[4 BBY]
[Conference Room, Command Deck, Imperial Navy M-series Heavy Battlecruiser (formerly Mandator II-class Star Dreadnought Indominable) Lightbringer, Hammer of Light Taskforce, Imperial Navy Fifth Fleet (the Army of Light) in orbit Bakura, Bakura System, Bakura Sector, Wild Space, United Federal Empire]
"Gentlebeings, be seated, let us begin" I stated, entering in the conference room with Tionne in tow, moving to take my own seat at the circular table "Unseal the order packs placed before you and we shall implement the emperor's commands in this campaign season"
Because it wasn't just a campaign out here on the borders of the Unknown Regions. No, it'd been a decade and a half's worth of constant raids, counter-raids, retaliation campaigns, and various other operations that all bled together year on year. Grysk, Vaagari, Ebruchi, to name the three of the largest on and off problems since the Galactic Republic fell apart and the Empire rose up to implement order and security here in the Outer Rim. Let alone the war on standard piracy that had been the expected long, miserable, affair as all such operations tended to be throughout history. Part counterinsurgency, part hunting remnants of the Palpatine's forces, and another part dealing with what were effectively privateers, even if no one called them that officially.
Unofficially of course both the New Republic and various Confederate successor states were judged highly likely to be supporting our enemies out here…just as we were doing in other sectors of space on the other side of the coin. Our, my, current target was judged by both Naval Intelligence AND the ISA to be one such, Confederate, sponsored thorn in our side. Whether by the Trade Federation, the Droids, remnant Confederacy, or all three wasn't known, but, regardless it was something we had a window to deal with now. Even if it was a short window, roughly six months, it was one I'd take as I got to wield the heavy hammer of Fifth Fleet relatively freely for that time period. So, I gave a minute in silence as packs were unsealed with thumbprints, then summaries quickly read, before speaking after activating the campaign map.
"Now that we are all caught up" I paused, ensuring there was no objections, before pressing the displays again, indicating fleet composition "As you've all no doubt been aware from our recent fleet operations, working up schedules and the like, we are to go on a limited offensive into the Unknown Regions. That offensive is Operation Flotsam. Its target is the so-called Dark Worlds cluster and the world of Skye, and, more particularly, the person of Zeta Magnus and his primary fleet and cloning facilities. Conquest is not the goal, other than limited operations towards bringing Skye truly into the Imperial fold. Rather our focus is destruction of these targets, ideally, or at the very least inflicting sufficient damage upon Magnus's faction to cripple his and others operations against Terminus, Lipsec, and even into the Greater Javin Region"
It was Commodore Pellaeon who asked the first question as I fell silent having outline the bare details, though it was after about ninety seconds as immediate summaries and displays were studied "How confident is NI on these details for Warlord Magnus Admiral?"
"Both ISA and NI are confident of their findings" I answered with a nod "Furthermore such activity is supported by scouting efforts over the last forty-two months and analysis of sensor feeds. All indications are that that Magnus's domain is more organised that believed till now, and that it has served as a springboard for both degrading attacks on our sensor nets, as well as suspected terrorist operations in recent years. Even if he wasn't…there is enough confirmation of clone military facilities that his hostility towards us can no longer be tolerated. Not with the increasing issues with the so-called Resistance Coreward. Imperial High Command wishes the border quietened for now, and this is our best option for doing so"
Commodore Sato, another human, spoke next, nodding to himself almost as he studied the hard copy information packet before him "This will be a very high tempo campaign Admiral, especially on the starfighter pilots. It is very much evocative of Operations Half-Moon and Shadow-dance, and those, ultimately, were retaliatory and defensive operations"
I could but nod at that "Yes, and significantly more resources are being allocated for this operation in comparison to those. Ideally our foes will draw similar conclusions as it is intended to mask our actual strike missions till occur, as well as allow deployment of hidden depots and sensors to replace losses taken during the Grysk last bout of activity. So, sadly, yes, the tempo will be high, as we have a limited window of opportunity before we will have to readopted a more defensive and reactive strategy"
"That…" Commodore Pellaeon agreed after a moment, glancing around the table "That and the more delays suffered the more likely they become aware your squadron, let alone this warship and other heavies, are activity on the border once more?"
