[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, Entering Nouane System, Capital Nouane Allied Region, Inner Rim]

"Grand Moff Amban'yor, thank you for the gracious assistance..." I told the quasi-Republic military officer with a sincere tone and a polite bow "...in these trying times. I can assure you once my battle-group has done some necessary repairs, and purchased supplies, we shall be on the move once again"

The sort-of democratically elected ruler, sort-of supreme military officer, sort-of Republic overseer, of the Nouane Allied Region smiled politely, giving a nod "Of course General, but your forces are a most welcome sight so my government, to be frank, have no opposition to an extended stay. Our shipyards are available despite the situation at hand, and their defences are adequate...though this matter can discussed once your fleet has reached orbit in a more private setting, such as your Flagship or the Sages Palace"

"Of course Grand Moff, it would be a pleasure to discuss such once we arrived in orbit and cleared the schedules with your controllers"

The human female bowed slightly "Excellent General, I look forward to discussing a number of matters. I shall have my staff begin organising the necessary details by the time your forces have deployed"

"Thank you Grand Moff Amban'yor, your welcome is most appreciated" I replied with a smile that belied my confusion at the helpfulness of the situation, listening as the robed woman rattled off some more pleasantries before the holo-screens turned off as the conversation ended. That done I frowned, sitting back into my chair, and glancing at Yulen and the avatars of Shessagora and her captain, Nurg, from her own Shieldmaiden to discuss our next course of action. Sans the Jedi and Admiral Yularen of course, but they had a tendency to do their own thing anyway, so best not to talk till we had our own ducks in a row.

"Okay, what was that about do we think?"

Shesagora, her avatar showing she was also sitting in her 'ready room' paused a moment, then spread her arms apart "Mandalorians I expect, this lot have been very much off the track of the big offensives and counter-offensives of the war so far...but Mandalore has been an ancient enemy to most of these mini-empires, probably what drove'em into the Republic, and now the war looks worryingly closer than it did a few months ago"

I paused, stoking the small beard on my chin "Hmm...that'd make sense I guess, though I'm not sure...well, of the advisability of such a course of action as we are"

"Let's see what they offer Daron, then we get Hanna over secure comms and see what she's got us, or can get us, in the Core..." the older pirate replied after a few moments considering "...it's not a bad region to set up, not as many hyperlanes in, they're advanced enough to have solid yard space, and sounds like we can get a better deal than further up the supply chain"

It wasn't entirely a bad idea, we did desperately need extended yard time for most of the ships, and the sooner we offloaded the refugees the better. Nouane was one of those odd throwbacks to old times in the Republic; a still existent independent state within the Galactic Republic. Most had been folded into the Republic over the centuries, but the two hundred odd systems of Nouane's mini-empire had remained largely independent, though the government increasingly ceremonial.

Well, till someone threw a war anyway and the ceremonial government and anti-piracy/smuggling military turned into something far less so. Sadly I wasn't entirely sure of the shipyard capacity of the newly reawakened mini-empire, so that was something I needed to rectify in the next few hours. It hadn't really been a concern; we'd really only intended to make passage through the region as it wasn't connected to either of the primary hyper-lanes to the galactic north and south respectively. I sighed, nodding to Shesagora in acknowledgement.

"That sounds like the best approach to take as you say Shesagora, we'll take stock of our status and what they've got available in terms of equipment and, more importantly, yard-space for our capitals, and then compare the costs..."

--

[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, In Orbit Nouane, Capital Nouane Allied Region, Inner Rim]

Miraj Scintel the former, well, technically still, Queen of Zygerria, was her usual docile self as I left our little morning talk, there wasn't much left to get out of her in terms of information, but she still remained a useful hostage/status symbol. She was mostly focused on remaining out of the hands of the Republic's criminal system, and for now she'd stay my prisoner, which was apparently her preference. I think because she had something resembling luxurious accommodation, shock collar, tracker, and monitoring aside, with us along with the potential for ransoming back.

