Chapter 75: Declaration of War
Sidious watches as his wayward apprentice's recordings play through the Senate Dome for the second emergency session of the Republic Senate in a row. He is moderately disappointed that the initial battle of the war wasn't fought there. He had intended it to cull a great deal of the Jedi Order's active knights and C'Baoth's Dark Jedi. He supposes his apprentice managing to successfully infiltrate, for the most part, was to be expected. She has a habit of surprising him after all. Though he is very curious about something. She was discovered after she had already abducted Gunray, so how had she gotten that far without being found? C'Baoth had noted that he had felt a great deal of pain and tiredness from his apprentice when he had first brushed up against her presence. So the question was, what had she done? How had she known she needed to do something in the first place?
He had intended for her to discover her normal methods of subversion would fail at close range the hard way. There were a few things he could think of: perhaps one of the Dark Jedi had been careless and not properly paying attention? His apprentice could have noticed a loose awareness of her and backed off. He did not think her skilled in foresight, but he is aware of sorcery able to force visions, so perhaps she preformed one about the mission? She had seemed wary of it in that previous transmission before she went. There is also the possibility of treachery, one of C'Baoth's so called 'loyal' Dark Jedi pledging themselves to Lord Tyrosus, and offering a warning as a token of proof of loyalty. Or perhaps she had lied to the Jedi, and was still plying at the Veil of the Dark Side? He hasn't felt anything from her in that regard, but one can never be too sure. It could have been so many different things he supposes, he doubts she will reveal how, and he can't press on it without making her suspicious of how he could possibly know the Veil weakened the power of her ability to hide herself.
He refocuses on watching the recordings, if only for the offchance something she says or does reveals something. The only thing that truly offers a hint was after the end of C'Baoth's council meeting. His apprentice had neglected to turn off the recording. though from what he can tell, phrasing it as neglect may have been incorrect. She was in agony, and Darth Zannah had sounded... afraid. Making a Sith Lord afraid was not a simple thing. Whatever his apprentice had done to hide herself had likely been... unwise. Darth Zannah had implied it was a spell, but interestingly, hadn't known what piece of sorcery it was. There are things that suggests... that his apprentice had another source of her information on Sith Sorcery perhaps? But no, why would a spell have need been created to hide so much deeper than before? From the Veil? How would such a spell have even existed if the Veil had not been in existence in this state prior to now. This implied...
The incredulousness of it washes over him and he leans back in shock, which thankfully coincides with the start of her battle with the dark Jedi. They only really get sound plus a few flashes of lightsabers as her robes shift and the recorder gets a peek out, but...
Had she really, truly, devised her own piece of Sith Sorcery in such a short time-frame and then used it? It makes sense, but it was an inane undertaking. A basic spell, yes, could be devised for simple needs swiftly. But greater undertakings he had read, and had somewhat experimented with, took weeks, months, sometimes years of effort. Of careful phrasing of an incantation, meditation on the concept, attempting to pry guidance or foresight from the Force on the effort, of considering how so many different factors could influence the spellwork: Intent, location, terrain, time of day, which side of the Force the place leaned towards, the target and so many variables with them, all of that and more.
Yet she had most likely gone ahead and done it on the spot with little to no preparation.
How was she not dead?
Lesser Sith died or suffered worse fates for less reckless uses of Sith Sorcery, there were records and warnings attesting to that.
Force, he has more of a risk losing his apprentice to herself than anything else if this is how careless she is.
When the recording finishes the senate bursts into an uproar.
"ORDER!" roars Mas Ammeda, "We will have order!"
It takes a great deal of effort to calm the Senate back into anywhere near functional. Many had been dragged back to Coruscant for the previous session, and no one had much rest, going from an emergency session on the 'sudden appearance' of a Clone Army made 'by the Jedi' for the Republic, into another emergency session the following morning with hardly half a night of sleep, why... it made decision making a bit harder for those without the Force to sustain them, didn't it? How fortunate the timing worked so well. Everyone in the building is upset and tired, and even with but a small peak of the Force, many are afraid, confused, and angry.
"There are so many things," said Sidious, standing up and gathering attention, "That need to be addressed by this, but first, Senator Bonteri, would you care to explain your king's decision?"
Senator Mina Bonteri sits in her pod, speechless and pale, and shakes her head. "I... had not been informed of this, your excellency. I had known that the King was once friends with Jorus C'Baoth, but I thought that had ended when he turned away from the Republic and formed the Confederacy. He had been approached a few years ago, but refused the invitation at the time and I thought that was the end of it."
