Confederacy of Independent Systems Space

Raxus Secundus, Capital of the CIS

Two days after Palpatine's death

Dooku sat with steepled hands as he surveyed the assembly before him; every general and admiral in the CIS had been called with those who could not make it attending via holoprojector. It was a buzz of commotion as they call compared notes and bragged about battles against the Republic. Standing near Dooku was General Grievous and Nute Gunray, the Viceroy of the Trade Federation, both of whom had been informed of the current plan. As the last few filtered in and the last holoprojectors were activated, Dooku stood.

"Ladies, gentlemen, generals, admirals, and comrades; a great blow has been struck against the Republic!" Dooku began, drawing all eyes to him. "The Supreme Chancellor is dead, leaving the Republic leaderless and in disarray. This is a great opportunity to strike a decisive blow against our enemies!" The assembled commanders could feel the tension rising, awaiting their next orders, wondering where they would strike with their vast fleets and innumerable droid armies. "However…while the Republic has lost their political leader, in the past three years, the Jedi and the Republic have decimated our territory," Dooku said solemnly, coming out from behind his desk, "our territory has been split into two, the Republic fleets take us apart piecemeal, and their war machine grows all the stronger. Were we to continue this war, we would inevitably fall to the clone armies, due to lack of materials and unity between our forces."

"Then what do you propose, Count?" Someone spat, angry at what seemed to be a defeatist tone.

"An….alternative approach," Dooku said with a sly smile, "now more than ever the Republic be open to peace, and we shall grant them that. They will, inevitably, want a treaty written up, and we shall give that to them. One of the terms will be to turn over several of you fine soldiers; beings who have sought victory at any cost in the name of the Confederacy." This much was true; many of the CIS generals had committed horrific acts to counter the Republic, and it was reasonable to assume that the Republic would ask for war criminals. Several generals looked very uncertain of themselves in that moment. "We will sign that treaty…. but you will not be turned over to the Republic to rot in some prison cell for the rest of your years. No; instead, you will, with assistance from the Confederacy, go into hiding for a time, a month or more. Then, we shall begin the next step; a cold war to both cripple the Republic for future war…and to build this." Dooku pressed a button on his desk, and a large red hologram came into being in the center of the room.

"What is that?" An admiral cried.

"A superweapon, devised by Poggle the Lesser and his Geonosians; a weapon of fear and destruction so potent that it can wipe civilizations from existence." Dooku said. "But the Confederacy cannot build this weapon in its current state. We require time, manpower, and resources to construct this weapon. You, soldiers of the Confederacy, will not only buy us time to build the weapon, you shall also be our gatherers; raiding the Republic where it is weakest, and stealing what you can. You shall blind them to the true threat, and only when it is too late will they see that we have won the war. Now, can I count on you all to do your duty to the Separatist cause?" The room was filled with variations of one word.

Yes.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Courscant

Two days after the Chancellor's death

Obi-Wan and Anakin watched as the Senate bickered back and forth, as they were prone to do. Both Jedi despised politics, Obi-Wan due to the lack of any significant progress, and Anakin because of all the twists and turns a politician had to make to a have a simple conversation. Tact had not been something Obi-Wan had been able to pass on to his former apprentice, but his crude edge served him well at times.

The issue of the day, as it had been yesterday, was who was to take over as interim-Chancellor. The topic was difficult to discuss, especially due to the bomb dropped on them by Masters Yoda and Windu regarding the Chancellor's true identity. No one wanted to be the man that followed a Sith into office, but someone had to. The current runner-up, unsurprisingly to the Jedi, was Bail Organa from Alderaan; backed for his reasonable and practical values. As Obi-Wan scanned the Senate, he noted that Representative Jar Jar Binks had taken Senator Padme Amidala's place in the Naboo box.

"Senator Amidala is suspiciously absent," Obi-Wan stated, gaining Anakin's attention, "I wonder if the Separatists are causing trouble near the Naboo system again?"

"Actually, I've heard she was pregnant, master." Anakin replied.

