The Imperial Grand Court, the place where all the courtiers of the Imperial realm gathered to discuss recent political decisions, had been called into session to oversee the regards of their most recent declaration of war with the Republic and the CIS. For the most part, there was a unanimous approval among the court in folding the Republic and the CIS into Imperial control, especially considering the vastness of their territories and the relatively weakness of both of these governments newly created armies, at least in comparison to the centuries worth of experience and ability that the Imperial Army had. Despite this there was a murmur of discontent among the assembled Lords and Ladies, in that they were rather disgruntled over the war having been initiated without their notice, and that more intelligence hadn't been gathered of their new enemies.

Gilgamesh was partly to blame for this, as he had already known the strengths and weakness of the Republic and CIS forces, but had failed to remember that his citizens required more prodding and foresight than what his knowledge granted; or at least the knowledge that his current body should know. The Golden Emperor raised his hand, calling for the assembled silence.

"As your liege, I admit to the haste I placed in greater importance over the insight of the assembled esteemed council," Gilgamesh stated, his voice naturally booming down the walls of the assembly chamber. He turned his eyes down onto the many levels of Imperial Nobles and sighed breathily. "But never forget that I am the Emperor of the Empire, my will is the will of the Empire and the Emperors before me. Naboo was a prime opportunity for the Imperial Army, and it would be an insult to my blood if I were to not capitalize on such a chance."

The hall rumbled in silence, the unspoken words, doubt, and acceptance rippling through the assembled Nobles like a tidal wave. Gilgamesh cracked his neck, turning to cast a longing look at his wife, seated a few feet to his right, as though looking for some support or comfort. His wife did not glance at him, but she did wave her hands in a comforting gesture towards him. He took it for what it was and straightened his back to glare down on the Imperial Court.

One of the many floating platforms of the Imperial Court began to dart forward, the occupants of the cart bearing sigils of two crossed Keys flanked by wings. The man at the front of the platform looked old and weathered but his stance was strong and like that of iron. The Grand Master Inquisitor, an intimidating man, if not for the fact that Gilgamesh found his occupation of the profession to be hilarious.

"Grand Master Xehanort," Gilgamesh inclined his head in greeting to the old man. The Master Keyblade user nodded his head in reverence to Gilgamesh's position, as he should, and rose to his full height, his black coat swaying with his movements.

"My Lord, the Great Emperor Gilgamesh the First of His Name and the Absolute Supreme Ruler of all the Empire," Xehanort said, his voice, carrying with it the weight of experience and the power of his station, boomed across the chasm in more power compared to Gilgamesh's dignified speech. The Golden Emperor clicked his tongue quietly to himself and looked down on the man with furrowed eyebrows. "I, as your humble servant, does not dare to oppose any decision made by your most esteemed self. But as I am the Master of all Inquisitors, the leader of the Black Coats and the mind of the Unversed, carrying with him the goodwill of Good Emperor Arcadius before you, I must caution the dangers of orders without proper consideration to those around you."

Gilgamesh frowned, his fingers digging themselves into the armrests of his chair as he bared his impressive gaze onto the aged Grand Master. "I am no Good Emperor, Grand Master Xehanort. I am the man who sits here, the Gate of Babylon at his beck and call, and I make the decisions that moves an Empire." Gilgamesh set his spine onto the back of his chair and breathed out noisily. "I understand the wisdom all here share with me, and in that I know never has there been such a crop of talented individuals to serve an Emperor until now. I do what I do knowing full well that the people below can act and serve me befitting their stations, allowing me to perform my duties as how I please. My considerations are in the future of the Empire, of which I know everyone here shares with me."

There was murmuring around the court, some in agreement, others still in doubt. The Grand Master conceded his point with a bowed head and quietly returned to his place. Gilgamesh watched him warily, his eyes not even turning to regard the next occupant to the stand.

"Your Imperial Majesty," a white Balverine, named Dulag, bowed his head in greeting to Gilgamesh. The Emperor frowned and watched the werewolf knockoff for a moment, before nodding in assent. "It is not this one's place to speak ill of the Great Emperor's decisions, but this one seeks not of that. This one, of the esteemed Balverine Order, would like to ask our place in the war to come be measured, as those of my kin are greatly...enamored to see what type of Balverine can be created from these clones and most especially these Jedi." The Balverine struggled to get those last few words out from its snout but it did so all the same, with such effort that Gilgamesh wondered if he should congratulate him.

