Chapter 15
(Imperial Military HQ, Eriadu, Seswenna Sector, Outer-Rim)
"General Mittie," called a corporal, causing general Ralto Mittie to turn his head from the oncoming noise.
"What is it corporal Cua?
"Sir, we have received a message via Hypercomm from Seswenna." He said breathily as he came to a sudden and tired stop before Mittie. "They have reported unsanctioned fleet movements passing near to them on course for us sir! They attempted to communicate for verification on the fleet and its reasoning for being there. No response was given and before the fleet size and composition could be accurately verified by a probe they re-entered hyperspace! Seswenna and Imperial Intelligence have come to the conclusion that this fleet is more than likely Moff Separatists!" The corporal blurted out as fast as he could before he hunched over placing both hands on his knees from lack of breath.
Mittie on the other hand paled and frowned deeply.
"If intelligence finds it to be a credible threat then so shall I."
"Very good sir." Cua responded still out of breath.
"Order the orbital defensive positions readied at once, contact our system fleet, and pull them back from patrols. Send a high-priority message to Imperial Center and request immediate aid! We are one of the few loyalist regions out here in the Outer-Rim corporal, we need reinforcements at once!" Mittie declared as he turned on a heel and stomped towards the local command station on Eriadu.
"Have all ground forces set up defensive positions, and have all VIP's transferred to their designated bunkers. We have all been through the simulations and practice exercises for just such an emergency, now is the time to put it to the test corporal!"
"Yes sir, of course sir! What of the civilian population?" Cua asked as he scrambled notes and orders into a datapad.
"Make all vital, and government institutions aware of the situation, but you know protocol corporal. All civilians are secondary until we have secured all Imperial, and vital individuals. However," Mittie said as an afterthought. "Appropriate resources to setting up information zones throughout the cities at once, use any government buildings if need be. I want the civilians to cart themselves out of the cities when the crisis arises, and get them into any underground or below top level areas of the cities! I will not be the man responsible for causing unnecessary deaths on this polluted mess of a world corporal!"
"Yes, general Mittie sir!" Cua replied with propriety once more returning to him like a good imperial officer.
"Get to it corporal! If a fight is what the Moffs want, then a fight they shall receive!" Mittie declared, and Cua saluted stiffly before charging off down a corridor to relay the orders, as the Moff fleet was no doubt quickly approaching.
'I've got a bad feeling about all this.' The general thought with a deep frown returning to his face as he too made for his command center. It was going to be a long day for Eriadu.
(Coruscant)
The dark lord of the Sith had made it all too painfully clear that secession, treason, separatism, and disorder would not win this day. Exar marched among the crowd of senators, delegates, and other meaninglessly labeled politicians, men, women, or otherwise alike. They all had their eyes downcast and stood in rows, or columns of people. Almost like a military brigade. It was degrading. It broke many of their spirits, as Kun regimented them to taking in all his commands. Each watched as he had killed the mighty Garm Bel Iblis. No one could or did do a thing. Especially after all the senators from regions officially under Moff rule were executed by Stormtrooper firing squad right in front of those the Emperor deemed worthy enough of life.
Exar didn't think himself a sadistic man, though many in the room would be inclined to disagree. He had both his 'murderous,' hands clasped elegantly behind his back as his dark robes waved around him giving him the desired effect of power, and menace. His cool grey eyes stood in contrast to the smirk that was upon his face. The men and women of the senate as said, were lined up in rows, and all had been ordered to keep their eyes down, lest they be gauged out by the fingers of a Massassi warrior. There was a corpse pile off to the side of the politicians of those whom were not needed. Then there were all those that sympathized with rebellion.
They had been more enjoyable to destroy to the dark lord. Iblis was dead, Mothma had been degraded before left broken on the floor. Oh nothing too harsh, that was not Kuns way, but he had broken some bones. Ordered her to retract all rebellious manners or he would kill a colleague, and when she didn't he followed through by killing a senator, or a low level representative. She had cried at the first, had screamed at the second, grew angry at the third, and then begged for the fourth. Never did it cross her arrogant mind to just recant, and so with a smile, Kun beheaded them, or tortured them in an effort to give Mothma time to recant, but she never failed to not recant. Never did Kun grow angry, he kept his composer, his soft smile, or wild grin. Never did he dare show them anger or surprise for they fed off that just as he would were he in their situation, but no he would and did deprive them of that.
