[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, GAR-South, Refit Docking Yard 4/B, Rothana System, Quiberon Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

It was good to have some time away from the bridge and constant need to command, along plan the next move on the battlefield; there was only so much time to invest in other critical matters. Such as my study and, in this case, refinement and maintenance of my armour along with my four 'elite' bodyguard droids; well, four plus the two nearing completion anyway. I drew upon my power, infusing it into the runes and sigils emblazoned on the inside of my heavy armour, to strengthen, reinforce, and protect from harm that battling such foes as the Sith would be in battle.

Cut my hand across the palm, chanting, and touching the wound and spirit into what was mine by blood and power; making it a part of me, binding it, feeling it as an extension of myself. Techno-sorcery wasn't really my thing, but I did my best to continue the binding into the simple systems of the power armour. Concealing the strength, till it was needed, was just as vital as the power itself after all. Styguim crystals linked amidst the lining of Force conductive material amidst the cortosis weave, under the Beskar iron as it felt like a second skin once again as I stepped inside, drawing it closed. Power surged within my Sanctum at my command.

Carefully I followed the 'veins' and 'arteries' snaking through my armour with my senses, testing the strength and endurance so they would see my through come a battle. That I knew their limits and that they, nor the whole, fail me amidst the fires of battle as I strode away from the workbench into the 'testing area' of sorts, healing my bleeding palm as I went. Reached out, activating the prepared spells and hitting the target with flames...drawing upon the crystals, the predatory, ambition, anger...

Moulding the flames, controlling them;- one arrow of focused flame burned through the dummy droid and exploding in a fireball of flames. Drew upon the fire, dragging it towards me with a gesture, then wearing it like a cloak as I fuelled with my Force abilities...then frowned and sighed as it dissipated, more rapidly, than I'd planned, or have liked. The Cost to create the flames was an issue, though rectified by creating them a small amount by the small flame thrower in the armour's right gauntlet, or drawing upon the environment; increasing the heat and intensity was more doable though. If only for a brief period at least as the last flicker faded.

Lightning was easier, in a way, as I summoned it in both hands and lashed out with chain lightning at the targets in an area of effect rather than a concentrated bolt. Paused, ending the power and drawing away from those emotions into a sea of calm. Walked back to the workbench to remove the armour and once again get back to tinkering 'Hmm, left leg needs more work. Something not exactly right, not grounding as it should...well, back to strengthening the connection I guess'

Balance was the key, though what was Balance could vary so easily from situation to situation, and person to person. Considering some of the dangers out there...yeah, I needed time like this, however brief, to work on my artefacts whenever I could. Same for my alchemical efforts, as my Holocron of Sithness was so irritating to remind me of late. Sadly I couldn't disagree on that point, but I found too many Jedi got invested in only Force Powers at the expense of other, more mundane ones such as command, or tactics, or even finances. It wasn't like I wanted to nobly duel a Sith Lord unless I was forced into it after all; no, there were other ways, mundane ones hopefully...

--

[20 BBY[Plus Seventy-Four Hours]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, GAR-South, Refit Docking Yard 4/B, Rothana System, Quiberon Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"We're rushing it as is..." I said to Shesagora as we gathered for another of our little conferences "...and we have the numbers, just not exactly fully trained crews the way the Clones crews are. We've a decent number of recruits from Rothana that were being rotated out next batch to help, but it's still a stretch crewing six Venantors with the crews have. Medically screen of course, but performance and efficiency will be pretty bad still, even with droid support, till they get worked up"

"Eh, what can you expect Daron?" the old pirate muttered waving her hand before her "...their trained as best we can, and try keep them alive long enough learn how crew'em proper. Put a few senior NCOs with'em, and few of the clean Clones too, so they'll function at the least. Our droid-fighter stores are pretty full, or will be once we scrub'em and flip'em, so I'd suggest we use the next two or three weeks train our better non-TIE pilots up on the ARC-170s we're getting off this lot"

I nodded and gave a sigh. While the Z-95s and ARC-170s were Subpro and Incom built rather than KDY, there were large stores of them here already to mate up with the Venators and Acclamators to be deployed. Even the outdated Z-95 was superior to our lower end A-series and Pantoran built craft, though the latest models of the Chir'daki were, performance wise, up to par. Though they were larger and less able with anti-grav and replusors due to Outer Rim manufacture and requirements; there was always a trade off to be made with cruder and more primitive systems to achieve a Z-95s performance.

