[21 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 19th Sector Army, In Orbit Javin, Javin Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
Time to enjoy my slowly forming library, now that I could print off, bind, and store physical copies of various texts I'd downloaded from the Temple over the years as first an Initiate, then as a Padawan. Those or ones from external sources as I'd picked up various pieces, and a few artefacts, in the years since I'd gone independent and started to accumulate a degree of personal wealth. I know the data-stored records were easily accessed, but I still liked physical reading of texts and scrolls from time to time, and it was a further back-up against someone simply wiping the database.
Or accidents happening of course; worlds had regressed to dark ages due to wiping Internet-analogues with weapons systems, or simple data corruption escalating. Sadly even now I didn't get to indulge as the small spider-like droids I'd built to maintain my personal library went about their business of cataloguing and storing various prints. Even now I was data-surfing through various reports and summaries on Force related items, or oddities, that had cropped over the past few moments.
It was still a major improvement over the basic system I'd started out with about five years, like supernova to a candle, but that didn't make it any less time-consuming or dull often enough. But it had delivered my tiny collection over the years, without causing trouble with the Jedi Order, and identified that the Vong existed, and that Darth Maul was a dangerous assassin and fighter. My current quarry though was the potential Sith wannabe, as I was fairly sure that the Rule of Two was still in effect, fleeing through Republic territory with other ones in pursuit.
Oh, and some Jedi in pursuit of those pursuers without notifying us...which was only fair, as we weren't exactly telling them any of our own tracking attempts either. Honestly it was easier to track the pursuers than this Assajj Ventress as the Dathomiri witch seemed to be doing an excellent job of staying off the sensors; at least to our side, as the other side seemed to have ideas where she was heading. My own methods were watching for Force usage on various reports, while my Sector Army's Intelligence section did more traditional methods as they assembled the total information I was trawling through at the moment.
With a sigh I noted down the likely destinations...or more accurately agreed with the analysts' projections on her course of action based on known history. A particularly dangerous person at that having slain several Jedi already, but the knowledge she possessed...was too valuable to let up, to not risk some attempt at getting a hold of. Ideally through some form of limited cooperation, off the books of course, but capture and interrogation before disposal was a backup plan if we could locate her before either the faux-Sith or the Jedi also in pursuit of our quarry. Or pull such matters off without them noticing, as that would be bad in the current environment.
Now my search turned to other matters; a potential on a crashed Cathedral Ship dating back to the Pius Dea Crusades thousands of years ago, and more relevantly an old, extremely so, copy of Conquering the Void; My Time as an Apprentice by author unknown. Unlike the odd reports on a dead world and strange signals this one had clear indications of sale on the black market within the areas of my Sector Army, and that meant several ways to approach acquiring it. Though the simple method of discretely acquiring it through paying for it remained the first option as it seemed it was time for Mister Outis to make a few bids...
--
[21 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 19th Sector Army, In Orbit Javin, Javin Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"It's a hard confirmation?"
"Yes General, partial facial identification, and appears to be an attempt to heal up while inquiring into purchase of a hyperspace capable starfighter"
"Sump?"
"Yes Sir, the Nuknog have been neutral inclined despite food deliveries and it was one of our spy units that detected her rather than any reports from planetary authorities"
"Of course, not liking us and all that...we have a delivered scheduled?"
"In a few days General"
"Good, move it up to move immediately. The Stormcrow and our escort will conduct another round of surprise military drills and convoy training then. Prepare for departure"
"Understood General; it will be two hours to ready status"
"Thank you Gardan, I'll be down to the Bridge shortly"
--
[21 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 19th Sector Army, In Orbit Sump, Sump System, Koradin Sector, Non-Aligned Territory]
"The Nuknog aren't happy Sir" Gardan told me and I nodded as the communications ended with the planetary leadership "...that's clear as day"
"Of course not, this is a clear show of force to go along with our relief efforts now isn't it?" I replied calmly "...but they don't get to do much as we conduct military exercises inside Republic territory while the deliveries of foodstuffs are made. Now, unto other matters...do we have track?"
My aide nodded "Yes General, they likely know we're in orbit but sensors show no movement on their transport...I'd assume they don't think we know they are here. We've a scout-droid monitoring their movements at extreme range. Force composition appears to be two organics and a company of combat droids. Impossible to confirm their make at the distance unfortunately"
Braika glanced at me "You sure about this Daron?"
I nodded calmly adjusting my armour "Yes, we'll never slip much of a force down. I'm taking to the field with my bodyguard droids, and I want you in reserve with a full hunter-killer squad just in case, so we've got stygium crystals to hide two gunships from detection, especially in this mess. Your also in charge of taking out Primary should she attempt to escape...our ace in the hole as they speak"
The Mandalorian woman gave a feral grin "And I reckon you just want test out these Dark Jedi calling themselves Sith in battle...since we're going Black Out on the this field"
I paused...then nodded "Perhaps...a little maybe, but if we turn up a small army then our quarry might not be so inclined to negotiate. Eliminating her pursuers would be a show of good faith, and seeing how she reacts when they approach her would be ideal. If I can set the tone of the fight then that would be even better"
Part of me did badly want to test out my current level of abilities against actual live Sith Acolytes, or what passed for them in this Age, and see what I needed to improve. Or to what level Dooku had brought his minions too; something was clearly high as one on one they appeared to be superior to many fully trained Jedi Knights and Masters from kill count. Such controlled conditions as this were hard to come by, and deploying large forces would both making taking at least one alive much harder, and make detection more likely despite the dreadful state of the Nuknog species planetary defences.
