Chapter 88 - Epilogue [1/2] (1/2)
Part 1: Knightfall
Jedi Temple
Coruscant
”I'm sorry.” Serra Keto sighed. ”Can we talk about this?” She tried.
They were so close! Most Jedi in the Temple were already out. Why did she volunteer to go back and make sure the archivists gout out with the most important holocrons?!
The two livid Clone fire-teams pointing blasters her way answered that question nicely.
The Jedi Knight knew her words would fall upon deaf ears, yet she was compelled to try. Too many died already because of the Sith. This madness did little else but to feed the Dark Side.
Kriffing Sith!
Keto knew it when the Clones decided to act. She could see them squeezing the triggers of their weapons before their brains even gave the order. They were good. Veterans all. Unfortunately strong minded like most Clones stationed in the Temple which was quite unlike most of their ilk.
It didn't really matter in the end.
Serra ignited her lightsabers and charged before the closest Clone could open fire. Two shadows moved behind the troopers and soon turned into Temple Guardians whose armors were scorched and dented, yet that didn't slow them down.
Before the Clones knew what hit them, three Jedi were among them. The following fight, if one could call it anything but a slaughter, was over in seconds.
”Where's the archivist?” Serra asked.
The closer Guardian pointed down the corridor where four more of their kind appeared escorting a frail looking old human woman. Each of them wore a large sack over their backs – hopefully the holocrons.
”Let's avoid that dear. The climate here is no longer healthy.” The Archivist smiled sadly. ”The Younglings?”
”Master Yaddle got them out.”
”Then we're done here.” There was the tiniest hint of regret in the old woman's voice.
”We need to leave now.” One of the Guardians said.
Serra nodded and waved them to follow.
”This way.”
=RK=
When Order 66 came, it wasn't a complete surprise. The events on Coruscant earlier that day led to hundreds of Jedi dieing, primary at the Jedi Temple. That shock reverberatedthroughout the Force. It put the Jedi across the galaxy on edge.
Yet, that warning was a double-edged sword. A few were wary or paranoid enough to keep close eye even on the people under their command. Others began looking for CIS traps or reinforcements.
For some Jedi the shock was sufficient that they complied. A lot of them even lived long enough to be taken to secure locations, though for a significant number the disruption of command in the middle of battle spelled disasters. They fell either to CIS units which were fast see an opportunity and exploit it or shot up by Clones when they tried to defend themselves and their actions were perceived as an attempt to escape in the chaos. Only three Jedi who were forced to fight against the CIS after their arrest were lucky enough not to be gunned down by both sides.
A handful even managed to escape and got to be at least temporarily free.
=RK=
Sector 11
Onderon
Jedi Master Ayala Secura felt almost at home in the jungles of Onderon. Walking through shadows cast by tall trees, smelling the scents of the vegetation… it was soothing – something she sorely needed.
After Secura began sensing Jedi dying earlier that day, she put her forces on high alert. When no attack came in the first couple of hours, her patience ran out. Ayala still sensed Jedi dying though it wasn't nothing in comparison with the first hammer blow. Yet, the Force was going mad. The Jedi Master could practically hear the cackling of the Dark Side. It shrouded everything as it grew more and more powerful by the minute.
Secura knew that things were going to get worse. The Force practically screamed that warning in her mind. She was compelled to do something, anything.
That's why she went on a patrol. It wasn't like Ayala could simply leave and go to Coruscant to check what in the name of the Force was happening over there! Contact with the capital was lost and that didn't bode well.
Once that happened, any hopes for widespread rebellion on Onderon died. Even now, thousands of years after the Sith Empire ceased to exist, the locals still remembered and loathed him.
Delkatar Veil. Lord Vael. The Butcher of Onderon. The planet still bore scars that could be seen from orbit from when the man came and conquered the place for the Empire. Looking at those places, Secura could feel the echoes of the death clinging like miasma over the otherwise pristine world.
As a consequence, the people willing to help the Republic when Secura arrived with two army groups and a decent sized fleet were few and far between. The locals fought fanatically to slow down the GAR advance. They knew that the CIS was coming and were among the few populations who would see them as liberators.
