A/N: Hello everyone! Thanks for reading, and for the follows and favs. I love you all! Ethereal girl: Don't worry, if there was ever someone stubborn enough to defy the Jedi council, it is Anakin. Those kids aren't going anywhere. The Naboo ships… well, if you remember, Aquillar demanded Naboo turn over Padme. This demand Naboo defied, telling him she wasn't there. Aquillar was not happy about this, and ordered Tarkin to make an example out of them. So… that happens this chapter. Spoilers! Cyrania de Bergerac: First of all, I love your username. And second, thank you. I'm glad you think so much of my characterizations. It means a lot. Thrawn will definitely be a part of this. He is pretty major and once more canon so I don't think I could get around it. As far as Aquillar being more Xenophobic than Palpatine… well I will say we get some insight into his views on that in this chapter. AnakinandPadme: Yeah… I really felt like CW kind of skimmed over the ending of that. Anakin and Obi-Wan really needed to talk, and they never did. At least not on screen. There are certain events, by the way, that I feel really drove Anakin's turn to the dark side, and that was one. It was just such a massive betrayal and it really destroyed his trust in the Jedi. commander will: Wow. High praise. I shall attempt to live up to it. Anyway… I promise there is more early Empire coming up. Our main characters have sort of had a lot going on, but the very early days of the Empire is a subject that intrigues me and one that we will be delving further into. After all, I have to properly set up both sides of this conflict, the Rebellion and the Empire, for the story to work. jamese765: Thanks! Hope to hear from you again soon. KiwiBird13: You're welcome. And thank you. I am honored that you like this that much. I promise that I will continue to update, and I hope that you continue to enjoy this for a long time to come. Mako-clb: ch. 33: It is. And I don't know quite what will happen, but given that Leia is going to grow up on Rebellion ships and bases rather than a planet, I think you can rest easy on that score. ch. 34: Ahsoka is coming soon. I promise that much. ch. 36: You're not behind, and I don't mind. I would like to thank you for your repeated reviews throughout this fic. You are exactly what I long for in my new readers. Padme did debate the council a bit, when they were deciding about the marriage, and she definitely did better than Anakin. Sorry, this probably isn't as good a response as you deserve, but it's 4:30 and I'm tired. Anyway, yeah, I agree with you about all of that, but we'll have to wait and see for what happens in the future of the story. CatBludger3903: Yep. Guest: Very, very not good. Lunarchronicalsandcockatiels: Palpatine was indeed Nubian. He was from Naboo. And Padme's family… Well, I guess you'll just have to wait and see. JediMasterKenobi: Obi-Wan faked his death in Clone Wars. The council got word of a kidnapping plot against Palpatine, so Obi-Wan pretended to be murdered (then posed as the hired bounty hunter perpetrator) to get in with the instigators in prison and learn the details. It all went… just a little bit south. Aquillar was a character that I really wanted to do. So often we have stories where the main character discovers a strange new world that they are somehow a part of, with a villain that is also a part of that world. I wanted to portray a regular person, power-hungry, morally corrupt and selfish, who doesn't need powers to prevail, even over those that have them. Disney Syndulla: THANK YOU! And you're welcome! Here's a chapter, hope you like it!

A word on COMPNOR: In the last days of the Republic, a human supremacist group began to gain traction in the military. This group became quite influential in the Empire, as Palpatine saw their use for the furtherance of his plans. Anyone who can add anything to this, please tell me in a review.

I do not own Star Wars or its characters.

Chapter 37

Anakin and Obi-Wan approached the ships as the first started to open. The landing pad was fairly clear, most of the Jedi, while curious, having dispursed back to their more important tasks once they realized the newcomers weren't a threat.

A dark-skinned man with an eyepatch emerged, speaking as he exited the ship, "I'm sorry for not identifying ourselves. Our ships were damaged in the escape and we have been having communicator problems." He came to a halt in front of them.

Anakin saw Padme jog up as Obi-Wan spoke, "Escape? Escape from what?"

Padme interrupted the conversation, staring confusedly at the newcomer, "Typho? What… What are you doing here? What's going on?"

The man nodded an acknowledgment, "I apologize for the inconvenience, but I couldn't think where else to go." He paused, then spoke, awkwardly providing an answer to the question on everyone's minds, "I overheard the two of you talking. That's how I knew where you were."

Anakin spoke, "I'm sure the council will be glad to hear it. I imagine they're worrying about the security of this location."

Typho turned back to him, "Indeed. But I can assure you, you are quite safe. Even knowing where you were, this place was not easy to find."

