[14 BBY]

[Secure Workshop, House of Wisdom, House of Wisdom Deck House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in orbit Bakura, Bakura system, Bakura Sector, Wildspace, United Federal Empire]

Kazdan Paratus took his time as he both studied, and relaxed, within this sanctum, something was reminding of the Temple, yet also not. Here there was a vast library of droid sciences, truly ancient sources at that, which Daron had clearly gathered from many sources, some likely less than legal Kazdan suspected. But that was Daron being himself, and the results were worth it clearly as he studied the designs, the various iterations his old friend had asked for advice on. Droid design of course, but with other details mixed in, along with other ideas, both orthodox and unorthodox, even without the Force implications from the old texts.

It wasn't expected, as Daron had developed his own bodyguard droids over the years, just as Kazdan's own, currently down in the engineering bay, but these were significant oddities. Even if they were only, truly, in the design phase, with minor parts prototyping, as laid out before the Aleena Jedi in the secured data-slate he'd been provided. Custodian and Librarian as they were designated, and it was clear that Daron's natural paranoia was there in the designs…along with the fact they were with Order Sixty-Six, or a repeat, of it in mind. That and his friend's great distaste for the loss of knowledge over the many millennia of the Republic, because Kazdan could see that in the Custodian design.

'Super-droids with free will but focused purpose and what can only be called inbuilt resistance to mechu-deru and the Dark Side' he thought again, spinning up another part of the design, creating and adjusting certain parts and seeing what the effect was on efficiency and redundancy. Really the droid body was as much a semi-independent avatar that would fit into the existent House of Wisdom as Daron, being Daron, called his collection of knowledge. One that was possibly superior to the current archives available to the rest of the Order Kazdan suspected, especially in knowledge that likely had been restricted within the Library before it's destruction by the Sith as the Purge began.

But, as all things must, his work schedule came to an end, both his alert activating, along with the faint sense through the Force of that fact as his 'meeting' waited for him. It was frustrating, as time to work on projects such as this were…rare…and it was pleasant, and needed, to deal with seeing the horror that these Ssi-ruu invaders had created. Truly Kazdan had been shocked, then filled with disgust as he'd studied the abomination that was called entechment. Not that the 'solution' was much better, and he was disgusted with himself, and with the choice that they had to take, to ensure that such a horror did not spread throughout the galaxy. The Alena Jedi did not want to dwell on what would have happened if it became 'common'…and then, centuries from now, the horrific system failed with hordes of angry wraiths unleashed unto the galaxy as a whole.

'Yes, we merely sped that up and unleashed the monsters ourselves' he thought sadly reminding himself of the Code, and the necessity of what they had had to do as he exited the room, it sealing securely behind him. With it being made of cortosis lining cortosis-weave it was yet another highly secure, and hard to breach for Jedi, Daron storeroom, even if it was currently Kazdan's temporary study room. It looked very nice as doors went too, all artsy and blending into the wall as if it was stone, just a part of the wall rather than a doorway, hidden if you so wanted it to be so.

"Finally finished tinkering?"

"Aayla" he greeted…not grated at as much as he was tempted too as he walked out, looking up at the bemused Twi'lek female Jedi "Have you come with news and being useful?"

She smirked down at him, arms folded across her chest and attempting to look serious, or maybe having an imperious look to her "I do in fact"

He waited as they started to walk. Waited, and then looked up at her "Well?"

"Twins!" the blue-skinned female clucked back in amusement "A little over an hour ago, best that you know that. I expect there will be celebrations"

Kazdan nodded as she strolled, engaging his mechanical legs to raise up his height, as well as match the irritating female's pace "That is good, yes, they are healthy? Barriss is healthy?"

"Yes, you can go up and visit you know!"

He shrugged. He would. Not now though, such matters were…unusual to say the least, and the stress of the situation over entechment did not give him the best of humour to deal with Barriss and newborns, or Daron and his not-a-Sith other wife lurking about. Nor Stass Allie and the various others, such as Aayla here, that would lurk also, waiting to mock his less-than-ideal social interactions. Daron would be acceptable to meeting in private, as would Barriss, when they had rested, and that would be preferrable to such flocking about like tall vultures over the younglings "I shall. When they are best rested. He has given me a task, it shall be done by when I see him"

"So serious Kazdan, so serious"

He shrugged "I shall inform Tiplee and Tiplar, otherwise you shall send some absurd message"

"I would not!"

