AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Written as a thank-you to lilhawkeye3 for organizing the 2020 Star Wars Secret Santa. I'm *hoping* to update weekly, and I already have the first three chapters written. It will likely end up around 10 chapters.
Also there is a description of someone being choked in this chapter.
Thank you to flybynite19 and DoIlooklikeIhaveaname for beta'ing!
Riyo waited while the scomp link whirred at Chancellor Palpatine's personal terminal, nerves alight though she forced a casual expression on her face. There was a good chance she would die here, but her conscience would not allow her to walk away.
Chancellor Palpatine's office was dark, the red glow of electronic ambient light casting a sinister haze over the otherwise plain office furniture. The few times Riyo had been in here before it had felt imposing, but the profound sense of dread the tall ceilings and wide, possessive window instilled was new. The scomp link finally stopped humming, and Riyo felt the beginnings of hope swell within her, though she knew any celebration was premature.
"Well, what have we here?" a cool, wizened voice sounded through the darkness.
Riyo whirled around, taking care to stand in front of the console with the scomp link still in it. "Chancellor Palpatine!" she said breathlessly.
"Senator Chuchi," the elderly politician said, a menacing sneer on his face, "What reason could you possibly have to access my personal console?"
Terror gripped Riyo so intensely she couldn't breathe. She hadn't heard any doors open or close, but the Chancellor's mysterious entrance only served as further evidence of her very worst suspicions.
"I, ah… Seem to have gotten lost," she said, aware that it was a pathetic excuse but her imagination failing her.
"Hmm," he said, considering her like he would a bug beneath his boot. "Well that is unfortunate for you, because I cannot afford to extend you the benefit of the doubt."
In a flash Chancellor Palpatine raised a weathered hand and her throat seized up, the walls of her larynx squeezing tighter and tighter together.
"You've meddled in my affairs for the last time, Riyo Chuchi," the Chancellor said, his brows furrowing in malice and transforming his features into those of the Sith Lord she now knew him to be.
She tried to shout, tried to scream for help, but it was no use. She was utterly powerless against a force so foreign and terrible as this. Black spots faded out her vision, and she felt herself begin to lose consciousness. This would be the end, there was no-
BAM BAM BAM.
Riyo woke up in a cold sweat, her white-knuckled hands clutching her sheets to her chest. Her heartbeat raced as she hurriedly turned on the lights, taking in the luxurious apartment around her and assuring herself that she was safe.
A heavy fist pounded against her door again. "Chancellor Chuchi? Is everything alright?"
Right. She was Chancellor, not Palpatine. She'd successfully obtained the evidence, assembled a coalition of senators, then gone to the Jedi Council to seek their aid in ousting the Sith Master. That had been months ago—months since Palpatine's trial, months since his execution, months since the war had abruptly ended, months since she'd won the emergency election to replace Palpatine in a surprise landslide.
"Chancellor, I'm overriding the lock on the door" the voice from the other room said, finally bringing Riyo to full consciousness.
"No, wait-!"
Her ray-shielded doors hissed open and a clone soldier burst in, his distinctively-painted armor and unmistakable confidence identifying him as her personal bodyguard, Commander Fox. He first checked that Riyo was alive and well in bed, then his helmet swept back and forth across the room, scanning for any threats.
"Ma'am, I heard screaming," he said.
"I screamed?" Riyo asked, surprised. She'd tried to scream in the dream but Palpatine's vice-like grip around her throat had prevented her. She hadn't realized her attempts would translate to vocalization in the waking world.
"Yes, Madam Chancellor. I asked if you were in need of assistance several times without a response. Otherwise I wouldn't have-"
"Of course, Commander. I understand," Riyo said, fighting the flush rising to her cheeks. She was perfectly covered in her sheets and knee-length nightgown, but she still felt exposed being seen by the intensely professional Commander in only her nightdress.
"Is there anything I can assist with?" Fox asked, voice slightly distorted by his helmet. She wouldn't feel quite so embarrassed if he didn't seem so completely composed. It was entirely unfair that he got to wear a helmet while Riyo had to go about with her emotions always written out on her face.
