Chapter 64

Coruscant, Coruscant System

Corusca Sector

Jedi Master Adi Gallia, despite being the Jedi Council’s official liaison to the Republic Senate and observer to the Chancellor’s Advisory Council, didn’t at all prefer the day-to-day tedium of politicking in the Administrative District. One might think being the acting spymaster of ‘Jedi Intelligence’ to be an exciting affair, but in truth, the role was an awfully banal one.

It wasn’t always this way, of course. At its inception, Gallia’s personal spy network was just that; personal. She originally founded it using her family’s connections, despite how antithetical that might sound to the Temple’s central dogma, with the intention of creating a shadow organisation to cover for the Council’s many blindspots. Adi Gallia would not be one to discredit Master Yoda and his undeniably wise stewardship of the Temple, but it was the unsaid truth that Yoda was the root cause of many of the Order’s problems.

When a central figure has been in power of an organisation for nearly four-hundred years, it was unavoidable that said organisation would evolve around that central figure, being shaped in their image for good or ill. Again, the Order could have had much worse than Master Yoda, and as far as long-lived Grandmasters go, they were quite fortunate to have him. However, the faults of such a system were poignant and obvious if you knew where to look.

Unfortunately, not even the esteemed Master Yoda could be in power for so long without getting comfortable. Complacent. Complacent with the stagnation of the Jedi Order, and complacent with the evils of the Republic. Live alongside corruption for too long, and you no longer notice the stench. Master Yoda has had four-hundred years to get used to the smell.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com

Adi Gallia considered herself fortunate. She was born to a family of diplomats, and her Force-sensitivity had not been ‘discovered’ until she was advanced enough in age to be aware of her own circumstances. One of the joys of being an ageless Tholothian. She had not been raised in Yoda’s shadow like much of the Temple, and rather entered it with a prior point of reference. And the realisation she had then was the fount of her spy network.

She was not the only one to notice the problems with the Jedi Order, of course. Prior to the war, there had been hundreds, chief among them then-Master Dooku. But the problem with becoming a legend was that you became legendary, and Yoda had earned an almost mythical status with the Jedi Temple. Even if you noticed the stench of bantha shit in the kitchen, you wouldn’t say anything if the head chef didn’t point it out, because obviously the head chef knew best. Much less a head chef who’s been head chef for four centuries, and prior to that a line chef for many more. What was a Padawan, Knight, or Master to say, when they’ve lived in Yoda’s shadow for their entire lives?

Even a younger Adi Gallia was implicit in that mistake, for she had never disclosed the existence of her network. Because obviously the Jedi Council, led by Master Yoda, would have forced her to shut it down. So she kept her head low, quietly expanding her network throughout Coruscant under the guise of accepting planetside missions, then towards the stars, and picking up a reputation as a Jedi politician and diplomat as she did so.

By the time of the Stark Hyperspace War, the Temple had picked up a certain modus operandi. When Jedi were dispatched for peacekeeping missions, the idea was to talk first and solve the problem diplomatically, and if that failed, out came the lightsabers. It was simple and direct. But out of sight, Gallia took it one step further–to deal with the problem before it ever came to the table of the High Council. Thus saving the trouble and the effort. By then, her intelligence network had grown so large it could no longer be kept hidden, but by then it had also grown so integral to the Temple’s operations that not even the High Council could publicly acknowledge–and denounce–the open secret.

And throughout it all, restless Jedi continued to squirm in the shadow of Master Yoda, as megacorporations filled the power vacuum left by the Hyperspace War, as the Republic continued to tolerate and foster all the little cumulative evils in the galaxy. Until a single Jedi Master reached his breaking point, and declared the founding of the Separatist State in a fiery speech over Raxus Prime. And hundreds of Padawans, Knights, and Masters flocked to his cause, his alternative, because they had been chafing beneath Yoda’s shadow for so long just waiting for someone to have the guts to point out the stench.

It was only in the blazing fires of the Clone Wars, did her personal network burgeon into Jedi Intelligence out of necessity. Especially since Republic Intelligence remained less than forthcoming about sharing what they knew with the Order. For Adi Gallia, it meant an explosion of managerial affairs to occupy her attention. Fieldwork, as it seemed, was now a thing of a bygone past when she still had the luxury of handpicking her agents and personally seeding future contacts.

The Tholothian Master’s internal musings were interrupted by the vibration of her comlink, the cheerful chime muffled by her flowing robes.

“Gallia speaking.”

“Are you alone?” was the first thing she heard in Bode Akuna’s voice.