"I see," said Sidious, watching her expressionlessly, "Unfortunately, Senator, your planet did not even have the decency to publicly declare its treachery like many others, but did so in secrecy with full intent to wage war on us with but a token effort to suggest otherwise. I am afraid, Senator, while I believe you are noble at heart, I do not believe in giving declared enemies resources, you will not be returning to your planet until after this war is over with."
He thumbs his panel and signals security who are in her pod in within the minute. "Escort the former senator to a secure apartment where she will be staying for the foreseeable future."
Of course she doesn't have the decency to make a scene and allow him to capitalize further, but he lets the flicker of irritation go and rubs his face with fake tiredness. "Agent Tachi, if you would be amicable to explain a few things regarding what happened?"
His apprentice moves to stand up and take the center of the Naboo pod, that bumbling Binks as the senator's stand in, and one of Amidala's guard captains sitting on one side, Jedi Master Windu, Kenobi, and the Jedi's apprentice on the other. "Of course your excellency."
"I am already aware of the specifics, but a debrief on how you ended up on Kamino for the Senate?" he posed.
She nods and launches into it. The overview is brief: Assignment, standing in for Amidala, chasing the bounty hunter, tracking them down to Kamino, its there that she shifts on her feet, a scowl on her face. "I will voice, Chancellor, that I think it suspicious that the bounty hunter used a very specific weapon from a single planet that could be used to track him down. It may seem like paranoia, but I believe we were meant to follow him to the planet and find the clones."
Not incorrect, but he has to be careful how he handles this. While he does not wish to paint suspicion on the Clone Army, at least not of a kind he can't manage, he cannot be too dismissive of his wayward apprentice. He wants her to one: be willing to work for his public persona during the war and gaining a grudge isn't wise to that end; and two, wants the public to be willing to see her used in such a light, so giving her good publicity can work to his advantage in both so long as he mitigates or plays the downsides right. So he considers her words and leans forward.
"Explain your thought process on this."
"I've held my tongue on it until now," said his apprentice dryly, getting a quick glance from Kenobi; curious, were they still at odds from the ship if she hadn't disclosed her thoughts? Or was he overestimating how close they'd been at all? "The whole thing is a ridiculous set of circumstances that all aligned perfectly and goes in the face of incredulity."
Ah, good, if she had failed to realize that he would have been disappointed.
"A bounty hunter who uses a specific traceable weapon, a Clone Army built FOR the Republic and the Jedi using a bounty hunter who he has every right and reason to hate both after Galidraan," said Tachi flatly, "That alone is beyond suspicious, but counting that both the Jedi and apparently the benefactor who paid for this are both dead and unable to be questioned on it? And that somehow this 'Hego Damask' paid for it without anyone knowing?"
"Yes, I do agree at least on this that the ability to fund such an army without anyone being the wiser is alarming and needs to be looked into," Perhaps it was time to give Organa a test and see how he preforms? "Senator Organna, if you would form committee to investigate the matter of how this army was paid for without any notice?"
"Of course, your excellency," agreed Organa, "Though if I may ask, what is meant by... Galidraan?"
"Its where the Republic and the Jedi were deceived into slaughtering the faction of Mandalorian's led by the then leader of their people, the Mandalore Jango Fett, our bounty hunter clone template," said Siri with mocking admiration, "Frankly, if either the New Mandalorians or Death Watch wanted to, they could have argued for and launched a just war with the Republic over that, but the New Man Mandalorians are pacifist and the Death Watch are the terrorists who set it up. Funny how that worked out."
There is a lot of surprised murmuring, and Sidious is reminded of how ridiculously simple it was to keep that information hidden: Do nothing. He hadn't had to lift a finger, Death Watch covered most of it up, and few cared to dig deeper into it on the Republic side of things. He's not even sure when Dooku and the Jedi realized they had been set up. It was a travesty of their justice system, and yet a few decades later it is all but forgotten. Honestly, C'Baoth had even cited it in some of his speeches against the Republic and still there are so many senators who apparently never bothered to look into it. Its odd though that Organa wasn't aware of it, but then again, from their meetings he was aware that there we're difficulties on policies between him and his queen so perhaps that had eaten his focus. Regardless...
Its a reminder of how... disappointingly easy this was. But here and now... there is a genuine danger, depending on how insightful his apprentice is. "I do agree that it is... odd, to say the least, that he would offer himself to build an army for the Republic and Jedi which, in error, grievously harmed him. Why do you think then, that this Jango Fett allowed himself to be cloned?"
Tachi, crossing her arms, "He got a cloned son out of the whole thing, but honestly he could have just done it the old fashion way and found a spouse, adopted since Mandalorians are big on that kind of thing, or even paid a surrogate. One could argue money since his contract gave him a ridiculous amount, but he'd have to have completely gutted his own honor, morals and disconnected from his people to so callously serve his enemies. Frankly, it would have made sense if he had made that army for the Confederacy. A droid army plus a clone army would have been the end of the Republic, no contest. I don't think a draft could have matched a highly trained army with legions of droid meat shields to cover for them. But instead... here we are."
