"The Jedi have escaped from custody, my Master, forgive me I have failed you." Darth Sinistra bowed her bald head before the glimmering hologram of her cowled Master.

"It is of no importance," Darth Sidious replied, almost jovially, "all is going as I have foreseen. We shall have our war which is what matters, my young Apprentice. Jinn and Kenobi can be disposed of later, do not concern yourself."

"Thank you, my Master." she said, bowing deeply. "Still I regret not having avenged my predecessor."

"You must be patient, Sinistra, patient and mindful. I am glad you did not let your desire for revenge lead you into folly as it did Maul." said Sidious.

"If I have pleased you I am satisfied, my Master." she answered humbly. She hesitated a moment, then continued. "I would like to bring the bounty hunter Jango Fett to Coruscant with me, he has been useful to us."

"That is true." the Master agreed but he frowned. "You are not becoming ... attached to this Fett are you Sinistra?"

His Apprentice searched her feelings, then shook her head. "No, my Master, I value him as a useful tool no more."

Sidious nodded satisfied. "You are right. He has been useful and is likely to prove even more so in the future. You may bring him to Coruscant."

"Thank you, my Master."

"Continue as you have begun, Lady Sinistra, I am well pleased with you." he said and vanished.

Sinistra straightened from her bow. A throat cleared behind her and she turned; it was Fett. "A useful tool?" he asked.

"Of course." she replied, unperturbed. "Surely you know I am just using you, Jango."

"Naturally." he walked closer, very close indeed. "And I hope you realize I am using you too, my dear Sinistra." he purred.

Pale eyes widened as non-existent brows lifted. "But of course." then she smiled. She was the taller but their faces were still only inches apart. "Isn't it fortunate our purposes coincide so neatly?" she said in her whispery voice.

"Very fortunate." he agreed, huskily.

The door to the communications chamber opened and Boba dashed in, breathless. "Lady Sinistra! the Jedi are here."

"Excellent." she said. "How many?"

"Uh...all of them I think."

Jango and Sinistra exchanged a look; half indulgent, half amused. "All ten thousand of them, son?" the father asked mildly.

"Uh, no." Boba admitted. "But a couple of hundred at least."

"All those resident in the Temple." said Sinistra. "Excellent. Come, Jango." she started for the door.

Jango patted his son's shoulder as they met in the doorway. "Go back to the ship, Boba and wait for me."

"Aw, Dad, I want to see!"

"No, son." Jango said firmly. "Lady Sinistra and I have a few things to do yet, and I don't want to have to worry about you."

"But -"

"Boba." Sinistra joined the argument. "You will be a great warrior and a valuable servant of the New Order someday - but you must learn to obey orders. Your father and I will be leaving soon. Have Slave One ready for take off."

"Yes, m'Lady." the boy said resignedly and headed off down the passage in the opposite direction to the one taken by his father and the Sith Witch.

"You have spoiled that boy, Jango."

"I'm afraid I have." the bounty hunter agreed ruefully.

"Still, initiative and aggression are good traits." she continued. "It is a delicate matter to inculcate obedience without breaking the spirit."

Jango nodded. "I may have erred to much on the side of indulgence though. You've been good for him, Sinistra, he knows he can't wheedle his way around you."

"He's a fine boy." she almost smiled. "If he were just a little stronger in the Force I'd steal him from you to be my apprentice."

Fett grinned at the compliment to his son. "I'm afraid you'll have to settle for a loyal commander of Mandalore, Sinistra."

"That will be more than enough."

There was pandemonium in the arena and among the distinguished guests in the luxurious Archducal box. "She's getting away!" Nute Gunray whined the moment he caught sight of Sinistra. "Queen Amidala is getting away!"

"Nonsense, Viceroy." the Sith Witch said, walking to the railing to give the arena a casual glance. "Amidala is trapped, just like the Jedi." she fixed a cold, pallid eye on the wilting Nemoidian. "I promised you her life and you will have it. I always keep my word, Gunray, always. Remember that."

She looked back at the arena. There were no longer two hundred Jedi fighting. Barely a quarter of that number were still on their feet, retreating into a defensive ring, encircled by legions of battle droids. She watched the ring contract as more Jedi fell. Queen Amidala, Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and young Skywalker had to die of course - but the others could be useful in many, many ways....she lifted her hand and instantly the firing stopped.

"Master Windu," she called, "your position is clearly hopeless. Surrender and your lives will be spared."

"We will not be hostages for you to bargain with, Sly Moore!" The Jedi Master shouted back.

