The Search For A Sith

[Emperor Marix]

45 ABY. Five years of all out Civil War, chaos, mind games, spies, and espionage. Markaro Vos felt like he had aged double that. He was now 31, very young compared to Darth Eclipse's would-be 68 and Darth Acideus' would-be 73. The two self proclaimed War Lords and opposing faction leaders were now dead. Darth Eclipse committed suicide, two years before this point, rather than be captured, and Darth Acideus fighting to the death only four days ago. The war was over, so it seemed. The majority of Eclipse'sProphets of the Church of the Galaxy and Acideus' Masters of the Shadows had surrendered when their Dark Lords had died, no longer compelled to fight without a Sith that could come close to matching Darth Marix's power. Of course there were still skirmishes by resentful enemy captains or commanders that couldn't give up, knowing they would be convicted of War Crimes. So in fact, the battles went on, just not to the public, not to the politicians and reporters. Now there were bigger things to do, like hawking the victorious Vos, capturing his every move on holo-cams or making long speeches about his valiant efforts and taking every opportunity to shake his hand and congratulate him. Those were the reasons that Darth Marix had elected to stay out with his troops to continue the effort to completely end the war.

"Marius. Do you have any idea what time it is?" Markaro asked his High Commander.

"Sir, I do not remember you ever being phased by the time of day that you were brought Intelligence briefings." Marius Decimus Lennox replied.

"It is Intelligence then. I thought it was another Holocast from a well-wishing, brown-nosing, suck-upping, disloyal toad of a politician."

"The very reason you decided to stay out here was to get away from them. So far they haven't managed to track down your whereabouts."

"Lucky me. What is it?" Vos asked.

"It concerns Lord Tarna. Acideus' Lieutenant and Second. He was never captured and there was no marking of a Dark Matter explosion to hint at his demise."

"I am guessing that means he could still lead the Masters of the Shadows. He has to be found. I want Colonel Malkior on this ship at once." Vos stated, immediately leaving his quarters for the bridge. Lord Levitras followed his Supreme Commander letting the Dark Lord's instinct guide him. Once on the bridge, Marix headed for the Comm Station. "I want Colonel Malkior on the channel now. Find him and let me know when he is online." Turning to the Operations Station he ordered "I want the Fleets in the area of Yaga Minor to be put on high alert. We have a potentially dangerous rogue enemy Officer with a number of forces behind him. They are to be ready to engage at any time. I also want our other forces to be put on watch, in case this rogue officer decides to hit us elsewhere."

"Sir, the Colonel is online and waiting."

"Colonel Malkior. Where are you currently?" Vos asked, returning the salute the Colonel gave when he came on the screen.

"I am on board the Last Chance in the Mandalore Sector, sir."

"Get on an armed shuttle with your Intel Team and head to the Matrix Sector. Your coordinates will be given through the secure Operations Comm once you are off the Last Chance."

"Yessir. Anything else sir?"

"Bring any information you have on a Tarna Salazar."

"Yessir."

"Vos out." And the holoprojector went dark.

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

Malkior picked up what little equipment he had with him, he preferred to travel light, and made his way to his command room. He was in the sector investigating the possibility of Acidean Remnants on Mandalore and had his five most trusted MI men with him, Sergeant Majors Knot and Montaigne, Corporal Amas and Sergant 2nd Class Long. Only Knot was a Sith. After uncovering the Anthrax Conspiracy and being made head of Military Intelligence, Malkior had only allowed one Sith to assume a commissioned rank apart from himself, Knot would too have been excluded if not for his considerable aid in uncovering the Anthrax Conspiracy. When he entered the command room, the four men rose from their seats and saluted them. He saluted in return.

"The Supreme Commander has a mission for us. Come. We're taking a Lambda-class and will receive our orders once we're away from the Last Chance."

Although he didn't let his men know it and didn't show any outward signs, Malkior was worried. Usually Marix would give his orders to Malkior regardless of location, as Malkior had a very specific comlink that Darth Levitras by now knew the number of off by heart. Something serious was afoot and Malkior would soon find out exactly what.

[Emperor Marix]

3 Hours Later

"Supreme Commander? We have a Lambda-Class Shuttle on the sensors. Just came out of Hyperspace." The Lieutenant JG that was on duty at the Sensors spoke up.
"What are the coordinates and general area of origin?"