Finally after she continued to refuse his demands for her to recant he laughed and applauded her for, "Allowing so many of your colleagues to die, in such brutal fashions shows to me that you would have made a fine leader." He had mocked. He then decided that Sidious would not care either way, but Kun had, had enough. So he killed Mon Mothma. He had first severed each limb while she floated in the air via the force and he made all watch. All the while speaking down to the politicians as if they were in kindergarten, saying "Now look here senators, and watch as limb is sliced, and now I want you to imagine for a minute this is your child, a lover maybe? Or a husband, wife, father, mother, maybe I am gutting an infant? Ah, who cares? Just imagine the pain, and the torture, for this is what awaits those who break away from the Empire now in these tumultuous times!" the entire time he had been near giggling. In all honest kun wasn't that happy or tickled by the affair but he was a smart man, and Kun knew that these cretins would be all the more afraid of him if he just laughed, and so laughed he did. Even as the head of Mon Mothma fell to his boot, and he joyfully kicked it into the crowd of senators, and forced those that ran from it back into their original places. Forcing some to inadvertently kick the wide eye, glazed over, beaten and very dead, head of senator Mothma.
It had been after that incident that Kun ordered them to line up, and to his great enjoyment they ran over one another to do this. The sniveling worms that supported Palpatine were the first to go. Those senators that had truly been neutral to Imperial or rebellious nature went next. Those whom may have been inclined to hate the Empire followed suit.
Still marching down the small areas in-between the rows of politicians Kun began the final act of this long night. His speech.
"Now today, you all had been called to have your questions answered by a loyal Imperial of high importance within the empire, and you had your time." Kun informed in a deep, but high voice that reached all the very many politicians still alive to hear him.
"Then it was to be shown to you the seriousness of the situation we find ourselves, and how very inclined you, the senate, should feel to become loyalists in this time of great trial and tribulation." Exar came to an abrupt stop, turned on his heel and once more walked up the row he was in.
"Now what you have witnessed today will never leave your lips, for if it does I will, and please don't flatter yourselves with any ideas that I cant, but I will hunt you down and visit upon you doubly the pain madam Mothma endured." He darkly but loudly enough intoned. Exar made sure to also subtly use the force to influence the senators to follow his commands, and he felt that they were all tired, afraid, and broken. Thus their minds were more than open to him and his dark whispers.
"So hear me now! Those of you whom are standing now may be allowed to leave this day, return to your lavish apartments here on Coruscant, and even come back to work in a week after a well deserved break." Kun declared, a slight chuckle accompanying him.
"Be warned that your loyalty to the Empire I expect should never be brought into question again, for if it is, I will regard you as a traitor deserving of madam Mothmas fate whether you are or not. So do make it clear to the public who you support in the future, and when you are allowed to return to your homeworlds be sure to keep up your good work in spreading loyalist sentiment." Exar ordered as he left the row and ascended the staircase to his balcony position once more.
"With that more than fair warning, I will have these fine troopers escort each one of you still here back to your places of residence, and bid you a goodnight, and sweet dreams." Kun mocked them with a smirk. "Oh, and this session of the senate is adjourned." he added with an honest laugh as the senators visibly eased, many were even shaking, and all began filing out of a room in the senate building he doubted any of them would ever go to again. "Do you see them Mattizz?" Exar asked sweeping his hand grandly across the room towards the exiting and still deadly quiet senators. Mattizz nodded. "That is the sign of victory, that is the feel of defeat. These are broken beings, and this is the fruits of our labors!" The Sith lord declared proudly and Mattizz nodded his agreement.
"You have struck fear into their very hearts master. I and my brethren, your humble servants, could feel it coming off them in waves!"
"Ha! I know you could my most loyal servant! What fun would there be if you and your kin could not indulge in what you aided to create?!" Exar laughed, as the gathered Massassi made guttural sounds of pleasure as they watched their lord and master enjoy himself.
Allowing the feeling of victory and the dark side to flow through him Exar finally, with a great sigh of happiness, turned to the nearby Imperial officer who had been in command of the Stormtrooper regiment, and Kun noted that the man was pale in fear, and Exar motioned him over with a wave.
"Yes, lord Kun?"
