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Phase 32

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Part 1

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Chancellor's residence, Republica 500

Coruscant

"Under the circumstances, I am not sure if I should condemn your actions or congratulate you for your foresight," Obi-Wan grumbled. "As a Jedi, I should be condemning you."

"Technically, you are no longer a Jedi, General Kenobi," Zash cheerfully reminded everyone. "Or so everyone who matters is led to believe anyway."

"I am sure you didn't stash those younglings away of the goodness of your heart," General Kenobi accused.

"The strategic situation radically changed multiple times since I found myself in this era, Obi-Wan. My goals had to evolve accordingly. The potential for the Jedi to turn on me no matter what I did because of what I am was always there. Establishing contingencies was the prudent thing to do."

"Yet much of what you did was precisely what drove the Council over the edge! I had a lot of time to think about why and how everything happened, Delkatar! Without giving you the benefit of the doubt, too many of your actions could be perceived as damning!"

"Your fellow Jedi made their choice, General Kenobi. They put their religious dogmas and beliefs before what is best for the Republic. Make no excuses for them!" Wilhuf countered.

"You know, one of the primary reasons why two incarnations of the Sith Empire clashed with the Republic was because, at the end of the day, the Republic served as a shield for the Jedi," Zash just had to stir up more trouble; Gideon decided. The way she spoke, her tone as much as her words were no incident – they were aimed to provoke General Kenobi. "The Jedi used the Republic at least as much as it used them as its enforcers."

"That is not what we were!" Kenobi snapped.

"Temper, Master Jedi, or better not," Zash's honeyed words were pure poison.

"The more you bait Obi-Wan, the longer you will be away from your research," Veil pointed out.

"Fine, be a spoilsport," Zash grumbled, though fortunately didn't keep pushing the general's buttons.

"If traitors or the remnants of the Jedi haven't retrieved those younglings, we must bring them to a safe place," General Kenobi did his best to sound reasonable, though his voice was strained.

Gideon decided it was fascinating and concerning how easily this Zash woman got under his skin. The man was famous for his skills as a diplomat. Everything Gideon knew of Obi-Wan Kenobi pointed at him being unflappable and extremely hard to rattle. Was the war getting to him, or was this Sith so skilled in manipulating people that she could put them off balance with a few simple words? She was Veil's former Master, apparently. That both of them were still alive and allied with each other also spoke volumes, considering what Gideon knew about Sith.

"That is a good idea. Unsurprisingly, I lack the assets to dispatch to do so. It has something to do with the changing political situations, many traitors, and having to run all over the galaxy putting off fires," Veil pointed out.

That was one way to describe his rampage through Republic and Separatist space alike, Gideon decided. It was also a massive understatement, though it made the necessary point.

"Don't we have Jedi in custody who weren't' implicated in what happened?" The Chancellor asked.

"We do, and most of them have no reason to be under heavy guard," It was clear that General Kenobi wasn't happy with that little fact.

"The Jedi's reputation right now is worse than that of the Sith used to be. It is worse than ours in many circles as well, husband."

"It is time we allow them to choose sides and prove themselves. We also need a solution for what replaces the Jedi Order," Veil did his best to bring the conversation fully back on track.

"I believe Aayla Secura can be reasonably trusted. Elements from her unit are recovering on Coruscant as we speak," General Kenobi offered.

"We are to give her enough rope to hang herself or prove she is willing to be reasonable? Am I rubbing off on you, Obi-Wan?" Veil looked at the other general in amusement.

"You are, and that is not a good thing. Just like you two 'rubbed' off on Ahsoka! I had to pick up the pieces on Corellia," General Kenobi shot back.

"That girl has much untapped potential," Zash offered. "I am eager to see what she will achieve!"

"Everyone, behave!" The Chancellor had to put down her foot.

Family drama and politics were a particularly bitter brew at the best of times, which this wasn't. Sadly, there was no escaping it, neither here nor back home.

"Yes, Your Highness," Veil offered a mock salute.

