The Council of Bogan so rarely gathered in one place in person these days. The widespread nature of the Order of Wonosa's operations and largely stateless existence simply necessitated a dispersal or their authority and efforts that didn't allow for meetings to be held all that consistently, certainly not with the entire council in attendance even through holocall at least. Whether it be the Councilors of Korriban and Dromund Kaas managing the Inductii cloning programs and research and development, the Councilor of Ziost directing Penumbra which was starting to comprise all of the Wonosan covert efforts and activities, or the Councilors of Formos and Kesh managing the Wonosan enclaves in the Outer Rim and more pressingly their campaign in the Hutt Worlds, the council as a whole simply couldn't afford to divert all that often.
Yet Darth Strosius, their Prophet of Bogan, was precisely the individual who alone could summon the council to one place and have that call be accepted and complied with. Regardless of whether or not the Councilors themselves were pleased to have to step away from their affairs and work. The Harbinger of Absolution would serve as their meeting place, sat in empty space as equidistant from the disparate Wonosan outposts and scarce territories as was possible in order to give some manner of convenience for the councilors themselves. As much convenience as could be spared given the direct order to gather together as soon as possible anyway.
Darth Strosius, fresh from the recent battles of Abregado-Rae and Thyferra, idly walked around the meeting table as the councilors came in and shared pleasantries while they took their seats. He would come to stop at the head of the table and rest His gloved hands on His own empty chair, the pale tendrils that formed His "wings" twitching and flickering through the air in a manner that hinted at a reserved eagerness within the Sith Lord. "Councilors, I thank you for your attendance and apologize for the urgent notice. I promise that this is no mere distraction, but rather an opportunity that we cannot afford to let slip by. One which could alter the course of not only our Order but the wider galaxy as well."
He reached down and tapped a button on the console beside His chair, a projection of a recording from the orbital battle of Thyferra flickering to life above the table as the councilors made themselves comfortable. "For those of you that haven't yet read my report on the battle, during the fighting a Force Suppression field was generated in orbit. The source of which was identified in short order as the Grace of Theed." The recording paused and zoomed in on the mentioned vessel, the image somewhat blurred by fire between the fleets in orbit and starfighters but more than clear enough to make the ship identifiable and visible.
"The more notable aspect of this field is that its zone of effect expanded greatly during the battle. Encompassing the entire orbital conflict and then even Thyferra itself, blanketing High Republic and Sith forces alike in this Force Nullification field in spite of the vast distances that needed to be covered. At present I have yet to access the proper reports from the Sith Order's forces in regards to the Grace of Theed and the nature of what exactly generated this field, however it hardly matters. We have our target all the same." Darth Strosius isolated the Grace of Theed, a somewhat vague render and set of statistics flashing up in place of the wider battle scene.
Clearly whatever information they did have on the vessel in question was basic, more from observation of limited footage rather than anything concrete such as sensor readings or direct combat data. Without having any real presence in the orbital battle of Thyferra they could only glean scarce details from whatever recordings they could scrounge from the Sith Order's fleets. A less than desirable source of information that was distinctly lacking. Which only served to further stoke the skepticism brewing within the councilors gathered around the table. Though of course the Councilor of Kesh, Maximilian Thalassis, would be the first to speak that which dwelled within each of their minds.
"And you're serious?" Well, he spoke for himself at the very least.
"We've already committed all of our forces to Hutt Space and the little expeditionary of Imperials has been enough to force us on the back foot. Now you expect them to go gallivanting after a High Republic capital ship? And to capture it no less?" There was no shortage of sheer incredulity in his words, a sentiment that was subtly echoed by the expectant looks of the rest of the councilors. Save for one. "This is an opportunity that we cannot allow to simply slip by without at least attempting to seize it." The Councilor of Korriban, normally the main detractor in meetings such as these, stunned his peers with his support.
"If this 'High Republic' possesses some technology or more likely a relic capable of suppressing the Force in such a sizeable area, then it simply can't be allowed to remain in their hands nor fall into any others save our own. It would be the perfect tool for finally securing the Order of Wonosa a place amongst the Sith of the galaxy. A weapon powerful enough to warrant caution and attention, but not devastating enough to cause a coalition to rise against us to take it or destroy us for it. The capture of one vessel is a small price to pay in context of what it could gain us." The councilor looked back at Darth Strosius with a nod of agreement, a rather rare sight indeed.
One that only served to embolden Him further. "And more importantly, it would be the ideal weapon for evening the playing field with our true foes. A deterrent that will allow us all the time we need to build our forces and presence in the galaxy. Once we are capable of winning a conventional war against the Kainate, Raaf's corporate states, and whoever would stand with them, then we will have no fear of them wielding the Force to assist their armies. We could finally rid the Sith of our greatest enemies!" Whether by the infectious enthusiasm of their zealous Prophet or the reasonable argument of their fellow councilor, the rest of the Council of Bogan eased and muttered their agreements.
"One third of our Armada and half of our Legion will be rerouted to begin probing High Republic border worlds from Wild Space under my direct command, making limited attacks that will hopefully draw attention away from wherever the Grace of Theed will be deployed next. And the moment that it appears, likely set against another large-scale incursion from the Sith Order or even the Sith Covenant, they will jump into the system and we will make every effort to disable and capture the vessel." He then looked to the Councilor of Kesh, Maximilian, with a slight incline of His masked head.
"Given that we'll be needing experienced veterans for this campaign, all of our new Inductii batches and the majority of our new recruits and ships will be sent to maintain our efforts in Hutt Space. We will not abandon our brothers and sisters in binds even if we must scale back our ambitions for the moment. Ideally the Mahporeem Imperials and Jedi will be kept too busy elsewhere to commit to any further disruption of our plans, but if not then I expect that you can handle them accordingly." He then looked to the wider Council. "The tides of the galaxy may finally shift in our favor, provided that we are bold enough to claim them. An Age of Sith will soon bloom and it will be the Order of Wonosa that ensures it does, there can be no alternatives."
"Blessed be the Sith."
