[14 BBY]

[Confederate Star Destroyer Hammerhead, Independence-class Star Destroyer, Confederate Navy (reformed) 2nd Fleet, in orbit Confederate Naval Station and Repair Yard- Daalang, Daalang system, Daaland Sector, Mid Rim, Confederacy of Independent Systems]

"How long?" Merai asked bluntly of his Chief Engineer, a Quarren loyal to the CIS like was despite their mutual homeworld's decision to not join the cause. Yerpan'ac was a grumpy sort, but honest at least, and, as usual, he gave the bad news.

"A month, minimum, Admiral" was the answer, a data-pad with the bad news in greater dealing handed over as Merai sat at his desk "We are still combat worthy, but the drives took a beating. They need to reset and have proper yard repairs made, not if you want to maintain the tempo we were doing since the fighting started"

Merai nodded. It wasn't what he wanted to hear, not now, but they had to work on the truth of reality rather than the comforting lies they'd prefer but might get them killed. Nexus Ortai had been a debacle, followed by two more in his mind at Dressel and Lannik. Yes, he'd won, but…that didn't do much more than ensure the hyperlanes were kept open in this quadrant. Something that would be ideal but for the fact the traitors had pressed on and cut the lines by taking Centares and throwing that entire sector, along with nearby ones, into a chaotic battle.

Currently Merai was relying on the less common, longer, and more dangerous, routes to maintain contract with High Command on Raxus, along with the Hutts. Not that he trusted those vile slugs, no more than he trusted the Bothans either, and they were his supposed allies, but circumstances forced him to make use of what parts of their territory they were allowed use. They had no desire for the Trade Federation, and it was them rather than the other traitors that the Hutts hated, to gain control of the Confederacy. However unlikely that seemed right now, as the situation was disturbingly chaotic and fluid, but, despite their advances, Merai judged that they, like he, had run out of momentum in these new depths.

"Understood Chief Engineer…get it done. Whatever you need, come to me if there are delays or troubles"

"Yes Admiral" and the Quarren saluted, departing Merai's office as the Mon Calamari admiral good up from his desk, walking to the dura-glass screens looking into one of the algae and plant growing water tanks of the Star Destroyer model. The Independence-class were brand new, and very much copies of the Core Republics efforts into the designs…and it had worked as intended, as had the new model droid-fighters. Despite achieving as desired the fleet had taken damage, significant damage at that, and Merai did not trust lingering near Bothawui or other nearby systems. The Bothans had their own games going on, and the Mon Calamari had learned not to trust them overly much….

'Especially not with cutting edge technology such as this warship' he thought, calming himself by looking into the faux eco-system. He'd deliberately had his quarters near them, like in a true Mon Cala built vessel, now they bridge was within the hull rather than raised up. It did make sensors and visuals a bit less than desired, but it had increased survivability as promised. Nexus Ortai had been more a draw than a true victory as Mar Tuuk had withdrawn rather than risk taking heavy losses, likely having planned to renew the offensive with more ships after reinforcements arrived.

Merai frowned at his reflected image. Neither of them had gotten those reinforcements as the entire Confederacy collapsed into civil war, and, now, the former Republicans threatened to invade and reimpose their tyranny in this moment of weakness. The fall of Rodia was a severe problem, and Merai had watched the display of Not-Jedi-whatever destruction inflicted on pirates, rebels, and pirate Jedi by the Moff Stormcrow. Merai hadn't realised he was a powerful Force-user, even as a former Jedi, but, clearly, that was not the case. Rodia was a lynchpin of that entire OverSector, and he had no means to do anything about it. It was in invitation for open battle, a trap in truth, all while the so-called Empire spoke of peace.

'Peace…and we must pretend and limited the conflict' he thought angrily, as reports had Moff Zsinj at Bracca in full force, threatening the disputed territories near Milagro and Gamorr just by her presence. If the Imperials focused on fighting the other remnants of the Republic the situation would buy him, buy the Confederacy, time, but…entire sectors were potentially in play to the to the Galactic South-East and Spinward of Rodia. Local forces, under droid command were almost sure to respond, or local defence fleets by loyalists now cut off from direct control.

The Bothans would be egging such attempts on after all, as they felt threatened by such advances after all. He knew he could do nothing about it, his own control over those commands was badly in flux, with orders going through Bothawui, and they'd clearly been 'edited' on at least two occasions. They still had larger forces than the Imperials…but those forces were divided, and Merai wasn't sure how many were actually loyal, or, like many droids, neutral or hostile as their programming caused them to go slightly haywire and refuse to obey 'non-lawful orders'.

The Mon Calamari admiral wanted to punch the wall at that. No greater disaster than the one that they had created for themselves as he had to admit both themselves and the traitors had, technically, the same level of legitimacy under the Constitution. One that couldn't be fixed till they won the civil war. First though he had to decide in the next month whether to strike towards Onderon the long way, or towards relieving the siege at Mimban….

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[14 BBY]

['Sith Academy', Mon Cala/Dac, Mon Calamari System, Calamari Sector, The Slice, Outer Rim Territories]

Shaak Ti disliked being in this part of the 'campus' as her demented overlord liked to call it, nor the fact the Sith Lord had been succeeding of late with turning Artel into competent Sith. The fact that Dooku's former Acolyte had been a challenge in their recent spars under Kallig's direction ('referring' as he called it) meant that Shaak Ti had been forced to put more effort into her own training. And more effort put into ensuring she maintained that edge took away time for other tasks or plotting against the Sith Lord that still held her by chains or duty and compassion.

