[Disclaimer: Star Wars fanfiction is based upon the Star Wars movies of the same name. All characters and situations other than my own are the property of George Lucas, 20th Century Fox and whoever else makes a ton of cash with that outstanding evolutionary franchise.]

Chapter 7: The threat to Albernon

Prime Minister Bannon spent her days in the Albernon parliament arguing repeatedly with the opposition party. She knew her chances at surviving the legislative bouts that came with each proposition. Sometimes it felt as if all the world's delegates were against her. It was difficult to gather support and make her case when the lions roared in her ears.

Her aide stuck to her heels as she exited the parliament building after a long day of debates. She was more anxious to leave than usual.

"Shall I have dinner prepared in your office, Madame?" he asked as they walked toward her transport.

"Not tonight," Bannon sighed. "Clear my schedule for the evening. No more calls. I'm going home."

"The capital spending initiative has troubled you, Madame. The MP's are voracious when it comes to itemized expenditures."

"I am well aware of that," she replied, "but there are times when I can't bear to listen to them. They sound like wild boars. Even their clerk droids have an ugly demeanor about them."

They walked briskly across the capital square to her waiting hover car. But much to their surprise, an elderly figure was waiting inside on the cushioned seats. Bannon's first instinct was to summon a guard, but something made her pause in doing so. The old man was familiar to her. They had met before.

"What is the meaning of this?" cried the aide to the stranger. "This is an official vehicle of the Prime Minister!"

Ivos Maddaus peered at the young man from under his hood. He casually waved a bony finger at him.

"I am a friend of the prime minister."

The aide hesitated, visibly confused by the statement.

"You are a friend of the prime minister," he dumbly repeated.

"I must speak with Madame Bannon alone."

"You must speak with Madame Bannon alone," he echoed.

"Have a pleasant evening," said the Jedi Master.

The young aide climbed out of the car without argument. "Have a pleasant evening, sir. Good night, Prime Minister."

The door was slid shut and locked. At a command from Maddaus, the droid operator started the hover car and turned into city traffic.

Bannon was simply fascinated by the Jedi mind trick that compelled her aide to leave. She looked through the windows as her subordinate strolled back to his office, completely oblivious to what had just transpired! Bannon did not expect this impromptu meeting but knew his presence had to be warranted. Ivos Maddaus did not make personal calls.

"What are you doing on Albernon?" she asked him.

Maddaus smiled as he rolled back his hood. A mane of snowy white hair, bushy and twisted, spilled across his shoulders. "You look well, Bannon. I am pleased to see that your political career has ripened."

"Ripened? Some would call it rotting."

"Opposition comes and goes, but the issues remain the same. Your oration and initiatives have left a lasting impression on your citizens. They like you. Your debates demonstrate your resolve."

"I can't convince everyone," she sighed. "Planetary development is the most daunting endeavor for a leader. I should have stayed in provincial politics. Things were so much simpler when I was governor of Nellus."

"You have grown sentimental, Bannon."

"I remember that hostage crisis like it was yesterday. Gods, there were moments when I feared the worst. Thirty casualties could have crushed the public's spirit. If you hadn't visited Nellus at the time, the rescue mission could have gone horribly wrong."

"I only played a small part that day, Prime Minister. Your authority held everything together."

Bannon motioned at her robed passenger. "I seem to recall a younger Jedi Knight jumping over the rooftops. You seem to have chosen a more comfortable mode of transportation in your elder years."

"Indeed I have, Prime Minister. I apologize for the inappropriate manner of my visit. It was essential that I met you directly without any outside monitors."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"The Sith are coming to Albernon, Bannon. Your planet is in jeopardy."

She ordered her droid to drive them to her estate in Nellus. Maddaus would say nothing more in the car. He closed his eyes and dozed for the rest of the ride. It was only after they reached the lush grounds of her family home that the Jedi Master started to speak.

"I have orchestrated secret campaigns for the Jedi Order since before you were born," he explained. "My purpose on Coruscant is to seek out threats in the farthest corners of the galaxy, where evil is real and secluded. There are creatures in this universe that have no fear of the Republic. There are enemies that could bring an apocalypse to billions if power was assured to them. I speak of the dark lords of the Sith, servants of the dark side and a constant shadow in our lives."

"The Sith? They're only a legend."

"No, Bannon. The Sith are as real as the Jedi. They come and go with the ages, always to conquer, always to kill. We have fought them for thousands of years. You know better than to treat them as myth. Everyone in the galaxy fears the Sith."

"But I thought the Jedi wiped them out in battle. There was an event on Ruusan, wasn't there?"

