[18 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions Alpha Base, Hoth, Hoth System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]
Jacques Bloodstar liked the hydroponics bays on the base; the heat, the greenery, and not being constantly reminded there wasn't a wasteland outside. Say what you will about Hanna, but she had ensured the sunken Lucrehulk and the attendant parts of the base had all glued together rather nicely so they didn't have to constantly resupply. Hiding the operations on Hoth were the typical headache of hiding your smuggling outfit, but at least this was a lot more classy than the last few dumps he'd had to trade through. It was more of a luxury hotel underneath the battleship armour, even if they had to go with some of the benefits of the Core….that'd have to go without anyway as the galaxy caught aflame.
Sipping his ice water…it wasn't like they'd ever be short of that here…Jacques moved out of the tropical heat into the more sedate warmth of the main halls, getting a salute from the guard at the door. Everything seemed to be in order, and he'd already lingered a bit longer than he'd have liked as he made use of the 'park/hydroponics' area to relax. His Crimson Katana was in orbit, and while being off it was a relief…it was also stressful in case things happened and he needed to make use of the ancient battleship they'd refitted. Ensuring the hyperlane remained interdicted, and therefore thought of as damaged almost beyond repair, was a full time job….especially since they'd diverted that 'destroyed' mobile yard into orbit.
"Admiral on Deck!" a female voice called out as he stepped into the command centre of the base, that was technically still a ship, giving a quick salute back as he walked forward. Daron and Braika did love their discipline, and she'd left two of her Mandos to drill the resident ESS teams using the harsh weather outside as their training grounds. Long term contracts were just fun, and minimizing who knew exactly where they were was an uphill battle in of itself. For now though he chuckled, stepping up to the rails overlooking the bustling command area and filling a mug of caff for himself.
"At ease everyone!" then glanced at the young Solemite, Garivale, and the equally young Twi'lek, Dora, as he took he took a sip from the mug "Right. So where on the production schedules are we?"
Garivale nodded, handing Jacques a data-pad showing the various updates as the young engineer spoke "Up a good eight percent with the refitted and reprogrammed B-1s. We're starting to run out of space in the storage bins because our manufacture can't keep up with what we're pulling out of the wreckage"
Jacques frowned, scrolling down through the reports "Hmmm…yes, I can see what you mean. Specialised parts….damned shame there was no way to restore the Star of Coruscant, we'd be damned heroes. But, best I can say is go back to the rest of the design team and your engineers. We've the two Hammerheads in orbit badly needing parts and armour to restore them…so find a way to make the armour work, or we'll just have to switch from salvaging the wreckage back to mining on Site Six-B and then processing the ore"
The sudden rise to power and influence had allowed them do wonders….but only carefully as they hid this location, and one or two other 'fall-back' systems with little development, and it's black-site from their allies and enemies. Now that they'd gotten sufficient equipment into Hoth Alpha Base was starting to resemble a small colony, and, just like any colony, was starting to hit the problems that came with such things as production got uneven as it expanded. Dora nodded at those words, passing over her own updates on the shifts…and the need to cut back on them somewhat.
Jacques frowned "Ah, yeah, was worried about that…so we'll shift up some of the technician crews to duty on my ship, and focus on getting one of those Hammerheads up and running. Sit down with Garv here and try work something out to bring to me so we can reduce work times, but focus on getting one of them functional in the next few weeks"
'Ah, well, this is the retirement you wanted' he reminded himself handing back the data-pad as the two moved off, chattering amongst themselves. The two 'not-Jedi' imprisoned in stasis pods at the full automated Site Beta were also on the review list, though nothing was happening beyond expansion of the site, and increased security, should they need to 'store' any more prisoners they captured that needed such treatment. Jacques gave an amused snort at that – Hoth was ESS's little hidden colony, with secret shipyards and secret prisons 'Ah, I've gone from smuggler to prison warden in a few short years it seems'
He sighed, turning his attention to the communications officer "Rora, tell the Crimson Katana I'll be returning in two hours and also tell them to have a patrol route ready to go…"
--
[18 BBY]
[Jedi Temple, formerly Jedi Monastery Museum, outside Coronet City, Corellia, Corellian System, The Core]
Jedi Knight Rachi Sitra….
