[18 BBY]

[Personal Deck of Moff Daron Stormcrow, Eriadu Authority Republic Navy Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet, In Orbit Lutrillia, Lutrillia System, Yarith Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]

Bariss got back in the bed with a contented sigh as she slid under the blankets and up against me "You keep your room too cold I think sometimes"

I slid my arm under her head as she got comfortable, wrapping her arm around me "Oh? I find the bed plenty warm, and it's on a day night cycle so we actually sleep. Be too warm otherwise"

"Hmmm...maybe, nice now..." she murmured then sighed "...be better warm when I get out of bed, then chill after I get back in"

"I have just spoiled you, ya'know?" I teased back ruffling her hair "Little Miss Cell in the Temple is fine"

"Then I discovered the wonders of nice, big, comfy beds thanks to you"

I let out an amused snort "So it's my fault then?"

Bariss nodded 'wisely' against my chest "Uh-huh, corrupter of Jedi Knights you"

"If you say so Bariss"

"Yes I do..." she giggled then sighed "...oh, and what word of..."

Now I let out a sigh at that "Asajj captured a Knight Danaan Kerr, cut of his hand, but put him, and it, into a bacta bath so should reattach and be fine...but Knight Kerr is showing signs of Falling. Or going off the deep end mentally unless he gets treatment, and it's pretty bad if Asajj noticed it and bothered to tell me. I've sent warning to Stass and Master Unduli, and the others, and sent droid guards so...best I can do"

"You're not happy about it"

I closed my eyes at her simple reply, not judging, just curious and tired "No, I'm not, firstly that he went out and attacked her when she's in full Republic regalia, and secondly as I worry about members of the Order who fall..."

She gave a snort of amusement, and annoyance maybe "Daron you associate with Asajj kriffing Ventress and Nightsisters, and you're more worried about Jedi falling?"

"Yes, yes, I am" I replied honestly enjoying the warmth, the comfortable feeling of the Force around us "Baris, the witches grew up dealing with the Dark side, and Asajj...is a work in progress. Many Jedi who Fall go straight from complete self-control to complete self-indulgent insanity when they go Dark Jedi. Least I can count on the Nightsisters to just be...well, themselves basically, just like they've been for centuries now"

It was hard to explain really, but certain Dark Side sects were, well,...sane{ish} as they understood jumping feet first into the Dark Side was a bad idea in general. That still, generally, made them not the best people, often complete sociopaths, but it was generally less bad than when a Temple Jedi jumped off the deep end and immersed themselves in the Darkness just as they had with the Light. Which was the fastlane to lunatic psycho predator territory as the Dark Side, at a minimum, needed you to Control It, not Trust In It. Sadly that knowledge came from certain, only, Sith texts a particular holocon about strength not your own, so it was hard to explain...

"Knight Morne...said something similar, though she is just waiting for Ventress to...snap as she put it, and need to be put down"

'Yep, that sounds like Celeste' I thought "Aye, that woman has her opinions, and clashed enough with your former Master and mine to show that. Though I don't think she'll cause trouble unless there is a real problem from Asajj or the others, and I'm doing what I can to make her stable. So far she's following orders, don't encourage our ancient murder Jedi"

Bariss chuckled snuggling up against me "Yes Moff Stormcrow Sir! Following Orders!"

"Oh don't start..."

"Hehe, just be glad I'm not Ahsoka then, she'll be off to duel Ventress the moment she hears..." she teased "...now about relaxing..."

--

[18 BBY]

[Secure Meeting Room, Command Deck, Eriadu Authority Republic Navy Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet, In Orbit Lutrillia, Lutrillia System, Yarith Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]

"...situation on Kinyen?"

I watched as the holographic avatar of Jurdan nodded "Secure so far, we've had a few skirmishes in nearby systems, and raids on the hyperlane, but for now everything the Seppies have got seems focused up around Thyferra, Bestine and Yag'Dhul since Fondor fell to Admiral Riwwel"

Braika's avatar gestured her own agreement from Kriselist "We're lucky in that, they're on the defensive with the Vandelhelm and Druckenwell pockets since the Hydian Way Offensive. They've seem to have focused most of their offensive fleets along Perlemian Trade Route and out from Onderon and Zeltros towards Balmorra and Neimoidia. If they're cooperating with the Alliance on Kuat..."

I sighed stroking my chin "That we aren't sure of, though it's looking lightly. At best they're merely avoiding clashing with each other to focus on bigger prey, though at worst its active treason where they just haven't had the chance to truly ally. A lot of these Rebel Alliance..." and damn had Palps caught me by surprise with that "...resistance cells were former, or still are, Separatist ones, just with former Republic military personnel, or GAR Clones, joining up. The Mandalorians..."

"Death Watch" Braika corrected me and I gesture a silent apology as I continued.