"Please lieutenant, have a shuttle prepared for me to return to the palace. I must speak with the Emperor in person at once on the recent developments in the senate." Exar asked with a pleased but intimidating smirk, and the officer stiffly saluted. "At once, my lord." With that he scurried off to contact a shuttle over to the palace, and Kun shook his head in pleasure. "I think I have left my mark for now." He declared aloud. "Exar Kun will be a name to remember in the military circles now, and so my power will grow." Exar intoned, still to himself, and the force bristled about him. For one thing was undoubtedly true, and that was that Exar Kun was assuredly to accumulate more power, and today was but another step towards that ultimate goal.
(Abregado-rae, Abregado System)
"All forward attack positions, this is lord Vader! I order all forces to continue the general push forward. The Moff separatists have lost command of the central and suburban areas of 'Capital City,' I want them flushed from their outer most staging areas on the outskirts of the city!" Darth Vader ordered from his position overlooking the capital city of Abregado-rae, which happened to be name 'Capital-City,' and depending on your point of view it was either the stupidest or most ironic name for a capitol city ever. Vader was more inclined to find the name moronic, but he was not concerned with that at the moment.
The Moffs had brought down many repulosr-tanks, TIE maulers, and even several dozen AT-ST units formed up into light armor assault brigades. However upon his arrival Vader was able to repulse all Moff forces that had punctured into the very center of the capitol. His reinforcement of Stormtroopers and regular Imperial infantry aided in overwhelming Moff positions that were nearing the city center, and were now clinging to the outskirts and slums, and maintaining a position in 'The Old Patch,' or the old section of Capital-City.
Even still, what really worried Vader at the moment was the Moff artillery positions outside the city. A whole two walls of SPMA, or 'Self-Propelled Medium Artillery,' units were lined up a hillside outside the city, and were raining down havoc upon his troops whenever they advanced. 'Pathetic irritants!' Vader would mentally scream as his eyes glowed their sickly yellow and the Moffs really began to annoy and anger him. Though this war was expected and battles needed winning, Vader had to admit other things were on his mind, and this battle was taking too long for his liking.
"General Volinti!" Vader barked to the armored Imperial officer to his side, who jumped, but quickly turned to the dark lord. "Yes, lord Vader?" He inquired, clasping his hands behind his back.
"What is the situation with anti-armor troop movements along that artillery wall?"
"No ground has been gained my lord! The SPMA units are being guarded by, albeit outdated, but still effective AT-TE units, and several Moff Stormtrooper platoons!" Volinti yelled as an explosion rocked the city in the distance sending a heated fireball into the air.
"Beyond serving as escort and defense for the SPMA units, the AT-TE units are adding additional artillery line support to the Moff forces on the city outskirts!"
"I want results general, and results mean the destruction of those insignificant armored units!" Vader boomed in anger, causing Volinti to take an uneasy step backwards.
"Your orders, my lord?" The sweating general asked.
"It can no longer be helped general. Order admiral Ozzel to determine the positions of the artillery units to the best of his, rather limited, capabilities!" Vader ordered while making a stab at his at times incompetent admiral.
"Calculating the fact that orbital bombardment will not be able to destroy all units with pinpoint accuracy, Ozzel will then send in three TIE bombers squadrons for mop-up duty! I want those Moff lines quashed, and those artillery units gone in ten minutes general!"
"I shall see to it my lord."
"Pray that you do not fail me general." Vader intoned darkly through his mask, and the general bowed in silence as he opened up a communication channel with Ozzel, and barked Vaders orders hurriedly.
The city rocked as Vader watched an AT-AT of his loyalist forces, launch a rapid fire burst on a Moff controlled skyscraper, and caused it critical damage, and thus the building crumpled, buckled and fell in a massive cloud of smoke and dust.
"Lord Vader, admiral Ozzel will be firing in a few seconds!" Volinti declared, a proud smile on his face as a massive barrage of equally massive turbolaser bolts descended and crashed into the hillside in question. Even Vader had to steady himself as he was shaken back and forth. Volinti actually fell, and scurried to recompose himself. The city for a moment stopped fighting as the barrage cause all to momentarily stop and figure out what happened. When the Moff forces saw it was their line, they immediately began opening fire once more.
"Next time I order an orbital bombardment general, it may be prudent on your part to give the admiral an order to allow ground forces fair and advanced warning before he fires!" Vader berated in an obviously far more angered tone, and Volinti bowed his head deeply.
"Ye-yes lord Vader. I shall endeavor to order a more ample warning be given by orbital units in the future!"
