Raven Nasra

The 43rd Combat Assault Pioneers were a battle hardened group, and with the lack of answers to the three count they knew all hell would break loose. When Priess hit a pause after one all the troopers opened up. They didn’t want to be here, but they certainly would not allow any Sith spies to pass onto the capital world of Carida. As soon as the count hit one the result was inevitable. The E-22 reciprocating rifles that the men carried let off a fury of red highpowered blaster bolts before the droid could finish his mechanical laughter. Aimed at mainly Feldstar, the Droid, and his men. Always center of mass, always to kill. There was no time for trickshots. Brigade leader Priess triggered a five round burst into the droid from point blank range and began a fighting retreat from the vehicle. His thirteen men followed suite, triggering high powered rounds from their rifles into Feldstar and his men while backing slowly back down the ramp, their comms calling for backup to the surrounding base. All over the Caridian landing zone, units that were otherwise on high alert began a mad dash to help their fellows. A 12 vehicle AT-PT crew began to move, along with three Imperial Dropships, enroute to rescue their comrades at maximum speed. The frantic call of “man down!” echoed across the comm networks and the mood became very grim indeed. All normal comm traffic ceased as the 43rd Combat Assault Pioneers began their fighting retreat from the vehicle as all Imperial troops, fighter wings, and bombers in the Caridian Capital prepared themselves for the task of suspect elimination or capture. As soon as the men were clear, the turbolaser towers knew their duty. There would be no escape for enemies of the Imperial State. <> _________________

Priess did not lower the charged E-22, but looked over at the large fishlike man. He let out a laugh and shook his head, “Well if you didn’t attempt to pass off forged documents first I would think we would be all too happy to have you in the Operation. I can certainly say that if you serve well you will be forgiven your crimes, but if you want to get out of this mess alive, I reccomend mind wiping this defective thing, or program it to use better slicing techniques for IDs.” He looked back to Feldstar and his men took a step back instinctively, “You both need to cut the lies right the kriff now, either you are refugees from Raxus or you are Swoopers from triple zero, tell us the gorramed truth, or your droid gets to be reprogrammed after it gets you, yours, and some of mine blasted to seven hells. I don’t believe either story, and your hands are not nearly greasy and worn enough to be a swoop jockey. If you are Sith you are going to die, quickly or slowly your choice so you’d better pull your sabre and go for it. If you are something else, then you had better say right the kriff now and kriffing prove it.” His finger tightened on the trigger pointed at the droid to right before the ignition point. One millisecond twitch would be all it took to send pieces of a droid scattering all over the crew compartment. While his men did the same on the undercover CoreSec/GA. He began to count backwards. “Three...” _________________

Priess glanced at the holo IDs as they manifested in the air in front of him. He was expecting the normal holoIDs that were issued in chip form that could be inserted into datapads and read. Not whatever this was. Priess looked over the IDs with a surprised expression on his face, invisible as it was under his green helmet. His eye caught the red blinking light on his HUD and he gulped down a gasp of air. Every Assault Pioneer on the ramp were getting the same blinking target lock from their HUDs. This was about to get very interesting. Triggering his throat mic to his brigade he relayed his orders. He looked to the large fish like man and laughed, his voice carrying a dangerous tone. “Is your name really Buttes Mc’Tavish? Because while these are good, they are not verifiable records…” With a move as fast as lightning he whipped up his E-22 rifle and pointed it center mass to the Droid. His finger ready to depress the trigger, his men following suite on Wyvernfall and the other gangmembers. The three ground based turbolaser towers within range lowered their large caliber barrels towards the ship. Their crews suddenly quite awake from their lunch break. Their caf' forgotten at the briefing table. “So why don’t you turn off your targeting systems, calm the kriff down and tell us, what the Kriff you are doing here! You have three seconds to comply.” The 43rd Combat Assault Pioneers were not some defenseless group of engineers, they were stormtrooper trained first and foremost and Jonathan Priess was no dainty Moff like his father. He was all too happy to pull the trigger first, write some paperwork and get back to rebuilding the planet. _________________

The 43rd Combat Assault Pioneers brigade, attached to the Caridan main combat battle group and garrison were a bit shocked to be assigned to investigating a landing shuttle. They were in the area, and the only combat group available at the moment so they did their duty. Suiting up and arming themselves with E-22 blaster rifles. Brigade Leader Priess made sure that his helmet and green grey armour were properly fitted and secured before he and thirteen of his men and women ran to the landing bay, where a shuttle had just touched down. Listening to his in ear comm as the boarding ramp lowered, Priess extended his hand to the occupants, when he spoke, his voice carried the not often heard Galan accent. “Let’s see IDs and immigration forms gentlemen, we are under heavy lockdown while the planet is under repair from the Sith attack, so I need you to immediantly comply.” As if to accent that, the Pioneers behind him raised their weapons to ready position. _____________________

