Under Advisement

[Fromikeable]

An uproar flooded the room as Horst pointed a finger forward at a raised hand. Its owner stood, a young reporter in a full suit, recorder in one hand, holopad in the other.

”Gelra Jethro, Coruscant Current. Can you explain the wording of the advisory as it relates to non-Republic citizens? What does ‘secondary priority’ translate to?”

”All non-Republic citizens are gonna’ need to wait longer as we process citizens first. No one’s bein’ detained, but our priorities are to the citizens of the Republic.”

The uproar threatened to start again as the reporter immediately followed up. ”Aren’t you worried that you might be enabling unethical treatment along the border?”

”I’m more worried about hearing about more missing tourists in the news.” Waving the reporter down, Horst pointed through the uproar again at another. The Duro man jumped up with a small camera of his own.

”Hex Jem’hadar, Republic Inquirer. Why hasn’t a military solution already been taken against the obviously threatening Hutt fleets?”

”I’d call the travel advisory and fleet redistributions a military solution, bud.”

”I am talking about a pro-active, preeminent strike into Hutt territory. Their sovereignty has never been fully recog-”

”If the Hutts want a fight, they’ll need ta’ come and get it themselves.” Waving him down again, Horst huffed a stressed sigh. These damn lights and cameras made him feel like he was locked in an oven, baking for the galaxy to see. ”Last question, in the back.”

”Tornok Uhuar, International Informer. What efforts have been made to communicate with the Empire about the situation?”

”We know it’s not them, and they know it’s not us.”

”Wouldn’t a coordinated effort make the situation more apparent?”

Biting his tongue hard, Horst had to quickly remind himself not to cause an international incident. Mulling his words, he rolled his tongue from one cheek to another before responding. ”Collaboration’ll be considered when we’ve got a better idea of what’s happening. In the meantime, all Republic citizens oughta’ stick to the guidelines and information put out in tha’ advisory. State department’s expanding its hotline services thanks to the volume of calls they’ve been gettin’, should be done by tomorrow.” Closing his holopad, the uproar of the room reignited as numerous questions were shouted. Horst simply ignored them, adding a final ”Keep your ears open” before exiting out the press room’s side door.

Once freed, he sighed heavily. An assistant came running up alongside him with a cup of water, which Horst drank greedily before crunching the paper cup in his hand.

”Why the fuck didn’t the Chancellor do this?”

”He’s not due back to Coruscant until tomorrow, and we would’ve been burned alive if we’d pushed back the conference another day.”

”Yeah yeah, fuckin’ two bit talking head piece of…” Cursing under his breath, he loosened his collar.

”The intelligence folks at HQ yet?”

Another aid, this one in her full military dress, rushed forward, nodding. ”They’re due in within the hour, sir.”

”Good. Fire up the shuttle.”

---

With a change of his shirt and a cup of hot coffee, Horst sighed in his chair, relaxing. This wasn’t the time to be relaxed, sure, but sitting at the head of a command holotable in Republic Military Headquarters was a far sight more familiar than being grilled alive by reporters. Even if the galaxy was in the most tumultuous political state since the war, Horst knew had to deal with that better than politically-sensitive questions. Warfare wasn’t about making sure you didn’t offend some bureaucrat thousands of lightyears away; it was about making sure they lived in a world that was safe enough to get as pissy as they wanted.

Horst knew how to do that in spades, at least.

”They’re here, sir.”

Horst reached out a lazy finger to poke the intercom on the table, nodding at no one. ”Send ‘em in.”

[Rugs]

A cloud hung in the air.

It was nothing physical — no, the clear afternoon sky was as fine as any as Locke’s speeder zipped through Coruscant’s endless traffic en route to the Republic Military HQ. A darkness, quiet but foreboding, lingered in the Force if Locke made the effort to listen for it.

“Landing now, Master Jedi.” The Temple shuttle service driver was a nice fellow. A bit dry for Locke’s taste, but the Jedi wasn’t really in the mood for idle chatter anyway.

He checked his comm briefly, anxious for a reply from Lidah as the speeder settled into a landing bay and security came forth to greet them. Hope she’s alright. Who knows what’s going on out there?

No one did. And that was the problem, Locke told himself as the speeder door hissed open and he rose with a nod to the crisply-uniformed guards who were to escort him to the meeting. The Hutts wouldn’t just mass their fleets at Nar Shaddaa and Nal Hutta for nothing. Neither would the Republic and the Empire issue complimentary travel advisories warning their citizens to stay out of Hutt Space. Locke could only imagine dozens of smaller ones followed from independent systems and sectors.

