Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter. So, this one will begin the Jedi temple bombing arc.
Let's get to it.
CMac54: I was tempted to have Satine survive, however I felt that doing so would cause too many problems for the storyline that I wasn't prepared to work around. Plus, Satine's death will have an impact on both the Terrans and Bo-Katan's Death Watch faction.
Guest DCDGojira: For the most part, only Jedi will be taking refuge on Terra. But some other individuals may also take refuge on Terra. And yes, one of the revisions to the Jedi Code for the Terran Jedi Order allows Jedi trainees to remain in contact with their families and continue to have relationships with them. As for what vehicles they'll use…you'll have to wait and see. And I've never seen Solo: A Star Wars Story, so no, nothing from that movie will be a part of the second story.
Divine Protector of Skyrim: I will not be covering Rebels, but some characters from the show may make appearances in the second story.
Guest 1: Terrans are using both blasters and normal firearms. Both have different advantages.
1049: I don't plan on featuring Lothal in this story, but it will definitely make an appearance in the next story.
Guest 2: The Terrans may ally with Bo-Katan to some degree. As for Mandalorian upgrades for Terran units…you'll see.
Fullmetal-Zero: There won't be any more countries betraying Terra. I also do kind of like your idea of having some celebrities being Jedi instead of pursuing their current career paths.
Chapter 48: Sabotage
(October 1, 1993, Terran time)
In the cockpit of his SF-15, Colonel Hall smiles as he follows Anakin and Ahsoka down into the atmosphere of Cato Neimoidia. The planet had recently fallen under Separatist attack, and he and a number of Terran pilots, along with a regiment of Vietnamese troops, had been sent with the Republic fleet to reinforce them in their effort to retake the planet.
The ASAT team, following their initial deployment to the galaxy, had received flight training. Initially, it was only meant for them to be able to get to and from different planets. However, they had received air combat instruction from Terran fighter pilots, and were now capable of flying combat missions.
Hall descends into the atmosphere. Almost immediately, he spots several droid tri-fighters closing. He quickly locks up one and fires a missile, destroying the fighter. He then destroys a second with his laser cannons.
Hall pulls into a hard bank to avoid the last one. As he tries to evade it, the tri-fighters fires a missile. The missile homes in on Hall's SF-15.
One thing the Terrans hadn't learned was how to build missiles that could track a target pretty much anywhere like missiles used by the Separatists could. However, what they had found out how to do was how to create countermeasures, similar to flares and chaff, that would work on Separatist missiles.
Hall pulls into a Split S, deploying countermeasures. Sure enough, the countermeasures fool the missile. Hall then reverses course yet again, pointing his nose towards the tri-fighter, and firing a missile, destroying the fighter.
Hall chuckles to himself a bit as he levels his fighter, then begins flying among the city, looking for surface targets.
As he is flying through the buildings, strafing any droid forces he sees with his laser cannons, his radio suddenly comes to life. "Colonel, return to the ship at once. There's been a bombing at the Jedi Temple. We've been ordered back to Coruscant immediately," Anakin's voice says over the radio.
"Understood. I'm on my way back now," Hall says as he pulls his SF-15 into a climb and starts heading back to the ship.
Landing his SF-15 in the main hangar, Hall climbs out of his cockpit and waits for Anakin and Ahsoka to return. Soon, an LAAT flies into the hangar and lands. It's sides open up, and Anakin and Ahsoka hurry out.
"Do we have any more information on the situation?" Hall asks.
"Not much. We had better get back quickly," Anakin says. The three start heading to the bridge as the ship makes the jump to hyperspace.
It doesn't take long before the ship drops out of hyperspace over Coruscant. As soon as the ship drops out of hyperspace, Anakin, Ahsoka, and Hall board an LAAT and head down to the Temple.
As they descend towards the Temple, they see smoke still billowing up from the site of the bombed hangar.
Once on the ground, the three of them make their way into the Temple and up to the Council Chamber.
Once in the chamber, they begin speaking with the Council.
"How could the Separatists infiltrate the Temple?" Anakin asks.
"Worse than that it is," Yoda replies.
"What could be worse, Master Yoda?" Ahsoka asks.
There is a few moments of silence before Mace Windu speaks up and says, "Everything is on the table. We have to look at the possibility that it could've been anyone in the Temple, even a Jedi."
"If a Jedi this is, gone to the dark side they have," Yoda adds.
"I…I can't believe a Jedi would attack a place this sacred," Ahsoka says.
"Everyone is a suspect, Commander Tano," Hall says.
