The senate was in turmoil, the chancellor was dead, declared a traitor to the galaxy by Grievous. Most didn't want to believe it but someone had unleashed everything that Sheev Palpatine had been working on in private, which was not anything the supposed mild mannered leader had been. Currently, Bail Organa was looking at the red plans of the battlestation of a small moon as the senate was shouting and screaming at one another. The clones were currently arresting anyone that had been mentioned or seen in the videos that Palpatine had on his servers; his entire cabinet was arrested hours after the battle of Coruscant was over.
Padmé Amidala was in the pod next to his, looking over some of the papers that involved Naboo. Her face was so mask-like that Bail worried she might start gaining Force Powers and strangling people. On the other side was Riyo Chuchi, who was silently going over one section of the information that involved the Separatists. Her eyes were cold and her express set, Bail had seen the look on his wife many times when she was very upset and pissed. Something he was grateful had not been directed at him in recent years, had had made mistakes before but this was not one of them.
"To think Palpatine was my mentor," Padmé hissed under her breath before sighing, putting her hands to her face, "and was friends with Knight Skywalker."
"You do know you can say Anakin with us, Padmé," Bail smiled at her as he said, "Its why I say Obi-wan casually around my friends but in public settings, its Master Kenobi."
"Well…Anakin will be devastated at his friend's death but the investigation is gonna go public and its going to utterly devastate him."
"I have no doubt a lot of the public will be upset and call for the heads of the Senators. A lot of things in the Republic will be torn down because of our inability to stop the former Chancellor."
All three were quiet as the Coruscant Guard came in and grabbed the obese twi'lek, Orn Free Taa. The Senate would eventually come to an end as the Coruscant Guard finally stopped arresting people.
Jedi Master Obi-wan Kenobi groaned as he woke up in the healing halls of the Jedi Temple, his eyes slowly adjusting to the dim lights above him. He must have been out for hours, after being pulled out of the escape pod General Grievous's Magnaguards had stuffed him and Anakin into. The pod had slammed and penetrated the hull of the Republic of Freedom before opening, leaving them hanging ten or more feet above the hanger bay floor. After that, it was a blur of color and muffled words before he fully blacked out.
Chief Healer Vokara Che sternly walked up to him and gave him the stink eye, "Master Kenobi."
"Hello Healer Che," He said weakly, suddenly feeling like a nexu in the sight of a Greater Krayt Dragon.
"This is the sixth time you've come under my direct care in the long fourth year of the Clone Wars, the fifth being from the world of Meritu IV from that unknown Dark Acolyte."
Obi-wan remembered that campaign, the planet of Meritu IV was covered in desert swamps. Oxymoronic, yes, but the wet sand sucked in the walkers and troopers and upon trying, was like cement. The only safe areas were the oasis-like swamp jungles that carved through the dry/wet sands of the world. The Dark Acolyte, one that proclaimed itself as a follower of Dooku, fought like Durge the male Gen'Dai bounty hunter. The only reason Obi-wan survived was because Cody had put a sniper round through the Acolyte's head, as he was getting thrashed into minced meat.
"I do believe that my beating was because of everyone's favorite cyborg General, not a dark sider of an unknown species." He commented dryly, trying his best not to feel his burning lungs.
"Indeed," Che said darkly before putting a cooling pad on his chest, "I would suggest holding your wit until your lungs are fully recovered from the multiple surgeries. Your padawan was lucky he mostly got bruises, not full on skeletal failures."
"Hitting the wall of the ship and being thrown does cause those issues."
"I know, the galaxy watched it all."
"Oh."
"Yes, 'oh'," Che snorted before summoning a stool to his bedside and sitting next to Obi-wan, "Anakin was worried when you were unresponsive upon arrival here. It was because of him that we realized how damaged you were in the first place, so I would suggest thanking him and being there for him as he has also taken the death of the Chancellor harshly. Not only that, investigations are ongoing as to what the man was up to."
"Has the council been asked to be involved?"