"See that you do. Now let us see if Ozzel committed the TIE bombers I ordered to the attack." Vader announced, as Volinti took in a barely notable breath, as the screeching sounds of TIE bombers flew overhead and advanced towards the burnt and smoking, Moff artillery positions, that had noticeably ceased firing on the city.
Two bomber squads flew in low, dropped their payloads, and quickly banked left and the other banked right, as the third squadron committed their payload along the entire hillside, whereas the first two concentrated their payloads on tactically important hilltop regions.
The bombs the TIE bombers dropped exploded in brilliant, potent, and loud flashes of light that threw up dirt, smoke, and metal. Pieces of enemy armored units flew in all directions so far that Vader could see from his command position which stood at the outskirts of the capitol, opposite to the Moff artillery range.
"Excellent. Now the Moffs have lost their artillery and forward positions. It is but a matter of time before they are forced to surrender their hold on the city outskirts." Vader said with great pleasure in his voice, though no one but Vader knew that because of the baritone effect his mask had, but it was enough for Vader himself.
"The Moffs undoubtedly had anti-air positions along that hill general. Now that they are gone along with the artillery units, I want at least another full division placed behind the Moff positions in the outskirts. Surround them, encircle them, and soon we will suffocate them into submission!"
"As you will lord Vader." Volinti bowed and once again contacted the fleet for further troop deployment. Vader nodded to himself in satisfaction as the battle continued, and as Imperial forces marched upon the Moffs. For just like in the space above, the Moffs have lost Abregado-rae. Thyferra, and the bacta supplies were now fully secure.
(Geonosis, Arkanis Sector, Outer-Rim)
War had suddenly and in a split second it seemed engulfed the galaxy once more. The first 'official,' and galaxy wide war since the Clone Wars. A war that was being coined as the "Galactic Civil War," by many you could ask. Yet somehow this war felt as if it were missing something, or at least that was what Kellia and her comrades thought. Somehow it felt wrong for the galaxy to have entered into this Civil war without any representation for the truly anti-Imperial faction. Kellia had snorted and cringed at Moff Vellam and his arrogant, overly grandiose speech on how he and his Moff Alliance would lead a righteous charge against the Empire and emperor Palpatine.
Since the "Massacre at Dubrava," Kellia had fully taken the reigns of power to this new rebel movement that she and the survivors of that massacre had formed in defiance and without any aid from the senators of the Imperial senate. The old generation had their chance to forma rebellion and fight the Empire, but they had failed, and from what Bail Organa did, they had betrayed the younger generations. The time for a peaceful, and near pacifistic rebel alliance was over. The time for action was now, and now Kellia Nelrain found herself on a world that she never figured she would be going to willingly. Geonosis. The sight of many Jedi deaths, and a key part to her movements plans for the new rebellion.
Kellia had offered herself as negotiator for the newly formed and credibility building "High Council," of what was being called by the inner circles of this rebellion, the "United Rebellion Movement," of the URM for short. She had contacted the Geonosians through one of Vorums contacts. 'It would seem that Corellians have their noses everywhere.' She had thought when he offered to get into contact with all his, well contacts, and Kellia as well as the council couldn't refuse.
So now Kellia, dressed in classic Jedi robes, only these were a dark shade of blue, descended upon Geonosis in a simple lambda shuttle, piloted by Dase himself. The orange hued world with its high peeks, and arid landscape was a sight to behold even for Kellia, but it was not enough to stop her insides from twisting in anxiety. It only doubled as the shuttle came to an easy landing.
"Okay…now that we've landed I'll leave all the negotiating to you milady!" Dase loudly declared as he came from his pilots seat, an annoying grin on his face for no reason, and it drove Kellia up a wall.
"Will you ever wipe that dumb grin off your face Vorum? I am already in a knot of nerves already without needing an overly happy grin plastered Corellian to worry about!"
"Hey! That's not fair." Dase retorted with mock hurt upon his face. "I'm the one who got you in contact with these guys in the first place. So cut me some slack eh? What's the worst I could do, I mean really?"
"Open your mouth and try to act like a diplomat I think."
"Cute, real cute lady. Alright fine be that way, but mark my words, one day you'll be in a real pinch and I'ma be the only guy n the galaxy that can save your backside, and you'll have no choice but to love me and my charming personality afterwards."
Kellia snorted, "The day you save my 'backside' Vorum, is the day I give up and put my lightsaber on the shelf in defeat. Now shut up and lets go." She ordered him in annoyance as she walked down the ramp, Dase merely rolled his eyes and dutifully followed.
