"Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others."

-Winston Churchill



"This assembly WILL come to ORDER!!" shouted Chancellor Palpatine.

The entire Senate was in turmoil again after hearing word of the savage attack. The Supreme Chancellor had called for an emergency session as soon as he left Theed for the capital.

As becoming such a large body of politicians, everyone demanded that something be done, but was unwilling to bring forth any sort of specifics, much less a workable plan.

Finally, at the Chancellor's command, the Senate gradually fell silent.

"Members of the Senate, citizens of the Republic," Palpatine spoke, loudspeakers and the room's excellent acoustics filling the Senate Floor with his voice, "Our Republic is threatened by a menace never before seen since the years of chaos which preceded its founding. The peaceful planet of Naboo, my own home, was attacked by vicious and merciless warships. Casualties are estimated at over one hundred thousand. Our duty demands that we react strongly and swiftly, united in a common purpose, to ensure the safety of our Republic. Therefore, I have drafted a resolution calling for the use of all of the Republic's investigative resources in tracking down those responsible for this heinous act.

I have here with me Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Knight, and Sio Bibble, Governor of Theed, who is representing Senator Naberrie, who has chosen to remain on Naboo with her people. Both will bear witness to the savagery of the attack and the suffering of the Naboo."

Palpatine looked towards the Naboo platform, containing Bibble and the Jedi knight. "The chair will now recognize the honorable Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Thank you, Supreme Chancellor," Obi-Wan began, his cultured voice now reverberating throughout the Senate, "While on Naboo protecting the Senator, my apprentice and I became engaged with a small force of the attackers who had destroyed the Theed shield generator. When we examined the bodies for intelligence, we realized that the soldiers were physically identical in all respects. Subsequent genetic analysis has revealed that the soldiers are the product of cloning technology."

The resulting chorus of panicked voices took Chancellor Palpatine much longer to restore order.

***



"Anakin? What about your mother?" Padme asked, still concerned.

Sabe entered the room that moment, leading a procession of guards, handmaidens, and other startled palace inhabitants. Everyone's nerves had been on edge since the attack, and more than a few alarms had risen from a sentry who had been on duty for too long and without rest.

Naturally, when they saw only the young Jedi and no intruders, they filed from the room, grumbling and cursing.

"I don't know," Anakin replied, getting to his feet, throwing on his tunic and robes, and grabbing a few assorted items, lightsaber among them. "But I have to go find her. I have to go find her NOW."

She paused for a moment. "And I'm coming with you."

"Padme," he said, "I'm going to be in enough trouble with Obi-Wan when I get back, and I don't think that Queen Jamilla will take too kindly to you running off to Tatooine with me."

But Padme, as ever, was insistent. "Anakin, you don't know what's happening down there, and…you shouldn't have to face this alone." She replied, her voice softening. "Besides, it will look better if I'm with you since you were assigned to protect me."

"Thank you, Padme," he said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Ten minutes later, the Senator's ship, with Anakin at the controls, blasted out of the ruined city and out into the blackness of space.