Chapter Eleven: New Leadership
Disclaimer: See Chapter One
Hey Everyone, welcome back to Legacy of the Force, and I hope you enjoyed the last chapter, some important stuff happened there, Cough Hutts are now in the war Cough. I know I said that this would be Anakin's trial, but well a side story became a plot point. You'll see. I did say last time that Anakin had two days from the execution of Sidious until his trial, so…. Anyway, Enjoy.
Coruscant, Galactic Senate
A day after the last Supreme Chancellor was executed for treason, the Senate was called to session to elect a new Supreme Chancellor. Normally, one day would be for nominations, but due to the state of affairs the galaxy was in, they needed to have both nominations and elections on the same day.
At the top of the day, after Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda got them to order, was the big nomination. The pod for the sector of Chandrila detached from its place. "The Republic needs someone who will lead us toward peace. I hereby nominate the respectable senator Bail Organa of Alderaan." In the wake of everything that happened with Palpatine and his supporters in the Senate taking a massive blow by many of them being recalled and replaced or were on thin ice with their worlds, the nomination of Bail Organa would go nearly uncontested.
If it were not for Padme's secret marriage being blown into the open, she would have also been a potential pick for Chancellor, if Palpatine was not a former Senator from Naboo. There were a few other smaller nominations, but they did not have as much backing as Organa would have. It was nearly a landslide for Organa. Perhaps, it was a sign that the Republic wanted to pursue peace and to move away from the authoritarian route Palpatine was leading the Republic in.
After a recess, as the now Chancellor Organa ascended on the podium, it seemed to many that he was already fully aware of the weight on his shoulders. It seemed that the slight weariness in his eyes was comforting to the Senate as it showed that he wanted the war to end soon, and that he would ensure the Republic would survive.
"It is with a heavy heart that I agree to lead the Republic in this dark hour," Bail began his somber inauguration speech. "The office I now hold is a far cry from what it once was. When this terrible war is over, the Senate will return to where it was before the war began, with its power restored to it. Power this office should not have had in the first place." Bail knew he had to be careful how he worded things, as that was close to what Palpatine once said when the GAR was formed. He knew his detractors would be on him for that, but he needed them to know that he meant it when he said that he would lay down power at the end of the war. He could feel Senator Mon Mothma quirking an eyebrow at him as she remembered the same speech he did. He will deal with that later. "In my term, I intend to see this blasted war come to a close with peace and democracy restored to these halls." As Bail gave his speech, those that had supported Palpatine, but were not in his pocket seemed moved by the new Chancellor's words. Bail was a man that did everything he says he will do.
"In an effort to show my commitment to ending the war, it is with this moment that I announce an amnesty program. Any Confederate world that wants to return to the Republic without bloodshed, all you have to do is renounce the Confederacy and willingly come back." There was some shock but also applause among the Senate. Already Organa was taking steps toward peace. He locked eyes with the Senator of Naboo for a second. It was in the memory of the late Senator Mina Bonteri that he announced it, his eyes swung over to Senator Lux Bonteri of Onderon, who nodded in appreciation to his mother's last efforts before Dooku had her murdered.
"I also wish to throw my support as Chancellor behind our noble guardians, the Jedi Knights that currently lead our clone troops in the name of freedom and justice to restore peace." Some may see him as a puppet of the Order, but he knew what he needed to do. The Republic owed the Jedi Order a great deal for saving it from Palpatine, and now Organa had the hard job to undo the damage Palpatine did by spreading the lie of the Jedi starting the war in an attempt to seize control of the Senate and that Dooku was their agent. As he continued his speech, he won over more of his detractors. When all was said and done, Bail Organa was the elected Chancellor of a Republic at war and now he had to ensure that peace came to the galaxy.
Later, in the Chancellor's office at the Executive Building, Bail sat at the desk that Palpatine used. He planned to go back to using the office in the Presidential Palace, but for now, he had to use Palpatine's office. Currently both Senators Amidala and Mothma were sitting in the chairs in front of his desk. Bail had poured all of them a glass of whatever Palpatine had in the office, him remarking to get wine from Alderaan in there. Bail wondered how long it would take Mothma to berate him on some of his word choices.
