[18 BBY]

[Starfigher-Engineering Bay, Forward Sections, Eriadu Authority Republic Navy Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet, In Orbit Lutrillia, Lutrillia System, Yarith Sector, Greater Javin Region, Outer Rim Territories]

"Reporting for duty Moff" Aayla Secura greeted me cheerfully, wearing the new Republic, very Imperial looking, star-figher pilot uniform. She seemed to be handling being Squadron Leader, instead of a Jedi General, with good humour and discipline, even giving a proper salute to me. Not only that she'd been a death dealing machine, as most Jedi were in the cockpit, during our recent operations against pirates and confederate holdouts here in the Greater Javin Region. So, I saluted back, then gestured at her to walk beside me as the bays around us was filled with the sounds of machinery in motion and engineers shouting.

"You can relax Aayla, we're off duty, officially anyway, right now and I just wanted to run some things by you so you're not caught by surprise"

"Oh, nothing I'm going to dislike I hope?"

I shook my head as we walked, mechanics saluting as I passed, bodyguard droids just a step behind us "No, not at all! We can even call it an early name-day present in some regards"

The Twi'lek Jedi grinned, cocking her head to the side, lekku moving "Ohh? And what did I do to earn such a present? You'll make some people jealous if your'e buying a lady gifts"

I gave a snort of amusement at that as we came up the item in question being unloaded, and I motioned at the sleek, night-black and dagger-shaped starfighter "More making use of your unique skillset. Also you're one of, or the, best pilot we have, even so soon into your hiring….and give you the TIE/AG Mark-6/IN, or the Aegis Guard's TIE Interceptor for common naming. I need you and your squadron to put them through their paces as we'll be pushing to make them standard across loyal Republic forces in the future. Once the design has been refined some more anyway"

Her eyes seemed to twinkle at that, moving forward on inspect the new design, as I stood watching "Hmm…it looks modular in certain sections?"

"Supposed to be!" I called out rest my hands on the rails as she moved around the star-fighter, then up into the cockpit "It's primarily envisioned as a space superiority starfighter based on the current TIE chasis, and that of your Jedi Interceptors, just with many of the flaws we perceived in them fixed"

Then sighed "Then again, we've had to focus on local manufacture, so modular was the way to go to keep parts and production runs within cost concerns. Plus that'll make them more modifiable for differing mission parameters, while still keeping the same chassis, basic shielding and heavy cannons"

"Speed?"

"Should have the same speed and acceleration as the current models, though that can be pushed with a few of the modifications at the cost of other things. Cost more…but we put in two larger engines for increased power generation, and the solar have been completely redesigned from the solid 'Wall' design to the swept forward dagger here. Hopefully that, and the better landing struts, should cut down significantly on damage caused during landings on surfaces outside intended parameters"

It was honestly more than that, as we'd used all the data we'd gotten off the Twi'lek Chiri'daki to go with our performance analysis of our TIEs to go into helping design this thing. The primary focus had been getting outside the 'black box' software and design issues that so stagnated Core worlds designs, and now we had that from martial law…well, now we could build. Even if it meant sacrificing some more top end parts from Core worlds the simple fact was that this was an advanced star-fighter that could be produced completely in the Outer Rim, from factories on worlds under our control.

"Anti-shipping weapons?"

I shook my head "Not on the base design, but we've got launchers that can be installed to give it torpedoes, or ground support weaponry. We'll have to test out conversion times as part of the testing process, so I'll need you to run through a variety of load-outs. Push them to them limit. I'll want to present to the Grand Moff and Chancellor along with production prototypes"

"Still don't like the Z-95?"

"Ehh, I don't dislike it" I admitted to her question "But its an old design that we modify to push up to modern standards, while with the TIE it's a new design that's already at a modern war-fighting standards and we can push much, much, further in coming years"

'That and the X-Wing is likely to come out far too late for us right now' I thought silently, though we had our own dual long-range, extended operations, fighter-bomber based around a similar concept in the works. It was years off unfortunately, but something like the X-wing would be ideal, in conjunction with strike cruisers or heavier corvettes, for anti-piracy operations, or extended patrols. For now through, and for the next few years…assuming we survived that long…GAR-South was going to be using old and captured equipment in great numbers.