"There have been several decisive battles where our ancient enemy has succumbed to exile or extermination. Yet still they return, full of blood lust and vengeance. The Jedi Council has been wary of a few active sects that could return the Sith to their glory days. I have endeavored to prevent this for many years."

"What could a Sith lord do to my planet?" asked Bannon.

"I cannot say!" cried Maddaus, pointing a finger to his temple. "The problem has turned me to the brink of insanity. I look like a rambling old crone to my fellow Jedi. The council worries about my health. Three years ago, I was very much disturbed by a ripple in the Force, a feeling of imminent doom. I took a sabbatical and entered an extended trance to explore this danger. The Force narrowed my vision to a distant pocket of the galaxy where I found a Sith mastermind. I know him, Prime Minister. His sect is most dangerous."

"And your vision includes Albernon as well?"

Maddaus watched out his window as the sky rises of the capital bowed to the lovely hills and forests of the Albernon countryside. "I have seen this planet too often in my trances. I see people falling into fire, cities smashed into ruin. The Sith and their bloodthirsty minions are everywhere. Albernon is not destroyed, but remade into something hideous and dreadful."

The Prime Minister listened calmly to the prophetic death of her home world. She concealed her apprehension well. She was accustomed to daily security briefings from her militia commanders. They could speak of planetary threats with heightened alarm. Albernon was a distinguished and prosperous world, but hardly immune to random acts of terrorism, crime and interplanetary conflict. Her people had weathered global crises before. Sod's Pirates once raided their merchant fleet for a seven months. The Inner Sea Virus plagued half the planet's fish supply for a year. There was also the Bokka Island Fusion Incident that almost vaporized the nation of Mosetia. In moments of such dread, it did no good to react erratically. Leaders had to demonstrate calm and resolve. And she had learned before to trust the words of this Jedi Master.

"The Sith would do well to attack us," she remarked. "Albernon is an industrial gem in the galactic economy. We have shipbuilding yards, systems development, and fast fabrication plants. To seize this planet would be to seize all of its assets and the profit that can be earned from them."

The Jedi nodded in agreement. "It is no small feat to invade a planet, but the warlord in my dreams is capable of doing just that. Some dark lords were born to destroy and conquer. For him, your world would make a prize of prizes."

She smiled at him. "Well, then. I don't suppose you've brought along a Republic army or some of your Jedi knights?"

"I'm afraid not, Madame. The Republic military has come to the aid of besieged worlds before, but past and present campaigns have depleted its resources. It takes time to reform an army and restore its combat strength. The Jedi are equally preoccupied with far away missions. Our knights are few and far between."

"You don't have to make excuses for me, Maddaus. I realize the situation all too well. Albernon is not a member of the Republic. Our parliament has never considered joining your government, not when our industrial strength and freedom of movement has given us influence in galactic trade. But that is precisely why your Galactic Senate would be slow to intervene if Albernon were attacked. Some of your senators represent worlds that have much to gain financially from our demise, even if it happens at the hands of a Sith Master. We're competitors, after all. Competitors were meant to die."

Maddaus frowned under his bushy beard. "You see things clearly, Prime Minister."

Bannon maintained her composure. A prime minister could prepare herself for danger, but it took more than personal readiness to guard the planet. She began to envision all the government resources needed to defend her world. Some of those assets would have to be mobilized immediately.

"It is up to us, then. I am grateful for your warning. Albernon will do what it can to protect itself."

"You are not alone, Bannon. I did not leave you on Nellus during the hostage crisis. I will not leave you now."

"Then I am equally grateful for your help. We have much to discuss, and even more to prepare."

"I suggest you meet with your military and agency directors in private. Rumors of an invasion cannot make it to the media. Publicity is a weapon even to the Sith."

Bannon was already thinking along those lines. "The threat can be concealed. Word of invasion will be circulated among only my most trusted advisors. I will not communicate this threat to parliament, at least not for the moment."

"Is that wise? Surely you need the support of the entire government."

"You have been away too long, Maddaus. My political opponents are politically entrenched. If I were to announce a global threat, even one involving the Sith, they would use the moment to slander me. Our representatives do not always function as one body. They are quick to accuse my appointed officials of negligence. The opposition leader is my biggest adversary in the parliament building. He is the ringleader against most of my initiatives and a skilled organizer. I might be overpowered by his inquests as the first bombs fall on my cities."

"You are still Prime Minister," said the old man. "The people will listen to you."

"I hope you're right, Maddaus. This world is nothing without them."

"We will see it through. If Albernon is to be a battlefront, then we will make it an ordeal for the Sith!"