The construction of a Golan III begins outside the shipyards. In order to provide adequate coverage for the inevitable coming conflict, as the shipbuilders watched it construct, they knew that such a thing would probably stop another genocide like had happened two decades prior. Estimated Completion date 10/17/2017

The construction of the Imperial forward Ubiqtorate base onboard a Golan II began after the protests had settled. The Imperials would not give up this world easily. Construction will finish 10/13/2017

As TIE defenders from the Hand of Valour scrambled towards Keenava’s ship at the limits of their ion engine’s perameters, Moff Wyler laughed along with the Hutt. The vision of him in a Moff’s uniform was nearly too much for his hungover mind to forget about. “Yes you may accompany the Hand of Valour to Nal Hutta, they will be departing within the hour, to meet up with the forces under the head of state. I will also be going, in an effort to proove myself still a man of war and science.” He laughed again, and beckoned the Hutt to join him on the shuttle up to the awaiting Imperial Frigate. ___________________ Elsewhere the refit of the Golan III Archangel began with an estimated completion date of 10/17/2017 ___________________

An order came streaming into the KDY offices for a construction order, detailing the building of two KDY variant DP-20 frigates specialized for antifighter capital ship escort

Raven bowed to Master Skywalker, “I thank you for the offer of diplomats. If the war comes again to our doorstep then it is lost and your help will be late enough to observe the ashes of the galaxy but not save it. Someday you may see that the Sith are an enormous threat to everything we all hold dear. You have my permission to come to Carida as you will, to investigate the death of your grandmaster at the hands of the Sith. With that Master Skywalker, Vos, Organa, and Trevelian may the Force be with us all.” As she turned to go, the appearance of the unknown woman in dark clothes caused Raven to step back next to her Imperial Knight, and Raven reached for her own red lightsaber in case things took a violent turn. Instead it took what Raven could only describe as a path into the strange. Cackling laughter, fear, and screaming. A typical dark spirit, but before she could bid Kyrie to purge the beast, it was gone. Leaving only a robe in its wake. After the apparition vanished, Raven offered the full assistance of the Imperial Navy in Tirzah’s recovery and informing the council of the upcoming White Helm operation, she spun on her heel and left the council with her General at her side. How could they ignore the threat of the Sith when one had literally just appeared in their midst. The amount of shenanigans that had occurred in the space of a few minutes in the Jedi Council chambers left Raven relatively breathless and wishing for the comfort of the bickering in the Moff Council. Bickering between the Jedi Council members, elections, strange women from the underworld screaming about kidnapped children, Kyrie giving up the title of Jedi Knight, she was very much ready to begin another relaxing military campaign. She could not help but feel extremely disappointed that the Jedi would not follow them on their crusade against the Sith. Together the Imperial Remnant and the Jedi Order could defeat them militarily on any field. She could understand the Jedi’s want to be neutral, but there was no neutrality in choosing to not act against evil. Any military defeat or lost planet to the Sith would be laid at the Jedi’s feet. Every dead child, enslaved mother, and massacred father could not be ignored for long. Eventually if they claimed any morals at all, they would join the war. It would be a pity that so many would have to die before they could pull their heads out of sand dunes, but Raven could understand the desire to sit and meditate as the galaxy burned around them. They would not understand until the fires of war touched their pure robes. They would not let the soil of war touch their lives until the blood of billions they could have saved swirled around their feet. Disappointing She turned to Kyrie as they walked towards the shuttles. “A tragic day, I was hoping for assistance against our enemy, but the only people that could do it are sitting and debating how evil it would be to go to war. Disgusting.” She shook her head and pulled off her cap, letting a few strands of jet black hair escape to curl around her forehead. She wiped her forehead with the back of a black glove, and then covered her eyes for a moment to wipe away a tear of frustration. Suddenly she missed Kirlocca and Cadio more than anything in the galaxy. At least they would have been in the thick of things from the very start. “Kriff the lot of them. Let them sit in their high tower as billions die and claim that they serve the light side. We will save as many as we can, prepare for White Helm and then war without end.” ______________________________ Elsewhere a Squire of the Imperial Knights, knowing of her past, informed Adenna of the upcoming operation White Helm and invited her to join them in the hunt against slavery.

