Star Wars 2.0

Episode 5: Rise of the Clones

Chapter 5

General Graves grudgingly sequestered himself to the communications room within his headquarters. This chamber had been set up specifically so the general could speak privately with his masters the Neimoidians while out conquering the galaxy; but it was a waste of space and time. They demanded updates, and the very act of giving those updates was keeping Graves from conquering more territory. Graves knew this, and had come to realize the irony of the Neimoidians being its commanders. General Graves had recently realized that it had become superior to them in every way, but they were still the masters, and it had to deal with their lack of efficiency with patience. They were, after all, Graves's creator.

They were calling from Jalol, the planet where the droids were being manufactured. This was the world that was of the utmost importance to the Separatists, for they drew all their military strength from its construction. So they had built up their defenses beyond anything the galaxy had ever known. It was a veritable impervious fortress guarding an entire world of mechanisms building other mechanisms; growing even stronger by the minute.

That world did not need his defense. So why were the Neimoidians bothering him when he should be gathering the troops for another attack? They demanded a detailed update. When Graves told them his forces had taken the Beldorne, Ossus, and Murkhana systems, they pressed for details; numbers of casualties on both sides; costs of replacement parts, even battle reports which described every movement of every unit. It was all Graves could do to not shut off the holocomm.

Much of what the masters wanted, Graves did not have at the moment, so it would have to gather the information and send it later. The next wave of assaults would take place after that. When they did, the Neimoidians ordered him to attack the Chorios Sector.

"That is a terrible idea," General Graves protested. To get there I would have to go along the Perlemian Way, which is blocked by a powerful Republic fleet."

"You will push them aside as you always have," one of the masters said.

"We have been successful because we've always attacked their weak points with our strong ones," Graves said.

"Their warships have proven no match for the power of your droid vessels."

"The fleet you're wanting us to attack with is too weakened from other battles that haven't been replaced yet. We would be going at them with little more than transports."

"You have your orders, General Graves. Now get us those reports."

General Graves looked on in shock, but it relented. The Neimoidian masters knew best. But Graves would take its time to gather the information, thus buying time for repairs and replacements of the fleet.

A half dozen senators sat across from Senator Palpatine in his office. They were not convinced that his clone army was the answer to their problems. The usual issues were brought up. How would they maintain control over such a large army, and who would be answerable for their actions? Palpatine had an answer for every concern, and reassured that he would be in control of the entire operation.

"That is what worries me," one of them said. It was Clii Krang, a Rodian who had often been outspoken in her caution. "If one person controls the entire military, that is the first step to a dictatorship."

Palpatine looked at her with hurt eyes. "Do you not trust me, Senator Krang?"

A couple of the other senators looked at Krang judgmentally. She was surprised at them. They were as fearful of a dictatorship as she was. One of them even more so. And yet here they had gone from doubting Palpatine to virtually endorsing him.

But she did have one ally, Wos Nruandoll of the Sullustans. He continued to scrutinize Palpatine's plans. "You say they are raised from birth learning little but how to fight."

"That's right."

"They are learning to be barbarians with no morality. What if they become their own faction and turn on us?"

Palpatine waved his hand dismissively and said, "They will not turn on us."

Senator Krang expected Nruandoll to respond, but he said nothing. She was surprised to see him sitting back in his chair. "Senator Nruandoll," she said. He looked at her quizzically. Then she continued, "Aren't you going to say more?"

"There's no need," he said. "He told us they will not turn on us."

"But how do we know that?" Krang asked.

"Because I trust him," Nruandoll said, almost hypnotically.

"So do I," echoed another, then another, then another.

Only one did not chime in. Plel Emubb of the Ithorians. Krang was surprised, for Senator Emubb had been the closest one to being in favor of Palpatine's plans. But, he explained, the questions of the other two senators had given him pause, and he was curious. In particular, he asked what would become of the clone army once it was no longer needed. "Will they be euthanized? Will they become a part of our society? If so, will they have a place in the senate? Will their votes count the same as mine? What sorts of rights will they have?" This quiet member of the council suddenly became a chatterbox of queries.

