Crinium was astounded by her first sentance, and was leaning forward in his chair after the next. Obviously she was very perceptive. He waited until she was done outlining her plan and then spoke up.

"So with your plan we would gain new technology, new recruits and gain back the losses of this war?"

"Simply put, yes."

"There is another bonus you hadn't thought of, I believe."

"What's that?"

"If ever we wanted to make an assault against someone, we have the perfect staging point."

"I had though of that. Do you want to hear my reason why I hadn't mentioned it?"

"Please, proceed."

Crinium waited in silence, betting it was a good reason.

“Thank you. The first reason why I hadn't told you yet, was because I didn't want to push you into going into a full fledge war against the galaxy before you knew what was going on. When I was last there, The New Order was huge, with more capital ships then all the Republics put together. The Jutraalian Empire was also quite large, and there were numerous other fleets out there that could blow your whole fleet up without lossing a fighter, the Mon Calamari Republic included. Also, pushing you into a war, setting a schedule and then suffering major losses that needed to be recouperated and that would put us behind schedule wouldn't be good. What we need to do is quickly get control of Lwhekk and Bakura, last I knew they didn't have much to do with the galactic war. Then, we can get infiltrators spread across the galaxy and find out what has happened while I was gone. Then we can think about making a schedule, and gradually taking planets that are important to getting us into the major fleet group listings. We will need to control strategic planets. While some would automatically think of pushing straight Coreward, I suggest moving through the Outer Rim Territories first, taking planets in an area, then having numerous staging points to attack the galaxy from.”

Jesmin leaned back in her chair.

“Before doing all this of course, I need some information. What is building in your shipyard?”

“We have a Missile Cruiser and some shuttles.”

“Excellent. Once the Missile Cruiser is done, start the attack against Lwhekk, try to capture at least one ship.”

It worried Jesmin that she was telling this alien so much, what happened if the fleets she expected to find at Mon Calamari had been vanquished by an Imperial attack? What if the New Republic was destroyed? The Imperial groups would never listen to information given to them from a former Colonel in the Mon Calamari Republic’s Army Division.

Crinium listened to the magnificent plan and reasoning outlined by Jesmin Ragabag. Truly she was a very valuable asset to the Farquak Empire, and he was glad she was with them.

“The Missile Cruiser will be done in one week. Our shuttles should be done tomorrow and we will be sending your crew to a position of their choosing soon.”

“Excellent. Is there anything else you need me for?”

“Not at the moment. I will have an aide show you to a chamber that will serve for your living quarters until we can get you onto a ship.”

Jesmin left leaving Crinium alone with his thoughts.

One week later.

A week had passed and Jesmin’s crew had been safely shipped off to a various planets of their choosing, with the Noghri returning home, to Honoghr with a data card from Jesmin to the leaders of the planet, requesting a shuttle with the name of Derakh’s Joy, piloted by Derakh to meet her on Bakura in two weeks. Numerous Mon Calamari had returned to their home world, and had been told to send information to a specific set of drop points on Bakura. When Jesmin arrived at Bakura she would disappear, gain information on the galaxy, and return to Mon Calamari at last. Then she would work and removing the Cren from the galaxy. But now she had to help them, and lead a takeover of Lwhekk, for the Farquak Empire. She left her chambers. Spotting an aide, she shouted out her orders.

“Get me a shuttles, launch a minimum of 1000 Saber Assault Bombers. Get two squadrons of Rapier Droid Fighters up to the Missile Cruisers. Get all the shuttles up to the Missile Cruisers. Prepare for battle.”

Jesmin, supporting the rank of Admiral, left the room, and walked to the shuttle. With pilots already onboard, it immediately launched. Behind the shuttle, she could see on the sensor board two squadrons of Rapier Droid Fighters rising into the sky. Following the Rapier Droid Fighters was 1000 Saber Assault Bombers, all catching up to her shuttle, and heading to the Missile Cruisers.

“Send a message to Crinium indicating we have left Base Alpha-Gamma and are proceeding to the rendezvous with the Missile Cruisers, where I will take charge of the assault on Lwhekk.”

“Yes sir.”

A few minutes later, the communications officer called out again.

“Message sent sir. Also, we are within a minute of docking with your command ship, Blood Bringer. We are enroute to the secondary section of the docking bay.”

“Course change, take us into the primary section.”

The secondary section was mainly used for shuttles, and would most likely be in excellent condition. Jesmin wanted to go to the primary section, where the fighters were, to get an impression on how things were running.

“Sorry sir, no room in the primary section, we have to go to the secondary section. We can give you a tour of the primary section if you wish?”

“That is fine, I won’t need one. Proceed with docking plans.”

From that discussion Jesmin realized that the ship was in fine condition, they would not have offered a tour if it wasn’t. As her shuttle landed, she strolled down the ramp, and was met by a Cren wearing an Ensign’s uniform, with a ten Cren Troopers following the Ensign.

