A/N: We're getting closer and closer to where I want to be. This chapter was originally the last one but I figured that was the cheap way out and I deserved to give you guys more of an effort. So here is chapter 11! Please excuse the time skips, writer's block gave me no alternatives besides a large time skip.
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Star Wars
The Supreme Commander
Chapter 11
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A thud was heard as the last body hit the floor. Anakin disengaged his lightsaber and turned towards Captain Jonas. "Captain, who is in charge now?"
"Well sir, as the Supreme Commander, you are the highest position in the Palpatine Administration and the Grand Army of the Republic," Captain Jonas said as he removed his helmet and started to pull up the files of the line of succession.
Anakin looked over the data and noticed name after name had been crossed out until he was the last one left. "Does that mean I'm the Chancellor?"
"Not necessarily sir. We are in a state of emergency, a military emergency to be specific. Given the powers vested to the Supreme Commander, if the Chancellor is indisposed or killed, you can declare a military emergency and you would be given the reigns of government."
"Does the Senate or the GAR Council have to approve of this declaration?" asked Anakin as he switched the files off and stepped towards the desk of the Supreme Chancellor.
"Under normal circumstances at least one of the bodies would have to approve, but given the emergency powers vested to the Office of the Supreme Chancellor, no."
"No?" asked Anakin as he turned towards Captain Jonas, "you mean to say I have unlimited power?"
"Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your point of view," said Captain Jonas as he walked over to the window of the office with Anakin in tow, "the basis for this is to have unlimited power until the military crises is over."
"Well Captain, I must get to work then. My main initiatives are to stabilize the economy and broker a peace deal with the Separatists. Get Senator Amidala to my office and send for General Kenobi, I will need both of them to help me find a way forward."
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Six months later.
The planet Jakku reminded Obi-Wan of Tatooine, but a certain darkness had extended from it. It was no surprise that this was where Palpatine had anchored his fleet. Though the Republic fleet was outmatched, Anakin had pulled a wildcard out of his pocket and had reactivated the Droid Army to assist with the destruction of Palpatine.
Obi-Wan now found himself heading down to the surface with the Jedi Council and various other Jedi Knights to lay siege to Palpatine's forces. As the gunships made landfall, a tactical droid approached him and Obi-Wan had to remind himself that the droids were on their side now.
"General Kenobi, what are your orders?" asked the tactical droid in the metallic, emotionless voice that Obi-Wan had grown wary of throughout the war.
"Have your droids overwhelm the northern, western, and eastern sides of the fortress. I want snipers picking off the sentries and commando droids escorted by heavy reinforcements infiltrating the fortress. This should spread their forces thin and our Clone forces and Jedi Strike team should be able to penetrate their forces on the south side and infiltrate the fortress."
"And what of air support General?"
"Hyena Bombers can bomb the fortress and any fighters and bombers that haven't taken off. I want vulture droids circling the palace and taking out any fighters and cannons that could potentially be a danger to us. The droid gunships can help with the sentries and drop B2 Droids and Commando Droids onto the walls to take out any resistance. It is imperative our Jedi Strike team gets into the fortress and eliminates the former Chancellor."
"I calculate this plan has an eighty-seven point five percent chance to succeed," said the Tactical Droid.
"Good enough for me, deploy the forces," Obi-Wan said and the Tactical Droid walked off to carry out his orders.
Anakin approached Obi-Wan with a smile on his face. "It's nice to have the droids on our side for once."
"Yes well let's hope they efficiently carry out their tasks," Obi-Wan said as Hyena Bombers roared overhead followed by Vulture Droids, "with Palpatine here, we can end this war by defeating him."
"Once that swamp rat is eliminated, we can start to remake the Republic as we see fit."
The battle was fierce and the Droids played their parts beyond expectations. It seemed the Jedi leadership had pushed the droids to new levels and the north, east, and west gates had fallen in record time. The south was where the tricky battle was. The Jedi were struggling to push the Clone defenses, and they were making very slow gains.
"Kalani, come in," General Kenobi said into his comlink.
"Yes General Kenobi?" asked the Tactical Droid as the sounds of blaster fine whizzed by Obi-Wan's head.
"We need reinforcements on the southern border, now!" ordered General Kenobi.
"General, I can spare three squads of B2's from the western front and four from the eastern, as well as three tanks from each. Any more and we risk jeopardizing the odds of success on those fronts."
"That is fine," answered Kenobi, "have them take the Clones from their respective sides. Fighting on three sides will allow us to push forward and make it to the front of the fortress."
"As you wish."
