AN: What if a very different Delkatar Veil found himself entangled in the events that ultimately led to the Clone Wars? Could two Jedi Masters from an age long past save the Republic? Or perhaps their best intentions would expose the darker side of the Republic and throw the galaxy in a conflict for its very soul...

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Star Wars movies, TV series, books, comics or games. They all belong to their respective creators and/or copyright owners. I make no money from this story. It's not for sale or rent.

Knights of the Republic

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Prologue

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Part 1

Royal Palace

Theed

Naboo

When she got out of bed, Queen Padme Amidala didn't expect to receive a pair of... strange visitors. Yes, that was perhaps the best way to put it. The young monarch was delighted to host the confused and decidedly odd Jedi. Who would have thought that the distinguished looking older man and the boisterous redhead woman were married? Jedi weren't supposed to marry or have attachments, were they?

Still, the guests were delightful company and told fascinating tales of an age that was largely forgotten unless you were a scholar with interest in history.

"Captain, how fare our guests?" Amidala asked the Chief of her Royal Guard, when the dark skinned man appeared by her side.

"They were talking with the Jedi Council and retired only early in the morning. We're to expect more visitors – a Jedi Master Adi-Mundi, a Knight and their Padawan as well. They should arrive in the next few days."

"We'll be honoured by their presence." Amidala used the Royal we, even if personally she wasn't too fond of holding herself at a hands' length from her people as protocol dictated. "The Trade Federation?"

"We received another demand to remove any taxes and tolls from their ships passing through our system. This time there was a very emphatic 'or else' implied."

"They're getting more and more bold. This is not how a Republic members should act!" Amidala was unable to keep her righteous indignation out of her voice. She took a moment to smooth her bearing before continuing. "If they have problem with our taxes, then such a dispute should be solved through the proper channels. If they persist we will lodge a former complain both with the Ministry of Trade and the Senate if we have to!"

"I'm sure your ministers will be delighted to hear that, your Majesty." The Commander's tone did hold a hint of approval, Amidala thought.

"We certainly hope so." The Queen allowed.

In truth, there were members of her government who were eager to cave in to the Trade Federation's demands. Amidala wasn't sure if they were bought, thought that it might be for the best for some reason or were actually afraid of what the corporation might do. She found the latter unlikely even if rumours confirming it did reach her handmaidens, who among other things acted as an informal channel to quietly pass messages between the office of the Queen and her government.

"What is on the agenda for today?" Amidala asked. She did know the important points – meeting her government to formulate how to respond to the latest round of Trade Federation harassment, a working lunch with ambassadors from various close trade partners and a formal dinner with the Jedi lost in time as guests of honour. All that did leave her with hours of technically less important meetings and time set aside to file in all the paperwork required to ensure Naboo ran smoothly. When all was said and told, it was going to be another long day.

"Well, first you're meeting..."

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Guest suites

Royal Palace

Theed

Naboo

"Tell me it was all a dream. Please..." A soft female voice whispered.

A body shifted under silky sheets when Jedi Master Delkatar Veil awoke as he heard his wife's voice. He spooned behind her and pulled her into a warm embrace. "I don't think we're that lucky, love." The Force felt odd ever since they exited hyperspace thousands of light-years off-course and ended a few light hours from Naboo.

"Everyone's gone." The woman mumbled.

"I know. At least there are no more Sith running around."

"Silver lining as you're fond of saying?"

"The Queen didn't lie. So unless she's particularly uninformed, the galaxy has been in peace for nearly a thousand years." Delkatar continued. "That certainly sounds like the Sith weren't around."

"Master Yoda said the same thing. But you don't trust him." Kira pouted.

"I could sense his disapproval all the way here when he figured we were married. I don't trust anyone who has a problem with our marriage." The older Jedi Master declared.

"You've been saying that loud and clear to our Council for years. At least Satine came around." Kira smiled sadly. "I'm afraid to see what happened to all our friends." She admitted.

"Me too, dear. Me too. Any idea what should we do?"

"Try not to freak out too much?" Kira smiled wanly. "We'll meet Master Mundi and see for ourselves what the Council has in mind."

"I can't wait." Came the sarcastic response.

"Delkatar, you'll behave unless they really provoke you. I meant it!" A pointy elbow pocked him in the ribs.

"Ouch. I always behave!" Delkatar exclaimed. His warm breath tickled his wife's bare neck and sent pleasant shivers down her spine.

"That's what I'm afraid of." Kira singsonged. "Yet we usually end up dealing with shenanigans."

"I blame the Force. It's a safe bet." Warm fingers sneaked around Kira's midriff and Delkatar held her close.

"That's the best explanation of why we ended thousands of years in the future, intact." Kira sighed. "It's not so we can enjoy the peace and quiet after everything we've been through, is it?"

"With our luck?" Her husband snorted.

"There's no luck." Kira quoted.

"There's the Force and that's my point." Delkatar suddenly became serious. "For an age without Sith, the Dark Side sure is as strong as I could remember."

"You should know, Dark Jedi husband of mine." Kira pocked him with her elbow again. "The peace won't last, would it? I could feel it. There's tension in the air as if the galaxy is taking a deep breath before something changes."

"We arrived here for a reason." Delkatar agreed. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the Force. The Dark Side was like a veil thrown over the whole galaxy and it shrouded the future. It was uncomfortably similar to the days when the fates of the Republic and Sith Empire were balanced on a knife's edge.

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Part 2

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Bridge

TFS Wraith

High orbit above Naboo

Nute Gunrey was nervous and did his best not to show it. He hadn't felt such amount of apprehension ever since he clawed his way out of the hell that was Neimodia. He was the Trade Federation's Viceroy. That was the highest position someone of his species could ever aspire to and Nute reached it years ago.

