Author's Note:

I imagine people will have better things to do on Saturday, so here's chapter seven a little early, and Merry Christmas!

#

There was a quiet solace about Coruscant as the 501st descended on military dockyards. The Chancellor was calling for a meeting with the Five Marshals, and word spread fast among the Senate. Calling the highest generals together meant only one thing: total war was drawing near.

Jesse offered the Jedi a ride back to the temple, as it was on their way to the Senate Office Building, when to his surprise, Anakin requested a ride to his apartment instead. "Forgot you don't live, sleep, and breathe the temple atmosphere," Jesse remarked as he led the way to their transport.

"Not my cup of tea," Anakin replied. "Besides, I need to see my family after what happened on Naboo."

"Understood, sir."

The pair had nearly reached the transport when Anakin turned back to his former padawan. "You're welcome to stay with us for a while, Ahsoka. Might be a good time to get off your feet." He looked at her with worried eyes, as if she was his responsibility all over again.

"I'd appreciate that very much," Ahsoka replied, when her eyes darted away from him. "But I need to speak with Lux first."

Anakin smiled, and nodded his head to her. "I understand. Maybe Jesse could still give you a lift," he said, and tiled his gaze to the general.

The ARC trooper appeared a grand, solitary warrior aboard his gunship, yet his heart was like that of roses. "It would be my pleasure," he answered.

Ahsoka agreed, and the three of them flew in silence to the first stop on their short trip, Anakin's apartment. A private landing pad on the terrace allowed them easy access, and the last thing Ahsoka saw was Anakin rushing off the ship to embrace his family, when the gunship door abruptly shut, and she felt her weight shift as they ascended through the clouds.

Jesse then turned to her. "Where would you like to go?" he asked, his voice calm, like a chauffeur who delighted in helping those he cared about.

Ahsoka checked her holofeed, expecting Lux would have messaged her a location, when her eyes grew in surprise. "The spaceport."

"Sure thing," Jesse replied, without even mentioning the spaceport was several klicks out of the way.

Ahsoka knew why Lux had picked the location long before they landed, and once the gunship set down, she groaned inwardly at the conversation she was about to face. Once out on the platform, she thanked Jesse for the ride, and he promptly saluted her before the gunship doors closed again. Ahsoka watched his ship disappear among the hordes of soaring speeders, when a voice from behind caused her heart to skip a beat. No flutters were in her stomach, however, as she knew what was coming. She turned slowly to gaze upon the heartfelt eyes of her husband, a shallow frown present on her face. "I think I know why you picked here to meet."

Lux scratched the side of his neck. "They need me back on Onderon."

"Of course," Ahsoka sighed, almost laughing at the irony of their situation. "Never can get two minutes together, can we?"

Lux shrugged, trying to replace his weakened heart with the image of a smile. "It seems life hasn't always been kind to us, but we'll survive."

"We always do."

Lux tried to keep his smile going, but it faded as turmoil filled his mind. "Ahsoka, things aren't looking good. Idealistic factions are vying for control of the people, and it could be the beginnings of a civil war."

"I've never understood your people's deviant spirit," Ahsoka remarked.

"Ever since Sanjay Rash, they've been weary of political figures. With the death of King Dendup, the people are returning to their old ways. Bad harvests have led to food rationing, and illnesses are spreading fast. Riots have even broken out in the capital."

Ahsoka sighed. "Well, at least you have a good reason for returning," she admitted, and crossed her arms.

"Yes," Lux admitted, when his gaze fell to the ground for a moment, only to return to his wife with a hint of rejuvenation. "You know, you could come with me."

Ahsoka shook her head. "I'd love nothing more, but you saw what happened on Naboo. I'm needed here with the Jedi now."

"I understand," Lux nodded. "Well, would my wife at least enjoy a meal with me before I catch the next shuttle home?" He extended his hand to her as if offering a dance.

"I would like that very much," Ahsoka answered, a smile growing on her face as she took his hand. They then had what passed for a quiet meal in the overpopulated, obnoxiously loud environment of Coruscant's spaceport.

