The lot always falls on those
who do not expect it.
***
Dooku, Count of House Serenno, rose silently from his knee. His rather lengthy conversation with Darth Sidious had just ended. They had discussed further plans for the war—its successes and failures.
His Master's plan was flawless, yet minor details still marred the image, the dream he was fighting for. The main cause of this imperfection was the Jedi. But Dooku was certain that, in the end, those lackeys of the Senate would regret what they had done—and regret would not save them. The Sith would annihilate the Jedi, and a new power would rise across the Galaxy…
Ever since the Separatist leaders had learned of the clones, they had demanded an attack on the planet where the army was being produced, hoping to deprive the Republic of its reserves and cripple its ability to resist. Until now, the Count had restrained their impulses, but according to Sidious, the time had come. This assault, however, was meant to fail—and in failing, prolong the war. The Dark Lord decreed that Dooku's attack plan must fall into Jedi hands through Quinlan Vos, thus undermining the designs of the Confederacy of Independent Systems.
Kamino. The planet where the future Army of the Empire is being forged. Sifo-Dyas—his friend and former student—had foreseen the comingcataclysms. He had shared his fears with Dooku, who had gladly assisted him. Even then, Dookuwas no longer merely Count Dooku, but Darth Tyranus. His master had approved the plan. Master Sifo-Dyas had arrived on Kamino andcommissioned a Clone Army for the Republic, so he thought. A vast number of high-quality clone troopers were ordered from the finest cloners in the galaxy. Factories and shipyards received contracts for thousands of cutting-edge ships and military vehicles. Dooku closely monitored the progress through intermediaries.
The first generation of clones had already proven their worth. The second generation had recentlyreached "adolescence" and was undergoing combat training—some would be ready in six months. The third generation was on the way. And who but he, having devoted so much energy and time to the Cause, would care for the future of the Empire?
Once the Jedi learned of the Confederacy's plan, they would rush to defend Kamino—for the Republic's fate depended on that world. Dooku had no doubt that they would succeed in protecting the planet and preserving its factories.
This will shame one of the Separatist leaders, Passel Argente, who was put in charge of the operation. And, naturally, he appointed himself commander in chief. By some miracle, however, the Koorivar had had the sense to include Merai—a talented Mon Calamari recently recruited by the CIS as one of its commanders—in the plan.
Yes, after this failure, Argente would finally shut his mouth and cease his petty intrigues. The head of the Corporate Alliance had long been striving to seize control of the Confederacy. Once he fell, Dooku's authority would be absolute.
The Count returned slowly to his desk. Another problem loomed before him: his Dark Acolytes. Sev'rance Tann had been the most capable, and Dooku had once envisioned her as Commander-in-Chief of the Droid Army—but fate had intervened. A Jedi, whose Padawan had been slain by the Chiss, had taken revenge on her. Now Dooku faced a choice: to keep General Grievous in that position or not.
Asajj Ventress, in whom he had placed great hope, had failed in her mission. Now only two candidates remained—Durge and Grievous.
Over the centuries, Durge had gone mad, consumed by hatred for the Mandalorians, and now by extension, for the clones who bore Fett's genetic mark. He vowed to destroy these creations wherever he found them. That obsession made him unfit to command. But Grievous... a fanatic—half-machine, half-beast—without the faintest trace of compassion, driven by pure hatred for the Jedi, and utterly loyal. What could be better?
Dooku smiled darkly. It was time to finally let him off the leash.
***
Upon returning from her trip, Amidala discovered that the incident on Rendor was not only widely known but fiercely debated—thanks to the recording of a battle between that… Jedi and a young woman unknown to her. Gifted, if she was using the term correctly—as Anakin had once said.
As soon as she landed on Coruscant, near the Senate building, Amidala plunged back into political life: nearly a week of endless meetings, negotiations, and hours-long Senate sessions…
After that exhausting marathon, Amidala secluded with her allies to discuss their next steps. The meeting was held in Senator Organa's chambers. The Alderaanian had also invited several new senators interested in joining their movement—Mon Mothma from the Chandrila sector and Chi Eekway from the planet Wroona.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to gain the advantage we'd hoped for from this incident," Bail Organa said, studying the glass of wine in his hand. "The news reached Coruscant far sooner than we expected."
"Oh yes, these media holdings have become truly omnipresent. I'm surprised they aren't reporting directly from the battlefields yet."
"I'm afraid they'd have to risk their lives for that," Amidala replied. "War is a dangerous thing. It would be best if it ended as soon as possible. What do you think?"
Amidala turned to one of the younger women among the senators—a Pantoran who was attending their gathering for the first time. Chi Eekway adhered to the traditions of herhomeworld; her black-and-blue attire gleamedwith gold accents.
"I'm so grateful you invited me," she said brightly, her golden earrings swaying as she bowed her blue head to the others in the room. "Of course, I speak only for my sector, but I can assure you that many senators are sincerely eager to end this war as quickly as possible. You may not know this, but the sector command has begun stationing clone garrisons on our planets—they call them 'security forces.' And we're beginning to wonder whether these troops are truly meant to protect us from the Separatists... or if there's another purpose behind it."
Padme regarded the Pantoran kindly.
"I have reliable information that the Jedi have managed to destroy one of those terribleweapons the Separatists intended to use against peaceful worlds," she said carefully. "Perhaps that will bring the end of the war closer."
"And then what?" Bail Organa leaned forward, interlacing his fingers. "How do we make Palpatine relinquish his emergency powers? How do we stop him from usurping full control?"
"We don't have to do anything," Amidala replied thoughtfully. "The Senate granted himextraordinary powers only for the duration of martial law…"
"Which Palpatine himself has the authority to extend," Organa countered. "How do we compel him to return power to the Senate? Especially when I've heard his supporters are preparing a new package of proposals to expand the Chancellor's authority even further."
Mon Mothma, the young human senator fromChandrila, spoke up.
"As far as I know, nearly two thousand senators currently support the Chancellor. SenatorOrgana," she asked, looking closely at him, "how many supporters do we have?"
"Almost five hundred and twenty senators anddelegates share our views—those who would back us with their votes if it came to that," Organa replied.
"Many senators remain neutral," Terr Taneel remarked. "It will be difficult to persuade them to join us. Most politicians care only about their own systems…"
Amidala nodded absently. The Senate was indeed a very "complex" governing body. Originally, after the Ruusan Reformation, the Galaxy had been divided into more than a thousand sectors, eachcontaining between ten and a hundred inhabited worlds. Each sector elected one representative to the Galactic Senate.
But that arrangement had not lasted long. Independent planets—and even organizations such as the Trade Federation—sent their ownrepresentatives, who later became full senators. In many cases, multiple species inhabiting the same world each elected their own delegates. The Naboo and the Gungans, the Mon Calamari and the Quarren were well-known examples.
At present, more than seven thousand senators and delegates were accredited to the Senate.