On the outskirts of Zootopia, several starships were settled near each other. On the scene were Officer Nick Wilde, and Jedi Knight Judy Hopps. "Now Nick, I know that we're here on official business. But there is still some fun that can be had here." Judy said reassuringly.
"I don't doubt that," Nick said. "But, I think that when Bogo assigned us to come to this... what is it exactly?"
"Well, it's a sort of inter-stellar circus," Judy explained.
"Do they have peanuts?" Nick asked.
"Not really," Judy admitted. "Just a stale kind of bean that sort of tastes like peanuts. But only you can only get the taste if you can bite into them."
"Darn... still when Bogo assigns something. There's almost always something sinister going on." Nick said. "Like for example, Mammals going into this gaudy mess of bright lights and strange smells... and never being seen again."
"Yes, sometimes when these things come by. Attendees tend to wind up on the Hutt's slave market." Judy said. "I believe that Master Skywalker was following this same circus."
"Really? And what makes you say that Carrots?" Nick asked.
"Come one! Come all!" A hologram of a Chevin said standing on a platform. "Welcome, to Hagara's Circus! Behold the marvels of over one-thousand worlds!"
"And the fact that a Chevin is the ringmaster just confirms that to me," Judy said.
"I'm guessing that a majority of- holy Toledo that guy is ugly!" Nick said in surprise when he looked at the Chevin. "It's like... if someone transplanted a wrinkly old face over a saxophone, and then sowed that on a rhino's body." He said with disgust.
"Yeah... yeah, Chevin's aren't the most attractive aliens to look at," Judy admitted. "There is a growing movement on their homeworld of Vinsoth to end there centuries-old tradition of legalized slavery... I'm getting off-topic. Point is, we need to look through this place. Even if they aren't kidnapping Mammals. It's bound to be a cover for anything else that the average Chevin criminal might be up to out here." Judy explained. "Gunrunning and Black Market goods come to mind."
"Suspect everything to be a cover for criminal, or at least ambiguously legal activity. Gottcha." Nick said.
The two Mammals then went about the circus grounds. Checking in on anything they could use to arrest the aliens. But as the day went on, they couldn't find anything incriminating. "Yeah still couldn't find anything," Nick said.
"There is something off here. I can feel it through the Force." Judy said. "I can sense someone familiar around here, I can sense that there distressed and... Sharla?... Gideon?"
Nick looked curious. "I think I've heard you mention those names at some point."
"Look, I sense that there in trouble! Follow me!" Judy then ran off to a ship, and after looking through the spacecraft. Found a familiar fox and sheep in the cargo hold, locked in a cage.
"Judy! Thank our lucky stars your here." Gideon said in relief.
"What are you and Sharla doing in here?" Judy said in surprise.
"I just wanted to sell my pies!" Gideon said in shock.
"Judy, we just came here for an opportunity to expand Gideon business." Sharla the black sheep explained. "But when that weird saxophone elephant had one of Gideon's pies he insisted that Gideon work for him. But when we refused to go with him. He kidnapped us... we've been stuck in that cage for days!"
"Where is he now?" Nick asked. This question was answered, by a Chevin being thrown down a flight of stairs.
The Chevin sat up as a Mandalorian approached him. "H'sar! Wait!" The Chevin pleaded. "Whatever the Guild is paying... I can triple it I swear!"
"It ain't about the money, Edil Aliev." The Mandalorian then shot the Chevin. "It's about cleaning this galaxy of filth." H'sar then looked at the Mammals. "Hello there."
"You mind explaining yourself?" Judy said.
"I'm just a simple man trying to make his way in this crazy messed up universe we all know and love." H'sar said. "And for me today, that involves taking this sleemo in."
"Hey buddy, I don't how they do things where you're from. But this city is my jurisdiction." Nick said. "So this saxophone elephant is coming with us."
"Very well... but can you take him with you?" H'sar said cheekily, noting how short Nick and Judy were compared to him. "Or you, Jedi?"
"I'm strong with the Force. And then there's the matter of you KILLING a man." Judy said.
"Not dead, the bounty I took was to take in alive only." H'sar said as he picked up the massive alien. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave." He then sniggered under his breath. "Saxophone elephant... Mammals are such a hoot."
XXXX
"-so in short, this... Edil Aliev. Was taken by a Mandalorian bounty hunter." Chief Bogo said.
"Yes sir," Nick said firmly.
"And he had House Kryze sigil on the right shoulder guard of his armor," Judy said.
"And that tidbit lends significance how?" Bogo asked.
"Well... for starters. House Kryze is one of the major Houses of the Mandalorian Clans. So why would one of there own be bounty hunting?" Judy mused. "And I checked on Edil Aliev's bounty. He's been accused of some pretty shady business, but nothing lethal."
Bogo just looked unimpressed. "Right, the point is. This H'sar character upstaged your attempt at an arrest, and in hindsight. I should have sent more than you and Knight Hopps to investigate that circus."
XXXX
Later that night, Nick and Judy were at a restaurant. "I still can't believe that bucket head stole my thunder." Nick brooded.
"Nicholas Piberius Wilde! I'm surprised by you." Judy said in shock. "The job of being a police officer has nothing to do with glory. It's to protect and serve the people. And besides, everyone credits you with saving those kidnapped Mammals. Not H'sar." She reassured.
