Jedi Insurgency 107

As there was no rest for the wicked, Corvus-upon concluding his solo meeting with Obi-Wan-was immediately back into another meeting. 

This time it was with Clip & Pots so they could discuss the losses, and the state of the world post Imperial invasion. 

Resuming his stay at the Wilhuf estate, Corvus was once again at the big table, and was joined by Admiral Tyg, and all other Jedi save for Kota, as well as the big bad bug. The Jedi Master was still putting out fires, and taking names. Something told Corvus that this man of action would rather 1v9 a group of Darkside Adepts than sit through a boring meeting. Meanwhile, Poggle the Lesser wanted to prove himself, and was in something of a rivalry with Kota. So long as neither one was aiming to kill one another, Corvus wasn't mad at it. Hell, competition between men was a good thing. It encouraged morale, and pushed everyone to get shit done. Lord knew how terrible the war would become if do-nothing, talk-forever Jedi were put in charge of everything! 

Of course, as the key decision maker, these meetings weren't entirely boring to Corvus, but he could see why Palpatine was such a hands off ruler. No one liked meetings, at least no one sane. Fortunately as the de facto boss, he wasn't the type to hold these powwows just to hold them. 

Technically Obi-Wan outranked him, as he was a member of the High Council. But then again, would Corvus even follow the command from anyone else? The Order was fractured as it was, and it wouldn't be very Revan of him if he didn't follow his own heart. 

From what Corvus understood, Obi-Wan in this meeting was acting more as a curious observer, than as an active participant. The man was interested to see how Corvus ran his crew, and he wasn't about to shoo away one of the few remaining pillars of the Jedi Order over something so minor. 

Internally chuckling at his own musings, Corvus tuned in to Pots as the Commander began his report. 

“Gentlemen, brothers.” Pots simply nodded in acknowledgment of everyone present. He then tapped away at a datapad, and figures began to appear on a holoprojector screen floating above the table. 

Raw data flickered above the holotable, and numbers began to slowly trail down, reminiscent of the Star Wars title crawl. 

On the display, it was broken into two sections: Republic/Imperial. With Republic figures/estimates listed in blue, and red for the Imperials. 

LOSSES 

Dead: 

Republic: 29,000,000 out of 2 billion~

Imperial: 54,000,000 out of 1 billion~

Wounded: 

R: 21,000,000

Imp: 56,000,000

Capital Ships: 

R: 141 lost out of 300

Imp: 183 lost out of 500

Minorly Damaged Capital Ships: 

R: 72

Imp: ???

Badly Damaged Capital Ships: 

R: 66

Imp: 78

Starfighters: 

R: 4,520 out of 8,000

Imp: 4,562 out of 15,000

As the information slowly scrolled, images began to flicker, showing off moments of heroism, as well as the bleakest times of despair. Footage showed enemy attack formations, counter attacks, and a map that showed the various positions of the planet, and a timeline that showed which area was occupied by which force when. 

It was a gruesome display, but Corvus drank it all in. Alongside these images, several footnotes had been put in place by Pots, and offered recommendations on how the situation could have been improved or reversed. This information would later be reviewed by lower ranked officers for critique, as well as for distribution, so that the men had a goal to train for later. 

“War against our brothers. We'll need new training doctrines going forward.” Hunter muttered darkly as his eyes scanned the data.

Pots wordlessly nodded. “As you can see, our losses are not light. Of the 12 Legions we deployed, we lost over 400,000 men. The rest of our casualties were sustained by the native militia. The enemy, meanwhile, suffered a similar ratio of clones to enlisted men.”  

Obi-Wan-sitting just a few seats down-grimly stroked his beard. He glanced at Corvus, then cast a curious gaze at the two pupils sitting behind him. It appeared as if Kenobi was going to say something, yet held his tongue. 

Jax had his eyes closed, seemingly in meditation. The aura of the Zilo beast slowly churned around the white haired teen, making the air thick with ancient majesty. 

Yon, meanwhile, was practicing his breathing technique that allowed him to survive in the vacuum of space. 

Both boys were observing the information, yet were doing so through different lenses of the Force. 

“The seed of doubt has been planted in them. They fear what they cannot comprehend.” Jax-eyes still closed-whispered, his voice cut through the expansive meeting room like a vibroblade through paper. 

Yon, not to be out done by his rival, hastily spoke next. “As the Imperials left, their breaths stank of something rotten…of a monster?” His every word subtly vibrated the air, as if space itself was quivering. Yon's brow was scrunched, and he appeared as if the words he spoke weren't exactly of his own doing, but more so that they were born of intuition or instinct. 

