[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, In Hyperspace, Towards the Galactic Edge, Outer Rim Territories]

"...making use of the training facility nine decks down, but once we complete the patrol she'll be transferring to her ship, or ships maybe" I finished as I sat in my Ready Room adjacent to the bridge, detailing a few matters to my Executive Officer Gardan, and Captain Yulen since my old ship was again docked down in the forward landing bay. My former Master had gone off to spar with some of the training droids I'd setup; no point in hiding I was keeping up my skills, but I could hide the actual areas by sending her to the reserve deck rather than my personal one.

Yulen shrugged as we sat around studying the star maps and various intelligence feeds we received from both Republic Intelligence, and our own backdoor into the Confederate systems "Eh, there's been no trouble, and we've been polite, but close mouthed, like you wanted Boss. Lot'em sniffing around of late"

I nodded, sighing wearily "Aye, don't I know it. Trying to convince me to follow guidance and whatnot, along with everyone else...or damage control as it'd be honestly called right now after recent kriffing disasters Jedi led fleets have suffered"

"What, they want more ships?"

"Uh-huh, which I'm not budging on beyond what General Geen demands, though some ground trooper formations don't hurt so I've compromised on that..." I answered Gardan resting my hand on the table and drumming my fingers a moment "...and she did admit that the Council claimed they didn't send assassins after Dooku like the Confederates are so sure of"

I paused, shaking my head "Not that they couldn't be lying, but I'm inclined to think it was our previous guest at work"

Yulen frowned "Shame it didn't work Boss"

I shrugged "You know my opinion, low chance but worth the risk with little investment. Honestly it's clear they got damned close, closer than I'd have thought actually, to pulling it off. That and they got away, so she and whoever she allied with will likely try again. To a more successful conclusion one would hope"

"Yes, though it's certainly set off a lot of chatter on their channels, even if nobody is saying anything public about anyone bombing the Palace on Serreno. Separatist security is supposed to tighten up and watch for any Jedi assassins and what not" my XO clarified as motioned at the intelligence summaries coming up on the holographic displays. I nodded, even the system to system traffic on our far side of the galaxy had skyrocketed after apparent attack; somewhat typical of the top-down command structure of the CIS really.

I scrolled through the data "Anything useful?"

"Nothing vital, though some clues towards other codes..." he replied and I nodded as he did so. Operational security seemed to be something of a learning experience for both sides even more than a year and a half into the war. Oft times they overlapped messages in their codes, making them easier to crack "...and seeming confirmation their going for a serious offensive into the Colonies and Core rather than against us, or the other neighbouring Sector Armies. Not anything we didn't expect, though it's clear they're shifting forces away from us to press campaign core-ward"

"Hmm, hmm, nothing much do as yet to take advantage of it looks like, but pass it unto to Generals Ironhill and Shadowsails through secure tight-beam comms. Have our analysts keep up decrypt and monitoring..." I replied detailing out some general observations on our own data-mining of intercepted Confederate communications and general chatter. Taking advantage of our increased awareness of their command systems, without burning that knowledge, or simply finding something worth burning it for, was the hard part though.

Even our joint effort for 'regional' intelligence services, Magic Mountain, knew nothing of what Ventress had revealed and we'd extrapolated from there. I was trying to install loyalty in my own personal crew, and the Stormcrow was ideally setup for in-depth and detailed [mobile] monitoring even without support; so best make use of it I believed. Certainly proving useful now anyway as I tracked matters while we patrolled...or perhaps more accurately patrolled and reminded recalcitrant 'allies' of the Republic our fleets were still strong despite recent setbacks...

--

[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, In Orbit Utapau, Utapau System, Tarabba Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"Ah, now we attempt to take advantage of your Jedi Master's status..." Stass was saying standing in her formal Master's robes as I entered in my own Republic General's uniform "...pragmatic as ever I see"

I shrugged "Perhaps I am, the world is neutral, though Republic leaning, so doesn't hurt to try both angles...I can be diplomatic you know"

She laughed, a genuine one "Yes, you can, though if I recall the standard Daron 'diplomacy' with certain groups consisted of 'I have your leader/bridge/engine-room in hand, surrender and I shall be merciful' of I recall correctly"

I gave her an offended look "Hey, I stopped the evil laughter like you wanted. Even if it was intimating to them in more one scenario"

She sighed, hand rubbing her forehead "Force, yes you did, and no it wasn't a help Padawan. Nor was setting everything on fire 'when all else fails' as you claim"

"Well, thankfully I'm not planning on setting Utapau on fire, nor nuke it from orbit..."

