[The Last Days of 19 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Task-force Cavalier, In Orbit Gerrenthum, Gerrenthum System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
Celeste Morne flowed into a defensive stance, easily catching the slash to her right side with her own lightsaber and then dance back two steps to catch then second attack, before sliding to her left and attacking. The girl was reasonably good she found, though certainly not at the level she herself would like, and managed to block multiple strikes as Celeste drove her back step by step. Even the Force Push didn't upset her 'trainee' too much, Knight Offee managing to catch herself by slamming into the wall of the training hall, but bracing with her feet and jumping back with a wide slash.
Too slow though Celeste found bending at the waist and sliding under the swing, then place her free hand on the ground to roll back into the follow on attack as the Miralian girl landed and ignited her second training lightsaber. She'd concealed it, but not very well for someone with experience, and Celeste parried that swing, then ducked under the slash with the other hand so she could use hand and knee to knock the Mirialian down unto her back. Good reaction time though she noted to herself as the girl rolled to her side to dodge Celeste's follow up attack, though not enough to stop her kick, or the blade coming to her neck when she planted her foot firmly between her shoulder blades.
"Yield?" she stated calmly as the younger female emitted a grunt of pain, struggling for a moment before releasing her twin training sabers. Celeste nodded, stepping back and turning off the shimmering blade of energy "Good effort though, but I would caution you on your emotions when you get frustrated. You seem to strike out more aggressively than you intend when you do, and that creates openings that your foes can exploit as I did"
It was somewhat concerning the...poor...emotional control she'd noticed not only in this Knight, but in the other Jedi of this day that she had encountered. The Twi'lek was the least problematic, perhaps bizarrely, despite clearly having suffered major mental damage in the past. Or it was perhaps because of such brushes with the Dark Side that had allowed her a better understanding than the others; Celeste wasn't quite sure yet. Whatever had happened since she had gone into stasis...it certainly hadn't turned out as she had expected. Not only had the Sith returned as she and others in the Covenant had feared, but the Order had changed into a somewhat frightening mono-belief, coupled with a rejection, rather than control, of their emotions.
Something that she could probably have lived with, quietly...far away from the Temple...if not for the fact the Temple had been destroyed by...either the Sith, or just by the Republic's own military. So now the Force had stuck her ensuring a powerful young Jedi, who was also a Warlord, did not listen to the Trying-to-be-a-Sith and her two Dark Side Nightsisters. All while the Jedi of the current times found themselves having emotional problems...when they had no idea how to deal with such things. Case in point; the girl in front of her who alternated between forced, fake, serenity, and somewhat excitable emotional flashes during times of stress...
'All while being a healer. Which means some emotion and empathy is essentially a requirement, and these idiots trained her in emotions bad' Celeste mentally catalogued helping the Miralian girl back to her feet. Not only that but the Knight was now the lover of Celeste's primary concern, and current benefactor, and if she Fell, then that danger increased. Unfortunately the danger went the other way even more; if he died or, worse, Fell, then Celeste had little doubt Knight Offee here would be screaming random madness and raging at the Jedi Order while lashing out with a lightsaber.
'Frightening when the wannabe Sith and the young man playing warlord is showing more emotional calm than Offee's former Master and the others' was the main thought as Bariss Offee took her hand, sabers turned off and held in her other hand. That, along with Celeste plotting how to work on both her and Knight Secura so they were both up to an acceptable standard, and on her side as allies should the Witches and Wannabe need to be dealt with "Oh, do not be disheartened, you fought well...it seems that while some skills have improved in your time, many others have been forgotten sadly"
Knight Offee smiled wanly, clearly exhausted after the sparring "Thank you Knight Morne...but it...uff...it's clear I have much to learn still..."
--
[The Last Days of 19 BBY]
[House of Wisdom, Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 5th Fleet, In Orbit Gerrenthum, Gerrenthum System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
"Reinforcements have arrived" I muttered to myself watching on the displays as the large support fleet arrived in system from Eriadu...
