WotH Chpt 42

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 42==
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===Sibling Chat===
Date: December 14, 3014/14.12.7953CRC
Location: Unknown
"Y'know, dad wouldn't exactly approve of all this," the man sighed as his sister tossed some extra belongings into a duffle bag.
 
"Dad wanted us to retire, Jacen. But we both know that if we stay in retirement that we'll end up just wasting away here," she paused at the mask hanging over a lamp before running her fingers over it and setting it down gently in the top of her bag.
 
"He wouldn't have wanted us to get involved in the first place, Satele," Jacen kneaded his temples. "If the Order finds out that we're alive, it'll cause all sorts of problems."
 
"The time of the Jedi Lords is past, little brother," Satele Shan (The Second) ruffled her little brother's head. "But we both know that it's time to come out of hiding."
 
"Look, sis." he helped her pack some things away, a spare lightsaber tossed casually into a hidden compartment along with a handful of holdout blasters and a small slugthrower. "I'm not the one that spent time exploring all of the old sites and communing with our ancestors. I've just done the adventuring along the Outer Rim."
 
"Exactly," Satele grinned. "And that's why we're both needed for this. You know the Outer Rim better than I do. And I know the Dark Side and how it influences more than you do. We both know that the CIS is the best thing to happen to this section of the galaxy in a long time. They're going to need our help."
 
"They've got billions of sentients," Jacen slung his pack over his shoulder. "They don't need two washed-up, has-been Jedi descendants."
 
"Look," Satele paused on her way out the door. "If you wanna stay in retirement, then be my guest. But I'm taking the spare gear."
 
"I do want to stay in retirement," Jacen replied. "But I don't want you to leave without anyone to watch your back."
 
"I've got T3," Satele shrugged. "I should be fine."
 
"Look, I still disagree with having given him the HK subroutines in the first place," Jacen locked the door to the hut behind him, a small force field descending over it. "You know that."
 
"So you're coming with, then?" Satele tapped her thumb and a small ship began its descent from where it had been waiting.
 
"Yeah, I'm coming with," Jacen fiddled with the death stick in his hands. "Force knows you need someone to watch your back."
 
"Good." Satele turned and stuck her tongue out before grabbing the mask out of her bag and tugging it down over her face before pulling the hood up.
 
"You're not Revan, sis," Jacen sighed and shook his head. "I don't know why you obsess over the mask like that."
 
"It's cool." she shrugged. "Besides, it's not like you ever use it."
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===Dark Side Plotting for the Future===
Date: December 20, 3014/20.12.7953 CRC
Location: Republica 500, Coruscant, Coruscant System, Corusca Sector, Galactic Republic
"What few reports we have indicate that the Colonel was injured by one of the assassins and bounty hunters that were after him," Mas Amedda slid the report over to Darth Sidious. "It seems to have mobilized his mercenary unit into a frenzy as they look to retaliate against whoever ordered the hit."
 
"Good," the Sith Lord smirked. "It will set the Republic against the Confederacy even more, and push us onward in this path. I have foreseen it."
 
"And if it gets traced back to the Republic and to us?" Amedda asked.
 
"It will not," Sidious replied. "I have ensured that the trail ends with certain pacifist movements if they should manage to get that far."
 
"And what of the Jedi? What will their response be?" Amedda raised what passed for an eyebrow."There have been arrangements made to weaken them and ensure that there is no trust between the public and their order," he smirked. "All will come to fruition in time, and nothing shall stand in our way."
 
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===Jedi Stance in coming crisis===
"Spent time with Dooku we have," Yoda sat on his seat in the Council chambers while Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin stood before the assembled Jedi Council. "Assured that he has not fallen to the Dark Side, I am."
 
"And what of his stance against the Republic?" Windu raised his eyebrow at Obi-Wan.
 
"It is well reasoned and logical," Kenobi stroked his beard. "Once the Confederacy has firmly established itself he intends on stepping down from his elected position and returning to Serenno to live out the remainder of his days."
 
"I believed he was intending to reestablish the Jedi Lords," Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi stated. "It is a relief to hear that he is not."
 
"And what of the mercenaries that he hires and makes use of? They concern me in other ways," Shaak Ti leaned forward in her chair. "These mercenaries seem content to utilize Twi'leks and Torguta to further their agenda."
 
"The ones we encountered were there of their own volition," Anakin was finally allowed to speak up. "And many seemed to enjoy their work."
 
"We will investigate these Marksman further," Windu finally stated. "Master Ti, you will head a small unit to begin this, see to it that they are indeed what they say they are."
 
"Now, onto other matters," Windu changed the subject. "Where do we now stand on the Separatist systems?"
 
"If I may," Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke up. "We must remain neutral, if we take a side, then war will soon follow."
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===Homecoming===
Location: Beloria
"I'm home!" Kit Sturn called out as he entered the door.
 
"Dad!" two of his kids rushed him at the door and began holding onto his legs as his wife rounded the corner with a toddler in hand.
 
"Well, it seems that someone's glad to see me," Kit picked up his daughter and threw her over his shoulder while pulling his son up to his chest.
 
"Now, I'm not sure what this "Christmas" holiday is," Kit grinned as he carried two-thirds of his family around. "But we're going to enjoy every minute of it."
 
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"Why did they let you come home early?" Sara asked once the children were in bed.
 
"I'm being deployed," the Mandalorian sighed. "A lot of us are being pulled for this op."
 
"They're going after the ones responsible for the attack, aren't they?" Sara asked.
 
"Yeah," Kit laid his head on his pillow and stared up at the ceiling. "If they let something like this slide then we'll see more attacks like this, and that could put you and the children in danger."
 
"Just make sure you come home," Sara pulled her husband around to face her, her voice heavy with emotion. "Otherwise, you'll miss baby number five."
 
"Five?" Kit questioned. "We only have three though."
 
"I'm pregnant with twins," Sara rolled on top of her husband. "And you've got a lot of babysitting to make up for."
 
"I'll take as much leave as I can once this deployment is up," Kit grinned. "I can't believe we're having twins!"
 
"Well, we both wanted a large family," Sara's face stretched to match her husband's smile. "I just didn't know that we were heading towards a full Clan.""Nah," Kit shook his head. "We're just a bit larger than average. From the stories we've heard about the Colonel, he grew up with a full clan."
 
"Whatever stories there are, they can wait," Sara began kissing her husband. "Right now you have other duties, Mandalorian."
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Chapter 42