Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Coruscant, Coruscant System

Corusca Sector

Palpatine smelled the suffering, heard the screaming, and relished it. He could feel the pulse of the dark side strengthening, fuelling him. Not just from Coruscant, but from all across the Galactic Interior. As Dua Ningo’s Bulwark Fleet rampaged across the Core Worlds, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, Palpatine only grew more powerful. He could devour the hatred and rage from the millions who lost much by the Bulwark Fleet’s warpath, and he drink feel the terror and panic from the billions who feared that they would be next.

“After he struck Coruscant, Admiral Ningo led the Bulwark Fleet east to Ixtlar, then north to Basilisk, where Admiral Honor caught him. She reported back an indecisive engagement,” the stern, stiff-lipped voice of Director Armand Isard narrated coldly, despite the rising discomfort in the Chancellor’s Office, “From there he fled back west where he raided Grizmallt for materiel and resources, destroying several warships under construction. Alsakan was next, but the Bulwark Fleet immediately retreated north to Thorgeld upon noticing the Mandator-class dreadnought Defender of the Arrowhead in-system. He then reached the Shawken System further north, where he was intercepted by Admiral Honor and forced back south to Corulag. Leading a detachment, Captain Dodonna caught him there, forcing the Bulwark Fleet to jump to Anaxes, where Admiral Honor intercepted him again. We are still awaiting the results of this battle.”

The holographic projection evolved in lockstep with the Director’s oral report, flawlessly displaying the progress of the Bulwark Fleet’s warpath through the Interior.

“What are they doing?” Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin of Eriadu snarled, “This Dua Ningo is running circles around the Bloodhound! It has been one standard month, and the Bulwark Fleet remains no more than five-hundred parsecs from Coruscant!”

“Might we remain professional in the Chancellor’s Office, Shayla?” Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila coolly reprimanded, locking horns with her counterpart, “Let’s refer to Admiral Honor by her name, shall we? I imagine this is all a part of her strategy, Director Isard?”

Honor Salima, Admiral of the Coruscant Home Defense Fleet. The Bloodhound. So-called for her relentless pursuit of Dua Ningo and his Bulwark Fleet. She had viewed the Attack on Coruscant as a personal failure of hers, and in a fit of rage and contrition, launched a total, obsessive manhunt of the Separatist perpetrator, wielding the Home Fleet as one might a personal weapon. The Chancellor might have reined in the Bloodhound, if not for that he saw no real reason to.

Indeed, Admiral Honor may be overstepping her authority, ignoring all attempts to restrain her from the Republic Navy. That may have been a great blow to the GAR’s authority, if not for the unanimous support for her great hunt from across the Republic. Taking Captain Jan Dodonna with her, the man who once oversaw the Siege of Foerost and witnessed the Bulwark Fleet’s breakout, along with every new Victory-class Star Destroyer in the Republic’s employ, Admiral Honor has been in a non-stop, month-long pursuit of the Bulwark Fleet to avenge her failure in defending Coruscant.

Ultimately, the Republic Navy opted to relent, concealing their efforts to subdue her rogue actions out of concern for public reprisal. Instead, a compromise was reached; the Bloodhound could continue her pursuit unrestrained, so long as she sent regular updates to Strategic Command.

“Admiral Honor is a woman of few words, and has failed to elaborate on her strategy,” Admiral Barton Coburn–mastermind behind the Coburn Plan that resulted in the crushing success of the Hundred Days’ Offensive–folded his arms behind him, “But I know her well, as colleagues, and she is a most talented officer and taskmaster. A requirement, especially for someone who must manage the viper’s pit that is the Home Fleet.”

The Coruscant Home Fleet. The dustbin of the Republic Navy, where it discards the useless, but ‘important’ graduates from naval academies across the Core Worlds. Noble scions, talentless children from military families, and the dregs of the political elite. Those who desired the glory of serving in the Grand Army of the Republic and fighting the Clone Wars, yet wanted none of the risk and danger that came with it. A prestigious post within the safest place in the Republic such as the Home Fleet was the perfect posting.