“Welcome aboard Admiral. I am Ensign Harpoono. Commander Alfa regrets not being able to meet you, but he is currently on the bridge dealing with the confusion onboard the new Missile Cruiser, Fire Bringer. The crew is new, under the command of Acting-Captain Dearn. He and his crew were expecting Saber Assault Bombers to be in the docking bay, not Rapier Droid Fighters, and they did not have the proper equipment used to transfer control of the Rapier Droid Fighters from ground control to his ship’s control. Due to that misunderstanding, the Rapier Droid Fighters’ droid brain became confused, and they accidentally self-destructed. They now have to call up another squadron of Rapier Droid Fighters, and fill out the proper forms, along with explaining whose fault it was.”

“Thank you for the welcome Ensign. I do not like the other news, but I will go and see if I can help correct it.”

Jesmin, the Ensign and the Cren Troopers walked briskly away. All but two of the Cren Troopers did not enter the turbolift. As they were rising towards the bridge, Ensign Harpoono introduced them.

“These two Cren Troopers are of the elite Guard, and will accompany you everywhere, unless you order them not to.”

“I see. I do not think I will need to do that, unless an undercover operation is needed.”

Jesmin stood in silence, until they reached the bridge and Commander Alfa walked up.

“A pleasure to meet you Admiral, I am Commander Alfa. The difficulties that Ensign Harpoono has probably told you about are finally finished, and the squadron of Rapiers coming up to Fire Bringer should be loaded soon. The shuttles are all docked.”

“Excellent.”

Jesmin walked over to the command chair.

“Navigator, plot a course to Lwhekk, it should be in the data banks.”

“Course laid in.”

“Did you double check it?”

“No.”

“Do that.”

“Yes sir.”

“Communications, prepare to transmit the route to the Saber Assault Bombers and Fire Bringer.”

“Yes sir.”

“The course has been doubled checked sir.”

“Excellent. Transmit the course to the other ships.”

“Done sir, and Fire Bringer reports everything is ready.”

“Engage hyperdrive in three, two, one, engage.”

The fleet blasted into hyperspace, heading towards Lwhekk.

A picture of statisfaction was beginning to form on Jesmin's face as her fleet was preparing to drop out of hyperspace. The Ssi-Ruuk would be paid back in full for what they had done to her fleet. Her revenge would starts soon.

"How long until we drop out of hyperspace?"

"Not long sir. It should be only 5 minutes."

"Excellent."

A voice shouted out across the bridge, quite suddenly in fact.

"Sir, we have an incoming message from Crinium. Apparently he has managed to make a small deal with the Ssi-Ruul. They will be delivering one Shree Cruiser to us, in exchange that all the information that we have on their ships is deleted, and that we do not assault Lwhekk. Furthermore, we received a no-fire agreement and permission to travel through their space, unharmed. We are to drop out of hyperpace and procced to Bakura. We have to take it by force or through diplomacy. Following that we are to establish a garrison on Endor and then return to Farquak, where more orders may be waiting for us. And if we have already started the assualt, we are to apologise and promise that we will repay them for their loses and then leave."

"Sithspawn. What in the name of Farquak is up with this? How is gaining one cruiser so much better then gaining a whole planet, and capturing a cruiser at the same time? How is one cruiser better then having the new technology? How are we going to refuel ships on the voyage from Bakura to Farquak, or vice versa? We need a base inside Ssi-Ruuk territory, to refuel at, and take a rest. Or something so that we aren't coming directly from Farquak to Bakura, showing the way to others. This is possibly the worst thing that Crinium could do, especially at this point. He is going to have to delay any further expansions into the rest ofthe galaxy, so he can go back and set up a base in Ssi-Ruuk Territory-"

"Sir, one minute untill we drop out of hyperspace, we need orders very soon."

"Unfortunatly I don't have time to contact him. Fine, pull us out of hyperspace."

The fleet dropped out with a jolt, ten seconds before they had planned to, outside of the Lwhekk System, but barely.

"Plot a course to Bakura, alert we when we arrive there, I will be in my chambers composing a very long and loud message to Crinium."

With that Jesmin stalked out of the bridge, in a furious rage, and barely felt the ship jump back into hyperspace, so intent was she on her thoughts. Once in her chambers she fell onto her bed.

How could he do this to me? After all the plannng and convincing, how could he turn around and destroy that hard work, leaving the deaths of my comarades meaningless, with no revenge, or no revenge yet... Perhaps once I return to Mon Calamari...Yes that is the best. Once I return to Mon Calamari, I can justify my actions by saying that I had mistaken Lwhekk for a Cren base, since I knew that Crinium had plans for taking it. No one else will know it was a lie, they haven't ever met a Cren, and certainly won't have any proof that it wasn't a mistake. That is what I will do, once I return to Mon Calamari Space. But first I have a message to compose and send.

