[14 BBY]

[Command Bridge, Command Deck, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet 'The Army of Light', over Rodia, Tyrius System, Savareen Sector, Outer Rim Territories, United Federal Empire]

The sector displays were, to say the least, hectic, despite me and my fleet largely having to stay put over Rodia, establishing…re-establishing…the orbital defences and establishing a joint defence command structure. Oh, and waging a quasi-legal war on people we weren't at war with…technically. There were a lot of 'technically' comments going around these days as I and my subordinates discussed the stream of information from the larger OverSector. Most importantly our scouting/raiding towards the Rishi Moons and the general region where Palpatine's fleet remained in operation.

Kamino and Rothana needed to be neutralised, and the Confederates were increasingly not in the way now that Rodia was ours and Maarisa Zsinj nibbled at the border, let alone Yanthis who had notions of retaking Kinyen by all accounts, let alone Boomis Koori. I could grasp why, beyond ambitions, as I'd taken Rodia and Zsinj had secured the entire sector around Bracca after a minor clash with a Trade Federation fleet. Negotiations were the name of the game, and I assumed the funds being spent on bribes were aiding the cause of having CIS systems seceding and then immediately declaring for the Empire. I was having the same game of sunshine and lies after all with the systems that had formerly dependent on Rodia.

I tapped at the holo-display "So they are moving ships here?"

Gardan nodded "Indeed Moff, towards Hutt space"

I sighed, resting my hands on the edges of the large holo-table "Well, that's that then. We're on the clock as it were"

Asajj frowned at me "Are we?"

"Somewhat, yes" I stated shaking my head side to side a moment "Our orders to eliminate both locations, if feasible, secure, if possible, but mostly we're to deny them to the enemy"

My fingers tapped at the various red icons "If intelligence is correct…"

"If" she pointed out with amusement "If"

I gave a snort "Yes, if it's correct, then they've started a phased retreat. Which means we are best intervening, but rules of engagement are messy. Hence why this is so need to know and we've the privacy screens up. That so Senator Syndulla?"

The twi'lek that I'd worked with before, and was in business with still, nodded politely, standing here as representative of the Imperial Senate "Yes Moff Stormcrow, it is. Neutralisation of both Kamino and Rothana is the priority, but there is to be no risk of either becoming another Uquaine, or, at the very least, as a vector for an attack on the Empire proper. Once Rothana is located of course"

"Yes, the easy part of course" I murmured with a shake of my head, though we had enough of the puzzle now, between Republic data and what we'd data-mined off Confederate systems, to grasp the route to Rothana proper. That was always the problem of stellar navigation in that 'reality' was just an optical mirage thanks to hyperspace and the Force unlike what planet bound primates believed "Kamino, at the least, we can deal with soon, at least once we've secured our lines of supply to here. Or once Maaria reinforces me, no?"

The former resistance fighter, turned warlord, turned Senator nodded, looking respectable in his robes, while his daughter was down playing in the hab-levels of the Stormcrow with her minders "Yes Moff, when the order comes you will have to move quickly"

I sighed, looking at the maps "I thought as much, we don't want to catch him before they've evacuated significant portions of their fleet, now do we?"

Cham gave a nod, Gardan frowning as Asajj nodded herself after a moment "That is the best situation Moff, as per the emperor's direct instructions. Keeping casualties to a minimum is a priority. Taking either or both locations intact…wouldn't be frowned upon, but right now they are a serious problem that needs to be dealt with while we can. There are other, more valuable, sectors that are now in play, even if they are less…useful…some would say"

"Oh, you won't have me arguing down the value of agri-world sectors like Albrion….that is who we are talking about, yes?"

He gave a nod, and I rubbed my chin "Negotiations going well?"

The Senator shrugged "So I've been told, though I suspect it is more that both major Confederate factions have abandoned various sectors in this quadrant to their own devices. Something that is making them nervous what all these fleet movements of late. Though I doubt we shall see the likes of Geonosis changing their tune any time soon"

"They will be rebuilding for generations" I stated, shaking my head "Staying at arm's length is best for us, as occupying that place cost us enormous resources during the war lest we all forget. No, that we'd best stay away from….but, back to the subject at hand. We've established forward scouting forces, harassed as they are by the Confederates, so Kamino can be struck whenever we want to move on the Rishi moons and eliminate the defence fleet there"

"That is what the Bothans believe as well"

I nodded unhappily at Cham's words "Their selling out these sectors"

"They are, yes" he agreed, and he'd know, as he was in the loop on back the channels through the Hutts, such as Tattoine returning to 'old/new/ management "Quite the price I believe"

"Well, I don't trust them Senator, that's on the record by the way"

The twi'lek grinned "Don't worry Moff! I did the same I'll have you'll know!"