The Lieutenant rambled off the number coordinates, and then "They are from the Mandalore Sector, sir."

"Keep the fleet ready, but transmit that the shuttle should head to this Star Destroyer. If Colonel Malkior proves to be onboard, give them full permissions to land in the shuttle hangar bay. If he does not, find out where they should be, whether it is on a Star Destroyer or the prison ship."

[Tarna Salazar]

Lord Tarna walked into the command tent on Jabiim. "Status report." he snapped. One of the technicians looked up at him and said, "Convoy is five minutes out, boss." Tarna nodded and turned to the Force-deaf troop commander, Colonel Dowd, who was working with the Acideans. "Let's move out."

A few minutes later, an Imperial Trooper convoy was visible only as a group of black dots on the horizon. Standing on the north side of a ravine, the convoy would be passing beneath him in a minute. He looked up at the several Sith around him. Darth Kurz, his former apprentice, stood looking extremely eager. Lady Wendel stood on the opposite cliff, her blond her looking positively stunning in the afternoon light. Next to her was the Barabel Master Satar, who was waiting to give the signal to one of the other troopers who was holding a silver device. The convoy was just in the right spot, and Satar nodded.

An explosion rang out and massive boulders and rock fell to the ravine below. When the dust settled, the ravine was blocked for anyone trying to get through - which caused the troop convoy to stop in front of the rocks. "Now!" Tarna shouted.

The four Sith jumped down into the ravine, and the dozens of troopers followed on zip-cables. Tarna ignited his twin red blades as he landed on the ground in front of the troop carrier. Lady Wendel landed next to him gracefully. The other two Sith ran to the back to make sure no troopers left, while the Acidean Troops surrounded the truck and raised their rifles.

Tarna and Wendel walked into the transport. The driver tried to pull a blaster, which was promptly summoned by Tarna. The rest of the soldiers raised their rifles, but one shouted, "Hold fire!" Tarna spoke loudly to talk over the hum of his blades. "I'm going to make this quick. If you want to join the Acidean cause, stand up, and walk outside. My men will collect your weapon and you will live. Those who stay in this truck get blown up in..." he glanced at his chrono, "...thirty seconds if my men did their job correctly."

Not a single soldier moved. Tarna fumed inside. "Very well." He walked outside, signaled the men, and they Force-jumped or rappelled back up the cliff. By the time the last Acidean trooper got to the top of the cliffs, a few of the Imperials had broken out of the truck. Then they were engulfed by a massive explosion.

----------

Back at the base camp, Tarna walked into his personal tent and screamed. The scream shattered the datapads on a nearby table and shook the ground. Lady Wendel walked into the tent and sat next to him. In this tent, however, she was not Darth Wendel. "This is the third time this week, Lonna! Three! That son of a hutt Marix must have sent out a kriffing memo telling them we needed men! They know if they die, we will too!"

Lonna put her hand on his knee, "It's not your fault. You can't force every soldier we capture to work for us. We'll be fine. Satar thinks we should go somewhere else. We've been on Jabiim almost two weeks. Maybe back to Mon Calamari?" Tarna didn't answer, he sat and thought. She leaned in and kissed him, and it caused Tarna half a moment's peace, as only his wife could do...and then she pulled away, and he was all anger again. "I'm going to grab some food, you coming?" she asked. He grunted and fell backwards onto the bed. She sighed and walked out, and he just stared at the fabric ceiling.

[Emperor Marix]

While Malkior had been en route, High Commander Marius Decimus Lennox had taken off to begin searching for Tarna on his own. Already reports of missing convoys were coming in. Jabiim being the most recent, having already reported two missing convoys in this week alone, no survivors. Marius had no doubt that it was Tarna's doing. There were no other Sith that could replace Acideus that had not already been captured or killed.

He had commandeered the Rising Star a Venator I-Class Star Destroyer, the Manda'lor a Keldabe-Class Battleship, the Final Word an Acclamator II-Class Assault Craft, 2 Carrack-Class Cruisers, and 2 Escort-Class Carriers for extra fighter support. He was heading for Jabiim, the latest of the lost convoys, and thus the best part of the trail to get the scent of the culprits. It would take roughly a day and a half to finish the journey in hyperspace, having already made the jump. Beginning then, he would give Tarna the run of his life, guided by the Intel Malkior would give Vos. Perhaps a two pronged search would even come about.

