Hey, everybody. Back with yet another chapter. Hope you guys like this one. Since this was quick to write, I decided to put it up today.
So, this one will feature the Terran Joint Command reacting to Order 66, and Obi Wan meeting back up with Yoda and Bail Organa.
Let's get to it.
Guest DCDGojira: I'll try and work in a cameo sometime before the end of the story. Thanks for pointing out that typo (I was watching Thor: Ragnarok while writing Chapter 68). I won't spoil who's going to fight Palpatine and who'll fight Anakin, but you'll know the two choices by the end of this chapter. And the clones didn't turn on the Terrans straight away. Only once the Terrans started trying to defend or avenge the Jedi.
Peter Hong Kong: There's not going to be a lot of communication between Terra's leaders and Palpatine, actually. And the Terran Alliance won't become the New Republic. They'll remain a separate government, but allied to the New Republic when it forms. You'll see in the second story how the relationship between the Terran Alliance and the Empire changes between the end of this story and the beginning of the next one. Yes, there will be some people from the Republic who will try and escape to Terra, but not a lot.
the mysterious Mr.E: One of the last chapters will include a speech by President Bush to the world about the Republic's betrayal and transformation to the Empire.
CT7567Rules: I will spoil that the Bad Batch overcame the effect of their chips, and will later have their chips removed on Terra. Eventually, either in the last chapter or in the wiki page I'll make for Order 66, I'll explain what happens to the Bad Batch.
Guest: You're welcome for saving her. I actually originally planned for her to still die, but I got so requests to save her I decided to save her.
Chapter 69- The Next Move
(Terra, July 25, 1994)
High General Colin Powell storms into National Military Command Center deep in the Pentagon. Sitting inside the room are the other 11 members of the Terran Joint Command, including Fleet Admiral Kelly.
"I'm hoping that somebody can explain to me what the h*** is going on! I want to know why the Republic suddenly betrayed us!" Powell says as he takes his seat around the table.
General Mikhail Kolesnikov leans forwards. "High General Powell, we have been in contact with our commanders in the field, and with members of the Anti-Sith Assault Team still deployed in the Andromeda Galaxy. It seems that, across the galaxy, clone troopers of the Grand Army of the Republic have turned on the Jedi. The only report we have as to why comes from Captain Adams of the ASAT team. He escaped Mandalore with Colonel Ahsoka Tano and most of his forces from the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as several clones that did not turn. It seems that clones all over the galaxy were contacted by someone, who issued an order to them that caused them to turn on the Jedi. Captain Adams, in his report, said he believes that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is the one who issued the order. This falls in line with a report we have from 2nd Lieutenant Fives that Palpatine is secretly the Sith Master we and the Republic have been looking for," Kolesnikov says.
Powell narrows his eyes. "So. We were right about him," Powell says, and the 11 other men nod.
Powell looks around at the men around the table and says, "What word do we have on our forces in the Galaxy?"
"Most of our forces on Coruscant have successfully evacuated. The exception are the men from the Royal Army's 1st Division that were protecting the Jedi Temple. We have received no word from them, though we have learned from other sources that there was an attack on the Jedi Temple. I think all our men at the Temple are probably dead by now. There are likely few Jedi left at the Temple either," General Eitan Ben Eliyahu says.
"We've attempted to contact our other units throughout the galaxy. We received word from Lieutenant Colonel Yamazaki. He successfully cut off transmissions between his task force and the Republic, and is now on his way back home. Captain Adams and his forces have escaped Mandalore, but we have no idea where they are right now. Rear Admiral Delauney has reported he has escaped Cato Neimoidia, along with General Plo Koon. We have scattered reports of other forces attempting to escape from the planets they were previously engaged on, but nothing concrete," General Kolesnikov says.
"Furthermore, Lieutenant Colonel Yamazaki reported that his task force has picked up a signal coming from the Jedi Temple instructing all Jedi to return to the Temple, saying that the war is over. Yamazaki has been able to keep the message hidden from most of the crew of his three ships, but passed its existence onto us. It's clear to us that the clones have taken the Temple, likely under the orders of Chancellor Palpatine, and sent out the message to lure any surviving Jedi back to the Temple. Now, there are many Jedi who were not accompanied by any of our forces at the time the clones began to turn, and could potentially fall for this trick," General George Joulwan adds.