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine allowed himself a mote of outward humour at the thought of all those worthless failures now trapped on the Bloodhound’s wild ride. How ironic it was, that all those who seeked to avoid battle now found themselves under the tyranny of one of the most humourless and bloodthirsty Fleet Admirals of the Republic, actively seeking battles and forcing engagements wherever possible.

“If she is so talented,” Senator Tarkin sneered, jabbing at the projection, “How do you explain this!? Why hasn't she driven the Bulwark Fleet out!?”

“If I may, Senator,” Director Isard intervened, “We in Republic Intelligence believe Admiral Honor never intended to allow the Bulwark Fleet to escape. She is seeking not the rout of our foe, but their complete destruction. Observe the Bulwark Fleet’s progress to Shawken, where they attempted to escape, and was thwarted by the Home Fleet. He then jumped to Corulag, where Admiral Honor ordered Captain Dodonna to strike from the Rimward direction, pushing the Bulwark Fleet back into the Core. Every attempt Admiral Dua Ningo makes to escape to the Outer Rim, the Home Fleet inevitably blocks his path and drives him back Coreward.”

“This...” Senator Tarkin was red, and at a loss for words.

“We are witnessing a dance, where the Core Worlds is the ballroom,” Jedi Master Adi Gallia, official liaison of the Jedi High Council, mused, “Both wish to end the dance, but in incompatibly different ways. Admiral Coburn, Director Isard; might I suggest that the reason Admiral Honor has not been forthcoming with her plans may be due to the fact that she has none at all? The simplest answer is many times to correct one; the Bulwark Fleet and Home Fleet are reacting to each other on the move. Neither have any long-term strategy beyond their final goal. One seeks escape. The other seeks total annihilation of the former.”

“In that case, there is no point in further discussion of this matter,” the Chancellor declared decisively.

“Chancellor!?” Senator Tarkin raised her voice in surprise, and even the level-headed Mon Mothma flinched at the announcement, “With all due respect, every day the Bulwark Fleet spends in the Interior is another day they could strike at another system!”

And every day the Bulwark Fleet spends in the Interior is another day their legend of horror grows, until its shadow covers all of the Republic. Admiral Dua Ningo moved history by hitting Coruscant for the first time in a thousand years. Oh, Coruscant will recover. Already, relief fleets from the Agricultural Circuit were pouring into the system en masse, while great nets swept away orbital debris and cleared the way for replacement satellites and mirrors.

This was not the first time the Coruscant had been attacked. This would not be the last. Not even once, did the Office of the Supreme Chancellor consider the evacuation of the government. Coruscant was the cog at the heart of the galaxy, the single one that turns all the others, and she herself cannot stop turning. The Chancellor was well prepared for the Bulwark Fleet.

After all, was it not him who staged the Attack on Coruscant in the first place?

It was such a simple matter. Palpatine could laugh at his victory. He dealt the most grievous blow to the Republic in a millennia, and not a single soul suspected him of it!

The deployment of the new Victory-class Star Destroyers to Foerost. Not in mass, no, but one by one, gradually instilling fear in the mind of Admiral Dua Ningo. ‘The GAR intends on ending the Siege of Foerost,’ the old Sullustan must have thought, ‘I must break out as soon as possible, but in which direction?’

The mobilisation of the Core Reserve Armadas to the frontlines, leaving the Interior devoid of any significant military presence. This raised concerns amongst the myriad Core Worlds who seeked protection. And out of magnanimous consolation, the Chancellor personally ordered the Coruscant Home Fleet to spread out across the Interior to ease their anxieties, leaving behind only a few dozen ships at Coruscant itself. It was only a stop-gap measure, of course, as the Home Fleet couldn’t remain away from the capital for very long.

And so, the Republic Navy was forced to mobilise its final reserve armada to garrison the Core; the 5th Deep Core Reserve. A secret fleet, hidden throughout the entire war in the Deep Core. Many prominent GAR officials have no idea about its existence, much less the Separatists. Over five-hundred ships spilled northbound on the Koros Trunk Line, whereas it so happened to be that Foerost sat directly in their path.

