Chapter 3: Revan's War

1 Year Later

"This… this isn't possible." Revan sat there watching the holovid. It was a live transmission from over the holonet. And it was bad.

Some idiot had led a republic fleet… the 4th fleet, to be precise, into a giant mandalorian trap. The entire fleet had been massacred. A single Cruiser has made it out, piloted by Carth Onasi.

They had been defending Omto, a large industrial planet with powerful shipyards. Video footage showed the planet being glassed basically. Incredibly, they even destroyed the shipyards…

Just like that, a 1/6th of the republic fleet, gone. The 4th had been gathering for a massive counter assault. They had then been jumped in by, as far as analysts could tell, the entire mandalorian fleet, save a few shups. The mandalorians had used superior strategy, continuously splitting the fleet up to be chewed up easily.

It was a massacre…

It was something that could have been averted had the Jedi helped.

"God damn't!" he exclaimed, rising from his seat. "People die while we sit here, waiting."

Malak nodded beside him. "I do not understand the council… it makes no sense. The republic is falling around us, and we do nothing."

"They say they have they're reasons… they must!" exclaimed Bastilla.

Revan turned on her. "WHAT REASON WOULD BE ENOUGH TO ALLOW ALL THESE DEATHS!" he roared angrily at her. His face was red with anger, and the look in his eyes cut Bastilla to the core.

She cowered away, raising her arms as if that could defend her from his wrath…

Instantly the anger disappeared from Revan, replaced by concern. "Oh no… oh I'm so sorry. I… I couldn't help myself," he said as he drew her into an embrace.

"I'm sorry," Bastilla said quietly.

"Don't be… you were in the right, I was in the wrong… but something will change. Something has to change."

Bastilla remained quiet.

A knock came at the door. Instantly they returned to there seats, acting as if nothing happened as the door swished open.

"Bastilla, it's time for your lessons." Bastilla rose, bowed to Revan and Malak before leaving.

When she was gone and the door secured shut, Malak turned to Revan. "Just what is going to change?" he asked simply.

"We are," Revan replied matter of factly, rising. "Or at least I am. Follow and I'll tell you."

"Revan, you wished to speak to us?" asked Master Vrook. The council had convened again upon insistence from Revan.

"Yes… yes I did. Tell me Masters. Why… why are we allowing this war to continue? Millions are dying. Entire worlds are dieing. We could stop it… we could stop the dying. And yet all you do is profess patience, never explaining. Well, my patience is at an end. Tell me now, and I will decide."

The entire council sat stunned for a moment. "How DARE you speak to us that way!" said Vrook. "You have no right to question us…"

Revan remained quiet, but defiant.

"Calm, Master Vrook remain," said Master Vandar beside him. "Answers you seek… but knowledge of these answers, have, we do not."

Revan stood stunned for a moment. "You mean… you had NO reason to stay out of the war?"

Vandar shook his head. "No no. Plenty of reason. Answer to question you posed, we have not."

Beside Vandar Zhar continued with, "Something about this war is not right... We know too little. It could be that we come into this fight, but are too weakened to hold off the next threat. That is why we must remain aloof of the conflict. When a greater power comes, and we all believe one shall, we will be able to stand and defeat it."
Revan shook his head. "This is wrong… this is like wondering if you locked the 5th bolt on the backdoor when the front is wide open… if we don't act, we will be swept away by THIS conflict."

"You may choose to believe that… but the council thinks otherwise. Now that you're finished wasting our time, I feel that we should return to our tasks," said Vrook coldly.

Revan shook his head. "We're not done. Or at least, I'm not done."

Master Kavar brought his head up, understanding instantly. "You wouldn't dare…"

The confusion emanating off the others was apparent to Revan. "I would, and I will… I will leave you with this thought. If it is of the darkside to kill something, then isn't it of the darkside to sit and do nothing while something is killed. Goodbye masters. May the force be with you."

With that, Revan turned and strode from the Council room as Malak fell into step.

"Of course I will accompany you. It's about damn time something was done."

"And I will as well."

"Excellent… meet me at the Teltic in 3 hours. That's our ride. Recruit anyone else you can," replied Revan calmly.

Joe and Joanna bowed and started walking away.

"That's over 20 jedi you've recruited Revan… Have you been planning this for awhile?"

He shook his head. "No… I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's just that… hold that thought," he said as he felt a presence… an angry presence approach from behind.

"You… you… you're leaving again," came the voice quietly.

Revan slowly turned to face Bastilla. "Yes I am. I am going to do what I should have done a long time ago."

"It's not right. You should abide by the council."

Revan shook his head. "I can't… not anymore."

"Please Revan... please," she said as a tear streaked from her eye.

"No…"

"Then I shall follow you my lo…"

"No you shall not." Revan hesitated, knowing what he must do. There must be some other way… but no there wasn't…

Anything he said, she would find a hole. Failing that she would just come anyways. She was far to headstrong… even for her own good.

"Listen… I've gotta come clean with you now that I'm leaving... This 'connection' you claim to have… I don't feel it. There's nothing there… I just have been telling you to bring a bit of happiness to your… your miserable life. I've just taken pity on you, being all alone. I almost can't stand you, you're so indignant, and such a little brat… But I've had enough. I don't want to have to live with your constant chattering in the middle of battle. Stay here Bastilla… you're not wanted."

