Chapter 3: Rage, Rage, Against The Dying Of The Light
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[20 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Reformed 14th Sector Army, In Orbit Ryloth, Ryloth System, Gaulus Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Delaying the sending of the holo-feed, after my live speech down in Lessu, had been a godsend as it had let me rest in peace for a few hours, as well as gather up relevant information and people, to deal with the aftermath of my brief moment of madness. Planned and organised madness perhaps, but it still made my life very stressful, and potentially very short, so I was glad of my training of two lifetimes to maintain focus and calm despite the dark path ahead. Not that I'd had many options when the effective arrest order from the Jedi Order arrived on my doorstep.
Oh, they'd called a summons for investigation and questioning, but I knew where that storyline ended - their super secret prison for force using troublemakers, or a sudden bout of death by Jedi Shadow away from fleet and army. At the very least it meant dismissal from my position and the crippling of our forces at the worst possible moment. No, now I had to be decisive, to take refuge in audacity; to roll the dice and either ascend to a powerbase by my actions, or ensure I'd be remembered if I had to flee into the void for a time as a backup should Plan A fail. Which it probably would, but them's the breaks when you play at being a Warlord.
Truth be told I hadn't gotten a call from Supreme Chancellor Sith Lord yet, but apparently he'd only given my boss, Moff Tarkin, a brief call and been less than happy with the response. Though that was on the word of Tarkin, and I did not trust him not to throw me to the wolves should the going get tough in the end. For now I could only trust in his self-interest that this situation made his, and his family's, position stronger within the Republic while Sidious could give nothing that wouldn't directly or indirectly weaken that hold. One would that would be the key, as the Dark Side covered everything...so best make it work in my favour.
'Ah, hopefully I'm right' I mused coming into the room with my confederates in this mad venture, either physically or appearing via hologram '...but the Dark Side wants a bloodletting...so let's give it one and see Darth Sidious try to hold back the tide'
"And here was me thinking I was early..." I mused with a snort setting my helmet on the table "...and here I'm nearly last. Braika?"
"Making her way up from the training area, ETA six minutes Captain-General" Yulen replied, and I would have given an amused snort at that. Seemed I was back as Captain-General, but then again I was here representing Executive Security Solutions so perhaps not unsurprising. Arranging secondary funding sources was the name of the game right now, on the off chance our primary source was cut-off in response to our actions, and my 'glorious' speech. Ryloth was already on board of course, as were our home systems off on the fringe, but they would be far from enough.
The captured droid and ship foundries were active again, and not on any report either, so that was one source of ships and weapons once true production runs finished. A joint project with the Ailon Nova Guard and two other mercenary outfits we'd worked with before, and, more importantly, could keep their mouths shut about all of us getting those automated facilities [reported as destroyed] were operational once more. If I could keep Tarkin and the ORSF onside then we'd continue to have access to Sluis Van, Eriadu, and other such facilities, and of course our light production yards over Solem. Project Bolt-hole had a number repaired and reactivated as well of course...
"So, now that your General has arrived..." Yanthis interrupted my thoughts as he and his inner circle across the table from mine, and from Syndulla's Free Ryloth "...what is this vital information that you wished to discuss outside of any official communications?"
I nodded as Braika took her seat inside the large secure meeting room deep in the bowels of my flagship, taking a chip out from my clothing and placing into the holographic display unit. Seconds later several images of Clone Troopers appeared on the table before us "What I'm about to tell you here to today could get all of us killed. You see, the Clone Army of the Republic..."
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[20 BBY[Plus Seven Hours]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Reformed 14th Sector Army, In Orbit Ryloth, Ryloth System, Gaulus Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
I stood calmly at attention, hands behind my back, before the hologram avatar of the Dark Lord of the Sith while he role-played at being Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic "I apologise Chancellor, but I must respectful refuse such a request to return to Coruscant. It is clearly at the insistence of the Jedi Order, and as per Section Three, Paragraph Nine B of our forces contract with the Galactic Senate, am under no obligation to submit to orders outside the chain of command. They have publically called for my arrest, under some religious delusion they appear to be suffering, possibly due to being a cult I escaped from, and any such meeting is likely to result in death and destruction..."
Like a red rag to a bull the Jedi Council had, publically thanks to leaks through the GAR, freaked out and called for my questioning on the whole debacle here in Ryloth. I'd been deliberate in that; any serious recall or investigation into me and my activities was unlikely to end well, and if even it didn't I didn't trust them not to imprison me anyway after killing Krell. Sure we had discovered evidence that Jedi Master Pong Krell had been an actual traitor working with Dooku and the CIS, and boy had that been a surprise, but I knew the Council well enough to guess how things might go. So I went big, and bold, and hopefully was confusing the hell out of the 'frail old man' in avatar format before me.
