=Sith starfighter, Naboo orbit=
A Republic transport shuttle sailed out of hyperspace to glide into orbit above the small, lush planet of Naboo. Ricco Bene, drifting inconspicuously in a small starfighter, had arrived several minutes before, and was waiting for it.
He watched it carefully begin its descent into the atmosphere, keeping his own engines switched off and floating undetected in space. Bene touched a finger to his headset where it rested over his ear, listening in to the transport's communications channel. Once he'd heard what he needed to hear, he switched on the fighter's holotransmitter.
The transparent blue image of a Sith lord blinked into view and shifted as the holotransmitter's tiny speaker produced an answer. "You've arrived, I presume?"
"Yes, my lord. Our intel was accurate. Their ship has just been cleared for landing on Naboo."
"Good. I trust that you'll be able to carry out your mission as planned?"
"I won't fail you."
"I'm sending you some coordinates to a port where you can land without detection."
"Thank you, my master."
"You do understand the importance of what you may uncover today."
The image of Darth Tyranus flickered and Bene tried not to roll his eyes. They'd been over the plan several times. Bene was well prepared, and he thirsted for action, not theory. "I guess I'll find out," he replied.
"See to it that you do."
"Yes, my lord."
Bene switched off the holotransmitter and guided the fighter through the atmosphere to land at the coordinates he'd been given. He had work to do.