Chapter 19
Location: Jedi base on the Planet Shedu Maad.
Kesh! That was why this meeting was called. Of course the location, of Kesh was still a secret, but that was about to change. It was clear from earlier surveillance that at least part, if not all, of Vestara's payment for assassinating the Calrissians, involved some as of yet unknown benefit to the lost tribe of Kesh. If, as suspected, she was still viewed as an outcast to the Sith, then she probably would not hesitate in bringing them this gift of contrition, in order to rejoin her people. So the ploy was simple: Follow the tracker they had placed on Vestara back to Kesh. They were doing just that. So far they had observed that she was headed away from the core in a direction opposite of the Maad system, which meant: Wherever Kesh was, the Jedi would need to start moving a strike force in that direction ASAP, since she would already have a head start by at least a day. So the "Discussion" began in earnest and continued with nervous anticipation and the odd outburst. Besides the Masters that sat on the council, present in holographic form were some impressive names: Admiral Gavin Darklighter, Head of the GA Marines and Special Ops. Admiral Nek Bwua'tu Head of the GA Navy. Queen Mother Tenel KA, Ruler of the Hapes Consortium. Golvar Dosin ruler of the new council of elders on Klatooine.
All these individuals considered the Jedi as close allies, and for various reasons had great incentive to neutralize the Sith threat once and for all. The Hapans, would not forget the multiple attempts made by Sith assassins on the Queen mother's life, and on the life of her heir. The Klatooinians likewise would not forget the blasphemous act the Sith had committed on Klatooine 3 years earlier. The Galactic Alliance? Well that was a complicated affair. While the Chief of State's office and the majority of the Military's Leadership recognized the threat posed by the Sith, a large portion of the senate and the Coruscanti population saw little distinction between the Jedi and the Sith. This was thanks to well placed propaganda and the mass casualties inflicted by the great battle that raged for day's between the Jedi and the Sith. While chief Dorvan could not be present at this meeting (plausible deniability 101) the two admirals present had fought alongside the Jedi, against the Sith and Abeloth. They would not be absent for the battle of Kesh, but they had to do so without the Senate's consent or even knowledge. At the end of the day, all of the above mentioned Allies really pulled through. The Klatooinians would be able to muster up a modest fleet consisting of 10 older Marauder-class corvettes from their Hutt serving days. The Queen Mother would order the Consortium Royal Navy to give command of it's third fleet to the Jedi. The "third" had an impressive composition: 4 Battle Dragons, 10 Nova Class cruisers, along with their accompanying squadrons of Miy'til fighters.
Since the GA couldn't be officially involved, Admiral Darklighter would be bringing along one of his small undercover Special Operations squads. This consisted of 1 Nebula class Destroyer along with its compliment of mix matched fighter squadrons, 3 heavy cruisers, and 2 older corvettes. All the ships appeared on the outside to be dilapidated, battle-worn and bore the markings of pirates. But on the inside they had cutting edge technology along with elite "Black Ops" troopers. Admiral Bwua'tu would serve as chief strategist since he had a reputation for being an architect of victory. The Jedi would send a fleet of 60 StealthXs and most of the Order's Masters would serve as Generals leading the ground fight. A group of 700 Jedi knights, would reinforce all trooper battalions. After 2 hours of deliberation, the details had been hammered out: The Mixed fleet battle group would rendezvous in 12 hours in the Hapes system. After that they would head in the direction of Vestara's tracker and follow it to it's final destination. Once Kesh's location had been confirmed, they would strike. First, one part of the battle fleet would destroy any ships or satellites in orbit of the planet. Simultaneously, the second half of the fleet would destroy any docked ships along with their space ports and any turbo laser in placements. This was essential for keeping that battle contained. NOT ONE SITH SHIP COULD BE ALLOWED TO ESCAPE. After this the dirty work would begin. Kesh was a Sith world. Whether a being was a force sensitive practicer or just a believer in the dark side, they would still pose a clear and present danger. The population was probably in the millions, not billions (since Sith ruthlessness would naturally have a negative impact on population growth), but the battle would still undoubtedly be a fierce one. Once the space capability and ground defences were destroyed, then came the ground battle. Along with star fighter air support and a modest amount of ground artillery, Hapan/Klatooinian/Black Ops/Jedi troops would sweep through, town after town. The population would have to surrender or die fighting. Surprise was the key! Kesh forces would not be organized. If by fluke a Sith army could be wrangled up on short notice then it would just make a nice big target for a shadow bomb. Also If it was clear that no one in a city was going to surrender, a limited bombardment from orbit would be enough to wipe it off the planet's surface. They were out numbered, but they would certainly not be outgunned and they would strike fast and hard.
Finally they had a plan and shortly after that achievement, the holographic guests began to depart the meeting to see to preparations on their end. That is when the "Masters Only" portion of the meeting began. Everyone just sat their staring at one another. They could barely believe that this was happening. Saba Spoke: " Everyone here knows that thiz one doez not run from the battle. But thiz battle will be different." Corran nodded and said " over a thousand years ago Lord Hoth's Army of Light succeeded in wiping out the Sith from the Galaxy (of course that was the jedi version of events). That battle was just a drop in a bucket compared to what we face." Saba bowed in agreement and said: " Yez Master Horn, you speak truth. So Thiz onez question is thiz: Iz it the will of the force that we fight thiz battle?" This was the moment Luke had been waiting for. During the previous bourse of deliberation he just sat silent observing the debates and the planning. The Force would tell him what to do at the same time it told the council and that time was now. Every Master in the room looked at Saba and answered: "We Fight!" Every master except for... "No!" Luke said in a manner that was confident yet begrudging. He didn't want to do this but he had no choice." We need to wait and find a better way to do this, one that won't cost millions of lives!" He could tell that this statement resonated with some Masters more than others. Saba, Cilghal, Kam, and Tionne longed for Luke to be correct. However, Tionne, the defacto historian of the Order, looked at luke with a regretful expression and said: "I don't see how we can Gra... uh... Master Skywalker. History has shown that the longer the Sith are free and plentiful the longer their reign of terror, and the more violence is spread through out the galaxy." Cilghal spoke up in support of Tionne: "She's right, I Hate death, even the death of a Sith. But Sith are like a cancerous tumour; if even a small portion remains, it starts all over again." Kyle, the Master that always said the right thing at the right time said: "I agree! we simply can't wait a second more, thr investigation team has already uncovered plans in the works that will see the Sith return to Coruscant. Right now they are all contained. In a week, a month we might be too late."