Sidious is rather curious why she did not fully interrogate Jango Fett on the matter. According to the report the Jedi had submitted, Tachi hadn't questioned Fett's purpose with the Clones at all. There was a partially true story Fett had been instructed to give that wouldn't exactly ring false in the Force, but he hadn't even had to give it. He finds it odd that she did not press at all. Still, she can guess where she is going with her statement, calling him out on his involvement...
"I find it very likely that, while he and the Confederacy will deny it, C'Baoth had a role to play in this," said Tachi, "To my knowledge, he and Sifo-Dyas were acquaintances and fellow masters, and surely he must have encountered Damask before. He could have pressed Sifo-Dyas into making the order, gotten funding, and then cleaned up loose ends, all in preparation for his schism and this upcoming war."
Sidious stares at her for a moment. None of what she said was exactly untrue, though C'Baoth had no part in the funding of it. Yet... she hadn't referenced him? "If true... why would he do such a thing? To give engineer the Republic an army to oppose him?"
"Knight Kenobi and his padawan can back me up on what I'm about to say. Jorus C'Baoth, and every single Jedi under his command, are fallen," she said.
"As in... to the 'Dark Side' I believe is what that phrase entails?" posed Sidious.
"Correct," said Tachi, "And what many might not realize is that war, open conflict, suffering spread around the galaxy, feeds into the Dark Side, it literally empowers darksiders. I've been on war-torn worlds before its..."
She pauses to reflect. "You feel good, incredibly powerful, all your senses are strengthened, its easier to draw on more power from the Force. Each death, each ounce of suffering is like a burst of pleasure in your mind. If it goes on long enough its like being on a non-stop high."
She eyes the Jedi. "It also serves to disrupt and weaken the Jedi's control of the Force, and as such an open war suits his purposes more than just rolling over a poorly defended Republic. It also serves to validate to his Confederacy his war."
Sidious considers this for a moment. He could use this, as a lead in to pushing the Jedi on their lack of revealing their blindness from the Veil of the Darkside, as they hadn't gotten to that during the last session, yet... he also sees and senses an unexpected opportunity. She has not mentioned him, nor any connection between C'Baoth and the Sith, in fact, to his knowledge that has never been publicly pointed out at all by Tachi or the Jedi. His quick and clever mind reminds him on recent readings...
In researching Sith Sorcery since his confrontation with Lord Tyrosus on Korriban, since he had started experimenting on her nightmarish creation of a ship, he had done been refreshing himself on history of a few thousand years ago when it was more common when he had the chance, and considering that, it has given him an amusing idea. "I suppose then, that once more, Jedi fighting against Fallen Jedi is to engulf the galaxy. Darth Sidious need not lift a finger if they destroy themselves in a Second Jedi Civil War."
Oh yes, it was a nice touch, wasn't it? There had been many conflicts and wars that could have technically counted as the second, but there had only ever been one officially titled first war when Darth Revan nearly defeated the Republic. The absolute affront that emanates from the Jedi is amusing and satisfying, whats more, he senses agreement and hears murmuring from a great number of senators. He had been considering what to coin this war as, if he had wanted to at all, and while he had considered calling it the Clone Wars as a catchy and rememberable one, this one is oh so more satisfying to use, to paint the Jedi as the source of the suffering about the sweep the Galaxy.
It is only in hindsight that he recognizes a slight error.
His apprentice narrows her eyes slightly at him, suspicion evident, though it is masked shortly after it appears.
Yes... that was overly heavy handed, wasn't it? Perhaps not to others, but to a Sith? He doubts she yet suspects his true identity, but perhaps his influence? She may lean towards the thought. Yet... that may in turn be a boon, to draw her closer to his public persona as she attempts to sniff him out. Though it is best not to feed into it too much, just hints here and there, yes, that could work. Now... to follow this up with a speech...
The alarm of an top-priority emergency transmission hits the Senate suddenly, and Sidious narrows his eyes. "What?"
Static filled the senate for a moment before a blurry image appeared in their terminals. "...eat, I repeat... Confederacy invasion force ...sting immediate aid from any..."
Shocked cries filled the air, and Sidious's lips pursed tightly. Yes, he had stated that C'Baoth's initial push should make a statement, but he had not authorized an attack on Kuat of all places, its shipyards were rather critical to the war to come, and to his future empire. Nor that it should be immediately before the Republic had even readied their Clone Army. He had held the impression C'Baoth would wait to confer with him based off their last conversation. This was going to put the Republic heavily on the back foot... but when had C'Baoth even readied his forces? It had taken time for his apprentice to return to Coruscant, but not that long... unless he had already been preparing them and putting them into position, just waiting...
Yes, he needs to keep a very close eye on on C'Baoth.
"...our Star Dreadnoughts can hold the line for... will need assistance soon... I repeat..."
Then more chimes hit. "Your excellency, we are receiving a high priority transmission from Corellia."
"Sir! We've got a transmission from the Tapani sector, Fondor is under attack!"
On and on it went, planets of military, technical, or economic value rang in one after another until Sidious finally silenced it. "Enough! The time for negotiations is over, pointless bickering will not serve us now. The Confederacy has brought war onto us and we have no choice but to meet it. I cannot act without your blessing, the Republic must declare a state of emergency and make an official deceleration of war. So I beg of you, give onto me the power to rise to face this threat and lead us through these troubled times."
Binks, bemusedly enough, fulfills his original roll Sidious had carefully prodded him towards, even if it was uneeded as there were many who rose up and agreed. Emergency powers and granted to him, and he wastes no time in playing his part of the opening act of the epilogue of the Republic...
Siri Tachi leans against the wall in a hallway of the Senate Building, arms crossed under her arms, lips pursed tightly. Annoyance flares through her, so furious, and yet so impressed, with Sidious's design. She played her role close to what he likely intended. Whats more, she is very certain her original impression of Palpatine was right, that he is either under Sidious's thumb, or being influenced by him. Worse yet, is that Anakin is close to Palpatine, which means Sidious could have indirect access to Supernova. A disaster waiting to happen. It all wiggles under her skin and makes her shift in discomfort and restlessness. Her enemy is on the offensive and in the far superior position, he always has been, but now its really been shoved in her face.
She doesn't know what to do about it either, about all of this. She's tired, with little to no sleep since the mission, sipping at the Dark Side to keep herself in working order. Sleeping feels more important than thinking at the moment but... the smart thing to do she supposes is to get out of the war ASAP. To keep her head down, observe at a distance, try to see if she can discover Sidious's overall game-plan. But really... its not hard to figure out, she already told the Jedi years ago. In war, so many rights can be stripped away all in the name of safety. The Chancellor position just got emergency powers, and its likely those will grow as the war progresses. After a year or two of war, things will likely be ready for Sidious to off Palpatine (if the man is in on things and thinks Sidious will allow him to walk away alive then he is a fool for he is a loose end). That is her time limit, and she's not confident she can meet it standing back and staying out of things. But if she stays in the war, how can she not just get swept away in it?
She obviously can't let herself be bound to the Republic military or government, so any contract anyone tries to get her to sign is an automatic no. She scowls when her eyes land on Palpatine walking out of the senate chamber, because really, he is the one she needs to keep an eye on. The one she needs to get close to, for if she can find evidence that Sidious has influence, or dare she fear, control, over the Chancellor, then she could potentially set him back drastically...
Then her eyes land on who is walking at the Chancellor's side rather comfortably and with an air of at least some familiarity.
Organa?
Interesting... so the man had honed onto the Chancellor well before she did.
She supposes that settles it then.
An unknown two prong attack. She can draw the main focus, while Organa likely lurks as an assumed sycophant. She forces away the scowl on her face and pushes off the wall, approaching.
"Ah, Agent Tachi, I never did get to say you did good work capturing Gunray," praised the Chancellor.
"Some would say my actions gave C'Baoth the ignition he needed," she said mildly.
"I think it goes without saying he intended to anyway, he had to have already had some of his forces in place to make such a brutal sudden assault," said Palpatine tiredly, "The Republic can only hope our worlds can hold in the time it takes to contact Kamino and for the Clone Army to be readied and sent out. If not, we will have a difficult path ahead re-taking them."
Yes, that was a rather curious thing, wasn't it? Now that she thinks on it, such a brutal onslaught right at the start could deal incredible damage if not cripple some of the Republic's ship production. That... doesn't seem quite to what Sidious would want. She considers the power C'Baoth exhibited in that brief confrontation, and wonders just how much control Sidious has over her stand in replacement. Its an honest shame the Confederacy was tainted by Sidious from the start, because propping them up would be the go to way to oppose him then. C'Baoth will not be any better in the long run, and aiding him would endanger Kenobi and Supernova.
"Yes, unfortunate timing that," said Siri, "I hadn't had the chance to finish my debrief, there was something rather important I needed to disclose that I hadn't gotten the chance to do so."
"And what is that, Agent Tachi?" comes Kenobi's voice, him and Jinzler leaving their spot in the senate chamber, Windu coming out behind them.