Jesmin quickly grabbed at the recording droid on the desk beside her. It was a special Cren version, programmed to send the message directly to the bridge, though the person recording the message had to press which priority level they wanted it at. She quickly hit the record button.

"Crinium, this is Admiral Jesmin Ragabag reporting as ordered. We are now on our way to Bakura, after receiving your message. I would like to point out a few concerns of mine, before you rule out an assault against Lwhekk. The first concern is that with your new plan, we don't gain any warriors, except from Bakura. Also, we need to have a base either inside Ssi-Ruuk Territoy or on the edge of Ssi-Ruuk Territory and the Unknown Regions, even if it is only a refueling station, garrison and stop over point for ships travelling from the shipyards at Farquak, through Ssi-Ruuk Territory to Bakura, or vice versa. Furthermore, by following up with this deal, we are losing the knowledge about entechment and the Swarm-class Battle Droids. I also ask, what of the Shree Battle Cruiser you are building, and the 500 Swarm-class Battle Droids? Will we still have them? You need to think about those things now, before it is to late. I will send another message soon, once we are in control of Bakura."

Jesmin tapped the stop recording button and then looked down on the droid. She could chose from Regular Priority, Priority Two and Priority One. Regular Priority was for non-essential messages, that would be sent at the end of twelve hours. That would happen for another five hours. Priority Two would send the message to the bridge right away, though it would be sent after every Priority One message was sent, and all the messages concerning the military were Priority One. Priority One would send the message immediatly. She quickly tapped that button, and the message was sent to the bridge, and then to Criniu,. Now she could relax, she had done all that was possible to do, to insure that Crinium would assault Lwhekk. Now she could relax with a nice swim...

Crinium had not been idle or lazy after he had finalized the deal with the Ssi-Ruuk. He had immediately sat down and pulled up all the information he had on the expenditures and demands of what various groups wanted, groups that were in the Farquak Empire that is. The civil war had been very costly, with numerous Cren dead and lots of equipment destroyed. The members of the High Council were getting restless, they wanted to be included in the various decisions that they used to make and now he was making, without input from any one. The military, on the other hand, was quite glad with this arrangement, and were pressing for increased production in all military areas, such as Missile Production Bases and Shipyards. They also wanted more Military Training Academies produced. The regular citizens wanted more housing, and while many upper class citizens wanted more room for their upper class businesses, Crinium was thinking a compromise. Most of the upper class citizens were involved in the construction business, and trading business. He would please them by fairly dividing the work of constructing all new facilities on Farquak Junior, as well as giving them some free land, to build an office building on, or something like that. He would order the immediate construction of more shipyards and construction yards, in orbit around Farquak Junior. A major spaceport would be set up, along with a shuttle service between the spaceport and Farquak. Underground missile production facilities and research labs would be produced. The location of Farquak, Gernon and Farquak Junior would be broadcasted across the Holonet, along with information on them, to be given to libraries and others. Farquak Junior would have a major trading centre on it. Farms for agriculture and animals would be set up and increased housing for everyone, at affordable prices. Five Military Training Academies would be set up on Farquak. The economy would boom. To replace the losses of living resources from the civil war, newly married Cren would be given free housing, and for every child any Cren had, a large amount of money would be given to them. In a short time Farquak Junior would be full of species from across the galaxy, though to actually get onto Farquak or into secure installations, a huge background check would be made. The Farquak Empire would expand beyond imaginable size, securing worlds through diplomatic envoys, or liberating them by force from tyrants. But the first things to be done would be the military goals. Depending on the rest, perhaps he would have to take another system, and turn it into a trading hot spot. He called out to his secretary.

“Inform the military that we are producing more Training Academies, missile production facilities, shipyards and construction yards, in orbit around Farquak Junior. Then get the members of the High Council to call me we are having a meeting. The Acting Leaders of all nations who don’t have a current member will be enough.”

“I will President.”

“Thank you.”

“By the way, Admiral Jesmin Ragabag has just sent a message, I was just about to call you myself.”

“Patch it through to my datapad.”

“Done.”

“And when the first members of the High Council calls, flash the red light at me and give it ten seconds before the member appears on the screen.”

“All right.”

Crinium played Jesmin’s message in silence. It was well worded, and it was obvious that Jesmin was mad, but Crinium did not really believe her anger was because of the reasons she had stated in her broadcast. No, she was angry because her revenge had been taken away. He needed to prepare a reply. A few quick movements had the recorder on and waiting.

