Star Wars: Arda Unleashed

by Lord Exar Kun

After the Arda Campaign ended in victory for the Republic and their local allies, the galaxy's eyes returned to the wider Clone Wars. However, the Dark Lord Sauron has yet to be vanquished. Now he has come to the wider galaxy free from the binds of Arda, and is ready to be unleashed upon the stars. As the Chosen One's fate, the Republic's and the Jedi Order's remains to be seen.

4. A Knife in the Core

Chapter 4

A Knife in the Core

"I tell you this, Koll, my father isn't happy, my brothers aren't happy. Do you want to know what is most important though? I'M not happy!" Taruk sat leaned forward on his rather uncomfortable and primitive seat set within an equally arcane office made for his offices here on this new world. Before him, projected hazily and with no small amount of interference was an aggravated teenager with a healthy inflation of their own worth and superiority.

"My Lady Sipillona, I can appreciate that your family is upset with how things are going here on Arda, but I can assure you that I am doing-"

"I don't wanna hear all that!" She cut him off with that haughty shrill only young girls seemed to be capable of perfecting. His eyes winced and ears grated against the sound as she sneered quite openly through their holocall. He fought to not roll his eyes, and grumbled low under breath as he tried his best to control himself with the girl.

"Lady Sipillona, please! You have to understand, planet integration takes longer than what…two weeks?! This world is-"

"Taking far too long! It's a karking backwater! Agrarian and industrially lacking in all sectors! What the kriff are we paying you for if you can't even convince some less than worthy noblemen and aristocrats to accept lucrative trade deals?!"

"Madam I'm part of the Diplomatic Services! I've been doing this for three years, and I have to tell you these things take time! Force, I wasn't born yesterday!" He felt his cool veneer of control fall like a wall of flimsy as he sunk his hands into the marble made table beneath him and pushed himself into an aggressive stand against the hologram of the pantoran girl.

"Need I remind you whom got you this position? Not your skills, or your low birth among the Coruscanti elites, but my father's generous donations. Both to your overly inflated bank accounts, and to the Diplomatic Services. Remember who works for whom here Taruk." She warned, again with a haughtiness and superior tone Taruk could only recall hearing from his days in university and from the freshmen classes. Vain and self important as they were, lacking in skill and only seeking the diplomas for the recognition of their family as they partied their parents wealth down the proverbial drain…..okay yes, Taruk knew he was projecting. Well, a little bit.

One of the greatest mistakes he ever made was getting into league with the Sipillona Family. The Sipillona Trading Company, or Incorporated, more simply known as SipTrade Corp, had been on a downward turn for some few years, even before the Separatist Crisis. The conglomerates were choking smaller trading firms and LLCs across the galaxy. The Trade Federation, Techno Union, Corporate Alliance, and even the smaller companies within these conglomerates like TaggeCo and the ever unyielding Czerka Corporation were buying out what little remained of the once prosperous if relatively small company. Come the war, and the Banking Clan begins increasing interest across the board for Republic centralized businesses in their underhanded efforts to weaken the Republic credit, and cause economic instability and SipTrade Corp loses upwards of 40 billion credits in two years.

"The kriff was I thinking taking their money?"

"What?!"

"Nothing." Taruk blurted and waved his hands before himself. Arsuna, the spoiled, pampered brat that she is, was the worst thing to come from the Sipillona's since the trade embargoes the Republic instituted against vast swathes of the Confederate backing conglomerates. Her distant and unseen yellow eyes narrowed upon Taruk's form.

"Several of the top hyperlane mapping charters and expeditionary personnel within my offices have now assured me that the long believed connective hyperlane between the Hydian Way and the Perlemian route can be established IF we get access to that system's reversion and jump points. In fact this Arda, would be the backbone world! The center of interconnected trade from both of the Super routes. Yet, you can't get one King to sign an entry charter to the Republic?! Are you karking kidding me?!" This girl, she held the outward demeanor of a prim and proper good girl. A daddy's girl, and a mommy's girl rolled into one. Sweet if self serving and incredibly vain. Yet, once you broke past the surface what Taruk found was a vacuous tart. Overflowing with vanity and contempt for that which did not go her way. With him, she let herself more come to the fore, her true self. He was, after all, in her damnable pocket book.

"My Lady, I appreciate all of that, but you have to understand what I have power to do. I have power to draw up treaties permitting a world entry into the Republic under the common laws of sentient decency, and trade. I have the power to do so, IF I can get the leader or leaders of the world to sign off on said treaties. This King, this High King is a moralist! A true believer in his position and ethic towards his people. You should have seen the damn coronation! It was a show of humility and reverence, especially towards four beings for doing...something I'm not sure of. The whole crowd was made to bow to them."

"I don't give a damn about all of that!" She again spat his way as Taruk recalled the diminutive human like creatures from some days past now.

"What I care about are the multitude of cargo freighters and traders I have on perpetual...that my brothers have on perpetual standby! What we need are those kark...those exclusivity rights." She seemed to be trying to reel herself in. Her young features contorting back into that more common outwardly sweet demeanor tempered by the rising to the surface of her vain and egotistical nature.

"I want that entry treaty, whatever you make, however you write it, to include those exclusivity charters my brother's legal department wrote up for you. You will gain this planet's entry into the Republic, and the trade rights, and the charter, and you will do so within the next few days, or drastic measures will need to be taken." That last sentence was spoken with an all too clearly feigned sigh of disappointment. Clearly a threat and Taruk felt his brow bead with sweat as he tried to ignore it as best he could.

"I needn't tell you just how many credits are being wasted daily do I?" She maintained that smug tone. One where you know the person talking to you is in actuality talking down to you, and doing everything they can to not hide the fact. Her eyes gave him a sideways glance feigning further disappointment in the same vain a mother would give their foolish child for doing something clumsy. It made him angry. He was in his forties for Force's sake...galactic standard age!

"If we are forced to hold the shipments for too much longer my family will need to seriously consider means by which to save money. Chiefly, the useless bureaucrats we pay whom cannot see to their handsomely paid for services."

"Alright now hold on!" Taruk began again lifting his one hand in a stopping motion.

"As I mentioned before, I am awaiting the local delegation to convene here on world. The High King is gathering a select few members of what I assume are locals who could best be trusted to give their opinions of the Republic to him. Okay, so he's a true believer in the body politic. If that's the case then having a few friends give him a good report on joining the Republic may convince him to forego, all the 'get everyone on world to agree' bandwagon, and onto the 'good for my people so I'll sign on' bandwagon. Ergo, what I need is a little patience, my Lady! The delegation from Arda is literally gathering in two days here at the local capitol, from which I will send them off."

"That soon?" She asked cocking one brow in a show of disbelief.

"Soon is relative. It's been several weeks since the cessation of local hostilities. Some of the delegates had to go to their homes, which may I add were far off. Damn near half a continent away. So, I played my cards right and offered them swift transport."

"When did you have time to meet with these delegates?! Last report you indicated the King had not imparted on you whom he had chosen!"

"Maybe so, but sometimes they have loose lips." Koll added with a new air of optimistic superiority which he was quite quick to flaunt. He bore a smirk his own now as he sighed.

"They were good chaps them. I've seen to it they have quick transport placed at their disposal. Regardless I know they are making a return journey aboard my serviced transports, and whomever will be joining them must be near. The itinerary out from the capitol city has been made clear to me, and I have a meeting with the King scheduled two days from now. The delegation has been the only pressing matter, and thus that must be the cause for this meeting." He reasoned out, but once more the girl seemed disinterested.

"All fine possibilities of what could happen, and what might happen. How does this help us? We're bleeding through credits here, Koll." He wanted to ask how that was his problem since that had been happening for over a decade now, but controlled himself. Instead he threw his arms out at his side with incredulity.

"Well, what the kriff more am I supposed to do?! Beg the King?! Maybe take a long walk around the continent on their local transport animals…horses?! Beg the nations this kingdom was at war with to not kill me and sign up with a galactic government body that I'd need several weeks to simply explain to them?! THEN, EVEN BETTER! I'll tell them, 'I went to the Kingdom of Arnor and Gondor, and gave them first dibs for the treaty, but they said no! So here I am at my second option! Please don't kill me or anything!'" He finished, face flushed, and eyes widened as he finished his tirade of imagined threats and death.

"If, and that is an easily attained and impeding IF, King Elessar hears only good things about the Republic, I am sure, NO, I can guarantee he'll sign my Admittance Treaty with the exclusivity clause. Maybe I'll remove the local trade rights and so forth, but this world's hyperlanes will be SipTrade's!"

"You know, you have an idea there." She suddenly, and as callously cool as ever stated with a snap of her lips and distant imaginative look in her eyes. Koll shook his head and felt his face crease confusedly.

"Huh?"

"Going to the other nations of this world is a possibility. I mean," She snickered in an all too sarcastic manner.

"They did just lose a major local war against this High and oh so Mighty King Telquon-whatever."

"Telcontar."

"Whatever." She aggressively ignored his correction with nasally a rebuke.

"If he is unwilling to help his world attain galactic economic prosperity through the galactic markets then perhaps someone more agreeable should be given offer to do so." Oh now she had done it. Koll felt sweat immediately bead along his brow, and his stomach twist uncomfortably. A tremor of adrenaline shot up his back, and his throat dried out, as the worried prospect he knew she was implying had been spoken so unfeelingly in the open.

"Th...that's...well." Koll readjusted himself.

"That's an idea. However, you must understand my Lady Sipillona, from what I can discern from both our military reports, what's been given to me, and local news is that the last war drained nearly all nations of resource. Manpower, weapons, willingness to fight. Peace treaties have not been formed with the allies of the now dead warlord, but no further incursions have thus far been made. That can only lead me to guess the Kingdom's enemies are too weak to-"

"All fine points." She waved him off.

"You kinda missed my point, Koll." Again that smug attitude of derision only teenage girls seemed most capable of passing snapped through her voice and soured Koll's expression in kind.

"I don't need some new nation to be buddies with. What I want is new leadership. If the High king can't be made to act like a damn High King then karking get rid of him and be done with it."

"I..." he laughed nervously, and with absolute incredulity to himself.

"I'm not in the business of exporting regime change, my Lady!" He had placed his hand to his chest as he felt his palms become far more sweaty.

"Then don't 'export' anything!" She snapped.

"You told my family before that this High King has detractors did you not? Whom are his greatest rivals within and without this damnable country of his?" Koll rubbed his hand to brow before summing up the memory and strength to speak.

"Without is easier. To the east the new main rival appears to be this Empire. The Empire of Rhûn. However their leader, their Emperor was killed. In a battle with local allies of the High Kingdom, which was aided by the Republic. General Skywalker himself led the operation. It will take them time to lick their wounds I would hazard to guess."

"Others?" She didn't seem to care, as usual.

