[17 BBY]
[Moff's Ready Room, Command Bridge, Command Deck, Stormcrow Eriadu Authority Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet (reconstituted), in orbit Dromund Kaas, Dromund System, Esstran Sector, Old Sith Empire Worlds, Outer Rim Territories]
Logistics were the bane of any operation, and they were now, as always while I went through the various reports in repairs made, as well as the people brought up from the planet of horrors below. Also, the information and equipment brought up from said planet as well, which was, in many ways, the harder parts as corruption and infection were always a concern of mine from them. It was why I was quarantining such items aboard the support vessel Mustafar Horizon, largely as the stores aboard had been already used over the campaign, but also because it had armoured storage bunkers and vacuum induced in them.
The children we'd rescued were aboard my Stormcrow, after a barrage of testing, both normal and my own, to ensure they were clean as well. Something that had taken several days, and we'd lingered here for several weeks now so my forces could effectively purge, and loot, enemy targets below. All why I'd had my fleet on constant alert for any sudden attacks, even with deployment of all remaining hyperspace and standard-spacial mines in-system. Nothing had come, but that did not mean it could not come from either the Confederates, or from servants of Darth Sidious either. The sooner we left here, the happier I'd feel, though dealing with this madness would take some time I expected.
But it had to be done, much as I disliked bringing up anything from a planet such as this. The simple truth was that this Sith Cult had created….things…with alchemy, and it was very likely to be one of Palpatine's contingencies, or potentially bio-weapon surprises. Or simply one of these cultists being off world and attempting to replicate such abominations and screwing it up on an inhabited world. On a cruder side…it had allowed me to relentlessly drill my personal guard here on Dromund Kaas in dealing with such horrors of the Dark Side. As the Sith had once done, I had done, Asajj had done, and Celeste had done in drilling and weeding out the ranks of my soldiers for those best suited for such future purposes. Even if we had lost a dozen in the battle against the dangers of the world, along with hundreds of droids.
'Well, valuable learning experience' I thought darkly as Celeste entered my ready room dressed in her Eriadu Republic uniform, a data-pad in hand. As she approached, I placed my own down, sitting at 'attention' as it were, hands together on the table before me, holo-displays on said table showing the fleet in orbit, and activity in-system "Here, sit. Kaff?"
She shook her head, handing me over the data-slate "No, I am fine, here, a copy of my preliminary report"
I took it over, glancing at her "As bad as we feared?"
"Yes"
I sighed unhappily, skimming through the basics….sighed again, shaking my head at what I read "I see, I suppose the bright side, if there's any, is that these things don't seem to be transmissible"
"That we can see" she pointed out but nodded in agreement with me as she sat straight in her chair on the other side of my desk "But yes, they were not that foolish, nor even attempted such based-on reading of captured documentation and interrogations of the victims. There is so much to be concerned about what these darksiders have experimenting with, though I agree with your assessment that the slaves freed, as well as the younglings, are clear of any pathogen or Force-related infection. Though the Ysalamiri test was a surprise…and uncomfortable"
"There's a reason I keep a habitat with them living in it onboard after all, and, yeah, not the greatest feeling for Force sensitives I'll admit" I replied taking the data and updating my systems, ensuring secure scans as it uploaded "I'm going to need your help in establishing a secure facility for these artefacts upon our return to Eriadu allied space, on an asteroid or unsettled planet. I'm very aware of the dangers of attempting to study such things, but, well…we will very likely need to establish protocols and counters if these things are unleashed"
Celeste nodded, slowly "Because of my…"
"Because you were a Jedi Shadow, and you didn't break down in that temple either. I have my own protocols, but they are based on theory and historical models as much as anything. You've obviously seen my facility after all" I stated bluntly, tiredly, sitting back in my chair with a sigh, hands on my desk. It wasn't entirely true, but I valued her experience, and I just didn't have time either for focusing on this alone "But simply locking everything down, involving myself personally, and shooting things into various stellar bodies really isn't going to fly when research is needed"
She gave another slow nod "You want me to review your protocols, and necessities for such a site? As the Covenant had done?"
"Aye, I'm open to suggestions. Taking the younglings aboard was risk enough, but the remnants of those labs, and the various artefacts were not coming aboard my ship….not with what your former necklace could do in the potential to create rakghoul plagues" was my honest answer, drumming my fingers off the table "I want to present Chancellor Tarkin with an operational plan on how to deal with this giant mess upon our return, and he is not Force sensitive, and I do not want to be guided by my gut reaction of burn everything and trying to pretend it didn't happen"
Celeste considered that "That is not a bad plan necessarily….but, yes, insufficient to the needs of the galaxy in the wake of this. I will do as you order and attempt to update to requirements. You are preparing to depart?"
