PALACE OF HOUSE AMIDALA, CITY OF THEED

Captain Panaka studied the security-droids on patrol out on the balcony beyond the impressive windows of the palace library. As of yet, he had found no gap to exploit in their patrols.

"Do not waste your time, captain" Baron Louka said, slumped in a sofa as he was. "All hope is lost. We might as well accept it."

Panakas disdain was all too apparent. "Until that treaty is signed, we are at war. And as long as we are at war, it is my duty to resist and to fight. Planning our escape is the first step towards fullfilling that duty."

"It is commendable, captain" Baron Sio said, "and you have at least my gratitude."

"And mine" Baroness Amidala added.

"By now the Republic must have acted in some way" Baron Sio said. "Palpatine would have made sure of that. Captain Panaka is right, we must resist. At the moment, time is our ally. Not to mention, Palpatines friends on Coruscant."

"But there is yet any sign that the Republic has intervened" Amidala pointed out. "If the Senate has sent a delegation, why haven't we talked to them? The Federation would never dare to refuse a republic delegation to investigate the situation surrounding something as serious as an invasion. They would never dare to deny republic ambassadors the chance to talk to us."

The Steward of House Palpatine was next to speak. "I fear, your highness, that at this point we should not underestimate what the Federation is capable of. This whole affair is insanity. We would do best not to trust in Viceroy Gunrays good judgment."

Baroness Naberrié walked over to Panaka and took his hand in hers. "Remain vigilant, captain. We owe it to those we have lost."

It reminded everyone of the casualties suffered during the invasion, but perhaps even more so, of a mothers plight as a daughter had, in the midst of battle, gone missing in action. A most sombre moment for the captives held prisoner in the library.

Three battledroids came crashing through the windows in quick succession and everyone turned around to face the balcony, shocked and frightened by the sudden violence. As a green whirlwind cut through two other droids, the Shadow Maidens gathered around their queen as living shields. Three of the securitydroids were struck down by a young man dressed in the robes of a monk, swinging a bright blue beam of plasma. An older man, also in the robes of a monk, reached out with his hand at the last of the still standing securitydroids, and with the flick of his wrist appeared to fling the droid through the air, despite standing a full six feet away, with such force that it was smashed to pieces against the wall. One of the droids on the floor of the library began to climb back on its feet and readied its blaster, but before it had time to aim and fire, it took a two foot long harpoon through its head and collapsed as its central logic-engine was destroyed.

The naboo nobles stood perplexed as the two monks and a gungan climbed through the broken windows between the library and the balcony,. The gungan retrieved a harpoon from a quill on his back and used it to reload his rifle before retrieving a blaster from one of the fallen droids.

"Forgive the dramatic entrance. I am Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and this is my apprentice, Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. We have not much time, so if you would come with us." The jedi indicated with his arm that the nobles should follow him out onto the balcony.

"Come with you where?" Amidala asked before taking a single step, ever surrounded by her loyal bodyguards.

"Away from the palace and into hiding" Qui-Gon said. "Your people needs you, my lady, to fight the Federation. You can not do this while being a prisoner."

"There are bound to be resistance-groups" Panaka said eagerly, his hopes returning as he inspected the blaster he had picked up from the floor, dropped by a fallen securitydroid. "With the queen to lead them, all of Naboo will rise against the Federation."

"It is too dangerous!" Baron Louka objected.

Obi-Wan had little patience for further discussion. "If you don't mind, we really do need to get moving before more droids show up."

"Your highness" Baron Sio said, adressing the queen, "what ever options you have, to remain a prisoner is not one of them."

"Very well" the young queen nodded. "Lead the way, master jedi."

The two jedi and their gungan ally guided the large group out onto the balcony and down some stairs leading to a rampart. Cautiously they moved on, through gardens and pathways inside the palace-walls, hiding from Federation troops patrolling the grand citadell.

"Master jedi" Baron Sio adressed Qui-Gon as the large retinue made their way through the palace. "Can we rely on help from the Republic?"

"We were sent here as republic ambassadors, on behalf of Chancellor Valorum himself" Qui-Gon explained.

"I take it that your negotiations failed, master jedi" Baron Sio concluded.

Qui-Gon simply nodded. "The negotiations never took place. There is no logic to the Trade Federations move here. There is a greater plot behind all of this, one that escapes me."

"What ever the case" Captain Panaka cut in, "Naboo needs to be liberated."

Eventually, as they moved on, in order to avoid detection they were forced to take refuge in a small wine-cellar. Jar-Jar searched the room to make sure they were alone and would not come across any nasty surprises while Obi-Wan stood guard by the doorway. When no-one was looking, Jar-Jar exploited the moment to have a taste from one of the many bottles.

Panaka decided to share a plan of escape. "It is not far to the royal harbour from here" he said, "there we can get a boat to take us upriver."

"And do what?" Baron Louka did little to hide his sarcasm. "Hide in the Riverlands and fight the Federations droids with fishing-rods?"

Qui-Gon stepped in before the situation escalated any further. "This bickering is pointless. Your homeworld has been invaded and your people need you to lead them."

But Baron Louka was not eager at the prospect. "I am sorry master jedi, but we gave the order to our troops to stand down, to not resist. We gave that order because we had no hope of winning. If we would not let our own soldiers die in a futile battle, why then would we ask that very thing of the civilian population that we have sworn to protect?"

