Jedi Insurgency 232

Standing tall before the entire galaxy, Corvus sensed that the attack on the Imperial Palace was underway. His mission now, was to distract Palpatine from leaving, and buy time. Taking a deep breath, he did not allow any thoughts of the attack, or of grandeur to go to his head, and began to make his case in defense of the Jedi Order, and his criticism of the Empire. 

“The Jedi Order, has been called many things in this chamber: traitors, warmongers. terrorists, criminals.” Corvus said in a measured tone, steadily addressing the audience. 

His eyes glanced towards a few pods where he sensed dissatisfaction, ridicule, and even trace amounts of hatred, yet he didn't bother with the thoughts of such petty men. 

“And yet, for a thousand generations, we were guardians of peace and justice. Hundreds of Jedi have served as Chancellor. For this latest conflict, we reluctantly volunteered our services to the war effort. We did not ask what species a child belonged to before pulling them from the ruins of a droid attack. We did not weigh the worth of a life based on the world they came from, or the wealth they possessed.”

He turned slowly, letting his eyes pass over the Senate tiers.

“A Zabrak bleeding out in the dust of Iridonia. An Ithorian whose herdship was set ablaze. A Human child trapped beneath the wreckage of a transport on Coruscant’s lower levels. We saved them all the same. We did not discriminate. We did not calculate their value like some slug trading spice for life. We acted because it was right.” Corvus said, his voice resonating deeply with certainty and conviction. 

Although the Jedi often got a bat rap, on the whole, they had been forces for good. This was the truth. 

“For years, the news, influencers, and propagandists have been fearmongering that the ‘Jedi are taking over.’ You senators know better than anyone else, if this was the case, would we truly be here having this conversation right now?”

A few senators shifted uncomfortably in their seats, and Corvus nodded imperceptibly. 

“The Republic is a grand idea. Flawed, yes. Corrupted in many different places, burdened by bureaucracy and, at times, paralyzed by its own ideals. But there is something beautiful in self determination, no? Where the people can send their representatives to argue in favor of their worlds. However, this experiment lasting well over 30,000 years, apparently is no longer worth following.” 

He nodded once, as if conceding the point to unseen critics.

“I agree.” Corvus whispered, much to the stunned confusion of the likes of Padmé, Mon Mothma, and even Bail who were in the audience. 

Palpatine, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes. 

“This Republic has become a cancer. One in which endless tax payer credits disappear into countless slush funds and kick backs. Whilst you starve, and struggle to purchase a home, or even succeed at business, countless red tape is holding you back. The Republic is rotten to its core, its death was only a matter of if, not when. To that end, I must applaud you, Your Majesty, for cutting away the plague that has festered in the hearts of the citizens for generations.” Corvus spoke in faux praise, and mockingly clapped. “However, my dear senators, in your zealous pursuit of reform, you failed to look inward. Behold, the ugly truth. This is how your leaders really are.”

Working his fingers across a keyboard, he began to upload even more files. The HK droids had been busy during their trip to Coruscant, and during their assassinations of public figures, had focused on gathering intelligence. Business, political, economic, nothing was hidden from these mechanical terrors. Amongst the information they had obtained, was the dirt on several dozen senators. 

The holocams flickered, and various names, faces, and ill-gotten gains began to scroll down the wall. Each one of them was a familiar figure. Accounts filled with untraceable credits became readily accessible, transmissions marked for deletion had been taken out of the recycle bin for public display, and testimonies long buried had come to light. Above all this, a banner for a holosite (website) was provided, showing the public a way to access all this material. 

“Senator Varis, bribed from Kuat Drive Yards to secure exclusive shipbuilding contracts amounting to a 500 billion credit government loan. The promised jobs amounted to a quarter in reality.” Corvus stated matter of factly. A spotlight shone down, and the cameras zoomed in on a startled looking Rodian. The green skinned alien's bug-like black eyes widened, and he didn't know what to do. 

“Senator Pelionne, she suppressed judicial investigations into slave trafficking rings operating in the Mid Rim. A pair of Twi'lek slaves was her reward. 

Senator Draxus, this one needed factory workers for his planet, and using military assets relocated over one million refugees displaced by the war. No charges were filed, and the record indicates that the last shipment of refugees was transported last night!” Corvus slowly began, however, his voice began to rise in both cadence and volume as his outrage grew. 

Person after person, Corvus listed their crimes, and provided evidence. In some cases, there was even a confession obtained by the HK units who had kidnapped people close to the senators. Witness, and victim testimony also came one after another. Using Xizor's vast network of contacts, countless people had had their experiences recorded, and prepared for this day. 

As a Jedi Shadow, if these were more peaceful times…he would go extrajudicial on these scummy politicians’ ass's! 

