Chapter 117 (Patreon)

Chapter 117:

Palpatine:

Geonosis… was many things.

A success.

A failure.

A horror.

A joy.

A victory.

A defeat.

Like the memory of Geonosis; Sheev Palpatine was of two minds when considering it.

The Sith in him, reveled in the carnage, the charnel house of blood, death, misery, the poisonous air that followed the Jedi back to their precious, ever more blackened temple. 

But the pragmatist in him; had to admit that the situation had very nearly spun beyond even his ability to control the ensuing fallout, and many pieces were now… off the board. Pieces that he would have preferred to remain in place. 

Tann’s death was a particular surprise; a particular… complication. 

She was… replaceable. Now that the Kalessh, Grievous was on the field. But Grievous was a potentially even more dangerous tool to wield… a double edged sword with a much much sharper edge facing both sides. 

With Tann dead, he would have to rely, at least in the short term, far more heavily on the superpowered cyborg than he was comfortable with. 

She was not the strongest of his catspaws no, but she was the most versatile; the most useful. 

That held true even considering her little… indiscretion handing Bulq those orders.

Oh yes; he knew it was her, Very few could have done so. And Jorus was not nearly as clever or subtle enough to pull it off before he could have simply eliminated Bulq from the board entirely to preserve the secrecy.

And so, Tann was the only remaining ‘suspect’. 

It must’ve been her.

He would have punished her for it if she were still alive… he might still. Souls were resilient things. 

But such indulgences would have to wait; because he had a great many fires to put out. Too many to go wasting time.

It was always a possibility that the orders would be discovered.

When you had, quite literally, over six hundred million failure points in terms of secrecy to the plan in the form of the Clones themselves for any number of reasons; injury, emergency treatment, a medical examination, literally anything. 

Another several thousand failure points in the form of too curious or thorough Jedi, or a few hundred thousand more in the form of a slipped word from a Kaminoan, or droid medical unit- it would have been the height of blind, rank stupidity to assume the orders could never be discovered.

It would have been even worse, to not prepare for it.

He was lucky that Geonosis took so long to pacify, that the Jedi did the… right thing, in securing their wounded and their dead. That they took their time to pick up the shattered shards of their forces and people, before returning.

It gave him much needed time.

Time to put the pieces in place, to get everything lined up as perfectly as he could.

To double and triple check the ‘paper trails’ making sure that none led back directly to him.

And even still, there were paths he hadn’t had time to check. Avenues he logistically couldn’t make absolutely certain weren’t fully closed.

Irritating… dangerous.

But he took comfort in the fact that the Jedi had even less time than he did to find those avenues. 

The meeting would be a gathering of several Hundred Senators. Not the entire Senate of course; most had very little standing or power to even merit a voice in the senate itself, let alone in the internal runnings of the Grand Army.

But… enough.

Enough to obfuscate. Enough to muddy the waters.

Enough… to keep very few eyes on him.

And yes, enough to support the Jedi.

But more to support him.

There were neutrals of course; people that could be swayed. It could not all be theater, for even fools could realize when it was a staged play more often than not.

But he was confident in his ability to turn those ‘neutrals’ to his side.

After all… Practice makes perfect. 

And he’d had many, many years of practice.

Corellia would have been a danger here- but their senator had lost much of his clout and political currency with the casualties on Geonosis. The goodwill built up with the attack on Coronet had been squandered when he’d pulled in so many favors to attack Geonosis that led so many to their deaths. If he could have broadcasted the loss of the Praetorian ship across all news reels with an image of his laughter across the holonet he would have- but sadly, a simple leak to a media outlet would have to suffice.

They’d been running with that headline for weeks.

And just when the good Corellian Senator was finding his footing again-

Ohhh. That’s when the casualty numbers began pouring in.

Some decried him, as Chancellor, of course, but a payment here, a persuasion there, and the larger outlets focussed on Corellia. The Warmongers that wanted revenge and had now cost millions of Republic Citizens, Clones and Jedi their lives rather than negotiate.