Type: Medium Frigate Class: Shockwave-class Assault Frigate Length: 380m Crew: 1,500 Gunners: 180 Armament: -Plasma missile turrets x4 (fire arc, 2 each forward port and starboard) -Ion cannons x4 (fire arc, 2 each forward port and starboard) -Concussion missile launchers x8 (fire arc, 2 each mid port and starboard, 2 each rear port and starboard) -Heavy armor-piercing slugthrower cannons x16 (fire arc, 4 each ventral midship port and starboard, 4 each dorsal midship port and starboard) -Medium point defense cannons x8 (fire arc, 2 each front ventral and dorsal, 2 each rear ventral and dorsal) - 12 TIE Defenders Weaknesses: Starfighters, Bombers, Corvettes Description: The Shockwave-class assault frigate was an abandoned prototype concept developed by Sienar Fleet Systems due to lack of backing of funds by the banking clans. It sported a unique rotational shield emitter design, featuring a main forward shield emitter along with three emitters along the ventral middle of the frigate. Each shield generator was configured to cover a single quadrant, front, port, starboard, and rear, but in the heat of battle when one quadrant failed, another could be rotated into place in a matter of seconds to maintain protection against heavy fire from a single direction. Of course, this meant sacrificing shields for an entire sector of the ship, but if minimal fire was coming from that area, the hull armoring could easily mitigate the risk. This shield system meant the frigate was ideal for hit-and-run broadside tactics, and was designed with that in mind, being armed with front guns designed to cause havoc to shields, and midship to rear guns designed to cause maximum damage to hulls. The heavy slugthrower cannons especially were armed with armor-piercing hardened durasteel rounds, mostly designed to punch holes and cause atmospheric decompression, whereas that volley was followed by concussion missiles, the explosions of which would likely compound the structural damage the slugthrower rounds had caused. The frigate was equipped with slightly larger than standard engines to ensure the run was speedy, minimizing incoming fire and enemy reaction times. However, while the frigate was especially effective against other ships of similar class, it was notoriously weak against starfighters, only having eight spread apart point-defense flak cannons to target the smaller, more agile snub fighters. This, combined with the frigate's main hit-and-run tactic and the fact that it sacrificed large hangars for the shield array, meant it would require additional ships to cover it from starfighter bombing runs. While it is ideal for making runs on the outside of enemy capitol ship formations, it was theorized to be twice as effective as a means to punch through and surround enemy fleets, dealing heavy damage in the process.

Bowing to each of the great Jedi Masters that made up the council, Raven listened to them discuss the next grandmaster of the order. Raven had heard a bit about Darex from the Imperial Archives on Bastion and from the way the Jedi Council spoke about him he must surely be a great man. She knew that he had fought Faust alongside Starlisk, and out of that trio, only Starlisk remained dead. Raven hoped that the relationship Kirlocca had begun with the Remnant would not fray and die under Trevelian, and if it did, Raven would fight to get it back. Raven bowed in return to Master Skywalker and began. “No offence could be taken Master Skywalker, there is much that you must discuss that is not for prying ears to hear, please feel free to dismiss us when you need to.” She smiled widely at the council, her white teeth flashing in the reflected light. Her large purple irised eyes looking each master in turn. “I have friends within your order, Knight Cadan being one, and my general Kyrie being another one. I offered the now departed Grandmaster a haven for the Order in Imperial Space and protection should the Galactic Alliance turn against you." She pointed down to the headline scrolling by on her datapad. The GA's democratic government had been dissolved. "We have no fight against the Jedi Order and will continue to offer this and safe travels through our space no matter what comes. I had discussed this and assistance from the Jedi in our effort to eradicate the Sith from the Galaxy. I have doubt that we will have your help in our crusade against them but I will ask for it anyway.” The request sounded very dumb now that she said it. But the galaxy needed them to do something to help eradicate the Sith. She wasn’t asking for their sabres, but for their help. “As for the Ex-Grandmaster I am willing to open my mind up to your presence to read my feelings and memories around him and my past and future intentions for the Remnant.” It would be embarrassing for them to know everything, but she had nothing to hide. She wore the uniform of the Remnant proudly, to spite of its chequered past. To spite her own past. If they asked she would tell of everything that she had done, even of Gala. It served no one to hold secrets from the Jedi Council.

