Chapter 3 – Mystery Weapon
In light of Sulani's recent assistance to Senator Amidala during the incident with the kidnapped Huttlet; she has found herself more often than not included in Council affairs in lieu of the Masters who are off-world. At the present time, she was content to do this as it kept her, for the most part, inside the Temple. Currently, she was in conference with Masters Windu and Yoda while her brother and Chancellor Palpatine were there as Holograms. They were discussing the recent incidents regarding a Separatist weapon that they had no intelligence on as no one had lived to tell its tales. While waiting for Anakin and Ahsoka to enter the communications relay on their ship, they talked of their concerns.
"This weapon, in whatever form it takes, is a serious concern. Not a single survivor? I still find this all rather hard to take in," Sulani comments, her concern evident on her face.
"This mystery weapon has struck in a dozen systems and disappeared without a trace," Master Windu continues.
As Anakin and Ahsoka become present as Holograms, it is Chancellor Palpatine who speaks next, "We cannot afford to lose any more ships, my friends."
He spots Anakin, and with a smile, is the first to acknowledge his presence, "Ah, Master Skywalker. Have you had any success in finding General Grievous' secret weapon?"
Anakin pulls up a Holo of a star system before talking, "Master Plo was here in the Abregado System when we lost contact. He was asking for assistance when the transmission cut out. We've had no further contact from General Plo Koon. The absence of distress beacons indicates that his fleet was…" he sends a hesitant look Ahsoka's way before continuing. "That his fleet was destroyed like the others. We are about to prepare a rescue mission."
"Hasn't clone intelligence reported this weapon never leaves any survivors?" Chancellor Palpatine asks, clearly unsure about any attempt at a rescue mission.
"The Separatists are being unusually tidy," Obi-Wan adds. "They don't want any witnesses."
"Tragic are these losses, but prevent more we must," Master Yoda concludes.
"All our battle cruisers will be reassigned to guard our supply convoys, including yours Skywalker," Master Windu informs, continuing for Master Yoda's words. "I'm afraid we can't risk any more ships with a rescue mission."
What happened next was a little bit upsetting for Sulani, oh why could Ahsoka not hold her tongue?
"Wait! Just because there haven't been any survivors before doesn't mean there won't be any this time," she interrupts.
"Ahsoka, mind your words, my child," Sulani quickly interjects.
"Boldly spoken for one so young," Chancellor Palpatine declares.
"She is learning from Anakin," Obi-Wan adds good-naturedly.
I honestly would rather Ahsoka does not use Anakin as an excuse for any other situations like this; he was supposed to be teaching her to be more mindful. Sulani could see that Anakin himself was a little put off by Ahsoka's outburst as well. "Excuse my Padawan. We will deploy as you have instructed, Master. "
The final words spoken in the conversation as all calls are cancelled, Sulani can only sigh to herself as she turns to face the Masters beside her, "I apologise Masters, I certainly never taught her to do that, though from the look of things; Anakin will certainly give her a dressing down for her words."
"Worry, you should not, Mother Sulani. Learn these things, the youngling will," Master Yoda assures her as the two male Jedi leave the briefing room.
Sulani bows to their backs before slumping into a seat to the side; she certainly hopes Anakin will not be too harsh on her.
Sulani spent as much time as she could with her younglings as not a single day seemed to go by without her getting involved in something else war related. These days, she spent less and less time with them; it was starting to grate on her nerves, but she knew they understood she was needed elsewhere for now. It felt like barely any time had passed before she was back in the briefing room with Master Windu and Yoda for another update on the situation at hand. Obi-Wan and Chancellor Palpatine were present in image again to get involved. "Another ship lost to this weapon, it certainly must be something if it can take out an entire cruiser and every single member of its crew with no survivors and no trace to follow."
Sulani was starting to lose a little hope with the situation as she said those words, all this destruction and death with nothing to show for it on their end. "We must find a way to destroy this mystery weapon," Master Windu agreed.
Yoda hums to himself before adding his own words, "In this war, a step ahead of us Dooku always seems."
Sulani gave a resigned sigh, "I really wish we knew how he was doing this."
Everyone present could only agree, but the Chancellor was worried about something else, "Tell me, has there been any word from Master Plo Koon and his fleet?"
"No," Windu answers with a downcast look. "We must fear the worst."
"Actually," Obi-Wan cut in and Sulani feared what would follow. "I just received word that Anakin has found the remains of Master Plo's fleet and is searching the debris for survivors."
Sulani closed her eyes tight while letting out a frustrated breath, "Of course he is."
"On whose authority has he done this?" Chancellor Palpatine asks.
"His own, I'm afraid."
Sulani could only think that it just keeps getting better and better. Master Windu shares his concerns on this, "With his fleet out of position, we are left vulnerable."
"Oh," Obi-Wan starts. "His fleet is right where it should be. He's taken only a small ship and his Padawan."
