[19 BBY]
[Independent Trader converted Brayl-class bulk freighter Saucy Sabine, Royal City Space Port, Simocadia, Simocadia System, Inner Rim, Simocadia Free Republic Enclave]
"...so it's the best job we're going to get, with things the way they are" Codi Ty heard the Captain, the Twi'lek Sabine Sanythal, state as the crew assembled for a meeting-slash-quiet drink. He shrugged indicating his own indifference to the proposed contract; there was little safety in the galaxy right now, and being a Jedi exile had not meant an easy life. Or at least so he'd thought months ago, but it was almost disturbing how he'd managed to fit in to his new life...and get to see the galaxy go insane, the Order go insane and launch a coup by all accounts, and Jedi being hunted almost everywhere.
When everything had gone mad he'd already been months into his new life, all traces of his former life gone, as he'd tried to eke out an existence after all the failures. Grievous was dead at least, which brought some comfort...along with the pain of the likely deaths of all those he'd helped save on Belsus. Yoda had told him he should regret much, but Codi hadn't not then...now he regretted bringing the Padawans and Younglings back to the Temple. Back to their deaths he feared. He shook that off though, trying to focus on the task at hand; that of simply living "Sounds good to me Captain, almost too good to be true honestly? Quadruple fees? Three fast freighters including us?"
One of his fellow crew-members, a young human female by the name of Tanwa Sil, queried from where she sat, feet up on the table "Yeah Boss, why don't they use a heavy bulk freighter?"
Captain Sabine gave a snort at that "Just we're armed and armoured, just like the Sunset Vixen and the Ice of Narawat. Hyperlanes are gone to the corellian hells if you hadn't noticed? It's a profitable run if we can dodge the various pirates and...tax collectors of all the various Republics popping everywhere, or, worse, we get drafted like their doing around Coruscant, Kuat, and a hundred other systems. For the Republic's War Effort of course..."
She motioned at the galaxy map display, pressing a button on the display clicker in her right hand and the brightly lit hyperlanes changed colour from clear white to a mixture of reds, oranges, and yellows "...or the Confederacy for unpaid tariffs and what not from the Trade Federation. So, it's going to be the long run my merry band of misfits, and we'll trading port to port along the way. For the moment our plan Esseles, Hok, skirt Hapes space, and then dash to Zeltros...then either through the Seppie blockade, or into Hutt space if we can afford to pay the bribes. If we manage to do the circle then we'll be rich...or we'll be broke, imprisoned, or dead, if we screw up along the way, so, you want out, speak now and kriff off somewhere else"
Codi shook his head in the negative, as did everyone else, and he sighed "No objections here Captain, just wondering is all. Things have been pretty bad all around"
"And it'll get worse my overgrown younglings..." the Captain replied unhappily clicking the device in her hand again "...these are all no-go areas. You will notice many of them are major hyper-lane routes, oh, and that little area there? Yeah, that's official republic territory but that's pirate territory in all but name, and I'd rather not find myself chained to a Weequay pirates throne in his would-be empire thank you very much. I'd imagine the rest of you all feel the same about avoiding such a fate?"
She grinned at the chorus of tired agreement "Good, hate to think ya'll got thick as a bantha after a bit of shore-leave. So, here are the stable areas we can afford pay fees, at current rates..."
--
[19 BBY]
[Office of the Provisional Government, Phemiss City, New Plympto, New Plympto System, Corellian Sector-Outlier System, The Core]
Dass Jenner, Jedi Master, former General of the Galactic Republic and now...
Well, what he was right now was a matter of some debate he'd found since the entire galaxy turned upside-down, and himself switching sides as his Clone Troopers turned upon him. Technically he was a General again, officially of the New Plympto Republic, technically of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, and potentially still of the Galactic Republic by way of Corellia. So he sat as the Corellian and Rendelli representatives took their seats along with the rest of the ad-hoc 'Resistance' turned planetary government from something calling itself the Galactic Republic.
For now he remained quiet; listening as introductions were given, curious glances were given to himself and one or two others who'd been loyal servants of the Republic till only recently. It was a motley collection that formed the new New Plympto Defence Forces in all reality. The Nosuarian resistance, an injured Jedi, a few Clones who'd not gone insane thanks to getting chips out in time, two droid-control ships captains seeking shelter, and a number of angry Wookies...all technically on the one side right now. So he sat and watched as recently elected leaders...very, very, recently...of the planet finished their own introductions and Dass bowed his head at his own name being mentioned.
