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Phase 19: Storm front

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Part 1

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Chancellor's office

Senate Building

Coruscant

As far as most people in the galaxy were concerned, Satine Kenobi was the most powerful woman in the known universe. Many admired her, some wanted to be her and many more either coveted her position, wanted to bring her low or both. Many of the latter groups had good reasons to do it, that much the Chancellor could admit to herself. In the privacy of her own mind anyway. In their position, she might have done the same after all. No matter how much the Republic propaganda machine and her allies screamed it to the heavens, what Satine and her accomplices did was nothing less than a coup, an usurpation of power… and for a great deal of people, their reasons simply weren't good enough and that was before one took into account the usual Core politics, a snake pit to put all other to shame and one she got herself in the middle of due to her own efforts.

The Chancellor had no illusions about the number and power of her enemies nor about the reliability of her allies. After all, many of them supported her for concessions and the hope to eventually control the Republic through her. That knowledge was one of the big reasons why Satine found herself increasingly lacking restrain in dealing with both allies and enemies, something that culminated with giving her tactic approval to Zash so the ancient Sith would do whatever she deemed necessary to keep Kuat on a leash and in their corner. By making that call, and it was surprisingly easy one to make, she proved to herself and many of her detractors that their accusations might have been true all along.

Briefly, very briefly, Satine wondered how she ended up in such a position… While she wasn't a figurehead, the lengths she had to go to keep it that way, the deals that she made, the actions she authorized or closed her eyes about… She grimaced. Mere months ago, if someone told her she would be in that position, do things to make most tyrants proud, she wouldn't have believed them. Now, when she held the position of Chancellor for a few months during the worst period in Republic history in ages? Satine's eyes were wide opened about the kind of state she led. The reasons why things went so bad were painfully obvious to see; after all, she was doing the same things countless others did through the ages that led to this mess in the first place. Satine put Mandalore, her home and her people first, the Republic second, just as the Senate and most Senators did on a daily basis for the past thousand years. It could work, somewhat, in a peaceful era, especially if there was a strong and popular Chancellor on the helm.

In the middle of a war that the Republic if not necessary losing, wasn't winning either? It was some time back that Satine realized she was the ruler of a state kept on life support. With almost every deal she made lately, her decisions over the immediate strategic goals of the war, the way she had to deal with the myriad of local governments who were seceding… All those things eroded the already shaky foundation that made the Republic everyone believed they knew, possible.

Now, many of those deals and promises needed to be honoured… and no matter what Satine did, there was no way she could satisfy most of her own supporters, much less her detractors in the Senate. Veil didn't have the good grace to die and stay dead after everything he did and put into motion. If his sacrifice at Bothawui had stuck… In a time of war everyone loved heroes, especially dead, somewhat tarnished ones. An alive Sith who murdered worlds, even if the was on their side? That was much, much harder to stomach.

He was Mandalore too and that complicated everything tremendously. Satine knew what was about to happen once her allies arrived and she informed them of his return. Some of them along with everyone who had an axe to grind with her would put her into the impossible position to chose between Mandalore and their continued support, or in the case of the latter, causing even more trouble than they were already.

What Satine wanted to do was simple – she wanted to see Veil on a trial for what he did at Bothawui and damn the consequences!

The Chancellor fumed in her seat. Her latest conversation with Obi-Wan, after he actually talked with Veil and heard his explanation about everything he did to that point… Satine wanted to scream and rage, at the universe, at her husband, at Veil and even at herself!

When Obi-Wan called, he looked so forlorn and torn.

"We've reached and unofficial verdict." Her husband sounded more tired and drained than she had ever heard him before. He looked the part too. "Any official sanctions General Veil will receive from the military for his actions at Kamino and Bothawui wouldn't amount to more than a slap on the wrist. All I could do was keep people from giving him official commendations about Sullust to top it all! He'll likely get medals and a great evaluation once all details about his actions there had been dissected anyway!"

That wasn't what Satine wanted to hear, though she feared that might be the case. Obi-Wan had confided to her that the war and especially the events that happened during and after the Jedi Coup, especially the fall of the Corellian system and how the Senate handled everything, those events changed many of the high ranked officers and it wasn't for the better. Before that, for many of them, the war was different. The only real threat the CIS represented to their homes was raids, the odd terror attack. After Corellia? The balance of power shifted. Tactics and strategies that previously would have been unthinkable and morally reprehensible now gained more and more popularity with every passing day. A great number of people awoke to the reality that the Republic might indeed lose the war… and a distressing percentage of governments were if not all right with that, then accepted it as a preferable alternative to sending their citizens and treasure to be spent in the conflict. Others, well, they saw little to no distinction by a Republic led by a Mandalorian, one who supported the Mandalorians and in Veil's face the Sith and the Separatists so they were almost gleeful to watch the two sides tear at each other, preferably until no one was left. Naturally, there was the third major group – those that decided that now the Confederacy was the lesser threat and their best bet.

