[19 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Task-force Outrider, Exiting Hyperspace, Terminus System, Kallea Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"Drop to real-space complete Captain-General, Fleet in formation, no damage reports..." Gardan announced standing as the various large screens changed to show the blackness of space, with star and planets a little distant "...shall I signal challenge?"

I nodded, rising from my command chair to walk over to the tactical display "Just a standard notification of Republic patrol arriving, let's see if we run into any opposition. Maintain current alert status and launch Alert squadrons as we do a sub-light approach. Gives us more time to talk, or find someone to talk to. This is probably the first time in a long time a significant Republic force turned up here after all"

"Why did you not jump in close to the world and catch them by surprise?" Asajj asked somewhat bored sounding as she moved to join me at the tactical display. I shrugged as I came over to stand at the holographic display.

"It was an option I considered I'll admit, catch'em napping and just go in hard, but I discarded it as we don't know enough about who's in charge of what, and who'll be willing to work with us, for it to do more than a quick smash and grab. Really we need a steady income stream from Terminus trade rather than a temporary windfall...our funds are pretty firm considering, but we're the government now, and governments and armies need money, which means..."

She nodded "Taxes"

I nodded, watching as a host of icons burned for the hyper-limit on the still sub-light distant world "Yes, and this place is at the crossroads of the Hydian Way and Corellian Trade Spine...very, very, much the tail end of those runs, but..."

Gesturing at the large number of icons not trying to flee in orbit of the world and spaceport "...but it's the port of call from the Unknown Regions and Wildspace, and there's a lot of traffic as you can see. It also has a pirate problem of course, but that's just the nature of these outer fringe systems. I know it's not a nice way to put it, but we're about to become the biggest gang in the area in the eyes of most folk"

Asajj gave me a look at that and I shrugged again "Legitimate governments need to have the power to enforce their laws, whether by diplomacy, some form of legitimacy, or simply military strength, and once they lose the monopoly of force we end up in situations like this. While publically we can't go around saying anything other than we are the Legitimate Republic Government of the Sector, amongst ourselves, we need be honest that we're coming in as military occupiers and attempting to establish a functional government loyal to our cause in the coming months and years"

She nodded, arms across her chest and eyes watching the screens showing the TIE fighters scream out into space around the fleet alongside droid-fighters "Hmm, and my role?"

"Look beautiful, be terrifying when needed..." I replied in a friendly and amused tone resting my hands on the tactical display as the comms-traffic went insane on the distant ships and world "...as we're going to be diplomatic in our efforts at setting up a base in system, patrols, and of course trade tariffs to support all those Republic membership benefits"

"Your hoping for some kriffing imbeciles will try shoot at us are you not?"

I nodded firmly "Oh yeah, very much so. That would be ever so convenient for establishing our credibility during the brief time-frame available to us to get setup here..."

"Here already, when can I get to the fightin?" came the amused chuckle from behind me as felt the familiar form of Braika approach. I turned my head, nodding at my fellow General in greeting.

"Just discussing plans with Asajj. Troopers ready Braika?"

The Mandalorian gave a snort "Do you even have to ask Daron?"

"Eh, stickler for procedure I suppose, so I'll take that as a yes..." I replied gesturing at the tactical display "...and we were just saying it'd be great if someone would step forward and serve as an object lesson"

Braika gave a chuckle "Heh, be great if they did, but I'm sure some will object to us taking up the task of...restoring law and order out here"

I nodded and gave a string of orders to Gardan and others as we started getting a response from what counted as a system's defence force; a few dozen starfighers and two cruisers of an unknown class. Pirate ships looked like to me since they were looking to do a runner from the system, but that seemed to be it for the negative responses to our arrival. I'd brought along an older, if relatively powerful, task-force to take up the role of Sector defence and trade interdiction;- a core of older heavy ships we'd acquired like the two refitted Atgeir-class battle-cruisers we'd salvaged and crewed, and three converted heavy bulk freighters converted to carriers.

That heavy core wasn't more than that a system defence force; really the main useful part would be refitted former Confederate frigates and corvettes, with fast light-carriers and long-range interceptors, to handle the trade interdiction. Many of the crews were green, as were the majority of the troopers outside of Stormcrow's Legion under Braika, but it'd be useful proving ground and 'rest area' to rotate soldiers and crew through. Or as a recruitment ground if need either I reminded myself as I gazed at the approaching world. First, though, there was establishing relations with 'friendly' groups, and then perhaps establishing a democratic government loyal to our cause if possible...

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[19 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Task-force Outrider, In Orbit Terminus, Terminus System, Kallea Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

I watched as Celeste Morne push back in the lightsaber battle with Asajj, hand on my chin. The revived Jedi was clearly the superior lightsaber user between the three of us, and I motioned for the bout to end before it grew into actual violence. The purpose of this was to learn, or in this case show to Asajj just how deadly the Jedi had been, once upon a time. Well, that and show that Celeste had actual emotions as the Jedi narrowed her eyes at me, ending the duel and bowing to her opponent, following moments later by a glaring Asajj after a firm look from myself.