Powell nods slowly, then says, "Well, that's clearly a problem that we're gonna need to deal with."
Kelly now speaks up. "General, we may have a way to deal with that. One of the members of the ASAT team, Colonel Hall, is currently in command of the TAS Sentinel, which is currently holding position near Zygerria. On board the ship are 200 special operations soldiers, including 40 men of the Zulu Force, 80 men of SEAL Team 6, 60 men of the Sayeret Matkal, and 20 men of the SAS. The Sentinel also happens to be the one Venator class ships still painted in Republic colors. What I propose is that we send the Sentinel to Coruscant and secretly deploy its special ops troops down to the planet's surface to launch an attack on the Temple in order to retake it. Those men will search for any survivors from the attack, retrieve any artifacts they can such as holocrons, and disable the signal, then retreat," Kelly says.
Powell nods in approval. "That might work," he says. He then looks around the table and asks, "All in favor?"
Everyone around the table raises their hand. Powell nods and says, "It's unanimous." He then turns to Kelly and says, "Issue the orders for Colonel Hall to depart immediately for Coruscant." Kelly nods.
Powell then looks back at the rest of the men at the table and says, "In the meantime, issue orders to all Terran units throughout the Andromeda Galaxy. All Terran units are to begin retreating back home immediately, and all Republic forces are to be treated as enemies unless proven otherwise."
(Andromeda Galaxy, unknown location)
Obi Wan walks out slowly along the corridor, along with Yoda, Bail Organa, and Colonel Rommel. He had just rendezvoused with Bail's ship, and found that Rommel had also arrived just an hour before him.
"How many other Jedi have managed to survive?" Obi Wan asks.
"I've managed to contact some of my teammates, and some other Terran commanders. It sounds like Terran units have been attempting to fight off the clones. Captain Adams confirmed he and Ahsoka Tano survived and have escaped Mandalore. Rear Admiral Delauney said he and his forces successfully protected Plo Koon and have escaped Cato Neimoidia. Vice Admiral Jones confirmed he escaped Mygeeto with Ki Adi Mundi. Other than that, we don't know of anyone in particular, but it sounds like our forces on Coruscant were able to escape with a Jedi, though we don't know who. The rest of our forces are kind of scattered across the galaxy. Admiral Vilikov has said he's going looking for any Jedi he can, but he's not optimistic," Rommel says.
"I saw thousands of troops attack the Jedi Temple, and I saw them fighting both the Jedi and the British troops stationed there. That's why I went looking for Yoda," Bail says.
"Have we had any contact from the Temple?" Obi Wan asks.
"Received a coded retreat message, we have," Yoda says.
"It requests all Jedi to return to the Temple. It says the war is over," Bail says.
"Well, then we must go back. If there are any stragglers, they will fall into the trap and be killed," Obi Wan says.
"Hmm. Suggest dismantling the coded signal, do you?" Yoda asks.
"Yes, Master. There is too much at stake," Obi-Wan says.
"Hmm. I agree," Yoda says.
"And you can bet your a** that I'm coming with you," Rommel says. He pauses, then says, "Do you think we should call for Terran backup? I'm sure given a day or two, we might be able to get Sam out here."
"No. We don't have time. We must make our way to Coruscant immediately," Obi Wan says.
Rommel nods. "Well, then. The three of us against hundreds of clones? What are we waiting for?" he says.
And, I'll end there.
So, the Terran Joint Command makes its first actual appearance in a chapter, and they are aware of the situation. All of the names I listed here for the TJC are real people, so if you're interested, go research them a little.
So, obviously Yoda, Obi Wan, and Rommel don't know about the force Hall will be leading to retake the Temple, nor does Hall know that Yoda, Obi Wan, and Rommel are still alive. But, obviously, they will soon meet again. And when they do, it's gonna be nice.
So, next chapter will be up tomorrow. Until then, please leave a review, and stay tuned!