Galactic Republic HoloNet Emergency News Bulletin: 2,087th Supreme Chancellor Sheev Palpatine is Dead after 11 years in office
The news spread quickly throughout the galaxy. The Supreme Chancellor was killed after his personal airspeeder burst into flames and crashed into the lower levels of Coruscant. Killing both Chancellor Palpatine, as well as a large majority of his cabinet. After almost a week, emergency teams were able to recover their charred bodies from the carnage. A truly gruesome scene. Questions began to circulate:
How did this happen?
Was this an assassination?
Who will lead the Republic?
This was no assassination. A failing power coupling placed too close to the airspeeders engine caused the thrusters to explode. An amateur mistake, but an accident, nonetheless. If one believed such things, this would be viewed as a tragic bit of 'bad luck'. But regardless of the circumstances that led to Palpatine's death, the Galactic Republic was in a state of emergency. Republic Contingency Order 4 was put into effect and the Galactic Senate was mobilised to identify an alternative authority. While numerous bribes were made by Senator's attempting to elect themselves as the Republic's new Senator, the results were conclusive. An emergency election ultimately voted Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan into the office of the next Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, with Senator Sweitt Concorkill of Sembla elected as his Vice Chairperson.
On the other side of the Galaxy, Count Dooku, the Head-Of-State of the Separatist Alliance, watched the HoloNet in awe from his castle bastion within his homeworld of Serenno. The Supreme Chancellor of the Republic is dead. His master is dead. He knew this to be true, he felt the dark shroud of his master's presence disappear from the force, like shadow meeting sunlight. Decades, nay centuries of planning all for naught. At this moment, he should be considering how this will affect the war; about what this meant for the Separatist Alliance. But only one thought filled the old man's head. He was now the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Such a thought caused a smile to creep up on Dooku's face. The Sith Lord turned off the HoloNet projection from his desk and turned to the massive window of his study, staring into the lime light of Serenno's green sky. Staring out at the city below, he wondered if his subjects had also become aware of the recent development. Dooku closed his eyes and allowed himself a brief moment to savour this ascendancy, this victory.
This transcendent moment was broken by the ringing of his holo-communicator. Dooku opened his eyes and activated the holo device mounted to his study's desk. The avatar of General Grievous flickered to life.
"Count" no words needed to be exchanged between the two, Dooku saw everything from Grievous' kaleesh eyes. He had heard the news as well and was awaiting orders to strike at the Republic's vulnerability. Dooku was more than happy to let the Jedi Slayer off his leash.
"General" declared Dooku "we must mobilise our forces quickly if we are to take advantage of these fortuitous circumstances. Our operations within the Ghost Nebula sector will have to be hastened, inform the guerrilla forces on Umbara that that the time to rebel against the Republic is now. Send your fleet to assist our Umbaran allies in the destruction of the pitiful Republic garrison."
"As you wish Count" Grievous' eyes glowed with sadistic delight at the command. The cyborg gave a bow before his holographic form dissipated. Again, Dooku smiled as he returned his gaze to his study's window. His reign was at hand, and he will ensure that the Galactic Republic is finally vanquished.
The funeral for Sheev Palpatine was a modest affair. A few hundred of his closest friends and colleagues had gathered within a durasteel amphitheatre outside of the late Chancellor's old residents within the mighty 500 Republica skyscraper. What remained of Palpatine's charred body laid within a coffin in the centre of the amphitheatre, draped with the banner of Palpatine Family's Naboo crest. In odd coincidence, Palpatine's family had met similar unfortunate accidental deaths within the Theed spaceport decades ago. Though no one present would dare attempt to express the irony of history repeating. Especially not amongst such highly exalted company. Placed laterally aside Palpatine's decorated coffin were the caskets of former Vice Chairperson Mas Amedda, Chancellery Administrative Aide Sly Moore and Senior Advisor Janus Greejatus. Together they made up the other casualties of the fateful accident, excluding any civilian casualties who received separate interments.
Atop the amphitheatre's stairs stood Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, onlooking the funeral with grief in his heart and a cloak to hide the un-Jedi-like emotions in his eyes. Though those who knew Anakin well did not need to see his face to know how much he mourned the loss of his mentor and close friend.