"Don't even joke about that. You know very well there are allies of ours who want me to be their pet puppet, Empress!" the Chancellor hissed venomously. "Cut it off, now, Veil!"

"We really need to sit calm down and discuss the political situation we are now dealing with," Gideon voiced his concerns. "What is this about being Empress, Chancellor?"

"Palpatine has been working towards a New Order with many allies in the Core. We had to pick up the pieces and improvise after his murder. The truth of what our backers want is an authoritarian order that, in the long run, would give them more power than the Republic framework would ever allow. The original concept was about a Galactic Empire as we understand it," the Chancellor's face scrunched in distaste as she explained it. "From what we gather, Palpatine intended to use his position as a figurehead in that New Order to expose and eventually excise all the corruption rotting the Republic from within. Obviously, that is not what most people and organizations who back us want."

"However, it is what we offer because otherwise, we will be all kriffed by our friends in the Core," Veil finished the summary.

"That's going to be a very long conversation. We must ensure we are all on the same page," Gideon sighed. "Let us deal with the most pressing issues first."

"I will have General Secura's rank reinstated. She will be back in command of the 327th Star Corps. Clone Marshal Bly will have explicit orders in case Aayla has divided loyalties," General Kenobi informed them.

It was plain to hear that General Kenobi didn't like to give such orders or even consider such an eventuality. Still, it was good to see he could set his personal feelings aside to get the job done. That was especially important when one's personal life, family, and politics came into conflict.

"Good! With that out of the way, let us speak of what we will replace the Jedi with. We won't have our own Sith Order!" the Chancellor warned. "Even thinking of it would give too much ammunition to the Separatists and all secessionists! Not to mention, we don't need that kind of trouble!"

"We did plan, and I fought a civil war to reform the Sith," Zash declared. "Neither of us wants or needs mad dogs that could only be used as blunt instruments. That is what too many Sith became as the war against the Old Republic progressed back in my day. The Jedi Order of this era failed as well. We do need a replacement. It would be best if it doesn't repeat the most obvious mistakes of the past."

Gideon concluded that the woman could be reasonable when she wanted, which made her even more dangerous.

"Skywalker can be a prototype. After the coup, no one will trust the Jedi, or well, their replacement, to be independent," Veil noted.

"Fold them into the military? We were supposed to be peacekeepers and diplomats!" General Kenobi's indignant response rang loud and clear.

"Those things aren't mutually exclusive. Keeping the peace is one of the military's purposes," Veil reasonably pointed out. "Any Force Adepts inclined to be diplomats can serve on detached duty to the Republic and whatever replaces its diplomatic arm."

"Healers, teachers, the Service Corps…. Many Jedi were never warriors! The same would be true for anyone trained under a replacement system!" General Kenobi kept pushing.

"Yes, most Jedi or their replacements won't be soldiers. They shouldn't be expected to see combat, especially children and youth," Wilhuf agreed. "However, that is not an argument for or against people able to use the force being under the supervision of the military or held to a higher standard than regular citizens."

"That is a good point, Obi-Wan," the Chancellor agreed.

"I know you well enough, Delkatar! If we leave you to your devices, you will want everyone turned into a cadre of warriors!"

"The thought might have crossed my mind," Veil raised a hand placatingly. "However, that is not a point I am ready to fight for. I can agree those who don't have the aptitude or necessary mindset shouldn't be reforged into weapons. That might be more trouble than it is worth, considering we are not exactly swimming in competent trainers. We don't have the time to do it ourselves in any systematic matter, do we, Obi-Wan?"

"No…" General Kenobi allowed, though he warily watched Veil.

"Then can we agree those with the right mindset and aptitude should be trained as soldiers to act in conjunction with special forces, while everyone else should be, at worst, left in a supporting role? Like healers, diplomats, investigators, and researchers?" Veil suggested.

Zash noticeably perked up at the last point.

"That is something the alliance can get behind, I believe," Gideon offered.