#

It was a quiet room the Chancellor had picked for his meeting. Isolated, secluded from the outside world, the metallic chamber was soundproof and without windows, ensuring no one would disturb him in the most dire of hours. He rested a hand on the platinum table before him, tapping his fingers against its surface as he waited for the others to arrive. Within a minute of him becoming agitated, the door to the room pinged, and he pressed a button on the table before him, allowing the door to slide up and reveal those on the other side. Two generals, Jesse and Wolffe, stood before him. "Glad you finally arrived," Noramu greeted the men, his teeth clenched as he tried to hide the fact his impatience had led to his own irritation. "Have a seat," he instructed, gesturing to the chairs before him. He watched the generals silently nod before sitting across from him. Once the men had taken their seats, Noramu pressed a dial at the center of the table, which hummed for a series of seconds before projecting hues of blue light from its core. The displays of three more appeared between Jesse and Wolffe, holograms of the remaining generals that could not attend in person. "Welcome, one and all," Noramu flashed a grin their way. Before him sat the Five Marshals, the only clones to reach the highest rank offered by the army. Between Jesse and Wolffe were the images of Cody, Bacara, and Gree. "Let us get down to the matter at hand," Noramu announced, clasping his hands together as he leaned forward in his seat. "The Yuuzhan Vong. Tell me about them."

Jesse looked to Cody, waiting for the senior veteran to speak, only for him to maintain silence, and so Jesse began. "They're warriors like I've never seen, sir, all of them dedicated to conquest, and they've proved to be very good at it."

"Indeed," Noramu admitted. "An entire region of the Outer Rim has been lost, and I fear it will only get worse before it gets better." He then extended a hand to the general as a gesture for him to continue.

"Their troops can match ours easily, as much as it pains me to say. I lost nearly half my legion while fighting on Utapau and Naboo."

"This is very concerning," Noramu said, his tone soft, when he tilted his head at the general. "You said they have thousands of ships? Any dimensions you wish to relay?"

"Their ships match ours in size, mostly. I've yet to encounter their larger warships, but their destroyers are three quarters the size of a Venator."

"Anything else they may have?"

"We saw massive worldships exit hyperspace as we retreated from Utapau. The Vanquisher's scopes show as much."

"I would very much like to see this footage, as well as any other footage you have," Noramu said. "The Senate will take convincing. They always do."

"Understood, sir," Jesse nodded.

It was then Cody spoke up. "How large were these worldships?"

Jesse shrugged. "Not sure, but it made our Venators look like starfighters by comparison."

"That could be a problem," Cody replied before looking at the Chancellor. "Our navy is not equipped to handle thousands of ships, let alone these mysterious worldships."

Noramu gave a grim nod as he thought on the matter. "At present you are correct, General. That is why we need the Senate to activate our reserves." He then looked to the others. "I would like to hear from the rest of you."

Gree was the first to speak. "From everything I've heard, we need those reserves. My men are tired from the Trandosha Campaign as is. I doubt they're eager to rush into another war, especially an unwinnable one."

Wolffe nodded his head in agreement. "We've got half a million active soldiers. We need millions more to even the odds."

Noramu smiled at the unanimous agreement, when his eyes suddenly locked onto Bacara. "You've been rather silent, General. What are your thoughts on the matter?"

Bacara simply shrugged. "I'll do whatever's asked. Just give me the order, and quit wasting my time." He was the only one to make Noramu laugh.

"Very well, General Bacara." He then looked to the rest of them. "I believe we are in agreement then. With Jesse's footage, the Senate will surely vote in our favor."

"I hope so," Jesse abruptly added. "For all our sake."

#

Noramu tightened his Chancellor robes a smidge as his podium rose into the Senate Chamber. He had always felt the outfit was far too loose for his liking, but on his list of priorities, a refit seemed rather unimportant. Noramu felt the lights of a thousand bulbs shine down on him while his podium came into position at the center of the grand chamber, which had been rebuilt since the Clone Wars, where available senators had managed to convene on such short notice. He knew the subject matter was too important to let sit, and despite the headache many would give him for not having all delegations present, he knew the policies of an emergency assembly were on his side. Cameras panned down to him, and suddenly the show was on. He outstretched his arms to those before him, several hundred senators in all, and announced that the gathering would begin.

