"General Kenobi, we've entered orbit around Yavin. Sensor jamming is active. Captain Darren and Commander Cody are waiting for you on the bridge."
Obi-Wan released himself from his meditation, it'd been a long trip out to Yavin, but it had allowed him much time to spend with his new Padawan. "Alright, thank you Private. We shall be there momentarily." He said as he stood from his resting place, his Padawan standing with him.
"Should I go get ready Master?" She asked.
"No, not just yet young one. I'll need you to join me for the briefing. You and your squad are going to have your own assignment for this operation." Obi-Wan explained. "You'll be expected to actually pay attention to today's briefing Kittani, as you'll have to relay the information to your men."
He heard a sigh beside him, but saw the signature bob of dark purple hair that he'd come to get used to as her way of understanding. "I understand Master." She informed him.
"I know you find briefings less than entertaining Kittani, but they are important. The information you gain from them could save the lives of you and your men one of these days." He said.
She looked down, "I know Master, they are important. It just seems like they never end and we have to pick through all the information just to find what pertains to us." She said. "I actually find them interesting when it involves things I need to know." She mumbled.
Obi-Wan smiled some. "Well, I will say that this briefing will be different. The ones on the past few days have mostly involved the ship's crew and what I've needed to know. This one however will be focused on battle strategy, objectives, and what may await us on the surface." He said.
He saw her ever so slightly perk up at this, and nod. "I understand Master. I will pay attention." She reassured.
When they arrived on the bridge, the others were already gathered around. Captain Darren was standing at the center of the holo-map display, explaining something to the others. She was maybe a few years older than Obi Wan, possibly in her early forties, and ran her ship well. She was flanked on either side by the two highest ranking clones on the mission.
"Captain Darden, I take it there were no issues in settling the ship into hiding?" Obi Wan asked.
She shook her head, smirking. "Not at all Master Kenobi. We exited hyperspace well outside their scanner range and used the gas giant to prevent them from detecting us as we slipped into orbit. We can move on Yavin Thirteen whenever you're ready."
Obi Wan nodded, "Understood. Commander Cody, Captain Fordo, do we have any probes or imagery of the planet itself?"
Cody stepped forward, "It's too risky to land a probe on the moon, as it might draw attention and put the base on alert, but imagery from probes passing over have found a base. We've been able to partially map it out." He said as he pulled up the map itself.
It was an overhead view, revealing two compounds with roughly four or five kilometers distance between them. The map focused on the larger compound.
"This is the main compound and research facility. It's size alone is a good indicator, but there's also the wall around it, the hangar here, and this, which we believe is a turbolaser battery. We believe the second one on this plateau is a monitoring station." Cody pointed out each part with ease.
"Most troubling… we'll have to deal with that station first. If it's anything like our own, then destroying it won't be an option. A team would have to overwhelm the defenses and keep the all clear signal monitoring. After that another team would need to destroy the laser battery before the main assault force could attack." He stroked his beard some, something he'd gotten used to while thinking.
Fordo got their attention. "Sir, if I may. We could deploy two small teams onto the surface using escape pods. They shouldn't draw as much attention as the ship would." He explained.
"Hmm, that would allow a rapid deployment for two squads. Alright. Fordo, you and your men will be tasked with the destruction of that turbolaser. You'll wait for team one's signal, a droid attack flair, to begin your attack. Team one will assault the monitoring station, and make sure that their all clear signal stays open while the main assault is carried out."
Obi-Wan looked to his Padawan. "Kittani, I am going to entrust this to you and Sergeant Boil's ARF squad. They're all battle tested men, and the station shouldn't be heavily guarded. Do you feel up to this?"
Kittani nodded, "Yes, I do master. I won't fail you."
Obi Wan nodded, he could sense some of his Padawan's nerves, but also the resolve to complete this task. It would be a challenge for her, to test how she could handle combat and her emotions.
"Understood. Well, let's get started… shall we?" He said as they began to plan their assault.
