Star Wars: Darth Nyx (Book 1)

Ch27: Massacre at Mandalore

Bail Organa's POV:

The entirety of the Imperial Senate has been gathered on Coruscant. No one seems to know why. As we take our seats in our pods, the Emperor arrives in the centre of the hall.

Palpatine: Senators of the Empire. We are faced with a great threat!

Even without him mentioning it, I know exactly what he's referring to. After all, these same people had rescued my beloved Leia and returned her to me while asking for nothing in return. Had they asked my wife and I to cede the planet to them, we might very well have but no. They didn't even come to greet us. They merely dropped our daughter off and left and haven't returned since.

Leia has gotten to calling their Empress, Aunty. She seems rather fond of the lady which is surprising given how Obi-Wan described her and how she ruthlessly wiped the rebel base off the face of Yavin IV. However, after listening to the many tales Leia has told us over the years and the reports coming in from the frontlines, I think I can understand why she did it. 

Palpatine: A new force threatens to undo all that we have built! They've seized our planets! They have killed our people! They have even dared to challenge our Empire by attacking us here, even on Coruscant where we thought ourselves safe!

The other senators, like the puppets they are, begin riling up one another in a state of panic. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if I signed up to be an actor.

Palpatine: I say, NO MORE! Today we shall crush their pitiful hegemon! Today we will reclaim our territory! Today, we will end the final threat to our existence! Mark my words, all who oppose us will die...

I get the feeling that the last part was aimed at me. I wonder if they've figured out we'd been supporting the Rebel Alliance. No, if they had I'd be dead already...unless they realise my position is still too secure. Yes, that must be it. Many senators, puppets or not, would rise up should I be executed without immense proof. That's the powerbase I'd built for myself amongst my colleagues. Still, I need to be even more careful going forward. He might still use this chaos to mask his actions against us-

Palpatine: [Grand Admiral Teshik. Is your fleet in position?]

Teshik: [Yes, Emperor. All ships are in position and awaiting your command.]

My eyes widen as I realise what's about to happen via the hologram giving us a live feed of the events. A massive Imperial Fleet is stationed above and around the planet of Mandalore. It's a complete blockade and even to my civilian eye I can tell they're lined up to commence orbital bombardment.

Palpatine: [Then fire.]

Empress Nyx's POV:

We've received word from Cad Bane that the Imperials plan on finishing what they'd started on the planet of Mandalore before moving in to wipe us off the map. Deciding against waiting, I decide to deploy the clones. They're still "technically" short a year to reach maximum development as per Kaminoan doctrine but I believe the real battle experience will prove equally as effective in completing their training.

Our forces rush to board my capital ship and the many Venators above Dromund Kaas. Fighters take off from the planet in droves, boarding all the waiting vessels in orbit. Mandalorian warriors from all clans on Dromund Kaas also volunteer for the army, electing to go and defend their homeworld and potentially reclaim it as part of our Empire. To that end they flood the Acclamators, filling them to the brim with troops and supplies.

In seemingly no time at all, the entire fleet makes the jump to Yavin IV. On our arrival, Avril informs me that Fennec Shand and Aurra Sing have both managed to breach the senate building and have taken positions to take out the Emperor on my command.