Chapter 50

News of the assassination attempt had spread throughout the Galaxy. Many people wondered who would attempt such a thing while people in the Imperium were furious because someone tried to assassinate their Emperor.

The mercenaries who attempted the assassination were captured while most were already dead. Those captured were brought to Naboo and put into the Imperiums most secure prison. It was also revealed that the infamous Bo-Katan sister to Dutchess Satine was among those who attempted the assassination and was captured causing many to drop support for clan Kryze to avoid being affiliated with the assassination attempt.

John was with his fleet along with Layla while Padme went back to Naboo guarded by her two ECD's and thousands of clones who were stationed around the Palace.

Theed had been put on lockdown until further notice and all people coming in and out would be thoroughly searched regardless of their identity.

Even though the city was on Lockdown Theed was still bustling with people during the daytime as John knew that Padme was safe even without the lockdown of the city and he didn't want to interrupt the people's daily lives but he still wanted to see if more assassins would reveal themselves so he stationed a Force Guard with Padme for extra protection.

John and his fleet had planned to invade the planet of Raxus which had become the new Capital of the CIS after Geonosis was lost to the republic but the assassination attempt had made John change plans.

John was going to announce the person behind the assassination attempt which was Sheev Palpatine while revealing he was a Sith then he would declare war on the Republic because of the failed assassination attempt and destroy the Dark Lord Sheev Palpatine and conquer the Republic while at it.

But before that, he would deal with Mandalore first. He would send a spec ops team to locate the Headquarters of the Death Watch on Concordia so that he can take the Dark Saber from Pre Vizsla and become Mand'alor.

Becoming Mand'alor would make it easier to take over the Mandalorians as he was a strong warrior and he would soon have the dark saber. Mandalorians wouldn't just follow anyone just because they had the Darksaber the person would have to be a strong warrior and prove that he deserves the title Mand'alor.

While John was thinking about his plans on Naboo a cloaked figure was sneaking through the palace hallways while being watched by two droids.

The figure found the target room and entered. But once he entered the door was closed and locked behind him and the lights turned on revealing two droids and a force guard who were waiting on him.

Before the figure could do anything the force Guard used the force and removed his hood revealing the person to be Maul who was thought to be killed by Jedi Master Kenobi during the Naboo invasion event.

Maul noticing he walked into a trap pulled his double-sided red lightsaber out and prepared to fight.

The Force Guard also pulled out and activated her lightsaber and charged at Maul.

Maul charged at the Force Guard thinking he had the advantage but was sadly mistaken as the Guard dodged his strike and sliced his arm off and his lightsaber in half.

The two droids quickly pinned him down and restrained him. He was then escorted to a secure location where he would be tortured and interrogated until the morning when Padme would give a speech about the recent events.

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The special forces Team sent to Concordia had landed and were scouting the planet and digging up any information on the location of the Death Watch headquarters or any suspicious Mandolorian movements.

After a few hours of searching, they discovered a hidden base on the far side of the planet that was heavily guarded and the soldiers had the Death Watch logo so the team contacted the fleet and informed them they found the location of a Death Watch base.

Once John heard of the News he ordered his fleet to enter Mandolorian space and blockade Concordia. John didn't need to hide his fleet as he already planned to take over the Mandolorian sector after obtaining the Dark Saber.

In less than 10 minutes John's fleet was in Orbit above Concordia blockading any ships coming or going to the planet. And since Concordia was a moon of the planet Mandalore Johns fleet was detected immediately by Dutchess Satine.

Dutchess Satine was receiving the reports of the recent events happening in the Galaxy including some factions pulling support because Mandalorians were caught in an attempt on the Imperiums Emperor's life.

Long since the establishment and expansion of the Imperium, she tried to maintain a neutral relationship with the new powerhouse and keep Mandalore from being invaded. But now since some Bounty Hunters and Mercenaries decided to assassinate the Emperor of the Imperium the long-lasting peace was slowly diminishing as more and more people stopped supporting the Pacafists ways especially since her sister was captured among those who attempted to assassinate the Emperor.

Her idea of a Pacafists Mandalore was being thrown away and all because of her sister's actions. As she was thinking of how to make peace with the Imperium a soldier ran in with a distressed look.

"Duchess Satine a massive fleet discovered to be an Imperium fleet is above Concordia and blockading the planet," Said the soldier

"An Imperium fleet!!!" Said Duchess Satine since she was surprised that a fleet would be here especially after the Imperium just declared war in the Confederacy.

She quickly ordered a transmission to be sent to the Fleet in hopes of negotiating and preventing a war from happening.

Back on the fleet, John was about to send down his troops to gain control of the planet and take the Dark Saber.

Before he could a transmission had come from Mandalore in which he assumed to be the Duchess.

He answered the transmission and a Holographic image of a Woman appeared who was well dressed.

Duchess Satine had seen pictures of the Emperor of the Imperium as she would occasionally watch the Imperium news to see what new things would be introduced. So when she had seen him appear on the Hologram she was surprised.

"Emperor John may I know why an Imperium fleet is blockading a Mandalorian owned planet," Asked Duchess Satine

"As you may have known an assassination attempt had taken place and your sister was a part of those who survived and was taken as a prisoner. Then we later found out that she was a part of the terrorist organization known as Death Watch and a couple of other members were identified to be a part of that organization as well. And here we tracked the organization to Concordia a moon in Mandalorian space and right next to Mandalore" Said, John

"But blockading a planet in another faction's space while trespassing is uncalled for when you could have tried to negotiate or get permission," Said Duchess Satine

"The moment your sister was found attempting to assassinate me was basically a declaration of war and an insult to the Imperium," Said John

Duchess Satine didn't know what to say because what John said was true a member of her clan attempted to assassinate him and now she was facing the consequences

"That's why I have decided to conquer all Mandolorian planets so such a thing won't happen again and I plan to bring back the old Mondolorian culture and restore their former glory as fearless warriors. Your pacifist ways will only bring about another civil war sooner or later" Said John as he ended the Transmission

He then ordered the troops to launch the invasion of the planet. Thousands of transports could be seen leaving the Hanger of the Ships heading towards the planet.

And since Concordia only had a population of around 400k taking the planet would be relatively easy.

Duchess Satine was preparing an army to defend against the Imperium forces when they invade Mandalore. She also requested assistance from the Republic since Mandalore was in the Republic Senate.

On Coruscant Palpatine was looking at the request for help from the Mandalorians and was about to ignore it since the Mandalorians had always been a problem for the Republic and Duchess Satine was the leader of the Council of Neutral Systems which opposed supporting the War against the Confederacy. But when he found out a fleet by the Imperium was there he thought he could send a fleet to investigate and if the Fleet came under attack he could use that to get the planets who don't support the war on his side since he would use the destruction of the Republic as an excuse.

So a Republic fleet led by a Master Jedi was sent to investigate Mandalore and the Imperium fleet.