The question had merit though, and Gilgamesh wasn't looking to deny his Balverine potential recruits. "You have my blessing, Lord Balverine. See to it you act on your...experiments post haste. As it is the time of war, you may enact the forceful transformation of captured enemies pending evaluation of our Inquisitors. I need not remind you that the creation of White Balverines will also be quite strict, and can only be conducted under the academic eye of Imperial Recorders, Imperial Scientists, and the Imperial Inquisitors?"

The Balverine cowed his head at the remark. "Of course. This one would not dare impose on the goodwill of our esteemed Majesty." Gilgamesh hoped that was the last of the courtiers coming to lay their oppositions with him, but to his quiet chagrin, another one stepped forward to the stand. It was his wife.

"My husband," Queen Myrrah stated, bowing her head. Gilgamesh felt the breath already leave him, knowing the fight ahead. By her calling him husband rather than Emperor was her own way of showing that their positions were equal, even though by technicality, she was a mere Queen in control over a Kingdom, while Gilgamesh led an Empire. It was poor decorum for her to say such things, but allowed as she was his wife. "I must implore you to not call upon the Locust Horde into this war, for I do believe it is in the best interest for us to remain outside the conflict and left to our own devices until such a time suitable for us to commit our forces."

A ruckus erupted in the courtroom. The Locusts were not a popular people in the Empire, in fact many still saw them as naysayers and outliers of the Imperial authority. Gilgamesh rose to his full height, his silent glare enough to cower any more disturbance, and he looked down at his wife, his gauntleted hands left relaxed by his sides. "May I be graced with the wisdom of your decision, my wife."

Myrrah bowed her head in acceptance. "Us Locust's currently face a deficit in resources at the moment. I do believe it is time for the Horde to begin expansion, and as such we wish to focus our efforts in populating local worlds we had overlooked, in search of any worlds holding resources for us to use." Gilgamesh frowned. The Locust were given only a small number of planets to call their own, and he knew that all other planets in their system were barren, on account of the Imperial-Locust war all those centuries ago. Judging from the look his wife was giving him when no one was looking, rumbling with displeasure at Myrrah's words as they were, Gilgamesh understood what she meant.

"With the size of our new enemy relative to our own, I do believe it is wise for us to exhaust every resource and effort in defeating them. Therefore I am allowing any Locust Army that successfully invade, capture, and hold Republic or CIS worlds be given the opportunity to claim the worlds as their own, providing the Locust Horde worlds with resources at their disposal. Of course, that would mean the Horde would need to support the war with troops and armaments," Gilgamesh decreed, looking down at his wife with a quiet thoughtful look.

The edges of Myrrah's lips edged into a curve and she nodded her assent. "I thank you for your most gracious offer, Emperor Gilgamesh. The Locust Horde shall provide as much assistance possible, for the hope that we may expand our homes to better pastures." Gilgamesh nodded his head, and wanting no more people to take the stand quickly called for the adjournment of the court. The assembled Nobles all stood to witness Gilgamesh's departure, and after waiting for his wife to return to his platform, he swiftly made an about face and imperiously stalked off towards the exit.

Myrrah trailed behind him, her head bowed and eyes closed in regal solemnity, and the Royal Guards moved to flank their pair. The group of soldiers were silent and moved without noise, their heavy boots hitting the floor with not even a sound. Gilgamesh enjoyed the brief silence, even as he knew the murmur of discontent or argument was possibly raging in the mouths of all his Nobles. The fault of an Empire, if ever there was a truer one.

It didn't take long before they arrived to a secluded off room designated the royal chambers. Gilgamesh nodded his head to the two Royal Guards standing at attention on either side of the doors, and quietly entered the room, his wife following after him. Their entourage fanned out and took their places outside, not looking back or uttering a sound.

Inside the room Gilgamesh felt the sigh hit him. "That was very devious of you, my wife. Dangerous as well." His wife smiled at him, her eyes twinkling with odd delight. Gilgamesh thought no other Emperor before had such a wily wife so brazen with them.

