[19 BBY]
[Executive Security Solutions City-ship/Capital-class Warship Stormcrow {II}, In Orbit Eriadu, Eriadu System, Seswenna Sector, Outer Rim Territories]
"Force, Oh Force, Sithspit" I could hear Bariss mutter as she hugged herself, emotions spiking and swirling, as I brought my arm around her shoulder in some degree of comfort. Of course it was my fault in part, being the messenger to the end of sane universe from her point of view. I gave a squeeze as she stared ahead into nothingness for a few seconds, minutes, as we sat in silence beyond her breathing as it came and went in a frantic beat before slowly calming down. It was always a danger with a Force User when emotions flared, even more with Jedi I found as the Temple had...less than helpful ways to 'handle' such things; ie repress them.
I cared for Bariss, and I could see this coming, and I didn't trust her Master and the others not to screw it up and send my friend on a one way trip down the Dark Side. Bariss was kind, compassionate, and empathic; and those were doors to fanaticism when linked up with Jedi beliefs, or if she started to doubt them, or if someone decided to wipe out said Jedi. Anakin was similar, if different with the whole Padmé thing, but Bariss was here, and he and so many o thers were out of my reach right now. I hoped he was safe on Corellia, but the comms were spotty at best right now, and if I had to guess the Temple 'run away and hide' could led to many differing responses.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
It was a whisper, unhappy, but she wasn't pulling away from me, indeed she rested against me, the swirling emotions there, but not filled with anger or other more negative ones as best I could tell. So I went with the truth as my response, sighing softly, bring my free hand around to rest on her arm "I think you can already guess why Bariss. In the end I wanted to keep you safe, as best I could, so I cut a deal with those like Master Windu, with Stass, gave them all the information there was and then...hoped for the best. I'd hoped...but sometimes thing are beyond the power we possess"
We sat in silence again, an eternity stretching out before us as she digested the madness consuming the galaxy, and my role in those events. I offered what comfort I could, in the Force, with a simple squeeze of her shoulder, as she closed her eyes, mind somewhere else it felt like. It was hard to tell if she was meditating or just lost in thought, but she'd calmed at least, her usual serene self; the mask firmly back in place. Not that I could criticise, as I was prone it as well, hiding away, even from myself when the Force pressed upon me. It was the just an after-effect of Jedi training, her reaching out and pushing out 'releasing' her negative emotions into the Force.
"Thank you, but I...I have to go to my Master" she murmured after an age, before standing up straightening out the creases from her Jedi robes. That was all, a last glance back to me, a faint smile, as she walked out the automatic doors as they opened and she was gone. I sighed, sitting back in my couch. That could have gone better I supposed, but could have much was well; Bariss was calm, despite all the darkness falling, and preventing those I cared for Falling was...going to be a fight. The Temple was the anchor for so many, and with it gone...
"For another day Daron, it's time to be a warlord now" I murmured to myself, gulping down the last of the bittersweet liquid in the glass. Darth Sidious had fled to the Kuat by all reports, calling for all 'loyal democrats' to rally to the Republic while Coruscant was under the control of a military junta, though who exactly made up that junta wasn't clear yet. Probably because someone had apparently blown up the Senate buildings during the fighting; something helpful to Mr. I Am the Senate now on Kuat. I shook my head at that. Confusion and chaos ruled right now...
--
[19 BBY]
[Embassy of the Galactic Republic, Golden Beaches Ultra-Lux Hotel, Corellia, Corellian System, Corellian Sector, Core Worlds]
Obi-wan Kenobi sat patiently, listening to Senator Bel Iblis and his various aides along with Ahsoka, and Senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma as the Corellian listed out the unfolding disaster. In the weeks after the initial peace conference agreements it seemed the Republic had seen fit to tear itself apart in Civil War, everyone was calling for the arrest of the Jedi and...oh, yes, the Supreme Chancellor was apparently a Sith Lord. Anakin and Senator Amidala, who saw the old man a wise mentor, were currently having a bit of a crisis of faith thanks to that and the accusations being levelled at the Jedi Order.
'Or what is left of it' Obi-wan resisted thinking darkly to himself having felt the disruption in the Force, along with the mind numbing amount of reports drifting in off Clone forces turning on their Jedi commanders as if someone flicked a switch. Which they Obi-wan supposed, thinking on the 'aggression chips' that Anakin had so...aggressively...insisted be removed from 'slaves in truth' after the Zygerria and Moraband situations. At the very least neither he, Anakin, nor Ahsoka had been forced to cut down the likes of Rex in self-defence; even if the Clones who hadn't turned were all under 'quarantine' here on Corellia right now.
