Star Wars Interregnum: Prologue
From Jalassociatecomics
Minas I, Outer Rim. 19 BBY.
Mace Windu is dead.
Palpatine is Sidious.
Anakin Skywalker is Darth Vader.
Obi-wan Kenobi has killed General Grievous.
Clone Commander CC-2963, more fondly known as Frere to his men, knows nothing of this. Neither does Lieutenant Caminus Amel, accompanying him in aiding Jedi Master Corvid-hal-Pyca liberate the CIS-infested world of Minas 1. To them, the Galaxy is contained within their macrobinocular view. Clones are routing droid forces already.
AT-TEs tear through droid Hailfire tanks, weakened through hours of fighting in the dense undergrowth. E-5 rifles are torn from the hands of droids by clones. B-2 battle droids, tough as they are, are blown apart by DC-15 blaster fire. Nemoidian generals and commanders, once stripped of their dense bodyguard, are found to be weak nothings. Surrender is finally imminent after eighteen straight hours of nothing but close quarter combat.
And the Jedi? Master Pyca is tearing through droids like glass. Regardless of model or make, they all fall prey to his avenging lightsaber. Nothing is safe - even the feared droidekas are lifted up into the air with the Force and crused into splinters in an instant. At long last, the Jedi, pleased with his work, turns toward the clone commander.
One year, and neither the Navy officer nor clone commander have gotten used to the Jedi Master's look. Corvid-hal-Pyca is of the Kaleesh, the same species as the dreaded General Grievous, scourge of the Republic. Traditions of his people have mantained that Master Pyca wear a mask unsettlingly similar to Grievous's. The Jedi is, as always, first to break the unsettling silence.
"Commander Frere, it is getting late. Shall we draw the line here, or press the advantage? It, after all, has been eighteen hours."
The young naval officer interjected and spoke for the commander. "It has been eighteen hours - but we shall fight another eighteen hours more if necessary, Master Jedi."
The commander, though his face was hidden behind a Phase I helmet made an obvious gesture of irritation at the lieutenant's rude comment. "Master Pyca, though we have driven the Seperatists back, their base is located in the maze of those valleys," he commented, pointing at the labyrinth of cliffs and passes ahead. "We must continue, lest we lose their retreat they regroup and counterattack where we least expect it."
"If you insist, Commander. But I still mantain that our troops are weary and may not be up to it."
The Jedi turned to the battle, and prepared for another charge. However, in that instant, the entire war changed. The comlink on Frere's palm crackled, then the signal turned into a smooth transmission. The disfigured face of Chancellor Palpatine appeared in front of the commander and the lieutenant.
"The time is now. Execute Order Sixty-Six."
Order 66. The signal the Jedi have gone rogue. Commanded Frere unflinchingly replies.
"It...will be done."
In one transmission, the war ceased to be against the CIS, but against the Jedi. The commander gathered together his elite troops, and made a slashing gesture at the Jedi. He turned, only to collide into Lieutenant Caminus Amel.
"With all due respect, sir, perhaps I should go in first. If the Jedi realises our intention before we shoot, it will be difficult to take him down. One man won't be as conspicuous."
"Very well, Lieutenant. If you fail, we'll go in."
Making close to no noise, Caminus, armed with a heavy blaster pistol crept up and took aim. A perfect lock, or as close to one he could get. He was a bit shaky, but that was inconsequential. The reticule was exactly aligned with the Jedi's head. Nothing could go wrong now. His finger curled around the trigger.
Those words were proven wrong milliseconds later. A spider walker had fired its rockets metres in front of the predator and the prey. The tightened finger on the blaster pistol lurched backwards, and the gun misfired, hitting a tree just behind the Jedi. With lightning-quick reflexes, Master Pyca turned towards the source and pinned the lieutenant against a wall.
"What the hell are you doing?!" cried the Jedi Master, as he raised his lightsaber.
"Only...what-I...must!" replied the lieutenant, as he gestured to Commander Frere. Six elite troopers raised their carbines and fired.
Fast as the clones were, the Jedi reacted faster, blocking every single shot with the energy blade. Through the strain of deflecting the almost-continuous fire, the Jedi still spat accusations of betrayal, and then questioning the use of even firing at him, and then barking commands to stop shooting.
While the Jedi made his soliloquy, Lieutenant Amel's hand found its way to the holster on the inside of his combat vest, and drew out a small hold-out blaster. This wouldn't be enough to kill the Kaleesh, but it'd give enough of an opening. Straining as the reptilian hand tightened around his throat, the lieutenant raised the gun. The Jedi turned -
Seconds too late.