Locke put his hands in his coat, as he strolled through the headquarter halls. Something terrible was afoot in the Galactic East, and no one knew what. It did not seem, at this moment, to be something that’d send the two Galactic superpowers hurtling to open conflict with each other, but a bad scenario not being the absolute worst case scenario was little comfort.

Well hopefully this meeting will help us figure something out, Locke mulled as the guards led him down a hall and into a corridor. Being freshly returned from an excursion to Hutt Space as he was, he’d volunteered to attend the meeting as a representative of the Order. Apparently, some animals had gotten loose from a zoo and in the Temple shortly after he left. Locke had been briefly amused by the thought of the poor Jedi who’d have to help track them down, just as he wondered how they got in in the first place. Good luck, friends, he'd thought with amusement after seeing the alert.

The meeting room was a short walk from the turbolift. Locke waited for clearance to enter, and when it was granted, emerged to see Horst Stellar, Chief of the Republic’s general staff, at the head of a holotable.

Locke didn’t think they’d met before. He’d surely remember if they had, what with the war and all.

“General,” he said with a slight nod of his head as he took a spot at the table’s side. “Locke Nemsee. Pleasure to meet you.” Locke smiled ruefully. “A shame the Hutts decided to make the conditions for it all kinds of shitty."

[Fromikeable]

Horst looked up to be greeted by the sight of a Jedi, the man's clothing a far sight from the typical Jedi attire. Granted, Horst saw very little of the usual robes. Most of his experience with the Order had been during wartime, so there had been lots of armors and sabers. Since the treaty, however, it had become a roll of the dice. Some Jedi showed up looking like monks come down from the mountain ready to preach and meditate. Others came in scrubbing their armor with toothbrushes and rambling on about their favorite kinds of fighters like a bunch of teenagers playing arcade games.

Nemsee, it seemed, was someone more in the middle of the road.

Nodding at the man's greeting, Horst sat up. "Don't worry about it, Master Jedi. If it wasn't the Hutts, it'd just be somethin' else." The General had figured that the insurrection on Yag'Dhul would be his active problem for the year. He'd almost hoped for something a little more involved.

Me and my big fuckin' mouth.

"General Stellar, Chief of General Staff." Rolling his hand at his own introduction, he brushed past it. "I'm just glad you showed. Word from the Order's that you've been workin' in Hutt Space, that correct?"

[Ash]

Phantom was once again being called in to assist the Republic with a sensitive mission. He didn't have really any detail at all about what it could be about, only that he was called out of his mission along Republic border space. He managed to shower and change clothing, but still was in his combat gear as usual.

He landed on Coruscant nearly half an hour ago, and it took that long to navigate that long from the Landing pad to the meeting room where General Horst Stellar would be at. Phantom worked with this man once before, and didn't know him too well, but he had a reputation that was outstanding to say the least. Phantom had no issues working with him.

Despite wearing boots, his footsteps were quiet, as he caught a few people by surprise as the man walked down the hall, and turned his way into the conference hall. General Stellar wasn't alone, as the first person that caught his eye was a Jedi he was unfamiliar with. After the general swirl of mistrust and suspicion, he gave the Jedi a polite nod of his head and looked back at Horst.

"General, Agent Phantom reporting."

Quick and to the point. There was no need to say anything more or ask what was going on as he was fairly certain all would be made out shortly regardless of if he inquired what was going on in Hutt space that wasn't already blaring on the news.

[Harukei]

The sound of typing filled his cabin. His fingers danced across the keyboard as he worked through the numerous inter-fleet and navy wide messages, giving to each a response that he considered was the most appropriate for the conundrum at hand. The Fleet Admiral leaned against his chair and took a look at the modest holdings of his cabin, the bunk, the containers and refresher cramped together to make way to his desk and allow him a moment of respite during the intense military campaigns or exercises. His inbuilt data terminal chirped at him and seized his interest. 

Saul clicked in, switching his terminal from the message and correspondence mode to that of the news feed. A clatter of noise from a multitude of reporters came as a man sat during a seemingly makeshift press conference. A smile was soon perched upon his lips, as he saw his friend being buffeted by an unending siege of questions that eroded his patience little by little until he had finally quit being the target of the questioning fusillades of the press from Coruscant and the Republic. In all honesty, he didn't envied Horst in that regard, his job was stressing enough as it was. 

However his smile died at the reminder of the looming menace of the Hutt Fleet amassing in the so-called Hutt Space. His headaches had multiplied as he had to reorganize fleets in order to cover that section of the galaxy and still had to do miracles to keep his eye on the hyperspace lanes that could lead into an Imperial incursion. Whatever the bloated snails were up to, could not be anything good. He flicked the switch off and pressed another button on his desk, activating the com link to the pilot of his personal shuttle. 