The Trade Federation was everything for the Neimoidians. The organization was their salvation and the one thing most of their people owed their allegiance to. That's why when the Republic in general and certain member systems in particular began levelling what the Trade Federation deemed unfair taxes and tolls, it infuriated and scared him. This was an attack both to his position, his person and the corporation he owed everything to and such a state of affairs could not be left unanswered.

Nevertheless, just a toll dispute wouldn't have brought Gunrey along with a powerful Trade Federation fleet. The risks were simply too great compared to the danger. A cost-benefit analysis done even by a foolish grub would have told the same tale. Yet, here he was, the Viceroy himself leading a blockade of another Republic member. Not for the first time, Nute wondered if it was a mistake to ally himself and the Trade Federation with a Sith. The promises of power, money and security were alluring and the Republic's policies didn't help matters. Everyone knew that the Senate was corrupt, Nute better than most. He had personally bribed multiple Senators in the past after all. A few were even honest and stayed bought.

It simply wasn't enough! Despite the Trade Federation's best efforts, the Senate passed laws raising taxes and tolls for entities like the Trade Federation. Other corporations, like the Techno Union and the Interstellar Commerce Guild felt the bite too.

This was a direct attack upon corporate entities with seats in the Senate, all in the name of fair and free trade. Bah! As if the Core Worlds cared about any of that. For the Trade Federation, which had most of its revenue coming from the Mid and Outer Rim, the new taxes could prove ruinous for the bottom line and they weren't alone. Many systems in those regions chaffed under legal bonds and tremendous soft power leveraged by the Core. While Gunrey usually wasn't really sympathetic about their plight – what did he care if it didn't benefit or hurt him!? However, this time it actually mattered. A response was mandated.

Still, a blockade of Naboo, the most recent offender that raised tolls, was beyond the pale. Even if the Federation actually had broad support in the Rim, the Core would likely walk all over them for such an overt display of defiance. That's where the Sith came in. Sidious promised that he could ensure the Senate and thus the Republic didn't react. Gunrey actually had proof of the Sith's influence – various minor laws either passed of failed just as he requested despite the Federation lacking the means to force the outcome. Another bill to further curtail corporate influence in the Senate went in limbo despite the corporations lacking the votes, either their own or bought, to actually block it.

Whoever Sidious was, he had real, tangible influence in the Senate, on Coruscant and thus right under the nose of the whole Jedi Order. That very idea terrified Gunrey and in the same time gave him confidence that this scheme could actually work.

He hoped so at least. Nute had invested too much to fail.

"Viceroy, we're being hailed by the Royal Palace. The Queen wishes to speak with you again." One of Gurney's aides spoke.

"Put her on." Nute allowed.

Hopefully the child monarch lost her nerve. He wasn't in a mood for another row of accusations and threats that she would report him to the Senate.

"Viceroy Gunrey." The chit's image glared at him.

Coming from her painted face it was almost fearsome, probably why she wore enough white and red make-up to make her face resemble a porcelain mask.

"Are you ready to surrender, your majesty?" Gunrey smiled. Surely there was no reason to be impolite at this stage. That would imply that he had something to fear.

"We were about to ask you the same." She replied coldly

"I hope you would reconsider sooner rather than later."

"We think not. We believe that we will let the Jedi speak with you." The child-queen actually smiled for the first time since the blockade formed yesterday.

"The Jedi? Why would they care?" Gunrey certainly hoped that the Senate wouldn't call them in. They scared him almost as much as the Sith.

"Perhaps because we've been hosting two of them as honoured guests for the past few days?" The Queen's response caught Nute flat-footed. He stared at the screen with a dawning sense of horror.

The Queen stepped back and someone new appeared on the screen. He was an ageing human man, if the greying hair and weathered face were anything to go by. He wore white armour with a symbol that was somewhat familiar. It was similar to that of the Jedi Order but not quite. For one, it was far more ornate and the shape of that sword...

"Greetings Viceroy Gunrey! I'm Jedi Master Delkatar Veil." The human smiled pleasantly and gave him a respectful bow. For some reason, Nute found that smile highly unsettling. "Would you kindly explain to me why is your fleet blockading Naboo, a Republic member?"

Gunrey wasn't sure what exactly it was, but he had no doubt that this human was a Jedi just like he never doubted the fact that Sidious was a Sith. Was it the way they carried themselves or something else? Nute never questioned it. He just knew the truth. It took all his experience not to blanch at the Jedi's kind tone. There weren't supposed to be any Jedi here!

"Master Jedi, it's good to make you an acquaintance." Nute began. His voice didn't break, right? "May I ask why is this dispute your concern? The Jedi haven't been sanctioned by the Republic to intervene." That was the case, right? It would take time for the Senate to gather and even without Sidious they couldn't have authorised the Jedi to intervene.

"What does that have to do with anything?" That kind voice... Why did it sound so disturbing?! "I am a Jedi and I can assure you, any hostile actions by anyone against Naboo would not be tolerated."

"I see." Gunrey said, though he really didn't. The Jedi were supposed to act within certain bonds. While this was somewhat grey area until the Senate decided something... The Jedi surely wouldn't do anything without sanction from Coruscant unless it was in self defence. Surely. "I believe that this dispute does not concern the Jedi Order. It is between Naboo and the Trade Federation."

"That may very well be the case. However, it does concern me, Viceroy."

The Jedi was surely bluffing. Right? Yes. He had to. He was a Jedi Master as he said.

"I'll get back to you, Master Veil. Have a nice day." Gunrey managed to keep his smile on until his aide terminated the connection. Only then he allowed himself to slump in his chair. "Contact Sidious!" He snapped.