From Cuteness To Terrors

[Grima Volitu]

Her first batch of cubs were delivered promptly on schedule. The little furballs were cute. Later they would be terrors. Zarrah had handpicked the Potens Ursae species based on their aggressiveness and ferocity alone. The species would play a major role in the Covenant of the Black Rose. Controlled breeding would allow them to keep a steady supply of the species to be used for any future schemes they needed. This first batch she was looking at would forever be known as the founding Fathers and Mothers.

"First order of business," Zarrah said while rubbing the belly of a cub, "Is to separate them into two groups with a proper ratio of males and females." The conversations she had with some of the locals about these beasts was that they grew up quicker than any other species on Kesh. They were survivors forced to learn that concept since the moment of conception. Zarrah could relate to them.

"Group one will be sent to the beast masters to begin training at once." Zarrah did not believe in idle hands. Projects needed to be undertaken at once so tweaks and bugs could be quickly dealt with. "Group two will be assigned to the breeding pens. We need to look to the future and not just the now."

[member="Kendrix"]

 

[Grima Volitu]

The cubs had begun to take to the training sessions rather enthusiastically. Zarrah assumed it was just their nature to fight and kill anything that moved. The beast masters had spent hours and hours working with the cubs. Training them to be a fighting unit would be simple. Breaking their wills and teaching them loyalty would be more difficult. The beast masters had assigned a cub to a rider allowing time to form a bond between them. Afterall it was important for the rider and the beast to act as one.

The plan was to have the cub grow up with it's rider while being trained by both beast master and rider. The rider herself or himself would work along with the beast master. Zarrah was hoping a symbiotic bond would grow between the two. Which meant that if the rider was killed in battle and the war beast survived then the creature would need to be put down. It would be dangerous to try to bond a new rider to an existing war beast. Zarrah had foreseen this and hence the reason for the breeding pens. The more war beasts they could muster the more chances to increase the fighting force.

Zarrah had taken time to speak to some of the members of the Council to allow them to pass down an edict to the Academies to ship over new recruits for her based on the timetable of the birth of new cubs. Plan ahead. Her proposed battle unit would never be perfect but they would be both feared and easily produced.

 

[Grima Volitu]

The cubs over the next couple of weeks had began to grow rapidly. While they grew so did their loyalty to their riders. The beast masters and Zarrah watched as the first unit went through a series of training exercises. Nothing to strenuous. The teen beasts were far from ready. The riders themselves were far from ready. Zarrah knew that with time and patience the first batch would be ready to go out and explore the surrounding areas. Hopefully engage in some war games.

Zarrah left the training grounds for the breeding pens. She had received word that the first pairings had produced pregnancies. The vets were unsure of the time frames from pregnancy to offspring lasted. Like with the training of the cubs this too was new territory for everyone in involved. "Are we sure of the number of cubs born," Zarrah asked the lead vet when she arrived. The locals that they had brought in at the onset of this project as experts on the beasts had spoken of four cubs per birth. The head vet had told her that in some cases some cubs could be born with abnormalities which may or may not affect their schedules to produce units quicker than they first thought. "We are."

If any cub was born with any disfigurements that would prevent them from becoming trained for battle then they would automatically be designated to the breeding grounds. Zarrah was against killing the cubs but supported that all cubs would play a part regardless of their physical conditions.

 

[Grima Volitu]

The first unit that was somewhat ready had been dispatched to patrol the areas around the training and breeding grounds. The beasts had become more easier to work with in the past week or so whilst the riders themselves had grown more comfortable with their steeds. The beats were now one-half of their normal adult size but their fierceness was adult like. In the prior training games leading up to this patrol the beasts had shown considerable amounts of willingness to defeat their rivals on the field. This was good. When they faced real enemies the beasts would hold nothing back.

The patrolling units moved through the forests looking for any signs of trouble. Reports had been presented to Zarrah that a group of mercernaires had been spotted nosing around the area. It was brought to the Sith Lady's attention that the small unit of Sisterhood troops be sent out to deal with them. She voted against that wanting the mercernaries to feel comfortable in their daily activities until the first unit was ready to deal with the intruders.

The beasts had been trained to keep their natural growling in silence when they had mounts on them. The unit would never be mistaken for a stealthy bunch since the beasts were massive and practically made alot of noise just walking. The mounts kept their eyes peeled for the mercernaires using only hand signals to communicate with one another. The leader of the unit raised up a hand to stop the entire unit. She pointed two fingers to her eyes then toward a clearing where a camp had been set-up next to a small lake.

The rest of the unit moved up to the leader taking positions on either side of her. Down in the camp the mercernaries were going about their routines unaware that death was starring down at them. The leader rose her hand again and quickly dropped it. In unison the unit charged down into the camp catching the mercernaires off guard.

 

[Grima Volitu]

Six months had passed and the arrival of the new cubs sent waves of excitement through everyone involved in the project. The three quarters of the cubs had been sent to the training grounds while the remaining one quarter would remain in the breeding grounds. The plan Zarrah had installed was working fabulously. To ensure inbreeding of the beasts more cubs had been brought in from the wilds and as they reached prime age they were mated. And again the breeding grounds were filled with pregnant mothers.

With the first successful outing six months ago more units began to be formed. Specialized equipment for both riders and beasts had been designed and utilized to maximize efficiency. Units began to adopt personal names and symbols began to appear on armour. Zarrah was pleased by the unity of the troops. A unit that lived together fought together would die together.

Despite all the success of the units they still remained on the planet waiting to be called forth. So in the meantime Zarrah had used them to help protect the small villages and towns. The Covenant of the Black Rose wanted those that were ruled by them to feel secure in their lives. Some of the villagers had erected small barracks and pens for the units to use when stationed their. All in all the units were successful.