"Yes Fleet Admiral?" The rough voice of a Nikto came, ready and able as always.

"Prepare my shuttle Captain Tozo."

"On the double, Aye sir."

---

The flight from the marooned Anenke to the military headquarters was a swift one. Captain Tozo had an uncanny ability to make even a slow to a crawl shuttle move with the grace of a fighter several times lighter of tonnage. With his skill he would be useful when it came to lead a fighter squadron when the occasion called for it, worthy from rescuing him from the clutches of a court martial after the good Nikto had bruised the pride of one of his peers. 

Saul would traverse the Headquarters in record time, remembering the layout of the building from the times he had met Horst first and then when he himself had been made Fleet Admiral. With a stride that had haste in it, he made the run in good time, at least if he was to compare with a marathoner and nodded subtly at the secretary at the door. As he entered he removed his Admiral's cap and made his way around the table.

"Master Jedi." He said with a node as he looked at the member of the ancient Order, a man that if he could remember correctly, was named Locke. The other shadowy figure received another nod from him, although he could not remember his code name. However when he saw Horst a smile appeared and he slapped his fellow Corellian on the shoulder.

"Ah, Horst, your skills as a poster boy increase, great conference. Specially calling that reporter bud, classy." 

He said with a chuckle before whispering to his friend. 

"I'll buy you a drink later, you looked like you went to hell and came back. Next time, let me handle the reporters, I will do a holoconference with them."

The Fleet Admiral then took his seat and placed his cap before him, as he awaited for the meeting to start. 

[Rugs]

“Please, call me Locke,” Locke said with a grin as he poked at a datapad in front of him. A map of Hutt Space, with its major systems annotated, sprang to life in front of him. “I’ve already been called ‘Master Jedi’ today. Too many times in one day gives me the willies. But ain’t that the damn truth. Better the Hutts than the Empire, at least?”

Locke had only just arrived back on Coruscant word broke of the Hutt fleets massing near Nal Hutt and Nar Shaddaa. He hadn’t been in a position to know what was going on between the Republic and Empire, but he could only imagine the stir on Prazhi to ensure the cold war didn’t turn hot again.

He started to open his mouth to answer Horst’s question as another man strolled in. Locke didn’t recognize him, but he didn’t carry himself like a military regular. With the inclusion of ‘Agent’ in his name and Locke’s assumption that the man’s parents didn’t name him ‘Phantom,’ Locke assumed he was a special operator of some sort. He returned the agent’s nod as another man entered the room.

That was Saul Talion. An admiral. Lock didn’t know the man personally but spend the better part of a decade fighting a war and you got to know the names of the higher-ups. “Admiral Talion,” he said with a nod of his head. “Agent.” He extended the same gesture to Phantom.

“I’m Locke Nemsee,” he said. “Here representing the Order.”

“As I was about to explain to General Stellar, I’ve recently returned from Hutt Space, and may be able to offer some insight as to what’s going on out there.” A few keystrokes transferred the map of Hutt Space from Locke’s datapad to a projector in the center of the table. “Unfortunately for us, I can’t promise that insight will be particularly useful.”

Locke frowned slightly. “Things are... tense in Hutt Space, to say the least. The Black Sun launched an assault on a major Hutt gala on Nar Shaddaa some weeks ago that was also host to some of the Exchange’s power players. There’ve been fears that an underworld war might break out.” Locke sighed, crossing his arms. “When I first saw the news, I feared the Hutts might be preparing to strike back to the Black Sun, but I don’t think that’s the case.

“The Suns are based out of Coruscant, so striking them, would mean attacking the Republic capital.” Locke’s eyes turned to Horst. “The Hutts may still seek revenge against the Black Sun, but not like that. They’re not that stupid, and underworld wars aren’t fought with big fleets.”

[Rabbit]

For the most part, Kar'eth Tav'zra was an easy going fellow. A little too easy-going, if one asked his superiors in SIS. But, that easy-going personality didn't extend to tardiness. He hated being late...and his aversion to the habit had only grown since his name had been put on the Republic military's payroll.

If there was one thing Kar'eth hated above all else in the galaxy, it was being on the receiving end of an ass-chewing from a military superior. No matter how many years it had been since he had last seen his parents, and no matter what the nature of his dressing-down was, he was inevitably reminded of his mother and father. And, subsequently, how long it had been since he had seen them...and the less-than-ideal way in which they had all parted ways.

The day was warm and even though Kar was the most fit he'd ever been in his life, he still broke out in a sweat as he dashed across grass, walk-ways, up stairs, and through corridors to get to his destination. He silently cursed at himself with each step he took.