"Good speech, just a little too close to one your predecessor gave before Geonosis," Mothma said. There it was, right off the bat.
"I know, I could feel you silently questioning me when I said it, but it gets my point across." Bail sighed and sipped his drink, the trial and the election have put stress on him that dulled his sense of pride in this moment that was for celebration. "No doubt some of my detractors will try to use it against me."
"Well, at least you didn't repeat what he said verbatim," Mothma sighed in thought about how this may reflect on the new Chancellor and his attempts to move to peace.
"Thank you, Chancellor, for honoring Mina," Padme said, changing topic.
"Padme, just because I am Chancellor now, doesn't change things, you can still call me Bail." Organa half smiled at her attempt to be formal. "Senator Bonteri already thanked me before we got here." Changing the topic for a second, "I never liked the color in this office," he said referring to the maroon walls.
"Yeah, no wonder he liked it," Padme said as she sipped her drink, recognizing it as a Naboo wine. At least, he didn't forget everything from his homeworld.
Unexpectedly, the communication console in Bail's desk beeped, to which all three raised their eyebrows in confusion. Answering it, the hologram of Duchess Satine Kryze materialized. "Duchess Satine, what can I do for you?" Bail asked.
"Allow me to present Mandalore's and my own congratulations to the election, Chancellor Organa. From what my friend, Senator Amidala has told me, you will do well," the holo said, not knowing that Padme was seated behind it.
"I told no lie, Satine," Padme said. The holo turned a sec to look at her.
"Congrats to you by the way, on your marriage," Satine said, a thought crossing her mind about her own possible marriage.
"Thanks, somehow, it has yet to bite me being public," she remarked, hoping that it wouldn't.
"In any case," the holo turned back to Organa. "I am calling to request two things. First, I need Fenn Rau to return to Mandalore to represent his clan when anointing a new Mand'alor, which I need to lead our reborn armies in war on the Republic's side. Second, I need Arla Fett transferred out of the Valorum Center and brought to a facility here on Mandalore. She will be cared for and watched." Originally, Satine was going to send a message to Obi-Wan on that matter with Rau, but timing worked out to ask Organa, as the now Commander-in-Chief of the GAR.
"Done, it is good to have your support, Duchess." Bail, like many, was still processing the fact of the Duchess taking up arms. To be honest though, he knew it was going to be a problem maintaining the GAR for one reason or another with the banks supporting both sides and gouging the Republic, and public support being low and other issues. The holo faded out, and Bail made a note to deal with that after his meeting with Padme and Mon Mothma was over. "I wish I had got elected in an era of peace," he bluntly to the others.
"We all do, but you will guide us to peace," Mothma said.
"If the stress does not kill me," Bail slightly laughed, but he knew his work was just beginning.
While this was going on, the Jedi Council had put out a call to its members that were spread out to various posts or fronts, as they were preparing to judge Skywalker for his crime.
Kamino
"Master Ti, you are required to return to Coruscant for a Council meeting," Master Windu said to the Togruta.
"Master Windu, what would require me to leave Kamino when I normally am present over holo?" Shaak Ti asked. In the course of the war or just in case of missions, Council Members would sit in over holo.
"Decide on the future of Knight Skywalker, we must," Master Yoda told her. Shaak Ti's brow raised in question, the way they said it made it seem like they had to decide if Skywalker was to remain in the order.
"Is it due to his marriage?" Shaak Ti asked. Personally, she did not think it was that big of a deal.
"No, it is not," Yoda said. The way the Grand Master replied concerned Shaak Ti a bit.
"I will return shortly, my masters," Shaak Ti said as the hologram disappeared. What did Skywalker do, other than get married? Whatever it was, it was major. She shrugged and started to head to tell the Prime Minister that she would be leaving for a little while.
However, something stopped her a sec. She felt a presence in the Force, that of a Jedi Master. As far as she knew, she was the only Jedi Master assigned to oversee the production and training of Clones. Deciding that this needed to be investigated first, she detoured to find it. She followed the presence in the Force to a hanger bay, where she found the Force emanating from a Kaminoan that was talking to a Clone Trooper about supplies. What stood out to her was the bronze colored lightsaber hilt hanging from the Kaminoan's hip.