…

Truly. He loved democracy. The blind, wretched and oh so malleable Mob.

The meeting itself would begin soon. Too large for any office to hold it- they would be gathered through Holo conference. Some of the notable attendees were Corellia of course, Kuatt, Alderan, Duro, Chandrilla, Naboo, Ryloth, Alsakan, Balmora, Darpa, Brental, Humbraine, Esseless, Ord-Mantell.

Mandalore had an invitation as well… but oh, how very tragic that the message and notification simply wouldn’t be reaching the Senator until a few minutes after the meeting began… Time stamped to show it had been sent three days ago of course.

Truly; Alexandria was not someone he could afford to contend with in this setting right now. Her ability to read and dissect other Senators' motivations and cut their legs out from under them could complicate matters far far too much.

He enjoyed their games. Their little duels. The thrill of wondering wether or not she’d do something surprising even after he’d stacked the deck so heavily in his favor. Or if she’d stacked the deck in her favor without him noticing. Always a joy to see.

But this was not the moment to indulge in those games.

The stakes were far and away too high for a misstep. 

“Chancellor?”

He brought his eyes up, his assistant standing by the door. “The meeting will begin soon.”

He nodded easily mentally going over things one last time as he did. “Thank you. See to it that I’m not disturbed.”

The Nautolan bowed and stepped back outside.

The windows of his office darkened, shutters sliding down and shut to blot out the light as the holo emitter from the central plinth in front of his desk began to emit its pale blue light. 

The Holo’s bloomed into existence, little dots of light cast along his walls in a facsimile of the Senate rotunda. As each party spoke, or were given the floor to speak their image would come into greater prominence, but for now, the one group he could see clearly; because he wished to… were the Jedi.

Master Windu stood with his back straight and features carved from stone, but even from here, Palpatine could feel the weariness, the exhaustion, and yes, even the cold rage that burned like an ember in his chest.

Yoda too had been affected. The old Grandmaster  however, masked his feelings well, his mind a fortress, his feelings trapped behind the iron bars of his will, implacabble and unknowable.

There were others with them. Gallia, of course, their diplomat, Kenobi, Mundi, Rancisis, Tiin. The prominent generals of the campaign, no doubt brought here to elucidate on the events if asked; but they were largely irrelevant.

They would ask of course, for the removal of the inhibitor devices from the clones. They’d already informed him. And he -of course- would put all of his considerable weight behind removing such abhorrent devices and investigating where they came from. 

The kind chancellor could never want for anything else, of course.

“Thank you all for coming-” He said, inflecting an exhaustion within his own tone. A melancholic sorrow. Like a man who was about to breach a painful subject. “As I’m sure you’re all aware, there have been reports and rumors, about the events on Geonosis. Though the world is now pacified… We are here today to fully divulge the extent of what occurred on Geonosis- and how we might proceed going forward. Masters Jedi, you have the floor.”

“Thank you, Chancellor” Adi Gallia said as she stood beginning to address the room. 

And so- the curtain rises. 

What followed was an accounting. A play by play of the battle across every stage, every tactic and maneuver. The casualties taken day after day after day. All were silent, but Palpatine could sense their emotions, little distant echoes in the force. 

Shock, horror, concern, interest, even the odd amusement.

Then, came the ‘big’ revelation.

Order twenty.

He sensed the sharp, cutting sting of fear in the overwhelming majority; others who’d heard the rumors well in advance were more composed but even they too were worried at having those rumors confirmed. 

When Gallia finished she wasted no time. 

“It is the conclusion of this Council and many within our order that these inhibitor chips must be removed from every single clone trooper without delay. Given the scale of the damage they’ve already inflicted not only in terms of casualties, but on troop morale and trust we trust that this body would agree.”