"Ani" spoke the soft voice of Padmé Amidala as she placed her hand on the cheek of her secret husband. Anakin met Padmé's sympathy by placing his gloved cybernetic hand over her own. Although they would usually hide such affections in a public space to keep their marriage hidden, this day of mourning made such displays acceptable. Especially amongst those who were known by most to be friends.
"I miss him" the Jedi Knight finally said "he was more than a friend, he was like a father to me. 'We will watch your career with great interest' he told me, and he was true to his word, everyday, he would ask me how my trials were going and provide counsel when I needed his guidance. Palpatine taught me so much, that I should trust the guidance of Obi-Wan, but not be afraid to follow my own instincts. I don't think I would be the Jedi I am today, if not for him" declared Anakin.
"He was a great mentor to me as well" said Padmé "I don't think I would have pursued politics if it were not for his urging that I represent our planet after he became Chancellor. "Sheev had such a way with people, when he spoke he could steal the hearts of thousands and persuade them of the gravity of what he said." The Naboo senator could not help but give a fond chuckle in reminiscence "you would almost think he was a Jedi in disguise."
Anakin smiled at his partner's remark. Padmé loved his unchanging smile. It reminded her of the boy who was so filled with hope, despite being wronged in so many ways throughout his life. The two embraced in a shared love.
"Senator Armidala, Master Skywalker" came a voice from the amphitheatre. It was the newly elected Supreme Chancellor Bail Organa, with his Vurk Vice Chairperson following behind him. "Thank you both for coming. I wanted to personally promise to you both on the honour of House Organa, that I will do everything in my power to live up to the selfless example left by Chancellor Palpatine. I have been in awe of the work of the late senator since he challenged Volorum's inaction during the Naboo Crisis. I know I have much to do in order to live up to his example, but I shall endeavour to do so without compromise, that is my vow to the people of the Republic" firmly proclaimed the former Senator of Alderaan. Vice Chairperson Concorkill gave a gruff bray in agreement.
"Thank you, Chancellor Organa, I know I can hold you to that" said Anakin. He knew Bail well enough to know that he meant every word he said. There were few people on the senate that Anakin trusted more to lead the Galactic Republic in Palpatine's place. Anakin however, was less familiar with the green-skinned Sweitt Concorkill, but he seemed to have Bail's confidence, that counted for something in the Jedi's eyes.
"You have my support as well Bail" stated Padmé before turning to the former Senator of Sembla "and you as well, Chairperson Concorkill, I have heard of how you guided your people during the Great Vurk Pilgrimages. I know you will serve the Republic as valiantly as your own."
"You honour me, milady" bellowed the Vurk Vice Chairperson with a deep throaty timber of a voice as he bowed before Padmé in gratitude. Chancellor Organa and his Vice Chairperson took their leave of the confidentially married pair. In the eyes of both Anakin and Padmé, the Republic Senate was in good hands. But the future state of the Clone Wars was still an unpredictable quantity. Not even the collected wisdom of the Jedi High Council could predict what ripples would be caused by the untimely death of Sheev Palpatine.
Far from Coruscant, a snake-like Anacondan named Morley slithered across the leaning trash mountains of Lotho Minor. A perfect antithesis of Coruscant, Lotho Minor was a desolate and forsaken little planet in the Outer Rim, filled of trash and filth. The very air was thick with rust and microscopic plastics. A being accustomed to the filtered air of Coruscant would not last more than a day before dying from such toxic conditions. This was of no concern to Morley, who lived and breathed trash. The serpent wiggled his dry, fat body through a small hole within the fragile mountain of scrap, entering the dark catacombs his master called home. The catacombs went on for miles through the underbelly of Lotho Minor, and yet no dirt or rock was exposed within the tunnels. Revealing just how deep the pollution of the trash planet went, and how ancient the ritualistic dumping of the Galaxy's filth on this world was. Morley's master was very tricky when he did not want to be found. But with his belly pressed against the ground as he slithered, the Anacondan could feel the vibrations of his master's many robotic feet skitter through the tunnels. There he finally found the horned silhouette of his master nestled by a fire, muttering to himself. "I- I can't feel him anymore" he whispered to himself.
"Master! Morley is ready for his scraps… um, Master?"
