ED : Chapter 29: Arc Two I
Timeline of Recent Events:
28.7 BBY: Palpatine flees Coruscant after the Jedi Order discovers he is the Sith Lord responsible for so many of the Republic's recent troubles.
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28.7-28.6 BBY: Darth Sidious's contingency plan to make it appear to the public as if the Jedi Order has kidnapped or done away with the Supreme Chancellor enjoys short-lived but notable success.
Although public belief in what the HoloNet News coins "The Jedi Coup Theory" is badly damaged by the release of civilian footage showing a man both dressed as the Chancellor, and exactly matching his physical dimensions voluntarily boarding a vessel that vanishes shortly after lift-off.
Large crowds of protestors continue to demonstrate on Coruscant before the Jedi Temple and Senate Building for weeks to come. While smaller, but no less significant protests of Jedi overreach, Judicial Branch ineffectiveness, and well-worn accusations of Core World corruption continue on many Mid and Outer Rim worlds for months to come.
Conspiracy theories related to the Chancellor's disappearance continue to abound, but slowly die away as attention shifts to a "What now?" mindset.
28.6 BBY: The sudden and mysterious hospitalizations of more than three hundred Quarrens working in and around the unfinished city of Morjanssik results in the mystery disease being identified during the autopsies of the first three patients to die after experiencing irreversible respiratory arrest.
News of a Blue Shadow outbreak reaches King Yos Kolina within the hour. Prompting the Mon Calamari monarch to quarantine an area more than a thousand kilometers in diameter centered around Morjanssik, and order the immediate antibody-testing for exposure to the virus of anyone wishing to leave the planet's surface.
The move sparks widespread protests as the operation of the planet's extensive shipyards grows increasingly hampered by the slowdown of goods and personnel between the surface and shipyards, but Yos Kolina remains resolute despite the increasingly incendiary accusations being levied by his Quarren counterpart.
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28.6-28.5.5 BBY: Accusing their Mon Calamari neighbors of colluding with unnamed elements of the Republic to deliberately release the Blue Shadow virus among them, a Manager Kanit Wolg of Morjanssik announces the creation of the Quarren Isolation League.
Joined by numerous prominent Quarren figures in denouncing the Mon Calamari response to their suffering, and accusing them of caring only for the output of the shipyards that buys them the favor of off-worlders.
The Q.I.L releases a manifesto advocating for Dac's secession from the Republic after a convoy of vessels emblazoned with Separatist Coalition markings arrives from New Holstice carrying experimental anti-viral treatments paid for by ex-Jedi Master Sora Bulq, of the Ruul Bulq's.
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28.5 BBY: After it becomes clear the anti-viral treatments donated by the newly emerged Separatist Coalition are proving efficacious in treating the more than twenty-five thousand Quarrens who have by now been stricken by the virus.
Sora Bulq publicly expresses his sorrow over the deaths of more than five thousand older or immunocompromised Quarrens for whom help arrived too late. Calling the building tensions between Quarren and Mon Calamari an "internal matter", Bulq was nevertheless openly suspicious of the fact that no Mon Calamari had been sickened by the dread virus.
When the story of Mon Calamari-only vaccinations against Blue Shadow is leaked to several interstellar news outlets, Bulq, in his role as Chief Executive of the Separatist Coalition expressed anger and horror.
Announcing the Coalition's position of solidarity and support for the Quarren people in their time of trial, he denounces the Republic for it's role in the disaster, witting or unwitting as a whole. Citing this as a perfect example of why a change in government was needed.
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28.5-28.4 BBY: Thanks to a Kaiburr Crystal enhanced vision, Yoda directs the Jedi to a secret Coruscant hangar and landing-pad.
A fierce battle pitting the nine Jedi and an accompanying dozen Coruscant Security officers against what prove to be the last eighteen Sun Guard awaiting transport off-planet results in two injured Jedi, six injured or dead C.S.Os, and ten deaths among the Sun Guards before the badly injured surviving mercenaries finally surrender.
