The Brush Fire Wars (Book 2)

[Akirapryde]

Enter The Puppet Master
Somewhere Within the Deep Core

Deep within the Deep Core Sector on the out fringe of a nebula sat an unremarkable Star Cruiser. The power levels aboard the ship were very low as it slowly drifted from one shadow to another to avoid detection. Through the darkened corridors led the way in to a large room filled with buzzing systems and monitors. Sitting on a second floor level over seeing everything going on below is an equally unremarkable man behind a desk. Leaning back in his chair, he watched carefully over the wide range of beings that worked for him. Each completely devoted to their tasks while working at their controls. The Master Control Room or MCR as it had become known as, was where all the magic takes place. It had been like this for hundreds of years since the First Puppet Master took up the Great Crusade to rid the Galaxy of Force Users.

As he looked around at the dozens of monitors showing agents across the galaxy working his plans, he remembered the very first day he stepped foot in to this room. He had been working for the previous Puppet Master for some time without even knowing. He was told that he was chosen to carry on the Crusade because he showed a true understanding of the Crusade. Personally he never liked the name Puppet Master. But it was the name that the Jedi had assigned to them just about ninety years ago. The nick name had stuck and now he was stuck with it. Reaching out with his hand he drifted from one monitor to another as he waved his hand. Each screen reacted to his hand motions and switched from its current location and illuminate upon his desk. He smiled as he ran through the different operations and operatives that answered to him.

He switched to the screen that he desired and spoke plainly, “Report” he said softly as the man's image showed up over his desk. The entire Galaxy could be his and and he wouldn't care. This was not about power over others but to ensure their safety. It was not that he hated the Republic or even any race in general. It was the Force Users in general that he despised completely. No one should have the power of the Gods and be free to use them as they wish. Force Users wielded such great power and they used this power to their own ends. It was a fact that he both respected and feared at the same time. But none had earned his fear and hatred as the Jedi as a whole. They were not some loss band of under developed force users on some back water world that could be eradicated and no one would miss them. Here is an entire organization that sole reason for existing was to further the goals and means of Force Users as a whole. They educated and trained new generations of Force Users.

It was leading up to the Great Hyperspace Wars when it was decided that something had to be done to curb the efforts of the Jedi. Many within the Crusade had thought that the War between the Sith and the Jedi would end in both being destroyed. No they could not have been more work. It was what made him the best choice for Puppet Master now. It was his love for numbers, probabilities and mathematics that made him special within the Crusade. With his plans in action and under his leadership the Crusade has never enjoyed such success in the field. Already the Jedi were slowly being pushed to the edge of oblivion and never before had they been so close.

“Yes My Lord! As you have wished we dispatched Rose and her forces to Sump. Then as per your orders, our agents leaked her mission details to Master Drease and Master Chun. Unfortunately they were able to prevent Rose and her forces from completing her mission. Sadly My Lord, Rose did survived the confrontation with the Hunters. However she was able to dispatch Master Vrei during the encounter along with nine other Jedi Hunters that had escorted Master Drease and Master Chun. We lost nineteen of our Stalkers in the exchange as well. Our agents assure us that Rose is unaware that her mission was leaked to Jedi Hunters. With the death of Master Vrei and the other Jedi Hunters, we are considering this operation a partial success. Hopefully the next exchange will see the deaths of both Master Chun and Rose.” The man explained softly then fell silent as he waited for further commands.

He smiled as he listened to the report. He loved numbers and how they reacted in the real galaxy. Life as everyone knew it could be reduced to simple numbers and probabilities. He knew the probabilities of recruiting Rose and Orchid in to the ranks of the Crusade. But the benefit that they brought were more then worth the risks that they came with. End he could easily keep them at a safe distance to protect the Crusade. Up until recently the two had played their parts perfectively for him. However it was only a matter of time before the two would attempt to turn on their handlers. Orchid was easier to control without Rose's influencing her actions. So it was a logical move to ensure that her path would cross with Master Chun and fuel the conflict. The hatred the two shared for each other was unmatched and removing them would ensure that Orchid would be easier to control and remove Master Drease from the Jedi. Once more it was all about the numbers.