Kittani took a breath in apprehension as she watched Boil and his squad get ready. She'd explained the plan of attack to them in as much detail as she could, making sure each man knew the plan well. Their pod was to land a few moments after Captain Fordo's did, allowing it to draw the droids attention. They'd land a few hundred meters from the outpost and move quick to eliminate its defenders. She could feel the weight of a flare gun at her side, of course her Sergeant had one as well, but it never hurt to have a backup.
"Commander? Commander?" She heard Boil's voice from behind her, startling her some. She'd been deep in thought, and hadn't heard him. She realized she'd actually settled into pacing back and forth some.
"Yes, sorry Sergeant, what is it?" She turned to him, offering a smile.
"We're ready commander, on your orders, we'll go ahead and board the escape pod." He said as he put on his helmet. This wasn't their standard camouflage, it was a desert tan, broken up in about two or three different shades of sandy brown. Kittani remained in her simple robes, foregoing her cloak to allow her more movement.
She nodded, "Alright, Sergeant, load the men up. We have an outpost to clear." She said with a nod, before heading over to the designated pod and climbing in.
"You heard the commander, let's go teach these Tin Heads a lesson!" Boil said to get his men fired up before moving into the pod. They all secured themselves in tight, settling into their seats and stowing their gear in the makeshift spaces in the pod.
Kittani took a deep breath and opened her link with Master Kenobi. "Master, Pod One is ready for launch." She said.
"Understood Kittani, Pod Two is ready as well. We'll be launching you both soon. May the Force be with you."
"May the Force be with you too, Master." She told him before ending the com. They would be under radio silence with the Revenant once they got on the moon itself. Commander Fordo would be the one to radio the Revenant that it was clear for the Corellian Cruiser to land and deploy the rest of the unit.
It seemed like they'd waited for hours as the ship moved into position, but it was only a few minutes at most. The shock of launch was sudden, the force of the boosters firing away from the ship taking hold of them and not wanting to let go. Boil himself was at the controls of the pod, guiding it as best he could as they rocketed towards the surface.
The planet seemed to race closer at a blinding speed, soon it's dull brown tones were all Kittani felt she could see through the view port.
"Entering the Atmosphere. Brace in five, four, three, two, Brace!" Boil warned.
The shock of suddenly hitting air resistance jarred the entire ship as it was forced to slow, jostling them around in their seats. Kittani could feel a tight clenching in her gut, the nerves overwhelming her as she and the troopers could do nothing but sit. They could feel the pod slowing down, and she could see the heat streaking along the outer edge of the glass as it entered thicker atmosphere. Boil trying to smooth out their descent as much as possible. The pod let out a groan as it sliced its way in, surely leaving a trail of fire in the night sky.
Boil again, shouting now over the noise of entry. "Deploying 'chute… Now!" His hand slapped down on a button, and then the worst one yet hit. It slammed them around in their seats, and while the clones were fine, Kittani was slightly smaller than what the seats were intended for. She knew she would be sore all over as her head hit the padded bar lock that held her in place. She could feel her saber digging into her side uncomfortably. They'd definitely slowed down. The chute cut their speed greatly, but not for long. The chute wasn't designed to lower them completely, and it felt like just as soon as it'd been deployed that Boil had cut the line. It was only there to slow the pods decent to a survivable speed for it, it's purpose was served.
"Brace for impact!" Boil warned, Kittani barely had time to do so before the pod slammed into the ground, sending her bouncing around in her seat. The pod made a horrible noise as it cut a path into the earth, drowning out anything else. Finally, it stopped, part of the front view screen covered in sandy earth.
Everything was silent inside the cabin for a few moments, Kittani's ears ringing a bit. The first noises that reached her ears were the groans of the clones around her, along with the sound of them undoing their safety harnesses and that of plastoid armor against durasteel.