"Well...to the south lay roaming bands of clans and small tribes or kingdoms. The locals call them the Haradrim, Southrons, and other things. They don't have centralized leadership, but are, or have been longtime enemies of the Kingdom of Gondor. The southern half of this new High Kingdom. These two are similar in manner and hatred of Gondor and as such the High Kingdom. Maybe sooner, but likely later they will attack the Kingdom again. I can't give you an idea of when that'll be."

"Good. Within then?" Koll gave a sarcastic snort of a laugh now.

"You've got even less pickings there, my Lady. King Elessar is no fool. I made the mistake of thinking him to be, and he took no bait. I don't know who, but someone clued him in to the workings of the Republic, and I can only imagine it to have been one of the Jedi General's or all of them!"

"I don't care, what is there to gleam from within his Kingdom?" Koll wanted so badly to groan aloud.

"One could...and I stress could argue King Telcontar's claim to the throne is tenuous. I've sat in meals and meetings halls with local delegates who don't seem to recognize where I come from. From the more loose lipped local lords it can be gleamed that Elessar is from the north."

"What's that got to do with anything?" If she'd let him he'd get to the point.

"The King," He began by elongating his words to inform her he hadn't been done.

"Also has been married rather quickly to a local Princess of immeasurable political power to her name and being. She appears human by galactic standard denomination, save for very minor aesthetic differences. Elves they call them, but she has by her presence given credibility to his claim and position. However, what's noteworthy is that he comes from the north, where the northern half of this Kingdom, Arnor, has for centuries been gone. Defeated in some long off war I don't care to know too much about involving witches and kings and so on." He kept going as Arsuna folded her arms over her chest with impatience mounting.

"He is descended from an old line of Kings from this northern and fallen branch of the Reunited Kingdom.

"So, some of the more stiff upturned nose types here in the realm of Gondor see him as something of a far off interloper. Even though he can with certainty, and through the record keepers here in Gondor trace his lineage back to two Kings, and their father of great renown. Even if some would argue against it, there's no doubt he has the line of succession on his side in this matter."

"Yeah, but 'some.' Who are these 'some?'" Force he wanted to jump off the seventh ring of this white city right now.

"An extreme minority, my Lady! By extreme I mean extreme! Most of the Princes and Dukes, Barons on and on are just happy to have this prior war over with. Happy to have a King at all. Aided to by the fact the regency, this House of Stewards have officially recognized the King as well. The King's top man is from this line. Faramir is his name. Fine lad but...I digress." He chuckled nervously.

"One Prince..." He began slowly.

"He's not so happy. His realm is some southern city and surrounding counties called Pelargir. When General Skywalker, as I've mentioned, launched an attack against the Empire of Rhûn, themselves assaulting local allies, the Separatists launched a counterattack against civilian targets at the behest of the local warlord. The city has...well, had impressive floating sections of the city, as well as land based infrastructure. Near all of it was put to the sea by Confederate aerial bombing. This Prince, a one Amathir, ruled this region quite admirably from what I can gather. However, he has become a despondent and angry man, and it has been pointed against the King as news became clear that Elessar authorized General Skywalker's provoking raid." Arsuna nodded slowly as Koll finished.

"As I said, Lady Sipillona you're looking to pull at strings, very thin ones if you wanna travel down this path."

"I like exploring my options, Koll. My family does." She lazily corrected.

"Make friends with this Amathir, and see what he has to say about the King's claim and position. Better still make overtures, quietly if need, with this eastern land of Rhûn." Koll visibly shook his head and glared down at the table.

"Is that too much to ask, Koll? Or, are your pockets too heavy from Sipillona credits and need to be lightened some?"

"No...no my Lady." Koll raised another stopping hand.

"I'll do it."

"Good. Then you'll also route this local delegation to Coruscant at once when they leave that backwater. If they can convince the King to be reasonable then we can forget this nasty business. If not, then you keep your options, my options, open."

"As you wish." Koll nodded along.

"Great." Her vision flickered a little more strongly now.

"When they arrive I should expect to-" Suddenly the holocall gave an ear piercing scream before ceasing. Koll furrowed his brow in confusion and snapped at the comm terminal's connection button to only receive a failure ding with every button push.

"Damn connection errors." He cursed under his breath. It hadn't been the first time. This Arda had only the one Separatist hyperspace relay dropped some months back to allow the fleet that picked up Grievous to arrive. The Republic had been piggybacking off of it for weeks, and their replacement had yet to arrive. So connections to Coruscant, let alone anywhere in the galaxy were shoddy. Not to say he wasn't a little happy to be done with Arsuna Sipillona.

"Karking talk to me like I'm an idiot. Little schutta..." He trailed off as he rounded the marble desk provided to him by his office within this city of Minas Tirith. He'd be damned if some little girl was going to treat him like that. A nineteen year old...he was literally being talked down to by someone who was young enough to be his daughter!

"'I don't wanna hear all that!'" He mocked her own words with a dip of his tone and scrunching of his face as he opened a small cabinet he brought with him to the planet. Within it he pulled out, from an assortment of home goods, a bottle of fine Corellian gin. He popped it open and eyed a glass nearby, then back to the bottle.

"Kark it!" He brought the bottle to his lips and downed a shot or four before coughing from the chugs and pulled the bottle back.

"Just...a...wee bit bitter." He intoned through his coughs which ended after a final hearty one.

"Have me out here in the galactic middle of nowhere doing what?! Karking fomenting coups now?! Rue it, I rue the karking day I took your damnable money. 'My brother's money,' your karking money schutta I'm not dumb!" Taruk mocked her further as he recalled how she always made it seem her age addled and incontinent father still had a say in matters. Or, that her moronic brothers whom hazily dragged themselves through life on benders, cheap women and thrills had any say in how their father's business operated. Accolades could perhaps be given to young Lady Arsuna for her work in keeping the business alive. That didn't mean she had to carry herself like the Queen of Alderaan with a chip on her well kempt and precisely clothed shoulder! He sat himself back down upon the table seat and sniffled idly as he smacked the gin bottle down. His emerald eyes stared at it for a moment and watched the daylight prickling in through the open stone window behind him dance through the dark colored liquor.

"Hah!" He began laughing and shaking his head as he swiped down his face with one of his hands in disbelief with his new list of tasks that need be completed.

"Oh and ma wanted you to be a banker!" Taruk laughed a little more, and took another long swig of the gin straight.

"Ooooo-kay!" Jumping to a stand Taruk brought both hands up and smacked both cheeks of his face a little more roughly then even he had planned.

"Play the game Taruk, play the game! You've played the game, so play the karking game!" He riled himself up.

"Gotta meet with Prince Amathir. Item one, item two, head east and not die. Easy, perfectly sensible." Taruk sniffled again, not really believing himself.

"First things first though, reset the transport timescale for the local delegates. Have their transport get them to Coruscant as soon as possible. Maybe I don't have to go out into the middle of kriff knows where meeting kriff knows who to maybe set up kriff knows what. That'd be grand!" He chuckled and input a diplomatic insistence into the transportation shuttle log stating the delegates should be sent to Coruscant once taken aboard at once without delay.

"What else have I today? Hmm, meeting with a Prince Imrahil? Where the kriff does he come from? Kriff it." Koll huffed as he took a final swig and capped the bottle. The day was relatively young, so he had best get to work. He had a check to make. Two checks, but still.

---

"If I may hazard to make a suggestion?"

"Shoot for it." Master Allie offered. A'Sharad Hett, Master Hett, moved around the central holotable that his fellow Master and himself crowded near.

"To the east the Separatists have a large concentration of forces. Maybe forty divisions in total strength by their army composition. Among them ten are fully armored with tanks and walkers."

"Lovely." Stass intoned though she already knew as much.

"Quite." Hett smirked.

"Very likely, the seps intend on striking at our right flank with this horde. I have to imagine whomever is in charge must be preparing a feint of some kind. I wanna say it comes from their western forces here. Concentrated more lightly at around twenty-eight of their division compositions. However, all are mobile infantry."

"Doesn't mean too much better. We don't have enough men to launch any sort of concerted effort along any of our flanks or directions."

"True, too true." Hett pulled back from where he had pointed with a sigh. Boz Pity had become a hellish dance of back and forth between the Republic and Confederacy. The death of Master Vos on Saleucami some time back now had seemed to off-put this whole sector of the war into an ugly stalemate. Boz Pity had suffered for months now. Rotations that neared Felucia levels of disheartening effects for troopers and Jedi assigned here.

"What I suggest is a bit bold, but I think you'll like it. If for nothing else than lunacy." Stass chuckled.

"Go on then Master Hett."

"I say we organize a lightning strike assault in the west. Spearheaded by one of us, either myself you or Master K'kruhk. The team should be small, but capable. Move in to the rear, infiltrate when it's darkest with a smokescreen. We here provide that smokescreen. A distracting gamble to hit where they perceive themselves to be weakest."

"On the west of us then? So a double hit?"

"Not exactly." Hett zoomed the holotable onto a position behind the forward defensive positions the CIS had set up along the Republic's western flank.

"Intelligence reports that this acts as the main ammo dump for the local forces on Boz Pity. They have been shoveling some quantities out for a few days and I think they're a bit concerned that we may be eyeing it. I say we exploit their concern. We assault their front with a hard press along the whole flank and force them to send all units as possible up to the front. Maybe they'll even direct a counterattack or redirect forces from their east to the west. Most important is that one of us leads a team through the chaos behind the enemy. Ignore all else but detonate high yield explosive here in the base." Stass had brought hand to chin and had been tapping it thoughtfully.

"Then you want to cut off their ammo supply cache?"

"More apt yes. If we can force the droids to burn through their ammo defending against a slow assault by our troops, we will eventually starve them of the only things droids can starve for, ammunition. If we can do that, and buckle the droids out of this sector, then we can free up nearly a whole continent and begin finally pushing in all directions against the droids. They're currently strapped for reinforcements due to our command of the skies. We do this before they encourage yet another naval strike to land reinforcements, I think we can finally do some damage."

"Oh you don't have to sell me on the matter, A'Sharad. I think I quite like it." Hett smiled happily, and Stass nodded.

"Let's just get Master K'kruhk to sign off before we commit, and then I say it's a go."

"Good!" Hett nodded along as his brown eyes danced over the massive hologram of trooper and droid placements across Boz Pity. However, before either of them could continue the conversation in any form or capacity Hett heard his personal comlink sound off from within his robe folds.

"Darn thing. Where is...ah, there it is! Excuse me, Master." Stass nodded and Hett accepted the communication channel opening.

"General Hett, it's Colonel Obren."

"Colonel, is there anything pressing I need know of?" Hett was quick to try and get to the point.

"Negative sir, merely a small update." Said the older man dressed in his finely pressed naval uniform recently deployed to all commissioned offers of the Republic. A more and more routine sight within the Republic as the war had dragged on. As more clone commanders died, and regular army duties returned to men of a newly formed and minted officer class within the galaxy. It seemed to have sprung awake overnight. One year no one saw any such man. The next, they were everywhere.

"Very well, Colonel. What's the update?"