The Bulwark Fleet ultimately only had one way to go–north. And as the old Sullustan must have realised... the majority of the Home Fleet was nowhere to be found in the Coruscant System.

Had his office been empty, Palpatine would have cackled. He did cackle, as Separatist warships scoured the skies above him and as his aides begged for his evacuation. Nothing was quite so stirring as a plan coming together.

And now? The fruits of the seeds he so carefully planted? The collective consciousness of the Galactic Republic will accept nothing less than the complete destruction of the Separatist Alliance. Every day the Bulwark Fleet spends rampaging through the Interior, every day the HoloNet fans the flames of bellicism and militarism. The budget and size of the Grand Army exploded as donations and recruits flooded in from affluent Core Worlds, while any hope of a ceasefire was thrown into the void.

Alas, the outcome was not perfect. If only those annoying Separatists had killed the peace delegates on Onderon... then the Chancellor would have no real opposition left in the Galactic Senate. He also had a group of Separatist ‘pirates’ waiting at Ambria to intercept the diplomatic convoy’s return journey, but that Sev’rance Tann had prepared for that too, ordering a military escort of forty warships to accompany them. Warships now interned at Commenor for investigation.

Most irritating.

No matter, the Chancellor thought, it delays some of my plans, but causes no real effect. The Loyalist Faction within the Senate was now ineffective, trapped in a power struggle between Senator Shayla Paige-Tarkin and Senator Mon Mothma about how to best proceed forward, and the uneasy alliance between the usually antagonistic Senatorial caucuses that held it together was falling apart. With figures like Senator Bana Breemu, Senator Bail Organa, and especially Senator Padmé Amidala disgraced upon their return, many of the peace delegates had retreated from public life.

Some out of shame.

Most out of fear.

Coruscant was now a teeming hotspot of anti-Separatism, on the surface at least. Should the likes of Senator Amidala step onto public grounds, it was likely she would find herself strung up and lynched by the masses baying for her blood. She was nearly lynched in the Senate Building itself, having been chased out by workers, staffers, and even fellow senators the multiple times she attempted to attend meetings and sessions. Her plight was not at all a special one.

All of this in mind, the only real obstacle left between Palpatine and his New Order was Mon Mothma and the Chandrila Caucus. The poor Senator spends most of time arguing against bills to no effect, so tirelessly trying to straddle the line between ‘pacifist’ and ‘traitor.’ The two words were so close they seem synonymous in the Senate–nay, the entire Republic–these days.

“Then allow Admiral Honor Salima all the resources she needs to put an end to the Bulwark Fleet!” the Chancellor exclaimed, “I will admit, my friends, I share every sentiment our good Admiral possesses. I would rather find the Bulwark Fleet’s blasted wrecks in the Core than allow them to return as heroes to the Separatist Alliance!”

Palpatine injected just the right amount of fervour and anger into his voice to unbalance his audience. He had carefully cultivated his image for so long–this amicable, genteel fatherly figure of the Republic–that by breaking that image in the right places, he could effectively convey exactly what his audience wanted to hear.

The Supreme Chancellor was angry too. He was mourning too. He wanted nothing more than the severed head of Dua Ningo on his desk too.

Nevermind that allowing the Bulwark Fleet to escape towards the Rim would be detrimental to his Grand Plan. He needed the Republic to accept his New Order with open arms, and allowing the Separatists to sow havoc was the perfect vector to that outcome. Despite Senator Tarkin’s fears, the Bulwark Fleet was by and large toothless. Admiral Dua Ningo was too busy trying to outwit and outrun the Bloodhound to risk attacking another star system. The only attacks he made were not terror raids, but raids for fuel, resources, and materiel.

It was perfect. A toothless hound evoked the same terror as a toothed one, to the average citizen of the Republic. Thanks to his newfound control over the HoloNet via the expanded powers of the HoloCommunications Commission, the Supreme Chancellor could control exactly how terrifying the Bulwark Fleet was, steadily guiding the Republic towards his Empire. It was a fine line to walk, with little margin for error, but that had always been Palpatine’s ballgame, from the days spent speeder racing on Naboo in his youth.

“Indeed, Shayla,” Mon Mothma demurred, “Shouldn’t you be more concerned with your homeworld? I’ve heard that Eriadu is being besieged by General Horn Ambigene. Is that not more concerning to you?”

Senator Tarkin scoffed, “Eriadu would never fall to the likes of him! Our fleets may have been scattered, but General Ambigene will only find our people ready and waiting to fight! Eriadu and Seswenna will not be swayed so easily. My cousin, Gideon Tarkin, has assured me that our citizens will take up arms against the droid menace, to the last man if we must, should General Ambigene dare to test our strength with a ground invasion.”

“General Ambigene dislikes battle droids, Senator,” Jedi Master Adi Gallia said mildly, “His men are all citizen soldiers from across the Outer Rim.”

“Then we shall fight even harder, knowing we face traitors to the Republic!”

“Is that so...”

The Chancellor frowned. Eriadu was of great importance to his future plans, if his Empire was to come to fruition. The Outer Rim will continue being a bed of discontent for years to come, and a key supporter of his regime in the Rim such as Eriadu and the Seswenna Sector would be invaluable.

“The Bulwark Fleet is of little concern; I trust Admiral Honor will dispense justice in our stead,” the Supreme Chancellor stated, “We must now turn our attention to the Outer Rim. Senator Tarkin, my dear, I speak on behalf of the Republic when I say that there is no world in the Rim more valuable to us than Eriadu. The loyalty of its people will be rewarded.”

“Oh,” Tallisibeth blurted out, “So Master Alrix found the other half of the Coalition Armada?”

Armand Isard regarded the young apprentice carefully– “Your student does you a great favour, General Skywalker.”

“I get that more than I’d like.”

“In any case, Commander Esterhazy is correct,” the Director of Republic Intelligence said, “We have not yet discovered the designation of this fleet, but it is without a doubt the missing half of the Perlemian Coalition’s Armada. Its flagship is the Munificent Repulse, belonging to Rear Admiral Rain Bonteri.”

“Isn’t that the name of the man who defended against General Rancisis for an entire day, before the Pantoran reinforced the Coalition Armada at Columex?” Senator Tarkin wondered.

Such a significant name, and yet I have not heard of it once? Palpatine frowned. He would have to look into this... and the Perlemian Coalition as a whole. As he scanned the faces for any sign of recognition, he noticed Anakin leaning down and nodding as his Padawan whispered in his ear. A moment passed, and Anakin’s eyes sharpened as he listened.

“Knight Alrix only has a hundred ships at Sullust,” Master Gallia pointed out, “If the second half of the Coalition Armada has the same amount as the first... that would mean she is outnumbered three-to-one. Has she not retreated?”

“Exactly,” Admiral Coburn inserted, “The defining mystery is the reason why the Separatists are so reticent. The Wookiees had permitted our entry into their system on the condition that we take no offensive manoeuvres. We had expected Admiral Trilm to attack Kashyyyk, but she has since spent three days around Trandosha with no outward movement.”

“So we have a Republic and Separatist fleet in the same star system,” Anakin summarised, “Just... hanging out?”

“What about Sullust?” the Chancellor pressed, “General Alrix is a hero of the Republic. We must tell her to retreat if she is outmatched!”

“Quite the contrary, Chancellor,” the Admiral corrected, “Admiral Bonteri, similarly to his counterpart at Trandosha, has made no aggressive action. This has allowed General Alrix to strike with near-impunity, reportedly engaging in combat on five separate occasions.”

Senator Tarkin giggled, then laughed. A loud, harmonious cheer that swelled throughout the office. She wiped a tear from her eye, “She is? I would love to meet this Rees Alrix! Did she not defeat another fleet three times her number at Medth before?”