Adi Gallia glanced up, at the bustling halls of the Senate Building, and raised a protective bubble of the Force around her, muting all sound from within for the outside. It was a nifty trick she picked up, and useful in these sorts of circumstances.

“Speak.”

“Admiral Trilm just invaded the Core Worlds. The Commenorian Navy was unable to stop her.”

“I’ve heard,” the Jedi Master replied calmly, “The Chancellor just summoned an emergency Advisory Council meeting, of which I am presently on route to.”

“...And the Battle Hydra is missing?”

There was a serious undertone that made Gallia pause, “...Missing is one way to put it.”

“...I see. I want to confirm something.”

“What is it?” the Jedi Master skillfully manoeuvred through the traffic, ensuring nobody got close enough to enter her Force bubble.

“Where was Anakin Skywalker at the Battle of Yag’Dhul?”

“What are you talking about? He was at Yag’Dhul, fighting the battle with the Open Circle,” Adi Gallia lied.

In truth, Anakin Skywalker informed the Temple he was pursuing Asajj Ventress shortly before the battle began in earnest. Of course, such news couldn’t be broken to the Republic Navy Command without shock and outrage. A commanding Jedi General, abandoning the battle space to pursue a personal rivalry? Preposterous! And if Jedi Command tried to defend his actions, the interdisciplinary rift in the GAR would only be further deepened.

Thus, it was considered prudent that such news would only be broken in the after-action report, where the news of victory would water down any flaring tempers. Because a victory was expected; three battle fleets against a single Separatist task force? The very idea of a potential defeat was just as insane as the idea of Anakin Skywalker abandoning a battle before it even began.

Except, the Battle Hydra once again did his terrible magic, and the Republic Navy was dealt another defeat, one comparable to the Battle of Christophsis. Fortunately, the scale of the defeat meant news was slow to trickle upstream to Coruscant. General Brand and Admiral Jerjerrod were killed in action, while Governor-General Grant’s AAR mentioned how contact had been lost between the three fleets early in the battle. Finally, Admiral Yularen’s AAR came, and merely mentioned the victory at Llon Nebula and the closing actions of the Battle of Yag’Dhul.

Nothing that overtly stated Anakin Skywalker’s actions. Instead, the Republic Navy Command focused on Octavian Grant’s preposition that the Separatist 4th Fleet Group was aiming for an invasion of the Southern Core. It wasn’t a prediction without merit, for Admiral Calli Trilm had just broken the cracked fortress world Commenor like an egg. It was also a truly terrifying prediction, for a southern invasion would mean the monster known as the Tombmaker was about to be unleashed upon the Galactic Interior.

Regardless, Admiral Yularen must’ve been well-aware of the conflict between the Republic Navy and Jedi Command, and decided it prudent to not mention anything that could worsen the situation. It was the Order’s saving grace, anyhow, and it meant only Jedi Command knew where Anakin Skywalker really was during the Battle of Yag’Dhul, for now.

“...I need the truth this time, Master Gallia,” Bode Akuna said urgently, “I need to know whether we're dealing with a credible threat or not.”

Gallia’s lips thinned, “Is this Republic Intelligence knowledge?”

“From an apparently reliable source. But I need to know whether it is a threat to us,” Bode put heavy emphasis on the word ‘need.’

“Where does it say Skywalker was?”

“...Llon Nebula.”

“Can you destroy the report?” the Jedi Master was extraordinarily calm, but the simple question was enough to inform Bode Akuna of the credibility of the source.

“...No point. It’s already been disseminated,” he replied hesitantly, “I’d only be raising suspicions. Master... this means–”

“I know what this means–” concrete proof Republic Intelligence had a mole in the Jedi Temple, “–just tell me the codename of the threat.”

“...Republic Intelligence calls it the Delta Source.”

It must be a frustrating affair for him. Admiral Dua Ningo and the Bulwark Fleet was convenient for maintaining a level of fear in the Core Worlds, giving him justification to further concentrate power in his office. Two fleets, however, would be well out of hand. With the Reserve Armada deployed to the frontier, there was little left to defend the Core Worlds save the 5th Deep Core Reserve and the Home Defense Fleet. Speaking of the Home Fleet...

“Where is Admiral Honor Salima?” the Chancellor demanded, “Has the Bulwark Fleet been dealt with?”

All eyes pointed to Armand Isard, who cleared his throat and straightened his collar, “The Bulwark Fleet had fled to Skako for safe haven and repairs. The Home Fleet is currently cracking open Skako’s planetary shields.”

