Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The next Day

"Palpatine, how good to see you." Cavan said rising from behind his desk. "I hope you don't mind meeting me here. I've got some minor work to catch up on. These attacks are throwing everyone behind schedule."

"Then I'll get right to the point." Palpatine said. He had been stretching his force senses since leaving the ship and was on the razor's edge of turning into full Sith. The control he'd been practicing at night was now being called upon to keep that personality hidden. "It has come to my attention that you are in league with Dark Sun to exploit this planet's assets. If the attacks are such a bother why don't you just stop them."

Cavan took a quick glance around his office then tried to open a drawer that he'd stashed a blaster in.

"Don't even bother trying." Palpatine said as Cavan struggled with the drawer he'd thrown quick force lock on. "I expect you to end these attacks then figure out a way to approach Fraylac and have discussions to achieve your ends peacefully. I will be back on the ship with Senator Freey if you decide you need our help. Decide quickly we won't wait long before heading back to Coruscant." Palpatine added before turning his back to Cavan and heading out the door and boarding the carriage. "I'm done let's go back to the ship." He said to Puric.

"A short meeting." Puric commented.

"Yes, but it should be one of the most productive we have had here."

"Then some of my suspicions are confirmed," Puric commented.

"I have said noting and it would be in your interest to keep that comment between us."

"What comment?"

"Then we understand each other." Palpatine said before sitting back and enjoying the ride back to the Ship. An enjoyment that was cut short as they passed by the warehouses. "Off the Carriage." He yelled pushing Puric as he dove to the ground.

"What?"

"Run to the trees and hope there are animals near by." Palpatine shouted before reaching out through the force and ordering Cayer to activate the ship's force field.

Puric and Palpatine barely reached the tree line before the carriage exploded as a ship mounted blaster hit it. "How?" Puric asked looking at Palpatine with wide eyes.

"No I'm not a Jedi. I have a slight force sensitive that has kept me alive on more than one occasion. But I can't do any of their tricks so we are on our own right now, Sorry."

"Right now I wish you were. Can your ship protect us?"

"They are on the ground and haven't had time to power up and charge their weapons. I don't think they will be much help. Do you have any hidden tricks available?" Palpatine asked as he and Puric tried to blend into the trees while the ship hovered over the wreckage of the carriage looking for any survivors.

"I normally would have but most of the tricks were in that." Puric said nodding towards the carriage. "All I can hope for is someone heard that blast and is on their way to investigate it. Hey are you ok?" He continued looking at Palpatine who was crouched beside a tree with a blank look on his face.

"I will be in a moment." Palpatine said with an obvious effort. He had been coming off the Sith edge during the ride. The attack had reversed his momentum and Palpatine was fighting turning into Darth Sidious. The ship meanwhile had started to spiral outward from the carriage obviously looking for them. Palpatine realized the danger and let the Darth personality take over.

Puric noticed the change in posture and asked "Are you hurt Palpatine?"

"No Palpatine is not hurt." Darth Sidious said drawing the dark force over the two of them like a shield he waited until the ship left at the sound of approaching help.

"That was close how did you do that?" Puric asked.

"The Jedi are not the only ones with abilities." Sidious said before reaching out a hand and squeezing empty air until Puric's heart stopped. He then drew the dark force around him like his cape and headed back to the ship on foot.

"Palpatine what happened? We saw a ship circling over by the road." Senator Freey asked. when Palpatine came up the boarding ramp.

"It attacked us. Our carriage was blown up. lucky Puric saw it coming and we fled the carriage for the woods. Unfortunately he dropped there, I think his heart stopped. I worked my way through the woods back to here."

"Cavan?" Freey asked.

"I think so. We were just coming back from confronting him. He must have called the ship from his office. At least we got a reaction." Palpatine said a touch of gallows humor in his voice.

"That you did. What next?"

"Have this ship ready to move at a moment's notice and keep its shields up at all times." Palpatine said both as a comment and as directions to Cayer adding, "Then we contact Fraylac and let him know what's going on."