“Knight Alrix’s has a special connection with the Force,” Master Gallia crossed her arms, “She can identify the ‘vulnerability’ in an object, whether it be within a single individual in a duel, or within a formation in a naval battle. I admittedly know little of this ability, but I have heard the Jedi who possess it can be counted on a single hand. Knowing the resources we diverted for the Coburn Plan were far too little to recapture the Rimma Trade Route on its own, it is for this reason Jedi Command assigned Knight Alrix to this front–against the wishes of many, including Admiral Coburn himself.”

“Then you must forgive my lack of esoteric knowledge, Master Jedi,” Admiral Coburn took it in stride, “For the way I saw it, Jedi Command had just assigned a well-meaning young lady with no feats of her own to one of the most important fronts of the war. One only recently knighted, at that. My staff did retract its criticisms once General Alrix soundly defeated Ventress at the Battle of Medth.”

“Rees defeated Ventress at Medth!?” Anakin scowled, “Where is she now?”

“According to General Alrix’s report–at Sullust,” Director Isard said, “While General Alrix’s ability may play a role in her victories over Admiral Bonteri and Ventress, what plays an even larger role is the fact that just like the Admiral Trilm’s half, they are completely on the defensive. She suspects that they are under orders to not engage. To that end, the same phenomena is occurring all across the galaxy. Whole Separatist fleets and armadas are entering battle zones with no intention of fighting at all.”

With a flick of his wrist, the Director of Republic Intelligence activated a handheld holoprojector, a ray of blue-scanned light bursting from the emitter. It was a simple astrograph of the galaxy, with red pins dotting the frontier of Republic-held space, denoting the position of enemy fleets.

“Corroborating General Alrix’s report, Republic Intelligence has intercepted enemy communications from across the warfront,” Isard pressed on, “It very much appears that the Separatist military hierarchy is in a gridlock. Hundreds of fleets have been requesting for new orders since the redeployments in the wake of the Onderon Peace Summit, with little to no response from their chain of command beyond ‘hold your position.’ Governor-General Wessex and Governor-General Coy have taken advantage of this, organising independently-authorised offensives to great effect. Both our Seventh Sector Army and Sixteenth Sector Army reports minimal resistance from the enemy, and have pushed the Separatists back to Shaum Hii in the north, and Bacrana in the south, respectively.”

“This is another Separatist trick,” Anakin argued, “It must be! This is the Pantoran we are dealing with. Have you considered that we are playing right into her hands?”

“And that is why we must destroy the trap before it can be sprung!” Admiral Coburn declared, “The Hundred Days’ Offensive is proof that the Separatists are not infallible. We must simply seize the momentum our enemies have so foolishly failed to take for themselves. The Second Sector Army has already been mobilised and are enroute to aid the Twentieth Army’s Siege of Mechis and Yag’Dhul–we must have them ignore the sieges instead, and reach Eriadu as soon as possible! Chancellor, I speak on behalf of the Republic Navy in this regard; you must authorise our Reserve Armadas to take offensive action.”

“This action has my blessing,” the Supreme Chancellor immediately agreed, “Who are the Jedi Generals commanding the Second Army?”

“Senior General Ry-Gaul and General Aayla Secura, Chancellor.”

“Inform High Command of my approval immediately.”

“Very good, sir,” Admiral Coburn saluted, “With your leave?”

The Chancellor stood, “Thank you for your service, Admiral.”

A small, dignified smile graced Barton Coburn’s lips, before he lowered his salute and turned around with a snap-click of his boots, disappearing into the antechamber. Senator Mothma and Senator Tarkin, recognising that they were no longer needed, dispensed their pleasantries and gracefully trailed after him.

“Anakin, Tallisibeth,” the Chancellor then diverted his attention to the two Jedi, “Second Reserve Armada is large, and slow, and it will take time for them to reach Sullust. Knowing the Pantoran, you are likely correct the inaction of the Perlemian Coalition can only be some sort of Separatist trap we cannot penetrate. With Jedi Command’s permit, I would ask you to take half of the Open Circle Fleet and reinforce General Alrix as soon as possible, clearing the way for the Second Army.”

