The Jedi Council meeting was not held in the usual setting of the Tower, but directly in one of the Temple's hangars. The matter could not be delayed, and the Jedi would depart on their mission straight from here as soon as theyreceived their assignment from the Council. Meanwhile, Grand Master Yoda and the other members of the Council listened attentively to the report of one of the intelligence officers.
"...Honorable Council, a dangerous situation is developing on Dac. According to our information, a coup d'etat is being prepared there."
"Allow this to happen, we cannot ." Yoda twitched his ear. "To Dac you must go, Master Fisto. Cloneswith you, you must take."
"I will leave immediately," the Nautolan replied with a slight smile. "However, combat divers will be required."
Shaak Ti nodded in agreement. As far as she knew, Dac was an aquatic world, with only a few reefs rising above the surface of the endless ocean. According to the document the Togrutawas reviewing on her datapad, two races inhabited Dac: the Mon Calamari and the Quarren.
The former were a peaceful people who, without the help of the Republic, had colonized their homeworld and begun to settle other systems—Ruisto, Mantane, and Hinakuu—more than four thousand years ago. It was then that themathematician Q-Viza created the first cavitation hyperdrive which, while generally slower than the standard Corellian model, allowed Mon Calamari ships to travel among the stars. These possessions even then roughly marked the territory of what was now known as Mon Calamari Space.
However, the Quarren, who specialized in mineral extraction on the ocean floor, did not share the enthusiasm of their planetary neighbors. Instead of also pursuing space exploration, they unexpectedly discovered a talent for designingorbital docks. Metal-rich asteroids, broken up by Quarren miners in vacuum suits, became the raw material for constructing zero-gravity shipyards and drydocks, which soon encircled the blue sphere of the planet. Fearing they would be left behind, they nevertheless founded colonies on several uninhabited worlds within Mon Calamari Space, including Minntooin, Buchich, and Pammatt.
For centuries, the Mon Calamari and Quarren interacted only with those species whose planetslay near their own. But around four thousand years ago, Republic scouts advancing through a cleared corridor of hyperspace—later incorporated into the Perlemian Trade Route toward the Ring—made contact with Mon Calamari ships near the planet Rusto.
Despite this historic first encounter, relationsbetween the two races only began to develop a century later. Only the most astute traders of the Ring perceived the potential of the planetary shipyards, which were on the verge of rivalling the best examples of the Core Worlds.
In recent decades, Mon Calamari Space had gained representation in the Senate as an allied territory. However, the Quarren—the planet's second major species—had no suchrepresentation. More warlike by nature, they likely leaned toward an alliance with the CIS, which promised to fill their shipyards with orders for thousands of warships.
"Now let us move on to the next issue." Master Windu switched the projector, revealing anothersection of the map. "A request for assistance has come from Jedi Master Daakman Barrek. He has encountered an enemy we have not seen before—someone named Grievous. Count Dooku appointed him Commander-in-Chief of the Droid Army, apparently for good reason. We must stop this threat. Although the initial task was to destroythe planetary factory producing battle droids, we believe there is more to it than that. Therefore, two Masters will be sent there at once."
"Master Ti, Master Ki-Adi-Mundi—you will go to the planet Hypori. Sha'a Gi, Tarr Seirr, and Aayla Secura will join you en route."
Shaak Ti set down her datapad.
"Master Ki-Adi, when will our ships be ready?"
"In a few hours."
The war is gaining momentum, and there is no end in sight to this carnage.
"What news from Jabiim?" Evan Piell asked.
"Unfortunately, there is still no communicationwith the planet," replied Plo Koon.
***
Mitth'raw'nuruodo stretched, his head nearly touching the low ceiling of the hut. It had never been built for someone like him; in fact, he was the only member of his species on this planet. The locals were dark-skinned and short, whereas a Chiss—with tall stature, blue skin, coal- or blue-black hair, and fiery red eyes that glowed in the dark—stood out unmistakably. Physically powerful, they prided themselves on their colddiscipline…
He smiled wearily. Memories of the past often returned to him unbidden…
Mitth'raw'nuruodo had once served for many years in the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force, where he displayed his formidable abilities. He became the youngest commander in the history of the Expansionary Forces, taking command of the Second Guard Unit based on Crustai, near the borders of the Chiss Ascendancy. During hisservice there, he became convinced that the long-standing threat posed by the Vagaari required more decisive action than those prescribed by the rules of combat established by the Defense Hierarchy. Ultimately, he paid the price for that conviction.
One day, Mitth'raw'nuruodo intervened in askirmish between two alien ships. After destroying one of them, the Chiss boarded the second—the Bargain Hunter—and arrested its crew: Captain Dubrak Qennto, his partner and co-pilot Maris Ferasi, and navigator Jorj Car'das.
For several months thereafter, the threeCorellians lived aboard his flagship, the Springhawk, occupying a peculiar status somewhere between prisoners of war, strategic hostages, and participants in an involuntary cultural exchange. Mitth'raw'nuruodo studied the aliens, , fully aware that despite the policy of isolation, albeit involuntary, the Chiss would inevitably encounter the inhabitants of the wider galaxy someday. And they had to be prepared.