"Our communications with the Core have been quite unstable for weeks. Obviously the conflict here has resulted in poor communications, but within the last few days, and especially today relays seem to be hard pressed to open up a channel between the system and Coruscant beyond. Regardless, I am merely stating a preamble to be honest. You have received a direct message, personal encryption as well, from Coruscant. It has only just been relayed to the fleet though its originating time and date puts it at a full day ago. I apologize for the lateness of it, sir." Hett smiled and waved the man off.

"No problem at all, Colonel. I, and I am sure, the Council who I would guess have sent the message, know full well how shaky communications are in system. Please, do send the message, and try to reopen communication lines with Coruscant. Beyond that, you have my thanks." The man gave a thin appreciative smile and snapped his fingers along an unseen terminal at his end.

"You have my thanks, General. Know that I will have my men work as hard as possible to reestablish communications. General." He bowed.

"As you were, Colonel." Hett bowed his head, and let the link end as his personal datapad along the holotable beeped with a new message intended for himself.

"I wonder what it could be about?"

"Certainly of importance should the Council have found it necessary to send you a communique of some sort." Stass offered, but Hett shrugged somewhat.

"Not too important if they anticipated the delay due to the position Boz Pity finds itself."

"Fair point." Stass relented as Hett grabbed the datapad and snapped it on. He hummed idly as he snapped the datapad alive. In quick succession he snapped in his encryption validation key and the message sprung to life with line upon line of decoded sentences. The dim blue hue it cast lit his face up and gave his face tattoos a more pronounced glow as his darkened eyes darted from left to right. His brow creased some and expression turned more confused by the line he read. Master Allie eyed him questioningly, and finally spoke only after feeling the Force writhe in a mixture of emotions from the young Jedi Master.

"Calm yourself, A'Sharad. You're losing your center quite loudly." He snapped his head upwards to her, and swung the datapad around.

"It's a recall order!" He declared without giving her real time or ability to read the text. Stass cocked her head to the side.

"Really? I shouldn't pry, but has a reason been given?"

"None!" He, almost breathlessly retorted skimming the note over for a third time now.

"It's from Master Windu himself! He states that the 'Council requires your immediate return to Coruscant for reassignment. This matter cannot, nor shall be discussed over holotransmission.'" A'Sharad read aloud without care as Stass hummed thoughtfully.

"I mean beyond this…there's nothing! Nothing more than Master Windu stating that the assignment has been given to me due to my 'exemplary service to the Order.'"

"If that is the case, then surely it is an honor to be recalled so, Master Hett." Stass offered and rounded the table nearer to him. The young human male lowered the datapad with a dumbfounded scrunch to his lips and nose. His brow was curled into a deep concerned mingling of lines as he turned to Master Allie again.

"I...I cannot return. I...no what I mean is..." He pinched the bridge of his nose, and Stass offered an understanding smile as she came nearer. The younger Master had probably been awake for three or four days straight. His mind frazzled despite his calmer demeanor from before.

"Calm, Master Hett. Calm." Master Allie urged raising her hand. A'Sharad, now seeming more of his true weary self showed through. Rather than the smiling young man that had so enthusiastically laid bare a plan to subvert the enemy forces on Boz Pity, she saw what lay beneath the veneer. His eyes were bloodshot, and usually well tied long hair that hung to his back was wild, and strands were falling through the unkempt binding braids. His skin was a sickly tone, a shade or two lighter than his normal tone borne of his life upon the desert world of Tatooine. The dark bags beneath his eyes also betrayed how weary the Master was. A sight far too common these days of war about the galaxy.

"A'Sharad, you work yourself too tirelessly. Listen," She began calmly as she placed her hand to his right shoulder.

"The Council obviously has a greater mission for you than the fields here. If I were you I wouldn't lament that, I'd be overjoyed! Rarely does the Council single out a Master for some unknown task of such importance that it requires an in person recall to the High Council Chamber itself. We here upon Boz Pity will remain. Needn't you worry about that." Hett for his part narrowed his eyes. By no means in an aggressive manner, but rather in apprehension.

"I know, Master Allie. I simply...wouldn't feel right doing so. After everything we've fought for here. Every inch taken and given and the blood spent by the troopers, and…and by Jedi."

"Master Vos." She intuited, and he cast her a slightly disbelieving look.

"You don't need to pretend, Master Hett. Do you think you're the only one who feels they have to put in their all plus some here? Or, really anywhere in the galaxy? We've lost so many within the Order that the anger rises so easily, and yet as Jedi we must learn to let that go. Lest we turn into a shadow not unlike the people we're fighting against. Dooku, his pawn Grievous, or the acolytes he held beneath himself. It's admirable, feeling obligated to do more, more than you honestly can to honor the fallen Masters and Knights who've come before and fallen before you. That, however, does not mean you can ignore your duties." Stass added firmly, but still with an understanding tone and demeanor. A'Sharad watched her, and took a moment of silence to reflect. The edges of his mouth tensed over and over. A dryness he hadn't previously noted having come full force against him as his eyes felt as though gravity wells lay beneath them. He sucked in a breath and grasped somewhat painfully at the back of his neck and pinched there to try and, in vain, alleviate the tension mounting in his muscles.

"I know you're right, Master. I merely wish to do for Boz Pity what I can. I didn't know Master Vos much at all. Yet, for some reason I feel as though I must...do. Here on Boz Pity. Saleucami is not too far off. Well, relatively speaking. Just feels wrong. Leaving here without doing something. Something to feel as though Vos wasn't killed by Dooku without some sort of reason!"

"Often times people die without a reason, Master Hett." She spoke as though he was a youngling within the training halls of the Temple again.

"You've done admirably by his memory, A'Sharad. However, nothing you do here will bring him back, or the Jedi who've fallen elsewhere in this war. Learn to let go, of all that you fear to lose. Those who join the Force-"

"We should rejoice for." Hett finished remembering a quote from Yoda once told to him long ago and several other trainees. His hand dropped from his neck and he rolled his shoulders as a crack of bone and joint sounded outwards.

"Yes...you're right, Master." He smiled weakly.

"I thank you for your wisdom." A'Sharad dipped his head.

"No need, Master Hett. Even in our stages as Masters we need counseling and no small amount of help from our fellow brothers and sisters within the Order."

"Certainly seems that way." He chuckled lowly.

"Okay, I'll get my things ready for departure at once. However, I would like to call Coruscant before I go. Just to get verification."

"Good luck with that." Stass chuckled and A'Sharad questioned her with a tilted expression.

"Huh?"

"You weren't here an hour or so ago when the techs reported transmission interrupts between us and Coruscant on a massive scale. I daresay that was what Obren was speaking of before."

"Really? Anything worth being worried over?"

"It doesn't appear so. Likely Separatist jamming in the sector here. Anaxes reported back that query pings into Coruscant's system showed all green across the board. Something about probable busted arrays came up, and they're looking into it."

"Hmm." Hett grumbled a little as he eyed the console table.

"Alright then. Well, not much to do but gather my things and get on the next transport."

"Indeed. Needn't you worry, Master. I'm sure Boz Pity will still be here when you're given leave of the Council, and whatever task they have need of you for."

"That's not comforting." Stass smiled, slightly ruefully mingled with actual mirth.

"Didn't say it was, Master." She bowed her head as she returned to the table to overlook Hett's proposed operation. For his part he didn't have strength left within him to argue with her, and instead lazily bowed his head and turned away. Out from the room, to gather his things and make for a return journey to Coruscant.

Force only knew what task they had for him. He struck a bet with himself that it was something menial, and a little exaggerated.

"I'd bet a Krayt Dragon on it." He smirked to himself as he remembered the fearsome creatures of his homeworld. He had always liked Krayt dragons.

---

An explosion rippled through the vacuum of space and the shock wave rattled ships nearby as massive chunks of torn and gnashed metal sprung forth and slammed into hulls of nearby vessels. A venator burning along all sides, crippled and whirring warning horns into the deep of space fell by the force of Coruscant's gravity, downward. Its fuming arrow point careened into an otherwise stable acclamator-I, and another even more ferocious explosion echoed outward as thousands were in an instant vaporized.

"All Republic vessels receiving this message, you are hereby ordered into emergency defensive screening positions across the mesosphere and upper stratosphere of the capitol! All functioning units are ordered into alert status one, repeat, alert status one!" The voice was a hollow robotic thing that echoed in long range holo-channel communications and the now ancient radio wave signals across all bands and broadcasts as Coruscant ceased all leisure and personal communications.

Over Coruscant tens of millions of turbolaser bolts and lesser cannon shots exploded in a menagerie of colors. Reds slammed across the open vacuum pelting a munificent-class Separatist frigate until its hull popped with a sickening crunch and the ship tore itself from its center and ruptured the fuel reserves it carried sending a wave of energy into a nearby acclamator that fractured its own hull. Collateral unforeseen by the Republic forces launching their flurry into the fray as they desperately sought to realign themselves over Coruscant in desperation.

"Adjudicator, along aft! Along aft, along af-" Some faceless voice screamed across the open nothingness as the aforementioned venator warship was hit with a visceral broadside bombardment from a nearing set of twin providence-class destroyers. The Republic warship erupted as a stream of vulture droids slammed head first into a wave of ARC-170s in an aerial duel to the death.

"Five wings on your tail Wampa-lead!"

"I see them, I see them!"

"Bank right, bank right! Course correct one-dash-two-four-four!"

"Negative they're too many, too man-ah!" The explosion sounded for an instant over the comms as a stream of tri-fighters fell vertical the clone fighters who were rained upon by enemy laser fire as the droids whirred through the fire and debris falling in their wake.

Four enemy munificent-class frigates along with no less than fifteen recusant-class light destroyers moved against a single orbiting defense platform guarded by twenty battered, and burning Republic warships. All of which loosed forward cannons as a swarm of hyena-class bombers and escorting vultures dashed through the bits of raining turbolaser fire and thrust their bombs against the station and warships. Their own lasers slammed across the forward compartments of multiple recusants as one higher altitude venator relative their positions neared as a massive shadow of doom. Unforeseen by the Separatist ships beneath it, a beam of brilliant blueish-green erupted from a mobile SPHA cannon mounted bottom of the venator. It struck through the heart of one recusant bridge causing a cascade explosion that cracked the ship in half. The engaging Republic ships opposite it layered it with further turbolaser fire that seared the battered and mutilated remains, as the SPHA cannon carried on and tore through two munificents who were also pelted by incoming BTL-B Y-wing starfighter bomb payloads.

"All units in sector two through five, incoming transport units! Screen formation loose on four and five! I repeat, fill those gaps, fill the gaps!"

"This is Recompense, moving into position! Escorts on right!"

"Pickets incoming on starboard, where's our fighter wings?!"

