Star Wars: Negative Episode III
Chapter XI: The Three Way War
Master Yoda walked into the Council Chambers briskly. All Jedi in the room rose in respect of the Grand Master who simply walked to his place on the Council. The ancient Master levitated into his seat and called the meeting to order.
"This council is called to order," Yoda said, "My fellow masters, recently begun their offensive into the Deep Core the Sith Empire have. Master Kenobi, the full report you will give."
Obi-Wan Kenobi rose from his seat two seats away from the Grand Master; to the right of Master Mundi who held the position of "the third among equals" (San Master). He walked to the center of the circular chambers.
"The Sith have devoted a good deal of their forces to the Deep Core, our spies indicate that well over a million warships were devoted to the Campaign: Grievous' new flagship among them," Obi-Wan said, "They have left enough ships to guard their most powerful worlds however other worlds are rapidly losing their defense fleets to help reinforce the Sith Armada on the front. I believe that our time to strike has come, the Sith Fleet in orbit of the world is guarding something else."
Every Councilor in the room leaned forward anxiously waiting what else was on this fiery world. Obi-Wan finally said.
"The Confederacy Council is also present on that world," the Jedi Master said.
"And we all know that if we were to ever capture the Council as a whole," Plo Koon said, "that we would be able to negotiate a treaty. Or at least bring the Droid army to our side."
"Take the entire 9th System's army, you will Master Koon," Yoda said, "Masters Kenobi, Drallig, and Kolar accompany Master Koon you will."
--
General Grievous stood on the bridge of his flagship Malevolence II with anticipation. His fleet of ten thousand warships had been commissioned to assault Vulpter: a critical Imperial shipping point in the Deep Core. When his massed armada emerged from hyperspace over a thousand Imperator-class Star cruisers awaited him in orbit. Despite each of the massive ships being able to take on dozens of his own warships he still managed to destroy the fleet with 50 casualties.
"General," Mandalore the Resurrector approached, clad in golden armor similar to that worn by the neo-Crusaders of old, "Lord Tyranus has captured the enemy Citadel, and he requests more troops to begin to make a base of…"
"Excellencies! We have four thousand Imperator-class warships coming out of hyperspace," a Nemoidian officer said.
"Order the Magna Guards to secure the Dark Lord," Grievous said, "And prepare for immediate withdrawal. All troops pull back to dropships!"
"Yes sir," the communications officer said briskly.
"Are you insane?! The Dark Lord ordered us to maintain orbit!" Mandalore barked, "Your cowardice could get us all…"
Grievous swung around and rung his hands around the Mandalorian's neck. Some Mandalorian Commanders reached for their weapons only to find them dismantled by the Izvoshra. Several Magna Guards in the room activated their electrostaffs and aimed them at the Mandalorians. The Nemoidian, and Muun officers on the bridge hid behind the Sith guards.
"If you insult my honor again, I will not take heed to protocols, I will kill you," Grievous said and threw the Mandalorian Commander like a rag doll. He hit one of the holographic projections smashing it."
"Guards, take him to the medical center," Grievous waved a hand at two Magna Guards, "What are you all staring at you have my orders to carry out!"
--
The Dark Lord was surrounded on all sides, Shadow Guards and a Minor Prophet. The Ten Acolytes ignited their sabers in unison. The Minor Prophet (and Imperial Governor) struck first his guards following suit. They stabbed the Dark Lord with Force Amplified blows. But none of them penetrated the invisible wave of energy that flowed over the Sith. With little more than a thought from the Sith ruler they all flew back. He raised his hand and lighting filled the room killing all except the Governor who received a minor dose of lightning; enough to knock him out.
He grabbed the Prophet and slung him over his back.
"Lord Tyranus," a squadron of Magna Guards moved in, "You must get to your shuttle; Sidious has sent four thousand additional warships."
"Then let us go," the Sith Master said, he put the unconscious Dark Jedi on one of the Magna Guards and left the Citadel. When he was aboard his ship he triggered explosion annihilating the massive Imperial Citadel.
--
Grievous stood at attention as the Dark Lord of the Sith entered the room.
"General withdraw," he said not even caring to ask about Mandalore. The Supreme Commanders eyes widened.
"What of all the troops on the surface," he said as the Malevolence's Ion cannon fired destroying six Imperators.
"General, enemy fleet has breached the main perimeter, our ships are being destroyed one after the other," a Muun officer said.