"General Jenner, I must say it is a surprise to meet you in this position"
Dass nodded to the Corellian dressed in Republic Naval uniform "Captain Pellaeon...no, it's Commodore now I see? Well, circumstances have conspired against us all of late, and my eyes were opened to certain injustices they'd been blinded too till now"
"Yes, something that Corellia, through Senator Iblis and Diktat Merricope, have come to recognise and needing to be rectified..." Viera Creel, the 'Ambassador' for both Corellia, and the 'Galactic Republic' it supposedly recognised, replied with a polite smile "...such as the numerous failures in the past for New Plympto to have the Senatorial position it clearly deserves. I can assure you that the Military Junta on Coruscant, nor the Sith on Kuat who calls himself Supreme Chancellor, would recognise such"
"The Confederacy has offered us that recognition also..." the current Elder of Elders, a Nosaurian named Toola Treelight replied "...and have since the beginning of our struggle for freedom"
The human female nodded, smile never leaving her face, nor the politeness from her tone "Indeed, a fact we recognise, though one would also point out that New Plympto is rather distant from Separatist space, and military support more importantly. With both the Militarists and Sith it would be an invasion and violent suppression of dissent you would get instead...hundreds of worlds are now under martial law by order of Coruscant you must have heard"
'Yes, put down pro-democracy protests in support of the Sith Lord' Dass thought, but stayed quiet as the Elder of Elders replied much more politely than he would have. It was the terrifying part of this new galaxy; Democracy meant the Sith on far too many worlds by all news reaching New Plympto, at least within Republic territory. In support of Darth Palpatine, or just rioting in hatred of Jedi and the Order that Dass had given his life in service too, alongside a rotten entity like the Galactic Republic. Only by martial law was the Dark Side being prevent from gain ascendancy...to give them a chance to slay all these traitors and Sith that had emerged from the darkness once again.
Corellia was no better, a coalition of greedy traders and smugglers, or those too cowardly to have fought for the Republic till now, but they'd help drive off the Clones, and there was little other options. Not that they would show that hand as yet, but it was better to deal with the lesser evil than see further suffering inflicted upon this world. No, they needed the military aid, and they needed the resumption of trade and supplies...and in his case the simple situation of not being arrested for being a Jedi. He'd learned valuable lessons, and he wasn't going to be deceived again...
--
[19 BBY]
[Mandalorian aligned Venator-class Star Destroyer Revenge Will Be Sweet, In Orbit Pengalan IV, Pengalan System, Inner Rim]
Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy, Scout to her friends, still couldn't help but be a little fearful in the presence of the clones still after everything that'd happened. Yes, they didn't have these chips anymore, and yes they were enraged at the Sith Chancellor, and were members of Clan Skirata like she was now...but she'd been at the Temple. It wasn't something she could easily let go, but only a thing she could work at day after day, especially since the clones all wore differing types of Mandalorian armour, or repainted trooper armour, now.
'Not helping I look like Knight Tur-Mukan' she wanted to huff as yet another person started to greet her with that title, before chuckling and using 'Scout' in correction at her glare. Knight Tur-Mukan was like super-old after all! In her late twenties or thirties, and had broken her vows with one of the clones! Scout wouldn't do that, she was a Jedi Padawan, and be Jedi Knight!
'They all look the same anyway! You'd think they'd be able to tell the difference!' she huffed silently entering the meeting room where said vow-breaking Knight was seat, child at her breast, talking to Kal Skirata and her 'husband' one of the clone commandoes...
'Mandalorian, not Clone, Mandalorian' she reminded herself firmly quietly taking a seat in the half-full room and waiting for direction. They might ask for her opinion, but a fifteen year padawan didn't get nearly enough respect in Scout's own humble opinion. Still, the Force was with them as they were still alive, even if walking into the rancor's belly didn't seem the best idea to her. There were Sith there for Force sake! Well, Sith trying to kill the other Sith apparently, but still...Sith!
"Don't worry Scout, we won't be joining the Dark Side or anything as foolish as that..." the voice of Knight Tuk-Mukan, well now Etain Skirata, but that took time getting used to she found startling out of her apparent staring into nothingness as a hand came unto her shoulder "...I know, it is written in your emotions Padawan, but we are fighting for the Light as best we can. Bringing Balance to the Dark the Sith have brought to Mandalore, and when they try to spread it...we will help our clan overcome it like Jedi should"
The old Mandalorian, Kal, gave a brief chuckle for a moment "I would not put it that way daughter, but we won't allow our people to be corrupted. Best of bad options for battle, but if Jango and Vizla clash, eventual one will die and then there's danger. But for now these clone need to learn to be Mandalorians, and then we will have our revenge on those who think they can make slaves of them!"
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