Secura understood where they were coming from. She could be sympathetic. Yet, she had to keep Onderon from the Confederacy's hands. If her forces were thrown out, the enemy would have a friendly base of operation which they could use as staging ground for deep strikes in Republic space. That had to be prevented at any cost.
The Jedi Master stiffened and focused on her surroundings.
There was danger in the air. She could…
”Stand down, general!” The lieutenant behind her snapped in a tone leaving not a shred of doubt what would happen if she disobeyed.
Ayala froze and very slowly turned her head so she could glance back at her men. The closest Clones had formed a semicircle behind her and pointing their blasters at her back. The rest of the platoon was spreading out so they could have clear firing angles.
”What is the meaning of this?!” Secura snapped back, though she made sure that only her lips moved.
The most notable thing, besides the preposterous accusation was that the lieutenant didn't address Ayala by her rank. There was a long moment when Secura felt fear. The Dark Side all but screamed at her that surrendering meant death. The Jedi felt cold wave passing through her and sending shivers up and down her spine. Her hand twitched and it was a miracle Ayala didn't summon her lightsaber before she could think straight again.
It was true that the Clones might be lying. She could sense their anger, but that was all. They didn't feel any different than when they followed a more usual order. They might just want her to disarm herself so they could take her down safely.
Or they were simply trying to arrest her.
Secura knew one thing – if she fought now, there would be no turning back. This had to be some kind of mistake! The Jedi wouldn't attempt a coup, unless they felt they had no other choice and even then…
”I surrender.” Secura spoke clearly.
”On your knees. Remove your lightsaber slowly and row it our way. Any resistance will be met with lethal force.”
=RK=
Unfortunately, there were a lot of places across the galaxy where things went truly wrong. Many Jedi were on edge after sensing scores of their brethren die. When their soldiers turned on them, a not insignificant number was not inclined to go down quietly. Many of them believed that they could either escape to figure what in the name of the Force was happening or that a surrender might spell their doom.
On more than a hundred worlds Jedi fought and died. Eleven managed to get away, instantly confirming their status as traitors and earning themselves death in the eyes of the GAR.
=RK=
Part 2: Ragnarok Act I
Even as Order 66 made its way across the galaxy and set it on fire, there were a few notable exceptions.
At one of the Republic's most prestigious military academies, Ahsoka Tano was in her room buried under a small mountain of data-pads. When the Jedi Coup began, she felt restless. When she felt Jedi die in impossible numbers, she was terrified.
Ahsoka tried to call Obi-Wan only to find out that Coruscant was under a communications blackout. When that news made its way across the academy, the Commandant put the whole facility on lockdown just in case, while every military unit in the system went on high alert. As far as anyone but Ahsoka knew, there was no attack coming.
No physical one anyway. What Ahsoka felt through the Force, she would never forget. Jedi were dying by the hundreds. First on Coruscant, later all across the galaxy.
Tano felt the Dark Side drowning her perception and crashing over her. She heard the dying screams on a whole world.
That day something intangible changed in the Force. It was like the sense of a deja vu. All Ahsoka knew for sure was that one future was closed to her. To everyone. It was as if the whole galaxy paused to take a deep breath before exhaling and just continuing on its way as if a world dying didn't matter. Yet, it was on a subtly different path.
There were no Clones bursting to arrest her. If one wasn't able to hear the Force, they might not have figured out something was wrong – just like most of the cadets found out about the events of Coruscant hours later.
Her instructors were not amused.
=RK=
On Coruscant, the only effect that Order 66 had on Obi-Wan Kenobi when it came was that it guaranteed him even stronger protection detail to keep the Jedi from attacking him again. The same was true for his wife and the Mandalorian Embassy, which were surrounded by a strong GAR presence – to keep anyone from bothering them.
The Mandalorians were torn between feeling amused that the Republic military for once was willing to protect them and furious at the insinuation that they couldn't handle the Jedi by themselves.
