Chapter 12: Negotiations

Admiral Ackbar of Mon Calamari stood before the Justicar Council of Kentaria in orbit of Mon Calamari. Aboard the Warsphere Chosen, the Kentarians had gladly honored the meeting the Admiral had requested to ask the Kentarians to join the Rebel Alliance… but it was not going well.

Justicar Lord Chrom'Well shook his great head down at the little Mon Calamari Admiral. "I apologize once again, my friend. But the Kentarian military cannot go to war with the government of the Empire. I understand that you are facing a nearly insurmountable foe, and require all the assistance you can muster, but we are a peaceful people. We possess only our homeworld and three colony worlds, Var, Brikira, and Keldeer, while the Empire consists of thousands of worlds and nearly endless soldiers and ships. We possess a small fleet of only five thousand battlespheres, and only five hundred Warspheres. Our Grey Knights number only in the hundreds, while the Imperial Stormtroopers number in the millions. I hope you see why we cannot join you."

Admiral Ackbar sighed and closed his large eyes. "I know. But it had to be asked. We are fighting desperately against nearly impossible odds. As a friend of mine from Corellia likes to say, we should never tell him the odds… but I was hoping you would join us. Your strength would be invaluable to us. A single Grey Knight could fight a hundred stormtroopers and win."

"A thousand." Justicar Chrom'Well's bodyguard, wearing heavy Grey Knight armor said behind him. Chrom'Well turned and smiled pleasantly. "I apologize for Grey Knight Pil'lar's outburst. He is very protective of the reputation of the Grey Knights."

Admiral Ackbar smiled. "No apologies needed. I know of the Grey Knights reputation, and it is very impressive indeed. Your war with the Kremai would have broken the back of the Republic, and yet you fought it with very few ships and soldiers." Grey Knight Pil'lar reached up and removed his helmet, revealing that the left side of his face and eye had been replaced with cybernetic replacements. "You know of our war with the Kremai?"

Admiral Ackbar nodded. "I was once a prisoner of Grand Moff Tarkin. It's where I learned a lot about fleet tactics and capital ship combat. While I was there, I heard Tarkin speak about your war with the Kremai species. I heard about the fall of Farfallen."

The Kentarians all looked saddened at the mention of their lost paradise world. "I was born on Farfallen." Justicar Chrom'Well said softly. "A more beautiful planet you could not imagine… laid to waste by the Kremai scum."

Admiral Ackbar closed his eyes. "I saw images of the planet. I know how painful your loss must have been."

Grey Knight Pil'lar reached up and removed his left gauntlet. It seemed that the entire left side of his body had been replaced with cybernetics. The heavy servo-drivers clenching the powerful looking fingers closed with a sinister sound. "I lost so much at the Battle of Farfallen. But we beat them."

Justicar Chrom'Well placed his hand on Grey Knight Pil'lar's shoulder plate. "I know of your loss. Pil'lar lost his mate, and his carrier on Farfallen… and their unborn triplets."

Admiral Ackbar looked saddened at those words. "I am sorry for your loss."

Pil'lar looked down at his cybernetic hand and smiled a small half smile. "Now all I have left is duty."

Justicar Chrom'Well was about to speak when he received a transmission. Raising his gauntlet, he listened as his com officer spoke. "Justicar Chrom'Well! We are receiving reports from our colony on Var! The Empire is attacking our colony world!"

Admiral Ackbar stood up as Pil'lar looked horror-stricken. "My brother is on Var! Why would the Empire attack us now?"

"Report." Chrom'Well said into the pickup. "Give me everything."

"The transmission states that ten Star Destroyers jumped into the Var system, destroyed our ships, and began sending heavy vehicles and soldiers to the surface. They are taking prisoners, Justicar! We only received one transmission from the Commander of the Fleet… I'll play it for you."

It took a moment, but then a human voice came through the comm. "This is Grand Admiral Grant of the Imperial Fleet. Your species is now under the jurisdiction of the Empire. You will surrender and submit yourself to Imperial rule. Any resistance will be met with lethal force. Your people will be taken to… "re-education camps" to be taught their place In the glorious Empire."

Admiral Ackbar listened horrified. "It's a slave run. It's the same thing they did to Kashyyyk when they enslaved the Wookiees."

Grey Knight Pil'lar stepped forward angrily. "You mean the Empire is making our people slaves?! I will not have this!"

"Calm yourself, Pil'lar." Chrom'Well said softly, his eyes closed. He spoke into the comm again. "Has the fleet been notified?"

"Yes, my lord." Came the response. "Primarch Val'len has already announced our response…"

At the next words out of the comm, Admiral Ackbar smiled a small bitter smile. This Grand Admiral Grant had made the worst mistake of his life… and the Empire would pay for it.

"At 19 hundred hours today… the Kentarian government has declared war upon the Empire."