A/N: It's turning into a longer story than I thought. I have some ideas about where I want the story to go. For now Enjoy the Chapter!

Chapter 6

Revelations

A week later the diplomatic fleet was ready. Twenty starships of various classes, all centered around the Enterprise and all hyperdrive equipped. Two Republic Venator-class cruisers then arrived in the area near the rift. All twenty-two ships dived into the rift. They found a small CIS fleet on the opposite side. They were right in the path to jump to Coruscant. Picard had no choice but to help the Republic ships remove the fleet.

He stood in the center of the bridge. "All ships, red alert. Mr. Worf open a channel to the Resolute and Liberty."

"Channel open sir."

"Gentlemen, it looks like we'll have to fight our way past them."

"Indeed, I believe we should just go right through. Maybe they'll be dumb enough to shot their own ships." said Skywalker

"Agreed, we'll provide cover fire." said Picard

"Sir, the lead enemy vessel is hailing us." said Worf

Picard was surprised to say the least. "Maybe they're more talkative than the last group." said Riker

"Or maybe they want to distract us Number One. Open a channel Mr. Worf."

"Channel open."

On the screen was an alien unlike anything Picard had seen before. It appeared to be mostly cyborg but it looked like a failed experiment. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the U.S.S. Enterprise."

"I am General Grevious, you will surrender the Jedi to me now."

"I think not."

"Then you will die."

"Screen off. All ships, this is Picard, prepare to engage the enemy. We're faster and more maneuverable so let's keep that advantage. Load torpedo bays and standby to fire full volley of tricobalt and photon torpedoes."

"Fleet signals ready sir."

"Fire."

Once again a mass volley of photon/tricobalt torpedoes did their job, destroying hundreds of droid fighters and several small capital ships. Then the Federation fleet advanced ahead of the Republic ships. Phaser and torpedoes mixed up with turbolasers. The Enterprise shook from multiple hits. "Evasive maneuvers ensign." ordered Picard "Number one, which ship had Grievous on it?"

A tactical display lit up near his console. "All ships concentrate as much fire as you can on this target."

"From what Kenobi has told me, Grievous is the military commander of the CIS forces. If we can take him out, the CIS will weaken enough for the Republic to go on the offensive." Picard said to Riker.

The battle continued as the Federation fleet fought a delaying action, drawing enough fire for the two venator-class ships to get through. Grievous's ship took heavy damage it's shields were drained after the fourth or fifth volley of torpedoes. Sensing his ship was in danger, he ordered the fleet to withdraw. The Republic venators and the Federation fleet took parting shots at the crumbling CIS fleet, then transported the crew off disabled ships and not wanting the CIS to get their hands on them destroyed the disabled ships.

With the CIS fleet driven off, the small Federation fleet and the two Republic cruisers jumped to hyperspace. A few days later they dropped out of hyperspace in the Coruscant system. The Federation ships took up standard orbit while the Republic ships did the same. Then Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi took to their fighters and flew down to meet with Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Council. They were told about the rift and the Federation on the other side. Then they were treated to a demonstration of transporter technology as Picard, his senior officers and some of the Captains of the other ships beamed into the Chancellors office.

"Captain, of behalf of the Republic I thank you for rescuing General Skywalker. His loss would have been a great blow to morale and our war effort."

"You're very welcome Chancellor. But it was Captain Keller," replied Picard then waving a hand towards Keller "aboard the U.S.S. Agamemnon who conducted the actual rescue."

Keller bowed respectfully to the Chancellor who nodded. "Again you have my thanks." said the Chancellor.

"With your permission Chancellor. I'd like to take some of the Jedi Council up to my ship to give them a tour and to assure them that we have no hostile intentions."

The Chancellor glanced at Master Windu, who nodded in return. Then the small, green Master Yoda responded. "A chance to see your ship, we will not pass up Captain."

Then Senator Amidala spoke up. "Would you object to me coming along. I'd very much like to see your ship."

"Most kind of you Master Yoda, and you're welcome to come aboard." Said Keller. He tapped his combadge. "Keller to Agamemnon, five to beam up."

Keller, Amidala, Windu, Yoda and Ki-Adi Mundi appeared in translucent columns of blue light on the transporter pad, then resolved into solid lifeforms.

"Extraordinary. And you travel like that normally." said Amidala

"Yes, though there are times were transporters are not feasible, certain atmospheres or through certain materials for example. In those cases we use shuttlecraft. Which are quite capable craft themselves. Come this way please." replied Keller. He was wary of the Senator, there was no telling how many Senators were under the influence of Palpatine. Then again, Anakin said he trusts her implicitly, maybe I should too.

He took them to a conference room where he gave an overview of the Federation and Starfleet's history. He then recounted to them how his ship had plowed into a rift and found themselves in this galaxy. How they received the distress call of General Skywalker and proceeded to rescue him. He then explained the Federation's position, how they won't interfere directly in the war except to conduct negotiations and perhaps humanitarian missions. "I want this war to end as much as the Jedi and the rest of the Senate do. But we've tried negotiating with them. Right now they're on stronger terms than we are. We need help."

"I'd personally love to provide that help. We've already had two skirmishes with CIS forces. Once when they came through the rift while Skywalker's ship was being repaired at a local starbase and again when we escorted Generals Kenobi and Skywalker to Coruscant. We even encountered General Grievous and drove him off."

"You drove him off?" asked Windu.

"Yes."

"Your ships must be quite powerful." said Mundi

"Yes but we still lost some ships. We lost four ships in the first skirmish and five in the last. But our warp drive is slow compared to your hyperdrive. It would take some time before we could refit the entire fleet."

"I do have a question." said Amidala

"Please Senator."

"If you're Starfleet is peaceful. Why are your ships so powerful?"

"We've recently come into contact with a high-level threat. Which forced us to...reevaluate our ships and their strengths." replied Keller, who then went into a lengthy presentation about the Borg. The Jedi and the Senator were disturbed by the description of assimilation and they understood why the Federation saw fit to upgrade it's fleets.

"One Borg ship destroyed 40 of your starships? No wonder you take them seriously." said Windu

"Indeed, the Borg are unlike any threat we've ever encountered...I do believe we have a tour scheduled yes?" said Keller

"I look forward to seeing more of your ship." said Amidala

Keller tapped his combadge. "Keller to Lt. Adams, report to the conference room."

"On my way sir."

The Jedi were giving him strange looks. "Captain Keller, more to say have you?" asked Yoda.

"Yes, Master Yoda, it concerns the Jedi."

Before the Senator could ask what the information was Lt. Adams came into the conference room. "Ah, Lt. good, would you conduct the Senator on her tour. I need to have a private conversation with the Jedi."

"Yes sir...This way Senator." she replied waving a hand to the door which split in two allowing the Lt. and Senator to exit the conference room.

"Computer, seal off the conference room. Disable all recording devices. Authorization KellerGammaThree."

Windu smirked. "Surely you don't think you can hold us here."

"I'm not trying to hold you. It is simply a precaution and when you hear what I have to say, you'll want to stay and listen further anyway."

"Very well Captain. Go on." replied Windu

Keller took a deep breath. "Well there's no easy way to say this but...we have evidence that points to Chancellor Palpatine as being the same person as Darth Sidious."