Kazdan gave a snort "Sure you would not, sure"

Much as the two sisters attempted to feign being perfect Jedi, they would wish to know and offer their words and blessings. It would be pleasant for them to do so in these dark times. Things, by all accounts, were getting worse in both the Core and in the Separatist holdings, so such chances as to find joy in the current environment were to be welcomed. Because soon they would be called to deal with whatever problems crawled out from the Dark Side, the various texts of old seemed to hint at such times when there was a 'backlash in the Force' as Daron described it. Now though Kazdan would eat, discuss matters with Aayla Secura, and the return to his workings for a few more hours…

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[14 BBY]

[Moff's Ready Room, Command Bridge, Command Deck, Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in orbit Bakura, Bakura system, Bakura Sector, Wildspace, United Federal Empire]

"Flash traffic, sorry Sir"

I smiled tiredly, waving off Gardan's genuine, but silly, apologies. Barriss was sleeping now after all, as were the twins, healthy and under the care of Wee'baku and her staff, and Asajj's watchful eyes. It wasn't ideal, but I could do this as I moved to sit at my desk, waving him to sit across from me as I opened up the secure communications. My friend here was the ship's captain after all, and while these were highly secure orders, they were clearly meant for him as well, along with various other fleet officers after I'd inspected them. So, he waited as I opened up what High Command had sent, reading quickly and silently, frowning a moment as I considered, before sitting back in my chair with a sigh.

"It seems there is to be shake up in the Imperial Fleet structure" I stated showing him the details of the first level of orders. The secondary, for me alone, being hidden "Busy days ahead"

I waited as he read the data, thinking on the situation, along with how to handle all this, hand under my chin and bringing up the galaxy map on my desk as a holo-display, Gardan nodded after a short while, looking up at me with a frown "I was…under the belief that this was to occur in another year or two, or in the event of war I suppose Sir"

"It was, we were, but this is clearly a response to whatever breakdown is going on over in the CIS" was my answer, shaking my head "I expect it's a warning…or laying the groundwork for operations"

"Christophsis" he murmured in regards our new operational headquarters "Ryloth too I guess…"

"Us, a fully reformed Fifth Fleet in Christophsis, Zsinj with a reformed Third Fleet at Naboo-Enarc, and Yanthis over First Fleet at Eriadu?" I gave an amused chuckle, shaking my head "And that's without returning us to the Five Mobile Fleets Doctrine, and the other two at Cera and Greater Javin. Gonna play hells with our schedules, but it's very clear threat being given to the Confederates"

Gardan nodded, studying the maps "Kamino? Rothana?"

I sighed, rubbing my chin and beard "Could be…probably, us and Maarisa, if the Confederates are descending into civil war, it would be an opportunity, one I doubt the emperor would like slipping by his grasp"

Myself and Zsinj were, generally, seen by the public as the two most aggressive of the Moff's and Fleet Commanders in the Imperial Navy, with Yanthis a close third. No, this was clearly Tarkin making a very blatant statement, especially with the numbering, and naming on the fleets – I'd be Fifth Fleet, The Army of Light, as I was at Naboo. Just like Zsinj had commanded the Third Fleet. Rank Insignias were simple things, but clearly just enough to have unit colours and pins…a year ahead of schedule at least, judging from the implied shortages on the basic outline even. I gave a snort, shaking my head "Certainly going to give poor Locus a headache taking on the Frontier just as it's getting wild"

That was very true, even if I disliked being drawn away from my new holdings. Locus Geen was a good organiser, and this was also Tarkin doing a minimal mobilisation, so the border wouldn't be weakened as best I could tell. Instead, this was a gradual ramping up to potential conflict, over a several week period, but giving public warning of it. Such a reorganisation was less daunting that it would likely appear to the public or our enemies, even if it would but a great deal of tonnage into motion across the Empire. Something that would hiding of movement of other things I expected, such as a few new secret bases and listening posts, along with a repair yard or two…

'Yeah, thinking on it now, our Emperor is exploiting events' I thought as my subordinate nodded "The situation here?"

"We'll leave Yulen in charge with an expanded taskforce" I replied, thinking on how to make time to spend with the children…or their safety since we were traveling across the galaxy to near a warzone. Or, well, another warzone at least "He'll help establish an Imperial Naval squadron under Bakura cooperation here at Bakura, and then back to patrolling the Rattatak and Stormhaven OverSector area. I'll arrange with Locus once we get to Greater Javin on liaisons and the like"

I waved my hand side to side "Administration…well, an extended Plan Ductavis. I'll need you to arrange a full meeting of senior officers for tomorrow….mid-shift change?"

He nodded, confirming that would be an ideal time "At mid-shift change then. We have time, our bosses clearly want this done right over a few weeks"

"Could it be war?"

I let out a breath, sitting back in my chair "Honestly? No, I don't think so. At least actively attacking the Confederacy directly. No, I fear this is a warning, along with a hope that we can get through any past blockades with a few threats and therefore remove the Kamino and Rothana problem as you pointed out. Oh…" I shook my head "…and the whole not-pirates situation getting a big change"

Frowned, nodding at the map "There's also Uquaine to bear in mind"

Gardan nodded slowly, looking as weary for a moment as I felt "Back to a war foot then Sir?"

"We never really left it Captain Yetrel, we just switched enemies a time" was my response, giving a shrug to emphasis the point "Unstable enemies can be harder to predict than stable and strong ones. This is a warning, I think. Let us hope it's one that's listened to"

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