A/N: I'm not an expert on how hearts and minds operations are conducted, so the ones I write about here may not be as accurate as the ones that happened in Malaysia, Vietnam or Iraq.
This fanfic is mainly about how Commander Gree, Luminara Unduli, Yoda, and the 41st Elite win over the trust of local populations before a battle or a campaign. That's part of what's supposed to make the fanfic unique. Some chapters won't show the actual battle at all, while others will have an abbreviated description of the battle. I apologize to those who like more action and less talk, but I find it a little tedious to write lengthy, detailed descriptions of battles.
I am writing this story for two primary reasons. One is to give readers an idea of what the 41st Elite went through when they conducted their operations with alien species on hostile planets. I thought the methodology of the 41st would make an interesting story. The other reason is to comfort readers who believe there is either too much death in war or too many disagreements between countries on Earth who should be working together. Though no one loves the Vietnam War, I thought people who are aware of the hearts and minds operations conducted during that war in Vietnam might be comforted by the fact that the equally devastating Clone Wars had at least one clone unit that truly cared about the suffering of the galaxy, rather than just rushing in to fight and win.
Long story short, this story is intended to make someone having a hard or bad day feel better about themselves, and the world. There is much evil in the world, but there is a lot of goodness in it, too, and I wanted myself and others to feel good about the goodness in it too, like philosopher Daniel Dennett once said in his "Thank Goodness!" letter. So if you're feeling down about yourself or the world, or if I am, please read this story and thank goodness!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or The Clone Wars. George Lucas, Dave Filoni, and Disney do.
Hearts and Minds
Chapter 1: A Bargain on Kooriva
As senior clone commander of the 41st Elite Corps, Commander Gree had the duty of forging alliances with local alien populations in "hearts and minds" operations in order to win over their help in the battles of the Clone Wars. Jedi Generals Luminara Unduli and Yoda had always stressed to him about the importance of making peace with both allies and enemies rather than totally obliterating the enemy like many other clone unit divisions did. To achieve this, Gree had taken advantage of his keen interest in the customs and cultures of alien species and used his knowledge of them to forge those alliances, as well as to form new ideas about military strategy against species which mostly opposed the Republic the clone army served.
Because of this, many clones from other units thought of Commander Gree and his men in the 41st as the "humanitarians" of the Grand Army, always stepping in to help the people they fought with and, in some cases, against, instead of just fighting their foes. A lot of troopers, even within the 41st itself, saw Gree and his men as the "softies" of the army, too, and thought the wisdom of Luminara and Yoda was weighing heavily on them. And it was the way some of the troops were feeling the day this story starts, when the 41st Elite and General Unduli were conducting a hearts and minds operation on an unlikely planet: Kooriva, home of the shrewd business people, the Koorivar, and the species of the Separatist leader, Passel Argente.
"So," clone trooper scout Adam asked his brother Filler, "Tell me again what the commander and the general are trying to do here?"
Filler, another scout trooper, replied, "Basically, the Republic wants to absorb Kooriva into its control, because the CIS Armed Forces have control of the planet right now, so the power and influence of the Koorivar of the Confederacy will weaken, and they'll have to retreat to their base world, Murkhana. But the Republic, apparently, wants at least some of the Koorivar to join the Republic and convince them of our government's good intentions. Some of the more idealistic senators in the Senate thought a hearts and minds operation is more likely to win over their possible trust than just landing and ravaging the world in order to crush the enemy."
"Oh, doesn't that beat all," grumbled Adam, staring at the floor of the Venator-class Jedi cruiser they were in, "I was hoping we were going to wipe out all the Koorivar because they're enemies of the Republic, not sucker up to those money-grubbers by giving them free gifts!"
Suddenly, as he looked up, he saw General Unduli and Commander Gree themselves standing right in front of him. "Trooper Adam," Luminara said sternly, "remember the discipline I taught you. I know that as a soldier, you like to cut down the enemy whenever you can, but it's more important to save as many lives as possible than to destroy many, or else there would be no Republic for the common people to live in and enjoy."