"It still seems unbelievable, that he could hide his nature for so long. I have met the man many times, and he showed no trace of Force abilities, let alone the Dark Side. Yet here we are..." Obi-wan answered shaking his head, still amazed at the horror, the absurdity, of the situation as they conversed on said madness that had consumed the galaxy "...and I must say I am glad that Corellia has resisted the urge to arrest we Jedi that are currently on your lovely world"
Bel Iblis gave a snort of, perhaps bitter, amusement at that "Coruscant's writ doesn't carry very far here on Corellia at the best of times, and now is certainly not the best of times. Corellia had long been a friend of the Jedi, despite differences of opinion with the Order in the past"
Obi-wan nodded politely at that, though it was...had been now he supposed painfully...an irritant to the Council. Corellia had made it a bad habit of tracking 'Corellian' Jedi and making efforts to 'keep good relations' with those drawn from their world. A relic of a time when the Corellian Jedi had been quasi-independent and allowed indulge in rather heretical practices before the Temple had brought them back into the Light. Right now though such a connection was nothing but a good thing as the Supreme Chancellor was a Sith trying to kill, or corrupt potential, Jedi. All while this 'Committee for Republic Safety and Defence' was calling for the arrest of any Jedi who didn't swear allegiance to their illegal military cabal.
"Thank you Senator, though I fear too many worlds seem to be bowing to militarist tyranny, and the lies of the Sith"
Bel Iblis nodded in response to Obi-wan's reply "Unfortunately true from what we have seen. Considering what I saw in the Senate Chambers prior my return here, and what we have heard of the destruction caused...it is perhaps understandable that many worlds would cleave to one side or the other who are issuing clear orders and direction. Those who remember what the Sith were, too few I fear, have rallied to the militarists for that, along with those seeking to avoid a Separatist conquest"
The Corellian sighed deeply as Mon Mothma and Bail Organa nodded slowly in agreement before he continued on, hands together on the table "But Corellia will not stand for this democracy being overthrown, we opposed Palpatine long before his true nature was revealed, and we will continue to do so. Your fellows are welcome here Master Jedi, and neither the minions of the Sith nor the GAR will be allowed into this system I must tell you. But we must stand together, Jedi, Senators, as Citizens, and attempt to persuade these militarists to stand down and restore the Senate and free elections"
Bail Organa cocked an eyebrow "You do not plan to fight Garm?"
"Not if we can avoid otherwise Bail..." Senator Bel Iblis answered shaking his head "...because as much as we want to oppose tyranny we are not blind to the fact a Sith Lord claims the title of Supreme Chancellor, and the Confederacy is likely to reopen hostilities once again, and they were ruled by a Sith till only recently"
Senator Mon Mothma smiled faintly, sadly "And we had thought Corellia was neutral in the conflict we had thought we had ended"
The Corellian man gave a snort again at that "Yes, but neutral for the Republic. The Separatists have good cause and points, but a dreadful approach as Sheev Palpatine just proved for the whole galaxy to see, and as a Founding World we had to make a point, to take a stand however unpopular. Now, I suspect we all must gather together in the face of these new threats to galactic freedom. Corellia, Alderaan, and Chandrilla are Core Worlds, we can bring others to our banner...hopefully to just provide shelter to those who need it..."
--
[19 BBY]
[Announcement by the Assembly of Republic Aligned Worlds, Operating under the Aegis of the Conclave of Eriadu]
We, the aforementioned worlds listed in Addendum 2/A, as agreed by our member worlds, call upon the Confederacy of Independent Systems to respect the current ceasefire between themselves and those forces loyal to the Galactic Republic.
This Assembly of Loyal Worlds though rejects the terms of the so-called Corellian Treaty, and will defend with our full force all sectors under the Aegis of the Galactic Republic's Grand Army of the Republic Galactic South. If any forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, or Separatist Alliance, attempts to occupy systems under this Aegis this will be treated as a breach of the ceasefire and a renewal of war with the Republic.
In furtherance of this, we the assembled Senators, Governors, and Senior Planetary Leaders, hereby elevate Wilhuff Tarkin of Eriadu to the status of Grand Moff, and Acting Chancellor {Southern Regions} by majority vote. To aid this task the Office of the Outer Rim Territories General Staff is to be formed to coordinate the defence of the Republic. All loyal Republic forces are to immediately submit themselves to the authority and reject any orders issued by the traitor Sheev Palpatine who, by his actions, has forfeited his position as Supreme Chancellor.
In cooperation with the Committee of Republic Safety and Defence the Conclave of Eriadu calls for the arrest of this traitor and his cabal, and for all Republic forces currently following his illegal orders to throw off this false authority and to do their duty. For the people of our glorious Galactic Republic, and the citizens of the Outer Rim Territories, we pledge ourselves to service and to victory.
Long Live the Galactic Republic!
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