A holo chimed in, Alderaan. Bail Organa blooming to life on his side of the plinth. “We of Alderaan do agree.”

“As does Naboo”

More Senators added to the chorus, all agreeing immediately.

“We would ask-” Amidalla continued, her tone surprisingly cold, furious even. No doubt the peril Anakin faced was fueling her wrath at the moment. “-that the Kaminoan Representative speak on this matter. What possible justification could you have for permitting this travesty to be done” 

Halle Burtoni, the Kaminoan Senator bloomed to life. The old alien crone was hunched forward, leaning heavily on a cane. 

“These designs were ordered.” The old woman waspishly declared. “And provided for according to exacting specifications delivered to us by this very Galactic senate.”

Immediately the room churned into an uproar; calls of ‘Lies’ or ‘Slander’ being thrown around, decrying the Kaminoans and their clearly nefarious aims. 

One could say many things about the Kaminoans-

But they always kept their receipts.

With a press of a holo-key Halle uploaded a document- an order.

Placed just a handful of months after the revelation of the Grand Army’s existence attached to a bill that had indeed passed through the Senate.

“Article three hundred thirty seven, section FF, subsection seven- To summarize; Security measures to ensure Clone obedience and control of the Grand Army does not slip into foreign hands are to be implemented within every Generation where such procedures are deemed safe.”

“Security measures do not equate to mind control chips!” The Senator from Kuatt snarled.

Halle shrugged. “We did not write the bill Senator, merely took the order.”

“And the commands on the Inhibitor chips?” Mon Mothma demanded, browsing through the document. “Who provided them?”

“There was a committee vote on the security Council, I assumed they did” The Kaminoan replied with a careless shrug. 

“Regardless of who ordered it these things must be removed immediately” Bail once more tried to cut to the heart of the matter. “How soon and how quickly can this be done”

“That depends on how much you’re wiling to pay for these procedures.”

He could have laughed as the Room once again burst at the seams. 

“We have followed the terms of our contract every step of the way. Again, it was not we who ordered these chips. If you wish for them to be removed that comes with a price. If you wish for them to be removed from already installed units quickly, that comes with a greater price.” The Kaminoan paused, thinking. “Of course, the front line units already deployed could be operated on by any medical droid worth its parts with no cost from us. You’d simply have to work out the logistics with your generals and their medical staff for how to organize the endeavor.”

Bail took a slow, deep breath through his nose, clearly reigning in his temper before turning to the Jedi. “How long would it theoretically take for the Clone legions in the field to be treated?”

Windu was the one who answered. “Without compromising our battle readiness, Three weeks.”

In spite of himself, Palpatine raised an eyebrow. That was remarkably fast and proactive for the Jedi, especially when considering it was a force of near three hundred million clones.

Geonosis must’ve left quite the wound, psychologically speaking. 

“Colleagues.”

Again, Palpatine had to smother down the urge to smirk.

Collandrus of Suntilla, a Tarsunt male emerged; standing in robes that were far more opulent than his counterparts.

“It occurs to me, that while clearly there are… issues with the current implementation of these inhibitor chips; it would not be in our best interest to remove them entirely.”

A murmur almost like static filled the space and Bail rounded on the man as the eyes and expressions of the Jedi visibly darkened, to a degree that brought even Palpatine up short. 

“You cannot be serious.” The Alderanian Senator sneered.

“Can’t I?” Collandrus drawled. “Consider; who are the commanders of this separatist army? By my count, the most notable figures of this rebellion all consist of… Lightsaber wielders. Jedi by another name. Jorus C’baoth, now this… Evidently Sev’Rance Tann was another Jedi and now this General, Grievous. A cyborg specifically made to counter a Jedi and-”

“Those people are Jedi” Adi Gallia cut in.

Collandrus turned to her with a haughty, disdainfully raised eyebrow. “Oh? And I suppose Sora Bulq, a man who sat on your Council was no Jedi either?”

The woman bit the inside of her cheek.

