[21 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-Ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, In Orbit Sump, Sump System, Koradin Sector, Republic Territory]

Securing two, albeit badly injured and unconscious, wannabe Sith was not an easy process, and not made easier with having to deal with the very much no unconscious Assajj Ventress and the need to keep all of this very, very, secret. Even from the majority of my own crew as I used Yulan and the former Stormcrow, now the Darksails, to transport the packages up inside the hidden storage bunker I'd used to store my Force artefacts within once upon a time.

Thankfully I had planned for something like this and, after recovering the Dathomiri's cut off hand, we'd secured her and the Zabrak inside modified medical pods. Restrained of course, with bacta to help heal wounds while the medical droid kept continuous monitoring...and more importantly watch that long lasting knock-drug stay in effect. The bomb collars and force suppressors on the restraints should deal with escape attempts, but I'd still placed suspension and suppression runes on the large casks and then locked them in separated hardened storage bunkers deep within the front of the ship.

All while dealing with the walking wounded but tightly bundled ball of rage that was the former Apprentice of Count Dooku. It was still concerning when I'd left her in the private medical bay while I secured our two prisoners for their journey to their new home and interrogation centre. Sure Braika was in charge of security, and a small army, lock-down shutters, and kill zones between there and escape but that didn't mean I couldn't be concerned and paranoid about things.

There was no such thing as Not Enough Contingencies when it came to dealing with powerful Force users, and it was less her escaping or wrecking things than this being discovered that was my primary concern. Jedi Shadows would come, or I'd be hunted down by the Order, and that would be somewhat problematic to say the least. Because that also meant Palpatine would be doing so as well, and I wasn't anywhere close to being ready as yet; but needs must, and controlled risks had to be taken. Eliminating Dooku would be a good start after all, along with finding out who else needed to die within his inner circle on the CIS side of things.

Now our Very Important Person was sitting with me, Abigail and Aaron standing silently behind me at the doorway, in the nicely decorated room beside the quarters provided to Ventress. In truth she would have been better staying in the Med-Bay, but despite clearly having barely healed severe injuries the Dathomiri woman insisted on leaving medical after a mere few hours. No matter, she was well enough to walk, talk, and fight so I'd brought her to her room and sat down with my hands together in front of me; I didn't like being out of my full armour, but light armour and lightsaber at my side only seemed the best tack to take here and now.

"I hope your accommodations are to your satisfaction?" I stated with a polite smile, politeness was usually the best tack to take as she sat there still in her blood dried robes. She had been offered a shower and clean ones, but had refused to move them beyond pulling them up allow scans and basic treatment. Ah, back to the bad auld days of being constantly on guard during a 'pleasant discussion' for the moment somebody went for their axe to try cave your skull in. Or blaster/energy sword in this life, but that was just the way of things sadly.

"They are...adequate"

"Excellent, there are a number of clothing choices prepared in your wardrobe, and if you wish anything in particular made up just use the data-pad. The same applies for any food or drink you might require"

The bald Dathomiri witch was studying me, expression blank despite the flushing emotions of pain and anger around her in the Force "Is this a warship or a luxury hotel?"

Ah, contempt and anger to veil weakness and fear. I gave the faintest of shrugs "Why not both? I live on this vessel, as do my crew, and I will travel in style and comfort while also being armed and dangerous. Spend enough time in austere living with the Jedi...so I choose avail myself of what my wealth and power offers me"

Her face adopted a scowl, a half snarl, before returning to blank with swirling emotions "Yes, all very much a surprise to see. Our intelligence have you still friends with some Jedi, strange behaviour for a...Sith"

I couldn't help but give a snort of amusement at that "Me? Sith? Hardly, I'm just a student of aspects of the Force. Calling everyone a Jedi, or a Sith, a Dark Jedi, is limiting in my experience. As to friends? Well, my disputes with the Order aside, I find being friends with certain ones useful, or just pleasant in having their company. That and I would rather avoid challenging the several thousand Force user strong Jedi Order, and arm of the Republic"

"Hmm, strange then to be a General of the Republic is it not?"

"Well, I rather like the ideals of the Republic, not necessarily what it has become, but what it offered once upon a time..." I answered calmly keeping the pleasant smile in place despite her sneer at the words "...and I am rather well aware of not having a place in Count Dooku's Confederacy of Independent States. Or Darth Tyranus as I believe he styles himself"

Ah, there was the spike of rage. Injuries were not helping her emotional control it seemed as the flash disappeared and she shielded herself better "Yes. Him. A name you should not know"

I shook my head "The Jedi know it, as do several within the GAR, and therefore so do I. But, no, as with you there is no place for strong Force users within the future Sith Empire, or whatever name it will call itself. So, like you do, I desire his demise and am quite willing to aid you in this task..."

Nodding at her "...when you have healed and are adequate to the task of course...and provided your side of the deal I might add"

Another barely concealed spike of anger "You believe me Weak, unable to slay Dooku"

"Hmm..." I paused in thought, settling back into my seat, before opting for honesty "As you are now? Yes, though I do not mean that as any insult to your abilities. I doubt I could take Dooku in a fair fight after all, and many of my plans for dealing with him involve getting his general location and bombing, and/or turbolasering the area to rubble and ashes"

Gods, was this woman born with a sneer on her face? "Afraid to face your foe in battle?"