Granted, this was supposed to be a day off for him...but, this is what he got for trying to woo a married woman. Instead of being available and near his usual means of communication, like most any reasonable being would be in the middle of the day, he'd been...well...busy. Preoccupied. Indisposed.

He had no idea what excuse he was going to give for being late to such an important summons. As he came up short in front of General Horst's office door, the Mirialan tried to catch his breath and consider his options. He had exactly one:

Don't offer up an excuse.

"Just bend over and take it, Tav'zra," he muttered to himself.

His chest still heaved like an old-fashioned naval ship at sea, but at least he could talk. Hopefully, no one would ask him to explain why he was having to gulp in air after each word he uttered. Kar'eth considered standing outside for a few minutes, until he could completely catch his breath and let the sweat dripping down his cheeks cool...but then he'd be even more late to the meeting.

At least, if he went in now, they'd all know he'd made an effort in being late...

Things went from bad to worse, however, as soon as the door slid open and he stepped inside. Someone said Kar's two least favorite words in the galaxy and it became crystal clear to him why he had been asked to attend such an important gathering: "Black Sun" and "Hutts".

Kar barely stifled a sigh as he straightened his spine to stand at attention. It seemed all the Republic wanted out of him was his knowledge of the Underworld. Would he ever get a chance to do something else with his life, or was his sordid past destined to always color the options made available to his future?

"Agent Kar'eth Tav'zra," he could feel every eye in the room lock onto him - he also couldn't help but notice that he was in the presence of a scary-looking fellow in the corner, the two highest ranking officers in the Republic Navy and Army respectively, and a Jedi.

Shitshitshitshit...

He lifted an eyebrow and took a deep breath in an effort to calm his still-heavy breathing.

"Someone say 'Black Sun'?"

[Fromikeable]

The door opened twice in quick succession. The first time offered up Agent Phantom, who introduced himself and little more. Horst responded in kind, giving a quiet nod of his chin. The second time offered up Saul, who slapped his shoulder. Huffing out a smile and shaking his head, Horst took his ribbing with a sucked lip, bouncing a finger at the Chief of the Navy like he was one of the neighborhood kids that had just admitted to stealing his soda.

"You're goddamn right you're doin' it next time. I'll call people somethin' worse than 'bud' if I do another one of those this year, ya' hear me?" Smiling wide to give away that he was kidding, Horst waved at the adjacent seat, sighing in a modicum of relief as the Admiral sat.

It was always good to know that somebody could feel your pain. Even if it must've been funny as hell from the other end.

Nemsee stood, clarifying that he was sick of being called "Master Jedi" lately."Don't have to tell me twice." "Master Jedi" had always struck the Corellian a bit haughty, as if adhering to some ancient form of feudalism. This was a democracy, dammit; "Master" wasn't a word the average Republic citizen heard much, and for good reason. He could respect the title, acknowledge the skill, sure, but that didn't mean he had to like it.

So getting to call someone by their actual name always started them off at a higher baseline of trust. Or, at least, likability.

Nemsee gave the run down. The Black Suns had made a move just before the Hutt fleets had begun to amass. Scratching at his stubble, Horst nearly missed the door opening a final time, a huffing, panting Mirialan coming through and poking at the subject matter. Staring at his sweaty face for a second, Horst did his best to recollect the name.

"Kar'eth? Yer' late, take a seat. Locke here just got done tellin' us that the Suns might've provoked the Hutts." No rants, no rage. They didn't seem warranted when he was only a few minutes shy and the meeting had just kicked off. Pointing a finger at Phantom, Horst indicated the seat next to Kar'eth's. "You too Phantom, this's gonna' take a while."

Rolling his shoulders, Horst sat up. "I think yer' right, Nemsee. If this was an underworld war, we'd be lookin' at explodin' businesses and urban warfare on the lower levels, not fleets." Activating his holopad, Horst flicked at it a few times. Locke's map of Hutt space updated with additional information, including many more notes, fleet positions along the border, patrol routes, and the newly-instated border worlds. Standing up, Horst pointed at the border.

"Admiral Talion can tell ya' more than I can, but the Hutts've got jack shit on their side've the border right now. We've actually been trackin' ships bein' pulled away from their patrols out there." A series of dashed lines indicated those ships, which all led to Nal Hutta.