Mace nods at Hall's comment before saying, "We'd like for you three to lead the investigation. You'll be working in concert with the American FBI to find the culprit."
"We'll do everything we can," Anakin says.
"Careful you must be, Skywalker. If willing to destroy the Temple the attacker is, to great lengths they will go to keep from being caught," Yoda says.
"Then I guess we'll have to go to even greater lengths to catch him," Anakin says before he, Ahsoka, and Hall leave the room.
They immediately make their way down to the hangar. As they enter the hangar, they see almost 30 men and women milling about, all wearing dark pants and dark jackets with the bright yellow letters "FBI" on the back of the jackets. A number are also wearing baseball caps with the same letters on them. Some are sifting through debris. Others are examining holographic displays. Others are looking for fingerprints or bomb residue. One of the agents is using a German Shepherd bomb-sniffing dog to search for residue. A few droids are working with the FBI team.
"I can still hear the screams," Anakin says as they walk into the hangar.
"Do you reall think that a Jedi could have done this?" Ahsoka asks.
"Not every Jedi agrees with this war, Ahsoka. There are many political idealists among us," Anakin says.
"But a traitor?" Ahsoka asks, still somewhat in denial.
"I'm afraid one can eventually become the other. Remember Count Dooku and General Krell. That's how they started to," Anakin says.
One of the FBI agents walks up to Anakin. "General Skywalker, Agent Alfred Fitzgerald. I'm in charge of the investigation team," the agent says as he extends his hand.
"Nice to meet you, Agent. Found anything so far?" Anakin asks as he takes the offered hand.
"Not much. Even the dog hasn't found anything yet. But, these are some of the finest CSI techs in the FBI. Any evidence here that will point to the culprit, my people will find it," Agent Fitzgerald says.
"Alright. You and Ahsoka begin the interviews," Anakin orders.
"Understood, General. Come with me, Commander," Agent Fitzgerald says. He heads out of the hangar, Ahsoka following him. Anakin and Hall stay behind to supervise the rest of the agents and help however they can.
Fitzgerald and Ahsoka make their way to the infirmary, where all of the wounded are being treated.
They begin their interviews with one man who is being examined by a medical droid.
"Did you notice anything unusual about the hangar?" Ahsoka asks.
"Not really. Although I had left the hangar five minutes before the bomb exploded," the man says.
"Was their anything out of the ordinary in the slightest before you left?" Fitzgerald asks the man.
"Everything seemed normal," the man says. He then glances from side to side before asking, "Is it true a Jedi might be responsible for the attack?"
"Yes. As could a civilian or a clone. Everyone is a suspect right now," Fitzgerald says. This answer seems to satisfy the man.
The two walk away from him, and Ahsoka says, "This distrust is troubling. Some of these people have worked in the Temple for years."
"Doesn't mean they're beyond turning. Even the most loyal person can change their minds," Fitzgerald says.
"I think I know who did it, who blew up the hangar." Ahsoka and Fitzgerald turn to the sound of the voice, and see a man sitting against the wall.
The two walk over to him, and Ahsoka asks, "Who?"
"I believe it was Jackar Bowmani," the man says.
"Jackar Bowmani. Who is Jackar?" Ahsoka asks.
"One of the maintenance crew in the hangar," the man replies.
"Why do you think it was him?" Ahsoka asks.
"I passed him as I was going on my shift change. He…he had been working all morning in the section the blast came from. It was the last place I saw him," the man says.
Fitzgerald, who has been typing on a pad he's been holding, holds it up with a picture of a male alien on it, and asks, "This him?"
"Yes," the man says.
"Have you seen him since the explosion?" Fitzgerald demands.
"No. Truthfully, I didn't see much of anything after the explosion," the man says.
Ahsoka rests a comforting hand on his shoulder as she says, "Thank you." She then stands up and walks away with Fitzgerald, saying, "Looks like you we need to find Jackar Bowmani."
Fitzgerald touches his earpiece. "All available agents. We have a name. Jackar Bowmani. I need a location on him ASAP," he says. As he finishes, Anakin and Hall walk into the room.
"Did you find anything?" Ahsoka asks.
"No, but the rumor about if being a Jedi is growing. I can feel the anger and confusion throughout the Jedi Temple," Anakin says.
"Fitzgerald and I have a lead. We're working for one of the Temple workers, Jackar Bowmani," Ahsoka says.
"One of the witnesses saw him in the area where the bomb exploded right before it happened, and he had been there all day. I have agents searching for him now, but nobody has seen him since right before the blast," Fitzgerald says, handing Anakin a small holoprojector that is projecting an image of Jackar.