“Murder. Extortion. Bribery. Slavery. Collusion with the worst scum of the galaxy…I have evidence of 341 senators who have so obviously broken the sanctity of the Republic, yet continue to serve the Empire as if nothing had happened. This reshuffling of the political spectrum promised change, and yet, the only senators who have been removed are those who are critical of this war! If one dared speak of peace, they would be imprisoned, exiled, or quietly killed! Take a look at this list, look at these 289 senators who disappeared in the last six months, and know their fates!” 

Corvus then showed more images of the disappeared senators, and even one graphic execution. 

The last holo image to play was of a pro-Republic senator on his knees, and a black clad Imperial officer holding a blaster. 

“Any last words, traitor?” 

The scraggly senator spit out a tooth mixed with some blood at the officer’s boots. 

“Long live the Rep-” 

Then the video ended as the man had his brains blown out by the blaster. 

The silence of the auditorium shattered into murmurs, shouts,  outrage and denial. Some senators shrank back. Others looked around wildly, as if the accusations might see them pulled away, and sacked that very moment. 

“Despite the blatant corruption of the Republic, and its more tyrannical successor state, the supreme leader is applauded as he proselytizes about order. They praise ‘stability.’ They cheer for an Empire that promises to protect them…”

His eyes lifted again, locking onto the Emperor.

“…while he protects them from consequences.” He said, gesturing towards the senators named in his list. 

The temperature in the room seemed to drop, yet it wasn't Palpatine who was angered, no, Vader was breathing heavily, it appeared Corvus's words had struck a chord with the Chosen One…it was unfortunate that they could not be friends. But the path Skywalker had chosen was his own. One could say he was manipulated all the way, but he was-at the time of the temple attack-perhaps the most powerful Force Sensitive in the galaxy, an adult to boot, and soon to be father. The man had allowed himself to be consumed by the Darkside, he had reaped what he had sewn. That said, Corvus was tempted to drive a wedge between Vader & Palpatine. Glancing at Padmé, he very briefly wondered what Vader’s reaction would be if Palpatine was blamed for her death? The thought was fleeting, however, the mechanical bastard must've sensed something in that brief glance, and a heavy presence shook the air around the Emperor's private box. 

Corvus grinned. ‘Good. So long as Vader remained here, the boys should be safe.’ 

Turning back to the camera, Corvus began to put the finishing touches on his speech. 

“You are told we are your enemy. That we seek to tear down what protects you. But ask yourselves this: who benefits from your fear? Who profits when justice is silenced? Who rises when accountability disappears? Who sits above you all, and calls himself your savior?”

Corvus was silent for a moment, and had a stare down with Palpatine for a solid minute before he spoke again. 

“I am not here to beg for the Jedi Order. We do not require your approval to exist. We never have.

But I will not allow history to be rewritten without a challenge.”

For a long moment, no one moved. Corvus's words, no, Revan's words had struck close to home. To those who witnessed him live, the full effect of his Personality stat was on display. Even those who were staunchly pro Empire-especially those who were pro Empire, but not very corrupt-were very seriously questioning themselves right now. Vader himself had briefly lost his composure, and the delegation of 2,000 those senators who had rallied behind Padmé for peace, now all looked on with a new lens on life. This awesome invisible power was diluted through video/hologram, yet even if only a fraction of Persuade hit the ears of those listening in, billions of people had had their preconceived notions challenged. Palpatine's supporters gripped their hearts like a fan disbelieving their sports team was about to lose in the finals. Those people who already were disillusioned with the Empire began to seriously consider more radical ideas. The pendulum began to turn as one corrupt case after the next was revealed. No one liked a religious death cult, and Jediism creeped many people out, but the good they-the Jedi-had done for civilization was undeniable. 

…unfortunately, as many people as Corvus had awakened, half or more were utterly repulsed by him, regarding him as nothing more than a masked terrorist. That they would much rather believe in a scientific military such as the clones, and the Human will represented by Palpatine. Their once handsome, smooth talking man from a Mid Rim planet had risen from nothing to become the most trusted outsider in politics. If anyone could lead the newly formed government into a brighter tomorrow, surely it was the man who had kept the Republic from falling apart due to the CIS onslaught! 

As Corvus's last words echoed in the auditorium, and everyone watching processed what was said, it was the Emperor this time who shared a brief, mocking applause. 

Palpatine did not rush to speak, nor did he bristle or appear offended by Revan's speech. Instead, he rose with the same measured grace one might expect from a kindly elder addressing an unruly gathering. 

“My friends…” He began, his voice warm, disarmingly so. “What a…passionate display.”

A faint, almost indulgent smile touched his lips as his eyes drifted toward Revan.

“The Jedi Master speaks with conviction. With the weight of history, and with no small measure of theatricality.”

A few uncertain chuckles rippled the senate, unsure of how to react. 