"I discovered how C'Baoth got every Jedi that followed him to fall," said Siri, reaching into her robes and pulling out the Sith Torture Mask.
The Jedi reach out with their senses and grimace at it, but Siri's eyes are on Palpatine, watching for any reaction. His eyes linger on it, curiosity in them; he offers a baffled, "A... mask?"
Either he didn't know about them, or he had amazing control. "A Sith Torture Mask. It blocks access to the Light Side of the Force, constantly assaults the victims mind with sound and thoughts and notions, preventing them from concentrating and pushing them into using the Dark. A week, a month, under the effects of these masks would be enough to buckle the average Jedi, I couldn't imagine even the staunchest lasting for more than a few months."
"Force," whispers Kenobi, horrified.
"You are certain of its effects?" asked Palpatine.
"I put it on myself," she admitted, "It was... an interesting experience, but I'm already dark, and unbound, so I could take it off at will."
"I see," said Palpatine, frowning...
How very curious...
Sidious had never covered Sith Torture Masks in his education of Tachi. It is a possibility that Darth Zannah may have educated her on it, yet she would have done so about the original iterations of them, the holocron would have no knowledge of the newer and improved model. It would seem that Sidious's original thoughts were correct, C'Baoth has a traitor giving Lord Tyrosus information, especially considering how she would have even obtained it anyway without it being given to her. He considers informing C'Baoth of this... yet the man's unsanctioned hard initial push over all the shipping yards and more lingers in his mind. Ultimately...
He decides no.
C'Baoth will not be informed.
Sidious needs multiple ways to keep C'Baoth and his Confederacy in check, to stop or stall them from becoming strong enough to actually destroy the Republic. If they succeed in destroying all three of the most major shipping yards, or worse, capture them, then the war is either already over or started on such a back foot the Republic will have a poor chance at coming back from. While he could usurp C'Baoth if it came down to it and control the Confederacy, that way would not be nearly so clean. In hindsight, perhaps he gave C'Baoth to much freedom and power that he has either grown reckless with it, or is already actively conspiring against him.
"This is troubling news, could anything be done for them?" asked Sidious with false concern.
Siri shrugged. "It would largely depend on the individual, how far gone they are, and how much damage they do before they are either captured or rescued, depending on your perspective. Anakin is capable of yanking someone straight out of the dark, but they'd have to willingly trust him into their mind to do so."
Yes, and how many Jedi would get themselves killed trying to save their fallen comrades with this knowledge? Truly, he is not concerned about the leak of this information, if anything, this leak's existence aids him twofold: in weakening C'Baoth, and in killing off Jedi. "It is my hope that some of them can be helped, but just because they were pushed into this does not ignore that they went with him to begin with, nor does it negate what they do while serving the Confederacy. I hold doubts that many will be so... fortunate to be offered the same chances you were."
He watches her, but she merely gives a mocking smile. "I doubt C'Baoth will give them access to the same kind of information I had."
"Speaking of such," said Sidious, so very curious, "You called them Sith torture masks..."
"Oh, its very likely C'Baoth is under Sidious's direction, might have been a bit premature naming the war the way you did," she mocked, "But I suppose you didn't know."
Sidious feigns offense. "Perhaps I let my anger over the situation get the better of me, but that does not negate their involvement. C'Baoth and those that followed him were Jedi. Their inability to keep their order together, splitting off from the Republic, and their own from falling has certainly enlarged the situation."
He can feel the Jedi about to retort, but he doesn't give them the chance, focusing on his apprentice. "But regardless, why did you not mention your belief in Sidious's involvement?"
"I won't give him the satisfaction of publicly acknowledging how damn perfect his plan was in front of the entire galaxy," she said flatly.
"Spite?" he stated, incredulous.
Why is he surprised?
Of course it was spite.
She gave him the opening she did out of a desire to spite him and deny his glory.
Of course she did.
He opens his mouth to speak, but Organa lays a hand lightly on his arm. "Your excellency, we don't have time, it wont take long to reach out to Kamino with the contact information they left in the packet Agent Tachi acquired for us."
Right, of course, he can't afford to focus to much on his apprentice at the moment while reigning in C'Baoth, at least not in the immediate. "Of course. Agent Tachi if you could write up a detailed report for the Senate before your mission is officially closed?"
Ought to keep her busy until he gets the next motions out of the way. She is also obligated to do so to wrap up the mission he contracted her for, which should keep her from running off, unless of course she decides to anyway. He supposes he'll see...
"Tell me Windu," he hears her faintly say as he walks away, "When you look at Palpatine, what do you see?"
He does not slow, but he does enhance his hearing with a faint touch of the Force.