Oh, they had concerns. No one was looking forward to explaining to Mandalore that his wife was critically wounded and even after hours of surgery no one knew if she would survive her encounter with Mace Windu. On the face of it, she fell in an honorable combat against a worthy opponent.
However, the Mandalorians still remembered the Sith of old. Mandalore wasn't likely to care that his wife fell in proper battle. When he came back there would be hell to pay and every Mandalorian warrior on Coruscant was looking forward to that.
=RK=
Flag Bridge
Republic cruiser Gallant
Corellia
Plo Koon checked the time. Just one more hour and Yularen would be here, which was good. The Jedi Master was going to need all the help he could get. In less than four hours of all out combat all across the system, almost half of the new construction and a large chunk of industry were gone. Two of the Five Brothers had their own navies overwhelmed, the orbital defenses breached and droid armies on the ground moving in to eliminate as much of the planet-boundindustry as they could.
A third of Koon's own ȧssets were torn to shreds while he met the enemy again and again. What's worse, two of the Corellian heavy cruisers were mission killed – they were leaving the system at ballistic ark with their engines cripples. One more had more than half its weapons gutted after suffering multiple suicide runs.
The enemy paid a steep price for their success. The system was chock full with the wreckage left by whole CIS fleets, yet the Confederacy still had enough numbers and firepower left to take the system. After the last clash, Plo Koon began contemplating bulling back to Corellia, where a lot of his damaged ships were gathering along with almost half the surviving Corellian fleet.
”We're going for one more fast pass then pulling back.” The Jedi Master decided.
That wasn't the order he wanted to give. He knew something was terribly wrong on Coruscant. He felt many friends as well as people who were a major pain in the backside lately die over the last few hours. What the Jedi wanted was to order a retreat so he could bring his fleet back home to the Jedi Temple and face the enemy who attacked it.
Instead he was stuck here.
The sheer madness he was sensing through the Force didn't help either. Whatever was really happening, it was of the Dark Side. Plo Koon could sense its insidious power grow in bounds as Jedi after Jedi died.
”General, we're getting transmission from Coruscant!” The communications officer exclaimed.
”Put it on!” Koon ordered the Clone.
It took precious seconds to get the transmission cleared. Time the Jedi needed to give orders for his sub-formations as they would be entering effective range of the enemy in just a couple of minutes.
”Execute Order 66...” Chancellor Palpatine's voice came over the comm a moment before the man's mangled image appeared next to the tactical plot.
Those words froze everyone on the bridge.
”Order 66 is in effect. Security to the bridge!” Gallant's captain snapped.
The Jedi Master looked around as the transmission from Coruscant finally got cleaned up and was played in full.
”General, you're under arrest for treason. Please come in quietly.” The captain turned to face him.
”I see.” Plo Koon sighed. ”May I ask what exactly is Order 66?” What the kriff did Tiin and Piell did?! Or were the Sith to blame?!
”In case of Jedi treason all Jedi are to be placed under arrest. If you resist your life is forfeit, general.”
”I see.” Plo Koon repeated, then frowned. ”What do you mean all Jedi? Not all of us are part of the military. Those on Corellia aren't currently part of the Republic much less the Jedi Order.”
”All Jedi.” The Captain repeated in monotone as he was reading from a document. ”The Corellians are certainly included. We'll be moving to take them into custody or eliminate them ASAP.”
”What is this madness?!” Plo Koon exclaimed. He didn't know if it was the strain of combat, the chaos in the Force or feeling the death of so many Jedi.
Perhaps it was the utter calm with which a man he considered friend discussed an act of war against an ally of the Republic. An ally who even now fought beside them.
It was an utter madness, yet the captain felt as if he was discussing the weather. The Clone was utterly calm.
It didn't really matter in the end. Plo Koon's composure broke.
”I can't allow that. The Corellian's are our allies. No matter what's happening on Coruscant, the Green Jedi are innocent.” Koon's hand fell upon the hilt of his lightsaber.
”You chose to resist then.”
The Jedi felt the tiniest pang of regret coming from the captain.
The armed crew-members on the bridge drew their sidearms. Behind the Jedi, the armored doors were opening and he knew there were more soldiers coming for him. He had to warn the Corellians. It was his duty to stop this madness from spreading.
Plo Koon drew his lightsaber and the bridge descended into chaos. The Gallant didn't alter course just before engaging the enemy as the general intended to do. The cruisers task-force, which used it as a leader continued to follow it in. When contact with the Flagship was lost, the rest of the task-forces reacted sluggishly. What should have been a fast pass meant to concentrate firepower and minimize engagement times was anything but.
When Plo Koon cut down the last Clone attacking him, the Gallant was shacking under the guns of more than thirty separatist ships. The Jedi Master went to the comm station and attempted to warn the Corellians, yet it was for naught. The Gallant was deep within an CIS formation and their ECM made anything but laser com useless.
The Jedi Master lowered his head and closed his eyes. He failed and all the people who he killed on the bridge died for nothing. He didn't react when more Clones stormed the compartment and opened fire.
It didn't matter. Before his charred body hit the deck, Gallant shattered under the guns of the Confederate ships.
There were no survivors.
Part 3: Ragnarok Act 2
Jedi Temple
Corellia
”This sucks!” A petite human girl grumbled.
”Yep.” Jaybo grumbled and looked up at his friend.
Eli Cerulian sat a few stairs above him and looked criminally cute in her form fitting forest green robes.
”Are you listening to me?” The Jedi Padawan frowned at him.
Jaybo smiled. Eli looked even more lovely when she was getting angry.
”Of course I am!”
”Uh-huh.” Eli sighed. ”Why are we stuck here again?”
”Beats me.” Jaybo shrugged, which made his friend roll her eyes at him.
”No Padawans on the frontlines if we can help it. Duh.” A new voice came from above. ”How are you two lovebirds today?”
Jaybo looked up and saw an older copy of Eli walking down the stairs.
”Mum!” The young girl suddenly turned beef red.
”Ma'am!” Jaybo shot up. He was very glad he didn't sit closer to Eli otherwise her mother wouldn't stop needling them any time soon if the last few times were anything to go by…
”Seriously. How are you? With the way the Force feels...” The Jedi Knight shrugged helplessly.
There wasn't a Force Sensitive person on Corellia, probably in the whole galaxy, who couldn't sense that something was terribly wrong. For hours the Jedi Temple had been on high alert with both CorSec and GAR sending reinforcements on top the two battalions stationed nearby in an anticipation of possible Separatist attack.
”As good as could be expected, I guess.” Jaybo frowned. ”Something happened to my Master a few hours ago. He's been keeping his bonds shut ever since he went after Crimson but I could still feel it.” He shuddered. ”I know he's alive but otherwise...”
A pair of strong yet soft hands pulled him in and Jaybo found himself embraced by Eli. He relaxed and hugged her back. She felt like warmth, spice and home. Made him feel at peace even as the Force went more and more chaotic.
”Mum, do you know whats happening?” Eli muttered in Jaybo's shoulder.
”Not for sure. There's no contact with Coruscant and the situation in orbit is less than ideal.” Nejima explained. ”You can feel it too, don't you?”
”There's something in the air...” Eli mumbled.
The Force flared. Shots and explosions erupted just outside and Jedi began to die right there on Corellia.
”Go back!” Nejima ordered. She was already sprinting towards the main doors of the Temple. There were CorSec troopers stationed across the big antechamber who were either doing the same, taking cover or shouting in their comms.
The teens looked at each other. They didn't need to speak aloud and just nodded and ran after Eli's mother.
When they got to the doors, both of them froze in place. Outside was a war-zone. Clones and CorSec troopers were shooting at each other. The Republic soldiers were fighting the few Jedi who were outside the Temple too and the teens arrived just in time to see Nejima enter the fray.
A Republic walker blasted Corellian hover-tank, two platoons of supposed allies tore viciously at each other and another Green Jedi fell when he was shot at from three sides before his killers were either cut to pieces by Eli's mum or shot by vengeful Corellians.