Something I was considering, credits dependent of course, as I got on the maglev and travelled across the length of the ship to my next appointment. Or training session to be more exact, as it was a way to talk to Anakin and Ahsoka, and allow me to take out my frustrations at his idiocy back on not-Korriban, before the later meeting with the Nouaneans leadership. They'd sent on details of their talking points; there were pros and cons to it, and a danger that could drag us into the combat theatre here once, and it was clearly leading that way, the fightin broke out with this bunch of Neo-Mando Revanchists. Not that I'd criticise, but it would be a problem.

'Well, on the bright side Daron your getting rid of Kenobi's watchful eyes, so there's that' I reminded myself listening to faint hum of the systems sensors and movement distortion of the capsule. It was a help, them returning back to the Council to report, now that we were in Republic territory, and away from the chain of command. And away so that Darth Sidious being able to have a 'find Daron's fleet' scrying ability wasn't as easy as it seemed to be...

I sighed, shaking my head.

...after Moraband it was perhaps best not to venture too deep into the Core and the political pit of vipers that came with it. Ventress was also departing with her two sisters, which could be good or bad as...well, she hadn't wanted to talk much about what happened on Moraband to me, but positive relations with Mother Talzin would help when things went bad. Not that I could trust the Dark Side Sorceress, but with Darth Maul remerging...

'And how the hell is he not dead?' I wondered again, but then shaking it off. All Confederate intercepts indicated Dooku, who was still in seclusion, believed it was Maul, and Ventress had confirmed Maul's brother was involved. All in all it was a mess that had complete blindsided me, and the only part I couldn't figure was why Maul and his brother hadn't blown Sidious's cover. Then again I knew it and kept my mouth shut, so that was a possibility.

Whatever the reason it was pretty clear they were going for the direct 'build my own empire' strategy, and clearly expecting to fight the Republic and Confederacy as both were Sith controlled. In that, in some small amount, I could be happy with as it should throw a wrench into the future Emperor's grand plan. Or it was another long con, and Maul was back working with his Master...though that assumed Maul was a complete imbecile with no ambition. Possible, but hopefully unlikely, and another reason to try have some sort of channel open to the Nightsisters who might be the alternate backers of the Sith backed Mandalorians...

'No matter, let's have a chat and some stress relief with the dynamic duo before they leave' I told myself as the capsule slowed, then stopped, as the doors opened after a quick scan for various things like pathogens as I exited. The guards outside saluted me, and I saluted back as I passed them and strode towards the training area set aside for my little practice session. Might even that I found a way to get some sense into Anakin's head before the 'let go emotions, feel nothing' idiocy of Yoda went and made the situation worse with Skywalker's personality type. Something similar needed to be done with Ahsoka Tano, but I could do little more than some practice and meditation with them before they departed...

--

[From: Confederacy of Independent Systems Consulate Nar Shadda]

[To: Confederate Intelligence Agency, Serreno]

[Code Designate: Blue Rancor-Dancing Bantha]

[Message as follows]

Message Begins*

Target [Artel Darc] as indentified per data packet [Z9P/5/HY/784442] was reported to us as arriving at the Spaceport by sympathetic members of the local law enforcement after the fact. Initial efforts to locate Target after departure from Spaceport, after utilising unknown means to influence security and trading staff after sale of stolen CIS military craft, were stymied due to the delay in awareness of locals to the situation. This awareness was due to droid maintenance crew several hours after the arrival of Target, and checking of security systems based on Jedi protocols.

Efforts to locate Target proved ineffective, and we believe Target has departed the system through as yet unknown means. Based on evidence provided it is believed Target intitially visited the Public Library in the Lower Wards, followed by an extended stay in Und'verra's Solar Shine Cantina where upon significant funds were supplied for several high end alcoholic beverages, and hiring of a number of female entertainment staff, for a thirty-four hour period. Target then departed the Cantina into the Lower Wards, and is believed to have acquired transport off planet due to multiple deaths, by electrical strikes of unknown origin, amongst known smugglers.

Target has, by all accounts, dyed his hair and changed eye colours, images attached [File:YT/JJKL/4324.S2] and was referred to as 'Lord Kallig' or 'Impy Dearest' or 'Let's go with I'm Xalek' by entertainment staff that retained memories of the event. A bounty has placed upon Target with the local branches of the Bounty Hunters Guilds based upon all available information. More detailed reports will follow once copies of security reports are received.

Message Ends*

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