Jedi Insurgency 226 (Interlude 34)

AN: I've taken some liberties with Kirak this ch. Technically, the dude took a vow to never interact with the Jedi Order, but shhh, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

Gathered in an abandoned freight station on one of Coruscant's lower floors, over 50 Jedi Knights, and a dozen Jedi Masters had come, answering Obi-Wan Kenobi's call to rescue Mace Windu. Each one of them were those who had either found the call to gather on Illum suspicious, or had been rescued due to Prince Xizor's efforts, and had been remaining lowkey. 

Obi-Wan Kenobi stood on a raised platform that overlooked the abandoned warehouse floor, his brown robes seeming almost black in the gloom. In another life the gathering before him would have taken place in a temple spire open to sunlight and wind, with polished stone underfoot and the Force moving serenely through every breath. Here, there was no sunlight, and the Force felt muffled under the weight of that malignant star that had claimed the Jedi Temple as his home. 

Some of the gathered Jedi stood in small groups, speaking in low voices. Others kept to themselves in the shadows with their hoods drawn, clearly Order 66 had changed many of his brethren in more ways than one. Obi-Wan maintained a stern expression as he drank in this gathering of Jedi. Although they were all victims of betrayal, they had all gathered to save one of their own. 

Many of them owed their survival thanks to Revan's early warning, and yet despite this survival how many of the remaining Jedi were truly living? The Jedi Order did not fill this chamber. Its remnants did.

Gathered in a semi circle across from him were five individuals who had been chosen to represent the rest of the gathered Knights & Masters. They were: Shaak Ti, Coleman Kcaj, Jastus Farr, Kirak Infil’a, and Taron Malicos. 

Shaak Ti stood with her back straight and her chin raised, every inch of her composed despite the grime and dimness of the place. Her lekku swayed, and the red skinned Togruta faintly smiled at him as she noticed his gaze. Near her stood Coleman Kcaj, severe and thoughtful, the Ongree's upside down face was unreadable as he listened to the murmuring around him. Jastus Farr-the blue skinned alien from an unknown planet-paced rather than stood, as if he were a caged animal. Kirak Infil’a was an old Human man, one who looked like a statue carved from some God of war, broad-shouldered and imposing even in plain robes, the muscular, bearded Jedi Smith silently hovered above the floor, his eyes were shut as he deeply communed with the Force. Lastly, Taron Malicos, dressed in ancient Jedi-style armor, leaned against a crate with the poise of a predator. Malicos was also bearded, and could be Obi-Wan's cousin with how similar their haircuts were. 

A murmur passed across the room as yet another Jedi slipped through the sealed side hatch, gave the coded sign, and was admitted by the sentries. 

Obi-Wan let the murmurs diminish of their own accord, and then stepped forth, now that everyone who was expected to come had arrived. 

“At present, Master Windu remains confined within the Senate Rotunda. He is on display under holocam 24/7, so that the citizens of the galaxy can ‘witness history.” Obi-Wan began, laying out the facts of the situation. “The trial has lasted five days. By all accounts, it is not truly a trial at all. The prosecution has paraded false witnesses, edited recordings, and every imaginable invention. On the seventh day, Chancellor…Emperor Palpatine is expected to secure a guilty verdict and order immediate execution.”

No one interrupted Obi-Wan, but the gathered Jedi were all staring at him expectantly, wondering what would come next. 

“We are here, to determine whether Master Windu may yet be rescued, and if so, how.” After saying his piece, Obi-Wan took a step back, opening the floor to discussion. 

Kirak Infil’a was the first to move. He strode forward with a warrior’s directness, not bothering to soften his presence in the Force like the typical Jedi Councilor or diplomat. 

“The answer is simple. Now. We strike the Senate now. Not on the seventh day. Not during some recess. Now.” His deep voice spread across the room. 

A ripple went through the gathered Jedi. Such decisiveness and direct calls for action were a rarity amongst their Order. Typically, such bluntness was not the preferred method for Jedi. And yet…the survivors of Order 66 were different from their past selves. They were not averse to risk. 

“For five days the Emperor has flaunted this outrage before the galaxy. He cages a Jedi Master beneath the very heart of the Republic’s corpse and calls it justice. We, in turn, must answer with strength. We break into the Senate, free Windu, and if the Sith is present…We end him.” Kirak said in a quiet, and imposing tone. 

