Star Wars
Clone Wars Tales
Chapter 1: Aquatic Neutrality
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or any of its characters. All copyrights belong to George Lucas and his affiliates
The general's mechanical feet nearly made dents in where he stepped. The droids around him nervously stood at attention as he approached the meeting room. The metallic doors slid open, revealing a circle of Separatist leaders gathered around a table. Count Dooku turned his head towards the droid general.
"General Grievous… How nice of you to join us" he said scoldingly. Grievous sat beside Dooku.
"Forgive me, Count Dooku. I was delayed by a few Republic cruisers" the general explained. Nute Gunray snorted at the general's excuse.
"I thought you would be able to handle a couple of clones based on your reputation, general. Perhaps you should change your attitude" Nute Gunray said.
"I was thinking I'd change your face instead!" Grievous said angrily. Before Gunray could reply, a hooded figure came out of the shadows of the room. Everyone turned in shock to see Darth Sidious sit down next to Grievous.
"Let us refrain from fighting with each other, general. I'm sure the viceroy won't criticize you again" the Dark Lord said.
"Did I mention that my master would be attending?" Count Dooku asked them. The other members stayed silent.
"San Hill, where were we?" Dooku asked him.
"We were discussing the current alliances we have forged. Our armies are growing at an impressive rate. However, there is a minor problem" San Hill explained.
"Problem?" Dooku asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"We are running out of funds to pay for these armies. I think we'd run out of money soon unless immediate action is taken" San Hill said.
"If we don't fix our economic situation, the droid factories may no longer provide us our soldiers" Gunray said.
"Viceroy, when you were asked to join this confederacy, you promised plenty of droids!" Grievous said angrily.
"I still have to buy the parts, and they aren't cheap!" Gunray retorted.
"There's a way to fix this" Sidious said.
"But how?" Gunray asked.
"I suggest that we go to Manaan" Sidious said. The other confederates looked at him.
"Manaan, Lord Sidious? Isn't that a Republic planet?" Gunray asked him.
"It was, but not in this war. As of now, it is neutral in the conflict. However, I believe their amounts of kolto would be the necessary funds to continue producing the droids" Sidious explained.
"Kolto isn't a very useful material for our droids" San Hill said.
"But it is a very valuable product" Sidious said. "If we controlled their kolto supplies, we'd have enough money for quite some time."
"I suggest we invade the planet!" Grievous exclaimed.
"General Grievous, there's no need to attack them. For now, I believe we should negotiate with them so that they might join us" Dooku said.
"And if the negotiations fail?" Gunray asked them.
"Then we will take the planet by force. I will travel to the planet with a strike force and speak with their council myself" Dooku said.
"Considering our losses in the recent battles, we don't have a large amount of available droids. I have about 10,000 left" Gunray said.
"That would be enough for now" Dooku said.
"The Banking Clan has a few frigates to spare" San Hill said.
"Give me whatever you can. Unless there are any other questions or remarks, this meeting is adjourned" Dooku said. The leaders got up, and left the conference room except for Sidious, Dooku and Grievous.
"Shall I come with you to Manaan, Count Dooku?" Grievous asked.
"No general. I will be able to handle things on my own" Dooku said. Grievous nodded, and left the room.
"Master, why are we really going to Manaan?" Dooku asked him.
"The Republic has been interested in acquiring their kolto resources since the beginning of the war. I will delay their attempts, but they may soon send a few Jedi to make their own negotiations" Sidious said.
"Can't you stop them?" Dooku asked him.
"They may grow suspicious if I do. If they ever learned of my true identity, all would be lost" Sidious said. Dooku nodded, and the two walked out, side by side, as master and apprentice.