"Give him the entire list." Freey said.

"I agree." Palpatine said heading for their office and it's communications panel.

"What are you up to?" Fraylac asked as soon as Palpatine contacted him.

"Trying to contact you."

"I've been told your ship attacked a carriage on the road to your ship and several buildings on the outskirts of city."

"No sir I was in that carriage with Puric. We were attacked after I confronted Cavan about being involved with the insurgents. My ship has not left the ground yet. We are sitting here with our shields up ready to take off if that ship comes back. I'm sending you a list of council members and just which side we think they are on. Use it how you see fit."

"Ok. Please don't leave until we get to the bottom of this."

"We will try to stay but..." Palpatine said not promising anything.

"I..." The rest of Fraylac's statement was lost to static as the connection was severed.

It took only a moment for the force to reveal the cause to Palpatine. "Get this ship airborne and power up the weapons." He called to Cayer.

"What is it?" Freey asked from his desk.

"Please go to the cockpit and strap in Senator. I think that ship attacked Fraylac's as I was talking with him. I'm going to the weapons consul and try to help." Freey followed Palpatine's suggestion. Palpatine followed taking the aft seat in the cockpit. From here he had remote control of the two guns Cayer's ship carried. "Just pop up and keep your distance for now Cayer. I want to see what type of ship we are dealing with and if it has company." It didn't but the ship didn't really need any. It appeared at first glance to be a standard freighter much like Cayer's but judging from what the scans were saying it mounted four guns.

"Run and call in Republic Ships?" Cayer asked.

"The safest idea. But it wouldn't do this world much good." Senator Freey said.

"Then we attack?" Palpatine asked.

"Of course."

"Cayer bring us just a little closer, they haven't noticed us yet. Let's keep it that way for a while." Palpatine reached into the dark force and reached out to the ship his hands resting on the gun controls. The force took over and he was firing at the ship."

"What the heck. Palpatine you can't hit that ship from here." Cayer called out as he heard the guns discharge.

Senator Freey strapped into the copilots seat watched the shots approach then impact on the other ship. "You may not have been able to but he can."

"They've spotted us. Here they come." Freey called out.

"Back off Cayer, let them come to us I want them away from the city when we shoot again." Palpatine was still at the gun controls and as the other ship cleared city he fired several more shots dropping the ship into a field.

"How in the heck did you do that." Cayer asked.

"When a ship fires its guns there is a signal that causes the ship to drop its shields in that area so the shot can get out. If your shot arrives at that time it can get through the shield. I just had several very lucky shots."

"I guess so!" Cayer said.

"Now we fly over the city and check out the damage." Senator Freey said.

"I wouldn't advise that Senator. If they have any weapons I expect they will use them at anyone who flies over for a while." Palpatine said.

"You have a point. Suggestions?" Freey asked.

Cayer suppressed a desire to say 'let's go home.' knowing he was not the one the comment was for.

"Let's go to orbit and see if anyone else is in the area. We can bounce a call to the Chancellor's office off the local communications satellite and find out what they want us to do. We can also call down to the other members of the council."

Looking over at Cayer Freey said, "Let's go."

With that Cayer flew up and settled into a normal orbit around Maridia. Senator Freey went with Palpatine back to their offices where Freey sent his message to the Chancellor's office and Palpatine tried to contact Fraylac. Cayer meanwhile stayed in the cockpit where he was pushing every sensor on his ship to the maximum insuring there would be no surprises.

Chapter 16

6 hours latter

Has the Chancellor responded to your requests yet?" Palpatine asked looking over at the Senator.

"No. How is your project going?" "I was able to contact only two of the Council members, Vallaron and Ropol the rest were either eliminated or are in hiding. Those two were safe because they were traveling at the time of the uprising and they are staying on the move to stay safe. Royarta the Head Priestess is safe but not taking calls from either side; Melian, her council representative, informs me. From the message's I have the impression that Matsic of Vehicles has replaced Cavan as the insurgent leader. Cayer reports he has intercepted some some messages headed off planet but they are in code and can't be read."