Kellia lifted her dark blue hood over her head, as her wild dark hair head been tied up into a bun. She wanted to seem as presentable, but serious as possible to the new Archduke of Geonosis, and while she had deep reservations about making an alliance with them she recognized the invaluable assets they could bring.
The pair exited the shuttle onto a landing pad that was connected to the grand spire that belonged to the ruling Stalgasin hive. Two of the bug like Geonosians stood guard at the opposite end of the landing platform, and they didn't make any sudden moves or signs that they planned on moving to greet them. Kellia was nearly about to question them as she approached, but then the door connected to the platform opened revealing an elder Geonosian with the signature Geonosian "Staff of Command." He was surrounded by four other Geonosian guards, two flying, and two walking, as the group began their approach Kellia lifted a hand to signal Dase to stop.
"Kellia?" Dase whispered, but she didn't respond as the group approached.
"Kellia?" The Corellian whispered again and she continued to ignore him though she clamped her jaw in irritation.
"Hey, Kellia, are you listening to me?"
"What Dase, blast it all, what!?" She angrily retorted still managing a whisper.
"Calm down! I just wanted to ask if you speak, or even understand goosing?"
"I don't speak in clicks Vorum! However I was assured by your "classy" contacts that the new Archduke can understand basic, I also have a translator on." She pointed to a small device imbedded in her left ear, and Dase nodded his understanding before once more shutting up.
A Geonosian guard cam forward first before the rest of the group came too close.
"Presenting, his eminence, Archduke Vikkal the Restorer!" Kellias translator spoke easily into her ear as the Geonosian clicked and whistled the entrance of their Archduke. An Archduke that Kellia noted replaced Poggle from the Clone Wars.
Shaking herself from that momentary muse, Kellia bowed deeply in respect, and when she glanced and saw Dase not following her lead, she roughly elbowed his gut forcing him to follow her. "That was unnecessary, and rude." He whispered through gritted teeth.
"Next time, follow…my…lead…idiot." Kellia seethed and rose back to her full height.
"It is my greatest pleasure, and honor to meet with you Archduke, Vikkal the Restorer."
"The pleasure is mine to meet a Jedi in these rough, and very precarious times, milady." The archduke quickly responded with a very politician like air about him. Though Kellia sensed no danger through the force.
"I am pleased to hear as much archduke. If you may forgive me for being so bold, but your predecessor left a very bad impression upon me, and thus made me wary to agree to this meeting." The archduke inclined his head in understanding as he balanced himself on his staff.
"It is to be expected, milady Jedi. I however will assure you that the Geonosians of today are not what they were under the Lesser." Vikkal responded as he didn't even bother calling Poggle by his name, and only referred to his honorary title.
"Now if you and your, guest, would honor me, I have arranged for a meeting room prepared for us to speak more…bluntly, milady Jedi." Kellia once more bowed her gratitude.
"It would bring us great pleasure to do so archduke. And please, call me Kellia, or at the very most, Knight Nelrain, I am no royal, or politician." She responded with a smile, and Vikkal once more inclined his head, before turning and motioning for her and Vorum to follow, guarded by the four Geonosians that followed the archduke.
"Now do me a favor, Vorum, stay quiet, and be respectful if spoken to, otherwise keep that trap of yours shut at all times."
"For the umpteenth time, Nelrain I get it okay. Cut me some slack!" The Corellian whined in a whisper, and Kellia left it at that as the two followed the archduke further into the spire. It wasn't long until the group reached a door that led to a conference room. A single oval shaped and plain, but clean, metal table, with a few stock chairs of equally shiny steel placed around the table. On either side of the room stood two Geonosians with their usual sonic blasters, and they were completely honorary guards.
So with a wave of the archduke Kellia and Dase took their seats, and Kellia pushed her hood down since it was already far dark enough in the room for the hood to really do anything other than be construed as disrespectful.
Vikkal took his seat and swiveled his chair to face Kellia, who had taken up a seat across from him. Placing both hands on the table Vikkal gave a sideways glance to his escort, and they quickly left upon the unspoken gesture. Thus only the four honor guards remained along with Dase, Kellia and Vikkal.
"Now that we are more secure, and smaller in party size, I think it is safer to talk freely, Jedi Nelrain." Vikkal opened with, his hands still intertwined on the table, and his eyes fully fixed on Kellia.
"I will trust in you and your assurances archduke." Kellia responded as she folded her hands in her lap, attempting her best to look political, and elegant.
