Disclaimer: I do not own any of Star Wars, the right of ownership of Star Wars belong to Lucasfilm and I guess Disney too. The only thing I own is the characters you do not notice and the plot.
A/N: Please note this story is in a series. This is the 6th story in the Parallel Dimension or PD series. Please read all the other stories before reading this. They are in order:
1. Parallel Dimension
2. PD: Darkness Raising
3. PD: Return to the Order
4. PD: Raging War
5. PD: Blasts from the Past
Year: 3 BBY
Chapter 1: Military Meeting
4 long years have passed since the wedding of Mark and Rachelle. They have a lot missions to do in the Triad War. Since the wedding it seems like the Triad War have picked up greatly. It is beginning to turn into a very bloody war. All there sides, The Galactic Republic, The Empire and the True Empire have loose many ships and people.
In 5 BBY, Padme refused to accept any emergency power and step down as Supreme Chancellor. While Mark was hoping one of his friends would have got the seat, someone else got the seat. This person seems to put way much more into the war effort and increase productivity of ships. Mark has notices that ships companies have begin building much larger Star Destroyers, which the new Chancellor announced they are called Super Star Destroyers.
The new Supreme Chancellor is a human male named Arnold Frederic. He is very big in military and even harsh. The Senate and the people elected him due to the fact that they need someone who would try to put a stop to the war. He was a Senator of a war stricken planet, which he serves in the military before becoming a Senator. Personally, Mark really do not like him because of how he is. When you think of the word harsh, he is the fits that word perfectly.
Arnold Frederic is 6ft tall, short black hair with the sides buzzed off, powerful strong dark brown eyes, and a scar that runs across his face in a downward diagonal from the right top, powerfully built like those who spend a lot of time out on the battle field. He was born 64 BBY.
Also one good thing is Padme manage to get people seated into the Ministry of Defense. The Grand Admiral is Gial Ackbar, the Grand General is Jan Dodonna, and the Grand Chief is Zahra Marsden. Zahra Marsden is blond hair female human, with strict looking dark green eyes, 5 feet and 4 inches tall. She was born in 39 BBY on Coruscant. She is well known for wearing her military uniform and for being strict. She has served in the Grand Army of the Republic since she was 18 back in 21 BBY. She worked on the ground as member of various units until she decided to go into military police to make sure the laws of war and directives were follow to the letter, which she did very good. She is considered one of the best within the Galactic Republic and that was why Padme have chosen her to be a Grand Chief.
The Grand Director of Intelligence is a human female name Rayne Zenald. Rayne Zenald is 5foot, has shoulder length black hair, cool sky blue eyes, a scar from her right ear to her chin where got slashed by a sword. Rayne Zanald was born in 40 BBY on the planet of Anaxes. She has served the Grand Army of the Republic since it was form at the beginning of the Clone Wars. She has served with the 3rd Legion in 22 BBY while under the command of Celestia Aluna and Rachelle Hunter. When Celestia apparently died, she was shifted to the 501st Legion until 20 BBY. In 20 BBY she was shifted back to the 3rd Legion where she serves underneath Mark and Rachelle Hunter. She remains with the 3 Legion all the way up 8 BBY, which she then enter Military Intelligence, with request from Mark help her get in. During her time as a Military Intelligence she proved to be very good at that, gather intelligence on the Imperial and the True Imperial. She was considered one of the best Intelligence Officer within the Galactic Republic, so in 5BBY she was put on the Ministry of Defense as the Grand Director per request of Mark and Padme.
Then top off the leaders of the Ministry of Defense is the Minister himself, a former Bakuran General, Bakuran Admiral a human male named Edward Jones Bishop. He was born back in 220 BBY on the planet of Bakura. He is 5 feet and 12 inches tall, full head of black hair that is graying on the sides with a beard that is black with streaks of gray in it, thin but powerful built body, face is cover in scars, arms have scars crisscrossing over them. He is a kind person but could be consider very strict. This guy has won a bunch of awards from the Bakuran government. He actually won the Bakuran Medal of Honor 3 times for his services in the Bakuran Military and Navy. He has so many awards that most people would not believe it with proof. He is currently the holder of the most awards given by the Bakuran government and most of them deal with his service in the military. He have bunch of copies. He is more respected then both Maxus Zane, before his fall to craziness and Maverick James Frostvong. With all his experience in wars and his very impressive military record, once Joseph told Padme about him, there could not be anyone else for the position of running the Ministry of Defense. Throw in the fact that he is very honorific and loyal means he could be trusted with such power.
