A New Jedi in an Old Republic

High Council Chamber

Jedi Temple

Coruscant

Mace and Kyle stood side by side as they faced the rest of the Council who could make it to this meeting. "Disappointed," Yoda said, pointing his walking stick at Mace, "I am in you. A leader, you must be. Vanishing for days, no warning you gave."

"I am at fault for that," Mace accepted. "I forced myself into the situation, and Katarn failed to dissuade me."

"Punishment, to be decided later," Yoda noted. "For now, report."

Kyle stepped forward and delivered his rehearsed explanation for the bait, trap and ambush, covering all his bases with Jan's refinements and the integration of the squad of Clone Troopers. It was something he was completely comfortable doing, and he even got to add in recordings by the security cameras to verify his report.

"Well done," Ki-Adi-Mundi said once it was all done. "While the targets were not what are usually caught, this was very much a textbook sting operation."

"There are many similarities, yes," Kyle said. "But I can tell that you want to talk about something else."

There was a moment's awkward silence before Mace spoke up. "The number of Sith – or Dark Jedi – were beyond what we expected." He still kept Vos's status a secret from the Knight-Errant. "Six of them attacked that location, and while we can confirm two kills and two escapees, that still leaves one unaccounted for, and Bulq."

"Bulq has been placed in secure holding area," Plo Koon said, "and he is currently sedated while our medical droids examine him for any physical problems."

"I wish to apologize to the Council and to Knight-Errant Katarn," Mace said, head bowed. "I let my personal feelings for him cloud my judgment. I went too easily into a duel with him, and the mission was compromised as a result."

"Forgiven," Kyle said. "I would be wrong to say that the same thing hasn't happened to me before." He shook his head sadly. "I have to say though, whoever was training the ones I fought didn't do too good a job of it. They were far too focused on the whole 'twin' style."

"It is a legitimate means of fighting when properly trained," Mace pointed out.

"I'm not doubting that, but I'm pointing out that it was the wrong way to go about it. They should have had one tie me down, while the other went ahead."

"Perhaps their goal was less destruction of material at that point, and more to kill you?" Shaak-Ti asked.

"Eh, I don't think I had earned their personal ire." Kyle shrugged off the suggestion. "If so, it was more a case of being a target of opportunity."

That seemed to be agreeable to everyone. "Do you have anything else you wish to add?" Plo Koon asked of Kyle.

"Not really," he said. "I've been truthful with my report."

"Dismissed, you are. With our thanks." Yoda said, gesturing to the door. "Summon you, we shall."

Kyle bowed, then made his way to the elevator that led down into the Temple proper.

Once he was gone, Mace readied himself. "What say you, Master Windu?" Yoda asked him sharply.

"I... erred." He repeated his confession to ease himself into the larger issues. "I became so preoccupied with what the Knight-Errant and his pilot were planning, as well as his nature, that I forgot the larger objectives." He paused for a moment in reflection. "Is this what we are being condemned for? To act without considering the people we are affecting?"

"We are supposed to be the diplomats of the Republic!" Ki-Adi-Mundi objected. "We should be trying to negotiate this peace!"

"The last time we did so," Obi-wan spoke for the first time in this meeting, "Qui-Gon Jinn died at the hands of a Sith." He sounded sad for a moment before returning to his usual tone of voice, the reminder of the dead Jedi Master enough to cause everyone in the room to remember how they felt when the news was delivered to them. "There is still room for negotiation. There are neutral systems that can be swayed to our side, or to maintain their neutrality. Other forces can still be made to bring pressure on the Confederacy. As much as I dislike my own suggestion, an envoy to the Hutts would not be out of place."

"And entreat with criminals?" Ki-Adi objected.

"Masters!" Mace raised his voice to the roof to get their attention. "We are leaving the point behind!" he waited until they were looking at him, reminding themselves that he was still a Master on the Council. "We should have been warned. We should have seen this coming. The forces of the Confederacy have been on the march for ten years, and we did nothing. Master Sifo did, and though he is no longer with us, his efforts in crafting the Grand Army of the Republic have borne fruit! It is obvious to me now that he intended to learn the arts of war, risking schism. But his untimely death hid the existence of his Clone Anmy, his plans from us."

He paused, trying to remember the last time he had argued so passionately in front of the council.

"What I saw in that mission has shaken me to the core," he said softly. "I see now, in retrospect, that I was unneeded. That Knight-Errant Katarn was unneeded as a Jedi. What I saw was a future where the Republic didn't need us, because we were superfluous. We have failed the Republic in our blindness. We have to work to re-earn the trust they have shown us for a thousand years, in service with our strengths," he motioned to Obi-wan," or by relearning old skills for the times at hand. But we cannot keep sitting around and debating like the Senate!"

