As the Jedi were dealing with the fallout of the Chancellor's death, so was the Supreme Commander of the CIS, General Grievous. As the last remaining public leader of the Separatists, it fell to him to win the war, but the Kaleesh cyborg knew something was wrong. He should've receive a command, or at least a message from Lord Sidious upon reaching the safe world of Utapau. Nothing came, and so he was forced to take a closer look at Dooku's plans and dealings to figure out what had happened to the secret leader of the Confederacy. Much like the Jedi, Grievous was appalled at what he found.
Back on Kalee, Grievous had been one of the most respected warlords of all time. He held considerable power, and had sired dozens of worthy heirs. He had led his people in the war against the Huk, and kept the morale up even when his pleas of aid to the Republic went unheard. Then, Dooku came, offering to help where the Republic had ignored.
That deal with a demon had gotten him here, with barely any flesh left, and with a burning hatred he now knew to be (mostly) artificial in nature. Grievous could not allow that any longer. If his remaining flesh was his weakness, then he'd rid himself of it and lead the Confederacy to where it was supposed to go, not where those traitorous Sith wanted to take it. Even if it meant becoming a droid himself.
It was painful. But, ultimately worth it. Grievous emerged from surgery changed - just as ruthless and genius as ever, but having regained his sense of honor and the cold logic the synthetic rage had taken from him. And so, he decided to end the war. The Republic had suffered a deep loss by his actions, but they'd been tricked, too, and he could respect them for that. Thus, he would give them a choice. End the hostilities, or be ended themselves.
A sizable fleet dropped out of Hyperspace at every system that conformed the border of Republic space - thousands of warships in Confederate colors holding position in what appeared to be a massive invasion effort. Grievous himself arrived with the largest fleet at Coruscant, deflectors raised, but weapons depowered. He'd taken every ship in the Confederacy (even those blockading key planets and installations), presenting a united front, scarier than his enormous invasion fleet at the same system, just weeks before.
The Republic would not be intimidated. They were too prideful for that. But, without Palpatine and Dooku kriffing things up any longer, negotiations could occur.
Blinking out of Hyperspace to a small fleet of Munificent-class frigates and Recusant-class destroyers would've been a terrifying prospect for the comparatively tiny (if heavily modified) Gozanti-class gunship once, but the Clone Wars were long since ended.
The turbolaser batteries swivelling to track their position however, reminded them that the New Republic and the Confederacy of Independent Systems weren't exactly best friends, either.
Ahsoka expertly maneuvered the nimble Daughter of Mortis, cruising through the debris field the Confederate warships were surrounding even as the CIS flagship hailed her.
The metallic-yet-oddly-spirited voice of a droid without a restraining bolt materialized on the cockpit. "Gozanti-class vessel, please state your mission." -the droid said.
Ahsoka smirked. Before, those monotone voices had meant a gruelling day ahead, likely filled with explosions, blaster fire, and the emerald blaze of her lightsabers. "This is Ahsoka Tano, captain of the Daughter of Mortis and Jedi Knight of the New Republic. I am here with my Padawan to investigate the naval anomaly your fleets reported."
A moment passed, in which Ahsoka sent the clearance codes and passwords she'd been given for the mission.
"Clearance confirmed. Please proceed to dock with the Righteous Intent, Knight Tano." -the droid said, sending back a data burst with the rendezvous coordinates.
The Righteous Intent was the flagship of this particular scouting fleet, a lone Providence-class carrier/destroyer that easily dwarfed the Daughter. As such, the gunship could fit inside the massive hangar, bypassing the need to use an actual docking tube. Ahsoka let Leia make the final maneuvers, smiling at the inherited Skywalker flying prowess the youth demonstrated.
The Daughter landed with a soft clang. A squadron of upgraded C1 Battle Droids - the next generation of droid infantry, sharing an almost identical design with the old Commando droids - marched towards the vessel in all their dark blue and white glory, escorting the Captain, a female Chiss with mechanical limbs on the right side of her body.
