[14 BBY]

[Fort Revan, Stormhaven (formerly Mokivj), New Haven System (formerly Mokivj System), Trilon Sector, Outer Rim Territories, United Federal Empire]

It was disturbing at times to consider, and to see, the extent of this galaxy's technology brought to bear with its high-end abilities. I'd seen it before in the war of course, but, generally, the galaxy moved along at a weirdly almost low-tech level, especially out on the Outer Rim, so you could forget what was available. Such as the massive geothermal system, both as a power source but also as a safety mechanism, that had been driven deep into the earth in under two years. Where they'd been a series of volcanoes near the mines, were now a series of massive towers into the earth, with shield generators and other such devices stabilising the geological processes of the planet to our needs.

Yes, it was true the Confederates had already been excavating the caves and deep earth, but as I stood on the fortified platform on the man-made mountain atop these vast pillars into the planet's crust, I was mildly disturbed and awed by it all. It formed the base of the valley like construction that was the newly erected fortress-city of Fort Revan. Which, I'll admit, was me being petty towards the Jedi even if they were often not around to see it, but I had my little quirks and I want to rename things to give them a new start. After the names before were essentially those given by the Confederates, and their presence, while extensive in terms of droids, was minor in terms of organic settlers.

Which was…well, something they'd likely have done, eventually, when this wasn't a super-secret base, as the grasslands were wonderfully fertile and there was extensive fresh water, both above ground and in deep underground reservoirs. Grasslands that were now croplands, and rivers that feed the newly constructed city that lay out before me as came up the battlements, placing my hands on them and gazing out at the work that had been done, largely in my absence. Like now my visits were often brief, for updates, as the massive military construction works took place to the plans laid out. All built around defending the massive mines of cortosis beneath the surface of where we were, along with other locations across the world my geologists believed.

"Admiring the view" Jurdan Ironhill greeted me, walking up from the entranceway as I'd felt his approach "It is certainly an impressive sight is it not?"

I turned my head, hands still on the battlements, glancing at the old solemite "Oh, very much so, enjoying your retirement to planetary defence?"

He gave a snort, shaking his head "Retire? You've stuck me here with dealing with the recruits and Braika when she arrives to tell us how badly their doing, and how much more training she'll put them through"

"I think it was more you wanted to be here if I recall, found young and pretty wives and all that?" I replied with the same good-natured tone as he joined me, looking out over the still developing city. Fort Revan was effectively a mining city, with a military academy and attached military training base, along with a currently small, but soon to be expanded, training area for Force-users "Though we did warn the Chorn clan would be nearby"

The older man gave an exaggerated groan "Yes, you all did…foolish me for not thinking it through"

He shrugged "Still, it has been good, usual delays and gripes you get from the citizenry aside. Rattatak, Batuu?"

I nodded "We've established what I like to consider close to solid control now, though we're still chasing pirates and having to bring worlds into the fold"

Which was polite talk for negotiating and threatening various systems into line, and, in a few cases, it had been outright conquest because piracy, smuggling, and slaving were the only real income sources on those so-called free systems. Most worlds it was simply a matter of ensuring they paid tariffs for accessing the hyperlanes and systems the new Empire defended, but several others it was having then join as some degree of members, or even full voting systems. I was, trying, to create a local assembly of sorts, with the Tarkins permission, to aide my role as Lord Elector as voting member of the sort-of House of Lords. It had also been a source of Force Sensitive recruits surprisingly, with even a natural healer from the world of Firrerre.

I looked out at the city again "And, of course, all our immigrants coming through, or recruits…I get them muddled up sometimes"

He chuckled as I did at that, because immigrants often meant military recruits, or the families of said recruits, as we were, officially, a major training sector for the Imperial Starfighter Corps, along with the new Stormtrooper Corps. Which was definitely not going to be the white-clad, poorly equipped, cannon fodder that they had been in the time that wouldn't be now. Braika likely wouldn't allow that firstly, and secondly the equipment they were getting was rugged, easy maintenance, and the blaster carbine heavier than the standard issue one the Republic had issued the GAR. Not quite heavy blasters, but somewhat of a midpoint that didn't have the various accuracy issues if maintenance wasn't perfect like certain Core blaster production runs were.

He nodded, arms folded across his chest "You've concerns, since your back ahead of schedule?"

I nodded "Not for here necessarily, but I wanted to personally inspect both orbital and planetary defences, we're having odd reports from the various smugglers we've picked up"

"Grysk coming back for another round?"

I shrugged "Unknown, could be, could be nothing, thought it's further to the galactic south trailing and rimward than what we'd pulled from the seized ships. Considering what we've seen of them, and how things have been, I want to make sure the Sector is able to defend itself"

Some of the stuff we'd found in the Grysk databases was…concerning to say the least, even without the implications of the approaching murder fleet of bio-monsters I knew it reference. For one the Grysk had grav-tech that better than Republic, which was therefore better than Imperial, corresponding tech, and their references to moving planetary bodies into hyperlanes in two instances to achieve their journey here. That would be problematic if it were true, and I was full sure that Darth Sidious was sending through our way considering the dead assassins back further down the hyperlane thanks to the Imperial Judiciary and nascent Inquisition in Celeste's case.