"'Tween that n' the news about Teth fuckin' disappearing off comm networks, I think it's a safe bet that we're lookin' at some sort've fight in Hutt space. The way they're formin' up, I'd even call it an invasion, but we'd be seein' at least a fleet signature comin' from their eastern space in that case." Pointing at the area around Teth, Horst shrugged lightly. "Nothin' there except for some weird, big hyperspace readings. Engineers are chalkin' 'em up to our sensor network bein' buggy. Had ta' move a lot of stuff over to the border, told me to give it a couple've days."

Sitting back down, Horst rubbed at his chin again, his elbow propped on the table's edge, giving a heavy sigh. "Aaaaaaand that's it. That's literally everything we've got on this situation right now." Leveling a finger at Locke, Horst swirled it lightly. "We've got a possible Black Suns factor. That's news to us." The finger shifted over to the two agents, dancing between them.

"You two got anythin' to add before I start handin' out to-do lists?"

[Ash]

Two people came in after Phantom did: One was Admiral Saul, who he had met previously. Phantom gave him a nod of the head, not saying anything. He took a seat near the door, where he was use to being, and watched as a panting man ran in. Phantom didn't know who this man was, but he didn't look like he was standard Military.

Quickly enough after that, Horst started their briefing. He had to agree with Horst about this not being some standard underworld war. Being from a rogue faction once before that operated outside of the big three underworld factions, he knew how things worked. His eyes scanned over the map that the General put up, looking at the new stuff. Horst spoke some more, which Phantom half listened to, one eye lighting up ever so slightly as he recorded the image to study later.

"Sensor networks being buggy generally means something much bigger."

Phantom focused his attention from the map and over to Horst and Saul.

"I suggest getting some eyes on there, either by us or a reliable third party source in the area. Same with anyone we can use in the Black Sun. I'm sure they would be spreading news if it was them, or have confirmed viewing of their own fleet, if they amassed one."

Phantom stood up, moving closer to the map even if he didn't need to get closer to it. He gave it a good look before he spoke again.

"And do we know how many more of their ships the Hutt's have yet to pull in? Knowing location of any ships may indicate their direction of attack. There is a lot of neutral space between us and them, if they come this way, and not everyone would be able to defend themselves."

Any confirmed scout ships, or ships of any kind, may be information they could use to predict what way the Hutt's could attack.

"Do we have any information from other factions space? Imperial space borders them, and Mandos and others aren't too far away."

An all out attack could hurt a lot of people.

[Rugs]

“Agent,” Locke said as the next new arrival arrived at the tail end of his talk. “That’d be me that said it, yeah.” He flashed a smile that didn’t quite touch his eyes. “Always a good day when the Black Sun might be involved, eh?”

He turned his head to Horst as the general ran through his thoughts on the situation. Stellar was right, in his summation on the possibility of an underworld war. Locke didn’t doubt that one was coming — too much had happened on Nar Shaddaa recently, and the Hutts had long memories — but if it’d already kicked off, he wouldn’t have had time to spare to come talk intel with military brass.

But for all that could happen on that front, his regular contacts reported that all was quiet between the major criminal syndicates.

Other than the Hutts gathering to rain unholy hell on someone.

Or something? Locke’s eyes drifted to Teth at the general’s mention of it. There was another strange happening. A world on the edge of Hutt Space--about as far to the Galactic East as you could go — going radio silent in the night.

“Shit like that doesn’t just happen,” Locke muttered. It had the classic hallmarks of an invasion but from where? There wasn’t anything past Teth but Wild Space, and not a whole lot of that before you ran out of space in the Galaxy.

Locke glanced at one of the special agents, Phantom, as he spoke up. He furrowed his brow and rested his chin on a hand as he narrowed his eyes at the map as if that’d make answers pop to life over the projection.

“The Hutts are the biggest deal goin’ over in the Galactic East, by a long shot,” he said. “There are a few independent systems between here and there, but...” Locke stood up, spinning the map so that it was looking north from his vantage point. It zoomed out to show a slice of the eastern Galaxy around Hutt Space, with a few independent systems between Hutt Space and Republic Space highlighted.

“When’s the last time the Hutts have massed their fleets like this? I can’t think of t. Even during the war, they kept them spread along the borders as a show of force.” He looked at each of the others in turn. “If I had to guess, something has happened out there, and it’s scared the shit out of them. So if something that severe is going on out in Hutt Space, I’d bet those smaller systems will be focusing on getting ready for whatever is coming.”

Locke sighed. “I don’t have any real say for larger Republic strategy, but I do have a lot of contacts out that way. Just my suggestion, but I think the Republic should do some groundwork. Figure out what’s going on out there. Do it ourselves, and share information with our allies.”

More importantly, he added silently, I’d rather we know what’s going on for ourselves.