Anakin looks at the image before saying, "Come on. Nobody just disappears."
"Unless it was well planned out," Fitzgerald says.
"Well, it had to be well planned out to get past Jedi. Hall and I will talk to security," Anakin says before he and the American walk out.
The two head out to the front of the Temple, where a large crowd of protestors has gathered. Several clones, two Temple guards, and Master Cin Drallig are standing guard to make sure the crowd doesn't get too unruly.
Anakin and Hall walk up to Master Drallig. "They're all family and friends?" Anakin asks about the crowd.
"yes, looking for answers," Master Drallig answers.
"So am I, Cin," Anakin says. He then pulls out the holoprojector and pulls up the picture of Jackar as he says, "This is the guy who might be behind all of this. If you see him, alert us immediately."
Suddenly, they hear a woman's voice cry out, "That is Jackar!"
Anakin and Hall turn to see a woman breaking through the front of the crowd. "You know this guy?" Hall calls to her.
"He is my husband. I've been trying to reach him since I heard of an explosion. Where is he?" she demands.
"I need you to come with us," Anakin says, gesturing towards the Temple. The woman slowly walks towards them and follows them into the Temple. She introduces herself as Letta Turmond.
The woman is taken to a room, and Anakin and Hall soon walk in to talk to her. As they walk in, she demands, "You have no idea where Jackar is?"
"No," Anakin says.
"You are a Jedi, and you cannot find him?" she demands.
"Jedi can do a lot of things, but they can't instantly pick out on person in a huge area. We need you to be patient while we look for him," Hall says.
"Letta, do you think Jackar could do something like this, blow up the Temple?" Anakin asks.
"Do you have an idea what someone has to go through to work in the Jedi Temple, hm? Jackar dedicated his life to serving the Jedi. It had been his dream. Not just anyone can walk into your precious Temple. He passed all the entry tests that were needed," Letta says angrily.
"That has no bearing on the situation at hand. Anyone's mind can change in the right circumstances. And everyone is a suspect right now. However, for now, we'll take your word," Hall says a little sternly.
"Jackar would never do something like this. Just find him," Letta says.
Anakin sighs before walking out of the room, followed by Hall. They make their way back to the hangar, where a number of FBI agents are painstakingly examining a hologram of the blast and its immediate aftermath, looking for clues in the footage.
Agent Fitzgerald motions for them to come over, then points to lines being projected onto the hologram. "We tracked the trajectory of the debris, and determined that is the exact spot where the blast took place. But, neither our agents nor the dog have found any hint of bomb residue," Fitzgerald says.
"So, you think whoever did this triggered a ship to explode?" Anakin asks.
"That does seem like the most likely scenario at the moment," Fitzgerald says.
"Sir!" one of the agents examining a battered piece of wreckage from an LAAT calls to the group. They hurry over.
"What is it?" Fitzgerald asks.
"I found something. This piece came from the spot of the blast, and its covered in look to be very tiny and volatile droids," the agent says.
"Nano-droids?" Anakin asks.
"I guess that's your name for it," the agent responds.
"Great. Now we're chasing nano droids," Ahsoka says.
"We need to examine all of the Temple's security footage. We need to see if Jackar went to other parts of the Temple. Ahsoka and I will go find out how Jackar got his hand on these nano droids," Anakin says.
"Umm, sir," another agent says.
Fitzgerald and Hall walk over. "Yes, agent?" Hall asks.
"I think I found our suspect," the agent says slowly before pointing to a disembodied hand lying on the ground in front of them.
The three stare at it for a second before the agent says, "I just tested it. It's Jackar Bowmani's."
Hall motions for Anakin and Ahsoka. When they walk over and see the hand, they look surprised.
"I also tested it. There's nano-droids on the skin," the agent says.
Fitzgerald scratches his chin a bit as he says, "So. Jackar didn't set off the bomb. He was the bomb."
"How did the nano droids get in his bloodstream?" Ahsoka asks.
"I don't know. But we're gonna have to go search his home for evidence," Hall says.
Anakin, Ahsoka, Hall, and Agent Fitzgerald quickly make their way out of the Temple and board a speeder. It takes them just 20 minutes to reach Jackar's home.
Getting out of the speeder, they approach the complex of apartments. As they enter, Hall and Fitzgerald look around at the quality of the place.
"This place reminds of my old apartment building in Baltimore. That place was crap," Fitzgerald muses.
"I would've though working for the Jedi paid better," Ahsoka mutters.
