That moment found General Grievous standing alone in a dark room, his hands clasped firmly behind his back, his mind deep in thought. As they always did, his thoughts had returned to the galaxy, the war, and above all else, the Jedi. Just thinking about all the filthy Jedi scum that had been granted a reprieve from death because of his absence infuriated Grievous. The knowledge that they had probably pushed his armies back in the meantime only made the situation more insufferable. Idiot ponies that thought themselves soldiers pestering him was just adding a dash of humiliation to the witch’s brew of shame and anger.
For a moment, Grievous felt a series of distant tremors rising up from the earth beneath the castle, rattling the chandelier above his head. He kept his balance easily, and a few seconds later the sensation subsided. The cyborg waited to see if there would be any aftershocks – when there were none in evidence, he dismissed the occurrence as a mere minor earthquake.
That was a mistake.
From the balcony of their palace in the city of Canterlot, Princesses Celestia and Luna peered out through their enchanted telescope at a scene of horror. Many miles to the north of Equestria’s capital had been a small but peaceful woodland by the rather uncreative name of Sunny Glens. It was not especially well-known or near civilization, and certainly no Everfree, but it had supported an abundant variety of flora and fauna within its borders.
Now all the princesses could see was a pit several miles wide charred deep into the ground, from which smoke poured freely. Trees that had stood since the time of Nightmare Moon’s banishment and thousands of animal lives alike had been extinguished in an instant. Both sisters felt their ears folding back at such an awesome display of raw firepower.
“So you see,” said the small hologram of this Admiral Tarkin. “I am quite serious when I say your choices are turning over our enemy or facing destruction on his behalf. If you do not agree to the Republic’s demands at once, the next area targeted will be populated.”
The clone trooper holding the miniature holoprojector hadn’t given the sisters his name, and for that matter hadn’t said a word. The two would have found it quite unnerving had their fears not been turned in an entirely different direction. Save for options that would completely destroy the planet itself, they had no comparable weaponry their arsenal. What’s more, they had no way of targeting spacecraft they could not see in orbit above their planet.
“So,” the human continued. “Will you turn over General Grievous, or will you sacrifice your own people to try and protect him?”
Celestia and Luna looked at one another. Nothing needed to be said between them. They both knew what the only answer to that could be.
“Grievous is yours.”
Onboard the Liberator, Admiral Tarkin was feeling quite pleased with himself as he shut down the transmition. His approach had worked again. It always did. From the time in his youth when he had rid the Seswenna sector of pirates to the present day, force, judiciously deployed so as to cause maximum fear, had always been the most reliable way of inciting obedience. A man – or in this case a pair of alien princesses – that would not hesitate to sacrifice himself for a cause would balk at the idea of his friends and family and nation being annihilated alongside him. It was a pity most Jedi refused to understand that simple reality.
Including, he reflected irritably at the sound of rapidly-approaching footsteps, General Obi Wan Kenobi.
“Admiral Tarkin!” barked the brown-haired man as he entered the Star Destroyer’s bridge.
Tarkin turned to face him. “Yes, General Kenobi?”
The annoyingly moralistic Jedi Master had abandoned the negotiations to return to orbit as quickly as possible the moment Tarkin had issued his ultimatum. As was almost always the case with Jedi, he had the notion in his head that ridiculous ideas of honorable behavior mattered more than swift and efficient victory. The very reason peacekeepers should not be leading a galactic war effort.
“On my authority as High General in the Grand Army of the Republic, you are hereby relived of your command!”
“Oh really?” Tarkin raised an eyebrow. “On what charges?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Kenobi demanded. “Insubordination and terrorism.”
“My mission, given to me by no less an authority than Supreme Chancellor Palpatine himself, is to secure to the capture of General Grievous at all costs. As his authority overrules yours, I can hardly be guilty of insubordination,” Tarkin countered. “And as to the terrorism charge, the Galactic Republic defines such as intentional destruction of civilian targets for the purposes of inciting fear and compelling legal or political change. I destroyed no civilian targets, merely an area of wilderness. The recordings will prove that, if you care to examine them.”
“You leave out that you threatened to attack civilian targets with orbital bombardment!”
Tarkin smirked. “General Kenobi, it seems your Jedi senses do not allow you to detect a bluff when you hear one. There is no law against that, so far as I am aware.”
Kenobi scowled deeply. “That is a ridiculous defense of your actions!”
“Is it? I think I can make it stick in the courts,” the two men stared each other down. “Would you like to find out?”
The Republic’s judicial system, like most else those days, had been swept up in the prevailing political climate. The preservation of the Republic itself came before any abstract ideas of justice. Further, the officers running the military tribunals were very unlikely to convict one of their own for merely strong-arming some primitive aliens out in the Unknown Regions. Not a few would outright applaud the idea, and condemn a Jedi for letting civilians that weren’t Republic get in the way of an important mission.