For a moment it looked that this was it, then laser blasts lanced down from the sky and began killing the defenders. Jaybo's head snapped up to see a swarm of LAATs coming in fast. Far behind them ominously hovered a familiar triangular form.
”We need to get out of here!” Jaybo exclaimed.
”Not without mother!” Eli exclaimed.
”She'll be with us soon!”
Nejima looked their way.
”Go!”
”Mum, come with us!”
Instead of answering, the Jedi Knight turned around and raised her hands. A swarm of missiles launched by the approaching gunships froze in midair.
”Come!” Jaybo grabbed his friend's arm and began dragging her inside.
”No! Mum!” Eli struggled to get free.
Laser cannons roared. A handful of shoulder launched missiles answered and the space in front of the Jedi Temple suddenly became a death ground. Eli and Jaybo were thrown through the Temple's entrance by the blast-waves and left dazed on the ground.
When they came back to their senses, the teenagers were being dragged up the stairs leading to the Temple's upper floor. The building's antechamber was turned into a killing ground by wave after wave of Clones attempting to push back fanatical Corellian resistance.
A platoon of heavy troopers finally did the trick when they blasted through the walls next to the door and stormed in firing heavy weapons at anything that moved.
=RK
Site K
location classified
”What the hells is going on?!” Governor-General Shyla Merricope snarled.
The head of the Corellian government glared at her advisers before her furious eyes fell upon her liaison with the GAR.
”I have no idea, Ma'am.” Captain Jorje Victus answered. ”My best guess is that Order 66. This is the first time I heard of such a contingency.” The Coruscanti born and bred officer looked mightily uncomfortable but he didn't appear to be lying.
Or he just was a better actor than Shyla gave him credit for.
”General, place that man under arrest and get him out of here. Give me an open channel to all forces in system – ours and Republic.” Merricope ordered.
Shyla's eyes went back to the live feeds from Coronet city. The GAR battalion stationed near the Jedi Temple was busy ȧssaulting the building they were supposed to protect. All Republic formation in the region were making their way there and fighting anyone who was attempting to stop them, which wasn't going well for anyone. There was a whole army group on Corellia and the bulk of those forces were in the general vicinity of the capital. To make things worse, a number of Republic cruisers had entered the atmosphere before anyone knew something was wrong and were moving towards Coronet too. They had already sent waves of gunships and ȧssault shuttles at the Jedi Temple which was a war-zone.
”Diktat, all we're getting as an explanation is that Order 66 is in effect and anyone attempting to prevent its execution is to be considered traitor.” An exasperated sounding colonel reported.
”We've got open channels to our and the Republic ships in system.”
”This is Governor-General Shyla Merricope to all Republic units in the Corellian system. You're to cease offensive actions against our people at once or we will respond with deadly force. You will explain yourselves now. All Corellian ships, Contingency Winter. I repeat Contingency Winter.”
”Governor-General Merricope, this is Rear Admiral Felix, acting commander of all Republic forces in system.” A Clone in the green uniform of a flag officer appeared above the holotank in the center of the room. ”I cannot do so. Contingency Order 66 is in effect. All Jedi are to surrender into Republic custody at once. Any resistance means their lives are forfeit.” The Clone paused. ”If your forces continue to resist the execution of my lawful orders, I will be left with no choice but to consider them enemy combatants. My orders leave no latitude, Ma'am. Order 66 is to be carried at any cost.”
A deadly hush fell around Shyla.
=RK=
Part 4: Ragnarok Act 3
Site K
location classified
The Diktat made a hand-sign and the outgoing transmission was put on hold.
”I need options.” Merricope's voice held bȧrėly controlled fury.
”Military? We might be able to hold the orbitals if the remaining Republic and Separatist forces in system bleed each other badly enough. We've got heavy Republic reinforcements incoming under admiral Yularen. It's anyone's guess if he'll try to stop this madness or continue with it.” The man in charge of CorSec mussed. ”On the ground…Corellia is currently secure with the obvious exception of Coronet and the surrounding regions. We've got running engagements with GAR units on eight separate locations. An ȧssault ship over the capital with a Venator and two more approaching.”
