*** Joint Fleet, Outpost 'Mantakar ***
Drake's fleet - a mixed bag of Dragon'taan, Klingon and Romulan warships - cloaked and headed out after the freighter, leaving Kyle's fleet, Markus' fleet, and Krystal and her NCC fleet to hold the outpost.
*** Drakona Residence, Dragon'taan ***
Viktor got up and answered the door. "Doc! How've you been?" he greeted Fay as he stepped aside to allow her in.
*** Bellator-class SDN UIAV Vader's Fist, Coruscant Orbit ***
The heavy footfalls of a man in a black mechanical suit could be heard striding onto the bridge. Behind him, a younger man in a black tunic. The command officer stood at attention upon seeing the two. "Lord Vader, Master Luke," he greeted with a typical Imperial accent.
"I told you, Piett, it's not Vader anymore," the man in the suit told the officer. "But regardless, you sent for us?"
"You asked me to alert you if the Renewed Covenant that our allies on Dragon'taan told us to watch for made any kind of move - well, they launched an unprovoked attack on Dragon'taan. The Marauder Corps is on the warpath with the New Cerinia Command, the Sangheili are eager to pitch in, and we've gotten word that the Klingon Defense Force and a fleet of Romulan ships under Admiral Obisek has joined with their fleet. However, we also got word of a development that may require our intervention."
"What have you found?" Vader asked.
"Based on a report from a cloaked scout we sent to the region, we have word of a renegade Mandalorian faction that has allied with the Covenant - a faction under a man calling himself the 'true Mandalore'," Piett responded.
"Does the Marauder Corps know of this?" Luke asked.
"No, Master. The DMC and their allies seemed focused on the threat posed by the Covenant," Piett replied. "I'd recommend we take a battle fleet there to aid them. After all, we still owe them that much since they helped us forge the Imperial Alliance in the aftermath of Palpatine's death."
"He's got a point, father," Luke commented. "And it'd be an opportunity to strengthen our ties to the DMC and their allies."
"Agreed," Vader said. "Admiral Piett, gather a fleet - we launch when ready."
"Yes, sir - I will get to work immediately and set course for Outpost 'Mantakar," Piett assured Vader.