Erebus
Strategic High Command Centre
Jackson sat and watched as the members of his chosen high command filed out, Apollyon stood beside him.
"I can see why you promoted Chase." His younger self said.
"Indeed, her tactical brilliance is like no other." Jackson replied. Assessing the galactic star maps that had been drawn up during the meeting.
Jackson, despite Apollyon's lower rank, he had him sit in for the meeting to teach him more about the role of an admiral, besides that of battle command.
"Are you confident in what he have planned?" Apollyon asked.
"Yes. With the advantage of project starkiller, our first strike capability is enormous. If we can knock out the the main contingent of the new republic fleet in the opening hours our march will be unstoppable." Jackson replied.
"And what of our forces within the new republic?"
"They will do their job, we need only to expand and equip them." Jackson explained.
"And you expect the ruse of their affiliation to withstand?"
"Its rather believable. Ever since the fall of the republic, the ancient Sith have become somewhat idealized many groups have sprung up on different planets that have a history of Sith activity." Jackson answered.
"And what of Snoke's cult, the Sith Eternal?" Apollyon questioned.
"Hmm. He seeks to press his own agenda, and is growing selfish. If we can keep him contained and stem the amount of war material he seeks for his own purposes, we will be fine."
The door chimed, and Jackson signaled his personal guard to open the doors. The heavy duty blast doors dropped their blood red ray shield, as they split open. An enlisted staff officer, a non-clones hailing from Elysium entered, saluting the two officers. "The report you requested sir." He handed off the data pad, and quickly retreated out of the room.
Apollyon looked over at the data pad, trying to make sense of the report. "What does it say?"
Jackson's face darkened, an anger simmered below the harsh, cold mask of indifference he so commonly wore.
"A quarterly report from our secret border listening posts, so we can see any ship that may pose a threat of discovering us." He explained, scrolling through the lengthy report.
"And?" Apollyon lead on.
"It highlights a pattern. A string of small shuttles, originating from our territory, leaving for the galaxy proper." Jackson explained. His voice low.
"Snoke?" Apollyon questioned.
"It would seem so."
Hosnian Prime
Senate Chambers
Once again, as they had been for last three days since Chancellor Mothma announced her stepping down from office.
The senators who had served as leaders during the rebellion had taken a hardline approach backing Leia Organa-Solo.
A near personality cult had been established around her, portraying her as the ultimate symbol of hope that founded the new republic, posters and ads on the holonet promoting her as candidate.
The movement had taken its grip the firmest in the original backing systems that had founded the rebellion, posters and graffitied art could be found in the urban settlements declaring their support for the former princess.
Mythic stories were being circulated about how she had faced down Darth Vader, the emperor, and the fiercest soldiers the empire had to offer.
All of the fervor of the movement had placed no burden on the Amadeus' Loyalist faction, as they held the ultimate card to dethrone her run for office.
Their only dilemma now was which candidate would replace Organa-Solo.
Whilst they were far from an insignificant faction within the senate, they were also far from attaining a sustainable majority enough to garner one of their own candidates being elected.
They most likely candidate had emerged as senator Korda of Christophsis, who was leading the commercial alliance faction, a movement promoting economic property.
The vote was in a couple of weeks, and they had all the tools necessary to throw the current electorate into disarray.
Judging this to be the best time, when all the representatives were present, Amadeus Kuat detached his pod from the wall and floated towards the centre of the chamber.
"The chair recognizes the Senator of Kuat." Came the announcement.
Opposite to him, was the senator of Naboo, and Leia Organa-Solo herself, joined by her staff in the pod.
"Senator Organa-Solo, I ask you, how can you run for election knowing of your direct relation to Darth Vader?" He asked.
Immediately, the chamber exploded into uproar, senators all around shouting in outrage.
"Order! Order!" The second chair demanded, slamming the ceremonial staff into the floor. Eventually, after five minutes of utter political chaos, it quietened enough for the second chair to speak.
"The Senator of Kuat will apologise immediately for such slander being spoken within these halls!" Came the demand.
"On the contrary, I will instead prove my claims." He replied steely. He opened the secure case and inputted the date chip within.
The large projector at the base of the room light up, coating the room in blue light. The hologram showed the genealogical records of both individuals, highlighting the damning proof of relation.
Again, the room exploded into uproar, now in outrage, as their once hallowed nominee was shown to be the direct descendant of the former Empire's brutal enforcer.
Amidst the chaos, Organa-solo's pod retreated to it's dock, and its occupants quickly left the chambers. Even within the hallways, Leia and her staff could hear the uproar from the main chamber, massive debate being had at her expense. She quickly turned into her office.
