Ch 418:

Not many knew the backlash ripping a republic cruiser out of hyperspace would cause.

It hadn't been since Mandalor tried to leave that a system in the galaxy didn't want to be in the republic and they senate was not taking it well.

Palpatine was watching in amazement as the senators squabbled like children.

"I say we glass their planets!"

A quick glance over to Padme showed the former queen recoiling at the comment while her body guard watched with open hostility. The floating platform eventually hid the two from his sight.

Unknown to Palpatine Kyra was watching the debacle through a mirror was trying really hard not to laugh.

"Gentlemen!" Palpatine shouts

"I have already sent some jedi to the system to talk them into joining our great republic. Let the peacekeepers handle it before we send a fleet." The clearly not evil chancellor says

===================

Ruby watches as Kyra looks up from the mirror tablet smiling like a loon.

"Is it about the jedi?" Ruby asks

"Nah, after we tell them no and send them away. The republic will send a war fleet to force us to join or suffer like mandalor." Kyra says

"Zero hour?" Ruby asks

"With overwhelming fire power. If we aim the gravity generators correctly we could pull the entire battle fleet out into a firing line." Kyra says smiling flipping the tablet to show the math.

The republic were in for a bad time and the confederate systems would have a good distraction bedsides geonisis.

=================

Qui-Gon was scared.

Those hunters were all forces sensitives with abilities he had yet to see. On top of that it was a rite of passage for a Hunter to develop their own semblance or a unique force technique. If it wasn't for the lack of Kyber crystals he would be more worried. Though learning that a majority of their blasters were actually slug throwers set him on edge.

A light saber could not deflect a physical object. All it would do is super heat the lead based projectile. Sending molten shrapnel into the Unarmored jedi.

Then the was they were shot faster than blasters. Rather than being gas powered it was something called gun powder and the slugs broke the sound barrier. The bullets as they were callled since calling them slugs was a disservice would easily pierce through the republic's standard armor since the Plastoid was meant to disperse heat and had minimal damage resistance to impact.

Qui-Gon emerges from his thoughts in a eating hall. It was odd noticing that almost all of the humans had hats yet didn't wear them here.

"I still don't see what all the deal is about." Anakin says

"Anakin… could you do me favor and ask that woman over there why they don't wear their hats here?" Qui-gon says hoping to get a point across.

"Sure thing master I'll be right back." Anakin says getting up.

Qui-Gon watches as the woman stares at anakin in disbelief before giving an explanation. To say Anakin was shocked would be an understatement.

The padwan asks another question before the woman answers with a simple shoulder shrug his lip reading skills allow him to make out the number 8.

Anakin now thoroughly shaken up heads back to Qui-Gon.

"So?"

Anakin leans forward and in a hushed whisper.

"Master they are war mongers."

"That's not what she told you. Why was she not wearing her hat?" Qui-Gon asks

"Because it is disrespectful. They do it to honor the dead. Because when there is a war and the first aid tent and medbay in a ship are filled the next spot the injured are out is the messhall." Anakin says

Qui-Gon nods since it made sense.

"How does that make them war mongers?" Qui-Gon asks

"I asked when their last war was…" anakin says with clear distaste.

"Okay? So when?" Qui-Gon asks

"8 years ago, with their last so called war games being last month." Anakin says

"Anakin? Qui-Gon?" Yang asks

"Ah, madam Yang. How may we humble jedi assist you?" Qui-Gon asks

"I managed to get you an appointment with the president of the remnant system." Yang says smiling.

========•========

Did Kyra know she was elected to office a second time? Nope, and since it wasn't the president of the country like it had previously been she technically hadn't been it before. That and when 70% of the votes are write ins for Kyra. You need to learn to cut your losses.