Kittani herself let out a groan as she felt the soreness in her body from the beating the landing had given her. "Everyone… sound off." She said as she worked on her own harness.
Each clone sounded off before starting to collect their gear, reporting that they were alright, if a little jostled, from the hard landing. Kittani stretched some, trying to get the soreness out of her from the impact. Boil stood up, holding onto one of the overhead guide rails since the pod was tilted at an odd angle.
"Alright… Hawkeye, get the hatch." She said, the trooper moving over and pulling the release door. The back hatch popped open, revealing them to the darkness and slightly cool climate of Yavin Thirteen. She could see the trench they'd dug with the pod, easily a few hundred meters in length judging by it.
Kittani climbed out after Hawkeye and Trapper, removing her lightsaber from her belt as her feet landed on solid ground. The air was dry, but it was cool out in the darkness of night. She knew that during the day the planet would be scorching to her as a Pantoran.
She kept her eyes scanning for any danger, especially since they'd landed within two clicks of their target. "Clear?" She asked of her men as they fanned out.
All the responses were the same, each clone stating that their field of view was clear of danger. The last response was from Boil himself, who'd stalked up beside her, DeeCee carbine raised and at the ready. "All clear, commander."
Kittani nodded, "They'll have seen the landing pods come in. Thrasher, leave a surprise for them." She looked to the man. He went over and primed a thermal detonator, placing it so that anyone who disturbed it would release the button, activating it.
"Hope the droids like my gift." The clone said, smirk evident in his voice.
Kitanni nodded in approval, then looked to Boil.
"Alright you sorry sacks of genetics, objective is a little over two click's away. Move quick, move quiet, and they'll never know what hit them. I'll take point."
No one objected to this, and soon the squad was on the move, using what little cover was available to them on the dry desert planet. It didn't take long for them to hear the sound of servo's whirring and metal clanking against sand and rock, the all too familiar sound of battle droids.
"Take cover, up in the rocks." Boil practically breathed. She knew the other clones would hear it loud and clear through their coms, the warning was only audibly made for her. Kittani didn't have to be told twice though, she followed half the squad, scrambling up into a outcropping of rocks and scrub brush to hunker down.
The clones camouflaged armor blended in well with the landscape, breaking up their outline well enough to not be easily spotted. Had she not seen them move into position and been unable to feel their connection to the force, Kittani would've looked right at half of her squad and not seen them.
The droid patrol came into view, a squad of eight B1's marching along in a spread-out formation. Kittani glanced over to Boil, her thumb resting over the switch on her light saber.
"Hold your fire… let them pass." He said, voice barely a whisper as his own blaster tracked the droids.
"Keep an eye out, whatever it was came down beyond this hill."
"Roger, roger."
"Do you think it was a Republic ship?"
"Nah, can't be. What would the Republic be doing all the way out here? Probably some pirates or something."
The droids kept chatting as they marched past the concealed group of Republic troopers. Kittani let out a sigh of relief, and once the last droid had disappeared the group moved back down from the rocks.
The outpost itself was located on a ridge line overlooking the base, just as they'd been told. Two droids stood guard by the entrance, standing stock still at the set of closed doors. The base itself was simple, one, maybe two rooms, and a large broadcasting dish. Kittani nodded, "Alright… this is it."
She quickly opened the line to Captain Fordo. "Team Two this is Team One, we are in position."
"Team one, this is Team Two, we read you loud and clear. We're standing by, ready on your signal." A voice said quietly on the other end.
"Understood, we'll begin the assault." Kittani said before ending the connection. "Sergeant, are the men ready?"
"As ready as ever Commander, on your go." He said, nodding.
"Alright, Trapper, Hawkeye… take out those sentries on my command." The two troopers moved forward, taking prone positions and sighting in their rifles.
