WotH Chpt 24

==War on the Horizon - Chapter 24 ==
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
----
===War slowing rising on the Horizon===
"It seems that my plans have been accelerated," Sidious mused as he looked over the movements of the Senate, the Trade Federation and Banking Clans were eager to return and impose 'order' on Serenno, and the rest of the politicians were in a deadlock. 
 
"The Tarkin power bloc has moved to support Serenno," Amedda said as he looked over his own data. "And oddly enough, they have somehow persuaded the Sullustians to support them in this."
 
"The war that is on the horizon shall be brought about differently than expected," Sidious agreed. "Plans will have to be changed."
 
"And what of Dooku and the Tarkins?" Amedda asked. 
 
"They shall fall in line, or they will be destroyed in the coming conflict," Sidious smirked. "I believe some of my plans are coming to fruition, with Master Yaddle leaving the order, and Skywalker and his master out on Mandalore, I may have the opportunity to persuade some more members to break away and look into other ways to practice the force."
 
"The murmurs from the Mandalorian Sector of space have been worrying to many," Amedda replied. "We may be able to position planets to begin rearming before the Senate approves, thus driving division further."
 
"And our plans to discredit the Jedi?" Sidious asked. 
 
"Everything is moving as planned in most regards. But there seem to have been a few switches made in the Seekers that were deployed to certain areas. Instead of the hardliners that we had arranged to be sent, a Jedi Master named Faye managed to persuade the Council to do otherwise for the Outer Rim."
 
"It is of no consequence," Sidious waved it off. "The Core will begin to foster a hatred of the Jedi, and that shall be all that I require for the Grand Plan to succeed."
 
"Then all that is left is to begin setting the pieces in place for the war to begin," Amedda stated. 
 
"I shall have someone dispose of Syfo Dyas, and then we shall begin," Sidious agreed. "Dooku is out of our reach at the moment."
----
===Hold My Calls, I'm Busy===
"I thought you said you had experience with the Mandalorians!" Anakin yelled as he ducked behind a wall, blaster bolts flying around the duo. 
 
"I do!" Obi-Wan replied as he deflected a few blaster bolts. "This is a different faction, and it seems that they took offense to the statement you made about their armor."
 
"How was I supposed to know that it was an insult?!" Anakin yelled back. 
 
"If you had done the reading I asked you to, then you would have known."
 
The blaster fire began tapering off, the Mandalorians appearing to lose interest in pursuing a quarry that only seemed to run away. 
 
"I think they're done, Master." Anakin smirked. 
 
"Anakin, Mandalorians don't give up like that," Obi-Wan cautioned. "Especially when they held the advantage."
 
A gunship then dropped out of the clouds and began heading right for them. 
 
"What did we say about tempting the Force?!" Kenobi pulled his padawan out of view from the sky. 
 
"That it was a bad idea because the Force has a sense of humor," Anakin muttered. 
 
Then Kenobi's Comlink began beeping. 
 
"Kinda busy at the moment!" Kenobi opened the device as a group of Mandalorians dropped out of the sky, their jetpacks flaring. 
 
"Oh?" Duchess Satine arched an elegant eyebrow. "I take it you don't want my assistance in stopping this, Ben?"
----
===Negotiations===
"Yaddle," Jocasta Nu sighed as she looked at her diminutive friend. "You did not have to do that."
 
"Yes, I did," Yaddle smiled sadly. "I have an unusual request for you, old friend."
 
"If I can arrange for it to happen, then I will do so." the Archivist replied. 
 
"I want copies of the texts used for instruction," Yaddle settled into her seat. "You of all people should know that hoarding information in one place is asking for it to be destroyed," Yaddle raised her hand to stave off an argument. "I am not asking for all of our information, but merely that which we allow even Padawans to take with them so they can continue their learning while on assignments."
 
Jocasta was silent for a few moments as she considered the idea. "I suppose I can provide that much," Jocasta sighed. "You, Dooku, Jinn, you are all leaving me behind."
 
"Everything fades over time," Yaddle smiled sadly. "But friendship does not need to fade as other things do. Should you have need of me, you know where to find me."
 
"I suppose I do," Jocasta smiled. "If you're still looking for people to take with you, I might have a few suggestions."
 
----
 
Feemor sighed as he sat in his quarters in the Temple, his Togrutan Padawan asleep in her section while he instead stared out the window with a cup of Caff in his hands. 
 
As he sipped on the coffee and thought of days long past, he was startled by a soft knock on the door. 
 
Standing up, he moved and opened the door to reveal a small figure. 
 
"Knight Feemor?" The figure asked. "We have much to speak of."
----
===The mystery of the Marksman===
"So, these Mandalorians that are spoken of have moved closer to us," Pre Vizsla spat. "Bo-Katan, take your Nite Owls and go see if they are true Mandalorians or not. I know that you would prefer to not hide in the shadows, so do not. I am certain that Count Dooku will require skilled warriors and will not turn you away."
 
"You would send me away when there are Jedi here? On Mandalore?" Bo asked, her eyes narrowing at the leader of the Death Watch.
 
"There is no more important time," Vizsla argued. "We need everyone we can use with us, yes. But we also need to determine if these others are False or True Mandalorians. Or if they are merely pretenders in the armor."
 
"And if they are pretenders?" Katan asked. "What am I to do then? I will have a fraction of their numbers, and I expect that it will not be long before they try to eliminate me for knowing their secret." 
 
"I merely need you to observe for now," Vizsla explained. "What we do in response will have to be determined after we have reunified our people."
 
"That, we agree on," Katan sighed. "I and my Nite Owls will do as you ask, but should we find that you have done nothing in our absence, we may find that the leadership of the Death Watch is in need of some… Changes." 
 
"If you can manage it," the man scoffs. "Now get to work, there has been enough mystery surrounding these "Marksman."
----
<<Next Chapter - Return to Story Index - Next Chapter>>
Chapter 24