worlds with Senators as loyal to the Republic as yourself Orn firstly over a number of less savoury ones here in the Core and Colonies; not after their antics in delaying needed military spending bills in time of war..."
--
[21 BBY]
[Solem Stellar Construction Shipyards, In Orbit Solem, Solem System, Koradin Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
The Cataphract-class frigate exiting the restored mobile shipyards wasn't very impressive Ardal Bren, First Amongst Equals of Solem, found drinking from his glass of Lipsec ale. It was a flying brick with overlarge engines at the back, point defence laser cannons studded over its blocky hull, and a number of missile batteries for engagement. A glorified escort starship, or pirate hunter of course, but with the galaxy at war the escort anti-fight/bomber role seemed the role that the first ship produced by these yards. Not up to the standards of the Core of course, but it could do its intended role at that level even if it lacked any comforts.
It was fast, had enough point defences to decimate a starfighter swarm, and solid sensors with its crew of about five hundred. The hull itself was the basis for the more combat oriented Cavalier-class, swapping out point defences for more torpedoes, ion cannons, and a few turbolasers. Most likely they'd build a few for the expanded planetary defence forces as pirate or slaver hunters in the coming years. For now though he watched from the celebratory party as their world took another step back towards where it had been before the coming of the Republic all those centuries past.
He toasted it silently 'Long may the war continue, and stay far from our shores'
--