"Clear channel chatter!" The howling of ship Captains so unused to screaming their orders or directly communicating over the frequency channels barely audible through the ear piercing scrambles deployed by the Confederacy, sounded as a chorus of terror. Their lines of communication and command having fallen into disarray. The only known fleet wide command being to form a defensive screen over Coruscant. A command that was being rushed into task, as hundreds of the once proud and glorious Home fleet was in tatters. Surely of the thousands present several thousand were undamaged and in position to provide ample defense. Yet, the near endless stream by which Separatist warships flooded in through the still as of yet fully discovered reversion point made such a defense tenuous, and nowhere near everlasting.

Those with keen ears, and more stable minds may have heard the declaration by some as of yet unknown and unnamed Captain of incoming transport ships. Within the declared sectors, a mass of Confederate providence-class destroyers, and three lucrehulk-class battleships acting as mass transports and control ships advanced as thousands upon thousands of transports fell upon Coruscant. The defense screen as of yet prepared, and as of yet fully operable. As millions of droids fell across the capitol. That as fires fell, and chunks of warships and ships whole fell through the atmosphere. Their metals burning and smoking as they cracked under the gravitational pressures. Slamming as meteors to the ground, toppling spires, crushing scores. There was no prejudice to the collateral slaughtered in any case.

---

Mace slammed his boots one after the other along the metal floor beneath. His eyes set and hardened as his body and mind moved in a narrowed tunnel vision manner. Above him dozens upon dozens of ARC starfighters streamed out from within their docks and bays and flooded out into the lit skies beyond. Those same skies, shown with the brightness of the system's star, and giving what would have otherwise been a beautiful day, were now filled with smoke and fire.

Bolts of reds and greens tinged with blues and yellows flashed back and forth. Smoke billowed as newly formed spires and towers from buildings now missing sizable chunks of infrastructure. Metal bundles the size of small homes fell from the ruptured walls of these buildings, falling below crushing man, woman and child and breaking through the thousands of levels deep into the under cities of Coruscant.

So, as he slammed foot one after the other, Master Windu held purpose in his rigid manner and body. He made for his own Actis-interceptor, given a purple hue in one of the few dim shows of vanity, to match his purple saber blade. Before the great maw that led out from the Jedi Temple a stream of vultures buzzed by. The Temple's defensive cannons fired upon them, tracking them as they went and exploding black choking clouds of flak in their wake. As Republic ARC-170s followed after them firing an endless green stream toward these droid menaces.

"Master Windu!" He didn't turn from his stride forward as he felt the presence of Master Tiin before even hearing the ikotchi Jedi speak.

"Enemy starships continue to to spill out of hyperspace." He began having rounded on Windu's right shoulder. The Jedi Master sported a specialized variant of his armor, with a metal plate similar to the clone armor across his chest, but more similar to the Jedi battle armor worn by Jedi in wars of old. While a flowing brow vest of cloth and cowl fell down the ikotchi.

"Our forces are holding, but, they need help." Master Tiin declared coming to a stride of his own just behind Mace.

"Get up there, and take command." Was all Mace bluntly ordered with a sideways glance right. He and Master Tiin broke apart, each heading to their own personal ETA. Windu took a quick leap aided by the Force onto the top of his ship before planting himself down into the seat.

"May the Force be with you."

"And you." Master Tiin replied, both Jedi Masters carrying stern expressions as their hatches began to fall atop them. Within seconds more both interceptors had taken off and were joined the chaotic airspace that had befallen Coruscant.

"All aerial units, this is Master Windu. Any detached wings form up on me for ad-hoc assembly." He ordered taking on the more 'General' persona common of Jedi these days. The comm channels whirred with men affirming their joining with him as several ARC-170s soon zoomed past him and came around to form the new wing with himself as lead.

"Vulture droid swarm, dead ahead. Keep to me, and break on impact. Flush them out of the civilian zones!"

"Roger, General!"

"Copy all, General!"

"Aye sir!" So on and so forth they replied to him as the vultures in the distance fired streams of red across several spires which erupted with billowing fire. The droids below along he massive walkways that connected the spires and buildings were alight with droid walkers and ground forces. All firing sporadically, in disarray and murderous rapture, upon everyone and anyone. Scores of dead lay haphazardly across streets and out of burning rubble, as the speeder lanes had been attacked first. Airspeeders were crashed and burning across many buildings. Their occupants charred ruins, or hanging lifeless out torn metal and ravaged glass.

Mace hardened his eyes further and pulled the Force in around him. Sure, he knew full well he was no pilot on the caliber of Skywalker, but with the Force, he hardly needed to be. His was to shore up defenses and rally troops as he saw fit, and necessary. Already he had directed many Jedi whom remained on the Republic capitol to various posts. Master Drallig was securing the Temple, Master Yoda had taken off from the Temple near immediately following realization of the attack, Masters Koth and Kcaj were ground level as well. While various masters and knights were in the air, and on the ground. Namely, Mace knew Master Ti, along with masters Corobb and Moudama were headed for 500 Republica to retrieve and secure the Chancellor. The garrison within 500 Republica reported all green, but Mace would be assured the Chancellor was made safe.

"All foils, to attack position!" He ordered and the fighters alongside him opened up their flaps and prepared to open fire. The vultures veered around seeming to have noticed the incoming wings of Republic fighters. Mace's mind began to go blank, allowing the Force to guide his hands and movements. His final thoughts turning towards just how this could've happened. How could the Confederacy breach the Core security measures and defenses?

He'd have to think on this later. As explosions rippled around him, and the dogfight commenced.

---

Across the surface of Coruscant, without exaggeration thousands of droid dropships and transports fell. Mostly comprised of the Trade Federation famous C-9979 landing crafts. All carrying various weapons and tools of war. Civilians howled and ran in droves as some fell onto open walkways or plazas of metal and loosed hordes of spider and crab walker droids. Opening fire they slammed into markets and shops sending flames bursting outward. Coruscant Security units deployed where they could, but with hardly any true resistance mounted until relieving clone troopers were sent as detached forces to shore up the defenses.

Vultures warbled across the skies at lest fifteen wings strong and escorted in five of the C-9979 landing crafts. Three of which landed in the southern district of Galactic City, while the fourth made to land more north. A mammoth AT-TE stomped one thrumming metal leg down. The top gun motioned upwards, and with precision, and no small amount of luck loosened a drowning blast from the main cannon. The bolt slammed into the fourth craft and it burst in two raining droids torn to shreds across the city below.

The fifth, however, steered away from the unfolding chaos. No escorts led it in, as it diverted itself away from the main points of contention and battle being played out.

It has been said, and noted by many that Coruscant retained one of the greatest security systems in all the galaxy. With the war and threats, consistent threats at that, of Separatist acts of terrorism, Republic Intelligence Director Isard had made it a top priority to distribute cam droids and constantly monitored cameras across the top layers of Coruscant and even the rarely traveled lower levels. Well, rarely traveled by those of wealth and prestige. As the battle had entered into its first hour of unfolding this system went into overdrive, and effectively so. Wherever droids fell and began assaulting the system was quick to alert security units whom dispatched themselves in effort to resist the Separatist advance. To then be met by clone units and regular army units.

This in mind, it was unfathomable to think the system missed the fifth landing craft. Even more unthinkable to believe it missed this craft as it penetrated the Government Sector's tight security perimeter. Yet, even more unfathomable to imagine it landing without so much as one alert sounding as droids marshaled forth from the confines of the transport in droves of hundreds. Among them the stomping, clawed feet of a one General Grievous.

Grievous inclined his head toward his left, a stray gust of wind throwing his ghostly white cloak into a whirl toward his right as he did so. A low grumble was elicited from him that thrummed with the mechanical layering of his voice. There in the distance he noted several Confederate warships having punctured the defensive screens and were now in loom in the lower atmosphere. Endless streams of lights howled upwards toward the skies from the ground. The booms of distant massive anti-air guns were loosed against these imposing droid warships, as venators of the Republic were soon to be seen following in after the low hovering droid ships.

The exchange of fire between these distant colossi could be seen, and the booms, though taking some time to reach him, Grievous heard and felt the low rattle against the echoing metal that consumed this world. However, more important was what lay in the distance. Oddly quiet and unusually deadened were these streets of the Republic heart. Not a sign of activity or movement was seen, and only the distant sounds of war, and hisses of compressed air or clanking metal feet to the ground behind him.

His metal claws clamped down one after the other, and the General jumped over the side of the landing ramp of the C-9979. Hundreds of marching B2 super battle droids followed after him but marched robotically, unfeelingly and thoughtlessly down the ramp. They needed not transport tanks or walkers for their task. In fact Grievous did not fully believe the supers were needed. This, as behind them came dozens of his preferred troupe. Magnaguards came clanking after the B2's. Their own cloaks in mimicry of his own flowed, and their staffs lay dormant, not yet activated or needed.

Grievous refocused his yellowed eyes ahead toward their target. The massive spire that was 500 Republica. Where within lay the quarry of the entire operation here.

"Orders, General?" He glanced right over cloak laden shoulder and was met with one of the B2's. Its deeper vocabulator having given away which model had spoken to him before he even laid eyes upon it. Again he grumbled a low thing, as he felt familiar dull irritation flood over him, and he did his best to let it fall away.

"Take your full force to the western exit along the fourth main exit level! Hold there. My...intelligence states it would be the most likely escape corridor for the Chancellor to utilize." Grievous dictated. Though the droids did as ordered without question, Grievous needn't had explained why they should marshal along that exit way. It was more a hopeful restatement to himself based on what Lord Sidious had promised using whatever intelligence that Sith lord held at his disposal. How he knew so much about the Chancellor's escape routes and likely actions, he did not bother to ask. What mattered, what truly made this all worth it, was the end of the war. By victory attained by himself! General Grievous would be the name known for toppling this decadent Republic, and their Jedi lapdogs.

"General." Again he was broken from thought as one of the static-voiced magnaguards approached.

"Each and every one of you know your ambush points. Await there. Assume the mission is incomplete until the recall order is sent. Fight until your very destruction otherwise!"

"General." The same guard acknowledge on behalf of all the others and they stomped quickly towards the mentioned points given to them. Grievous turned towards 500 Republica once more, and cackled lowly in his usual mechanical-laced menace.

"How very easy they've made this for us." Grievous then broke into a run forward. His legs crashing one after the other, his claws digging into the ground leaving scratches with each pass and clang he made. It was all too easy he believed as he ran towards 500 Republica with not a sight or person to stop him. The fleet above was breaking off the small packs destined for the known reversion points from hyperspace. Shadow mines made ready for all reinforcements that may come, if they would come at all! For, his jamming technology, improved since their last usage now over a year ago was not only blocking communication at all levels out from Coruscant. It was also relaying the standard military affirmation codes to Anaxes, the military bulwark world of the Republic. As far as the galaxy would be concerned of, if they failed to receive communication from Coruscant, Anaxes would say everything is green. Receiving their precious confirmation codes. A gift from Lord Sidious once again.

"It is time to end this!" Grievous lowly roared to himself as his claws came to a thud and stop just before the walls of 500 Republica. Again his eyes moved, and his ghostly white head tilted upwards. He had to scale it, and would easily do so. For the opposite side would be the Chancellor's apartment, and that is where he would gain entrance, from above, climbing down below. Through an extravagant and quite open viewport.

