[19 BBY]

[Eta-2 Actis-class Jedi Interceptor, on approach Republic Aegis Guard Fleet area, GAR-South, In Orbit Eriadu, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

The system was full of activity Jedi Master Luminara Unduli found as she slowly followed the guidance of system control towards hers, and her Padawan's, destination. A fleet filled the system after all; a large, powerful, one at that, and it was almost Coruscant levels of traffic control she found despite the lesser nature of the traffic and this being the Outer Rim. It was also less uniform than would have been seen in Core or Colonies: no neat ranks of Venators and Acclamators, but instead a mixture of Dreadnaught and Invincible class capital ships, with Separatist designs intermingled everywhere with local designs. Still it was a veteran force, in combat formation and full alert despite being, now at least, deep within 'safe' Republic territory.

'So secure, then why do I feel this nagging sense of worry' she wondered feeling her Padawan follow her in on the designated approach as a squadron of droid-fighters shadowed them. Somewhat paranoid, but GAR-South seemed to increasingly embody such check and counter-check measures as the war progressed, and their faith in the Jedi waned it seemed. It made Luminara want to sigh in frustration; this war had been tough on them all, and this...madness...of the Council was doing harm to her Padawan.

Bariss should have been a Knight by now, only the dangers of certain attachments lingering...such as the worst of them coming towards them in his massive city-ship. The ship they had been ordered to head too despite her objections. Ordered to the detriment of her Padawan and herself!

'What the Grandmaster and Master Windu thinking I do not know' she complained silently into the Force once again banking gently to bypass shielded areas as ordered. Oh, she had suspicions, but even those felt strange when ordered to go and 'follow his orders obediently' when the other party was not of the Temple, and likely a problem to dealt with once the war ended. Two Nightsisters and Asajj Ventress in his service...it was tolerable when it was he alone perhaps, but taking Dathomiri offword? Dealing with Sith? That was a problem the Order would have to deal with eventually...

All of which made bringing Bariss near her friend all the more problematic as the war had...unbalanced her in Luminara's wary opinion. Her Padawan still fought to be the best she could, but beneath the surface there was confusion, flashes of emotion, and worryingly now a faint exhilaration and eagerness to get aboard the over-large warship. Her Padawan had been...bothered...by the knowledge of Asajj kiriffing Ventress suddenly switching sides, and then apparently serving as loyal lieutenant to 'General Stormcrow' as reported on the Holo-Net. The implied intimate relation several Holo-Net branches had hinted had further unbalance Bariss, a sure sign of the dangers of attachments to one who should be one of the best Jedi in the Temple.

'How to deal with that is the problem is it not?'Luminara wondered, considering possible ways to mitigate the damage, as she followed the guide lights inside the massive ship dwarfing the nearby Venators serving as its escorts. Keeping Bariss under watch at all times was one option, but with three fellow Jedi, potentially corrupted or harmed by the Dark Side, that was likely impossible to achieve in practical terms. Another option was simply to pre-empt the likely fact Bariss would end up in bed with the Stormcrow and ensure Luminara herself joined them, showing her Padawan that such dangerous attachments were not needed for some stress-relief.

That sex, free of any attachment and emotionally meaningless, was the Jedi way, with pain of such attachments only falling on the non-Jedi party usually. Such options were always available within the Temple after all, Luminara had a few pleasant sessions with Master Kenobi after all and had remained professional and attachment-less. Skywalker's Padawan, or perhaps Skywalker once he calmed, would have been adequate for that role, but unfortunately the Council was still blundering along trying to seduce the dangerous rogue back, so who was she to question their 'wisdom'?

"Follow the guide lights to landing berth 14-C, secondary seals closing in twelve seconds..." came over the intercom, and she did as requested as her starfighter ascended slowly into the large hanger bay. There was a Gozanti heavy combat freighter already docked inside, with room for another she wondered, watching a repair work underway along with other production. Ideal space for carrier if converted, but apparently the outer and inner doors were 'too well built' and made opening and closing very slow, so only two squadrons were placed in this section, with 'droid' one further forward. Very wasteful considering a Venator held multiple times the number, but was a fraction the size.

Meditating briefly in the Force as the landing clamps locked home and her starfighter was tractored into place in its own alcove Luminara Unduli drew strength and calm into herself. Buffering Bariss's energy through the bond with calm, or at least encouraging her Padawan to do so, Luminara unbuckled the straps on her harness and stepped out of her cockpit. She knew she'd need it having to deal with the waiting Force signatures of the Stormcrow and the Darksider Ventress, and then the three recovered at the loss of Master Shaak Ti. So she smiled and gathered her strength, walking forward...

--

[19 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic Aegis Guard, Army of Light, Combined First Fleet, Grand Army of the Republic – South, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"It is good to see you too!" I replied with a chuckle as Bariss shifted out of her formal handshake and gave me an awkward hug after a moment's hesitation. Same old Bariss, all prim and proper as ever I mused silently giving her a fierce hug back before breaking the embrace, bowing slightly to the Jedi Master that Ventress was smirking at "Master Luminara, a pleasure, welcome aboard the Stormcrow"

Technically speaking I was only glad to see Bariss, as adding another Jedi Master to the mix was yet another headache and security concern in reality. But I could be polite about things, and act like it was the truth...from a certain point of view with the whole being glad Bariss, a Jedi, was here and quasi-safe. Or at least as safe as anywhere could be in the nightmarish possibilities ahead, and an angry Sith Lord trying to off me, personally, apparently. One of far too many vulnerable, but I couldn't focus upon those fears now, those regrets, as the galaxy could fall into flames at any moment.