'Well, Sullust and Sluis Van' I corrected myself noting the largely Separatist, or pre-Clone War era, designs that formed the bulk of the arriving forces. It would have been a major fleet element in of itself only three years ago, enough to cause a panic in this OverSector and dwarfing the entirety of Executive Security Solutions military armed vessels. Now it was merely a much needed expansion of my forces, and replacement of losses, to help hold down the vast area of space my OverSector, now officially named Fifth Fleet, was in charge off.
Ships that were also carrying holds full of munitions along with design templates for various things; including the new uniforms that would go into production immediately to equip all our recruits. Asajj hummed loudly as she sat, and I glanced at her "A life-day present to go with your promotion?"
"Heh, mayhaps it is?" I chuckled, then letting out a sigh tapping at the images on the data-pad of the two not-Venator knock-offs just entering service "But, no, it's good to see, especially those two Star Destroyers we had commissioned, well, before we realised all those Victory-class ones had been created...and trying to ambush us prior to the Coup of course. No matter, if they work as advertised we'll have a proper battlecruiser...Star Destroyer, to face down our enemies"
"Once it's crewed and worked up..."
I nodded in response to her amused words "Yes, after we've done all that, same as equipping those carriers with actual star-fighter and bomber wings, rather than just skeleton squadrons of Z-95s, needs to be done. A good complaint relative to others we've had, but it does apply to you now my dear Asajj"
She frowned at me "Oh, how so?"
"Because you're going to be taking a task-force, made up of several of those ships, and...hmm, let's say liberate, Rattatak, and nearby systems such as Bunduki, Firrerre, and Bakura. Along with checking out a place called Endor for me as a potential location to place one of our less public mining areas, and possibly a repair and stopover station for patrols as well"
Asajj sat back in her chair, placing down the book she'd been reading "Ah, so an early delivery upon promises?"
"Why, you're my valued business partner, of course I'm going to keep my word..." I retorted sitting back in my own chair, fingers interlocking as I rested my elbows on the armrests "...and now is, convenient let's say. I admit they'll be green crews, but we have a window here to get things done before I..."
She smirked "Need my power once again"
I nodded "Indeed, things are, relatively, quiet for now, and I am going to be focused on admin and logistics. So, if we're lucky, we shall have a few weeks at least, a few months ideally, before we need repeat the lessons of Lorta, or be forced into another major Fleet engagement like Bomis Koori. When you return I want to present you as Asajj Ventress, Dark Lady of Rattatak, Planetary Ruler of a world supply us munitions, material, and of course warm bodies to be armed and sent into battle"
"While also getting me out of range of our Ancient Jedi Knight"
I nodded idly "Aye, that too, though I'm fair sure she's..."
"A Jedi Master?"
I nodded "Yes, and possibly a Sentinel, maybe even a Shadow, though I'm unsure if those would have been the terms back in her time. Even if she wasn't, or isn't, she's effectively a Master by modern standards, and I need to make use of whatever resources available to me. If the need comes I can use her as a Commando, with Karis and Naa'leth for my guards, while you go off conquering your new dominion and wracking vengeance upon whatever enemies you have alive there"
"There aren't many"
I shrugged "I guessed as much, but you now have the rank of Commodore, and you'll be getting one of those two Venerables as your flagship. It's not named yet, so that's up to you, along with one of the Quasars, and it's up to you to arrange what starships you want as escorts, and which of the available Legions you want for ground operations. Now, along with checking the nearby systems, I want you to deploy to Jedha. Ideally to secure its loyalty and keep the local resistance leader, Gerrera, on our side..."
Then paused "...it's also one of the major sources of kyber crystals, and the Pilgrim Moon. Try to avoid violence as well, but it's strong in the Force and might yield you some visions, or even just, albeit boring to you, history on the early Jedi sects teachings"
Asajj nodded, perhaps amused, perhaps curious "You have been there yourself?"
