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The sun was shining into the High Council chamber on Coruscant. All the most senior, most experienced Jedi Masters, the High Councilors were gathered to discuss the ongoing war. The meeting was dragging on, as sheer endless problems needed to be discussed.
Yoda felt exhausted. Ever since the start of the Clone Wars all Jedi felt how the darkness in the galaxy spread faster and faster. The dark was like a cancerous leech, ready to infect every pure little life in the galaxy. The darkness was a slimy film, that spread all over your spirit and tried to drag you down into a dark abyss. Fighting against the darkness, which solidified more and more around the people in the galaxy, as the war brought death and despair, was tiring. Nevertheless, Yoda would never give in to the dark side. After all he was the Grandmaster of the great Jedi Order. He was the spiritual leader of the servants of the light, of peacekeepers. Well, if the senate would not force the Jedi into the roles of generals and soldiers, that is.
Yoda could not allow himself to show weakness or even fragility in these dire times. The Jedi Order, the whole republic depended on his strength and leadership. As if Yoda was not hurting too. As if he was not suffering too. He felt as if a painful whole was in his chest, where his heart should be. His beloved padawan, his chosen son, was deliberately destroying their Order. It was agonizing to think about. ‘My failure, Dooku’s fall is. Distrust me, he did. Hates me, he does.’ Yoda thought to himself. His ears drooped.
He had only been listening halfheartedly to the current progress report made by Knight Secura and Commander Bly. Both were reporting in from their latest mission on the planet Quell with the 327th Star Corps. Everywhere Yoda looked, the war terrorized the people. The Jedi tried to help where they could, but they were simply too few. ‘Oh Dooku, padawan-mine… Why?’ Yoda had asked himself that question countless times. He still couldn’t understand what made his silly little precious boy grow up and turn into a cruel and vicious monster.
“-need reinforcements. The Separatists have blockaded the resistance fighters for weeks now. They were cut off from food, water and medical supplies. Many of them are willing, but too weak to fight the droid army.” It was the first thing Yoda heard, as his attention returned to the present situation. Aayla was currently leading a task force to protect the republic's vital outpost on the outer-rim planet Quell. The planet was strategically important for the republic due to its location along the Salin Corridor hyperspace route. And that made it so attractive for the Separatist forces to attack. She was currently aboard the Liberty, the flagship of their small fleet. The Confederate frigates were closing in and gaining high ground. One of the republic's star destroyers was already dead in space and the remaining ships suffered heavy damage. Their fleet would not be able to hold their position for long.
“Hmpf. Bad news this is. Send help, the council will”, Yoda said. “We need to discuss, which battalion we could spare from another front.”, Master Mundi remarked. Master Kenobi perked up. He was not in the room physically, but via a holograph. He and Anakin were in the final stages of their campaign and close to winning their battle. “Anakin can go. I and the 212th can finish clearing up the battlefield alone. I will tell Anakin. He can take the Resolute to the Quell-System immediately. Anakin and Ahsoka can be in Orbit of Quell within a day. Aayla needs our support as soon as possible.” Mace nodded approvingly. “It is decided then. Obi-Wan, tell Knight Skywalker and his men to prepare. They will leave as soon as possible. I will take Commander Ponds and the 187th battalion and leave Coruscant in two days. I will bring additional supplies for Knight Secura, but she needs help now.” “Thank you, Masters. I will tell my men the news immediately.”, Aayla breathed out. She was visibly more relaxed. Her shoulders straightened. She had a determined expression on her face. Now she could finally see to it, that the innocent civilians would not starve under the Separatists blockade. “May the Force be with you.” “And with you. Secura out.”
Yoda breathed out. Hopefully, Anakin would reach Aayla in time. The Jedi must take care of each other. It was good, that Mace offered to go, Master Yoda thought to himself, even when he was ordered by the Chancellor to stay on Coruscant for important strategy talks. The mood in the council chamber was visibly lighter. It was as if the collective heavy burden on their shoulders, got just a little lighter. Every single High Councilor deeply cared for the well-being of their fellow Jedi. The sooner the Clone War was over the better.“Thank the Force, that this is taken care of.”, exclaimed Master Koth. He was expressing what the Masters were all thinking. ‘Today would be a good day. They would not lose another Jedi to the evil machinations of the Sith and Dooku.’ But Yoda’s hopeful sentience didn’t last very long.
The console for incoming comms blinked on Master Even Piell’s chair. He was responsible for accepting or declining all incoming calls to the High Council. “Masters, I am receiving a comm from Master Mol. Should I accept?” Mace took a deep breath. He rubbed his aching temples. An inauspicious feeling spread through his body. Something bad was going on. “Yes, please do that Even”, were Mace’s words.
“General Yoda, General Windu.” Admiral Coburn was appearing on holo. He was standing next to a standard holoprojector, in what looked to be is private quarters onboard his flagship. He had a grim look on his face. His lips were pressed together, his hands looked white from digging his nails into his palms. “I regret to inform you, that General Mol is dead.” The council room was deadly silent. Shock was written all over the Masters’ faces. Eeth Koth was the first one to recover. “What happened?”, he barked.
“General Mol deployed with his troops to Scarifs surface, while the fleet stayed in orbit. He left the command of his legion to Captain Tank and went on a solo mission with Commander Tarr. He said, he had a bad feeling about something and went to check it out. The last time anyone of the troopers saw the general, was when he parted from the transport ship. Since then we have not heard from him or the commander. According to Captain Tank they both went away from the front into the forest to the south. The captain requested a flight patrol to search for the two missing Jedi. One hour ago, my pilots have found the dead body of General Mol. His body has clear lightsaber wounds, and his lightsaber is missing.”
Plo Koon leaned forward from his chair. “And what about his padawan? Is she with you? Is she safe?”, He demanded. “We don’t know yet. As of now, she is still missing.”