"Milady, what should we do?" Her lead aide asked.
The aging Alderanian sat down in the chair at her desk, her head in her hands. "I always knew there was a risk of someone knowing. I guess my only choice is to take up the position that Chancellor Mothma has been offering me."
"The military position, Ma'am?" The aide asked.
"Yes." She sighed. "Go make ready my shuttle, then you are all released from your service. Thank you."
Sensing she wished to be alone, her staff filed out of the room, departing towards the landing pad, where her personal CR90, the refurbished and rediscovered Tantive IV. Ten minutes later the General walked out, boarding the ship, which lifted up and departed the capital of the new republic.
Ilum
Starkiller Base
Jackson's fleet dropped out of hyperspace above the snowy planet, it's designated defence fleet of three resurgent-class star destroyers paled in comparison to the seventeen of the Grand Marshall's fleet. A show of force would be necessary, and Jackson had appointed his son, Apollyon to oversee the fleet whilst he descended on the planet to confront Snoke.
Their arrival had been meticulously timed in order to intercept one of these secret shuttles, who would be returning from their non-officially authorized excursions into the known galaxy.
As Jackson's shuttle departed from his flagship, the newly christened Revenant, a modified resurgent class which sat at a two thirds size increase, their quarry arrived in the system. It was immediately caught in a tractor beam, and pulled into the hangar bay.
Accelerating towards the planet, Jackson's shuttle, joined by a large group of troop carriers and a wing of tie fighter escorts, made for the planet. The planetary shield had been deactivated, in order to allow a preliminary weapons test of the planetary super laser.
The landing craft split up as they approached the large trench, with pairs of the transports landing in each other major hangers, securing them so no counter incursion could be mounted again Jackson's fleet.
Entering the executive hangar, Jackson and his personal squad were off the landing ramp before the ship had even settled, much less touched down, and were marching towards the central citadel of the planet. Their specially painted black armour drew the looks of the standard enlisted soldiers stationed on the base.
They reached the throne room doors, and instead turned left, heading deeper into the base. As they marched, the theme of the hallways appeared to change, more and more red undertones were visible, until they reached a large blast door, adorned with the red symbol of the sith empire.
Without prompting, two of the troopers immediately stepped towards the door panel, and began slicing through it.
A moment later, the blast doors opened, revealing a security room with another blast door. Guarding it, two storm troopers with full red armour stood at attention, it's armour featured more defined ridges than that of a normal stormtrooper's.
"You're not authorised to be h-" They went to stop them, and began raising their weapons, however were gunned down by Jackson's Elites before they could bring their weapons to bear.
Their armoured bodies clattered to the floor, as again his troopers went to open the door.
A mighty spark emanated from the service panel, and the doors slid open, revealing a large secret open chamber.
Jackson and his elites emerged on an elevated viewing platform of a large, dojo like room. Eight figures adorned in black robes swung glowing red lightsabers at their opponents, Snoke's own praetorian guards.
Watching on, from ground level, in another throne, the deformed eyes of Snoke swept over the training duels.
Jackson took one of the electrostaffs, and thumbed the lift button, lowering the platform to dojo level. At the sudden noise, Snoke's head whipped up, in the fastest movement Jackson had ever seen from the decrepit being.
He raised his hand and the duels stopped, just as Jackson and his retinue reached the floor.
"Grand Marshall." Was the tense greeting from Snoke.
"Snoke." Was the responding greeting, one of blaring disrespect in omitting his title. "I was unaware you had authorisation to establish your own branch of the military." He said testily.
Snoke scowled. "My position as supreme leader comes with much authority."
"Of which does not include the ability to establish military formations, as agreed when you took power." Jackson shot back.
"You dare!" One of the robed students cried.
Jackson give him a glance and returned his stony gaze to Snoke. Infuriated at being ignored, he ignited his red blade and charged.
Jackson clicked on the electro staff, red lightning crackled menacingly at each end. The learner swung top down, in an apparent attempt to cleave him in two.
Jackson merely sidestepped, allowing the overextended and unbalanced learner to stumble forwards.
Spinning the staff to add some flair to his movements, he jabbed the crackling end hard into the trainees side, bringing out a cry of pain.
Jackson stepped again, purposeful foot movement, and swept the leaners feet out, laying him out on the floor of the dojo.
Still stunned from the harsh jab of pain, the learner was helpless to stop the fall, and crashed downwards.
Jackson stalked forwards, jabbing the staff head into the neck of the downed trainee, causing screams of agony.
Jackson relented the torture to speak. "If this is the calibre of warrior you are training Snoke then perhaps I have nothing to worry about."