"...Mandolorian Death Watch and their League as still pressing hard on the Confederacy, so it'd make sense for them be open to dealing with Kuat. Right now, well, Coruscant looks to be winning with Eriadu, the faction in control of Mandalore on board, and a general recognition of...whatever the kriff is happening on Dac, so this is to be expected really"

The Alsakan backed military junta on Coruscant were struggling with certain things, rebellions against them being one, but in regards 'diplomacy' they were being largely pragmatic in dealing with ourselves and other such 'allied' factions. It was more tolerating them to fight the enemy that actual outright alliance, but it was causing problems for Palpatine, which was always good in my opinion. He, and his dead Master, had their influence in various areas of the Old Order of the Republic...and that Order was crumbling as the Republic crumbed in structure, rather than name, and new foundations were laid in its place. Even that scum Hondo Onaka, with his little pirate mini-empire, was technically under the aegis of the Galactic Republic.

Hanna's avatar, off on Eriadu playing the role of Quartermaster officially, and envoy/credit-bagwoman unofficially, waved grandly "Yes, yes, I'm not complaining, Chandrilla is back on the right side now...albeit with a bit of force..."

'Martial Law' I silently thought but stayed quiet as she continued "...and allowing us restoration of certain frozen sources of credit. Beyond that Coruscant's...agents...have been less than helpful, though we have been able ensure further supply of advanced electronics and TIE-upgrades from remaining Republic Sienar holdings in loyalist territories"

"That's a help at least..." I admitted sitting back in my chair and thinking on the subject "...we've got our own supplies of yard space now, so let's be honest; the Core is going to be focused on its own builds to supply us very much. Parts and sensor equipment we haven't got production runs for yet though would be a big help, we can focus on salvage and bulk cruisers if we can get anything. We've plenty of captured stores still convert after all, more than we can currently crew with skilled staff"

Eriadu and the Tarkins would get priority for anything major, along with wealthier worlds, so I'd rather focus on sustainable building and growth. Establishing supply-chains within our operational area served that purpose, along with building up local support from certain factions, with the very important factor of controlling said supply-lines ourselves. Getting access to the black-boxed software and underlying designs were much more important as I could settle for less production, and less efficiency, if it granted us and our allies more operational independence. It was why I'd pushed so hard for the TIE licence, and our ability to modify and upgrade them.

Jurdan nodded "I'll agree with Daron on that, long-range star-fighters and fast escorts...raiders...are of more use right now, and we've got suppliers of those here in the Outer Rim"

Braika looked thoughtful "High quality armour and personal shielding we should prioritise then Hanna, we're getting plenty of supply of medium quality mil-grade, but the setup is not..."

--

[18 BBY]

[ARC-170/AG/S-5M Variant, Dancer Squadron, Exiting Hyperspace, Delphon System, Anoat Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]

They emerged from hyperspace where they'd intended, in as close to perfect formation as they could manage, and that was a good start Aayla Secura thought doing one last check on sensors as she spoke "Dancer Squadron, report in"

"Dancer-1, Dancer-2 copies, status green..." echoed back one after another from the rest in quick succession. It had been a mistake letting a Twi'lek majority squadron name itself Aayla found as they accelerated the heavily modified ARC-170s towards their targets. But names aside they were a solid bunch of pilots, even without the Force, and the Stormcrow's star-fighters had been heavily tinkered with so the ARC-170 turned easily with only herself and the modified B-1 and astromech as her backup pilots. It certainly saved the life of one of her fellow pilots as some turbolaser fire rip out in their direction from a pirate frigate towards them, getting a glancing blow off the deflector shield.

"Continue your attack run, don't let them separate from that station or make a run for it" Aayla ordered jinking to the right as a warning came through the Force and left the torpedo guidance to the droids. The modified ARC wasn't as responsive as a TIE or a Jedi star-fighter, but it moved fast enough and she manoeuvred around the next two shoots to close on a fast attack run. Two proton torpedoes flew from her heavy star-fighter, as she broke away immediately afterwards and accelerated towards the gunships launching from the station.

Banking hard to the right she engaged the two laser canons to cripple a Z-95 while using her star-fighters shields to absorb the weaker counter-fire so she could take out another alert enemy pilot. Explosions showed on her sensors indicating the McGrrrr Gang's first escort ship had lost its engines while the space stations launch bays had taken some damage. Pirates were the bane of space, and with the Republic...crumbling it was a plague spreading even through relatively orderly space such as the vast area that had been GAR-South. She could agree with the Stormcrow then that aggressive hunting and retaliation against the most active groups was the only way to retain safe hyperlane travel...

"Stormcrow emerging..." she stated into comms as the truly massive city-ship turned warship exited hyperspace into the system along with a Venator and two small Cataphract escort ships "...move to Phase Two of the plan and engage secondary targets"

They'd caught the pirates completely by surprise, both of their heavily armed bulk-cruisers moored and offloading their loot at the station, and their deployed defensive group dead in space. Her squadron and the Y-wings were joined within two minutes by a large force of TIEs and Vulture droid-fighters that swiftly eliminated the remaining pirate star-fighters and gunships. Targeting the point defences came next as the damaged cruisers and frigates of the band tried to fight, or simply fix their damaged engines to try make a run for it. Unfortunately they wouldn't have much luck with that she found as the Stormcrow came in firing, and unless surrenders were offered hard and fast they pirates would be eliminated...

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