"The good General is right, Adam," agreed Gree, "I know there are lots of aliens allied with the Separatists, but aliens have a right to live too, you know. And besides, we were bred to follow our superior's orders. Have you got a problem with that?"
Adam couldn't help looking a little annoyed, but he quickly submitted and said, "No, sir, no problem at all!"
"That's what I thought," said Gree. "Now, Adam, Filler, get moving and join the other troopers in the gunships! We're going to pull this off no matter what."
"Sir, yes sir!" they responded.
Within the hour, they had landed on the ground just outside Kooriva's capital city, which the Separatists were planning to defend from the Republic at any time. Gree and Luminara stepped down from their gunship, the Dooku Boot, followed by Luminara's Padawan, Barriss Offee, and several troops, including Adam and Filler and an AT-RT driver. Basen Officel, Prime Minister of Kooriva, was waiting with his aides and his Fusilier bodyguards in the main city plaza. Gree took interest in noting that Minister Officel's cranial horn was very tall and proud looking. It meant that this Koorivar was of very high status among his people.
"Welcome, my richly dressed offworlders," said Officel, offering his hand to Luminara, "I have always admired the way the Mirialan race dress so properly."
Luminara shook his hand. "Thank you, Prime Minister, but it is simply the way Mirialan Jedi are supposed to dress in most situations. We do not take pride in it."
"Of course," said Officel, "I almost forgot that most off-worlders do not practice business as fervently as my people do. Forgive me, I am Prime Minister Basen Officel of the Kooriva government."
"I am Jedi Master Luminara Unduli," Luminara introduced herself, "and this is my Jedi apprentice, Barriss Offee."
"Glad to meet you, young one," said Officel, kissing the back of Barriss' tattooed hand.
Barriss blushed fiercely, but kept her manners. "Thank you, Minister Officel."
The Prime Minister turned to Gree. "And who may this armored soldier be? He does not need to hide his face in my presence."
Luminara said to Gree, "That means it is all right to take off your helmet for a formal greeting, Commander."
Gree, taking it as an order, removed his helmet, revealing his Jango Fett face and his double stripe hairstyle. "And I'm Clone Commander Gree, senior commander of the 41st Elite." He then suddenly produced a handful of credits and offered them to the Prime Minister with a bow of his head. "I know how much your people value money, and a simple trooper like me has little need for it, himself. It's a gift, of peace and friendship, from the Republic Army."
Luminara and Barriss, especially Barriss, not to mention the other troopers, were quite surprised that the commander even had money, let alone was giving it away to a high standing Koorivar.
"Well, I am quite impressed," said Officel, staring at Gree with wonder, "I never thought a clone trooper could even show such courtesy, and understand one of our customs. You must be top of your class among the clones, or at least among the clone officers."
"Not exactly top class," said Gree humbly, "But I am an authority on the customs and cultures of many alien species, and even some human and near-human races, and I knew that my interests would serve my unit and I well in the Clone Wars."
"Commander Gree is one of the most intellectual men I have ever known," Barriss offered, "Sometimes, when he's off duty, we spend a little time together catching up on his studies of the wide variety of life in the galaxy."
"That's true," said Gree, "In fact, my name, 'Gree,' is a subtle nod to my intellectual pursuits. The Gree are a little-known alien species presumed to be endangered or extinct."
"Fascinating," said Officel, "And I thought the clone troopers were only warriors fighting and dying for the Republic. Well, I suppose we're running out of time to spend on pleasantries, right? Your offer of free money warms my heart and that of my cabinet, but what else do you and your Republic plan to do for us in order to win our trust? My people are allied with the Confederacy of Independent Systems, after all, and I can tell you, Magistrate Passel Argente has no intention of leaving it himself. But I assure you, if you can appeal to me in the right way, Magistrate Argente will lose some of his supporters among his species to the Republic."
Luminara said to Gree, "You know what to do, commander." Gree nodded.