"I am the sovereign to my people as you are to your own. I have my responsibilities, and I did not think you were one to judge me in that," she stated. Gilgamesh laughed quietly to himself, the sound almost a whisper in their room as he seated himself on a cushioned red chair.

"I do not doubt you know me better than any other woman, I only ask that you refrain from antagonising my Nobles," Gilgamesh told her. His memories recalled many events where Myrrah had done the something, more than likely a relic of thought from her father Arcadius the Trickster, a very eccentric and thoughtful Emperor.

"I would think that be a boon for you, so that now you may weed out the problematic Nobles from your court, surrendering them their positions and replacing them with more malleable ones," Myrrah replied dismissively. She sat herself down by Gilgamesh's side, her posture as always without imperfections. She looked all the world the antithesis to Gilgamesh. As he was garbed in robes of golden silks and blue sashes, flashy and extravagant, she was garbed in pale dull colors, her crown of dull gold wrapped around her snow white hair without fashion.

"All creatures have their own use, I'd rather the problems stay where I can see them and exploit them before they try anything harmful." Gilgamesh folded his arms across his chest, smiling wistfully as he regarded his wife. Gilgamesh allowed himself a moment of laxity and wrapped his arms around Myrrah's shoulder, taking on the part of a husband to Myrrah. The Queen didn't show any outward hints that she was displeased over the movement, and reciprocated with a hand on his thigh.

Perhaps it was the luck of the irish, or perhaps it was the universe trying to send him a message, but Gilgamesh never experienced a tumultuous family life in any of his meanderings through the multiverse. Just as well, Gilgamesh thought he understood Myrrah enough to know that she at least did not hate him fully.

There was a knocking on the door, taking the two of them out of their reverie. He straightened, alarmed at the interruption as he knitted his brow. "Your Majesty, it is your daughter, Princess Astronema and Princess Cyclonis, here to greet you." Surprised, he turned to his wife with a questioning look on his face.

"I called them over," she told him as she squeezed his thigh. "I thought it was good that they talk to you, before they go out to war."

"They're going to war?" He said, alarmed. The muscles on his jaw jumped, and he turned his gaze towards the door, a serious solemn look on his face as he nodded his assent to their entrance. "They're teenagers," Gilgamesh muttered quietly under his breath.

"They're trained warriors," Myrrah stated, an iron look in her eyes. "They're prepared for any troubles in the war."

Gilgamesh looked at her, his face brimmed with complicated emotions. Even though this family was fake, there was no denying that the memories inside Gilgamesh were particularly strong inside him. This world may have been promoted by his hands, but it's structure was completely organic to this world. Something like that brought powerful ties between people, especially to beings of the Immaterium, of energy and the Multiverse, like Dolan, especially with how he had bound himself to a mortal body. Maybe it was just him, but he wasn't one to risk his family over anything, real or fake. "You can train all your life, but that doesn't ever mean you can survive a war."

"That's not fair to them," Myrrah stated. Gilgamesh softened his face, sighing loudly as he looked at the door creeping open.

"I know, that is why we will talk," Gilgamesh stated. Astronema and Cyclonis entered the room, the both of them decked out in their armor and weaponry. Gilgamesh locked his eyes with both his daughters, and sighed loudly as he gestured to a chair in front of him. It seems that the Gilgamesh of this world truly was known to be soft on his children, because the both of them looked like they were walking into a warzone since stepping into that room, ready and armed to fight back against Gilgamesh any opposition he could make.

I've already lost my hand, Gilgamesh thought ruefully. "Astronema," Gilgamesh stated, "I heard your new Quantrons have displayed exemplary skill on the field. Surely they are an impressive feat of engineering."

"Thank you father," Astronema stated, the edges of her lips quirked up as she folded her fingers into a fist. Her sister, Cyclonis, hardened her look at the fact her sister was receiving praise better than she was. Gilgamesh, knowing his second daughter's personality, quickly moved to do the same with her.

"Your mother tells me your skills in controlling the Horde improves everyday. One day I would like to see you rule them as your mother had, strong and powerful, as any of my children are meant to be."

Cyclonis bowed her head, her face impassive as she told him his thanks. Though, as her father, Gilgamesh was privy to the little signs in her, the set of her shoulders, the way how she spread out her fingers, and in the strength in her voice that she was delighted and proud over his remarks.