The last question, Locke left to one of the commanders. He’d not had enough time to get a bead on the Empire since returning, and quite frankly didn’t want the headache of imagining what skullduggery they’d be up to.

[Rabbit]

“Always a good day when the Black Sun might be involved, eh?”

It was the Jedi Master who had bothered to answer Kar's mostly rhetorical question about the Black Sun. The former spice smuggler just snorted in reply and shook his head. 'A good day', indeed. The Black Sun were nothing but trouble...but something didn't sit right with the SIS agent.

He kept quiet, his blue eyes flickering from General Horst, to the other agent, then back toward the Jedi, as each of them spoke in turn. Kar chewed the inside of his cheek as he was wont to do when he was thinking. His eyes snapped toward the map as the Jedi brought it up and shared his own thoughts on the mysterious matter (or matters) taking place on the far reaches of the eastern galaxy. After the man finished speaking, the room was quiet for a moment or two.

Kar was the first to break the lull.

"SIS has been monitoring this situation as well. As you've pointed out," he nodded toward the Jedi, who's name he hadn't been present to hear. "Things have been quiet between the major syndicates - well," Kar shrugged with a wry half-smile. "As quiet as they ever are. If the Black Suns had made a move against the Hutts, there would have been fair warning on our end. We've got plenty of contacts in the Underworld."

Hell, the Galactic Underworld was where SIS found some of their best agents - himself included - but Kar didn't add that part. That wasn't information he freely volunteered.

"There hasn't been so much as a peep from the Black Suns, to indicate any intention to make a major fleet push in Hutt Space. Not to mention," Kar crossed his arms over his broad chest and rocked back on his heels. "The Black Suns don't have the concentrated fire power to make an entire planet go silent. The Underground is so named for a reason - they deal in back alleys on Coruscant, cantinas on Ord Mantell, and shady nightclubs on Nar Shadaa. Back-stabbing, manipulation, skulduggery...sure. But..." the Mirialan titled his head to the side, his eyes narrowing at the map. "If something has the Hutts scared...scared enough to pull their fleet together...?"

He fell quiet for a moment and went back to chewing his cheek. Naw...something wasn't right about this. Kar's gut told him it wasn't linked to criminal activity.

"The Hutts aren't afraid of the Black Suns. Kriff, the Hutts aren't afraid of much - Mandalorians, the Republic, the Empire, Sith, Jedi, the Black Suns...you name it. Fear rolls off those bastard's thick skins like slime. Fear's not in the Hutt vocabulary - literally. You've made a good point," his eyes flickered back toward the Jedi. "This," he gestured toward the map, as if to indicate the whole of the gathering Hutt fleet. "Is fear in action.

"Naw," Kar sighed heavily and paused long enough to scowl darkly at the map. "I'mma gonna' say we have two avenues to pursue. This is either the Empire," his lips twisted. "Or...it's a whole new player."

He uncrossed his arms and put his hands on his hips. Finally, the Mirialan addressed the entire directly, but particularly the General and Admiral in front of him.

"I agree with the Jedi. We need to gather intel - get boots on the ground, in a manner of speaking," he flashed his teeth in a feral sort of smile. "Y'know, that's what SIS is for."

Kar's grin faded abruptly as it dawned on him exactly how what he'd just said would sound to the others.

Ah, hell. I just volunteered my damn idiot self....

[Harukei]

Saul kept his counsel as the facts were brought in and detailed, his eyes darting through the holographic display as it were a board game and as if he were attempting to find a flaw in the strategy of the rival. However that the whole point. The sudden amassing of fleets that the Hutt were doing in that swamp ridden collection of worlds they call Hutt Space had no real order or reason behind it. The battle doctrines of gangster and mobsters often relied in hiring additional muscle whilst they were tucked safely in their palaces or barges within Nal Hutta, Nar Shadda or Quesh. 

"With what we know, it would look like they were parading whatever fleet they have." The Admiral said in a flat tone. His index pointing at the representation of the Hutt Space. "Under any normal circumstance in order to do a force projection you would need a concrete point in your territory to launch an invasion. And so far we haven't seen anything close to our borders like that."

His mind went towards the patrol fleets he had stationed in that fringe of space just mere hours after Horst press conference, blocking the hyperlanes from any unwanted traffic from the sector from any large cargo ship, making it plausible for only the most reckless smugglers to try to beat the metaphorical wall of durasteel, turbolasers and missiles that would receive them if they did not stop to be submitted to an inspection. 

"So either the damned slugs are parading ships with aurium plates, or as some of you have proposed, these might as well be a third party. I do not believe the Empire could have a sway unto the Hutts."