Anakin knocks, but there is no response. So, he sues the Force to force the locking mechanism to open the door.
The four of them walk in. Hall takes his assault blaster off his back, just in case.
"Letta? Are you here?" Anakin calls out, but there is no answer.
"You and Fitzgerald search for the droids, and be careful, and remember, he was a munitions expert. I'd rather not set off another explosion today. I'll see if he left a note," Anakin says to Ahsoka.
Anakin and Hall start looking around, while Ahsoka and Fitzgerald walk deeper into the apartment, using scanning devices to scan for more nano droids. They slowly make their way into another room, and then into the kitchen.
As they get into the kitchen, their devices begin to beep a little bit faster. Fitzgerald scans the room, and walks towards the sink. Sure enough, the device begins beeping like crazy.
"Skywalker! Hall!" Fitzgerald calls out. The two are in the kitchen in seconds.
"I'm picking up trace readings from the disposal. It seems like the nano droids were in the food," Fitzgerald reports.
"Well, I guess the question now is, did he eat them willingly, or did someone feed them to him?" Anakin asks rhetorically.
"Wh-what are you doing here?" The four turn and see Letta standing in the door of the kitchen.
"We've learned Jackar was involved in the bombing. Somehow, nano droids got into his bloodstream and turned him into a living bomb," Fitzgerald answers.
"Ahsoka, scan her and see if she has any nano droids on her," Anakin says.
Ahsoka walks over and scans her, then turns to Anakin and says, "She's clean."
"That may be, but I do think we should bring her in for more questioning. Ms. Turmond, we're gonna need you to accompany us back to the Temple. You may be able to help us make sense out of all of this," Hall says.
"I'll answer any question I can," Letta responds.
The four lead Letta out of the apartment complex. However, something about her demeanor is bothering Fitzgerald, who discreetly grabs hold of his taser just in case.
As they are walking down the steps of the apartment complex, Letta suddenly grabs some random person and throws them at Ahsoka, knocking her over.
Letta quickly takes off running. Fitzgerald, a former track and field athlete, instantly takes off after her, pulling out his taser. He yells, "Taser! Taser! Taser!", and pulls the trigger. At a distance of 9 feet, the prongs catch Letta in the back, and she falls to the ground, twitching.
Fitzgerald runs up to her, dropping his taser and leaping on her, grabbing her right arm and pulling it behind her back while putting his knee in her back to keep her pinned and pulling out a pair of handcuffs. "Letta Turmond, you're under arrest for fleeing the scene, evading a law enforcement official, and suspicion of murder," he says.
"Let me go! Jackar is dead, and you're just trying to blame his murder on me!" Letta cries as Ahsoka, Anakin, and Hall hurry up to them.
Fitzgerald chuckles before saying, "You know, we never actually said he was dead. That's almost as good as a confession, and running from us shows you know something about the nano droids. You might as well confess completely and get it over with," cuffing her other wrist as he says.
Letta is quiet as Fitzgerald finishes cuffing her, then pulls her to her feet. Finally, she says, "I did feed the nano droids to Jackar."
"You set up your own husband to die?" Ahsoka demands.
"You're dealing with things you don't understand," Letta says.
"Oh, I understand. I understand you're one cold-hearted murderer. And you're gonna face the music," Fitzgerald says. He then pulls the taser prongs out of her back and leads her over the speeder, the rest of the group following them.
(Short while later)
"We're holding Letta in the cell below the Temple to await further questioning. But, given her confession was caught on a body camera that Agent Fitzgerald was wearing, she's not gonna be getting out of this," Anakin says.
"Well, I must say I'm impressed. The Americans did a good job with this investigation," Mace Windu says.
"Agent Fitzgerald also confirmed to me that there are no other nano droids in the Temple, and that based on security footage, there were no other perpetrators," Hall says.
"Did this woman give any indication of why she attacked us?" Mace asks.
"Not yet," Hall admits.
"I think we can guess her motives easily enough. Public opinion is swaying against the Jedi. That is becoming clear. This war is becoming less and less popular every day it persists," Mace says. He and Master Yoda then walk off.
Anakin, Ahsoka, and Hall walk off in the opposite direction. Hall sighs a bit and says, "We may have got Letta and gotten her confession, but…I don't know, maybe I'm just paranoid, but it feels like there's something else we're missing here."
And, I'll end there. I hope you liked that chapter.
I decided to have FBI investigators replace the droid that worked with Anakin and Ahsoka in the episode so we got an appearance by Terran units that aren't military.
Next chapter will be up soon. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned!