WotH Chpt 33

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 33 ==
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===The Time has Come===
March 19th, 3014/7953 CRC Republica 500, Coruscant
"Tell me Amedda," Sidious glanced at his trusted servant. "How would you adjust the Great Plan to account for the way things have changed of late?"
 
"There are a few ways that we could accomplish parts of your plan," Mas Amedda replied. "But there are no foolproof ways to execute it as of this moment. It will take time for tension to build properly and for us to generate the hatred needed."
 
"The Clones will be sufficient for a temporary fighting force when it comes to it," Sidious looked out the window. "But we will have to generate the tension. I believe it is time we begin to seed the fruits of discontent."
 
"What is it you desire to do?"
 
"I believe that it is time that the Corellians fell into the fold," Sidious smirked. "Divert some funds to a select group of pirates. I believe Senator Iblis will oblige us with the tension we need."
 
"How do you plan on ensuring that he will follow our plans?"
 
"He will go forth willingly," Sidious moved over to his desk. "He has too much pride to admit when Corellia or he has done wrong. That will be both his undoing and that of the Republic's."
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===The Will of the Force===
 
"The Confederacy is in your debt," Dooku smiled at Jedi Master Fay as she handed him the datapad. "I know that we have disagreed on many things in the past, but we can both agree on protecting those who need it."
 
"That is one of the reasons I have decided to assist you," Fay replied. "The other is that you have done your best to ensure a peaceful transition. That only those who have voted to can join your Confederacy."
 
"I am not a Tyrant," Dooku shook his head. "I did not even desire to be elected as the Head of State."
 
"Be that as it may," Fay rippled through the Force. "But this is the position where you are meant to be. Just as I am supposed to help you."
 
"I will do my best to follow the Will of the Force," Dooku nodded. "I will take this information to the ones who can best make use of it."
 
"I will speak to you again when you are available," Fay agreed. "Yaddle has requested that I meet with her while I am present. So I shall take my leave."
 
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===Challenges of Need for Manpower===
"I… Have no idea what I'm looking at." I glanced at the Confederacy's Head of State.
 
"It is the beginnings of the Confederate Navy," Dooku smiled. "The Hyperlanes will be safe, and this will be our core, driven and able to defend our new and fledgling nation."
 
"I don't have two hundred thousand sailors to throw at this problem," I replied as I considered the data. "I'm barely keeping up with the training requirements for my contract with the CIS."
 
"I have considered this," Dooku stroked his beard. "I have also discussed this with the representatives that are available to meet. We will be pulling training cadres and providing funding to recruit more people for the Confederate Navy."
 
"You can throw money at us all day long," I scoffed. "But that doesn't fix the root problem."
 
"Which is?" Dooku raised his eyebrow.
 
"We can't just use bodies," I sighed. "We need specific skill sets, and while we can train them from the ground up, that will always take more time than finding people's current skillset and repurposing them."
 
"What do you need?" Dooku asked.
 
"Give me a few weeks," I looked down at my paperwork. "I'll have something thrown together before we make the trip to the desired location."
 
"I shall work to get the people that you need," Dooku turned to leave. "Do not deprive the Hyperlanes or the worlds you guard of their protection. While I desire your help in this, Colonel Hull, I do not wish to expose anyone to the barbarism of piracy while we are away."
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===Shifting of Allegiance===
"More and more Outer and Mid Rim systems continue to leave the Republic to join the Confederacy of Independent Systems," A Zabrack reporter stated to the recording device. "While the debate in the Senate rages on, the Confederacy establishes its constitution, affirming the rights of its citizens and establishing a foundation to operate off of."
 
"We were able to reach out and get some recordings from the newly elected officials from the CIS. They had this to say."
 
"On this day, we make a stand against the corruption of the Senate and of the bureaucrats that make up the Republic. So long as you adhere to the basic rights as listed in our new constitution, every planet and system is free to do as they wish. No longer are we to be shackled by the core worlds by excessive taxes. We are Free!"
 
"The Galaxy stands on the edge," a man leaned back in his chair as he cut the feed to the Holonet News Network off. A mask leaned against a nearby lamp as he smoked a death stick. "How interesting. I wonder where this will lead?"
 
He shrugged and walked out to his porch, the rain streaming down onto the roof.
 
"It's not my problem anymore," He muttered as he sat down in a rocking chair. "I'm retired after all."
 
With a pull of the Force, the mask floated over to his hand as he stared into the slits where his eyes once went.
 
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow's problems could wait until tomorrow.
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Chapter 33