[Tarna Salazar]

Tarna sat in the command tent with his eyes closed and tried to think. He could hear men talking about possible targets, Lonna was yelling at one of the aides for bringing the wrong file. All in all, not the best place to think. However, he focused himself and tried to feel where the next best opportunity would be waiting. Reports out of Mon Calamari said the locals were none too happy about the new garrison being set up. Gain some support, supplies, and hit a base. Not bad. "Corporal, is the Mon Calamari situation still a possibility?" he asked a technician. The young woman at the computer nodded and said, "Newest reports say the Imperials now have soldiers outside the local schools, and the parents are outraged." Tarna looked up at Lonna who nodded and said, "It's the only thing we have right now."

Tarna stood up and said, "We leave for Mon Calamari tomorrow night at dusk. Which means you all have around thirty hours to pack up. Let's move."

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

Malkior approached Marix's flagship in the Lamba-class. Just as it came into full sight he received a transmission from the enormous Star Destroyer. It was some lower rank on the Sensors.

"Is this Colonel Malkior?"

Malkior rolled his eyes.

"Who else is it going to be? Of course it's Colonel Malkior."

The young Lieutenant was visibly terrified by Malkior and his next words were slightly shakey.

"Erm, the, erm, Supreme Commander wants you to report directly to this Star Destroyer."

Malkior rolled his eyes again.

"Well of course he does, that's why he told me to come here isn't it? Just give me clearance and you'll never have to deal with me again. Hurry before you soil yourself."

The Lieutenant nodded and gave Malkior the necessary clearance. The Civil War may strictly be over, but Malkior was still constantly working, trying to track down the last of Acideus's and Eclipse's stray men. Malkior had streamlined and improved MI upon becoming head but at his own cost; he had nearly quadrupled his own workload. As such, he had been considerably more aggressive lately. Malkior was jolted from these thoughts as the Lambda landed. Malkior turned to his team.

"Come on, hurry up, get out."

[Emperor Marix]

"Colonel Malkior. Welcome to The Commander's Blade." Markaro Vos spoke when the Colonel had reached the bridge. "You will find your quarters to be close by the Intel area, as usual. Lieutenant Jaxic here will show you to your new work area and your quarters. I think you two have already met." He said, pointing to the Communications Officer that had just gotten off his duty shift. "You have two hours to get rested and settled in. Dismissed."

Turning to the Comm Station he ordered a line opened to Coruscant, where Lord Aequitas was taking care of his forte, the politics.

"Aequitas, I hope things are going well."


____________________________________________

Marius Lennox stared out of the main bridge of the Rising Star. Tarna had been here, he could smell it. There wasn't actually a scent that could be followed, so it was more of a hunch than a fact.
"I want crafts touching down and troops on the surface in twenty minutes. You have until then to locate where this last convoy disappeared using the ships sensors. Go along its known route, and I want to be notified of anything unusual. Scorch marks, metallic readings, homing beacons, anything that might even hint at where the convoy met its doom."

Fifteen minutes later, troop carriers and escorting fighter craft and atmospheric craft where being launched out of the hangars of the various ships that had them, heading for a deep ravine in the Southern Hemisphere. The ravine had been a poorly chosen location for the convoy to go through, but it cut nearly 20 miles off of the route, and had been deemed a necessary evil by the Planetary Commander. This would be an evil that would come back to haunt him. The scanners had picked up unnatural amounts of metallic objects, similar in apparent chemical make-up to that of the armor plating on the transports and troop carriers.

Thirty minutes after that, the situation was declared hopeless. No life forms within 100 miles had been picked up matching that of any Imperial Soldier, and whoever had committed the attack was long gone. Their base camp possibly located at the top of the east wall of the ravine.

Now what? Marius thought to himself. Wait for more transports to go missing?

"I want a list of all planets formerly occupied by Acidean Forces, mainly the ones that were especially inviting to those forces. If they support Acideans then, some of them will support Acideans now."

