Chapter 1

The Rise of the Republic

Surpreme Chancellor Janarus was pacing his office for the third time. He was stuck dealing with the rebuilding of Coruscant and now one of the senators was proven to be doing dealings with the Migrant Merchant's Guild. He instantly demanded the senator's resignation for the embarrassment that it had caused the Republic senate. He was not ready for the press conference that was coming up.

"It will be alright Chancellor; the people of the Republic don't blame you. They want an answer as to why she's being forced to resign after all the good work she has done," his advisor Stass Golfur, a rodian. He was a good friend and had served Janarus for many years but had no idea what Galatic politics were like.

"Stass you've been my friend for many years but I cannot just shrug this off as a small ordeal. They will find that all senators are corrupt and need to be replaced," Janarus groaned, sitting in his chair rotating around in it. The chancellor circled one of the buttons with his finger absent mindedly.

Stass glanced at the Chancellor, the man had aged rapidly in the last few years. Yet that was to be expected of one of the most powerful men in the Galaxy, who had to deal with so much, and now this. The rodian worried for the Chancellor mentally and physically, the last visit to the doctor had shown that the leader of the republic needed to relax and take less stress.

Suddenly the intercom beeped several times, Janarus pressing the button lightly, "Yes?" The man said half heartedly.

A feminine voice spoke, "Chancellor Janarus, Jedi Master Fergus Ord and his apprentice Tiberian are here to speak with you." The chancellor put his fingers to his brow and pressed before exhaling slowly. "Shall I ask them to come back later?"

"No, no send them in now," Janarus said looking at Stass he frowned, "I apologize friend but the Jedi are here and I must deal with this." Stass looked at the chancellor and bowed before taking his leave. On his way out the door he passed the two jedi whose hoods were up and both wore a flexible yet protective set of armor under the customary robes. The elder jedi, a Zabrak, smiled and nodded before passing the Rodian.

"You summoned us Chancellor?" The Zabrak jedi said bowing, his apprentice following suit. The chancellor beckoned them to sit at the chairs across from him. Master Fergus sat while his apprentice, who kept his hood covering his eyes, stood behind his master. "I do not believe you summoned us for a simple chat your grace?"

Janarus smiled at the Zabrak in his chair. "No I didn't old friend, I have some new intelligence leading me to believe the Sith are on the offensive again." The apprentice's head tilted slightly while the master remained still. "A fleet of Sith warships have entered into the Sullest system and I believe they mean to wage war on us."

Fergus leaned forward in his chair nodding looking at the Chancellor. "You'd have us go there to see if it's escalated into a breaking of the treaty?" The chancellor nodded. The old jedi thought for several moments, he didn't like having to be sent on a foolish mission to see if the Sith who proposed the Treaty, would break it. "Why us?"

"If you wish to leave your apprentice behind that is perfectly fine with me, I have the most elite squad of Commandos going with you," Janarus said quickly. The apprentice went to speak before Fergus raised his hand. "If you wish to that is. I don't want to bring this into a conflict," Janarus said in defense.

The Zabrak nodded, "My apprentice will be going with me. BUT I want to pick the squad that goes with us." Janarus looked at his friend with a curious look and was interrupted before he could say something. "Janarus I want Sliver Team."