Despite being charged with a laundry-list of serious crimes, and the significant material evidence against them recovered by the investigators, none of the mercenaries prove willing to provide statements despite offers of transactional immunity.
Jedi and C.S.Os stake out the hangar in the hopes of waylaying whoever has been moving the Sun Guards off-world, but no one ever arrives.
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28.4 BBY: A quintet of IG-86 assassin droids attempt to infiltrate the infirmary of the Coruscant Security central headquarters. Attempting to silence the injured and captive Sun Guards, their attack inadvertently coincides with an attempt by Coruscant Security officers to move two of the prisoners to bacta tanks due to medical complications.
The ensuing firefight damages a significant portion of the infirmary and adjacent areas of the station. Several officers are killed or injured before three of the droids are forcibly deactivated, and the remaining pair withdraw. While most of the prisoners are killed during the shootout, among the three survivors is the Twisuns Legate Canis Jatt.
Embittered by the distrust and betrayal implicit in the effort to silence them, Jatt agrees to turn Republic's evidence. Revealing (among many other illegal acts) Sate Pestage/Legends was the one who ordered him to plan and carry out the assassination of Naboo Senator Vidar Kim .
A Judicial Branch B.O.L.O is issued for Pestage, who is wanted for questioning in connection with the crime.
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28.2 BBY: HoloNet News runs an expose piece on the (briefly) reopened Judicial investigation into the death of Senator Kim. Calling attention to the fact the case was once more considered inactive by the air-date of their news piece.
The high-profile expose triggers a day of accusations and counter-accusations on the floor of the Galactic Senate, but results in no meaningful action. Four days later, the air-car of senior HoloNet News journalist, Togruta Tasia Ilano explodes. Killing the investigative journalist instantly.
Many media outlets replay the leaked Judicial footage of the statue being opened in the Chancellor's office, the lightsaber being removed from the concealed cavity, and the Red Guard momentarily igniting the red blade. Vagir Ilano appears during the memorial piece on HoloNet News.
Unequivocally stating his belief the former Chancellor had his wife murdered not only for her expose concerning the assassination of his political predecessor on Naboo, but because she was working on a piece which focused on Palpatine exclusively.
Mid-interview, the studio cuts the feed with an artfully worded apology. Stating the interviewees views concerning the missing Palpatine's "religious convictions" could be construed as an attempt to instigate the illegal religious persecution of a well-known public figure.
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28.1 BBY: Vice-Chair Mas Amedda's six-month term as Interim Chancellor of the Republic comes to an end. Bail Organa of Alderaan, Ainlee Teem of Malastare, and Seti Ashgad all gear up to campaign for the election.
When a deal is struck between Ashgad and Teem that will result in their respective coalitions of Senators supporting Teem for Vice-Chair and Ashgad for Chancellor, the election seems to be in the bag.
Bail Organa expands on his previous campaign promise to expand, streamline, and eliminate corruption within the Judicial Forces. Ideally, this would allow the J.F to begin making progress against the many pirates and slavers active throughout the Mid and Outer Rim.
Little seems to come of this and other attempts by Senator Organa to brand himself as more than a Core-Faction politician, and support for his political opponents continues to increase. Until Bail Organa announces the success of the search he's been funding as a private citizen to locate the missing and presumed lost Katana fleet .
When Judicial Forces personnel begin returning the heavy cruisers to the Kuat yards where repairs and refits of the long-adrift ships will be done, huge numbers of media outlets cover the event.
Despite a significant effort, Senator Organa proves incapable of unmasking the anonymous individuals who suggested and ultimately facilitated his success in the recovery of the two hundred warships.
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28 BBY: In the narrowest decision in more than three centuries, Bail Organa is elected Supreme Chancellor of the Republic.
The struggle resulting from the breakdown in the Teem-Ashgad deal sees Ashgad edging out the Malastare Senator for Vice-Chair, as his Militarist-Centrist coalition finds considerably more common ground with Organa's Core-Faction supporters than Teem's Rim-Secessionists.