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

Malkior allowed Jaxic to lead him to his quarters. Apparently the Lieutenant was still recovering from his previous encounter with Malkior. Malkior had noticed a considerable clenching of his rear end, indicating he was trying desperately not to soil himself. Malkior had that effect on people.

When they arrived Malkior's quarters, Jaxic stopped. Malkior nodded for him to leave but Jaxic was apparently frozen by fear. Rolling his eyes, Malkior drew his lightsaber.

"Move. Now."

There was a noticeable panic in Jaxic's eyes as he fled. Malkior pointed for his team to go the Intel Room before entering his quarters. He sat down on the bed which Malkior knew would be significantly less comfortable than any other bed in the whole ship. Marix was well aware that Malkior preferred a life of discipline to one of luxury, and always made sure to accomodate that. Malkior stowed away his few meagre possessions before lying down on the bed for a brief rest. Malkior was extremely adept at controlling his own body, with or without the Force, and thus he would be able to wake whenever he felt like. Two hours sounded about right.

[Grand Vizier Aequitas]

Aequitas swung around to the beeping coming from his console. "Accept", he sad clearly. The familiar face of Markaro Vos appeared. "Ah, Supreme Commander. Yes, things are going wonderful. You know, ramblings about insignificant things like roa surfacing and forest clearing, the usual."

He smiled. "We have, however, made a break through our little....project. In fact, Senator Balala requests your distinguished presence at a dinner he is hosting 2 days from now. I would advise you to take it. I'll also be there to deal with the politics, as such."

[Tarna Salazar]

Lord Tarna stood on the bridge of The Lost Soldier and watched the streaks of light go past as they burned through hyperspace. The irony of the name of the destroyer was not lost on him, he even chuckled internally. "Everything normal, Captain?" he asked the woman on his left. "Yes sir." she replied crisply. "The bridge is yours then, I'll be in my study." he said and walked away.

As he opened the door to his study, he saw a brilliant streak of gold slice through the air and a droid's head fall to the ground. The training droid sputtered and dropped, and Lonna turned to strike at him before realizing he was not a droid. She closed down her double-bladed lightsaber and smiled. He asked, "Must you do that in the study? Something's going to get broken one of these days." She laughed and sat down on a couch, then asked, "You talk to Gahan yet?" Tarna nodded and joined her on the couch, "He's willing to negotiate, but isn't sure we can win. I told him if we had his men it'd be a lot easier, but he's skeptical."

He rested his head on her shoulder and sighed, "What would Acideus be doing now? I feel like this effort died with him sometimes." Lonna thought and answered, "I don't know. Jeridan seemed to make it up as he went along half the time, but it worked. We were actually winning the war until his death. Maybe you just weren't meant to lead this cause. Maybe only one man could have done that...and he's dead." Tarna knew that if anyone else had said this, they would most likely be dead immediately. But he wasn't even remotely upset with her...he couldn't be. She leaned in to him, and the galaxy's troubles fell away when their lips met.

[Emperor Marix]

"That sounds grand. I'm sure you can keep things under control. To be diplomatic to the Senator, tell him I would have gone, but it takes longer than two days to get back to Coruscant from where I am, and so I will not be able to attend the dinner. I guess I could make a holo-presence though, to appease your political schemes and our project. Set it up and let me know what time I should be broadcasting."

Markaro glanced around and tried to think of what else he needed to talk to Aequitas about, but couldn't come up with anything that was able to be discussed out on the bridge. His political schemes were private and definitely something that shouldn't be heard by all the crew members, as much as he trusted them with his life, they didn't need the additional tension of politics.

"We'll continue this conversation later. I have matters that I need to attend to. But set up the dinner projection conversation. I'll reluctantly oblige with at least part of the Senator's wish."

He nodded as Lord Aequitas bowed and then faded away as the connection was cut.

"Please let the Colonel know I will be in the conference room nearest his quarters."

5 Minutes Later
"Colonel, I will not have you disrupting the discipline on my ship. You will treat the men that crew this craft with respect. They are doing their job, you do yours." Lord Marix spoke darkly. Discipline, respect, integrity, and honor were held very high in his list of importance. "I have enough trouble with this guerrilla warfare we believe Darth Tarna is playing at." He admitted. "It has been too long of a war. I am not saying I tire, but the citizens of the galaxy will soon tire of war, and then trouble with start."