Ahsoka and Leia descended the ramp to meet them.
"Greetings, Knight Tano. And Padawan...?" -she said curiously.
"Leia Skywalker. At your service, ma'am." -the young one said, bowing.
The Captain smiled, impressed. "Such courteousness...I am Captain Mihren. Welcome aboard the Righteous Intent. Shall we head to the briefing room?"
Ahsoka nodded. "Please, lead the way."
The Captain turned then, motioning for them to follow. Two turbolifts and a long hallway filled with everything from C1s to Droidekas later, they arrived at the room.
The Captain regarded them neutrally.
"I'll get right to the point. 2 days ago, the scouting fleet I lead came across a gravitational anomaly during a regular sensor sweep. The data showed consistency with the typical markings of space combat - massive energy spikes, ionized starship-grade alloys and the like. The fleet dropped out of Hyperspace to find this." -the Captain informed them, activating a holotable.
A detailed hologram appeared, showing what appeared to be a derelict Corellian blockade runner being left behind by an enormous wedge-shaped warship, easily half again as long as the Righteous Intent. The vessel went into Hyperspace almost as soon as the recording started.
"It looks like a Victory-class Star Destroyer, only twice the size." -Ahsoka observed.
"Exactly twice the size, length-wise, though bearing no New Republic markings. The entire ship was devoid of any identifiers, colored a dull gray." -said the Captain.
"This is...troubling. And what of the corvette?" -asked Ahsoka.
The Captain manipulated the holo to show the ship in question. "We achieved positive ID for the Tantive IV, registered to a senator Bail Organa of the Alderaan system."
And therein lay the reason that warranted the visit of two Jedi to CIS territory. A New Republic senator's ship, attacked and boarded by an unknown party.
"What of the crew?" -asked Leia, keeping the tremble well off her voice.
Captain Mihren sighed. "None survived. The senator is not among the bodies."
Leia looked down mournfully. Senator Organa was a friend of her mother's, and she'd met most of the crew in his vessel once or twice, years ago.
Ahsoka noticed her Padawan's downcast expression. "They have become one with the Living Force, Leia. Remember your training."
Leia tried. Mourning someone was not a bad thing - it was dwelling on their death that led to darker places.
In the wake of the fall of the Sith, and the renewal of the Republic, the Jedi Order had also undergone massive changes, provoked in large part by the revelation that their Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker, had been married in secret for the better part of three years, breaking apart their rules on attachment, yet using said bond as a safeguard against the Dark Side. The debates had gone on for months on end, with Anakin even threatening his abandonment of the Order, with the many who supported his revolutionary ideals. The old Order was clearly flawed, evidenced by the near destruction it would've suffered at the hands of Palpatine and Order 66.
Most of the older Masters did not agree. But the Grand Master of the Jedi did. Yoda saw that their misguided ideals of balance would see the Dark Side eradicated, while in truth, the Light needed the Darkness to truly shine. An agreement was then reached, and the Rogue Jedi faction had been created.
Those musings, however, were better left to calmer times.
"What do you make of this attack, Captain?" -asked Ahsoka.
The Chiss rubbed her chin. "Whoever's behind this attack is powerful, both individually and within whatever faction he or she's a part of. A warship of that size and design would likely never be in pirate or mercenary hands. It certainly looks like one of Lyra Blissex's designs. And there was only one boarder - one particularly talented with a lightsaber."
Leia's eyes widened while her Master's narrowed. "Understood. May we inspect the vessel?"
Captain Mihren hesitated. "It is...perhaps not a scene meant for one so young..." -she trailed off, looking at Leia.
Ahsoka smiled sadly. "Unfortunately, I can assure you she's seen worse."
The Captain pursed her lips but nodded. "An escort will accompany you on board the Tantive IV. I shall notify my superiors."
The Togruta smirked. "Say hi to the old General for me."
The two Jedi left a stumped Captain behind, heading for the turbolift and towards the hangar.