Chapter 59
Bad news travels fast
Government Palace Alterra.
Premier Novar thankfully closed down her terminal for the day. She leaned back in her chair and stretched. Triana stood up from where she had been seated in front of the desk
"Another day, another mess to clean up." Novar remarked
"At least it keeps your popularity rating high, currently you are a shoe in for reelection." Triana answered
"I should have kept my fleet commission." Novar grumbled halfheartedly.
The door to her office opened unannounced and a man dressed in black stepped into the office. Behind him several other black clad figures was securing the office, there was n sign of the security agents that was supposed to be in the outer office. Triana moved to put herself between the man and Novar, fully prepared to use her datapad as her only weapon to attack.
"Do you trust her?" The man asked Novar
"With my life." Novar replied
The man removed his helmet and took a seat unasked after brushing past Triana and sliding a mobile terminal onto the desk. Novar looked at the terminal, her face unscrutable.
"Why do I get the feeling you are about to ruin my evening plans M?" She asked
"Because tonight you will not have the luxury of drinking beer and watching our planetary team lose the griffball match." M replied grimly
"Apart from a deploring lack of trust in our planetary team, what brings you here?" Novar responded
"Half of the team has been bought off to take a dive by Zaxx the Hutt. More importantly Dantooine has fallen to the Sith and we are likely next on the list." M stated shortly
Novar was immediately more tense and alert, mentally adding a note to look into the planetary team when she eventually had a moment to spare.
"Triana, get hold of Joint command and have them ready in fifteen minutes for a briefing." Novar ordered
"You will not be able to contact Admiral Greatas, he is currently in the apartment of his second mistress and his comlink is with his security detail in the bar of the building and is currently switched off." M informed Triana
"Yet another Admiral to be fired then." Novar sighed, adding yet another mental note.
Triana left the room in a hurry. Novar looked sharply at M where he patiently waited on her
"Fill me in." She ordered
"Our agent on Arkaxis was contacted by the rogue operative we are looking for and passed the information contained in the terminal to him. She approached him at the site where he has set up station. Several hours later she contacted him again and informed him that Dantooine is most likely now fully under Sith control." M conplied
"How reliable is this information and how can we trust the source?" Novar demanded
"We have decided to class her as a friendly operative, our current theory has her as a Jedi shadow. As to the veracity of the situation on Dantooine, our assets had gone dark as did those of the Republic. My operative inside the Republic offices have confirmed that they can not establish contact. Electronic Intelligence obtained from the Jedi Temple suggests that they are unable to contact the Enclave." M answered
"Is there anyplace you do not have agents?" Novar asked dryly
"No. The first files in that terminal contains information obtained from a deceased Darth Bandon. It was removed from his personal effects after his death, the data has not been updated for several days prior to today and as such there are likely to be discrepancies with the current Sith strategies."
"Bandon? Malak's apprentice." Novar asked sharply
"One of two. The other one has disappeared from sight within the Sith Fleet." M nodded
"Before you go on. Why classify the rogue operative as a Jedi shadow? They were disbanded by executive order from the Supreme Chancellor before the Mandalorian Wars." Novar asked
"The fact that it was ordered does not mean that it was done. As you have repeatedly found out yourself recently, Premier." M pointed out
Ignoring the pointed glare thrown in his direction by Novar, M continued with his report as if nothing untoward had been said.
"From what we know from our investigations is that she is force sensitive and active, comparing her methodology with what little we have available on the Jedi shadows matches. Till we have further information or corroboration this is the only theory we have." M explained
"Why would a Jedi shadow involve herself in our welfare department?" Novar querried
"Madam Premier if we knew why the Jedi do half of the things they randomly decide to do, we would be able to predict and stop the constant wars that plague the galaxy." M replied exasperatedly
"Point." Novar conceded
M cleared his throat
"My agent on Arkaxis believes she was instrumental in the death of Bandon or is fully aware of who performed the task. One of the duties Bandon has been tasked with is attacking Alterra further denying the Jedi resources to call upon in the form of the Rangers and the Republic in the form of our fleet and Army. He was planning a full on invasion of Alterra." M continued
"Not satisfied with orbital bombardment, that is Malak's preferred tactic after all." Novar pointed out
"Our psychologist profile on him indicated that he was highly narcissistic and intelligence obtained from the Republic stated that he lost favour with Malak in failing to capture a high profile target during the decimation of the Republic cruisers over Taris. It is believed that he most likely believed that a grand gesture like capturing a Core Republic planet without turning it to glass would restore his position in full."
