Chapter 3
The Covert Operations Department (COD) was unique in the
republic arm forces.
Its predecessor, Jedi intelligence service was formed well
before the clone wars. Since the first week of the Clone war, the intelligence
service has been dramatically expanded.
Unlike the so called Republic intelligence service which was
actually the intelligence service of the republic government as a whole, the
COD was strictly a military / Jedi affair. The chancellor does not have direct
access. Only Jedi and top ranking generals fighting the war has access.
Information gathered here was filtered before passing onto the Republic or the
army’s own Clone intelligence.
Under the commander of the department chief, the department
was organized into three wings:
Information was
the one closely working with Clone intelligences and other Republic services.
It process and analyst data gathers from all sources in aid for its operations
wing also the clone army.
Operation is the field
operation front of the department. Usually operate in small task groups raised
and custom pick for each mission. The operatives will strike out against CIS,
especially targeting their military support services rather than their
operational armies.
Research was the
carried over of Jedi special workshop. The workshop was once nothing more than
a gathering of like mind Jedi keen on making new technology inventions. The
republic valued the advice from this workshop on equipment requirement,
testing and design, made them the republic's once de facto vehicle safety consulting
board. It has now transformed into top secret military research department for
the Jedi and the clone army.
Commanders for this department were mainly Jedi and Jedi
masters. Its first department chief was Master Windu. He had no choice but to
surrender his position as the war heated up. He was needed in the front. The
next and current chief was Master Geleensarik, the former chief of Research, a jedi of Arkanian origin. She
was known for her ability in the field of science just as Master Toorani,
though her specialty was the field of genetics rather than mechanics. She was
put in charge to enhance the clones soon after the first battle of the clone
wars. All the clones assigned to the COD, were enhanced by Geleensarik one way
or another, and therefore made them more unique than standard clones in almost
every way.
The current head of Operation is Master Toorani, he was also
the chief advisor in weapons research. The current chief for Information is Mr
Zor, a Chiss. Characterized by his bluish skin and glowing blood red eye balls,
he was personally appointed to the post by Mace Windu. He was a mystery to the
Jedi circle until his appointment. So far, Mr Zor has been performing his duty
with remarkable efficiency and success. He also built an excellent working
relationship with various republic intelligent departments.
***
Master Toorani and Master Geleensarik along with Mr Zor were
sitting in front of a holographic projection round table, when Zyjin walked in
to reported to him there after he got Torrani’s call.
The room was dim and the air was tense. Zyjin stopped and
stood a step in front of the door.
‘Please. Come in and sit down.’ Toorani ordered. ‘From this
moment on, you are part of the inner circle.’
‘I… I am honored.’ Zyjin sat down next to Toorani. The room
was lack of room lights, the only brightest light source was the holo
projector. Then, the red slits of Mr Zor’s eyes was pretty disturbing in the
dark at the other end of the table.
‘Let’s get down to business, shall we.’ Toorani continued.
His punched a couple of keys on the control and a message and a set coordinates
was displayed. ‘This is what Zyjin have brought back from his visit to the
beacon. We can assume the coordinates are the next rally point of some sort for
a shipment of droids. The only words in this message were: Droids, Trap?
Toorani paused, so his audience can see for themselves. ‘Any
thoughts?’
‘Obviously this is a trap. Are you going to spring it head
on? Master Toorani.’ Mr Zor commented.
‘We don’t have to go. But it is obvious, there may be
benefit in the success of this operation. If I am not mistaken, Master Kenobi’s
troops has engaged the separatists in the nearby sector. These reinforcements
intended to make Kenobi’s enemies. ’ Toorani calmly explain.
‘We are a convert operations task force, not a fleet or a
division. If this is a trap, what await us would be a fleet of CIS cruisers. We
need the clone army on our backup, but Master Windu has informed me, the clones
are stretched thin, even we have enough clones, there aren’t enough destroyers
to fill them a fleet either.’ Master Geleensarik finally spoken.
‘So we let this one go and let the CIS reinforcements to
attack Kenobi?’ Toorani was the one still decided on an attack.
‘We don’t have the fire power.’ Geleensarik objects.
‘We can still fly recon for Kenobi.’ Zyjin added in before
Mr Zor could open his mouth.
‘Kid, are you going to take on the CIS cruisers all by
yourself?’ Mr Zor reacted to the possibility. ‘I bet even Skywalker would have
second thoughts on such dare.’
‘He is not that crazy, yet! We can warn the crazy duo Kenobi
and Skywalker on what they would be expecting and lend a helping hand if
possible.’ Toorani agree to Zyjin’s suggestion.
‘I hope you have enough practices taking on fully activated
droids, young apprentice!’ Geleensarik knew Toorani will not stop unless he
gets his way once he made up his mind. ‘I will grand you the green light for a
small team recon operation. Men power limit is two dozen commandos. No more
than six ships.’
‘Is my Dark Sunshine ready?’ Toorani ask Geleensarik.
‘The cloaking prototype? Mr Zor raised his eyebrows, his
reddish glow enlarged, making them look more menacing in the dark.
Zyjin was surprised, his master did not reveal to him the
existence of the ship until now.
Toorani punched a key, the hologram of the cloaking vessel
was on display. It was ugly. It has a dome shaped forward resemble the TIE
fighters to be used by the future empire. A body connect to three circular
shaped wings with sphere shaped panels perpendicularly placed at the edge
similar to what the TIE fighters would have, then a tail section with a dozen
long tentacles extending well back, shielding the ion engines in the center
line. Over all it resembled an Earth Octopuses.
‘That is one of the ugliest starship to come across my eyes
for a long time.’ It was Mr Zor’s first impression the design. So does Zyjin.
‘It has the ability to mimic a ship three times its size. It
would also cloak, but the catch was, it will not be able to move with the sub
light engines under cloak. Meaning it would have to move with the momentum of
inertia once at cloak.’ Toorani filled in the details.
‘Interesting, maybe I will come along this time. Can I go?’
Mr Zor turn towards Geleensarik, his red eyes caught by her sight.
‘You know as well as I do, your importance in your post…’
Geleensarik was cutted off by Zor.
‘In that case, I am requesting a vacation. Even droids can
take an oil bath, I had to take some leave after working nonstop for three
months.’
‘… All right! Master Toorani, keep him out of trouble and
bring him back in one piece along with yourself and your apprentice plus my
clones.’
‘Roger! Roger!’ Toorani acknowledged by mimicking CIS battle
droids half heartily.
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