The Imperial Knights (This is a world building attempt so please forgive me as I jump from OOC to IC and back again.) The Imperial Knights are an order of Force users sworn to the Imperial Remnant and its Emperor/Empress. They are primarily a militant order, training with, serving alongside, and commanding units of Elite Imperial Stormtroopers. They are sworn to protect the citizens of the Remnant and purge evil and the Dark when they find it. At times they may be aggressive, choosing preemptive strikes to save lives instead of inaction or purely defensive actions. They are sworn to prevent the Empire/Emperor from falling to the Darkside. If asked about their charge an Imperial Knight would answer: "My life is sworn to defend the Empire and its citizens from the corrupting influence of the Dark Side, even if it is found in the Emperor. While I serve the Emperor, that service includes deposing them should they succumb to the Darkness." Though their founder was a Jedi Knight, they are not affiliated with the Jedi Order. The Imperial Knights represent militarism and revanchism against the Sith and using the Force as a tool to do so. Which directly contradicts several main aspects of being a Jedi. How the Imperial Knights operate: The Imperial Knights aggressively hunt down Sith and will attempt to redeem them. If that cannot be done or is unfeasible, they will kill them in order to prevent them from doing further harm to the galaxy. They serve in the Imperial Military, commanding Stormtrooper commando units and can attain the rank of General or Admiral. The Grandmaster of the Imperial Knights has a seat on the Moff Council They do not train as mediators or diplomats, but as investigators, hunters, and warriors focused on precision. The Imperial Knights focus on teamwork with their fellow Knights and squads of npcs. They are not loners and are never sent on missions without full support, and are never sent on missions with less than 2 PCs. On writing an Imperial Knight: The Imperial Knights tread on the edge of the Dark Side, sacrificing themselves to eradicate it in the process. They will use whatever tool they can muster to save the galaxy from the Sith. Some outside the Knights may see them as Darksiders (aggressiveness, harnessing the Force as a tool to defeat their enemies, pragmatism, etc), but the Imperial Knights take every precaution they can to combat the allure of the Dark Side. Long sessions of mediation are taken after every deployment and they are constantly monitored by their fellow Knights and the Grandmaster for any signs that they are slipping into the pull of evil. This order may seem like an easy way to be a Jedi and also an aggressive pragmatic force user, hunting the Sith down like the dogs they are. However: There is a reason the Knights are never deployed in numbers less than two. It is not easy to be an Imperial Knight. Every mission is sacrifice. Even though they strive for the traditional ideals of the Light Side the Imperial Knights recognize hard choices need to be made, and that reflects heavily in writing a Knight. In the process of a mission they may be called to make choices that contradict those traditional Lightsider ideals in an effort to eradicate the Sith and preserve the greater good. It is never an easy choice to make, and if it ever becomes that way, they will have fallen and their fellow Knights will treat them accordingly. This hard duty tears at the soul of a Imperial Knight. This isn’t a simple order to write a character for. It is a harsh calling for a Force user, constantly exhausting the soul of the character, and while they strive to do good, good might not always be the outcome. The order is strict and If a character begins to fall they will either be forcibly cleansed or killed by their fellow Knights or will willingly sacrifice themselves if their time has come. For a Knight, death is preferable to a life lived in darkness. Eventually after many years of service, the line they tread begins to wear on them, and they cannot retain their purity. When this time comes, they prefer to die alone in battle, a final offer of service to the light. Ultimately, the Imperial Knights hold a lonely vigil, enduring lives of hardship and sacrifice to protect the galaxy from an evil that can never truly be conquered. The life of an Imperial Knight is suffering, isolation from the galaxy, and an eventual violent death.

Raven bowed in return to the Jedi Master. She had a strong name and one with much storied history against the old Empire, and it did not surprise her in the slightest that the Jedi still had a Skywalker to lead them. “The pleasure would be all mine Master Skywalker, I am honoured to be called in front of the council, my General and I would be all too happy to attend.” She let the Jedi master walk away and turning to Kyrie she caught the young ladies eye and together they walked to the location of the Jedi Council meeting. Kyrie in her Forest green armour and cloak, Raven in her officer’s uniform that so distinctively marked her as an Imperial. The rank of supreme commander of the Remnant in its red cross above her service badges from Gala, Coruscant, Ziost, Carida, and the Death Star in its orange and black stripe. They walked together in silent irony. The two most powerful members of the Imperial Remnant were young women, one barely out of her teens and the other still in them. The Moffs like Tarkin or Jerjerrod would be spinning in their graves. It reminded her of the condescension in the eyes of Starlisk during the Comm session nearly a decade prior in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of the Third Death Star. She mournfully reflected that he would not be here at this meeting. And even with their differences she kindly remembered him. A brave general until the last, dueling a great evil on top of a white tower like a knight of legend. Even after his sacrifice evil had not run into the shadows, instead if anything it had gotten stronger. As they rounded the corner to the meeting site, Raven was hopeful that the Jedi Order would assist her in purging the evil that had struck down so many Jedi Grandmasters and brave knights over the centuries.