He leaned forward in his chair, “I am pleased with the report. You are correct, it is a partial success. Inform your agents that I am pleased with the mission. However, lets give Rose some time to lick her wounds. I want her to escort our mission on Oh'Toblis. She is to protect the mission and ensure that it does not fail. Inform her that I will not stand for further failures within our ranks. She has that new apprentice, Koth Ak'ra. Execute him and deliver his head to her with this message. Next time she fails me, it will be Orchids head.” He explained with a stern look on his face. He knew that her love for Orchid was a powerful tool and that Rose was not as attached to her new apprentice. The move was calculate to ensure that the message would be taken and feared. Then he checked the clock on his desk. “That will be all” he said then cut the link before the man could acknowledge the orders. He knew that the orders would be followed to the letter. It was one thing the Crusade looked for and that was undying loyalty.

He had something more important to watch. Orchid had come upon some truly remarkable information that even defied his own estimations and predictions. Had her agent not caught wind of the Jedi's plan when he did, than it would have proven to be very difficult for the Crusade to complete its plans for the Jedi Civil War. Tra Vae was normally a very dependable person to follow but this rash change in behavior was something that had thought possible from Tra Vae. Now in true Puppet Master fashion, he was going to take Tra Vae's own selfless actions and deliver something upon the Jedi that would have taken the Crusade years to achieve, if not decades.

An expansion of the war would ensure more Jedi and Force Users would die and would allow his forces to conduct even more assassinations. Before they had to be very careful not to attract attention from the Jedi. Sometime they would have to follow a Jedi for months or even years before they could carry out an assassination. Now thanks to the help that Rose and Orchid brought and with the war that now raged between factions, they could carry out assassinations more freely. In the past three months they were able to assassinate more Jedi and Force Users then they had been able to in the past three years. With an expansion of the war meant that the deaths of Forces Users would expand a hundred fold.

He brought up the monitors of the Senate building on Coruscant and set them up on his desk. Each showed different levels and operatives throughout the building. He smiled as he watched Master Bevurn'Age and six Stalkers set up their ambush in one of the lower hanger levels of the Senate building. Because there was too much at stake for anything to be risked, he sent his own personal Stalkers to assist in the assassination. He watched with a smile as the Elite Senate Guards were silently and efficiently dispatched by his Stalkers. There was not even a sound from the Guards as his Stalkers ran their blades deep in to the two Guards' throats at the same time. The creation of the Stalkers were done so to ensure that they would be the best soldiers in the galaxy. His personal Stalkers were the best Stalkers ever created and trained by the Crusade.

Moving to another monitor he saw the Avenue of the Core Founders and the growing crowd of protesters attempting to walk on the Senate. They were protesting the Republics involvement in the Jedi Civil War. There were those in support of it and others opposed to the idea. He smiled as he saw the large number of Senate Guard out to ensure that the peaceful protest would remain that way. Had Orchid not contacted them about Tra Vae's plan, the Crusade would have not taken interest in protests. However they needed to make sure that things would get slightly out of hand for the Senate Guards outside. This would ensure that more units would be tied down for what was to come. Then he activated another monitor and saw the next minor crisis growing out of control for the Senate Guard.

It was only a simple scheduling error within the Senate's computers that ensured two rival Senators and their groups would share the same time in the Atrium of the Senate. Watching the situation becoming more and more tense as the two disputing factions squad off with each other. It didn't help that a rumor was leaked that the Senate would be voting on their issue today. He didn't need to leak which way the Senate would vote because he knew their own fears would carry them the rest of the way. He knew that more security officers would be called in from the lower levels to ensure that this crisis was kept under control. Once more, it was the most probable to ensure the outcome that the peace should be disturbed. The more security officers in and around the Atrium of the Senate meant the less forces to respond to the assassination once it was discovered. Only a fool would consider that a plan like this would happen without being discovered. The Puppet Master was by no means a fool. And in fact he was counting on it being discovered.

Moving to the screen that watched the security station that was over seeing the lower hanger levels. He smiled as he watched two of the three being called up to the Atrium of the Senate. Things were becoming a hand full for the Senate Guard Force. A light flickered on another screen and he nodded to it. He knew that Tra Vae's shuttle was approaching and it was time for Bevurn'Age to do what she does best. Moving back to the security station and right on cue, he watched a lowly Senator's aid walk up. She was cute in her little red dress and with a pleasing soft smile. It was her night life that landed her in this role tonight. She was just one more level of a larger plan and all she had to do was draw the Guards attention for just a moment. He watched silently as she drew out the guard from his office asking for his help with directions.