But today she was meeting with Darth Imperious for a 'sunset soiree' or some other nonsense. It was about something important, or having her opinion given, as she the Jedi Master had learned in the last few years of unofficial servitude. There was no escape, as word had come that Jedi…her comrades…her friends…called her Fallen, called a Dark Jedi, and, most importantly, called for her arrest at least, but most likely her death. A knight had tried to kill her only mere months ago…

'There is no Emotion, there is Peace'

She centred herself, calm and serene as she walked through the Dark filled building, past the saluting guards, and out into the disturbingly beautiful and serene feeling 'beach overlook garden'. The view here was lovely, with an actual private beach below, shielded and guarded out in the ocean, and Kallig was being himself right now, sitting about in a popular beachwear. Shaak Ti gave him a frowny-look as she came forward in her lightest Jedi robes, arms in her sleeves despite the heat of the day. Casual seeming or not, the Sith's lightsaber was in reach, his defences strong as ever. It was also frustrating that he expected her to try betraying him…because it made it near impossible to do so.

That and it rankled to be compared to a Sith in the situation and was why Shaak Ti was devoting what effort she could to ensuring his successes were at least maintain some measure of the Republic, and democracy, in this league of worlds. He smirked up at her from his seat, holding up a drink as he waved over the other darksider currently with them in the form of the other former servant of Count Dooku, and former Jedi Knight, Kadrian Sey. Who, right now, looked and felt mortified as the Zabrak came over with a tray, dressed in some skimpy looking beach-wear. Shaak Ti, raised an eyebrow.

"Did she lose a bet?"

"Yes…well, no, more a punishment for our proud little Acolyte here. That right Sey-Sey?"

The darksider flushed, standing respectfully though, holding the tray over her belly with both hands, flickering with mild anger, fear, and embarrassment "Ah, yes Lord Kallig, Lady Ti, that is so"

Shaak Ti sighed "What did you do?"

"Got overly emotional and tried to kill Artel….outside of a duel or permission from me. Temper tantrums do not fly with my training regime. Especially when Sey-Sey tried to swing at me afterwards" the red skinned Sith answered cheerfully for the zabrak fallen knight whose control was…bad still as her emotions betrayed her as Kallig slapped her buttocks. Then shook his head continuing "See? Needs work. Now, chop-chop Sey-Sey, get your betters the unopened bottle other there"

Shaak Ti watched the humiliated darksider head over to get said bottle "She could try to poison us"

"That'd be initiative" Darth Imperious mused sipping his drink, though Shaak Ti knew such efforts were unlikely to have even a tiny chance baring some very, very, rare and very, very, potent brew. And such things were monitored for constantly, as this nice, pleasant, area was well secured when it came down to the practical factors "Now, sit, we've talk-talk to talk"

She hummed at him, then removed her Jedi robe in an easy motion to stand in her own bathing suit, placing it on the chair she was to sit on ensuring her own lightsaber was at its best position if needed. Such games should be beneath her, but image and games were better to play with Kallig than combat….largely because he was her superior in them. To others looking out from the 'campus' she would seem just as at ease and confident as a rich coreworlder on some pleasure world, and that nothing important was being done beyond taking a break. The private screens blocked out words and lip-reading in the end, and Darth Imperious was a kriffer for wanting to talk about important things out in the open….but not really in the open.

Former Knight Sey placed the bottles on the table in a professional manner. Which was sad in some ways, as her emotional nature had led to her fall, and her rage and greed and led her here after being freed by Daron Stormcrow along with the dathomiri Saato. Shaak Ti wondered if she regretted coming here instead of staying with the Imperials as the other former Acolyte had done, watching the other stand just outside the now active privacy screen. Able to see both of them, and a summons by a hand gesture if wanted, but not able to hear or lip-read with the faint shimmer in the air. Shaak Ti took her silly fancy glass into hand as Kallig opened a bottle and offered it to her.

"So, my Lord?"

"Oh, can we not sit in the sun and enjoy happy bathing time!" he replied back, being his usual grating self "Why we can go skinny dippy later!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sure" she answered sarcastically as her glass was filled, and then another bottle opened and used on both of their glasses "Hmm, now, what did you actually want"

"You are no fun at times Shaak!" he smirked at her sitting back as he finished 'creating their drinks' and moving to sip the now shimmering and sparkling blue liquid "Why I wanted to talk about helping preserve democracy in the CIS! Like you wanted! Because Darth Impy always listens to his wise Jedi Master"

"Oh, of course you do" she answered with an eye role, taking a wary sip….and was pleasantly surprised it was sweet and bubbly tasting "Lee Char approached you too?"

"Yes, him and his admirals. Go-getters they are. Right too" was the reply, cheerful but she could see the calculation under the surface these days "Win us some points….secure the borders, smash pirates, all that good stuff"

He smiled "Also, good training for the trainees. Killing pirates is something we can all agree on!"

"True" she agreed despite not wanting "Though it is more arresting them"

"To be executed. That's usually what happened to the worst ones after Jedi arrest" he pointed out sipping away without a seeming care in the world "Now, Sey-Sey is also here for another reason you've guessed?"

Shaak Ti nodded "Rodia?"

"Rodia! Lovely place, terrible people" he answered "Also…someone with holocrons. Maybe. Possibly. Or ghosts….I wonder if he's been talking to Marr's ghost? Anywho, yes, that one. Need a bit of watching that one does. Like Siddy, and Robo-legs, and Belly…and others. But, yes, we need to put on a golly good show of our own! Can't fall behind in those rep-vids, now can we?"

Then chuckled, more seriously "That little show likely prevented anyone actually getting to be Mandalore on Mandalore while he lives. That's amusing. Useful but problematic"

Shaak Ti nodded "And you want to aid the…right side in the confederate civil war?"

"I'm following your advice my dearest, wisest, Jedi!" he replied and Shaak Ti now had to try figure out what his angle was so she could figure if she should be supporting it wholeheartedly or was this going to make things worse in some manner….

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