Frankly, Satine often wondered how there were so many loyal system left in the Republic she ran… and the answer was depressingly simple – many of those saw themselves benefiting the most if her side won and then honoured its promises. That was something she didn't want to admit to herself, much less most of her closest allies, but if they won the war, the Republic would likely be dead and whatever replaced it, even if it wore the same name and retained many of the same institutions, would be a very different beast and not necessary for the better. That was the best case scenario too.

Speaking of allies, they began to arrive one after another. First to enter were Padme and Mon, escorted by Anakin, who for weeks now acted as his wife's official bodyguard and second shadow. The military still didn't trust Skywalker's priorities so they decided that for the time being he would be repaying his debt in a fashion everyone knew he would do his damned best to success in. Bail Organa came just behind them, animately speaking with the new representative of Kuat. Their previous Senator got recalled soon after Zash arrived there and began shaking things up. Satine knew that a part of her deal with Onara Kuat was to deal with said man and she didn't look too closely at what happened with him. All she officially was aware of was that the distinguished Senator hadn't been seen or heard after arriving at Kuat. Honestly, Satine didn't really want to know what happened to the man, though she suspected he didn't enjoy his homecoming.

A brief exchange of pleasantries followed until they waited for the rest of their allies – the representatives of places like Anaxes, Serapin and of course Alsakan. When they all gathered, Mothma was the one to politely request she came clean.

"You didn't gather us here on such a short notice for a social call, Chancellor. What is the newest crisis that raises its ugly head?"

"General Veil is alive, well and back into Republic space." Satine told them straight.

The ensuring silence was deafening. Satine wondered if she removed one of the pins holding her hair in place and dropped it, she could hear it.

"Well, that will cause a stir." Organa declared with a smile that didn't really reach his eyes. He was disturbed by the prospect too.

"After Bothawui, Prime Minister Fird and our government have certain expectations about how General Veil should be handled." The Alsakan Senator said diplomatically. His light and friendly tone didn't deceive Satine for a moment. Fird's opposition won a great deal of credit with the local population by opposing and decrying the government at every turn, especially after Bothawui. The situation at Alsakan demanded that Prime Minister Fird call for Veil facing a trial. It was another question how hard she and her government would really push, however publicly at the very least, their position was clear for all to see.

"I'll hear all your concerns, Senators."

Organa and Mothma, despite technically being two of Veil's allies in the Senate from before the Jedi Coup and the shake ups that followed, now firmly demanded an accounting. The Jedi should have been watched much more closely after all. Why wasn't the same being done for the Sith, especially now that he was showing his true colours?

Anaxes on the other hand, well, their government and military were generally supportive of Veil, even if Admiral Yularen was a dissenting voice in their ranks. Serapin, as one of the priority targets for the Separatist, well, they were all for anything that could bring the war to a victorious conclusion and damn little details like collateral damage.

Padme, she was in a complicated position. With news of the new Mid-Rim Alliance that currently had its leaders gathered at Naboo filtering through claims from various smugglers, she was all but obliged to support Veil after he saved her world twice more or so rumour had it. Once upon a time, Satine would have expected that Padme would be one of the people who demanded Veil's head the loudest, however the bio-weapon attack on Naboo, her poisoning and everything that followed, slowly but surely changed the woman. Nowadays, Satine honestly wasn't certain which way she would jump, especially where Veil was concerned.

"I agree that there aren't many people who would have gone to such lengths at Bothawui, even if they had the capacity for such destruction at their disposal." Padme spoke quietly. "Let us be clear about something, however. What exactly do we want general Veil to answer for and why? Is it out of moral outrage over the destruction of Bothawui and all the innocent people who died there as a direct consequence? The political complications that such and act represents, not the least of which is the possible further escalation of the war? Do you want to accuse him of breaking a particular law? Does it matter if he is clear in the legal sense or not? Or are you going after him for domestic political reasons or personal ones?"

"Thank you, Senator Skywalker, those are excellent questions. As far as our military is concerned, their preliminary agreement over Bothawui is that General Veil is in the clear. Put in the same position, possessing similar destructive capabilities, a number of our most distinguished and experienced officers would have done the same, with similar justification too. While after action reports and sensor logs from the surviving ships he brought home are being examined and the senior surviving officers under his command are being interviewed, that verdict isn't expected to change." Satine used the GAR's conclusion as a bait to gauge her allies' reactions and she wasn't disappointed. Many of them were outraged, though precious few gave much of a hint.