Kittani gathered the rest of the men along with Boil, ready for the charge to the doors. "Now!" She said, and two blue blaster bolts shot forward, taking both droids in their head plates. Kittani didn't hesitate. She was up, charging forward as fast as she could with her saber ignited and held out to the side. The sound of the clones right behind her nearly drowned out by the sound of her blood pumping in her ears. She readied her lightsaber to plunge into the door and force it open quickly, but oddly enough, they opened themselves.
"Hey! What's going on out hereaaaah!?" The droid cried out as she leapt forward, plunging her saber into it quickly and bringing it down.
"J-j-Jedi! Sound the alarm! We're under attack!" Another panicked droid cried out as it scrambled for its blaster. The clones were fast. They charged through the doors. The droid was cut down by a wave of blaster fire as Kittani freed her saber and charged up the stairs with her squad.
At the top was a very surprised group of droids. Some had already managed to get their weapons, others still scrambling for them or trying to do things at their posts. "H..he..help!"
A few of the droids opened fire, Kittani deflecting the bolts back at them, clipping one's arm and another one's chest plate. Boil suddenly stormed past her with the rest of the squad, blaster carbine held in one hand as he leapt over a row of controls. His blaster came point blank with a droid head. The shot took it clean off. The other clones moved with brutal efficiency and fire control. Most of the droids fell to one or two shots.
Kittani saw the last droid scrambling for a specific control panel at the back of the station. Desperately trying to reach it from what it appeared. She reached out with the force. The droid was lifted into the air.
"No. No-no-no-no-ahhh!" The droid cried out and flailed as she rapidly pulled it back. Her lightsaber split it near perfectly down the middle.
The room was oddly quiet now, with a heavy lingering smell of burnt metal and superheated carbon. Kittani shivered some and extinguished her saber.
Boil was over at the controls, examining everything. He turned to them and nodded. "Still broadcasting the all clear… Fordo and his boys can start their attack."
"Alright, good work. Let's get the station locked down, that thermal detonator might not have wiped out that entire droid patrol." She said before making her way back outside along with Boil and some of the others. She stood out at the edge of the hill, looking down at the base below. Fordo and his men were down there somewhere.
"Fordo, are your men set in positon?" She asked.
"Yes Commander, ready."
She removed her pistol, and without a word, sent the attack flare soaring high into the desert sky. "Begin your attack commander."
Kittani expected to see blaster fire start up, or possibly a rocket headed for that turbolaser, instead she saw, felt, and heard as multiple explosions rocked the distant base. The first ones ripping the turret itself to shreds and causing multiple secondary blasts. Another one blew up an outbuilding nearby, possibly a station for the droid defenders.
There were some chuckles from the clones around her as they watched the impressive explosions. "Woahahaha, looks like Fordo and his boys went all out with the dets." One trooper commented.
"Heh, you say that like it's a bad thing."
They could see the starting signs of a firefight. Streaks of blue and red tracers being traded back and forth. "General Kenobi. Captain Darren. The Revenant is clear to land!" Fordo called out. Kittani could see the flashes of blaster fire from his squad. Fordos men were well trained though, a squad of veteran, well equipped, ARC troopers was a dangerous thing indeed.
"Understood Captain Fordo. ETA Five minutes." Master Kenobi's voice came over the com channel. "Your men are to keep the defense forces busy Fordo. We'll move in once Ghost Company is on the ground. Kittani, you and your squad will remain on station and defend that outpost. We will extract you."
"Understood Master." She said with a nod.
"Alright, holding position General. Commander, before we were able to engage we saw multiple droids leave the base… roughly three squads of B1 and B2 droids mixed together. Looks like their QRF… you might want to get ready."
"Alright, thank you Captain." The knowledge sent chills down her spine, that was a sizeable force of droids.
"Sergeant, we need to get the squad into defensive positions. The droids are sending a sizeable welcome party towards us." She said.
Boil nodded, "Alright boys, you heard the Commander. Let's spread out and get some cover!"
Obi-Wan was already at the main cargo hold ramp of the corvette when it began to open, Commander Cody by his side. They could see the flaming smoldering wreckage of a few of the instillation buildings nearby. The streaks of blaster fire arced in two directions as Fordo's squad engaged the droids.
