WotH-2 Chpt 9

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 9 / Book 2==
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
===Resolving Standing Issues===
Location: Beloria, Independent world
"I'm going to be turning in my Lightsaber," Siri and I sat around my small dining room table. "While I have sided with Count Dooku lately, I have not officially left the Order."
 
"You don't have to do that," I offered. "I understand that this won't be the same sort of relationship that I had previously."
 
"No," Siri shook her head. "It would be wrong of me to remain in the order when I have violated one of its tenants."
 
"It's not against the code to be married or have a family, Siri," I replied, sipping at my coffee. 
 
"All the same," she sipped at her coffee. "I will not wander the galaxy while being heavily pregnant or having someone to return to every night. And while the Code may not say anything about marriage or love, the current beliefs of the Council and the majority of the Order would likely have them cast me out regardless of any arguments that I would make."
 
"It's your decision," I shrugged. "And it's not like I don't have a replacement for your lightsaber if you want to swap the crystals between them."
 
Siri reached out a hand and called said lightsaber to her hand, her thumb finding the switch and igniting the violet blade with a snap-hiss!
 
"It is not quite the same as mine," she examined the length of the blade, the warm hum filling the air when she moved it. "But, this would serve as an adequate replacement until I built a new saber."
 
"You'll be heading to Coruscant then?" I asked. 
 
"Yes," Siri said, deactivating the lightsaber and handing it to me. "I have a few things to do before I return."
 
"I'll be waiting," I replied. "But I might not be on Beloria when you return."
 
"Striking back against the Trade Federation." Siri nodded. 
 
"I'm not going to be in the field on this one," I tapped the table. "I'm going to be coordinating the attack from orbit."
 
"Then I suppose we should get moving," she stood up and grabbed her cloak.
 
"Yeah," I stood and hugged her, gently kissing her forehead. "I'm not sure I like us having to separate so soon, though."
 
"Your sense of duty and responsibility is one of the things that drew me to you," Siri looked up into my eyes. "Do not lose it now."
 
"Let's get you to your ship then," I gently kissed her lips and helped her into her cloak. "The faster we both resolve our projects, the better."
----
===Mission Briefing - Operation Pedestal===
Date: May 27, 3017 AD/27.05.7956 CRC (Coruscant Reckoning Calendar)Location: Beloria, Independent world
"When's the ceremony," Jack Sheppard grinned at me as he entered the briefing room.
 
"Ceremony's after we finish our next job," I replied. "Now, take your seats; we need to get started on this."
 
The two of us waited as the remainder of the command staff entered the room and began taking their seats. 
 
"Alright, listen up!" I stood up. "We're going to make this as quick and dirty as possible. I'd hate to kill all of you with a PowerPoint."
 
The staff chuckled, and I gestured for Sheppard to hand out the plans.
 
"Next month, we begin OPERATION: PEDESTAL," I looked around the room. "While Neimoidia is not the current capital of the Trade Federation, it is still considered one of their most important worlds and is decently defended."
 
I clicked, and an image of the planet and the spade around it appeared. 
 
"Our goal is twofold," Sheppard took over the next part. 
 
"One, we're going to destroy the fleet defending Neimoidia in detail," Sheppard nodded at Commodores Victoria Jewel and Kaylee Frye. "The second is to invade and strip the planet of any and all factories dedicated to the supply of war materials to the Trade Federation."
 
"Rendili's supposed to have quite a few ships ready for us by the middle of next month," I clicked over to an image of the ships in question. "Assuming that they managed to stick to the deadlines, then we managed to get another dozen Stings. They'll be operating as escorts for the new Inhibitor-Class battleships and Gladius-Class cruisers we're testing out."
 
"I wasn't aware we'd licensed the Sting out," Hober commented.
 
"We're going to be treating them as gunboats," Jewel nodded at the newly promoted Commander. "Congrats on your promotion, Hober; you're now in charge of all the Stings used in your AO."
 
"Inhibitor." Kaylee's brow furrowed in thought. "That's the class based on our Leviathan?" 
 
"Yup," I nodded. "According to the information I've got, the crew requirements and control schemes are nigh identical to the Leviathan. We should be able to acclimate rather quickly."
 
"Anyway, in-depth planning is to be conducted by the individual unit commanders," Sheppard glanced at each of those COs. "You have a week to assemble your operational plans based on what intel we can get. We'll approve or tweak things as we get closer to the invasion. Now, are there any questions?"
 
"Are we planning on an occupation?" Peterson glanced at the rough notes he'd jotted down. 
 
"No," I shook my head. "We're sending a message, not dealing with insurgencies."
 
"Good," he gave a sigh of relief. "I'd hate to get bogged down like that."
 
"You and me both, brother." Sheppard nodded in agreement.
 
"I assume my marines are to act as usual," Major Paige grinned.
 
"Pretty much," Jewel replied. "Have some of your people on standby for boarding actions if we spot an opening, but aside from that, simply stay on defense."
 
"Anything else critical that needs to be drawn attention to? I asked
 
"Where are we getting the crews for these new ships?" Kaylee asked. "I've got training cadres, but not enough to fill the personnel requirements for this many new ships."
 
"We're shifting the Gozantis down to system defense only," I replied. "And stripping them down to skeleton crews."
 
"That's still only enough to crew half of the ships you've got listed here," Kaylee flipped through the printout. "So what aren't you telling us yet?"
 
"The CIS has paid us to conduct 'Training cruises' for their new navy personnel," I confessed. "They're all green. But people like Representative Clay still wanted to support us, even if they couldn't do it publicly."
 
"I'm pretty sure I saw him publicly supporting us, " Mathis said. "He's not a silent individual on shit like this."
"No, but the others allied with him are mostly quiet," I responded. "But that said, the crews will be made up of CIS personnel that we'll be training on the new systems in real scenarios before transferring them back to the Confederacy Navy. And we're boosting recruitment for our own space-bound forces as well. Expect promotions and lots of training to come over the next month. We're about to be very busy people. How we handle this going forward will cement our reputation in the galaxy, whether for good or ill. Now, you're all dismissed. Take your time and put together solid plans. I want this slow and smooth."
-----
<<Previous Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 2-9