WotH Chpt 41

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 41==
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===Briefing on Current Events===
"You've got your fleet," I said to Count Dooku once it was just the Head of State, Knight Tachi and myself alone on the bridge. "What's the next step?"
 
"Your Executive Officer had several ideas that we are going to be implementing in the whole of the Confederacy," Dooku moved to a holographic table that was centered on the bridge of the Katana. "Given that it will take time to refit the Dreadnoughts to what we need, we are going to go with another plan in the meantime, and adjust as necessary."
 
"What'd Sheppard come up with?" I asked. "We went comms silent until we got back and I haven't had time to catch up on my paperwork yet."
 
"This, is a CR-90 Corellian Corvette," a ship appeared. "We have negotiated with Corellia for them to produce a variant capable of storing a full squadron of Starfighters and with a Class 1 Hyperdrive." Dooku waved a hand and a generic snubfighter appeared. "We will be purchasing as many of them as we can afford, they'll be our primary antipiracy forces along the Hyperlanes."
 
"I can see where he was going with this," I stroked my beard. "Enough firepower to take on most pirate forces, or at least hold them off until something big enough has arrived."
 
"I agree," Siri nodded. "This seems to be a good plan. But how will the Dreadnoughts be refitted to assist in this mission?"
 
"The Katana Fleet shall be the spine of our fleet," Dooku explained. "With Rendili offering to see to both refits and repairs at cost, we will be making some changes now that we are not limited by the Republic's laws for warships. We are modernizing both the power plants, the deflectors, and adding a few extra starfighter bays. While also ensuring that the Dreadnoughts can keep up with their escorting forces."
 
"Class 1 Hyperdrives to every ship?" I whistled. "That's gotta be pricey, and will be a bit harder to maintain."
 
"Yes, yes it will," Siri agreed. "Rendili doing the modifications at cost will help, but that still leaves two hundred capital ships to refit along with the escorts that we slaved and brought back with us."
 
"The CR-70 and Consular class ships that were used as escorts will have a quick run in the yard and then will be shifted to the duties that will be filled by the CR-90s," Dooku replied. "Once we possess ships in the numbers we need, we'll be reassigning those ships back to escort roles."
 
"Still leaves you with a capital ship gap." I pointed out.
 
"We'll have to live with substitutions from planetary defense forces for large engagements until our ships are done with the refits," Dooku shrugged. "There are risks no matter what direction we decide to move in, this is the most feasible path for us to accomplish what we have set out to do as a nation. And to have it done in the most efficient and economically way possible."
 
"And what is the Order planning to do?" I asked, clearly indicating Obi Wan and his apprentice.
 
"They are waiting and observing for now," Siri replied. "I expect that should the Republic come into conflict that they will attempt to remain neutral."
 
"We'll see," I shrugged.
 
"They were asking about your saber," Siri said. "And I realized when they asked, that I am not aware of how you came into possession of that weapon."
 
"Oh," I chuckled. "It's not a big deal, it's not like I killed a Jedi for it or anything. In fact, it's kinda dumb really. Pirate captain of the first band we dealt with had it."
 
"I take it he was dealt with swiftly?" Dooku asked.
 
"Of course," I reply. "He was a slaver. We don't let those sorts of people live."
 
"And the one who possessed the lightsaber before the pirate?" Siri glanced between me and Dooku.
 
"When we seized his records we only found out that he had bought it on the Black market," I laughed. "He talked it up as if he had killed a Jedi, and that's why he was in charge. In reality, he simply had enough money to buy it on the market."
 
"May I?" Dooku asked, holding out his hand.
 
"Sure," I placed it in his hand.
 
"This is an old saber," Dooku ignited the violet blade. "At least five hundred years old, if not from before the Ruusan Reformation."
 
"How can you tell?" Siri asked.
 
"The markings along the hilt," he explained. "And the slight curve. The one who wielded this was likely a master of Soresu with a secondary specialization in Makeshi given the slight curve of the handle here."
 
"Meh," I shrugged. "It's just a tool to me," I accepted the hilt back and hooked it to my belt.
 
"While you are not a force user, you may still benefit from training," the Count commented. "Should you be willing to learn, let me know and I will clear some time to ensure that you are at least adequate with the saber at your belt."
 
"I'll think about it," I shrugged. "We're both pretty busy right now, after all."
 
"Just keep it in mind," Dooku seemed to look off into the future. "There may come a time when it saves your life."
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===Unexpected Visitor===
November 4, 3014/7953CRC Beloria System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories
 
"So, I see you've been busy," I glared at my XO from my full desk.
 
"We figured you'd enjoy the mess we left you," Sheppard smirked, unphased by my anger. "You got to have your fun, now you get to do your job."
 
I sighed. "Go be free and enjoy your vacation, I'll make sure that you get the time off barring an emergency."
 
"Thanks," he stood up and stretched. "I'll be back in a month."
 
I waited until he left before glancing down at the paperwork and standing up myself.
 
"I can do this tomorrow," I walked out. "I'm not doing paperwork on my first day back."
As I began walking to my car, a flaming snub fighter flew overhead, smoke trailing from the engines as a Stuka streaked by and a cluster of PPCs and Autocannon shredded it to pieces.
 
I ducked behind cover as I watched this happen and nodded as the Stuka's wingman killed the pilot that had attempted to deploy his a jetpack and escape.
 
"Good work," I muttered to myself as I moved to climb into my car as a small object that I missed fell from the sky and impacted one of the buildings, an explosion throwing me into my vehicle and setting small fires across the settlement as the emergency services began to respond.
 
"What the hell is going on?" I grabbed my comms device and tried to hear over the ringing in my ears.
 
<<"Colonel Hull, we had a light freighter and a handful of escorts try to breach our perimeter!">>
 
"No shit, Sherlock," I deadpanned. "How'd they get as far as they did?"
 
<<"Pushed engines to max and we had to play catch-up,">> Blaze reported. <<"That last one was probably their best pilot, he evaded until he hit atmosphere and held his ship together long enough to enter our airspace.">>
 
"We're going to have to layer our system so that this doesn't happen again," I glared at the sky. "Odds are they were trying to hit me." I climbed into my truck and shifted into gear to head to the bombed site. "Let me know when you're on the ground, Blaze. We're going to have to have a command staff meeting. We're going to have to retaliate, and I want all of us in on this one."
 
<<"Yes sir,">> Blaze's voice was nearly lost in the static. <<"We'll make 'em bleed.">>
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Chapter 41