[14 BBY]

[Unified Confederate Forces Central Command Centre, Central Military Command, Raxus System, Tion Hegemony, Outer Rim Territories]

Admiral Trench sat in conference once again, the days and nights seeming to blur together as he never seemed to be anywhere but the Central Command or aboard his flagship in orbit. There was no other way to view it as he was, once more, in meeting with General Kleeve and Admiral Merai, though this time it was via secured holo-projector avatars. Something that was a sign in of itself of the problems they faced as they were using non-standard high security connections as the standard high security systems might be tapped by the various factions tearing the Confederacy apart right now. Mar Tuuk for one was their equal on the Joint Chiefs…and also very much a spy.

Like so many within these walls Trech knew, even as he'd moved to ensure only those loyal to him, personally, were in attendance during his times, like now, serving as Watch Officer. The threat of a Coup was very real in his mind, and in the minds of his colleagues, and likely why Mar Tuuk and various other Trade Federation, Techno Union, and Commerce Guild, officers had gone on extended leave. Of course, they were Trench thought, clicking his mandibles in irritation as he watched the vast galaxy map, watching what should be a united force not so quietly tear itself apart. The Trade Federation had, temporarily, withdrawn its forces from the United Confederate Forces…

"The Bothans have acceded to fleet's authority" the Mon Calamari Merai's avatar stated from distant Bothawui where they, the Joint Chiefs, had sent one of the actual Unified fleets at the request of said Bothans "They have withdrawn their more far-reaching border fleets back to the lines designated by the Parliament stipulations as of yesterday"

'Which is itself a bad sign' Trench knew as the devaronian Kleeve engaged in a discussion with Merai on those basic agreements with the locals all the way from Onderon. The Separatist Council, which should be the guiding body, had broken down into disorder since the assassination attempt on the Neimodians as the Trade Federation, Commerce Guild, and Bothan Protectorate, engaged in various rounds of accusation and counteraccusation, all while the IGBC and Democrat Coalition, backed by the Techno Union, called for unfeasible solutions. That Parliament had agreed anything was a small miracle, but their actual power was limited as they were already over term limits and supposed to be elections held by now to replace many of them.

"What…hsssh….is the ssssituattionn there?" Trench asked in regards Druckenwell "Your scoutssssss?"

"Not stopped, beyond hassling" Merai replied shaking his head "There is quite the fleet assembled there by the Trade Federation, but they didn't stop us evacuating loyalist squadrons either. I'm loathe to judge, but we can only hope it is a sign they are not willing to fire a shot that all would regret"

"That issss a vain…hhssshhh….hope Admiral" Trench stated bluntly, clacking his mandibles for emphasis, shaking his head "Best we can do isssshhh discourage them with force"

The Mon Calamari clearly was unhappy about such a statement, but Kleeve had a severe face, and his silence was all the support that needed to make such clear to Merai and his idealism. There was unlikely to be any easy resolution of this subject, and, now, it had come to making clear that there some lines that couldn't be crossed….or the Confederacy would fly apart at the seems. There was simply no proof that the Bothans had been behind the attack on Neimoidia, and to many, Trench included, this reeked of the usual Neimoidian desire to grab everything in sight of their greedy eyes.

Allowing them to bombard a ranking member world of the Confederacy?

That was the path to hundreds, maybe thousands, of system attempting to defect from, or simply to leave, their new stellar nation. If the Neimoidians were allowed to get away with that they were calling for….then it would be civil war regardless of whatever they protested. Seeing a major power within the Separatist Council outright attacked without more than accusations of the Trade Federation, after them vetoing desperately needed elections…

Trench could see what was coming down this particular hyperlane, and could see no way to divert the fleet, to change course, before they got there. Largely because the Council was largely defunct, Parliament was edging into illegitimacy in many eyes and in protocol, and their own power as Joint Chiefs was highly limited. Only the fact the Bothans had formally requested their presence had allowed them to act now after all. But various 'federalised' fleets being pulled, and others not trustworthy in the least, that was also a shadow game for he and the others. One that Trench absolutely hated as the Mandalorians and the Republicans and their bioweapons were problem enough…

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[14 BBY]

[Confederacy of Independent Systems Lucrehulk II-class Battleship Justice Served, Confederate Navy 4th Fleet, exiting hyperspace Nexus Ortai, Nexus Ortai System, Hertae Sector, Mid Rim, Confederacy of Independent Systems, Reena Trade Route]

Mar Tuuk, member of the Joint Chiefs, and Admiral in the Confederate Navy, but, perhaps more importantly, in the Trade Defence Fleet of the Trade Federation stood on the bridge of his flagship as it exited from hyperspace into real-space. His long-range sensors had detected what he had expected…feared…to be along the Reena Trade Route, even if Nexus Ortai was further forward than he'd have expected. Part of him had hoped that it would be at Bothawui such actions would occur, but, no, it seemed Merai was intent on making a stand at this intersection of the gravity wells and hyperlanes.