“A monster?” Obi-Wan muttered, seemingly to himself. Closing his eyes, the Jedi Master seemed to enter meditation as his mind journeyed elsewhere.  

Corvus looked on in pride as his boys had begun to incorporate his teachings, and in some cases, applied them in ways he had never expected. Deep in thought, he wondered what it would be like if he meditated on his inherent ability to tell truth from lies, invisibility, or to drain the darkness from a foe, and then apply that understanding to a certain situation? Indeed, the youth were always catching up to the older generation. 

As he was amazed by their introspection, and an awkward lull of sorts had ensued, one other participant at the table was less than enthralled. 

“Yes, our Jedi friends are quite mystic. Future portends are all well and good, but the losses to our fleet, I fear, are not so good.” Admiral Tyg rushed to say between short breaths. The overweight officer brought the table back to focus. 

Corvus smiled behind his mask. He couldn't really hate on Tyg. Jedi mystic mumbo jumbo kind of was bantha shit, he'd give him that one. Reviewing the numbers once again, Corvus’ eyebrows rose as he saw how damning the report actually was. 

“Indeed. Between the local garrison and our own forces, we deployed over 300 capital ships to the enemy's 500. A fifth of our fleet is gone.” Captain Clip said in a sullen tone. 

Frowning to himself, Corvus narrowed his eyes at the display. 

“Commander Pots, the factories in the south, and the shipyard in orbit, are they operational?” Corvus asked. 

Pots pulled up some data, and gave a thumbs up. “Orbital shipyard at 87% operating capacity, and the southern factories sustained minimal damage due to the Empire’s swift withdrawal.” 

“I smell where the General is going with this one.” Hunter savagely grinned, flicked his knife, and pointed at the statistic that showed damaged ships. 

Corvus nodded along. 

“You’re right, Hunter. I intend to refit the enemy ships that we prevented from escaping.” 

“When did we do that?” Yon asked in a startled tone, his earlier meditative poise seeming to evaporate as his astonishment was on full display. 

“Master has a handful of interdictors.” Jax spoke up in a level tone. 

Yon's face reddened in embarrassment, but Corvus didn't take the minor exchange to heart. Instead, he glanced at Jax, and saw that his eyes were still closed. Nodding in appreciation for his most astute student, Corvus then took control of the map. 

“With Eriadu’s industrial capacity, manufacturing ships, droids, and other electronics will be critical to our war effort moving forward. That being said, we are in dire need of resources.” 

As he spoke, the display zoomed out, and showed the Galactic South. Several planets were highlighted to be targeted. This was something that he had planned for, for quite some time, yet only now, now that he held Eriadu firmly in his grasp, could these dreams become reality. 

“Malastare provides fuel, one of the five critical components to our operation. Eriadu has skilled labor, factories, and a willing population to aid us in this endeavor. What we are missing is food, and raw materials.” 

Scrolling across the map, two names became readily apparent. 

Sullust & Naboo. 

“Each of these planets is within one to two days of a Class-1 hyperdrive, and hold what we need. Sullust is rich in natural resources, and, like Eriadu, has many capable shipyards. Naboo-” 

“Forgive me for the interruption, Revan, but Naboo imports most of their foodstuffs. Dragging such a serene world into this conflict will do our cause no good.” Obi-Wan cut in. 

Yon frowned, and rose to say something in Corvus’s defense, then looked at Corvus's back, and sat down. The short, black haired teen then stared at Obi-Wan as if a show was about to begin. His breathing rippled, and the breath of Eriadu flowed through him, calming him down, yet also placing a slight pressure on the table, forcing it to groan. 

For Jax's part, the freshly minted Knight's eyes cracked open a sliver, and the invisible heaviness that surrounded him intensified. 

No words were spoken, but the displeasure of ‘Revan's’ disciples was clear. 

Obi-Wan raised an eyebrow, likely interpreting such actions as extreme, yet he did not retract his point, nor did he confront Revan on his students’ breeches of decorum. 

“Most of Naboo is water. The fishing industry has a great potential to feed Eriadu. Furthermore, it is precisely because of Naboo's ties with the Emperor that we must secure it for the Republic.” 

“Sullest I can agree with, but taking the war to Naboo might be too hasty. I see your point, Revan, but to seize Naboo through military means…I fear you shall brand the Jedi as no more barbaric than common thugs. We shall prove Palpatine’s words true, and be no better than the Separatists.” Obi-Wan cautioned, his voice was calm, yet carried with it well meaning advice. 