She had heard the tales of a long lived Kaminoan Jedi Master that would seldom be seen at the Temple, maybe a half a dozen times. She hasn't been seen in decades, maybe more. Some didn't believe she was still alive. Shaak reached out with the Force to alert the other Jedi Master that she was there. The Kaminoan turned to look at her in puzzlement, then turned to finish her conversation with the Trooper. Once that matter was settled, the Kaminoan turned to the Togruta Council Member.
"Master Kina Ha? Is that you?" Shaak Ti asked as she walked up to the other Jedi Master.
"Yes, I am" she said gracefully "and you are Master?" Kina had realized that the Jedi before her was also a Master level Jedi.
"Master Shaak Ti of the High Council. I didn't think you were still alive," she expressed her shock.
"Council Member? I suppose that makes sense considering…" Kina motioned to the Clones. In her exile, she had at least been following the news. The fact they were in this war as Generals did not entirely sit well with her, as she was more aligned with the Code than the Order.
"Someone has to oversee them, and I was sent. However, I need to return to Coruscant, would you mind taking over for me here until I return?" Shaak Ti asked, hoping the Kaminoan would agree.
"I will take over the watch for now. It will give me a chance to learn more about this army of darkness I had feared. Plus, I may be able to go where you may not," Kina Ha said, considering she was at least one of them, and not an outsider like Shaak Ti.
"Army of Darkness?" Shaak asked, confused. Though, she had an inkling due to the trial.
"I had a vision a long time ago of an army of darkness rising out of Kamino, so I rushed home, though there was no such army at the time. So, I waited in exile, for the right time to stop it. Little did I realize the time was upon me," Kina said, indicating that she had seen the news.
"Well, I was on my way to inform the Prime Minister of my departure when I found you. Shall we go talk to him? Shaak Ti indicated the way she was going to go. Kina acquiesced and followed the other Jedi Master.
As they walked, Kina had to keep herself from rolling her eyes a good bit, as the looks she got from both clones and fellow Kaminoans made her want to in exasperation. She had heard a clone remark "there is a Kaminoan General?" Meaning they had caught sight of her lightsaber, the outfit she was wearing also drew looks from the Kaminoan scientists as it was more well suited to either being off planet or comfort around her home at the bottom of the ocean. She could sense the faint disgust from some of the clone masters as she knew they saw her as a threat or abomination, part of why she left in the first place and ran into her master.
"Who was your master, Master Ha?" Shaak Ti asked as they walked. The last time Kina walked the Temple was centuries ago. No wonder this Jedi master was interested in her.
"I was trained by a Trandoshan Jedi Master Kras'dohk, they called him Rogue at the time as he was wandering the galaxy when he found me at a time of some problems the Republic was going through. If your next question is how old am I, I was there over three thousand years ago, I have seen wars with Mandalorians, I have seen the Jedi Civil War and I saw the Sith go into hiding." Kina Ha told her her whole backstory in one sentence. "No, Longevity is not natural of my species, I was modified to survive long hyper jumps into deep space that never occurred. I left when my Force talents manifested and I no longer fit the perfectionist views of my peers." There was a hint of bitterness to the Kaminoans voice. Shaak Ti did not know what to say. She had learned much of Kaminoan society while she was here, but did not know that part about how they view the Force in their species.
"That must have been difficult for you," Shaak Ti said.
Kina shrugged it off, "remind me some time, to tell you what happens if someone is born with green eyes around here." As she said it, out of the corner of her eye, she saw several fellow Kaminoans try to act inconspicuously around the Jedi Council Member, meaning to Kina that it had come up in recent years. She made a note to do something about that if she could.
As they entered a lift to the Prime Minister's office, "What happens to someone with green eyes?" Shaak Ti did not like where this conversation was going.
"Have you noticed how Kaminoans only have gray, blue and yellow eyes, as part of our caste system? Gray eyes being the top of it? Well, if there is ever a "breach of caste,"" Kina made air quotes to signify what she meant. Continuing on, "between the blue and yellow that results in a green eyed offspring, they are seen as a threat and exterminated soon after birth."
To say Shaak Ti was horrified, was an understatement. "That is awful." She could not entirely judge one culture for their actions. Both as a Jedi and her own species exposed their children to death at a young age, she had a faint memory of her mother hunting a creature with her in a sack on her chest, before the Order came to recruit her.