He paused for a moment to regain control over his emotions. "As a Master, I am aware of the requirements of this Council, and how it is organized. Therefore, I have three points issues to put before this Council. First, is to elevate Obi-Wan Kenobi to this body formally. He has sat here as an adviser for us in the past, and we have come to trust his judgement. Secondly, I would petition this Council – including Master Kenobi – to offer Knight-Errant Katarn a non-voting advisory position on this Council, to offer his input in the ways of war until such time as we can understand what we are doing and can act on our own ability. Third, I offer my resignation from the Council for my inability to understand the true scope of the conflict ahead, my folly in rushing into conflict without knowledge and foresight, and my own lack of control."

Here it was, he saw, a Shatterpoint. In many ways, the Council would err, and ruin would fall upon them. In other ways, they would rise above, and become who they thought they were. Who they needed to be.

Office of the Chancellor

Palpatine, Pestage and Amedda each sipped their drink of choice. "Your suggestions, gentlemen?" He had no concerns about the privacy of his office. It had taken a full day, but the technicians from Republic Intelligence had completely swept his office for hidden listening devices. Even now, the wall tapestries as well as the general artwork would need to be properly put back into place. The Sith Lord was glad that the material in the statues that hid his ligthsabers was scan-proof. No devices could be inserted into them and transmit out without being detected. "What is your proposal?" he asked of them.

Mas spoke first. "Chancellor, after much discussion with Pestage, we came to the conclusion that the simplest arrangement to divert the attention of Intelligence would be to create evidence that one of the serving droids gifted to you by a recently... departed" he glanced at Sate, who nodded, "member of the Trade Federation had been subverted before being delivered to you. It is no secret that they utilize droids, and have an interest in both sides of the conflict."

"I see," Palpatine said, considering the options. "You could portray it as a case of the traitor getting information, and rushing off to deliver it to his masters without proper verification."

"Essentially, yes." Sate agreed. "We want to keep the explanation simple to minimize the chance of the story unraveling by itself."

"Do you have a certain traitor in mind?" Palpatine asked.

"I do, your Excellency," Sate said. "There is a certain junior functionary who left shortly before the ill-fated Confederacy raid who has not yet returned."

"Excellent," the Chancellor gave his leave to have that person murdered. "I trust there will not be any further complications?"

"No, your Excellency." Mas said with confidence. "Sate will be able to make it look like he was killed for leading their people into a trap." Pestage gave a simple nod of affirmation.

"Good, good," Palpatine was gleeful. "Now, what have your people learned of this Kyle Katarn who was working with Republic Intelligence?"

At this, the two servants of the Sith Lord balked. "My lord," Mas said first, "we know nothing. The first report about him that we have was from a Captain Corvell in the Navy, who noted that the Jedi aided in repelling boarders on his ship the day war was declared. "After that, he came directly to Coruscant, and reported to Senator Mon Mothma before returning to the Temple. Before that, there is nothing."

"No one appears out of thin air," Sate interjected before Palpatine could express his displeasure. "We believe that he was a Jedi spy, and is currently operating under a false identity to maintain some separation from the Temple."

Palpatine let his anger simmer, and not direct it at the two sentients across from him. "Interesting. Go on."

"We know that the Jedi run their own operations without Senate oversight," Mas said, "and once Sate and his people find the evidence, we can use this information to deal another blow against the public's trust in the Jedi – with the right spin, of course."

"It will not be a death knell," Sate clarified. "But simply another point to show how untrustworthy they are."

Palpatine sat back and thought, running the idea through his already laid plans. "We will also need something more direct against this Katarn," he mused aloud. "He is proving to be a thorn in my side, with affecting the Jedi High Council, and working with Republic Intelligence."

"Could you not direct Isard and his people to not work with the Jedi, except at directed by your office?" Sate asked.

"He could, but I doubt it would work," Mas objected before Palpatine could. "The Jedi's operations have resulted in a positive outcome for the Republic and Isard. He would need to fail in such a manner that Isard and Mon Mothma would lose their trust in him, allowing the Chancellor to step in and regulate the interactions."

"I agree. It is also too soon to cause such a failure," Palpatine noted. "But create plans for such a thing." He stood up and walked to the windows of his office. "This is a minor stumble, nothing more. We cannot expect everything to go exactly according to our plans."

Coruscant Orbit

The Praxeum ship Chu'unthor slid out of Hyperspace on the lane from Corellia to Coruscant. The large ship had filed its flight plans properly, and the Coruscantii control stations were fully aware that they were coming.