Right now Jedi Master and General of the 3rd Legion Mark Alan Zane is meeting with the Supreme Chancellor, the Minister of Defense and the Grands. Following behind him is 14 year old Padawan Mara Jade. Mark walks into the office of the Supreme Chancellor. Mark have been in the office for a few different Chancellor and see it style various ways. Apparent the strict militaristic Supreme Chancellor that now holds the office seem to like the high life a bit.
"About time you show up, Master Zane. Just because you are a Jedi does not give you excuse to run late for an important meeting which you were made aware of once you were on Coruscant last week. Please take a seat." say Chancellor Frederic looking at Mark with look.
Chancellor Frederic looks up at Mara. "Who is this child, I do not recall inviting any child to this meeting, Master Zane if I remember correctly to my request to the High Council to send you and you alone. I do not know if you do not know me yet Master Zane, but I hate when things are not followed." say Chancellor Frederic.
"Hate leads to the Dark Side, and for your question Chancellor, she is my Padawan, which means she is my student. She goes where I go. Now let me tell you something about me if you do not find out, I do not take kindly to bullies. So let act civilized here." say Mark.
Chancellor Frederic looks at Mark. He have a great deal of respect for the Jedi and General who saved the Galactic Republic from Palpatine but that does not mean he likes how he act sometimes. "I have you know that I do not run my office as the last Chancellor. Now please tell your student to leave. Meetings like this are not for children." say Chancellor Frederic looking at Mark.
Mark senses his Padawan start to get annoyed at keep being called a child. She might be a child in her teens, but she has faced a lot of challenges in the Triad War that most children does not have dream of facing. Mark need to stop this before it gets out of hand.
"Sir, she is the second in charge of 3rd Legion, obvious by the appearance of the heads of the Minister of Defense this is a military thing and if it involves my unit in any shape, size or form, then she is invited in to any conversation that we have. I have you know Chancellor, that she might be at an age that still consider a teen, you have to take account of what she been through this war." say Mark.
"This meeting does not involve her Zane. Are you disobeying an order from me? I am the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and I have a war to fight, I do not need any damn children in the meeting of military. I could care less of what she went through because they are not important. I asked for the General of the 3rd Legion not the Commander." say Chancellor Frederic
"Sir with all due with respect, what General Zane has stated is true. This meeting is about the 3rd Legion and since Mara Jade is the Commander of the 3rd Legion, she does have a right to be here. This meeting is a military content so I think if anyone should have problem is should be me." say Edward softly as he lift his hands off his hands. He could no longer hold his tongue.
"Fine the child may stay, but I swear if she gets in the way of this meeting I will force her out of this office." say Chancellor Fredrick knowing if the Minister of Defense is okay with it, he really has no room to object since this is military meeting.
Mark sighs as this finally end this debate. He knows the Chancellor respects him but his is a harsh type of person to get along with. "So what is this meeting all about, Minister." say Mark looking at Edward as he watch in corner of his eyes as Mara sit down on a couch nearby and being quiet.
"Well, I will hand this over the Grand Director Rayne Zenald." say Edward. Mark look over to the person who used to serve with him in the 3rd Legion, she was very good at what she did. "The Grand Army Intelligent unit has picked on some information last week and we have been studying to make sure it is right before we make a move. We believe that the Imperial Force is going to try a strike here on Coruscant. We also have reports from various space stations that there a large fleet of ships coming from somewhere deep in the Outer Rim. As you all know we have gather resources that tells us that the Empire is station somewhere within the Outer Rim. So any fleet of this size must be coming to them. The only other military that has a large enough fleet to spare that many ships is the Bakuran Military and we all know they are loyal to the Galactic Republic." say Rayne as she active a Hologram and the reports appear as she talked about them.
Mark lean back in his chair looking at the information. "Darth Vader hasn't made a big attack like this on any core planet after his epic fall to take Kuat in 5 BBY. According to this report it says there are large amount of ships coming. How many ships do you guess?" ask Mark looking at Rayne.
"Our estimated number is up very high, 5 thousand ships and that is just Star Destroyers, which the space stations could easy pick up due to their size." say Rayne. After she said this, someone could have heard a pin drop on the thick carpet floor. "That is way much bigger than Darth Vader ever hit us and I know we did number on his fleet back at Kuat in 5 BBY." say Mark. In 5 BBY, the Empire has sent a massive at Kuat to destroy the factories there to hinder the Grand Army of the Republic. Most warships come from Kuat. Since then Darth Vader have did any major attack to any Core Worlds. They all figure he was building up his army and fleet. Thought everyone in the room knows that both the Empire and True Empire have at least close to a million ships in their entire fleet, due to they are almost always producing ships due to the construction droids.
"I have already called back the 501st Legion, the 212th Attack Battalion, and even request aid from the Bakurans." say Edward. "How many fleets we have station here?" ask Chancellor Fredrick. "Besides the Coruscant Home Fleet, only the 3rd Legion. Which would not be enough to protect." say Edward. "Is the whole 3rd Legion here?" ask Chancellor Fredrick looking at Mark. .
"No, General Rachelle Zane has taken half of it to the Middle Rim to stop the True Imperial last week." say Rayne before Mark can answer. "Damn, we put ourselves in a tight situation. Bakura might not arrive in time, how far is the 501st and the 212th?" ask Chancellor Fredrick.
"At the most good two days, sir." say Edward. "If we called back General Rachelle Zane's part of the 3rd Legion?" ask Chancellor Fredrick. "A day at the most." say Edward. "I advise you to contact her and get her ass down to the planet." say Chancellor Fredrick.
"Mark, we called you here, because you are one of the best General that the Grand Army has. No time to be modest boy, I was like that when I was as young as you. You are great; we need you to lead this defense. If Coruscant falls, you know that will serious impact us in this war. Since it is the capital, we lose it we could lose the faith of millions and they may decided to join the Empires. You know by know that war is not all about attacks." say Edward looking at Mark.
"I say we should put as much power to the planetary shields as possible." say Mark looking at them. "Already decided, we got the solar panels that help gives energy to the shields point directly at the sun all day, which will power them up greatly along with wind power." say Zahra with a tone that it make her sound like she is retorting to being insulted.
"Now Zahra no need to get like that, he was suggesting something, he was not aware we already did that." say Edward looking down at the middle age blond female. Zahra respects Edward a lot, because of all the things he did in the war for Bakurans. Even through she has no connections to the planet of Bakura, his endeavourers are known since he took the position as Minister of Defense. On a Galactic scale is as well respected as Mark is and he didn't even have to take down a Sith Lord that was trying to convert the Galactic Republic into an Empire rule by the Sith. She also respects Mark a lot, but she does not know that much about the 49 year old Bakuran, which she have found out still consider to be young for a Bakuran. Even through his is 49 he hardly looks like it. He still looks like he is in his 20s.
"So what is the projected date of the arrival of this attack?" ask Mark. "Anywhere from 2 to 3 days." say Rayne as she looks at Mark. "That will get time for the fleet arrives. I am presuming that we have the Home Fleet ready for battle. It has been awhile that they were used in a battle." say Mark. Zahra was about say something, but stop when the Grand Admiral Gial Ackbar put his hand on Zahra shoulder. By the look on Zahra face it look like it was going to be another retort. "Master Zane, the home fleet is prepare, we already got some ships in orbit." say Gial.
The Grand General Jan Dodonna shifted in his seat to look at Mark. "Before you asked about the ground troops, I have contacted every Grand Army barracks on the planet to be ready for a battle just in case they manage to break through the shields. Is the shields up on the Jedi Temple?" say Jan. He remembers back when he served in the military, the Jedi Order was attacked by the True Imperials, but at the time no one knows about it with a traitorous Jedi, due to an attack like that, they put up shields to protect the Jedi Temple. "No the shields only go up when there is a threat of an attack, since you are guessing it will be happening in couple days, it will be up nearer to the time." say Mark looking at the head of the Ministry of Defense and the current Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.
Sensing that they do not need him for anything else, he politely excuse himself and wave his hand to his Padawan to follow him out of the room.
In the middle rim, surrounding the planet of Cerea there is a Republic Attack Cruiser that has Rachelle Zane nee Hunter aboard. She was walking from the bridge when a Clone came up to her. "General, the Minister of Defense wants to speak with you." say the Clone.
Rachelle walks back to the bridge and to the hologram projector. She stands there with her arms across in front of her as she leaned back on her left foot which is a bit behind her right foot. In front of her is a hologram of the Minister, Edward Jones Bishop.
"Minister, what up with this communication. I have just given my report yesterday about getting the last of the True Imperial fleet and army off the planet to Grand Admiral Ackbar and Grand General Dodonna." say Rachelle as she looks at the hologram of the Minister of Defense. "Yeah, I know that Master Rachelle, I have received the reports from them yesterday. I am sorry but this contact is of a serious matter." say Edward.
Rachelle stands more attention now then she has been earlier. "How serious are we talking about?" ask Rachelle. "Serious as in at 5,000 Imperial Star Destroyers being traveling a hyperlane directly to the capital." say Edward.
When Rachelle heard 5,000 Imperial Star Destroyers she was shocked. Is Darth Vader launching an attack at Coruscant with that many Star Destroyers? He hasn't made any big attack since his failed attack at Kuat back in 5 BBY.
"Yes, we are recalling you and what left of your fleet back to the capital. By out estimation we have 2 to 3 days before an attack happen." say Edward. "I will have the ships ready to jump to Hyperspace heading that way then." say Rachelle. "See to it." say Edward before the hologram disappear.
Rachelle turns around and looks at the Clone Troopers. "You heard the Minister, put in coordinates for Coruscant and let's get out of here." say Rachelle as she walks out from the bridge. She looks down at her right hand to see the golden wedding band on it. It has been 4 years since she has married Mark and it seems like the war have gotten worst since then. She recalled back when Mark predicted back in the Republic Imperial Conflict that the problem was going to get bad and it did.
She sighs as she walks to her room and sits down on the bed with her head in her hands. It has been a few bad months since she has last seen or heard from her husband.
Back on Coruscant, Mark and his Padawan are standing in the living room of the house on Coruscant that Padme have bought. She now has two houses; she has one on Naboo and one on Coruscant. During her last year as the Supreme Chancellor, she decided that she did not want to live in the 500 Republica anymore so she decided to buy a house on Coruscant. The house is not that far from the Temple Distract, also it is one of the few houses that have a yard on Coruscant that has a lot of trees and flowers. He knows that must have cost a lot of Credits, but Padme do love nature.
She is still getting money from her time of being Queen, which is a benefit, her retirement from the Senate as a Senator and the benefits of being Chancellor for a full term, also paid her as a retirement now that she served two terms means she get more money. How she is sitting, she really does not have to work because of those benefits. To keep her busy she tries to help out those that need help because of the war. She often goes to refuge camps and all that stuff to help out.
"Mark what are you doing here?" ask Padme walking into the room. "You know I promise both Anakin and your family, that I would protect you if Anakin is off on a mission and I am not." say Mark. "Yes, Anakin told me this bunch of times, I am guessing something is wrong?" ask Padme as she looks at Mark.
Mark crosses his arms behind him and looks down at his feet. "I need you to get off this planet now, in a few days, there might be a very large attack from the Imperial coming and I want you off this planet by the time it happens, because if they manage to get ground forces on here, it could be trouble. This house is not to far from the Temple Distract or the Senate Distract, which are most likely the two places they will attack." say Mark.
