I am writing a novel. This takes place between the time after Episode 3 to around the time of Episode 4. If you ever read the Thrawn Trillogy, then you know the role Garm Bel Iblis plays latter in founding the Rebellion. Also some nods to Shadows of the Empire and Rise of Darth Vader. Enjoy. I always like comments and feedback. I linked a few pages sp that you can learn about some people and places.
Ch. 1
Bail Organa sighed. It was only five years after Palpatine declared his Empire out of the remains of the Republic and Bail was disgusted with how different the two were. Palpatine said there would be changes, but he never mentioned the changes of culture.
Sate Pestage’s idea of Human High Culture has become Imperial customary. The very colleagues that had elected and supported Palpatine during his campaigns and elections were either arrested or abused. The key difference between the two was that if you were abused, at least you had a few rights left. It did not matter how important you were, from Ask Aak to Mas Amedda, they were all persecuted. Wilhuff Tarkin’s Tarkin Doctrine was also customary, which basically gave Imperial Governors much more power over the common man, power of fear. The sad thing was that when Tarkin came up with the theory, he was already a high official, and after this he became one of the highest. Grand Moff. He was so cruel that he made a bigger name for himself, landing a cruiser on many innocent, unsuspecting victims, just protesting taxes. Even some Imperials were disgusted.
Bail looked around the hall of the Senate Building. Coruscant or Imperial Center as it has been known as in the years of the Empire. There were hardly any aliens at all. The few Senators left were busily hurrying to the Rotunda. It was, on the first day of the Empire’s birth, destroyed in a fierce battle between Jedi Master Yoda and Emperor Palpatine. But few knew the truths of fight, or for that matter Palpatine.
Palpatine had a dark side to him, a side consumed by the dark side itself. He was actually a Sith Lord named Darth Sidious. Sidious single handedly manipulated a war from both sides. As Sidious he seduced the Jedi Count Dooku to the dark side. Through Dooku, he had a clone army created for the Republic’s use, and caught the attention of many groups and worlds, most notably the Trade Federation and the InterGalactic Banking Clan, and convinced them to leave the Republic. As Palpatine, he gained dictator-like powers, commissioned the Clone Army, and seduced a younger man:
Anakin Skywalker- The Chosen One.
Skywalker was dubbed Darth Vader after killing Mace Windu and Count Dooku and led the march on the Jedi Temple, executing Order 66. Order 66 was the whole reason the Clone Wars were fought at all. It was the Jedi Purge, as it came to be known as in the subsequent years following the war. With the Jedi out of the way, Palpatine could finally control the galaxy, and proclaimed himself Emperor. But there was one thing he did not take in account and that was Bail himself.
Bail noticed the Jedi Temple was aflame before anyone else, or if that was not the case, the first to do something about it. He witnessed the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers kill a young Jedi padawan in front of his eyes. He was also the one to discover Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda and bring them to Coruscant. With that, Yoda had to go into exile, as did Obi-Wan, though he won his battle. Anakin was defeated and burned on Mustafar. But the most important thing about him was that he is currently raising Anakin’s daughter, Leia. Padme, Anakin’s wife, died leaving two twins, one a boy and the other a girl. The boy was sent to Tatooine to live with his aunt and uncle under the watch of Obi-Wan and the girl given to Bail and his wife Breha. Originally he thought Anakin was dead, but soon plans changed.
After a meeting with Palpatine, he and Mon Mothma passed by a cyborg dressed entirely in black named Darth Vader. Somehow or another Vader survived Mustafar. From that day on, Bail feared for Leia. If Vader should feel her through the force…
No, he assured himself a long time ago. Bail would go through great lengths to save his daughter. She is only five, so carefree and innocent. Bail smiled at the thought of his daughter. She is the only reason why he did not do what he and Mon Mothma planned to do.
While Palpatine was Supreme Chancellor, a group of senators concerned about the safeness of the Constitution got together and signed a petition to have Palpatine stop amending it. Many members of that list are either dead or arrested, most notably Fang Zar and Padme Amidala.
When Palpatine became Emperor, Padme instructed Bail and Mon to be pro Empire and support Palpatine. The more they appear to support him, the less suspicious they look in the eyes of the Regional Governors. Mon was not happy at first, for she wanted to start open Rebellion and fight the New Order, but she soon found truth in the late senator’s words.
But even now, the thought of Rebellion has not been purged completely from Bail’s mind. Not even as he entered the Imperial Senate to hear Palpatine’s newest change in the galaxy.
Ch. 2
As Bail started running to his pod, he could start to hear a voice speak among the crowd of Senators.
“As the Grand Vizier, I will make the decisions for the Emperor. Or should I say relay the decisions he decides,” the voice said. Bail recognized the voice almost immediately.
Sate Pestage, Palpatine’s closest advisor, maybe even his only friend. In the beginning of the Empire, he thought of Pestage as his enemy, and now he continued to loathe him. In fact his hate for the Vizier surprised himself. Bail composed himself and entered the Rotunda with Raymus Antillies. He was the captain of Bail’s Corriliean Corvette, the Tantive IV. He had a son, Colton, who would play with young Leia and make her happy.
