36 Chapter 36

(21 BBY)

Me and the squad are currently 'chilling' in a large cantina owned by us on level 1313. It was the usual while me and Bo sip on fire whisky and talk about things the others are going to town on the local ale stores, including Subail and Arla who have grown quite 'close'.

It was then an intelligence agent working for us, walks over and hands me a data pad. Apparently, the gits of the Trade Federation are at it again. They are blockading Pantora, Naboo style. And to add spice to things, they kidnaped the Pantoran Chairman's daughters. I could make a decent profit of this.

"Ask for a meeting with senator Chuchi tomorrow, go through senator Amidala if needed. Maybe we can get a decent trade deal out of this, all the while saving the good people of Pantora" I said, while looking at the information on the datapad, then I turn to the agent and pass on my order "Tell the Ghost fleet to send a detachment of to a nearby system. Also have the Ghost units and 19STs infiltrate the trade federation ship and be ready for a hostage rescue, have the detachment move in and capture the ship after the rescue"

"Affirmative" he leaves after confirming my orders.

Then I turn to my squad "Subail, take Arla and Vanzii with you to Tatooine. Take a few squads of battle droids and a unit of 19STs with you. Coordinate with Jabba, it's his turf. Your mission is to save a princes" I gave him the datapad with the intel and authorized the use of an upgraded YV-929. He spends some time and reads through the data.

"What's with these gits and capturing princesses" asks Subail, downing another shot.

"No clue. Either way it's up to you to bring back the damsel from Tatooine" I said. He just sighs and heads off with his team for the mission. Arla doesn't forget to grab a couple of bottles on the way out.

(Time Skip)

(POV Ahsoka)

We just received word that the Pantoran Chairman's daughters have been kidnaped. And since Anakin can't get involved, I had to discretely 'investigate' the involvement of the Separatists.

I walk in to the room, Chuchi was talking with the Chairman and his son "Chuchi, Senator Amidala sent me to help were I can" I explained.

"Chairman, this is my friend Ahsoka" introduce Chuchi.

"Good, a Jedi is always a welcome assistance" said Chairman Papanoida.

"Senator Amidala thinks the Separatists are behind this" I explained.

"I was just offered assistance by count Dooku. This isn't a kidnaping, but a hostage situation" added the Chairman's son.

"A not so subtle way to ensure we join the separatists" said the Chairman.

Just then the holo communicator I was carrying beeped. On answering the hologram of Padme pops up "Chairman, Senator, I hope the investigation goes well?" asked Padme.

"As well as it can be Senator. You have my thanks for sending Jedi to our aid" said the Chairman.

��Always happy to help Chairman. I must take my leave, but before that I have a possible solution to your problem. Sending the data to Ahsoka's communicator. I wish you the best of luck" said Padme before cutting the transmission.

I quickly go through the data Padme sent. After I finish reading, I understood why Padme didn't talk much over coms. This got a lot easier.

"What does the data say Ahsoka?" asked Chuchi.

"Well there is a faction that is willing to help you" I said, with a whimsical smile.

"And who are they?" asked the Chairman.

"The Ghosts" I said.

"I have heard of their name now and then. Will they be of any good in the current situation" asked the Chairman.

"More than Good Chairman. It will be like sending the Krayt dragon after the Jawa. They might already know where your daughters are and have forces in place to strike, the moment you sign their contract" I explained.

"What contract?" asked the Chairman.

"They never do a job without signing a contract and receiving the initial payment. It's a sort of their policy. The Senator has arranged a meeting at the outlander club. I will escort you to it" I explained. This will be interesting.

(Time Skip)

We reach the outlanders club in the entertainment district in no time at all. As the place known as one of the shadiest clubs on the upper levels, it lived up to its name. There are drug deals and all sorts of gambling happening here on a daily basis.

The bass of the music was deafening even outside its doors.

"Is this really the place?" asked Chuchi.

"Yep. Don't talk to anyone and just follow my lead" I said, to which the other three nods.

We enter the club. The music is deafening. We side stepped crowds and slowly made our way to the bar. It might be my lightsaber, but there are a few who move away from us, on spotting me.

"What can I get you?" asked the bartender.

"Kote Darasuum" I said the passcode Nomad assigned for this meeting. I have no idea what that means.

The bartender narrows his eyes at us. After a minute he points at a door at the far back. I nod at him and proceed towards the door with my entourage. The door lead down a long hall, on each side were doors leading to large rooms providing certain 'service'. We keep walking till we reach another door. This door lead down a flight of stairs to a larger hall, there was a door on the further end. As we reached the center of the hall a voice brought us to a halt.

"Ahsoka Tano, I hope finding this place didn't prove too difficult" said a fully armored Mandalorian, stepping out of the shadows. If I remember correctly, she is known as Psyren.

"It was comparatively easy. But why here though?" I asked.

"Follow me to find out" said Psyren walking to the door. We followed.

She knocks on it thrice, then a sensor pops out to check who was there. Once the identity is confirmed, the door slides open. Inside was a whole different world. It was a higher end bar, with Jazz playing and the clubs more elite patronage enjoying their drinks. "This is a registered member only part of the Club. You either need membership or a member has to bring you in" explained Psyren. We walked up to a more private cubicle. Nomad and two others were waiting for us in there.