"General Kenobi, we're in position." Captain Darren told him as the ship held steady.
Obi-Wan didn't hesitate. "Let's move!" He called out as the rappel lines were tossed out, part secured to the Corvette. Obi-Wan himself jumped out, heading for the ground with lightsaber ignited. He remained calm, even as the wind from the ship and his fall rushed around him, and the acrid smell of oil smoke and explosives filled his nose.
A push from the force slowed him as his feet hit the ground. He could sense it as Cody and the others started landing down behind him, fast roping down from the ship. Obi-Wan started deflecting shots as they came, keeping the fire light as the clones formed up. Cody and his personal squad moved forward, laying down covering fire and catching the droid forces in a crossfire between themselves and Fordo's squad.
He locked eyes with Cody's visor plate and nodded. "Alright, let's go! We have to move quickly!" He said as he began to push forward, deflecting blaster bolts back at the B1's and B2's guarding the base. The troopers spread out into a wedge behind him, advancing forward.
Off to his left he could see Fordo's squad pushing up as well, the two groups keeping the pressure on droid forces. The droids, having already been crippled in their numbers, were quick to fall to saber and blaster shots.
Obi Wan advanced on the main building with a few squads from the company, the rest setting up a defensive perimeter around the now burning camp. Everything was shrouded in the orange light of fire, the droid attack flare having long gone out overhead. Immediately around him, his own Saber's blue color overpowered the glow of the flames in the darkness.
The doors to the building were sealed tight, black durasteel designed to withstand a direct hit from anything shy of an anti-armor rocket. Obi Wan mused over this as he plunged his lightsaber into it, beginning to cut away the locking mechanism in and of itself.
Behind him were the calls of Cody, "Alright, stack up!"
Obi-Wan spared a glance behind him as the troopers eased up, weapons raised, not at him, but at the door and what would be beyond. He continued his slow steady cut, and finally he felt the door starting to loosen up. He removed his saber, and with a solid push from the force, sent the section of door he'd cut flying inwards. The other two sections fell away.
The first room was surprisingly a small atrium of sorts. It opened up to have a small kitchen unit and living area combined. Two closed doors branched off on the right side, and a hallway headed farther back into the base. It was down this hallway that the piece of metal Obi-Wan had sent flying lay, having cut a serving droid in half.
"Alright, looks clear… Tuck, Slapstick… you have point." Cody said cautiously. The two clones moved in, blasters at the ready and watching each other's backs. They'd only made it halfway inside before it happened.
A commando droid appeared from cover, and four well placed shots cut down the two clone troopers as they spun around to engage it at the far end of the hallway. With a grace not seen by the standard battle droids, the commando stepped over the servant droid and ducked back into cover. Obi Wan brought up his lightsaber and pushed forwards.
"Send some droid poppers their way!" Cody shouted out as the clones spread out and put down covering fire. There were two command droids now, firing back as Obi-Wan had to deflect the blasts while standing over the two downed troopers. He watched two of the small metal balls get tossed down the hallway, and then as one was caught by one of the droids and thrown back at them.
Out of reaction, he shouted. "Take cover!" But it was too little too late. Had it been a thermal detonator then only the force could've saved them. The EMP surrounded the first few men that were inside the building. Obi-Wan watched as his coms went on the fritz, trying to reboot, and as the clones tried to get their helmets reset, thankfully, the other EMP had taken the two commando droids, and his lightsaber was still active.
"Status report?" He asked.
"We're alright Sir. Helmets have to reset though, along with everything else. Blasters are still good to go though." Cody's voice was muffled from behind his helmet, but he dared not take it off. "Should take two minutes to get back online Sir!"
Obi Wan nodded, "Alright, let's finish mopping up and get to the target. Squad two, you'll take the left, squad one will be with me. Squads three and four will join the rest of the company in planting demolition charges and clearing up the base."