The Rotunda itself was very large. All around it floated thousands of Senate Pods, each representing a planet. In the center stood Pestage, with a few Imperial Dignitaries standing around him. Ever since Palpatine’s fight with Yoda, Pestage has done nearly all the talking. By now the Rotunda was long since fixed from the duel, with statues of Palpatine all around. At the entrance of every exit stood a Stormtrooper, rifles at ready.
Focusing back on Pestage, he listened intently on his speech. “Furthermore the Emperor has decreed a new law, abolishing the anti-slavery laws. Now all non-human scum may be shown for what they are. The new order is growing strong!” he cried. Many senators cheered, and Bail joined them. As much as he did not like it, he clapped. If he appeared to be supportive, then it would draw attention away from him. He noticed the shock troopers all around, noting reactions.
Garm Bel Iblis also seemed nervous. He looked at Bail as well. He knew what he had to do. Mon Mothma also did not want to cheer. She had lately been quiet in the Senate, especially after seeing what Lord Vader did on Kashyyyk. Bail could tell that she still wanted to fight Palpatine.
“Bail, you know this must be stopped, especially now!” Mon cried once Congress ended. Bail could understand where she was going, but he had to stop her before Palpatine suspected something. He had spies everywhere, and Black Sun was bound to be around, using their spy network.
“Mon, for one, you need to stop this. Black Sun has agents all around us, some of which may be working for Palpatine. As I continually say, this is something that should be said in private. If you want, we can get together later and talk about it. Breha doesn’t expect me back for another week,” Bail calmly told her.
Mon was quiet for a few minutes and then at last spoke. “You know Bail, I think you’re right. Let’s go to my apartment and talk. I think I shall also invite one other person as well.”
“Who?”
“Garm Bel Iblis. He wants to fight too Bail. Plus he has excellent spy contacts. Ever hear of the Bothans?” she asked.
“No. Who are they?” Bail asked curiously. Actually he knew the answer but wanted Mon to have her fun.
“Not who but what. Bothans are 1.5-meter-tall feline humanoids. Bothans are eager to advance their personal power any way that they can. They are politically savvy and many consider them to be underhanded at times. They are also brave, and loyal to those they care about. From their forested home world of Bothawui, Bothans operate an advanced intelligence apparatus, called the Bothan Spynet. Their Spynet is just as good, or even better then Black Sun or even the Emperor’s own spies. Garm has good relationships with them. They might come in handy in the long run, don’t you agree Bail?” Mon asked.
Bail had hung on to her every word. The idea of a powerful spy network intrigued Bail. She was right; they might be useful, if they wanted to join up with us.
“Yes, I do. Garm is very dedicated to Corellia and to peace, and with these Bothans; our luck may have just doubled.”
Mon smiled. Bail knew she was happy she had reeled him in. Perhaps open resistance may work…
But what would happen if Leia got caught up in it? Bail would not take that chance.
Still, Bail admitted, this could be the chance he needed to rid the galaxy of Palpatine. His evil deeds must not go unpunished. In fact, Tarkin and Vader should fall along with him. Tarkin for his general disregard of life and Vader for the massacres of the Jedi and Wookies, not to mention all the men and women he killed for Palpatine.
“Bail…are you going to stare out into space forever or come to the apartment?” Mon asked. Bail turned and faced his companion.
“Yes. Just let me call Antillies. I don’t want him to worry,” Bail said. He pulled out his comlink and entered Raymus’ encrypted signal.
“Antillies, this is Organa. Do you copy?” Bail spoke though the little device. Suddenly a voice was heard.
“Yes sir. What is it?” Bail then explained how he was going to Mon’s apartment, but made sure to not speak about his plans. When the time came, though, he would give him a complete explanation.
Bail turned off the device and started walking to Mon’s place.
“Lord Vader, I have a request for you,” Palpatine told his armored servant. Vader, who was required to wear the armor in order to live. The breathing that came out from it was that of evil. An evil personified by the evilness of the suite. It’s presence enough was one to make even the most hardened of men shiver and cower in fear.
“What is thy bidding my master?” he responded in his deep bass voice. It was actually a synthesized voice. His lungs and vocal chords were scarred on Mustafar.
They were in the throne room of Imperial Palace. Around the room stood numerous statues and relics, ancient Sith treasures. Many of them even dated back to the days of Exar Kun and Darth Bane himself. Many of the statues held lightsaber duplicates, all based on Palpatine’s. In the center stood a revolving throne, where the Emperor sits. He was currently facing tward the shell of a man known as Darth Vader.
He kneeled to him on the hard cold floor of the Imperial Palace. In his throne, the Emperor continued. “I feel it is time to tighten our grip even more. As Commander Laphid reported earlier, many senators were quite stirred by our little announcement…go and visit these names. I want you to interrogate them. I don’t want any deaths. Do you understand my apprentice?” he asked. Darth Vader looked up at him.
“Your will is clear my master,” he claimed. Palpatine grinned.
