[19 BBY]

[Republic Aegis Guard Refitted Acclamator-class Carrier Destiny's Blade, Task-force Crimson, In orbit Saloch, Jiroch System, Yushan Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"You've done well, all things considered..." her quasi-Master, quasi-Ally, overall strange, and current, military leader complimented her via hologram "...and I'll be able to support you in short, I'm gathering forces at Gerrenthum, so another few days till arrival"

"My operational plan?" she queried standing on the bridge of her...well, current flagship. It was step down from a Lucrehulk or Providence, but it was certainly a sign that she had clawed back some degree of power after her fall from grace thanks to Dooku's betrayal. It grated having to prove herself, again, with all her power, but she was learning much...more than under that fool Dooku at least, and...she wasn't sure what she wanted anymore, not as she had once upon a time. The passion was still there, but the rage wasn't, not as it had once been...but Asajj felt stronger somehow despite that, using it better than before.

The shimmering blue hologram of the armoured young warlord nodded "It's a good plan, and we'll be following through on it. Securing those shipyards intact would be a boon, but we'll have to break those fanatics on the ground from what you say, so we'll take their fleet apart first. Honestly, I'm concerned by that Venator with them, and the possibility of them getting reinforcements from...whoever is backing them directly or indirectly I suppose"

Asajj shook her head "I doubt they have much help, they're not displaying allegiance, or Republic IFFs even, so most likely deserters or someone turned mercenary. Our scouts report a lot of surplus gear, Republic and Separatist, along with, what I assume is, local built ships. They aren't great, but they've done damage to the nearby systems...which has worked to our benefit in rallying support"

Daron nodded again "Yes, good work there, priority should always be given to our...friends...in those systems over those failing to provide material or political to efforts to defend the Sector"

She gave a snort of amusement at that "Of course, not as if I have the ships to do everything when the enemy are stronger than expected"

The Lorta battle fleet wasn't particularly impressive...now, a few years ago it would have been, and with the hulls they were building would be a regional threat again soon enough, but by the standards of the current war it was negligible. At least it would have been if she had a large fleet, which, of course, she didn't. Outside of the Acclamator-class refitted as a carrier, and four DP20 frigates as escorts for it, her task-force had two ancient, if refitted, Hammerhead cruisers as her 'heavy' element and the rest were only half as old. Both of which were damaged thanks to the brief, brutal, battle a day ago here over Saloch.

"I know Asajj, hence why I'm running about gathering ships right now to join up with you. We'll deal with these Kopa Khan cultists as you laid out in your reports, and then we'll secure the Sector. Anyway, you handled it pretty well I'll say; looks like you've had good success against their Z-95s in both engagements? Locals have good things to say about you and yours actions, so good work, keep it up. We're going to need it in the coming days, offensives being underway and the response that'll come to them"

Asajj nodded "The close in defence systems and light turbolaser refits made short work of the enemy starfighters, and the droid-fighters..." she shook her head "...they shouldn't have bothered. Mostly junk, and their combat performance was kriffed before they even got in range. The real trouble were the capitals, but they seemed more intent on bombing cities at the start than engaging us, we took out one here with Y-wings before they withdrew, the other two were damaged. Didn't get a chance to study it, since the crew self-destructed, blew up the reactor, once they realised they were dead in space"

"Hmm, so that's how it's going to be. Probably should have expected it..." he muttered back "...and what was the performance of those ships like?"

"Nothing impressive, bit slow, good shields and armour, but they're using mass drivers on a few of them so they struggled when we dragged out the engagement and adjusted shields. The ones over Rrulinn were better, heavy turbolasers, but still the same basic design, very, very, very, old early Old Republic knock-offs according to the data-banks..." she answered in a bored tone "...take away their fighter cover and I'd say send in our own to cripple them before destroying afterwards. We aren't likely to see much surrender from them"

Daron looked on bothered by that, as usual, it was pleasant to work with compared to the idiocy of the Jedi, or Dooku's tendency to micro-manage everything while disregarding her advice "I'll bear that in mind, but let's make this an object lesson then if they're so eager to die for their God..."

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[19 BBY]

[Hutt Castle, Northern Dune Sea, Tattooine, Tatoo System, Arkanis Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

Gorgo Deslijic Aarrpo, of the glorious Deslijic kajidic, slithered forward to where his uncle, Jabba Deslijic Tiure, and by extension young huttling nephew Rotta. Or Punky Muffin as Uncle Jabba called the little bundle of trouble that was his son. Then all huttlings were bundle of trouble, himself included when he was that young, Gorgo found with a faint chuckle as he approached the main throne room, the guards opening the doors to allow him and his own guards enter moments later. Security had increased at all their Palaces since the...incident...with the Black Sun and Shadow Collective over a year ago, and all in all Gorgo found it an unfortunate necessity to live a good long life.

Music filled the air as he entered, his two twi'lek slaves, and twin sisters, Lynna and Ulunya, while his chief bodyguard, Gort, followed along behind with two more bounty hunters. With a gesture of his hand the three moved to the side as his uncle motioned for him to approach while a Togruta female danced on the end of a long chain over that dreadful pit. Gorgon, while he could grasp the practical benefits of the 'fear the rancor' idea on the ones said pit he personally found it a bit...inefficient really; they had reputation and bounty hunters to achieve the same, and it wasn't like anyone in the know would, willingly, stand over the thing. Just like Gorgo subtly avoided doing as he brought on a cheerful tone and waved at his uncle and nephew.