=RK=

Part 2

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Poisonous rumors aimed at tarnishing the great legacy of Chancellor Sheev Palpatine continue to surface, backed by the corrupt and various enemies of the New Order! They claim the great Chancellor planned to seize power and overthrow the Republic! We keep hearing lies about how the New Order was his brainchild and that Empress Kenobi took advantage of his death to seize power!

Those are terrible lies! We know why Chancellor Palpatine needed to consolidate power! Only that way, he could have had a chance to burn out the corruption that brought the Republic low!

We know that Palpatine was the most remarkable Chancellor the Republic had in a thousand years! He was a visionary and a reformer who fought all his life to bring the Republic away from the brink of oblivion! His skills as a politician and integrity brought him as far as he got despite stiff opposition from various corners.

Chancellor Palpatine's long years as Senator representing Naboo and the Chomel sector allowed him to gain invaluable experience in how the late Republic worked and, more importantly, how it failed for decades, if not centuries. He knew its inner workings and had to deal with corrupt Senators and their backers daily in order to simply do his job. Palpatine's humble origins in a minor noble house on Naboo made him a safe candidate as a Chancellor after Valorum's fall from grace due to the Naboo Crisis.

Sheev Palpatine didn't represent a significant power in the Core. He lacked a powerful, robust support base, which allowed him to gain extensive freedom and support within the Senate due to not being bound to one of the many old alliances and power blocks within the Republic. Palpatine's humble origins offered a priceless opportunity, allowing him to build a broad support base by acting as a mediator and bringing together disparate rival groups. He became a staunch ally of the CoreFaction within the Senate, becoming a rallying point for their desire to get back powers to the Office of the Chancellor that it was forced to divest itself of over the previous centuries. It was Palpatine's lack of prior allegiances binding him that made him a safe choice, an acceptable choice. This, in turn, allowed him more access to the groups within the Senate, in particular, and the Republic government, in general, that have been guiding politics and discourse for a long time.

Chancellor Palpatine was in a unique position to figure out and find proof about who the corrupt were and who was buying them. He discovered an unprecedented and unbelievable amount of rot within the heart of the Republic. He worked tirelessly to gather evidence to excise its root and stem. Knowing the kind of people he was dealing with and the danger they represented to the very existence of the Republic, not to mention his life, the Chancellor created contingencies that would release all the evidence he had gathered in case he was assassinated…

That makes the Jedi's Coup such a great betrayal. We still don't know for sure if the Jedi were deceived, subverted, or simply became blind zealots who saw threats where there were none. We know that by assassinating Chancellor Palpatine, the Jedi Council destroyed the Republic, one last best chance for reformation. That single act of madness or malevolence ensured the Republic would fail to reform, leaving people like Satine Kenobi to pick up the pieces.

From an famous essay first published on the Holonet interstellar forums

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Death Bringer, Harrower class warship
high orbit above Kashyyyk, Republic space

Standing in the hangar bay of an Imperial Silencer equipped warship felt nostalgic. Rows of Sith War Droids stood in a parade formation, ready to greet their Lord. It has been too long, HK-117, decided. In the heyday of the Sith Empire, these warships were the armored fists of the Imperial Navy. Those few equipped with Silencers were without peers.

Even today, when a Harrower was ancient and on the small side for a cruiser, much less proper dreadnought, this ship was a dangerous adversary thanks to the super-weapon built into what used to be its main hangar space. The dark ambiance and internal design were pleasing in a way HK's droid brain wasn't aware it missed. Perhaps his Master might have taken this interior design at heart when he had time to influence the designs of his own navy? That was another prospect the Assassin Droid found pleasing.

An assault shuttle approached slowly, surrounded by a fighter escort. It would have been perfect if the small craft were of Imperial design. Unfortunately, in this day and age, HK was accustomed to disappointments.

The escorting fighters broke off in two sections, flying away from the hangar. Meanwhile, the shuttle came in, rotating smoothly to land before the small army of droids eagerly waiting for purpose. It landed with a quiet metal clang, a testament to HK's Master's piloting skill. The Assassin Droid could see Lord Veil move out of the cockpit, and soon, the side ramp of the shuttle slid open with a familiar hiss.

