Hello, everyone. Back with another chapter.
Let's get to it.
Rico: The Terran Alliance series is not my only priority. I do plenty of other stuff, including other Star Wars stories.
kingmanaena: Yes, we will be seeing the Bad Batch, Cal Kestis, and other fan favorite characters in this.
Chapter 2- Situational Awareness
Anakin guides the speeder down towards the front gate of the Jedi Temple. As they come down, they can see Cin Drallig and a formation of Temple Guards waiting for them. They had called ahead to warn the Temple of what had happened, and the Temple was now on high alert.
As Anakin and Mace climb out of the speeder as Cin Drallig hurries over to them. "Are you unhurt, Masters?" he asks in concern.
"A little worn down but otherwise alright," Mace responds.
"I've ordered the Temple Guard to full readiness, and the Temple is being locked down. We will soon be ready for any assault on the Temple," Cin informs to the two.
"Good. It seems that the Chancellor has some unusual control over the clones, and have used that to get the clones to start turning on Jedi. If this pattern continues, I'm guessing either my men from the 501st, and clone shock troopers of the Coruscant Guard, will be used to launch an attack on the Temple," Anakin informs. Cin nods in response.
"Continue preparing the Temple, Cin," Mace orders before looking at Anakin and says, "Come, Anakin. We need to convene a meeting of whatever Council members are left. Immediately." Anakin nods in response, and the two race into the Temple, hurrying up towards the Council Chamber.
As Anakin and Mace are riding up a lift towards the Council Chamber, Anakin's commlink goes off. Anakin pulls it out, and upon activating it, Ahsoka pops up.
"Ahsoka. Are you okay?" Anakin asks a bit desperately.
"Yes, I'm fine. I was able to get Rex to the medical bay, and I was able to get Rex' inhibitor chip out. That snapped him back to normal, and he was able to give me some more information that he has surmised. The chips were activated when receiving orders from the Supreme Chancellor to carry out certain contingency orders. Order 66 is to eliminate the Jedi for treason against the Republic," Ahsoka says.
"Where are you now?" Anakin asks.
"Hiding in the ventilation system. Rex came up with an idea. The general clone population doesn't even know the inhibitor chips exist. Rex tried his idea out with Jesse and two other clones by finding them and telling him that he found out that the clones have the chips, but that they're meant to calm clones down, and I tried to use that to my advantage, so the chips had to be removed. Jesse and the two clones fell for it, and Rex was able to get their chips out. They're now trying to repeat the trick with the rest of the clones on board. I think they've managed to get around 30 so far. However, Maul has escaped," Ahsoka informs them.
"Thank you, Ahsoka. We can always recapture Maul later. That's the least of our worries. Stay hidden until Rex and the boys can get all the chips out of the clones. Once they've done that, contact me again," Anakin says.
"I will. Stay safe, Master," Ahsoka says before cutting the transmission.
Anakin stows his commlink away and looks at Mace. "That could be of use to us. Maybe there's a way to issue an order to the clones that could counteract this Order 66."
"Let's hope so," Mace responds.
It doesn't take long before the two Jedi reach the Council CHamber. Not bothering to take their seats, the activate the beacon, calling for the rest of the Council members to join a meeting via hologram.
Within a matter of seconds, Shaak Ti arrives in the room, having still been at the Temple. Then, the holograms begin to come up. First is Oppo Rancisis, with Coleman Kacj following a second later. Then comes Luminara. Plo Koon comes on a few seconds later. Then, to Anakin's relief, Yoda and Obi-Wan appear last of all.
"Master!" Anakin exclaims, relieved to see Obi-Wan alive.
"Anakin. I'm glad to see you're alright," Obi-Wan responds.
The Council sits in silence for moments longer, waiting for the remaining members to come on, which include Ki Adi Mundi, Stass Allie, and. Deppa Bilaba. However, as the moments pass, it's clear to them that the last three members of the Council will not be joining, and must not have survived.
Mace finally speaks up. "I am guessing that all of you were attacked by your clones," he begins the meeting.
All of the Council members present nod. Plo speaks up and says, "I was almost shot out of the sky. I escaped by the skin of my teeth, so to speak."
Mace speaks again, ready to explain. "Skywalker, during a trip to the Chancellor's office, learned from the Chancellor himself that Palpatine is the Sith Lord we have been looking for. After Anakin brought this information to me, I took Masters Tiin, Kolar, and Fisto to the Chancellor's office to arrest him. When we arrived, he revealed himself as the Sith Lord and attacked us. The other three Masters were killed. I fought him to a standstill before Anakin arrived to assist me. However, he escaped. From information we have received from Ahsoka Tano, it seems the Chancellor issued an Executive Order, which in turn activated the inhibitor chips placed in each clone, forcing them tom turn on the Jedi."
"So. It was him all along," Obi-Wan speaks up.
"Yes, Master," Anakin confirms, still bristling with anger at Palpatine's betrayal.
"We have spoken with Ahsoka Tano several times. She was able to remove the inhibitor chip in her clone captain Rex, who came up with a plan to convince the clones, most of whom are unaware the inhibitor chips exist, that the chips in fact exist to calm them down and that the Jedi can attempt to weaponize them against the clones. They have begun getting clones to agree to remove their chips under this pretense. We will soon have an entire cruiser of clones who are free from the Chancellor's influence and will hopefully be able to work with us," Mace explains.
"But what can we do about Palpatine? If he possesses the means to control the majority of the clones, as well as the sympathy of the Senate, there will be little we can do," Plo Koon points out.
