ladies and gentlemen, I don't own this story in any shape or form nor am I in charge of lucasfilm or any other company. This is a AU like so many others regarding the Clone wars as you will see here.
Coruscant, 22 bby, 3 weeks after Geonosis.
Bail Organa sat behind his desk, thinking about everything that had recently transpired. Just a few weeks ago the war began, and the Republic's unpreparedness for the war is already causing them trouble. It's true the Jedi are leading them the newly revealed clone army, but it wasn't the same as a thousand years ago. These Jedi were trained to be peacekeepers not soldiers.
What was worse was Chancellor Palpatine's emergency powers. He began to wonder how in the Force Palpatine managed to influence Jar Jar Binks without Padme there. It didn't help matters that Palpatine was a politician, not a military leader. He knew, without a doubt that if Palpatine was the Supreme Commander of the Republic, then more and more power would be put onto him, and something told him within his gut that was not good.
Getting up out of his chair, Bail moved around the room, thinking what can be done. Suddenly, the answer hit him, and he felt rather stupid for not considering it. sooner Thousands of years ago doing a great galactic war. There was a supreme commander posting that separated itself from the chancellor. They were all sorts of supreme commanders: from Revan, to Santorrs, Rans, the legendary Jace Malcom, to Jedi Lord Hoth, and then to Valenthyne Farfalla until nearly a thousand years ago.
Knowing what Bail had to do, he returned to his desk and began looking for candidates for the supreme commander position. It wasn't easy, he admitted to himself, as he began to look, but he was determined to find the right one. He remembered how, back when he was just starting in the galactic senate, there was a war going on between the Thyferra system and Qotile system that they were thousands of republic soldiers doing that war, all part of the late Senator Ranulph Tarkin''s attempt to create a new republic army.
But that effort failed due to a war that was triggered by Iaco Stark. Looking for a list of names he pulled up a few who were veterans of that war: Jan Dodonna, Jace Dallin, a few other officers mentioned, but none of them were experienced enough until he spotted one that interested him the most. Thornril Lucius Cromhill.
That's when Bail began to remember that man well. Born in Corellia, Thornril began his life as a son to a rich noble on that planet. However, Thornril's love for that rich life was not what the man wanted, and when Tarkin came up with a newly made Republic army before the Stark Hyperspace War he enlisted, hoping to find some purpose there. When the conflcit happen and ended he decided to try to become a senator for Corellia, he was already popular amongst his people for fighting in the war in that popularity help them win the Senate. Unfortunately, he found out very well that the corruption within the Senate was well too big for one person to solve. Which meant that when Garm bel Iblis succeded him, he retired back to his home planet, trying to find some other work.
During his time serving in the Senate, Thornril met Bail and struct a friendship with him, both agreeing about the corruption of the senate, and both worrying about the invasion of Naboo which at that time in Palpatine became Chancellor but realized nothing could be done with much corruption was within the Senate.
Bail knew from heart and memory that not only was Thornril a good senator, but he also studied military history and knew all sorts of tactics. Better than anyone else really as he excelled in his class of fighting and one time met with the Echani and learned how to fight without any weapons from them.
"There we go." He thought as he began to make plans to contact some of Thornril's old friends and allies including the Jedi along with Garm Bel Iblis. This, Bail thought, was what the Republic may need.
Three Hours Later
"My friends welcome. I am glad you could make it." Bail said as the contacts from his allies to the Jedi council to several Admirals gathered in his room. Most of the council was off-world or busy so they had to attend by hologram.
"Thank you. I have a feeling you called us here for a specific reason regarding the supreme commander position. I have a feeling you called us here for civic reasons regarding the supreme commander position?" Jace Dallin said as he took a seat next to Yularen who was scheduled to leave to meet up with the newly promoted Anakin Skywalker after this meeting.
"Questions we have too, regarding this position." Yoda spoke on behalf of the council as they all sat down and listened.