"To not wait any longer, I think I will get straight to the point for my being here on behalf of my friends and allies." Kellia cleared her throat quietly before continuing.
"As you know, archduke, the Empire is now in a state of Civil War. The Galactic Civil War, many are calling it. The Moffs have broken away and have formed their own government entity that they have profoundly declared as the, Moff Alliance. They are seeking to remove Emperor Palpatine from power, and replace him with a ruling Moff council, and they have arrogantly, and I would argue foolishly, declared themselves the bringers of freedom, and the fighters for democracy, or a return to a semblance of democracy. I see through their lies, and their falsehood. I hope that you have seen through their fabrications as well, most honorable archduke." Kellia longwindedly said, and the elder Geonosian inclined his head.
"Of course we Geonosians hold no trust of the Moffs, and their so called Alliance. We have held no love for the Empire either, but we are at a loss for what we can do against such grand might such as the Galactic Empire."
"I, and my fellow colleagues fully, and completely understand you, and your peoples predicament archduke." Kellia said as she edged herself close to the table.
"It is a feeling many throughout the galaxy share with Geonosis dear archduke, and it is a symptom of a greater disease. It is the disease called dictatorship, and the propagator of this disease is Palpatine. He has dragged this galaxy into further and further darkness. It is high time those that are oppressed, beaten low, and degraded daily made their stand!"
Archduke Vikkal smiled a small smile on his alien features and slightly chuckled, or at least Kellia thought it was a chuckle.
"A sentiment that is dear to me and my peoples hearts, Jedi Nelrain. Yet, despite our mutual feelings on this matter, I must get to the heart of your coming to us. Of all in the galaxy, and among those who have not participated in many Jedi killings, I wonder as to why you came to we Geonosians first." Vikkal wondered aloud, and Kellia smirked.
"It is quite logical archduke. I had great reservations about coming to Geonosis. I was a padawan when the battle of the arena took place that killed many dozens of my fellow Jedi. I hade not been there luckily, but immediately the Jedi grew a distaste for your people." Kellia answered, and saw Vikkal slightly bristle at this, but she was quick to raise her hand to keep him silent.
"Be that as it may. I witnessed the horrors of the Clone Wars, I was there at the disaster that was the battle of Jabiim, I lost…close, and dear friends on that world." Kellia declared with a sudden flare of emotion, causing Dase to look at her in slight worry.
"It was that battle that led me to meet with the man that would be Emperor. He showed me, and I served him for a time, that both sides of the war had been utterly fooled. He was the cause for that conflict whether anyone cares to believe me or not is irrelevant for it is the truth." Her brown eyes grew hard at that declaration, and Vikkal sat back in his chair as he remained silent, and silently bid her to continue.
"He caused me to suffer as he did the entire galaxy soon afterwards. While I have already failed as a Jedi and have on many occasions succumbed to my anger and will for revenge, I have since decided that I will do whatever it takes, commit myself to any ally who is willing and capable of aiding me in destroying that man, his Empire, and bring low all that he built up." Kellia did not allow the others to see it but she was shaking in anger and emotion, and was immediately grateful that she had kept her hands folded in her lap. Taking in a shaky breath she finished with, "So, archduke, you must forgive me when I bluntly say that I would rather work with my past enemies to defeat my new ones, and along the way I will do what I can to reconcile with my old enemy, and make them into new friends."
The archduke nodded several times as he took in all this Jedi woman said.
"This is what we have been waiting for. I agree that what happened in the past should remain there as the galaxy begins the slow job of throwing off Palpatine and his dictatorial rule. I believe that we see eye to eye on this matter Jedi Nelrain. For that, I will give you what trust I can, and hope that I am not making a terrible mistake by doing so." Vikkal said as inclined his head to Nelrain as what she took as a sign of respect, and she followed his example.
"As such, let us leave the Clone Wars in the past and discuss this new war. The Moffs and Imperials are at each others throats now. The Moffs have gained dominion over the Outer-Rim, or our backyard so to speak. They also have massive Mid-Rim territories under their control, and are deep into the Expansion region, with word that they have already launched attacks into the Core in a bid for the bacta supplies." Vikkal reported grimly.
"Yet I have also received word that the Imperials are consolidating and planning a counterattack. As the Moffs are fighting to contain loyalists here in the Outer-Rim and Mid-Rim. So I ask you Kellia Nelrain, what do you desire from we Geonosians?" Kellia now leaned in to the table, eyes still on the archduke, and intertwined her fingers on the table looking dramatically serious.
