The Chancellery Office.
Chancellor Loraan was sitting behind his desk. Tired, eyes swollen and blood shot, droopy and tired bags hanging from them, a bottle of the best Corellian brandy was next to him on the desk.
A report was before him. A dreadful report, the after action report of the battle of LJ-115.
His first blood, his only blood his worse blood. And he had an eerie feeling that this might have been the beginning of something. He just made the worse order of his career. Maybe the worse order he would ever give in his entire career.
He sighed to himself, resigning himself to what he had to do, he had to read this report. Taking a deep breath he picked it up and started to skim it.
Republic After Action Report 17776, Report on Ground and Naval Battle on Planet LJ-115.
The Naval battle lasted mere seconds their forces seemed to be no match for Republic Heavy Turbolaser batteries. However, one Cruiser analog ship was the opposition force against a fully armed Republic Solo Class Battle cruiser and a force of Gunships and Republic transports. No known capability of any heavier ships, if any exist.
Coliseum battle: Their force in and around the Coliseum area was no match for Omega special forces, and they were dispatched quickly.
The Battle of the Fields: The enemy forces were heavier and more concentrated than initial intelligence reports estimated. The main enemy force consisted of at least one division of Droids and one battalion of regular forces. Against one Division of Regulars, One Company of heavy troops, a Battalion of Omega, Assault speeders, gun ships, and other heavy equipment. Faced stiff and heavy resistance, enemy technology seems to be on par with current Republic capabilities, enemy training however, is not.
Final Assessment: Basically we got lucky. If the enemy forces were competent, and had heavier forces to match our air power and heavy tanks, casualties would have been proportionally higher.
Casualty report:
852 dead
4,232 wounded
0 captured.
73 vehicles
2 Assault Speeders.
Enemy:
7,324 Dead
4,242 wounded and captured.
18,323 Droids destroyed.
0 Captured.
0 vehicles destroyed.
Lorran finally got to the end of the report. He had to stifle a small hiccup as he had consumed too much to drink.
He considered the report before him. It was only just the beginning. Upon reflection he knew that this was just the beginning and that there was more to do.
Someone else was responsible, unless this was just a lone warlord that decided to get uppity. But if that was not the case he had to be at least allied with someone, or had a supply base, or was working with a power structure.
But regardless he had to find out the truth of the matter he had to find the answers.
To that effect he got out a note from his desk along with a pen and began to write on it.
Executive Order.
Office of Chancellery to RIO (Republic Intelligence Office) You are ordered to deploy all resources, including asking the Jedi for help, to determine the nature of the continuing to the threat to the Republic, or if there is one, in relation to the assault on Planet LJ-115. If there is one you are to determine the nature of the threat, their base(s) or their leadership.
He looked it over and nodded satisfied. If there is one he would neutralize it and nip it in the bud before it got out of control. Or at the very least he would broker a peace agreement and come to an understanding.
Satisfied that his course of action was right he called in his aide and had him give the message to the communications center.
The Jedi Temple.
It had been two weeks since the battle and they were still talking about it, discussing it and considering the proper actions.
John Zaun has just gotten out of another meeting between the Council and many prominent masters, he decided to tag along with his father and with Death because he had nothing else to do.
He was staring out the window, his face on his arms that were folded on the ledge as he gazed out at the great city, and the traffic traveling across the sky of the Republic Capitol.
He was in limbo, his status and his future was uncertain. He was master less, he had no training to do, and he had nothing else to do. Just sit here and wait for someone else to confirm his status and the next course of his life. He was frustrated at having his fate up to the decisions of others.
A lot had happened to him in the last month, his entire life had changed. He knew he would do it eventually, but he was not expecting it to be so soon or so radical. And then when it seemed that he had gotten a firm footing, and his feet were on a solid road, it had collapsed, and he was whirling in a sea of change.
"Hey John." A female voice yipped behind him.
He turned around curiously, the voice sounded familiar, he smiled friendly when he saw who it was. "Hey Sora."
She skipped on over to him and joined him at the window. "So…what's up?"
"Nothing much, just sitting here, wallowing in pity because my master died." He frowned.
"Oh, yeah I heard about that, my condolences." She looked at him frowning, sadly.
"Yeah, such is life I suppose. Still sucks, and it happened in a battle, which also does not seem to be a good thing." John mouthed.
"Yeah I know, I was in a field hospital towards the front lines, assisted my master, and learned from her as she healed the wounds of the troopers. Most of them consisted of burns and bruises from shrapnel and things landing into them." John looked at her sympathetically. But she continued. "Where do you think this is going to end?"
John sighed. "I do not know Sora, I just do not know. But this does not feel like an isolated incident, this feels like there is more to come. But that is unfortunate. I do not like what battle does to me, sure it gets the blood and the Force flowing, and it is exciting. But then there is the realization of what you have done, of the life you have ended. It just is not an easy feeling"
"Yeah, but then we should take the moments that we have and enjoy this before the storm really hits." Sora reminded him.
He smiled grimly. "Yeah, I know. We need to take the moments that we can to stay sane. I have a feeling that it is going to get bad."
"Yeah." She sighed, her seemingly natural enthusiasm and energy drained.
"But cheer up." He smiled cheerily. "No matter what happens we still have each other and a united front amongst the Jedi."
"Yeah." A smile spread on her face as a thought occurred to her. "Which reminds me, one of the things that I wanted to talk to you about. Here is my my personal com and ID, just in case you ever want to talk or have something to talk about." She handed him a data sheet.
He took it, looked it over, and smiled to himself. "Thanks."
She bowed to him before skipping off, having to go look for her master.
In another corner of the Jedi temple Amann and his master were talking about the same events.
"I wish we were there." Amann informed her looking down on her spread out before him.
"Yeah." She sighed.
"What, you don't sound convinced?" He asked accusingly.
"I do not know. It's just that I feel a darkness coming." She sighed.
"Good then more action." He looked out over the temple grounds determined.
She sighed again. "Look there is a lot of rumors flying around. The journalists, reporters, correspondence, sources, and commentators have finally got word of the battle and are spreading it all throughout the Republic. People are concerned and worried. There is a tenseness in the air."
"And how do you know this?" He arched his eyebrow at her curiously.
"Oh I have been about, going through the Republic and the markets around here. People are uneasy, they are worried. A change is in the air, knowledge of an uncertain future. People are nervous about the economy and now news of a major battle against an unknown adversary. That should go over well." She explained.
"Yeah but we have the Jedi to protect us." Amann reminded her proudly.
"People do not understand us and do not really know, or trust us for that matter. We are their distant guardians but that is all. People need more." She groaned, "It's the military who is the main protectors here."
"Yeah well they are busy." Amann defended his position bitterly.
He retorted listlessly "I know, first taste of war and the people are uncertain." She tried one last time.
Now he sighed. "I know, but we just need knowledge and to dispel the rumors."
"And all that will take is time." She smiled wanly.