"Welcome" said Nomad pointing to the empty set of chairs opposite to him. Just then a waiter walks up to get our orders "Get yourselves something to drink while we talk" said Nomad. We order some light drinks and gat the meeting under way.

"I was told you could save my daughters. Do you know where they are?" asked the Chairman.

"That is correct. We have their locations pinpointed" said Nomad sliding a datapad over to the Chairman.

"And what will this cost us?" asked the Chairman after reading the data.

"It will be standard fare" said Nomad sliding over the contract "Sign it and my teams will move in to rescue the hostages".

The chairman reads the contract and sign it, before sliding it over to Nomad. Nomad then hands it over to one of the Mandalorians sitting near him, who takes it and walks away.

"Consider your daughters rescued. But that isn't the only thing I called you here for. You see I have a method to solve your little trade problem" said Nomad.

"And what would that be?" asked the Chairman.

"My associates from different corporations would like to negotiate trade deals with you. You might find it beneficial" sliding over another datapad "These are the details. They are ready to meet you tomorrow" he explained.

"I will meet them" accepted the chairman.

Just then the Mandalorian walked back with two holo communicators and placed them in the middle of the table. Soon one of them started beeping and Nomad answers the call. The hologram of the Mandalorian named Deadeye and Che Amanwe Papanoida pops up.

"I assume nothing went wrong" asked Nomad.

"Nothing out of expectation. Jabba didn't take kind to the kidnapers' presence. We handed them over to him" explained deadeye.

"Amanwe are you alright?" asked the Chairman.

"I am alright father. I didn't spend too much time there anyway. My only complaint is I didn't get to clobber some of them" said Amanwe.

Nomad laughs at that "Your daughter would make a great Mandalorian, Chairman. Want us to train her?" asked Nomad.

The Chairman smirks "She has never been the gentlest of damsels" he said.

Soon the second holo also starts beeping, this time the Hologram of an Unknown Mandalorian and Chi Eekway Papanoida, pops up. "How did the mission go, Omeaga-1?" asked Nomad.

"Nothing we couldn't handle sir, the clankers are too weak to put up a meaningful resistance. We also have Trade Federation officials as hostage and a brand-new ship to add to our collection. What do you want me to do with them" asked the Mandalorian.

"Send the ship to get refits. Give the hostages to Jabba, he will know what to do with them. And bring the Chairman's two daughters back pronto" said Nomad. Only to receive and affirmative and roger that in response. The second guy almost fells like a clone.

"See Chairman, your daughters are already rescued and, on their way, back. Safe and sound" Said Nomad, turning to us.

"I appreciate it, Nomad. You have my eternal gratitude" said the Chairman.

"And it is appreciated. Just meet with my associates tomorrow. Both of us can profit from the trade deals and you can circumvent your dependence on the trade federation" said Nomad.

"I will most certainly meet them" confirmed the Chairman.

"Did you have your people rescue them even before we signed the contract?" asked Chuchi.

Nomad just snickers "Maybe, maybe not". It appears he had all of this planned out. Should have known, especially since how opportunistic he can be.

(Time skip)

(POV Thrunn)

We were still in the underbelly of Coruscant. We were making sure our power base was unassailable and any attack would lead to massive casualties. I will turn the lower levels into Minban, if attacked.

While we were doing this the Ghost fleet under my admirals were taking contracts from both sides and making a tidy profit. This was also supplemented by my company and its subsidiaries, spreading their roots throughout galactic commerce. The plan was to make it impossible for the company to be removed without quite literally destroying the galactic economy as well. This will take some time, but will surely happen.

The surprising news was that, the Death Star Construction has started over Geonosis. Apparently the Geonosians have withdrawn from the Separatists, but had cut some sort of deal with Sidious. Looks like their fate is sealed. And on the note of Separatists some of their senators are here to sue for peace. I am sure an old prune will try everything to prevent it. Well might as well throw some spanners into the cogs of his plan.

There was no way I can find out when the droids would attack the power station. So, I had specially designed droid sentries hidden on all entry points. And every entry point was lined with special scanners to thoroughly scan everyone and everything passing by. And as luck would have it, a dozen battle droids disguised as cleaning droids came our way. For this to work, they had to be taken down without anyone noticing. For that we had the best weapon in stock. Droid poppers or small emp grenades. The sentries would then deploy the droid poppers and neutralize the droids. The neutralized droids would then be shipped to our bases on the lower levels for 'repairs'. They would be replaced by droids we provide. The sentries will remain in place for the duration of the war.

The end result of this minor operation. I get new droids to play with. I am thinking of sending a few legions of these droids to Sereno. I can stir shit up for the good count. This will make the bill to procure more troops fall through for now. And the droids he sent coming back to cause him problems would keep the good count busy. I have also warned the confederate Senators about a possible assassination attempt on their lives anonymously. As for any assassins on Coruscant going after the peace process will mysteriously disappear. Let's see how the old prune reacts to that. Sigh. All this cat and mouse games will be over in a few more months. My expansion forces will be setting up border fortifications and interdiction fields for hyperlane denial with known space, and it will be time for the big reveal. That will be fun.