"Nothing I care to share with you, Sith," said Windu flatly, glancing down at the torture mask in her hand with distaste, turning and near storming away, "Knight Kenobi, we need to report to the Council, now."
Its so nice when his opponents don't play well together.
Not that any shatterpoints should be properly perceived about him anyway, not with the Veil of the Dark Side under his command.
Sidious slowly smiles as he heads out.
Siri sleeps off that mission in her senate furnished apartment like a bad hang over.
Sleeping in hyperspace had been a no go, not after delving that deep and recklessly with her sorcery and still using the Force right after to fight with. As much as she's loathed to admit it, the Jedi Temple off in the distance had helped to settle how unbalanced she'd felt. Of course, thinking of the temple sours her when it reminds her of Windu not giving the insight she'd asked for, but whatever. She lazes in bed, still tired, and reaches for her datapad. She spends an hour or so typing up that damn report Palpatine wanted, it will give her an excuse to meet with him again.
She considers whether or not to give her impressions, or her thoughts on Sidious, before she decides no and sticks to bare facts. She said her piece to the Senate on the important things of how sketchy the whole situation is. They should be able to figure out Sidious had a hand in it anyway. She leaves out Ki-Adi-Mundi, merely notes finding the mask in a room, and sets the datapad down when she's done. She heads to the fresher, strips, and soaks in the shower for an obscenely long time. She slowly lets the Force back in as her body loosens under the heat. She still feels a little disconnected, the tinest of whispers in her ear that she can't quite focus on, she also still feels Rain's faint grip on her presence as a wary anchor.
She really needs to meditate.
She shrugs to herself, shuts the shower off, and sits down to mediate in the steam, breathing in deep and letting it out.
She retreats into the confines of her mental landscape and finds everything dulled and blurred. The boundaries of where she begins and where the Force is blurred slightly. She studies the odd phenomenon curiously, honestly baffled by it. She thinks about how disconnected she had felt from her body and the physical, yet she'd strangely still been conscious rather than losing herself. She'd started to perceive things differently, but... her sense of self hadn't dissipated. No, what had been alarming was the dark coming for her the way it did in that state. She shivers at remembering what she had felt when something in the Dark had reach into her, trying to sever her from her body.
She doesn't know what she delved into, and for now, it will remain that way. She doesn't think this is something she should investigate again until she is a Sith Master herself. For now, she materializes herself and walks her mind, solidifying herself back into the rigged form of her existence. Only when she is satisfied that the aftereffects are gone and that her mental shields are in tip top shape does she leave her meditation. She leaves the fresher, dresses, attaches her lightsaber to her belt, pockets her datapad, reaches for Rain's holocron...
Which materializes its furious gatekeeper. "You left that for far to long, Siri."
"Yeah yeah yeah," said Siri, reaching through her for the chain, pulling it over her neck and letting the holocron rest under her robes, "So, no idea what I delved into?"
"Siri," said Rain flatly, "I am the most recent Sith Sorceress of renown, likely the best in the last few thousand years, but I am not one of the Ancient Sith, they who make what we do seem like child's play. What I've read in ancient scriptures is whatever they felt like writing down and leaving behind, but do you truly think they'd leave their deepest secrets and discovers for anyone to find? That they would hint at any failures or near misses they personally suffered for us to learn from?"
Rain shakes her head. "It pains me to say, but we are children compared to them, Siri. I found my limits in Sorcery, and I very rarely pressed those limits because Sorcery is not something trifled with lightly, and it can have extremely dire consequences. I've only generally found warnings based off gloating of failed practitioners that others listed as lessons, or to prop themselves up in their place, but even those..."
Rain swallows. "You and I need to have a very long sit down where I instruct you on every single danger I've ever discovered. I should have done so at the start, but your safety wasn't really my concern then."
Siri gives an amused smile. "I was still the disposable acolyte then."
"You did not mean anything to me then," agreed Rain.
"When did you start giving a kriff?" asked Siri, curious.
Rain pops out of existence rather than answering.
Siri snorts and heads for the kitchen, thankfully the apartment had been refurnished during her absence, so she unpackages a few things, eats, and leaves for the Senate. She reads about what she missed, and finds it getting close to two days having passed, one from sleeping, a good chunk of another from her meditation. Night will be in a few hours. Awesome, its not like she really had a sleep schedule anyway she supposed. While waiting for a speeder to pick her up, she reads that the Jedi have been declared generals, to lead the clones and oppose the Dark Jedi in the Confederacy. A good chunk have apparently already shipped out to meet their forces in transit...
She grips her datapad tightly when she senses Kenobi isn't on planet. So he was shipped out too. She wonders about Supernova, Dooku, and Jinn on Naboo with Senator Amidala. Will they be staying with her or departing...
Her comlink pings an incoming transmission, and she fishes it out, eying the caller. "Lex."
"Iris dear, I hear you've gotten yourself into a mess," said Alexi, "Five million credits, I'm impressed."
Siri blinks. "Sorry? Five million credits?"
"Ah... you don't know yet then," said Alexi, "The Confederacy has put a bounty on the head of the 'treacherous Sith Apprentice Siri Tachi'."
Siri swears under her breath and flips her hood up. "Force dammit that is going to be a pain in the ass with random hot shots deciding to try to take a piece of me."
"Yes, I'd keep your head down in Confederacy or more neutral space for the time being," said Alexi, "I've sent out word that the bounty is not acceptable to the Black Sun, but aside from myself, Mighella, and those most loyal I'd be careful in who in our organization you reach out to."
"I appreciate the warning," she said before pausing, "Did they put out any other bounties?"
Were Kenobi and Jinzler targeted?
"There was a standard open bounty on capturing Jedi put up, alive, to be 'shown the light of the Confederacy' but not anyone specific," advised Alexi.
Tsk. More Jedi to put the Sith Torture Masks on and conscript. "Thanks for the warning, and Lex? Be careful sticking your fingers into the war. I know there will be profits to be made, but this is of Sidious's design, and no one but him wins in it."
"Noted, Alexi out."
Damn, she usually liked to get the last word. She pockets her comlink as a speeder pulls up, gets in and flips a few credit their way. "Senate building."
She keeps her hood up until she actually gets inside, pausing when she notes the heightened security. She gives her reason for visit, is called ahead, and granted access a few minutes later. She has to sit and wait in reception for Palpatine to get out of a meeting, but she's usher into his office within the hour.
"Ah, Agent Tachi, you look refreshed from your mission," he commented, "I assume you are better then? I do recall your... holocron I believe its called? Had expression concern for you doing something to yourself."
Siri smiled tightly. "C'Baoth has a way to detect my normal methods of shrouding myself in the Force, I had to... improvise in an unadvised manner."
"I see," said Palpatine, templing his fingers together, "Can this detection be worked around in any other ways?"
"Well, I only have to be concerned about it if there are Dark Jedi or C'Baoth himself present, and from what I can tell their detection is proximity based," said Siri, "If I can avoid them I can remain hidden. A full on counter to their counter though is... something I would need a great deal of time to devise."
"Well, unfortunately, we do not have time for that," said Palpatine.
"We," said Siri, eyebrow raised, fishing out her datapad, and pulling out a memory chip, setting it on his desk, "I finished my mission, and I told you before I have little interest in being dragged into the war."
Feign hard to get, lets see what he does...
Palpatine hummed. "Not even for the offer of protection? I don't know if you are aware..."
"I've been aware of the bounty put on my head. Its more annoying than concerning," said Siri, "And don't make me laugh Chancellor, the Republic can hardly protect itself. I'm likely safer hidden on my own."
"You don't strike me as a woman who wishes to simply sit things out, to hide away," he stated rather boldly, "If only to protect those you deign to care for."
Siri narrows her eyes slightly. Is that a pointed topic, or a subtle threat? It would depend if he belongs to Sidious or not. She is oh so tempted to force the truth out of him, but... there are risks of making enemies out of both galactic governments and both the Dark and normal Jedi and Sidious. "Perhaps, but understand this, I am not allowing myself to be legally tied down into anything. Anything I agree to will be on a mission to mission basis and I am free to deny your requests."
"Of course, and I assume you wish to set a standard payment for missions as well?" he posed dryly.
"Money is irrelevant to me beyond the basics I need to live and operate," she said flatly, considering him, "I am more interested in information. I need to know the goings of the war, troops movements of both sides if known, active battlefields, where C'Baoth is at any given point if we know, ongoing politics of both senates, all of that and more."
Palptine raises both eyebrows. "On our side at least, that is critical information that if it fell into the wrong hands could ruin the war effort."
"Do you think I would be so careless?" she said, "Though a state of the art secure datapad wouldn't hurt."
He huffed. "You don't ask for much, do you? I suppose I could run the idea by..."
"You just secured Emergency Powers," she said pointedly, eyes so very watchful, and sprung a trap, "At this point, you don't answer to the Senate on much. If you wish to do something you believe will support the war effort, it is so very much in your ability to do so without their leave."
Palpatine pauses.
Now... now she will get another gauge of his character, one way or the other.
"That is a very dangerous position you are pressing me towards," he said softly, "My position is not so secure that the senate could not pose a vote of no confidence and throw me out if I mishandle things, and a leadership change at this juncture could cause more harm and chaos to our efforts than good."