"They were told to shove off," She snorted, "By the Coruscant Guard, who are heading the investigation with extreme prejudice. It may have something to do with what they call "The final order", which has been kept silent until the investigation is closer to being released in full. They're giving a digestible overview daily to the holonet and it seems that the chancellor was the same being you and Anakin were hunting for."
That made the feeling in Obi-wan's gut worsen as he remembered what Grievous did on the Invisible Hand, the way Palpatine spoke and the truth that rang in the Force from each statement. He didn't want to believe it but now…
"I think I'll need to ponder on this," He said softly, head laying back on the pillows as he sighed.
Dark Acolyte Sev'rance Tann blinked before frowning as she looked at the message for a fifth time. General Grievous was ordering her to gather the Dark Acolytes who had trained under Count Dooku and go to Raxus Prime, the garbage pit of the galaxy. Only a short trip from Raxus Secondus, the capital of the Confederacy. She grimaces as she feels a phantom chill run up her spine.
The Chiss woman, only barely entering her twenty-third year of life, felt the Force churn before she touched it with a mental tendril. It coiled around her like one of the Ice Serpents of Csilla, one of the few predators that adapted and thrived upon her homeworld. She saw the future Dooku had promised shatter in her mind's eye as something else appeared, Grievous standing upon the bodies of broken Clones, volunteers and Jedi. Green lightning danced across his armored form as his eyes were glowing emerald stars as he held two lightsabers. A storm churned above him before she was forced from the vision.
She was sweating, her uniform clinging to her body from how intense it was. Her hand was on her lightsaber, squeezing it tightly as though holding it would keep her safe. Only a year into her training under Dooku, she was the oldest of the Acolytes under the Count until Grievous beheaded him. Declared a traitor to the Confederacy, the General had also unmasked Dooku's Master in the same transmission that reached every end of the galaxy. She could feel the turmoil but also the darkness reeling as the Sith were gone…supposedly.
Grievous had made, at least on the live transmission, the disgust of the Sith. Of course, the Sith were a changing religious faction of Force Users. So, he must hate the Banite Sith…though, Sev'rance knew that if Grievous found out that she had been groomed and trained to be Asajj Ventress and Savage Opress's replacement. However, only a years training wasn't enough as Count Dooku and his Master were dead, meaning that any of the Dark Acolytes would be slaughtered by the Cyborg.
The only way she was going to survive is if she pleaded herself to Grievous, even if she brought back the Sith Order. Grievous was a monster, one that had brought the CIS armies into actual working order and led them before something had changed and he became a laughing, coughing shadow of himself.
"S-453-OON," She commed the custom built droid ship commander, "Alert the other Acolytes to meet at Raxus Prime. Its a direct order from General Grievous, whom we are subordinate to when not being commanded by Count Dooku."
The Separatist Parliament was rather silent, at least, more like in quiet murmuring groups. After the declaration of Dooku being a Traitor, most of the Senate was worried what would happen. However, with Dooku being beheaded, General Grievous became head of State under the laws of the Separatist Parliament. Currently, the session that had been going on for hours at this point was winding up until a life size hologram of Grievous appeared in the place where Dooku had once been. On Grievous's left was the newest Separatist Congress Leader, a Togruta-twi'lek hybrid by birth, she stood silently before waving them to silence.
"Honored members of Congress," Senator Rellas Tuta said to them all, as the groups dispersed back to their seats, "I present General Grievous, the new head of State."
Grievous didn't cough but he looked at everyone before he spoke, "As of several hours ago, Count Yan Dooku or Darth Tyrannus, was executed by his own blade aboard the Invisible Hand. Along with his Master and manipulator of the Clone wars, Chancellor Sheev Palpatine or Darth Sidious. I have taken upon myself the responsibilities of Head of State of the Confederacy of Independent Systems due to the traitor that led us all astray."
Many of the Senators nodded, as was Grievous's right as Dooku's right hand commander.
"As head of State," Grievous continued, "I am having the Executive Separatist Council investigated due to having been brought in by Count Dooku himself. It doesn't matter what world they are in, they will be found, arrested, interrogated and investigated. I am already having contingencies I put in place before my drastic change after Hypori in the early months of the first year of the Clone Wars. One of them is the recreation of the ground forces used on the battlefield of the CIS."