"This is Master Djinn Altis," the venerable Master of the Order that bore his name spoke over the intercom to the world below, and those who knew to listen for him, "and we are here to answer the call of the Republic."

Dween

Master Javi and Padawan Ghera walked out of the mists to the landing pad on which their hired transport waited. "Hail the ship!" Javi called out, not seeing anyone around the ship.

"Perhaps they are having lunch?" Ghera asked as he ascended onto the platform.

"No," Javi drew his lightsaber, but did not ignite it. "Careful, there is something here...."

"Someone, you mean." A figure emerged from behind the ship, and the two Jedi readied themselves for hostilities that never emerged. "I am Master Aqinos, who are you?"

Javi relaxed, recognizing the name of the sentient who taught the Order of the Iron Knights. Putting his weapon away, he approached the Sunesi Jedi. "Greetings, Master. I am Master Javi, of the Green Jedi of Corellia. This is my Padawan, Ghera."

"What brings you here, Corellian?"

"Have you heard of the news in the Galaxy at large?" Javi had long since debated how to make this approach.

"War," Aqinos said. "I have heard."

"The Republic has put out the call for allies," Javi stated, certain now that the crew of the transport was being held on the ship. Whether they were hostages, or simply confined was not yet determined. "We were asked to come to you and make the request in person."

"Why should I return to the Jedi?" Master Aqinos said. "Maker take them for their rejection of me!"

"It is not the Jedi who call for you," Javi said calmly, glad that Nejja and Katarn had enough foresight to predict this reaction. "It is the Republic. We are Corellian," he indicated his Padawan and himself. "Do you think we would willingly work with the Temple Jedi if there was any other way?"

"And yet your words admit that you do."

"Only because the Republic asks it of us," Javi delivered the counter argument. "All those Sects in the Force loyal to the Republic have been asked to come under the aegis of the Temple, so that they don't have to worry about dealing with so many smaller groups. But," he emphasized this point, "we do not work for the Temple. With them, certainly. But not for them."

"What difference does it make," Aqinos asked bitterly. "What are they that they would throw you and I out without a second thought for heresy, for daring to think of ideas that have not already been in existence for a thousand years or more?"

Javi let him vent his anger. "People who can become better," he replied calmly. "We can show them that our ways are different, not wrong, and force them to accept us, to recognize us. We do not need the Coruscantii Temple to tell us how to live our lives, what to do, what to think, what to feel. We do not need them. They need us."

Ghera took the moment to add to the arguments. "The breakaway group, the Confederacy, utilizes droids in their armies. We, the Green, came to you for your knowledge and wisdom, your Iron Knights are known to us, and we would petition them for help in this war."

"How would they help?" Aqinos gave them the benefit of the doubt, the Force telling him to.

"However they can," Javi said. "We are not fools to order your Knights to perform deeds for us. We do not know their strengths. Their weaknesses. What we would do is to ask them – to ask you – to let us know what they can or cannot do."

"Why, then?"

"Why?" Javi breathed deeply of the air of Dweem. "We ask because we can. Because we, in a way, must. If we do not join together, who knows what will happen to us apart? The Separatists have declared their war on everything the Republic and the Jedi stand for. They are led by Count Dooku, a former Jedi himself."

"This sounds like an internal matter, of no concern to ours."

"If it was that, truly, then we would never have come here. We would have stayed on Corellia." Javi admitted, even as his Padawan chafed at the implications. "But that is not the case. Forgive us for this, for while we cannot expect an answer, we would ask the question – will you aid us?"

"I will not," Master Aqinos said instantly. "But... when I tried to convince my Knights of the same, some pointed out that in trying to force them to stay here, safe, I was doing to them what the Council would have done to me. Shuttered them away from the greater Galaxy, forcing them away from finding their own path." He stepped aside. "As a whole, the Iron Knights will not aid you. As individuals, they may choose to. Some are already aboard. Please, treat them well. They are a rarity in the Galaxy."

"And the crew?"

"We were stern in stressing that I talk to you first," Aqino sounded apologetic. "But it had to be done." He turned to walk into the mists of the world. "May the Force be with you."

"And you too, Master." Javi waited for the head of the Iron Knights to vanish before motioning to their ship. "Come on, let us see who we have recruited."

Jedi Temple

Nejja could see no other option. Although the Altisian Jedi were making their way to the Temple from the Spaceport, he had to contact the Council and deliver to them the bad news. He knew Katarn would understand, the Knight-Errant had made it clear that completing all their objectives was unlikely.

But for this to happen, it was a massive mark against the Temple Jedi. And he was not sure how the Council would respond to this development. No, better that he deal with it himself.

The Teepo Knights were missing, they had been for months at least, and no one was the wiser.