“Regardless of whatever you call them-” The Tarsunt continued. “It is clear that the Jedi are the ones primarily leading this separatist force. And there is clearly no guarantee that those residing here on Corusant have no Seperatist sympathies”

“You have no evidence to back up that accusation-” Amidalla tried. 

Now the Senator looked annoyed; likely at being interrupted. “Again; I point to this most recent… defection. Who I will remind again sat on the Jedi’s own high Council!” He shrugged. “If they could not catch him what makes you believe they’ll do better with anyone else.” He turned to address the rest of the gathering. “My point is, gentlebeings, we clearly do not have the luxury of simply assuming the Good faith of the Jedi, and leaving no checks on the military that they control when they are a stones throw away from the Senate building would be foolish and shortsighted.”

Some more murmurs, and Palpatine could feel how the Jedi realized the argument was turning away from them. 

“And so your answer is to leave the Clones with suicide orders in their brains?” Mon Mothma demanded. 

“No of course not!” Collandrus snorted. “The orders clearly must be re-examined and altered. Some, such as order twenty must be removed entirely. But I would not trust the Jedi to hold that power over them-”

“Nor would I!” Senator Sano Sauro barked into his holo

Collandrus continued, acknowledging the help with a nod. “-and would instead entrust it to us here in the Senate-”

“Or in the Chancellor himself!” Ask Aak cut in.

Palpatine put on a suitably shocked and dismayed face. “Wh-what!” 

The room once more broke out into discussion Palpatine gripped at the armrests of his chair, pretending to be bracing, or collecting himself at the words that had been entirely expected.  stuttered ready to enter into the final act of this little play. 

But then- Mace Windu stood up.

Palpatine turned his attentions onto the Master of the order.

But the man was made of stone.

He stared dead ahead at nothing. And his voice was carved ice when spoke. 

“If this is how the Senate feels… If the inhibitor chips are to remain in place Then I’m afraid as Master of the Jedi Order I will be forced to declare our withdrawal from this conflict. 

The room didn’t erupt.

A dead, utter and complete silence took the entirety of the chamber.

Windu continued. “We will surrender our command as Generals and if need be will withdraw from Corruscant entirely

Palpatine could feel the sheer shock in many members of the Council.

But not from Yoda.

They would indeed go through with it.

Absolutely not ideal. A Jedi order that withdrew from the war this early would be easy to destroy, politically, but he did not have nearly enough competent generals or Admirals to take their place. The Grand Army might very well be defeated before they were ready and with the Jedi gone so early, far far too much attention would be diverted onto him as the Chancellor that lost the Republic their Jedi.

Time to ease the pressure a bit.

But before he could get the words out-

“How about a compromise?”

Palpatine went completely and utterly still.

From the Naboolian podium, Amidala stepped aside. Making room for Alexandria to step into the holo frame.

She stood there with hands clasped behind her back, staring with an almost imperious air straight at him.

This time, Palpatine did smile, a smile that was all spite and irritation that he knew she could see, even with the veneer of joy. “Senator- I did not expect you to be with young Amidalla.

“I couldn’t make it to my office in time. The Senator from Naboo was kind enough to accommodate me.”

She turned towards the assembly “I trust there is no problem hearing from us, Mandalore is fighting beside the Jedi and the Clones in this war after all”

None voiced their opposition. Not even his catspaws. They were almost as afraid of her as they were of him. 

“I can understand the need for security.” She continued. “Both the Jedi and the Senate have need of it. And in these uncertain times with so many Jedi seemingly rebelling against the Republic, and the Senate placing chips in the Clones without consulting the Jedi… well… its clear both sides have breached the trust of the other.

There were many nods and murmurs of affirmation around the room.

Too many

“As the Senator from Suntilla pointed out; the orders must be re-examined and amended. And as Master Windu pointed out, we cannot expect the Jedi to fight with such a dangerous Damocles sword hanging over their necks-”

He didn’t understand the reference but he could infer its meaning. 