The final words were directed at Sulani and she let out another sigh, only more like the sigh of the long-suffering. Yoda sighs too, only with a little more frustration, "Twice the trouble, they have become. A reckless decision, Skywalker has made."
"Let us hope it is not a costly one," the Chancellor says solemnly.
"I will have a word with Anakin then," Sulani interjects.
"Perhaps a good idea," Chancellor Palpatine agrees. "I will as well."
Ahsoka was trying so hard not to act as nervous as she was; it was taking far too long to locate Master Plo. She wanted to be able to help him and the longer it took; the more hope she lost. As she was thinking about the day he had brought her to the Temple, an incoming transmission signalled. Anakin quickly answers and it is easy to see he almost immediately regrets it upon seeing Mother's rather stern face alongside that of the Chancellor's concerned one. Thankfully, at least to Anakin, Palpatine talks first "Anakin, the Council is furious."
He would have said more if Mother Sulani had not interrupted him, "I am also quite furious Anakin; your recklessness is setting a terrible example for Ahsoka."
The Chancellor simply continues, though he had nodded along to her second statement, "She is correct on this Anakin, your Padawan looks to you for example. Why have you left your post?"
"I decided we couldn't just give up on Master Plo Koon."
Mother Sulani's demeanour only softened slightly, but it was clear she was still a little irate. She decided not to say more and allowed Palpatine to speak instead, "A noble gesture, Anakin, but the Council feels your daring may put others in danger."
"They are perhaps not wrong Anakin, Admiral Yularen is a good Commander, but that is your fleet and you need to be the one to lead them," Sulani reminds him, her irritation now simmered out.
"Indeed," the Chancellor concurs. "Please listen to me Anakin. Return at once."
"Yes, Excellency," Anakin replies immediately; not only to appease Chancellor Palpatine, but so as not to irritate Mother Sulani even further.
After making eye contact with Ahsoka, Mother Sulani terminates her end of the transmission, Chancellor Palpatine not far behind as he had said all that he needed to. It was at this moment that Ahsoka started to feel something in the Force. She concentrated on the feeling before she realised what it was; it was Master Plo.
The rescue of Master Plo had been successful, which was the only thing keeping Ahsoka from being overly anxious as her and her Master waited for the Council to answer their hails. The most likely to answer them would be Masters Windu and Yoda as always, but her Mother had become an almost permanent fixture in the Council's briefing room. Ahsoka half expected Mother Sulani to be on the Council by the time this war was over; she certainly deserved the honour and she was definitely the best choice for the first Guardian Mother to be a Council Member. That thought had just entered her head when the people she expected to see came on the Holo, her Mother among them. "Hello Masters, Mother."
Alongside Anakin's greeting, Master Plo and Ahsoka bowed with him in greeting as well. "Oh, Master Plo, thank the Force you are still with us," Mother Sulani quickly says as she notices him there.
"Yes, I am very fortunate that General Skywalker and his Padawan were able to find me and a few of my men who had survived with me," Master Plo states. "With this, we now also have intelligence on Grievous' weapon."
"Know, you do, what the weapon is?" Master Yoda asks with an expectant tone.
"Yes Master Yoda," Anakin starts. "We were faced with it while escaping with Master Plo; it is an Ion Cannon. A particularly large and dangerous Ion Cannon."
"Hmm, hopefully this knowledge can help us to put a stop to it. We cannot lose any more ships to this thing, the stakes are just way too high," with those words, Mother Sulani was not wrong.
Too many good men had been killed because of this thing and it was time something was done about it.
"Medical transports and now a medical station? I honestly never thought General Grievous could get any lower, but he just did," Mother Sulani's indignation reverberates around the briefing room.
In her frustration, she has her hands held together, wringing them while pressing them to her chest. This weapon needed to be dealt with and soon.
Members of the Council, as well as Mother Sulani, were currently discussing the latest developments after getting word from Admiral Yularen on Anakin's behalf. The Admiral had passed on the word about the medical transport and the Droid General's most likely next target. He also informed them about Anakin's plan to destroy the ship. "We should have expected something like this Mother, General Grievous has no honour," Master Ti points out in a placating tone of voice.
"Yes, I suppose that is true, this is Grievous we're talking about. What are Anakin's chances of pulling this off I wonder?" her words are accompanied by her incessant pacing of the room; the Council members following her movements with their eyes.
"Know of Skywalker's skills as a pilot, we do. Plo Koon accompanying him, I have no doubt. Work this plan must, or problems this will continue to give us," Master Yoda wisely reminds everyone present.
All Jedi present could only agree; if Anakin failed, who knows how much more damage the weapon could cause.
A/N: Another chapter woohoo. I'm just glad I'm getting them out so quickly, though there will probably be a decline soon who knows. Work is going to be hectic for a few weeks starting Monday so we'll see.
There's another chapter coming, so I'll say more in that one.
Seza, out.