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

Malkior nodded wearily.

"Forgive me m'lord. Finishing off the enemy has been most trying these past few weeks and I admit I let my emotions get ahead of me. My apologies, it will not happen again."

The effect of the quadrupled workload was clear on Malkior's face. At 38 years of age he wasn't exactly one of the younger Sith of the Legions, but the five o' clock shadow, the wrinkles and creases, the weariness in his eyes, they were the features of a much older man, worn by war, aged by aggression, darkened by death. Malkior had seen and done much during those five years. But all things take their toll and Malkior was prepared for that.

"What did you need me for Supreme Commander?"

[Emperor Marix]

"Darth Tarna, Acideus' Lieutenant, is missing and presumed to be alive and leading a guerrilla war against us. We have reports of convoy's gone missing on several planets that once pledged loyalty to Acideus, indicating the possibility that Tarna is hiding out on those planets trying to recruit men. You need to find him so we can stop him. High Commander Lennox is already out searching for him, and has tracked the last disappeared convoy to Jabiim, but there is no sign of Tarna. We believe he has departed the area and gone elsewhere. Where is he going? is the question we need answered."

[Emperor Marix]

[[Bump?]]

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

((Sorry, I thought I had replied.))

Malkior raised an eyebrow.

"Jabiim you say? I don't know what he was expecting to get there, Jabiim is possibly the most ignored planet in the entire galaxy. But, if he's left it only shows that going there was a failed idea. And if he's left he's going to go somewhere with a continued underground Acidean presence to bolster his forces."

Malkior stopped for a second to yawn before returning to the discussion.

"Okay, so he's left Jabiim. The nearest former Acidean stronghold is...Ossus, but let's face it, no one goes to Ossus, so after that, you'd be looking at Mon Calamari, Boz Pity, Concord Dawn or, if he really wanted to throw us off, a jump to Kashyyyk or Nar Shadaa."

[Tarna Salazar]

Tarna slammed his hand down on the table, rocking the glasses of water that rested upon it. "You can't do this to us, Gahan! Lord Acideus was a staunch supporter of yours in front of the Emperor, who its no secret, wanted this entire planet turned into a water park!" Tarna spat at the Mon Calamari sitting across from him. "If you give us your men, we can bunker down here and win!" The alien's gravelly voiced asked, "Win what?" Tarna closed his eyes and took a breath, "Win the faith of a scared galaxy. Right now, dozens of worlds who resisted Marix are going back to him because they think they have no option! Right here on your homeworld, soldiers are stationed everywhere...it's a miracle we could even meet." Tarna stared at the alien pleadingly, "Do it for your children, Gahan. You and I both know if Jeridan were asking, you'd have troops assembled by now." Gahan stared back at Tarna with the Mon Calamari eyes he had never learned to interpret for emotion. Finally, the alien sighed, "I'll rally my men...on one condition. Before the garrison, we have to clear out the school."

Tarna tried to remain calm and said, "Come on, you know the garrison will be on high alert if they find out we cleared the school of their men...that is, if they don't send a dozen squads to the school and pin us down in there." Gahan stared back at him, stood up and said with confidence, "You said to fight for my kids, I'm asking you to do just that. Be ready in three days." With those words, the alien and his bodyguard walked out of the room. Tarna turned to Lonna, who had her head buried in her hands. Darth Kurz leaned in to Tarna and said, "Don't worry, my master, we'll make it work. We'll kill the bastards in the school and at the garrison. Planet by planet, this war shall end." Lonna lifted her head and chortled, "Young Sith, that's exactly what we're afraid of."

[Emperor Marix]

"Thank you, Colonel. I'm sure you will keep me posted. As of now you are in charge of finding Tarna, the Intelligence part, that is. High Commander Levitras is already in the field hunting down leads. I am sure that you two will get along." The latter was not merely an assumption, but a statement, and order. There would be no room for ego's or self-gratification, not in Lord Marix's playbook. "You may return to whatever part of the effort you deem to be first in line, but I do expect all avenues to be exhausted. Dismissed."

With that the Colonel was escorted out of the Conference Room and back to his quarters by an armored and armed guard, not a Lieutenant in uniform. Markaro Vos respected his men enough to not make them deal with Malkior if it wasn't entirely necessary. With the Katarn Armor, the guards could ignore the Colonel's gestures and mockeries, but also have the ability to hold their own if it came down to it. If Vos had learned one thing from this Civil War, it was that no Sith could be entirely trusted, not even himself.