Obi-Wan took a brief pause in his guard-duties. "Because they are already fighting. All they need is leadership."

But even Baron Sio was not so easily convinced. "What they need is help from the Republic. What they need is help from the Jedi Order. Naboo is one planet, the Trade Federation are hundreds of worlds, thousands even. We are in no position of fighting a prolonged war, and should we engage in one, it will only destroy our planet. It would be utter disaster."

Panaka was not about to simply surrender. "If the people are fighting, then we must join with them. I for one will not do nothing while nabooans die, fighting for my freedom."

"And what if we do join them?" Baron Louka asked. "What if we do and we get killed? What then? What hope is there then for Naboo? Think about it; one planet against thousands!"

"Baron, please" Amidala gently said, her tone of voice urging them all to calm down. "Master jedi, what is your advice?"

Qui-Gon gave the question some thought. "If you stay, my lady, you must become a beacon of hope for your people" the jedi knight then said. "A symbol to rally by, a banner to gather around. You must inspire them to fight, and to keep fighting, for as long as it takes to free Naboo of the Trade Federation. This will demand of you great sacrifice, blood and tears, heartache and sorrow, grief and agony. But your people would fight."

"And if I don't stay?" the young queen then asked.

"Then you must make sure you find allies that will help you force the Trade Federation to give up their plans for this world" Qui-Gon said. "Find allies willing to openly attack the Federation or to oppose them in the senate. Or both. You must set up a government in exile and make sure your people never lose hope. Until your people are once more free, you must become the embodiment of Naboo for all too see; her splendor, her beauty, her strength. You risk living a lonely life, one of disapointment, of lies and deceit, a life of false hope and uncertain promises."

Amidala thought on what the jedi had said, sighing as she did. "Is the Jedi Order such an ally?" she eventually asked.

Qui-Gon merely smiled. "The Jedi are sworn to be the guardians of peace and justice throughout the Old Republic. If the senate decides that this invasion is illegal, then the Jedi will make sure that the Trade Federation leaves Naboo alone."

"And not even the Trade Federation would dare go against the Jedi Order" Baron Sio added to the discussion.

"Padmé" Baroness Naberrié said and stepped up to her daughter.

"Mother?" the young baroness of Theed took Baroness Naberriés hand.

"You must go" Baroness Naberrié said. "Follow in your fathers footsteps and represent Naboo in the Senate. Find the allies that we need. It is the only way to liberate Naboo."

Amidala took a moment to reflect before coming to a decision. "Very well... I will go to Coruscant and join with senator Palpatine, and speak with the chancellor."

Baron Sio let out a great sigh of relief. "Now all we need to do is smuggle the queen off the planet."

"The royal hangarbay is not that far off" Panaka pointed out. "We should be able to find a transport."

XXX XXX

Count Nayron was joined by his closest advisors, along with Baron Gelda and the nabooan nobles own retinue of advisors. Three dozen securitydroids had secured the library, and established the fact that the prisoners somehow had managed to overthrow their guards and escape.

"This is not good" Gelda concluded.

"How could this have happened?" Nayron wondered out loud. "They were unarmed" he said, referring to his prisoners.

OOM-9, the advanced command-droid, shared his findings. "Several of the securitydroids show signs of having been cut down and destroyed by an extremely powerful beam of energy. It would suggest that the guards were attacked by the the two missing jedi. Though the evidence is not conclusive."

Baron Gelda could hardly believe it. "Jedi? Here?" he said, fear alight in his eyes. "What are we to do? We can not go up against the Jedi Order!"

"You will do as you are told!" Nayron barked at the naboo noble. "Commander" he then said as he turned to adress OOM-9, "issue a silent alarm. Close down the palace, quietly. We can not risk that the populace gets wind of this."

"A wise course of action, my lord" OOM-9 admitted.

XXX XXX

Panaka and Qui-Gon cautiously made their way around the corner and out on the catwalk, giving them a good vantage-point over the hangar. A dozen Naboo fighters were docked along the walls and at the far end was the royal sloop, the exclusive yacht of House Amidala. Between the sloop and the open hangarbay-doors, were three Federation shuttles and a handfull of Federation troops.

"Her majestys royal yacht will take us into orbit" Panaka said and pointed at the larger vessel. "It has strong shields, but I don't know if they are strong enough to bust through a blockade. Maybe with a more than decent pilot it could work, but I have my doubts."

Qui-Gon nodded. "It will have to do. Now all we need is someone to fly it out of here."

"Master jedi" Panaka said. "The chances of the queen ever reaching Coruscant are slim to none. As soon as we take off, the Federation will throw everything they have at us. I wouldn't count on us even leaving atmosphere before they shoot us down."

"Trust in the Force, captain" the jedi said and placed a hand on Panakas shoulder. "Trust in destiny."

They snook back to the others hiding out of view in a small corridor.

"Well?" Baron Sio asked. "How does it look?"

Qui-Gon raised a hand to stave off too many questions. "We will rely on the queens sloop to take us into space. But it would appear that we require an accomplished pilot to ensure we get past the blockade."

Obi-Wan did not like the plan. "I doubt that anyone of us is skilled enough at piloting to go up against battleships on alert."

"Then we shall have to find such a pilot" Qui-Gon simply stated.