Moving back to the lower hanger he watched as Tra Vae's shuttle landed and his group start to make their departure from it. He nodded at Tra Vae's predictability and knew that the shuttle would be departing right after they departed the shuttle. Watching Tra Vae's and the four Jedi Hunters escorting him walking forward, he saw the shuttle make its departure. It was then as Tra Vae and his group reach the ambush point he saw Bevurn'Age step out from behind a craft. Tra Vae waved for his Hunters to hold their ground as they took up positions around Tra Vae. The Puppet Master had thought for a moment of the probabilities that the Jedi had suspected the trap. The Stalkers were well hidden and had the Hunters completely flanked. Even if the trap had been detected the assassination could still be pulled off. It would have just been allot harder. This was the only moment in his plan that he was actually concerned about. That moment just before the trap is sprung. Dealing with Jedi and traps were so very hard. Luckily for the Crusade they had had thousands of years of practice at ambushing Jedi. Then as Tra Vae walked forward with his hand held out in friendship, he knew that those within the trap were unsuspecting. His plan would work.

Across the galaxy on Asgard a young Marine Lieutenant step out on to stage at a dare. She picked up her mic as a friend slid a blindfold over her eyes. The band behind her started to play the song that she just put together only moments ago. The eyes of hundreds were on her as she felt something move through her being. Later she would discount it as the drinks she had earlier, but for that moment she felt a guiding hand over her heart. She opened her mouth and sang like she never song before. Her tears rolled down across her face as her song filled the air. Everyone cheered as she sung and no one suspected that their lives would all change in the morning.

Tra Vae walked forward and smiled to Bevurn'Age with his hand out. Bevurn'Age walked forward as well with her hand out as if to greet an old friend. Tra Vae made it almost there to her before he noticed something wrong about her. Was it the darker color around her eyes or the look in her eyes that only closer inspection could have noticed? He was not sure what it was, but he started to pull back his hand trying to understand what was wrong. It was simply too late, the trap was sprung. The flash of the lightsaber signaled the two snippers to fire. In a flash of Master Bevurn'Age's attack on Tra Vae, two of the feared Jedi Hunters dropped headless to the ground. There was nothing short of confusion within that split second. Later others will see what really happened. Two perfectively aimed shots landed small red flashing things on the necks of the two Jedi just before they exploded. Master Bevurn'Age would attack Tra Vae with her off hand in a remarkable aimed attack on his out stretched hand. Tra Vae let out a scream as his hand was removed just below the elbow from Bevurn'Age's attack.

Four Stalkers dropped from the rafters above the Hunters forcing them to leave Tra Vae to Bevurn'Age. The snippers continued their attacks on the Hunters ensuring that they would not have a chance to gain the offensive. Tra Vae moved back and drew out his own lightsaber in his off hand. Bevurn'Age pushed her attack with perturbation as she switched her lightsaber to her right hand. Her attacks were complete and focused on hitting Master Tra Vae at all costs. Fighting with his off hand and badly wounded, Tra Vae was forced to focus his efforts on defense in hopes that help would come soon. The combat was now joined and for these vital moments, the elite Senate Guard Forces were completely unaware of what was happening right under their noses.

He leaned back in his chair and smiled as he knew his plan had worked out perfectly. “Its all in the numbers” he said pleased with what he was watching. Sure those that could see beyond what the security monitors were recording would be able to see the truth. This match was not for them. It was for the masses that the Senate answered to, and they would only see what they wanted to see. A rebel Jedi Master assassinating the Grand Master of the Jedi Order. He knew that the Senate was good for one thing and only one thing, acting on what the people demanded of them. To further that the people would demand war, a pair of well disguised fighters would launch an attack on the Jedi Temple on Coruscant just as this attack was taking place. He knew that the attack would do little real damage to the Temple or those protected within its walls. The attack and assassination would be seen by billions and their voices would drowned out the voices of those that knew the truth. These little acts within this play would hail the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of more Jedi and Force Users.