And both men knew it.
“Further,” Tarkin seized the conversation’s initiative. “There is a Separatist fleet of considerable size that has just translated back from hyperspace on the system’s edge. It will be here within minutes. Are you going to dismiss your most combat-ready commander on the edge of a battle?”
“I am more than capable of commanding the battle on my own, Admiral Tarkin.”
“Is that so?” Tarkin cleared his throat. “While I do not doubt your competence to lead us to victory over these traitors, you would do well to remember that our primary objective is the seizure of General Grievous. Our fleet is not large enough to entirely block the Separatists from the planet. It is quite possible that a small craft could… slip by us in the clash and whisk our target away. Then he would be free to resume his campaigns against the Republic… and your Jedi Order. Is that what you desire?”
Obi Wan’s frustrated stare said everything his mouth didn’t.
“And while it would certainly be possible to dispatch clone troopers to secure the general from the aliens while you commanded the battle in space, I am certain that you are aware that it would likely be quite a bloody matter for them. He is not likely to come quietly, as I am sure that you also know.”
Tarkin paused a moment to allow his logic to firmly sink in to the Jedi Master’s brain. The look on his face told the admiral that he was succeeding.
“Unless of course,” Tarkin smirked. “Their Jedi General was to accompany them to take Grievous into captivity.”
Obi Wan glared daggers at Tarkin for some time before abruptly turning away.
“There will be a reckoning for your actions once this mission is completed, Admiral Tarkin,” said Kenobi as he strode from the bridge. “We are not through with this.”
Tarkin smiled again. “We shall see, General Kenobi.”
Welp. Things are about to get very... confrontational.
the story getting great soo far
WP Tarkin
oh boy.
Time to see the truth of Admiral Tarkin soon >:D
and now, we get to see what I loved most in the clone wars animated series........
GENERAL GRIEVOUS KICKING KENOBI'S ASS!!
I like how Tarkin is written. It's believable that he does very well for himself during the war, and becomes who we see in the movie.
I'm still not sure what the sisters even gave up to him, though. Are they really going to lead Grievous into an ambush? All they have to do is "fail" to trick him and suddenly he flees; it's not like they wouldn't have deniability, since he seems pretty perceptive. If they're just going to step aside and let the Republic go after him... that wasn't much of a concession given the Republic's superior military position.
I really should have seen that coming. Hopefully Equestria will join the CIS because of this.
...Tarkin = BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.
Seeing Tarkin's actions here reminded me of the same man who blew up Alderaan for the evulz.
Well done. I'd like to see Equestria remaining neutral though.
Tarkin is awesome. You write his character wonderfully. This is the kind of ruthlessness that drew the Emperor's attention to him in the first place, securing his rise in authority in the new Sith Empire.
Excellent chapter good sir, despite the short length.
Great story im looking toward to more!
And also great job on updating regularly.
Fucking Tarkin....
I've been waiting for this update since your last one a day or two ago! I log on about once every three hours to see if you have completed another chapter! This story just keeps getting better and better!
He shot at the planet. Has he no comprehension that he's dealing with a race of incredibly powerful sorcerers?
5554050 What the space butterfly said.
I SO want that Admiral dead
5554105
Well, since he DOES get blown up with the first Death Star...
Fuck you, Tarkin, you sack of worm shit! I want Grievous to cut you to strips!
5554092 You mean those sorcerers that can't see what could just orbitally annihilate them in seconds? Wow, he must be shaking in his boots.
I rewatched Star Wars after reading this chapter. I had the biggest smile on my face when the Death Star exploded. Like, a Pinkie Pie level grin. The thought of that bastard dying in flames while his "invincible" pride and joy super weapon explodes around him just makes me giddy.
That's how much this story has made me hate Tarkin. Very well done.
5554345 Forced cooperation has a tendency to not stay that way. He might not be now, but, well, I've no doubt that at some point the Separatists are going to find Equestria's planet. And when they do, Equestria probably won't mind standing with them. Which would end badly in the long run.
I admit it might be stupid to assume that Admiral Tarken would care. But I can't see Darth Sidious not using ponies if he could get away with it. I'm thinking thinking long-term here. Shooting the planet was a mistake.
5554320 Tarkin is love, Tarkin is life
Yes more grievous kill all that apose him oh sorry got a little dark there hahahah
5554535
There's a Separatist fleet in the system right now, heading for the planet. So it's more like they've already found them.
Also you don't think Darth Sidious could use them if they wound up joining the other Sith-controlled puppet state? That's the beauty of the Clone Wars: heads the Empire enslaves you, tails the Empire enslaves you anyway.
Well that escalated quickly
Wow never knew Tarkin was such an ass. either the author made Tarkin like this for the story or i really need to re-read the books.
while i like how the story is going when are we going to get back to general grievous
5554589 The issue with that is that one side would most likely end with them going to war whilst the other would not...
But yeah, Palpatine had some serious webspinning going on, so I guess it doesn't really matter. I just foresee ponies being of more use to the Separatists.