"Now General, or we won't have a fleet!" Tyranus barked.
The Sith fleet of four thousand warships jumped into hyperspace, leaving the Imperials to retake Vulpter.
--
Darth Vader jogged into his quarters, the doors quickly sealed behind him. Several holograms were also present in the room. Upon realizing who he was staring at he dropped to one knee. Darth Tyranus simply made a crude gesture with his hands, signaling his apprentice to rise. General Grievous and several other Sith Lords were present.
"You must go to Mustafar," The Dark Lord got right to the point, "The Confederacy Council must be moved from there, and you are the only one I trust to get it done correctly who isn't on the front lines."
"Yes Master," Vader turned to leave.
"Beware Lord Vader, the Jedi are on the move, I can sense it," Tyranus said, "If the Confederacy Council is in danger of being captured kill them, better them dead then in the hands of the Jedi Order."
"…As you wish my Master," Vader bowed and exited the room.
"And Vader, don't fail me again," the Sith Apprentice turned as if to say something but continued on.
"I sense much defiance in that one," Wyyrok said.
"Yes it is as all Sith apprentices become," Tyranus said, "Had I not retrieved the blade I have no doubt that in a year, I would have been killed by his blade."
"I could kill him if you wanted Master," Wyyrok mused at the thought of Vader's entrails sizzling on his blade pleased the Charrigan Sith.
"Ha, you couldn't kill a Neophyte," Grievous huffed, "In all the time you've spent in the archives it's a wonder you can wield a saber without impaling yourself."
Had the two been in the same room and not light years away the two would have surely begun a brawl.
"You dare criticize me General, you may have killed some pathetic Jedi," Wyyrok said, "But you could never defeat a true Sith Lord."
Grievous laughed in a way that shook all in the room to the core (except the Dark Lord).
"I killed Krayt, the Dark Lord's Hand, I would have no problem killing a pup like you," Grievous said, "But enough, I have a campaign that requires my expert strategies."
Grievous' hologram disappeared.
"Master, who will be your new hand?" Talon inquired.
"Darth Hemor," Tyranus said, "You two will also accompany Vader to Mustafar."
"Yes Mast…" Talon began to suffocate.
"If Vader does not complete his orders it will be your responsibility to carry them out, "Fail this and I will be most displeased."
"Yes Master," she grumbled. Then all the holograms terminated.
--
Master Kenobi stared at the main holographic projector of the Mustafar system. He was contemplating what action to take, especially considering that an enormous Separatist Armada was in orbit of the world and he only had three Venator-class Attack Cruisers and a handful of Acclamators. Then the image of Master Koon appeared on the holotable Masters Yoda, Fisto and Secura also appeared.
"Report Master Kenobi," The Kel Dor High General said. Kenobi straightened up and folded his hands behind his back.
"The enemy has a fleet of hundreds, if not thousands of warships, our scanners cannot calculate the exact number of warships on the dark side of the planets," Obi-Wan said.
"Send a Special Operations detachment to infiltrate their stronghold," Plo said.
"Sir we do not exactly know where that is," Kenobi said.
"What?" Fisto said, "It's a sea of lava, how hard can it be."
"The Sith have created a continent on the world, I have no idea which city it is in," Obi-Wan said.
"Which city?!"Secura said incredulously, "You mean this thing has more than one city on it?"
"Yes Aayla," Obi-Wan said, "It is unfortunate but this SpecOps insertion will have to be larger than usual, at least a hundred SpecOps troops should be used."
"No, you should withdraw until the situation looks more favorable," Koon said.
"No," the Grand Master interjected, "Take what troops you need. If lose the Confederacy Council now, we do, get a second chance we will not."
Obi-Wan nodded, then he sensed a tremor in the force and turned his attention to the readings of the Sith Fleet and noticed that a battlegroup of warships hyperspaced in. 'Anakin' he said to himself recognizing the presence on the planet.
"Master Kenobi?" Kit looked worried, "You just blanked out for a second."
"Sir, your vitals just pinged KIA," Cody said.
"It was a disturbance in the force," Obi-Wan said.
"Hm, Lord Vader it is," Yoda said, even light years away the ancient Master sensed the presence of the Sith Apprentice.
"Master what do you suggest I do?" Obi-Wan asked.
