"We need to minimize lives lost and the difficulty of this crusade." Admiral Bwua'tu explained.
"Right. We can't just send the Void Jumpers in blindly." Luke agreed.
They began planning assassinations on Sith that had already infiltrated the senate. They would be the most dangerous if left alive. They began assigning targets. Corran Horn would go after Jestat Vhool. Octa Ramis would go after Kayala Fei. Ben and Vestara would distract Ivaar Worken, then Seha Dorvald and Doran Sarkin-Tainer would finish him off. And many other assignments.
"But we shouldn't just kill them willy-nilly." Luke remarked.
"You're right." Bwua'tu agreed.
"But how exactly would we go about this?" Octa Ramis asked.
"What if we send out a message to them? Simply order their surrender, or they'll be killed." Kyle Katarn remarked.
"Wouldn't that give away positions?" Bwua'tu asked.
Luke snapped his fingers. "Katarn's onto something. Once the Siths in the senate are killed, the remaining ones will be more likely to capitulate."
"I'll organize this."Kyp Duron said.
As Jedi Masters and Jedi Knights were off accomplishing their designated assignments, Ben and Vestara stood outside Worken's office. "What's taking him so long?" Ben whispered.
"I can't say." Vestara replied.
They had to refrain from using the Force out of fear that they'd be discovered.
Vestara's guilt from killing Natua came back. Of all times, now? She wondered.
"You okay?" Ben asked.
Vestara silently nodded.
Ben decided that he'd get a similar answer that he received back in the Shadow, so he decided not to press further. Vestara got a little impatient, and went to the aides. "When will Senator Suldar be able to see us?" She asked.
"When he's ready." One of them replied coldly.
Vestara held back an eye roll, and went back to Ben. "Any idea on how we can get past them without raising suspicion?" Ben whispered. Vestara shook her head. She wanted to covertly tell the aides her identity to speed things up, but worried that it would just likely get her and Ben killed. Then, a light flashed on the aides' comlinks. "Suldar will see you two now." The other said. They opened the hatch. Finally. Vestara thought.
They walked in. Ben glanced at the folded piece of flimsi on the table they were bringing in. Still there. He thought, satisfied. Suldar looked up from his desk. "What do you two want?" He asked disinterestedly.
"We've brought a message." Ben said, hiding his nervousness.
Suldar gestured to them. "Bring it here." He ordered.
Ben picked up the flimsi, and brought it to the Sith Lord. He returned to Vestara. Suldar read the note, and grew perplexed. He slapped it. "Is this some kind of joke?" He asked.
"Whatever do you mean?" Vestara asked innocently.
Suldar slammed a fist against his desk. "You know bloody well what I mean!" He yelled. Just then, all Force sensitives felt the loss of lives in rapid succession. He turned to them. "You knew." He accused.
Ben and Vestara knew deep down that the facade was up. They feared being held for ransom. "You will explain what the devil is going on or-"
Seha and Doran used the Force to break down the hatch! Because of their lack of weapons, Ben and Vestara dove to the sides. Seha and Doran drew their lightsabers. "Charade's over, Ivaar Worken." Doran hissed.
Worken used the Force to send his desk crashing against the wall. "So be it." He snarled. He drew his lightsaber. Seha lept towards him, and he parried her strike. He used the Force and pushed Doran against the wall. He then kicked Seha in the gut. Doran recovered quickly, and Force Pushed Worken off his feet!
Worken jammed his lightsaber blade into the ground, coming to a grinding halt. Vestara and Seha combined Force powers, and sent the desk flying towards the Sith! Worken quickly sliced the furniture with his lightsaber, saving himself. Doran dove for him, and Worken was caught off guard. He aimed his lightsaber for the Jedi's shoulder, but Vestara used the Force to rip the lightsaber out of the Sith's hand. Seha and Doran aimed their blades at the Sith. "Your reign is coming to an end. We'll ask you one more time. Surrender, or die." Seha explained.
Their prisoner gritted his teeth. Drawing on the Force, he threw himself against the transparisteel window! He crashed through it, embedding thousands of shards into him! He plummeted towards the ground below, falling to his death. Vestara deactivated the lightsaber, and handed it to Doran. "I'm not supposed to have this." She said.
Doran nodded, and accepted it. "I appreciate your honesty." He said.
Wynn Dorvan had been tortured by Abeloth for weeks. Earlier, she had taken over Pagorski, and sent her to Daala's forces against the Imperial Remnant. He heard that the Jedi had returned to Coruscant. He was able to rest easy knowing that everything would be mostly okay.
Abeloth walked over to him. The wide, ear-to-ear mouth still creeped him out greatly. "I hear that the Jedi have returned." The multiple layers of voices that came from her mouth still haunted Dorvan gravely. "They will bring an end to your reign." He warned, hiding his fear.
"You were their best ally. Tell me what should be done." Abeloth demanded.
"If you lure them to this temple, they'll follow. They'll want to take it back. I suggest you fortify it against them." Of course, Dorvan's suggestion was meant to screw over Abeloth's plan. He knew that the Jedi would be able to take out the remaining Sith more easily. But the chuckle from Abeloth seemed like she had much more planned. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."
Dorvan shuddered.
The Void Jumper squadrons had their Jedi generals assigned to them. "They're ready when you'll be, Master Skywalker." Admiral Bwua'tu reported.
Luke began going over the plan. Explaining where the Jumpers would strike and besiege, and where the Jedi would enter the temple. "If for whatever reason the Sith can't be stopped, we'll use baradium to take out the temple. We have until 1200 hours." Luke warned.
Such brash words echoed through the minds of all present. The Jedi were willing to destroy such a sacred landmark just to defeat the enemy. It didn't sit well with many.
After the discussion, Luke spoke with Bazel Warv. "You'll be riding with the Solos. That's why you weren't assigned a squadron. They needed you specifically." He explained.
The Ramoan was confused. He then remembered the promise he and Amelia had made a while back. "Why does Alla-"
Luke cut him off. He sensed a group of people coming. He looked over, and saw Ben and Vestara round the corner. Luke looked back at Bazel, and slowly shook his head. The Ramoan understood, then left.
Luke turned to Vestara and Ben. "For the sake of this mission Vestara, I'll need you to hand over your lightsaber."
Vestara's eyes widened since it wasn't until after the assassinations that she was allowed her lightsaber back, then her expression settled. She nodded, and handed hers over. Luke attached it to his belt. "If it were up to me, I'd let you keep it. I want you to understand that, okay?" He asked.
"I understand. No one else trusts me." Vestara said, quietly. She felt ashamed.
Ben hugged her. He gently rubbed her back. Vestara melted into the embrace. Ben and Luke sensed turmoil in Vestara, but decided that it was just the lack of trust from other Jedi.
