(A/N: the Galactic Senate is now the Galactic Assembly, because of the Galactic Separation. It's kinda like the UN now)
News about the disappearance of the Librarian and the theft of a holocron travelled fast within the Jedi Temple. Blame was put on the mysterious Sith that was able to penetrate the toughest Jedi defences. Security was increased tenfold and Jedi were dispatched to find the missing holocron, for in the hands of the Sith it would prove crippling to the Order. It was at this moment that the Sith showed themselves to the public at the Galactic State meeting and tried to force the other state representatives to pledge allegiance to the Onderon State of the Inner Rim. The Onderon state representative stood up and proclaimed himself emperor of the Inner Rim and soon to be Galactic Emperor. This state representative was, of course, Sith Lord Darth Marek, and the Jedi could sense just how powerful he had become. The last time they had seen him, he had been a middle aged human with a cold gleam in his eye as he slaughtered six Jedi and proclaimed himself a Sith. Now his features were concealed under a metal face mask that revealed nothing but the red rimmed yellow eyes of a Sith Lord. The rest of him was concealed in a Sith robe whose hood was drawn up to his head. Besides him stood the imposing tower of malice that was Darth Eon. Together they demanded the States to give up all its power and allow Marek to rule the Galaxy with Eon as his Hand. Without assurance from the Jedi, the Chancellor could have given them power there and then.
Upon hearing their demands being rejected, Marek declared war on the Republic and killed a state representative with a wave of the hand. He, along with his entourage, stormed out of the senate builing and was never seen there again. A few representatives from systems surrounding the newly formed Onderon Empire left also, in fear of being decimated by the Sith tyrant. This left the remainder of the States assembly to decide coming actions that the Galaxy should take. The Core Republic, the remainder of the Galactic Republic, suggested that the Galaxy unite to combat this rising threat. The independent states refused, saying they needed their freedom and that they were willing to become allies with the Core Republic. The Chancellor argued that this was not enough, that decision making would be delayed which is dangerous during war.
"Our decision is final," the Rodian representative declared stubbornly.
The assembly was adjourned with the decision that the wars among the States and the Core Republic would be suspended until the Sith threat was dealt with.
A while later the Jedi High Council had their own meeting.
"The first batch of our clone army is complete," an elderly human female Jedi master was saying. "And more are close to completion. We are now ready to go to war against the Sith."
Another master spoke: "That may be true, but the Sith are assembling their own army. Our spies have informed us that the Onderon Empire has been conducting negotiations with the with the Trade Federation. The Sith are purchasing a droid army."
Master Ta'raar, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, moved his hand along his furry face. He spoke in a primitive tongue that everyone surprisingly understood. Master Ta'raar was, of course, an Ewok.
"I get your point Master," the female master responded. "But the only way we can stop the Sith is by defeating them in this war. So now all we need to do is to decide where we strike first."
A Bith master cleared his voice. "Our main concern is not offence, it is defence. We must protect the colonies to secure raw materials and hyperlanes. Also, once the Sith controls the Colonies, they will have access to the Core Worlds." There were murmurs of agreement.
Ta'raar spoke again in a deciding manner, and his statement was understood in the following way: It is decided then. Send Jedi and clones to the Colonies. Others must head for the Inner Rim to retake it. May the Force be with us all.
...
Oran followed the other padawans as they headed for the briefing room. It had been three weeks since his encounter with the Librarian and it was almost as if it had never happened. After erasing the security feeds and wiped all evidence of his betrayal, he had carried on with his daily activities. He didn't even give the Sith Lord he secretly served much thought. This is the way things should be, he had thought simply. Now in the briefing room, he waited amongst the other padawans who were chattering nervously or excitedly. Three masters from the Council entered the room, along with Ta'raar who followed them from behind. A Nautolan master spoke first.
"Settle down, younglings. Now, due to the war that is raging the Galaxy and the shortage of fighters on the front lines, we are assigning you all to Jedi Knights and Masters. You are to join them on the front lines starting today." Murmurs started again and most padawans looked frightened. "When I call your name, come forward and collect information regarding your master and travel details."
Names were called out and padawans stepped forward to meet their fates. Most felt like they were not ready, even though they were all fourteen years and above and had trained in Jedi arts since they were toddlers. Finally, Oran's name was called and he went up to receive his information. He took the data chip from one of the masters and put it into his holopad. A holographic image appeared showing a young human woman with black brown-black hair held behind her in a pin and left to hang to her shoulders. She was dressed in Jedi attire, and words appeared beneath her on the pad. They said: Tarro Selene, Jedi Knight. Location-Sarun System, Colonies. Oran switched of his datapad and headed for the nearest ship hangar to the Jedi Temple, as instructed. He boarded a ship with supplies and headed for the Colonies.
He arrived on the planet to find it at war. Cruisers from both sides were firing at each other with full force. The supply ship managed to break away and head for the surface without sustaining heavy damage from enemy and friendly fire. The ship landed on a very hostile surface. The Core Republic's clone army was trading hostilities with the Onderon Empire's droid army. In the background artillery was being fired and heavy assault mechs were being despatched. The supply ship landed behind the action and Oran disembarked to join the battle. He gripped his lightsaber from his belt and held it tight in his right hand. He ran forward without hesitation. He saw Tarro Selene a few metres ahead briefing new clone arrivals. She looked like her picture on the datapad, but her then expressionless face was now twisted in anxiety. Oran could almost feel her impatience as she went through the briefing. She wanted to go back to action. She spotted Oran and her eyebrows knitted slightly.
