Gunray captured.

I walked into the conference room to stern and concerned stares.

"You're late." Obi Wan said.

"Sorry. A jet broke down unexpectedly. Though why you need me here in a military conference is beyond me, but let's start." I replied, clapping my hands.

"There is nothing to start. A decision has been made already.

The engineering corps are impressed with your service. And they have petitioned the council to offer you a formal position in the armada." Obi Wan said, extending a hand, beating a box.

I opened the box to find a military uniform and the ranking laurels of a commander.

"Figured as much." I snorted, seeing the blantant recruitment pitch for what it was.

"Thank you, I guess?" I said, running my hand on the uniform, "Still, commander?"

"Honorary commander." Admiral Yularen corrected.

"Honorary commander." I repeated, intrigued.

"Yes. And we have your first mission at hand. You're to take padawan Ahsoka Tano and rendezvous with Master Luminara aboard the Tranquility in the Naboo system to aid in the transport of the prisoner, Nute Gunray." Yularen explained.

"Gunray as in the viceroy of the trade federation?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. We have reason to suspect General Hunt is on their trail." Obi Wan added, "No doubt trying to free their biggest sponsor. There will likely be attempts at bribery and subterfuge. We'd like you two to be there as well, as an extra bit of insurance."

"We cannot afford to lose such an advantage over them. With the trade federation in limbo, we can then move on to the techno union and shut down their droid factories, and end the war once and for all." Yularen said.

"Sure. When do we leave?" I asked.

"Now, actually." Ahsoka replied, pointing at the door.

"I shall await your reinforcements, Master Obi Wan." Master Luminara said, on the holographic transciever, before cutting the call.

"What are you waiting for then? Go!" Anakin pushed me out.

"Yes, yes. We're leaving. Just let me gun from my room. Ahsoka, head to my ship. I'll meet you there." I said, splitting from her, and rushed back to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I slapped on my holographic disguise, and opened a portal, activating the disguise once I had made it through, just to throw off any force visions.

From what I knew, most force visions took place in one location at one time. So, if I wanted to avoid detection, all I had to do was change my appearance in transition through the portal and viola!

Freedom from pesky peeking toms!

Walking up to the transceiver on Dooku's desk, I adjusted the disguise and put on the voice modulator.

Now looking the part of Dooku, I called a well loved number.

"Master. How can I be of service?" Asajj Ventress replied, sarcastically, twirling her lightsaber.

"Lightsabers are not toys to be trifled with child." I snarled at her, making her raise an eyebrow, as I continued, "Nute Gunray has been captured. He is being held aboard the Tranquility in Naboo. You will proceed to it at once, and do the needful." I ordered.

"But master, I-"

"Have I not been clear? Let me make it crystal then. Failure is not an option here. Should you prove unsuccessful again..." I interrupted her, spotting the drink glass beside her, glaring sternly through her very soul.

"Yes master. I shall prove myself worthy of being your apprentice." She replied, cowed.

Looks like I haven't been paying enough attention to Ventress. She did seem a little hungry for care even int he show. But then again, being a nightsister reject, it was to be expected. Her childhood bore her enough trauma to last a lifetime.

Perhaps I'll need to arrange a few one on one sessions with my cute little apprentice, for some bonding time soon.

Cutting the call, I sent out a missive to my separatist fleet. Barricade Naboo. A simple command. It should be enough to delay the inevitable.

Returning, I switched off the disguise, and stepped through the portal, before getting to my ship, donning my power armor.

"Ready to go?" I asked Ahsoka.

"Am I ready? You're the onuhhuhhh-"

I took off as she spoke, the momentum turning her words to jibberish.

"Nerfherder!" She muttered, punching my back.

"Mind your language, Ahsoka!" I gasped theatrically, " What would master Skywalker think?"

Ahsoka chuckled at my antics.

"Why don't we try him and see?" She replied.

"Maybe I will." I said, pressing on the pedal and the dark matter engine clattered to work.

With a warp and a jump we arrived at our destination.

Naboo, the bright and blue swampy paradise for all mosquito-kind, and birthplace of Emperor Ballsack, Papatine himself.

Taking in it's beauty, I spotted the Tranquility parked by the space station in low Naboo orbit.

The Tranquility spotting ys, gave a hail.

"This is the Tranquility. Please identify yourself."

Flipping the transceiver on, I replied.

"Commander Walker, ferrying padawan Ahsoka Tano, for the escort aboard the Tranquility."

"Understood." The voice said, and the hangar opened up before us.

"Already using your rank?" Ahsoka asked cheekily.

"It shouldn't be a problem, should it? Unless of course, it was a placating measure to tether me to the republic fleet...." I trailed off, as Ahsoka's eyes went wide.

"You knew?" She asked, "Then why accept it?"

"Of course I knew. I wasn't born yesterday. The techno union trued to pull the same on me when I first gave in my new navigation system for consideration. Tried to steal it with a figurehead position. Didn't sit right with me. So here we are. The galaxy still uses the old nav computers, while my ship has the new version. Works better, if you've been paying attention. We've been getting around almost exclusively on FTL jumps." I explained, adding more to my backstory.

Truthfully, it was also because my ship's shield could tear through a star at FTL and survive. I had nothing to worry about even if I exclusively traveled in hyper-light speeds.

"I was wondering about that. I just thought you were good at piloting." Ahsoka replied.

I shook my head and moved to dock within.

Getting off the ship, we were greeted by Master Luminara and her padawan, Barriss Offee.

"Welcome, Padawan Ahsoka, Commander Walker. This is my padawan Barriss Offee."

Barriss nodded, choosing to remain quiet. A little less than I expected from the future jedi terrorist, but then again, it was the long term exposure to war that broke her.

In the future, Barriss Offee lost faith in the jedi and blew up the temple on Coruscant. Then, under the pretense of helping Ahsoka, she framed her for the incident, causing Ahsoka to go to a kangaroo court trial which made Ahsoka lose faith in the jedi.

And once Ashoka, Anakin's moral grounding wire, left, he became ever more susceptible to the dark side and Palapatine, slowly being twisted into a sith, until with one final move, he became the youngling slayer, chokehold king, galactic menace, and the long lost 'daddy' of the story, Darth Vader.

Offee was the one domino to turn Anakin, the chosen one, into a pawn in my hands.

Another thing I would have to give a little push to, now that I had the perfect opportunity for it here.

"She is a tad shy. Don't mind her." Luminara added, covering for her, and gesturing us in.

Luminara led us to the holding cells, lined with electrified forcefield bars, a total waste of resources.

"Great! More jedi." Gunray quipped and was silenced with a stern glare from master Luminara.

Though, their holding cells leave a lot to be desired.

Could've just replaced that with an actual door and a light forcefield coating over the entirety of the cell instead of trying for a cool looking scifi aesthetic. Would've been a hell of a lot more energy efficient and harder to break out of.

But I guess this works just fine for me.

Easier to kidnap Gunray out of here.

Luminara then called over the guard captains from their post, and introduced us, one blond of hair, looking like a rogue prince and the other, a regular chip off the block, clone commander.

"Commander Walker, this is Commander Argyus and Commander Gree. Commanders, likewise."

"Nice to meet you." I greeted them with a firm nod.

"There's Senator Amidala who helped capture him. She will be accompanying us to bear witness at the trial." She pointed at Padme sitting in a corner going over some papers.

"And you've met our prisoner, Viceroy Gunray?"

"Now I have." I replied with a smile, to Ahsoka's rolled eyes.

"Why do we need all this security? Gunray doesn't look that dangerous." Ahsoka asked.

"Don't let your overconfidence give Gunray another advantage. Even now his allies may be conspiring to free him. General Hunt's fleet has been spotted entering the next system over. This mission might be more than you bargained for." Luminara warned, paging the cockpit.

"How long until we can jump into hyperspace captain?" She asked.

"Momentarily, general." He replied, pulling on the thrusters, and pressing a button as the shrill vibration of the warpdrive rung out.

The canvas of space distorted into streaks of light, and we entered hyperspace.

"Good. That should take an hour or so. Till then, we will interrogate the subject. Let's see how much we can extract from him before General Hunt can lay siege to us." Luminara said, prompting inquiry from Ahsoka.

"Master Luminara, why do you seem so sure that General Hunt is going to attack us?" She asked.

"Because I have fought him before. He isn't the type to wait and watch the enemy take the initiative. He chooses the field, lays the traps and turns the rythm of the battle to his tune. I am certain that by the time we exit hyperspace, he will be waiting for us. This might be our only chance to get anything useful out of him. Come." Luminara replied, opening the bars to the cell and entered.

I, on the other hand, just waoted for my chance, the roght time to put in my piece, observing the situation from the back.

"Greetings, Viceroy." She began, "We have some questions for you."

"And here I thought you had brought me some tea and crackers." Gunray rebutted.

"Your thoughts betray you, Viceroy. I can sense your concern. The fear that you will lose the wealth and the power that the war has given you."

"I ....have no idea what you're talking about." Gunray replied, a bit flustered.

"You hide a great many things. The names of your secret allies. The locations of their bases." Luminara prompted, trying to pull his memories into concious thought.

"I am an innocent pawn in all of this!" Gunray protested.

"If you're merely a pawn, then who're you protecting." Luminara pushed, getting closer to the truth.

"No one. I know nothing!" He argued, regaining his composure.

"Liar! Liar!" Ahsoka snapped, slamming her palm on the table, startling the Viceroy.

"I'm tired of all this whining!" She cried, switching on her lightsaber, the green reflecting menacingly on her features.

She rushed to the Viceroy, putting the lightsaber up to his neck, and threatened.

"Tell us what we want to know, right now! Or I will gut you like a Rokarian dirtfish."

Damn. Playing badcop really suits her. Down to the tone.

I like it. Maybe it will be easier to pull her out first, before I set up on turning Anakin.

"Rah!" Gunray cried, falling off the chair onto his back.

I watched Offee's expression shift, a light csoff and the faintests hint of dosdain skipped her face and I knew it was time.

I rushed in, pulling her back before Luminara could, gently bringing her away.

"Padawan!" Luminara chastised, "Terror is not a weapon the jedi use."

"I wasn't serious!" Ahsoka replied, "But the only way he'll talk is if he's scared enough."

"Yes, but a lightsaber is not a toy. A single misplaced swipe could permanently stop him from spilling his secrets." I interjected, faking concern.

Just then, Gunray stood back up, grabbing shakily onto the table for support.

"Perhaps I was too hasty. Let's negotiate." Gunray relented, when suddenly the entire battleship shook and alarms started blaring.

"Status report." Commander Gree demanded over the comms.

"Droid fighters. Incoming. They have brought boarding ships. And there's something coming out of hyperspace in front of us..... It's... It's the Deliverance. It's General Hunt!"

There we go!