That isn't a no. "Perhaps, but you've already made it plain to me you want me aiding the Republic."
"And is there a threat of the opposite?" he posed, eyes as watchful as hers, "Of you giving that information to the Confederacy?"
Siri makes a face of distaste. "First, no, hell no. I want C'Baoth dead, and he happens to be their leader."
"And you couldn't take his place? That is the way of the Sith from what I've learned, isn't it?" posed Palpatine, "You did make it seem like he was working for Darth Sidious, that would make him the apprentice, would it not?"
"C'Baoth," she said, sneering, "Is an expendable pawn to Sidious, likely intended to die at some point after he has fulfilled his use, and if he is so blind he can't realize that, then he deserves what is coming to him one day. But beyond that, C'Baoth made me publicly enemy number one of the Confederacy, he based part of his argument for war, hell, for the original schism, because of me. He can neither recruit me if I so desired to join them, nor can I take over because their entire force pretty much wants me dead."
"Not even by subjugation?"
Siri slowly shakes her head. "Why would I care to rule a bunch of misbegotten piss ants who'd be more effort then they're worth to bring in line? I am not Sidious, not my predecessors, I consider the thought of ruling the same as any future apprentice of mine."
His eyes gleam at that. "Oh?"
"Both should be willing, to be ruled, or to be dark and learn from me," said Siri, "I have no interest in the opposite."
He gives her an odd look. "You are very strange, for a Sith."
"Thanks," she said dryly, "Are we in agreement?"
He considers he for a long moment. "I trust you will not blatantly reveal this agreement? It would for one, put a target on your back, and two, put the Republic in danger."
So he was willing to deal under the table then.
"Of course, the only ones who would know are us, and those you'd inform," said Siri, "Though before we go further, I will say it now: I will not be answerable to a Jedi at any point."
"But of course," agreed Palpatine, "As a Special Agent of the Chancellor, you would be answerable only to me."
Something in Siri twists, deeply unsettled, but not sure why. Rather than show it, she goes on the offensive. "Just tread carefully Chancellor, I wont take being given suicide missions well."
"I will speak plainly and say you are far to useful to waste on such things," said the Chancellor calmly, "And I am very aware that if I mishandle you, you will make your... dissatisfaction, known, loudly."
Siri grins, amused, and sits down in the chair across from him. "Alright Chancellor, what do you have in mind?"
"By now the Jedi should have or are soon to meet up with their forces and will be moving to engage the enemy on multiple fronts at the most critical worlds, Kuat and Corellia being the most important. I am afraid we may have to cede Fondor to the Confederacy for the time being. But regardless, the Confederacy is on full offense, which leaves their back... exposed."
"You have a target?" she inquired.
"Oh yes, one you have very recent information of as well," said Palpatine, "Your task is simple: C'Baoth is, last we knew, on Onderon giving a speech, his second in command Krell is with him, and we are led to believe most of his Jedi have been sent out with his forces. This leaves Geonosis unguarded by anyone who could trouble you, not to mention emptied of droids. You will destroy their droid production facilities and set back their ability to replenish their forces."
Siri hides the discomfort she feels at returning to that place and instead points out, "I don't have nearly enough explosives for that level of destruction, nor am I an amazing enough slicer to try and dig in for a self-destruct code, if they even have those for them."
"Ah, worry not, worry not," he said, leaning back in his chair, "You see, I've been given a briefing on many of our newly acquired assets, and shortly before you arrived, I had come to a decision on one of them. A small unit of four elite Clone Commandos, I do believe their designation is... Delta Squad. I desire for you to lead this elite unit, and with you as their commander, I think the squad will be one of our most prized assets."
Siri frowns. "I have no real military exposure, Chancellor, no experience leading others. I'm best solo."
"Are you unwilling to learn a new skill?" he said dryly, "Leading others could prove useful to you later in life beyond the immediate war."
She opened her mouth to counter... but he wasn't wrong. This... was actually something she ought to learn. She won't admit it anymore than a, "I suppose. Where is this 'Delta Squad' now?"
"I took the liberty of assuming how this meeting would go," arrogant bastard, "And had requisitioned them and a great deal of ordinance be routed to meet you here. They should be arriving within the next day or two. Your ship I was told had a cloaking field, as such, it is much more suited for such a mission than what Kamino has."
"Have to make room and restock on the essentials," she muttered, "But I can get that done today."
"Good," said Palpatine, "Get yourself situated and ready, Agent Tachi. I will see about getting you your requested secure datapad, and I will have you contacted when Delta Squad arrives."
Siri Tachi, Delta Squad Commander... she supposes she'll see how that works out...