"Are you absolutely sure about this Skywalker ?" asked Jedi Master Mace Windu with the look of skepticism on his face.
Skywalker nodded his head as he followed Windu closely behind, "Yes master, he revealed himself to be a Sith to me. What do we do ?"
Windu paused and stroked his chin, the look of skepticism which had been there a moment before melted away as soon as he saw how serious Anakin was. "What we do next might determine the entire future of the order and of the Republic. We cannot act rashly," answered Windu to Skywalker as he entered the empty war room with Skywalker following closely behind him. Windu made his way to the war room's giant holo table which was located at the center of the room and proceeded to input commands into it.
I can save her, those words uttered by Palpatine still echoed in Anakin's soul. Did Palpatine really have the power to save Padme ? thought Anakin to himself. His loyalties and soul were being tested, and he did not know what to do. Does his loyalties lie with the Jedi ? Or to his love for his beloved wife ?
The door the war room slid open, with Councilors Kit Fisto, Saessae Tinn and Agen Kolar entering the room. Both Tinn and Kolar gave a firm nod to Skywalker as they descended the stairs to the sunken dais where the holotable was located at. Fisto who followed behind Tinn and Kolar gave his trademarked Nautolan smile to Skywalker as he made his way to Windu's side. The four council members were soon joined by the Togrutan Councilor Shaak Ti, who gave a graceful bow to her fellow councilors. Finally Windu got the response he was waiting for. The holographic figures of council members that were fighting across the galaxy materialised around the war room's holo-table.
"We have a development," reported Windu to the rest of the council members gathered, "the second Sith Lord has surfaced. It's Palpatine."
Silence descended over the war room. So silent that the low hum of the holo-projectors could be heard. Finally it was Cerean Jedi Master Ki-Adi Mundi who broke the silence. "How could Palpatine hide his true allegiance from us for so long and so easily ?" queried Mundi with the look of concern clearly etched on his war weary face.
"Hmmm, powerful the power of the dark side is with Palpatine then if able to conceal his true nature from us he could," remarked Yoda to his fellow councilors with a pained look on his face.
"So are we considering activating the plan ?" asked Master Plo Koon to the rest of the councilors gathered in the war room. Each councilor looked upon each other.
What is this plan Master Koon is talking about ? thought Anakin to himself. Although Anakin was recently became a member of the High Council, many of the Council's much guarded secrets has yet been revealed to him due to how he ascended to the seat. In fact, Anakin was not sure whether the council was going to reveal any of their most guarded secrets to him considering he was chosen by Palpatine, a man that the Council began to trust even less as the war raged on.
Anakin cleared his throat to get the rest of the council's attention, "What plan is this exactly ?"
"The "plan" or as we know it as Plan Zero is a contingency plan to ensure the future of the order in the event of a possible threat that could destroy the order. It was a plan devised after the end of the First Jedi Purge by the Jedi Council at that time to ensure the continuity of the order," informed Obi-Wan to his former Padawan learner.
"Is Palpatine, one Sith, such a threat to the order ?" asked a very much confused Anakin to the rest of the council.
"Remember this Skywalker, Palpatine had more than a decade as Supreme Chancellor to gather power," stated Windu, "we have no idea what sort of powers he has managed to acquire in that period of time."
"Plus with the revelation that the clones were created by the Sith, Palpatine could very much use them against us," voiced Tinn to his fellow councilors, something he rarely did.
"I don't think the clones will betray us," said Anakin in defence of the clones.
"Nonetheless Skywalker, at the moment they are not to be trusted. No matter how much you, or any of us trust them," stated Windu.
The rest of the councilors solemnly nodded their heads in agreement with Windu.
"Unfortunately, agree with Master Windu I do," expressed Yoda, "unknown the power Palpatine holds over the clones. Dangerous he is already, but even more if underestimate him we do."
All of the councilors save Anakin nodded their head in agreement with Yoda's statement. "Then it is agreed, the council will henceforth put Plan Zero into full effect. May the Force be with us, with all of us" said Windu to the rest of the council.