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"Regardless," Mace said, stepping to his chair and sitting down for the first time in this meeting, popping up a small holographic screen and inputting a few commands. "As Master of the Order, I will inform the Council of First Knowledge that they need to add more lightsaber training into the curriculum. Not enough to alarm most of our members, I think secrecy can now serve us best in this, but enough to make a difference."
The others murmured at that, some agreeing, some disagreeing. Masters Tiin, Koth, and Pouf were of the opinion that spreading the news that the Sith might still be around would either force them out into the open before whatever plans they had were ripe or cause them to be more circumspect in the future, which could be all to the good.
Master Ranicisis and Yoda, however, agreed with Mace and Master Giiett. It was obvious that whoever was out there, Dark Brothers or Sith, would know that the Jedi Order knew about them now. Hiding their preparations to face this new threat as much as possible would serve the Order best until they had an idea of the size of the threat.
Once agreement was reached, Master Windu entered a command sending out the orders to the Council of First Knowledge. That was the council who organized and controlled the teaching regimen of the younglings. They also looked after the Jedi Archives.
"I also wish to make an announcement," Mace said, standing up once again and looking around at the others, his face shifting into even more formal lines than normal. "I hereby state that I am stepping down as Master of the Order."
Silence met this as some of the other masters simply nodded, while others, like Eeth Koth, Tiin, and Bilaba, looked shocked at the very idea.
"I feel I must do this so that I can concentrate on teaching my new padawan."
"Anakin," said Giiett noncommittally. "You have decided to follow Master Qui-Gon's footsteps, then."
"Qui-Gon was correct. Anakin is touched by the Force. It was his piloting that destroyed the Lucrehulk command ship. Without him the battle might well been lost, and he needs personalized instruction. I also have no doubt that Obi-Wan would try to take him as a padawan, but he is too young to take on a padawan yet, and it might well ruin them both."
"The boy also needs some of that arrogance of his whacked out of him. And who better for that then you or one of the other swordmasters?" said Depa Bilaba, nodding. As Mace's former padawan she knew he was a demanding teacher. It was also true that as Master of the Order, Mace had far too much on his plate on a day-to-day basis to see to teaching a padawan. Depa had been his padawan before his ascension to the position, and he had not taken another one since.
Yoda grumbled a little, shaking his head. "Hrhrhrm. My opinion, changed it has not. Guilt and self-doubt, letting them influence your choices you are. Yet say you are wrong to do so, I cannot. But Master of the Order there must be."
Master Pouf interjected, "Surely you could take up the position, Master Yoda."
"No. Grandmaster I am. Desire to be Master of the Order once more, I do not have," Yoda replied firmly.
The Grandmaster was the titular head of the Order, the one who decided on policy for the most part, who could speak for the Order as a whole to the Senate and was generally seen as a source of wisdom and guidance for the Order.
This wasn't a full time job, really. More of a figurehead position called in on decisions or topics that would affect the Order as a whole, where political minefields lay or when a tie-breaking vote was needed. But Yoda also had a padawan: young Wulo of Clan Saa.
The Master of the Order was the manager, the individual who ran the day to day business of the Order and oversaw the running and interaction of the three other councils. The individual who had this position could impact policy to a high degree, but it was a position for an analytical and organized mind.
After some discussion, Master Ranicisis agreed to take on the position. He was a master of Battle Meditation, a Jedi technique which used the Force to discern the flow and patterns of war. If violence began to break out against the Order his skills might well be a necessity, though he had never shown the ability to use it on a galactic scale. He was also not tainted by the decision involving Aayla. Conversely he was not involved with Clan Saa and the techniques they were sharing with the rest of the Order.
This was an important distinction. By the time Mace and Yoda had returned from Naboo many of the High Council had recovered from their response to Harry and Aayla's numerous body blows to their views of the universe and had become even more leery of the changes of the Order, somewhat reactionary almost.
Ironically Master Piell had not shown any sign of that. But he had remained behind on Naboo to help bolster the Queen's position and bear witness to the new treaty between the human and Gungan populations.
Of course Mace would still hold a position on the council, but only when he was in the temple, and he would not become involved further in all of the day-to-day decisions. This and his staying in the temple for the next half a year to help Ranicisis get up to speed would allow for a smooth transition.
Master Ranicisis bowed his head, a fluid motion from a Thisspiasian which began at the neck area and then flowed down into a bow from his snakelike middle. "Very well. I will go through the paperwork starting later today to see what I think needs to be changed in the day to day running of the Order. However, Master Windu has already made a significant start in what I believe needs to occur and has pointed out an area which needs to become more emphasized into the future: more lightsaber training.
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