Padme spoke impatiently, "What happened?"

He paused, "I am sorry, My Lady. The Empire attacked us yesterday. I rescued those that I could, but most..." He trailed off, looking at the ground.

Padme's eyes went wide with shock, a hand coming up to cover her mouth. Anakin put an arm around her supportively, pulling her into his side.

She recovered herself a moment later, pulling away and assuming a professional expression. She may have been falling apart inside, but now was not the time to show it, "What about the Gungans?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "I'm sorry. They were too remote; I couldn't get to them."

Padme looked miserably shocked, "None of them were rescued?"

"No. All these people are from in and around Theed. They were closest."

The woman nodded, looking down. Finally she sighed, "We need to get the people off of these boats. Someone can talk to the Jedi, see about getting some supplies. We can set up camp..." She looked around, "Um… Either here or inside the Temple. Outside might be best, the building isn't too stable right now. Either way, we need to get everyone unloaded."

The decision having been made, everyone got to work. Anakin watched his wife as she walked around, offering comfort, blankets and support, thinking how incredible, how selfless and kind she was.

He knew that he could never fully understand what she was going through. He had never really had a planet, though Naboo was about the closest, but he could feel the pain she was in, so intense that even secondhand it almost felt like a physical wound, and he marveled at her strength.

She floated among them, helping, caring, asking questions, aiding separated families in finding each other, and no one would have guessed, to look at her, that she was dying inside.

Her hair was braided and pinned in a circle around her head. Anakin couldn't help but think how like a crown it looked on her now, far more than any of the heavy metal things she had worn as a teenager. His beautiful, precious queen, always there to lead her people whenever the way was darkest. He didn't think that he had ever loved someone so much in his entire life.

Obi-Wan's attention was attracted by a couple exiting one of the ships. They were decent age, perhaps fifies or sixties, and the husband was holding onto his wife, who was fighting, desperately trying to return to the ship, "No! We have to go back! We have to find her!"

The man spoke, apparently trying to talk some sense into her, "We can't. The planet is swarming with soldiers. I am sure she is here somewhere."

"She's not! You know she's not! We're going to lose her, just like before. I can't lose another one; I can't do this again!" The woman almost seemed to be trying to stab him with her words. She paused, "You don't even care. You never cared."

"Of course I care, but we cannot go back. We will find her, I promise. She is here, I know it. Please, come away. You're causing a scene."

"Causing a scene?" She seemed truly angry now, winding up to unleash her invective on the poor, overwhelmed man. The Jedi decided to interfere and approached them.

A smile spread across the woman's face, her eyes lighting up with hope, "A Jedi! Perhaps he can help."

"Might I be of assistance?"

At his approach the man's face hardened, his expression changing from pleading grief to a resentful, hate-filled scowl, "No one asked for you, Jedi. Leave us in peace."

"I apologize, I thought-"

"No one cares what you thought! Leave us alone. Haven't your kind caused us enough harm?"

Obi-Wan slowly backed away, a pained expression on his face, ears stinging from the man's onslaught, "I apologize. I… I was mistaken. I will leave you." Then he made a quick retreat.

Meanwhile, Anakin and Padme sat in a room on one of the Jedi ships, seated around a table at the head of which was Typho, hands clutched around a glass of water, strangling it rather than drinking. He was telling them what had occurred, "They appeared suddenly; an entire fleet of Imperial ships. We had no warning, no chance to stop them. For a moment they just sat there, and we thought they might be setting up a blockade; then the shooting started." He paused, his expression one of horror and devastation, "They targeted cities and population centers, raining fire down on us for hours. We never stood a chance. They knew exactly where to hit us to destroy our ability to fight." He sighed, "When… when they started collecting people into camps, and I saw the ships arrive for them, I knew there was nothing left that we could do. So I did the only thing I could: gathered up all the people I could and got out. I remembered Master Skywalker mentioning Odessen, so I thought it might be a safe place where we could stay." He glanced over at the Jedi, "At least until we find somewhere else."

Padme reached out, grasping his hand consolingly as a fierce, determined light burned in her eyes, "And so it is. Don't worry; we can stay here however long we need to, the Jedi will help us." Anakin watched them, more uncertain of the Naboo's reception than his wife, and feeling very much on the outside of the moment, as two people who had just lost their home comforted each other and attempted to plan for the future.

