Anabeth: New Beginnings

Chapter 1: A Visitor From Mandalore

Ana was hurrying through the Senate building, trying to keep up with Organa's staff and the Reporters that were swarming them. The press usually wasn't allowed in this part of the building, but the Senate had made an exception today due to the important nature of their previous meeting with the Sepratists.

Ana sighed as she continued to trail the Chancellor at some distance while blending into the crowd. Getting in control of the situation and clearing a path for them would have been an easy feat for her, but Bail had specifically asked her to blend in and let his security detail handle it. With the amount of people she was now bumping into and getting pushed she couldn't say she enjoyed it very much though.

It had been almost a month since the revelation that Palpatine had been a Sith Lord. And while the events since then were certainly positive developments, it had been stressful for everyone who was even remotely involved in the situation.

The Sepratists had reached out and were ready to negotiate. The Senate had accepted the peace offering and Organa had signed a ceasefire with the Confederacy. Since then, both sides had been working tirelessly on establishing communications.

After Organa had insisted on a neutral Jedi presence in their meetings and the Sepratists had reluctantly agreed, Windu had given Ana the task of joining. She had to admit, the first few meetings had proven difficult due to the Confederacy's skepticism. One could hardly blame them after years of hostilities, so Ana had worked extra hard to convince them of her good intentions and impartiality.

And her efforts had quickly payed off. After multiple successful mediations on her part, as well as her putting the Republic representatives in their places a few times, the Confederacy was beginning to warm up to her.

During their meeting yesterday, they had all finally agreed to let Ana look for a neutral planet to hold their first in person meeting on. After she had sent a request to the Council of Neutral Systems to aid them in their negotiations, Satine herself had volunteered Mandalore.

After Ahsoka's troops had left the planet, Bo had been quick to announce to the Mandalorian people that Satine was alive and well on Coruscant. Her rightful reinstatement as Duchess had been immediate and the people of Mandalore have been asking for her to return home ever since.

Satine had stepped back into her role with enthusiasm. She had made Bo her head of security and pardoned any death watch associates that were willing to once again swear loyalty to her. Most had taken the deal.

Rebuilding efforts on the planet were in full swing under the watchful eye of the newly elected Prime Minister, Alrich Wren. Ana hadn't yet spoken to him personally, but from what Satine had told her, he was a gentle soul with only the best interest of the people in mind.

Mandalore was on the best of trajectories once again. And the Republic and the Confederacy certainly seemed to agree as well as they both accepted Mandalore as their neutral meeting ground a few minutes ago.

When they finally reached Organa's office, the Chancellor stepped inside, his security detail taking position in front of the door to hold the press back. One of them stuck out their neck obviously searching for Ana upon remembering that Bail wanted to speak to her.

Ana had taken her task of blending in to heart though and the loyal guard was unable to spot her as she carefully pushed her way through the crowd until she arrived at the door. Taking no note of the people that now stood behind her, she removed the hood of her cloak and stepped inside before the doors closed behind her.

"You know that letting them get this close to you could pose a real threat to your safety, right?" Ana pointed out to Organa.
"All of them were checked thoroughly before entering, and it's only for today. Besides, I have you here," he brushed it off in his ever friendly manner.
Ana walked up to Bail's desk, sitting down opposite him. "You're the boss I suppose."