[Closing weeks of 14 BBY]

[Personal Quarters of Moff Daron Storm, 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]

"I'd probably ask why is Ahsoka half-naked on my bed…" I announced tiredly, glancing from my wife, to my 'evil' second wife, and then to said togruta Jedi dressed in a gauzy silken two piece, then waving around the data-pad in my right hand "But, apparently, someone was sneaking around Hutt space and now we are to mind her. Also, really?"

Barriss blushed, while Asajj smirked, sitting on the bed beside Ahsoka, who was struggling to rise up…maybe, or maybe it was to swat away Asajj. According to the detailed orders Anakin's former padawan was drugged still, quite heavily, and while her mind was relative away her body wasn't, and mightn't be for a few hours, Jedi body dependent. Based on my own knowledge of the subject, and Barriss's, the knowledge of the Temple had declined, badly, over the millennia versus the texts I'd recovered, so….probably. Asajj continued to smirk at me, patting Ahsoka's bare left leg "I bought her fair and square! Can we keep her?"

I rolled my eyes, then an awkward shrug at Ahsoka's relieved look "Sorry, but we are keeping you…for a few weeks. Think of it as a nice long holiday"

"No, you can't…"

I shrugged again, arms up, motioning with my data-pad as Barriss sat on the other side of Ahsoka on the bed, patting her shoulder consolingly "Fraid so Knight Tano. Sad to say, secret operations and direct orders from on high. We've been told to keep you here, nice and safe….and out of the way, while we do bad things to the local fleets of the evil Sith Lord on Kuat"

"I have to get back…and we're friends Stormy…Barriss, tell him!"

Barriss patted her friend consolingly again "Sorry Soka'….you'll just have to spend time with us. Also, kinky sexy times?"

I shook my head as our captive blushed, weakly struggling to get up…and failing as Asajj shoved her back down with only the barest effort. Ahsoka continued to huff, now embarrassed, and radiating it at me, apparently as she half tried to cover herself, half-gestured at herself "Well…I'm in…ugh, and woke up on…"

"Oh please" Asajj muttered, rolling her eyes "You wore basically nothing on Zygerria"

"I did not!"

I shrugged at her indigent, albeit mildly drunk sound, retort from Ahsoka, cutting her off as Barriss gave a helpless shrug of her own, having seen the footage "Yeah, kinda…it was like two thin bars of black tape to be honest Ahsoka"

She made faces at me, part embarrassed, part annoyed, part confused, and generally irritated she was at the mercy of a smirking Asajj "Is this an interrogation! Your evil! Evil!"

"Well, the Hutts drugged you, you apparently dressed yourself in…that…" I replied at her pouting, giving an exaggerated shrug, Barriss bringing Ahoska's head into her lap, muttering quiet apologies as I continued on waving at Asajj not to be mean "…before Imperial Intelligence discovered you in a top-secret operation. One that we're find to tell you all about because its time limited in need to know"

She was glaring at me, but relaxing after a moment, giving a pouty huff, trying to burn out the drugs in her system along with the exhaustion of the oubliette capsule "I'll escape!"

"If you wait a few weeks you'll be let go" Barriss replied from above Ahsoka, poking at Ahsoka's montral gently "Now, don't be silly, and this'll be a vacation…and we won't make you babysit the twins either!"

"…..mumble, mumble, mumble….mission…." was the pouty togruta's response…

"Daron" came the light of my life in response "Give her a foot rub"

I sighed, looking to her "What?"

Barriss huffed like her friend, gestured "You heard what I said. We're making her talk!"

I shook my head, rolling my eyes even as I put down the data-pad, sitting down at the end of the bed and grabbing an ankle of a startled togruta "Fine"

The truth was I did have to keep Ahsoka prisoner, and all of us wanted it to go as non-problematically as possible…considering we were taking her prisoner. We were just about on the verge of launching a fairly major offensive, and High Command did not want leaks of any kind, nor the Corellians or Alsakans getting a good look at our operations in Hutt space. The sad truth was that we were quasi-allies, but that didn't mean our interests aligned completely either. Such was the nature of things, but thankfully we could work on keeping things spy-gamey….albeit stupid as well, because, apparently, foot rubs were now part of the 'keeping spy under raps' plan.

"I get to use the library again?"

Ahsoka was actually relaxing as she didn't resist, emitting a huff, but the Force calm about her, her emotions calmed dramatically. I could only snort in amusement "Yes, if so, now Agent Tano, tell us your secrets!"

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[Closing weeks of 14 BBY]

[Confederate Star Destroyer Hammerhead, Independence-class Star Destroyer, Confederate Navy (reformed) 2nd Fleet, Combined Allied Fleet, Columex System, Voyrzd Sector, Outer Rim Territories, Confederacy of Independent Systems]

Admiral Merai repressed his emotions, hard, as he watched the scopes, saw the holo-display of the familiar face of Admiral Raddus. He had long wished to bring his homeworld to the true cause, but, now, it was merely an alliance of convivence, with a corruptor, backed my more corrupt Jedi, leading his people into battle here at Columex. It was grating to see the familiar ships under a vile influence, unable to do anything about it…all while being relieved that they were present, even if not under his command. His own fleet had fallen back towards the primary sectors of the loyalist, intent on beating back the significant Rebel offensives towards the capital.

"Your forces are ready Admiral?" he asked in a calm and professional manner despite it all, his fleet formed up with a number of planetary space militia forces, remnant patrol squadrons, along with whatever security forces they could gather. On the sensors alerts were pinging "Scout reports indicate we have incoming"

"We are prepared Admiral, are you?" came the equally professional reply from his opposite and, for now, ally as the large defence fleet waited in formation. The 'New Sith Commonwealth' or whatever madness they wished to call themselves were exploiting the divisions of the Confederacy…and there was no option but to accept their help, poisoned chalice that it may be. Largely because the Trade Federations Trade Defence Fleets were making ground, the Imperials were probing to the galactic south, and the only reason the Core Republic factions weren't taking advantage of them was because there caught up killing each other too much to divert attention to the Confederacy's suffering.

"Yes Admiral, we are. Maintain formation. We are deploying outer CAP now" he replied calmly, ending the call, returning to the deadly business at hand. The forces in this 'Combined Allied Fleet' were large in numbers, but he was wary as it was a large number of every sort of design, from the core force of his cutting Star Destroyers and heavy cruisers, to a whole host of older model warships pulled out of the Reserve. Nor was the fact the 'Jedi' were present as allies all that helpful either, and, at least there, he was glad the likes of Raddus was in charge – Jedi Generals performance in large battles had tended to be poor outside a few, notable, exceptions.

Scarab droid-fighters went out first, the extended battery-pack models, and Merai focused on concentrating his escorts, few that he had, into an effective screening force as the droids indicated that the enemy were definitely on the way. Tracking through hyperspace was impossible, but the distortions incoming was as close as you get as energy signals spiked. One moment there was little activity in real-space and then next there was dozens of Luchrehulks with a force of escorts blasting into this dimension on streamers of light. He studied the tactical displays, finding it within expected limits, gestured "Deploy strike squadrons at Point Delta-Nine-Eight-One. Command to Fleet – Engage the Enemy. Fire Plan Sigma-Ion-Two"

"Roger, Roger" was the response, his organic crew focused on other tasks as his elite starfighter wings took off in conjunction with the V-series droid-fighters. Gone were the days of taking to his beloved starfighter and outfighting the enemy…he had to hoard his fleet like a miser now, despite now smashing two battle-walls together like krayt dragon males clashing for a female. Sending unsupported starfighters against a prepared fleet was a recipe for slaughter in these dark days, and he could only change with those times. Instead, just grimly noting that the 'Commonwealth' Fleet was responding in a similar manner, old Republic models and Mon Cala Heavy Cruisers holding a strong formation.

There was no elegance here, just a firm line taken in defence between the planet and it's shields below, and the gravity wells that ensured the hyperlanes passing through the system made this region worth fighting over at this moment in times. All he could do was watch the blows come, then wait for a moment of weakness to exploit as the rebel fleet was well equipped and aggressive, with more 'modern' warships in total, despite having both less ships and tonnage overall. Vulture droids were hurled at his fleet, greater in number, and a sign of the desire the rebels had in taking this system and then driving on. Droid-fighter losses had been heavy ever since the civil war started, and assembling so many standard models, and then engaging as they were…was a major investment as it were.

'So let us kill them then' he thought directing his own strike squadrons into the lower-southern flank of the enemy battle-wall now their droid-fighters were charging into his frontal line. They might still overwhelm him, but it was his best chance of taking out a few of the battleships and droid-control ships. Somehow, almost reading his mind, the 'allied' fleet was manoeuvring to exploit his attack, Mon Cala heavy cruisers backed by what could only be a Jedi led squadron was flanking and pouring fire as the attempted to envelope the rebel battle-wall 'square' with a half-oval formation. Only when the rebels began to retreat, casualties mounting, did he allow himself relax a moment. But not for long. The war was getting ever worse, and between the Bothans, the Muun, and now these 'Sith-Jedi' he wasn't sure how far victories like this could take them….

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