After thousands of years, two Sith boarded a Sith Empire warship in preparation for war. HK's circuits tingled with excitement at the prospect of seeing his Master's next masterpiece of carnage.

The War Droid in charge of Death Bringer stalked forward. Its insulated legs made no noise as they moved over the metal deck.

"Identify yourselves, my Lords," the old droid politely requested.

"Lord Vael, member of the Triumvirate…" HK's Master recited his personal identification codes while countless scanners checked his biometrics.

"Lord Zash, Triumvirate, and Dark Council Member," A much longer and more elaborate section of codes followed. After all, how do you use biometrics to confirm the identity of a being that regularly changes bodies, like a Droid might install its brain into a radically different chassis?

"Welcome on board, my Lords! Long live the Empire!" The Droid leader proclaimed. Nearly a thousand war machines echoed the sentiment. "We understand that the strategic situation has radically changed. We await your command."

"The Sith Empire fell. We are building a new one using the Republic as a foundation. You are a contingency that will aid us," Lady Zash proclaimed.

"The Empire is dead; long live the Empire?" The War Droid in charge inquired.

"That is the plan," Lord Veil's voice tingled in amusement. "We won't be telling that to the locals. As far as they're concerned, we must play a certain role to maintain your loyalty."

"You are the last leaders of the Empire, my Lord. Your authority to rebuild the Empire in your image is absolute."

"That it is. You have equipment for us. Bring it forth, Droid," Lady Zash commanded.

A squadron of War Droids moved forward, escorting a repulsor platform loaded with a large armored container. Lord Veil and Zash stalked forward. Their arms moved as one, using the Force to unlock the container. Its locks released loudly, revealing the true prize hidden within the facility that held the two Harrower warships.

While useful, the Sith artifacts recovered by his Master's agents paled compared to those inside this container. They were little more than an admittedly valuable decoy, which made them all that better suited for the purpose.

A pair of objects that HK's sensors couldn't correctly perceive rose from the container as soon as its stasis field cut off. They absorbed all kinds of radiations that made them appear like miniature black holes that sucked in the light itself. HK decided that it was very thematic and appropriate.

"Your nature has been confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt, my Lords. You would be dead otherwise. All units under my command are yours to command, my Lords," the War Droid in charge happily announced.

"Proud assessment: Well played! Those artifacts would have killed anyone unworthy of being my Master!" HK concluded. They don't make droids like this nowadays. However, there was some promise among the newest war machines the Separatists were deploying.

"Prepare all available artifacts to be moved and provide an appropriate escort," Lord Veil ordered. "I have plans for the rest of you and those two ships. "I also need redundant copies of all schematics and data you have available. Losing them in the coming battles will be unacceptable."

"By your command, my Lord!"

=RK=

Victory, Victory-class star destroyer
high orbit above Kashyyk, Republic Space

Most of the Sith War Droids moved into the section of quarters beside mine, locking down the area and the precious cargo within it. Meanwhile, one of those machines followed me into one of the ship's engineering spaces. The compartment was full of various fabricators and, more importantly, diagnostic equipment.

I gestured at HK, who unloaded modulated Ionic blasts into the back of the war droid. Energy arced over and through the machine before discharging into the deck. The ancient droid collapsed, and HK raced at it to tear out its droid brain for examination. I wasn't about to trust a bunch of Sith droids without being aware of who programmed them and, more importantly, what contingencies and traps might be stuck within their electronic brains.

"Keep jamming up and call me if you find anything interesting," I ordered. The best slicers and E-war specialists I could gather on short notice descended upon the droid's brain. At the same time, engineers went to take its body apart and try figuring out how to update the design with current technology. With that done, I headed for the lounge. Now that we knew what we had at our disposal, it was time to prepare a nasty surprise for the enemy forces ready to entrap me at Mandalore.

I walked out of the engineering compartment, enjoying the cold, welcoming sensation of the Sith artifact wrapped around my artificial arm. It tingled through the Force, making the prosthetic feel like the real thing in a way no piece of dead metal could ever hope for.