"No, thank you. Just a nightmare," she said with a wave of her hand.
Fox stood up straighter, his posture somehow more relaxed standing tall. He gave her a respectful nod of the helmet. "I'll leave you, then," he said, turning for the door.
Riyo rubbed her eyes. "Wait, Fox? What time is it?"
"0500, ma'am."
Riyo sighed, then pushed herself upright and swung her legs out over the side of the bed. "Then I might as well get up since I'm already awake."
Fox nodded, then left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Riyo dressed quickly, partly to get a good start on her day but more so out of a desire to minimize the amount of time she had to spend by herself. She was Chancellor and Palpatine was dead, but she couldn't help seeing his minions in the shadows or hearing threats from the former Separatist states plotting behind closed doors.
As soon as she left her quarters she was accompanied by a minimum of two people at all times, most often Commander Fox and her assistant Maja. Maja trailed her from meeting to meeting, arms stacked high with datapads and always ready with a reminder or a helpful suggestion, while Fox followed like a shadow, rarely noticed but ever-present.
In the morning she convened an endlessly tedious meeting with the Trade Federation to discuss reconciliation and the reopening of trade routes. A significant number of senators wanted to punish the Trade Federation for their relationship with the Separatists during the war, but Riyo had to remind them that the Federation was important for the galaxy's economic recovery. That fact did not make the pompous Federation blowhards any easier to deal with, of course.
Riyo ate a quick lunch in the hallway as she rushed from one conference room to the next for the budget meeting with the Committee on Expenditures. The meeting was long and tense as committee members fought to fund their interests while the Senate struggled to pay for various wartime recovery plans. Riyo had long since learned that, while her colleagues might argue for a wide variety of proposals on the Senate floor, the budget told you where their true priorities lay.
Last up was the Armed Services Committee, and Riyo had arranged her day to build up to this tricky discussion. She had to gradually introduce the idea of creating jobs for former soldiers to the Trade Federation, then work out the very thorny negotiation of the GAR budget in the Committee on Expenditures. The Senators saw the wartime GAR budget as a wounded nerf, vulnerable and ready to be torn apart, but Riyo knew that the Armed Services Committee still had a lot to accomplish, even with the treaties signed.
"Just because the war is over doesn't mean we have no need of a standing army," Senator Paulness said.
"Yes, but one this expensive?" said Senator Taam. "We can't afford this forever."
"The biggest problem in my mind is that our soldiers should be paid," said Senator Organa.
"Excuse me?" said Senator Taam. "Did you even hear what I just said?"
Riyo raised a hand. "Alright, alright, we're not going to get anywhere talking over each other."
The three men stopped bickering to look to her, and it took a moment for Riyo to react. She still wasn't used to people listening to her.
"We need to reduce the size of the GAR," she said. "We increased our loans from the Banking Clan to fund the latter half of the war, and that's not the kind of deficit spending we can sustain, especially without a war to justify it. Now how much we reduce the size of the GAR and how we help our soldiers retire with dignity and respect is the challenge we must now resolve."
The three senators fell silent and exchanged glances. "Easier said than done," said Senator Paulness.
"Precisely. Which is why we will be meeting frequently over the next few months until we can pass legislation. I've met with my economic advisors and the Committee on Expenditures already, so their interests will be represented, and Commander Fox here can provide a clone perspective."
Commander Fox's helmet turned towards Riyo from his spot in the corner of the room, the first move he'd made since taking up the position.
"A clone? But won't he be biased?" Senator Paulness said.
"As are we all," Riyo said. "How can we discuss the future of the GAR without consulting those who will be most affected by our decisions?" She turned to face Fox. "Commander, are you willing to help?"
Fox took a split second longer than expected to respond, Riyo's only hint that her request had thrown him off. "I will answer whatever questions you have, Madam Chancellor."
That was good enough for Riyo. With a smile she motioned him to sit at the table, and Fox only hesitated a moment before folding his long legs under the table and taking a seat.
"And, um… If you wouldn't mind," Riyo said, tapping two fingers to her temple. "You can consider this an off-duty discussion."
