Chapter V: Compile, Review, Expunge
Vader rushed to his wife, enveloping her in a hug.
"Are you alright, my Angel?" Vader whispered, looking down at her in obvious concern. Overall, the mission was a resounding success. Grand Vizier Isard survived, as well, which was good. He likely knew at least some of what was going on, but the damnable man always knew things. It was why he was previous Director of Imperial Intelligence, briefly, before his promotion to the seat of Grand Vizier.
Lord Cronal, somewhat younger because of how early it was, now served as the Director of Imperial Intelligence. Cronal had his orders, and would come to present the information Vader had requested soon.
"I'm... I'm fine, Ani. But... this is the first time in my life assassins have been so... so bold so as to attack the Senate directly," Padme whispered to him. Vader kissed his wife, hugging her closer.
This was also a public relations thing; after all, if the loyal Senators and those Senators who were of questionable loyalty saw this, they would only be reaffirmed with where their loyalties lied. Whereas those who could become traitors would begin to have doubts, and those who had convictions... well, Lord Cronal should assist in their removal soon enough.
"Bold, indeed. But, I do not want you to be afraid, Padme. This is not the Republic; this is our Empire, and I will not stand for this. Lord Cronal should be arriving, soon, at our personal conference room. He will have answers for us. I sense that these assassins and those who hired them were not as careful as they should have been," Vader assured his wife. She nodded against him, sinking into his comforting hold. Vader smiled, slightly.
"Your Majesties," Lord Cronal's voice broke in, as he stood near them. The Imperial Guards didn't move, their pike staffs still at the ready. Ahsoka was nearby, wearing robes, hand on her saber as she kept feelers out with the Force. Vader and Padme turned to look at Cronal, who said, "I have found something in the Banks, Your Majesties. Suspicious withdrawals, even as the identities of our assassins seemed to have increased their funds by similar amounts."
"You have found those responsible, then," Vader intoned. Lord Cronal bowed his head.
"I would present the evidence before you, My Lord," Cronal answered him directly, keeping his tone full of respectful formality, "but, at your command, I can begin a more full investigation into those suspected of this treacherous act."
"Come, then; show us what you have, Lord Cronal," Vader ordered. Padme followed with them, silent, into a private conference room elsewhere in the building. The Senators were being evacuated by the First Legion, though most had either heard or seen Vader and his wife. And then Lord Cronal. Perfectly staged, yet entirely genuine to all but those who were more... in the know.
"My Lord, based on withdrawals from various Imperial Banks, as well as from personal world-banks as monitored by Imperial Intelligence at your direction to prevent any Separatist remnants from gathering funds, the assassins were likely hired by these individuals," Cronal spoke softly, even as he presented the list of names. Vader perused them, already knowing those who would be on it.
"...Ani? What is it?" Padme questioned, her voice concerned, as Vader stared at the list in 'surprise' at the names.
"Lord Cronal, is this accurate?" Vader asked, his voice sounding concerned and almost dejected. Cronal nodded in response, a practiced mournful look on his face. Vader turned to his wife, "are you certain you wish to know, Padme? It is... alarming and distressing."
"Yes. Yes, let me see it. I- I need to know," Padme answered him. Vader handed her the datapad. He watched as she perused the list, her eyes growing wider and wider as she did so; surprise, outrage, indignation, confusion, betrayal. Vader gently pulled on some of these emotions through the Force, subtly. He placed a hand comfortingly around Padme's shoulders.
"Ani, how... how could they? I stood with them! I stood with them, and they... they almost had me killed!" Padme yelled, sounding somewhere between furious and betrayed. She turned to look at him, tears brimming at the edges of her eyes, "what was I to do? I was certainly not going to abandon my husband in his time of need, nor my children - what did they expect me to do?! And then they- they have me attacked? Endanger countless other Senators?"
"Padme, my Angel," Vader whispered softly as he hugged her, taking the datapad and returning it to Cronal. He kissed the top of Padme's head, rubbing her back and holding her tight, close, safe. His. Vader asked her, "what do you want done, Padme? Tell me, and it will be done."
"I... I want justice, Ani," Padme responded, sounding determined, "I want them brought to justice."
"As you wish," Vader told her, his voice soft as he turned hard eyes to Cronal. He then gave the orders, "conduct your investigation, Lord Cronal. Leave no stone unturned. Once you have the evidence you require, arrest all of those responsible and inform the responsible systems that this sort of treachery will never be condoned by whatever means you deem fit. Conduct the trials as soon as is within reasonable possibility."
"By your command, My Lord," Cronal responded, bowing his head as he turned and left the room.
Vader comforted his sobbing wife. She was his, and only his, now. There would be no doubt in her conviction or loyalty to him or to their children. Even better, this might be the push she needed to show her why the Empire is necessary - why it is good and can be just.
Yes, Vader decided. This was the right thing to do. Skywalker may be inclined to disagree, but the Dark Side filled Vader with strength, and so Skywalker's indictments went unheard.
After all, Padme Skywalker would be eternally grateful, in the end.
"You must be wondering why I have gathered you all here today," Vader told the Delegation of 2,000. Not all of them were responsible, but the core members were, and the rest could be found guilty of various other crimes regardless. Not least of which are traitorous sympathies.
"The thought had crossed our minds, Your Majesty," Bail Organa carefully replied, raising his eyebrows, "after all, we're the only Senators present at the moment."
"That is intentional, Senator Organa," Vader informed him, his voice projecting. He stared coldly at Organa and Mothma, among the others, "Lord Cronal, the Director of Imperial Intelligence, had discovered that several of your members - Organa and Mothma, as examples - are suspects in the attempted assassination of Her Majesty, Padme Skywalker, the Empress of the Galactic Empire. After further review, many are guilty of far more crimes of various severity - among these crimes are treason, corruption, and pro-Separatist sympathies."
"That's - preposterous!" Mothma cried out, sounding shocked and disturbed, "we would never attempt to assassinate Padme!"
There were many murmurs of assent and agreement, even as most of the Senators looked shocked or terrified at the prospect of their crimes coming forward.
"Yet you do not deny that you would make attempts against your Grand Vizier, or your Emperor," Vader noted, even as Mothma seethed. He smiled, coldly, as he said, "your crimes are severe and obvious. Lord Cronal has given his advice, and I have decided that you are all to be arrested and stripped of your positions. Your systems will have their governments replaced, on suspicion of sharing your treasonous attitudes. Your trials will be one week from today, and the punishments will vary for each and every one of you. Those guilty of treason will be summarily executed, unless they offer to testify against those they conspired with. Those guilty of lesser crimes will simply be imprisoned. Good day to all of you."
As Vader concluded his speech and his podium lowered, Clonetroopers entered and arrested each of the Senators in turn. A few actually tried to resist arrest or attack the Clonetroopers, and were hit with several stunbolts for their troubles.
Vader smiled to himself as he left the Imperial Senate building. All too easy.
Now, to return to the Palace and plan out how to strengthen the Empire and its hold over all major systems. After all, with all of this out of the way, the next major threat were the Jedi in hiding who did not return to swear loyalty to the Empire. And once they were dealt with? Vader could finally remove the Hutts and other major crimelords, ending slavery and unifying the known galaxy once and for all.
Any further planning could wait until after that unification, of course.
Vader felt the Force shudder. It was a sense of... agreement, fulfillment, that followed. The Force was on his side. Vader felt his smile widen and become more genuine - with the Force on his side, he could not fail.