WotH Chpt 43

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 43==
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===Reverent Invasion===
Date: January 11, 3015/11.01.7954CRC
Location: En Route to Karthakk system
"We managed to trace the starfighters and lone ship used to attack us at Belovia to the Lok Revenants," I looked out over the command staff. "When we're finished, I don't want any remnants of these 'Revenants' escaping.
 
We're bringing the Leviathan to blockade the system with the upgrades we've made as long as she's operational, they won't be able to leave.
 
Now, Commodore Jewel will be in charge of the space battle while I bring in our forces to take out what they have on the ground.
 
Official documentation and orders have been sent to your datapads, review, revise, and submit your own operational plans by the end of the week," I stared at some of the junior officers. "Any questions?"
 
"Just one, sir," a hand was raised by a Second Lieutenant. "Aren't these guys against the Trade Federation?"
 
"Just because we have one common enemy doesn't make them our friends," Sheppard took over. "The Lok Revenants and their friends the Mere Resistance have been harassing every hyper lane they can reach. They just kicked out the Federation so they didn't have any local opposition."
 
"Now, you've got your orders, and we've got a plan, but remember that plans can and will change when we get to the battlefield, so remain flexible and listen to your senior officers, dismissed."
 
As the different officers peeled out of the briefing room to head back to their units, a lone man remained behind.
 
"Colonel Hull." he saluted when I acknowledged him.
 
"Lieutenant Sturn," I read the rank insignias and his nametag. "Is there something I can help you with?"
 
"No sir," He replied. "But there is something I can help you with."
 
"And what might that be?"
 
"I operated in this area until I joined up with the Marksman," the Mandalorian explained. "I know of a few ways they might try to leave from if we don't block them off."
"You're in command of one of the Gozanti's correct?" I asked.
"Yessir," he replied. "I brought my own ship with me when I joined up, but it's in the refit yards at the moment."
 
"Get this information to the Commodore," I waved Victoria Jewel over. "You'll want to hear this."
 
"I'm all ears, Commander." she turned her attention to the other officer.
 
"Well, if we can pull up a map of the system, I can point out a few of the routes that the locals use to mess with any potential enemies they might face. We're not the first group to try and take them down, and unless we do it right, we'll end up surrounded. We might have the edge in both skill and firepower, but there are a lot of them, ma'am, and I don't want us to end up pinched in a trap due to bad intel."
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===Dark Side Plotting for the Future===
Date: January 21, 3015/21.01.7954 CRC
Location: Republica 500, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic
"This.. was not what I expected," Palpatine sighed as he looked at the latest reports Amedda had handed him. "They were supposed to be led to the Republic, not to another band of pirates."
 
"It seems that the ones that picked up the contract were based out of the Karthakk system," Amedda replied. "And that they overestimated their chances of success."
 
"We shall now have to contend with Corellia making a fuss," Palpatine sighed again. "They will be extremely belligerent now that they are no longer able to fence goods from the pirates that they allowed to plague the nearby hyperlanes."
 
"Will that not further your plans to set the Confederacy against the Republic?" Amedda asked.
 
"Indeed it does." The chancellor mused. "I must speak with the High Council and the Senate, there is much to set in motion."
 
As soon as Palpatine finished speaking the doors to his office burst open to reveal an obese Twi'lek waddling into the room flanked by two gorgeous aids.
 
"Chancellor, we must do something!" Orn Free Taa gasped for breath. "Ryloth is declaring their independence as we speak, and are about to join the Confederacy."
 
"Of course," a grandfatherly smile appeared on Palpatine's face. "We must call a meeting of the Senate immediately to address this issue. It is most dreadful. To think that they would ignore their own representative, unthinkable."
 
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===Two years===
"When you were put on loan to me from Colonel Hull, I did not expect this." Dooku glanced up and down at the Twi'lek that was attempting to look innocent in front of him. "You weren't supposed to actually bring Ryloth to the Confederacy. You were to begin sounding them out to see where they would lean."
 
"While I would like to claim the credit for this," Sienn smirked. "I can't. I really was just performing basic intel gathering ops on the slaving rings that were being run out of Ryloth."
 
"Then how did we end up with this?" Dooku gestured towards the hologram showing breaking news from all of the major networks.
 
"Some of the Marksman that only served their four year term decided to go back home." she shrugged. "Turns out that once they had a taste of what being treated properly was that they didn't want to leave others languishing there."
 
"So I have Hull to blame for this?" the Count raised his eyebrow.
 
"Not really," she shook her head as she glanced down at a ring that lay on her left hand. "Ryloth was already halfway on this path, and they were sick of that fat slob Taa claiming to represent them and then turning his back on the slaving rings that were being run behind his back."
 
"I have no further questions," the old Jedi Master sighed. "You may return to your lover."
 
"Two more years," Dooku laid his head on his cool desk after the woman had left. "That's all that I have to endure and then I get to retire, two more years of this nonsense."
 
"Head of State," a secretary knocked on the door. "There's a representative from Rendili Stardrive here to speak with you as well as a group from someplace named Zonama Sekot."
 
"Send them in," Dooku sighed. "Two years," he muttered. "Two long years."
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Chapter 43