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.

Year: 3 BBY

Chapter 3: Threat Closing In

Two Jedi Masters are standing at the top of the Grand Convocation Chamber of the Senate Rotunda. These two Jedi Masters are Mark Alan Zane and Mace Windu. It has been awhile, since Mark witness a Senate Meeting. The last one was the one before Padme step down from being Supreme Chancellor, which was the day that she introduces the people who would be serving as the Head of the Minister of Defense. Speaking of the heads of the Minister of Defense, the Minister himself was also watching the meeting from where they were standing. Sometimes he is a part of the meeting other times he is not. This time he not a part of the meeting that is going on.

"I am highly surprise they are not debating about the Super Star Destroyers, they usually debate about them, since the bill have been proposed and accepted." say Edward looking down at the meeting. Mark looks at him. Both of them are in the middle rather Super Star Destroyers are good or bad thing to have. The good thing is that if the Empires do decide to have them, they have a fighting chance. The bad thing is that the expenses that it will take to make them and operate them. Mark has look over some of the classes of Super Star Destroyers being made and the shield, fire power and energy are great on them.

"So when they are made, how many per unit?" ask Mark. "As of right now 1 per unit, but the Chancellor hopes in the future they might have been more. I have heard rumors from some informants that Rayne has on Altyr 5, which is a known planet that have been taken over by the Empire, stated that they have gotten some slaves from Zygerria and along with some droids to help build these warships." say Edward looking at Mark.

"How did this informant knows about that?" ask Mark. "Even though he does not believe in the Empire, he works at a base that makes warships. He told me that they were working on a series of thrusters and engines to be shipped out for what Darth Vader stated as Super Star Destroyer. He even manages to send some specs of them to Rayne." say Edward taking out a holodisk and turn it on. Mark leans closer. "I look over them one time; those are the specs for the Executor-class Super Star Destroyer, which are about 12 miles long. They are the first in line of many different Super Star Destroy classes to be build." say Mark remember traveling to Kuat to study up on them. Those are the ships that are almost done with.

The ship class is called that for the simple reason that these ships will help executor justice to the Empires. The name for the class is catching, that is something that Mark can agree on with 100 percent.

"The thing is that the informant told Rayne is that they have been working on this design for a very long time, long before Chancellor Fredrick passes the bill to allow them into the military." say Edward. "According to the head of Kuat Drive Yards, They have this idea, along with other Super Star Destroyers in storage. The funny thing is, what I found out was that Sidious made a special request for high power Star Destroyers just in case if the Separatist have something to be plan that will make it impossible for the Republic to win." say Mark as he looks at Edward.

"Bet Chancellor Palpatine wanted to make them for his Empire if he succeeded in destroying the Republic and Jedi Order." say Edward deactivating the hologram. "Do me a favor Edward, do not ever called Sidious by that name or give him the honor of calling him a Chancellor when he did not deserve it. His real name is Sidious. Palpatine may have been his real name before taking up the mantle of the Sith, but that is just an alias now." say Mark as he crosses his arms behind his back.

Edward notices when he said Palpatine, Mark's chin and throat tighten a bit. He knows that there is no love or respect for the man from the Jedi. Personally he does not blame him, after what happen in the other universe and what was plan in this one. Being a Bakuran, he also does not respect Palpatine or as Mark would call him, Sidious, because he betrayed the Galactic Republic.

"Sorry, the media keeps calling him Palpatine." say Edward. "I know, but that is just an Alias, to call him that when everyone know his is the Sith Lord Darth Sidious makes me think that they chose to ignore the truth. I know that there are still some people who think Palpatine as the great leader during the Clone Wars and not the traitor he was found to be during the last days of the Clone Wars. There are even members of this Senate who respects him, not many but some." say Mark as he looks down at the Senate chamber. He hears Pooja voice speaking calmly to bring her point across.

Mark notice she was arguing with another Senator. Mark feels bad for the other Senator, if Pooja take her teaching to her heart, then any Senator is going to have a fight on their hands against her since she learned from Padme. Padme is considered one of the best Senators alive.

