[19 BBY]
[Medical Deck, Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Task-force Blotus, Battle-group Army of Light, In Orbit Kowak, Kowak System, Sevetta Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
It was a much nicer, and larger, than her cell in the Temple Jedi Knight Aayla Secura found as she sat cross-legged on the floor, engaging in some meditation while she was waiting on the General Stormcrow to arrive. Of course she found she struggled to do more than sit, lounge on the bed, and walk sluggishly to sit with her fellow Jedi, and the good doctor Wee'bako who'd treated the injuries, and indignities, inflicted upon her by the Hutts. Oh there was much more going on that she was supposed to know of course, but Aayla Secura knew herself she need significant recovery time before she'd be able to fight again.
Those kriffing Hutt slime had pushed her to her limits, and while Master Gallia was agitated about having been 'banished to their rooms' during the recent battle Aayla knew they'd be more hindrance than help. Indeed she found herself fighting herself at times; she had always preferred light, form fitting clothing, and she found herself so tempted to take the heavy robes offered in her wardrobe. It was a reaction to recent humiliations, just like she had found after...previous experiences with the nightmare; feeling ashamed of herself, and her body, her background as a Twi'lek. It was something she refused to accept, and instead she adopted white trunks and a top alone.
"Enter" she spoke eyes still closed as the doorway beeped, the tightly controlled Force signature of Daron Stormcrow waiting outside. Off doing the rounds with the Jedi, calming them down, Aayla thought with faint amusement as she let out a breath, opening her eyes. In he strode, towering over her as he neared, and she gave a faint smile, cocking her head to the side "Ah, General, welcome to my humble, new, abode now that we are sure I am free of any infections...well, any serious ones at least. Time on Nal Hutta was less than pleasant; I would not recommend it as a resort world..." she gestured at the floor just in front of her "...join me in a meditation?"
The Stormcrow smiled, standing over her as she looked up just in time for him to slip into a similar pose to her own just in front of him "I would think not Knight Secura, hardly the nicest spot but one we had to do business on I'm sad to say"
"Yes, it appears you have to deal with many unpleasant people since you have left the Temple Daron. And call me Aayla, Knight Secura feels far too formal, and I know we never spoke during our time in the Temple, but you got me out of a rather nasty situation so I'd like to think of us as friends" she replied playfully. It helped deal with the aches of her body, the pain of her recent experiences, and hopefully build rapport with the person whose guest she was likely to be the next few weeks at least. Kit, and Master Windu with his history with Daron Stormcrow, would not have indicated they should obey a non-Jedi unless they had strong reasons.
"Okay Aayla. I must say, you are handling things better than I expected"
She couldn't help but smile bitterly in response to that "Better that I'd like at times. I'm experienced, too experienced, in the role of Twi'lek slave-toy. But, let us be honest, I'm weak as a youngling fresh into the Temple, and I must thank you and Doctor Wee'bako, sincerely, for getting that chip out of my brain. Though I suspect you mean in comparison to Master Gallia and Knight Swan?"
He nodded and Aayla hummed, then nodded back, decision made "I suspected as much. Master Gallia is simply suffering from recent setbacks, and of the three of us she has recovered swiftest. My suggestion would be to let her access to your training rooms, and perhaps somewhere to meditate and she will centre herself..." she pouted at him "...and might help stop her bothering you as well I'd imagine"
'This is pleasant' she mused as the Force between them helped bolster her flagging strength as the larger, younger, green-skinned male chuckled "Yes, that would be a help, especially when I'm trying to avoid with mercenary Nightsister guards"
Aayla gave a clearly fake seductive pout, clutching hands to her chest in mock horror "Trouble? Why I thought we are all being recruited as part of your harem! Why you even purchased me at such exorbitant rates! Three beautiful female Jedi to replace the clearly inferior Dark Side models oh my Magnificent Master!"
She laughed, the first genuine joy, however small, at the look of mild horror, morphing into reproach as she managed to elicit a faint flicker in those emotions, grumble in his voice "Oh Gods, don't start, and please, please, do not imply that with the three witch-ninjas who might take that as challenge to an honour duel or something"
"Heh, well, I best wait till I have recovered then so I can face any such challenge then" Aayla chuckled, wincing a little at the flash of pain at the back her head, at the point between her lekku where she'd been chipped, then sighing "...but, with Bultar, Knight Swan, I think she needs some help. Meditation will help too, but she hadn't experienced being...humiliated...as we were, at being made a slave and made obey. Master Gallia and myself will offer no trouble with your...unusual guards, but Bultar might need some more time, and help, to centre herself"
Bultar Swan was an excellent fellow Knight, but the recent experience...had upset her badly, anger and fear flickering within her aura during the moments of exhaustion and pain. Master Gallia was helping, and Aayla would have too despite her weakness, though the she was part of the humiliation linked emotions thanks to the Hutts so it was best to stay away from attempting such. Her current host seemed to grasp that, nodding his head and sighing after a moment's thought.