The Previous Day

On his command ship in an Imperial fleet speeding through hyperspace Admiral Tarkin sat at his desk thinking about his decision. Yes he would most likely be killing millions of people, at most only a third of which were aliens; most of them would be humans, even if they were traitors harboring and protecting that infuriating pacifistic excuse for a senator. However, what they had done was largely irrelevant. The senator and the Jedi were long gone; Naboo was unlikely to provide many clues, and the pair were comparatively unimportant at present. Far more important was the fact that Naboo had defied them. Such behavior could not go unpunished. Not only did this reveal a planet that might be rebellious in the future, this was an opportunity to show other potential troublemakers that resistance would not be tolerated, that crossing the Empire had consequences. Never again would systems rise up against the rightful government, never again would the civil war of the past five years be repeated. The Republic had been weak and filled with corruption, reaching the end of its days. It had needed to fall for the new order under Emperor Aquillar to rise. Now there would be peace; and humanity would take its rightful place at the head of the galaxy without the interference of squabbling, irritating hoards of aliens. Now only the powerful would rule and the galaxy would be united under one banner, bringing peace, order, and security.

Tarkin's chain of thought was interrupted as his personal assistant entered, standing at attention in front of his desk. Fresh out of the academy, young, patriotic, able to follow any order without question, and like many recent graduates a member of COMPNOR; Tarkin approved of him. The Empire would be built by people like this young man. Anyway, his mind was wandering again.

He looked up, "What is it, yeoman?"

The young man spoke in a high class Corusanti accent, "We are less than a minute out from Naboo, sir."

The admiral nodded in acknowledgment, "Thank you, yeoman. I shall be there presently."

Yeoman Resal threw a sharp salute, then turned and briskly walked the few feet back through the office door.

Tarkin turned off his computer monitor, rose from his chair, and departed for the bridge.

As he walked in Wilhuff Tarkin could almost feel the tense bustle and turning gears of his ship. Stars streaked past the windows, punctuated by the countdown of the helm officer as they prepared to exit hyperspace.

"Countdown to arrival in five…four…three…two…one."

Then the white streaks turned to pinpricks, a brilliant night sky in which hung a bright orb of blue and green, fluffy swirls of cloud only serving to enhance the beauty of the distant landscape.

The communications officer spoke, "Getting readings now… eight star destroyers exiting hyperspace with the remaining eleven already in position."

As his fleet finished leaving hyperspace, narrated by the stiff reports of the comm officer, Tarkin approached the window to survey his command. The finest fleet ever assembled; a fitting beginning for the first military engagement of the young Empire. The corners of his lips turned up in a reptilian expression, one that in anyone else might almost have been mistaken for a smile. He turned back, one hand help pensively up to his face, and spoke to the aforementioned lieutenant, "Comm officer, order the fleet to separate in groups of three, launch alert fighters and set up a blockade around the planet."

He turned back to the window as he listened to the officer relay the order. Tarkin knew many of his captains were unaware of what was really happening… for now.

Meanwhile on the planet below, General Panaka stared incredulously at the wall-mounted monitor at his command center in Theed, numerous brightly-colored shapes denoting the nineteen destroyers, along with other smaller ships. Was the Empire blockading them? He had never seen this happen before. The Republic never attacked friendly worlds, and while they had expected repercussions for their defiance, he had never dreamed that Aquillar would mount a full-scale assault. The Republic hadn't sent fleets this large for attacks on Separatist homeworlds during the war, let alone loyal planets in peacetime with which they had had a minor disagreement. He gazed on the screen, speaking quietly to no one in particular, "What are they doing?" He sucked in a breath and paced across the room, turning to his comm officer, "Hail them."

Tense seconds ticked by, each longer than the last, the entire room silent except for the clicks of the officer's fingers on keys as he hailed the fleet. Finally he turned back towards Panaka, "There is no response on any frequency."

Tarkin nearly laughed when he heard about the hail. After all they had done, the Naboo still had the audacity to demand answers. Well, they didn't deserve it. What he was doing was necessary, and moreover it was right, and no amount of begging from their insufferable queen would change that. He barely turned, "Ignore it."

The sensor officer spoke, "Sir, the blockade is complete."

The auburn-haired man nodded, "Very good Lieutenant. Comm officer: order all the ships to activate turbolasers, prepare for planetary bombardment, have the weapons officers assign a random target every time a battery fires: focus on cities and population centers."

A hush fell over the room, as if the entire ship had frozen at his words. One could have heard a pin drop. Tarkin looked around at them, annoyed as he felt the well-oiled machine of his crew grind to a stuttering halt.

The officer spoke, his voice hesitant and disbelieving, "Sir… could you please repeat your last order?" He seemed to be hoping that he had misheard.

