WotH Chpt 29

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 29 ==
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===Preserving the old ways for the Future===
September 11th, 3009/7948 CRC Serenno, Serenno system, D'Astan Sector, Outer Rim Territories
"This is not quite what I meant when I asked you to see if the Council would support me," Dooku looked at Yaddle as dockworkers began unloading crates of learning material, holocrons and other assorted goods that had been removed from Dantooine. "I did not set out to create my own Order."
 
"This is not a new Order as of yet," Yaddle replied. "But you know the history just as well as I do. The Order will be threatened again, and the Temple on Coruscant may fall. Should that happen, we will not only want Enclaves set aside to be hidden. But we will need a place of safety where we can begin to grow the Order again."
 
"And you believe that this is the way to go about that?" Dooku asked.
 
"Yes," Yaddle nodded as they began to walk into the palace complex. "The Old Ways are different from what we have today. But I believe they will have merit when applied to what is coming on the Horizon."
 
"Yes, I have seen it too," Dooku stroked his chin in thought. "War is coming, I do not know when, but when it does, I will stand ready."
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===Test Fire===
September 25th, 3009/7948 CRC Beloria System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories
 
"So, our first completed artillery piece rolls off of the line today," Peterson looks at the rest of the Marksman that had been left behind to safeguard the home base as well as the planet's senior officials. "We've got the most experience crew available on hand to make sure that the first test goes well."
 
"The Ballista has been around for over five hundred years," Peterson explained to those who didn't know the background. "We've had to break down some of our own piece by piece in order to manufacture more. So we're going to be testing and ensuring that every artillery piece and tank is tested and goes through quality control before we even attempt to sell it."
 
"Is there a reason why it is not mounted on repulsors?" The mayor of a local town asked.
 
"One, we're still testing to see if that is a workable idea or not. And two, treads offer a stability that many things don't. It's capable of moving through most terrain and can tow a trailer with extra ammunition if necessary."
 
"Yes, we understand," a representative of the ORSF stood up. "I'm here to see the test and verify that your product is worthwhile. So if we could accelerate this, it would be appreciated."
 
"Begin test with dummy rounds and then move through the arsenal," Peterson ordered, the comms system transmitting to the crew of the gun. "I don't want any of our ordnance left out."
 
The crew's spotter called out the coordinates and the crew adjusted the angle of the gun, a distant rumble as if from thunder echoing before the round came over the horizon to impact the designated target, throwing up a small steam of dirt into the air.
 
Then the crew reloaded the gun and opened fire, and putting the new equipment to the test, began firing as fast as they could load, the barrel of the artillery piece smoking as explosions cratered the field that was used for testing.
 
"A most impressive display," the ORSF rep smirked. "Let me know when you're ready to test the other vehicles. Our requisition officers will be in touch to acquire a small number of these Ballista. And should they prove to meet our needs, you can expect more regular purchases as well as a contract."
 
"I'll relay that information to Colonel Hull," Peterson shook the man's hand. "And I'll have a quote ready for you before your departure."
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===Change in Plans===
Coruscant
 
"I believe that we will need to slow down the rate of decay," Sidious looked over the information that he had available as he drew in the Dark Side of the Force. "We have pushed the Galaxy too close to the edge, and the conflict, should it happen now will not be controlled by those who I desire."
 
"I can begin pulling the strings of several senators," Mas Amedda agreed. "Eriadu's power bloc has been weakened in the core and strengthened in regards to the Outer and Mid Rim as of late."
 
"Hmm," Sidious considered as he looked at a map of the galaxy. "With Dooku out of reach at the moment, we must consider alternatives."
 
"There are few withing the Trade Federation and others that are charismatic enough to take on the mantle of a separatist movement."
 
"They exist," Sidious smirked. "They just need to be… nudged in the right direction."
 
"Such movements will need to be subtle. And may take years."
 
"The Grand Plan has no time constraints," Sidious waved off his ally. "We have the time to ensure that the Republic collapses in the way that I envision."
 
"I shall direct the Banking Clans to begin pulling back," Amedda nodded. "But their trust has been shattered in the Outer Rim."
 
"Then it will ensure that the tension begins to rise. And when all is ready, we shall topple the Jedi Order and the Republic."
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===Racing for Fun===
Mandalore
 
"You're pretty good at this, Kid," a shorter man patted Anakin on the shoulder. "You ever consider trying to find a sponsorship to go pro? Swoop bike races are big money around here."
 
"Maybe in the future," Anakin smiled. "For now I just enjoy the hobby."
 
"Well, the drinks are on me after the amount of money you won me these past few weeks," the bike owner grinned. "Come on, I know just the place."
 
Anakin followed the small group into a hole in the wall. Dancers were hidden behind an opaque holographic field, and the bar was full of the racers from the day.
 
"To the kid!" the first racer raised a glass, the rest following suit.
 
"Come on, you've gotta tell me how you knew to take that jump," one of them leaned in. "Even my old man wouldn't have tried that in the old days before things went to hell."
 
"I just went with my instincts," Anakin replied with a shrug. "It's what I've been told since I started racing."
 
"Well, they serve you well," they laughed. "So, what brings a nonnative to our Swoop tracks?"
 
"I'm circulating the different circuits to see what I like best," Anakin sighed. "It's illegal in the core in many places, and I've heard rumors that it was about to be outlawed here on Mandalore."
 
"Not yet," a man slammed his drink down angrily before signaling for a refill. "Not that it'll stop the Duchess from trying. And don't even get me started on the Death Watch. If you're not a warrior you're not one of them."
 
"Kriff," Anakin shook his head. "Seems like racing is a dying sport everywhere than."
 
"I hate to give credit to those bastards on Eriadu, but they've got their heads on straight," another Mandalorian said to groans from the rest of the table. "You know I'm right. They might be our old enemies, but they didn't try to get rid of their military, and we all know that they never got rid of their racing circuits."
 
As the table devolved into an argument that the group seemed to have had on more than one occasion, Anakin slipped out of the cantina and put his hood up before making his way back to the palace under the cover of darkness.
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Chapter 29