__________________________________________________

On The Bridge

"Communications, get me the High Commander. Operations, begin drafting OpOrds." He said, OpOrds being Operational Orders, the plans for the Fleets, Armies, and Marines Detachments of what comprised his forces.

"Operations ready."

"Communications still hailing."

"Operations goes first then." Markaro Vos said. "I want 2 Acclamators and 2 Escort-Carriers in each of these systems, ASAP." He said, picking the systems that Malkior had marked as likely, even Ossus. "After that, I want reinforcements for each of those squadrons to be in the nearest friendly space, consisting of an extra carrier and Carrack-Cruisers. And place a Venator and Keldabe over Handooine for further reinforcements."

"Operations copies. Drafting ETA 10 minutes."

"Keep me posted."

"Communications connected with Rising Star. High Commander online."

"Connect me in my chambers." Heading to his chambers he took the call. Facing the holoprojector where the High Commander now appeared. "Marius."

"Markaro"

"We have reason to believe Tarna's next landfall will either be on Mon Calamari, Boz Pity, Concord Dawn, Kashyyyk, Ossus, or Nar Shadaa. We are drafting orders to dispatch forces to each system, as well as reinforcements in nearby systems. I have also moved a force to a central location, Handooine. I want you to meet up over Handooine and then assume command of the operations."

"Yes My Lord."

"Good. Malkior is instructed to keep you posted, if I am not around to convey his findings. Vos out."

"Lennox out."

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

His prosthetic fingers a blur of movement, Malkior's left hand was entering and re-entering information into Malkior's datapad which would analyse and re-analyse the information then display the results on a monitor to which the datapad was connected. Malkior's right hand was flying over a number of maps, writing down figures and notes and occasionally jumping to a long roll of paper, adding little bits of information. Fifteen minutes of this passed before Malkior tapped the comlink built into his table.

"Lord Marix, I've been analysing my information on Tarna's possible locations. I would recommend focusing on the planets in this order; Mon Calamari, Concord Dawn, Nar Shadaa, Kashyyyk, Boz Pity, then Ossus. One of the Mon Cal leaders, Gahan, was a strong supporter of Acideus, as is the new Mandalorian leader of Concord Dawn. The Hutts, as you remember, were more than prepared to back Acideus if he could give them double Hutt Space and there's still a strong underground Acidean Wookiee presence on Kashyyyk. And of course, Boz Pity is a graveyard planet and Ossus is, well, Ossus."

Malkior typed in a few more bits of information.

"Oh, and if you can get your hands on Darth Wendel, she'd be a great bargaining chip with Tarna. Acideus married them just before the Civil War."

[Emperor Marix]

"Send that to Marius as well. From now on, send a copy directly to him and me. Thank you Malkior." Markaro Vos said from within his chambers, returning the Comm call. Laying back down, he closed his eyes for what he hoped would be at least a few hours of sleep.

________________________________________________________________

Marius Lennox sat on the bridge of his current flagship, the Rising Star. The foremost thought on his mind right now was how a Sith ship had gotten such a name. But that idea was interrupted by the Communications Officer, rushing a message from Malkior to the High Commander.

"So he recommends Mon Calamari as the prime target." Marius said to his J-3, or the Operations Officer and the J-5 (Strategic Planning Officer). "Once we reach Handooine, I want the ships ready to jump to the watery planet. As in I think about going to Mon Calamari and we are already there." Taking them aside from the other J's, or his staff, he continued, "Three complete invasion plans, based on different levels of resistance. My desk. 5 hours. Also, one plan for quickly getting to each of the other planets on the list, in Malkior's order of importance."

With that he headed to the Mess to grab something to eat and drink. It had been 7 hours since his last meal, and it was beginning to become audible.

[Emperor Marix]

High Commander Levitras, second in command of Lord Marix's Legions of Elron awoke from his power nap refreshed, but still longing for sleep. The Sith Lord quickly ran through Force techniques to relieve his need for more sleep, and headed for the refresher. Ten minutes later he was on the bridge.