Irritated, the admiral strode across the room, decending the stairs into the comm station to tower over the seated lieutenant and look him in the face. He had expected some minor resistance, but he was confidant of his crew's ultimate loyalty. The officer would never defy a direct order, "Lieutenant, order all the ships to activate turbolasers and begin firing on the planet. I want any area that could mount an effective defense destroyed. If you fail to carry out this order I will find someone who will."

The officer stared fixedly at his monitor, sweat pouring down his face, eyes wide and hands shaking, visibly horrified and disturbed. He was silent for a few moments, then finally stammered out, "S-Sir… I am sorry, but I-I cannot c-carry out that order."

Tarkin straightened, looking around into the faces of his bridge team. They were quiet, sitting and staring at the scene before them, awaiting the outcome. Most were simply waiting, but he could tell that a few harbored similar feelings to the man in front of him. The near-mutinous tension was palpable in the room. He knew this was a tipping point; the next few moments were critacle. Though he knew the clones would protect him should it come to the worst, the worst had to be prevented. Yeoman Resal entered the room.

Tarkin, thinking of a solution, spoke, casually and matter-a-factly, his hands behind his back as he addressed the young man, "Yeoman Resal, what experience do you have operating communications?"

That individual showed no flicker of surprise, but decended the stairs, coming to attention in front of his commander, "I am knowledgeable in this field, sir. I have taken academy training on how to operate this console. In fact, I hope to make this my specialization soon.

Tarkin was impressed, "Very good yeoman; I am promoting you to ensign. Your next task is to relieve the lieutenant and take his station."

Ensign Resal drew himself up to attention, clicking his heels and saluting, "Yes sir. Thank you sir."

The communication officer's face was a combination of fear and hatred, but he managed to regain his composure and without a word or a salute the young officer brushed his shoulder against the ensign's and began to leave the pit. Before he did so, however, he paused beside Tarkin and without looking at him said, "I have a family down there; my youngest is only two. Is she a traitor?" He then promptly walked out of the pit and to the turbolift without a word.

Tarkin shrugged it off and once more repeated his order. This time his new comm officer readily complied.

Satisfied, the Admiral ascended from the pit and walked up to the observation window to stare out at the fleet, hands clasped behind his back in a militaristic stance, waiting for the objections and questions from the other ships regarding his order that he was sure were coming. To his surprise, they didn't, the handpicked captains on this mission all being too blindly loyal to his command to question his orders. He felt the well-oiled machine of his fleet resume operation.

"Turbolasers online, random targeting cycle ready, ready to begin firing on your order," reported the weapons officer. Tarkin felt a brief smile turn the corners of his mouth as he looked down on Naboo "Fire."

The batteries on the ships came to life, large flashes appearing to mar spots on the blue and green sphere in the window as they fired their pale blue payload down onto the helpless planet below. These bright flashes were interspersed with smaller bursts, as if punctuating the destruction of their larger fellows. The man in the sky smiled faintly as he watched the horrible fireworks display being performed for him on the ground below. A fine demonstration of strength for the benefit of the galaxy, carried out with ruthless, efficient perfection.

Emperor Gaen Aquillar looked up as the door to his office opened, and Mas Amedda announced a visitor. The man, a bald, white human with a stiff manner, entered without a glance at the alien, and sat down in the chair opposite Aquillar without so much as a greeting. He waited until the door closed, then spoke, "So, all is on track. Our plans were a success. Though I am surprised to find that thing still occupying such a prominent position." He paused, "I trust that you intend to hold up your end of the bargain."

Gaen nodded, "Yes. Yes, of course. Absolutely." He set down his pen frustratedly, "I'm sorry, who are you?"

The man paused awkwardly, "I… am… the head of COMPNOR. Chancellor Palpatine had an understanding with us."

Ah. That explained the attitude. Aquillar nodded, then looked the man straight in the eyes, "Do I look like Chancellor Palpatine?" he looked around in faux embarrassment, "Wow, I'm going to have to start taking better care of myself." He chuckled a little, then paused, "Why would I align myself with you?"

"We stand for humanity. Humans are naturally superior. We are the most populous species, the most advanced, and we are the ones that spread across the galaxy and made modern society possible. These… creatures should be relegated to the place where they belong, a support system for the race that saved them. As a human, our fight is your fight, our interests, your interests."

The Emperor stared at him for a few moments, "Okay… wow… I knew Palpatine was supposed to be evil, but this is just obnoxious."

"Do you not believe in our goals?"