Sinistra shrugged, neither surprised nor displeased. "As you wish." and lifted her hand to signal the Droids to resume fire.

Master Windu was absolutely right of course, but Anakin wished desperately there was some way to get Padme out of all this - then grinned ruefully at himself; like she'd go. Then, behind him, she shouted "Look!"

He looked at her, along with everybody else, then followed her pointing finger upward. Suddenly the sky was full of blocky gunships. They swirled down upon them landing in a rough circle around the embattled Jedi and white armored troopers poured out, firing savagely on the battle droids.

So this was the help Master Windu'd been expecting. Anakin grabbed Padme's arm and hustled her into the nearest gunship, quickly followed by Obi-Wan, Jacen, Qui-Gon and Dooku. A number of the mysterious troopers piled in after them and the ship took off.

"Master!" Jacen clutched at Obi-Wan's shoulder. "It's the clone army from Kamino, and they were ordered by the Sith!"

"What?"

"Remember Fett said he'd been recruited by a woman called Sinistra, and Darth Sinistra is Sly Moore's Sith name!" Jacen explained breathlessly.

Appalled Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon, so did Anakin and Padme.

"The Sith wanted a war." the Master said quietly to his former teacher.

"And we've played right into their hands." Dooku agreed grimly.

And they had no choice but to go on playing the Sith's game, Anakin realized sickly, the Separatists had to be stopped, no matter what. Anti-aircraft fire rocked the gunship and everybody grabbed for some kind of support.

"Hang on." Obi-Wan ordered rather unnecessarily.

Anakin pulled a hand loop down low enough for Padme to grab and kept a protective arm around her.

They were passing over part of the vast spacefield now. Some of the small, conical Techno-Union ships opened fire on them. The gunners' return fire was ineffective. Anakin quickly analyzed the ships' design and intuited their most vulnerable point. "Aim just above the fuel cells."

That worked, the ships toppled, scattering or crushing the droids and Geonosians around them.

"Good call, Anakin." Obi-Wan complimented.

He grinned and shrugged. "You know me and machines."

Their gunship swerved around a needle of reddish stone and then they saw it; Anakin felt rather than heard Padme's gasp. Thousands of white armored clonetroopers were pouring out of wedge shaped Republic battleships, forming themselves into units and advancing on the globular Federation starships and the droid army defending them led by sabre wielding Jedi knights. Gunships were landing and taking off everywhere and small carrier ships were putting down gigantic combat walkers that paced in massive majesty towards the enemy.

Padme was shivering, here was the war she'd fought so hard to stop happening right in front of her. Anakin hugged her close. "Nobody could have stopped this, Padme." he whispered into her hair, "not even you." and felt her nod acceptance.

"Where is Yoda?" Qui-Gon asked Dooku.

His face went distant for a moment, then he pointed at a metal tower in the distance. "There."

"That's the forward command post." the clonetrooper pilot offered.

"Take us there." Qui-Gon ordered.

"Yes sir."

The top of the tower was a small open deck ringed with consoles. Yoda stood brooding in the middle of it, leaning on his staff and watching the busy clonetrooper technicians. He greeted the news of the clone army's origin without surprise.

"Feared as much I did." he said heavily. "Ours now they are and need them we do." then he squared his small shoulders and started snapping out orders: "Master Obi-Wan, take charge of right flank you will."

"Yes Master."

A clonetrooper touched Obi-Wan's arm. "This way, please, sir." they went back into the gunship. It took off heading west. A small skimmer promptly replaced it at the dock.

"Master Qui-Gon lead a special commando team you will. Deactivate those droids we must." Yoda continued.

Qui-Gon bowed and followed another clonetrooper into the skimmer which veered away back toward the assembly point.

Yan," Yoda looked up at Dooku. "Stay with me you will my former Padawan." the old Master bowed his assent. Finally Yoda turned to Padme. "Protected her Majesty must be. Anakin, Jacen, take her to the rear command center and remain with her you will."

"Yes Master." they chorused obediently.

They got on another gunship and headed back towards the assembly area and the big battleships. "Are you all right?" Anakin asked her quietly.

"As all right as anybody can be." she replied. "What a disaster."

"It's not your fault, Padme."

She smiled reassuringly up at him. "I know. We all did everything we could -"

"But the Sith were a move ahead of us." Jacen finished grimly.

"Hard to see is the Dark Side." Anakin sighed. "This is going to kill Palpatine, he trusted Sly Moore."

Padme nodded unhappy agreement. "I hope I'm not the one who has to tell him."