An aide gave the general a data-pad which he skimmed through before continuing.
”We've got multiple battalion level formations converging on the Republic forces with QRFs heading for the Jedi Temple. The Theater shield over Coronet is being raised as we speak, however as you know it won't cover the Temple. It's just outside the outer perimeter.” The general sighed. ”It's possible that those ships will bombard the area if the Republic ground forces are unable to secure the Jedi Temple. I require authorization to take them out with either the anti-orbital defenses or if that's not practical I'll request the navy to neutralize them.”
”Political options?” Shyla asked in marginally more controlled voice.
”It depends what the hells is happening on Coruscant. Coup or not, for all intents and purposes the Republic just began a shooting war with us. That admiral didn't seem to care for the political fallout of his actions and I'm finding that highly disturbing.” Merricope's oldest politically ally and adviser added her two credits. ”Besides...”
”Even if all our Jedi part of the GAR suddenly went insane and joined the Separatists or something we're still independent. The Republic has no right to simply demand that we hand them our people and attack our military personnel when they refused as they should have done.” Shyla finished.
Even if she and her government were willing to just hang the Green Jedi on the Republic's said so, that simply became impossible when the GAR on Corellia attempted to take things in their own hands and attacked CorSec.
”Get in contact with our people on Coruscant. Find what in the hells those lunatics in the Senate and GAR think they're doing. Get that admiral back on.” Merricope ordered.
Couple of seconds later, Felix's image was back on.
”Admiral, all Republic ships are to move at least two light seconds from Corellia ASAP. You will order all GAR personnel on the ground to stand down as well. If you do not, I will consider the presence of your forces as a clear and present danger to my people and act accordingly.”
”I'm afraid I cannot do that, ma'am Governor-general. The contingency orders are absolute. They're to be executed at all cost and no matter the consequences. I implore you to stand down and let me do my duty.” The Clone looked sincere and unyielding.
”You're aware you're committing an act of war against one of the few allies the Republic has in this war?” Merricope asked.
”I am, ma'am. My orders stand. Anyone interfering with their execution is to be considered enemy and eliminated.”
Shyla closed her eyes and sighed. This was utter madness. Yet, she had her duty to her people who were fighting and dying right now.
”Damn you!” Merricope hissed. ”Give me channel to all our military forces.” She waited for confirmation. ”This is Diktat Shyla Merricope. Execute Contingency Winter Solace. I repeat Winter Solace. All non-Corellian ships in orbit are to be neutralized. Any Republic ship approaching a two light seconds exclusion zone from Corellia is to be considered hostile.” She paused to take a breath. ”Republic forces stationed on Corellia attempted the unlawful arrest of all Jedi on the planet. When CorSec personnel took offense, they were engaged by our supposed allies. All attempts to peacefully resolve this crisis have been met with threats and demands to hand our people under the charge of treason. Yet the Republic commanders were unable to give any shred of proof to support such grievous charges. All they tell us is that they have their orders…
=RK=
After the Republic Flagship went down with all hands, pure chaos reigned across the Corellian system. The carefully orchestrated defense fell apart as command and control lines shredded. In places Republic and Corellian ships continued fighting side by side against overwhelming odds. The task forces meant to reinforce them often didn't show and they died fighting valiantly until destruction.
In other sectors of the system wide battlefield, Corellian ships peeled off and abandoned the Republic navy as they followed Winter Contingency and made best speed for their homewolrd. At the same time, Republic battle groups peeled off and left their local counterparts to fend for themselves as they hurried for Corellia so they could execute Order 66.
While madness grasped their enemies, the Confederacy navy was briefly shocked in inaction. For a time they suspected a trap and merely redressed their lines while dealing with the forces still engaging them. Yet, it didn't take long for admiral Trench to make up his mind. He saw an opportunity and grasped it by throwing everything he had at the remaining two brothers, thus ignoring Corellia for the time being. His forces used the opportunity to decimate what was left of the enemy construction and infrastructure across the system which suddenly found itself abandoned.
=RK=