"Yeah, the Reconquista don't come cheap I expect" I murmured eyes on the displays. Eliminating the remaining Chancellorist forces in the galactic south, and now trying for a host of under-developed outer rim Confederate sectors brough us back up the Hutt borders without any Confederate hyperlane control. It was why Rodia, then unto Roon, to Molavar, and then to Gamorr was our zone of warfare right now. It wasn't vital to the Confederacy, of either faction, as it was a backwater off a backwater, but for the Empire it was a potentially vital trade route we could free up. One that would likely lead to war now, or, more likely, whenever the Confederates stopped killing each other. But, in the meantime, it seemed those fuckers on Bothawui were about to get a host of bribes…

--

[14 BBY]

[Private Rooms of Moff Daron Stormcrow, Personal Deck of Moff Daron Stormcrow, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet 'The Army of Light', over Rodia, Tyrius System, Savareen Sector, Outer Rim Territories, United Federal Empire]

Barriss Offee smiled at her husband as she walked, tiredly, into the room, the twins asleep, and the display monitor on, showing their sleeping forms, along with the bodyguard-nanny droids with them. She loved them, dearly, but she needed free time…or, like now, time to sleep and have time with Daron, because getting time to rest was hard at times. Oh, and with Asajj to of course, as the familiar dathomiri female walked in tiredly wearing a silken robe and flopping unto the large bed. Barriss smiled, rolling her eyes as she went over to her husband, kissing him deeply before smirking at him and flopping unto the bed on the opposite side of her, still at times unwanted but occasionally useful, 'second wife'.

"Done plotting and scheming for the day dear?"

Asajj gave an amused snort, agreeing with her as she teased Daron "Yes dear, could you stop reading, hmm?"

Daron was sat, having been reading a report, because right now the galaxy was worse than it was only a few years ago once again. He placed it down, giving them both a mildly annoyed look as Barriss lounged on the bed happily "I was waiting for you two if I recall? Something about…"

"Now, now, Moff-Sir" Barriss teased back "No trying to pull rank, reading over, bed, now"

"As you command, jedi knight Offee" he voiced back with a sigh, then amusement, because he should have put the silly thing down when she kissed him. Life was strange she'd found, now that she was, as the Temple would see it, living in sin, and falling to the Dark side potentially. With an actual Darksider, mellowed and all as Asajj had gotten, laying across from her on the oversized comfortable monster that overwhelmed any desire to ever sleep on Temple cell matt-beds ever again. Somehow, she felt better, more balanced and centred in the Force, despite that strangeness of living as a Jedi but also having a family life.

The Ventress situation was…still a bit odd, even as people said it, but it had made matters far more secure in what had been their sector of the galaxy, as well as keeping her children safe. That was something Barriss could live with, and the Jedi teachings did apply here that some sacrifice was needed at times. It was also tolerable in that Asajj, largely, didn't interfere with their relationship, though her 'support' could be embarrassing at time, as well as the other woman's willingness to kiss. Nightsister culture was…odd…and Barriss was also now glad of the barrier the 'second wife' served in keeping Karis and Naa'leth from being the same, and, instead, having their own relationship.

Not only that…so many had Fallen, and Daron was kriffing Daron and worrying her by going down to deal with them as he viewed it. Yes, she knew was able to handle it, and her own training with him and Asajj was far more intense and focused than anything she'd endured. Which was why she was exhausted now after that and overseeing all the efforts to get medical aid and general healing to the populace on Rodia below. Violence was endemic there, that she could 'feel' down there as Daron kissed and she pushed all those thoughts aside as she gave him a playful shove unto the bed before cuddling up against him "Ah, this is better"

He chuckled "Yes, thankfully, needed a break. It's bad out there"

"Hmm" Asajj voiced in agreement from just across from them, laying there and looking up as the room darkened, turning into a field of stars amidst the darkness "I agree. Could do with the entertainment"

Barriss pouted after she kissed Daron, looking at the other female "Please stop referring to it as that"

"Yes, yes, Clan Mother" the Dathomiri mocked laying on her side and pouting back "Now, chop-chop…"

--

[14 BBY]

[Chiss Ascendancy Heavy Cruiser Steadfast, Expansionary Defense Fleet, S-224/7 system, Unknown Regions, borders of the Ssi-Ruuk Imperium]

Ar'lani, Admiral of the Expansionary Defence Fleet, sat calmly in her command chair, watching in silence for the moment as sensor data was collected, and something that should be illegal was performed due to the concerns of the situation. Force Users were not supposed to be beyond the Ascendancy, but events had spiralled in recent months…years...and now, this…

"Status?"

The eldest of the group, a military officer like herself from the Home Defence Fleet was frowning, had a quite conversation with a young female who was 'strong' before turning to her "The situation is as concerning as believed. The Ssi-Ruu…their technology has not suffered a droid rebellion. It is far worse, but also far less of a danger Admiral"

She nodded to him, hands together as she surveyed the wreckage of two Ssi-ruu cruisers, watching as destruction continued beyond at the mining colony, where the slaves were rising up even as military channels screamed of ghosts and other terrors "Specify your reasoning"

"Whatever it is that has been done…it has shattered the Ssi-ruu's entechment systems somehow in both the Force and in physical systems. To put it simply, albeit perhaps religious sounding…" the male paused, shook his head almost in disbelief at his words "Their souls have been freed, and some of such souls are vengeful before they fade into the Force"

"They do not appear to be fading as you put it Colonel Luu'yatti" she pointed out gesturing at the displays showing intercepts of further chaos within the Imperium that had threatened many, many, worlds in these sectors in recent years "Indeed, chaos grows"

"In terms of the Force they are fading, though that may be days, to years, to…decades even" was the answer to her statement "Staying clear of these haunts for a time would be for the best. Our children are not there either. They have been taken from here, by the slavers most likely"

Ar'alani frowned, hands together before her again as she sat back in her command chair "That is unfortunate Colonel, for it seems it accelerates events with what is arising from the former Galactic Republic. With those who unleashed…this…upon their foe. You will brief us, in depth, before you return to home…"

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