chapter 23

Jedi Temple

It's been a few hours since the defeat on Ryloth and the Jedi and the Senate were discussing about the mandalorians involvement in the war. No one knew if this was a rouge group of mandalorians or if all of mandalore was going to war with the republic. As of now the republic was demanding mandalore to say if they had any involvement in the attack and were waiting for a response from them.

With the Jedi they were about to discuss about the same thing and those that couldn't make it were in a hologram as they all sat down to discuss some of the issues throughout the galaxy.

As they settle down windu is the first to begin the discussion. "I'm sure you all heard about the rumors about Ryloth and how it played out. Well for the most part it is true. Ryloth is lost." Windu says as everyone starts to talk amongst each other.

"Not only that but we may have another enemy to deal with. It seems mandalore had sided with the Terrans and had attacked us forcing me and Kenobi to retreat." Windu says.

"We don't know if it was Mandalore that was associated with the attack yet." Obi-wan quickly adds.

"I met with Duchess Satine a few weeks ago and she was still strongly against the idea of entering the war. This could have been the work of a rouge group of mandalorians." Obi-wan says not believing duchess satine would authorize an attack on the republic.

"And how do you know they would keep that promise Kenobi. You seen it with your own eyes. Hundreds of mandalorian ships slaughtering your men and you are still trying to defend them." Windu says confident that they lied to him.

"But even if they didn't have a part to do with the attack, they will still face consequences for their people's actions against us." Another Jedi says.

"Because of them we've just lost a major asset that could've helped us in the war."

"That seems like the most reasonable response to this. If something like this was to continue to happen, then it would only cause more casualties and setbacks in the long run." Another says as many agree.

"And what about the terrans? Any useful knowledge about them? We know that their navy is not to be messed with, but what about their ground forces?" Ki-Adi-Mundi says curiously.

"Well just like their navy, their army is well trained and experienced. I've never seen some of the tactics they use in war before and some of them were extremely effective against us. They may even be better than the clones and mandalorians when it comes to combat." Obi-wan says holding his beard as this shocks some of them.

"But the thing that baffles me the most though is that their military seems to use slugthrowers as the standard weapon." Obi-wan says in thought as many start to whisper to each other.

"What worries me the most is that we still know almost nothing about them. We have no real numbers of their forces, planets, technology, or even where they are coming from. We have nothing when it comes to intelligence on them." Obi-wan says thinking of the consequences on not knowing about these things.

"And now that mandalore may be involved with the war. Things are about to get more chaotic." A Jedi says.

"If they are involved with the attack on Ryloth I want to start another diplomatic mission over there." Obi-wan says.

"Kenobi I don't think that will get us anywhere. You said it yourself last time. They knew where the terrans were coming from and they didn't disclose it to us. They must have been plotting against us the entire time." Windu says as some even agree with this.

"I'm still going. Something must have happened in order for something like this to happen." Obi-wan says thinking of the possible situations that may have happened.

Windu eyes Obi-wan for a few seconds knowing that it must be more than just that since the look in his eyes says otherwise, but doesn't speak up about it.

"Very well, but I still don't think this will get you anywhere." Windu says about to change the topic.

As they continue to talk amongst each other a certain teenage Togruta girl can be seen walking down the halls of the temple before bumping into a dark skinned teenage human as they both recoil back.

"Oh i'm so sorry I didn't see you there...Wait Waneta is that you?"

"Ashoka?"

"Oh my god it really is you! It's been so long since the last time I seen you." Ashoka shouts excitedly.

"Why you making it seem like we haven't seen each other in centuries. It's only been like a year." Waneta says smiling at her as she looks at her head to toe thinking that she hasn't changed a bit.

"Besides I'm pretty sure you'll see me often in the Front lines." She says before thinking of a way to annoy her.

"Besides we'll need to keep an eye on you especially since you almost killed you master on the very first mission." Waneta says smirking at her.

"I must say that would've been a new record for a padawan getting their master killed." She says laughing a little.

"Hey that was an accident! And besides everything turned out fine in the end." Ahsoka says getting frustrated with her laughing.

"And what about you. I bet you got stationed on some boring outpost while I had all the fun." Ashoka says in victory.

Waneta's lack of response for a few seconds causes Ashoka to think her assumption was right before Waneta speaks with her mood now down for a while before having a supposed fake smile on her face.

"Well I don't see the battle on Ryloth as boring. Had my fair share of near death experiences there." She says causing Ashoka eyes to widen in panic.

"I'm sorry! Forget I even said anything! I heard about what happened and-" Ashoka begins waving her hands in panic before Waneta interrupts her.

"It's ok Ashoka. You didn't know and besides, the terrans are more dangerous than anyone would have thought." Waneta says in thought.

Ashoka nods her head agreeing with her. "Yeah their navy is not to be messed with either. We lost half of our fleet over Christophsis because of one ship." Ashoka says shuddering a little.

"I even had a first hand look on Zeridian and I must say. Not the nicest people when it comes to Jedi." She says thinking back.

"You went to Zeridian?" Waneta says surprised.

"Yeah and the planet would have been beautiful if the separatist hadn't attacked it. It still was but it didn't have that feeling if you know what I mean. Might've been because I was a little intimidated, but let's not talk about that." Ashoka says.

Waneta hearing the part about the separatist attacking the planet can't help but shake in anger. Knowing that Ashoka might notice quickly fixes her composure before looking to see if she noticed. As she looks at her she is still talking about her experiences and the new things she learned with her master.

Waneta seeing how clueless she is can't help but smile at her friend but that smile fades away slowly as she knows that one day she will have to fight and maybe kill her when her mission is done.

As they continue to walk and chat with other the Senate is still waiting for mandalore to contact them, but that wait is gone as a huge hologram of a mandalorian in armor is shown throughout the building.

"To the people of the galactic republic. As you all may know. There are rumors circling around the galaxy that the people of mandalore had attacked the republic or a rogue group had." The man says with authority in his voice.

"Well to answer you questions. It was all of mandalore that had come together and attacked you all over Ryloth. The republic is weak and corrupted."

"We have not attacked you all because of our defeat all those years ago, but because you have attacked an allie that we have supported since the beginning. You have no idea what enemy you are going against and this time your so called republic will fall."

"From this day forward. The people of mandalore are at war with the galactic republic and we side with the Terran Republic in this war!" He shouts before cutting the transmission.

The Senate building is filled with chatter as they try to quiet everyone, but this had come as such a surprise to everyone that mandalore would declare war on them, that a great sense of fear was washed over most of their faces.

It seemed like the entire galaxy wasn't safe for anyone and any attempts to avoid the war seemed impossible.

This is what Waneta looks like