Herald of the Force
Author Notes: Sorry it took so long to post a new chapter but as so of you might have notice, i have a beta now. enjoy
This chapter as been beta by LimerickChaos
Chapter 15: Dark Advice
Anakin Skywalker, seventeen years old and one of the youngest Jedi Knights in the Jedi Order. He should be proud, he survived a major battle where many Jedi Knights and Masters did not.
However he was anything but proud. If anything, he was very frustrated and angry. It was all directed at one person.
Harry Potter.
Ever since Harry Potter returned to Republic Space, people have been chanting his name and singing nothing but praises about him. He already claimed a dozen wins over the Separatists and has forced them out of Republic Space when they attempted to invaded before the Rift Alliance could mobilize in Republic Space. This proved to be a tactical error as the Confederate Fleet was driven out of Republic Space.
He thought he could be a part of the war and join up, take leadership and show the Alliance military what a real Jedi was like. But he was denied the right to enlist. He was too young. He had to wait till he was eighteen to join the war. It was a military regulation of the Rift Alliance. So he had to wait six months into the war before he had to go through some test to see what field and rank he would be.
He was even angrier when a young female Jedi, who was eighteen years old, was consider to be the youngest Jedi General of the Alliance. She was hailed as a prodigy and called the Prodigal Knight of the Alliance.
Sarala Shan. Harry Potter's apprentice. What was worse, she claimed she hailed from a long line of Jedi's. Her earliest ancestor was a legendary Jedi in her own right. Bastila Shan, a Jedi Master who had the power to control the flow of a battle. It got worse for Anakin when he learned she was a descendent of Satele Shan, the youngest Grand Master of the Jedi Order. She had datacrons that came from many Jedi Knights and Masters of the Order.
Sarala Shan was far too humble and kind. Despite being a general, she would show up and help the Jedi Younglings with their training. The younglings soon grew to like her and were eager to see her when she stopped by.
He couldn't understand it, what was the Alliance up to? They could not be so kind and nice. Not without getting something in return.
It's what brought him to the office of the Supreme Chancellor.
Chancellor Palpatine was his friend and mentor. He gave him advice and guidance ever since he arrived on Coruscant. Palpatine even shared with him some of his ideas on creating a better Republic.
So he couldn't understand what had gone wrong.
"Awe, Anakin, come in." Palpatine said as he gestures Anakin inside the office. He was all alone which seemed unusual.
"I was just on my way to a meeting with the Military Defence Committee. What can I help you with?" Palpatine said as if he was reading Anakin's thoughts.
"I have some questions that I hope you can give me answers to your Excellency."
"Of course Anakin, you are one of my closest friends and I be more than happy to help you to the best of my ability." Palpatine said.
"It's about Thane Harry Potter and the Rift Alliance."
"I see. What do you wish to know?"
"What did the Republic offer them in return for their help?"
"May I ask what brought this on?"
"I've met several of their Jedi and leaders and they seem far too nice for it to be real. I know from personal experience, when someone is as nice as the Rift Alliance, they want something in return."
"I see. I'm afraid in this case you are right Anakin. What the Rift Alliance wants is to control the Republic."
"You can't be serious." Anakin said in shock.
"I'm afraid so. They ask for nothing else in return other than for the Senate to keep out of their affairs and not to get involved in the war. However, many Senators are blinded by greed. The moment they saw the military power of the Rift Alliance, they were flocking to them like womprats."
"What will you do?"
"For the time being I can do nothing. However the key to their victory lies within the Senate. I'm not sure if you've noticed Anakin, but there is now a power struggle in the Senate to see who can control the future of the Republic. Those loyal to the Republic and its ideas are members of the Unity Committee. You can trust them Anakin. I will be doing my best to stop the Rift Alliance from seizing power from the Senate. I hope you can understand, that some of my actions may seem questionable, but the reason for it is to secure the future of the Republic."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I think it's time I give you some more advice. I was going to wait till you were older, but you have proven you are ready. Tell me, are you going to be sent off to the front lines?"
