[14 BBY]

[Lower Engineering Bay, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in orit G'rho, G'rho System, Shiritoku Spur, Wild Space]

I'd been busy these last few weeks, in part due to dealing with the small surviving colonist population of G'rho and establishing an Imperial base upon the mostly dead colony, but, mostly, due the work before me. Made most helpful by the arrival of friend Kazdan, the greatest mind for droids in the surviving Jedi Order in my opinion, even if Bultar Swan was less so. These weeks had been one of focus, and research, and working through the task at hand – the destruction of this abomination before me. Such a task would not be easy for we could not 'sail' such a distance through the unknown to face entrenched fleets of the Ssi-ruu.

No. That was beyond my current strength, and my current orders. So, instead, one must be subtler, more calculating, in how to achieve ones' desired ends. Thankfully the enemy's very abomination of a technology allowed one such an approach, for my mind had other arcane traditions within its depths and had dealt with 'allies' in the shape of the White Hands of Yurtus. It wasn't the most pleasant to take a page out of the Plague God's warbook, but the Shrouded Lord had thought us, his faithful, to be ever pragmatic. So, if direct action was not possible….then more indirect works would be used. I could not use a Warhammer, so, instead, it would be the poisoned dagger in the dark. A veritable Trojan Horse.

"It is still terrible to look at" my short Alenna friend grumbled as he studied drone before us in the Force, the souls trapped within calmed for the moment "But the restraining bolt is definitely broken now. Just like in every previous test we done"

"Good, the Force itself is degrading the control mechanism within hours of the ritual's application" I murmured as my 'Force Council' along with team of senior engineers watched in conference. This was my operation, but I had brought in the Jedi Order to some extent, Stass's fears and Rahm Kota's far distant concerns aside, to ensure I had sufficient support to do this. Nightsister, the Light Witches sent here, Jedi, the Dagoyan Records, and even the Kreia Holocron…all I had consulted in an effort to establish this Force Ritual to free these trapped souls, and all the trapped souls beyond "We can't afford for it be easily detected or stopped before it can be allowed to propagate widely. I don't want them finding a way to easily stop it and keeping all those suffering souls enslaved in such a horrible fate"

"No, we don't" Kazdan agreed studying the drone just like the others, glancing at Stass, who was sitting down in the semi-circle, studying "All we are doing is effectively restoring free will to these suffering beings. Does anyone feel we could improve the method any?"

My former Jedi master shook her head, glancing at the others, and revealing the same "No, I don't think any of us do at this stage. This whole effort has been unpleasant, from start to finish, but I do believe we have no better options beyond sending a great fleet to this Imperium and putting an end to this monstrosity"

I shook my head at that "There won't be one, not for some time at the least. Not with word of….this bioweapon in the Core's war, or with the situation in the Confederacy. And neither I nor the other frontier forces able to deploy such forces, not with increasing pirate and raider attacks. Even Yanthis has pressure further on the galactic trailing…this is our best option sadly"

Celeste nodded "It is, unpleasant, yes, but the potential for this technology to spread is too great, or for these Ssi-ruu to be allowed further generations to expand build up their slave armies of crimes against the Force. If left alone it will very likely cause some localised backlash in the Force, or destabilise the entirety of this galactic quadrant"

"The invasion attempt backs that up" Aayla Secura murmured, sitting back and generally looking unhappy at the situation and choices available "The survivors, and their databases, are clear on what they planned to do, and they will return as soon as they have the strength. With everything as it is, and the fact of what we all felt in the Force about Uqaine…"

The twi'lek pin-up girl for the Imperial Starfighter Corps trailed off, looking unhappy, with Asajj stepping, my Barriss nodding in agreement with the other Jedi "What choice do we have, I'm not sure it will work in its entire plan…but it would make sure they do not return for many years at the very least. And, if it works, well…not tortured souls screaming inside droid bodies. That is a positive we can all agree on we have to agree?"

"Indeed" I stated with a sigh "I think we can. The real trick is going to be getting those two cruisers and the droids within safely back to their territory without the crews being aware of the ritual they would bring back, so we need to be fairly unanimous"

"Mind tricks and rituals" Aayla sighed deeply, looking at her hands "I doubt Master Yoda would approve, but the records speak of such things being necessary in times of crisis. And this is a time of crisis, and this is a threat we can't ignore"

"Because what if they find out ways to do it to Force users?" Barriss offered unhappily, her belly swollen, smiling as I placed my hand on her shoulder "What if they can make such slaves do terrible things?"

