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Star Wars AU The Triumph of Darth Plagueis: Episode Eighteen – Revenge of the Sith Part 3 Invasion
By
Celgress
"Behold a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow. And a crown was given unto him. And he went forth conquering, and to conquer."
The New Testament of the Christian Bible - Book of Revelations Chapter 6, Verse 2 (c.95 C.E.)
Mandalore
Grandmaster of the Jedi Order Yoda cringed. A wave of intense pain slowly passed through his aged body. The sensation was familiar and at the same time different. Yoda had experienced similar occurrences ten standard years before the Naboo Crisis, just before the outbreak of the current Clone Wars and a year ago during the death of Mace Windu at the hands of General Grievous. However it was different this time. The entire sensation was far more acute. It was also accompanied by a confusing vision, or more precisely a rapid montage of several visions.
"The Force is strong with you both" said a menacing hooded figure. "Powerful Sith you will become."
"Please don't hurt us!" screamed a random senator as several other senators cowered in fear besides him.
"No!" whined a Jedi youngling before being struck down by spinning blue lightsaber.
"What have you done?" cried Senator Amidala backing away a look of abject horror on her face.
"Don't push us" Obi-wan Kenobi said, Master Siri Tachi by his side both their lightsabers were ignited.
"I hate you!" bellowed a male voice from the whirling shadows.
"You'll both pay dearly for this!" growled a female voice from the void.
Wincing from the sheer power of the visions Yoda dropped his walking stick. "Sir are you alright?" asked Commander Rex.
"Happen something terrible will" Yoda said, "return to Crousant at once I must."
"But sir if we leave now Mandalore will fall to the Separatists" Rex said gesturing at the battle between clones & droids which was unfolding around them." Surely if we warn our forces on Crousant all will be okay?"
"Right I hope you are, for all our shakes" Yoda said picking up his walking stick. Though his mind was still clouded by his visions Yoda mentally prepared to engage the enemy.
Crousant, late morning
Obi-wan hadn't heard from Anakin or Ahsoka in nearly two days ever since the Council meeting during which Anakin had been suspended from the Order and Ahsoka was temporarily removed from Anakin's tutelage. Obi-wan had left multiple holographic and audio messages across a spectrum of devices for his erstwhile friends with no luck. How had things spiraled out of control so quickly? Anakin had always been overly prideful but to outright challenge the Council something had drastically changed in his old Padawan. Then there was Ahsoka's equally disrespectful behavior to consider. Obi-wan knew the girl was infatuated with Anakin. In part Obi-wan blamed himself perhaps if he had done a better job training Anakin, and then Anakin training Ahsoka, this wouldn't be happening now. Entering the Temple Obi-wan was immediately greeted by Siri who was accompanied by three knights.
"Good morning Master Tachi, everyone" Obi-wan said smiling.
"Obi-wan there is something you must see" Siri said her voice low. Following the group to the Astrometrics Lab Obi-wan frowned.
"Obi-wan we've lost contact with several of our listening posts at the edge of our system. At first we thought it might be a malfunction then Crousant Space Control received the following message. Half an hour ago a Corellian freighter sent out a general distress call from the edge of our system" Siri explained the expression on her face grave. "The Corellian freighter report contact with several CIS battleships. The transmission ended abruptly and they haven't been heard from since. Space Control suspects a CIS invasion force is lurking just beyond the edge of our system. The nearest Republican force of any significance is the Ninth Fleet. The Ninth Fleet has been recalled to Crocusant but it is three days travel time away. Preparation for the defense of this system and Crocusant itself falls on us."
"By the Force" Obi-wan said the color draining from his face.
"What is more masters Shaak Ti & Kit Fisto have been missing since last night" Siri continued. "Along with two knights they went on some type of secret mission. They haven't been heard from since. All attempts to reach them have failed. With masters Kit and Ti missing in action and Grandmaster Yoda dealing with events on Mandalore, Obi-wan you are the current highest ranking member of the Council on world."
Gulping hard Obi-wan was all too aware what Siri's words meant. Organizing the defense of Crousant was his responsibility. Blast it why did he ever accept a Council position?
The Apartment of Senator Padme Amidala
The door of Padme's apartment slid open. "Thank the Force Obi-wan, Siri one of my messages finally got through" Padme said rushing to welcome her guests. "Did Master Ti secede in dealing with Darth Plagueis?"
"The traitors' assassination attempt failed. Our great leader still lives" The hooded Darth Vader said, his eyes a sickly yellow rather than their usual vibrant blue. "Commander Cody take Senator Amidala into custody on charges of high treason." Vader instructed the contingent of clones which accompanied him.
"Right away sir" Cody said.
"Anakin what are you doing?" Padme demanded.
"That name no longer holds any meaning for me" Vader retorted. "I am Darth Vader now. You may call me Lord Vader."
"Darth Vader, that is a Sith title" Padme said as two clones grabbed her by the arms. "What have you done?"
"What must be done. Unlike you my wife I actually care about our children" Vader berated Padme who was flabbergasted Anakin had just revealed their relationship status in front of the clones. "Our children, my children will live. They will live if I have to tear the universe itself asunder! If you wish to die, so be it. I will not permit you taking them away from me! Take her to the medical facility. Once she gives birth she'll pay for her crimes."
