"It would appear the Sith have declared war on the counsel."
All eyes in the room turned to face Master Skywalker. All things considered, this was probably more eyes than Luke was used to having on him. Every Jedi they'd been able to locate and no small number of associates had been summoned to Coruscant for an emergency meeting. The entire counsel was present, as were those students who'd escaped the attack on the academy. A number of Jedi knights had arrived from all corners of the galaxy, the current emergency outweighing their normal duties.
Relegated to the back walls were the non-Jedi, the members of Radiance, Eclipse, Phoenix, rogue, and Black Sheep squadrons who had been dragged into the midst of this growing Sith-Jedi conflict.
There were some notable absences however. Jedi Knight Wyonne Niedar and Master Jendrix remained missing. Ruben St. Clair and Atim Kai were in the infirmary recovering from injuries inflicted by the Sith in their attack on the Jedi academy. Also absent was Jedi Master Phobos, unreachable while off on a private mission of her own.
"It would seem that all the recent events are related, the disappearance of prominent Jedi and the attack on the Jedi academy, constituting an organized campaign aimed at hurting or destroying our efforts to restore the Jedi knights to the galaxy. Furthermore, this plot seems to be orchestrated our old advisory Clarice. Any thoughts on how she was able to put such a force of Dark side adepts together so quickly?"
Towards the back of the room, Jedi master Spencer Vespers stood up and addressed the room. Spencer was a trim, severe looking oriental man, former commanding officer of Eclipse Squadron before discovering his force potential.
"There seem to be a number of sources Master Luke. Our recent defeat of several Sith Lords, Queen Amidala, the Malary'ush, and the Emperor's clone among them has left many of their former minions at large. Also, we received reports over the last year or so from several of our new students that they were approached by mysterious individuals before we discovered their force talents. We dismissed this at the time but it seems now to represent a pattern of recruitment in the outer rim by Clarice's agents."
Jedi Knight Trunks Darkwood, an imposing black human man known for his impulsiveness chimed in.
"Maybe some of those clones from the Imperial palace survived or maybe there was another batch." Everyone in the room looked worried at that possibility, none more so then the young Jedi Knight Mace Windu. When the Jedi and their allies had descended on the Imperial Palace to destroy the cloned Emperor, they had discovered a small army of cloned Jedi standing in their way, including some of them. Most had been destroyed but a few, such as the cloned Mace Windu had been embraced into the fold.
The room buzzed quietly as the assembled heroes discussed the possibilities presented by their fellows. There seemed to be a general air of scepticism surrounding these possibilities. They just didn't account for the sudden onslaught. A handful of evil Jedi might have slipped through the cracks but the counsel had been diligent in tying up loose ends. Just as it seemed that this objection would be given voice, a door at the back of the hall was pushed suddenly open and a cloaked figure strode into the room.
Pushing back the hood of the blue-grey robe she wore, Jedi Master Phobos surveyed the crowded briefing room. She could see the face of almost everyone she had ever fought beside. That was good, because with the news she bore, every hand would be needed. Master Luke looked her way and a smile creased his aging face. That smile faded at the severe look on Phobos' own.
"Master Phobos, we are thrilled you were able to join us. I trust you were able to resolve your personal matters." Phobos nodded before responding.
"Master Skywalker and my assembled friends, I am afraid I have some rather unpleasant news. My journey was not, strictly speaking, a personal matter." A surprised murmur played through the crowd.
"I travelled to my home world of Vollarhia. I realize I am a bit of a mystery, being the only Vollarhan any of you have ever met. There is a reason for this, one which I have never discussed with anyone, even Master Skywalker." Sensing that some grave secret was about to be divulged, the assembled warriors grew suddenly silent, many leaning unconsciously toward Phobos.
"I am the only active member of my race. While several hundred thousand yet live, they do so in stasis on our hidden home world. While this seems strange one must realize that every one of my people is at least as powerful in the force as I. Many years ago, during the Jedi purges of Palpatine's rule, we realized that the Empire would soon come for us. By placing ourselves in stasis we were able to hide our nature from Darth Vader and his killers." Phobos paused and Trunks chimed in.
"Well, why aren't you in stasis then?"
"We are a highly advanced people and our technology is almost self-sustaining but someone had to remain awake in case of catastrophe and to determine when to awaken my people. I was chosen."
"I see. Then why are you here with us, rather than on your own world?" Master Wabook, the accomplished Ewok Jedi asked with a puzzled expression.
"Since it was necessary to conceal ourselves from the Empire, we could not maintain holo-links and the like and we had to rely on other, more oblique methods of remaining informed about galactic happenings. Over time, these routes dried up and I was left blind and ignorant of what was happening in the broader galaxy. Without information it was impossible to know when to awaken my people so I was forced to leave our home world. Once I departed, I became embroiled in the Rebellion and the rest is history."