Chancellor and Vice-Chair inherit a Galactic Senate more at odds with itself than any since just before the end of the New Sith Wars.
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27.9 BBY: Understanding Palpatine could tell the wider galaxy about the Fett-clones at any time, Anakin Skywalker discusses the possibility of revealing what Master Sifo-Dyas has done with Master Dark Woman.
After extensive meditation and thought, Dark Woman informs her young apprentice they could both conceivably be sent to the Prism for concealing such information, so they have no choice except revealing what they know. She accompanies her Padawan to speak with Grandmaster Yoda at the Mimban Enclave under construction.
Unfortunately, after confirming the veracity of their account, Yoda immediately informs the rest of the High Council.
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27.8 BBY Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas is called before the High Council to answer a charge of having violated the precepts of the Ruusan Reformation by commissioning a clone army.
Before the High Council is able to complete their deliberations and hand down a decision in the matter, however, Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn and Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi escape undetected from Geonosis.
The pair report to the High Council that the already considerable Baktoid Armor Workshop/Legends foundries present on the desolate planet were in the process of being expanded, and that all manner of weapons, ordinance, battle-droids, war machines, even bombers and starfighters were now being produced as swiftly as capacity and ever-arriving resources would permit.
Unfortunately, the High Council remains unmoved with regard to Sifo-Dyas's fate. Expelling him from the Order for the position he'd placed the Jedi in as much as for any actual wrongdoing.
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27.7.5 BBY: Master Dooku and Master Ood Bnar complete their respective meditations on the High Council's decision. Each resigns in protest of that decision, with Dooku soon returning to Sorenno to take up his title and estate as ruler of the planet.
Rumors quickly proliferate of talks between the three ex-Masters, the Altisian Jedi, and even other Force-traditions, but to what purpose none outside their group can say.
The resignation of not one but two legendary Jedi Masters causes many Jedi to look askance at their High Council for what many perceive to be an extremely high-handed and highly politicized decision on their part.
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27.7 BBY Grandmaster Yoda reports to the newly elected Chancellor Organa concerning both the existence of the commissioned Fett-clones on Kamino, and the egregious violations of the Ruusan Reformation's precepts by the Geonosians.
The Chancellor takes the matter under advisement, but gives no immediate clue as to his thinking in either matter.
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27.6 BBY: Sora Bulq accepts the invitation of HoloNet News to speak as to the rumors swirling of a hidden Jedi army. In the course of that interview, he "regretfully" confirms the details, and walks the public via the interviewer step by step through the process of how the Kamino Commission came to be.
Lying only in that he declares Sifo-Dyas sought and obtained the financial support of radical elements within the InterGalactic Banking Clan to fund the project after experiencing horrific visions of galactic war.
He initially refuses to speculate as to the Jedi Order's intent in commissioning such a large and well-trained military force, but when coaxed by the interviewer, delivers the quote in every periodical the next day.
"No one ever raised an army without intending to use it, and I fear my former comrades are no different."
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27.5 BBY: Seeking to create a lightning rod to draw attention from the rampant anti-Jedi sentiment proliferating throughout the Mid and Outer Rim, as well as to remind everyone why there was a Jedi Order, Chancellor Organa calls an Extraordinary Session of the Senate.
Proffering charges against the Geonosians for numerous violations of the Reformation's precepts, and calling on the Separatist Council they named themselves a signatory of to desist from their illegal military build-up.
Accusations fly in all directions, but the Geonosians refuse to so much as permit Judicial inspectors to examine their facilities. The Separatist Coalition soon offers a statement to the effect the existence of the Kamino Commission justifies their efforts to.
"Provide for their common defense, even if it be technically illegal to do so."
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27 BBY: Negotiations with the Geonosians break down completely. Prompting the Judicials at the behest of the Senate to begin a blockade of the planet.
A binding resolution passed by Core, Militarist, and Centrist Senators levies economic sanctions against the Geonosians until such time as they provide evidence the expansions and retooling of their foundries has ceased, with all accrued war-gear being recycled or destroyed. Dependent on the importation of food, famine soon threatens, but the Geonosians refuse to yield.