"As you've seen the planetary shield is now functional, as are the ion canons" he said to me, standing beside me and looking at the city in the mountain fortress "Starfighter squadrons, the new ones, they aren't there yet, nor are the ground troops. We haven't even done the cross training them on Batuu and Rattatak yet"

I nodded, it was further head than I'd expected in some cases "Good, that's…good. We'll review the schedules tomorrow. I've sent Yulen off to Bakura to try and finish up negotiations there so we can finally get this base established, while he investigates about this Chandillan colony rumour…"

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[14 BBY]

['Hammerhead' Refit Dreadnought-class Assault Cruiser Victorius Shadow, Taskforce Vigilant, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, exiting hyperspace, Bakura system, Bakura Sector, Wildspace]

Commodore Yulen Darksails, Imperial Navy, sat on his command chair in the somewhat cramped armoured bridge within his refitted Dreadnought-class 'assault cruiser' as the refits were labelled. Compared to the Acclamator that had been wrecked at Naboo it certainly felt cramped, everything close together and no great overlook from the bridge as then. Now it was all screens and tactical displays, but the improved firepower and armour was also a relief as his four 'Dreadhammers' as the refitted Dreadnoughts were unofficially called within the fleet.

His taskforce was made up of four of the distinctive refits, with its hammerhead fore-section and thick, armoured, turbolaser topped, X-shaped frame aft. They were, in-theory and according to everyone, significantly more powerful than a standard Dreadnought-class, but he didn't want to try and find out if at all possible as his forces approached the Bakura system. The four cruisers were backed up by a Quasar-class escort carrier and three Cataphract-class frigates, with a squadron of modified Z-95T/2s travelling in hyperspace as his starfighter escort. Despite its small size his taskforce should overawe the local Bakuran forces, as that was supposed to be only a few older starfighters and a Carrack-class light cruiser.

'I'm not sure if that is good or bad if there are more of these Grysks lurking about' Yulen thought to himself, trying to show none of that to his crew, as it a mixed force, a third veteran, a third what were 'experienced' and the other third new recruits being trained on the job. The Imperial Navy was in the midst of a major expansion, just like the rest of the military, which was why Yulen had gotten yet another promotion…being a veteran and all as it were. All in all, it proven incredibly tiring, and also involved irritating things like playing diplomat at times like this.

"Commodore" the young lieutenant announced "We are approaching exiting from hyperspace to real-space"

Yulen nodded "Good, signal the rest of the taskforce. Full alert posture"

Combat over the past two years had been a game of predator and prey mostly, and it had thought him, and the other Imperial commanders out here, to be constantly on alert, especially at times like this. Pirates, knowing their fates after not taking up the Amnesty, tended to fight hard, and the 'Pirates' the Confederates didn't officially send their way were even worse. With that in mind Yulen watched the screens and holo-displays as his formation emerged back in real-space, Bakura looming before them as he gestured "Scans, find that Carrack and their starfighters if their up. Signal the Bakuran Senate and Prime Minister that we've arrived"

Bakura wasn't quite a holdout to Imperial control, instead being now rather anti-Confederate after events during the Clone Wars, and, realistically, knowing some sort of accommodation was necessary with the new United Federal Empire. The fact they were able to manufacture repulsorlifts meant they both a bargaining chip as well as reason to be worried they better make up their minds, and soon, as the Empire had to work around limited available of repulsorlift-tech for the ground forces. Something had seemingly spooked them though as they'd put out those rumours for the Boss to send Yulen to investigate with his taskforce. It raised concerns…but also should allow him to establish a forward operating base here as ordered by the Moff.

"Located the Carrack" sensors informed him, updating his screens "In lunar orbit with a pair of Z-95s, looks like their dealing with a freighter"

Yulen nodded, that wasn't too bad, and gestured "Okay, bring us in slowly, defensive posture only, we're all friends here"

That wasn't always the case, and it was often hard to guess how a 'free system' as they saw themselves would react to a taskforce arriving, as there'd been a few pirate havens that had attempted to seize warships, or just outright murder everyone. Yulen suspected the ever-present stink of Confederate Credits at work there, as one or two of the known cases had been suspiciously professional for a bunch of desperate pirates. So, he watched his displays, listening to his officers, as the seconds ticked by after their arrival in-system, getting his answer after a few minutes "Getting a response from the Bakurans, welcoming us in-system and are eager to arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister. They have a few reports they wish to brief you on in the cause of diplomatic relations"

He nodded, so trouble was brewing it seemed as he gestured at the young lieutenant "Ah, diplomacy then, my day is truly joyous. Bring us into orbit, and put me through to their senior officer so we can see about these rumours of theirs"

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