Entry Four
Finding the Jedi and Queen Amidala was not a difficult task. There are many resources open to the Sith; connection traces, instinct, logic, bribes, and others that I will not reveal here. My Master has showed me time and again that there is nothing too small to escape his notice, no system far enough out of reach, and no ship that cannot be found if you have the patience and cunning to look.
It took little time for me to narrow the search to one small planet in the Outer Rim Territories: Tatooine. Tatooine is a large world but with only a few big cities and small pockets of moisture farms scattered over its surface. I do not believe it will take long to locate them on the planet.
Lord Sidious summoned me and I went directly to him. Together we looked out over the lights of Coruscant. I expect my Master was feeling the same anticipation I was, and am, but his emotions are rarely visible and difficult to read.
My Master remained silent for a long time, staring out over the city. I knew he was thinking but I was getting impatient to share my news. No doubt he knew I had already traced the missing ship to Tatooine but I was anxious to start on my journey.
When I could no longer bear the silence I told my Master what I had discovered. 'Tatooine is sparsely populated. The Hutts rule and the Republic has no presence. If the trace was correct, Master, I will find them quickly and without hindrance.'
I could sense my Master was pleased with the work I had done but he remained silent for some time before responding to me.
'Move against the Jedi first,' he advised me. 'You will then have no difficulty taking the Queen back to Naboo, where she will sign the treaty.'
I was pleased that I would finally be able to reveal the Sith menace to the Jedi. I expressed my feelings to my Master and received a slight smile from him.
'You have been well trained, my young apprentice.' I knew my Master was very pleased then, for he rarely calls me his young apprentice, even when I have succeeded in fulfilling his wishes. 'The Jedi will be no match for you. It is too late for them to stop us now. Everything is going as planned. The Republic will soon be in my control.'
When I left my Master's side I went directly to the concealed landing platform we always use. My transport was ready as always.
The transport I use was only recently given to me by my Master. It is a small craft but has a powerful hyperdrive as well as a cloaking system.
Though I am quite certain that the Queen's ship sustained some damage while escaping the blockade, time is of the essence. I must get to Tatooine before they repair the ship and take off. My Master believes they will head to Coruscant and seek for help from the Senate. Though it will do them little good, alerting the Senate to the possibility of an illegal invasion could hamper our progress.
My ship is coming out of hyperspace soon and I must deactivate the cloaking system in order to land on the planet. Landing will take some time as I must wait until nightfall for a more concealed landing.