Obi-Wan watched as the droids came around their respective sides of the fortress. The Clone's were taken off guard and quickly retreated into the fortress.
"Forward," yelled Master Windu and the strike team quickly moved in on the fortress.
"Rex, have the AT-TE's fire on the front doors of the fortress. Get me the Hyena Bombers too, we need to put a hole in that door!" ordered Anakin. Shots started riddling the doors and the engines of the bombers roared overhead as they made repeated passes.
"Strong, those doors are. More firepower, we will need," suggested Master Yoda.
"Admiral Yularen, come in," Anakin said into his comlink, "we need an orbital bombardment on the south gate of the fortress. Make your aim precise. We are all down here."
"Yes sir. The space battle is going well enough where I believe our command ship can get a full shot off. Please evacuate any forces within a one hundred meter radius."
"Kalani, get your forces out of the hundred meter radius. We are using an orbital strike to penetrate the South gate."
"At once General," Kalani said as the droid forces began to retreat from the facility.
From above, a blue lasers came raining down from the sky and the entire southern part of the wall was decimated.
"Comscan indicates the entire wall was brought down in our strike," Admiral Yularen said.
"That is correct Admiral, great work," Anakin answered.
"Move forward!" shouted Obi-Wan and the Clones covered the Jedi Strike Team as they made their may into the massive structure that supposedly held Darth Sidious. As they made their way into the massive structure, they realized that it wasn't a walled off fortress, but an underground lair.
The fear. The anger. The hate. This place radiated a cold feeling that sent shivers down everyone's spine. The had dispatched with the rest of the Clones, but they knew there were more down below. Commando Droids came up behind them and Obi-Wan fought off the instinct feeling to attack them.
"Sir," said the lead droid in a low metallic voice, "we are scanning life forms far below the surface."
"I sense them too," responded Obi-Wan as he reached out into the force. He could feel the ugly presence of Palpatine far below.
"I sense a trap," Anakin said.
"There's only one thing we can do in this situation," Obi-Wan said with a smile.
Anakin gave him a confusing look and the realization dawned on him. "Don't say-,"
"Spring the trap."
Master Windu groaned and Master Yoda let out a chuckle.
"I hate when he says that," muttered Anakin.
They made their way down into the catacombs of the fortress and they were presented with two paths. The idea of splitting up was not something that they wanted to do, but they had to in order to find Palpatine and bring an end to the Sith.
"I say we split up," said Obi-Wan.
"Agreed," came the voice of Master Windu as he ignited his lightsaber.
"Master Yoda, myself, Anakin, Master Mundi, Master Secura, and Rex will head to the left. Master Windu, Master Koon, Master Fisto, Master Unduli, Master Tapal, and Cody will take a right. I sense that the paths converge in the same location, but we mustn't let Palpatine escape. The Commando Droids, Clone Commandos, and ARC Troopers will stay here with Master Billaba, Master Ti, and Master Kolar in case he somehow slips past us."
Each team nodded in agreement and they set out on their respective paths. They came upon a corner and Obi-Wan rounded the corner and blaster bolts whizzed by his head. Anakin quickly grabbed him by the hood and pulled him back around the corner to avoid enemy fire. "That was a close one," Obi-Wan said.
Anakin peeked around the corner and saw troopers lining the hallway. About a hundred or so were kneeling in the hallway ready to repel the Jedi incursion. "Rex, Obi-Wan, and I will make our way down the hallway. Rex fires, Obi-Wan and I block. The rest of you, stay tight to the walls."
Anakin and Obi-Wan jumped out into the hallway and began deflecting a steady barrage of laser fire. Diving to the side when they felt overwhelmed and jumping back out when they were ready again. Within a couple minutes, they were towards the end of the hallway and they had dispatched with the Clones. They rounded the next corner and Clones began to charge them, firing on them. Since the hallway was a little wider, the whole Jedi team was able to charge the Clones and they cut through the once loyal group of soldiers. Rex, for his part, showed no mercy to his former brothers, and Anakin could sense that where he expected pain, he only found resolve in him.
They came upon a door and Anakin touched the keypad and door swung open to reveal a room of officers and clones. On the other side, he saw a door swing open and saw the other team had arrived. The officers turned and saw the Jedi and began firing on them and the Jedi rushed into the room and began to cut through everyone in the room. Clones and officers alike fell to their blades and they made their way across the room to an archway. The two teams looked at each other and proceeded through the archway where they found three cloaked individuals standing around a man on a makeshift throne.
