[14 BBY]

[Conference Room, Command Deck, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in orit G'rho, G'rho System, Shiritoku Spur, Wild Space, United Federal Empire]

Barriss was soon to give birth and that had me stressed…but, sadly, work was at hand to keep my distracted from thinking about that stressful miracle. No, the two surviving Ssi-ruu warships with their trojan horse cargo, along with slow declining spell wards, had already departed with surviving, but unknowing, crews of the dinosaur shaped sentients. In that regards mercy was something I could not grant them, though, officially, I had sent words that coming against the Empire meant their doom. If they got back to their home systems, or near enough, then it wasn't a warning I was giving, but rather the absolute truth.

'What's done is done and had to be done' I thought as I sat reading through the latest intelligence reports sent from distant Eriadu, and likely already out of date. Events were, once again, in motion in the galaxy, and this time I had little future knowledge to guide me in such matters such as the seeming descent of the Confederacy of Independent States into civil war. That presented many good things from the point of view of the Empire, but also problematic to me, largely as it reeked of Sidious…and he'd pulled out Blackwing. Pulled it out and then lost control clearly, and we could only be glad he'd gotten it back under control before the zombie plague was on dozens of worlds.

'Course….I'm unleashing an undead plague of my own on guilty and innocent alike, so no moral high ground for me to take' I firmly reminded myself as I finished up my work on G'rho's future plans. Which, in the end, was that the former colony had no immediate future. Only a fraction of the population had survived, and orders from above weren't exactly encouraging about deploying patrols out here in a way that would be required to rebuild and resettle it. No, Bakura would be focus, because, distant as it was, it was on a hyperlane, and it made a vital product in repulsor lifts – something the Empire lacked widespread industrial production of.

Instead G'rho's small cities and farming settlements, empty as they were now, would be abandoned beyond a small droid garrison…and a hidden watch post deep underground with an actual small garrison. With a few almost ancient probe droids in orbit and a few hypercapable Z-95s to back up the light freighter they'd have for logistics. It wasn't much, but it should be enough to provide warning for invasion fleets should our plans for the Ssi-ruuk Imperium fail and their fleets return. Or, also on my mind, should other invaders from the Unknown Regions come this way in their wake like they were further galactic south and trailing where others were running into Imperial patrols.

My own included as I noted the various Over-Sector reports from my territories…

I looked up as the door opened, Bultar Swan arriving on time as expected, and I gave a friendly smile, hands together on my desk "Master Swan, welcome"

"Moff Stormcrow" she replied politely, coming forward and taking her seat at a gesture from me. The Jedi Knight turned Master wasn't overly fond of me, especially not in the wake of helping me plot out the destruction of an interstellar civilization with Force rituals that verged on outright heresy or Sith behaviour to many I expected. But be that as it may, she was polite and one of the more reasonable members of Rahm Kota's Jedi Order "Thank you for the meeting. We are departing soon, yes?"

I nodded "Aye, soon as the cave supports are are completed. You can descend to the site and review if you wish to confirm the equipment for Jedi training. It's very, very, basic, but it's….liveable"

G'rho, isolated as it was, and bad things that had happened there aside, was very much a site of interest to the Jedi Order, and I was happy to oblige in this regard. My own Force Users would have similar use of the isolated, hidden, facility, for missions after all. In part because I had concerns about the impact long-term of what happened here, or simply to serve as a watch station just like the rest of the small garrison that would be present would act as. It'd be both a retreat as well as a semi-secret location should any missions need to take place into the Unknown Regions for either my, as yet unnamed and unofficial sect, or for the Jedi, or for the Imperial Inquisition.

"Thank you, I may, though that is more to stretch my legs on a world than anything else sadly" Bultar voiced back politely as she looked to me "That's not why I'm here of course"

I smiled, weary but amused "Aye, you're here about Merili"

Bultar nodded, hands together on her knee as she brought on leg over the other "Yes, I wish to make her my padawan"

I gave a nod, sitting back in my chair. Merili was a complicated case, like many of my younglings, because she was human, but Dathomir born and then abducted-recruited by the Prophets of the Dark Side that we'd destroyed on Dromund Kaas. She'd gotten some, child level, of Nightsister teachings before said abduction and year or two of torture and horror on Dromund Kaas till we'd arrived….making her a muddled mess amongst my trainers "You understand exactly the problems with that"

"Yes, obviously" Bultar answered with a nod "Your former Master was quite opinionated on the matter, as was Master Luminara. Others will be as bad or worse I imagine. But the girl has potential, just as she risks plunging into an abyss. I do not agree with all you have done, nor with the Dathomiri witches, but you have helped her greatly I do freely admit. I would help her, and I see that this would be an accord between us, with terms and conditions beyond the norm. But all is beyond the norm in these days, are they not?"

