Hello and welcome everyone to a little story that I like to call Unexpected Places. It follows the story of one Grand Moff who grows disillusioned during Palpatine's rule and wishes to change the face of the Galaxy. As well as focusing on him, the story will also focus on the tales of others who are or will be connected to him in some way. The first few chapters will take place during the final days of the Clone Wars. Alright, well thanks for reading and don't forget to leave a review. Thanks!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars in any form, some of the characters are mine, but that's it.
Above the planet of Malrev IV, a Republic Fleet was stationed in orbit. On the surface of the planet, the clone troopers, led by Jedi general, Alyss Vrax were engaging the Separatist forces for control over the planet. Exactly what advantage the planet had was anyone's guess, neither side really knew. The Republic had been under strict orders to avoid bombing one particular stretch of forest by Chancellor Palpatine, but he was refusing to give the reason. The Separatists meanwhile, had been ordered to take the planet by their leader, Darth Sidious. The battle was going horribly for the Separatists, within days, their ships had been destroyed, captured or had fled, leaving the troops on the ground forced to resort to guerrilla tactics. The two major ships of the Republic were the Harbinger, a Venator-class Star Destroyer, and the Order, a Munificent-class light frigate that had been captured by the Antarian Rangers, a military force that was highly loyal to the Jedi Order. The fleet was commanded by Admiral Ozzaris Vlanc, a man who prided himself on the fact that unlike most Republic fleets, his was crewed almost entirely by non clones. In truth, Vlanc had never liked the clones, in his opinion; they had been cloned from criminal scum and had no business serving aboard his ships.
Aboard the Harbinger, Vlanc was conversing with senior Jedi general Kodu Terrafin, a two meter tall Arcona Jedi. Despite the general's intimidating size and appearance, he was as gentle as a nuna, and was a Jedi consular, a group of Jedi who were dedicated to peace and order.
"It really is quite the sight, eh, general?" Vlanc asked, staring down at Malrev IV and the recently bombarded continent.
"Frankly admiral, I would have preferred not having to bomb the planet." Terrafin replied, staring at the planet sorrowfully.
"Well, sometimes that's the price you pay in war. Things get broken, no matter how much you try to avoid it."
"Hmm, perhaps, I just wish that we never had to resort to war in the first place." Terrafin mused.
"Ah, of course, I forgot that I was talking to a pacifist." Vlanc chuckled.
"All Jedi are pacifists admiral, some just less so than others."
"Well I'm sure that count Dooku would beg to differ!" Vlanc joked, gently nudging Terrafin.
"He would like to see the Jedi Order abandon its principles and turn to the Dark Side." Terrafin said solemnly, still staring at the planet.
Vlanc turned looked behind him, feeling someone staring at them. One of the few clone officers seemed to be staring intently at Terrafin. Vlanc turned back again and scowled, clone scum! Vlanc thought.
"Uh, yes, well, with the way the war's been going so far, it looks like Dooku shall fail!" Vlanc said, stealing another glance at the clone, who seemed to have half risen from his station.
"Perhaps, but I have been sensing a dark presence…it feels as if-" Terrafin suddenly let out a choked gasp, before he collapsed.
"What?" Vlanc asked, whipping out his blaster pistol.
Vlanc stared down at Terrafin's motionless body. There were two smoking blaster marks in his body, one in his back and one in the back of his head. Vlanc spun around to see the clone officer holding a blaster pistol, smoke still pouring out of the barrel.
"Traitor!" Vlanc exclaimed, drawing his weapon and levelling it at the clone "For the crime of treason against the Galactic Republic, I am placing you under arrest, clone scum!"
The clone stood where he was, apparently calm "You have it all wrong, admiral, he was the traitor" The clone said, motioning to Terrafin with his pistol "He was conspiring to overthrow the Republic, along with the rest of the Jedi order!"
"What proof do you have of this? And think carefully before you answer, clone!" Vlanc snarled, levelling his weapon and pointing it at the clone's forehead.