The man, who was undoubtedly Sidious, on the throne let out a cackle and stood from his throne. "It appears the Jedi have made it to my throne room."
"It's over Sidious," declared Anakin as he ignited his lightsaber, followed suit by the rest of the Jedi.
The figures around Palpatine turned and ignited red blades. They were about to charge the Jedi when Palpatine held up his hand. "Ren, you are a talented young apprentice, but you and your band are no match for these Jedi. Take your group into the Unknown Regions and wait for my signal."
"Not so fast," said Master Windu as he stepped to block their escape. They couldn't just let Sith stragglers escape. Not if they were to end this once and for all.
Palpatine smiled as he raised his hands and a powerful stream of lightning crackled out of his fingertips which prevented the Jedi from stopping the three cloaked figures from escaping as they were all preoccupied with preventing the figure from escaping. Master Yoda was the only Jedi that was able to utilize his skill in tutaminis to absorb the Emperor's energy and send it towards the figures escaping, catching the last one square in the chest and causing her to fall. She quickly scampered out of the door and Anakin went to race after them but was stopped by Obi-Wan. "Palpatine is our priority."
Anakin nodded and turned once more to the Sith Lord who had ceased his lightning when he saw Yoda redirect it.
"Impressive Master Yoda," cackled Sidious as the Jedi slowly approached him, sabers at the ready. "My former apprentice Tyrannus spoke of your skill in tutaminis after the Battle of Geonosis."
"Show you much more, I can. Afraid not enough time, we have," grunted the ancient Jedi master as he leaped towards Palpatine followed by the other Jedi. Ten Jedi and two battle hardened Clone Commanders was definitely overkill, but the Clones for their part stayed out of the way as the ten Jedi confronted Palpatine.
Palpatine ignited two lightsabers and began to deflect the advances of Master Yoda, pushing him away as Master Tapal and Master Kenobi swung at him. Palpatine had to use a steady blend of Soresu in his duel to contend with all the lightsabers coming his way. He jumped over the blade of Master Secura and slashed at Master Mundi saber before ducking Master Windu's strike and bringing his blades up to meet Skywalker and Yoda. He disengaged the sabers and rolled out of the way to avoid being cut down and met Master Unduli and Master Fisto's strikes. He knew he was prolonging the inevitable, but to the men he had just dismissed he would become a martyr.
Anakin was shocked to admit he was impressed with Sidious's dueling skill, and though the dark lord was unable to launch any attacks, he was staying alive against the Jedi Council and then some. Sidious' masterful combination of saber combat, hand to hand, and acrobatics was making this tough on the Jedi. It was a bit worrying to see the Sith Lord contending with this amount of Jedi, but Anakin knew this wouldn't last long.
Master Fisto was the first to land a blow on Sidious, grazing his leg which caused the Sith Lord to lash out and begin an offensive on Master Kenobi. Had it been anyone else, Sidious might have taken their head, but the Master of Soresu was able to deflect his strikes and kicked him in the stomach towards Master Koon. Master Koon swung his lightsaber through his left shoulder and down through his lungs, killing the Sith Lord instantly. A wave of dark side energy emanated through the room, throwing the Jedi Masters across the room. Rex and Cody, who had been watching from afar ran to help the Jedi Masters up.
"Are you alright," Rex asked as he lent Anakin his hand.
Anakin nodded, "yeah, but I wish we could have stopped the other Sith from escaping. I'm afraid there will still be threats lurking on the outside of the galaxy."
"We'll take care of them when they resurface," said Rex as they made their way out of the room, "for now, we can return to Coruscant and begin rebuilding the galaxy."
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When they finally arrived back at Coruscant, a celebration was awaiting the group, and many of the Clones were granted leave to celebrate with their brothers. The Jedi too were granted the liberty of celebrating the end of the war. Though no peace treaty had been signed, there would likely be no more fighting, and the Separatists, as well as Palpatine's Rogues would have to come to the table.
What Anakin hadn't anticipated was the emergency meeting in the Senate declared by Senator Jarek. A massive coalition of Senators had met with the Separatist senators and started to work on a peace treaty as well as steps they could take to remake the Republic into a more efficient system. The Senate informed them that there was a breakthrough that ensured total loyalty and the reunification of the galaxy.