Taron Malicos pushed off from his crate with a faint smile that held no humor. “At last, someone speaks plainly.”

“Master Shaak Ti will say it is reckless. Coleman will say it is inflammatory. They will use flowery words to describe our situation, ignorant of the reality. As members of the High Council, it is their very arrogance that led us into this situation in the first place. What has respectability bought us? Our Temple is gone, replaced by a monolith dedicated to hate. Our name is spat like a curse. Our people are hunted in alleys and on farm worlds and in the wilderness like Womp Rats. The Senate building has become the lair of a Sith Lord, and we stand around discussing optics.”

Some bristled at his tone, but at least half of those present nodded along with him. 

“No one would expect an assault today. That is our advantage. On the seventh day security will be impossible to breach, and the crowds of innocents gathered to witness this historic moment would only get in our way. The execution procession will crawl with clones, gunships, scanners, witnesses, and holocams. But today? Today Palpatine believes he has the galaxy in the palm of his hands. Today the galaxy thinks Windu is still being litigated to death. We strike before the verdict is reached, and whilst Palpatine presides over the trial of the millenia, we cut out the cancer now. And reveal to everyone that they were being played by a Sith Lord all along.” Malicos laid out his plan, and maliciously smirked as he shared his idea of outing Palpatine. 

A low rumble of agreement sounded from one quarter of the chamber. Kirak snorted at Malicos, seemingly disdaining the younger man's slippery tongue, yet he didn't speak out against him, as their overall plan remained the same. 

Meanwhile, from the Masters who were present, yet weren't participating in the debate, K’Kruhk’s expression darkened. Glancing at K'Kruhk, Obi-Wan worried his friend would cast his vote towards Malicos & Kirak's position. 

Shaak Ti stepped forward before the group consensus solidified around Kirak & Malicos's ideas. 

“An assault on the Senate building would be seen as an attack on democracy. However noble our intent, it would appear to the public as confirmation of every accusation Palpatine has made. You would hand him the martyrdom of every trooper slain within that building, granting him justification for increasingly despotic laws.” Shaak Ti said, stepping forward, and injecting an air of calm into everyone present. 

“Public sentiment matters little if the Sith dies.” Kirak bluntly responded. 

“Public sentiment does matter.” Shaak Ti snapped, a flash of heat finally breaking through her composure. “The death of one old man will not suddenly fix all our problems. Hundreds of billions of sentients are convinced we are the villains in this war. Can you not see how damaging that is for the Order's future?”

“Master Ti is correct.” Coleman Kcaj said, gesturing towards her. 

“There is another method to rescue Master Windu. Although he is held in suspended animation within the Senate floor, the execution grounds are some distance away. Should we attack during this prisoner transfer-away from holocams, Senators, and the dangerous Sith Lord-we can free Master Windu and vanish before the Empire can spin this into something else.” Coleman said, revealing a more moderate plan. 

A few heads nodded at his idea, and some of the more bloodthirsty Jedi began to waver in their convictions. 

“There will be fewer civilians, and fewer opportunities for chaos. We can choose the terrain. We can prepare fallback routes. We can disrupt communications, strike the convoy midway, and disappear into the undercity.” She looked directly at Kirak. “Our purpose gathering here today is to save Windu, not ignite a battle spanning across the Senate district.”

“And if the convoy includes shock troopers, artillery support, air cover, and Sith such as Darth Vader? For all our power, what are we compared to a fleet?” Kirak sternly questioned, crossing his arms. 

“Then we account for that. Our allies from Alderaan are willing to join us in this endeavor. You must admit, this plan is better than charging at the most fortified building on the planet.”

Jastus Farr-the blue alien-finally spoke, stopping his restless pacing. “There is merit in surprise today, and merit in choosing to fight another day. Either option is dangerous. The question is, do we intend to slay the beast, or rescue the princess? I fear Master Windu shall not survive our assault.” 

“The mission should serve justice.” Kirak answered without a second thought. 

“The mission is Windu.” Shaak Ti sternly rebuked. 

“The mission is both.” Malicos oily smirked, and then continued to speak. “Let us stop pretending these matters can be separated. Mace Windu is not merely a prisoner. He is a symbol. Palpatine knows it. That is why he parades this farce before the galaxy. If we rescue Windu while leaving Palpatine enthroned, we have saved one man and abandoned trillions.” 

“Better one innocent man saved than the death of a Sith.” Coleman said quietly.