"Miss Ventress this isn't a holo-vid, or a friendly game of sabacc..." I replied patiently as she wasted her anger to keep herself going, twisting her mind as waned "...and losing means death, or worse. So I intend to win, by hook or by crook. Challenges, Duels, and waving lightsabers at each other while screaming threats is down my list of priorities if there are more efficient, and effective, means to deal with my foes. Or in this case sending you on your merry way in a short time for you to try kill your former Master once you've given us data on his abilities and routines"

"Should I fail" and finished and I nodded.

"In case you should fail, yes. After all I am taking a risk revealing certain matters to you and sending you after him. Thankfully I strongly doubt he will take you alive should you fail, and that you may have other resources to draw upon for such an attempt. Now I find that something of a waste, so much to learn after all, but that seems to be your desire so am I to deny it too you?" I finished spreading my hands apart in a 'helpless' gesture on the subject.

"Oh, but I am sure the other two will tell you so much before they are...disposed of"

I shrugged "They will much I expect, largely on military and Dooku related matters, but that is not the same for studying what they have learned as Acolytes. Nor are they up to your standard I expect, at least from all the reports I've read. Or the performance they gave not too long ago, despite your injuries I suspect you could have taken them"

Another sneer "Easily"

"Easily I doubt, but that is for another discussion" I replied calmly "What matters now is that we will depart this world for our official patrol in about nine hours unless there are delays. Since this world has...wisely decided to join the cause of the Republic..."

"Threats and blackmail perhaps?"

"Indeed, at least some would call it so, but we have a treaty and they get not to starve or suffer...accidents...with the trade routes here..." I continued dealing politely with her interruption with a smile "...but as I was saying we shall be leaving in short, and then patrol for day or two before we move unto other bases. I would recommend you rest, dine, drink, shower, or whatever you feel most relaxing and when we depart we can begin discussing various details as you ship is prepared, and we retrofit those Commando-droids to your service..."

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[21 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-Ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Republic 19th Sector Army, In Hyperspace, Destination Solem, Koradin Sector]

"She ordered a four course meal, showered, and turned off the lights in her suite?" I asked resting back and sipping from my mug of kaff, then continuing on before it could be answered "Alright, so hopefully resting or sleeping, but maintain high alert as per Protocol. There was no activity while I was asleep, from either the VIP or from the Packages?"

"No, alls quiet so far. Been lights out now for about five hours now, so maybe an hour after you went off to bed General..." Gardan replied "...she uploaded a number of recordings, or more-so the access keys, that were encrypted on some of the items she had with her"

"Understood, send it to the analysts and I'll review it later. Notify me in there's any trouble Gardan, take no chances with either party"

"Copy that General" he reported as we ended the call and I stood up and moved towards my small workshop and alchemy area. Motioning with my hand, summon a fraction of power, and the rune hummed softly as the hidden doorway opened and I stepped through with my communicator on my belt. Thankfully there weren't any child sized vents or crawl spaces between the various rooms where Ventress was placed; I'd pretty specific in the design outlay, and that was to deal with Outbreak Scenarios.

Far too many cosmic horrors in this galaxy for my liking after all; from the Mggnal-Mggnal in potential areas to flee too, and then the later mad projects of Emperor Lunatic such as Blackwing. Or the other multiude of things in lost Sith and Jedi Temples. So the Rakghoul Protocols were a starting point in my humble opinion for shipboard security and emergency rather the polite recommendation some saw it as. Not when we'd seen some of the reports from Geonosis before the occupation forces were overrun – it was pretty clear the Geonosisian Queens had mind control parasites of some sort in play planet-side for instance.

But right now the plans were for dealing with wannabe Sith, and one couldn't take chances she didn't have such methods either like the Sith of old. Or that a Wizard of Toril could achieve either, even if the crew thought me a little paranoid at times perhaps. So I set down my now empty mug, sitting into the chair at my workbench as I took out the three newly acquired lightsabers. Taking the first of them apart slowly and carefully as the sensors analysed every step of my telekinetic workmanship. It was always useful to study others designs, in this case former Jedi Knight and now failed Dark Acoylte Sey, and useful to build up a database of the various known models and their results.

In truth what I wanted was the crystal inside, drawing it out, touching it faintly with my will as it pulsed ever so faintly in crimson light. Sighing as yet another tiny variation of Anger and Hate hummed back. Dark Jedi and Sith were so unimaginative judging from the ones I'd retrieved from the charbroiled twins, and now this dynamic duo. Especially compared to the much older Sith crystals from Malchor IV and one or two other location which tended to be more variant with Ambition, Avarice, and Discipline built into their 'broken' format. They were so one dimensional at times; apparently the Passion part of the Sith Code only meant Angry Temper Tantrum feelings to most.

'No matter, it's almost standardised so I think we've enough to start some experimentation with the risk of damage or destruction of the crystal' I mused to myself poking at the 'Bled' crystal with my Force-senses and getting similar answers to the Twins. With some effort I'd managed to assemble a few crystals of various growth or make, and this red one joined them in its own individual named container as I placed the parts themselves in their own place. Once I'd the other ones done, and I'd an idea of the owner through them, I think it was time to see about the secure facility to hold them in the Hoth system...

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