His only regret, as his right foot tore into the walled metal of the grand spire, its guard and garrison all but oblivious to his presence, was the one rule of this operation.

"They want you alive, old man." Grievous took another step, and his hands made like pincers or prongs and bore into the outer most sheets of metal. As a ghostly phantom along all four limbs shown General Grievous began to scale the spire.

---

The building once again rattled. The sound of glass held within its pane and foundations of metal shook and wailed under the pressure of distant and nearby percussive roars. The whine of metal carried through thrums from the top to the bottom and back the other way. Outside the nearest viewport window at least a dozen LAAT's flying in formation passed by with their distinct warbles sounding out. Behind them came screaming crimson blasts that erupted around them and ripped through two of them sending orange and reddened lights blaring across the room. Vultures following after the gunships in their fiery wake.

"It would be nice to fully take in the full spectacle you know?" She carried on with bored and insinuating a manner as ever.

"There's a full fledged battle taking pace outside for Force's sake! On Coruscant! Maybe that means kriff all to you, but that hasn't happened since before the New Sith Wars!" She made the mistake again of assuming he was excited by such a reality or prospect.

"It should be that I hearken to your knowledge before so very momentous an occasion."

"Do you speak like that because you think it makes you sound smarter or something?" She retorted venomously.

"Because it doesn't. Rather, you sound like a pompous Core-worlder so highly educated as to go against your own good."

"How biting a retort, witch." Sauron, forcing his words past her lips and in her voice replied as he allowed the eyes he borrowed, which still emulated his, to read over another line of knowledge previously unknown to him.

Stacks upon stacks of holobooks lay along the table. Several haphazard piles of data disks and drives containing many years, centuries indeed, of wisdom, knowledge, history and learning were joined to those holobooks. All sporadically placed along not only this table, but along the couch cushions beside Vica's form. As well as along the lone seats and chairs set across from the couch Sauron inhabited through his mortal coil.

"Days, it has been days that you've had me cramped within this accursed apartment! Reading and reading or watching documentaries or step by step guides towards building your own holobooks, or writing or rewriting memory to data drives! Let alone what a data drive even is to begin with!"

"Untrue. We have gone forth from this hold several times."

"To fetch more books or disks from the karking libraries! The pass Sidious gave you is certainly cursed! Not only do you take and take without someone as much as batting an eye, but you seem bound to read and watch when we could do!" She complained on and on, without the physical form of herself showing any change in demeanor. Her astral form, seen only by Sauron still, paced endlessly for she wasted no energy in doing so. Her eyes were alight with restlessness, this much was evident before the Dark Lord.

This, as an orange hue blazed and erupted through the entire apartment. Finally Sauron gazed left toward the terrace this residence sported. Beyond the closed glass doorway a massive thing of metal was consumed in fire. Its presence took up the day sky and blotted even the local star with its glow. Its entrance into sight rumbled all the city for miles.

"Looky there! An entire karking venator about to crash! Hot damn that's beautiful!" Vica laughed maniacally, and Sauron merely hummed with the barest of interest. The venator slammed upon its side several miles far beyond, into some unknown spire. The weight and force of the crashing warship cleaved it in half and a domino effect of thunderous echoing explosions sounded as dust and smoke followed in the wake of the meeting of metal. Until it came tumbling down and several adjacent buildings began to collapse as the city platform below rattled against the weight of the falling masses.

"How very curious indeed."

"Oh, you have an opinion on something besides the history of the Kel Dor?" She mocked him, but Sauron paid her tone and manner no mind. The eyes he borrowed indeed turned back to the holobook before him as he began to reply.

"This Sidious controls both sides to this galactic war."

"We know that already."

"Yes. So, what does that tell you of this attack?" She paused and her astral figure furrowed its imagined brow.

"That...well I guess he had to of planned it. The Confederacy wouldn't and I suppose Dooku wouldn't have gone through with such an attack without his permission. Or, his insistence. Well, the old man knows who Sidious is already so what does it matter I guess!"

"Precisely." Sauron more acknowledged her deduction than rambling continuance of thought.

"It is then, an easy thing to imagine he has much to gain from such a bold assault." Sauron turned to the next page of text within the holobook he currently read from. Dully regarding with unnatural speed and ease the further exploration on the history, ethics, and science of cellular replication and its greater implications in the field of cloning within the galaxy.

"From what I can see, and what I can sense the whole planet is a mess of fear!" Se cackled as though triumphant, as though still aligned to the mission of this enslaved Confederacy.

"To attack Coruscant so bluntly, and boldly would mean no less than several thousand warships. This has to be a grand strike. Like the one you committed against Minas Tirith."

"In that we do not agree." Again he went to the next wall of text set within the holobook. Her form frowned angrily in turn.

"Why not then?!" Sauron sighed through her lips, and with narrowed eyes of genuine aggravation closed the holobook. Turning to her apparition as he did so.

"This Lord Sidious, Chancellor Palpatine, rules both the Republic and Confederacy. Therefore any move made against one by the other has a strategic goal in mind set by the man. No battle is waged, lost or won without his desire it be so." Sauron perceived.

"Should victory be had here upon Coruscant by the CIS what is there to be gained on his part? We shall examine it then. The Republic would be dealt an incredible blow to morale across this sea of stars, the Jedi Order would be in disarray, and the perceived capitol of all the galaxy taken by an aggressor for the first time ever. For, as many times as this world may have been attacked, I read not a point in which it was successfully seized and occupied by any such attacker."

"Well no bu-"

"Furthermore," Sauron cut her off.

"Chancellor Palpatine would either have to die, which is unlikely, or held as a prisoner as a result of this assault. To imprison him would be to lessen his perceived power should it be an indefinite ordeal, and one he would not allow in his position. So, it would be the rise of the machine men, and their machine leaders. The clones will have failed, and the war would be a slog evermore. Yet, even still anger and vengeance should be stirred in the hearts of many upon seeing the central world of the galaxy ravaged and seized by the great foe. Perhaps eliciting a new wave of recruitment and desire for total war. In this a goal may be found, but it is made moot by the reliance of a grown and created army." Sauron further reasoned aloud. Behind him a vulture droid could be seen slamming into a nearby spire as it twirled with smoke trailing behind it.

"As such, what could this Republic gain from this attack?" Sauron asked though truly did not hope to gain anything close to an answer from his witch friend.

"Should victory come, regardless of cost, to this Republic you shall see an emboldened people. This Confederacy will be demoralized with such a colossal expenditure of forces against a single target without gain. Depending on degree of failure it would be as a drake come attack a mountain. It may tear at the rock and burn the green laden across it. Yet, it will wither away as the mountain stands tall." Sauron analogized.

"The failure of the Confederacy will mean greater power for the man who leads the Republic. A frightened people will sacrifice their own power to the whim of a single man. Their fear makes them weak, and their weakness breeds power in those who feed upon weakness in others. This Sidious will cement his position and rupture the perception of strength left within this Republic. A power made anew will need rise forth to stabilize the situation."

"You say he has more to gain by allowing the Republic to win." She stated rather than asked, and her astral tone was hardly even an intone. Indeed her eyes turned toward the distant skies once again. Several dozen Separatists transports were in view as more AA fire lit the skies. Several were tearing into the transports while others were blown into oblivion by darting wings of hyena-class bombers from far above.

"That son of a kath hound...that manipulative swine! He does all of this, and is himself alone in gaining anything!" She whipped her spectral form back upon Sauron bearing her physical coil.

"Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed?! How many battles I waged for Dooku?! For him?! Does Grievous know, did Tann, Bulq, or Ventress have any idea that all their struggles came only for the gains of this old karking senator made Chancellor, and wannabe King?!" She paused, her eyes cast against the wall thoughtfully. A sarcastically rueful smile coming and equally so laugh followed.

"Does that fool Gunray know? Poggle, Mai, Tambor?! Do any of them know, do they all know?!"

"Does it truly matter, is more worthy a question asked?" Sauron countered as he rose to a stand.

"This battle is no strike upon the White City. That was to be the battle to rupture the will, and power of my enemies. This? This battle here is a feint woven in the fabric of a hammer stroke." Sauron perceived with eyes dully watching the madness unfolding beyond the viewport.

"It makes me sick!" The witch cursed with oozing venom in her every word. Her specter came up beside her corporeal body. Both her and Sauron gazing outwards to figures seeming the same, but bearing different spirits about.

"This trifle will matter little soon enough." Sauron cast the witch a hardened glance.

"There's much work as yet need doing. It will begin here. This I feel to be true."

"Why here?"

"For if this is the event that bound me to this world, it will be with its inevitable cessation that we shall make for my world. There again upon Middle-Earth will I gather to me a mighty troupe. Thence shall commence a great rebirth of all that was blackened before the last war." Sauron's tone grew dreamy, a rarity indeed.

"Not since the darkest days of the First Age will such an endeavor have been undertook. To me will be given that which even Morgoth knew not. For with the power of industry, orc, and now this newfound science, I shall breed into being a new power. Risen not merely in the east of a single world, but hidden in the great boundless sea of numberless worlds."

"How very nice for you." Vica retorted with her usual snark.

"I can sense you have many plans and uh, what...schemes up your sleeves. My sleeves." She scoffed.

"I still have seen nothing come to fruition, but days of reading."

"Yes, and in doing so I have gained much knowledge. A wealth of it beyond any plunder of gold or treasure." He cast her another look of appraisal. To which she matched with furrowed brow.

"What?"

"I believe in the venturing back upon Arda to gather my hosts to make them anew, it would be for the better to gather further knowledge beyond merely the strength of orc and olog arms."

"In simple basic please?" Sauron shut his eyes to which they shook in quiet irritation before opening again.

"We should make good use of our time from this world. Gather to us power beyond my servants. In this matter I should make thee aware that I have perceived by thy mind, and the words of this Sidious the importance of the desert world we were brought upon."

"Huh? What, you mean Korriban? It's a tomb world. The ancient Sith homeworld sure, but no Sith has gone there in the last few centuries and actually made direct contact with any of the de-" She stopped herself as if only then realizing with whom she was speaking to. Her eyes lit with renewed wonder and sudden excitement limned with a lust given rise by the scent of power.

"You mean to gain greater understanding of the Force?"

"I mean to utilize this power for my own ends. To further my power, your power, and revitalize my spirit. So, yes witch. It would behoove us to go forth and take unto ourselves knowledge further still. This time of this so called 'Force.'"

"Now that's an idea I can get behind!" She gleefully replied seeming to forget all wrath borne not but a few moments ago. A common trait Sauron noted in this blonde witch.

"Patience, witch. We merely must wait a time longer. Then all things shall begin to fall into place."

"So sure of yourself already?" She dared to jab at him with sideways a smirk and glance.

