[20 BBY]

[Battlefield, Groundside Dathomir, Dathomir, Quelii Sector, Outer Rim Territories]

"Greetings, Darth Maul I believe?" I greeted the dark side filled zabrak with a partial bow as I kept my lightsaber in a ready stance out and away from me "General Daron Stormcrow, pleasure to make your acquaintance, and in helping dealing with one's Dooku problem of course"

Without taking my eyes off the dangerous Sith now before me as he stood over the corpse of Dooku I reflected back a droid's blaster bolt as my combat troops formed up around me. Distantly I was aware of Ventress slaying Grievous according to my helmet's HUD and the feeling in the force, that this mission was a success in that regards at least. Of course we now had the problem of a Sith, plus his apprentice, in front of me while a Mandalorian-Mercenary fleet was in orbit...nominally allied for now. So politeness it was over a readiness to fight and kill my way off the miserable rock should the need arise.

"Do you really wish to do that? I believe Mother Talzin has us under truce, it would be somewhat disrespectful to her hospitality I suspect?" I stated calmly as yellow tinted eyes, the Dark Side burning deep within then as they looked at me, then sought distant Ventress with surging bloodlust. No words had been spoken but the tenseness was there as Mandalorians landed behind the Sith to slay surviving droids, and some airborne jump-infantry surveyed each other as the seconds passed in silence. Maul took a breath, glaring at me, then lowered the threatening stance of his lightsaber to one matching my own.

"Yes, of course, GREETINGS, General Stormcrow, I have heard of you, and how did you..." Maul managed to get out surprisingly calmly as I felt as much as saw him control his emotions and power, then shook his head in irritation "...No, BROTHER! Come here!"

He glared at me "Call your whore Ventress, ensure she does not...misbehave"

"No need to be impolite, Asajj is a respectable murderous Darksider as best I know..." I replied in as friendly a tone with my synthesised helmet voice "...and I hardly control her, she's merely on loan from the fair Mother Talzin, but let's see about that"

Touching my helmet I activated the comm-link "Asajj, dear, could you please come over to this position, and please avoid trying to kill the Nightbrother if you please? I'm attempting to keep Mother Talzin's little truce while we go about finishing off the Confederate droid forces, so best not anger your tribe's leader I suspect"

"Su cuy'gar Mano'ad..." I greeted a Death Watch in Mando'a, the feel familiar as one who'd helped take out a tank earlier, and apparently a leader of some sort as she landed to Maul's left, but getting no reprimand for it, only a glare "...Kyr'stad bal Dar'jedii? O'r tom? Hmm, cur'ii?"

'Thank you Braika for beating your language into me' I though getting a few glances from nearby Mandalorians and, even better, causing some of the tension to bleed a way as the fighting spread further away from us as the droids crumbled without leadership. The Death Watch Office glanced towards Maul as I felt the nearing of the other zabrak Nightbrother and Ventress, then the Mandalorian took off her helmet revealing an attractive red haired woman who let out a breath.

"Good fight, stupid droids, so are we making friends or do I get to add more trophies to my collection?" she said to Maul, who merely glared back sternly till the woman sighed, turning her gaze towards me as we continued in Mando'a "Well aren't you a surprise? Looks like I won't get to test you bes'kar eh? Bo-Katan Kryse, remember the name"

"Of course..." I replied with a nod, but focusing on Maul as Ventress arrived at my side, my heavy Assault Troopers letting her pass as moments later a dual-lightsaber wielding Nightbrother, Savage Oppress as best I understood it, jumped down from a tree towards Maul. Seemed Maul fancied himself a Sith Master and had taken an Apprentice, but I pushed that aside I nodded to him "...so, Darth Maul, I do believe we have matters of mutual interest to discuss, mutual foes to deal with"

He studied me, but the armour and helmet made that hard as I held my stance calm and unmoving "Oh, do we now Darksider? Or do you claim Sith-hood? To claim...a shared ancestry in the Dark Side perhaps?"

"Not at all, I am merely a humble student of the Force..." I replied making a 'not at all' gesture with my free hand, and then gesturing at myself "...though I do believe we have a mutual foe, based upon what Mother Talzin gave in regards...a certain politician and Force user..."

I spoke calmly and carefully, and Ventress stated the Nightsister 'Mother' was on her way, so I focused on avoid an immediate breakdown into conflict, and confirming Sidious's name with a second sentient. One who'd actually served the dangerous sorcerer, and I could at least appeal to the Sith before me's hatred and ambition in this regard. Of course he'd try stab me in the back after a time, such was the nature of the idiocy, but I only needed to get off this planet with what I'd gain, and see how much chaos we could cause by what we'd just done right now.

Grievous and Dooku were dead...and that meant a nice derail one man's plans, and hopefully a violent power-struggle within the Confederacy. Whatever the case I listened and spoke long enough for the Matriarch of the Nightsisters who managed to 'calm' things despite the clear hatred or discomfort from the two zabrak Sith-wannabes, along with the hatred of Ventress. Honestly I had no idea why he kept to the Rule of Two, and I told him as such, as he certainly wasn't beating Darth Sidious as he was, with just one apprentice, but who was I to criticise others culture traditions and training methods?

--

[The end of 20 BBY – Moving into 19 BBY]

[Office of the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, Senate Buildings, Galactic City, Coruscant]

Anakin was glad of the chance to talk to his mentor a time, it had been a harsh year and this guard duty was almost a relief. Perhaps it was a relief for Sheev as well, as he had complained more than usual about the constant need to have Knights and Masters watching him daily. Interfering in his duties as he put it, but for now he had listened to Anakin's concerns and fears. What had happened on Moraband...Master Yoda had tried to help, but the thought of Padme dying...

'How could I ever feel joy to see some I care for die' he thought to myself sitting and watching as the sun set upon the Senate and the gleaming buildings of Galactic City. His hand, after the bacta and cybernetics, even felt a little better after talking about the terrible visions he had faced on that dead Sith world, and of the adventures he had had of better hue. That and giving helpful advice in helping his teaching Ahsoka; advice he'd needed Anakin found as he struggled to help his Padawan through her problems when he had both injured, and had his own nightmares.

"Everything okay Chancellor?" as Sheev suddenly froze in place, just like an hour ago, looking out into the distance as he was making some tea for himself. For two seconds there was silence then the old man shook his head, smile back kindly as ever at Anakin.

"Of course Anakin my boy, of course..." the Chancellor replied mixing in some sugar to his "...quite alright, just remembering matters of state that need to be dealt with. This dreadful war you understand, it can make one forgetful of things other than the grand strategy, but essential matters none the less. Such a terribly easy thing to procrastinate thinking one has all the time in the galaxy"

Anakin sighed at that "Yes I find that..."

"Thinking upon your energetic Padawan, or perhaps the good Senator's diplomatic efforts?"

"Yes...both perhaps Chancellor, Master Yoda and Obi-wan believe Ahsoka needs to meditate on what we faced, but she, well...and Senator Amidala..." he managed to stumble his way through a number of his muddled thoughts and problems "...is somewhat concerned over even agreeing a location for the Peace Talks...

Sheev sighed as he sat, shaking his head in that familiar way "That I can understand, Padme is a...passionate young woman, perhaps some of own teachings coming through perhaps. Passion is great thing, when harnessed properly of course, and both your apprentice and the good Senator have that in great quantity, as do you Anakin my boy, when you wish it at least. So it is perfectly understandable to encounter such troubles, much as I respect Master Yoda and the Jedi Order..." he sighed sadly "...I find that they fail when it comes to helping those that we care about"

"I..." Anakin began to disagree then lowered his head, rehearing another's complaints "...perhaps you are correct in that Chancellor. Do you have any advice perhaps...I think I could do with some?"

"Of course Anakin, anything to help a dear friend, with your young apprentice I would recommend perhaps a firmer, yet also more sympatric hand, get to understand the source of her fears and guide her through them. It would be..." his friend began before the buzzer on the desk began to sound, once, twice, and continuing somewhat insistently as Sheev gave Anakin an apologetic look and answered the call. A moment later a hologram of a Mas Amedda appeared, giving a small bow to the Chancellor.

"Chancellor, sorry to disturb you, but some vital information has arrived through both GAR and Holo-Net channels and it is urgent that you see such"

"Both my friend? At the same time?"

"No Chancellor, a report was lodged with the GAR less than an hour ago, but only made its way through channels minutes before a Holo-Net transmission from General Stormcrow's Army of Light to various Senators and news organisations with clearance to publish"

Anakin perked up at that, as his friend, the Chancellor gave a nod with a serious look "Oh, then put this recording through immediately"

With another bow from the hologram Mas Amedda the Chancellors desk interface came alive, the scene turning to a forest perhaps, with soldiers standing around him along side some figures in hooded robes and...the head of the new Mandalorian Non-Aligned League Vizla. Oh, and there was Ventress, and Nightsisters...and that meant maybe Darth Maul the Council had warned about might be...

Hologram Daron was standing beside the Mandalorian Leader, and a Nightsister he didn't recognise but probably was important "Senators, Soldiers, Citizens of the Republic! I come with words that will gladden the hearts of all those loyal to the Republic's cause...

The holo-image shifted backwards from Daron and the others...

"Behold! Count Dooku and General Greivous have fallen!"

...and there, as Daron parted his arms and gestured, on pikes were the heads of that monster Grievous and Count Dooku as Anakin's eyes widened, just staring at the image..

"Some have called me a warlord, a butcher even! A soldier unable to make peace! But that is a lie, or foolish thinking, for I have reached out the hand of friendship to the proud leaders of the League of Non-Aligned States, warriors all, and seeing how the Separatist monsters planned to purge the world of Dathomir laid a trap for the murderous leaders of the Confederacy of Independent Systems!

Uniting our meagre forces together we have struck like a meteor and broken the Tyrant of the Confederacy and his Murderous General in honourable, and glorious, combat! Today your Army of Light stands victorious alongside brave Mandalorians and Dathomirans who would stand before the tyrannical armies of the fallen Jedi Count Dooku!

My friends! We must stand together now in the wake of this victory and bring peace to the Galaxy! To bring the traitors to heel, and renew the ideals of the Republic!

So I thank you, brave and loyal citizens of the Republic, it is your courage and valour that has allowed us to carry this day! Your Grand Army that has shattered this droid fleet! Soldiers and Fleet Officers from all the worlds of the Republic, free born citizen-soldiers, and I call for any who can serve, to serve, in the righteous and just cause which serve!

For the Republic! General Stormcrow out!"

Anakin stared, confused, then glanced at his friend who appeared to have broken his fragile teacup, likely due to the same shock, pleasant shock, but also jealousy shock, that such good news had arrived...

--

Ends of: Chapter 03: Rage, Rage, Against The Dying Of The Light

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