"No doubt the both of you were present during the court assembly not so long ago?" Myrrah asked, looking at her children one by one. The two girls nodded their heads, their faces more relaxed facing their mother. Wasn't I the fun parent, though? Gilgamesh thought, wondering about the discrepancies in expressions.

"The Grand Master is a fool to question father's wishes," Cyclonis said fiercely, her face set into a harsh scowl. as she balled her fists. Astronema, who was technically Xehanort's subordinate, was quick to defend her superior from her sister's criticism.

"It is the duty of the Inquisitors to act on the will of the Empire, and to advise the Emperor in any matters they think should be advised. Grand Master Xehanort is right to broach the subject with father, as better him than a rebellious Noble further down the line," Astronema stated. Cyclonis shot Astronema a dirty look, but could not fault her sister's logic, even if she still thought the Grand Master to be a fool.

"Enough," Gilgamesh brokered between them. "I do not want to see my daughters fight in front of me. If there is to be anything on this subject, is that I as Emperor am merely an organ in the inner workings of the Empire, and the Grand Master is likewise the same as me. I may rule him, but his voice is as strong as me in the cogs that make our vast Empire. Cyclonis, Astronema, both of your words are wisdom and true, but they are only pieces to a whole. Know them both well, keep them both in your mind, and through knowing them you will find the whole truth."

Both his daughters cowed themselves to his lecture, nodding their heads emphatically over his words. Gilgamesh frowned, watching his daughters carefully as he wondered whether they had taken his words to heart. He felt the pains of the father reach his shoulders again, and while nostalgic for the transdimensional being, it was still not a welcome feeling. He shot a look of help to his wife,

"Raise your heads my daughters. Your father means only to impart his wisdom, not to scold you. Now, you are here to discuss your place in the war, more precisely, your safety and health," Myrrah said.

Astronema pursed her lips. "I am an Inquisitor, to be one is to skirt the edge of life and death. I would not see my duty be forgotten in favor of my own security." She crossed her arms, looking at the both of them archly as she stood firm on her independence and duty.

"As your Emperor I find your conviction pleasing," GIlgamesh told her. "As your father, it fills me with worry knowing that you would skirt the world of death while I still draw breath." Astronema faltered in her look. She still had the gaze of a woman looking to fight a war without regret, but now she also had the look of distraught at facing her father with such a decision.

"I have my duty, father and as you've thought me, we must all always do our duty for the betterment of the Empire," Astronema stated. "As a servant to the Empire, I must face the war as my duty commands me."

"Duty does not command you," GIlgamesh cautioned her. "To fight a war, to commit yourself to anything in your life, it must not be for duty, but for something more, something greater. Do it because you want to Astronema, do not risk your life for anything less."

Astronema firmed her lip, nodding her head solemnly to his advice as she understood his meaning. Gilgamesh nodded his head, satisfied that he had gotten through to his eldest daughter, and looked to his second eldest. She had a determined look on her face, and Gilgamesh marveled at the children Gilgamesh and Myrrah had raised. Pains of the father are coming back to me, Gilgamesh thought sourly.

"Cyclonis," Gilgamesh hedged her on.

"I wish to fight in the war alongside General Karn. He has already agreed to educate me in the matters of war, a subject mother has began to instruct me under alongside my administrative education. I believe practically knowledge may assist me in my future governance of the Horde," Cyclonis recited to him. Gilgamesh glanced at his wife, and a part of him knew that his daughter had received the speech from her mother.

The Emperor breathed in deeply and nodded his head. "All sound reasons, ones that I cannot take away from you, since you are to be the next Queen Myrrah. I ask only that you watch over yourself. Your life is more precious in only that you are in charge of an entire species," Gilgamesh told her.

"And that I am also your daughter," Cyclonis stated, a small smile on her face. It had an inkling to her more insidious nature but it was also a more sheepish, pure, smile of a daughter beaming in pride to her father. Gilgamesh wondered at his daughter for a moment, then felt the brief spring of pride as the emotions and memories of this vessel surged up in him.

"Indeed," Gilgamesh stated, his face a blank mask, though there was a crinkle on the edges of his eyes. "Now, tell me what is it that the both of you plan to do?"

