It was a trap.
Celestia realized this as she listened to the screams of her citizens, as she smelled the smoke in the air... as she tasted the blood in her mouth. Her once kind eyes now glared at the alien with fire akin to the orb she controlled. The alien cackled as the 'droids' continued to hold Celestia in a kneeling position. She didn't resist because of the collar around her neck. Every time she tried to perform a spell, her head would begin to pound, causing her to lose focus and stop.
Sadly, she had seen firsthoof what could happen if the collar was applied mid-spell. Behind the alien, guarded by two more droids, was an unconscious lavender Princess. The tip of her horn was singed from the magical blowback. Celestia felt a tinge of worry cross her face. She, of all ponies, knew the dangers of magical blowback. Twilight could very well suffer permanent danger to not only her magical faculties but to her mental faculties as well.
"Worried for your friend, 'Princess'?" the alien asked, sneering in distaste at the last word, "Don't worry. I'll have the medical droids see what they can do."
"Why?" Celestia growled, "Why attack us and then turn around and help us?"
"Why?" the alien cackled again, "Because until we find your sister and her Guard, you are more useful to me alive, then dead."
"I will not be a bargaining chip!"
"You have no say in the matter, in case you haven't realized."
"My ponies will fight you!" Celestia shouted, straining against the grip of the droids.
The alien rolled his eyes as he waved his hand, as if waving away the thought, "Then they will die. This planet belongs to the Trade Federation now and I am it's Governor. If the wretched tribals of this world don't except this then they will burn."
Celestia looked down at the tiles below her, sensing the seriousness in his voice. As the screams and weapon fire still echoed into the throne room, Celestia watched as a tear dropped to the tiles.
"You are our only hope, sister," she whispered as she looked out the window to the setting sun.
I am a Jedi. I have taken the path of Shadows. I am the will of the Order. Though I tread near the Dark Side, I will forever refuse it's temptations. Though I kill, I do so to keep peace in the galaxy. Though I deceive, I do so to hunt down those who deserve death. I will never kill those who do not deserve it. When I near my absorption into the Common Force that bounds all, I will face judgement for all that I have done.
"What is it Captain?" asked the Jedi, not moving from where she sat on the floor. Her hood was over her head, as always, covering her face in shadows. Under the dark brown cloak was a simple tan tunic and leather boots. The only decoration on her form being the purple sash that she had tied around the waist of the tunic.
"You're needed on the bridge, ma'am. The Council has asked to speak to you," replied the clone as he stood in the doorway, situated behind the Jedi. His armor was decorated with the regimental color. Both of his shoulder pieces were purple, as was the section of his helmet that sat under the constant frown. The trim around the visor was purple as a purple stripe came from his torso piece's top corners to meet at the bottom center, the field created between the two filled in with the color. A purple blast skirt hung from his belt, the lower leg armor and boots fully colored. The armor on the back of his hands were also fully colored with a stripe going up the outside of his arm.
He had a DC-15 rifle slung on his left shoulder, that same hand being used to keep it from sliding off. A knife was sheathed on his chest piece over his collar bone and a DC-15s pistol was holstered on his right hip.
"I see," the Jedi replied as she tucked her hands into her sleeves. Without using her hands, she rose to her feet and turned to face the clone, "Let's be off then, Captain."
"After you ma'am," the clone replied as he stepped out of the doorway and gave a small motion down the corridor. Silently, the Jedi exited her chambers and began to move through the ship's many corridors, the Captain right behind her. Clones, all with purple markings in various styles, made way for their General, saluting her as she passed. She made no move to salute back but it wasn't out of disrespect. Every clone in the regiment, if asked, would say that the woman was like a mother to them all. She was kind, caring, and selfless but at the same time she was strict and direct.
The strange duo made it to the bridge in little time. The doors slid open, allowing the two entrance to the ship's nerve center.
"General on deck!" simultaneously called the two clones on either side of the door. Like their brothers, they bore the regimental color on their armor. Everyone not performing essential duties suddenly stopped and spun to face the door at the position of attention.