Right on cue, Anakin's holoprojector comes on. Anakin sets it down and activates it. A moment later, Padme and Bail Organa come up on the projection.
"Anakin. Did you make it back to the Temple?" Padme asks.
"Yes, Padme. We're preparing for an attack on the Temple by clones if it comes to it," Anakin explains.
Bail then speaks up. "We have managed to learn something important. It appears that the order issued to the clones is one of 150 contingency orders implanted into the clones at birth, with the inhibitor chips meant to ensure compliance. Order 66 is an order to execute the Jedi for treason against the Republic. My personal guess is that these orders were created by the Chancellor as a public show meant to conceal Order 66 to avoid suspicion."
Padme then speaks up. "But, we found something that might be useful. Among the list of orders, we found that Order 65 states if the Chancellor is found to be abusing his power, the clones are to detain him, with lethal force if necessary. If we can manage to get a vote to declare Chancellor Palpatine unfit to exercise his position and temporary replacement installed who can issue Order 65, it should cancel out Order 66, stop them from attacking Jedi, and turn them to our cause."
The Jedi perk up at this information. If this could be done, it could turn everything back in their favor. Yes, many Jedi would still have been lost, and the Clone Wars might not be over quite yet, but at least the clones would no longer be under Palpatine's control.
Bail, however, pokes a hole in their balloon of hope. "However, therein lies the problem. The Chancellor has made himself so endearing to the Senate that most will believe him if he were to tell that the Jedi were traitors and attempted to assassinate him, or refuse to believe us. We and a few allies believe you, and we have secretly called for the Senate to meet. However, we need proof of your claims if we are to convince the rest of the Senate. Especially before the Chancellor tries to return and convince the Senate he is in the right."
The Jedi Council is quiet for several long moments. Finally, Yoda declares, "Proof, we must provide. Convince the Senate, we must."
Mace speaks up, "There will likely be proof in the Chancellor's office. I am certain that Palpatine has recording devices in his office. Perhaps they will have captured footage and audio of what happened. We have to get it before the Chancellor can erase it or attempt to release a doctored version to sway the public."
Oppo Rancisis speaks up now, "But the clones will certainly be on high alert. Any Jedi who approaches the building will be attacked."
"But I won't. I'm a Senator. Nobody will question me being there. I'll sneak up to the Chancellor's office and get my hands on the recordings," Bail says firmly.
The Council is quiet for a moment before Yoda declares. "Very well. To the Chancellor's office you will go, Senator Organa."
"I will not let you down," Bai responds before leaving the call.
"In the meantime. Senator Amidala, you must prepare our case to the Senate. Although we hope Senator Organa will be able to retrieve the evidence we need, you must prepare to attempt to convince the Senate should he be unable to," Mace explains.
"Yes, Master Windu. I will do my best. It may also help, if Bail is unable to find any evidence, if a Jedi comes with me to make the case. Preferably one who knows the most about the situation," Padme says.
"Very well. If he is back in time, we will send Master Yoda. If not, we will send Skywalker," Mace says.
"Very well. I'll keep you updated," Padme says, then turns off her commlink.
Now, the Council looks around at each other. Mace speaks and says, "If any of you feel you can safely begin to try and get inhibitor chips removed from your clones, please attempt to do so. But if you feel you cannot do that safely, then hurry back to the Temple. Do not put yourself in more danger."
"We understand, Master Windu," Luminara responds.
"Until we see you all here again, may the Force be with you all," Mace says. Everyone nods, and the holograms begin to drop off.
Obi-Wan is the last. He looks at Anakin and says, "I am proud of you, Anakin. I know this must have been difficult. But you have done well. I have taken General Grievous' fighter and am on my way back to Coruscant. I shouldn't be long. Stay safe until I get there."
"You know me, Master. I've always got everything under control," Anakin says with a cocky smile and a joking tone.
Obi-Wan chuckles, then says, "May the Force be with you," before ending the call.
Left alone, Anakin, Mace, and Shaak Ti all look at each other. After a moment, Anakin says, "Well, we better get ready."
(Unknown location)
In his secret hideaway in the Industrial Sector on Coruscant, Palpatine walks slowly towards a shuttle, Mas Amedda following him. "Things have not gone exactly as I planned. But my plan will succeed. But we cannot do it from here any longer," he says. He then turns to several shadowy figures in the background and says, "Let us be gone."
The figures follow Mas Amedda and Palpatine aboard the shuttle. Once aboard, the shuttle takes off, flying up and out of Coruscant's atmosphere. Once out of the atmosphere, they are joined by a shuttle carrying the members of Palpatine's Red Guard. Then, together, the two shuttles jump to hyperspace.
And, I'll end the chapter there.
So, I decided to mix the canon and Legends of Order 66 together. In Legends, Order 66 was one of 150 contingency orders that were drilled into the clones in their youth. Like i postulated in the chapter, they were mostly created as a smokescreen to conceal order 66. In canon, what we know is that the inhibitor chips were programmed with order 66, and when activated, forced the clones to comply. I am kinda going down the middle here, where the 150 Orders all exist, and the inhibitor chips are placed to ensure absolute compliance.
Now, regarding Palpatine. So, in this, he decided to leave Coruscant instead of trying to remain behind to eventually draw in the Jedi. He has a different idea here. Yes, for those guessing, he is going to assume more public control of the CIS, but that's not his whole plan.
Next chapter should be up soon. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned.