[19 BBY]

[Republic Military Academy {formerly Academy of the Judicial Force}, GAR-Central Command, Galactic City, Coruscant, The Core]

It was officially a review of the graduating classes training procedures, along with the standard background check, and in regards the paperwork had been completed. Gentis and the others had seen to that in record time after all. In truth though this was a vital strategy meeting of those officers who, like Gentis himself, saw the corruption at the heart of the Republic, the treason that had allowed his son to die and now sought to betray their very sacrifice with this so-called peace treaty talk.

No, they could see it for what it was; treason, allowing all the criminals of the Separatist movement to escape justice. Righteous anger burned in his heart just like that of others present when they'd seen the briefing documents copied by loyal men and women in Republic Intelligence. The mood within the Grand Army, though more-so in those parts that which had been born of the former Republic Judicial forces, Planetary Defence forces, and those that were 'private military contractors' as per their terms of service. Much had been promised, little had been delivered, by the secret Clone Army of the Jedi, and now, finally, with the tide turning...

"Senate Oversight are quashing the investigation?"

"For the extent of these peace talks..." was the response from Commissioner Durant, of Coruscant Security, and seconded to Republic Intelligence's Combined Task-force, as their group stood behind a view-screen on training yard six "...concerns over public disruption, or witch-hunting of Separatist sympathetic, but not disloyal as the information is..." a faint sneer "...suspect, and clearly requires further investigation...outside of an active investigation"

General Tagge gave a snort at the "Which means do nothing, say nothing, and let them hide evidence of whatever dark secrets these traitors have. These files came directly from the data-banks of Dooku's and that kriffing Cyborg's flagships...we should be moving immediately on this information, not allowing the Seppies time to change their command and control codes"

Durant shrugged "I cannot attest to droid shut down codes, outside my area of expertise Alara, but it's clear something worse was held potentially back by the Aegis Guard. They've been behaving suspiciously, very suspiciously, since the battle of Dathomir, but..."

Gentis nodded "Relations between the...Private Military Contractors and Republic Intelligence, and the Jedi Order, have been tense at best, and the Aegis Guard are probably the worst with their ghost general antics. For good reason it seems from our own discoveries of Seppie infiltration in the ranks, and system penetration, and what we've seen on the captured vessels. Thankfully we can at least trust in the enmity of those mercenaries to the Separatist cause, they are the war-hawks amongst the war-hawks after all, but what news Commissioner? Little of it good I expect?"

"No, no, I'm afraid not, and it ties into a more concerning picture of a recent rash of murders and attempted assassinations since words of peace-talks began..." the Commissioner replied shaking his head, a serious and concerned look upon his face. Beyond the veiled views-screen the soon to be graduation class were going through drills and preparing for a mock battle; it made Gentis's heart swell with pride how far many of them had come. Also with dread at how many would likely fall in the days to come considering the dangers, within and without, the Republic faced.

"As Andrasta, the Chandrillan, has been their senior officer and broker here in the Core for the Aegis since the war started, and she's evacuated Coruscant along with a significant amount of sensitive data according to agents within their offices. *After* an assassination attempt apparently upon her return from meeting with their Generals Stormcrow and Shadowsails. Officially over repairs and bounties from Dathomir, but it's very clearly something else is going on. Perhaps more concerning perhaps, is that this was only noted through our watch, outside of official procedure, on members of the Jedi Council to ascertain which ones have been potentially compromised"

Alara Tagge standing beside Gentis frowned "Which one?"

"Stass Allie, former Jedi instructor to Daron Stormcrow..." Durant replied, arms folded across his chest and looking concerned "...relatively recent addition to the Council, and frankly her behaviour afterwards is worrying to say the least. Also the story of the Jedi Coucil requesting Aegis Guard negotiate the release of the captive Jedi with the Hutts is...wrong, or at least the timeline supplied is. The Jedi did not request it, but the Stormcrow volunteered, or it was negotiated on the spot, with the request coming through Jedi Master Allie, then back from Coruscant"

Durant shook his head "Then she doesn't return to Coruscant immediately, silently departing Nouane as best we can tell and then meeting with a retired member of the Jedi Council, an Eeth Koth, before both returned to Coruscant...and acting suspiciously to be honest. Private meetings outside the Jedi with Jedi Master Windu, encrypted communications, *not* on known Temple codes either. Not something we normally see from Jedi, they usually retreat inside their Temple and block out everything, and everyone, else"

Gentis nodded, it was major problems he, and many, many, others within the Grand Army of the Republic when they wished to deal with the incompetents, and traitors, within the ranks of the Temple. Not only were they, and Kamino, tight-lipped over the Clones, but no matter what the likes of Gentis and others tried to do to investigate the actions, and failings, of Jedi Generals they ran a wall of silence. Or at least a wall of 'Jedi Business' and no more could be asked, no Jedi Generals investigated or prosecuted "No, that is not standard operating procedure for them at all. Has the rest of RI noticed this?"

"No Headmaster, only those agents loyal to our cause. We've done our best to shield the information from the Jedi elements of RI, and offices, such as the supreme Chancellor's, where the Jedi have access to the summaries in our experience. Considering the nature of what we think we're seeing, and from who we're seeing it from, it was felt best to merely observe. The Aegis guard are rather paranoid about their information control, and its clear they've found out something very wrong within the Jedi ranks, enough for a General with a rather notorious reputation for poor relations with the Order has reached out to members of the Council known in a personal capacity. Right as these so-called peace talks take place"

Alara Tagge nodded "Yes, Dathomir should have settled things down, Dooku and Grievous dead, Seppies in confusion, and suddenly we're the ones having chaos in our own ranks when we should united. And, for all their protestations of peace, those kriffing Seppies have started a very clear programme of assassination against the Militarist and Loyalist factions. Attacks on the Aegis Guard are you said, the deaths of two advisors to the Supreme Chancellor, and the Vice Chancellor supposedly poisoned..."

Durant shook his head "We've no proof of those rumours Alara, but RI is stretched as it is with Cad Bane and his terrorists supposedly back on Coruscant, investigating the Dathomir captures, and guarding the peace conference on Corelia. Security for the Supreme Chancellor and Vice Chancellor lies with the Jedi, and the Senate Guards, and they will not tell RI anything unless they have too. But the overall picture...is concerning, very concerning. I think we're looking at Separatist agents launching a gambit to salvage something before we are able take advantage of the files they believe we have from Dooku's death. I think the Aegis Guard and their Generals came upon something very incriminating to the highest levels of the Jedi Order and are scrambling to investigate through personal links. I also think we have to consider that elements of the Supreme Chancellor's Office, and Senate Oversight, have also been compromised as we feared"

Gentis let out a breath, nodding "Yes, yes, what we are seeing appears to confirm our worst fears. It would also put the capture of the Jedi in Hutt space in a concerning light"

"Removing loyalist council members you mean?" Alara queried before continuing as he gave a curt nod "Yes, the mission fell apart far too easily from the reports I've seen. A setup and deliberate leaks you believe?"

"Considering what we're seeing from the Corelia..."

Gentis glanced at Durant as the Commissioner trailed off, then sighed "Yes, potential opponents to such surrender talk perhaps? Strange that the Stormcrow is being sent instead of Jedi, also like the Order doesn't want them released yet, now Alara, the peace conference?"

One of 'Tepasi's Finest' as she called herself looked out at the 'battle' beyond them "Everything we've feared seems to be on the table from correspondence we've intercepted from the Seps to Raxus Secundus. Full return of...conquered territory as they call it, from GAR-South's advances, to our recent advances from Mon Calamari and Bonadan. It's supposedly early stages yet...but there's been odd orders issued to two Clone Legions shortly after the talks were announced Headmaster, Commissioner. Recall and reequip here on Coruscant, a month or so from now, wouldn't look strange...bar it's a direct intervention to the rotation orders, and both are veteran legions already on rest and resupply"

"We have been discovered?" Gentis queried, and it was a real concern as their alliance have brought in more and more loyalist officers and supporters from Anaxes and Alsakan "Or something is suspected?"

"No, at least not directly, they'd simply arrest us. Rather I think something is being planned, something to do with dealing with potential opposition to any peace treaty that might not be deemed acceptable by many, such as ourselves, within the Republic. Codes are Jedi Council and Supreme Chancellor only, though who the orders came from are secret, as usual when it comes to such *minor* things as troop redeployments to the Capital"

Her sarcasm was biting as always Gentis found "We are on a clock then it seems"

"Most likely Gentis, Durant, oh, and the Aegis Guard and a number of Jedi know something as well, and need watching. I think our fears are going to be realised far too soon"

Both he and the Commissioner nodded in response to her words before he replied "We will be ready Alara, we have to be. Preparations are already in place to deal with the clone garrisons and their Jedi commanders, but it's vital they be taken alive, the Supreme Chancellor's safety while being secure also being vital to our cause. For the Republic, whatever the cost"

"For the Republic"

"The Republic, no matter the cost"

He nodded back to both. Time was ticking down now...

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