Skako, homeworld of the Skakoans and the Techno Union, and one of the most populous ecumenopoleis in the Core Worlds, with a pre-war census placing the industrious world at just over one-hundred billion souls. The figure was so vast mostly because there was hardly any emigration off the world–or immigration for that matter. Because Skako possessed a high pressure methane-based atmosphere, much unlike the nitrogen-based Type I atmospheres present in most habitable worlds. As a result, Skako’s population was completely Skakoan, and any offworld influence the planet had was concentrated solely in the hands of the Techno Union. This was the reason all Skakoans in the wider galaxy can only be found in pressure suits filled with noxious mixes of methane and hydrogen sulphide.

“We have been cracking open Skako’s shields–along with all the other Separatist holdouts in the Core–for the entire duration of the war!” Senator Ha’Nook exclaimed, “Surely they must be close to giving out by now?”

“Admiral Honor projects that to be the case,” Director Isard agreed, “I fear she will be adamant about finishing off her prey before accepting any new orders.”

“That’s grounds for treason,” Kohl Seerdon’s eyes gleamed, clearly wondering whether he could take advantage of such a case, “She would be mutinying against the state.”

“Honor Salima is untouchable,” Adi Gallia put his ambitions in the dust with a single statement, “And she knows it. Charge her with mutiny, and what happens? How many noble scions, Core World elites, careerist sons, or simply upper caste gloryhounds serve in the Home Fleet? The moment we declare her a mutineer, one of two things happen; we declare almost every elite clan in the Core traitorous, or she holds the entire Core hostage. Admiral Honor might be hard, but she’s not stupid. She’s only acting the way she is because she has the support of the noble clans.”

“Some of my relatives serve in the Home Fleet as officers,” Mon Mothma proved her point rather demurely.

“The Home Fleet has a significant Seswennan diaspora,” Senator Paige-Tarkin agreed, “The loyalty of Admiral Honor must not become a point of contest.”

Once again, Adi Gallia found it equal parts amusing and horrifying how easily even the likes of Mon Mothma spoke about the subversion of the state and military. This was, unfortunately, another harsh reality of war. The Grand Army of the Republic needs funding, badly, and it gets the funding it needs from the support and goodwill of many prominent Core World clans and families. Prominent clans and families whose members and children disproportionately serve in the Home Fleet.

Because the Home Fleet was meant to be a safe, reservist sinecure. Meant to be.

“...Is the Fifth Deep Core unable to ward off the Perlemian Coalition’s Armada too?” Chancellor Palpatine looked around, desperation clear in his eyes. How much of it was an act, Gallia did not know. But even a Sith Lord would be panicking now. The war was real, and it was here.

“...Chancellor,” Governor-General Kohl Seerdon stepped forward, even to the point of brushing aside Armand Isard. Tall and wiry, the man towered over the assemblage, “Allow me to present my point of view, as a military man. Calli Trilm is wielding irregular warfare to its greatest effect, orchestrating hit-and-fades across the Arrowhead. No single fleet can contend with this. The only solution is constant and consistent patrols of our spacelanes. Moreover, all of our systems must also possess sufficient garrison fleets to ward off any raid.”

Seerdon’s eyes darted to Isard, then Paige-Tarkin, then back to the Chancellor, “The Deep Core Reserve can accomplish one, but not both. It was never meant to. The role of garrisoning star systems was supposed to fall upon local system fleets and navies, while common patrols remained the responsibility of the national judiciary and military. The recent Reformation Directive introduced by this very office, however, along with the Nationalisation Bill introduced by Senator Paige-Tarkin, effectively stripped all local defence forces in the Core of their independence and attached them to their respective Sector Armies. Sector Armies that are now campaigning on the frontlines.”

The implication of ‘you did this!’ hung heavily around the Kohl Seerdon, who was visibly trembling with almost euphoric pleasure at the squirming of the politicians around him. Politicians who had time and time again stifled the authority of the Governor-Generals and bedevilled the Republic Navy with regulations and, Force-forbid, rules. It was satisfying to see their comeuppance, however, Gallia had to admit.

Kohl Seerdon whipped around, as if daring someone–anyone–to disagree with him. Nobody did.

“If you want to convince the Core Worlds that the Republic is not a sinking ship, Chancellor,” Seerdon emphasised each and every word slowly, purposefully, “Then it is in our best interest to put the authority of the armies and fleets back into the hands of people who know what they’re doing. The Separatists are poking holes in our ship, and we must patch it up, even if it means taking materials from other sections of the same ship. Recall the fleets.”