“Hah, General Kenobi, you really haven't been paying attention to the war, have you? I know you secretly read past reports, tricking the kid to reveal them. But you don't know our General at all, do you?” Hunter smirked, and cleaned his nails with his knife without looking up. 

Obi-Wan rubbed his brow, then looked at Corvus with an imploring expression. 

Corvus grinned. Was this what Anakin felt like on the regular? He had to admit, there were few things more amusing than trolling an exasperated Obi-Wan. 

“Who said anything about taking Naboo militarily?” Corvus said in a playful tone. 

“You cannot be serious.” Obi-Wan deadpanned. “Don't tell me you're going to incite a revolution, or install a puppet. It won't work, you know.” 

“My dear Master Kenobi, do you hold us Jedi Shadows in such low regard?” 

“...” Obi-Wan's unblinking stare, and silence were deafening. 

“How will we do it, Master?” Yon-ever willing to give him 110%-spoke up with childlike glee/wonder, whilst also somehow managing to shoot Obi-Wan a triumphant look. 

“Why my dear apprentice, we shall slay Naboo with the tool that they are weakest to. 

Democracy.”

The members at the table were absolutely silent at this declaration. 

Tyg swirled a glass full of wine, and tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. Pots, meanwhile, was compiling information in the event that they went to war with Naboo, Clip was playing a game of snake on his datapad, and the boys were each silently backing Corvus up. 

“Master isn't going to like this.” Falon swept a hand through his messy blonde hair, and muttered. 

Corvus's lips twitched. Previously, he thought he would be seen as a battle hungry, black sheep to the rest of the Order. Who knew there would be someone who was more of a wild card than him? Kota sure was an…interesting fellow. 

Caleb Dume, meanwhile, who had been silent this entire time, spoke up. His voice was brimming with curiosity. “The Chancellor, uh, Emperor, is very popular on Naboo. How are you going to convince them, Master Revan?” 

Corvus nodded, it seemed the child wasn't completely lost to depression like his canon self. 

Turning to look at Obi-Wan, Corvus ‘winked’ in the Force. 

“Why by having the ‘Savior of Naboo’ work his magic, of course.” The playfulness in Corvus’s voice at that moment, was at a full 10/10. 

“Now you're starting to sound like Anakin.” Obi-Wan drily commented. 

“I'll take that as you agreeing to your role.” Corvus stood from his seat, nodded at Obi-Wan, and ended the meeting. 

“...if it saves lives, I am always prepared to do what is right.” Obi-Wan eventually got out. 

Although he appeared to be very uncomfortable with Corvus's style, he seemed to accept it as the best option available given the circumstances. 

Corvus internally nodded. What he said might sound ridiculous, or even childish, from a certain point of view. However, conquering the galaxy ‘for the Republic’ meant doing things above board. He was cool with invading a lot of places, but Naboo was culturally significant. 

It also just so happened that the beautiful planet was a convenient place to harvest fish, meeting one of Eriadu's primary needs. 

Additionally, they had lost many, many ships in this conflict. Massing giant battlegroups (10 Legions) in one place at the same time wasn't very common. Typically, those ships were responsible for defending entire sectors, and only a handful of ships guarded a planet at a time. When a large fleet like the ones gathered during the Siege of Eriadu were all in one place, it left critical weaknesses open to attack. Either pirates, or other enemy ships could slip in, and wreck havoc on undefended planets. 

With how much damage his fleet had sustained, he would have to be very careful with how he wielded it. Going forward, they would have to go on patrols, reinforce allied positions, and mount offensives. 

In war, the big battles where everyone was present-like the Battle of Coruscant-were flashy, and popular. But in reality, war mostly consisted of skirmishes. Where typically one, maybe two Legions-reinforced by army regulars/auxiliaries-attacked a System or planet at once. 

Now that the Empire, CIS, and his own forces needed to rest & recoup, taking more planets through bloodless means would prove to be more and more important. 

Taking Naboo through democratic methods would send a message to the residents of the galaxy, and prove the merits of their cause. 

Personally, Corvus just wanted to stick it to Palpatine. What better way to stab a finger in the old Prune's eye, than to beat him at his own game? On his home turf no less! 

Grinning to himself as he left the meeting room, Corvus wondered what the old man would do once he discovered that not only did his newest dog fail in his mission, but that his precious homeland had voluntarily sided with the Jedi! 

Ooo, the anticipation was killing him!