After passing through multiple intermediaries and several cut outs and dead drops, Bail's message finally made it to the Jedi. Most of the Council wanted to act on it immediately. A few, however, suggested patience. For Master Zhurro, his reasoning was simple. Many Jedi were still raw and wounded emotionally. And asking them to reenter the fray, possibly expose themselves to Sidious, may destroy them. Or worse, cause them to fall to the Dark Side and join with their enemy.
Master Yoda was in complete agreement with Va. That was definitely a risk. But where he differed in his opinion, was that not all the Jedi were in such a state that they would be unable to do their duty. Masters Sinube and She' agreed with that reasoning, but still felt that it may be unwise to risk being exposed so soon. The odds of being tracked back to Tython could be very high.
Predictably, Masters Koon, Fisto, Dralig, Mundi and Secura were all in favor of causing as much havoc for Sidious as was possible. Masters Kenobi, Nu, and Ti felt that they should be more circumspect and try to restore the Galaxy's confidence in the Jedi by being more involved with actually helping planets, not just leading strike teams to take out targets. Though they did agree that some targets would have to be hit. If for no other reason than to show that Palpatine wasn't all powerful and that the Jedi could still strike, and strike hard.
After much debate, it was decided that all had valid points of view and that each suggestion had something of value to add to the overall plan. Yoda then proposed that each individual Jedi be evaluated for fitness for field duty, that those who needed more time be granted it, with the worst affected to be assigned duties in the Temple until they felt ready or be offered reassignment to the Service Corps. Those that were fit would be given missions as needed and that played to their strengths. Some would be given strike missions to secure imperial codes and documents, others to disrupt supply shipments, still more to prevent Palpatine from enslaving entire worlds. This last was considered especially important as Bail's message had included a worrying report that Kashyyyk and Ryloth were to be put under Imperial Occupation and their populations enslaved. This, the Jedi Order could not allow.
After much discussion, several missions were agreed upon by the Council pending conferring with the Jedi involved. The first was what to do about Kashyyyk and Ryloth. Master Yoda volunteered to lead the mission to Kashyyyk as he had had good relations with the Wookies previously. It was acknowledged that the Order didn't have the ability to outright defeat the Empire in open battle, but they could use guerilla tactics and make the occupation as costly as possible while saving as many as possible. This would be the plan for both planets. Master Secura would lead the mission to Ryloth. Having decided this, Master Skywalker and Captain Rex were called to the Council Chambers. Master Skywalker in his role as General of the 501st, and Captain Rex as his second in command and a representative of the Clones. Both of their opinions would be required.
Anakin wasn't exactly thrilled with the prospect of guerilla warfare. He had seen more than enough of it during the Clone Wars. Judging by the grimace on Rex's face, his friend felt pretty much the same. Unfortunately, Anakin had to agree that guerilla fighting was their only real option to save as many Wookies and Twi'leks as possible. His concern, was how would the men of the 501st take being asked to possibly fight their brothers. He let Captain Rex answer the Council before saying anything himself.
"Generals, if that's what's required of us, then that's what we'll do. We all knew that this might be a possibility when we left with you," Rex told them. It was only after he finished that Anakin proposed a compromise.
"Masters, I believe I may have a solution that will be best for all involved," Anakin opened. "Instead of simply ordering the men to do this, we ask them. Make any offensive mission strictly voluntary. No member of the 501st is to be forced to fight their brothers. Doing otherwise makes us no better than the Sith. These are men, not slaves. They deserve the right to choose." Finishing his speech, Anakin could feel how grateful Rex was for it.
"Agree with Young Skywalker, I do," Master Yoda said. "Captain, speak to your men you will. Only those who wish it, to Kashyyyk and Ryloth, will go. Any man who does not, no punishment will he face. Left to defend Tython will he be."
"Yes, General. I'll speak to them immediately. And thank you, sir." With that, Rex saluted, turned on his heel and headed to speak to his men.