"Indeed, a pleasure General to be aboard" the Jedi Master replied with her own faint bow, being all respectful apparently as she stood strong in Force, smile a fake smile and nodding to Asajj "Ventress"

Thankfully some people could learn, and Asajj, Miss Smug as ever, merely bowed a fraction, oh so politely, and smirking "Master Luminara, a...pleasure to see you again"

Bariss glared back at the Dathomiri woman, while Master Luminara maintained her composure despite both flickering faintly in the Force "Indeed"

It wasn't the wisest thing turning up with the Jedi-Killer in tow, but I needed hammer it home in areas I controlled rather than poor reactions on a battlefield somewhere. That and it kept the most dangerous of my trio of 'Knights' under my watch, and therefore out of trouble;- while also ensuring the Jedi focused on her, rather than on me for various things. Off me, and hopefully off the large scale conspiracy taking place below on Eriadu now that I'd brief the Tarkin's myself, and signalled willingness to take marching orders on the subject.

The rest of the Board of ESS was behind me on the matter, and both the planetary governments of Solem and Karksis were further expanding their military forces in response. Not a major thing from tiny, largely unknown, star systems, but myself and the rest of the Board had been funnelling credits, resources, and skilled personnel into the homeworlds so it was a positive. We still had our secrets of course; worlds like Hoth thanks to my meta-knowledge and Jedi Library access years ago, but hopefully the reveal off Darth Sidious, Clones, and everything related would upset some apple-carts.

I clapped my hands together, smiling politely "Excellent, we're all friends here, so let's get you to your fellow, unwell, Jedi so you can help them. After that if you, and they, wish to join me for a meal I could do with the company"

"Not training Daron?" Bariss teased, still somewhat formally but a faint smile on her face "I hope one hasn't slacked in their studies"

"I'd still beat you Bariss"

She shrugged, smile "True, but there is more to being a Jedi than swinging a shiny energy sword as someone once told me"

"Hmm, clearly a wise individual that one" I smirked as I guided the group towards the nearest transport hub and the high speed rail system that serviced the ship. It was nice to easy banter, and a training session that wasn't merciless combat with Braika, and the trio of Ventress, Naa'leth, and Karis, in preparation for the next likely conflicts "And you've been well? Things have been very bad, peace talks aside"

"Yes, we had heard of the ambush of your forces by stolen Republic Star Destroyers. It is most concerning that such things would happen during the ceasefire, but it is merely one of countless skirmishes sadly" Master Luminara interrupted and I nodded idly as we walked. If I could get some time alone with Bariss I could start seeing if I could tell her what was happening, and the situation needing to be broached with the other Jedi now they were aboard. I'd rather hold off now that Stass had departed Coruscant...but there was too great a risk now, not with Tarkin in the mix, and the potential I could die greater than ever.

"Oh, more than a skirmish I'm afraid, more an assassination attempt by fleet...and yes those Star Destroyers are a concern we'll be discussing later. Along with the fact I'd no time to salvage them and had to leave the wreckage to the Hutts to pick over" I replied, Ventress strutting beside, while I hoping those ships might draw some of both the Hutts and the Sith's resources in 'covering up' anything important aboard their data-banks. It was very doubtful there was, but with the clock ticking even a fraction helped...

"And Master Ti?"

I shook my head, genuinely sorrowful "No Master Luminara, I'm afraid I've no news beyond the Sith took her and a number of other slaves off Nal Hutta, then Nar Shadda, before vanishing into Wild Space"

Bariss shook her head "You rescued Master Gallia, and Knights Secura and Bultar! From a Master of the Sith, after slaying Dooku..."

"Technically Maul did that, I merely distracted the Count..." I replied with a shrug "...while the Sith killed themselves before I valiantly went to the Hutts and purchased three Jedi for exorbitant prices"

Asajj, still showing signs of lack of diplomacy, smirked "Indeed, I was there by his side, after he...redeemed me of course before I slew that cyborg filth...For the Republic of course"

I glanced at her, sighing "Very true, and to save Dathomir too. But, yes, all in another day's work of a General of the Republic Bariss..."

--

[19 BBY]

[Secure Conference Room, Golden Beaches Ultra-Lux Hotel, Corellia, Corellian System, Corellian Sector, Core Worlds]

Ahsoka Tano let out a breath, trying to focus her mind and gather her strength during her respite from guarding the Senators and generally watching for terrorists. And boy had there been a lot of terrorist attempts to disrupt the Peace Conference, from the freaky cyborg guys, to the crazy bounty hunter trying to get an atom-splitter inside the security zone.

Or the shapeshifter that had tried to pretend to be one of the Corsec guards before managing to get away in the chase afterwards. Guard the Senators, don't chase criminals she'd been told so that's what she'd done...however unhappily.

Not only that but she still hadn't time to get over the nightmares that lingered from the Not-Sith-Homeworld according to the Council, and 'say nothing of it they must' about the whole thing...and, oh, Skyguy was being super obvious about breaking the Code with Senator Amidala. How Master Kenobi didn't notice she didn't know, but then again he wasn't stuck in the same luxury apartment with the various Senators and Skyguy while they made pet-names for each other and stuff. Like, it was sort of creep how the inflections of 'Senator' and 'Jedi' could sound like that!

Her eyes opened as she felt her Master and Master Kenobi approach, the doors opening moments later as they escorted the very jubilant feeling delegates inside the 'Republic' part of the Conference area that she had been guarding/meditating/resting in. That was good, wasn't it?

Skyguy grinned, that cocky, happy grin "Great news Padawan, we have peace!"

--