"I blame the Kaminoan Ascetics, crazy monks," Kina shook her long head. While she was here, she intended to dismantle that cult if she was allowed to by the Council. The rest of the ride and walk to the office was in silence.
Once they had reached the Prime Minister's office in silence, and entered. "Master Jedi," the Prime Minister greeted Shaak Ti, then his eyes fell on Kina Ha and his eyes narrowed in thought. Kina knew what he was thinking considering her lightsaber was in plain view. "Who is this?" He asked.
"I am Jedi Master Kina Ha, native of Kamino, from a long time ago," Kina introduced herself.
"Master Ha will be taking over for me for the time being, I must return temporarily to Coruscant for High Council matters. I will return when the matter is settled." Shaak Ti respectfully bowed her head to the Prime Minister and then left the room. Kina Ha approached the Prime Minister and took a seat opposite Taun We who seemed like she was glad to see her.
"Now, tell me about this Clone Army for the Republic," She asked the Prime Minister.
Later
Being informed on the Grand Army of the Republic from the perspective of her own people, Kina Ha now spent some time doing some sleuthing of her own into the kinds of soldiers they had created. While she had told Shaak Ti that she would be able to go where Ti could not, it was not much better for her. If she wanted to, she could blend in with the researchers and cloning experts if she merely changed her outfit, she wanted to be known to be a Jedi with her saber hanging for all to see. She knew she was not welcome here, only slightly more welcome than Master Shaak Ti as she was Kaminoan, but was viewed with disgust by many fellow members of her species. Mainly her Force-Sensitivity was the issue at play, not so much her longevity, as it was seen as a deviation that was unacceptable in the eyes of their society. Kina Ha also possessed a cunning sense of humor many of her species lacked. Though, she could still go and look into things that would be kept away from Shaak Ti as a Kaminoan.
Currently she was sitting at an administration terminal and she was able to use some skills she picked up in her long years to poke around into the systems of the facility. She dug up information on every Clone she wanted to know about.
As she delved into records of clone forces, she discovered several curious things, first was the several divisions of Clones that were assigned as "Liberate Kamino." She was disturbed at finding records of the Clone Assassins that were assigned to Republic Special Operations Brigades and other special units. Perhaps the most perplexing, however, was the reference to two unique clones, designated X1 and X2, that they were cloned from a genetic sample taken from an unnamed injured Jedi that needed medical assistance. Kina was both intrigued and horrified that her people had cloned a Jedi. She could find no mention if their Force talents had manifested yet, but she filed it away for later to report to the High Council. "Assigned to Master Ferroda, huh, okay then. Now as for these Anti-Troopers…" she said to herself as she closed down her terminal and went to question the Prime Minister Lama Su, making sure her Lightsaber was strapped to her hip, just in case.
Upon entering the Prime Minister's office, she saw Taun We there as well. She silently sighed, Taun We was one of the few of her people that was actually nice to her and didn't see her as some threat to their society like many of the scientists there did.
"Ah Master Jedi," Lama Su greeted her. She could feel the disguised disgust from him at her, and her lip twitched slightly in annoyance, to which Taun We picked up on but did not say anything. Kina took a seat to the Prime Minister's left and opposite Taun We. "Prime Minister, I have been doing some digging into these clones you have produced and I have found some concerning information."
"I see, and you wish to discuss it," Lama Su's voice turned cold. He knew where this was going. Taun We's eyes shifted between the both of them.
"Aside from the Assassins, which I will ignore for the moment, I wanted information about the supposed Anti-Troopers and the ones known as X1 and X2."
"Before Chancellor Palpatine was exposed for who he was, he and I had a falling out as businessmen and he commissioned new cloning centers on Coruscant's moon using Spaarti Cloning and did not hire us to staff the place. I grew concerned that one day, he would see us as a threat and held some clones back to protect and if necessary liberate Kamino from an increasingly tyrannical government. Though it seems there is little need for them now. The Anti-Troopers were to be the next iteration of that defense force if need be. As for X1 and X2, a Jedi Master and his injured padawan arrived around the time we were commissioned to create the Republic's military. Several of the doctors took genetic samples, from the padawan in the process of healing him, to study." Kina's right eye ridge cocked up in question, as humans would raise an eyebrow. That seemed wrong to her, as it was done without the Jedi's consent. "From those samples we created two clones, X1 and X2, trying to see if we could replicate a Jedi."