"Uncle, I have come at your gracious invitation! And Rotta is having fun I see?"

"Huh huh huh!" his uncle laughed back "Gorgo! Come! Come! Join us! The band are just about to begin, and they are the best of quality I have been assured!"

"Thank you Uncle Jabba!" he replied slithering up beside the head of the Desilijic kajidic and made a booping gesture at his ever excitable nephew as the little huttling 'bu-whee'd' at the dancer while Gorgo's two twi'leks got ignored as they took they place kneeling between him "Not your usual dancers I see"

"Yes, little Punky Muffin is having fun though!" uncle replied hand patting his huttling's head cheerfully, then huffing "Jedi one saved him, and then got mad when I was going to kill them!"

Gorgo gave his uncle and odd look "That's...why kill them uncle? That would discourage others doing the same the others on the Council would say"

"Hmph, they say many things..." Uncle replied but patted his sides in irritation "...but right in this. Thought they had kidnapped my little Punky Muffin and were trying blackmail me! Me!"

"Ah, reasonable on your part then Uncle"

"Yes Gorgo, but sadly wrong!" his uncle complained "So, after an annoying Senator, I released them, and now Rotta misses his Togruta Jedi friend. I fear the older Jedi female we had captured thanks to the Sith just made him remember...best efforts with this young one here dancing"

"Probably dead?"

"No, but best not enslaved; too many friends with powerful armies or assassins to call upon!" his uncle replied with a sad sigh "Which is why I wanted to talk to you nephew, then the rest of the kadjilic when we have decided..." when you have decided Gorgo thought but did not say as he nodded to his uncle's words "...what do next with the war"

Gorgo frowned "I thought we were profiting off of the fighting?"

"Huh huh huh, that of course yes!" his uncle agreed with a chuckle, patting his side in amusement "But, no nephew, it is beyond that we must think. Of what will come after, we had made a mistake in not seeing how close a new, strong, Sith-led, Republic was nearly coming to be! Or that our competitors, and enemies, attempt to eke out their own territories!"

Gorgo frowned again "It would not have been too bad Uncle, none would dare challenge us within our territory, as we have for many centuries now"

"Oh, you are too young sometime Gorgo!" his Uncle complained, or perhaps just tsked "The Republic when aggressive is a monster, all our histories show this. They will preach a righteous banner, freeing slaves and the like, and then the humans will genocide all who oppose their madness and cultural intolerance. It is their way and why our fleets remain strong for millennia, to see off their periodic bouts of madness. No, this war is an opportunity, but we must ensure there is no winner, not till their blood calms and we can be sure the winner is not one we would be unhappy with"

"It doesn't look like there will be any easy winner yet Uncle..."

Jabba waved him off politely "No, but this chaos will bring pirates and fools as we have seen, mad Jedi without control will feel the madness of their powers and fall to it. My father knows this, and...much as leaving him imprisoned suited all, including him, he will be freed and returned for his wisdom"

Gorgo hummed "Kip is a Republic world?"

"Kip will be a burning world soon now none will protect them from insulting the Hutt Council huh huh huh!" Gorgo heard him laugh and Gorgo nodded in agreement. It was an insult, one of many, offered upon them in recent years, and it would be good to deal with it. Yes, laws were laws, but the ones against Zorba had been trumped up deliberately, as an insult, and all while Republic agents and minions continued the usual attacks and offenses within Hutt territory. Acceptable when all played the game, but in the years prior to the start of their Civil War the Republic, and the Jedi, had grown more arrogant than at any time in Gorgo's lifetime. Still his uncle continued talking as the music played and the dancer, clearly somewhat inexperienced, moved unto a faster set.

"No, we, as in I, must restore the Defence Fleet to its strength of the last wars to make eyes linger elsewhere, and to protect our convoys within out hyperlanes. Renegades with warships have troubled us you agree Gorgo?"

"Yes Uncle Jabba, they have, not much yet I'll say, but I can see it being a problem..." Gorgo replied calculating the cost and losses in his head "...but it will cost to do such..."

"And some time to build yes, and that is why we help certain agents and pawns, or help along factions in the Republic. It is a time of change, Ryloth is off limits, for a few generations of the twi'lek's short lives, but in time we should be able to return. A loss yes, but a gain elsewhere with Zygerria fallen and other routes for prospective slaves, previously closed, now opening"

Gorgo nodded, mentally reviewing the galaxy at large and their influence "Hmm, hmm, yes, I can see that, cost outlay and risk...we shall need encourage others to keep the Neimodians down of course"

"Of course!" his uncle agreed "Blasted Trade Federation! Such as the chance to own a few Jedi slaves, or better yet, to hire a number as loyal bounty hunters. Marlo has mooted breeding one or two, but our history has shown that to be less than successful...though we will approach Beldorian and ask for his advice. No, we would rather not nephew, but we missed the Sith, and that is not to be repeated. Dangerous and cunning they are, and we must be moreso, as always, to survive and profit when they and the Jedi clash again in their eternal war..."

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