"Assured? No, not yet. Enthused? Yes, yes indeed." He allowed a faint smile to cross the lips he wore. As silence passed between the two, and the Battle of Coruscant continued to rage, ceaselessly just beyond them.

---

Several LAATs landed along dilapidated landing pads laden in rust and grime from the dying world of Tythe. In the air above the percussive blasts echoed and produced black smoke from flying wings of Republic and Confederate starfighters or the stray attacking gunship. Anti Air batteries placed atop walkers or mobile tank droids aimed upwards and peppered the skies with a defensive screen heavily blockading the LiMerge building from entry. Yet, even that could not fully protect the massive and rotting complex from full attack or entry, especially from the fighting forces accompanying the two most prestigious Jedi General's of the Clone Wars.

Three LAAT gunships had landed in cramped fashion alongside one another along one landing pad, while two further had landed on an adjacent platform within sight but unconnected, at least not directly, to the first. Streams of white armor clad men with blue stripes lining their armor from head to toe and along their arms and shoulder pads rushed in tight and fixed formations from these gunships. As if by some cue, the doors leading into the old factory headquarters opened and come streaming from within came several company's of B1 battle droids with adjoined B2's providing heavy support.

"Forward, Aurek team along the right!" The main commanding trooper ordered with a sweeping forward motion of his arm.

"Yes sir!" One trooper called, as he pushed his squad forward. A covering burst of blue bolts scorched the air over the heads of the squad and thrashed against the metal chassis and plates of the droids. They fell in droves, but more emerged, and the B2's took shot after shot, and stayed upright firing into the clone crowds. Reddened bolts from the droids met blue and passed them slamming once, twice, three times into one trooper flailing his body and throwing him back with hardly a last gasp before he died. A process which repeated with a second troopers slamming backwards with a bolt plowing through his face plate.

"Get a laser turret to provide entry support!" Aurek squad's team leader broadcast over comms.

"Copy that!" A rear LAAT pilot announced without further prompt. The warble of the gunship thrummed the air as it lifted back off the pad and angled itself in a diagonal fashion ahead of the entryway. The laser turret jostled with the trooper within the orb structure, and a beam of brilliant green vibrant as it was deadly screamed forth and burned a line through a multitude of droids and swept past, tearing through, the doorway and adjacent walls. The troopers hunkered down and awaited the cessation of the gunship covering attack, while their brothers along the second landing pad nearby also entered into a firefight of their own against an equally consistent stream of battle droids.

"Coming in hot, watch your six's!" The familiar voice echoed over all comm units of the troopers on the walkways. Overhead the buzzing of two Actis-class interceptors hummed mechanically as they whirled in arching circles overhead and around the two chosen entry points. The yellow one of the pair came in around from the further side of the LiMerge building and erupted in a spray of massive bolts that ripped open the first of the two doorways. The resounding explosion tore metal from the doorway and the surrounding walkway nearly severing the bridge point, but surely scaring it in burns.

As the ETA whirled around a further time, the second of the pair came to a hovering halt over the landing pad, allowing the hatch to pop somewhat unceremoniously open. From within a one General Kenobi stood up and swung over the side of the ETA allowing himself to fall graceful as possible to the landing pad below alongside the troopers.

"Come along Anakin, the pad's secure...for now."

"Already on it, Master." The buzz laden words of Anakin replied as the Actis whirled around, its hatch clearly open as Artoo swiveled in his astromech hatch. Anakin threw himself from the ship to the ground as it flew on without him off into the sky soon followed after by Arfour and Obi-Wan's interceptor.

"I must say," Obi-Wan began over the sound of the nearby fires and the clangs of trooper boots to metal plated grounds.

"Subtle, my old friend." Anakin turned where Obi-Wan sarcastically eyed the gaping hole in the massive building's wall.

"What? We needed an entryway."

"There was already a door there."

"A bigger one." Anakin halfheartedly shrugged. Obi-Wan shook his head and noted the troopers manning their defensive positions and moving limp or writhing bodies off to the sides of the walkway.

"Right. We should move, Anakin. I think it's safe to assume Dooku will know of our presence."

"Ya'think?" Anakin quipped, but nodded in agreement with Obi-Wan all the same.

"What about them?"

"They have their orders, Anakin. Leave them to secure our exits. As planned."

"Alright, alright!" Anakin waved Obi-Wan off even as a sickly grimace crossed his features as one trooper was hauled to the gunship still docked on the landing pad. His gurgling grunts audible through his shredded helmet that oozed the iron smelling bloody contents within.

"Anakin?" He turned back as Obi-Wan motioned for the still hotly smoldering one time doorway.

"Yeah, let's go." He replied a little more quickly than expected.

"We'll be here, Generals!" The main clone Commander declared and both Jedi nodded their heads graciously before both bound towards the door without a further word, and past the plasma burnt remains of Anakins attacks from before, as well as that of the LAAT before then.

Obi-Wan gave a single nod and bound forward as Anakin wordlessly chased after him. Both men dashed ahead with their dark cloaks whirling in the wind behind them before they passed the gaping metal wound that acted as their doorway.

Within they were met with the sight of ruined and smoldering droid bits and pieces. A chassis here, a detached head there, and blasters thrown about. Anakin for his part extended himself through the Force over the building. The world was a mess of rot and pain. The Force was withered here, the planet having been exploited into a state of decay and morbidity. It dulled his senses, and he frowned which quickly thereafter turned to a grimace. Dooku was here probably to mask his presence in the Force. That had to be it...no, no that couldn't be all of it though. There had to be something here, something he needed or wanted. The 'what' was still in question though. Truth be told though, he felt his hands itch and muscles throb in anticipation of fighting that old failed Jedi once more. To repay the debt he owed him, and of course, bring this war's end a little nearer than before.

"Can you sense him Anakin?" As if perceiving his apprentice's intention, Obi-Wan asked with the faintest hint of being breathless from their continued dash.

"No Master. I can't. I think it's Tythe more than anything else." He explained as he and Obi-Wan came to a sudden halt in their run against a hallway wall that broke into two direction in a sort of fork in the road.

"Well that's good. We'll never get to him without finding him first."

"Precisely a reason why a little more intelligence would've been nice." Obi-Wan nodded in agreement as his brow furrowed. His head moved left to right and over again wondering which way to turn.

"Uh, Master."

"Yes?"

"Have you seen anymore droids since we got here?" Obi-Wan visibly paused and his brow deepened further as he turned to Anakin.

"Well…now that you mention it I-"

"Greetings my friends!" A familiar voice dripping with snide contempt and a sense of self superiority came percussing through the halls with a booming echo. A sudden flash of memory shot through both Jedi minds to a wizard with cloak swaying loftily in the high winds atop a dark tower as he proclaimed their impending deaths. Saruman was indeed so similar to the voice in question it was almost scary between the two Jedi.

"Dooku?! Where are you traitor?!"

"Anakin!" Obi-Wan hissed lowly. Only to be met by his old apprentice's shrugging shoulders.

"Charming until the last, Skywalker. I must say I was saddened to learn of your survival upon that miserable backwater Grievous was retrieved from. However, it cannot be helped. At least, not just this moment."

"Still haven't answered the question, Dooku!" Anakin was quick to retort as both he and Obi-Wan circled themselves. Fully expecting at any moment for a swarm of droids to appear or even the Sith Lord himself to come creeping from the shadows.

"Oh you will find I am merely finishing a few preparation for your arrival, Skywalker. Master Kenobi," He began catching Obi-Wan's ear. The Jedi Master tilted his head right and noticed an ancient seeming comm system hooked into a microphone along the wall. Itself rusted and in disrepair.

"There Anakin." Obi-Wan nudged to the device and Anakin snorted scornfully.

"It's always a pleasure to have you about. I do think Qui-Gon would've been very astounded with where you've ended up. Though, at a loss perhaps, as to how you can still believe the cause you fight for to be just."

"I will not retread this ground, Dooku!" Obi-Wan warned aloud though ever calm ad controlled.

"Surrender now, and end this bloodshed. This galaxy has seen enough war!"

"War, yes." The warbled voice of Dooku continued on as Anakin traced the wiring of the comm system with his eyes down the right facing hallway.

"It has been a sad reality, for us all. The loss of three of this war's most prominent heroes in one fell swoop you would have thought would have led to chaos. Rather it led to the emboldening of my armies, and my colleagues, and the loss of face, of faith, and or morale on the side of the Republic. Corrupt as it is, as addled by fear of loss of that privilege and power among the politicians and those who lord above them. This war will expose many faces, Master Kenobi. Yet, some have yet to be so. Why should I seek to end it now before such a thing has occurred?" The agitating and precisely inflected laugh that followed Dooku's words sent a chill of anger bursting through Anakin as his nostrils flared in contempt.

"Master, this way!" He turned and beckoned Obi-Wan after him as he made a snap judgment to follow the comm wiring to its source.

"You sure?!"

"No!" Regardless both Jedi again broke into a run ahead.

"Yes, do run, my Jedi friends. I should like to see you both within the control room indeed! A spectacular thing awaits us all there."

"Well he's watching us."

"That's good." Obi-Wan retorted as Anakin bounded ahead of him.

"Ah, but which way now, Skywalker? Left or right?!" The voice mocked him openly as another fork appeared ahead of them.

"Do be sure to go left, it would be faster to reaching me!" The walls thudded from beyond as both Anakin and Obi-Wan assumed the dogfight outside to be the origination of it.

"Right it is!"

"You sure?!"

"Still no, Master!" Anakin called over shoulder and made the turn.

"Whoa!"

"Did I say left? I meant to say right." Dooku snidely laughed as Anakin came to a sudden stop, his saber flying into hand with a buzz to life. Ahead of him a thundering blitz of red bolts flew toward him.

"Master!"

"I see them!" Obi-Wan raced around Anakin, his own saber snapping to life as he sent a flurry of bolts back against a wall of B2's awaiting them.

"Okay, left!"

"Clearly!" Obi-Wan shot as he spun and sent three bolts flying into one B2 which snapped back and fell with a crashing thud against the metal plated ground.

"On three!"

"Right...mine or yours?!"

"Uh, yours!" Anakin offered.

"One," Obi-Wan and Anakin came side to side and near back to back dodging and repelling bolt upon bolt.

"Two," As they fell into their Force aided defensive dances against the bolt onslaught their knees bent slightly.

"Three!" Both men repelled a final bolt each before their right hands flew forward and a combined burst of energy thrashed by the Force exploded out. It rippled the dilapidated wall plating as it slammed with intense power against the droids and threw them in crashing and cracking clumps and clangs to the far wall.

"Marvelous show! Indeed excellent combined effort against so perilous an enemy!" Dooku's ever present voice continued to ridicule their progress.

"I'm gonna kill him."

"Anakin..." Obi-Wan warned. The younger Knight sighed only a moment after.

"Sorry."

"We work together on this. Feel, don't think. Stop paying attention to his words. He's goading us. Goading you."

"Yeah...I mean...I know." Anakin offered and sighed again. The younger Knight clearly doing his best to center himself within the Force.

