Hey guys
This is going to be rather short due to the breaking of material I did for the last one and next one is going to be longer.
Usual disclaimer of do not own Star Wars
Later at an apartment
Padme is seated on a couch in a lavish sitting area, working on a data pad when hearing a noise looks out to onto the vehicle landing pad to see a small, fighter land. Cautious Padme sets the data pad down while getting to her feet but quickly relaxes upon seeing Anakin step out.
Eventually entering the room Anakin walks over to Padme and takes a moment to gather his thoughts since he's never really done something like this before.
"I thought my security detail was over?" Padme asked.
"It is. However, I came here to ask you, would you like to go out to get something to eat?" Anakin asked.
"Like a date? Ok, I think I can find a clear spot in my schedule at some point" Padme said.
"Really?" Anakin asked, slightly surprised because he figured this would have been a little harder.
Meeting his eyes "You told me last night about the strict rules being a Jedi Knight, you wouldn't be here if you were not serious. Plus, I'm interested in you as well, so I would like to see where this goes" Padme said with warmth in her voice, then changing the subject "Do you know if the Jedi are going to be involved in this upcoming war?"
"Just Obi-Wan and me. Getting the council to agree to even that was extremely difficult. They are willing to let innocent people; entire families get slaughtered all so they don't have to fight" Anakin in disgust and anger while taking a seat on the couch.
"That's just" Padme began but not sure what to say, sitting down next to him.
"I know the feeling. Apparently, the council decided after the Kamino clone rebellion to no longer help the Republic as it's soldiers in a war" Anakin replied.
"Yeah, that was before my time in office. I heard Kamino is still being used as a military base for training and even raising families from birth to be a part of the Republic's army. So what role exactly are you going to have in the military?" Padme asked.
"I got made a general and put in charge of the 501st battalion. From what I've gathered it's an elite division" Anakin replied, "So where do you want to go our date?"
Before Padme can answer she glances over to see the screen portraying the Holonet News and grabbing the nearby control turns the volume on.
Anakin and Padme both listen to Chancellor Palpatine gave a speech about the tragedy of the terrorist attack, about how they will be going to war against these Separatists, how the Jedi order has refused to nothing other than two Jedi Knights and promising he will do everything in his power to safeguard the Republic's future, as the Clone Wars have now begun.
Anakin and Padme exchange grim glances as they both worry what this dark future will bring.
During the night in Palpatine's office
The Supreme Chancellor is seated in his chair while the door opens as a man in gray military dress uniform with a full head of auburn hair enters then closes it behind him. Wilhuff Tarkin is a high-ranking member of the Republic's military although not popular among some of his fellow military associates because of his ruthlessness. A ruthlessness to such an extent that he's willing to destroy public hospitals if it's treating an enemy.
"Greetings Chancellor" Tarkin said while walking over to the desk.
"Greetings Admiral. Do you have the information I require or are you here for other personal reasons?" Palpatine asked looking at the man.
"Both. I have managed to acquire information that the clones are being created by an underground cloning company known as Spaarti Creations from my contacts in the various syndicates. They have reported multiple factories are set up throughout the Republic, Outer Rim and wild space" Tarkin said.
"Ah yes I have heard of them back when they were still active until the owner died. Do you have the locations for any possible factories?" Palpatine asked.
"Yes, I have acquired certain locations and have sent them to the various generals and you on secure Holonet lines" Tarkin said.
"Very good," Palpatine said with a smile "Now what else do you wish to discuss with me?"
"I heard about the very unfortunate death of Finis Valorum" Tarkin said while sitting down in one of the chairs.
"Yes, most unfortunate. If those clones didn't kill him I would have arranged for Valorum's removal. I always hated the coward" Palpatine said darkly.
"How exactly do these Clone Wars impact our plans for the Empire and elimination of those Jedi cowards?" Tarkin asked.
"Some of the plans will have to be put on hold for the time. However, this war has presented us with a chance to put some of those plans into place. While I didn't start this war, it shall be to our interest with we take advantage of it" Palpatine replied.
"And we shall have the power to rule not only this galaxy but even conquer the unknown regions when our Empire rises" Tarkin said.
"One day and Admiral Tarkin it is my Empire. You shall have the pleasure of living in it, but no do not think you are unreplaceable or that you own it" Palpatine said coldly.
"Yes of course. This may interest you" Tarkin said, briefly fear enters his voice before pushing it aside and pulling out a circular disc with handing it over to the Chancellor "The new plans for some armor for the military."
Taking the device Palpatine presses the on a button which causes a hologram of a 3d image of a military combat suit. It has various pieces of white armor plates over a black mesh body and a full head white helmet that has black lenses for the eyes.
"I approve and have this armor begin mass production. This shall allow the general Republic to get used to our stormtroopers and will never realize the danger until we act" Palpatine said.
"I thought you would approve. There is a new type of aircraft on there as well" Tarkin said.
Moving a small dial Palpatine changes the hologram to that of a gray fighter with a cockpit held up in the middle, while on the ends is two massive black rectangles wings.
"The techs call it the Tie Fighter and is powered by two ion engines. It has a shorter range than the X-wing starfighter but is more easily able to be mass produced and cheaper" Tarkin said.
"If the Tie Fighter can replace the X-wing start production immediately. Given the present circumstances of war against the Separatists let's slowly ease out the X-Wings over time" Palpatine said.
"Very well. That is all I have to discuss. Good night Chancellor" Tarkin said rising to his feet.
Palpatine ignores Tarkin who leaves before the chancellor gets up as well with stepping over to the window and looking out at the city below.
I hope you all enjoyed this. As always let me know what you think.
So, the Clone Wars has officially begun, and it is going to be the regular human army against the Separatist clones.
Originally debated for a long while having clones on both sides or not but decided to just have the clones be on the side of the Separatists.
Also, because the Republic military is going to be the people who make up the Empire and the stormtroopers.
Which as in both the EU and Disney's new canon with Star Wars Rebels cartoon show the regular humans ended up filling most of the Empire's members with the clones from the clone's war hardly being used anyway.
Now yes in the prequels George made it strongly seem like the stormtroopers were the Kamino clones and a Stars Wars magazine in 1978 in a detailed article revealed that the Stormtroopers are clones. Of course, regarding George Lucas after the prequels, he later went back and changed his mind of saying the stormtroopers were not clones entirely.
How the Empire and stormtroopers made up of regular humans I think works better.
I wanted to establish the origin of the Tie Fighters along with the stormtrooper armor and why the Rebels were using X-Wings in the OT films since they basically became thrown into space junk yards over the years.
For the biggest change from the prequels is Palpatine is not being responsible for the Clone Wars itself. The guy is taking advantage of the situation obviously but didn't create everything.
The main reason why I didn't have Palpatine be responsible for the Clone Wars is since I wanted the Clone Wars to be something that was going to happen anyway even if Palpatine wasn't involved.
Regarding Anakin and Padme, they agree to try a relationship and I wanted to set up their relationship better than the way the prequels did it that left Anakin almost coming off as a stalker, among the other problems the relationship had in the films.
Oh, for Tarkin, the reference to destroying hospitals to take out the enemy even if they are filled with innocent civilians basically explaining that for willing to be trigger happy with the Death Star for blowing up planets had to start somewhere.
Next events upcoming is going to be a decent time jump forward
Until the next chapter