"While the Republic cannot legally remove its taxes to the major corporations in the galaxy, like Argente's Corporate Alliance," Gree explained, "We can guarantee you, that all the businesses your people have worked so hard to build over the years, will be funded by the Galactic Senate, for we in the 41st have become aware through General Unduli here that so many senators are as greedy, squabbling, and cowardly as the Separatist Council is said to be, and the Chancellor of the Republic doesn't believe they need all that much of their profits in their private coffers. At the same time, though, the Senate serves the Republic, so the Chancellor can see to it that his wishes are carried out through them, unlike with the Separatist leaders. With the senators funding Kooriva's economy, you won't have to worry about protecting your assets from a Republic that is determined not to split in two because of some slimy Separatist rebels. All we in the 41st have to do is win this coming fight against the Seps, and then you'll have nothing to worry about."
"Hmm," said the Prime Minister, "Let me discuss it with my nobles first for a moment, and I will let you know."
"Of course, Minister," Gree said. Luminara bowed.
As Basen Officel discussed the matter with his aides, there was some brief conversation among the Jedi and the clones.
"I'm not altogether sure this is a good idea, Master," said Barriss to Luminara. "What if they deceive us? I imagine Passel Argente has great influence even over his people's Prime Minister, and the Koorivar remind me a little of the Hutts, who are also known for shrewdness and greed."
"I understand that, Barriss," said Luminara patiently, "But we need all the people on the Republic's side that we can get, and our unit in the Grand Army is one of the most fit for it. If Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex, and the 501st Legion came here instead, they would likely rush into battle and wipe out some of the good as well as all the bad. Anyway, we did succeed in winning the Hutts' allegiance, and the Koorivar usually deal in legitimate business, not illegitimate like the Hutts and their allies."
"Yes, and while the Koorivar are shrewd, if they're offered the right kind of assets, even they can keep their word sometimes," said Gree, "And besides, as someone who appreciates aliens, I don't want to have to recklessly destroy all who stand in our path."
Filler looked like he might have agreed with his commander, but Adam still looked doubtful about the whole thing. "What an incredible universe!" he muttered under his breath. Luminara heard it nonetheless.
"I beg your pardon, trooper?" she said, eyeing him sternly.
Adam quenched a temptation to sigh and roll his eyes. "Sorry, General, sir," he said.
"You should learn to mind your manners better when we're in the presence of a planet's noble leaders," she admonished him.
"She's right again, soldier," Gree frowned, "One more sarcastic phrase out of you during this campaign, and I'll temporarily demote you to kitchen duty. Got that?"
Adam gritted his teeth under his lips, but said, "Yes, sir! Understood, sir!"
Just then Prime Minister Officel stepped back over to them. "Is there any problem over here, my friends?"
"No, your honor," said Luminara, "One of the troopers just needed a little disciplining."
"Ah, yes," said Officel, "Sometimes we have to do the same with our Koorivar Fusiliers. Anyway, we have agreed to your offer, provided that we get paid up-and-front as soon as possible and these greedy senators don't use their own cunning to embezzle some of the money for themselves. Unlike Magistrate Argente, the people of my community have respectable businesses that should never be cheated."
"I am sure that can be arranged," said Gree, "And don't worry, the 41st Elite is one of the best units in the Grand Army; we'll have this planet liberated by nightfall."
"Thank you, commander," said Officel. "General Unduli, Commander Offee, just to be sure, is this deal all right with you as well?"
"Yes, it is, your honor," said Luminara, bowing.
"Absolutely," said Barriss, bowing in turn, though Luminara sensed she still had some doubts.
Later, by nightfall, the 41st had indeed liberated the planet, and the deal was fulfilled. The Senate was forced to provide for Koorivarn businesses from their coffers, and Kooriva joined the Republic, leaving Passel Argente and the Corporate Alliance with the planet Murkhana as their base world.
It was sad, though, that Chancellor Palpatine, in secret the Sith Lord Darth Sidious who also led the Separatists, had no intention of keeping the bargain and made sure the corrupt senators kept most of their wealth, at least until the rise of the Empire.