"So we might be getting company."

"That is one possibility. Senator we have been up for a number of hours and our last sleep was not that relaxing I think we should be thinking how we will get a good night sleep." Palpatine said.

"Not a problem if this ship is equipped with a sensor buoy we will drop it off just before we jump to hyperspace and fly for six hours. Then we drop out reverse course and fly back. that will give us 12 hours of rest. The buoy can catch all messages intended for us."

"Is leaving a good Idea?"

"It is better than anything else I can think of." Senator Freey replied.

"I will go tell Cayer to plot a course to no where." Palpatine said leaving the conference room. Cayer understood Freey's intent right off. He had used a similar move when stuck waiting for cargo in a disreputable section of the outer rim. After the jump Palpatine was settling into a learning trance when the force guided him in a different direction. He came to just before they dropped out for the course reversal and found himself remarkably refreshed feeling like he'd slept for days on end. Checking on the Senator he noted he was still asleep and would no doubt sleep through this event. Leaving his room he ate a snack in the little galley area then entered the cockpit finding Cayer sitting in the pilots seat. "Have you left this seat?" He asked.

"Not yet, I figured after the turn around I'd get something to eat. I have been napping on and off. I can't get over how lucky you were against the other ship."

"It wasn't luck. I told you there were many abilities that came with the Dark Force. I just used a few of the abilities I've mastered. I want you to rest after the turn we will need you skills back at Maridia. Set the alarms to sound half an hour before we drop out of Hyperspace. It will be cutting it close but rest is what is most needed now." Palpatine said. taking the co-pilots seat just before they dropped out of hyperspace in to an uninhabited region of space. After checking around with his force ability he told Cayer "Don't bother scanning just turn around and jump us back towards Maridia."

"Yes master."

Palpatine watched as Cayer quickly followed his instructions smiling inwardly at the 'yes master' Once they were safely back in hyperspace Cayer returned to his room and reentered the refreshing trance the force had shown him.

Palpatine was waiting in the cockpit as they approached the end of the return leg of their flight. "Cayer we want to drop out of hyperspace short."

"How short? Sensor range of the buoy?" Cayer asked.

"That is a good idea."

"What is a good idea." Senator Freey asked walking in.

"We are going to drop out of hyperspace short but with in sensor range of our buoy. That way we might avoid an unpleasant surprise." Palpatine explained.

"I agree. Cayer calculate a jump to Coruscant from Maridia. Have it sitting in the computer just in case we need to leave fast." Senator Freey added.

"Ok, It will be risky if we have to jump before I can fix our position. Can I just jump back out on this same route if we have to leave really fast?" Cayer asked.

"I would prefer to head straight for Coruscant but If we have to leave before you fix our position a delay is preferable to dying."

"Thank you Senator." Cayer replied as the ship dropped out of hyperspace.

"Nothing in sensor range." Cayer called out as the sensors were finishing their first sweep of the area.

'I agree but there is a disturbance in the Dark Force.' Palpatine thought.

"Move in and recover the sensor buoy." Senator Freey said, "Hopefully there is a message from the Chancellor."

When Freey said 'sensor buoy' Palpatine felt a change in the Dark Force. "Cayer can you retrieve the messages from here?"

"No."

"Can you get the sensor buoy to do anything from here?"

"Yes in fact I can bring it to us if you would prefer not to move." Cayer said puzzled.

"Move it, but not towards us if you can avoid it." Palpatine said.

"Yes, m... sir."

Senator Freey was looking a Palpatine with a puzzled expression as Cayer activated the buoy controls. Moments later the buoy disappeared in a tremendous explosion. "I take it that was meant for us." Freey said.

"No doubt." Palpatine replied puzzled because the feeling of danger had not disappeared with the buoy.

"Two ships coming around the planet. I don't think they are happy to see us still here!" Cayer called out.

"Get us out of here." Freey replied.

Cayer looked at his navigational computer and spun his ship in the same moment. accelerating hard away. "The solution for Coruscant is coming up now." Cayer called out reaching for the jump lever.