She might have imagined it, but Riyo thought she heard a sigh before the hiss and click of Fox removing his helmet, revealing an unamused frown underneath.
Fox had been one of the very first people to approach Riyo after her election. He'd congratulated her with characteristic dispassion and informed her that the Coruscant Guard was at her disposal, and that he specifically would be responsible for her personal security. Riyo had briefly considered sending him and his guard away, afraid that Fox was essentially one of the former Chancellor's minions, in cahoots with him and to at least some degree complicit in his crimes. But within less than a day it had become clear that Fox and his men had been used and manipulated by Sheev Palpatine just as much, if not more, than the Senate.
"How can I help you, ma'am?" Fox asked, his handsome features sober as ever.
"Broadly speaking, what do you think of talk of disbanding the GAR?"
"I think the Republic needs a military force for protection against its enemies, prevention of aggression from outside forces, and enforcement of its laws within its borders," Fox said.
"My point exactly!" Senator Paulness said.
"Perhaps you are right, but that is an argument for the maintenance of some form of armed services," Riyo said. "What about the continuance of a clone army, specifically?"
Fox opened his mouth, then closed it again, his brow furrowing in the most obvious display of consternation Riyo had ever witnessed from him. "Has the clone army not performed to your satisfaction, Chancellor?"
Riyo's eyes went wide. "Of course it has! No one who's ever seen a clone unit in action could claim otherwise. But it doesn't seem right, that the clones should remain serving the Republic after the war has ended, and when the scandal of their conscription has been revealed."
"That's it exactly!" Senator Organa said. "How can we maintain an army our previous Chancellor wanted to use to bring himself to power? Take you, for example, Commander. You served directly under Chancellor Palpatine's command, and now you fill the same position under Chancellor Chuchi. Does that seem right?"
"...I fought for this post, Senator. I didn't receive it automatically after Chancellor Chuchi was elected."
Riyo blinked blankly at Fox for a moment. She hadn't known that.
"And forgive the correction, sir, but my position is not the same now as it was under Chancellor Palpatine. I was never Chancellor Palpatine's personal guard, and though I've retained my rank, I no longer perform the role of Commander of the Coruscant Guard. That would be Commander Thorn."
Riyo flushed a delicate blue. She hadn't really realized herself that Commander Fox no longer commanded the Coruscant Guard. That seemed like the kind of thing she should know, but she was still so new to the job.
"Why would you request this post?" Senator Paulness asked, brow furrowed.
Fox pursed his lips, then spoke in a low, tight voice. "Sheev Palpatine sent hundreds of thousands of my brothers to die in a war that he created. I suppose I have to thank him, in a roundabout way, since we never would have been created but for the war. But I would be honored to die protecting the woman who freed us from him."
Riyo leaned back in her seat and nervously interlaced her fingers, taken aback by the intensity of Fox's regard. She'd always seen him as an extremely disciplined man who was devoted to his job, but realizing that some of that devotion was directed at her personally was… overwhelming. For not the first time she wondered if it hadn't been a mistake to accept this position.
"But you see that's exactly the problem, Fox," Riyo said. "You and your brothers are still unpaid and disenfranchised. Can you still say that you're free?"
Fox shrugged. "Then pay us."
Now we get to the crux of the problem, Riyo thought to herself with a sigh. "The truth is that we can't afford to pay you. There are over two million clones in the GAR, and most of them say they want to remain soldiers, but we can't pay them. And I refuse to keep the clones on as property of the Republic."
"We want pay and citizenship, but we avoid thinking of ourselves as property," he said, which Riyo could understand. The clones were required to devote themselves to the Republic, and she imagined that was much easier to do if they turned a blind eye to the abuses of the very Republic they served.
"We don't know any other way of life, and we were made to be soldiers," Fox continued. "I'd imagine some of my brothers might even want to stay in the GAR even if they remained unpaid."
Figures and tables from her many meetings with the budget committee floated through Riyo's mind, and she shook her head.
"We can't afford to continue as we are, either," Senator Taam said, giving voice to Riyo's thoughts. "Now that we're no longer involved in a galactic war, we have no need of such a large standing army, and there's no way the Senate will allocate the funds necessary to maintain the GAR at its current size, even if clones remain unpaid."