On a nearby TV, ZNN was airing. "-and now, live from Coruscant. Chancellor Amidala's speech to the Republic citizenry." The anchor-snow leopard Fabienne Growley said.
The footage then changed to that of Padme Amidala. "Citizens of the Galactic Republic, and other aligned worlds. As I'm certain many of you know, our galaxy is sliding further and further into chaos. A few months ago, the Hutt Cartels, led by Elder Entuu Voll. Personally threatened to destroy the planet Alderaan with a bio-weapon derived from a flower native to the world of Mammalia, the Nighthowler."
Nick panicked a little. "I was right... that stuff did smell familiar." He said in shock.
"While his flagship, the Testament of Varl was driven out of the Alderaan system, and his superweapon, the Scourge along with its plans, was confiscated by a brave team of Jedi, including my husband and children among others," Padme said.
"Don't," Judy said as Nick opened his mouth. "You got on the ZPD to get away from that kind of danger, so just be glad she didn't mention you by name."
"-not to mention there continued harassment of Mandalorian territory for over ten years. To put it simply. The Galactic Republic can no longer turn a blind eye to this brazen hostility by Entuu and his followers." Padme then sighed. "As of 7:00 AM, Local Coruscant Time. The Senate has declared war on the Hutt Cartel."
Judy's ears drooped. "I have a really bad feeling about this."
"I implore everyone... do not panic," Padme said.
"And that doesn't help," Nick commented.
"You have my word that the Republic Navy and the Republic Marine Corps will protect as many inhabited worlds as we can manage," Padme said.
"Are we... anywhere near Hutt controlled space?" Nick asked anxiously.
"No," Judy said simply.
"Then why do you look upset?" Nick asked.
"Because I didn't know about this," Judy said. "Master Tano never spoke a word about the war in earnest starting. I'm not upset that I wasn't let in... I'm upset that my Master didn't keep me in the loop." She explained.
"-but to put it simply, the Hutt's have been a thorn in the side of all good people in our galaxy for far too long," Padme said. "The time to act is now! If we stand as one, we can vanquish their corruption from our galaxy. Together... we can end this madness. I bid all of you good day... and for the Force to be with us all." The speech ended.
XXXX
The following morning. Judy called Ahsoka. "Why wasn't I informed about this?" Judy asked.
"Or, 'hello Master Ahsoka'," Ahsoka said sardonically. "But... that wasn't my choice. The Council moved that only Master's or higher were allowed to be told about the war with the Cartel." She explained regretfully. "Mainly to try to stop the near-disaster the Order suffered during the Clone Wars from happening again."
"The only Jedi who can directly serve in military roles must have a basic military education. I know, I know." Judy said. "To be honest I wasn't planning on joining the war anyway."
"Nor was the Council going to ask," Ahsoka said. "As it stands... I believe that you're passed due to being granted a Padawan."
Judy just snorted in disbelief. "Yeah... that's a riot, Master Tano." Ahsoka's face didn't change. "Wait... you're serious?"
"Yes, the Council has agreed to grant you a Padawan learner," Ahsoka said. Judy was stunned. "Uh... Judy?" She asked in concern as Judy stared into blank space.
Judy came to from this stupor. "Y-Yes... have we heard any word about Dawn since she escaped the Citadel Prison?"
"Not a peep... but I think we both can guess where she is now," Ahsoka said.
XXXX
Meanwhile, on Had Abbadon, Dawn was training her lightsaber skills and strength in the Force. "Bellwether." Lord Nemeroth said, catching the small ewe off-guard.
"Lord Nemeroth... to what do I owe the pleasure?" Dawn said as she disengaged her weapon.
"Your power in the dark side grows day by day... the Shadow Collective cannot in good conscience allow you to squander these talents," Nemeroth said.
"About time too," Dawn said. "I think I'm going a little stir crazy from being on this planet for so long without anything to do."
"Indeed," Nemeroth said. "And I believe you will find your first official assignment quite tantalizing." The massive human then gave Dawn a data disk.
"I'll be the judge of that," Dawn said as she inserted the data disk into a device. Her face then lit up. "I'm going back to Mammalia?"
"Yes... as I'm sure I do not need to remind you. War has broken out." Nemeroth said. "And as I'm sure that Lord Maul has explained. War, is a marvelous opportunity for profit."
Dawn smiled to herself. "Oh, I'll do more than get rich." She said gleefully. "I'll bring the entire planet to its knee's."
"Be mindful of your ambitions... and your vengeance," Nemeroth said. "While the Darkside grants us great power. We must not make it easy for the Jedi to find us... and then there's the fact that your former Master has a vested interest in your homeworld." He advised. "And of course... Judy will likely be among the first to know."
"Fair enough." Dawn seethed. "I'll play the long game... but when I see an opportunity to kill Judy and that fox... I will take it." She then clenched a hoof.
"Just make certain that at the very least nobody knows that you have returned. Your homeworld would rally against you out of spite for your past actions." Nemeroth said.
"Trust me, by the time I'm done... they won't even remember the Night Howler Crisis," Dawn said sinisterly.