Braika continued to grin "Good to see my lessons seeped in me partner'in crime. Not very Jedi of ye all filled with bloodlust"
I gave an amused snort as I secured the last of the weapons and did a last check "Oh I'm very serene right now if you must know. This requires ruthlessness and thinking rather than passion, at least I hope so..." I turned to them, gesturing at my bodyguard droids standing silently nearby "...now, let us start the process of finding out more about Count Dooku shall we?"
--
[21 BBY]
[Six Miles West Scrap-town of Ugtoi-Ugtoi, Sump, Sump System, Koradin Sector, Non-Aligned Territory]
Saato stoked her rage, drawing the Dark Side to her to gain strength as she and the former Jedi Zabrak bitch hunted down the failure Ventress. She would have sneered, but she and the Zabrak were somewhat out of favour due to their perceived failures; she did not consider Ryloth a failure as she had survived, and that put her above the degenerate former Jedi in her mind. In her mind, but unfortunately not in the eyes of their mutual Master Count Dooku, and now she found herself having to walk beside the degenerate Zabrak as they neared where their quarry had holed up.
'At least she has some uses' she thought on the Zabrak female using her contacts in the Outer Rim, along with their Master's divinations, to hunt down Ventress before she could spread her lies to Mother Talzin. That couldn't be allowed after all, not if Saato was to achieve true Sith-hood, and her fellow Dathomiri's lies and failures came to an end her, on this disgusting planet. Instead she stretched out her senses, feeling every buzzing of insect wings, and stamp of elite Commando and Assasin droids upon the soil of the world. They'd already eliminated six potential witnesses, and now they were mere minutes away from finally getting to leave this backwards world.
'Well, when the Republic relief convoy leaves anyway' she reminded herself as she and the Zabrak came over the hill and the small campfire and starfighter been worked upon nearby came into view. Now she sneered, along with Kadrian Sey as they felt the spike of awareness from the, clearly injured, Ventress – there would be no more lording it over them now as Dooku's favourite now would there?
"Good, she's knows we come for her" Sey murmured and Saato nodded her agreement "Yes, her fear and pain will be a joy to feel as she dies. Droids, Hunt Formation"
"Roger, Roger"
The Commando units were much smarter than the standard B-1s thank the Force, and the addition Assassin droids and two Droidekas would be more than sufficient in ensuring the wretched failure of a Sith did not escape this day. Now they spread out, a blaster shot, then two more, flying forward to damage the star-fighter under repair to prevent that line of escape, and to pin Ventress however minor a delay that would be. Running forward at an easy loop with the Force, Droids in tow, closed the distance in no time at all as the other Witch of Dathomir, a Nightsister, drew two forth her lightsabers and crimson blades erupted from them to match her own and Kadrian Sey's as they came to stop a distance from the other female.
The Droids fanned out in a semi-circle around them as she sneered at the failure "Ventress"
At least she didn't cower, instead sneering back at Saato and the Zabrak, voice carrying across the distance with the aid of the force "He thinks you two weaklings can deal with me? It enrages me to be underestimated so"
Sey growled back "Big words from a failure Ventress, a failure who fled battle"
"Flee?" the anger spiked in the Dark Side as the other Dathomiri's face contorted in rage "Betrayed by fools more like!"
Saato continued to sneer "As if you..."
...then startled, looking behind her as something...somethings...fell from the sky, impacting behind her where the two Droidekas had deloyed in a covering position "What the?"
"Greetings..." an armoured figure, a black clad and helmet fake Mandalorian she recognised, announced coming from a crouch atop one of the destroyed Droideka. To his sides four large Magna-guard style droids were doing likewise, two wielding those staff-weapons, and the others actual holding lightsabers in one of their two hand "...ladies. Have I come at a bad time perhaps?"
Then straightened, a lightsaber coming into gauntleted hand, voice cold and mechanical "No matter, Assajj Ventress I wish to make a deal with you, if you are open to negotiation?"
Saato and Sey were too momentarially surprised to say anything as the distant Ventress replied, voice "Oh, and these two here?"
The armoured figured gazed at Saato, then at the Zabrak bitch as they held lighsabers ready "Surrender, and I shall be merciful. Resist and you will suffer. All I wish is information after all"
Saato sneered, as did the Zabrak, she pointed her lightsaber at the idiot interloper "You die here foolish Jedi! Nothing you can do will gain a word from us, other than laughter at your death"
The armoured warrior nodded "Oh you sweet summer child, everyone breaks, everyone..." as the lightsaber ignited into a dark purple blade, shrouded and almost smoking somehow "...and I'm sorry, at least for you, to say you're wrong. I. Am. No. Jedi"
Then he moved...
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