"So he wants to be seen to achieve the near impossible." Novar nodded "What I find more worrying than his delusions, is that we found highly accurate schematics of classified installations and up to date military information in his plans." M continued his report
"So apart from the spies from Republic intelligence, our allied planets spies we now have to deal with Sith spies as well." Novar replied sighing
"Not forgetting the Hutt cartel and the various corporate spies and the minor criminal enterprises and those that are not allied to us." M continued
"How did we become so compromised?" Novar demanded
"Lack of interest by the previous incumbent of this office." M replied
Novar took several deep breaths to calm down, gripping the edge of her desk tightly, knuckles turning white.
"What else is on that terminal?" She asked
M gave a rare smile, not by any chance could it be called friendly though, more like Nexu baring its teeth before lunging
"Enough information to ban Czerka from Alterra's surface. There is proof of slave trading, trading in endangered species. War profiteering and racketeering. And most damagingly to them, dealing with the Sith Empire and not at trade station level only." M enumerated
Novar drummed her fingers on her desk. She turned to her spymaster
"I want you to find who has been leaking our military secrets, then I want to know who of our officers are worth keeping and who needs to man outposts on Hoth. I want this done quietly without the rank and file being spooked." She gave her orders
"That will mean that I have to reassign some assets from our investigations in the government departments." M stated
"The Sith and Malak are more dangerous threats to Alterra at this time. I for one am not willing to let our people be under their heels. We can always get our full attention back on the rest of the government once that threat has been contained or destroyed." Novar replied
"It shall be done." M nodded
Triana stepped back into the room
"The Joint Chiefs are almost fully assembled." She reported to Novar
"Start at the top and work your way down." Novar instructed M
"As you order, madam Premier." M replied
M got up and replaced his helmet, his men fell in around him as he stepped from the office. Triana noticed the regular security filtering back into the room and take up their positions again. Triana added a note to speak to the security director, leaving the Premier alone was unacceptable. Novar turned her attention back to her chief of staff.
"Close the door and I will fill you in, but first tell me who was unobtainable and why. I want to know who gets torn a new asshole first." Novar said.
Triana opened her datapad and sat down, ready to take notes, She took a deep breath before starting a list of names.
The Senate Building Coruscant
Vandar stepped into the hoverbooth maintained for the Jedi order in the Senate assembly room. The air was filled with booths circling around the Chancelors podium. Currently the most vocal parties were from the Wookie contingent and the Arkanian representative, or more accurately the bought voice of the Czerka corporation. Threats and invectives were being slung between the booths.
Vandar shook his head as the Chancellor failed to maintain an orderly assembly. The master assigned to the senate turned on feeling Vandar's presence and bowed deeply
"Master Al Jin." Vandar greeted the Caamasi Master
"Grandmaster Vandar, a pleasure as always." The Caamasi master said smiling
"A bearer of bad news I am." Vandar said, his voice old and tired
The Caamasi pointed to the podium
"Shall I inform the Chancellor that he needs to call a recess?" Al Jin asked
"Adress the Senate I must." Vandar replied.
Al Jin sat down in his chair and manipulated the controls in the armrest. Vandar sat down in the spare seat and the booth detached from the docking bay. Slowly the booth started lifting. Vandar pointed his walking stick at the Wookie and Arkanian booths.
"The Wookies are accusing Czerka of violating their sovereignty. The Arkanians are admitting to have had a research group on the planet illegally but they claim the Wookies slaughtered them to the last being. They are also claiming Czerka had no presence there." Al Jin explained
Vandar nodded at the given explanation. Al Jin was starting to level of the hoverbooth as they approached the correct height
"The Wookies are likely to very antagonistic, they are claiming one of their most respected chiefs and his son was slain by a Jedi working with Mandalorians. The fact that the representative of Kashyyk was laughed at by the Senate for her claim further antagonised the representative." Al Jin cautioned Vandar
Coming to a stop, Al Jin send a pulse message to the podium. The Supreme Chancellor looked down at the message alert before nodding towards the Jedi booth. The Supreme Chancellor activated a screeching alarm to draw attention to the podium
"The Chair acknowledges Grand Master Vandar." The Chancellors Bailif called out
Al Jin toggled the controls and the booth drifted closer to the podium. The Wookie representative started howling in outrage. The Wookie booth was quickly encased in a force shield and being moved back to its booth by Senate Security, The Arkanian booth moved out of position slowly.
Drawing level with the podium, Al Jin activated the microphone in front of Vandar. A Camera droid moved into position relaying Vandar's image to the other booths. The aged master got his feet slowly
"Contact with the Dantooine Enclave was lost. Believe to be destroyed by the Sith we do." Vandar stated without preamble
The Chancellor was visibly shocked. The booths for Chandrilla and Alderaan rose rapidly to level out with the Jedi booth. The Alderaan booth reached the mark first
"The Chair acknowledges the representative of Alderaan, the honourable Aldred Organa." The Bailif called out
Organa stood up from his seat
"Master Vandar, this is shocking news and we grieve with you at your losses. But I have to ask, has this been verified, could it simply not be a fault with the holonet." Organa spoke
Vandar looked over at the Senator.
"A large movement in the Force was felt, many lives cut short. All attempts at communication failed it has. A pathfinder dispatched have we, confirmation we will have soon." Vandar replied tiredly
The Chandrilla booth pushed forward. The Bailif motioned it back
"The Chair does not acknowledge the representative of Chandrila at this time." He called out
"Chandrilla demands to be heard." Marde Lorso, the representative called back
The Chancellor motioned the representative to speak
"Master Vandar. How can we trust the Jedi to assist in the war with the Sith Empire when you can not defend your own installation?" Lorso asked, aggressively
The air was filled as the beings in the Senate shouted in support or condemnation of that statement. Vandar looked calmly at Lorso
"Staff your army with younglings you do?" He asked mildly
"Don't be ridiculous. Why would anyone bring younglings into their armies?" Lorso snapped back
"The Enclave teaching area for younglings it was, place of peace and reflection not military establishment it was." Vandar responded
"Surely the honourable representative is not suggesting that a school for lack of a better description constitutes a viable military target. Not mentioning that Dantooine has no milltary installations present" Organa jumped into the debate
"The honourable representative seems to be operating under false information. Dantooine has a militia." Lorso retorted
"If you can call a bunch of farmhands and local teenagers a militia, then yes they have a militia." Organa waved her off
Mocking laughter came from several booths. Lorso tightened her lips in anger
"I suggest the Senate increase oversight over the Jedi, after all this current war was started by renegades from within the order. Not mentioning various reports of rogue Jedi running around the galaxy. Just this morning Kashyyk reported yet another incident." Lorso stated
"Yet you were one of the first to rubbish that claim." Organa pointed out
Vandar motioned for Al Jin to withdraw from the podium. Their leaving was unobserved as multiple booths had lifted of and approached the podium demanding to get their five credits in. Al Jin walked with Vandar to the docking bay of the Senate building where a shuttle was awaiting the Grand Master.
Vandar stepped into the shuttle and turned to face the Master waiting on the dock.
"Tonight a conclave will be held. Your presence important it will be." Vandar spoke, leaning heavily on his walking stick
Vandar handed a datapad over
"All the information we have, satisfy the press for now it must." He said
Al Jin nodded in acceptance of his order and stepped back as the door slid to a close. The civilian pilot of the shuttle looked over her shoulder at the lone occupant
"Shall we return to the temple?" She asked
"No, to fleet Headquarters I must go, speak to the High Admiral I must." Vandar replied sitting down on a bench.
Al Jin looked on as the shuttle pulled away from the dock and joined the streams of vehicles moving to and fro. Hearing the rapid approach of a large group he sighed and turned to face the rampaging horde charging towards him. Moments later he found himself surrounded by the press. Questions were being shouted at him and he was nearly blinded by all the camera lights. The fact that his sensitive nose was being bombarded by various aromas did not help either. He patiently waited till the din started dying down before slowly pushing his way through the horde.
"I will give a brief statement in press room fifty one once I have studied all the information available." He said in passing
Al Jin strode back into the main section of the Senate building. After glancing at the route to the Main Assembly, he shook his head softly and made his way to a commissary. If he was to go back to the gundark pits of the Assembly and the press briefing he will do so well fed first.