"Please, carry on," the Jedi stated in a kind tone. Immediately the bridge again became an excellent example of organized chaos as the crew, both clone and non-clone, worked hard to keep the ship flying in the inky void.
"Ah, Jesika, nice of you to join us," greeted the holographic image of Obi-Wan Kenobi. The Jedi Shadow, Jesika, approached the command module. Her Captain moved to stand to the left of her while the ship's Admiral stood to her right. The Admiral, a blue skinned female Twi'lek, was clad in a sharp Naval uniform with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Master," Jesika greeted with a bow at the waist, "Captain Fog said that you wished to speak with me?"
"I do, Jesika," Kenobi replied as a map of the galaxy popped into existence in front of Kenobi's hologram. The map zoomed in to a sector of the galaxy that was still widely unexplored. A red dot then highlighted what Jesika assumed to be one of the systems, "The Trade Federation has moved troops into the Porealis Sector."
"That sector has barely been touched by the galaxy due to preliminary scans showing nothing but uninhabitable rocks. What would the Trade Federation be doing out there?" questioned the Twi'lek, Admiral Voak'ima.
"Bear in mind ma'am," began Fog as he focused his polarized T-visor on the Twi-lek, "that the Trade Federation uses droids. Dead rocks can be turned into bases for them."
"Well done, Captain," Kenobi praised with a nod before turning to Voak'ima, "He is correct Admiral. We have to assume that they plan on using one of the dead worlds as a place to house their droids."
"Master," Jesika spoke, "how are we sure this is simply the Federation? Did they not join the CIS?"
"While it is true that the Federation has joined the Separatists, the probe that spotted the fleet recorded the markings on the ships. All of them were purely of the Federation," Kenobi explained as he stroked his beard in a thoughtful manner.
"So the Federation is making a move on their own?" Fog asked incredulously.
"They may be looking for new resources," Voak'ima guessed with a shrug.
"With a fleet?"
"It is an unexplored sector. Who knows what dangers await."
"Indeed, Admiral. That is why," Kenobi's eyes locked with Jesika's hood covered ones, "I am sending the 57th into Porealis. Jesika, you and your troops have been known to be able to adapt to any situation, I trust that you will come out of this one unscathed."
Jesika bowed again, "I follow the will of the Order, Master."
"So you have," Kenobi agreed, still stroking his beard, "However, Jesika, the Council wishes to have the leader of this excursion captured; if possible, of course."
"It will be so, Master Kenobi," Jesika replied.
Kenobi dropped his hands to clasp them behind his back, "Good. Now, the probe has tracked the hyperspace signatures and calculated that the Federation fleet has landed here," he pointed to the red dot, "The probe has detected strange reading coming from the system so I advise caution."
"Caution is my creed, General," Voak'ima replied with a nod.
"Excellent. From the holo and the probe's readings we have determined the fleet to be about eleven strong with three capital sized ships," Kenobi explained.
"That sounds like an invasion fleet," Fog pointed out. Voak'ima shot a brief glare at the clone but withheld any comments.
"That's what troubles me, Captain," Kenobi stated with a sigh, "While we would like to assume that this is a simple scouting venture, the numbers in play point to a different conclusion. If, at any time, victory is uncertain, I want you to pull out and contact the Council. Understood?"
"Yes General," Voak'ima and Fog replied in unison.
"Of course, Master," Jesika added.
"Then may the force be with you," Kenobi stated before his image winked out, leaving the map alone on the pedestal.
"Admiral, launch probes and send them ahead of the fleet. At the same time, move the fleet close to the target system," Jesika ordered.
"Yes ma'am," Voak'ima replied as she bowed to the Jedi before turning and striding into the bridge proper. She immediately began to give out orders as she walked.
"Captain."
"Yes General?"
"Ready the troops. I have a feeling that they will soon have dirt beneath their boots."
"Yes ma'am!" the Captain eagerly replied as he about faced and walked out of the bridge.
Jesika studied the holo map, as if doing so would reveal the secrets of the system that the Federation had gone to. In a way, it did, as she could feel slight disturbances in the force. Something made her believe that whatever she was feeling was muffled somehow.
Silently, she turned and left, leaving the holo map to slowly rotate on the pedestal.