"Hi, Master Selene," Oran said with an artificial smile.
"Hello," she replied. "And who might you be?"
"My name's Oran. I'm your new padawan learner. I was sent by Master Ta'raar to assist you, and for you to teach me."
He frown deepened slightly. "I was not notified about this. But I suppose we need all the help we can get."
"At your service, master," Oran said with a mock salute and a cheeky smile. He had seen this being done by some of his humorous equals back at the Temple. This unfurled her eyebrows and the corner of her lips twitched ever so slightly.
"Alright then Oran, come with me."
She led him to the front line where they were met by vicious fire from the droid army. Oran ignited his lightsaber and twirled it in front of him to block the oncoming fire. He watched his new master advance slowly, and followed suite. The clones behind advanced along with him, and many fell as they did so. Seeing a way to press forward, Oran yelled to his back.
"Cover me!"
A clone trooper replied harshly. "I aint taking orders from some ki-aarrgh." He never finished his sentence as he was shot in the chest by a droid.
"Trust me!" Oran tried again.
The other troopers reluctantly followed his command. He leapt towards the droid line while deflecting oncoming fire in mid-air and landed amidst the droids and commenced hacking them into pieces. His saber moved without a recognizable pattern, and was soon a blur. Tarro made the same move and soon they had decimated the entire front line. The troopers gained morale and attacked with all their might. Just when they thought the battle was won, a Sith emerged from the midst of the droid. He was reptilian in appearance and had greyish green scales beneath his combat attire. In his hand he was holding a double bladed lightsaber. He struck at the troopers that had advanced ahead of the Jedi, cutting them all down. Oran and Tarro looked at each other and advanced as one.
The Sith wound his lightsaber to counter the attack from the two Jedi. Oran swung at his side, but he blocked it easily. Before he could swing at Oran, Tarro swung her blue-bladed lightsaber at the Sith's head. He parried and made an acrobatic twist, turning to block Oran's saber and back-kicking Tarro in the chest. She fell backwards and dust rose up to meet her. Oran was left to battle the Sith on his own. The double bladed lightsaber was overwhelming, since Oran was not used to fighting against it. He leapt backwards before the Sith cut off his head, and he Force-pushed at the ground. Dust rose up and enveloped the Sith fully until all Oran could see was red light from the Sith's saber. Oran chose this moment to attack, hoping to land a cut. Even though he was blinded by the dust, the Sith wielded his saber expertly and soon Oran was at a disadvantage again. Luckily, Tarro rose from the ground and they continued their attack on the Sith.
They ran towards him, but he stomped on the ground and extended his hands towards them and they were both hit squarely by a Force repulse wave. They flew backwards and slammed on the ground with resounding thuds. They attacked again, but did it a little differently from before. Oran threw his saber at the Sith while Tarro leapt in a wide arc and swung her saber downwards. The Sith deflected Oran saber and twisted around to face Tarro. He Force gripped her in mid-air, lifted her slightly, and brought her crashing to the ground. He lifted her again, but upon seeing that she could get seriously injured, Oran called on the Force and caught her before she hit the ground. He Force pushed the Sith as hard as he could with both hands, but the Sith pushed back, getting them caught in a Force wrestle. The Sith put a foot forward and grunted as he overcame the padawan, sending him flying backwards towards the remaining droid army. His fall was broken by a super battle droid, which was like falling on the ground. He groaned as he got up, and was not fast enough to react to the attack from the droids.
"Hey kid, duck!" he heard a trooper shout. Realising what was about to happen, Oran leapt forward, away from the droids. A trooper fired artillery at the droids, annihilating them. Oran then got an idea.
"Fire again!" he shouted, and then turned to his master who was on her feet again preparing to battle the Sith. "Master, the artillery!"
She turned to block the Sith's strike, keeping their blades clashed in a sizzle. Oran hoped she had understood, because he wouldn't be able to do it by himself. The artillery was fired towards him, and Oran extended his hands, one in front of the other, and summoned the Force. He strained from the extremity of the situation as he tried to divert the blast's course. Fortunately for him, his master had understood, for in a split second she had her foot on the Sith's lower torso, and pushed him into the path of the artillery blast. A nanosecond later the blast struck him at full force, and the Sith was vaporised.
Oran walked back towards his master. She looked at him with a slight smile on her face.
"That was extremely stupid, what you did back there," she said with glinting eyes.
"You call it stupid, I call it Faith in the Force," he said with a sly grin.
She laughed. "I guess you could call it that. I'm proud of you, my apprentice."
"Thank you, master. I aim to please"
A trooper approached them. Tarro's face took on a stern form. "General, the remaining droids have been destroyed," the trooper said. "The Onderon army has retrieted. It's a victory for us."
"Excellent, Commander," she replied. "Congratulate the men on a job well done."
"Will do, General." He turned to Oran. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."
Oran smiled his ever fake smile.