Author's Note: This is part two of Chapter Four. I apologize if it isn't exactly stunning; I had a really hard time writing this part.
On Coruscant Master Vandar stepped away from the communications screen as the image of Masters Zhar and Dorak on Dantooine faded back into the nothingness of a blank monitor, and hobbled back to where the other members of the High Council waited for him. For thousands of years the Jedi High Council had stood as the guiding light for Jedi everywhere as they met in this room high atop the tallest spire in the great Jedi temple where thousands of Jedi lived and trained. They had the strongest connections to the Force, the greatest insight into its will. Among their numbers were the wisest decision makers, the sharpest tacticians, and the greatest warriors. They were what many Jedi aspired to be and they knew without a shadow of a doubt that no other Jedi would envy them the decision they now had to make.
It had been mere hours since word came from the Supreme Chancellor's office of the attack on Onderon by the Mandalorians, which had come as a surprise even to the Council as all knew the level of destruction the Mandalorians had faced in the war all those decades ago. They had been left without a fleet and though a body had never been found, many believe that Mandalore, the Mandalorian leader himself had been killed during the conflict. No one had ever thought it was possible that they would have been able to recover, and even if they had been able, no one would have imagined that they would try and take on the Republic again. Unfortunately, it would seem the Republic does not think as the Mandalorians do. Though the attack on Onderon had only occurred a short time ago, the Republic had already had two ships engage in the combat and had reassigned three more to head to that sector. Though the Supreme Chancellor and the Senate hadn't officially declared war, the Republic was desperate for the Jedi to step in as they had the last time.
Only half of the total twelve current members of the High Council were actually in attendance on Coruscant, the rest were scattered across the galaxy on various missions. Messages similar to the one sent to Masters Dorak and Zhar had already been sent to all Jedi Masters holding a seat on any of the many Jedi councils wherever they were in the galaxy. Thus far, only five had not responded and three of those were on particularly delicate missions that required them to maintain radio silence for extended periods of time. One Jedi Master could not be summoned at all, Master Tirith Nel had been aboard the Tatooine's Twins when it had sustained heavy damaged from the Mandalorian flotilla. The High Council members had all felt his death in the Force.
Masters Vandar, Zez-kai Ell, Kavar, Vrook, Lonna, and Atris took their seats. Though it would still be several days before all the members of the Council would be able to join together and convene on the matter in full, there was much that needed to be discussed.
"In a hurry, the Republic is. To battle, the Jedi have been called," Vandar began.
"The Republic assumes too much," Master Atris chimed in. Her manner was as cold as her appearance and she had received the moniker "Hoth Queen" among younglings at the Temple. Her main function among the Jedi had been maintaining the Archives, a duty she had taken over from Kreia when Kreia had started taking Padawans again, and some speculated that she didn't know how to relate to something that wasn't in holorecord format. "The Order is not the Senate's task force to be ordered off to fight their battles for them."
"And yet the Order has sworn loyalty to the Senate and the Republic," Master Kavar contributed. "And, after all, the Jedi did assist the Republic military the last time the Mandalorians attacked. There is precedence for such an assumption."
"That was different Master Kavar and you know it," Master Vrook countered, "then it was a matter of former members of our own ranks influencing the Mandalorians."
"That is correct, and both Exar Kun and Ulic Qel-Droma are now dead, the Sith have been routed, none of their followers remain," Master Lonna Vash agreed. "This does not concern us."
"Concern us, it does. Greatly it concerns us. Concerns all Jedi, this matter does." The Master Vandar spoke the words in a far quieter and more reserved tone then his fellow Masters, yet all stopped and listened when the ancient Jedi spoke. "A vision, I have had. Dangerous, are the times ahead. The death of the Order as we all know it, my vision has shown me."
At that the other Masters fell deathly silent. The silence was like a scream cutting into all their hearts. It was finally broken by Master Atris.
"Well then, that settles it. If Master Vandar had a vision of the Order's destruction, the Republic will have to manage on their own."
"How do we know that staying out of the conflict won't be that which causes our downfall?" Master Zez-kai Ell finally spoke up.
"We are speaking of the Mandalorians, they can't have more then a handful of capital ships. This is going to be nothing more then a skirmish for the Republic in the end," Atris said.
"Tell that to Tirith Nel," Zez-kai said.
"Master Nel knew the risks of being a Jedi, as do we all," Master Vrook said, a touch of sorrow finding its way into his normally harsh and rough voice. He and Tirith Nel had been friends most of their lives, had gone on many missions together with their Masters as Padawans, and had even gone through their trials at the same time. Though it was a fact of life for Jedi, Master Vrook now regretted not getting to spend more time as adults with his friend, but regrets were not for Jedi and he quickly let them go.
