Chapter 13
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Past: 2 Years
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"Chancellor, fellow Senators," Ambassador Neelix from Dorvan pleaded to the Republic Senate. "You cannot stand by and watch as Dorvan falls into enemy hands! The freedom and lives of my homeworld is at stake! The war has already taken a heavy toll on our system, if you sign this treaty with the Separatist, you'll be condemning millions of people on Dorvan!"
"Which is why we are more than prepared to help you evacuate the planet!" An unknown voice from the mass yelled, gaining the support of the majority of the senate as the entire chamber broke out in cheers.
"That is not the solution! My people have lived on Dorvan for hundreds of generations, they have made a life there and for the last two years. They have fought and died for their homeworld and you cannot expect them to pack everything up and leave!" Neelix argued.
"Well, if they don't want to leave, that's their problem, not ours." Another faceless voice shouted.
"Senators!" Despite the chaos, the voice of Padme Amidala rang clear. Her pod floated down to settle next to Neelix. "Where are your hearts? There are millions of people on Dorvan who will be displaced if this vote is to go through, their lives uprooted. And if they refuse to leave, they will no doubt be subjugated to inhumane conditions under the Separatist's rule."
"This is politics, girl, not charity!"
"Fine. Dorvan is the first border planet to go, what's then stopping them from ceding other planets when the time comes? Senator Yasnick, Nindoru isn't that far away from Dorvan, is your government prepared to evacuate the entire population the next time the Republic decides to sign a treaty?" Silence greeted Amidala's question. "Don't you see it Senators, if Dorvan goes, other systems will soon follow in its footstep! We cannot allow this to happen! There has to be another solution!"
"Listen to reason, Senators!" Neelix added his plea.
The Senate arena was once again flooded by the voices of the hundreds of Senators speaking all at once.
"Order! There will be order!" Chancellor Palpatine's aid demanded.
"Senators," Palpatine began. "If no one else has anything to add to this issue, voting will proceed. Those who vote yea?"
Green lights began lighting up on pods all over the arena. It wasn't long before it was clear a majority vote had been achieved to go through with the treaty.
"Those who vote nay?"
The rest of the pods, including Neelix's and Amidala's pods flashed their red lights.
"A majority vote has been reached. The Republic will proceed with the singing of the treaty, ceding Dorvan to the Separatist." Palpatine announced, sounding regretful. "Senators, I thank you for your time and careful consideration on this issue. The Senate now stands adjourned."
* * *
"Chakotay, this is madness! I don't care how good you think you are, you can't stop an entire army by yourself!" Tom called out to his lover, who wason his way out of his quarters.
"The Republic can't send troops without it being taken as a sign of war, and the Council refuses to help." Chakotay turned and walked back towards Tom, fists clenched by his sides. "And what do you expect me to do? Sit around and wait for them to murder my family?"
"Right, and you storming right in will help a great deal," Tom snapped. "You're letting your emotions cloud your judgment, you're losing control and you know it. Even a five year old apprentice would know that's the path towards the Dark Side."
"Considering what the Council has done, maybe that's not such a bad idea!" It was with great control that Tom did not flinch from Chakotay's outburst. Tom could feel it, the older Jedi was so close to the edge; one false step would send him down the path of darkness. Tom knew even he wouldn't be able to stop it if it happened.
"Chakotay - "
"Are you with me or not?"
It was an ultimatum and Tom knew it, not liking it one bit.
"Fine, lead the way and get us all killed." Tom snapped, following Chakotay out of the door.
"You don't have to come if that's the way you feel."
Tom let out a snort, biting back the curt remark at the tip of his tongue. It would serve no purpose other than getting them into an argument.
Both men were surprised when they were greeted by none other than Chancellor Palpatine himself when they arrived at the hanger bay. The Supreme Chancellor of the Republic was surrounded by an entourage of a dozen men. Tom kept up a pleasant facade as he greeted the politician, his instincts having told him long ago that Palpatine was not to be trusted. Chakotay, however, greeted the elder man with a genuine smile.
"Chancellor."
"Master Chakotay," Palpatine nodded his greeting. "I'm sorry that the circumstances couldn't be better. I hope that you understand the difficult position I am in regarding Dorvan."