"Come along now, Jedi. I haven't all day to await this trivial confrontation!" Dooku's voice, sounding more snide and contemptuous than usual boomed with the eerie scratchy echo of the run down microphones that lined the many halls.

"Alright then, let's go left."

"You mean behind us?"

"Well, yes clearly." Obi-Wan managed to not roll his eyes, as Anakin gave a curt snicker and bound off behind them. His Master on his tail.

The building again shook knocking stray and loose dust and debris free of its long untouched surfaces. While the muffled sound of thrumming passing engines and blaster bolts sounded just enough through the darkened halls. The lights within barely lit the walls, themselves worn and rusted in several coats. Those same lights were shown and hued with a dirty grime from the gathering of dust and some manner of dead insect that gave a deathly sight to all that the light managed to touch. The Force was worn upon Tythe withered by the excess of industry. All in all, it was not a very comfortable place to be. Made less so, as the two Jedi rounded right along a singular path.

"Kriff!" Anakin's saber lit to life once more and barreling bolts flashed his way. The familiar repeating hums of droideka blasters sounded as two bulbous orbs encompassed two of the destroyer droids.

"Uh Master, a little help!"

"Got my own problems, Anakin!" He chanced a glance over shoulder to see Obi-Wan back to his own as the familiar hum of rolling droidekas coming up behind them sounded through the hallway they had come from.

"Where'd they come from?!"

"No idea, but best we just-" Obi-Wan spun into a hard left and forced Anakin into a turn left as well switching their opponents and just barely missing a bolt flying over his head.

"BEST, we just take care of them!"

"Agreed!" Anakin spun his blade with its audible blue hum and again released a telekinetic blast via his left hand. One of the droidekas stumbled back but the second had unfurled and was already contained in its protective bubble.

"What a pity it would be to have two heroes of the Republic, and the Order slain by nothing more than destroyer droids. Sad and ironic really."

"Oh shut up!" Anakin replied hotly and ducked underneath more bolts and via the Force warning him and knowing Anakin's moves Obi-Wan did the same. This time Anakin threw his left hand out and with the Force he sent an unseen claw outwards that wrapped entirely around the droid's field of protection. Gritting teeth and feeling a pulsing rush of adrenaline bounding up his arm he snapped his hand closed in an instant and the bubble not only popped but the droid snapped into a crumpled mess. All as Anakin then flew into a flurry of deflections that sent a stream of bolts back into the now lone droid he faced.

Each bolt hammered at the second's shield, and the bolts were then dispersed along the blue orb. Obi-Wan ducked and weaved underneath a heavy slew of bolts, his saber dancing along his side in precise leg work promoted by the artistry of the shien form.

Extending his left had underneath his outward bent arm he used the Force and grasped one droideka. With a sudden weave right and spin of his body blocking further bolts, the droid was slammed against the wall toppling within its orb as it did so. Forcing it to furl back into a ball and unfurl. As it began though Obi-Wan gave a faint smile and grabbed it with the Force.

"Anakin!" With another swing of his body and of his left arm, he spun right and around the droid hurled itself seemingly through the air, and without instruction needed, Anakin turned hard left and bore his saber clean through the droid carving it in two as it flung over his downturn head. The remnants of which slammed hard against his last droid and thrashed it backwards, shattering its protective energy casing. Allowing Anakin to dash around, using speed of the Force at his side and stab his saber down through the droid's head leaving it to sputter, spark and shake before sizzling out. He turned to see his old Master deflecting a final bolt that slammed into the head of the final droid. Its shield having fallen while his back was turned to it.

"I hate those things."

"Every Jedi does. I should think." Obi-Wan offered in reply. His mind flashing to an ancient memory of seeing these droids upon a Trade Federation carrier alongside his old Master in orbit above Naboo.

"Ah, what an excellent display of lightsaber footwork and precision! Though I should say I find your variation of the shien stance...lacking, Master Kenobi. As for you, young Skywalker, I would fully admit to your skills with the Force natural as they are. Yet, unrefined they would seem."

"Does he ever shut up?" Anakin asked doing his best to ignore the pompous Sith Lord.

"It's only gotten worse with his turn to the Dark Side. Well that," Obi-Wan chuckled with sly a smile.

"And I would imagine with age." He offered purposefully raising his brow. Which elicited a grin and laugh from Anakin, before the two once more bound down the hallway toward their intended target.

"This planet makes sensing him out difficult!"

"I've noticed!" Obi-Wan replied over shoulder.

"All the more reason to keep sharp!"

"Yeah yeah...right!" Obi-Wan was only momentarily confused before noticing another bend ahead of them.

"What makes you so sure?!"

"The Force!"

"'The Force?!'" Obi-Wan repeated questioningly.

"Just make the turn, Master!"

"Oh, blast it all!" He did so without another thought and was followed by his old apprentice down another dimly lit and grime laden hallway.

"You're almost here, my friends. How wondrous it should be that you chose so eerily near a landing platform to meet your target. Though I should not hope to make things so easy." Dooku gave warning and in that instant Anakin came to a screeching stop, his boots grinding against the hallway floors.

"Master, drop!" Obi-Wan did so more unceremonious than Anakin had and onto his stomach. Just then a beam of green energy came blasting over their heads and smoldering the air above them.

"What is that?"

"Modified turret I think. Using one of the LAAT turret lasers."

"Blast." Obi-Wan intoned.

"I got it, Master." Anakin rolled onto his back more evenly and thrust his saber upwards. The blue beam slamming into the green which immediately began refracting from the blade into the nearby wall just beside the Jedi. Sparks sung outwards and singed the ground around them as fiery droplets fell across both Anakin and Obi-Wan.

"AH, Force! Watch where you're aiming!"

"Sorry, Master!" Anakin twisted his arms down and the beam began turning and boring into the ceiling above them.

"Alright this isn't helping!"

"Hold on a second!" Anakin demanded and with a twisted face of concentration and exerted force he swung the blade down right, and the beam in a flash reflected back, and the pop of a nearby turret sounded with a secondary explosion loosening a small roaring flame over the two Jedi's heads.

Obi-Wan for his part had been covering his head with his hands as his face was against the dusty floor. He pulled it up only after noticing the heat dissipate to see Anakin over him offering a hand.

"You doing alright, Master?" His smirk annoyed his Master greatly. Even as he took the hand and pulled himself up.

"Would be better if you didn't constantly try to kill us, my old padawan."

"I fixed it didn't I?"

"Your definition of 'fix' and 'good idea' may need working on."

"Well I didn't see you doing anything." Anakin offered.

"Given a moment to think I surely would have."

"Sometimes we don't have moments Master."

"Maybe so, Anakin. Yet," He observed the gashes now lining the walls and ceiling.

"I think there was an easier way to dealing with this."

"Well, the next time a laser tries to kill us I welcome you to show me, Master." Obi-Wan sighed as he and Anakin again took off down the hall.

"All the better you keep making progress, my Jedi friends. I'll be waiting for you." Dooku with a sense of ominous menace intoned, as both Anakin and Obi-wan took a turn left down what seemed to be a meeting corridor. Down the far end of the hall led to a larger antechamber. The two dashed down there, keeping their senses as keen as possible to ensure no further little surprises met them.

"Looks like the main entryway." Anakin announced as he eyed two further connective corridors that were set nearby the main one he and Obi-Wan had exited from.

"I'm going to guess this is the main control room."

"Would be shocked if it wasn't. Based on what scans we had back on the ship this looks like the lower level access door."

"How large is this control room again?"

"Three floors. One large observation window opposite the doorway, and control monitors along the ceiling. Good place to set up turrets or ambush points for the stealthier droids. So, I'd say be on the lookout for any BX commandos."

"Lovely thought." Obi-Wan intoned further.

"You ready?" Anakin asked. Obi-Wan could see his friend practically jumping at the thought of facing Dooku again.

"You calm?" Obi-Wan offered mimicking Anakin's speech pattern.

"Yes...I'm good. I promise!"

"Alright. I'm trusting you there."

"Together. We work at him together, Master. I know. I promise." Anakin replied and dipped his head low. Obi-Wan eyed him for a second before nodding.

"Alright, come along then." He gave a single pat along Anakin's right shoulder and the two made their way through the doorway. Surprisingly unlocked and open to them for entry.

Upon entering Obi-Wan snapped his saber to life and Anakin followed suit. Both Jedi falling into semi-defensive stances. Their eyes tracing the room interior. The far wall ahead of them had to be reached by a small stairway that led up to the main level. Beyond it was the deactivated and defunct main LiMerge factory floor. Above them and casting a murky shadow was an inward turned second set of stairs that led to the third level above. Itself forming a looming crescent platform over their heads.

"Eerie."

"Keep on your guard." Obi-Wan warned as both men climbed their set of stairs and came onto the main floor. Surrounding them were old and unused monitors and desks lined in abandoned materials. Anakin lifted his humming saber over his head and took in the darkness that surrounded both he and Obi-Wan. He turned and noted the third level and found it as empty as the one they were upon. The creaking of metal and echo of their footfalls being the only thing audible. Even the battle beyond being so muffled by layers of steel as to be silenced.

"He's not here."

"Too much of a coward to face us." Anakin snorted aloud.

"Oh, not quite Skywalker." Both men turned and fell into their preferred defensive stances as Dooku's voice rattled the empty dark room. The whir of tired and old machinery sounded throughout the room. Both Jedi placed their backs to one another on instinct and their eyes returned to scanning the room. A metal frame descended from the top of the room in front of the dust covered observation window. One long metal frame with two descending units on either side.

"Visual projector." Obi-Wan stated nudging his head towards it forcing Anakin around to view. Both men lowered their sabers though they both remained cautious as the fourth metal panel extended from the two descending units forming a near complete rectangle. This allowed a colored video projection to come alive before them.

"Dooku." Anakin sneered as the old Fallen Jedi came into view. Behind him lay a control room of a different sort. One that sent Anakin's hands into immediate clenches of aggravation and anger.

"He's on a ship." Obi-Wan noted before Anakin could.

"Yes indeed I am. Alas it has been fun playing this little game with you two. However, I am needed elsewhere for a very important meeting."

"What was the point of this 'game' then Dooku?!"

"Patience, Skywalker! I would have thought the apprentice of my own would have taught you so simple a Jedi lesson by now?" He mocked him and Anakin clenched his jaws forcing a curse down before it loosed from his lips.

"Doesn't answer the question, Dooku." Obi-Wan challenged.

"No it did not, did it?" Dooku feigned a sigh.

"I had meant to meet you both upon Tythe. To engage in a little test of power and ability. To see if that year away had dulled your skills at all. Yet, all these plans were sadly changed. It seems the time frame for this meeting of mine has been changed. Parameters need be met, and as you can imagine being late for a scheduled event is inappropriate."

"What 'meeting' Dooku?"

"Now that would be telling, Master Kenobi." Dooku chuckled.

"I was rather pleased that this charade had played out so well. So quick and easy to pull you both in for the chance to face me. Kill me? Capture me?" He questioned no one in particular.