An uncomfortable tension filled the room, and Fox's hard gaze weighed on Riyo for several seconds before he responded. "I don't understand what you want from me. What is it you want my opinion on?"
"The GAR can't remain as it is. We need to find a way to transition our soldiers to a civilian, citizen life. Does that sound appealing to you? How do you suggest we do that?"
"Citizenship is appealing, but life outside the military is an unknown quantity—a risk. Most of my brothers will not want that if given a choice. At least in the GAR we know we will have food and housing. Outside our source of employment, housing, and purpose is unclear."
It was more or less the answer Riyo expected, but that didn't make it any easier to hear. She felt certain if the clones had any idea what civilian life was like, they'd be more willing to leave the GAR, but of course she couldn't know that for sure. They'd been tailor-made for war—maybe it truly was the way of being they enjoyed most.
"We're talking in circles," Senator Paulness said. "We need to come up with practical, actionable legislation."
"Well I think it's clear where we need to start," Riyo said. "Under no circumstances should the clone army be considered the property of the Republic. I know Commander Fox says that's not how they see themselves but currently, legally-speaking, they are practically slaves. I propose we immediately introduce legislation that makes GAR service voluntary and releases the clones from Republic ownership. Separate legislation will be worked out later negotiating the GAR budget and providing assistance to those clones transitioning out of military service."
Senator Paulness opened his mouth to object, but Senator Organa cut him off with a severe look. "Are you seriously going to argue against freeing sentient beings the Republic never should have owned in the first place, Zinn?"
Senator Paulness shut his mouth.
"I can agree to that," Senator Taam said. "I'll draft the bill and send committee members a draft by the end of the week."
"Excellent," Riyo said. "And I think Commander Fox should be a permanent fixture in our meetings. We can work on making him an official member of the Committee."
Senators Taam and Paulness exchanged doubtful looks, but Senator Organa agreed and quickly moved the topic back to the voluntary service legislation.
They spent the rest of the meeting arguing over wording and timing, and Commander Fox melted into the background, resuming his statue-like state. The meeting convened, and Riyo gathered up her datapads and checked her chrono, wondering what Maja had planned for dinner.
"Madam Chancellor," Senator Paulness pulled her aside before she had a chance to make her escape.
"Yes?"
Senator Paulness grimaced. "Must we really have Commander Fox in all of our meetings? He has a somewhat… unnerving presence."
Riyo glared at the senator, appalled, then glanced over her shoulder to see if Fox was in hearing distance. His intensity could sometimes set her on edge, too, but it was his job to be vigilant. He'd only ever shown her loyalty and professionalism, and he didn't deserve the judgment of a second-rate hack like Paulness. "The clones must have an advocate in these discussions, Senator. I won't hear another complaint about this."
"But-"
"Not another word, Senator."
Riyo turned on her heel and marched from the room, Maja and Fox trailing after her. She marched with head held high all the way to the lifts, though once safely inside she let herself lean against the wall. It had been a long, exhausting day.
"Madam Chancellor?"
Riyo started, looking up only to realize it was Commander Fox who had addressed her. He'd rarely initiated conversation in the six months that he'd served as her personal guard.
"Yes, Fox?"
"I don't think I'm the best choice to represent the clones in your discussions."
"Why do you say that?"
"I'm a high ranking officer who served in the capital instead of on the front lines. My experiences are not representative of the vast majority of clone service."
Riyo brought a hand to her chin, considering. "That's a fair argument."
"I could provide suggestions for alternatives."
"See that you do," Riyo said. "A clone perspective must be represented in the writing of this legislation, and if you can't find a suitable replacement, I must insist that you stay on."
"Yes, ma'am."
"We're getting hammered on the road, sir!" Captain Peke's voice screamed to Bacara over the commlink.
Bacara cursed under his breath. "Defensive positions, return fire! Just… hunker down until the General takes them out!"
"Yessir!"
Bacara settled back into the shallow trench he and his company of ARC troopers had dug into the thick jungle.