“Rise my friend. You have much to do. Though before you leave, I wish for you to speak to Governor Tarkin. You will find out how the ‘project’ is going along. The rest you will find out along the way. Let him know who is on the list of senators and see if he has anyone else in mind,” the Emperor finished. Vader stood up and started to leave. He then turned back tward his master.
“Master, what about Garm Bel Iblis? Was he not one of the few who openly opposed you back when you were Chancellor?” Palpatine considered it, and then smiled.
“I have other plans for that one. An assassin or two will deal with him…yes. I have foreseen it,” he prophesized. With that Darth Vader left the Emperor’s quarters, heading to see the Grand Moff Tarkin, head of project “Death Star.”
Ch. 3
Mon’s apartment was breathtaking. All around was Chandrilian artwork and statues. On her walls were portraits of her family, senators for Chandrila from the past. As to be expected from Imperial senators, a holo-painting of Palpatine stood at the center of her room. It was on Bail’s suggestion that she keep it.
Sitting down was Garm. As the Senator of Corellia, he kept a composed look, though his was one of action. He openly opposed Palpatine many times, before and after he became Supreme Chancellor. When he became Emperor, he secretly started a resistance group. Bail was unaware whether he actually finished it or not, but he was also a prominent member of the Delegation of the Two Thousand.
Bail smiled. “Greetings Senator Bel Iblis. It is good to see you again.” Garm nodded and then gave his reply.
“Senator Organa, I also greet you, and you as well Senator Mothma. Thank you for inviting me to your apartment. Now what do two senators wish to discuss with me?” he asked.
“I believe it is time to discuss our course of action about our dear Emperor. He and his Regional Governors have gone too far. Grand Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader especially. It is time we stop saying we will do something and do it! I don’t want it to go to war, but the casualties have risen to a large level. You two are the few Senators I trust the most. What do you wish to do?” Mon asked. The three sat there a number of minutes in silence. Then Bail finally spoke.
“Mon, we need to lie low. I have told you a number of times…” Bail started, but was interrupted.
“Bail, I know you have our best intentions in mind, but do you really think Palpatine will stop this? He has the power to silence even the most insignificant voices. In fact I’m surprised all the names on the Petition of the Two Thousand are not dead or in jail. Fang Zar is a victim of the Emperor’s power! Bail, listen to reason, we must fight! Mon is right, we can’t sit by and watch it go on any longer,” Bel Iblis stated.
Bail had to consider this. He was still afraid to fight for Leia’s sake, but Garm brought up some good points. Bail had to sigh once more, an action he has done a lot these past five years. These times have taken a heavy toll on every one. Everyone, that is, with the exception of the Emperor and his aids.
“I can understand where you both come from, but still we should wait until at the least we have a big enough fighting force. Until then we should wait. When that time comes, then we will fight,” he told his fellow Senators. They exchanged looks.
“Then it is agreed. This meeting will be postponed until further notice. Though Garm, we have another matter which we want to discuss,” Mon asked. Garm, looking surprised, looked at her.
“I’d like to know about the Bothans. You have good relations with them, don’t you?” Mon continued.
Garm raised an eyebrow. “Yes, I do. In fact, one of them had some trouble with the Empire lately,” he said. This got Mon intrigued.
“Really?” she asked. “What happened?”
“His father was killed by the Emperor and his family name dishonored. His name is Koth Melan. Notice he does not have the traditional ‘llya’ attached to his last name. That is one of the biggest shames that can be given to a Bothan,” he started. “He is the head of the Bothan Spynet, a budding spy network, as Mon knows. Yes Mon I know that. I was just in contact with Melan today actually. He was setting up in Coruscant today. This was something I was going to tell you later, but now may be the best time.” Mon looked shocked.
“What has happened?” she asked. Garm had a hardened look on his face as he spoke.
“The Emperor is going to set up surveillance networks in every member of the Delegation of the 2000. This includes you and me. In fact the only person who will not be ‘bugged’ is you Bail. Apparently the Emperor finds you loyal enough.”
Bail considered the options here and came to a conclusion.
“If this is the case, then we shall continue these meetings at my apartment. Cantham House seems to be the only safe place on-world that we can continue. But now with this new predicament, do anything related to this ‘Group’ off-world. Do you both understand?” he looked to Garm. He nodded. Then to Mon he looked. She stared at him, reading his face.
“Mon, you need to trust me. I know more things about Palpatine and Vader then you would ever know. Or, for that matter, want to know. This is a personal battle for me. I have good intentions at my heart. Please Mon. Do it for me, for us, for peace,” he pleaded. Bail figured he may soon reveal to them how prominent a role he played in the last days of the war.
But he will never reveal Leai’s true heritage. Not to Mon, not to anyone.
After a moment of silence, Mon finally nodded. “I agree Bail, but let this be known. Eventually I will fight, and if you both are with me is not a priority. But you two I trust more then anyone else in the galaxy. Bail. Garm. I bid you farewell. I shall see you both in the Senate,” she said, noticing the two men standing up.
“Agreed.”
Ch 4 will be about Vader and Tarkin.