He stood calmly, arms clasped behind his back and face blank despite the concerns inside him as his Fourth Fleet came into the system and faced a significant fleet presence in opposition. Several ghostly avatars stood near him on his bridge, though only two mattered in truth;- the Acting Viceroy Voroo and Councilman Stark from the Separatist Council. Their orders were his to follow, and his fleet followed those orders, and those of the Trade Federation….unfortunately. For he could see this ending badly for everyone involved, but none would listen to analysis and had merely told him his marching orders, And, no matter what, Mar Tuuk was loyal to the Trade Federation, to his people. So, all he could do was wait as signals were exchanged and new comms established before him. He nodded politely.

"Admiral Merai"

"Admiral Tuuk" came the response, the avatar of the Mon Calamari flanked three avatars in the background – Saam Gume of the Techno Union, Mina Bonteri of Onderon, and that damned Bothan he was supposed to arrest and execute. Nothing was said for a moment as they faced each other. Then the moment passed as gestures from his own superiors indicated there was no backing out right now.

"I'm afraid I'll have to ask into your presence here Admiral Merai? And why you are currently obstructing my fleet's course?"

"You're taking illegal action Mar Tuuk" Merai stated seriously "Turn about your fleet. You will be allowed pass no further. The Bothan Protectorate and local systems have asked for security guarantees under the Charter of the Confederacy, and this has been granted, as is their right"

Mar Tuuk nodded. All technically true. Also, technically not his concern unfortunately "You are sheltering murderers Merai, and I have orders, direct from members of the Separatist Council, with the backing of the Supreme Court, to arrest those responsible for the vile attack on a founding member of the Confederacy of Independent Systems"

He paused, frowning "I also see the presence of vessels that should not be active service yet in your fleet"

Because the four Star Destroyers out there, experimental models based on the Venator, and then what their spies had gathered on the Republican and Imperial models, weren't officially deployable. Yet, before his eyes, were four of the state-of-the-art warships, likely with the also state-of-the-art new droid-fighter models they were supposed to have aboard. The Venator-class, and the various superior models after it, had been a problem during the war, and deploying their own classes had been as much as the Council had allowed them in pressing technological advances. Largely because they'd stolen various Republic designs, reworked them, and then slotted in droids instead. Merai revealed nothing.

"There deployment has been agreed upon by three members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Myself included. I am afraid I will have to ask you to standdown by order of the Separatist Council"

"You don't have a Quorum" he replied instantly, calmly, nodding at the images behind Merai "And Senator Bonteri, as welcome a sight as she is, is no longer a member of the Council"

Merai glared back "We have legitimate orders"

"As do I" Mar Tuuk countered, but deviating somewhat now "Merai, this is madness…."

He paused, nodded at the images behind Merai "Just turn over the guilty parties First Secretary! Give up the assassins and their collaborators for trial, pay sufficient recompense, and we won't have to punish you in such a manner. Allow my forces to conduct independent investigations into these crimes and my fleet shall remain at the Monastery system"

It was as much of a peace offering as he could give, and, to his mind, beyond fair. But the Confederacy itself was at stake thanks to the actions of these Bothan murderers, and if they were allowed get away with it…then the Confederacy would collapse in civil war regardless. Hundreds, thousands, of worlds were screaming for blood, for justice…and there was sufficient circumstantial evidence for Mar Tuuk to be sure of their guilt in the matter. No, they needed to be able to settle this. They had the support. The Trade Federation had sacrificed and sacrificed again and again for the Confederacy, and all these ungrateful vultures wanted was for yet more to be surrendered. To traitorous Republicans of all things!

Merai hesitated, clearly getting words from his superiors. Perhaps…

"I am afraid I cannot let you pass Mar Tuuk. If your ships move forward I will be forced to take preventative action"

…not.

Mar Tuuk hesitated…glanced to his commanders. Nodded as they commanded, straightened his back "That would be an illegal action Merai. I demand you remove yourself from our way"

Then brought a hand out, gesturing at a pre-arranged signal "Either hand over the criminals or I will got drag them from the rubble myself"

From the holds of his refitted Lucrehulks Tri-fighters began to accelerate out alongside starfighters with organic pilots, his fleet's batteries unmasking. He had the numbers, no matter what Merai had, and he needed to either make a show of force…or simply be ready when the blows came. Those four Star Destroyers were powerful things according to all reports, but the supporting fleet, dozens of heavy cruisers with escorts, was only about two-thirds the size of Mar Tuuk's fleet, and most of those ships older as well. Despite everything he wanted though…Merai began to launching his own droid-fighters;- the new V-model droid-fighter alongside a far greater number of older model Vultures and Scarabs…

For a moment Mar Tuuk closed his eyes. Flashing back to happier days. To victory. To celebrations and victory parades alongside friends and colleagues….

Now enemies.

He opened his eyes, gesturing as the enemy moved to engage him "All units engage. Destroy the enemy"

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