She looked into his eyes… he saw more tears streak from her eyes even as he made his eyes as cold and merciless as he could.

She turned and ran away, and he could hear her sobs from there.

Oh how it broke his heart… if she only knew. But it was best for her. Where he went, there would only be darkness… He could feel it. Not the darkside… but just… a dark horribleness.

He could feel Malak's eyes on him. He glanced at his friend. He was scowling deeply, but it softened when he saw tears come streaking from Revan's face.

"Good… good lord. You didn't just do what you think I did!" he said softly.

Revan nodded. "Yes I did… it's for her own good. She'll survive and be stronger. Now come, let's go before I change my mind."

The ship left 2 hours later, full of 50 odd Jedi. There were a few knights, Revan and a few older ones, though it was mainly Padawans, including Malak, Joe and Joanna.

It reached coruscant 2 hours later, where they were greeted with cheers and parades. People openly wept on the street for the Jedi. They would come up and profess there thanks at all times.

Thus it continued for a long time. Weeks spent in limbo as no one important would see them. The Jedi council must have sent word ahead, and was blocking any effort by them to help…

It frustrated Revan to no end. More were dying. And here the Jedi Council was keeping them from helping, politicking away, just like the damn senate.

Eventually, Revan grew fed up, merely taking Malak and marching right into the Senate Offices. The guards attempted to stop him, but they found themselves constrained by the force, and it wasn't long before he was at the High Chancellors door. There, instead of barging in like many who had seen the Jedi's trip to the office would of thought he'd do, he merely knocked and waited.

A moment later the door opened, and they were grudgingly admitted.

The Chancellor looked up from his desk. "Greetings Jedi Revan… or is it merely Revan now? I hope your trip and stay were pleasant?" asked the Chancellor politely, even as his high general, general Mailine scowled at them.

"Revan will do sir, and no, our trip was not very pleasant High Chancellor… we heard of the attack on Dxun, and we've languished here for weeks."

The general's scowl deepened. "The republic beat it off the attack. We inflicted casualties. We have a handle over this. Don't think you can just come in here and take control."

Revan shrugged to malak. "Lets cut the pleasantries. General, you don't want us here because it took us so long to join and you resent it. Well, we were following the council. I'm sorry it took us so long to see the light, but you are losing this war. Anyone can see that. The senate is playing with the budget as the military starves for money. They interfere with your commanding. While I have no doubt you're a great general, the senate is cutting you off from being able to act. That is why I have a proposal for you."

The general and High Chancellor slowly nodded.

"It's simple. We create an emergency war measures act. In essence, it ceded total control of the military to the High Chancellor. The military budget is held onto, and cannot be reduced until the war is over. High Chancellor, you will turn control of the military operations over to me…" Before the general could protest, Revan said coolly, "It's important it's me and not you General, because they will not pass it with you. I'm aware you tried to pass a similar act before. With me, they will be giving it to a Jedi, one who has, not to brag, mastered strategy. Check over my datafile. You will see that I am fit to command anyways. You will still be a general, with most of the powers you have now, save that I will handle the overall strategy. I already have one ready."

The High Chancellor nodded. "I may be able to pass this act… I see it as a workable plan."

Now the only obstacle left was the general. If he said no, the Chancellor would probably not go ahead with it. He could see the conflicting emotions rising on his face.

"I… I guess we don't have much choice. You're correct, the republic will collapse if something doesn't change."
Revan nodded to him before bowing.

"Good, we will make our plea next meeting. In the meantime, gather as many ships as you can at Ordo. It will be where they strike next."

The general paled. "Ordo… are you sure?"

Revan nodded. "No doubt of it… It will be an epic battle… But you have a week, maybe 2. They will be pausing to gather probably 3-4 days in advance, so when the attacks stop… know that you haven't much time until the fight begins."

The general nodded. "Very well sir…"

Revan blanched for a moment. "I'm surprised your taking this so well general."

The general nodded at him. "I may be old, and you may not think much of me. But I know when I hear good advice and a sound strategic mind… I would be honored to have you lead me."

Revan gravely bowed at the general. "And an honor to lead a fine man as you… May I just say though, that I do not think little of you. I think you have done as good so far as can be expected. We will merely take this fight to the next level." Revan grinned maliciously. "Much to the Mandalorians demise I fear."

"How could he… how could he do this to me… I thought he loved me. I thought we had something."

Bastilla lay on her bed sobbing quietly, careful to keep her presence contained so no other Jedi would sense it.

"It's easy… he was right to pity you. You're nothing, an ant. You didn't deserve him…" came back the cynic part of her mind.

"No…that's not true… I loved him. That means something."

Her cynic mind didn't answer. Her rational, cool mind already had the answer to the idea she had made…

Because evidently it did not matter. And so she continued to lie there, until at last there were no more tears to cry.

And so she made a pact with herself.

"Never again… Never again will I ever allow myself to be so vulnerable. Damn Revan to hell, I will never love him, or anyone, ever again!"

But she knew inside, that she still loved him, and would continue to… and it made her start to cry again…