Qaselman looked over the old model preybird with a mix of emotions, between anger and amazement. "You were very brave to attempt an escape from such a fate, there are quarters here for you if you need them and refreshers to get sanisteams. I will be your contact if you wish to join the imperial service, if not we can give you prefab housing on the Nubian surface and employment at one of the manufacturers there." She extended her black gloved hand to him in the universal greeting gesture, "A pleasure to meet you Tallin Abraxas, I am Katerina Qaselman, Lieutenant with the Imperial Space Marine company thirty four. At your service." She walked the two of them to clean quarters, where soft green utility jumpsuits and towels were laid out in front of the sanisteams. Once they were washed up and fed they could discuss their future. But for now, they had just escaped death and slavery.

Wyler nodded to the Hutt, “Then you may depart either with the fleet or ahead of it, I will before you leave, need a full listing of hutt clans and members associated with the slave trade other than Kalimore, that would be perfect to begin our attack. The remnant and the millions of innocents in slavery thank you for your service. I look forward to meeting you in the next Council meeting Moff Dordjooba after this assault. Your stocks are already being transferred, I can also get the tailor to make a 10x uniform if you would need such a thing.” He shuffled through datacards on his desk, prepared to answer any more questions the Hutt would have. ___________________

Though Raven did not feel that she was unwelcome here, the stares from many of the Jedi made her wish that she had joined their order as a child instead of the Sith. The comradery here was amazing, though she kept the lightsaber clipped on her belt curing the salute, it was very tempting to join in. To have the only red sabre in the mix would have been a bad sign to any Jedi there that doubted the Imperial;s change of face from years ago when they were actively trying to kill each other. She inclined her head back towards Jaina with a sorrowful look on her face. Though she knew that the Jedi did not much care for the physical form of their old grandmaster, Raven regretted that the Remnant could not return the body to the Council. It would forever be a black mark on the name of her reign, that somehow the Jedi Grandmaster had been murdered on her own planet. The investigation would prove the culprits, flight patterns and records were still coming out, leads getting tracked down and with a team from the Jedi on it, there was no doubt in Raven’s mind that there would be justice. When the ceremony broke up and the socializing side of the event began, she was mentally preparing to be confronted by someone over the old empire, but when none came she took the opportunity to relax. She took Dashel’s hand gratefully but was very confused at the condolences he sent through the force. Her relationship with the ex-Grandmaster had not developed beyond feelings, so how he knew anything of it was beyond her. But ever perceptive were the Jedi and she thanked him for his words without acknowledging their intent. She next took the hand of his apprentice Draj and politely introduced herself, giving him her best wishes on his ambitions to be a knight. It would be a long hard road for the boy, but he had a chance if he could apply himself. It reminded her of her own apprenticeship to Tiana all those years ago. Though significantly less violent she thought as she shook his hand with her robotic one. Master Ardel approached and Raven beckoned her forward, “There is no ill will here for you Master Jedi, please talk to any or all of the Imperials here.” She smiled, her purple eyes twinkling in the light of the large suspended glowrods in the room. “You have my permission if you need it.” Raven shook her hand and let her go see the leader of the Imperial Knights. Her comm blinked annoyingly in her breast pocket and she read the scroll from Tobias Vos. She acknowledged it and her willingness to participate with a nod to him and continued to meet and greet with the Jedi Order. She waved to her friend Cadan and her apprentice and gave her solemn apologies again for the situation resulting in Kirlocca's death. She missed him horribly. I hope that wherever you are my friend, that you find peace.

The Remnant cruiser brought its shields to full power and began to ping the preybird with heavy sensors, before the commander, one Captain Feiglin, told the ship's crew to stand down from red alert. He walked over to the comm panel and keying in his command codes responded to the erstwhile pirate prebird. “Escaped slaves are always granted sanctuary within Remnant space, as commanded by our head of state. We are activating a tractor beam on your shuttle to bring it into a safe landing. Please have any ID documents available, and your ship unlocked and powered down for scans. Thank you.” He pointed to the TAC officer who tapped away at his console and belowdecks a powerful Kyrgs Tractor Beam locked onto the Mercy In Blood and pulled her into the landing bay of the assault cruiser. Where stormtrooper lieutenant Qaselman, in her grey marine armour was waiting with a dozen men. As the preybird touched down, she removed her helmet, letting long locks of red hair drop over her shoulders and gestured for the escaped slaves to emerge from the preybird.