Murmurs spread across the room before one of the senators stood up and said, "And what changes are those, General?"
Grievous looked at the senator before tapping something off screen of the hologram, the tables in the center of the Senate lit up as their holoprojectors activated. The projections showed what looked like B1 Battle Droids and the Commando Droids, a third variation appeared between them that has humanoid shaped proportions for the arms and legs. A smoother body compared to the Commando droid body and a slightly larger head.
"A new infantry droid, one that would work and act more like the Clone Troopers. Commando Droids have proven their worth more than double of that of the cheap B1's, but for a compromise, I propose a new variation be build that is an infantry droid that has all the benefits of a Commando Droid but also has the processors and intelligence of HK assassin droid models, IG droid models and more. The clones win through intelligence and outsmarting our archaic marching formations, I say no more. We have the smartest minds this side of the Outer Rim to create better droids and weapons, I saw we use them!"
Somehow, these words had the Senate agreeing with him as he spoke for nearly an hour on more ideas for the future but he concluded the meeting by saying, "I will arrive in system soon, I want to have another session to have my ascension to Head of State proper before having the investigation of the Separatist Executive Council given some light."
With that, his hologram faded as the Senators spoke to one another in hushed tones about what General Grievous could do for the future.
Commander Falesia, a ST-series super tactical droid, computed the data that had been given to her before internally grimacing. The droid, given a female synthesized voice modulator by the former captain of the vessel, quickly ran her fingers over the keypad before entering the desired code. The hologram shifted, showing a battlefield scenario between Republic naval forces and several smaller CIS carriers. The scenario played out, showing a high success rate of eighty-two point five three four percent, if the enemy didn't have any Jedi with them.
That number dropped to a low thirty-two point eight eight percent if a Jedi commanded the forces.
It dropped to five point six six seven percent if the Jedi in charge was one of the few starfighter based ones.
She ran the scenario four more times with various variables before sending this data to the central Command of Naval Intelligence for review. She had been put near the upper lines between the Mid-Rim and Outer Rim territories, serving as an intelligence gatherer to come up with new strategies that would be useful for facing the Republic. General Grievous had used a few of her strategies before in several battles that turned into victories before going silent for years, until Grievous used several of her older tactics in the battle of Coruscant.
That was until her holocommunicator beeped and the hologram of the General appeared where her newest strategum had been.
"Commander Falesia," He said in lue of greeting, "I see you survived."
"General," She greeted and stood at attention.
"I'm having you moved to the more critical locations of the warfront," He said, a map of the holdings of the CIS appearing before one section glowed red, "the Felucian front is nearly ready to collapse due to the efforts of Jedi Knight Aayla Secura and 327th Star Corps. I want you to have strategies ready by the time you arrive to take command of the 84th Fleet, am I understood?"
"Crystal, Sir." She answered before the hologram flashed off.
The Grievous she knew was back, his blunt, swift actions with his commanders getting the job done.
IG-one eight eight watched silently through its single photoreceptor as the interrogator, some species of humanoid serpent that had the upper body similar to that of a human but its legs and head were all reptile, questioned Nute Gunray. The head of the Trade Federation was drugged with a single drop of Veritaserum, as his former colleague Rune Haako died from being poisoned by the standard three drops of the truth serum. Turns out that some of the ingredients used to create this truth serum were utterly poisonous to the Neimoidian race. Thankfully, only a single drop was needed on the species.
Grievous was a towering monolith as he watched the interrogator ruthlessly question Nute Gunray, the former member of the Separatist Council. IG-one eight eight silently continued his vidual until the interrogator turned his serpentine head towards them and hissed.
"I have finished my questioning, General," He tilted his head as his tongue flickered out, "do you have any questions for him before I have him taken to his cell?"
"Only one," Grievous growled before saying, "Nute Gunray, when did you first come to know of the being called Darth Sidious?"
"By republic time standard," The monotone voice of the Neimoidian said flatly, "Year 967."