"To fight, or stay our hands, more discussion this matter will take. Amongst all Masters, a decision must be reached, if the fate of the Order is at stake," Master Vandar interjected reminding the Masters that a decision would not be reached in this session. "Until then, involved the Jedi cannot be."
"They said what?" Admiral Caster Suul said in disbelief of what he had just heard uttered from the Supreme Chancellor's own mouth. Admiral Caster Suul was responsible for command over the entire Republic Navy. He, as well as General Miko Gran, who held command over the Republic Army and occasionally acted as subordinate to the Admiral, had gathered in the Supreme Chancellor's Office to decide on a plan of action. Two standard hours earlier the Senate had decided that they should deal with the Mandalorians with a "Policing Action" and had not openly declared war. After all, it wasn't as if the Mandalorians could really pose too much of a threat to the combined might of the Republic Army and Navy. None the less, a response was required. At this moment two Republic capital ships and three frigates were engaged with the Mandalorians who were entrenched at Onderon and the moon Dxun. As of yet they had been unable to deploy any ground troops. The Tatooine's Twins, which had been the first Republic vessel to engage the Mandalorians, was all but destroyed, and though the Republic forces had thus far managed to keep the Mandalorians busy, several ships, possibly even the majority of the Mandalorian fleet, of unknown designation had been able to leave the system before the brunt of the Republic ships had arrived. The most recent reports confirmed that the Mandalorians were now using Onderon's own Royal Fleet against the Republic forces. What the Republic now faced at Onderon was a battle of attrition; unfortunately, it was still far too early to determine which side was being worn down faster. Both Admiral Caster Suul and General Miko Gran had been hoping for word of Jedi assistance. Both knew that with only a handful of Jedi this little "disruption" would be solved in a matter of days without the need to reallocate anymore Republic resources.
"The High Council of the Jedi has stated that at this moment they are unable to commit any of their number to the reclaiming of Onderon from the Mandalorians," Supreme Chancellor Daynn Gracus repeated. "The word came to me directly from Master Vandar himself."
"They are unable? Unable or unwilling?" General Miko Gran said turning away in disgust.
"They said unable," the Chancellor stated. "They gave the reason of needing to consult all the Jedi Masters in the Order."
"What do they need to consult ALL the Masters for? They are the bloody High Council...don't they hold dominion over the whole lot of them?" the Admiral stood and placed his hands on the Chancellor's desk, he could barely keep his anger in check. "It's not like we are asking for every man, woman, and child who can hold a lightsaber to go to Onderon. All we need is a handful, twenty at the most; hell, they could even give us apprentices!"
"I explained your request to them Admiral. This was their response. As you know I do not command the Jedi Order. I can make requests of them and I can consult them, but I cannot give them orders."
"I was under the impression that the Jedi served the Senate!" Admiral Suul almost yelled. "What is the point of having them around if they are not there when they are needed?"
"The Jedi serve the Republic, but in the end they govern themselves. If they feel there is a reason to not engage themselves in this matter at this time, then we must respect their decision."
"So they will commit themselves to conflict when it suits their needs, but when it is our needs at stake it is our problem?" General Gran had kept his seat, unlike the Admiral who was pacing like a caged maalraas, the Corellian Admiral was known for his hotheaded nature. Many wondered how he had managed to advance so far in his career with his temper, but the facts were the man knew his way around a space battle. He had been instrumental as a Republic Captain in the victory over the Mandalorians when Exar Kun had led them against the Republic three decades ago.
"There is no indication that that is their position General Gran, they merely stated that they could not commit themselves to this conflict until such time that they could confer with all the Masters of the Order," Chancellor Gracus, a long time proponent of the Jedi Order was unfortunately very used to defending their actions. He himself didn't quite understand why they were hesitant in this matter, but his experience told him that they knew things that were not always evident to others. "Please gentlemen, if we give them time things should become clear."
"Give them time?" Admiral Suul almost exploded. "GIVE THEM TIME? If we wait for them to get off their high and mighty rears we might as well give the Onderonians a primer for learning Mandalorian. No…if the Jedi cannot be bothered to help us unless it is convenient for them, then we will take care of the Mandalorians ourselves." Admiral Suul turned and pointed a finger at the Chancellor. "Mark my words Daynn…if the Jedi cannot be trusted to assist us now, then it will only be a matter of time before they stab us in the back."
With that the Admiral stormed out of the office. With a sigh General Gran followed after bowing to the Chancellor. The Chancellor himself put his head in his hands.
"My dear Jedi friends, I do hope you will be able to justify yourselves in this matter," the Chancellor said to himself as he looked up at where the two commanders had departed, "for all our sakes."