Astronema looked to her younger sister, and knew that she would be the one to lead this discussion. "Do you know the current invasion plan?" She asked.

"Assume I do not," Gilgamesh told her.

She nodded her head. "The current battle plan is to make small micro jumps through Ryndellia, Zhar, Llanic and Mon Gazza, to have a straight access way to Christophsis, Rodia, and Geonosis. I am to lead a small force into Rodia to disrupt government movements and to create a favorable position for Imperial forces to siege the planet."

"Then go with caution," Gilgamesh said. "Your mission carries with it a great weight. That route would give us access to Rishi and the Corellian space lane, if we lose control of Rodia, the Imperial advance has the chance to stall, lest we open more fronts." Astronema nodded grimly in understanding. "And what of you Cyclonis."

"I wish to take Geonosis, the Geonosians interest me and I wonder...," she glanced at Myrrah at this. "If it would be possible for us to integrate these Geonosians into the Horde." Gilgamesh paused, glancing to his wife for confirmation. Myrrah, to her credit, seemed to be contemplating the idea seriously.

"Perhaps. If they have a Queen we would need to breed that out from them and wrest control connection from her. We would also need to breed out any unwanted traits and improve their genes. It is a most commendable effort my daughter," Myrrah stated. Gilgamesh could see some of the colour drain from Cyclonis' face, as she suddenly realised it was now her duty to ensure the Geonosians seamless integration into the horde.

She gulped and nodded her head. "Yes, mother." Gilgamesh rose to his full height, and Myrrah followed after him, the looks on both their faces as that of supporting parents. Like a father, Gilgamesh reached forward and cupped both the cheeks of his daughters as he planted a kiss on their foreheads.

"I ask only that you all return to me, even if such a wish is unbecoming of me," Gilgamesh stated. His daughters nodded their heads, twin looks of solemnity on their faces. It seems they took after me in that regard, Gilgamesh thought wryly.

"Of course father," Astronema said, bowing her head as thought to hide her face. Gilgamesh noted Cyclonis biting her lip, and he turned to her, making sure his silks made some noise as he did so.

Startled, Cyclonis looked to him, her mouth already opened to dismiss his worries, but one look at his face made her resolve cumple. Gilgamesh was proud of his 'bitch face' and there was only one other in the whole multiverse who could beat his face, and that was an unfair matchup to begin with.

"What is it, Cyclonis?" The young teenager hesitated then withered under her father's stare.

"I worry, father...about Finn and Pacifica, Finn most of all," Cyclonis stated. That caught him at a surprise, and by the look on Myrrah's face, she too hadn't expected that from her daughter. The Golden Emperor, at a lost as to what to say, grunted.

"I see, worry of your siblings is good," Gilgamesh said, his mind at a blank. He wrapped his arms around Cyclonis' shoulder and hugged her to his chest, holding it for a few seconds, before letting go of her. "Now you must leave. War waits for no one, and most assuredly not for royals." The two daughters bowed one last time to Gilgamesh, their postured almost exact replicas of Myrrah's earlier one, and disappeared out of the room. Sighing in exhaustion and tiredness, he turned to look at his wife. "That was...a most excruciating talk."

Myrrah smiled obliquely at him. She reached out to lay a hand on his arm. "You did well, my husband," she stated.

"I would most assuredly hope so," Gilgamesh stated and leaned in close to lay a kiss on his wife's lips. She reciprocated, pushing herself up against him in order to deepen it, turning a chaste tasteful kiss into a passionate battle between the both of them. But they stopped before they could go any further, by the sheer will of their own ride as monarchs, they could not allow themselves to engage the throes of passion in a place as open as their royal chambers in the senate building. "Back to the palace then?"

Myrrah smiled and placed a hand on his chest. "No," she said simply and left the room, laughing quietly when Gilgamesh blinked in surprise at her retreating back.

0o0o The Galaxy is My Game o0o0

Padme felt her throat constrict as she pleaded with the senate again. "There is every evidence to suggest that Naboo bears the brunt of the Empire's attacks. If that is true then isn't is obvious for the Republic to concentrate their forces in freeing Naboo, and thereby wrest the entrance to the breach in Republic Space from the Empire?" Padme's voice cut straight through the chasm like a hot knife, and as veteran as a politician that she was, she knew that her play had won her only some sympathy from the senate.