"I've received an order from one of Chancellor Palpatine's closest advisors telling me that the Jedi Order has received high treason. A few hours ago they even attempted to assassinate the chancellor!" The clone replied, not even blinking at the prospect of death.
"Which one? That worm, Kinman Dorianna or that little sneak, Sate Pestage?" Vlanc asked, his voice dripping in contempt.
"Senior administrative aid, Sly Moore, and you would do well to show a little respect, admiral."
"I show respect to those who deserve it, clone! Neither Pestage nor Dorianna deserve my respect!"
"They serve the greatest man in the galaxy, or have you forgotten that, admiral?" The clone asked.
"Just because they serve the great chancellor Palpatine doesn't mean that they are great, clone! And what about the other Jedi on the planet? Surely they are not guilty of treason as you claim?"
The clone glanced past Vlanc, towards the planet "They are being dealt with as they speak."
Vlanc turned and stared at the planet in horror, before turning to the communications officer "Quick, get in touch with the Antarian Rangers and warn them to protect the Jedi!" Vlanc ordered.
"Belay that order! To do so would be treason against the Republic!" The clone said, turning to the officer.
On the surface of Malrev IV, the young Mirialan Jedi, Alyss Vrax was walking alongside clone commander CC-32-1920, better known as Sunny, somewhat of a misnomer due to his pessimistic demeanour. Vrax had long black hair tied back in a ponytail and orange eyes, on her belt she carried her lightsaber, which emitted a green blade when activated. Sunny was wearing the standard armour of the 18th Solar Corps, which was adorned with purple stripes and had a purple sun on the side of the helmet. Beneath his helmet was an almost completely shaved head, save for the mohawk like hairstyle that was common among the soldiers of the Solar Corps.
"How goes the siege, Sunny?" Vrax asked, despite all of the battles occurring, she retained her bubbly and cheerful personality.
"Awful sir, between the Seppies and those four armed freaks in the jungle, we're losing a lot of men." Sunny replied, displaying his usual dour personality.
In response, Vrax put her arms around Sunny "Aw, my Sunny. Lighten up will you?"
Sunny shook her off "Please don't, general. I really wish that you would act more professional, you are a general after all."
"Hey, since when have I ever been serious?" Vrax asked, her eyes shimmering.
Sunny sighed "For the entirety of the time that I've known you general, you've never acted even slightly serious."
"I know, I'm fun aren't I?" Vrax asked mischievously.
"If you say so, general." Sunny said, and then frowned as his com link began beeping.
"You answer that, I want to go scout out that ridge." Vrax said, before walking off.
"Yes, general." Sunny said, pulling out his com link.
Vrax walked over to the ridge. She was really only going over there for the view. In the past few weeks, much of the planet had been bombarded, and the forests had been razed. Although she did not show it, Vrax had been in a great deal of pain, she had felt so much sorrow and despair over the loss of the plant and animal life. Even the deaths vicious Irrukiine had hurt Vrax. Vrax sighed, the only part of the continent that had not been bombed was a secluded patch of forest that housed a strange temple. Although she had never set foot within it, Vrax could sense a great deal of dark energy emanating from within it. Suddenly, Vrax heard someone come up behind her, she did not have to turn to know who it was.
"Sunny? What is-?" Vrax was suddenly silenced when Sunny hit her over the head with his blaster rifle.
"Nothing personal, general, just orders." Sunny said solemnly as he raised his blaster and prepared for the killing shot…
"Urk!" Sunny exclaimed, clutching at his throat.
His hands felt a sharp object sticking out of it. Suddenly, it retracted, and Sunny collapsed, turning as he did so. Sunny looked up and saw one of the Antarian Rangers standing over him, a four eyed Aqualish wielding a blaster rifle with a vibro bayonet attached to it. As Sunny struggled weakly, the Aqualish raised his rifle and fired three times into Sunny's chest, extinguishing his life. With the clone out of the way, the ranger moved to check on Vrax. He placed a finger on her neck and found a pulse. He sighed in relief and then called over his superior officer.
"What happened, private Dagger?" A green skinned Kadas'sa'Nikto sergeant asked, walking up to Dagger and Vrax.