"Sir, we have reached Handooine. The reinforcements Lord Marix sent arrived several hours after us. Another Venator, two Acclamator II, and a Carrack." The J-3 reported.

"Noted." Marius replied. Turning to the J-5, "Any reports on the level of resistance presented by Tarna's forces?"

"The current garrison reports almost no resistance so far. He is either being careful and quiet or didn't find the patronage he expected from Gahan, sir."

"Bring up the Calamari Sector." Marius pointed at the Secondary Operations Holographic Table. He quickly viewed the holo images of the fifteen planets in the sector, with Dac in the middle. "Plot courses for Eridicon. I want the main body of our taskforce set up over that planet. Leave a Carrack and an Escort over Minntooine. They are our first line. We will be on Combat Readiness Level Alpha." Alpha Status kept a Fighter Group (36 craft - 3 Squadrons) ready to launch on the 1 minute mark, and Flight Groups on the 5 minute marks on every ship capable of carrying fighters. Those that could not sustain the full formations were paired with other ships having the same limitations to keep the flow even and organized.

[Inquisitor General Malkior]

Malkior was now fully connected to his vast spy network, which spanned most of the known galaxy. He was in main conversation with his mole in the Mon Cal government but also with the three Mandalorians he had inserted as the new Mandalore's bodyguard squad, a former Acidean Wookiee that he had brought over to his side after saving his life during the Second Battle of Kashyyyk, a few criminal contacts across a number of worlds and his cousin, Romeo Dooku.

"Mualim, updates?"

The Mon Cal's window drifted to the centre of the large screen.

"There was just an emergency meeting of the Supreme and High Administrators, Gahan of Coral City, Armok of Foamwander City, Detik of Coral Depths City, Sosi of Aquarius, Callahan of Crystal Reef, Edan of Heurkea, Tissan of Morjanssik and Morbos of Reef Home City, called. They've sealed themselves in the Shell Room. No one knows why."

Malkior raised an eyebrow.

"Could be a meeting with Tarna. Thanks for that Mualim. Over and out. Triumvirate?"

The three Mandalorians' window moved to centre stage.

"The Mandalore has been in secret talks in his private chambers since noon yesterday. Even we were not allowed to attend. Apparently, the person with him is a very distinguished guest and our presence was not only unwanted, but unnecessary, as this person would be able to dispatch us with the blink of an eye if he were so inclined."

Malkior nodded, intrigued.

"That could be Tarna too. Or another Acidean Sith. Or somebody else for all we know. Thanks for that Triumvirate, keep me posted. Fuflark?"

The Wookiee's window took the place of the Triumvirate's and Malkior switch to Shyriiwook.

"Any strange goings-on over there?"

Fuflark shook his head.

"No, m'lord, all is calm. Perhaps a little too calm, given the recent spat of terrorism on the part of my former comrades?"

Malkior could see where Fuflark was going.

"You think that maybe Tarna has joined them and is preparing a new campaign."

Fuflark nodded.

[i]"That theory has merit but confuses the matter even further. I shall weigh this information carefully. Much thanks, Fuflark. Romeo, what's the situation on Nar Shadaa?"

Makior's cousin, Romeo, moved to the foreground. Malkior could not help but note his resemblance to their ancestor, Darth Tyranus.

"A recent convoy of several small freighters carrying with them a number of cloaked figures arrived not too long ago. The going rumour is that they're Sith but what kind is the question."

Malkior sighed.

"This is getting plain annoying. Thanks, Romeo."

Malkior conferred with a number of other contacts before getting all his information together and quickly analysing it.

"Lord Marix, Lord Levitras, I have new information. There's just been an emergency meeting of the Supreme and High Administrators of the Mon Calamari Council, including, quite obviously, Supreme Administrator Gahan himself. However, the Mandalore of Concord Dawn is simultaneously in private talks with someone powerful enough to declare his bodyguard useless in comparison. Note that these are three highly trained Mandalorians. All Acidean activity on Kashyyyk has suddenly ceased while a group of mysterious figures have just arrived on a major Nar Shadaa starport. No activity on Ossus or Boz Pity. Either this is all co-incidence or Tarna has split his men to force us to split our's. There's something strange about what's going on though. Logic points to a third faction trying to get a stake in things but there's no solid evidence."