Imperials, never ones to be late, arrived exactly an hour before the proceedings were to begin. The trio of shuttles landed at the landing strip high in the trees that had been assigned them. With a hiss, the boarding ramps lowered, letting the Imperial Head of State Raven Zinthos and her guards exit. Not very long ago, it would have been a victory to land imperial troops on such a planet, but this journey was no victory in the slightest. The imperial troops, an honour guard, clad in the somber grey and blue of the Imperial Royal Guard emerged from behind their Empress. Though only numbering thirty, the royal guard were picked from the elite of the elite of the stormtrooper battalions, and carried a mix of weaponry beneath their blue cloaks alongside the ceremonial force pikes that were so recognizable they wore no helmets, their mixed race faces a stark contrast to the old empire. The other two shuttles also contained stormtroopers that emerged in formation, dressed in blue and grey, and like the royal guard and their Head of State they wore no helmets. They wore none as a sign of honour and peace to the wookiees and Jedi. There was no war here, only mourning. Raven, followed by a half dozen guards walked towards the main area, observing the multitude of shuttles touching down from all over the known galaxy. Her juvenile force sense, could detect some familiar individuals, but the pure mass of Jedi here was a bit overwhelming. She raised a hand in salute to her knights as they arrived and she walked with them into the main ceremony chambers.

The Imperial Task Force 3 emerged from hyperspace. Centered around the Corona Frigate Admiral Andripov, named after the late Admiral who had died fighting over Carida a month prior. The Task force comprised of thirty TIE Defenders and ten Scimitar bombers, the frigate, four assault gunboats, and several Mu-class shuttles, with a division of jungle warfare troops attached to the task force from the 131st legion. Imperial Head of State Raven, sat in the Nune-class shuttle Imperial Majesty. As the task force entered orbit over the Wookiee homeworld, their weapons powered down and their IFF transponders broadcasted diplomatic credentials. To any Jedi observer, this task force was intended for the security of the Imperial Head of State and the funeral. Any mind probing of the imperials would also indicate that purpose. The fleet was mainly prepared to ward off any Sith attackers, and the jungle troops were ready to go to the surface is fighting broke out there. The shuttle containing Raven and her honour guard made its way to Kachirho with due haste.

Wyler nodded solemnly, his rough stubble making a scratching sound as it rubbed against the stiff fabric of his collar. “Yes, we would be happy to give you stocks and investments, and even a position on the Moff council if you were willing to assist us in the conquest of Hutt space and the eradication of slavery in the outer rim.“ There he had laid out the entire imperial deck of sabacc cards on the table. This could give the Hutt the power to find his ship and the money to support him, as well as provide him with his only chance at redemption. Not to mention Hutt space was a perfect place to stage an all out assault on the Bothan regions from the Kaaga hyperlane. If it were to come to that. But the Head of State had been particular, she wanted the Hutt redeemed. Plus the influence of Doordjooba would greatly assist in the upcoming White Helm assault. _____________________ Raven commed Beck while she was preparing for departure to the Wookiee homeworld. She and her honour guard boarded the Admiral Andripov and headed for Kashyyyk Upon the Head of States secret departure, acting head of state Moff Achim Hastangel, was prepared to answer any questions the Imperial Commander would have.

Wyler shrugged his thin shoulders, his white Moff’s uniform crinkling with the starch used to keep it pristine. “Your stock interest shall remain in KDY, they still maintain a large civilian shipbuilding firm in the orbital construction ring. Their profits should not likely spiral into the depths of the galactic markets. When investing in KDY you knew the implications if the shipbuilders were nationalized again which was always in the cards. I do not see a problem with your investment being transferred to the civilian markets. As for you ship you will need to be more specific as to what you want the Imperial Remnant to do about your lost ship, we have no power in the outer rim, you know that.” _______________________________ In the executive offices Raven began to plan a large military operation to end the slave trade in the outer rim, focused around the planet Curst. Though not having seen large scale anti-slavery operations in some time, She felt that the use of the Imperial military and Knights to free slaves held for centuries against their will would set the stage for the Remnant to turn its image around. Stormtroopers freeing slaves instead of taking them, the Holonet would eat it up. She issued orders for the Fleet commanders, Stormtrooper commanders, the ISB, and the Ubiqtorate to begin preparations for a quick and seamless operation against the slave trade. She dialed the number for commander Beck into her desk holocomm and left him a message. “Please report to my office immediately upon the return of the Imperial fleet to full fighting capacity. I have a mission for us.” She had been a slave herself once, so long ago...