"Pregnant?! Was she married while we were in the Outer Rim?" Obi-Wan asked in surprise.

"Not to my knowledge, master, and the senator is unwilling to reveal the father either." Anakin continued. "She's supposedly going to have twins." Had Obi-Wan not been so in shock, he would've noted the proud undertone in Anakin's voice.

"Twins? I sincerely hope she's prepared for them; even for a woman of her caliber it will be difficult to manage two children at the same time."

"A woman of her caliber? If I didn't know you so well master, I'd say you'd have feelings for our senator." Anakin joked without thinking. He grimaced, immediately wishing he could take the words back as Obi-Wan himself winced slightly. While Obi-Wan hadn't spoken to Anakin much about her, the Jedi Knight could tell that his former master had something more than just an acquaintance in Duchess Satine, and even Anakin had noted the similarities between the two women. His behavior after Darth Maul's takeover of Mandalore and killing of Satine was more secluded and reserved, telling Anakin all he needed to know. "I'm sorry, master, I didn't mean to touch a nerve."

"What nerve do you believe you have touched?" Obi-Wan asked, curious to see what his former apprentice would come up with.

"The nerve with you and the Duchess…never mind, forget I said anything." Anakin said, turning away.

"No, it's quite alright," Obi-Wan said, leaning against the wall as he thought of the Duchess, "the Duchess was my failure as a Jedi whilst protecting Senator Amidala has been more of a success. Though, you seem a very poor guardian of her bedroom." Anakin took a moment to process the joke, first trying to understand if Obi-Wan knew of him and Padme, and then realizing his master was actually making a joke. He laughed, genuinely.

"Not what I meant, master, but yes, I have been." Anakin said.

"If you were referring to my personal relations with the Duchess….I will admit in my younger years as a padawan….we were close," Obi-Wan admitted, folding his arms, "when one is on the run for so long with another, attachments can form easily."

"Then how come our relationship hasn't formed as easily?" Anakin asked.

"Whereas the Duchess was beautiful, graceful, and capable, you are ugly, clumsy, and utterly reckless. Oh, did I mention how much you irritate me, and everyone else around you?" Obi-Wan retorted, causing both of them to laugh again. As they laughed, they noted the sudden, uncharacteristic silence from the Senate floor, drawing both of their eyes out; their laughter died in their throats as a large holoprojection of Count Dooku appeared.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Anakin said aloud as Dooku spoke.

"Greetings, members of the Galactic Senate," Dooku began, "the past three years have not been kind to either of our nations; constant war, political unrest, upheaval, and blockading of trade routes have caused many to suffer unnecessarily. Now, with the death of your Chancellor, the Confederacy of Independent Systems, myself and the Separatist Council, have done some…introspection of our own. We have determined, in the face of the Outer Rim Sieges and the Death of Chancellor Sheev Palpatine that the time has come for peace."

"Anakin?"

"Yes?"

"You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you hear something utterly out of place and untrue?"

"Yes?"

"That feeling has invaded my whole body."

"Yeah, same here, master."

"The Confederacy understands that such a decision will take time to come to fruition, particularly in regard to the election of a new chancellor. We will wait one Standard week for the election of a new chancellor, after which, we would like to negotiate peace terms. The CIS will halt all offensive operations during this time, as a sign of good faith. We hope you will see reason." And with that last ominous sentence, the holoprojection of Count Dooku faded from view, prompting an explosion of loud talk from the Senate floor. Anakin and Obi-Wan immediately turned from the Senate and began walking swiftly to the nearest speeder.

"There's no way he's being serious." Anakin said, shaking his head.

"I feel the same, but at the same time if it was a false signal, Count Dooku would not have done it himself." Obi-Wan countered.

"So, what, the Seps are actually suing for peace? That now that their true leader is dead they're ready to come back to us?" Anakin spat.

"I'm not saying it'll be a true peace; I'm saying that they're buying time for themselves, or plotting a trap." Obi-Wan argued. "The Sith and by extension the Confederacy will forever be aligned against the Jedi Order and the Republic; this is merely a ploy, for what I do not know."

