Darth Maul: A New Dawn (A Swtcw Fanfiction)

Chapter 17: Siege of Dathomir

(Coruscant)

The Clone Wars had ended, only to be replaced with the war with Crimson Dawn, which was now being named The Shadowfront War, fitting since this conflict reflects the clandestine and strategic nature of Crimson Dawn, known for operating from the shadows and leveraging hidden alliances with Galactic Underworld. "Shadowfront" underscores the idea of a war fought not just with overt military action, but with subterfuge, intelligence manipulation, and surprise tactics.

In the months following the devastating loss of the Jedi on Tython, their shipyards on Kuat, and Tipoca City, the Republic was in a state of panic and desperation; not only was Crimson Dawn invading Republic-controlled worlds, but outright annihilating the Jedi generals and clone legions who were fighting desperately to hold back the merciless criminal empire. Every Republic world that was lost only fanned the raging inferno of fear, despair, and hopelessness across Republic worlds. And that inferno burned hottest on the Republic capital of Coruscant. Fear, panic, and hysteria ran rampant, especially with reports that Crimson Dawn was sacking many agricultural worlds that provided food rations and raw goods to the Core Worlds, and causing these critical supplies to vanish almost overnight. As starvation swept through the lowest levels of Coruscant, riots broke out planet-wide, and the Senate considered a complete surrender to Crimson Dawn, they were being brought to their knees, figuratively and literally each day Darth Maul's criminal empire allowed to roam unchecked, and unchallenged.

Padmé, despite her firm belief in democracy, diplomacy, and peace, knew full well that the Republic itself was teetering between survival and utter destruction. Whether it was fear or anger driving them, many within the Senate were demanding that Padmé step down as Chancellor of the Republic more fervently, seeing her as weak and not effective in leading the people to face an enemy like Darth Maul and Crimson Dawn. Believing that diplomacy would prevail, Padmé had dispatched some of the Republic's best negotiators to seek an audience with Crimson Dawn and attempt to come to terms with the criminal empire, but every time a negotiator was dispatched, the Senate would view the HoloNet and bear witness to the barbarism of Crimson Dawn as they beheaded their negotiators and were told that there would be no peace or comprises with the Republic. This grotesque display by Crimson Dawn was nothing to the reports they received from their military leadership, battle recordings were displayed for the Senate to watch in absolute shock, horror, and fear at the ferocity and efficiency of Crimson Dawn's military as they were annihilating clone legions and Jedi generals with chilling ease. Padmé's approval rates began plummeting because her approach to ending this conflict had allowed millions of people who were collateral to be sold into slavery and murdered by the thousands. Behind closed doors, Anakin Skywalker would be there for his wife, helping her as best as he could, but the stress that Padmé was suffering from was becoming unbearable, and despite her good intentions, her methods of ending this conflict weren't enough to appease the Senate and was not producing results, this led to the many in the Senate voting for Padmé's resignation, a decision made out of fear that Crimson Dawn would sack and burn their worlds to ash. With the assistance of the Jedi Council and what remained of their order within the rebuilt Jedi Temple, Padmé had to launch several campaigns against the opposition. And for the moment, this was able to stabilize the position that they were in and allowed the Republic to not lose any more planets for the time being.

Currently, the Senate was gathering for an emergency session by order of Chancellor Amidala, to discuss what can be done to slow the tide of Crimson Dawn that threatened to wash away a thousand years of democracy. The Senate Chambers was a blur of shouts, disorder, and panic, but once there was order, Padmé addressed the Senate. "Members of the Senate. As Crimson Dawn continues to encroach on many of the worlds allied with the Republic, we must launch a counterattack to bring a crippling blow to our enemy and see this faction uprooted entirely," murmurs and grunts of agreement and approval filled the air as Padmé continued. "This enemy will not negotiate or compromise, and I see that now. But if we are to see the Republic endure, we must cut off the head of Crimson Dawn seek out the leadership of this organization, and ensure that it is destroyed before the galaxy that we know is lost to an evil I cannot fathom."