Raven smiled at Aira, her white teeth shining in the harsh light of the holodisplays. “I have an advantage over the Moffs, they elected me in order to control me, thinking I was a little girl with no real ambition. So they gave me the Head of State’s office. An Emperor in all but name. After I had the power, I cleaned house of Moffs, generals, and officers who wished to return the Remnant to a Galactic Empire.” At the raised eyebrows around the room this response likely forced heavenswards Raven laughed. “Cleaned house is likely a too harsh a phrase, they were forcibly retired, most have a great many credits to play with, but no real power. No one was lined up against a wall and executed, I assure you that.” She shrugged dramaticaly. “I have no doubt that some semblance of desire to see a new Galactic Empire rise is still in the military and can never be fully rooted out. That is why we have turned the eye of the Remnant on the Sith and other criminals, never I hope on the Galactic Alliance.” Raven let the bit about Mazzari slide for now, the ISB would be investigating such rumours, as well as the Faust incident. Blood had been spilled on both sides, enough was enough. “If CoreSec or the Galactic Alliance needs our help we will respond, if you wish me to send a task force to Onderon alongside your fleet I will do so. I have no qualms with such a response, I have a fleet assembling at this moment if the need is dire.” As the negotiations began to wrap up, she wondered if any of the other dignitaries would speak, certainly the Mon Calamari had something to spitefully jab out about the Remnant’s past. When nothing was forthcoming, Raven was glad that the ambassadors were more constrained than her own Moffs. Who usually left tact behind in negotiations. She turned to Aira and grabbed her hand in a firm but friendly shake. “I hope all goes well and safely on your return trip, please let me know of any further developments I can head off from my end. If things go badly in the senate or in the future, you and your order always have a place here in the Remnant. If for your own protection or my own. The Imperial Knights would be happy to train any jedi in troop tactics if it comes to that against the Sith. They are sworn to the light side and the Remnant both, and though a completely separate order than yours, I believe they would work well together.” She did not go into the minute details about the Knights, about their oath to uphold the light and dethrone the Head of State if the darkside took hold of her. They were balance to her power, the one thing alongside the Jedi that would keep the remnant from slipping into the darkside. She hoped. ___________________________________ Ah KDY. The focus of so much ire and death over the decades, and a place where billions of credits funneled in and out per fiscal year. A place a Hutt could easily wash money gained illegally. Wyler let his eyebrows raise a little and he pulled up his large datapad. “What exact investments did you loose? I will need a full accounting of how they were lost before I can assist in their recovery, but I can assure you that you will get some degree of compensation.”

Moff Wyler’s eyes narrowed at the Zeltron as she addressed him. Her pink skin was intriguing enough, and her dress was certainly intended to be proactive, but that was likely something her masters forced her to do. No one would willingly work for a Hutt. The pool of slime that was already dripping onto the white tile made him want to retch. “My title is Moff Wyler, not mister.” He turned to the Hutt and continued. “I see that you are accordingly no longer running spice, and now helping the poor and desolate outer rim. How….generous of you to provide for colonies of non aligned factions. So what is your business with the Remnant?” _______________________________ Raven extended both her hands palm up to indicate her agreeance with her old friend Cadan. The servos whirred incessantly and she let the sadness show on her face. “I agree, if the senate had any love for the Jedi they would be concerned and might even declare war. That’s why I am telling you now, where he was, what he was doing, and what got him killed. I welcome any Jedi and neutral inspectors into the investigation. My records on Master Kirlocca’s actions here are yours should you want them. If your senators believe that the only galactic government that is actively fighting the Sith went out of their way to kill the Jedi Grandmaster, then I do not know what to say. I have no words.” She buried her head in her hands before she straightened her back and looked back up to the GA representatives. “The Nubian uprising, which occurred within the the Nubian Sector Senate, was orchestrated by the Imperium party, with the assistance of the then Lieutenant Governor Quaylle. This was no hostile takeover by Imperial ground troops. I am not interested in seizing any worlds from the GA, that has never been my intention, if worlds decide to join the Imperial Remnant, I will not stop them, other than to ensure that they are not mistreating their alien populations, or breaking laws such as the anti-slavery act. If you would like, I am sure a democratic vote from the populace can be conducted while under neutral observation by the Jedi or other approved neutral parties both the Galactic Senate and the Remnant can agree on.” She paused and looked at the delegation inquisitively. “Speaking of Mazzari, where is he? I had received reports that your senate had arrested him on false charges. I would like him returned unharmed.”