The clones nodded and went about their business. Obi Wan carefully moved forward with the two squads down the corridor. It was all quiet from here on though. He headed right, which ended at a single door.
"Alright, get ready. We don't know what might be in there." He said softly as Cody and his men moved forward, stacking themselves on opposite sides of the door. Obi-Wan would be the first one in as always. Once in position, he nodded to Cody.
The clone activated the door, and they stormed in, lightsabers and blasters ready.
"Well, it took you long enough to deal with my Commando units."
Their target, the female trunsk, sat before them. Wearing simple clothes and lazily holding a blaster pistol pointed at Obi Wan. "So, what have you come for? To kill me? To have me tried for crimes against the Republic?" She asked, glaring.
Obi Wan carefully extinguished his saber and shook his head, "No, not particularly. You are D'yrma, the programmer, aren't you?"
She nodded, still not lowering the blaster despite a squad of clones pointing at her. "The one and only." She smirked. "Well then, what are you here for Jedi?"
"To have you testify in a possible upcoming trial. And for any info you've kept involving the creation of the clone army."
Here eyes did widen some at this before she sneered. "So, you finally figured it out did you?" She asked, and her hand moved to hover over a button on her computer. "Well, if you want any chance at me then these are my demands. A plea bargain. My blasted testimony, in exchange for my freedom of any and all charges by the Galactic Republic."
"I can't guarantee it, as I'm sure you know." Obi Wan told her, raising his hand.
"Ah! Not so fast Jedi. I know your kind. You so much as try and use any magic on me, and all your info is gone. I'm the best damned slicer in the galaxy, I could have this information deleted before your able to do a thing." She smirked.
He lowered his hand. "Alright. You'll have your plea bargain. On my word, the Galactic Republic will pardon you for all crimes." Obi Wan didn't want to… but the risk of a Sith having his puppet as Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, it was too much of a risk.
She nodded, smiling. "Of course, Master Jedi. I trust you're a man of your word." She said, snorting some before turning back and typing at the console some. Soon, three data disks popped out. "This is everything. Dating all the way back to even before I worked on your precious clones."
D'yrma finally stood, dropped the blasted, and allowed a clone to place a set of binders on her hands.
"Take her back to the ship and start setting demolition charges. I'll get everything organized." Obi Wan said as a trooper came running up to him.
"Sir! Urgent message from Sergeant Boil!" The clone said, holding up his communicator. Obi-Wan was shown an image of Boil.
"Sergeant, what's going on?" He asked, as he watched Boil seem to take cover behind something and fire.
"We're taking heavy fire Sir! I've lost two men in the squad already, we need support ASAP." He said, followed by more firing and returned fire. Suddenly there was a distant shout, and Boil looked over.
"Trapper, lay down covering fire. The Commander's been hit! General, we need an Evac right away!" And with that, the line was cut.
Obi Wan was flooded with an urgency that he hadn't felt in a long time. A sudden flash, of him stuck behind red shielded doors while his Master fought a Sith, flooded his mind. "Cody! Finish up here! I'm going to support the ARF team!"
He didn't wait for a response, Obi Wan took off at a run.
Boil slid into cover behind the barricade where Hawkeye had dragged Commander Jaxx, he used his blaster to put three shots into a B2, putting it down.
"What's the situation with the commander?" He asked quickly.
"She's taken a hit to the shoulder and another hit to the gut. Looks like it's missed anything major but she's in a lot of pain. I've got a stim in her to take the edge off, and a bacta patch on both wounds… but she needs a bacta tank."
Boil took a deep breath, but nodded. "Keep her covered. If we don't fight these kriffing clankers off we're all gonna need a bacta tank!"
They'd been driven back to the main room of the coms center, more of the droids marching up the main entrance. Boil popped back up, firing at another two B1's as they came around the corner. At least what was left of his squad was keeping up the fire. They'd made the clankers pay for every inch of ground. Boil planned to hold them off till they ran outta ammo or the General could get here.
It was about then that another B2 walked in and fired a thermal detonator from it's wrist. Boil was sent flying before he had a chance to take cover. He groaned some, rolling over. Back at the far end of the room he could see Hawkeye still hovering over Commander Jaxx. He rolled to face the droids to see a B2, it's wrist blaster pointed at his face.
"Die Republic Do-."
A blue lightsaber ripped through it, cleaving the droid in half before cleaving through multiple B1's in a brilliant display. General Kenobi flowed through the room, cutting down the droids rapidly as he worked his way through. The last one fell to the saber slicing it's neck off.
"C..clear!" Boil managed to announce as he looked around. "Thanks for the save General."
"It seems I was just in time. How are your men doing Sergeant?"
"We lost Hotshot and Boomer. Radar's wounded. I think the rest of us are just beat up from that blast. Commander needs serious help though sir. She's got a blaster bolt through her abdomen. She needs to be in Bacta immediately."
General Kenobi nodded, then knelt down and picked up Commander Jaxx. "Get your wounded and dead Sergeant. We aren't leaving anyone behind. The Revenant is on standby outside."
"And the HVT sir?"
"She's in our custody. The mission was a success."
Boil nodded, at least there was that much. "Alright. You lot heard the General. Let's get off this rock!"
"I'm so glad you were all able to join me here today. I know with the current state of things that it wasn't easy to leave your work, but, what I have to say here today is very important." Padme said with a smile as her guests, some fellow senators, enjoyed the hors d'oeuvres and drinks she'd had Three-PO prepare.
Gathered around the table were a small handful of Senators she had no issue considering friends and allies. Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, Riyo Chuchi, Garm Bel Iblis, and Lux Bonteri.
"It's wonderful of you to have us over Padme, but, what is this information you've wanted to share with us that couldn't have been said during a conference or over Holo-mail?" Mon asked her.
Padme sighed, "The Jedi believe they've found a traitor inside the Galactic Senate."
The eyes of those around the table widened, and some quiet discussion was had before Bail cleared his throat. "Padme… what do you mean? Who is this traitor and how did the Jedi find them before we or the Supreme Chancellor did?"
"Because… they think it is the Chancellor. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine may well be a traitor to the Republic."
This time the murmuring wasn't so quiet. "Wha… Senator Amidala, what do you mean Palpatine is a traitor? I understand that no one here is a big fan of him currently, but he's shown no sign of betraying the Republic." Lux said as he calmed himself.
Padme motioned to Three-PO, who stepped forward and handed out a data pad to each of the senators there. "On these pads you'll find a list of one hundred and fifty contingency commands programed into the clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic. Many of them are normal, expected commands, but the ones I've highlighted are not. The clones are bound to obey these orders, and from what I've been told will go into a near hypnotic sate when doing so. No longer controlling themselves."
"L…look at some of these. An order to detain every member of the senate, to disband us. Orders to wipe out the Jedi Order. An order to execute the population of an entire planet. W…what is the meaning of this?" Riyo asked in disbelief.
"They are all orders that also typically hand over power to the highest ruling body in the Galactic Republic… the Supreme Chancellor. The Jedi believe that Chancellor Palpatine is a pawn, working for the Sith. If this is the case… then this entire war has been caused to put Palpatine, and thereby the Sith, into power."
"You're saying this entire war… the billions upon billions of lives destroyed. It's all been a game, just a way to go about a transfer of power?" Bel Iblis asked incredulously. "That we've been nothing but toys playing their game!" He asked, slamming his fist down on the table, causing Three-PO to let out a gasp and jump.
"The proof lays before us, and in the Senate chambers where our power as the Galactic Senate is stripped from us by the day while Palpatine increases his own emergency powers." Padme said, looking down.