26.8 BBY: When Rim Faction Senators (now belonging to what amounts to a Secessionist Faction) fail to vote down the sanctions or the removal of the Judicial blockade, heavily shielded, unmarked, and transponder-free blockade runners begin smuggling large amounts of food down to the surface of Geonosis despite the best efforts of the Judicials.
When the number of such blockade runners quadruples over the new three months, and scans manage to penetrate one of the vessels during a near-collision with a Judicial cutter, it's revealed raw materials are once more feeding the Geonosian foundries.
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26.1 BBY: The Judicial Forces begin laying fields of sky-mines in Geonosis's orbit to prevent the passage of the blockade runners after other efforts short of beginning overt conflict fail. Momentarily stymied, the opposition ceases it's efforts around the foundry-world, but begin a propaganda effort to depict the Geonosians as brave holdouts against the heavy-handed government's demands.
Pointing to the blockade and subsequent orbital mine-laying as exactly why secession from the corrupt, ineffective, and ultimately Core-serving Republic is the only reasonable, rational choice for Mid and Outer Rim systems tired of being exploited but otherwise ignored to make.
The growing size of the Secessionist Faction in the Senate proves the words of the Separatist Council are not falling on entirely deaf ears.
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26 BBY: In partnership with Allanteen Six Shipyards, Kuat Drive Yards unveils a modular-design prototype Alpha-Venator-cruiser.
The many strategically placed yet unfilled blisters on the hull make the vessel's design technically Reformation-compliant, but anti-Militarist shipwrights accurately criticize designer Lira Blissex for the creation of a warship which not only cuts as close to the tonnage restrictions as technically possible.
It can be successfully refitted to dramatically increase firepower and shielding with the most minimal of facilities.
The already connected power conduits leading to the unused blisters elicit particularly heated debates.
Prompting the unrepentant designer to publicly respond to her critics, saying "It's my job to create what the customer wants. A ship which will do the job for which it has been designed, and do it well.
If my designs are easily modified, and even more easily mass-produced into something which violates the Reformation Precepts, then that is what I call a feature in the design's favor. Anyone who believes we aren't in the last days of the Reformation-era has been using Bando Gora deathsticks, anyways.
Don't single out Kuat, Rendili, or any of the affiliate-shipyards for your pacifist posturing, either. EVERYONE is creating post-Reformation war designs. All awaiting the day the traitors, I mean Separatists, strike at a Republic world. Forcing the Senate to abandon antiquated ideals and protect the Republic from it's enemy."
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25.9 BBY: Terrible worldwide damage is done to important elements of the JanFathal power grid in just two weeks.
Bulq and the Separatists initially point to this as an example of how little practical cooperation exists between the Judicial Branch and the planetary defense forces of planets with more modest economies, but soon fall silent when responding Jedi investigators manage to capture numerous insurgents discovered in possession of materials with which devices capable of powerful E.M.Ps.
Much of the Fath Sector, which had been considering aligning themselves with the secessionists, reaffirm their loyalty to the Republic after word of this development spreads.
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25.6 BBY: Refits of the two hundred slave-rigged Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers are completed, and sixty of the newly crewed Judicial Force vessels are launched to much fanfare on anti-piracy/anti-slaver missions in systems upon the Corellian Run or Hydian Way.
HoloNet News does a piece on the newly launched missions. The news anchor remarking how refreshingly novel it is to see a politician actually uphold a campaign promise.
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25.5 BBY: Qui Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi return to the Jedi Temple from their latest investigation prompted by the suggestions of Jedi who shall remain nameless.
They brief the High Council about the Munificent-class star frigates being mass-produced in the Gwori system, and describe their courier-ship being fired on without provocation.
The pair goes on to outline their infiltration of the droideka foundries on Colla IV, and pass on the report of Jedi Master John Antilles. Who stated he stowed away aboard a freighter bound for Metalorn. One carrying a hold full of purified cortosis purchased from the Hutts.