"No, your Excellency, I have to wait another six months. I am too young to enlist." Anakin said in frustration.
"I see, please do not take this the wrong way Anakin, but perhaps that's a good thing."
"I'm afraid I do not understand."
"You can use that time to become stronger. Grow, prepare yourself for war. Let's take a look at your battle with Count Dooku. What went wrong?"
"He was stronger."
"No Anakin, he was more experienced. To counter experience one needs to have strength. Become stronger Anakin and I guarantee you that you will over power Count Dooku the next time you two come face to face. Come, let us examine a scenario. Say you are faced with overwhelming forces, how do you defeat them if you can't defeat them head on?"
"You create a weakness?" Anakin said.
"That is one way. There is a safer way Anakin. You give them victory."
"I don't understand."
"You draw them in Anakin, you set a trap where they unleash their strength all at once. Once their strength is exposed and their weakness is revealed, you strike not head on, but either from their side or you stab them in the back. You give them the illusion of victory, before you defeat them."
"I never would have thought of that." Anakin admitted.
"It's why I'm here Anakin. I am your friend and will give you help when you need it. It's a tactic I have used myself in the political world. I let my opponents think they've won before I expose them and leave them defeated. Perhaps you could use the same method in your Jedi Training."
"I will chancellor and thank you."
"And Anakin."
Anakin turns to face the Chancellor just as he was by the door.
"I know you don't like Thane Potter very much, but I must reminded you that the Senate are singing his praises. They're a lot of nervous people that want the Rift Alliance to join the Republic. I know you don't want to, but try to be at least nice and respectful towards Thane Potter and the Alliance. Remember, they control the military that defends our worlds. If you were to attack them, they could turn against the Republic and lay it to ruin. All they have to do is blame you and your action."
"I will Chancellor, thank you."
Chancellor Palpatine nods his as Anakin leaves and a dark smile creeps on his face. The training method he gave Anakin was a basic Sith Military Tactic. It was a start but he has successfully leading Anakin to the ways of the Sith.
Rift Alliance High Military Command Center
Harry walked through the military halls with Cipher Seven and Cipher Nine. Both were the best in the Alliance Military Intelligence. Cipher Seven was without a doubt, one of the best marksman in the Galaxy. It was hard to believe he started as a mercenary but soon learn to move unnoticed with the skills to take out targets from afar.
While Cipher Nine was a master at deception. For her, she grew up living on the streets and pretending to be other people. It started out as a game, and then became a habit. If anything she enjoyed becoming other people. It gave her something to look forward to.
Harry shook his head knowing how much she loves the chase, and being the one that is chased. It was why she excelled so well at being one of the best spies in the game.
"Commander." A voice said. Harry turns his head to see of Shara Jenn standing there.
"Hello Shara, how have you've been?" Harry asks with
"Well thank you. Everyone is waiting for you to begin the meeting."
Harry follows Shara towards a large room where a single table sat in the middle.
"I see you all made it. We will be seeing each other a lot over the course of the war." Harry said as he took his seat. Padmé gave him a small smile happy to see him.
"As you know, this is Senator Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia. He has military experience and knowledge of Naval Warfare. Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, I believe it wise to let him be the head of negotiations between planets and the military. Senator Padmé Amidala who will be working with the Senate and the Military. Grand Master Yoda, who has his fair share of battles and well as his connections with many worlds will be a great assets to our cause. Master Windu for his great battle insights. Who has also seen his fair share of battles and war."
The Republic members of the Defense Committee all nod their heads.
"This is Director of Military Intelligence of the Coalition Military Forces. Director Rane Kovach. He will be handling all Military Intelligence in the war. Admiral Bailanna from Mirial. She is a skilled tactician and strategist in Naval Warfare. She is the Grand Admiral of the Coalition Naval Forces."
The young Mirilian who look to barely hitting her thirties bows her head from her seat.
"This is Grand General Barca. Someone with talent and skills in ground and special forces tactics." Harry said. General Barca was a human male who look to be in his forties. He was a tall man unlike Bailanna who was small. But he did carry himself as a General.