"No, Master now" she murmured to herself with a sad sigh, shaking her head and looking around at the…
'Perfect recreation of the feudal era Temple complex apparently' she thought folding her arms across her chest and looking around the inside of the building they'd gotten off the Corellians. When they'd said it was being used as a Museum…
'Well it certainly is…not a hint of modern technology in the recreation' she mused walking forward, out unto the large courtyard-balcony area that looked out over the vast metropolis beyond. You couldn't even see the stars this late at night as the blackness was chased away by the city lights, only the brighter lights of starships and satellites visible in the night sky above. In that regards at least it was just like Coruscant, but now that was without all the cutting-edge communications and data-banks that the Temple had possessed, and the Order had come to rely on.
'Yeah….lack of tech to go with lack of a true Council and lack of a success' she thought tiredly, feeling the approaching figure in the Force, turning and giving a small smile "Master Kenobi, come to enjoy the view have we?"
"Ah, it's Obi-wan Rachi, we've known each other long enough to not be so formal"
"Tut, tut…" she murmured back playfully "…is that anyway for the new Grandmaster to act?"
The human gave her an aggrieved look "Oh, so that's how you are going to play it Master Sitra of the Jedi High Council?"
"Hardly Obi-wan, at least in private, in public I can be as formal as needed" she retorted with a faint smile, pulling the hood up on her lekku at the chill in the air "Brrr…such a place in the mountains to call our new home"
"At least we have a place to call home" he answered with a raise of his eyebrow, almost questioningly, and then a shake of his head "With matters as they are it is the best we can do, and are likely to be able to do, for our Padawans and the younglings. We are very much living on the generosity of the Senate, and Corellia, for now…and for some time"
"We do have some funds…"
"From the mission accounts, and we shall be using them to make this place somewhat more….modern" he answered shaking his head "You can imagine Anakin and Ahsoka's reaction"
Rachi smiled "Yes, I can, and imagine current accommodations in comfortable beds, not here, shall continue for the foreseeable future. Council Master or not…" then gave Obi-wan a serious look "And no, I have no issue with Skywalker's position, his failings aside. We've all failed in our task, and such things are rather petty in comparison to ensuring the Temple survives and the Sith do not take over the Galaxy"
"We came so close at Kuat, but we never expected Sidious was so powerful. After even risking allying with the darkness that was…"
Rachni's breath steamed on the night's air as she brought her hands inside her robes "What's done is done, the Will of the Force for good or ill. I'm sad to say you don't get to back out of your position because of that particular failure. We failed, we pick up the pieces and we move forward…especially since we elected you while you were in that bacta tank"
He gave her that droll look of his as he mirrored her, hands going under sleeves on this cold Corellian night "Yes, I'm rather annoyed by that you know?"
"Well, you were unconscious so there was little you chance of you saying no…unlike the rest of us" she replied with a faint smirk "But I couldn't turn down being made a Master, nor Tano her promotion to Knight. Kuat was a disaster, but we are not defeated, nor is the Republic, merely on the retreat. To look upon the Light side of events…the Sith was crippled as well, and know that we know the extent of his Darkness we will be better prepared to face him in the future"
"Perhaps Master Yoda will come and save me? Hmm?"
Rachi sighed sadly at that half-joke "Perhaps Obi-wan, but we barely hear word of what's happening on Coruscant now, let alone across the galaxy on Kashyyk, through several blockades. That and a change is needed Obi-wan, and concentrating the Order…."
She shook her head, lekku moving around beneath the hood "For now we save what we can, and when the Sith are defeated then we can reunify once again. Because it's not just the Sith on Kuat against us, or in the Outer Rim, or upon Mandalore…"
'Because we really managed to not see any of them' she thought as she continued "…but the government claiming to be the Republic on Coruscant, and….those that will risk Falling in the dark times ahead. So…"
She smirked at him "When's our first meeting Grandmaster? First matter on the agenda is a new heating unit for the meeting room. Because Force is this place in the mountains cold…"
--