WotH Chpt 39

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 39==
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===Dispatching Salvaging Teams===
"Records and markings ID that as the Katana," the sensors officer reported. "What are your orders, Colonel?"
 
"Have our Marines suit up, I want us prepped for full NBC warfare," the Colonel glanced at the Jedi Knight that had limped onto the bridge. "I'd recommend you stay in the med bay until the Corpsman releases you. But I recognize that you're not technically a part of my Chain of Command."
 
"I would like to watch the proceedings from the Bridge," Siri stated. "I will not ask for more than that as I am not yet recovered enough."
 
"I own the ship," Colonel Hull shrugged. "But I'm not her captain."
 
"If the Corpsman clears it, I will allow it," the captain finally sighed after a moment's thought. "And Colonel, I don't think that you should be going onto the Katana until it has been cleared."
 
"Looks like you're going to have two guests on the bridge then," Hull shrugged. "I'm perfectly willing to let Paisley's experts do their job."
 
"Then we get to monitor everything else," the captain sat in his chair and strapped himself in. "Archon's Favor, I want you to get close, see if we can get the bay doors open and those marines deployed."
 
"Aye, sir!" Hober's cheery voice replied. "Moving to engage in salvage operations."
 
"Sting, I want you to start patrolling the area, there's no telling what kind of scavengers might be in the area."
 
"We'll light up the void if there are any orcs around," the pilot chuckled. "Beginning patrol, Messenger."
 
"And now we wait," Colonel Hull leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a minute. "The worst part of being the CO of any operation. Waiting to see if it's a success."
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===Surprised Inspection===
Count Dooku's Palace, Serenno
 
"Master Yoda," Dooku greeted his old Master as the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order descended down the ramp of a Consular Class cruiser. "What a pleasant surprise."
 
"Hmm," Yoda grunted. "Disgruntled you have become in your old age."
 
"Disgruntled," Dooku chuckled. "Master, I haven't become disgruntled. I've merely decided to do what needs to be done. I am tired of the state of things in the Republic, the corruption has gone on long enough."
 
"So become a Jedi Lord you have, Hmm?" Yoda asked his gimmer stick at the ready.
 
"Jedi Lord," Dooku full-on laughed. "I didn't even want to be elected to this position. Much less have to fill this seat. But now that I am here, I will see it through."
 
"Come to inspect the Jedi that has come to you, I have." Yoda finally said, his gimmer stick easing back. "Learnt much, it seems you have."
 
"There comes a time when one must look back on the legacy that they are leaving behind," Dooku sighed, seemingly aging as he somewhat lost his regal bearing for a moment. "I am honoring Qui-Gon in this. No matter how much we disagreed, we both were aware of the faults of the Republic. I would be dishonoring him if I did nothing. Just as his padawan would be dishonoring him if he did not honor his request to train young Skywalker."
 
"Refused to meet them, I heard," Yoda sat down on a nearby stool as Dooku settled into a chair.
 
"I did no such thing," the Count shook his head. "I had duties and responsibilities and told the two of them that it would take time for me to take care of such things before speaking with them."
 
"Stubborn, Kenobi is," Yoda smirked. "Remind me of another youngling, he does."
 
"I have looked over Kenobi's records," Dooku's eyes narrowed. "He has always been a promising Jedi. That Qui-Gon was willing to throw him to the side shamed me in many ways. Had I been present I would have taken him on to be my own apprentice."
 
"Know this, he does not," Yoda mused. "Think you consider Qui-gon and he failures, he does."
 
"I disagreed with my padawan," the taller man sighed. "I never considered him a failure, no matter our disagreements."
 
"Brought the two of them, I did," Yoda closed his eyes and stretched out in the force to sense the others. "Reconnect, you should. Speak of what we have spoken of to Obi-Wan, you must."
 
"And where will you be going?" The Count asked.
 
"Changing, the Galaxy is," Yoda smirked. "Long time, it has been since I journeyed to the Outer Rim. Speak with Yaddle and Faye, I must."
 
"Just don't let her rope you into those sessions she has," Dooku chuckled. "You'll be shackled to a table for hours."
 
"Go now," Yoda closed his eyes. "Meditate I must. While you speak with other younglings, yes?"
 
"I suppose that my schedule is free enough to spend some time sparring with the two of them," Dooku stroked his beard. "But our conversations are not yet over, master."
 