“Spoken like a true archivist.” Malicos tutted as he stepped into the light, where his armor gleamed. 

Coleman’s eyes hardened, but before he could answer, Kirak stepped in again. “Master Malicos is right about one thing. Palpatine is our mortal enemy, we must strike him down.”

“And we may all die trying to reach him.” Shaak Ti shot back.

“There is no price too steep to slay evil.” Kirak folded his arms, and didn't even deign to look at her. 

“Do not speak of everyone’s life as though it were yours to spend.” Shaak Ti said, shaking her head left & right. 

The chamber stirred uneasily. Several Jedi began speaking at once. One Master from the rear argued for splitting their forces. Another warned that splitting up was precisely how both operations would fail. Someone suggested gathering more allies, and someone else hissed that outsiders could not be trusted with knowledge of the meeting. Various Jedi brought up their ideas: underworld contacts, slicers, sympathetic guards, old Temple tunnels, sewer maps, Senate ventilation shafts.

When Obi-Wan finally lifted his hand to speak, most people had already made a determination in their hearts, and two separate factions had emerged. One that wished to assault the Senate directly, challenging the Emperor to his face. Whilst the other group preferred a more lowkey approach, initiating a snatch & grab during Windu's transfer to the execution grounds. 

“Master Infil’a. Master Malicos. Your desire to strike at Palpatine is understandable. More than understandable. After all that has happened, I must confess the temptation is not unknown to me. But acting on one's own temptations is not the Jedi way. Master Ti. Master Kcaj. Your caution honors the mission. But caution alone does not guarantee wisdom. Waiting until the final day may present us with a cleaner battlefield. It may also present us with a trap laid precisely because Palpatine expects us to act ‘with wisdom.” Obi-Wan said in a sophisticated tone, making sure to look everyone in the eyes as he spoke. 

Pacing around the room, he radiated an aura of calm, yet unlike Shaak Ti, his words were powerful, and indicated that he was a man willing to take action. And unlike Kirak's bluntness or Malicos's slippery tongue, Obi-Wan was respectful in his deliberation. 

“You all know Palpatine’s political cunning. Fewer of you have seen the depth of his power. I have. Master Windu has. Yoda has. And I tell you this plainly: confronting the Emperor must be the last thing on everyone’s mind.” Obi-Wan slowly intoned. 

Although he had not personally witnessed everything, Qui-Gon & Yoda had shared their experiences confronting the Dark Lord. Even now, Palpatine’s presence was like a malignant tumor on this world, like a pulsing pain in the side, he was impossible to ignore. 

“There are more than a dozen Masters present. What do we have to fear?” Malicos scoffed. 

“Besides the millions of troops stationed on Coruscant, The Chosen One as his enforcer, and who knows how many Dark Adepts under him? Oh yes, what ever should we fear?” Obi-Wan sarcastically remarked. 

The words seemed to cool the chamber down, and the members of the radical faction slowly began to consider the details of a direct assault. 

“This planet has become a Darkside Nexus. Palpatine sits at the center of it like a spider in the middle of his web. His power on this world has waxed, whilst-I am sure you have noticed-ours has waned.”

A few of the Jedi lowered their eyes, whilst others seemed to stiffen as if against an invisible chill.

“I do not say this to frighten you, I say it because underestimating him has already cost the galaxy dearly. If you storm the Senate seeking to kill him, you do not merely risk failure. You risk annihilation. And if our purpose tonight is truly to save Mace Windu, then we must not let our grief, or our outrage, or our hunger for justice transform a rescue into a crusade.” Obi-Wan declared like a proper statesman, his each and every word was said with both clarity, and sincerity. 

He looked around the room, making certain that everyone was unified under his banner. 

“We are not here to avenge the Temple. Not tonight. We are not here to retake Coruscant. We are here to bring one of our own home.” Obi-Wan's words, full of compassion, swayed 98% of the room's occupants. 

Shaak Ti bowed her head slightly, Coleman did the same. Kirak’s jaw was clenched, but he did not object. Taron Malicos said nothing at all, which worried Obi-Wan, but he didn't show it on his face. 

“Then what do you propose?” Jastus Farr asked.

Everyone stared at him, hope burning in their eyes. 

“Do not worry. Dealing with Sith Lords is my specialty.” Obi-Wan smirked, then began to detail his plan. 

~~~~~~~~~

AN: We'll be starting the Coruscant raid soon~