"Senators, I know in these dreary times, there is much work to be done on your home worlds, but I ask that you lend your ears so I may plead my case to you," he spoke, his words vibrant with emotion. Politicians were always the best of actors, though perhaps this was the one time Noramu felt there was no need to fake passion. "You've no doubt heard the silencing of worlds far beyond the comforts of our own. From Utapau to Tatooine, a scourge upon the galaxy is rising." He pressed a button on the control panel of his podium, and footage taken from Jesse's helmet displayed the ferocious form of a creature to the senators. Its appearance was enough to make the hair on many stand up. "The Yuuzhan Vong, extragalactic invaders of unknown origin, have arrived on the shores of our galaxy with the intent of conquest. They seek only destruction, without qualm or care to the lives they ruin." He could see the horror in the eyes of many, and smiled inwardly that their attention had been caught. "The Republic has always stood against tyranny, but it cannot do so without the support of its vast armies. Since the military cuts of 7 AV, we have had less than half a million souls protecting our interests. They will not be enough to repel this substantial force, which comes with thousands of ships, many greater than the largest of our own." His eyes scanned the room, knowing powerful words would not be enough to save them. "It is with this knowledge that I put forth a motion to activate our reserves, to funnel forth the millions needed to ensure prosperity for the Republic, and for the galaxy at large."

It was then the deliberation began. First it was mentioned how unprofessional the session appeared because of so many senators being unavailable, and then it was the issue of abrupt timing. Noramu knew the law well, and knew he was well within his rights on everything in the session. The senators knew it too, but the clencher finally arrived with the question of costs.

"Where will the funding for this activation come from? We're talking about millions of fresh soldiers that require pay, food, shelter, and so on. Then there is the question of ship production. Kuat Drive Yards will run our treasury dry on fresh vessels, and then there is the question of time. How long will it take for more fleets to be created?" asked a senator from Alderaan.

The Chancellor nodded to the man's questioning, a faint grin on his face, though not even he knew if it was from cockiness or sheer frustration. "I have already spoken with the heads of KDY. Venators are completed within a few months, and Corellia's Santhe Shipyards can build up to forty simultaneously." He then pulled up another display, which showed hundreds of ships in an underground facility. "Even without fresh ships, the Republic has hundreds of decommissioned vessels. All they require is clearance, and our navy will more than double its size." He then displayed a different image, this one from another of Corellia's shipyards. "Then there are the experimental classes, ships the late Chancellor Palpatine was in the process of creating at the end of the Clone Wars." He looked to the Alderaan senator directly, as if his next response was meant only for him. "As for the funding, we've been sitting on wealth the past few years. After all, we control the banks. When those finances run low, we'll simply increase taxation. So much as a single percent will equate to quintillions in extra funding." He then looked to the rest of the room, his arms raised as if he were praising some distant deity. "Shipyards from Corellia, Fondor, Ord Mantell, and even Anaxes can churn out three hundred warships in just under three months. With these ships, we will have more than enough to bottleneck the enemy and prevent their ravenous rampage across our galaxy."

It appeared many of the senators were in agreement, yet others were still doubting. Many continued to believe it was too soon for a decision to be made, especially with so many absent, but Noramu knew better, and he was out of time. With the final flip of a switch, he projected images of Utapau, Ryloth, and Naboo during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Each showed fire, the charring of corpses, and the horrible shapes of Vong soldiers in the flesh. Gasps were audible, and Noramu once again threw up his arms.

"If there must be debate, then there shall be debate, but on another day," he proclaimed. "You've seen for yourselves what these monsters can do, and so I must ask, why do we still sit here deliberating? Can a decision not be made about the safety of trillions?" He looked to the cameras, knowing they had just put his horrifying images on display to the whole Republic. "Will the assertation of what is true not lead to a quick resolution?" Finally, he looked out on those before him. "Let us make a decision here and now, so that more lives may not be forced to suffer." There were scoffs, followed by the departure of several senators who refused to be pressured by his urgency. Then, the vote was put forth on whether to activate the military or postpone the debate. Noramu watched the votes come through on his end, his brows furrowing in frustration.