Indeed it didn't strike him as any imperial strategy he had seen before. Sure they could be a rather clandestine bunch when it suited their needs, but more often than not, they would seek to infiltrate the Republic's own ranks, or use misdirection via mercenaries. If the Sith Empire was behind this, then it was doubly more worrisome. The Fleets were already stretched thin. 

"Do we know anything from the Sith Empire? Any unusual movement that SIS has seen?" 

[Fromikeable]

"It ain't the Empire." Crossing his arms, Horst shook his head. "Diplomats told me the Imps on Prazhi are just as confused as we are, and they mean it. Sith fleets that we can see are mirrorin' our response, pulling fleets from non-essential posts to the Hutt border. We've even confirmed their advisory. They're interrogatin' everyone they can find crossing the border, Imperial or not." Huffing, Horst waved a hand.

"Fat lot've good it's doin' 'em."

Pointing up at the map of Hutt Space, Horst's finger ran a lap around it. "All other factions on with borders're accounted for, includin' the Mandos. If somebody's kickin' up dust in Hutt space, it's nobody from the neighborhood." The finger swirled at Kar. "Now we can rule out the Suns, and-" switching over to Locke "-it sounds like the Exchange's playin' defense, not offense."

"We're dealin' with a new player on the board here, folks. Let's roll with that for now and see what we get." Punching in a few commands to the map, it displayed a multitude of small briefings located at various points. Picking one out in eastern space, Horst zoomed in on it, revealing one of the hyperspace anomalies.

"First thing, sounds like we all agree, is that we need eyes on. Ideally we'd get a look at Teth, but if these readings turn out not to just be our equipment fuckin' up, they take priority. We're gonna' need at least a couple Jedi on that, Nemsee. Nobody goes diving into potential shitshows than you guys." Giving the Master Jedi a grin, he nudged his chin at the door. "Dunno how it works over there in terms of stuff like this, but if you could try to make sure somebody's on it, it'd be much appreciated."

"Second's fixing our sensors." Turning to look at Saul, Horst rolled a hand. "Every time a Hutt burps, I wanna' hear it so well that I can tell what they had for lunch. We clear up those anomalies, we do some thorough scans, we see if we're dealing with cloaking tech. Only way I can think of to hide an entire invasion fleet off the map."

"Third's makin' sure we get whatever we can outta' the refugees." A finger pointed along the Republic-Hutt border, noting the planets that were heavily annotated. "Border worlds are already flooded with people runnin' from mostly eastern Hutt space. I wanna' know what they know. Makin' sure they get taken care've's also probably a good idea." The finger descended again to Kar and Phantom. "You guys make sure we've got folks in every camp, at every mess hall, on every supply train. No interrogations, I just want ears everywhere. Folks've been through enough, will probably talk about it all at some point anyway."

"Last up..." Horst stopped short, sighing heavily as a hand rubbed the side of his face. "... I'm gonna' have to bullshit the Senate and the Chancellor, make sure we don't get stuck in red tape." Resisting the urge to curse, Horst settled for rolling his tongue around in his mouth, chewing it for a second. "Already tried to drum up a few extra garrisons, relocate the Flame closer to Hutt Space. 'Minute the engines fired up, I got nineteen goddamn calls and an emergency stop order." Giving his forehead a last, disapproving scratch, his hands dropped to his hips.

"Anyway, I don't care if it's you guys or other people. All I know is that I wanna' see some volunteers from the Order, military intelligence, and SIS, and I wanna' see 'em soon."

[Rabbit]

Well...at the very least, Horst hadn't come right on out and singled Kar'eth on the spot. Though, the Force knew that the Mirialian had definitely left himself wide open for being volun-told by his superiors.

What was it that the Navy guys always said? Never Again Volunteer Yourself?

Yea...

"Well, General Horst, sir," Kar folded his arms over his chest and rocked back on his heels. "I'll bite first. Where'd you want me to go? Or do I figure that out myself?"

To be honest, the Navy guys had volunteered themselves into their service. Kar hadn't, not really. His choices had been do what some crazy Jedi told him to do and get the chance to straighten out his life by giving his life to duty and country...or go to prison and/or continue to live life on the lower levels of Corellia, broke and one financial emergency away from homeless.

Not really a choice.

So, at least here, he could volunteer. And it was his choice.

Kar'eth's icy blue gaze slipped briefly away from Horst and back toward the hovering holo-map. Something in his gut told him that things were about to get really, really...interesting. Kar had always been an adrenaline junkie.

Who was he gonna' try and fool? He wanted in on this action.

Even if his gut was telling him that "interesting" was an understatement. Things were about to go really, really wrong.