Pure energy struck him in the chest. Even the clones were stunned for an instant.
And that was all the difference. The Jedi, though blinded momentarily, reached out with the Force, and ran. Blaster fire rang out all over him - it was evident that the droid army had gotten clean away. Now only if he could get away with the same trick. As vision returned to him, he regained direction and ran towards the Jadthu-class transports.
Once in the transport, he saw two clone medics. Had they received the order yet? Were they going to kill him? Or tend to his wounds? Long seconds of silence passed. The three parties stared at each other. The medics didn't know what the Jedi was doing here, while battle still raged on. They were completely innocent. They did'nt think the Jedi to be a target. No hand drew a blaster.
When the craft landed on Coruscant, there was nobody on board. One cupboard was opened - and out toppled clone limbs, heads and torsos. The Jedi had escaped.
The Senate Convocation chamber, at around the same time.
Ger Liç, the Kel Dor senator from Minas One, was late. Late for an important meeting of Senators. An address by the Chancellor himself,if he remmbered correctly. Senator Liç hurried to his seat, instantly noticing Palpatine's changed appearance. The Chancellor has been scarred - by lightning? it was impossible tot ell from the distance. But that was not important now. Now...was the Declaration of a New Order.
"...Jedi Rebellion was our final test—it was the last gasp of the forces of darkness! Now we have left that darkness behind us forever, and a new day has begun! It is morning in the Republic!
Never again will we be divided! Never again will sector turn against sector, planet turn against planet, sibling turn against sibling. We are one nation, indivisible!
To ensure that we will always stand together, that we will always speak with a single voice and act with a single hand, the Republic must change. We must evolve. We must grow. We have become an empire in fact; let us become an Empire in name as well! We are the first Galactic Empire!
We are an Empire that will continue to be ruled by this august body! We are an Empire that will never return to the political maneuvering and corruption that have wounded us so deeply; we are an Empire that will be directed by a single sovereign, chosen for life!
We are an Empire ruled by the majority! An Empire ruled by a new Constitution! An Empire of laws, not of politicians! An Empire devoted to the preservation of a just society. Of a safe and secure society! We are an Empire that will stand ten thousand years!
We will celebrate the anniversary of this day as Empire Day. For the sake of our children. For our children's children! For the next ten thousand years! Safety! Security! Justice and peace!
Say it with me! Safety, Security, Justice, and Peace! Safety, Security, Justice, and Peace!"
The Convocation chamber burst into cheer, repeating the slogan over and over again, the words slowly becoming less intelligible. Liç was in the middle of "Security" when is keen eyes noticed that two members of the Senate were not cheering. Juging by their locations, they were the Senators from...Alderaan, and probably Naboo. The Nabutian senator was saying something. Barely making it out, Liç heard:
..liberty dies. In thunderous applause.
Jer Liç conposed himself, and sat back down. Those words had a certain...trueness to them. The speech that the Chancellor - wait, now Emperor - in all essence, had...destroyed - was that the right word? - all semblance of a Republic. Now it had, - with one speech - turned from a democracy...to a dictatorship.
Looking at the Emperor, Jer Liç had nothing to say. As the Convocation Chamber cleared, the senator of Minas One was deep in thought. What was to become of his home-world, still torn apart between Republic - Imperial - troops and the Seperatists? Had it been liberated...by oppressors? Perhaps one of the generals would know.
Checking the records at the docks, he noticed that one Republic Jadthu-class lander had arrived minutes ago from Minas One. He decided to investigate, perhaps to catch some top brass in charge of the operation there. He was blocked at the door, the gruff clone commander telling him that the ship was utetrly off limits.
Disappointed, Liç walked off. However, there was a lingering feeling. A feeling - that he was being watched. As he navigated through the massive port, a figure kept laping through the shadows. Hoping to lose him in the labyrinth that was Coruscant spaceport, the senator ran, dodging and diving through crowds. At long last, he reached an empty space: an empty landing area.
Suddenly, the doors slammed shut behind him, leaving silence thereafter. Cold fear passed through the Senator. All was still. Until -
A large figure landed in front of him with a thud. Rising to his feet, it was evident that the figure was wearing torn and tattered Jedi Robes. The figure kept his head bent down, drawing his lightsaber. With a sickening jolt, Jer Liç remembered something about a "Jedi Rebellion". Now his heart raced. The Jedi slowly looked up at the Senator, the sockets of his mask aimed at the shuddering politician.
Slowly but firmly, Jedi Master Corvid-hal Pyca said: "Senator. I need your help."