"We can't stand for this Padme. We need to place Chancellor Palpatine under arrest right away!" Mon said, standing as though she was ready to do so right then and there. The others were nodding in agreement.
"No. We can't. That would play into his hand. Right now, the Senate and the Jedi Order are the only things holding him back. Palpatine has the support of the public in his hand. They are devoted to him and see him as trying to end the war where the Senate and the Jedi prolong it. If we try to arrest him now, it'd be too easy for him to warp the story. We need solid proof, which the Jedi are trying to get."
"Then why aren't the Jedi here? Talking with us now?" Bel Iblis said.
"Because it would draw too much attent-" Padme was cut off by the sound of a LAAT engine out on the landing pad. She whipped around, watching the door.
The white clad forms of clones stormed in, and she'd nearly drawn her blaster when she saw the blue stripes running along their armor, and the figure who entered after them. She hurried over to Anakin, but before she could say anything he'd pulled her to him, placing a kiss to the top of her head.
She looked up to him a little wide eyed, "Um… Anakin… we have company." She said, motioning to the table of Senators who were now standing, most had been ready to bolt due to the appearance of clone troopers, but now they just stood slack jawed at the site of the Jedi hero embracing her.
Anakin was quick to let her go and fold his arms behind his back. "Ah, Senators." He bowed hastily. "I must apologize for my unexpected entrance…" He said, and even though he looked calm on the outside, Padme knew he was sweating blaster bolts right now. She sighed.
"I suppose I have another announcement. My fellow Senators… may I please introduce you to my husband, Anakin Skywalker."
"Hello everyone… it's a pleasure to see you all here." He said before leaning over and whispering into her ear. "I guess we have some explaining to do…."
The following shower of questions was worse than any press conference Padme had attended. After all, it was taboo for a Jedi to marry. It'd taken her and Anakin nearly fifteen minutes to explain everything, about the Jedi allowing it, no it wasn't a political move, and yes, they were officially married.
She'd been so busy she didn't even notice the second Jedi who'd come to stand beside Anakin.
"Ahsoka! Is that you?" Lux called out as she appeared from where the LAAT had docked. She watched the Togrutan smile some as Lux hurried over to her.
"Yes, it's me Lux." She said. "It's good to see you, all of you."
Padme smiled, "Where have you been Ahsoka… you just ran off so suddenly."
"I've been around." She smiled. "I just… after I left the order, I had to get away for a bit. I'm sorry if I worried everyone."
"It's okay Ahsoka. We're just glad to have you back." Riyo said as she hugged her friend.
"So." Anakin cleared his throat. "What did we happen to interrupt. Rex, you and your men can stand down. Three-PO, mind getting my squad some food."
"Oh, right away master Ani!" The droid said happily as the clones all seemed to relax.
"Well, I was just discussing our current discovery involving the Supreme Chancellor." Padme told him, and she could almost see Anakins mood darken some.
"Yes, she was Master Jedi." Bel Iblis stepped in. "If you would be so kind, can you tell us what the Jedi are planning on doing.
Anakin took a breath. "Well, we are currently collecting information. We intend to present it before the Senate and bring Palpatine to justice. Then we will use him to track down the Sith and end this war once and for all. But… we need the help and support of at least a portion of the senatorial body. To help us spread the word and support us in arresting him." Anakin said. "We need your help to bring him to justice."
There was silence around the table for a long moment before Bail Organa looked to them. "Well… then I suppose we should get started on drafting charges against him."
Every senator in the room nodded in agreement, and Padme smiled a tired one. They all knew the risks. If this backfired on them, then charges of treason were the only thing that awaited them.
Well, I'm back after a bit of an absence everyone. Sorry about that, but my family had to come first. So, I've been writing on this when I could and it turned out way longer than I originally planned. It's roughly the length of two of my standard chapters.
I want to thank you all for making this story successful, and for supporting me in writing it. I hope you enjoy, and as always, feel free to leave a review or drop a like on the story.
May the Force be with you.