Grievous nodded before motioning the Interrogator to wrap it up as the hologram ended, Grievous already on a comm-channel.
"Captain, upon arriving in the Raxus System, have a Munificent-class frigate ready to have myself and a contingent of my guards to board it. I want the Invisible Hand refitted and repaired quickly, we have places to be in the time frame we have been given by our attack on Coruscant."
A slow week passed on Coruscant but Adva Dos, the new Senator of Ryloth, sighed. The beautiful all white Twi'lek was sitting at her desk, looking over her predecessor's work with increasing disgust. Her scarlett eyes glowered at the paperwork before finally baring her sharp, pointed teeth in a snarl before slamming her hand into the desk.
"THAT FAT KRIFFING SCHUTTA!" She yelled before forcefully calming herself as her aide, a young Bothan with light blonde hair looked at her.
"Sorry, don't worry," She said after a few moments, "Just cursing at my predecessor for his incompetence and leaving my homeworld in a worse state then ever."
"Ah," The Bothan grinned at her, "he wasn't popular in the senate either from what the aide gossip is saying."
She returned the grin to her aide before sighing, "Well, we'll have to work to fix that. What is my schedule today?"
The female Bothan, whose name was Olaann Silahi, looked at her datapad and used a light stylus to pull up the schedule.
"Well, in two hours is lunch followed by a meeting with Senators Padmé Amidala, Riyo Chuchi and Bail Organa. I'd suggest wearing something more "high class" but knowing you, you'd probably go in slacks and a top."
Adva snorted before shaking her head, her four Lekku twitching and swaying in amusement.
"Then, its a conference call with Cham Syndulla," Olaann smiled, "still surprised that the people elected him as the planet leader."
"I served under him in the Liberation of Ryloth," Adva said as she adjusted her dress top over her massive chest, grimacing as it clung way too tightly which made it hurt, "was on the other side of the planet but we were working in tandem. Probably why I got elected as the Senator and Cham the leader of Ryloth."
Olaann nodded before looking at the schedule, "then you have an hour time for dinner and then you have a few more minor meetings with your personal clone guard attachment along with your guards and coordination with the Coruscant Guard. Then you are finished until tomorrow."
Adva grinned before nodding, "wonderful, now, I believe we have a lunch to enjoy?"
Riyo Chuchi was sipping a Pantorian tea as she waited with Bail Organa, who was talking with Padmé Amidala. The Naboo Senator was standing as the pair conversed over plans to have someone more reliable voted into the Chancellor seat when her droid, C-3PO, announced the arrival of the Senator of Ryloth.
"May I introduce, Adva Dos," The gold plated Protocol Droid said, "Senator of Ryloth."
Riyo nearly choked on her tea as the white Twi'lek seemed to glide into the room, she was not expecting that. Her crimson eyes looked at them each in turn as she smiled warmly, even though her teeth were all sharp. Probably from her place on the planet, Ruyo guessed, more predatory than omnivorous. Her body was also something she was slightly jealous of, but that was obvious as her species were sold into slavery because of their bodies and looks. The very voluptuous Twi'lek was wearing a dress that left a portion of her cleavage open, both thighs exposed and her toned belly open.
"I hope I'm not late," Her accent was slightly less thick than a few other Twi'leks Riyo had met, including the Jedi Aayla Secura, "I was having lunch with my aide and nearly lost track of the time."
"No, no," Bail smiled and stood up, walking over as he held out his hand once he was closer, "You're just in time. We were just having a small snack as we forgot to have lunch ourselves."
Which was true, much to the fussing of C-3PO, Riyo internally smiled.
"Ah," Adva said before looking at Padmé with very intelligent eyes, "I hope you didn't forget to eat, Senator as you seem to be eating for more than one."
Everyone in the room stopped dead, Padmé looking pale and ready to bolt at that statement.
Adva blinked and frowned, "What? You two didn't realize Senator Amidala was pregnant?"
Riyo and Bail spun around and looked at the Naboo Senator as Riyo said, "You could have said something!"
Bail was more sympathetic, "Padmé, you know that we wouldn't betray your trust."