Jackson could see the boiling anger in the eyes of the supreme leader. "Perhaps you would be willing to test your mettle against one of my own guards."
Jackson smiled a predator's smile. Before him, the red armoured praetorian stepped forward. Jackson reached into his fur cape, and unsheathed the lightsaber he had acquired on Maynar so many decades ago.
He flicked the blade on, a sinister red emitted from the hilt. He gave a formal salute, evident of his training in the more artistic makashi form, and the duel began.
Whilst the Praetorian's odd twin blades were swung in untempered, aggressive swings, Jackson's own blade work was one of deadly artistic precision.
Small flicks of the blade were used to deflect attacks, whilst he held the longer reach advantage with his blade.
The praetorian upped the pace, rushing forward on the aggressive, Jackson again remained defensive, not suffering a scratch as he moved his feet both purposefully and eloquently.
The praetorian, growing both agitated and reckless, lunged and jumped forward. It was then when Jackson struck.
A flurry of delicate blade work light up the room as the two weapons sparked when they met, the guard now on both the back foot and defensive.
Jackson feinted, which the guard fell right into. Jackson sidestepped and swung upwards, severing the hands of the warrior, before twirling the blade and bringing it downwards on the hunched warrior's neck.
The blade sparked brilliantly as it pierced the armour plating on the neck, and the warrior fell flat to the floor, head rolling away.
Silence befell the room once more as Jackson stowed his blade.
"I stand by my statement." He began. "I must confess this was not the original purpose of my trip. I came to ask what you knew about a slew of shuttles leaving this base and heading for the galaxy proper, before returning a few cycles later."
Snoke near growled at being found out. "Those ships serve the Sith eternal. And carry out it's tasks."
"The sith eternal?" Jackson questioned.
"I would not expect you to understand, Jackson." Snoke sneered.
Jackson commed the Revenant.
"Captain do you copy?"
"Yes sir." Was Apollyon's response.
"What have you found?" Jackson asked.
"All of the ships occupants committed suicide when threatened with capture sir. We managed to prevent them from destroying the ship." Apollyon detailed.
Jackson watched Snoke shake with anger.
"The ship is full of ancient treasure, analysts believe them to be from ancient sith sites, this haul from Korriban." Came the report from orbit.
Jackson cut the communication.
"Well then." He surmised.
"I will have you executed." Snoke threatened.
"You won't." Jackson responded. "Because then the military will rebel, and all of this effort would have been for nothing, because you insist on having on your own sect."
The air shimmered with the force in response to the fury Snoke was emitting.
"I will tolerate this sect whilst it serves the first order." Jackson dictated. "You may continue with your efforts, I will continue the plan with my staff."
Jackson turned to leave, walking back towards the lift. He stopped before the curled up form the of the trainee had beaten.
"And know this Snoke. There is no room for weakness." He lectured, placing his boot over the throat of the downed acolyte. "I will not be let down by weakness or cowardice." He finalised. Applying pressure to his foot.
The horrific snap-crunch filled the Dojo, and Jackson watched the other students flinch at the brutality.
He continued his stride out of the room, passing the red armoured corpse of his previous challenge, before eventually returning to the Revenant.
Apollyon stood by as Jackson entered the bridge. "Navigator, set course for these coordinates."
The shuttle breached the cloud intensive atmosphere, the cracked moon having caught much of Apollyon's attention.
The usual turbulence accompanied the descent, before the shuttle stowed its wings, extending its landing legs, it touched down, the ramp lowering.
Only Jackson and Apollyon exited, stepping forward into the ancient temple like structure built into the side of the mountain.
Apollyon looks around in wonder, the golden decoration increased as they progressed, inwards.
Eventually, ancient temple slowly began to be replaced by a more high tech look, imperial era lab equipment began to dot around, before they emerged into a packed lab room.
At the centre, hooked up to a gigantic array of life support systems, was a figure, coated in red ceremonial robes, the same colour as the sith banners that had hung in Snoke's dojo.
Jackson knelt, Apollyon copied him. "My Lord, I bring news."
A raspy laugh was heard from the figure. "You have done well, my boy. Soon, we may reveal ourselves to the galaxy."
"Yes, Emperor Palpatine."
AN:
Kaboom! Plot point.
more tension between Jackson and Snoke, straining the first order.
And oh yeah. Fuck that "somehow, palpatine returned." Keen readers would note that we have already been to the temple where palpatine now resides.
Also I put up another PJO X SW story, with Percy and the gang as clones, please check it out.
Shoutout to Sol who's been writing "The wings of a Republic" it slaps.
Stay safe,
-Duddheheh
(no I will not spell my name right)