Jinn and Kenobi then turn over the holo-camera footage of the convoy of freighters disgorging hold after hold full of purified cortosis. None of the three Jedi were able to say what the Cortosis was being used for. Master Windu subsequently briefs Chancellor Organa as to these latest violations of the precepts by Separatist signatories.
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25.4 BBY: Dark Woman and Anakin Skywalker return from a trip to Mestare with sixty Mestarren lightsaber-crystals beyond the half-dozen they retain for themselves.
Dark Woman recommends to the members of the High Council they come to some accord with the wildcat miners active on the frontier world, or resign themselves to khyber crystals reaching the black market.
Anakin Skywalker presents the Temple fabricators with a viable circuit adjustment schematic to use the Mestarran crystals as traditional Adegan crystals are used.
Battlemaster Drallig sets him to recalibrating and servicing Temple droids for ninety days because he didn't take the schematic to the Council of First Knowledge first.
25.3 BBY: High Council member Yaddle leads a contingent of Jedi consisting of Dark Woman, Anakin Skywalker, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Mawan for the purpose of negotiating the end of a horrific three-way gang war.
Aware that the expertly disguised "Striker" is actually infamous master criminal Granta Omega, and that the real dangers are the chemical weapon and radiation bomb Omega has planted, Skywalker's warning to his fellow Jedi begins the unraveling of Omega's convoluted attempt to assassinate them.
In the ensuing confusion, it is his hurled lightsaber which finds the mad Force Blank's heart. The Jedi subsequently reach an accord with Decca the Hutt and Feeana Tala, ending the strife on the embattled planet.
Omega's death is the sixteen year old's first kill. One which troubles him for some time to come despite the knowledge his actions had saved Master Yaddle's life.
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25.2 BBY: Two flights of old but refitted and more heavily armed Valor-class cruisers numbering two dozen appear in the Geonosis System.
Flying in support of ten equally antiquated mine-sweepers, the Tactical Droid in command of the naval group hails the Judicial Force blockade commander.
Identifying itself as "Commodore Mark of the Rim Autonomy Force", the droid demands the J.F's blockading vessels leave orbit and quit the system, or be fired upon.
His dozen Hammerhead-class cruisers and ten Interceptor-class frigates slightly outgunned by the R.A.F group, the blockade commander nevertheless refuses to comply.
In the ensuing battle, most of the R.A.F cruisers are destroyed, but their willingness to expend themselves in ramming attacks against the Judicial vessels turns the tide in their favor. The two surviving Interceptors flee the Geonosis System as the mine-sweepers begin their work.
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25.1.5 BBY: Calling an Extraordinary Session of the Galactic Senate, Chancellor Organa condemns the Separatist Coalition for the destruction of the Judicial Forces blockade. Rim/Separatist Faction Senators bridle at the accusation their worlds had anything to do with the attack, but while no one believes the S.C's protestations of innocence, there's no actual proof the R.A.F are anything but well-funded stateless terrorists.
A full squadron of Dreadnaught-class heavy cruisers are ordered into the Geonosis System to reinstate the blockade, but it will be some time before anyone outside the Coalition of Independent Systems realize the extent of the breakout which occurred in the interim between the breaking and reinstating of the blockade.
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25 BBY: Militarist and Centrist Senators begin drumming up support for Proposition 211-A. Calling for increased funding of the Judicial Forces, the Anaxes War College, plus the creation of economic and educational incentives for recruits joining the J.F or enrolling for training at the War College.
Many of the Core-Faction Senators support the bill in the wake of the broken blockade, but the near-universal opposition of the bill by Rim and Separatist Senators is enough to temporarily defer the bill's continued debate.
A result reversed by the Senate's next regular meeting. The bill's passage drives many of the Outer Rim worlds not already a part of the Senate's Separatist Faction into said group.
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24.8 BBY: Responding to the passage of Proposition 211-A, Sora Bulq publishes the Articles of Secession.