[Ash]

Phantom listened to what Horst and Saul had to say, and the rest of the mission brief and what he wanted to accomplish. He intended to get Jedi their own mission, and the rest was to be split before them. If Horst wanted everyone everywhere, it would take more than Phandom, Kar'eth, and a few intelligence operatives to fallow that many people.

"You have me."

Phantom nodded to Horst, saying he was up to the job to help out. He himself may not have been able to to do much, but with a team, he could keep his eyes and ears on as many as he could. With the galaxy descending as it is now, they would all need to pull together.

"General, since this is a large mission, do we have enough resources to accomplish what you're asking? If we are able to come to a deal with a allied faction or business, we may be able to have them assist us with non-critical work"

Sure, this was all critical work for the Republic, but any little bit helps when everyone was stretched thin.

[Rugs]

“Sir, I take a particular pride in my ability to dive headlong into shitshows,” Locke said, grinning stupidly. “Of all varieties.” From joining the Jedi who chose to enter the war against the Sith early to more stupid underworld stunts than he could ever hope to count, Locke had made something of profession out of leaping, then looking.

The approaching effort would — hopefully — be more organized, but Locke appreciated the general’s intent.

Locke hoped, the Council was already meeting, or planning meetings to at least discuss the Order’s options for dealing with this looming danger. The last thing the Order needs is to face a crisis unprepared, he thought, frowning. Though the Jedi’s primary duty was to the Republic, they also held a duty to defend life anywhere in the Galaxy, no matter who ruled it.

At least, that was Locke’s outlook on things.

Still, he had reports to make once he settled back in at the Temple. Paperwork, catching up with his superiors. The usual bullshit. He might slip a few words about the meeting while he was at it.

“You’re an eager one,” he said wryly as the Mirialan volunteered himself to help. Locke’s words were teasing, but his tone held some obvious respect. It was impossible to suppress, from one shit-diver to another.

The other agent, Phantom, spoke up before Locke could say more to Kar. Locke’s brow rose slightly. He understood, of course, looking to others to build a wider network of support. The Republic enforced its order by working with allies, when possible.

It seemed strange — to Locke at least — to question whether the Galaxy’s preeminent superpower (in Locke’s wholly unbiased opinion) had enough resources to run recon over in Hutt Space. Locke glanced at Horst, wondering silently if Phantom knew something the rest of them didn’t. He’d leave the question of ability to the general.

Still, Phantom’s point wasn’t necessarily a bad one.

“I’ve got several allied contacts I’ve built up over the years,” Locke said. “The Exchange is just as interested in this as we are, and they’ve got eyes spread throughout Hutt Space.” His mind drifted for a moment to Lidah and Vance and the others back at the Eye, wondering what they were doing as the thunderhead loomed on the horizon. “I already do keep regular contact with them, but I’ll make sure I can establish some ways to keep abreast of what they’re seeing as we get started with all this.”

[Fromikeable]

Horst raised an eyebrow at Phantom's question. "Kid, I don't know where you were before you joined up, but this's the Republic. We didn't get this far by renting every gun and ship we've ever used." His chin nodded at the holomap before he deactivated it. "Yer' thinking of the Hutts." Punching a few keystrokes into the table, the map was returned to Locke's holopad, with copies going to everyone at the table.

"Kar, Phantom, you're on recon. Dig up some dirt, find out what's happenin'. Go where you're needed, but your reports're comin' straight to me." Leveling a finger at Locke, Horst's free hand held his hip. "Nemsee, prioritize gettin' some more Jedi on this. If you can get us eyes from the Exchange, it'd be handy, but do me a favor and verify everything they say best you can." Horst had no doubt that criminal syndicates had just as much interest in Hutt Space falling apart as the governments of the galaxy did. But professional criminals couldn't quite be trusted the way the Order could. Though, Horst supposed, professional criminals reporting to the Order were some sort of basically trustworthy middle-ground.

"Saul, you and me gotta' draft some plans." Horst grimaced a bit. "Gods forbid this starts spilling over one of the borders, the fleets need to in position. Plus, I'm betting the chancellor'll give me way less hell about movin' the Flame if you're askin' too." Horst couldn't help but grin a little at his fellow Corellian. Saul had volunteered to help front more of the politics, after all. The first place to start was getting the keys to their ship back.

With a party this potentially big, they couldn't be caught dead in anything else.

"I'm expectin' the first round of reports from you three by week's end." Picking up his datapad, Horst shoved it into a small black back, slinging it over his shoulder. Checking the time, he nodded to himself. "Lemmie know what leads you're followin', who else you've roped in, what sort've support you need. I'll get it for ya', doesn't matter what it is."

"Now get out there."