Anakin, however was asked to stay. The council had a mission for him too. Though it wasn't exactly what he was expecting. The Council wanted him, Padme and Ahsoka to travel to Alderaan and Naboo. To reestablish ties to those planets. A message would be sent to Bail informing him of what was happening so he would expect them. They had two goals with the mission. First and foremost, Padme was to begin forming an alliance that could one day stand up to Palpatine. The second was just as important. Anakin and Ahsoka were to discreetly inquire about any Force Sensitive children on the planets and to try and get them into the Order. Any adults that they found who were Force Sensitive, they were to shield them to keep them from being taken by Palpatine and forced to the Dark Side. In this, they would need Bail's cooperation. Unlike when they could simply enter it into the holonet that the child had been given to the Jedi Order, they would instead have to fake a death certificate for the child so the Empire would never know what had truly become of the child. And to prevent reprisals against their family.
Anakin was slightly concerned with this, since the twins were only about 2 months old and he didn't really like the idea of both him and Padme leaving them at the same time. He mentioned this to the Council, but Obi-wan assured him that he would take personal care of both of them. The snort that came out of Anakin when Obi-wan said that was not exactly dignified, but even some of the other Council members had to hold back a laugh at that declaration. The look Anakin got from Obi-wan after that just added to it.
"Really, Anakin, I don't know what I'm going to do with you," Obi-wan said aloud.
"I'm sure you'll think of something, Master," Anakin replied. "In the meantime, I should inform my Padawan of our mission and also brace myself for my wife's reaction. I doubt she'll be thrilled about both of us leaving at the same time. Though she'll likely also see the need for it."
"Anakin, if it's any consolation, my wives would be just as upset," said Ki-Adi-Mundi. "I've found that keeping your head down and ensuring that she knows this wasn't your idea is the best policy to follow."
"Thank you, Master. I'll keep that in mind."
"May the Force be with you, Young Skywalker," said Master Yoda, in dismissing Anakin.
"And with you, Master."
Anakin was, sadly, right about Padme's reaction. "Not pleased" was putting it extremely mildly. In the end, his only option was to ride it out and try to appeal to her sense of duty and doing what was best for the Republic. This was easier said than done of course. Eventually, she did agree that they couldn't stay hidden forever and would have to begin their work. But she still didn't like it. Of course, when Anakin told her that Obi-wan volunteered to personally watch Luke and Leia, she burst out laughing, Obi-wan's aversion to children being well known. Not that he was ever rude or unkind to them, he just didn't like having to deal with them too much. Anakin had apparently left quite a mark on him in that regard.
"So has Obi-wan finally decided on a new Padawan yet?" Padme asked.
Laughing, Anakin could only shake his head, "I think he's hoping if he puts it off long enough Yoda will just drop it."
"Somehow, I doubt that will happen."
Ahsoka was more excited than she should probably should be she thought. It wasn't like this was her first mission. It honestly shouldn't even be that difficult. Yeah, they'd have to watch out for Stormtroopers, as the Clones had recently been renamed, but that shouldn't be that difficult. Well, as long as Skyguy kept focused on the mission and didn't let himself get sidetracked or caught up in battle fever. On second thought, maybe this was going to be a little more difficult than she thought.
On Korriban, Sidious gloated as the first of the Jedi broke. Maw had always been a selfish individual. And Sidious had used that to his advantage. While he would never make a true Sith Apprentice, he would be extremely useful. Given time, the Boltrunian's hatred could be nurtured into something truly fierce. The fact that Maw had been a Jedi Shadow, committed to rooting out the Dark Side made his fall all the sweeter to Sidious. Soon, the others would fall as well. Once they did, he could turn his attention to finding his new apprentice. In the meantime, Sidious had one other problem to handle. Grievous. The cyborg slime hadn't been with the other Separatist leaders when Tarkin had executed them. His original plan had been for the Jedi to take Grievous out and then record them trying to arrest him. That plan had gone right out the window with the Jedi discovering his true identity. So now the problem was his to deal with. Fortunately, he knew just where the Cyborg was. And he would take great pleasure in personally cutting him down.