"...because it's the only way to be sure" she finished with a faint groan "...where you learned that saying...It is not becoming a Jedi"

I chuckled at that "Well luckily I'm not a Jedi then, but I learned, and know, many odd facts and trivia as you note. Some of it turned out to be very useful when I got out and about and into the working galaxy"

"Yes, your choice of lifestyle aside, I'm confident a positive relationship can be maintained with the local population, though I'm afraid a trade in kyber crystals has been rejected by the Council Daron"

I gave a shrug as I leaned against the wall "Not unsurprising, it was only a suggestion. The place is a bit of backwater, and there is tension between the various species that call it home. Trade might relieve some of that...get enough finance and industry to established domed cities to allow the Pau'uns to move back above ground. Historically the trouble only really kicks off once they hyperwind storms drive them underground to live with the Utai"

"Ah Galactic History, one of your favourite hobbies"

"One you actually approved of..." I replied "...and I quite enjoyed getting the correspondence degree in it. More than the Finance one anyway, that was boring"

"Many would find both rather dry subjects"

I glanced at her "I wouldn't let Jocasta Nu hear such, at least on the history part...not sure about reading on more material orientated pursuits"

"True, and has there been any further word on your patrol?"

I shook my head "No, gave a brief report and didn't check in, even with delays for the problems of the nebula...we've another few sensor ghosts to check out before you transfer over. Nothing major I'd expect, but best investigated in case we've Confederate forces attempting to sneak about on smugglers routes. Ambushes of our convoys using them could be a problem if they start, or if its pirates planning to do the same"

Stass made an unhappy expression at that "Pirates...the wretched scum are a growing problem galaxy wide"

"Don't I know it, though many of them are working for us sadly..."

--

[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, In Orbit Garn, Garn System, Cadma Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

I frowned studying the camera and data feeds coming to the bridge from the outer hull. It was a dead system, both in terms of transmissions, and actual living things apparently as the primary world looked to have been bombarded or scoured at some point during its history. Somewhat concerning was the presence of the scout ship, the Sunlight Dreaming, in orbit but missing the crew of two, and the escort fighter was seemingly crashed on the dead world of Garn itself.

"Right, this isn't a surprise...so full Alert Status..." I ordered standing over the tactical display "...same for medical; just in case we're looking at a contagion or some sort of parasite"

"It could be nothing Daron"

Yulen shrugged in response to my former Master's query "Boss's always been a bit cautious with things like this General Allie, and could easily be something like that. Planet has breathable atmo looks like, and not unusual for our scout patrols to land and base off places like this between runs. Rest stops usually"

"Yeah, and there's supposed to be procedures for that sort of thing, especially with places like this where they've been empty for millennia maybe" I replied, though I wasn't overly surprise; it was hard enough maintain such screenings on our ships and bases so entry point and monitoring was the standard "...no matter, we send over droids and cameras. Same with the crashed starfighter planet-side, Gardan, if you could?"

"Of course General, I'll send out some scout units and relay information back"

"Sir, I've got a transmission from the surface. We're having trouble tracking it, and just vanished seconds after we picked it up" one of the sensor officers, a fellow Solemite, stated hand held up to get our attention a distance away. I nodded, touching my communicator and instruction him to send it over to the tactical display for the rest of us to hear.

"I.̣̦̬̀.̩̯̩̘.̺̠ͅ.̟͖͔͍̩́.͚h̻̩̦̬̬̠ͅél̪̫̰p̮̻..̖̩͍̹͙.̯̝̠̼̖͓͈.̼̙̲͘.̮̳̦͕̰͠c͙̱̪̲͇̤̺o͔̕m̛̞̝̻̟iṇ̸̠̙̰̝g̙̗̮.̝.̵.̛̟̮̘.̸̭͖̯͚̟̠ͅT͚̟̦͕o͏͓̮͈̝̣̩̣w̻̱̱̣̤͜e̯̰̝͙͞r͓̦̼̻̙̥.͍͖̗̤͢.͔̺͙̺̗̳.͇͎̲̯̭̲.̘̟̫͔ͅ.̖̱̻̞̳͘."

I frowned, barely audible and filled with static, but a woman's voice calling for help or rescue and utterly terrified from the sounds of it. Best to check things first though "Compare that to Lt. Yatanra's voice please, and continue scanning for where it might be coming from"

"It is most likely the crashed Cathedral Ship Daron"

"I agree Stass, but we check everything else first. Droids out, I want another cluster sent down to the wreckage of that thing as well to investigate, and the ruins nearby. Aerial recon and signal monitoring, let's see if we can find that signal again, and see if the logs on the Sunlight Dreaming have any answers..."

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