Padmé looked at the floor before Riyo was up and had her friend sit on the couch. The Naboo Senator sighed before her hands went to her belly.
"I didn't say because my baby's father would be in trouble if anyone found out."
Standing on a junk pile, the Selonian male called Far Pirr frowned as he looked at the other gathered Dark Acolytes. The 2.2 meter tall, black with white striped ferret/otter looking alien thought on how he had become a Dark Acolyte under Count Dooku. It had been when Count Dooku came to his homeworld of Selonia, he had been one of the "breeding stock" Males under the Den Mother until he had started showing signs of Force Sensitivity. He had been having a really bad day when he had unleashed a torrent of lightning from his fingers out of pure hatred at the female warriors that had been insulting and degrading him for being nothing more than a "baby maker".
The rest of the Den Warriors had tried to stop him but he had slaughtered them to a woman. Count Dooku had found him sitting on the throne of the former Den Mother, a pair of bloody Selonian Glaives buried into the Den Mother's back. He had simply smiled at him and gave him a choice. He could join Dooku or he could be killed by the rest of his people. Far Pirr decided to join Count Dooku. He would learn later that his den was discovered much later and fear had spread through the other dens.
He had only gotten six months of training but he had learned much while also training under Dark Acolyte Sev'rance Tann, a Chiss female he had gained a friendship with. He had a trio of lightsabers on his bandolier, one built like the ancient light pike of Darth Bane, another having a two foot long hilt of a lightsaber and one single hand hilt. All three built due to his unique training from his biological standpoint. A light pike similar to a Selonian Glaive, a lightsaber with a longer hilt like a Selonian sword and a regular lightsaber for one hand, due to his flexible body.
His nose twitched before spotting Sev'rance Tann as she landed silently by his side, "Tann."
The Chiss woman smiled at him, "Hello Pirr."
He shivered, the way Sev'rance rolled her R's when saying his name was alluring.
"I hope you are ready as General Grievous will be here soon." Tann said before looking at the moderately flat arena that had been "built" by repurposed droids by the group of Dark Acolytes repurposing the Planet's planet-wide intelligence, known only as the "Core". Now, they had been waiting for two days. But that was simply a test for them, General Grievous was a busy individual. The Supreme Commander of the CIS Armies and Naval forces, Far understood that easily.
The Force then howled before every Dark Acolyte was yanked off their feet and slammed into one another in the center of the arena. Groaning, Far tried to untangle himself before the sounds of electrostaffs made him look up. They had been surrounded by Grievous's personal bodyguards as the General marched out of the shadows, like some sleek predator in one of the Selonian stories.
"I see that you all are severely undertrained," He said darkly as he motioned to his guards, whom pulled the Acolytes apart and forced them to their knees, "however, our war against the Republic is now at a point we cannot slaughter those that are undertrained."
Sev'rance looked up and frowned, "What do you mean, General?"
Grievous's eyes narrowed before he said, "Each of you have training under Dooku, some more than others. However, with his death, that leaves you under my guiding hand. Given you all were trained under him, as was I, it falls to me to help you learn and become actual warriors."
Grievous gave the equivalent of a snort as he straightened himself, the winds of Raxus Prime blowing his cape open to reveal his cyborg body.
"As of this moment, you are all my students and as such, I expect full loyalty to me. There will be no dissension or you will be killed-"
One of the Acolytes launched himself at Grievous with a roar, a male Besalisks. Grievous moved so fast that even Far was shocked as the General punched his fist through the chest of the Acolyte, blood splattering the ground as he held the still beating heart of the Besalisk before he laughed darkly.
"Hot headed," The cyborg said darkly, "easy to anger, no thought of attack or planning ahead. A brawn only fighter. Like Savage, too easy to handle and deal with."
With that, he crushed the alien's heart before tossing the body away. Grievous glowered at the others, eyes narrowed.
"Unlike that one, I expect more out of you, am I understood?"
"Yes sir!" They all said, Far realizing how terrifying Grievous actually was when he wasn't acting like some holonet childrens villain.