Mark remembers days after Padme retired from Politics, the Queen of Naboo was trying to get her to return as Senator when the Senator Pooja was replacing was planning on retiring. Padme politely decline the offer so she could spend more time helping people around the galaxy and being with her family more.

Couple hours through the meeting, Edward got a com and looks at Mark. "I got some good news and some bad news. I am going to tell the good news, the 212th and 501st have just arrive. Now as for the bad news, a recent station reported that the fleet of the Imperials is closer then we expected. I think the attack might happen tonight. I hope that your troops are ready for the fight." say Edward.

"Do not worry, Major Kia already have ships in orbit and have ships waiting for a minute notice to take off. We have been ready since yesterday." say Mark. "What about Starfighters?" ask Edward. "You know, with how many times that the 3rd Legion takes off, I keep the ship always stock with supplies. They are never empty, unless they are going in for repairs for a while." say Mark.

"For a Jedi, you aren't that bad at planning ahead for military." say Edward amazes. He could see the usefulness of not empty out fleet ships when they are not on active duty, because they may need them in a moment notice. "Sometimes you remind me of the man that your father was before going crazy." say Edward. Mark eyes narrow. "Do not ever compare me to the one you know. He is not my father. My father is dead in the other dimension for a long time. The person who died as a loving father that was glad that his son could be train in the Force and a loving husband who never stop loving my mother was my father. The one you know will never be consider my father." say Mark with a tone that states that is all that is going to be said about that conversation.

"Touchy subject, sorry to bring it up. I am not saying yo… I mean Maxus was a good person, he dead as an evil person; I was talking about time before he went crazy. Before 19 BBY." say Edward with a sigh, he does not want to make enemies with Mark. "It is okay, it just I cannot see him as he used to be, not after all the death and destruction he have caused." say Mark in a lighter tone. Just like Edward has for him, Mark has a lot of respect for Edward. He was a close family friend of the Zane family.

Mark begins to walk away with Mace. "Where are you two going? You going to be that mean and live me defenseless up her to their bickering?" ask Edward pointing a thumb to the Senators. "Hey, we got a planet to save. Plus you could leave too." say Mark as he walks away. As they were walking away Mace turned to Mark.

"Get ready for the battle, I sensed that they will be here quicker then the Minister have guessed." say Mace as he reaches down on his belt and press his thumb against a button on his belt. Mace, Yoda and some of the members of the High Council have the ability to remotely activate the shields of the Jedi Temple. The button will only work for the person it is assign to because it scans the fingerprint.

Mark presses a button on his Comlink. "Rachelle, Mara come in this is Mark." say Mark as he jogs toward his Speeder. They need to get ready for a battle that he knows is in the making. He is glad he took time to train Mara how to be better in a Starfighter. By the time he got to his speeder both of them got in contact. "Mara get your mother, all three of you meet at the landing platforms for our unit." say Mark as he starts up the Speeder, push up on the Steering Wheel to take off into the sky and speed toward the landing platforms.

"We are on our way." say Rachelle through the Comlink. Breaking many laws regarding safe traveling through Coruscant, Mark arrive at the military platforms for the 3rd Legion.

Mara, Maria, Rachelle, Leia, Luke, Anakin, Obi-wan and Galen was standing there. "Maria, you will be commanding from our ship, the rest of us are going to be in Starfighters." say Mark. Leia made a silent gulp noise when she heard this. Even through she tried to be discreet about it, everyone heard. One does not need the Force to know what is going through the young female human Padawan's mind at the moment.

"Come on Leia, it will be fine, plus you will have me, your brother, Mara, Galen, Obi-wan and your Uncle will be watching your back." say Anakin trying to comfort his daughter. "Still that is no guaranties, Dad." say Leia as looks at her palms which are trembling. Through the Force Mark can sense intense fear coming from Leia. He was not even trying to focus on the Force or her. He is also having visions of her Starfighter crashing through buildings on Duro, the Starfighter going nose over end before landing on the side with Leia in a lot of pain. Mark shakes his head, there were not vision, but Leia's memories, but instead of viewing them from her point of view he was viewing them from what authors would call a 3rd person point of view.