"You will find that I have no further use for that dead world you meander upon. A distraction, nothing more. Know this, however, I will eagerly await the both of you for the real confrontation."

"Oh yeah?" Anakin spoke up again.

"Where exactly will that be, traitor?!" His eyes fell onto Anakin and bore upon him. Yet, they quickly turned upwards. As though he were amused by Anakin's confrontational tone.

"As I said, Skywalker that would be telling. Though you should the both of you know in due time where this challenge shall be met. It may be sooner, or it may be later. It all depends really."

"Depends on what? You're being all too vague even compared to normal, Dooku."

"Yes, Obi-Wan I suppose I am." He chuckled again, whimsically even.

"Forgive me, but my time is short. I would not give away the surprise. Rather, I think I shall wait and allow for the both of you to come to see what awaits you on your own time. Until then, do enjoy Tythe."

"What? No bombs? No traps or attempt to kill us from afar, Dooku? That is odd indeed." Obi-Wan subtly goaded. Dooku paused before ceasing the transmission. His brow furrowed for but a moment. As though he had to think about something. His next words perhaps? Neither Jedi could discern what it meant.

"We merely needed you out of the way, my friends." The transmission was then silenced leaving the room as dark as it had been before. Only the humming blue of their sabers shining outwards.

"What?!" Anakin gave a roaring reply.

"Calm down, Anakin."

"What was that all about?! He just…did we just waste an entire strike force and landing on an irrelevant planet?!"

"It would seem so." Obi-Wan bluntly offered. Anakin scoffed and threw his arms out before letting them fall back to his sides heavy with exasperation.

"He said 'we needed you out of the way.'" Obi-Wan noted thoughtfully.

"Who is 'we?'"

"How should I know? Out of the way for what is a more important question I think."

"Maybe...maybe." Obi-Wan carried on.

"General Kenobi, General Skywalker, come in." Obi-Wan snapped his finger to the small comm hidden within his right ear.

"This is Kenobi."

"General Kenobi, sir. The enemy fleet has just made a jump into hyperspace."

"What?" Anakin whispered in a hiss.

"All ground side droid units should be shutting own relatively soon. Their command vessel fled with them."

"Well that..." Obi-Wan looked to Anakin who again shrugged in disbelief.

"That's excellent news, Admiral. I should like to have a shuttle prepped for immediate extraction."

"What of Dooku, General?"

"He's indisposed." Anakin jeered.

"Pardon?"

"Intelligence was a bust, Admiral." Obi-Wan clarified for Anakin.

"Do send a shuttle. We'll also require a direct line open to Coruscant once aboard."

"I'll have the men work on it, General. However, a mass report from Anaxes has reached us just as the operation began. Coruscant is experiencing communication difficulties."

"Anaxes is hailing an all clear?" Anakin asked.

"Command has stated they've received green across the board, sir."

"Well, keep trying. Perhaps we can make it through."

"Aye, General. A shuttle will be on its way for you two."

"My thanks, Admiral." Obi-Wan ceased the communication.

"I sense something off." Anakin declared.

"In regards to what?"

"Well, everything." Obi-Wan could only nod in agreement.

"Master," Anakin began, his eyes meeting Obi-Wan's.

"'Needed you out of the way.' The 'what.'" Anakin began and Obi-Wan silently appraised where he seemed to be trying to lead him. His own brow line furrowing.

"You don't think..."

"Is it impossible?" Obi-Wan was silent for a moment.

"We need to get to the fleet and contact Anaxes."

"And now!" Anakin agreed as he turned and bound back for the doorway he and Obi-Wan had come in through. The two retracing their steps with a renewed intensity and vigor. Fueled by a hunch more than fact. As the capitol world of the Republic was now suddenly at the fore of their minds. Unknown to all but themselves.

---

"He is adamant on remaining here." Isard announced as the three Jedi masters and a host of clone troopers neared flanked by the blue garbed senatorial guardsmen.

"The Chancellor, even in such a crisis is under no requirement to bend to the will of the Jedi Order, or the senatorial staff for that matter!" Sate Pestage declared as both he and Isard flanked the entryway to the Chancellor's private residence here within 500 Republica. The building rattled from some distant explosion and sent everyone shaking, even the Jedi.

"Sector four needs reinforcements! We are being overrun, repeat we are being..." Shaak Ti recognized Captain Fordo's voice over the wide band comm within her ear as the chaos erupted across Coruscant.

"Sector eighteen is lost! All units pull back to secondary defensive lines!"

"Twenty to twenty-five thousand enemy combatants landing in the Zhell central market plaza! I repeat we have heavy landing forces in-"

"Payload marker on our position! We are overrun, position is lost, I say again position lost!"

"Advancing on position Aurek-One-Forty! All units green, General Kolar now holds command."

"Affirmative, low orbital bombardment confirmed on coordinates Cesh-One-Alpha-Besh-Three. All units still combat effective are to vacate immediately!" On and on these messages howled over every comm unit across and above the planet and all Master Ti could do was ignore them. Her mission was one of importance. Even if she and her fellow masters and troopers wished to be in the thick of battle helping stall what seemed to be an unprecedented strike at the Republic's very heart.

"Forgive us if we beg to differ. If the enemy gets a hold of the Chancellor, or kill him this war may be viewed as lost! We cannot let that happen. Even if he becomes offended by the matter, we will see it done. With or without your agreement, Director Isard, Minister Pestage." The two men eyed one another after Ti's words. They did not say anymore as they passed by them and with a company of troopers at her back came upon the doorway.

"Do try to not screw your little mission up then." Pestage sneeringly replied as he made for the turbolift. Isard said nothing, but eyed the company before he too began to vacate. For whatever bunker they may have been headed for.

"This is hardly the time for politics of whose authority supersedes whom." Shaak sighed. Master Moudama silently nodded in agreement while Corobb remained firmly fixed on the door. Master Ti pressed the ringer upon it signaling their intent to enter.

"Come in!" They heard from within. The Chancellor's voice oddly calm for such an occasion. They entered quickly thereafter, and Shaak was sure to exercise the full breadth of the situation with her voice. Though she did take note of how the man sat facing the viewport upon a simple chair with a cup of tea no less in his hands. It would have been extremely odd, were the day not already full of oddities.

"Supreme Chancellor, we must get you to your shelter immediately!" She was sure to accentuate her words in serious and grave a manner. Though the Chancellor merely swiveled in his seat and calmly stood. His dark blue cloak folding around him as he did.

"But the battle is so far off." One of his hands went behind his back and the other motioned outside the viewport. Distant turbolaser batteries firing and millions of blasters distantly sounding.

"Please Supreme Chancellor, we must follow safety protocol and get you to-"

"I will not cower in the face of this treacherous attack." He cut her off with cool and calm a tone and demeanor.

It was silenced though by a dulled thud. Everyone went silent including Ti who felt an odd sense of deja vu claw at the back of her memory. The Chancellor turned to his left and furrowed his brow inquisitively. The sound did not abate either. It carried on and the troopers and senatorial guardsmen all twisted and turned their heads just as confused. The Force trembled with their own anxieties and Ti herself felt her head bouncing back and forth. Both in caution and trying to remember where she had heard that sound before. It grew louder, machine like, and both Master Moudama and Corobb now also turned about themselves confusedly.

"What is that...what is that sound?" The Chancellor finally inquired aloud what they all wondered. All, but Shaak Ti whose eyes then bulged and adrenaline shot suddenly through her body.

"We have to go now!" Yet, as if in response to her plea the sound silenced. Only after having seemingly reached just beyond their sight. The Chancellor, near comically swiveled his head left as it had ceased.

"Hmm, see. It was nothing." He said, as the looming specter of General Grievous lowered down from the top of the viewport. Golden eyes boring inward.

"Chancellor!" The glass shattered inwards and Palpatine went flying against the ground in a mess as shards embedded themselves along his cloak and floor. The General's form lowered from the top and flung itself into the room. His clawed tongs scratching the golden colored floor beneath him as his cloak whirled in the high winds of Coruscant. The sunlight from afar casting a vision of beastly horror along the whitened Jedi killer of this war. His eyes snaking down upon the room observing them all silently thus far before zeroing in on the Chancellor who turned on the floor and beheld Grievous looming upon him.

"How dare you barge into my private residence!" Shaak was now seriously wondering if Palpatine had lost his mind.

"Who do you think you are?!" He demanded having come to a stand, pointing a bony finger toward Grievous who seemed equally perplexed by Palpatine's audaciousness.

"Chancellor, I don't think-"

"I'll take care of this." He cut her off...again! Even daring to turn toward her slightly and raising a silencing hand.

"I am Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Republic, and I will not be bullied by any thug who happens to-" She cut him off this time. Using the Force he flew backwards into her arms just as Grievous' extended one of his to grasp at the air where Palpatine's neck had been.

"Take him!" She commanded walking backwards holding the Chancellor firmly in her arms as he said nothing else. The troopers formed a line between Grievous and the doorway as Masters Corobb and Moudama flanked Shaak out of the room. The doorway slid after them leaving the murderous Grievous alone with a host of twenty or some odd men.

A pathetic excuse for an enemy host.

A harsh and horrifying grumble loosened from behind his mask and the men opened fire. Utilizing more agility and acrobatics than he had been used to in some time Grievous set about dispatching of these men. Jumping from ceiling to wall. Awakening two lightsabers. Cutting them through armor and flesh. Bearing clawed foot onto mask covered head and slamming limp body into wall. Cracking bones, searing flesh and organs. The screams of men soon echoed out and became more prominent and mad, drowned out only by the blasters. Until, at last, they too went silent.

Before Grievous burst through the doors and made after Palpatine and the Jedi. Clawing down the hall as a rabid beast, eyes set to prey.

The hunt was begun.

---

L's Note: I think I prefer using 'L's note' over 'Author's friend's note.' XD

ANYWAYS! The usual digressions, YES there are likely grammatical error within I am Lord Kun are sorry. We go over these when we have time. We have jobs and college still, so sometimes we can't find everything. If you are bothered by them that badly let me know and I will personally go in and fix them. Until such a time where Lord Kun has time to literally reread his own material for like the 4th time and rewrites/fixes what needs to be fixed. Got that? Goody, if you're not bothered by grammar issues or realize it's not as easy as simply reading and fixing it then I thank you and hope you can be patient with the updates and the gramma fixes. I know they need to happen Lord Kun KNOWS they need to happen. But we don't get paid for this, so we have no editor and Lord Kun has issues with betas due to bad history. My point being is just be patient or understanding in this regard. It's all I peronsally ask.

That said, I hope you all enjoy this relatively quick update that Lord Kun pushed out between classes. I also note there is very little Arda in here. We are getting to ROTS terriory so Star Wars is certainly at this moment more important than LOTR. Just be patient guys. The nuggets of what is to come are in here I guarantee. ;)

-L

Edit Note: Edited/Updated 4/13/2019