"I might not be the Chancellor anymore, but I still have handmaidens from being Queen of Naboo. Once someone was Queen or King they will have people protect them for the rest of their lives. Plus I have guards from when I was the Chancellor, I got a life time protection from that too." say Padme. "Are any of them Force Sensitive and if they are, were they train. Padme you know how the Imperials uses the Dark Jedi. We both know Vader would use you to get to Anakin and me. He knows you are Anakin's wife and one of my closest friends. Now if you going to be stubborn not to leave the planet then I could let you stay at the Temple, where there are people to protect you. So you can be stubborn there." say Mark.
"I could defend myself." say Padme. "I am not saying you cannot, but try to get as much protection as possible." say Mark. "Then send someone from the Order here. I am for sure you can spare a Master to protect me." say Padme. Padme usually get protected by either members of the High Council or a highly trained Master. The only problem is Mark and Mace Windu are the only two Jedi Masters that are currently station on Coruscant.
"Padme, there are only two of us. Mace and I are the only members of the High Council and Jedi that are rank Master that are station on this planet. When that attack comes I most likely will be aboard either a Starfighter or ship. Mace most likely would be on the ground Forces." say Mark.
For weeks now, most members of the High Council are off through the galaxy protecting from the Empires. "We could most likely spare a knight, but I prefer you to be at the temple. I really hate to see your twins come here and know that you died." say Mark lowly.
Mark is not a low person, but he knows just playing that card would get Padme to do anything that will increases her defenses and that is the only low tactic that could work to get Padme to consider more protection. "What about Pooja, she lives here where she is on Coruscant for a Senate meeting." say Padme. "She will offer to stay in the Temple too." say Mark.
"Okay, I will do it, but you know that was a low card tactic you use." say Padme looking at Mark. "Hey, it is my ace to get you to defend yourself, so I am not complaining." say Mark as he shrug his shoulders. Padme just laughs as she went around getting stuff ready. "Just let you know, Anakin, Luke and Leia will be here hopefully before the battle starts, because Edward have called the 501st, 212th, and the part of the 3rd that is in the middle rim, back." say Mark.
Padme stops and turns around. "How big is this attack?" demand Padme. "Around 5,000 Imperial Star Destroyers is all we know at the moment." say Mark. Padme face pales when she heard this. "Did you just say 5,000 St…Star Destroyers?" ask Padme hoping that she just heard wrong. Mark only nods at this and Padme cannot believe it still.
She went into the other room to start packing her belongings. Pooja who was sleeping in the other room was awakened up by her aunt pounding on the door. "Pooja, wake up!" shout Padme. Pooja yawns as she stretches her arms and walks to the door, she press her thumb against the pad by the door. The red light shines green signaling that the door is unlocked. Pressing on the pad again, the door slides up. "Aunt Padme, what is it?" ask the Naboo Galactic Senator. "Mark had dropped by and he says we should head to the Jedi Temple for protection. Apparently there is going to be an attack in a few days with 5,000 Imperial Star Destroyers." say Padme.
Pooja yawns and shakes her head. It wasn't even 4 hours ago she came back from a night long Senate meeting. "In a few days… we got some time. I am tired, Aunt Padme!" say Pooja as tries to hold back a yawn. Padme just gives her niece a slight glare. "Okay…Okay I am sorry, Aunt Padme." say Pooja as walks back into her room, closes the door and get change and begin to pack stuff.
Meanwhile, back in the living room, Mark is listening to his Padawan raving about the Chancellor. "He kept on calling me a little kid, as if I meant nothing! I guess he happen to forget that we, mainly I saved him from that attack with the True Imperials on Kuat." say Mara. Mark walks over to a table and pick up a fruit out of the fruit basket as he listens to her rave on and on.
"Mara, you have to take in consideration of how he acts and think. He is not like Padme, he is a bit rougher around the edges and he is a militaristic person. His whole family was in the military, he spent majority of his life in the military and he is a Chancellor during time of war. He might be harsh, but the people and the Senate think he might have what it takes to end the war. Padme did a great job at her job. On most planets and within the Grand Army, most people in wars are usually 18 years or older. In his eyes you are child because you are not of legal age. The only reason why you are in the military at such a young age is because you are a Jedi Padawan. Now calm down and have some fruit." say Mark tossing an apple to Mara.