Leia wished she did not promise to help. She is the type of person who keeps her promise no matter what. Her mentor is like an older sister that she never had, so she hates to break her promises to her family.

"Maria, I think we better start the ship soon." say Mark as they walk toward a MC80 Home One type Star Cruiser. Maria sitting in the captain seat and looks around the bridge to the various of Clones that were sitting around her. While she was doing that, the Jedi and their Padawans was getting ready in the hangers.

They rushed in and see bunch of Clones in X-wings. They have become quiet properly within the Grand Army due to the fact that they can easily keep up with the Empires' TIE Fighters.

Leia got into the one nearest to her. When she got in she looks over the controls. Her heat is pumping fast as she shakes her head. She looks down at her palms which are sweaty. "Come on… get over it." mumble Leia as she shakes her head and trying to ignore the images that threatens to remind her of the events above Duro. She takes a deep breath. "Try to meditate Leia before the battle. It might help calm your nerves. It did for me when I am stress or afraid." say Rachelle through the Comlink in the ship.

Leia looks over and find her mentor in the X-wing right next to her. Leia nods her head as she bends her head down and closes her eyes. She loses herself within the Force. She can feel the Force going through and around her. Her breathing shallows out as her body relaxes a bit.

"Hopefully you guys are ready, because we just got into space and the Empire is here." say Maria over the Comlink.

Mark was the first one to turn on his Starfighter. This will mark the second time he ever flown an X-wing. "Okay let's do this, ready sis." say Luke over the Comlink. Leia, who just gotten out of her meditation, shakes her head. "I guess I will be ready as I could ever be in this forsaken thing." mumble Leia as she turns the Starfighter on. She jumps a bit when she hears the engine kicks in. Leia mentally slap herself, she feels stupid for being this scared. "I am a Jedi, I shouldn't be so afraid." mumble Leia to herself upset as she punch the dash with her fist.

Leia hands run over the controls of her X-wing. She tries to memorize where every control is and what they do. It has been so long since she has flown a Starfighter, since the battle above Duro was at the beginning of last year. "Leia, do not be afraid, let the Force guides you." say Anakin through the Comlink as he starts up his X-wing.

Leia looks over to her right and sees Mark talking to Major Kia, who was getting ready in another X-wing. Out of all the Clones, that she knows, Major Kia is one of the very few that Mark trusts completely. She have heard the story about how back in his universe, the Major Kia, well Captain at the time, sacrifice himself to save Mark on Raxus Prime when Order 66 was issued.

Mark then walks over to her. She pops open the hatch and looks at him. Mark places his arms crosses against the frame. "Leia, I know you are scare, but you cannot let that fear keep you from your duties. I have fears too, but I have to put them aside. See I am afraid that I might lose Rachelle in a battle anytime, but I do not prevent her from fighting in those battles, because of that fear. I do not let it guide me or let it become me. The only way you will be able to conquer this fear is by doing it. My fear is much harder." say Mark softly as he put cups Leia's cheek.

"Uncle Mark, I am just so scared." say Leia. "You will have your father, Master Kenobi, your mentor, me, your brother, Mara and bunch of Clones to watch your back. We will die trying to make sure everyone that includes you, make it out of this alive." say Mark as he kisses her forehead lightly before jumping down to the floor.

Leia sighs as she watches her honorary uncle got into his X-wing and take off flying through the hanger doors. Everyone followed him and Leia was the last one out.

I know it has been awhile since I type a chapter this short, but I could not think of what else to put into it without making it go into the battle, which I guess will make this chapter very long.

Basically this chapter is setting up for the battle, and gives a little bit of information. Also I want to make Leia fears of Starfighters even more known in this chapter.

Until next time, enjoy.