"Members of the Senate," began Senator Jarek, a new Senator that had been an outspoken monarchist on his home planet, "the negotiations were stalled until we made a breakthrough. We all know the inefficiencies of the Senate were the cause for the Clone Wars. The Separatists refused to sign any treaties unless we found a way to weed out the bureaucratic stalemate within our legislative body. The peace coalition, the body created by the Supreme Chancellor that consists of one hundred Republic Senators and eighty Separatists, has come before you to state that the Separatists wish for the creation of a dynasty. The Skywalker Dynasty,"
Anakin looked towards Padme who had a look of disapproval on her face. She was as Pro-Democracy as they came, and he knew she would not accept this. He could tell Padme was about to say something.
"Senator Jarek, we are a Republic. I have no desire to be an Empress!" Padme exclaimed.
"Vice-Chancellor, that is the reason you are perfect for the job."
Bail Organa's pod came into the discussion, "Senator Jarek, we hold all the cards. We cannot become an Empire because a rogue government with little power demands it."
"We must follow the will of the people," added Padme.
Senator Jarek smiled, "I motion for a galactic referendum on the topic of the creation of the Skywalker Dynasty. I cite Articles XI Section V-B of the Ruusan Reformations as the justification."
Anakin looked out towards the full Senate, "I will endorse this referendum. We have failed to listen to the people, and it got us into a war. Perhaps we can put this as the main issue, as well as put a few other issues for the people to vote on. Senators, I will use my emergency powers to order that all infrastructure required for a fair referendum be employed. The Clone Army will assist with any labor requirements as well as security for these voting stations. I will order the vote for two weeks from now."
"Anakin, what are you doing?" Padme asked.
"I'm allowing the will of the people to take control," Anakin said as he looked down towards Padme.
"But what if the vote passes?"
"Then that is the will of the people," Anakin said, turning to the full Senate, "this meeting is adjourned."
When the pod had lowered back into their office, Padme raised her voice. "The people are scared, they might think this is what they want and realize too late that it isn't."
"Padme, how do you know that your ideas are what's best for everyone. You are one person, and the people are many. You may be in politics, but that doesn't make you an expert on what's best for everyone."
"Well I know that the Republic is the best system for everyone. Democracy hasn't failed us."
"Tell that to the slave boy on Tatooine who serves a Republic who would have ignored him unless he had special powers!" yelled Anakin.
"Anakin I-," Padme began but now she had made Anakin angry.
"All you senators sit in your ivory towers debating what's good and bad, but you fail to see the suffering of innocents across the galaxy! I'm sorry you have dedicated your life to serving a failed state, I am, but you have failed to account for the billions of people who think like I do that the Republic isn't working. Even the Jedi Council has expressed their doubts in the Senate. This referendum will go through, and that is final," Anakin said as he stalked out of the room leaving Padme to stare out of the window.
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"If this referendum passes, we would be serving an Emperor, and that is not our mandate," said Stass Allie.
"Hmm yes, but the will of the people, our mandate is, yes?" replied Master Yoda, he gazed around the room until his eyes fell on Obi-Wan who looked like he had a thought, "a thought, I sense from you, Obi-Wan?"
"Masters, the Skywalker's are friendly with us. Anakin was once one of us and Padme has always been an ally. Not to mention the couple have told us they intend to have Luke and Leia trained as Jedi. No matter how this works out, we are in a pretty good place."
"I agree with Obi-Wan," said Master Windu. Obi-Wan turned to Master Windu with a shocked expression, "perhaps this is the will of the force. Though I disagreed with Skywalker on many things, this war showed us how stagnant our order has become. Perhaps while the Republic undergoes massive changes, so too should we."
"Master Windu, I admire your willingness to change, but what motivated that?" asked Master Kolar as he studied the Master of the Order.
"Let's just say that the success of Skywalker has shown me the error in my ways."
"Hmm yes, humility, growth, acceptance. Valuable traits, Master Windu has shown us," Master Yoda explained. Even as members of the Jedi Council, everyone always felt like Master Yoda was teaching them something new everyday.
"So you propose we do nothing about what is happening in the Senate?" asked Ki-Adi Mundi.
"Look inwards, we must," said Master Yoda as he closed his eyes. Opening them, he looked towards Obi-Wan once more. "Master Kenobi, something to tell us, have you?"
"Yes. I have been working on some proposals that I believe will be beneficial to our order. The first of which being that we permit attachments throughout our order. Anakin has shown us that his attachment made him a powerful Jedi, and it allowed him to empathize, as well as identify with the people we are meant to serve. Relationships and possessions should be permitted, but that is not to say that we should allow materialism."
"Agree, I do," Master Yoda said and then a sly smile took his face, "Temple gossip, keep me entertained in my old age, it will." A few of the council members chuckled and even Master Windu had the slightest smile crack onto his lips.