Morley's presence was barely noticed. His master held himself in a demented embrace as he shook like a dying Akk Dog, clawing his red and black skin in terror. In years long past, this monster would have called himself Darth Maul, apprentice to the most powerful Sith Lord who had ever lived. He was a prized tool for Darth Sidious, the Dark Lord of the Sith. But now he was a far cry of his former self. The constant exposure to the harsh conditions of the planet had taken its toll on Maul, his body was covered in scars and wounds, his mind was shattered, and his once sharp mind was now clouded with confusion and rage. As the years passed, Maul's condition continued to deteriorate. His once powerful and agile body was now frail and weak, his muscles wasting away from lack of use and malnutrition. His skin was scarred and covered in wounds, a testament to the harsh conditions of the planet. His once sharp mind was now clouded with confusion and rage.
"Master?" Maul finally whimpered. He was not talking to Morley, who he scarcely even acknowledged. "I- I can't feel him! Why? Why is he gone?" shrieked the once legendary Sith Apprentice. "I can't feel him! MASTER! Help me! PLEASE!" Maul bawled with his hands reaching for the sky, as a starving baby would reach for its mother.
For these 11 years since his fall, the only thing that kept the microbic bit of sanity in Maul's mind was the hope that Darth Sidious would one day come for him. Save him, as he did on Dathomir all those years ago. But what remained of his lucid mind could feel it within the force, his master was no more, and all hope for salvation was lost. Perhaps in another time, salvation for Maul could have arrived in the form of one of his Nightbrother kin. But such hopes were lost now, for whatever kin Maul had was far from him. Ignorant of the tremendous political happenings of the wider Galaxy. No. Help would not come for Maul.
Orbiting the shadowy planet of Umbara, the Ongree Jedi Knight Pablo-Jill stood out at the bow of his Venator Star Destroyer's bridge as it made a scheduled patrol around the circumference of the planet. The Jedi Knight could not wait to return to the Coruscant Jedi Temple and spar with his close friend Foul Moudama. He had picked up several new skills during his tour of the Ghost Nebula, and Pablo-Jill believed he may finally be able to outwit his four-eyed Jedi friend.
"Need any help, sir?" asked the all too familiar voice of a clone. It was the voice of Pablo-Jill's clone captain Breaker.
"Not unless you can speed up time to finish this planetary rotation" the Ongree said in jest "or the ability to teleport me back to Coruscant."
Captain Breaker chuckled "I'm afraid not sir, I'm not quite knowledgeable of such things" the clone walked alongside his Jedi General and handed him a ration drink packet "but I can provide a brief distraction."
"Ah! Spotchka! One of the few rations my Ongree stomach can digest" Pablo-Jill opened the plastic tubing of the ration packet and took a quick sip of the briny drink "thank you, Breaker."
Captain Breaker nodded and watched the misty surface of Umbara as purple storm clouds swirled elegantly across its stratosphere "things are changing, aren't they General?"
Pablo-Jill nodded "yes, a new administration, first one you've lived to see, I wonder how this may change the course of the Clone Wars" the Jedi pondered "I hear Bail Organa might push to end the war entirely, while I do not envy any unnecessary prolongment, I do wonder what will become of you and your brothers" he said turning to Breaker.
"Don't worry about us General, as long as the Republic still needs protecting, I'm sure they'll find a use for us, though I doubt anyone will be willing to churn out more clones from Kamino" Breaker chuckled "could be the last of my kind here."
A sombre silence came upon the two men as they continued to stare at the maw of a planet before them, uncertain for what the future may hold. This melancholy silence was interrupted by the immediate sound of radio chatter and alarmed yells from the deck officers aboard the Venator's bridge. "Sir!" yelled one of the officers "we just lost contact with the capital; we can't hail any of the military channels!"
Another clone stood up in panic "General, we've just received static reports, our garrison is being overrun by the Umbaran military! They've taken the capital hostage!"
"But the Umbarans are our allies!" confusion and panic threatened to overtake the Jedi Knight over this sudden calamity, but Pablo-Jill had to remain composed, and give his orders. "Scramble the V-19s to the planet surface!" Once he was sure that his order was being carried out, he turned to his clone captain "Breaker, organise a landing party immediately, have your gunships-"
Pablo-Jill was stopped by the sound of the Venator's proximity sensors. Something had just come out of hyperspace. Both the Jedi and Captain Breaker peered above and saw the massive shadow of a Providence-class dreadnaught looming over their own cruiser, like an invisible hand about to grasp its quarry. General Grievous had arrived. In his amphibian heart, Pablo-Jill knew that they would not survive to see dawn.