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See, Ferno doesn't know where hiko is, though. he's under the conception that link does know.

Its character ignorance. Plus, it gives me an excuse to intervene with Malady's plans.

Its not he isn't looking. Its just that he has to rely on others for a greater part of information.

Out of the multitude of systems in the galaxy, you don't expect him to go and search each one, do you? The other thing is that Ferno is pretty much unknowing when it comes to artwork. Some painter with extraordinary skill won't attract his attention until it becomes a problem. Remember, his targets are those which often times are hard to kill. He goes where Nihl would compromise the mission and Talon is too inexperienced.

And he doesn't have as much as you would think information wise. Remember he isn't getting much credit for letting Link go, so he restricts his use of the information to a minimum. Don't need Malady learning of his own private plans. If he started tracing information for every scrap ever heard of Hiko, Malady would learn sooner or later (or perhaps another clever sith who could patch the clues together) and Ferno's entire vendetta is in jeopardy.

Until Hiko is dead, Ferno's moves must be cautious. That's how he will operate.

Right now, as I said, Ferno will bank on Link.

He'll either follow link to the prize, or just make the universe hellish enough to draw out hiko.

Of course, I could always have my superweapon test on an unknown planet such as Ilum.

You have to remember, Ferno knows that he'll confront Hiko. He has patience, and that future has not changed much. He's just not certain when or where. In that respect, Ferno only gets anxious when he thinks the fight is near, not apparant.

A battle of patience. Annoying to all parties, but often times they are the best battles.

Okay hmm... How to post some additional revolations on the nature of Elladan Kenet's revolt as well as to introduce Post-Vong Bothan militarism.

Thinking... Thinking.

EK, is going to be annoyed by this, but the only way the Mandalorian Shipyards can keep up the rate of production for ships they've been operating at without taking people out of combat positions and putting them on the assembly line is...

Kenet's Mandalorians have turned back to the old staple of empires. Slavery.

The Hutt's are providing cash and slaves to Elladan Kenet, the Imperials won't move against them initially in order to keep from broadening the war. The Hutt's are helping out EK for two reasons.

The continual flow of illicit materials upon which their economy is based requires a certain level of destability. Imperial and Sith consolidation would result in a high security and stable environment and if the Imperials are distracted by the war against EK they can't go chasing smugglers.

Secondly the Hutt's see a destabilized empire as an opportunity to regain galactic prominence and territory after their setbacks from the Vong war.

The Hutt's aren't the only ones that are eying developments within the empire with a significant amount of interest. Enter the Bothans.

Bothan space is the one section of the GFFA that is certain to have remained completely intact and independent of Imperial influence, they may have even declared neutrality to have ensured their continued independence.

The bothan military has to have been expanding since the Vong war, and like the Hutts they have a long view of history. The disruption within Imperial space caused by Elladan Kenet and the assistance of the Hutts in their revolt will give the Bothans a perfect opportunity to settle old scores with the former allies of the Yuuzhan Vong. The Bothans will begin operations, initially completely clandestine, against the hutts.

We're well on our way to a three way war... scary isn't it.

sweatdrop Oro.....