The discussion's civilized tone ended, the moment Kyp opened his mouth: Listen Luke! (everyone inwardly winced at the lack of respect in addressing the elder Jedi) we've been patient for a year, waiting for you to work through your own problems, but you need to step up now! This is the battle to end all battles and you need to make a choice: Lead us! Or get of our way!" At this several master said in shocked voice: "Kyp!" He simply looked around and replied: "Don't Kyp me! Come on Jaina! Back me Up!" Jaina buried he suprise at being dragged into the conversation, but she was ready for this. While travelling back to base in the Millennium Falcon, Leia had urged Jaina to respect the path that Luke chose. She understood that even her parents had been changed, and that they were still not ready to dive headlong back into Galactic conflict. With this in Mind Jaina said: "Master Skywalker has his course and we have ours." Kyp gave her a look of contempt and then turned to Luke and said: "What happened to you Luke?"
"Leave him..." Cilghal began to say but was cut off by Luke's gently raised hand. He then said: "Thank you Cilghal, but he's right, something has happened to me. I..don't know why. I can't explained it but I can feel that the counsel is being guided by the force, but so am I. Somehow this is just wrong, attacking Kesh is just... wrong." Kyp, looking both Betrayed and livid, pointed an accusing finger at Luke and said: "You have failed the order that you built Luke! And dont expect anyone to call you master after you abandon us in our greatest need!" Luke's confidence was starting to unravel and his conflicted feelings began to show on his face and in his voice: "I'm not abandoning the Jedi! why can't you understand that?" Seeing her Uncle's anxiety, Jaina fought the urge to force hurl Kyp out of his chair. She could sense Luke's internal conflicts and it deeply affected her. Luke continued: How do you expect me to fight? I... the force has forbade me from using my lightsaber any more." Gasps could be heard around the table at his admission. In a quiet broken voice he said: "I can't fight the Sith with... and...I... I can let you wipe them out." He then rose from his seat to face Kyp and a suddenly defiant and confident Luke said: "I won't let you! At that, Kyp's expression turned from disgusted to deadly as he got up from his seat and said: "Oh yeah? Mr "I can't use a lightsaber" (he said sarcastically)! Just try to stop us!" With that Kyp grabbed his lightsaber and ignited it. Before anyone could react, the doors of the chamber flew open and inside lept Jedi knights Raynar Thul and Tahiri Veila, both wielding ignited Lightsabers. They both landed in front of Luke, standing in between him and Kyp.
Trailing behind them was Dena Yus who was holding a large assault rifle . She walked past Luke and his two protectors and stood within a couple feet of Kyp with her blaster pointed his head and said: "You know It takes a special kind of coward to threaten an unarmed man!" Kyp looked at the unfolding spectacle in front of him and was momentarily stunned by it's ridiculousness. He was just trying to make a point, albeit in the usual bombastic Kyp manner. But the room obviously missed that point. Just then he became more aware of his surroundings and noticed that several Masters behind him including Grand Master Sebatyne and Jaina (who looked particularly blood thirsty at the moment) had ignited their Lightsabers and the were turned...In His Direction! THEY WERE CHALLENGING HIM!. Incredulously he half turned his head to the armed group behind him while keeping his sabre and feet pointed at those at his fore and said: "Now if this isn't treason, I don't know what is." Saba hissed and said: " Treason? Thiz one thinkz you have it backwards. I'm surprised every knight in the whole base didn't try to stop you, Master Durron. If you would have singed a hair on hiz head, you would not be standing. Thiz one would have seen to it. Luke who had also been temporary stunned into inaction and silence at the great outburst of a moment earlier, suddenly regained his composure said "Everyone, please lower your weapons." With that Dena pointed her rifle to the floor and all lightsabers were deactivated. Then he continued: "We are not enemies! But it is clear to me that the Jedi and I are no longer on the same path. I... I now can see that it was mistake to try and stop you. The council cannot ignore the force's guidance, but neither can I. I... I have to leave. Tears started to run down his face and with that: Luke Skywalker turned around and walked out of the council chamber. Before anyone could make sense of what had just happened, Dena Looked at Master Sebatyne and said: "Master, I am so grateful to the Jedi for making me a better person; a useful person. I don't have the force but I believe my path lies with Master Skywalker." Behind her Tahiri said: "Us too." At first Saba didn't know what to make of this. Was this some kind of mass defection? Was the Order about to dissolve? No, somehow they all knew that this was right and wrong. As impossible as it might have seemed, the council was right and Luke Skywalker was right even though they were both headed in different directions. Saba raised her hand and said: "Go in Peace." She knew this would not be the end of it. But they could not afford to be distracted right now. They were on the eve of battle, and a physical confrontation or even detaining the order's most famous Jedi would bleed away the their morale, when they needed it most. Besides, Luke and the others, had no way of finding Kesh on their own. This was a problem that would keep. Kesh would not!