[19 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Task-force Cavalier, In Orbit Kriselist, Kriselist System, Wornal Sector, Mid Rim]

"Good to see you again Jurdan..." I greeted the hologram of the older Solemite as his own flagship finished its approach into orbit of the urban world below "...though looks like we've got a bloody awkward change of plans again"

Braika sitting beside me nodded "Aye, looks like you've started getting a supply depot setup here"

"Started Braika, Daron, started being the important word there, and a few weeks do not an established base make..." our colleague replied wearily "...spirits, we haven't even gotten the sensor nets fully under our sway, nor any interdiction systems setup like mines or even simple drives"

"I know, I've been having similar joy the past few weeks, same as Braika here, and everyone else in our little cabal trying to get the Sector Command stabilised..." I replied honestly over the secure channel "...but we've all seen word from Raxus and Kuat? Well, our orders are to press the Confederate positions, keep them off balance, try taking Kinyen, that or convincing the Gran to join us, or just go neutral in the conflict"

"Well, then you two sending off a task-force with a Venator as flag to test our Seppie war-hero turned Republic war-hero probably isn't going to help with that I'm afraid, nor the other detaching of forces we've had to make"

I sighed "Unfortunately Jurdan, I do know, along with having to put Yulen as Senior of that Vengeful Archer and send him off with two Consulars and some PTs to deal with merchant convoys. Yeah, sure, we've gotten more ships in exchange but..."

Jurdan's avatar frowned "Vengeful Archer?"

"One of the Acclamator refits, full carrier now, TIEs and Vultures, even if we lost the ground assault and transport capacity"

"Spirits..." he muttered "...big jump from a Gozanti to an Acclamator"

I gave a snort at that "Big jump from being a crewman on a tramp-freighter a few years ago to a modern warship captain, but we need keep our own in the loop, and he knows what he's doing. In part what we need to talk about..."

"Promotions"

"Promotions" I agreed with his grimaced spoken finishing of my statement, as Braika nodded "We need to spin off an ad-hoc combat force to deal with the Confederates, but most of the force aren't going to either ESS or Aegis Guard because we need a} to use our forces to keep establishing control and b} together as a mobile reserve"

Braika nodded again, making a waving motion with her hand "Ground forces aren't as big a problem, we're several million strong now, and even the plans to fold us and everyone else into a unified command structure isn't a problem. Hells, we shouldn't even have a major problem folding the surviving clone units into new, mixed, formations once we can be sure their chip-free and not mental. Now, I'll admit most of our soldiers aren't up to standard, but they're better than most out here, droids included, and it's mostly for garrisoning and security duties we'll need'em anyway"

"We hope" I clarified getting a nod in response "But, we're back to the recurring problem of more ships, bigger ships, lots of allied ships, a limited offensive, and centralising the military all at the same time. Oh, and we've new uniforms and rank listings coming down the line as well, so all have the not-chaos that has been the Grand Army these past few years"

Jurdan's avatar gave a snort "I'd say now is not the time for such nonsense, but it is, it really is, as its unlikely we'll have a better time than this to get organised. Of course, whose paying for all this?"

"Eriadu, at least for the bulk of the uniform roll-out, borrowings I assume, but that's more of a general roll out over the next few months as we're going to have to arrange the suppliers, and ensure a common standard"

He glanced at me "And whose going to do that?"

"Hanna" both myself and Braika replied in unison, then we all gave a faint chuckle before I continued "Look, she's the credits, and official Sector Army Quartermaster for us, or the Unified Republic Armed Forces, or whatever they decide to call it. So, in the meantime I, we, need to come up with a list of who we can and need to promote, take the lists off all the other mercenary and planetary forces for the same, and then get it all in order within...oh, say two weeks"

Braika smiled "While launching a limited offensive"

"While launching a limited offensive, yes"

"I assume I and Braika will be handling the naval and army portions of that offensive I gather?" Jurdan replied and I nodded. It wasn't ideal, but nothing ever was I'd found and you worked with what you got.

"Uh-huh, lucky you, but I'll need names you trust, which means we need to do it now, today, tomorrow, day after, while sketching out our options. It's why I've sent Ventress off to deal with the Lortan fanatics, and Yulen to handle the D'Aelgoth Trade Route. Kuat and that...whatever the kriff happened on Raxus has put the hawk-bat amongst the yetzels as Hanna says, so we need experienced officers to press while everyone's distracted an recovering"

He looked speculative a moment "Coruscant and the GAR are going to launch an offensive aren't they?"

I sighed, giving a helpless shrug "No sure, but I'd expect so judging from flash traffic to all our Sector Commands from Eriadu, Tarkin accelerating things, and if I had to guess it's due to thinking the GAR plan to try reopen the hyperlane route, probably along the Hydian Way"

"Which is why they want us to attack...yes, yes, us and a press from Fondor..."

"Yeah, I'd say Chandrilla's kriff'd...don't tell Hanna I said that..." I replied to Jurdan "...as the Coruscant and Alsakan position only needs secure a few areas along the Way to push through if losses are as what we believe on both sides"

As best I could tell from intelligence reports, and propaganda, was the Palpatine was alive, Anakin didn't seem to have been there, and there a number of dead Jedi that Kuat was crowing about in the Core. Sadly the whole situation was just...unclear now the hyper-lanes and hyper-comms were being blocked and jammed, and information was often contradictory. Honestly the whole idea of Mandalorians, Corellians, Jedi, and two wannabe Sith quasi-allying to try kill Palpatine had certainly caught me by complete surprise, so making sense of it was hard I found.

"Cutting the supply lanes to Kuat and Corellia...about kriffing time, parasitic Coreworlders"

Braika laughed at Jurdan's reply "Don't tell Hanna that Jurdan, she's one of them, but I don't disagree, even if we are allied Alsakan and Coruscant who're the worst of'em"

"I dunno..." I replied rubbing at my chin. The hatred of the Core was always strong in the Outer Rim since they lived like feudal lords atop the back of the Outer Rim's suffering, even if there had been well-meaning efforts to address that from time to time. Well-meaning efforts that led to the Trade Federation and Corporate Alliance screwing everyone over unfortunately "...the collapse of the trade routes is going to hurt them, soon I expect, once they start digging into their reserves. It's another reason why I'm guessing the Hydian Way. Still, not our concern, I'd reckon Rothana, and likely the Rishi Moons to try Kamino, will be Tarkin's primary concern after Rodia and whatever the Coruscant GAR have planned"

"Likely..." Braika agreed "...and if Mandalore hadn't those Death Watch scum in charge...but they do, so they'll be busy elsewhere. Anyway, that'd explain the sudden need to get everything organised fast, all nice and centralised. There'll be resistance to this"

I shrugged again "Course there will, but as long as the military forces, including us, mercenaries aside, and the assembled system and sector leaders don't outright fight this...well, I'm behind the reforms, in part as we stay rich at the end of it, and it certainly increases our odds of winning in the end. Our Command Structure has been an ad-hoc mess since the start, and that was fine when the Republic could afford to waste resources, but our fleets are a muddle of every starship under the heavens, and that's a logistical nightmare if others don't do what we've been doing"

The Outer and Mid Rim, and Wild Space, had plenty of production capacity, but it was scattered across a broad area along hyperlanes making planning a vital component right now. Authoritarian Military Democracy was my best descriptor right now of the cluster of Officers, Senators, and Traders whose cause I'd nailed my colours too, and that was probably what the Outer Rim needed right now. Resources were also pretty plentiful, since it had fed the Core, and there was opportunity now as those streams could be diverted elsewhere...for the War Effort of course.

"And your new Jedi, new friend included, while we campaign up the Corellian Spine? Your plans as well?"

"Bariss is going to work with Doctor Wee'bako..." I replied to Braika "...and for now Jedi Master Secura will serve as a pilot, probably squadron leader if she handles personalities well, and commando for now. Morne...I'm not a hundred percent sure as yet. She claims experience, and I believe her at the moment, so it's more seeking out a test before I considering putting her in charge of anything"

I shrugged "As to me, once we agree things it's going to be a continued dash around the Sector Command gathering what forces I can, and then likely going to Eriadu to be debriefed, or get told whatever the Grand Strategy is going to be. In truth I want to make sure we have some of the larger builds coming out of Mustafar and Sullust, and see about getting data for droid-combat techs to try improve the droid-fighters, what with newer Confederate models coming online...and you two taking a chunk of them off me"

"We are fighting a war Daron, and offensives mean ships and droid-fighters"

"I know Jurdan, its only me whining about the unfairness of many problems, few things to solve them with..." I chuckled back sighing as they chuckled their own bitter amusement in agreement "...but before I'm going to run to Hoth, check on our two prisoners and the mining, then to Solem and Karkis, collect the escorts built..."

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