"Peke's AT-TE company's getting destroyed, aren't there?" Solus asked from Bacara's side, and Bacara nodded tersely in response.
"We told General Mundi this would happen! What the kriff was he thinking?"
"Hey!" Bacara said sharply. "Watch your tone, soldier. We follow orders."
Solus shut his mouth but shook his head, his eyes rolling in frustration. And privately, Bacara had to agree with him. General Mundi's plan to take the Separatist base involved a two-pronged approach: Peke would come up the cliffside road with a company of AT-TEs while Bacara's team dropped behind enemy lines. The two groups would attack at once, overwhelming the enemy. When Bacara had voiced concerns about how exposed the AT-TEs' path was, General Mundi had told him not to worry. The General would be leading his own strike force to take out whatever forces bombarded the AT-TEs.
Don't worry. Trust the Force. You need not be concerned. The General was always spouting that kind of nonsense and Bacara was getting kriffing sick of it.
"General Mundi," Bacara commed the Cerean Jedi. "Captain Peke needs support now."
"I'm on my way, Commander, never fear," came his response.
I'm not afraid, Bacara thought but didn't say, pursing his lips.
He shut off his comm and settled in for a long wait.
"We shouldn't even be here," Solus grumbled.
Bacara hit him upside the head. "Quiet. Don't give our position away and screw this operation up even more than it already is."
A sullen silence descended upon the group as they all stewed over Solus's words. They shouldn't even be here. The war was officially over, the politicians on Coruscant had already signed the treaties and shaken hands. But rogue Separatist cells remained and as usual, the Republic sent its disposable army to clean up its messes.
And it wasn't even the same Republic they'd been serving for the past three years. Just before this campaign had begun news of Chancellor Palpatine's arrest and execution had come through. It seemed strange to Bacara that the organization that owned them could simply change hands like that from one rival to the next, but he was just a soldier after all.
The team sat in tense silence for another two hours. Then the signal finally came through.
"Commander Bacara, Captain Peke and his men have reached the base. Launch your assault now." came General Mundi's voice over the comm.
"You heard him, boys. Let's move out!"
The fight was long and brutal, but that was Bacara's specialty. Peke's AT-TE division was severely reduced from the start, and General Mundi's division, while incredibly effective, was small and limited in its influence. That left the bulk of the fighting to Bacara and his men. As usual, Bacara thought.
At the end of the day, they prevailed through the skill, blood, and sacrifice of Bacara's men. It made Bacara proud. It made him angry.
Bacara strode into the command center aboard the Venator still covered with the sweat and dirt of battle.
"Congratulations on the day's victory, General," he said to General Mundi.
General Mundi inclined his wizened head. "Death and destruction is never to be celebrated, but I appreciate the sentiment."
The click of Bacara's jaw was the only outward hint of what he thought of that response. "I'll have the reports from the battle prepared for you by 0600."
"Thank you, Bacara. We can have a more thorough debrief after I've read the reports."
Bacara doubted much would be gleaned from such a debrief, but he nodded regardless. General Mundi was a skilled warrior who's Force powers and lightsaber made him extremely valuable on the field of battle, but he was not military-minded. It had taken several years for the scales to fall from Bacara's eyes, for him to realize that the unquestioning belief in the Jedi generals ingrained in him from his time on Kamino was flawed, but fall they had.
It made no sense that men who'd lived, dreamed, ate, breathed warfare their entire lives—who'd been created for battle—should be led by an order of pacifist monks. But of course aside from battle Bacara had also been created for obedience, so he grit his teeth and bore it.
Had he been in charge of today's battle, Bacara would have secured the ridge opposite the road before sending in the AT-TEs. He would have sent air support from the south to distract from the ARC troopers to the north. Fewer men would have died, and their objective would have been taken more swiftly.
"Then what is our next objective, sir?" Bacara asked.
"We've received reports of a Separatist cruiser nearby-the Obrexta. Intelligence intercepted transmissions stating that it is carrying cargo of great importance to Count Dooku. We are to ambush the cruiser and, if possible, seize the cargo."
"Yes, sir."