She looked around "It is what we've all been thinking I suspect"

"It has crossed minds I'd imagine" Celeste stated, arms folded across her chest "But hard choices must be made, and this is the best of worst options. I do not enjoy supporting such things, but it must be done. It was what Shadows handled in times past, and the Inquisition must do now. So, in that, the Imperial Inquisition is in full support of the action"

"As is the Jedi Order, much as we also dislike the situation" Stass said after a moment, glancing at me "I'm sure your other allies are aboard?"

"In what ways they can, what has to be done, has to be done. For the greater good" I stated honestly "This is serious situation, and why I've been so focused on it even of the invasion has been stopped. We cannot allow this to spread, and it must be burned out, root and branch. Otherwise….the blood of trillions would be on our hands from inaction. With the help of all of you we can do something about it…"

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[14 BBY]

[Residential Areas, lower House of Wisdom Decks, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in orit G'rho, G'rho System, Shiritoku Spur, Wild Space]

Merrin hummed happily against Cal's chest, almost flopping into the bed atop him after the exhausting training regime they'd both just escaped and now got so rest from. Or would get some rest from as she manoeuvred herself beside him, his arm under her head and her own around his chest. Both of them groaned, though it was more relief than anything else, along with the fact that they had time in peace together for almost a whole day ahead of them. Merrin had every intention of enjoying that peace and quiet, as every muscle seemed to ache, as usual, as she kicked of the last of her clothing.

"That was…hell"

She huffed in amused annoyance "Your fault for daring Master Morne so"

"You agreed with me!"

"I'm a bad influence, you should reign me in" she teased back, and they both laughed a moment, then breathed out laying still "We passed"

Cal hummed "We did…teamwork"

"Teamwork for the win" she hummed contentedly "Are you still intent on…your trials?"

"I…yes, I will be a Jedi Knight…" he answered, relaxed now, the both of them willing to talk she felt. On all those things that had been bothering her, and him, now that they were as they were "But not…the Temple, here or, well, wherever it goes, with you"

"Hmm, that is nice of soundings is it not?" she murmured, though she was serious in it "I have spoke to my…Sisters. They are…not opposed"

Cal chuckled "Most enjoy it here too?"

Merrin smiled softly "Yes, perhaps they do, both the comforts and the dangers, and the changes"

"We all had to change, but it is better I think" he agreed "Don't you?"

Merrin sighed, yes, she did, even if much bothered her. But, as a whole, this was the life that she wanted, even if it was not Dathomir. But there were places that could, in time, be a New Dathomir out there "Hmmm"

She kissed his neck "Hmmm"

"I take that as a yes?"

"Heh, such a wise male" Merrin teased "Or is that you have been corrupted?"

"Well, you are definitely distracting…"

Merrin laughed, closing her eyes and feeling warm in the embrace of the Force that had enveloped both of them once more "You noticed this, yes? Though, I wonder when we shall leave. Those vile droid-prisons"

Call shuddered underneath her "Disgusting things, He was in such a fury about them"

"Of course, they are an affront to all living things, my sisters and our Mother, and even the witches, were enflame by such depravity. It is one thing to have the spirits of ancestors aid you, another to enslave spirits in such a manner. The sight terrified me" she admitted when they had been shown the things, and had seen their Master, the Moff, Daron, over recent weeks in responding to it. It was familiar, yet not, several of the older sisters had said, on seeing the rituals and old Mother in young male flesh that had been her and Cal's teacher and guide "I will be glad to depart here now they are driven back. Though it was less anger than….whatever coldness that is of Master's when facing such things"

"True" Cal agreed, pausing "Oh, and did you help that new girl, Sanya?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, she is very fearful of the witches, let alone my sisters Cal" she pointed out "But she was friendly, and eager to learn if fearful of it as well. She loved the gardens…I think she will want to work and meditate within them"

"Not going to challenge for any spars?"

Merrin smiled "No, she is a farmer and healer at heart. And, no, my sisters don't challenge every female that come aboard"

He snorted "Just teasing, I…"

She kissed him, shutting him up before she broke it, moving to wrestle him and 'spar' as it were "No, more of that. We have…training….to do I believe"

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