"You all of course have met Master Celeste Morne and Master Kao Cen." Harry said as everyone nodded.
"How is the frontlines?" Senator Garm Bel Iblis asks.
"The Front Lines are fine. We're able to push back the Separatist without suffering heavy causalities." General Barca reported.
"The problem we have is spies. There are spies in the Senate who appear publicly on the side of the Republic but are in fact Separatist themselves." Harry said in a strong tone of voice.
"Not to mention we have questions about this Unity Committee. Many of them are supporters of COMPNOR." Admiral Bailanna said.
"How is that a bad thing?" Senator Organa said.
"Our Intelligence suggests COMPNOR was created to support Chancellor Palpatine in his attempt to become a more permanent head of state. It gets worse, these supports and idealist behind Palpatine are supporters of Humans Superiority."
"Superiority? But that would mean…"
"They are trying to get as much power as possible to Chancellor Palpatine."
"Dangerous, are these times." Master Yoda said.
"It goes with a strange report Obi-Wan said. If Chancellor Palpatine has emergency powers then he would begin to destroy the Republic."
"What should we do?"
"There is nothing the Rift Alliance can do without being seen as the aggressors. To stop Palpatine it would have to be in the Senate. I'm sure many of his allies will attempt to make motions to give the Chancellor more power. The Loyalists must push for a new stronger Chancellor. One who will not let the Republic be taken over by a tyrant. Or, you try to seize power from the Chancellor."
"Seize power from the Chancellor, what do you mean?" Bail Organa asked but it was clear he merely wanted to hear it from straight forward.
"The one thing the treaty does not authorize us to do is have campaigns in Separatist territory. We can only defend the Republic territory as well as our own. If however, we could get the right to attack the Separatist Territory, If motions were to be given for the Rift Alliance to have that military power, then we can bring an end to the war quickly."
"You're also talking about the end of the Republic." Senator Garm Bel Iblis said.
"The Republic is dying. I can see that just as well as Palpatine can. The question isn't how long the Republic can be preserved. The question is, who will step forward to rule what's left of the Republic. The Rift Alliance is a loose alliance, but we are strong and united. The future is uncertain, but there are two possibilities. Either the Rift Alliance grows and becomes a Galactic Power, or Palpatine will scrape together what power he can and reform the Republic into something else." Harry said.
"No matter how we look at it, the truth of the matter is simple, the Rift Alliance is rising in Galactic Power. You must ask yourselves, will the Republic help stand with the Rift Alliance or fall into place in to an unknown future with Palpatine."
"This future, what do you see?" Padmé asks.
"The only ray of light that shines in the Galaxy is the Rift Alliance, but there is also a great darkness spreading. Palpatine is a part of it. I do not know if he is the center of it. Also…" Harry said but stops looking very grave.
"What is it?"
"During my exile I found some powerful allies and they gave me some grave information. The Sith and Separatists are not the only threats that are out there. There is something else out there, forming itself into one of the largest armies in the Galaxy. One that is bent on destroying the galaxy and all its civilizations." Harry said.
"It's one reason the Rift Alliance was formed. To counter this threat. They have yet to make any move or any of their ships are entering the known galaxy, but they are out there, growing in strength and might." Director Rane Kovach said.
"Who?"
"Rakata, the remnants of the Infinite Empire."
Author Notes: I know you were all eager for this update, but I took so long because I have a beta now. I hope you guys enjoyed the twist I added to the story.
Director Rane Kovach – from Old Republic S.I.S.
Grand General Jago Barca – Some of you might know this from the name but I took this name from Hannibal Barca, the Carthage General who brought Rome to her knees. Unlike the real life Hannibal, this General will have a huge role and a better setting than the Carthage General.
Grand Admiral Neyla Bailanna – I took her name from a mod of the Empire at War game. Forgot the mod but she was a Commodore and her short bio said she was a genius in star wars naval warfare. So I'm using her in my story. Bailanna