"Thank you for letting me know, I'll do what I can to help"
"We are allies, even if it is clear certain things are being kept from my sight, by yourself, and from the Council itself" Aayla told him, then holding her hands before he could reply "Please, I can understand why after our recent captivity, and possible corruption in the eyes of some within the Order. So, I will obey your commands as if you were a Master of the Order while in your care. Though can I ask the nature of this attack, I know clashes have occurred despite this truce, but this one seemed unusually powerful to target a mission such as this, within Hutt space"
The young General was cold, yet serene, a moment, like a pillar of arctic light then sighed, shaking his head "I will say there is more going on. Something terrible is about to happen, something we've tried to stop but cannot be and...I will brief you, and your fellows, when I'm confident it will not cause more harm than good. Those two Star Destroyers deployed against us..."
He shook his hand, then rubbed at his face "We've informed GAR-HQ, and should be running vids on the Holo-net shortly on it, but yes, events are in motion. It's why I need you and the others to cooperate, while I am not exactly a friend of the Order, but I swear in this I am doing what I am doing in your best interest"
Aayla could feel the truth of it in the Force, smiling "I am glad to hear. Now, would the big scary General care to meditate with me as I cannot indulge in training, or dancing...or anything mildly fun thanks to those sleemos, and the loss of Master Ti weighs on me..."
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[19 BBY]
[Tarkin Family Secure Bunker, Tarkin Family Estates, Eriadu, Eriadu System Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Wilhuff Tarkin sat within the securest bunker available to the family as the other members of said family, summoned discretely, sat around and studied the information being presented. Presented by two of his senior-most linked mercenary armies under his authority as Moff, and showing them a concerning, and detailed, story to him. It was very clear why they had wished to ensure not a single Clone was allowed near this meeting, or any hint of it known, and all guards being those utterly loyal House Tarkin. With a few words, and a gesture, he dismissed the five officers of the Republic Aegis Guard and Ailon Nova Guard, leaving only those most trusted.
Silence greeted him for an eternity that dragged on as they all studied the blue-white glowing images of Clone Troopers, Mind-Control Chips, and evidence of treason at the highest levels of the Republic, with financials to support it. Indeed the concern of the mercenaries, less outright problems with the need to change the corruption of the Republic than the fact it was destruction and betrayal of them, helped support the evidence. Like himself both organisations had been strong supporters of the Militarist cause, of the need for a New Order, and Sheev Palpatine had been at the head of that till recent months. Combined with what they had heard from Corelia...
So he stated it simply, coldly, fingers interlocked before him, elbows on the table "We are being sold out for the Chancellors ambitions"
Gideon nodded after a moment, nodding "Yes, it appears so. Return of all the territories we have taken, liberated or otherwise, to the traitorous Separatist scum. We would lose all the influence we have managed to amass throughout the various Sectors from Lipsec to Ryloth"
Garoche. Wilhuff's loyal son, nodded, anger radiating as he sat in his ORSF rather than Republic military uniform to show his true loyalties "This is beyond an outrage, and these conspirators are so bold as to send ships we are denied to attempt eliminate those loyal to our cause using kriffing traitors and pirates so we would not hear further!"
Wilfuff nodded as Gideon motioned at the various displays before them "What's most concerning is how far he has manipulated us. He is Nabooan, and Senator Amidala has been most problematic to our cause as we informally formed and centralised regional assemblies and ad-hoc support associations, and she, and the Gungan, now sit upon the peace negotiations. Considering the penetration that must clear be into the Jedi Order..."
"Yes, I had discounted this Force nonsense, especially in light of the abysmal performance of the Jedi in this conflict..." Wilhuff murmured coldly, mind calculating their next moves "...but my subordinates with those powers, Generals Rahm and Stormcrow have shown quantifiable results that indicates to me it is a matter of training and command. That the Supreme Chancellor and a small cabal within the Jedi Order have created a situation where they can purge the majority of them alongside ourselves at some words over the holo-net"
Thankfully there weren't a vast number of Clone Legions within GAR-South, but it did represent a major problem as laid out;- which Jedi were loyal, and which were not, would only be revealed by which ones didn't have Clone Legions turn on them. Still, there been had a number of units close enough to him to potentially eliminate him should those orders come down. He would not be controlled like that; He Was Wilhuff Tarkin, and some up-jumped resort world where the humans were inferior to the aliens living there would not be allowed to put his family in humiliation like this!
Gideon glanced at him "If the peace talks succeed..."
Wilhuff let out a breath "They are very likely too, with this information it is clear the Supreme Chancellor has rigged the deck. Amidala is clearly a proxy at least now we see the true relation, Jedi Skywalker too along with Kenobi most likely, too many links back to Naboo. Senator Binks too"
Garcoche shook his head "Perhaps, or if so without the knowledge of his people. I've been dealing with the Gungans enough lately to know they are committed to our cause not that of these peace talks, of not punishing the Separatists. But I agree, there's a web here Father...one moving against our interests. Looking at it now their interests merely coincided with our own when facing the Trade Federation challenge, and now higher rewards are on the table. Naboo, Kamino...they and others benefit, and we lose all we have bled for in recent years"
Wilhuff nodded, his mind set on a course of action, but a good officer listened to others opinions before going off to a new war "Opinions gentlemen, I want opinions, and I do believe we need to gather the senior members of the ORSF and decide who will stay loyal with the Republic military to..."
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