"So what do we do?" Anakin asked as they found a speeder. Obi-Wan sighed heavily as he flopped down into the speeder while Anakin took the pilot's seat.

"We play along…for now."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Four days after the Battle of Courscant

The Senate had voted quickly, electing Bail Organa to fill the position of Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. He had quickly set things into motion, halting all Republic offensives across the galaxy and opening the necessary channels to initiate peace talks with the Confederacy. That had all been on the third day, it was now the fourth day, and Bail Organa now had assembled before him several members of the Jedi Order: Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Mace Windu, Kit Fisto, Ki-Adi-Mundi, Plo Koon, and Aluminara Unduili. He had called them together to ask them one single question:

"How long until we go to war again with the Confederacy of Independent Systems?" Organa asked as he surveyed the Jedi before him. Silence filled the room as the Jedi searched their minds for answers. "Or will war be necessary again? If Count Dooku is genuine in his claims, we may have peace for quite some time."

"As much as I wish for that sentiment to be true, Chancellor," Obi-Wan said, breaking the Jedi's silence, "there can be no peace with the Separatists."

"And what makes you so certain, Master Kenobi?" Organa asked.

"Because a Sith leads them. The Sith are dedicated to the destruction of the Jedi and by extension the Galactic Republic; Dooku is no different from the rest." Obi-Wan stated firmly. There was also the topic of his and Anakin's vision, but the pair had yet to sort through that particular matter in any depth.

"Peace there can be, but last it will not." Yoda agreed.

"So what do you suggest, Master Jedi? I cannot tell the Senate that we cannot make peace with the CIS because of a millennia old feud between the Jedi and the Sith." Organa questioned.

"Chancellor, if I may?" Anakin asked. Organa nodded as the rest of the Jedi raised a collective eyebrow at the Knight. "Dooku, as much as I hate to admit it, has a point: the galaxy is tired of the fighting. I can tell you right now that Dooku's goal is to exploit the peace in some way to weaken the Republic, especially because there will be elements in the Senate who would look for demilitarization."

"You refer to Senator Amidala and her peace party?" Organa asked. It was more statement than question, but it nonetheless had to be asked.

"Yes, I do. If I could suggest, take the peace offering, but keep the Republic strong."

"As much as I agree with that sentiment, Master Skywalker, the production of the clone armies during peacetime would bankrupt the Republic at the current rate. How would I keep the Republic strong if I cannot fund it?" Anakin and Obi-Wan shared a look, their minds drifting back to the battlefield where they marched with clones, Mandalorians, and members of every species in the galaxy.

"Reduce clone production," Obi-Wan said, "but authorize the creation of planetary militaries, both armies and navies." Organa regard the two for a moment.

"Continue."

"The clones, while a stalwart force, can only cover so much ground and be in so many places, especially if we cut production of them." Obi-Wan stated. "However, they are experienced and could be used as instructors and trainers."

"Imagine this," Anakin began, "the Republic has been relying on a singular source for its manpower, Kamino, and similarly Rothana Heavy Engineering for its war material. If we lose one or both of those, we lose the war, which is why Kamino is heavily guarded. Now imagine if we granted the power to create armies and navies down to the sectors and systems of the Republic; not as guerilla fighters but as part of a standing army."

"They don't have to be the quality of the GAR," Obi-Wan continued, "but they do need to be proficient; trained and equipped to hold the line against a Separatist invasion until they either decide the invasion is no longer worth the investment, or until reinforcements arrive."

"In terms of war material, they can look elsewhere for ships, weapons, and vehicles. I'm certain most will design variants of existing models to fit a battlefield." Anakin finished.

"The Jedi can oversee the training processes as well, to see how we might best integrate ourselves in the event we are called." Master Windu chimed in. Organa nodded as his eyes moved rapidly, envisioning the political maneuvering it would take to get this through the Senate.

"Well then, if you excuse me, gentlemen, I have call to make." The Jedi bowed and exited the room as Organa stood and opened a channel to Count Dooku.