"This... is most disturbing Master Kenobi." Mace Windu states slowly, his body hunched over with his hands together, looking at Kenobi with grave interest in his chair in the temple; Master Yoda and several other council members with various faces of worry, surprise and even horror for a few.
"Are you sure they were prepared for your arrival?" Master Kit Fisto asked his green skin and large black eyes tinged with discomfort.
"I am certain Master Fisto, from the report Anakin gave me it is clear that these... people had sent someone onboard to disable the ship for an assault and then when I arrived with reinforcements we were greeted by up to five enemy vessels, their designs nothing I have ever seen before, which were far superior to our own. We were lucky to escape when we did." Kenobi replies as he watches his fellow councillors in their seats from his own chair.
"They were led by this individual, this picture salvaged from the Resolute by Admiral Yularen before her demise. From what I've been told, Masters Luminara and Skywalker said that he was referred to only as the 'Dal'Kaveen'. A title if I might take a guess." As he spoke, a projection came up filling the council room as it did so, showing a hologram of the individual in question, the man caught in the middle of slashing several clones with his purple lightsaber, his mask and yellow visors creating the appearance of a demonic madman. Silence filled the room as the council took in the sight.
He could see it in each of their eyes, the mixture of feelings of such news, despite the fact that several members of the council had witnessed horrors on the battlefield this... this was incredibly horrifying for them. The fact that they had not known about these people for so long worried them greatly.
"And the casualties of this attack? How many survived?" Master Aayla Secura, a blue skinned female with two head tails coming down from her head, asked as her hologram flickered every now and then.
"We lost three of our cruisers, two of Anakin's fleet including his flagship and one from mine, and the number of clone casualties' number over 65% of Anakin's men on his ship and 15% of the men that I had brought with me to his assist him. Nearly all of Anakin's fighters were destroyed as well as a small portion of my own. It is also safe to presume that it was they who also destroyed the missing ships we were sent to look for." Kenobi concludes sombrely, his statement leaving the council speechless.
"Are they working for Dooku?" Master Shaak Ti asks hesitantly, the implications possibly affecting the way the war would continue.
"No. We encountered the remains of the fleeing Separatist ship. They suffered the same fate. No this faction is independent."
"How did we not know about these people Master Yoda? Nothing in the archives states their existence." Kenobi asks gently, noting the old master's silence and taking worry from it.
"Darkness... Clouds us it does. Not all seeing as we thought, it appears." The wise alien says sagely, nodding his head ever so gently and closing his eyes briefly.
"Is there anything else to note, Kenobi?" Windu asks, his eyes seemingly piercing Kenobi's body out of pure habit.
"Yes, Padawan Barriss Offee was critically injured; she lost her left arm and is currently being treated in the medbay." Kenobi stumbles with his words for a split second, the meaning of them saddening him greatly. "We... we lost Padawan Ahsoka Tano, she was taken captive by these attackers after engaging this 'Dal'Kaveen'." His words cause a slight stop of emotion from them all, the loss of such a gifted student a saddening thought.
"Then I fear that we have lost her. We will prepare the burial chambers for her loss. Kenobi, patrol the border of the Unknown Region with Skywalker, we don't want any surprises." Mace Windu states calmly, seemingly not dwelling on the fate of Ahsoka at all, irking Kenobi slightly with his attitude.
She was my friend Mace. Not a pet. Anakin's mourning her and you don't seem to care.
"We don't for certain that she has joined the force, Masters. She may still be alive." Kenobi replies, a slight sense of desperation and hope in his voice.
"If she is then she won't be for long. If what you say is true, then these barbarians will torture her for information before allowing her to join the force. No, she is dead Kenobi whether now or in a few days, it doesn't matter." Windu states matter of factly.
Kenobi curtly concludes "Of course Master Windu." Before beginning to head out of the chamber before Yoda stops him.
"Obi-wan... Watch Skywalker you must. Unpredictable he may be. A close friend you are." He says in a near whisper, Kenobi nodding before leaving the chambers.
Anakin won't like this.