[14 BBY]
[Training Room, House of Wisdom, House of Wisdom Deck, House Stormcrow Capital-class Warship Stormcrow, Mobile Headquarters, Imperial Navy 1st Frontier Fleet, in hyperspace, Outer Rim Territories, United Federal Empire]
"They've improved"
"Yes, they are better have after all his efforts" Celeste replied to my noting Cal's and Merrin's bladework as Asajj put them through their paces after I'd spent a round sparring with both separately. It was a useful way to test him and her, as Asajj fought aggressively, while I fought defensively, or by means of utilising Force abilities actively. I had tired both of them, and after he'd fought hard in my spar…well, it was a useful test of stamina as Asajj went on the offensive once again, lightsabers flashing and clashing, along with coordination with his fellow padawan and witcch "I am proud to have aided them in his growth"
I smiled faintly "High praise indeed from you"
She sighed, gave a sniff, feeling like she was about to roll her eyes as she folded her arms across her chest, watching Cal struggle to keep up with the acrobatics of my Dathomiri second wife "It was earned, as you can see, even if concerns are still present"
"And his skills with a blaster are top notch too" I agreed with a nod "Ran him through the combat course yesterday. Merrin got Asajj for her run, so we can review that later"
Celeste nodded idly, watching the spar, likely disliking Asajj as usual "Do you wish my opinion on them?"
"If you would, I value your views on it and what could be done to help them improve" I replied honestly, as I did want that, and did value her viewpoint on things "I know using the Force blocking lizards in the tests is non-traditional, but…we're hardly traditional after all"
"That I am aware of" came back, some amusement there, a brief flicker, before being back to all business "It was another Temple Jedi fallen to the Dark Side"
I sighed "Seems to be a bit of that happening of late. How did Rahm Kota react?"
"Understood the need. The Inquisition team worked well; it was they who achieved the elimination after my team, along with Master Vos and his padawan, drove him out of hiding" Celeste frowned "I am unsure what exactly had been done to the Verpine Master, but he had drank deeply of the Dark Side, and was very much unhinged. It was…disturbing as it always is to see a Master Fallen"
I nodded. That was the truth, and while I had not known Master Sahdett, he had been a Jedi Master, and that was problematic in this time period. Unfortunate he, like many Knights and Padawans who'd survived Order 66 or the Confederates, had drank deeply of the dark well in response to the dark days engulfing the galaxy. Which, when it came to the Temple teachings, meant they Fell HARD and they Fell DEEP into the Dark Side induced madness. Master Sahdett had been glaringly obvious in his actions, his murders and Force usage, and that, depressingly, was not uncommon with those rogues who were avoiding Sects, like ours, Kota's, Corellia's, or elsewhere.
Anger, Fear, and all that leading to the Dark Side, yadda, yadda, as Yoda would say, but the fact that they, the new 'Dark Jedi' popping up, believed there was no way back from the Dark Side, and 'trusted in the Force', meant you had an insanely toxic combination when they did stumble. The Dark Side of the Force was something you, could not trust, and 'trusting in the Force' was madness of the highest degree while using it; - a drug for a drug addict that both doesn't know they are an addict while also believing more drugs equals good. Control, self-control, was absolutely vital if you wanted to wield that Darkness without turning into a gibbering psychopath with little to no common sense and anger issues up to the sky.
I sighed "Honestly, I bothers me. The teachings of the Temple are to make such a Fall….less likely, but when it does come, they don't dip their toes in the waters, and instead jump off the proverbial cliff"
Then shook my head "It's a positive you worked well with Vos and that the hunter teams are coming together, even if I'd rather there wasn't such a need"
Celeste gave a snort "Your philosophical viewpoints are as muddled as ever, but, yes, it is very good to have the support with the Jedi Order scattered and numbers that can fight such threats so low, and the threats so many"
"Hmm, aye, and if only we could strike at the source…but, that as it may" I murmured, as Palpatine was clearly trying to get us, and a large part of my 'spare time' was invested into the protections on me and mine, which was the floating Sanctum Sanctorum that was the Stormcrow so it wasn't scry-able "You've been informed of our destination and reports by my subordinate in theatre?"
"Barely back two days"
I smiled "Which means you have?"
The time displaced woman gave me a glare, but nodded "Yes"
She turned back to looking at the spar "The droidfighters…and whatever is powering them?"
"Yeah, that's my concern, there's something off about the whole thing" I admitted, watching as the spar rapidly approached a conclusion. That being Asajj winning and putting an end to it "That, and when we meditate on the situation…bad dreams I've been told"
Something tickled the back of my mind on it all, that I should remember, but there was so much after so many lifetimes, and so much was different as well. There was something off about the situation on G'rho, and likely Bakura by the time we arrived, and it was a just a symptom of a wider problem as Celeste told me a few moments later "There is much more trouble brewing that this you know, judging from encounters while travelling in our disguises. That is true, yes?"