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Part 2

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Chancellor's office

Senate Building

Coruscant

Chancellor Kenobi gazed at her closest allies, a calm expression on display, hiding her true feelings. She shared their outrage at the injustice of it all. Her heart cried for reckoning about all the innocents murdered by Veil and damn his justifications! Satine wanted to order her husband and the army that at least on paper answered to her to hunt him down and either kill him or drag him in front of the Senate in chains.

That was such a pleasant sentiment, shared by many in her office. Yet, even if somehow worked, it would be a folly… for all the wrong reasons at least as far as her conscience was concerned. For months now, Satine lived and breathed Coruscant's and thus the Core's politics. She was intimately familiar with the many factions vying for power and recognition; all the conflicting interests… She was ashamed to admit that no matter her experience with politics, her position as leader of her people and all that entailed, she had shared at least some of the delusions that many common people all across the galaxy suffered from.

For her and countless others, the Republic simply was. It was a nation, a state, an idea that had survived everything that the galaxy could throw at it! That was what outsiders saw and why it was so inconceivable that he Separatists could be a real, successful threat.

The truth however, well, it was quite different. The Republic was by no means a nation, even if it had more people working in its government on Coruscant alone than the populations on many worlds. It was a stretch to call it a state even. The cold, hard truth was that the Republic was an alliance, one made of independent worlds, systems, alliances and even corporations and not all of them were equal in any way, shape or form. The people gathered in her office were a nice illustration of that point.

Padme Skywalker, the former Queen of Naboo, now their Senator. Until recently she had been one of the most earnest and devoted idealists on Coruscant, perhaps in the whole galaxy. Her popularity, charisma and connection with Satine's predecessor gave her an unique pull in galactic politics, more than a small world like Naboo could otherwise enjoy. Padme was one of the Republic's staunchest supporters, yet she was among the first who agreed to support the Kenobi's scheme. She had to know how much a success or even a failure would undermine the Republic, yet she went with it, for Naboo, for her home and people. The same was true about Bail Organa and to a lesser extent Mon Mothma. Satine couldn't be sure about the Senator from Chandrila, however she suspected Mothma had resigned herself with the Republic failing some time ago and now attempted to position her world for the best possible deal it could get… and likely work from the inside to rebuild the Republic when the opportunity presented itself. Those three, while the single most tightly knit group among Satine's allies, had somewhat conflicting agendas – it couldn't be any different with Naboo under direct Separatist threat.

Next came Serapin – a corporate world, one of the largest and most important energy providers in the Core. A primary target for the Separatists and thus their government was eager and willing to do whatever it took to win the war in exchange for security and continued profit.

Anaxes – and old and powerful world with a long and distinguished military tradition. That was a place, which respected its soldiers and was ready and eager to fight… not just for the Republic but for an opportunity to place itself in a better position when the war was over, though there were some idealists among their leadership, even the military, as admiral Yularen proved.

Alsakan was one of the oldest and most powerful systems in the Core, a leader of its own major faction in political and economic interests. They had a lot to gain by coming to the Republic's aid in its darkest hour and if they played their cards right, a lot of what they lost in the past due to their rivalry with Coruscant could be regained.

Those and many, many more worlds and systems, all had their interests, agendas and Satine had a very big staff that had very hard time trying to keep everything straight and her appraised of who was trying to back-stab whom this day of the week.

Even these people, her closest allies, they couldn't even agree on what should happen with Veil. Anaxes and Serapin were firmly in his corner, if for somewhat different reasons. The Corporate leadership and the government representing them, well they didn't really care what he had to do to bring the war to an acceptable conclusion. Anaxes, many among their military and government saw Veil's actions as regrettable tragedy, however they could understand why he did it or so they claimed in the weeks after the Separatist Shadowfeed broke the news about Kamino and later, Sullust. Everyone saw what appeared to happen at Bothawui and while the lengths Veil went to preserve his fleet and keep his subordinates alive were shocking, those actions bought him a number of staunch allies among the military – people who might one day find themselves in similar position or saved by either him or someone inspired by his actions. The same was true for virtually almost every single culture in the Republic that respected their soldiers and warriors. While strictly speaking, that unwavering support he gained was a minority, they were the exact same people the Republic needed to fight this war. Many among them were the same who flocked to the banners and made a great deal of the newly raise armies and freshly trained space ship crews.

Another faction was those who were mostly neutral – some loathed Veil for what he did, however had realpolitik reasons to officially support him and the Republic anyway or it was the other way around – they had to support the Republic for various reasons and did it in spite of what that man did.

