[20 BBY]

[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, Battle-group Army of Light, Entering Orbit Ossus, Abega System, Auril Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"They're attempting to transmit Captain-General, increasing signal strength, they'll burn through the inference...estimate nine minutes"

"Continue jamming, how long till our bomber squadrons hits them?" I queried calmly, though time was of the essence now. Should the Confederate outpost manage to get a message out then our little excursion to this 'abandoned' system would end before it had even begun. Thankfully this was back of beyond, once the Jedi sent here eliminated the Droid army had been pulled beyond a tiny outpost...and we had been monitoring it for three weeks now and had the regular update codes.

"Two minutes, thirty seconds Captain-General. Enemy droid-fighters have already been eliminated. They are beginning their attack runs" Gardan confirmed as the bridge bustled with activity as usual, guards and my bodyguards extra alert with the presence of our 'guest' upon the bridge. 'Allying' with Ventress would have its uses, and one had to show some degree of power and leadership...and it was easier keep an eye on her when she was before me rather than with her two 'sisters' potentially causing trouble. Such was the nature of the weaker Sith, especially the wannabes to that Title.

"Excellent Gardan, continue scanning; I don't want any survivors or potential leaks to our presence here in system"

"Aye-Aye Boss, by your command"

It was a ridiculous sight; a vast fleet bearing down upon a mostly dead world defended by perhaps a battalion of out of date B-1's and a squadron of Scarab droid-fighters. But I'd rather feel ridiculous in overkill than fail in the situation due to lack of thought or planning. So TIE fighters and ARCs guarded our flanks as our Y-wings and Chir'takis descended like a swarm of locusts upon the barren world that had lush and filled with promise millennia past. Now though the peaceful world filled with cities was gone, instead a toxic and arid waste filled with a fallen people remained.

"Such effort for an old ruin?" the 'guest' muttered standing a little to my side as I studied the tactical plot as hundreds of tiny icons descended through the hologram atmosphere of the world displayed in swirling browns and yellows upon the external displays "...why, what, do you seek here?"

"Old knowledge, whatever scraps of the past that remain..." I admitted watching as the doom of a small outpost descended upon them as they called to the heavens for help...in vain "...this dying world once possessed a great Jedi Academy, established...twenty...no, twenty-five millennia ago I believe. Till the time of Exar Kun, and the Sith super-weapon that brought about the supernova creating the cluster we now use to avoid the gaze of the Confederate fleets seeking us"

"Jedi knowledge"

I sighed, hearing the sneer in the tone "Yes, though not knowledge the Temple would ever let me gain access too"

She frowned, watching the destruction of the outpost and plucking at the Aegis Guard variant of the Grand Army of the Republic she now wore "I'm curious why you believe they would leave much to be found, why not return it to the Temple on Coruscant if it is of their past?"

"Hmm...there were on-off efforts, minor though, and this place was only rediscovered a short time ago...I had wished to come here, but the Order guarded it even if they would not explore it..." I sighed "...as to why they left it here? Things of the Light they would rather were left forgotten. Things of the Light they would kill to keep forgotten"

I glanced at her now "But I've already gotten to the killed a Jedi Master stage, and have a Sith on my flagship, but just another box ticked on my heresy list I expect. Thankfully I have an army around me to help with that situation unlike a few years ago"

"Enemy outpost down Captain-General..." Gardan announced "...signals are dead, no signs of further activity"

"Good, continuing jamming on known comm-channels and scan that world, cross-reference with maps and data-excerpts from the database I gave you. Find me the ruins of the Great Library, and dispatch droid squads to secure it once we do. I'll lead and expedition down soon after we establish a base camp..." I responded; it was best to keep up our guard till we were sure there wasn't a backup site somewhere else on planet. We'd have setup such after all I thought glancing at the Dathomiri witch standing with arms folded across her chest, one hand under her chin as she studying...something...on the bridge or tactical displays "...you will wish to come with me I assume, your sisters?"

"You do not trust in the Force to guide you there?" she queried, not sneering but more curious as she frowned at the bridge, at me "...I would call you weak, but you display otherwise. To not listen to its truths and let it guide you is odd...from one trained by the Jedi, who knows the Sith Code"

I gave a snort of bitter amusement at that, shaking my head "There is no truth in the Force. Do not rely upon it in its entirety, confirm, test, rely on your own strength and other, more mundane, where possible. Both Jedi and Sith trust in it blindly, but it is no benevolent God aiding them, raising them up to greatness...merely a fickle thing of energy and power that will turn on you in your moment of weakness, led you to it if you let it. Hmm, sorry, getting all philosophical now aren't I?"

--

[20 BBY]

[Confederacy of Independent Systems Modified Providence-class Dreadnaught , Centares System, Maldrood Sector, Mid Rim]

"Damage to the Supply Depot is extensive my esteemed Count..." Admiral Trench reported to the holographic display of Count Dooku from his base on distant Serreno "...and there has been targeted destruction of the primary Spaceport at Rubyflame as well as the Droid Foundries on the outskirts of the city. I hissh-have deployed patrols, but my forces are still reequipping from our hrish-recent offensive operations and supplies here are depleted"

It was a kriffing nuisance the Harch Admiral found as Kashyyk was surrounded on all major hyperlanes, and one major assault would knock it out of the war...and here he was being recalled to find the Republic's kiriffing Ghost Pirate. Here, and short of supplies; all which meant having to bringing in supplies from other worlds, and extend extra patrols to the other major industrial worlds of the Confederacy, as they all panicked due the ghost fleet vanishing again. Off into one of the remaining Republic loyal worlds, or smugglers dens, out there Trench expected and not easily found.