"...potentially mine. So, my apologies Chancellor, I must turn down such a request. Of course, if I am to be ordered as such by motion of the Senate as specified under Section Two, Paragraph Four C, of my contract I, and my fleet, will be happy to attend...once we have fought our way through all the Confederate Fleets that might be in our way to achieve such a course"
The 'old man' frowned and sighed "I'm afraid now is not the time to be impertinent young man, Grandmaster Yoda has given me strong assurances that they merely wish to speak to you in regards certain matters...such as the death of General Krell and the proof of treason you so helpfully provided. The more...religious...disputes as you put it would not be relevant, though one is curious as the details provided by Master Yoda and Windu do raise some concerns when compared against your rallying speech"
I continued my calm, stoic, stance and face as I used the Light to remain unshakeable even in the face of this monstrously powerful and dangerous sorcerer I had to poke at "It's absurd Chancellor is what it is...why, to claim I am some sort of Sith, or follow their teachings, would be as ridiculous as claiming you, yourself, are in fact a Sith Lord! After all we all know there is only one true Sith Lord in the galaxy; Count Dooku, or Darth Tyranus as GAR Intelligence tell us he should be called"
'Well he didn't try murder me on the spot, that's good...and heavens and hells that man has a poker face. I'd almost believe he's no idea what I'm on about' I though as the *kindly old man* gave a *grandfatherly* nod in response to my words "Of course, of course, a foolish position I agree, but the Masters are most insistent I fear, and the Temple has long been a friend, a pillar, of the Republic and the Chancellor's Office"
Suspicion was the lifeblood of the Sith, and if I was going to be forced unto his radar then best do it as spectacularly and confusingly as possible I figured. So I merely nodded "I understand Chancellor, but I'm afraid the situation remains as is I'm sorry to say as my fellow Generals, and my legal advisors, feel such a conflict of interest precludes acceptance of your well meaning request. You are, after all, a well know friend of the Jedi Order and should not be expected to be placed in such a position thanks to their incompetence, or treason, depending on the level that Krell's corruption sank too, or is perhaps reflected within the Temple"
The truth was...I suspected the end was drawing near, and I was nowhere near ready. Krell had forced a disastrous choice for me; do nothing and watch my forces fall apart, or move and draw attention we couldn't afford yet. Really, there had been no option in the end than this path. One that had led me to getting a dressing down from the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, all while I politely declined all his 'requests' and 'not-orders' to return to the Core and likely get myself killed.
No, we'd shown the Ailon Nova Guard and Syndulla's lot the data on the Clones, and had their support in retaining my position. Oh, they didn't know the truth at all, but the suspicion that the Jedi were meat-puppeting the Chancellor was easily enough to give me a support base to resist reassignment or changes in command...and the Tarkin's experiences with the GAR and Jedi overall had soured him on that as well. No, now I would try turn Sidious's weapons upon himself, give the Dark Side what it wanted so badly, and if not...well, there places yet to flee too in the Stormcrow...
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[20 BBY[Plus Ten Hours]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Reformed 14th Sector Army, In Orbit Ryloth, Ryloth System, Gaulus Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
I rubbed weary eyes after taking a sip of my strong herbal kaff, before glancing at Braika and Yulen "So, what is the word while I was getting told bad things by our Jedi-backed overlord?"
'And isn't that a ridiculous way of describing a Sith Lord' I thought as Braika shrugged while my aide stood just a little back from her "They're fully onboard, confirmed certain things themselves amongst the wounded under their care, and general agreement much of the upper levels of GAR are not to be trusted. Nor the Jedi as a whole obviously, but that was to be expected. An offensive operation, immediately, as such seems the best way to stabilise our position here"
I let out a breath "Excellent, we've a strong fleet assembled here, and with minimal reinforcement we can do a lot of damage. Magic Mountain has a good handle on what the Confederates have opposite this Sector Army, and it's clear they were shifting forces to help the war in the Colonies and the Core with Krell feeding them information and sitting idle. If we move fast we can do a lot of kriffing damage to their industrial and rear supply stores before they can react...I doubt they'd be expecting it, and hopefully it'll calm down the uninjured Clones we've acquired let's say"
Braika gave a snort of amusement at that "Heh, and it'll get you away from here before you've got to confront all your buddies amongst the Jedi. Can't disagree, constant movement is gonna become your life for the foreseeable future"
I nodded, rubbing at my head; I was dodging Stass...the others, because I didn't want to have to fight them, not now, not ever if I could "Yeah...so you'll be hammering the forces here into fighting shape Braika, and Jurdan over in Gerrebthum. We're taking over along with Yanthis and the others, with ORSF tacit support, everything we can and absorbing into one command structure under Tarkin"
"And the Jedi? Hmm?"
"Rahm Kota is supposedly okay with that, already following Geen's and Tarkin's orders, but the others..." I sighed "...honestly I don't know, it's best I stay clear as the Council are very mad at me"
She grinned "Like you intended"
"Like WE intended..." I corrected shaking my head "...so make use of that grace period as best you can. I think time is running out, months maybe, a year or two at the very outside, before whatever is being plotted is kicked off. Assuming we all manage to live that long anyway"
"Mishuk gotal'u meshuroke, pako kyore!"
I gave a snort at that, and the fact I could speak and understand Mando at all "Aye, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger as well, yadda, yadda...so, let's gather the fleet then shall we? We've worlds to raid, and Confederates to terrorise..."
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