'If I clash with her its defensive style and very much using my mage-craft to win, well if I was forced into one on one anyway' I decided as I moved, picking up two towels and two water bottles to hand to the two sweaty sparring partners. Neither protested as Karis and Naa'leth looked with my bodyguard droids, and I nodded politely to Celeste "Thank you very much Knight Morne for your lessons, it appears lightsaber styles and skills have changed in the past few millennia, and that improvement of our current skill levels are very much something to work on"

She took a gulp of the water, shaking her head as she brought the towel around her neck and wiped at her face irritably "Not too different, and I respect both of your skills even of you...former Sith..." she muttered at Asajj who gave an uncaring look while driving her own bottle "...and I thank you for the opportunity to confirm I have suffered no degeneration in skills or in the Force"

I nodded "That is good to hear, your skills will be a boon to the cause of the Republic, and you are clearly recovered enough to deal with our soon to arrive guests. Master Luminara and Knight Secura will be most eager to meet with you, while Bariss and I will catch up...probably intentionally I imagine on her Master's part since my former Master won't be amongst them"

Celeste nodded "I am eager to meet them, and perhaps spar with them"

"Heh!" Asajj chuckled...half-sneered before she caught herself, merely smiling darkly as she stood a little distance from us "Well, you won't get half the fight from that you'll get from me!"

"Now, now, Asajj, it's not nice to gloat amongst friends"

She rolled her eyes at that "Their not my friends now are they?"

"No, but you can be the better person and civil in your superior skills. Diplomacy remember? You showed quite a bit earlier on today planet-side..." I retorted in a friendly tone before glancing back at Celeste as I gestured at Karis and Naa'leth to start their practice against droid sparring partners "...though I'll admit she's not entirely wrong, so do go easy on them. Knight Secura was badly enough injured the last time we rescued her, I'd rather not worsen those injuries if they aren't fully healed"

Celeste gave me a look, then shaking her head "As you say"

I sighed "I'm just warning that the Jedi have become...became, peacekeepers, and Asajj here was trained by one of the finest duelists in the Order, Fall or not, apart from Grandmaster Yoda for one. While I helped kill him, so our skills are somewhat more aggressive and developed than a number of others. Now, if you wish to get a shower we can meditate and discuss certain elements of the Code that have changed since your time, and I am eager to learn what knowledge might have been lost once I finish overseeing this bout here"

"Hmm, then I shall enjoy my shower while you train your overgrown padawans" she murmured, striding away towards where the showers as Asajj gave her a glance, then moving over to me as I turned my attention to the training session.

"She is holding back"

I nodded "Of course, she doesn't trust us after all. Not beyond basics anyway. Still, I'd consider it a most educational experience? Did you not learn something? Feel the urge to improve your skills when faced with such skilled competition?"

Asajj sorted unhappily, rubbing at her damp skin and hair with the towel "Perhaps I do, especially when that competition as you call it wishes me dead, nor being what I had expected"

"Yes, I imagine she does, she truly hates the Sith, though not falling to the Dark Side anger..." I replied honestly watching as Karis's dodging and lightsaber skills seemed to have improved. All feeding into the holographic scanning matrix for later training programmes along with mine, and Asajj's, bouts with Celeste Morne "...and let's be honest here. The Sith Academy by all histories lived for that sort of insanity at various points in time, and the whole killing competition, other acolytes I mean, was the name of the game. Considering Darth Sidious, Darth Imperious, Darth Maul and whatever Darth title his brother takes up, now growing stronger learning from what was very likely a Dark Jedi, or Sith, hunter in ancient times would be useful"

I glanced at her "And, much as you dislike it, studying the Jedi Code and that of other Force Sects now dust has certainly helped with your control, and from that power. Anyway, I will say the Code that Knight Morne uses is much more...emotionally tolerant compared to the modern day version let us say. That, and she has a will of durasteel not to be overwhelmed by that talisman, and not completely cracking after discovering herself flung thousands of years into the future where everyone she knows is dead, and no one even remembers most of the details of the time"

She sighed "Yes that I acknowledge. You have stuck to our bargain, far more than Darth Tyrannus did"

"Well I'd hope so, he wanted a minion he could control while serving his own Master, I want a powerful, sane, ally at the end of this. Something I'm rather bereft of with the holo-net effectively down and being unable to see if certain friends are okay"

"Skywalker is fine certainly..." she retorted with a smirk "...off impregnating Senators apparently, getting secretly married, all while sneering at me of his honourable Jedi Knight status. All while dressing up Tano like a Hutt slave dancer"

I sighed "Well, that is our Anakin, and I have some basic correspondence confirming he lives. Sadly he and his band are siding with the Corellians, because his wife..."

"Because his cock" she retorted, chortled, and I rolled my eyes.

"...because his Wife, the honourable Senator, has joined with others opposed to the government we've cut a deal with. At least according to what we're hearing, which is often massively out of date, or just plain wrong thanks to all the misinformation and jamming on the hyper-comms..."

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