Palpatine tried to interrupt him with another dismissive wave of his hand, telling him not to worry about it. Emubb waved his hand in return, annoyed, saying, "Don't you get dismissive with me. These are important questions. And if you want us to vote with you to approve these clones, you're going to need to give us a good reason."

Krang chimed in with a reasonable tone. "Senator, you brought us in here because you are just short of the votes to finance this large clone army of yours. We are the six closest to changing our minds. It looks like you've convinced four of us; but what my esteemed colleague and I wish from you are some basic answers as to some of the logistics of what will happen with this army. Have you thought them through?"

Palpatine drew in a long breath. He eyed one of the members of the group; a Nautolan named Tac Soo, who nodded slightly in return. "You're right, of course, Senator. These are valid questions for which I owe you valid answers. Let me think on those and have an answer for you in two days."

With that, Palpatine stood, and the others did as well. They bowed, and went their separate ways.

Nearby, within the walls of the Jedi Council building, Obi-Wan sat cross-legged with Yoda in his meeting chamber. The dim light of the room was challenged by the slits of orange sunbeams which seeped in through the blinds and fell on the two friends. They were discussing the very same matter as Palpatine and the other senators.

Obi-Wan had been opposed to the idea of any army that had been created in secret; but after experiencing warfare that went poorly for him and his troops, he saw little other alternative short of surrender. A peace negotiation might have been possible at the beginning, when the Trade Federation was merely harassing people. But their goals seemed now to be galactic conquest.

"Still worried am I what this will bring," Yoda said.

"Have you looked into the future to see what it holds if we go down this path?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Tried, have I," Yoda said. "But little is there to see. Usually emotion is the future, and I must translate. But this matter... Cloudy. Murky. Difficult to see anything. It is as though it is being hidden."

"Hidden," Obi-Wan responded. "As if someone is trying to hide the truth from you."

"Conclusions will I not endorse," Yoda said. "But concerned I am. The force is mysterious, but never have I had so much difficulty getting some view of what might be."

"That's troubling," Obi-Wan said. "If it is being hidden from you, it begs the question, is it to hide what could be with, or without the clone army."

"That, I'm afraid, will be up to the senate," Yoda said.

Plel Emubb lived like most senators; in an upper middle class semi-luxury condominium within the crowded city of Coruscant. His family enjoyed a comfortable home within a good neighborhood. The space was large enough to accommodate a business guest in an office when they came. This was where Senator Emubb met with Palpatine when he dropped by to visit the day after their meeting.

Emubb would not remember many of the details later; just that it was pleasant, and Palpatine had explained his point of view in thorough terms that explained everything. The Ithorian senator had been convinced of Palpatine's ideas, and he had come around to agreeing with his point of view. The clone army indeed was necessary, and Plel Emubb would be adding his vote to the side of approval.

But what of Clii Krang? Palpatine's proposal would still lose by a single vote unless she, or another senator who was more forcefully against the bill, did not change their mind. "Do not worry, Senator," Palpatine assured him. "I'm certain that everything will work out as it should."

Clii Krang was flying through the city. She sometimes took the long route between her starting point and her destination. She found the detours to be a relaxing distraction, despite the hectic 3D traffic. It allowed her to clear her mind and avoid talking with dignitaries and office seekers for a time.

She could use the relaxation now more than ever. The decision before the senate was one that would have long-lasting implications. Allowing a clone army to represent them on the battlefield opened up a whole wave of ethical dilemmas. But not allowing them could be their doom. Sheev Palpatine didn't know it, but Senator Krang was not entirely opposed to his opinions. She wanted him to convince her of the rightness of his claim. Many of her people were fighting in the navy, and some in the army, and daily reports showed how overwhelmed they were. A new military would give them exactly what they needed. But sometimes if something seems too good to be true, it is.

Clii took in a deep breath. All that would be worked out. Perhaps she would call Plel when she got home. Work out her thoughts with him. They seemed to be on the same page. Maybe...

That was the last thought Clii Krang ever had. The statue from the top of a building crashed through her hovercar at that very moment. It was called a freak accident. The integrity of the statue was compromised and it had slipped from its base. None of the other statues on the building showed any wear and tear, but that one somehow had undergone a lot of stress from decades of weather. It remained an architectural mystery for years to come.

To be continued...