#

The wind always blew on Coruscant, like the tides of a sea that batted gently against the coastline. Obi-Wan felt every hair on his beard become unfurled by the current, his robes waving in the open Coruscant air as he stood atop the Great Walk, an observation walkway that stretched out for nearly a mile, and overlooked Galactic Plaza, an open surface of metal that appeared to have no end. In his hand was a silver pendant, an object he had once thought so obscure that he nearly tossed it into the open air. Yet, now more than ever, it seemed to hold significance. It was given to him decades ago by the very woman who would come to die in his arms. It seemed only fitting then because of his darkest thoughts, ones that dared to paint death as romantic. It was always there, always lingering in the shadows of a person's life, but only in war did it come to loom over their head, like a storm cloud that could not be shaken. Obi-Wan clung tightly to the pendant, as if it could give him some special power when applied to his heart, only for his daydreaming to be interrupted by the arrival of Mace Windu.

"Still holding onto that?" Windu asked, coming to stand by the master's side as they looked out on Galactic Plaza.

"It would seem I am," Obi-Wan replied. "War just reminds me of it all."

"It's a grim reality to face," Windu concurred. "But death comes for us all. Best not to dwell on it."

"Quite the orator you are," Obi-Wan replied, flashing a sarcastic smile in the man's direction, when he saw Anakin approaching off to Windu's right.

The famed Jedi extended his arms, as if to embrace the men in a tight hug. "Am I late?" he asked.

"Technically," Obi-Wan replied, "yes, but the Chancellor has yet to arrive, so no."

"Perfect," Anakin smiled, and came to stand on Obi-Wan's left. "That gives us time to enjoy the view."

Windu rolled his eyes at the thought. "And what a view it is." His ears were suddenly pierced by the faint, yet noticeable sound of marching. However, when he looked out on the plaza, there was nothing to place the sound with. Instead of finding the source, he simply stood there beside the other Jedi, arms crossed as he tried to figure out what he was hearing. It was only when the voice of another came from behind that his focus changed.

Noramu approached the Jedi with generals Jesse and Wolffe in tow. "I appreciate you meeting me here, Master Jedi," he greeted the men, with the generals coming to stand at his flanks. "I find myself needing the company of those without political careers."

Windu frowned. "We watched the session."

Noramu sighed. "Indeed. I had hoped it would go better."

Anakin cocked his head. "What're you all so down about? I thought the vote passed."

"It did," Noramu admitted, "but barely. Senators even walked out on the session, the first in many years. I fear there will be more sessions of discussion, such as the constitutionality of such a meeting, as well as deliberations with the Banking Clan, and so on."

Anakin simply shrugged. "I don't see the problem."

"Good," Noramu found himself laughing. "If you don't have a problem fighting a war, that is."

"We've done it before," Anakin said, though his voice appeared grim. "We'll do it again if we have to."

Noramu silently nodded his head, and it was then the others realized the sound of footsteps had grown louder. What once appeared like far off steps was now a sea of beats, pounding away to the roar of engines. Vibrations erupted beneath them, and the group looked out on Galactic Plaza to find thousands of clones from the 104th marching out from under the Grand Walk. Following behind the 104th came the 501st, and the legions quickly filled the plaza with their numbers. Yet the sound of marching did not end with them, and the group watched as scores of soldiers came from the left of the plaza, all adorned in pristine white armor, and to the right came even more. The roaring of engines drew near, and the group felt strong winds rush past them as an Acclamator soared overhead. In the distance, warships of all kinds could be seen rising up from Coruscant's deepdocks, from Acclamators to Arquitens to Venators. The fleets that had been locked away were finally unveiled after nearly a decade of silence.

"What a sight," Noramu said, his smile growing. As the group stood looking out on the army, he waved a finger for General Jesse to draw near, and informed him of the 501st's new organization. "You've proved yourself a great leader, General, and you must be allowed to lead so much more than one measly legion." He then informed the general of his new position within the 53rd Aster Corps, which would consist of the 501st, 503rd, 678th, 809th legions. He took Jesse's silence to mean the man was awestruck, and fell silent himself as he looked out on the thousands of marching troops.

It was on that day the Grand Army woke from its slumber. The Jedi looked on with mixed emotions as they saw hundreds of warships lift into the sky, with hundreds more standing by in orbit above, and hundreds beyond that in the stars afar. Battles may have been waged prior, but in that moment the war took on a whole new meaning. There were no more excuses now, no more reasons to give the enemy another planet. The six men standing there knew this war would be like no other, and it would not end until one side was smothered into dust.