"Once, for not long enough, back when I left the Temple..." I admitted sitting back, remembering a primitive, cold, miserable world that had also been steeped in the Force, Light and Dark. It was unsurprising the Jedi disliked going there, well, the current day Jedi, as the Order of the Old Republic had used it somewhat infrequently "...but, no time in the here in now. If you find anything useful to our mutual education then, well, that'd be helpful too"
She gave an amused snort "I thought you would want me to 'seek out my crystal' and such"
"Hmm...I don't share the Jedi love affair with the lightsaber, but I will admit the crystals are both Force amplifiers as well as focuses. They have...other uses...I believe, as dealing a certain Ghost hinted at I suspect you grasp. Having a crystal attuned to you personally..." I shrugged "...even I sought out the one that best suited me and bound it to my will ritually. Personally..."
I studied her a moment, then smiled flatly "I suspect such crystals are not for you my dear Asajj, but a live one, perhaps of a predator, might be more conductive to your primary"
--
[The Last Days of 19 BBY]
[Private Deck of Moff Daron Stormcrow, Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 5th Fleet, In Orbit Gerrenthum, Gerrenthum System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
Karis laid out with a pleasurable sigh, eyes closed, head back on the pillow, and just enjoying the warmth on her bare skin. Sure it was a fake sun, on a fake beach, with fake waves, and fake sand beneath her...but at least here there were no horrible predators planning to kill and eat her while she sunbathed. There were certainly perks to serving her current Lord, ones she certainly hadn't expected from what she'd first seen as merely serving a Maleling. Stupid in retrospect, but that was that, and in the past, so she hummed a tune called The Saucy Nightbrother and the Mudpit as she took her rest period...
"Are you going to laze about all day?"
...and there was Naa'leth come to ruin her fun she found with a groan "Go away! I'm sunbathing!"
"And after drinking as well from the smell of it"
"Go away or join me! Just don't lecture!"
Naa'leth gave a noncommittal grunt, the Karis felt her start to strip off after a loud, irritating, sigh, before sitting down beside her on the blanket "Fine, see, where's the booze?"
Karis raised her arms, clapping her hands "Minion! Boozy-booze now!"
"Beep-Beep-Boop-Beep!"
"Ugh, your lazy...and astromech, really?" Naa'leth complained "What if it's recording and showing the Boss afterwards?"
Karis yawned, taking the offered 'cocktail' with one hand without even looking. One of the useful 'Force lessons' that didn't involve better ways to kill people "Then he gets a real treat by seeing what real females look like. Ones that aren't green, and weak, and probably have the passion of a snowstorm in the mountains"
Naa'leth was probably giving her a look right now judging by the tone "Ugh, yeah, Jedi. Still...a male like that? You know he'd be in charge"
"Uh-huh, s'why he's got greeny!" Karis answered contentedly sitting up and sipping at the drink "But, yes, I'd be grovelling and I don't think I'd like that in the long-run. I want my male to be able to cook, and clean, and wait patiently at home while I go out and slaughter the tribe's enemies. Still...tempted, you?"
"No, and don't let Asajj, or the Jedi, hear you say that"
"I could take Greeny..." Karis muttered laying back down after draining the sweet alcoholic mixture. In truth her current Lord was certainly more powerful than she herself was, and likely to continue getting so, and that would have put her in a subordinate role. Something that was utterly wrong, but maybe only Old Dhaka or Mother Talzin would fit the bill with Daron Stormcrow for a traditional relation, and they were both wrinkling old crones unlike young beauties like herself and Naa'leth. Bad enough that she happily bowed down to Daron, feeling the urge to follow him wherever he led, without extending that into a future home life as well.
"Probably" Naa'leth agreed, then glared at her "...but that would anger certain others I imagine. Now, drunk and lazy, Mother has sent..."
"Can't it wait Naa'leth?"
"You've already waited Karis..." the grumpy one of their duo muttered "...so, Mother Talzin, the tribe is in danger as long as that old Sith lives. Even those Singing Mountain bitches agree, and there are no Jedi to hunt us now if we leave, none to stop us getting ships to travel the stars"
Karis yawned again "Ugh...fine, we'll talk to Asajj and Daron later. I'm sure he'll find a half-dozen of our sisters a job, and we get mountains of work making sure he doesn't kill them because Force strong male bossing them around. Not everyone is as cos-mo-polit-an as me you know?"
"Spirits, I could punch you sometimes Karis..."
--