 

[Grima Volitu]

"Incoming transmission for you," an officer spoke to Zarrah. Zarrah answered, "Patch it through." The holoscreen went from black to heightened colours at once. An image began to take form and when it was complete - Zarrah recognised the woman at once. "What can I do for you Grand Lady?" There were few that Zarrah actually enjoyed talking to and the Grand Lady fell into that category. Back on Kesh they had spent numerous days locked into positive debates. The two woman had more in common than they thought.

"The Black Council and myself have just discussed your latest report. We are quite impressed." Zarrah felt a small burning on her cheeks. She was blushing when she replied, "Thank you. I suspect this is not a pleasure call." The Grand Lady curtsied her head. "You are correct, my friend. First allow me to notify you personally that the Black Rose Council has decided to increase your funding. Secondly, we request the first batch to be sent to Kesh as soon as possible."

Zarrah knew that with the success of the first trained unit they would be called away soon. She had prepared for this by doubling the training and breeding at her unknown location. "Thank you and I will see to it personally that the your request is filled at once." "Most appreciated Lady Z. When you return you and I still have to finish our game of holochess. I believe it's your move. Until then may the Dark Side watch over you."

The image of the Grand Lady vanished. Zarrah turned to one of the officers assigned to the grounds and said, "Recall the unit back from the field and transfer another two units to their location. Notify me when they have returned." With a bow from his head he answered, "I'll make the arrangements at once."

 

[Grima Volitu]

Zarrah - along with her assigned officers and beast trainers - watched with complete satisfaction as the mounts were loaded into individual cages. The cages then where gently loaded into the transports to be taken to the waiting starships hovering about in space. At the request of both the trainers and breeders the beasts were given a mild sedative to keep them in a relaxed state for the journey. They discovered - like most creatures - that they didn't take well to being caged or involved in any kind of flying. The beasts were sedated more for the safety of the crews rather than the beasts themselves.

Once the mounts were loaded and moving toward the waiting the ships - the troops began to board their transports. Zarrah knew each and everyone of them personally. On a weekly basis she would sit with them - and all the other riders - listening to their suggestions or complaints. Each suggestion and complaint she heard was addressed and dealt with - granting her loyalty from the riders. Zarrah would miss this lot and wished them all the best.

When the shuttles were airborne she turned to the officers, beast trainers, and breeders and said, "Back to work."

 

[Grima Volitu]

A couple more months had passed and the Black Rose Council had been requesting more and more units. Supply and demand was in full force. With the units being plucked up rapidly - Zarrah had tripled the breeding and training. More beast trainers and breeders were brought in to maximize efficiency and output. The original grounds had nearly quadrupled in size turning a small base of operations into a fully functional small town.

The Black Rose Council's promise of increased funding had been put to good use. Three more breeding pits were erected which allowed for more beasts to be produced. The training ground had originally been extended but after a few weeks it became obvious that they needed more. So to keep up with the training programs and schedules - four more training grounds were added. Now with all the additions they were able to produce three companies at once compared to the original production of one.

 

[Grima Volitu]

"The special unit that you asked for Lady Zarrah is ready for your inspection."

"Thank you. Let's go see if they were worth the extra training."

With the units having success both here on the planet and out in the galaxy doing various assignments for the Black Rose - Zarrah had decided that a special elite guard should be trained for the protection of the Grand Lady. The guardsmen - in theory - would not be used to protect the Grand Lady inside buildings due to the beasts in play. They would in fact be used to protect the Grand Lady when she is out roaming the galaxy in such places as open fields and other non-enclosed areas.

Zarrah walked up and down the line of units that gathered on the western side of the complex. The troops and mounts bore a different symbol from those that wore the associated symbols of the Black Rose. These symbols gave recognition to who they were - and what their sole responsibility was. Their lives - and deaths if it was required - belonged to only the Grand Lady and only she could use them. Her orders were law to those that protected her.

"Each and everyone of you have been giving a prestigious assignment. Honour should swell your hearts." Zarrah never enjoyed giving long-winded speeches. It was not her nature to do so but she felt they deserved to be praised for surviving their training. Many had been chosen to undergo vigorous training that the other frontline troops did not receive. They were forced to endure weeks without food. Hunt the land with only hand-based weapons. Learn to survive off the land and if they were injured - learn how to deal with pain rather than giving into it. Each troop had only their mount to keep them company. Many had been chosen but only those that stood before them survived. To her dissatisfaction the mounts that lost riders where hunted down using the embedded trackers surgically installed in all of the beasts - not just this elite unit - and were put down.

"I am proud of you. The Black Rose is proud of you. The Grand Lady is proud of you." She drew one her weapons and raised it into the air powering it up as she did. The troops raised their weapons in similar fashion. Zarrah spoke the Oath of Protection and when she was done - the troops spoke it back in unison.

 

[Grima Volitu]

Zarrah sat in her personalized quarters reading the holonet message sent to her through encrypted channels. The message details were simple and to the pointe. The Black Rose Council was calling her back to the main Temple. Her work here had finally been completed. The units where being produced right on schedule and everyday she was receiving reports from the Council regarding their successful assignments. Even the nearby towns and villages had been secured - all threats directed at them by pirates and thugs had been quelled. Zarrah felt a sense of pride and satisfaction course through her. All that remained now was to appoint her successor to continue with the project.

"Lt. Gerard, please take a seat," Zarrah said motioning to the empty chair. "The time has come for me to detach myself from this project by the request of the Council." Zarrah could see the sadness in her eyes. The two had worked together since the onset of the project. Lt. Gerard was the closest person she had to a friend her at the grounds.

"The Council has granted me authorization to select my successor who will be in charge of this project." The red lips of Zarrah turned upright into a warm smile. "I have chosen you. Colonel Gerard. Congratulations."