Coruscant.
The great city-planet was the capital of the Galactic Republic, and lay at the heart of the galaxy.
Now, it was Imperial Center.
Palpatine sat behind his desk in the Senate Building, facing the newly fixed window, staring out at the cityscape. He had, not even a day ago, thrown the Jedi Master Mace Windu out this window. He smirks at the memory. Windu had always gotten on his nerves throughout his career, and Palpatine had been all to happy to kill the Jedi in such a manner.
Mas Amedda, Palpatine's Vice Chancellor, clears his throat from his position next to Palpatine's desk. Palpatine doesn't look away from the window as he says, "What is it?"
"Your Excellency, you have an incoming transmission from the planet Mustafar. It is your apprentice, Lord Vader." Palpatine raises an eyebrow at this, and swivels his chair to face his desk. "Put it through."
A translucent blue figure materializes on his desk. Anakin Skywalker, or rather, Darth Vader, is kneeling. Palpatine can sense something... off coming from his apprentice. He waves his hand, and says, "Arise, Lord Vader. Tell me, what is the situation on Mustafar? Is the Separatist Leadership dead?"
"Yes, My Master. The Separatist Council is destroyed, and the deactivation codes have been broadcasted to the CIS as a whole." Anakin doesn't meet his eyes, however, and Palpatine knows that he hasn't been told everything. "Tell me, Lord Vader. Were there any... complications in your mission? Perhaps along the lines of Jedi interference?"
Anakin looks surprised by this, and nods. "Yes, Master. Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to defeat me in combat." Palpatine smirks at this. He figured that it would be Kenobi. "I take it that he is dead?"
Anakin bows his head in shame. "No, Master. I was about to kill him when... General Grievous entered the room. Kenobi knocked me unconscious, and when I came to, Admiral Yularen had arrived, and reported their escape."
When Palpatine heard this, his eyes were wide with shock. He knew that there would be a chance that Kenobi would win, and he had contingency plans in place for such an event. But Grievous being alive would complicate matters severely. After a moment of tense silence, he speaks. "Lord Vader, return to Coruscant at once. There is work to be done." With that, he cut the connection, and stood from behind his desk.
Followed closely by Mas Amedda and four Red Guards, he makes his way to his personal hangar. He was already formulating a plan, and it would require a visit to the Senate. Palpatine smirks. Grievous was certainly a problem, but he may have just made it far easier for Palpatine to secure his power. He chuckles darkly as his entourage boards his shuttle. This would be interesting.