“As such, I propose this. Allow the Jedi to remove the chips from any clones who enter front line service within their legions. They’re fighting, they need to be able to trust in their men and the Clones need to know they can trust in their generals. The chips may remain in the Clones who haven’t entered formal legions, and in the Clones assigned to the defense of Coruscant itself as a means to secure the Senate and the Senators and keep them safe from any would be Jedi defectors or Seperatist sympathisers. 

More murmurs of assent, and Palpatine felt his grip on his armrests tighten ever so subtly. This time in truth. Not an act.

Because he knew she wasn’t done.

And she wanted him to know it too, judging by how she darted her eyes to look at him out of the corner of them. 

“But it shouldn’t be Jedi that are in control of those orders, nor should the Senate; for I will remind this estimable body that many Senators did join the Seperatists when they began this rebellion, and to this day many of our colleagues could hold hidden sympathies.”

She turned away, extending a hand and Palpatine sensed a momentary confusion. “As such; the one that should be entrusted with this responsibility is someone who’s character is beyond reproach. Someone who’s devotion to the Senate and Democracy is near peerless, and her love of this republic and commitment to its defense  is beyond contestation.”

Palpatine’s sense of disbelief was echoed in the person Alexandria was pulling into view of the Holo once more to stand beside her.

“In the Interium until a more permanent solution can be found; I would entrust this responsibility to Senator Amidalla of Naboo.”

Padme’s eyes were wide and her Bantha in the headlights look was entirely real unlike Palpatine’s expression just a minute or two ago. 

Her mouth was agog, hanging wide in disbelief.

“I second the motion” Bail pounced on it.

It was too much, too fast, Mon Mothma leapt in right behind him, the sudden fear of the Jedi quitting the field entirely had shook some of those who suddenly realized they didn’t have a ready made backup to replace them. The easy compromise bridged by Alexandria had moved the independents and rationals to her cause and before too long the frenzy of the moment swept up everyone in its pull-

And the votes were in.

Seventy-seven, to thirty three.

Palpatine stared at the vote display on his desk, his features neutralas he trailed his eyes up towards the woman that had surrendered most of the stage to Amidala.

But he could just see her. There, at the edge of the display. Her eye and the curl of her lips visible in a triumphant smirk.

She made a show of raising up her hands, and softly, ever so softly, clapping demurely at the show.

Palpatine’s answering smile, was all teeth.

(X)(X)(X)

So in summary;

Palpatine...

...

Get fucked nerd! xD

Last chapter is the "Season Finale"I BELIEVE I can finish it in about a week, but there's like a lot of things to cover and I want to "stick the landing" and get it right, so it might take me a little longer than a week.There's Anakin and his MomAras and Hannah

Dennis and Ventress

Iskt and Karla with their powers

The Jedi Schism

The Jedi Council

Master Plo

So there's like a lot of different individual pieces that need to be tied up and finished. And like I said, I expect I can finish in a week but it might take me just a bit longer than that because I don't want to fumble things at the last minute. After that's done however, again I am going on a break/hiatus and that break/Hiatus will probably continue all the way into next year in January because I am going to take the time to finish up my first original story, if anyone is interested in reading about it the first 100 pages are available on Patreon here at the $5.00 tier. Its a Space Opera just like this one that's taken inspiration from Dune, Warhammer, Star Wars, Game of thrones and others and I think its gonna be great but I'd love to know what all of you think about it because the comments sometimes makes it all worth it.

So for those of you worried that Palpatine was getting off scott free from Geonosis- HAH! Betcha all forgot about Alexandria just waiting in the wings with the Giant "Get fucked Nerd" bat in hand. Don't know how ya'll forgot that cause she's about as subtle as a Flying Brick to the face but whatever.

Anywho, jokes aside, I hope you all enjoyed and I'll catch you all in the season Finale when it drops :D