Tra Vae had his attacker by many years of experiences and a much higher levels of adventuring. Sadly for Tra Vae though, the corrupt life he choose which had brought him to the position of Grand Master came with a great price. He had to learn vital skills of a politician and a diplomat. This took critical time from him to master the use of the Force and lightsaber combat. This simple fact had become a travesty of his life. The skills he needed to have to have this honor position at this point in his life, ensured that he would not be prepared for this moment when he needed it the most. His attacker however had youth, strength, focused skills within the force and more importantly she was every skilled in lightsaber combat. The last edge she held over him was something that never dawned on him. She hated him! It was this hatred that was clearly shown within her attacks against him.

The Hunters held out longer then he had expected during their battle for survival. However they did put up a very good show in their deaths. The Puppet Master was pleased in how they died and knew it would only go to further the play that he had put on for the Republic. His own Stalkers did a wonderful job in showing up the Jedi and made sure that their legendary invincibility was dispelled once and for all. A few levels above, the young little Senator's aid spotted the life and death struggle on the security monitors from over the shoulder of the now flirting guard. She let out a scream and alerted the security officer to the crisis. The forth act to the Puppet Master's play was just now starting to unfold.

The guard jumped in to action as he started to give out commands and called in forces to the lower hanger. Sirens started to blare alerting everyone on the level to the attack as the voice of the Guard in the station gave out commands telling everyone where to go. The Senate Guards would be swarming the hanger in a matter of moments and save Master Tra' Vae's life. The plan would be foiled by the highly skilled swam of Senate Guards. Master Bevurn'Age and her forces would be engaged in combat with overwhelming numbers of Senate Guards. The plan would come crashing down around them as Tra' Vae would surely be rescued and his life would be spared. Master Bevurn'Age and her six Stalkers would be hard pressed to just merely escape the counter attack of the Senate Guard Force.

That would have been the out come if they were not twenty levels up dealing with distractions or that the ten other Guards that remained on this level had not already been killed. The distraction of the guard in the security office allowed their deaths to go unnoticed till this very moment. The Puppet Master smiled as the closest Guards attempted to rush from their distant locations. What would have been the follow up forces were now forced to become the first responders to this crisis. To the Puppet Master delight, the Senate Guards all just realized the plot and knew all too well that it was too late for the Grand Master of the Jedi Order.

Master Bevurn'Age easily dodged Tra Vae's counter attack as she gracefully slipped under his swing and then spun around. Turning her back towards his side as she once more switched hands with her lightsaber. She used a backhand thrusting motion as she drove her blade in to his chest. She held it there for just a moment, then without warning she spun back around as he fell forward. Before he could fall far she reached out and grabbed his headtails with her free hand. Pulling him back up so he could see out of the Hanger Level, she held him on his knees as she brought her lightsaber blade up to the back of his neck. She looked up with a great sense of pleasure on her face. There was grief and sorrow in his eyes. He was mortally wounded but not yet dead. She knew it, as she smiled. She pushed her lightsaber blade through his headtails and then the back of his neck. Holding his head up she let his body and headtails fall to the ground. She made sure that his last sight was of the Jedi Temple with small plums of smoke rising up from it. She opened her hand and let the lifeless head fall to the floor hanger. Drawing on the force she drew up his lightsaber from where it had fallen when she mortally wounded him.

An Antarian shuttle landed as the attackers made their hasty retreat towards it. The Senate Guard Forces started to fan out as they just arrived on the scene with blasters firing. The Stalkers returned fire with deadly accuracy as Master Bevurn'Age gave great extended cover with her two lightsabers. The first Guards on the scene were cut down without scoring any hits on the attackers. Master Bevurn'Age held her ground just before the shuttle so that she could cover her troops while they boarded the shuttle. Then just before she boarded the shuttle she spoke out in prefect mimicry, “This is our war! Stay out of it!” she ordered before the security monitors and the Guards. On that note she boarded her shuttle and it departed long before any defending air units could respond.

The Puppet Master leaned back in his chair and smiled as he turned off the monitors. He pulled his hands together so that his fingers would meet in the middle. His eyes narrowed a bit as his gaze drifted over his fingers and then down at the MCR below his level. The echoes of hundreds of voices and sounds filled the air as more operations and operatives conducted the wishes of the Puppet Master. He just smiled with the satisfaction of his work.