User blog:Bane7670/Short Fiction Series: Underlying Faith

Like a strong breeze over a dying flame, the Jedi Order was being extinguished. And they never saw it coming. Even under their noses, the Sith were allowed to accumulate power without opposition. Worlds were occupied by the soon-to-be Imperial Army, the entire economic system was under the soon-to-be Emperor's control, and a space station was under construction that was soon to be the most effective enforcer the galaxy had ever seen. And the only ones who ever dared to question Palpatine's actions were Amidala and her loyalist committee. That would be dealt with as well in time.

At the moment, there was a much greater detail to attend to.

The clone known as "Gree" acknowledged his command and signed off. Palpatine grinned slightly. Even then, the concept that the Jedi suspected virtually nothing amused him. The clone who had discovered the biochips within the Grand Army had been executed, Lord Tyranus had covered his tracks with Sifo-Dyas, and at long last, Anakin Skywalker had been turned away from the Jedi Order and embraced the Dark Side of the Force. Explosions were already echoing outside from the Temple. Everything Palpatine had planned was falling into place.

Even if several of the Jedi deployed across the galaxy escaped Order 66, it would make little difference. Public belief of their uprising would be fueled by three years of questionable judgement an growing distrust for the Senate. Little help, if any, would come to the survivors. One by one, they would fall as well. Darth Vader would willingly hunt them down and not hesitate to execute them without mercy. Swiftly and steadily, their fire would go out of the galaxy.

Palpatine keyed the next Clone officer's communicator code. After another few moments, the clone appeared, helmet removed, unlike most of them, but still with the same amount of undying loyalty in their eyes. Good.

"Commander Blake," the Emperor spoke. "The time has come. Execute Order Sixty-six."

(To be continued)