“Admiral Jesmin Ragabag, I understand your concern, and have therefore thought about what you said and here are my following reasons and answers. That treaty is better then the whole planet and the technology because, it gives us a peace with the Ssi-Ruuk, and we won’t have to watch them as much as we would have without the treaty. Also, we won’t have to fight them, fight a guerrilla force that is quite strong. We are allowed to keep the ships that we are currently building, though no new ones are to be produced. We are sending scouts out to find a travel point in between Farquak and Bakura. We have everything covered at this end, all you need to do is complete your mission. Once you have that done, contact me, but not before you have established the garrison on Endor, and have left a Missile Cruiser in orbit there. We have our own defences to last us here.”

Crinium quickly sent the message, and waited for the members of the High Council to call. This was annoying having to deal with all the small problems in running a government. He would be glad when some of that duty could be taken from him, and dished throughout the High Council.

Jesmin felt the ship jolt as it came out of hyperspace.

Excellent, now she could begin practicing her diplomacy skills.

She raced up to the bridge.

“Put a call in to the Bakuran Space Defence Fleet, tell them we have to talk, and are here peacefully. Shields up, don’t offer visual to them, not yet. Weapons, power up, all fighters launch.”

The two squadrons of Rapier Droid Fighters were scrambled and launched, without a hitch. Apparently the crew had been going through simulators concerning how to control them. Jesmin moved over to the communications console and sat down, where the visual would be centred on her.

“Sensors, what do they have?”

“Looks like two Carracks and a Strike Cruiser.”

“Exactly as I thought, still a small fleet.”

“Message sent sir. They are responding.”

“Put it on the main screen, give them visual.”

“Miss Ragabag, you have returned, though with a much smaller fleet.”

“Yes, though under different circumstances.”

“Oh?”

“My fleet was decimated by the Ssi-Ruuk, and I was captured by an alien race, who I am now serving under. We are here to offer you protection from the Ssi-Ruuk, more protection then you currently have. I need to talk to the government.”

“I see. I will try to set up your meeting.”

The Bakuran Admiral cut off.

“Keep the line open.”

“Yes sir.”

Jesmin leaned back, waiting. She had spoken truly when she said the Cren could offer them more protection then they had, as even one Missile Cruiser with the squadron of Rapier Droid Fighters, plus some Saber Assault Bombers could take this, let alone the two Missile Cruisers and 1000 Saber Assault Bombers she had under her control.

“Sir, the Admiral has come back on.”

“Your meeting is set up, the government will call you in ten minutes, when they are all set up.”

“We copy.”

“And unofficially, I expect that they are interested, they have mentioned numerous times that they want better defences.”

“Thank you for that information.”

They both signed off, and Jesmin was left waiting for the government’s call.

A few minutes later, the call was made.

“Sir, the government of Bakura is on line five.”

“Main screen.”

“Done.”

“Mr. Prime Minister, this is Admiral Jesmin Ragabag, acting on behalf of the Farquak Empire, and the Cren at Farquak. What we are offering is protection against all your enemies, with as large of a fleet orbiting Bakura as possible, starting right after these negotiations with 1 Missile Cruiser, 1 Squadron of Rapier Droid Fighters and 500 Saber Assault Bombers, though there will be more added quite soon. We are expecting that there will be another Missile Cruiser with some fighters here soon, maybe even more then that.”

“What are the goals of the Farquak Empire?”

Taking over the galaxy, but I’m not going to tell you that, now am I?

“Our goals are to defend people from enemies, and to bring prosperity and a stable economy in this time of war and turmoil.”

“Some excellent goals, and if I do say so myself, we definitely need a stable economy, which we don’t have. I think all the questions are answered, and it seems that the Farquak Empire is worth joining, though with goals like those, I don’t know why they don’t call themselves a Republic. I hereby sign that Bakura is a member of the Farquak Empire.”

“As the diplomat in charge of this negotiation, I accept you signature, and hereby declare that Bakura is a member of the Farquak Empire, and that they will be defended to the best of our ability.”

“Thanks you. I will probably be talking to you later.”

Hopefully not, since I will hopefully be gone off to Mon Calamari soon, but I also need to contact the Noghri, indicating that I won’t be able to be there right away, and that I will manage to find my own transportation.

“ Take us to Endor, Captain, with half the fleet.”

“Aye, aye Admiral.”

The Missile Cruiser, it’s complement of Rapier Droid Fighters, which had returned onboard the ship, and 500 Saber Assault Bombers jumped into hyperspace, to set up a garrison on Endor…

The fleet dropped out of hyperspace, near Endor.

“Sir, our scanners show no enemy vessels.”

“Excellent. Send the troops and engineers down to the planets.”

Shuttles began transporting the materials needed for the production of a new garrison, while others transported the engineers and troops need to be used to build the garrison, and control it. Other shuttles brought down temporary shelters, with everything the troops and engineers needed. And finally, one shuttle, carried a lone Mon Calamari, flying back to Bakura, to send a message to her commander, a more detailed one then, mission accomplished, an old era has ended, and a new one has begun…