Gaen paused, choosing his words carefully. COMPNOR was widespread in the non-clone section of the military, and he needed their support if he was going to maintain power. This meeting was crucial to his success. He needed to get this man to agree with him. Finally he spoke, "Tell me, how would it help me to alienate over half of my population? What I believe is irrelevant; you are a political liability. Humans may be the most common species individually, but not all humans agree with you, and collectively non-humans carry a massive majority. And what of non-humans that are geniuses, or carry great military talent? Shall the Empire be deprived of the benefit of their abilities, to protect your ego? No indeed. I'm selfish, ambitious, and possibly a psychopath; I'm not an idiot."

"So you don't believe. This is most disappointing." The man's tone was vaguely threatening, and it occurred to Aquillar that he must stomp out this group as soon as possible. The last thing he intended was to be ruled over by the military, to be given marching orders by some thuggish group of bigots that would replace him should he step out of line. That would not happen. COMPNOR would be destroyed; however at the moment he needed military support, and the group's loyalty was part of that, "I did not say that. I said that you would be a politically detrimental connection, and I cannot at present afford politically dangerous connections. I will not publicly align with you, I will not help you, but I will not hinder you either. Perhaps in a few years, when the Empire is on a more stable footing, we might revisit our relationship." He stood, "Now, I am afraid that I must get back to my work. Thank you for speaking with me, and I hope for a bright and mutually beneficial future. Have a good day."

"Of course, and I apologize for taking up so much of your time." He left the office, and Aquillar waited a few minutes before walking through the door to speak with Amedda in the next room. He looked around breifly, before spotting the blue man standing near the door and casually strolling over to him, "Who let that man in my office?"

He turned, "I did, My Lord. He said he had an appointment with you."

"I think… I would have told you if I planned to have a meeting with a racist, bald ball of hate."

Amedda bowed slightly, "I apologize, My Lord. It will not happen again."

Gaen nodded, "Just check with me next time." He turned back briefly on his way back to his office, "I mean, good grief. What the blazes was wrong with that Sith maniac? Just because you think you can manipulate someone to your advantage doesn't mean you should." He sighed, "Oh well. Back to work." He continued to speak as he returned to his office, "Still have the rest of the Empire's finances to clean up. We need to figure out somewhere to get more money…" He mumbled to himself as the door closed.

Anakin slip up the door to his apartment, pausing as a sobbing sound emitted from inside, acompanied by feelings of intense grief. He gingerly inched his way further into the room, "Padme? Darling?" Finally he caught sight of her.

She was collapsed on the mattress, facedown, weeping heartbrokenly into the pillow. Anakin made his way over, sitting beside her on the bed and gathering her into his arms. He silently cradled her, uncertain what to say. It's all going to be okay? Well, her entire civilization had been ripped apart and her planet bombed, there was no way it was going to be okay. He continued to run through comforting phrases, examining and discarding each in turn.

Padme spoke, her voice distorted by tears, "It's all my fault."

What? He held her closer, resting his cheek on her hair, "No, no."

"It is. I told them to give me up. None of this would have happened if they had just given me up."

"Shhh."

"I devoted my life to them, swore to serve them, and protect them, and instead I gave them destruction."

At that he pulled away, cupping her face in his hands to look into her eyes, a trace of a mournful smile on his lips as he wiped her tears with his thumb, "No. You gave them something to fight for. You have been everything to them, a true leader, someone whose very name inspires hope in the darkest of times. That's why they stood by you. They made a choice, knowing that Aquillar would retaliate, and you know what? I am pretty sure you could go speak to every single one of these people, and even with everything that happened not a one of them would say he regrets it."

She shook her head, "But it's still my fault. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been there."

"You didn't sign the order. Blame Aquillar… hell, blame Tarkin! He led the invasion. Blame me for marrying you and giving you a tie to the Jedi!" He lowered his voice, "Blame all sorts of people for this, but don't blame yourself. This was not your fault." He leaned in, kissing her, then she crawled back into his lap to clutch his leather tunic and lean her head on his chest, safe and comforted by his embrace. She was dry-eyed now, all her tears had been exhausted, and they simply sat there, Anakin holding her close.

He planted another kiss to the top of her head, then spoke, "I'll take the twins next door. I'm sure Obi-Wan wouldn't mind caring for them tonight."

She sniffed.

"You need some time to yourself. They"ll be all right." He paused, "And he's right next door, so, you know, he can always knock if there's a problem." Anakin tilted his head, trying to look at her face, then gave up, "I'm going to take care of you. Don't worry, angel. Everything will be all right."