"You will make do with what is available Admiral..." the harsh faced human told him, politely enough now that the Count's influence was in competition with that of the Trade Federation and Techno Union bloc within the now divided Council "...as further difficulties have arisen. Mandalore has a new leadership, and that is the Death Watch...who have turned their back on us despite our previous gifts of friendship, in favour of criminal scum"

"Hhishh...Mandalore at least only has a small fleet?"

The human glared, an angry pinched expression in response to Trench's careful question "The Pyke Syndicate and Black Sun have chosen to...legitimise...themselves through what they are calling the Mandalorian League of Non-Aligned Worlds. A large fleet has been reported as having assembled over Mandalore, and a dozen worlds have given their support within the past hour"

'Oh isn't that just fantastic news' Trench thought clicking his mandibles at the problem presented "Hhsish...Fett may be a problem Count once such news reaches his ears"

"This is known to me Admiral Trench, do not concern yourself with it..." the hologram human replied coldly, arms behind his back "...but you must ensure your fleet is sufficient to deal with any incursions such the situation demand it. Offensive operations into the Colonies and Core will...be stalled for a time till these current difficulties have been dealt with. You drive this Pirate calling himself the Stormcrow into the open and I personally deal with this upstart. Do not fail me in this task"

Then the hologram flickered out imperiously and Trench clicked his mandibles together in mild irritation "Ever the same, Jedi, Sith, all arrogant and giving me vague orders. Hhishh, Hhish, hhishh...whatever to do next?"

Grievous was returning soon, likely to Serreno itself to gather a fresh fleet, but where that would go now was anyone's guess;- two whole fleets were either hunting the Republic's General Stormcrow or patrolling to prevent another Centares or Rodia occurring. More were stuck besieging the Mon Calamari pocket of space, the Sienar Shipyard world of Lianna, or remnant Republic forces around Bonadan; just when they were on the verge of shattering the Republic for good in Trench's opinion. Just a bit more of a push, drive off a few more Core worlds into neutrality...

'Sadly not to be for a while longer' he admitted to himself sitting up in his chair and thinking on what was the best course of action now. Moving to the Desevro system might be his best bet for gain more ships and supplies...it wasn't as if Centares offered more than a strong defensive position. Hunting down the Republic fleet was proving difficult, and would prove difficult he know; it was impossible to track movement in hyperspace and it was largely a guessing game amongst the available systems linked to the exit point. No, this was best used a chance to resupply and requip before the next round of battles into the Core whenever the Republic here fell back...

--

[20 BBY]

[Underground, Ruins of the Great Jedi Library, Eocho Mountains, Ossus, Abega System, Auril Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

Flattening the Confederate listening post had meant we'd gotten a grand total of nothing from the place, but that was fine as the primary objective of shutting the damned thing down had been achieved. Finding the ruins of the Great Jedi Library had taken almost half a day, even with having a general idea of where it was, and the rest of it having a camp established around the structure. Thankfully things had sped up from there, and during my period of sleep we'd managed to land half-a-legion's worth of our droids, most less combat oriented ones, along with a few hundred fully suited organics and start the dig.

Shesagora wasn't overly enthused by the idea of spending several days playing archaeologist, but she was of the same mind of me in taking a few days to continue with repairs and resting up crews. We had our 'foxhounds' and droids out and about, and feeding us updates on the activities going around us through two 'fall-back' systems with a small droid system left behind. So we'd compromised and we were running combat drills space-side, along with watching the unhappy natives circling about our sudden encampment; that was mine to deal with, along with dungeon delving once again.

Even better our construction droids and engineers had only had to remove rubble from a few truly blocked up and collapsed areas to breach into the Library proper. I'd chipped in with some telekinesis, since we were on a schedule, and managed to get the three armour-suit clad dathomiri witches to provide their own as 'practice' to their Force abilities. One had to be aggressive, but careful, as we were on a time-scale, and one never knew if a Confederate fleet was going to suddenly appear in system and force us to retreat overnight.

"Excellent, excellent..." my helmet masked voice told the hazmat suited engineer as he guided me towards the recently opened chamber. Recently opened, and filled with sealed transparent containers with books...actual books...inside under faint illumination "...are there many like this? Intact, and unbroken?"

"A number Sir, most were cracked or damaged in some manner and the contents long since rotted away, but as you can see there are a plenty intact. Good design I must say..." the armour-suited combat engineer turned temporary archaeologist replied as I took the container into hand and studied the contents. Much of it was barely legible, but I could read enough thanks to training in the Temple all those years ago. Though I doubt this was what they intended that for "...but we do have a minor problem?"

"Hmm?"

"We're hitting security doors or something like that further up Captain-General" he told me, gesturing with now free hands down the lamp lit corridor winding into the depths "...we believe it might be a secure store, or museum...droids having a bit of trouble translating the symbols. If I had to guess it's a security lockdown and the powers long gone since it's something about the Council permission...and, well, there are skeletons, whole area was sealed till we cracked the doorway into it"

I nodded "Okay, I'm bringing up my heavies just in case. We'll breach, but I want this down carefully...you've seen the footage of the last Pyramid with such of course?"

"Yes Sir, its why we stopped and I came back here straight away show what we got and the problem"

"Good, head back and start rigging that door, I'll be up in a moment" I replied nodding as I handed the container to one of my Troopers "Bring this back please, and set Alert Level Three"

"Last pyramid?" the mildly distorted voice of Ventress queried and I shrugged in my armour.

"Ancient Shaman necromancer raised undead Jedi and summoned...things, demons maybe, and attacked us. I'll show you the footage later if you want"

At the strange look and motioned with my hand side to side "These places are old...but not always empty, and best error on the side of caution"

--