The Empire was still a new threat to them, and if anything, was considered a moderate one in comparison to the Separatist War that the Republic was dealing with. All their sympathy had dried up at the start of the war, and nobody was willing to support Naboo, for fear of then becoming a victim of Republic patrols guarding their homes be reassigned to taking back Naboo. It was survival of their own interest now in the Clone Wars and that was a few quiet moments of mourning was all they could offer her.

Palpatine, her kinsmen and the Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, seemed sympathetic to her plight as he pushed his cart forward onto the stand. "Truly this is a shocking revelation for us all. I daresay none could have predicted the arrival of the Empire, not even the ever aware Jedi had noticed them until it was too late. But we must not falter in the face of this adversity and strike back, proving that democracy will always triumph over the rule of a despot."

The Neimoidian cart darted forward, the senator looking entirely perplexed at the idea. "Need we not remind the senate that Neimoidia is suffering a food shortage caused by Separatist blockades of our home system? Republic citizens are starving and dying in this war first and foremost, and we owe it to them to focus our attention on our immediate threat. So far the Imperials have made no move, but I do not say they will remain idle for long. But before we contemplate fighting another war we must prepare! My own people are dying and the war had only been ongoing for a month! What is to say of a year fighting two enemies at once."

The senators began to murmur among each other, their voices indecisive and worried for their future unity, fractured as it was already, in facing this new enemy. Padme felt her heart sink, as she knew she could not fault them for their thoughts. Their homes were in just as much peril, and with everyday the Separatist menace encroached more and more into Republic space as the GAR scrambled to intercept them, often times too late to make a difference.

"What do the Jedi have to say on this matter, Master Yoda?" Padme looked down to see the green diminutive Jedi get forcefully ejected into the center stand. The Master Jedi looked grimly at all sides of the senate, before drawing in a resigned breath.

"Afraid of this enemy, we Jedi are not. Dark in the force, this Empire is. In that, wary we are," Yoda stated, his cane wobbling as he strode forward to the light. "Victorious, this enemy is, taking Naboo, great joy for them. March to Coruscant, I do believe they will, from Naboo, they will strike."

"Do you see? If we are not careful, the war with the Separatist might not matter entirely at all. If we focus our sole attention on battling one foe, we open up a lane for the enemy at our backs."

"Then why do we not remove one enemy and gain one friend?" The tall Jedi behind Master Yoda, Master Plo-Koon, said as he steepled his fingers together. "Why do we not seek peace with the Separatist Alliance, granting them the peace they seek, in exchange for cooperation in battling this new foe."

"I second that," the Neimoidian senator stated, "Why allow this petty squabble to go on any longer, and instead focus our efforts into fighting off this new foreign and unknown enemy. We should open up negotiations now, so that we may make all possible haste to rally against this new enemy with our combined armies!" Padme could see the wisdom in the Neimoidians words, but sadly his desperation was clear, and while sane, the manner of his tone did not sit well with most people.

"You wish us to bend the knee to the terrorists that have been attacking our homes, claiming our worlds from us? These Separatists that continuously threaten the lives of us and everyone around us since their very foundation! Are you mad senator? All we would do is give them more power, and soon enough they would overtake the Republic!" Cries and exclamations of agreement and opposition rose in the ranks of the senate, and Padme looked on, dismayed at the squabbling Republic worlds, each vying for their word above others.

The Vice-Chancellor called for order, and the assembly quieted, their gazes turning back to look at their Supreme Chancellor. "I think it is time for us to call a short recess before placing the matter of Naboo to a vote."

The senate was adjourned, with the senators leaving the chambers with quiet mutterings trailing behind them. Padme sighed audibly, her eyes closed as she turned her back to the senate chambers and left the room. Outside Lieutenant Uno, her Clone Coruscant Guard, stepped to her side with a datapad in his hands.

"Senator Bail Organa wishes to speak with you, Senator Amidala, he says it's an issue regarding the Naboo occupation," Uno told her, his quick, sturdy, movements a testament to his training and his serious demeanor. Padme liked Uno, for the simple fact that if she asked something of him, he would get it down, sometimes bawling over problematic senators in the way. In that, she found Uno much like a certain Jedi she was enamored with.