"The next one would be we allow any age to join the Jedi. We can't cast people aside because they do not fit a certain age. If someone shows the necessary qualifications then they should be trained. Training the mind will ensure that we have level headed Jedi Knights."
"Hmm, agree I do, but dangerous, that could be."
"I sense that we are all in favor of these accords," said Master Plo Koon.
With no arguments, Master Yoda smiled. A smile that many hadn't seen since long before the Naboo Crisis. "Then agreed we are. Put out a statement to the order, I will. And one more thing, congratulate Skywalker, you all must."
"Why is that Master?" asked Obi-Wan as the council stopped and turned to Yoda.
"Believe I do, that the qualities of a Jedi Master, he has. Invite him back to this order and on this council, I believe we should."
Obi-Wan smiled, "I know that this will mean a lot to Anakin."
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Ahsoka and Lux sat in their apartment they now shared together in 500 Republica. They had been eating dinner when they were interrupted by their protocol droid.
"Senator Bonteri, Miss Tano, Chancellor Skywalker is here to see you."
Lux quickly wiped his face with his napkin and stood up to greet the former Master of his girlfriend. Ahsoka, for her part, rolled her eyes and laughed as she watched Lux approach her former master.
"Chancellor, it's a pleasure to see you here," Lux said with a slight bow.
Anakin looked towards Ahsoka, "how did you end up with such a polite man?"
"I could ask you the same thing about Padme," Ahsoka said as she stood up and ran to hug Anakin.
"Chancellor Skywalker, would you like something to eat?" Lux asked sheepishly, still somewhat nervous around Anakin.
"Bonteri if you call me Chancellor one more time I'm going to throw you off the balcony. If you're dating Snips you're as good as family," Anakin said as he reached out to shake Lux's hand.
"Very well General Skywalker," Lux said with a cheeky grin and Anakin laughed.
"We'll consider it a work in progress then," Anakin said, "as much as I'd love to trade snarky responses, I actually came here to ask you all something."
"How can we help Skyguy?" asked Ahsoka as she sat back down at the table, prompting the two men to take a seat as well.
"This may be Senator Bonteri's arena, but I want you both to weigh in on what you think of Senator Jarek's referendum."
"As a former Separatist, I think it's a great idea. I think that as long as we have a Bill of Rights that protects the people from executive overreach, as well as a way for the Senate to step in if they believe the Royal Family is doing something wrong, we may have a system we can all benefit under," explained Lux.
"I have Padme working on a Bill of Rights right now in the instance that this referendum passes," explained Anakin, "and I have a clause in the Constitution that with two thirds in agreement, the Senate can overrule the Chancellor."
"That seems pretty high, don't you think?" asked Ahsoka as she finished the last bites of her food and slid her plate to the side.
"It was the lowest I could go unfortunately," explained Anakin.
"Well I know you'd do a great job Master, and I trust you to make the right decisions. What does the Jedi Council think of this?" asked Ahsoka.
"Obi-Wan tells me they are fine with whatever the will of the people is," Anakin said. He was surprised when he heard that from Obi-Wan, and he could see the surprise on Ahsoka's face too. "Speaking of which, Ahsoka, the Jedi Order is in the midst of reforms with attachments. Obi-Wan informed me that should I wish to rejoin, I would be made a Jedi Master and a member of the Jedi Council. He also said that you would be granted the rank of Jedi Knight."
To say Ahsoka was surprised would be an understatement. "Do you intend to rejoin?"
"I do Ahsoka," Anakin said, after a brief pause he continued, "and I hope that we can go in together and rejoin together."
Ahsoka looked towards her Lux, "what do you think?"
"I think it's what you were meant to do," answered Lux with a smile.
"Ok Master, we'll go tomorrow and accept our invitations," Ahsoka said with a smile. She was finally feeling as if things were returning to normal. The events of the past couple months had shown her that the Jedi were turning a corner and their willingness to change was all she needed to hear.
"Well General Skywalker, I bought a bottle of whiskey for Ahsoka and I to share, and we would be happy to have you for a couple hours for a drink," Lux said as he grabbed the bottle from the middle of the table and opened it. He passed it to Anakin who smiled.
"Old Corellian is my favorite whiskey," he said as he handed the bottle back to Lux, he turned to Ahsoka with a cheeky grin, "well Snips, I have officially crashed date night with Bonteri!"
"You're always intruding on something Master," Ahsoka chuckled as she passed her glass for Lux to fill it.
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A/N: So next chapter will be the referendum as well as Anakin and Ahsoka returning to the Jedi Order. I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far.