"Yes, as you are aware everyone when the war began, we handed emergency powers of chance to Palpatine to command the clone army for Geonosis. While Palpatine is, in fact, a leader of the republic army he has little to no experience in military matters. My concern is that, with little to no knowledge of military might and not knowing what to do, I fear it is only a matter of time before our unpreparedness may cost us, have any if you all notice certain concerns amongst our peers in our ranks?" Bail Organa began as everyone in the room was silent even Garm. While it is true that he was going to leave after Invoking Contemplanys Hermi and was against Palpatine having these powers, he decided to hear this out.
"I will admit Palpatine is no leader for a military army, though he is good at politics. But what do you suggest we do about this place with another chancellor who has military experience?" Yularen asked with concern, to replace Palpatine with another chancellor, so soon after the war started, would lead to a massive drop in morel the burden that the new chancellor may have on himself, or herself in that matter would not be prepared to lead a republic army in a war, while having to deal with politics at the same time so that will require a lot of focus for that person to lead.
"You are correct Admiral Yularen, however my goal is not to replace chancellor Palpatine, but to lessen his burdens. Are you aware of supreme commanders in the past wars? From Revan to Farfalla? It is true that most of them were Jedi, however most of them were non force sensitives and led many battles for the Republic. My plan is to have one of the non-force sensitives chosen for the republic. For while Palpatine will have to deal with the senators, the supreme commander will have to deal with the military?" Bail Organa explained to them all to which it perked up their interests, including Garm.
"Quite an excellent plan there, Bail Organa, but who do you propose to lead this army? One of the many senators with military experiences, one of the Admirals, ground generals? There are plenty of us here." Garm Bel asked as he was actually curious of who would actually lead the Republic army and would be the ultimate role as Supreme Commander.
A small grin spread across Bail's face as he typed up a few words as he then said, "I'm sure you are all aware of Thornril Cromhill." as an image of the man shows up. To say that many are taken unaware and surprised by the man Bail suggested would be one thing, but knowing this man is one other thing. The strongest surprise came from Jace Dallin who looked at Thornril hologram and remembered when he was one of the few who led the ground army when he couldn't and came out on top with few casualties, one of the handful of instances that some victories were had under him.
Same could be said for some of the Jedi including Plo Koon who remember him when Thornril came up with a plan to take out some positions that ultimately won out on top despite some setbacks.
After some time thinking about it Garm Bel gave a chuckle as he looked to the others, "If there's anyone I would want to lead the Republic to victory it would be this man." He said as he looked to Bail, "I can go and get him and bring him here myself to lead this Republic army over Palpatine. Kriff, I'll even vote in with the people to have him become supreme commander if you can tell the others."
"I know Thornril from when I was young and heard about his expertise. I even once had a pleasant conversation with him one time when he was still a senator before he left." Yularen said, a little distaste came at the end, though he couldn't blame Cromhill. The amount of corruption in the senate left him disgusted with it too. If any, Thornril was brave enough to leave when he did. Otherwise, he would have become no better than those who he was against.
"Agree with you I do. A strong leader we need. Experience, leadership, morals Thornril has." Yoda added as he remembered times when in the senate Cromhill would be curious about the Jedi and had conversations with them about them and what Yoda would share with him, he remembered hearing from several Jedi during the Stark Hyperspace War of Thornril's leadership skills, the words he used to bring the troops together, using Jedi for tactics and even fighting alongside the troops and turning defeat into a victory.
"Then it is decided. I will begin the work of bringing this to the attention of the senate and our fellow senators. But we may need more than just the Senators. We need the entire Republic on this. Captains, Admirals, Generals, even the Jedi." Bail organa said as, without the backing of almost everyone, the idea surely wouldn't be able to pass.
"Have faith my friend. If we do this, then it will surely make the war much easier on all of us." Obi wan joined in as he knew for a fact that while Anakin would be a little concerned about Cromhill, after seeing the Corellian in action and at work maybe it could make a difference. Besides Organa, the Jedi too have concerns about Palpatine's rising power.
"Then it is decided, as of now we begin work on having A supreme commander position come to life." Bail Organa said, knowing how as long as people like him are alive, then the foundations, the principles of the Republic will be alive.
And that concludes chapter 1, I promise to have many more chapters coming soon, mean while like a like and follow button and commet on the story if you like. May the Force be with you.