"Did their Force-Sensitivity ever show itself?" Kina Ha needed to know this information before she told the council.
"Not that we are aware, but we did test them for their Midichlorian count as opposed to the clones of Jango Fett, which came back significantly higher than the regular clones."
"Means little in the grand scheme of things, as a high Midichlorian count does not mean they can touch it, but it is a good signifier." Kina sighed, she had enough to report to the High Council. "Tell me, Prime Minister, do you remember the names of these Jedi?"
Lama Su closed his eyes in thought for a moment to try to recall. He could recall the grizzled war hardened face of the Master. "Master Kota and Padawan Grey. That is what I can remember." Kina figured that the Council would know who those Jedi were, as she did not.
"Thank you for your time, Prime Minister," a hint of sarcasm in her voice, as she stood up.
"Any time, Master Jedi," Lama Su's formality also showed sarcasm.
When all was said and done, Taun We escorted Kina Ha out of the Prime Minister's office and spoke with the ancient Jedi. "I apologize for the Prime Minister's apprehension when meeting you," Taun We said.
"I expected it, most of our colleagues view me as an abomination, mostly for my gifts which is why I left so long ago," Kina Ha sighed as they walked down the sterile white hall. As they passed several clones, Kina Ha had to ask the other female, "Do you care for them?"
"I do, more so than others. However, I can not care for them as I would like, for if I did, I would be worried sick all the time." Kina had to surmise that was better than nothing for her species. "Though, there is one I was close to. I wish I could see him again, but I doubt that will ever happen," Taun We sighed in melancholy.
"Who?" Kina asked, curious.
"Boba, the First Clone, unmodified, and raised as a son to Jango Fett, the Clone Template," Taun We explained to the Jedi Master. "I remember a couple days before the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi showed up to get a progress report, I was called to the Fett apartment and held a crying Boba until he had fallen asleep in my lap," Taun We half sad smiled in memory of the night in question.
Flashback, 3 years ago
As Taun We was getting ready for bed, her comlink went off. Answering it, "Hello?"
"Miss Taun We?" a feminine robotic voice asked.
"Yes, MU-12?" Taun We asked back. Now she was concerned if the Fett droid was calling her at this hour.
"Sorry to bother you, but young Master Boba is having a bit of an emotional breakdown and asked for you personally," the droid told her.
"I am on my way," she told the droid before cutting it off. Boba was like a son to her, so if he needed her, she would be there, even though she had other responsibilities to all the clones.
When she arrived at the Fett Apartment, the droid answered. "Miss Taun We, I am glad you are here. Young Master Boba is on the couch." the droid let the Kaminoan in and closed the door.
"Where is Jango?" Taun We asked.
"Training," responded the droid. Taun focused on Boba and dismissed the droid.
She sat next to the crying boy, who hugged the Kaminoan. "What is going on, Boba?" Taun asked the boy.
"Dad returned home without Zam, and when I asked him where she was, he told me he had to kill her on the mission." Boba told her, burying his head into her slender shoulder.
Now, Taun We understood what had happened. The death of the only other living mother figure in his life was killed by his father. Boba had grown a bit close to the Clawdite. Taun We stayed with the boy long after he had fallen asleep in her lap, until after Jango had returned.
Present
"What caused it, If I may ask?" Kina asked, curious. It was not like one of her species to be so kind to what they see as products.
"It's not for me to say," Taun We said, protecting something Boba told her in an emotional state. That night, she had stayed with the boy long after he had fallen asleep, stroking his hair. She was also fairly certain that in his sleep, Boba had called her Mom. "I do wish I could see him again, but I think fate will not let me." Taun We sighed, now lamenting the fact that she may never see Boba again. Even if they did, it may be with her at the business end of a blaster in his hand. Not that she believed he would be able to kill her.
"Never know, perhaps one day, he will return or you will leave here and find him." Kina Ha found this particular member of her species a fascinating outlier.