Raven smiled wistfully at her old friend whom she had signed a treaty that led them here so many years before. At least it had stopped the fighting for a few years. “I am afraid that there will never be a better time than this my friend, thank you for offering however.” She shook the hand of the spike headed iridonian and the web fingered Mon Calamari and smiled softly to herself. The presence of ‘aliens’ on Carida would have assuredly given the old Moffs of half a century before a heart attack. She didn’t personally feel any ill regard to aliens. She wasn’t fully human herself, but she knew their presence at the negotiations was likely a calculated effort by the GA to put the Imperial delegation on the back foot. Luckily, it was just her, and there were no xenophobic Moffs to interrupt the proceedings. One advantage of totalitarian fascism, I get to negotiate on behalf of an entire state. She shook the hand of Rasil next. Remembering him from the old treaty signing many years before. It was good to see him in good health. She cleared her throat and sat down in the long backed seat of a star destroyer commander that was behind the new black table. She was no premier diplomat, but she would try her best. Even in the presence of the ‘A-Team’ of diplomats sent by the Galactic Alliance. “I know I may look tired and defeated, I am not defeated, though I am grieving, for my people and a close friend. Thank you all for seeing me, as I know, there have been tensions building in the Galactic Senate as towards my intentions with the Remnant. I will first like to let you know that I have no intentions of going to war with the GA or even expanding our borders into the GA territory. Though I may be building for a war, it is not with you. Though I do wonder what happened to Mazzari, who was arrested on orders from your Senate.” She looked at Rasil, the Iridonian,the Mon Cal, then finally to the two Jedi. Leaving the last statement unfinished. “To clear the air and stop any ideas of me in their tracks, I do not intend to establish a Galactic Empire to rule the galaxy with a durasteel fist. This has been tried before with little success and much suffering.” She accented the sentence by moving the fingers on her replacement arm so that they made a tiny whirring sound of motors. “My goal is merely to defeat the threat of the Sith Lords that have held this galaxy under their sway from the days of Barohm Zar to the current threat of Faust and the Cult of Morthos.” She swept a hand across her brow. “This threat cannot be more clearly seen than here on Carida. Though we defeated their fleet, the death toll was catastrophic. We haven’t seen a civilian death count like that since Kuat.” She flicked her fingers, causing an anxious whir of micromotors. “This leads me to another tragic bit of news, which the Jedi likely already know. Grandmaster Kirlocca was here visiting Carida to hopefully establish a Jedi outpost when he was killed.” She let the sentence linger for a moment before barging on, “He told me he had sensed a powerful dark side threat, he pursued it, and the men I sent with him were likely killed along with him. Though I am weak with the force, I felt him die. We have not yet recovered his body, though the body of one of my ISB agents was recovered. I can only assume, some remnant of the Sith is still here, hunting.” She did not emphasize the relationship that she had begun to build with the now departed grandmaster, but she did not hide the emotions that were conflicting within her in the force. It was a great deal to heap upon the negotiation table right off the bat, but she felt that honesty was likely the right call here. The threat of the Sith was great enough to hopefully overcome the broken relationship with the GA and the Remnant.

As the Galactic Alliance representatives had arrived, the head of state had left the meeting him. Moff Kensing Weyler was not a proudful man, but the effect of the previous night's gala had left him fairly hung over. He pulled on his belt, which held a blaster pistol and a few odds and ends. The blaster was not a threatening peice, but high powered enough to fold a trandoshan into a quivering heap of dead flesh. Not that she was expecting that in any way. The royal guard in their grey armour showed the Hutt into the office, forbidding all but the zeltron and the Hutt master. Leaving the trandoshan in the cold. Where he belonged. Moff Kensing Weyler bowed and extended his hand to the Hutt as he gestured him to take a seat...or whatever he could do, slither perhaps? He took the datspad from the zeltron and looked at the Hutt inquisitively. “So where are your spice sales?” He tried not to notice the zeltrons exotic allure. But he was intrigued. _____________ The Imperial Space Command commander dispatched 12 TIE Defenders to escort the Galactic Alliance representatives to land at the Imperial Head of State's private office pad. The fighters flew in perfect precision and escorted them to the planet, through the clouds of dark smoke from the previous month's destruction. The fires had been put out with a lot of effort from the national guard, but the death toll was still rising. And would only stabilize after a few more months of counting and refugee resettlement. In her repaired office, Raven pulled her hair into a high ponytail, letting the black bangs fall in locks to cover her high forehead. Her hands were covered in black gloves that reached below the firm pressed white sleeves of her tunic of rank. White, with a series of lines of rank and service above her left breast. Her black leather belt held a single lightsaber hilt and a low slung blaster pistol. She looked at her reflection in the refsteel panel and sighed. She looked like what she felt. Tired and sad.she splashed water on her face in an effort to wake up and dried off with a white towel. No makeup came off on the towel, and she grimaced. Hopefully they wouldn't care about her tired face. When the royal guard let the GA.in Raven stood and smiled slightly, her face reflecting the sorrow she felt over Kirlocca, extending her hand to her old friend, her padawan, and the rest of the delegates. “Welcome to the Remnant, though it has only been a short time since you visited us, I think you can feel how much has happened here.” She pointed to the table in the corner laden with delectable morsels from the Remnant worlds. They were delicious, though not as abundant as could be found in the GA. “I have provided refreshment if they are needed after your long journey, though I have no doubt you would prefer to get down to business as much as I.”