I'd worked hard at improving the TIE Line we used, a significant upgrade over the originals. Or at least from our point of view they were, Republic Siener preferred an improved version of their own line that lacked shields since they had greater speed and manoeuvrability for half the production cost. Still, shields and a functioning hyperdrive, albeit with a power shunt between them so one or the other functioned at one time, with an improved power supply were worthy a small loss in speed and increased cost. It kept my pilots alive unlike the standard line.

"Right, we'll move..." I scrolled down through the data-slate in my hand "...Red and Blue squadrons from Mercy's Lament, and Red from The Traverse I'd reckon we'll do first. Get them off those A-6's and move the crews over to three of the Venators as primary squadron?"

"Yeah, we can shift more the droid-fighters over to the auxiliary carriers..." she replied "...I want to increase my own piloted ones by three squadrons"

"Hmm, fine by me, sort out which ones you want and we'll arrange with the other captains. Just don't strip entire teams, we need spread some experienced cadres out amongst the green ones or their losses will only go up unacceptably"

"Sure, I'll take a few less experienced ones as well don't worry. Double shift crews for'em anyway, soon as they finish upgrading my Lucrehulk at least"

I nodded "Fair enough, you'll probably need it you know?"

"Uh-huh, battlewagon of the fleet an' all that, an' two weeks in the docks an' them new guns an' shields will help with that I assure you"

Not that was our main strategy, we'd opted for going in heavy on the lighter forces we encountered, but the current approach was hitting with bombers and using the fleet to deal with droid-fighter rush. My own Stormcrow had some of the best anti-fighter systems in the fleet, hell in most of the GAR, and it was getting some upgrades to the sensor suites and extra point defences while docked here. It wasn't the best to engage in capital ship-to-capital ship battle with, but that's why we had a fleet, and the new Venators along with Lucrehulk and Providence could absorb damage while the Revenants, our former Munificents, brought their Ion Canons up in support.

"Aye, I know, I know, I'm just being me, and it's hard being blind to outside events for a few weeks, especially with my ship being optimised for C and Info-control"

"Well that's what you get Mr. Fancy Magic Man for having the Fancy Ship"

"True" I agreed with a chuckle, then I sighed "...the other matter is I'll want bring certain others, a Jedi, in on our little conspiracy. Jedi Master Stass Allie, and I know you and Jurdan are the holdouts. We're probably rapidly approaching it getting out of our control, give a few months or a year or two, and we've hit a dead end in our investigations"

"I'm surprised after recent events yer considerin' it Daron, just cuz she train'ya. But ye left'em unhappy remember, and we saw with Krell the conspiracy goes deep on their side" she answered serious, and all I could do was shrug.

"I know, but I do trust her not to be involved, in part because I know her, but also because of her recentness unto the Council. She's only there due to losses amongst the upper ranks. Now that Yanthis and his closest know...we need an inside source..." I gestured at myself "...their attentions already on me, and we've already doing what we can to dechip those Clones within our areas of operation. Or will be once we end this campaign ends weeks, months, from now. Just consider it. We've time to wait here"

"Sure, it sounds reasonable really, but leave it with me Daron and we'll discuss in depth later..."

--

[20 BBY]

[Holo-Net News Excerpts]

{Breaking News: General Grievous Captured! Reign of Terror Brought To An End! Victory at Naboo}

{...returning forces of the Senator Bink's Gungan Grand Army, having recently returned via secret hyperlane routes from their victory at Mon Cala, without trouble due to Separatist forces moving to engage General Stormcrow's ghost fleet, and caught the fearsome Cyborg's fleet in Orbit...}

{...Senator Binks reported as stated as being 'Messa confusals' in his typical humble manner as Naboo once again suffers, and turns back, an enemy assault. Without Jedi support this was...}

{...Tarkin, of Eriadu, offered praise upon the victory, and stated that along with the weeding out of traitors within the Republic's ranks, and the recent assaults upon Geonosis, Rodia, even a deep raid towards Siskeen th fortunes of the Republic within the Outer Rim has begun to reverse...}

{...unknown position of General Stormcrow's Army of Light after victory at Siskeen, though it is clear despite significant efforts by the enemy his fleet continues to bring victory after victory to the Republic deep in the heart of Separatist territory...}

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