"Speak later, we will rest now, we must."
 
"Insufferable gremlin," Dooku muttered after the door slid shut. "Now I have to clear my schedule, otherwise he will find a way to make me regret it."
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===Investigating the bowels of a Ghost Ship===
Command & Control Center, Dreadnought Class Heavy Cruiser, Katana
"Bay seems kinda messed up," the Fireteam leader said, the comms package sending his helmet cam footage directly to the Messenger's comms station. "It looks like some of the people went a bit crazy here."
 
"Does any of our intel actually tell us what happened to the people?" One Marine asked as he poked a corpse.
 
"Negative, you're going to want to keep your helmets sealed and let the Corpsmen take a look at anything before we lift the NBC procedures."
 
"Copy that, Messenger," the NCO responded. "You hear that, Hober? You don't get to come adventuring with us this time."
 
"Fine by me," the pilot chuckled. "I'd rather not get bitten by a zombie or anything, I've seen that vid."
 
"Zombie Kerensky isn't real," a marine snarked. "We all know that the old man died."
 
"Sure, but I wasn't talking about those B-flick vids," Hober sighed. "Never mind, just let me know when it's all clear."
 
"Wilco. Fireteam Alpha, I want you to move to the reactor, and make sure that it's secure, Fireteam Bravo, you make sure that we've got secure corridors between the bridge and engine room. Charlie, we're taking the bridge. Which is conveniently located in the fuckin' middle of the ship."
 
"You mean some people actually can build and design something without an exposed CIC?" a voice asked sarcastically.
 
"Well, there had to be someone sane in the galaxy," the NCO laughed. "But not too many of them, otherwise we'd be out of work."
 
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Bridge of the Messenger
Knight Tachi looked around the bridge of the Messenger as the different screens showed different fireteam views.
 
"Are they always like this?" She asked the Colonel.
 
"No, sometimes they're worse." Hull laughed. "They're nervous, and it's a ghost ship. If they're laughing and messing with each other then they're alert enough to fight anything that shows up."
 
"They are your men," Tachi shrugged. "I merely do not understand why they speak to their comrades in this way."
 
"You and a couple of Knights that you trained with are willing to joke with each other, right?" Hull asked. "This is the same, only we don't get some space magic to cool our nerves, so we do it the old-fashioned way. With good-natured teasing and messing with each other."
 
Siri nodded and turned her gaze to the screens, the squads had found something interesting…
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===Headlines/News Interlude 2===
"Breaking! Confederacy of Independent Systems finds the lost Katana Fleet begins refitting them for patrolling the hyperlanes! Republic scrambles to respond!" –Holonet News Network
 
"Republic Senate attempts to send Judicial Forces to reclaim the Fleet, claiming 'It was built for the Republic, and so it still belongs to them.'" –Coruscant Information Network
 
"Mercenary leader Colonel Hull is summoned to speak before the Senate!" –HNN
 
"Rendili Stardrive offers to assist in repairing any damages the Katana Fleet suffered," –Business Insiders
 
"The Honorable Colonel Hull is attacked by assassins, no word on his survival as of yet. When asked questions, his Second in Command had this to say. 'We're currently conducting our own investigation. Rest assured that the Marksman will continue to hold to any contracts they've signed." –Outer Rim Publications
 
Confederacy of Independent Systems begins patrolling hyperlanes at unprecedented levels, Bringing Piracy in many sectors of the Outer Rim to a low not seen in centuries! Governor Tarkin is working with them to ensure coverage continues." –Eriadu General News
"Republic Senate is at a deadlock as the Trade Federation increases rates among the Core!" –Business Insiders
 
"Core Worlds begin rearming programs, with Planetary Defense fleets increasing due to the CIS threat," –Coruscant Information Network
 
"Jedi Order refuses to comment on Jedi leaving Coruscant for the Outer Rim!" –HNN
 
"Colonel Hull speaks at the Senate, causing more Mid Rim worlds hang in the balance between the CIS and the Republic!" –Outer Rim Publications.
 
"Ryloth unlawfully votes to secede from the Republic despite protests from their Senator!" –Coruscant Information Network
 
"Kuat, Rendili and other ship manufacturers begin increasing production, skilled worker pool diminishes as shipyards take on more employees." – Business Insiders
 
"Tensions rise between the Outer and Core worlds. The galaxy stands on the verge of war!" –Eriadu General News
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Chapter 39