I nodded. It was very much true, despite wanting otherwise "Aye, word has gotten out the great and terrible Galactic Republic has fallen, etc, etc. We've had refugees from outer colonies, and pirates are getting worse, along with….whatever is happening at G'rho. So, basically, have your rest, we're likely going to get rather busy again when we arrive at Bakura…"
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[14 BBY]
[Southern Continent, Phindar, Phindar System, Demetras Sector, Outer Rim Territories, Mandalorian Dominion]
Tallisibeth Enwandung-Esterhazy's lightsaber blurred as she twisted and spun, droid sent blaster bolts deflected back into their ranks as she was, once again, back on Phindar. Once again fighting the Separatists, even if they were now the Confederates, and the Republic was now gone entirely…and enemy even for her. There was little time to think for the former Jedi padawan as she ignited her jetpack with the rest of the Clan Skirata fighters, and other Mandalorian present. Overhead Fang and 'new' Claw starfighters raced in, all part of the sudden strike towards the Confederate headquarters on the planet they had been close to securing.
The Confederacy had more ships, vast waves of droids…and all Scout and her friends, and enemies that were currently allies, had was the Force, skill, and better tactics. Never would the Jedi have imagined she'd be charging into battle with a Sith, even if the monstrous and mad Dathomirian was far away from here. But, that was what must be as multiple strikes were made on the surprised Confederates, who'd likely thought themselves close to full securing the planet, and system, at long last. Scout could only hope they were wrong in that estimation as the 'alliance' on Mandalore struck at the supply hubs several systems further on from Phindar while she followed Kal in his support of Death Watch's and the mad Maul's desperate offensive to retake the planet.
Phindar could not be allowed to fall, and the Confederates had been fighting badly over the last few months, despite their overwhelming numbers. They'd been disorganised at times as well, and the Lucrehulks and Munficient-class vessels that had come into Mandalore's hands from the unstable 'militarist' Republic remnant was now being used. Codes and chaos were supposed to allow such ships to strike deep, when used with a mix of Jedi like Scout, the unnerving Talzin's witches, and the likes of Maul, his brother, and Death Watch. When they all knew what the CIS had promised to do all the 'Terrorists' they labelled them as…her blade clove another droid in twain as she landed. They were going to win this. They had too.
Krraaahhhoooommmm
…and Scout felt the shockwave through her armour, helmet shielding the massive, but distant, blast as an atom-splitter erupted in distant valleys, obliterating an enemy Lucrehulk guarded command and control base. Or at least that was what Scout understood that location to be from their briefings as she stuck with Kal Skirata and his commandos, smashing through droid ranks. They didn't have numbers, so they had to fight harder, and smarter, and the 'EMP' effect raced out, scrambling her helmet's systems. But, more importantly, inflicting far great chaos on the droid ranks as she did a force push of a dozen now confused/damaged B-1 and B-2 droids over the cliff. Ahead of her Kal's commando team, and the Jedi with them, rolled over the remaining defenders of a heavy shielded turbolaser battery.
{Comms Down!} was the hand gesture given, likely due to their own bomb, from the nearest commando, hands moving swiftly, fingers opening and closing {Est. Back. Five. Ten. Minutes}
Scout hand gestured agreement with her free hand, twisting immediately afterwards, moving into a guard stance, and then blocking shots from a B-2 as it came staggering forward rather than truly charging. She had hated this, the battle, the feeling of death all around her, the prices she had to pay to stay alive…
Block. Parry. Deflect. Deflect. Strike…
The B-2 she cut in half feel away, and she dashed behind cover of a deployed mobile energy shield, breath coming and going rapidly as she once again tried to centre herself. In the distance that flash had faded, but a strange mushroom shaped cloud had risen distantly. This was what they'd been reduced to as the Mandalorian and allied starfighters chased the remaining, and seemingly leaderless, droid-fighters from the sky. She knew that was the case as gunships and LAATs with more troops were descending, conducting the fast, brutal, mobile warfare that had become the norm against the massed droid armies of the enemy.
"Turn the guns!" someone was shouting, but Kal directed Scout to defending the sit as the turbolaser battery, the massive Confederate mobile artillery, began to move at a slicer's direction. Moving and then beginning to power up to fire into its former owners forces. Scout winced as the thing 'boomed' as the main guns fired, targeting something she could not see as more Mandalorians descended….Clan Wren in this case, jetpacks driving them skyward and then groundward as they tore apart what had been a vast droid army, but was now a chaotic, disorganised, mess. Her lightsaber began to move and blur once again as she joined a Witch, one casting illusions or something, and those arriving fighters. This was her life now, and she had to fight to protect it and those she cared for…
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