"At once my lord" Cody said.
"Let go of me" Padme demanded kicking and screaming as she was forcibly removed from the building by the clones and Vader.
The Senate Building
"In light of the presumed impending invasion of Crousant by the Confederacy of Independent Systems, by special executive order of Supreme Chancellor Hego Damask the Senator will be moved to a secure bunker in the lower levels of the planet" said a blue armored Senatorial Guard hovering upon a platform in the centre of the massive Senate chamber the hooded figure of Ahsoka Tano stood behind him her head bowed. "In addition by special executive order of Supreme Chancellor Hego Damask Jedi Ahsoka Tano is hereby appointed head of Senate Security Service until the crisis has passed."
"Gentle beings" Ashoka said stepping forward and raising her head. "We will all get through this current crisis safely and efficiently if we all work together. Now go and report back her in one standard hour for transport to the secure banker. Remember one hour, only bring essential items with you. Space in both the transport and the bunker is strictly limited. I'll see you all in one hour, and do not worry gentle beings dealing with you is my top priority." Ahsoka finished with a smile.
The bridge of the Malevolence, just outside the Crousant System
Grievous and Avengia (Ventress) stood by the lesser of their two masters Darth Tyranus. Long had the three awaited this momentous day. The end of the war and much more importantly for the Sith the destruction of their age old mortal enemy the vaunted Jedi Order was a hand. Victory would soon be theirs. The dream of all those who came before them plotting in the dark Darth Bane, Darth Zannah all the way down the line to Darth Tenebrous was almost a reality. The atmosphere on the bridge was one of excitement, anticipation and joy.
"My cohorts the time of fate has at long last arrived" said the hooded life sized holograph of Darth Plagueis which dominated the area directly in front of the subordinate Sith. "We Sith have toiled long for this ultimate destiny. Lord Tyranus give the order, let the invasion of Crousant commence!"
"You heard our Master" Tyranus said the instant the holographic image of Plagueis vanished. "All vessels launch the attack on this system!"
Crousant, an hour later
The sky over the usually peaceful galactic capital was filled with attacking CIS ships. The Confederate Fleet, numbering over two hundred battle cruisers in all, laid waste to everything in the system before reaching the planet itself. Once the military leadership of the CIS realized how poorly defended the planet truly was they order the deployment of occupation forces.
Over the next several hours all over Crousant thousands of clone troops lead by dozens of Jedi knights engaged tens of thousands of droids. In the face of hopeless odds the Jedi and clones fought heroically. At different places and at different times the forces of the Republic pulled off amazing victories. The overall flow battle however was against them.
In the secret underground bunker the senators and their families were settling in when Darth Cyrin and her clone commander assistant received a holographic message from Darth Plagueis on the commander's wrist mounted communicator. "Lady Cyrin, Commander are the senators and their families comfortable?" the hologram of Plagueis asked.
"Yes they are my liege" the Commander reported.
"Good, execute Order 72 purge the senators at once" Plagueis commanded before his hologram blinked away.
"Thy will be done master" Cyrin said activating her twin green blades with a snap-hiss. At a single from the Commander the other blue armored clones activated their weapons encircling the civilians.
"Please don't hurt us!" screamed a random senator as several other senators coweredin fear besides him. "At least let our families leave, especially the younglings. I beg you, have pity." Cyrin answered the plea by cutting him in half with one of her blades. The clones then opened fire.
Jedi Temple
While most of the what little remained of the Jedi Order on Crousant battled the droid armies of the Confederacy the Temple was left lightly guarded. A battalion of clone commandoes and MagnaGuards lead Vader who was flanked on his right by Grievous and on his left by Avengia marched up the Temple steps. Vader dispatched the two Temple guards with ease. Entering the ancient structure the small army viscously mowed down every Jedi in their path knights and padawans alike with a combination of blaster bolts, stabs from electrostaffs and cuts from lightsabers. Breaking away from his fellows Vader entered the Council Chamber.
"Master Skywalker there are too many of them" said a Young Boy as a group of younglings emerged from their hiding places behind several chairs.
"General Grievous is here what are we going to do?" asked a Young Girl. Vader answered by closing the door behind him with the Force. He then threw his blue lightsaber towards the startled younglings.
The Office of the Supreme Chancellor
Activating his holographic communicator once more Darth Plagueis gave the command that would forever alter the fate of the Galaxy. "My loyal clones the time has come execute Order 66. Seek out destroy all Jedi wherever they may be. Until further notice Order 66 is priority number one. All other standing orders are rescinded."
Plagueis steepled his long fingers together upon discontinuing the transmission, it was a good day to be the Dark Lord of the Sith. By the time tomorrow dawned on this miserable world he and his cohorts would be royalty of the new Galactic Empire. He of course would be Emperor. His every utterance law his displeasure certain death. He would control the lives of every being in the Galaxy. Once he was gone Vader, Cyrin or perhaps their offspring would rule in his stead. Long reign the new Order of the Sith!
To Be Continued