Calling on signatories to formally abandon attempts to engage with the Republic, and focus entirely on already ongoing efforts to forge new economic links between signatories, as the reallocation of tax revenues no longer pouring into Republic coffers can "Begin providing tangible, quantifiable benefits to signatory worlds."
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24.6 BBY: Attempting to counter Bulq's influence, Chancellor Organa and Vice-Chair Ashgad open discussion on the proposed Financial Reform Act.
The controversial bill would, if passed, do a great deal to reverse the damage done by Palpatine's machinations with the Trade Federation, InterGalactic Banking Clan, and Commerce Guild, but it is twice deferred to committee by a coalition of Senators lead by Ainlee Teem who are uninterested in reforms the Core worlds find less than laudable.
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24.5 BBY: Dark Woman and Anakin Skywalker discretely approach Commonality Senator Jheramahd Greyshade.
Explaining the threat to his life due to his ardent support of the Financial Reform Act, they convince the Senator he would be better served by two Jedi hiding out in his expansive 500 Republica suite to capture the assassin, rather than being surrounded by a host of Senate Guards who will only delay and put off the assassin for so long.
Eventually, the Senator evicts the Jedi from his dwelling when he wishes to "entertain" an apparently amorous Tsian. Making a show of leaving, Dark Woman phases through several ceilings to reenter the suite, catching the assassin by surprise, and saving the Senator's life.
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24.4 BBY: Senator Greyshade hurls himself from the roof of 500 Republica shortly thereafter. His suicide note is leaked to the press, and in it, he expresses his regret for supporting the Financial Reform Act. He is succeeded as Senator by his cousin, Simon Greyshade.
Who emerges as an ardent opponent of the Financial Reform Act. Jedi Knight Quinlan Vos reports the datapad the suicide note was composed on is drenched in Dark Side energies, but the Judicial investigators prove remarkably uninterested in "Subjective impressions granted by a poorly understood energy field."
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24 BBY: The defeat of the Financial Reform Act causes many Mid and Outer Rim Senators to sign the Articles of Secession at the instructions of their planetary leaders. His four-year term at an end, Bail Organa is nearly ousted by his own Vice-Chair.
The ever-growing numbers and influence of the once-tiny Militarist Faction, plus the growing power of the Core Loyalists pass several bills expanding funding of the Judicial Forces to a much greater degree.
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22.9 BBY: Dr. Nuvo Vindi is captured by Dark Woman and Anakin Skywalker on Naboo. Preventing his attempt to release the now-airborne Blue Shadow virus, the Jedi are honored by the present Queen of Naboo for their efforts.
Later, during the formal ball, and despite his best efforts to the contrary, Padawan Skywalker and Senator Amidala meet for the first time. Jedi Slicers will later extract data from Vindi's lab linking his projects with the outbreak of Blue Shadow virus on Dac.
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22.3 BBY: Jedi Master Luminara Unduli, her Padawan Barriss Offee, Master Dark Woman and Padawan Skywalker are dispatched to the crossroads world of Ansion to prevent it's secession, and through Ansion, the secession of many other worlds.
After extensive trials and travails, the quartet succeeds in making peace between the nomads and city-dwellers. Preventing Ansion's secession from the Republic. Surprising no one, the orderly and highly orthodox Unduli/Offee pairing gets on like oil and water with the unorthodox and individualistic Dark Woman/Skywalker team.
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22.1 BBY: Concerned he is overseeing the beginning of full-scale galactic war as the Senate readies itself to vote on the revival of the office of Minister of Defense, Chancellor Organa invites the Separatists and Loyalists to a Reconciliation Summit.
The idea is almost still-born when arguments break out as to where it might be held and who would provide security, but the Tynnans eventually offer to host the function and provide the bulk of the security.
Concerned die-hard secessionists will attempt to disrupt this final bid for peace, the Chancellor requests and receives a small contingent of Jedi to provide discrete security against extraordinary threats. The High Council dispatches Master Yaddle to lead this detachment, with Knights Olin, Swan, and Tassu, in addition to Master Dark Woman and her Padawan.
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