"The clone walked up to her and hit on the head, and then he moved to shoot her." Dagger reported in his native language of Aqualish.
"What? Hmm, I think we had better take her back to the Order and report this to the captain." The sergeant said, before helping Dagger bring Vrax to her feet and carry her back to their shuttle.
Back aboard the Harbinger, Vlanc was still arguing with the clone naval officer.
"You cannot do this!" Vlanc exclaimed.
"I am merely following orders, admiral, if you value your position and are truly loyal to Chancellor Palpatine, then you would stop fighting me and carry out your orders!" The clone said, glaring at Vlanc.
"Sir! We've just received word from one of the clones, commander Sunny is dead and general Vrax is missing!" An ensign reported.
"What? Blast! Those rangers must have taken her to safety!" The clone cursed.
"Excellent, perhaps there is some hope after all!" Vlanc exclaimed, hope gleaming in his eyes.
In response, the clone shot a glare at him "You treacherous fool! Don't you understand? If that Jedi escapes, then she could start up a resistance movement against the Republic!"
"Open your eyes clone! There is no movement against the Republic! It is surely some form of Separatist ploy!" Vlanc protested.
"Uh…sir?" The ensign broke in hesitantly "We have reports of an Antarian Ranger shuttle heading towards the Order. Do you have any orders?"
"Quickly, we must destroy it! Before the Jedi can escape!" The clone cried.
"No! Belay that order! The Antarian Rangers are our allies, and even if they were carrying the Jedi, we would need her for questioning to see whether she is involved in this so called conspiracy!" Vlanc said.
"All of the Jedi are a part of this you fool! How can you be so blind? Order them to open fire!" The clone said, pointing at the shuttle.
"Perhaps you should ask yourself the same question, clone!" Vlanc shot back "And I will not order my fleet to open fire on our own allies!"
While the two were arguing, the shuttle had since docked with the Order, a fact which the crew had noticed.
"Sir! The shuttle has docked with the Antarian Ranger's ship! If you wish to act, it must be now, sir!" A crewmember reported.
"Do it! Open fire now!" The clone shouted.
"No! Hold fire I say! We will not destroy our allies!"
The clone screamed in frustration and launched himself at Vlanc. It was quite a short fight, as the non-clone crewmembers all shot up and managed to wrestle the clone off of Vlanc. In that time, the clone had punched Vlanc in the mouth, and in turn, Vlanc had given the clone a black eye.
"Striking a senior officer? Do you know what the penalty for such an action is?" Vlanc asked as he stared at the clone "Take this clone scum to the brig!"
"You fool! You're dooming us all! You're dooming us all!" The clone shouted as he was dragged from the bridge.
On the bridge of the Order, the captain of the ship, a blue skinned Mon Calamari officer named Jericho Gargos was talking to private Dagger.
"…And you're sure that you saw the clone about to execute the general?" Gargos asked.
"Yes sir, I witnessed it with my own four eyes! If I hadn't shown up when I did, then that clone filth would have murdered her!" Dagger responded, clenching his fist.
A Human officer ran up to Gargos "Sir! We're receiving reports all over the galaxy of clones turning on their generals! This is not a centralised incident!"
Gargos cursed "Blast! Then we must act quickly! Who is the closest Jedi to our position?" Gargos asked.
An officer looked at his monitor "General Bdaris Telnari, he's visiting the listening post on the planet Bakkah."
"How many clones are stationed at that listening post?"
"About nine, sir." The officer replied.
"Then perhaps the general has a chance! How is Vrax?"
"She's fine sir, she's being treated by the med droid as we speak."
"Good, but we haven't a moment to spare! Set a course for Bakkah!" Gargos ordered.
And with that, the Order turned and entered hyperspace, heading to Bakkah as fast as possible.
And end of chapter 1. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. I'm open to constructive criticism and suggestions if anyone would like to offer. Like I said, most of this stuff is up on the Star Wars Fanon Wiki if anyone would like to see it. Well, thanks for reading, don't forget to leave a review, I'll have another chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!