"Indeed Commodore" I agreed firmly, hands together on the table "Most believe I am either at New Haven, aboard the Stormcrow, or Rattatak, attending my Lady Ventress now that her pregnancy has been announced…or should be by now. Or that the Lightbringer, let alone with several of the Hammerhead II-class Heavy Cruisers are in fact crewed and combat ready rather than finishing in spacedock. We make use of this window, or not at all. Therefore within the next two standard weeks the Imperial Starfighter Corps is going to be very busy. I am now opening the table to operational concerns and feedback…"
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[4 BBY]
[Marcanto Luxury Cantina & Waystation, CorpSec Business District, Cerulea City, Etti IV, Etti System, Interesction of Four Trade Routes, Corporate Sector, Confederacy of Independent Systems (je jure), 11th Droid Defence Forces Sector (de facto)]
"Your drink Sir"
"Thank you" Antinnis Tremayne said to the blue-skinned waiter as the said waiter who had placed his drink upon the scanner-mat, waving the person off with a calm smile. An actual one at that, though not at anything the near human had done, or that his drink was 'clean' of any threats, for business was at hand as the waiter placed the other drinks one by one at the other guests. Five in total, and two were outright gangsters despite currently being well dressed for the moment, with the others were barely a step above…while two Antinnis's guards stood flanking the table, and two more 'mingling' at the bar far less obviously. Expensive, considering the standards of the place, but he hadn't gotten to where he was by making cheap mistakes. Not since the Clone Wars stage of the grand galactic conflict anyway.
"Now my friends" he said politely as he took his drink in hand, placing down a scrambler on the table and activating it with a finger press. The Force wasn't shouting any warnings, but you could never be too careful "I do believe we have some business to discuss"
"Not that it is entirely required by some of us" one of the two females at the table said, a beauty, albeit a dangerous one, by the name of Alara Fax as she shook her glass ever so faintly to clink the ice in the glass for emphasis. Subtle, but Antinnis was used to such things, even without the Force, and he flicked his own hair in emphasis of his own good looks as she continued "I have already acquired the mining rights I might point out"
"In Imperial territory yes" he pointed out sipping his own dark crimson drink, then motioning at her with the elegant gold rimmed glass "But not shipping licences, nor access to Confederate markets. Neither of which are easily gotten I might add"
"Which you have"
He smiled at her tone "Yes, for…services rendered to the Confederacy during the civil war, and with the Imperials just by good business. We are all here about pooling, and therefore diversifying, our assets…and risk"
'And legitimising funds most importantly' he very carefully did not point out, but the point was clear nonetheless. While various resources were on the table amongst the various parties, the truth was it was very much dirty credits right now, and legitimising it was but one, albeit major, part of this plan. Ploovo Two-for-One especially had funds, but limited means of converting it into anything outside of the remnant here, or, if he was more ambitious, within the other droid-army pockets. Things were, almost, stable now in the galaxy, but it was a lull between storms as well as an opportunity.
"Strange for a Jedi"
He shrugged "Jedi padawan, a child at the time in truth, and Dooku's goons were not kind. But when the Count got his head removed, and fighting broke out…well, my skills were useful, and valuable"
He saluted Mister Karrede with his drink "Opportunity called, and I, as ever, took what was offered. Returning to the Core was not a pleasant consideration afterwards"
Alara Fax chuckled "I'd imagine not! Not want to be monk on Correlia? Or register with the New Republic?"
"It seemed bad for my health at the time" Anntinnis admitted with a hum, nor did he mention his minor research into some of aspects of the Dark Side. At the time at least, such matters were more carefully handled now "And with the current environment of the New Republic I feel very much not patriotic enough for such a calling…oh, and yes; the life of a Jedi is far less appealing than it was in my youth. Best to keep options open in the Confederacy and the Empire I say"
'Even if they both have terrifyingly dangerous individuals running playing enforcers AND Jedi Orders' he mused to himself with another sip. Neither of which he wanted to commit too, even they didn't force Force Sensitives into the Jedi or whatever nonsense Registration was for the New Republic, in case of the wars he saw coming eventually. The Dark Council 'advising' the CIS now was certainly intimidating, as was the Imperial Inquisition, so Antinnis wanted a few years between himself and prior activities to ensure he did not run afoul of their likes. Better to have friends in several places, and then being able to sail to wherever the best port in the storm was in the future.
He waved it off "That aside, I do have several old military transports now, and droid crews, so transporting your medical supplies might be very profitable. If properly managed"
Miss Fax made a false sigh, mildly annoyed but hiding it well "Ah, ruining my surprises! Are you planning on discouraging?"
"No, I admire the ambition, and merely believe it should be part of our new venture. Between our various resources there are funds, ships, customers, and contacts to do it profitably and legitimately" he paused a moment for emphasis "Within the borders of the states our licences are for. Incorporating here and within Hutt space"
They grasped his meaning, as they had to be careful, even here, with how they spoke. Alara nodded, admitting defeat, and focusing on her ambitions "That is acceptable from my position. Now, terms and conditions…"
Antinnis smiled faintly, the mood right to his Force senses, pushing forward with a way to continue to elevate himself to ever greater heights, free of serving others. The future of the galaxy might be dark at times, but he could make it bright for himself if he continued to seize opportunities even in the darker times…
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