It has been around ten years since the battle of Naboo, with the Jedi Order still high in number. But it had taken a few losses since Naboo, with Eeth Koth being slain by Ashaar Korda, Master Yaddle sacrificed herself to save the people of Mawan. Master Coleman Trebor and Master Shaak Ti replaced them. A bigger shock was that Dooku had left the Order, as well as Ferus Olin and Thracia Cho Leem even though in Dooku's case it was years ago but in light of recent events was made worse.
There was a growing tension. More and more systems were seceding from the Republic such as Sluis Van, Tantra and Tynna. But there was an incoming vote on the Military Creation Act in the Senate. There had already been uproar regarding that, as Senator Garm Bel Iblis of Corellia closes its borders and withdrew from the upcoming vote, which was a massive loss for those that were against the Creation act such as Padme Amidala, Tendau Bendon and various other senators.
In the Jedi Temple, despite this tension in the many sparring rooms currently Master Echuu Shen-Jon, a human male Jedi was training with his padawan, Stam Reath. Stam was quite young, also a human male Jedi, but he had a sister called Naat Reath, that was so far unattached to a master, and a year younger than her brother. They were both sparring with each other, practicing Form I, Shii-Sho also known as the Way of the Sarlacc. Echuu Shen-Jon was average height with dark skin, pocked marked skin on his left side. Stam was average height for his age of fourteen, a face full of youth, also had dark skin, he had the standard padawan braid. They both had sweat beading on their foreheads. Stam might have had a slight edge in speed, his master had the edge in skill, precision and technique.
Echuu Shen-Jon and his padawan weren't the only one training either, Master Summ Dim Phok was training with his new padawan Essaj, a Selkath padawan who was another aquatic sentient species. Master Summ Dim Phok had decided to take on a new padawan recently. Essaj was female, however, and she had a lightsaber built with a special kind of a crystal, a permafrost crystal. A permafrost crystal gave a blade an icy blue colour but it also meant that the only person who could use that particular lightsaber. They continued to train as well for a good hour or so before taking a break.
While up in the Room of a thousand, a few Jedi were already there meditating near the fountains, one such figure was Master Tholme, who had once been the master of Quinlan Vos who had then trained Aayla Secura. He had filled in the gaps with her training. Tholme was no longer young, he decided he didn't want to train any more padawans—unless it was necessary. Tholme had dark hair though with strands of grey starting to show in his hair. Since Dooku declared the creation of the Confederacy of Independent Systems on Raxus Prime had spurred Tholme with the Council's blessing to make a Separatists Spy Network. There were currently five other members of the group including; Master Quinlan Vos, Master Sora Bulq, Master Tiplar, Lyron Bandis and Knight Siri Tachi. There had been another member who had vanished recently—Tol Skorr. However most of them were here present in the temple at the moment apart from Lyron Bandis who was on a mission to Raxus Prime. It was one of the main planets they were keeping an eye on for Separatist activity. They had seen some movement down on the surface. But he was supposed to report back as soon as possible. As Master Tholme sat by the fountain, two of those masters approached him. Master Vos and Master Bulq.
'We've not heard anything from Master Bandis. He was supposed to contact us today.' Master Vos reported.
Tholme was silent, considering different options.
'He could be in danger.' Bulq said, impatiently.
'Okay then. I'll inform the council—'
'I want to go and see it for myself.' Bulq said.
'Not just yet.' Tholme replied. 'Have patience.'
Sora left feeling frustrated.

Elsewhere in the galaxy, unknown to both the Jedi and most of the Republic, the Trade Federation had set up several droid producing factories on the world Geonosis. There were a few Trade Federation battleships in orbit over the world. A couple ships were leaving.
The same could be said for the rocky, desolate world of Hypori where there was a factory producing machines. It was almost time for war.