"Maybe," Taun We said as they continued to walk to where they needed to go. Kina Ha mused on the woman next to her, more suited to the raising of clones than others, that is for sure.
Serenno
Dooku was not pleased with the election of Chancellor Organa. In his inauguration speech, he had offered amnesty to any Confederate world that wanted to return to the Republic. While none had yet to reject the Confederacy of Independent Systems, he knew some would. He would need to conquer them later. He also had to plan for his meeting with the Separatist Council, Gunray was going to be a problem for one reason or another. Some days he understood why Grievous wanted to kill the Neimoidian Viceroy representing the Trade Federation. He would have to tell them that the Republic would be gunning for them now, that the Jedi and the GAR now have what they need to take them down, and that it would be a good idea to keep up the fight.
Speaking of Grievous, he had summoned Grievous into his command room, who was currently kneeling before his Lord and saber teacher, awaiting Dooku's next command.
"Grievous, I need you to do something different for me. I need you to make a public appearance on the Holonet," Dooku began to tell the cyborg general.
"What?" Grievous coughed slightly, his cybernetics were acting up on him. His yellow eyes narrowed in confusion at the Count.
"I need you to tell the galaxy about what happened to Kalee that made you join us," Dooku told him.
"Is this a way to sway systems to the cause?" Grievous had heard the news about the new Chancellor. While he really did not care about the civilians of the Confederate cause, as the Supreme Commander, he did care about how difficult it would be to fight the war if they had systems defecting to the Republic.
"We will pay the new Republic Chancellor back for his amnesty program," Dooku stroked his beard in thought.
"Very well, Count. By the way, what is your plan to get more commanders in our forces?" Grievous was thinking tactically, with the war to begin again.
"I have a few ideas. First, I need to replace Durge, and I think I have found him." A holo projected from Dooku's desk, of a Gen'Dai. "That is Rayvis, a mercenary known for killing Jedi. He is imprisoned in The Prism, and we are going to free him." The Prism was a secret Jedi prison in Wild Space, Dooku knew about it due to the time he had served on the Council. "There is also a group of Dark Siders on Mustafar called the Blackguard, that may be willing to join the cause. They are on the way to the Prism. We leave in a couple of days, once I deal with the Separatist Council." Grievous rolled his eyes, he hated dealing with them, Gunray and San Hill chief among them for different reasons.
Dooku was going to use the ceasefire he had declared to reorganize the Confederate Military command structure. He was still currently in a better position than the Republic at the moment, and he was going to capitalize on the time he bought himself. Without Sidious, Dooku could move forward with his idea of a Sith Order, his Fist of the Empire and the Blackguard would be the beginning, as well as the remainder of the Dark Acolytes.
"We?" Grievous coughed out, asking if the Count meant that he was to join him.
"I will need you when we free Rayvis, remember fighting Durge?" Dooku asked.
Grievous remembered well, and understood why the Count wanted him to go with him, "very well, Count."
"Tomorrow, while I deal with the Council, make your speech, make it a good one," Dooku said with a sly smirk on his face. Grievous rolled his eyes, Dooku was better at the public speech thing than he was. He was good at speeches to lead warriors as he did as a Kaleesh Warlord, but not to sway people to the cause.
I also need to find a new apprentice, Dooku thought, as he was now the Sith Master, and the Rule of Two falls to him to continue. Part of him wondered if he would live to train an apprentice to be the next master. Komari Vosa was long dead and Asajj Ventress hated him and probably wanted there to be a price on his head big enough for her to come after him. Problems for another day, for now, he had a war to plan and a speech to prepare.
Hey everyone, hope you enjoyed that chapter and I promise next time is the trial of Anakin Skywalker. Stay tuned.
Yeah, Kamino kinda got a way from me and it went places. Remeber how I said this would be a Canon/Legends amalgam universe, yeah it shows in this chapter, if you caught everything from both, good for you. I bet you are wondering about Boba and Taun We, it came to me one day while reading her Wookiepedia page for fun and well that happened. As for Dooku, well, Jedi Survivor fans, buckle up, Bedlam Raiders incoming! Cal Kestis will come later, stay tuned. The War is just beginning.
The Emperor is out, Peace.