“I will...” Palpatine scanned the room, wetting his pale lips. As his gaze met Gallia’s, the Tholothian Jedi shot him a nondescript smile, “...I will make my decision based on the conclusion of the Strategic Planning Amphitheatre.”

General Seerdon nodded sharply and decisively, “Very good, Chancellor! Now, Director, what of our missing Admiral Bonteri? Octavian Grant claims the terrible Tombmaker intends to invade the Tapani Federation? Surely our Admiral Bonteri would love to accompany him?”

“Republic Intelligence suspects Admiral Bonteri’s fleet had been sent forward into into the Southern Core to scout for vectors of invasion,” Director Isard started, “However–”

“We’ve seen ne’er skin nor scale of the Hydra,” Senator Canny Mandary Bertar of Mrlsst interrupted, “If he went anywhere, it is not the Tapani Federation.”

The previous Senator for the Tapani Federation was a Human Fondorian named Rodd, before he led Fondor in seceding from the Republic. Swift to make up for their disgrace, the Tapani Federation hastily sent their new senator–the Mrlssi Canny Bertar–to replace their traitorous one on Coruscant. With Fondor back in Loyalist hands, however, Gallia idly wondered what had become of Senator Rodd.

“As for the Tombmaker,” the Mrlssi Senator’s colourful feathers rustled, “The League of Tapani Freeworlds are ready and waiting for him. Alongside the Twentieth Sector Fleet, the Freeworlds Common Navy has been mobilised upon General Grant’s request, for a total of twelve-hundred assorted warships, including over a two-hundred capital ships.”

“...General Ambigene’s Fourth Fleet Group possesses fifteen-hundred ships by our last count,” Armand noted, “And they are currently fighting both the Second and Nineteenth Armadas on the Rimma Trade Route.”

Adi Gallia perked up. The League of Tapani Freeworlds was the alliance of the Southern Core–not dissimilar to the Commonality of the Perlemian Trade Route–dominated by and large by the Tapani Federation. In fact, the Tapani Freeworlds were mostly Tapani colonies on the periphery of the Tapani Sector, including Fondor, Ghorman, and Thyferra. This was a point of interest for the Jedi spymaster, as should the Sith Lord fail to give up his grip over the Republic without a fight, civil war would certainly be a possibility she had to give serious consideration.

And the Tapani Federation would be one of the few autonomous polities willing to fight against the Coruscant government should push come to shove. They were already effectively semi-independent, considering their high levels of autonomy. The Military Nationalisation Bill hardly even affected them, which, considering the situation, might have been their saving grace.

The Tapani Nobles were simply too powerful and distant for Coruscant to take head on. The current Galactic Republic existed on the concept that membership was preferable to independence, and for most star systems and sectors, that was simply the case. They couldn’t survive without the Republic. If the Republic was controlled by the Sith Lord, then most worlds would simply follow the Sith Lord.

But not the Tapani Federation and Tapani Freeworlds by extension. They had an independent political system, economic foundation, and military, not to mention large enough to be self-sufficient. They were one of the few polities in the Galactic Republic that could secede without any immediate ramifications, and that made them worth courting, if worse comes to worst. It was also an additional boon that Octavian Grant had met the Battle Hydra in combat, and gained all the insight that came with it.

“Horn Ambigene might just decide it wouldn’t be worth the effort to invade anymore,” Bail Organa mused, “Might we consider that Rain Bonteri has been redeployed to some other front of the war?”

“Before his grip of Yag’Dhul is even secure?” Jannie Ha’Nook raised an eyebrow, “I find that difficult to believe.”

“...”

A sudden, sweeping silence filled the Chancellor’s Office, to everyone’s surprise. Usually, at this point, Director Armand Isard would have had something enlightening to say, either in support or rebuke. Instead, the Director in question was occupied by something truly severe on his datapad, by the shape of his expression.

“Is something the matter, Director?” Chancellor Palpatine asked in concern.

Slowly, a stone-faced Armand Isard leaned to the Chancellor’s ear, and whispered something. And the Supreme Chancellor’s eyes widened, his skin paling to unhealthy levels as the lines on his face deepened into crevices.

Adi Gallia stood straighter, “What happened?”

Isard looked at the Chancellor, who had rested his elbows on his desk, rubbing his aged hands together tiredly as he stared despondently at his lap. Then, Palpatine nodded.

The Director of Republic Intelligence coughed, “Separatist warships have been spotted on the Koros Trunk Line, originating from the Deep Core. All seven worlds of the Empress Teta System have declared for the Separatist State. All signs point to... a second fleet has invaded the Core.”