It was entirely true, and Bultar was….pragmatic at least, especially compared to some of the others that Rahm Kota had gathered. This was, after this horror show, a genuine outreach to maintain good relations. So, I nodded again "It is acceptable to me, as long as the girl herself finds it acceptable and the mentorship isn't abandoned because she is not a traditional Temple Jedi"

"I am aware of that Moff Stormcrow" she replied calmly, but firmly, to my statement "There would be willingness for equivalent training, but only if it is with Master Morne, Knight Offee, or yourself…once padawan Kestis is considered trained by you and yours of course"

'And who is the unfortunate judged as a willing sacrifice amongst the younglings I wonder?' I thought but, very obviously did not say as I nodded "That would be acceptable, depending on seeing and discussing with any potential padawan, and their opinions on such an event. After Cal and Merrin are happy that we've given them all the training they need. So, let's talk about getting her together with us and what's agreeable to say…"

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[14 BBY]

[Jedi Academy, Moenia Region, Naboo, Naboo System, Chommell Sector, Trailing Sectors, Mid Rim, United Federal Empire]

"…and with this we aim to rekindle the trust and hope that the Jedi Order once held within the hearts of citizens of the Galactic Republic that it has lost through our own mistakes. So, it is with great happiness in my heart that I, as Grandmaster, announcing the opening of this Academy in coordination with the Roos Tarpal's Military Academy. A great gungan gave his life for the Republic, and, in the name of the Empire, we will strive to uphold those ideals. Thank you" Rahm Kota managed to finish, before strategically withdrawing from the position before the various media, and carefully screened crowds, before allowing the Chancellor of said Republic successor state talk to his people.

This area had all been the Palpatine Family Estates, and, while Rahm knew a Jedi should not be petty…he was quite glad to broadcast to the galaxy that they'd turned the former home and winter retreat of the Sith Lord on Kuat into an Academy for the Jedi Order. It might be the most minor of blows, along with being lacking heavy usage for making this a prime target, but it was still something that he could do as he stood in his Jedi robes for once, albeit with his Moff insignia with it. Within the grounds members of the reinstated Antarian Rangers stood in modern versions of their Old Republic uniforms, also as a signal to enemies and citizens alike of what the Jedi Order would stand for. A return to what it had been, once, long ago.

Master Billaba and her padawan stood with him, along with a dozen others, mostly locals or those associated with Chancellor Binks or the heir apparent, Garoche Tarkin. All with the vast array of security that came with them, and Rahm's own person as Imperial Moff and Grandmaster of the Jedi Order. Yet, from the position of most of the citizens, who'd been vetted by set security long before this secretly, it felt as an open and friendly environment as they were invited to tour the new facilities. To be shown around the Academy, and to encourage them to once again have trust in the Order, or, at the least, have enough faith that they would allow them to guide younglings in ways Master Yoda wouldn't have approved of.

But what the Temple would have approved of on Coruscant really didn't matter anymore, as those days were long gone now. What mattered now was, despite the horror show he'd just read in reports from across the galaxy beyond the Moddell Sector, there was still a Jedi Order, and there was still hope. The Sith's efforts to exterminate the Order had failed, and, now, Rahm was aware of the threat and was taking steps as the Order had in days of old. A looser format than Coruscant would allow was his focus…

'Though, that' because those like Quinlan are already married with children and wouldn't want to return to what things were. And the Stormcrow would fight it, actively' he thought as they, finally, managed to slip away into the new Academy buildings, passed the Rangers guarding it, and allowing he and his fellow Jedi to gain some reprieve on a mountain balcony. One that both had protective screens from long range assassination attempts, as well as privacy screens that should show said balcony they were on as empty. It was unfortunate that such measures were necessary…but Rahm had ensured they were, especially with so many 'useful targets' present for these few hours.

"It went well" Depa murmured politely, smiling teasingly "Even if our dear Grandmaster was somewhat…stilted?...hmm…"

"I'm not given to grand speeches" he muttered back glad to get something to eat off the platter on the table before and between them "But it went well, yes. Naboo has recovered some, though the orbitals are still full of salvagers"

He looked up at the darkening skies, watching as they flashed with illumination with carefully choregraphed fireworks, soon to be followed by light generators on the shields "You are content to stay here?"

"For the year ahead, yes" Depa replied with a nod, also looking up "I am aware of both the danger, and of the need to do so. We all agreed on this Rahm, do not fear we will change our minds now that it is done. Not with the abomination that the Stormcrow sent word of, the response to it, along with the nightmares making themselves known within the Core. The Sith cannot be allowed to emerge victorious. There is nowhere safe Grandmaster, this is just a more public spot to stand before them, hmm?"

He nodded, sighing tiredly "Too true"

Above the Grey Paladin, the Venator turned Praexium along with his flagship waited "But, my own stay will be shorter than originally planned"

Depa nodded, her padawan reading at her direction "The confederates?"

"Aye, their starting to tear each other apart by all accounts, there's been a big battle near Bothawui and all the hyperlanes we'd managed to get back reopened are in chaos. It's all hands-on deck so to speak. I'll be heading to Bracca to ensure the breaker yards are secure in case anyone goes rogue first, and, then…only the Emperor for now I expect, if he knows at all" he replied shaking his head "I fear this could be Darth Sidious's work, or that of the Sith on Dac…or Mandalore"

"Oh, yes, there are far too many of them to know for sure" Depa agreed with him "But the Confederacy are no friends of us Jedi either, now are they? Though I fear what communications we've managed with Corellia and Kashyyyk are about to get much more difficult?"

"Yes, that is very likely, as well as impede news from the Core. So, we continue the work we have being doing, and have the Force with us in those efforts…"

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