"As Jedi, our duty to protect the Galaxy it is," Yoda said a single tear formed in his tiny eyes, "Destroy the Sith we must. Made the mistake of not killing my former Apprentice when I could, I did, now the Dark Lord of the Sith he has become. Control you must have, for only a Jedi Master with focus can defeat one as powerful as this Lord Vader has become. Contact us again when the Spec-Ops team has finished its recon."
"Yes Master Yoda," Obi-Wan bowed at the waist and cut the transmission.
"Fordo, gather your team, if you need any troops request them and their yours," the High General said.
"Sir how tough is this op going to be?" Fordo asked.
"You and Alpha will need your combined experience to take this one my friend," Obi-Wan said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
--
Vader's shuttle landed in the Capital city right in the Sith Palace. There a battalion of Mandalorians and the Separatist Council all waited as the landing gear of his shuttle deployed. He exited, black hood shrouding his face, silver splinters of armor shining in the reflective light of the hangar, a massive black cape that billowed every time a gust of wind that flooded the massive hangar bay. Nute Gunray moved to talk to the Sith Lord but Vader quickly brushed him aside like an insect. When he reached the edge of the Hangar bay a cadre of Magna Guards awaited him. They escorted him to his quarters, and personal ready room. There a hologram of his Master appeared.
"Yes Lord Tyranus," He bowed low enough so that his massive cape lifted from the ground.
"Lord Vader, we must move faster than I intended," Tyranus said, "I need reinforcements on the Deep Core front ASAP, I will leave you a fleet of a hundred Providences."
"But, without the fleet we might not be able to defeat the Jedi should they attack now," the Sith Apprentice said.
"If
that happens then execute them, immediately," the Dark Lord
said.
"Yes, my master," the transmission cut and the Sith
Apprentice turned to leave the room. Vader was then struck with
something, a disturbance in the force. When he opened the door he
found a Sith Apprentice bowing on one knee as if he were proposing.
"I'm flattered but please get up," Vader said jokingly.
"Uh, yes my lord," 'Did Lord Vader just make a joke?' he thought.
"Calm yourself young one," it was only when he stood up that he realized how young the Sith was, he must have been born a Sith, he couldn't have been more than five. He sensed enormous potential in him it was untamed but the Force swirled around him like a Typhoon.
"It's just, there are very few Sith Lords on this world and I felt tremors in the force, and I got frightened," he could hear the tremors in his voice echoed the ones he felt in the force.
Vader was shocked at the child's ability to sense a tremor in the force so easily when just a Neyophyte.
"Who is your father?" Vader asked.
"Kento Marek, er, I mean Darth Stryfe," the young one said, trying to remember his father's Sith title. The name stuck Vader as vaguely familiar; Kento was a average Sith who joined the crusade against the Jedi when they had exiled him about ten years ago for having an affair with another Jedi. When the Sith rose in the Galaxy he was quick to join them. Lord Vader wondered who the boy's Master was.
"Well young one, use the fear as a base for your anger, use your hatred to give you focus," Vader said, all of a sudden Vader found himself pushed all the way to the back of his chambers. He groaned and opened his eyes to see an extremely apologetic Neyophyte.
"My Lord, I am so sorry, please forgive me," he said, "I don't know what happened it just…"
Vader simply waved a hand.
"What is your name boy?" he asked.
"Galen Marek, my lord," Galen responded. Vader drew his crimson saber the boy stood up straight head held up high, "I will accept the punishment, my lord."
The boy's voice no longer held any fright in it he was ready to face his destiny.
"No, it is Darth Stalker," Vader put his saber close to each of the boy's shoulders, "My apprentice."
"My Lord?" he asked.
"You will go to my ship, and await further instruction, my Magna Guards will escort you," Vader said punching in the button on his desk. Within an instant two Magna Guards were in the room electrostaffs ready.
"Yes Lord Vader," the Guard asked.
"Escort this boy to my ship, guard him with your lives," Vader said, and with a quick bow they took the boy as Vader had instructed. 'With him,' Vader thought 'I will rule the Galaxy'.
--
Obi-Wan's eyes opened wide, he had seen another vision, another tremor in the force, this one more subtle, like a Padawan realizing his destiny, a powerful one at that. He was about to continue his meditations when he heard a high pitched beep.
"General Kenobi," on a small pedestals the image of Commander Cody appeared, "Commander Fordo has made land fall, and the SpecOps brigade has landed without detection. They require your consul on how to proceeed."
Obi-Wan rose from his cushion and pressed the respond key.
"I'm on my way," he said as he exited his quarters.