Broadly speaking, there was the third faction within the Republic, those who formed the "loyal" opposition and hoped that sooner or later Satine and her supporters would fall from grace. Many of those manoeuvred to get the best deal for their worlds that they could and often due to location and strategic interests, they had no choice by to back the Republic if grudgingly. Many of those, along with a large number of worlds that seceded, intended to profit from the chaos, preserve their people and worlds, while hoping that the Republic that Satine led and the Separatists would ground each other into space dust.

Those were the broadest possible strokes about the political situation in the Republic and the details… those were among the things that kept her awake at night.

"I heard you all. I can certainly sympathize." Satine said. "Have you actually thought things through? What would happen if we attempt to arrest Veil? The consequences if we're successful or worse, if we fail?"

"You're afraid, Chancellor. All of you are." Anakin spoke, gathering everyone's attention. His presence as his wife's quiet shadow lately made people underestimate him and at least a few often forget his presence. That was a dangerous thing to do, because until Geonosis he was one of the most successful Republic generals and since the Jedi Coup, the one loyal Jedi left on Coruscant. "I can sense your fear and anger, your righteous indignation." Skywalker spoke earnestly and Satine was reminded that Padme wasn't the only charismatic one in the family. She wasn't sure if it was the Force or just Skywalker when put his mind to it, however when she wanted to, he got and retained everyone's attention, though this was perhaps the second, or was it the third time she saw him speak in such a way.

"Of course we are! That man murders whole worlds!" Mothma exclaimed, not bothering to hide her aggravation.

"I can sympathize." Skywalker agreed. "It is frightening what one man can do with the Force as his weapon. I mush caution you however. I am of course not sure what the Jedi Council thought when they planned their coup, however if I was a betting man I would put my credits on them being afraid too. Let's be honest here – you see Veil as a threat and he is. He is dangerous and his allegiance isn't to the Republic. He isn't one to be swayed by the usual political games played in the Senate or in the whole Republic for that matter. I won't tell you what to do in this matter. I felt what happened at Bothawui and I still feel dirty from the experience. I merely must caution you – Veil won't come quietly. If you decide to persecute him about his actions, be damn sure this is the best thing to do, because you will turn him into an enemy by doing so."

"I know that his actions are hard to swallow." The Senator from Anaxes spoke while everyone else was busy digesting Anakin's words. "I won't even try to defend the morality of his actions. It is clear where he stood at the time and while I personally might not agree with the equation, I can see where he comes from and why he did what he did. That is something I can respect. People in our position must think about all repercussions of our actions, not merely what is right, morally speaking. Does general Veil deserve to be put on a trial for Bothawui? Perhaps, though my legal advisers aren't sure what we can accuse him of. Being too overzealous in prosecuting the war?" That last sentence won him a lot of angry looks. "Think about the message of doing so would send to everyone – our military, our enemies and finally, our own people."

"That's precisely what we are thinking!" Mothma muttered.

"Are you really, Senator?" The man from Anaxes merely raised an eyebrow at her, otherwise his placid expression didn't change. "I can tell you what many of our officers would think. Mister Skywalker might shed a bit of light on that too. While some would agree with the need of investigation, if general Kenobi is right and I have no reason to doubt it, then any action launched by the Senate could be seen as a political action against Veil. It will tell our officers that if they do something that people in the Senate disapprove of, for whatever reasons – ideological, moral, political, well, then we would be ready to throw them to the wolves."

"I would reluctantly agree with that assessment. Form my talks with Obi-Wan, the officer corps was shaken badly by the coup and everything that followed. To put it bluntly, they find it very hard to trust our political leadership these days." Anakin reluctantly admitted. He waved an arm in a gesture that encompassed them all. "The mere fact that this was necessary in the first place shook their confidence in the Republic and the Senate. All the corruption that came to the surface lately..." He shook his head ruefully. "You also need to think about how the Separatist would see you persecuting Veil for Bothawui. As someone who fought them on multiple occasions and saw their atrocities first hand, let me tell you something – there is only language that they understand and that is naked, unrestrained power. If you want to prevent more tragedies like Naboo happening, if you want a chance to make the enemy back down and think long and hard about burning our worlds like Grievous attempted at Mandalore, then you need people like Veil and the threat of unleashing them."

"What about justice? What about all the innocent people who died at Bothawui?" Organa demanded.

"What about the innocent people on Naboo poisoned by the Confederacy? What about the innocents dying every single moment since the Separatists brought this war to our doorsteps?" Padme shot back. "What is to stop them from doing it again and again if we prove we aren't able or willing to respond in kind? I hate the very idea! Yet, what else is there? I once believed that we can reason with the Confederacy, however they proved me wrong! This isn't a war that can end neatly with a peace treaty we can all live with!"

It went on and on… and these were her allies. Satine was afraid to think what would happen when the "good" news broke and the Senate and population at large learned of Veil's survival.