"I and my friends in our rebellion movement want you, your peoples, your armies, your foundries, and your alliance." She said with a smile.
The archduke whistled and clicked happily. "Then you are in luck, and we are definitely on the same page."
"For you see Knight Nelrain, we Geonosians have been very busy. The Republic conquest of my home while ending our ability to produce and send out supplies to the Separatists, did not stop us from secretly continuing our industrial output, we did not so easily end our, anti-Republic ways, and while I am firmly beyond the old separatist dogma of old, I am more than proud to tell you; that if it is an army you need, then it is an army you shall get, and more."
"What are we talking about here exactly?" She asked as she leaned in even closer to Vikkal, very much interested in what he was saying.
"Literally billions of battle droids of the old Confederacy of Independent Systems. Munitions stockpiles that could reload the Empire four times over, and our own personal Geonosian armies, armed, trained, equipped, and ready for battle, and to fight alongside whoever will join us against the oppression of the Empire."
"While I also hold reservations about using the same armies that killed many of my friends and fellow Jedi I think that I can work with anyone who is willing to fight for the greater good and freedom." Kellia responded with a smile, and the archduke smiled in kind.
"Droidekas, fully armed and battle ready B-series battle droids including massive amounts of B1 units and plenty of B2 units. We can also report that our foundries have been pumping out spider-droids, and AAT tank units by the hundreds! We have an army to surely be proud of madam Jedi don't you agree?"
"Certainly, but how is this possible that you have been able to continue mass-producing such a massive Clone wars era army?"
"Quite easily actually! My world is covered with foundries and factories. Many were destroyed or expropriated by the Republic following the occupation, but there were three that we kept secret, three that were automated, and three that we continued to keep functioning in secret to one day rebel and fight the Galactic Empire."
"Then me and my allies would be foolish to not bring you in to our growing alliance. On behalf of the URM council I would be honored if you and Geonosis would join us!" Kellia declared, and Dase, much to his credit merely nodded his agreement.
"We would be more than willing to do this and we would create armies of battle-droids for the URM readily, and we can promise that our regular forces are more than capable and itching to join the fight as well. However there is but two obstacles in our way to officially signing over our allegiance to your cause."
"What may these obstacle be, honorable archduke?"
"Firstly, how do you intend to hide our union and your rebellion from the prying eyes of both the Moffs and Imperials?"
"Their eyes are fixed on their mutual hate for one another, archduke. They are far too concerned with killing one another to bother with us at this time, and both sides are quite busy at the moment, which gives us a great advantage. And if we miss this opening now we will have missed the greatest chance we will ever get at attacking the Empire and taking back the galaxy fro a greater freedom."
Vikkal nodded. "That brings us to our final problem. We sadly have not been able to produce ships. Unfortunately that would have been far too risky eve for us."
Kellia smiled and waved the archduke off. "Fear not honorable archduke. You are not the only species flocking to our common goal. I can safely inform you that we will be given access to all the ships we need in due time, and we will soon have the famed Mon-Calamari on our side. Will their vessels do?"
"Most definitely, Knight Nelrain! I can also promise you that as soon as we are opened to more resources and more worlds, we will be more than happy to begin reproducing CIS ships to add to our allied fleet." Vikkal happily, and even giddily promised.
Kellia grinned broadly. "So does that mean-"
"It means we will join your alliance as soon as possible Jedi Nelrain. Geonosis is at your disposal." the archduke declared coming to a proud stand followed by Kellia.
"It's settled then! To our alliance!" She declared presenting her hand to shake Vikkals'
"To our mutual freedom." The elder goosing responded, taking her hand.
"Great! I love happy endings! Now who wants drinks to celebrate!?" Kellia sent a glare at Dase but was happy when Vikkal merely shook his head with a chuckle.
The new rebellion was forming, and it was beginning to look like a power that both Imperials and Moffs should fear.
Authors Note: So a lot happened in this chapter, but I am personally proud of it! Please tell me what you guys thought, and make my day as usual. :)
Once more sorry to you rebel fans, and you know what I'm talking about, poor Mothma eh? Do you like the Geonosian inclusion and the return of the droid armies? Yea, nay? Whatever you think, leave a comment pretty please! :D
As usual please excuse or point out any and all grammatical errors, and enjoy!