Summary:
What would have happened if there was a parallel universe to the Known Galaxy? A Universe where all of the people from the Known was there, but none were exactly like thier counterparts in the Known Galaxy, and the state of things were different.
This is an attempt to bring it to light. Obi-wan Kenobi and his apprentice, Darth Vader, are sent to bring back the wayward Mandalore system back into the Republic, and put to ease their secessionist desires. However, they will be hard put to it, for behind the scenes, the armies of Mandalore are amassing for war, and they are getting help from the Commerce Guild and Trade Federation, enemies of the Republic, though there is no war. Yet.
Meanwhile, it is Qui-Gon Jinn's unhappy duty as the member of the High Council assigned to the Council of Reassignment (they send would-be Jedi who never recieved a master to other occupations) to take the young but beautiful Padme Amidala to Tatooine, where she shall recieve new work as a mechanic for the Toydarian Watto.
Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader walked down the hallway towards the chancellor's office. They knew this day had been coming for a long time. But all the same it still suprised them when it did happen. War.
The Mandalorians had for many years threatening to break away from the Republic. But no one had suspected they were serious, until today. How could they have known that 10 years ago that things were going to end up this bad?
Even as they walked to the office of the chancellor, Vader could not understand why something like this could happen. The Republic stood always stood for peace and justice, everyone knew that. That is why the Mandalorians had joined the Republic in the first place.
That is why it all other planets have joined to the Republic. The Republic had stood for security. Vader cannot understand why someone would turn their back on a Republic that stood for such things. But then again, there are a lot of things about the galaxy he did not understand.
He looked over at Obi-wan and saw that his master was a lot calmer than that he himself felt. Vader had always wondered about the calm demeanor of his master. He also wanted to be that calm himself. But, he never seemed to be able to master it.
"Master Obi-wan," Vader said, "what could the Chancellor possibly want with us? We are not to soldiers and we are not politicians."
"There are many things that Vallorum might need us for," Obi-wan replied not looking at him, "just what that might be I do not know."
Vader mumbled to Obi-wan, "It better not be anything stupid."
"When the Chancellor asks us to do something it is not stupid," Obi-wan rebuked his young apprentice, "remember that Vader. We are to serve the chancellor as long as he leads us in the right direction."
They arrived outside the office doors which were flanked by a pair of blue robed guard who held blaster rifles by their sides, the butt of their rifles on the floor. Vader looked at the helmets of the guards the black visors blocking their faces from those that would look at them. It made them intimidating, at least to those who were weak minded.
"We are here to see the Chancellor," Obi-wan said, "he has requested our presence."
"What are your names?" One of the guards asked. Vader believed it was the one on the left that had asked but had it not been for the Force he might not have been able to know who it said it. Their visors indeed worked very well in obscuring their faces including there mouths from them.
"Obi-wan Kenobi," Obi-wan said introducing themselves, "and Darth Vader. Jedi Knights of the Jedi Order."
The guard held up his left wrist which had a holo chrone which was embedded in his armor. Chancellor Vallorum, he said into the device, Obi-wan Kenobi and Darth Vader are here to see you.
"Yes, yes, send them in immediately," a man on the other end of the line said.
The guard jerked his head sideways and the door slid open and Obi-wan and Vader stepped through into the office.
Vader looked around the office. There are couple statues scattered throughout the room. There also a couple paintings could be seen hanging from the wall, painted by the Calamari he believed. There were few seats that were set in a semicircle around a desk near a great window which had a perfect view of that traffic outside. Many speeders and transports could be seen flying around the city's sky scrapers and other buildings. Aways off he could even see the five spires that were the Jedi Temple.
But his gaze was drawn to the man behind the desk. Chancellor Vallorum sat behind a desk in a chair, it's back not quite reaching his white-haired head.
"I'm so glad you both can make it," Vallorum said, "please take a seat."
They walked took the chairs closest to the chancellor's desk. Once they were comfortable in their seats, Obi-wan said, "What can we do for you Chancellor? Your message said it was something of some importance."
"Yes indeed," Chancellor Vallorum said, putting the tips of his fingers against each other, making them look like a steeple roof, "I assume you know of the recent events that has occurred Master Kenobi."
It was not a question; it was a statement. "Indeed Chancellor," Obi-wan agreed, "the news of Mandalore are dreadful tidings indeed for the Galactic Republic."
"They are the worst we can receive at this time," Vallorum said with a sense of urgency that almost bordered terror, "Mandalore is a key system on our border. If we are not able to convince Mandalore to return to the Republic, then our enemies will have an advantage if they decide to go to war with us. We cannot allow that to happen."
"I agree Chancellor," Obi-wan said, "if the Trade Federation and the Commerce Guild decide to join force it to would be bad for us. What happened that would force them to declare to secede from the Republic?"
"I'm pretty sure that you can guess why this happened," the Chancellor said with a sad smile.
Obi-wan sighed, "I am sure I could."
"That is why I need you," said Vallorum, "I want you and your apprentice to go talk to the Mandalorians to convince them that this is a mistake to leave the Republic. Otherwise my advisers suggested going to war with them. And from the sounds of things in the Senate the majority of them are also want to go to war with the Mandalorians."
"I can't believe that," Vader said in disbelief, "Mandalore has always been a peaceful place why would people want to go to war with them?"
"You forget Vader," Vallorum said, "Before they were a peaceful people, their Death Watch was one of the more formidable forces in the Galaxy. The Wars that were fought against them caused catastrophic damage and loss of life. People want to prevent such a war from happening again, even if it means fighting another war to do so. Ironic, isn't it."
"I can assure you Chancellor," Obi-wan said, "we shall do everything in our power to stop such a thing from happening."
Vallorum smiled in relief. "I knew I could count on you two," he said that, "may the Force be with you two on this mission. Everything depends upon."