“And yet, I find myself in the curious position of agreeing with him.” Palpatine frowned, as if he had been stumped by a particularly difficult equation. 

His words caused a stir among the crowd, and those politicians who were pro Imperial, but had begun to lean towards Revan started to sway once more. 

“Yes, it is an undeniable fact that corruption exists within this body. It always has. That is the burden of governance, of diversity, of freedom. But unlike the Jedi Order, we do not answer such corruption with vigilante justice.”

His eyes flicked, ever so briefly, to the twin hilts at Revan’s waist.

“We answer it with law.” Palpatine said, gesturing towards Windu. “Each step towards justice is met with due process, evidence, and a culture meant to seek out the truth.”

A low murmur of approval began to build up in Palpatine’s favor. Even a handful of people from the delegation of 2,000 were murmuring their approval. 

“The Imperial Security Bureau is already compiling cases against those who would betray the trust of our Empire. Investigations are underway, and evidence is being gathered. Justice, true justice will be served. Of that, my friends, I can assure you.”

Palpatine took a quick sip from a cup of water, and met Revan's eyes, staring him down. 

“But tell me, my friends…What would happen if we acted now? If, in a single sweeping motion, we removed dozens, perhaps hundreds of senators from this chamber? In a time of war. In a time of uncertainty such as this, when our enemies circle us like carrion birds, tell me, what would be our fate?” Palpatine asked with a crooked smile, and shook his head like someone who had collapsed morale and was on the verge of defeat. 

“That's right, my people, you understand me. Turbulence. Instability. Panic. Surely we would lose this war, just as our enemies intended.” Palpatine said with some gravel in his voice. 

He then turned back toward Revan.

“The Jedi claim to defend peace, and yet, time and again, they act outside the law. They decide who is guilty. They decide what must be done. They rule by the edge of a lightsaber. As Master Revan said, they do not require our approval to act as an extra-governmental agency…imagine that! The Empire, however, can only exist due to one thing, and one thing alone!” Palpatine exclaimed, and then looked straight at the camera as if he were peering into the souls of every listener. 

“The will of the people.”

A wave of applause washed over the stage, and Palpatine leaned back, absorbing it all. 

“You have heard my piece, but perhaps it would be best to hear from one who has suffered under the very manipulation the Jedi deny.”

A platform began to rise, standing inside was a hunched, green-skinned figure. Clad in ornate finery, the Neimoidian's hands trembled as he looked at the masked form of Revan, yet glancing back at Palpatine with his big red eyes, he seemed to find his courage. 

Many people hissed and booed as they recognized him, it was Nute Gunray, Viceroy to the Trade Federation. 

“Order. We shall have order!” Mas Amedda declared, striking his staff on the ground, creating a sharp sound, and a flash of sparks. 

“Viceroy Gunray, please.” Palpatine demurred. “Tell us what you experienced.”

Gunray nervously bowed his head, and quickly cleared his throat. 

“Y-Yes, Your Majesty, I…I will speak the truth.” Gunray stammered. “The Jedi…are not what they claim to be. They approached us during the early days of the conflict. They…they threatened us. They spoke of balance, of necessary war, of… of sacrifices! Count Dooku, he was a Jedi! A Jedi Master! He orchestrated everything!”

The chamber erupted into a cacophony of noise as many people erupted with shocked exclamations, and many curses towards the Jedi. However, Gunray still had quite a few enemies, and most people remained silent, unmoved by the amphibian's trembling. 

“The war.” Gunray pressed on, almost desperate now to be believed. “It was a setup! A grand manipulation! The Jedi, through Dooku, engineered both sides! They controlled the Separatists! They guided the Republic! They sought to weaken the galaxy so they could could seize control! And the clones! The clones were to be their slaves! Instruments of their will! But His Majesty, he uncovered the truth! He saved them!”

“I cannot believe we are listening to the account of an enemy. Emperor Palpatine, Nute Gunray intended to destroy our home of Naboo. He had been behind countless massacres across the galaxy. His word cannot be trusted.” Padmé declared with fiery conviction as her pod rose upward. 

“The Jedi are masters of manipulation. I saw with my own two eyes, Senator Amidala repeatedly kissing Anakin Skywalker! She must be defending them! Her babies, her children, they are Jedi spawn!” Gunray-already worked up into a self preservative delirium-was saying anything he could think of to save his own sorry hide. 

However, the Neimoidian's desperation didn't make him look like a victim forced to read a script, but more like a lunatic who had lost all sense of reason. Palpatine’s confident poise briefly cracked, and for a second, he furrowed his brow. 

Padmé was going to say something more, but the sharp crack of Gunray’s neck silenced her next words.

The sickly frog-like alien slid down the front of his pod, and fell end over end until he hit the bottom of the senate chambers with a sickening splat. 

Vader had had enough.