I gave a nod "Yes, we've lingered here too long already, and repairs have been completed. We'll do final sweeps over the next two standard days, detonate the demolition charges, blast from orbit, and then depart for our next target"
--
[17 BBY]
[Command Bridge, Command Deck, Stormcrow Eriadu Authority Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Republic 5th Fleet (reconstituted), in hyperspace, approaching Zygerria System, Choralian Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"We are on course for exiting into realspace Moff" Gardan reported as I stood on the bridge, arms folded across my chest, and the Force swirling around me "No sensor activity detected, we should exit outside known system defences and sensor nets"
I nodded "Good, prepare to transmit upon our exit from hyperspace. Let's confirm we actually are at peace with the Confederates firstly, and….then we'll be trying to head home safely if that is that case"
"It could be a Seppie trick Sir"
"Oh, yes, it could my friend" I agreed with my aide "I don't think it is, but it is possible, and we best be prepared for that eventuality. Thing is, if it is true…then we'd best not fight our way out of the CIS, now, should we?"
"Yes Sir, the Grand Moff might be aggravated if we did restart the war"
I gave a smile at his, thought it was a mildly stressful concern for us and here I was, carefully, touching the Force to seeking the correct path to take. Officially we were at peace, and officially, we were supposed to leave Confederate territory, and the fastest, safest, way to do that was via the 'in theory' hyperlanes. Even if we had to be escorted out. Here in Zygerria we could make long-range contact with Eriadu, confirm our orders had changed, and if peace held…simply sail away home without having to fight our way there.
Of course, it could be an elaborate trick, meant to draw us out and then trap us…so one had to be careful about all this. So, here at our intended raid target, which we'd scouted out to confirm my suspicions, we had options to several directions if needed. Considering what I'd done here almost three years ago now…they hadn't had time to restore their sensor nets, or fleets, and the Confederate Fleet seemed to be concentrated both further to the galactic north, and off near Raxus and the hyperlanes from Centares to the Lianna system. Their internal comms, from what intercepts we'd gathered by my scout forces over recent days, indicated that peace was on the table…
'But verify before trusting here' I reminded myself as the problems of the last few weeks waited aboard various ships to be dealt with. Fighting my way out carried risks to that, let alone my sudden influx of refugees, and a creche full of mentally scarred and generally abused Force Sensitive children. My crews were alert and ready either way, ARC-170s and Y-wings out in force with the fleet formation, and I watched as hyperspace fell away as we 'gently' exited it, re-entering realspace once more. This time I exited with my entire fleet, no longer trying to hide the numbers as….I needed numbers to ensure the enemy understood the difficulty involved in overcoming my firepower.
"Sensors detect sixty-nine warships in-system Sir" my sensor officer called out, tactical holo-displays updating to reflect that update "Twelve Lucrehulks, the rest appear to be Munificent-class"
"Matching scout reports" Garden offered as my fleet came out around my flagship "Do you want to signal them now Sir? Or press further in?"
"Here I think" I replied, then nodding "Put me on comms, wide-broadcast to their holo-net"
Gardan gestured at the young officer, then nodded back to me as the decision was carried out "This is Moff Daron Stormcrow. I have returned. I expect Zygerria to submit a negotiator within fifteen standard galactic minutes to discuss the Treaty of Bothawui. If any hostile action is taken against the forces under my command, I will respond with maximum aggression. Stormcrow out"
With another gesture the communication was cut, and I stepped out of the holo-transmitter "Maintain full fleet alert and launch ready squadrons. Let's get this done. Then send an encoded signal on my mark"
"Aye-aye Moff, as you command"
--
[17 BBY]
[Parliament of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, Senate Building, Raxus Secundus, Tion Hegemony Sector, Outer Rim]
There was a celebratory mood within the Parliament as Mina Bonteri stepped down from the podium after giving her speech on the various treaties, and of her own intention to standdown from the Separatist Council now that peace had been achieved…
Elections were to be held now that the long war was over…they needed to be held in fact, as, like many things, having been put on hold due to this terrible war. It would also free her from the terrible burden that the Council had brought upon her, and Mina truly just wanted to return to Onderon and her family. Stress had grown into an all consuming thing, and now she had done what she had promised, it was time to focus on her home, both in terms of family, but also in terms of her homeworld.
But, for now, work never ceased as she answered the alert call from Admiral Merai brought to her by her personal aide, placing the holo-comm case on the table before Mina after opening it in a privacy secured conference room "Admiral, considering the time of your call I assume some new difficulty has arisen?"
The Mon Calamari admiral's avatar gave an uncomfortable nod "I am sorry madam Speaker, but…the Stormcrow has reappeared"
Mina sighed "He has not raided a system?"
"No, Ma'am….he appeared at Zygerria, aware of the peace" Admiral Merai replied "Seeking negotiations. That is the good news"
She nodded "The bad news then?"
"The Zygerrians and the Sector Fleet apparently took negotiations to mean surrender abjectly Ma'am, the Queen ritually surrendered on their holo-net. It was the Stormcrow himself who contacted our Oversector forces"
Mina closed her eyes, then sighed deeply before opening them "Of course she did…just…deal with him and get him gone, safely, out the Confederacy Admiral Merai…" since none of you could apparently find him "…and end this situation before it becomes a problem"
--