"And will I get any input into that…hmmm?"

"I am open to your feedback Aayla, but you'll have to work for it I'll warn"

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[18 BBY]

[Grand Hutt Council, Renovated Council Chambers, Nal Hutta, Y'toub System, Mid-Rim, Hutt Space]

Jabba Desilijic Tiure slithered commandingly into the Council Chambers, now renovated, and reinforced with better trained guards, after the fiasco with the Sith and the Mandalorians several months ago. It had been a blow to prestige, as well as a threat to their lives, for the Council, and now it was clear they had overlooked a potentially serious problem emerging. What had been the Republic, a nice, stagnating, and dying Republic, had almost been unified under a powerful Sith Lord…just as his elders had warned when he was a yougnin' like his little Punky Muffin.

Now he had to ensure all remembered his power amongst the Five Families…while also ensuring they could deal with the dangers they had overlooked. And, perhaps, gain some benefits from exploiting the carcass that was the Galactic Republic as it currently existed. Recovering his sire Zorba from the planet Kip…along with destroying their military infrastructure and hand over a hundred thousand of their females as compensation had been the start of that process. Yes Zorba returning brought its own issues for control of the Deslijic kajidic, but it his own control was firm now, and some risk to expand was unfortunately necessary now that the galaxy had begun to change.

Coming to the fore of the Council table he reared up proudly as his two 'slaves' stood on either side, heads bowed in supplication to their betters. Neither were his favourites for dancing or entertainment, but they were trained in combat and assassination extensively while also having sufficient attractiveness as twins to appear as simple trophies and translators should the need arise. He couldn't be too careful now, not after the last failure of the Council guards, and his nephew Gorgo's pet was of similar design…meaning all of his rivals could be of the same standard as he eyed the near naked females of various species. Collars and bracelets were emitting faint energies after all…

He pushed that aside, eyes focusing on the Hutt coming before them, proud, dangerous, and body made of muscle and power like an Archon out of a huttlings book "Beldorian, you come before the Council of Elders of the Glorious Jewel. Do you agree to serve as Advisor to the Council?"

'Queen' Jool gave Jabba a faintly miffed look as he taken charge before any of the others had a chance to say anything, or even prepare their own pageantry. Jabba ignored her, for his was the power that mattered, and ensuring they remembered that, was always part of the strategy to maintaining that power. That applied to the once a Jedi Hutt before them with his own two personal attendants flanking him. Though both were clearly body servants as the lightsaber at the other Hutt's side was the true danger according all the holo-vids that Jabba had viewed to prepare for this meeting.

"If my….requests…have been met?"

Jabba nodded, raising on hand and a slave came forward with a data-slate, kneeling to the Jedi Hutt who took the item, reading and then nodding "One is eager to serve one's glorious species"

"Excellent. Then advice this Noble Council Beldorian…." Jabba stated powering forward before any of the others had a chance to get distracted from the task at hand. He had already spent time discussing this with the danger and benefit before him, along with his own research for many hours on the voyage here "…for the Sith have returned, and the Jedi cause chaos everywhere…"

Jabba continued laying out the details of what he wanted the others told, without actually stating that this was what he wanted. There were many problems to be dealt with, and that required some measure of unity; from dealing with the Shadow Collective and their Mandalorians, to preventing the Confederacy or dangerous Republic factions simply winning their war outright. Profits had fallen as the Galactic economy had collapsed into a black hole…not simply fallen into recession, but outright begun to crumble. Now both the military factions on Coruscant and Eriadu had begun massive nationalisations of 'traitorous' corporations to fuel their war-machines, while the Confederacy was naturally opposed to his people's power as the mega-corps fought for control.

Simply continuing business as usual wasn't going to be possible for much longer Jabba could tell, and that meant changing their strategies and investing more in security on their profit centres. Not only that but shifting their 'normal' slave routes away from problem areas such as Eraidu, and the new 'Empire' emerging around Mon Cala. Business could be done with both, rather easily, but it would require sacrificing other areas such slave harvesting to ensure profits continued to roll in. No, the Mid-Rim and Core might be superior targets for that, and voluntary enslavement for more valuable, and pampered, slave roles would be expanded as the war drove refugees into Hutt space…

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