"He is mean." say Mara simply. "Yes, I admit it, but he is no Sith. He has no connection with the Force. If you look pass what you believe him to be, you find that he actually cares for this Galactic Republic. Yes, some of the things he does, I am not a fan of, but he is a good guy." say Mark.
Mara took a rough bite out of the apple she was eating and sit down at the stool that is at the bar that separates the kitchen from the living room. She was trying to calm down. This was actually the first time she meet the Chancellor in his office since he became the Chancellor. "Does he even like the Jedi?" ask Mara. "Yes, he does. I sensed that he has no ill feelings about the Jedi. The only thing he might not like about us is that we not much for war so we do not share the same thoughts as he does.
Pooja and Padme came down from upstairs. "We got everything we needed." say Padme. Mark stared at both Padme and Pooja, to see Pooja standing right next to her Aunt he could tell there are a lot of physical similarities they have. It is easy to tell that they both are related to each other.
"Okay, I got a Speeder out back, Mara into the back seat you go." say Mark before taking the last bit out of the fruit he was eating. "Why do I have to be in the back seat?" ask Mara with a mock pout on his face. "Because the adults are taking it." say Pooja. "Fine but I taking another apple." say Mara grabbing another apple and walk out the door. "She does love apples a lot." say Mark as he watches Mara clean that apple.
Padme grabs a Shuura, one of her favorite fruit from the basket. "Come on, let head back to the Jedi Temple." say Mark as they walk out the door. Padme was the last one out. She put press her thumb against the pad and a beep and a red light signal it is locked. Bellow that pad was a keypad with bunch of buttons. Padme press a few number buttons before hitting a large green button. It is use for security. Also it enforces all the locks on the doors and windows. On the bottom of the keypad, is they symbol for Zane Tech.
Padme walks off and sit in the front seat with her niece and Mark. Mark turns the key in the ignition and start the Speeder up. He pushes the steering wheel down and turns it to the left. The Speeder rise up into the air and turn to the left. Leveling the Speeder's steering wheel he drives the Speeder into the direction of the Jedi Temple.
Now before I start talking about this chapter, I wanted to notify you about a mistake I made in the last story, which I went back and fix. You remember in the Chapter titled Arrival to Bakura, Mark was talking about how that material that Zane Tech made to stop Force User from using their abilities and how he said it have to be touching a skin. While reading back in the Raging War story, I have notice that there was a cell used that prevent that, so I went back add that to something Mark is saying.
Now onto the story. First of all I want to credit Canonman89 for his input of who the Grand Chief should be. I made the history myself but he gives me what she looks like and act. He say a blond strict female in her mid thirties and always were a military uniform. He past came from the fact that she has a military uniform.
Also I want to once more credit him for the title of this story.
Now the Minister and the Grand Director is my creation. See when I was making Zahra, I accidentally put her down as Director, but fixed that but it inspired me to have someone similar to her, but a little bit older.
So to begin the story I figure to start it off with a little bang, so in a few chapters there will be a battle coming to Coruscant. I am trying to start every story differently. I started it this way to also introduce the New Chancellor, who I came up with, do not worry I do not know how long I may keep him, but I needed someone who would push to have Super Star Destroyers made and I highly doubt, Padme, Amelia, Mon, Bail or Garm would push for something like that. Yes, I have been planning having the Republic and The Empires have Super Star Destroyers since the 2nd story of the series, but I had to wait until that date was close to when they were made in the real saga.
Yes, Padme is officially retired from Politics now. Does that mean she would not be in my story as much? the answer is no. Though she might help her niece out sometimes. Now I have to came up with a way about how Padme is going to get paid to raise their children due to the Senate Bill that she help passed. So I decide that she get retirement like benefits from being a Queen, A Senator and a Chancellor. So therefore she have money coming in. Also to help enforce the idea of her being retired, I thought it would be best if she give up her apartment in the 500 Republica and have a house for herself which is not that far from the Jedi Temple. Why I didn't have her move to Naboo, was so she have a place to stay to be close to Anakin when he cannot be on Naboo.
Tell me what you think about the Ministry of Defense and the New Chancellor.
Until next time, enjoy!