“And Obi-Wan will take the other half to Kashyyyk, I presume,” the Jedi Knight finished, “I can do that. I’ll be ready to leave after Senator Amidala’s departure tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll notify Jedi Command,” Master Gallia nodded without argument, “But Anakin, I ask you to hurry. I fear Knight Alrix’s string of victories may be coming to an end.”

“Master?” Tallisibeth asked, “But you said yourself that she can see the weaknesses in her enemies. That seems... undefeatable.”

“No Jedi is undefeatable, young Padawan,” the elder Tholothian shook her head, “Rees is still young, and inexperienced, truly. Though you could never tell when standing before her, she is a hot-headed, overconfident individual, not unlike your Master here. After all, it is natural when, as you say, she remains undefeated in most things. One Jedi Master with a similar, if not same ability, as her is Master Windu himself. He was supposed to train her for a while, but with the war, that was no longer possible.”

“Master Windu...?” Anakin stretched the name, before shrugging, “Rees seems to have a pretty good handle on her abilities without Master Windu.”

“That may be the problem, I sense,” Master Gallia’s tendrils swayed with unease, “Just as a Jedi Knight trains both arms so they could never be caught off-handed in battle, a Jedi Knight must train in all aspects of the Force. Knight Alrix is still young, and singularly reliant on the one ability that has never failed her yet.”

“So you’re saying that if it does ever fails her...”

“She might just find herself at a loss for what to do,” the Jedi Master confirmed, “Against Ventress, there is little to fear. But against Rain Bonteri? You know this man better than I do, Anakin, you met him.”

Anakin Skywalker’s languid stance abruptly stiffened as he processed Adi Gallia’s words, all as Palpatine and Director Isard watched on in silence. No reaction to Ventress, but this Rain Bonteri instead? Do the Jedi really consider this single person to be such a threat? Adi Gallia is not just any Jedi Master, she is a member of the High Council. Which means the man’s name has even reached–

Palpatine decapitated his inner musings as he detected the Tholothian Jedi Master’s presence in the Force, worming its way over to him, feeling forhis emotions. He immediately pretended not to notice their conversation with all the grace and politeness of an aristocrat. Inwardly, however, Palpatine stirred with a great vexation. This is a test. Adi Gallia is testing me for any reaction to the knowledge she revealed, like I would give myself away by recognising this ability. Is the Jedi Council beginning to suspect me? What–or who–has given me away?

“Director,” Palpatine continued pretending to ignore them, under the guise of having pleasant conversation with Isard, “I want to know everything about this man. Thank you for your tireless service to the Republic.”

Armand Isard tipped his chin before slinking away, straightening his uniform as he did.

“Rain Bonteri appears to be constrained for now, but there is no telling when the chains around his wrists are broken for whatever reason,” Master Gallia warned, not a feature out of place as she continued probing the Chancellor, “And when that happens...”

“Master Plo was lucky to escape with his life.”

“Master Plo told us he was allowed to escape with his life.”

“Kriff,” Anakin swore, “Sorry, Chancellor, but I need to get the Open Circle ready for deployment.”

The Chancellor waved them off with a genial smile, watching their backs grow smaller until the doors of his closed behind them.

Then the smile died.

“Sly,” he called, and the pale woman melded out from a shadow in the corner of the office, “I will need you to prepare a discrete shuttle and cover up my absence.”

I can afford to accelerate my Plan now, Palpatine thought, loose threads like Amidala can be ignored. The Republic is no longer just marching–it is now sprinting towards its own grave, and the Jedi Order’s suspicions are growing. I must end the Jedi Order and the Clone Wars in one fell blow, by having each end the other. The Republic must now devour the Confederacy wholly, leaving not even crumbs behind. I must prepare the dining table accordingly... and deal with that useless apprentice of mine at the same time.

“Where to, Chancellor?”

“The Works,” he rubbed his hands together, enjoying the roar of the Force in his ears, “I have someone troublesome I must speak to.”