As the members of the Jedi Council slowly started filtering into the chamber Anakin couldn't help but feel a great sense of nervousness. A feeling he wasn't at all used to feeling and one he hoped would pass before the last of the masters appeared in the room in one form or another. A few minutes later the last of the Jedi Masters had either walked into the room in their traditional brown-colored robes or materialized via holographic displays appearing to them all in a bluish-white color of light.
"Call us you have...curious we are". Yoda said as he rubbed his three-fingered hand across his thinning hair.
"Of course, master". Anakin replied before clicking a button that darkened the room. The council only watched on as he made his way to the center of the room.
"A few weeks ago I landed on a spacefaring planet just outside the wormhole. This world is called Earth and like us, they too have droids or something similar. As a gift for helping them, they gifted me this". Anakin said as he showed off a holographic display of a supercomputer. The sight made a few lean forward in their seats while others mumbled under their breath at the sight.
"What is this"? Asked one of the masters.
"This is what is called a supercomputer. From what I have been told this is able to do an astonishing 250 trillion calculations per second and is small enough to sit inside a room no bigger than a modest storage closet. It is apparently an older model but still if we implement such supercomputers into all of our ships our combat effectiveness would skyrocket. Such a tool would no doubt aid us in the upcoming war with the Separatists". Anakin said before the green hand of Yoda rose up.
"I sense you have left much unsaid to us". Yoda said eyeing the 20-year-old Jedi Knight. Anakin for his part could only nod his head in acknowledgment of that accusation.
"I have indeed, master. While I was on the planet I was told of a war they had. A war called the Sol War, however, this war only lasted a day". Anakin said stunning the entirety of the Jedi Council.
"Surely such a war would have seen hundreds if not thousands of starships". One of the masters said before Anakin shook his head in the negative.
"No, master Eugenol from what I was told by them the war mostly consisted of two ships and around a dozen of their fighter craft the rest having been destroyed in the opening attack". Anakin answered before the whole chamber seemed to erupt into a cacophony of overlapping voices. Each voicing amazement or total disbelief.
"Who attacked them?" One of the bluish-white masters asked. This time coming from a master called Edyess. Anakin at once answered with yet another holographic display.
"A group called the Settlement Defense Front or SDF. They are based on the planet Mars...that's the fourth planet in the system. They seemed to have broken away in what they call the Succession War about 30 years prior. After the war ended the SDF took the outer planets. However, by the time of the Sol War they seemed to have lost at least two of the worlds and most of the moons". Anakin said before another holographic display was shown this time of a man.
"This is the captain of the flagship of their fleet. He seems to have a very low midi-chlorian count but not enough to be able to make use of the force. Still, he possessed enhanced strength what other effects the low midi-chlorian count might have is still unclear. I think it would be wise if we form closer ties with them". Anakin said before stepping back signaling that he was finished with his speech. For a while, the Jedi Council discussed amongst themselves everything that they had heard. Arguments for and against the proposal could be heard but in the end, Yoda was the one to make the call. Pointing his three-fingered hand at the young Jedi Knight he spoke.
"Anakin for your success on the planet Earth we hereby promote you to the rank of Jedi Master. Proud we are of you". Yoda said before growing much more serious in his demeanor. A change so sudden that it took even some of the masters by surprise.
"The force is growing ever more difficult to interpret. Careful of our steps must we be. Return to Earth and give them this". Yoda said before handing Anakin a data tape. With that done Yoda dismissed the council as the pair walked out. Once out of the chamber Padme ran up and hugged him happy to see him once again after being gone for so long.
"How was the mission"? Padme asked her husband.
"It went very well". Anakin began but it seemed his face had betrayed him as she backed away.
"I sense a but coming. Tell me you're not leaving again". Padme said looking about ready to cry if he did, in fact, have to leave.
"I must Padme I have duty's to the order". Anakin said before watching as she turned and walked down the hallway tears already falling down her cheeks at the news. The sight was painful to see but he didn't have time to make her understand. She was a politician, a senator of her lush green homeworld of Naboo. He was a former slave of the desert planet of Tatooine. The two were about as far apart as the core worlds were to the outer rim and so with but a sigh he slowly made his way once again to the hangar bay and to his fighter. His heart heavy with both sadness and grief.
Meanwhile, Palpatine was overseeing the newest batch of clones. His eyes watching as each new clone walked out and lined up at the ready to board the ships that would soon be their new home. It was at that very moment that one of his aides entered into the room. Palpatine at once turned to him and took the report and looked it over.
"Hmm, it seems our new cloning facility is falling behind schedule. Mind telling me why this is"?Palpatine ordered more than asked the aid.
"I don't know, sir. I was only tasked with giving this to you". The man answered as his fear was clear in both his voice as well as his eyes.
"Mores the pity". Palpatine said as his red lightsaber soon pierced the man's chest. The sickly smell of burning flesh soon filled his nose. The loud thud that soon followed didn't seem to register to the Sith Lord as he returned to overseeing the new clones. Instead, his focus was on the upcoming war and his plans for the fall of the Jedi Order. Anakin's promotion to the rank of Jedi master came as a shock to the Sith Lord but one he believed he could overcome with time. The idiotic order of Jedi had yet to find out about his true identity and so he had time. Still, he would need to speed up his plan just in case. Palpatine called for one of his most loyal of aids and when he entered he quickly took a knee before the Sith Lord.
"Yes my lord, what is it you need of me"? The man asked never meeting the eyes of his master.
"Send word to our men that the attack is to begin. The code is: Everlasting Eclipse: they will know what it means. Do ensure that the incriminating evidence is found on the scene. We can't falter now that we are so close to our goal". Palpatine ordered before the man bowed and left. In a few days, the entire galaxy would be at war and if all went as planned he would rule it all by its end.
Anakin had just entered the hangar bay when Obi-Wan called out. Anakin at once gave his brother in all but blood a hug and a smile. His ascension to the rank of Jedi Master was one of the proudest moments in his life and with it any anger he had held for the orders seeming dismissal of his abilities. Obi-Wan embraced his brother and smiled happily.
"I'm so happy for you Anakin. I knew it was only a matter of time. Have you considered taking on a Padawan"? His former master asked. Anakin had, of course, considered such a move but felt the time wasn't right for such a role. Perhaps after the war that seemed only to drew all the closer would he take on a Padawan of his own. Until however he would wait. With that done the two said their good-byes to each other and parted ways. One for the green-blue world of Earth the other to the library to catch up on some reading. The order had found various Sith artifacts that needed to be studied. He doubted he would be able to do much in the way of understanding the things but he could at least try. The last thing Obi-Wan sew was Anakin's ship blasting off all the while smiling. Things were looking up for his brother. He could only hope he would be successful in his second mission to the planet Earth.