"I understand. If the Republic were to send any troops, the Separatist will take it as a sign of war."
"Which is why there is nothing much I can do to help you, at least on an official basis. Unofficially however..." the Chancellor paused.
"Chancellor?" Chakotay asked.
"Master Chakotay, these are ten of my best trained commanders." Palpatine gestured towards the men. "Each of them leads a team of five specially trained elite force. I know it isn't much, but - "
"Chancellor, this is more than what I hoped for."
"It's the least I could do."
A sense of unease flooded Tom at the Chancellor's words, despite Palpatine's obvious sincerity. Yet when Tom reached out with the Force, he could detect no deception from the politician, which was even more unsettling.
"I'll leave these men and their teams in your capable hands, Master Chakotay." Palpatine nodded and prepared to leave with his two bodyguards.
"Thank you, Chancellor."
"May the Force be with you, Master Chakotay."
Tom watched the politician leave, the unease he was feeling still strong. What did Palpatine have to gain from this? If the Separatist ever found out about this little army, the treaty they signed would be forgotten in a second. What good would sixty men, no matter how highly trained they were, be when faced with the army of thousands that they would no doubt encounter on Dorvan.
"Tom?"
The blonde pilot turned back to face his lover. "Coming," he replied, casting a last suspicious glace at the departing figure of the black clad politician. What was the Chancellor up to?
* * *
The population of Dorvan had not given up their home like the Republic had given up on them. The majority of the planet had risen against the droid armies of the Separatist, and while the rest of the Republic were more or less at peace thanks to the treaty, Dorvan was in the midst of a full blown planetary war.
"With all due respect, Master Jedi, how long do you expect us to hold this position?" Commander Marlina, one of the commanders who had come with them from Coruscant. "It's been three months and the droid army is showing no sign of letting up."
"We hold it as long as it takes." Chakotay stopped trying to repair the communications unit and stood up, facing Marlina. "These are my people, and this is my home. I am not about to give up a key position just because you're frustrated, Commander." Chakotay hissed.
"Look, Master Chakotay, I understand your position. I would do the same thing if I were in your position, but this is getting us nowhere. My men are growing weary, your people are tired and dying. The droids will just keep on coming until they wear us down. We need to start going on the offensive and take out their base camp, then we might have a chance of convincing them that Dorvan is too much trouble to be worth it."
Chakotay's brow frowned in thought. "You have a plan."
"Yes, I do." Merlina nodded.
"Let's hear it."
"The main problem we have with the droid's base camp is that we haven't been able to penetrate their shields. I believe that a small strike team would be able to make it onto the compound without being detected. We can then sabotage as many systems as possible and take down the shield generator from within." Marlina took a breath before continuing. "Once the shield is down, we'll have more than enough man power to destroy the base."
"And who will be on this strike team?"
"It will be a definite advantage if Master Paris would be able to accompany the team. The rest of the team will consist of Benson, Vorik, and myself."
Chakotay nodded, his mind already working. "Come back to me with the details of the plan in an hour, and we'll see if it's workable."
"Yes, sir."
* * *
There were too many variables, too many uncertainties, and not enough information, but Tom's protests had fallen on deaf ears. The entire plan was hinged on Merlina's team being able to take down the shield generators. In the end, it was Tom alone who managed to take down the generators, but not before heavy casualties had been sustained by their side.
Tom was fighting his way out of the compound, trying to meet up with the reinforcement when he stumbled, temporarily overwhelmed by Chakotay's emotions flooding his senses. Staggering from the intensity of guilt and lost, Tom was barely able to deflect a blasted shot aimed at him. So this was what Master Yoda meant by the link being dangerous. Throwing a mental shield in place with as much force as he could muster, Tom tried to block what Chakotay was unconsciously projecting to him; he needed to focus if he was going to get out of this alive.
Cutting through the two droids in front of him, Tom sent the lifeless pieces of metal back towards the squad of battle droids pursuing him. It knocked a few of them off balance, making them stumble onto each other. With the droids momentarily confused, Tom ran for his life, his instinct driving him towards Chakotay.
Chapter 14