"Thank you Lieutenant, what's my schedule for the day. If I remember correctly, I am soon to meet Senator Riyo Chuchi in my office?" Padme asked as she strode down the senate halls.

"Indeed Ma'am. I've notified the senator that you may be late to the meeting, she replied that she has no problem with a delay, only that her matter is not nearly as important as anything pertaining to Naboo," Uno told her. Padme thanked Uno graciously, and the Clone seemed to beam with pride over the praise.

They're like boys. Padme pushed the unsettling thought from her mind as she entered Bail's room, Uno stopping by the side of the door to stand on guard. "Senator Bail," Padme greeted warmly, her patented "Warm-Padme" smile on her face as she regarded her old friend.

"Amidala," Bail greeted, the same warm smile on his face as he stepped towards her. A pained and worried look overcame him though when he reached her. "The tragedy of Naboo, I'm sorry, I shouldn't call it that way."

Padme's smile waned but she refused to allow it to drop from her face. "Don't be. From my communications with Neeyutnee, she has taken refuge with the Gungan people, and the Gungan Grand Army is holding the Imperial Army back, for now at least. With luck Republic forces will be able to arrive and relieve the beleaguered Gungan forces before the Imperials manage to break into the Gungan lines."

"I hope so too," Bail said sympathetically. "There is a great deal we are shrouded in regarding this Empire. It troubles that we never discovered them, especially since their borders are so close to our own."

"It troubles me as well, I assure you," Padme replied, understanding his feelings. "Perhaps if the Republic had launched more exploratory mission into wild space we might have encountered them sooner...however, that does not change our current predicament."

"I understand Senator Amidala," Bail replied reassuringly. "Alderaan will support Naboo whenever she calls for it. You will have my vote in the coming session, worry not about that."

"And you will have mine as well," Riyo Chuchi said as she strode into the room, a smile on her face as she accepted a welcoming hug from Padme. "It pains me to see such indecision among our senators at such a tumultuous time. It reminds us of why the Separatist left the Republic."

"It reminds us, but never credits them. The Separatist are outliers looking to solidify their own rule and bleed the Republic dry," Bail cautioned, his tone strong. Riyo nodded her head, her hands clasped in front of her as she looked to the ground in sadness.

"That is true as well. I have had a lot to think about, since the news of the invasion on Naboo. Primarily on the Republic and the Separatist, our common ground and our differences," Riyo admitted.

"You want the Republic to ally themselves to the Separatist, to fight back the Empire together?" Amidala asked, already having caught onto what she was implying.

"Not a popular decision," Bail commented.

Riyo could not argue that point and nodded her head. "Undoubtedly. But the Separatist Alliance are not so different from the Republic. They too have a democracy, though there is always the question of the corporations it has under its ranks." She shook her head. "All the Separatists want is independence from the Republic, which in all cases, shouldn't be an issue. If we mend the bridge between the Separatist and the Republic, we could help each other more together than the galaxy had benefitted from centuries of a single Republic entity."

"But the Separatists are terrorists," Bail told her. "They enacted several terrorist activities all throughout Republic space before they declared their will to secede. The amount of bad blood several members of the Republic senate have with CIS runs deep, to the point that we may have to account for another rebellion if we even consider peaceful negotiations with the Separatists."

Riyo bowed her head. "I understand that very well, but as leaders, shouldn't it be our duty to put aside our differences for the greater good?"

Padme nodded her head approvingly. "I agree, the Empire is the bigger threat now. I know of someone who may help with that. Mina Bonteri is the person I can put my life on the line for if it ever came down to it. She serves as a Senator in the Separatist Senate, and I know she has enough clout to sue for a peace treaty."

Bail sighed, nodding his head as he thought about their words. "Yes, it does sound feasible. I will hold the front here then, Senator Amidala, and I shall inform Mon Mothma over the decision as well. With luck we can gain enough support to see this through."

"I would hope so as well," Padme said, a determined look in her eye.

Just to answer a question. The characters in my story aren't all the same characters they were derived from. There will be changes and differences in how they behave while still maintaining a snippet of the original core. There's also the lore of the Empire that affects their characters now.