The Ebon Hawke. Hyperspace. Vergari trade route
Terri was wandering the hallways of the Hawke, unable to sleep. Jolee was puttering away in the medbay several empty medpacks laid out in front of him as he was repacking the kits. He looked up as Terri stood in the doorway
"Sleeping alone is always harder the first few nights." He remarked
"Speaking from experience?" Terri asked
"I was married once. So yes, you can say I have experience with that." Jolee replied
"You broke the rule about attachments? Terri asked surprised
Jole snorted
"I have not been in the temple for quite some time, girly. Even before my retirement on Kashyyk." He replied
"Sounds like a tale or two worth sharing. Where did you meet your mate?" Terri stated
"In prison. She was a guard there. Blocked my escape attempts fifteen times, sixteenth time I kidnapped her to escape." Jolee chuckled
Terri sat down on the jump seat
"Now that is a tale I have to hear." She said
" And why should I indulge your curiosity?" Jolee grumpily replied
"Because you are old and you want to tell tales." Terri replied teasingly
"I am not that old yet, girly. Try again" Jolee answered, mouth corner lifting
"I know where Melissa's chocolate stash is, candy for a story." Terri offered
"This one is worth three bars." Jolee negotiated
"Deal." Terri sat back
"Candy first, story thereafter." Jolee said crossing his arms
Terri pointed to a ceiling panel in the corner
"Her emergency stash is in there." Terri stated not moving
Standing on a stool Jolee lifted the panel and pulled out a container filled to the brim with chocolate bars. Taking the agreed three he replaced the container. He sat down on the stool and opened one bar
"It was at the beginning of my wide wanderings of the galaxy. There was a world in the far outer rim that had a warlord staging a coup, huh I cannot even remember the planets name. Of course as it was not a major planet the Republic could not care." Jolee started his tale
"Sounds familiar." Terri remarked
"The resistance was in need of weapons to fight back and I had a freighter I won in a sabac game, so having nothing better to do I smuggled blasters and supplies to them. My luck ran out on the third run and I was shot down." Jolee continued
"Were they just lucky or were you sold out?" Terri asked
Jolee shrugged
"Never found out. Woke up in prison. Now as a Jedi breaking out should have been easy, and it was till I ran into her. I can remember it clearly. I was down on the ground from an electric shock, unable to move. She grabbed me by the ankles and started dragging me back. The first thing out of my mouth was to ask if one could bounce a credit on that ass." Jolee chuckled
"Smooth, real smooth." Terri chuckled
"Of course that meant a long time in solitary, I saw her twice a day at mealtimes as she was assigned to the solitary block. For the first few weeks she would not respond to me, but eventually I wore her down. The other guards would later joke that I only tried to escape to be able to talk to her."
"How long were you in there?" Terri asked
"Three years. On the last attempt the prison was being attacked by the resistance and I finally made it out the walls. She followed me out. I knocked her out, but if I left her there she would have been killed by the resistance. In my time in there I had learned the resistance was just as bad as the warlord. So I stuffed her in a stolen speeder and later transferred her to the freighter I stole."
"I can assume she was not pleased when she woke." Terri remarked
"Beat me all over the freighter before she jumped my bones." Jolee reminisced
"So it all worked out then?" Terri replied
"We were happy till I made the biggest mistake of my life. You see I found out she was force sensitive and I decided to train her. There is a reason we only start training with younglings. The older you are the more set in your own beliefs you are." Jolee said soberly
"But as an adult you get to choose." Terri objected
"I thought I knew better as well. I trained her as best as I could and she was like a sponge when she learned. But there was a wild side to her that I deliberately overlooked. There was a new uprising in a humanocentric movements and her planet was always xenophobic. One day I found her gone. Of course I went looking for her."
"She joined amovement did she not?" Terri predicted
"The worst of them all, she became the right hand of another wild force sensitive and the two empowered each other to more excesses. We finally came face to face on another small little planet. I pleaded for her to return to the light, to me. I struck down my wife when she refused." Jolee said softly
"I am sorry." Terri said thruthfully
Jolee returned to packing the medkits.
"That was a long time ago, no need to drag up more memories." He said
Terri grasped his shpilder in sympathy before making her way from the medbay. Reaching the loading bay she noticed T3 and HK47 powered down, Melissa currently being arm deep in the astromech as she was upgrading and repairing the droid mechanically. Juhani was seated close by asking Canderous questions about weapons as said man was busy servicing his rotary blaster at the workbench, Melissa would add a comment every now and then, obviously needling the taciturn man.
She slipped away unnoticed and made her way to the cockpit. Carth was seated at the controls. A datapad was on top of the dashboard, images flickering as they rotated. It started with a woman and a small boy, you could see the progression in years as the images continued. The last one froze on a teenaged boy and the woman again, Terri noted with shock the obvious baby bump the woman was showing, she left out a soft gasp.
"We were going to call her Miraca, a word play on miracle. Dustill's birth was complicated and the doctors told us Clarissa would never be able to carry another pregnancy to term." Carth said, eyes fixed on the last image
Terri was still too shocked to reply. Carth continued on
"Dustill was so proud he was going to be a real big brother. Between me and him I do not know who bought more baby toys. It was supposed to be my last tour of duty before taking up a desk at Fleet HQ. I would have been back in time to be present for the birth."
"Carth, I am so sorry." Terri finally managed to get out.
"Saul Carath had been my mentor all my time in the fleet, I was going to ask him to be the godfather to Miraca." Anger was back in his voice
"He will get what is coming to him, and we will get your son back." Terri promised
Carth wiped a stray tear from his eyes.
"Honestly I don't care that Dustill is becoming Sith, I just want to hold my boy again, be a family." He said
Terri crossed the space quickly and enveloped him in a strong hug, Carth did not resist, nor did he take his eyes of the image in front of him. The blue light of hyperspace washed over them as they watched the image in silence.