Isn't it good this,
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131029024417/starwars/images/3/39/TarkinProscecutor.png
Was in the middle of this?
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130311000241/starwars/images/8/89/Exds.png
Ah Tarkin, thank you for reminding us all of the true asshole you are. You know, the absolute Dick who couldn't give two fucks about blowing up an entire planet. Bravo.
Hmm, Luna might be the one to lure Grevious into the trap, and since they both show some sort of respect to each over... I don't think this trap will turn out well, or Luna might become a bit sad, I dunno, just a few random thoughts flying through my brain.
5555408
Count Dooku : "I have an army!"
Celestia : "We have a Twilight."
img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140512153249/mlp/images/thumb/b/b2/Twilight_shoots_a_colorful_magic_beam_S4E26.png/640px-Twilight_shoots_a_colorful_magic_beam_S4E26.png
(Source)
(Sorry, couldn't resist.)
And this my little ponies is why War is a horrible thing and why politics is not much better, both allow monsters like that with clear mental issues gain positions of power high up the chain of command.
Ah the Old Republic...you got a political system that is second only in suckiness to the Imperium of Man's, good job.
More pls
Tarkin is wrong. The animals in the forests of Equestria, as shown in MLP, are somewhat sentient.
He just murdered thousands of semi sentient creatures.
5554589
And even the Force didn't warn the Jedi of Dath Sidius.
static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Tarkin_5cc8ed_2862688.jpg
5554007
No, not for the evulz. There’s a world of difference between destroying a planet for shits and giggles and destroying a planet to serve as an example. It’s a matter of intent. (Not that any of that makes him any less of a reprehensible being, but you are making a category error.)
These seemingly identical acts of terrorism are only viable tactics when used for very different strategic aims. The former is demoralising in a way that cannot be adequately encompassed in words — you’ve essentially got someone holding the sword of Damocles over everything and despite the fact that he cannot be bargained or reasoned with simply because of the sheer stakes lots of people will try anyway and bow out of the conflict… until the writing is on the wall and any assistance they could’ve given is no longer relevant. This strategy isn’t viable for anyone intending occupation as their end‐game as it’s only useful if you intend to (eventually) annihilate all opposition. The latter is a tyrant, sure, but one that can be bargained with — assuming he largely sticks to his word you’ll see people bending over backwards to assist him, selling out dissidents in order to appease their master.
5555834
I’d argue that they’re actually sapient since they seem to understand abstract things like concepts. Low functioning, hopelessly primitive sapients, but past the post nonetheless.
Tarkin is a douchebag
5555694 Just demoralise her then shoot her. She's oddly easy to demoralise XD
I had a feeling that something bad was gonna happen when TARKIN of all people joined the mission, though I will admit, i didn't see that one in particular coming. I expected him to be an ass, but I didn't think he would cross Kenobi.
Out of curiosity though, will we ever get to know what Celestia and Luna would have chosen? Or are we never gonna find out?
5555850 Well, it sorta did, it just didn't say who he was, what he would do, or even what role he played in the war or otherwise. The Jedi had their suspicions for a while, they just had no leads other then Dooku, and he wasn't exactly about to spill the beans.
Well, Tarkin has just ensured that the Princesses who move stars around suddenly have reason to help the Seperatist fleet when it arrives. Of course, he doesn't know that, but nonetheless...
5554744 This is the guy that blew up Alderaan... HE BLEW UP ALDERAAN! AS A DEMONSTRATION
The only thing Tarkin is good at is killing Dracula, making monsters from dead things, and attacking planets from space.
Tarkin you... fucking... idiot.
It doesn't fucking matter if you didn't destroy civilian targets, terrorism is terrorism! Just because you burn down someones backyard, it doesn't matter if the house was damaged or not, it's still. Fucking. INSANE!
Not only was your stupid how of force completely unnecessary, but retro-productive: now the princesses, including Celestia, who was on your side, now have no reason to trust the Republic! I bet Luna is glaring at her sister, barely holding back the urge to say "I told you so."
And because of that, their more in their right mind to join the Separatists! You may have seen magic, Tarkin, but you haven't seen their magic!
You just gave the separatists a powerful ally, and the Republic a powerful enemy.
Fucking. Moron!
Well, glad to know that at least the Republic has at least one competent military leader. You show 'em how it's done, Tarkin boy!
5554427 I have been rewatching all the Star Wars recently and that is always a very happy moment. Tarkin is lower than the scum at the bottom of a Degobah swamp pit, not even a Wampa would eat him, maybe the scarlac would.
I completely agree. I think he did that JUST to be a giant dick. Or to see something explode...take your pick.
Wow, really nailed Tarkin in this chapter. Is it all right I want murder him in ways Grievous would like look on at and nod in approval?