Coruscant, 24 BB
Seated in his high- backed chair, Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Republic surveyed the bustling traffic that swarmed over the surface of the planet. Behind him, a delegation of Senators and Masters Mace Windu and Yoda of the Jedi Council waited patiently for him to speak.
"Play the transmission again." Palpatine ordered, rubbing his temples. He turned his chair around to face the people in his office.
"Certainly." Sly Moore went and played the transmission for perhaps the fourth or fifth time that day.
"Greetings, Chancellor of the Galactic Republic." Jabba the Hutt's massive body wavered, his gravelly Huttese translated by a silvery protocol droid. "The mighty Jabba requests your assistance. A gang of pirates has been raiding the cargo ships of his Mighiness and taking away valuable supplies."
"Illegal spices and contraband, he means." One of the Senators, the Corellian Garm Bel Iblis muttered.
"His Mightiness is willing to make a treaty between the clan of the Hutts and the Republic." Every politician in the room tensed, with the exception of the Chancellor. "The Hutt clan wants the pirate captain and as many of his crew as possible, all of them alive. If his Mightiness receives the living pirates, he will make a treaty that will end the tensions between his clans and the Republic. Trade routes would be opened and his Mightiness is willing to allow Republic outposts to be established on many of the worlds he and his clans control."
Several of the gathered Senators shifted excitedly; an opportunity to make peace with the powerful Hutts and expand the influence of the Republic was a rare occurrence and very welcome.
"His Mightiness will allow one planetary rotation for you to decide,, Chancellor. Make sure your decision is the right one." Jabba and the protocol droid dissolved, signaling the end of the transmission.
"So there you have it." Palpatine steepled his fingers and looked around at the gathered Senators and Jedi. "Jabba the Hutt is willing to form a lasting treaty with the Republic for the heads of a few pirates."
"Why should we care if the Hutt is having pirate trouble?" Bel Iblis asked softly. "He is a smuggler, a murderer, and a slaver. The Republic has other issues to deal with. The Separatist movement is gaining strength daily and we are losing systems left and right. Why should we spare valuable Jedi?"
"Gaining the Hutts as allies would help strengthen the Republic." Senator Amidala of Naboo pointed out. "We would be able to rally many new Outer Rim worlds to join the Republic, worlds rich in resources. And the Hutts control a vast amount of trade routes; access to these would make moving supplies easier."
Palpatine inclined his head to the young Senator. "I do believe that Senator Amidala is correct. We need this alliance. It will strengthen the Republic, something we need in these times."
"So you agree to this?" Master Windu eyed the Chancellor, his expression severe. "This plan requires a Jedi to become little more than a bounty hunter. Pirates are scum, yes, but the Jedi are not the ones who should deal with them. The Hutts have their own methods of dealing with pirates; why isn't Jabba using those?"
"Apparently, these are no ordinary pirates." Palpatine said dryly. "Jabba has been trying for a year to rid himself of the gang. He has placed a bounty of several million credits on one live crewmember. Information leading to the whereabouts or capture of a crewmember will earn someone three million Huttese credits. So far, no credits have been given. No one knows who any of the pirates are, what they look like, or where they hide. The captain is a legend, a mystery. No one even knows what species he is."
"So he wants a Jedi to find out." Senator Amidala summarized. Palpatine nodded.
"The Jedi are renowned for their ability to find those who do not wish to be found, Master Windu." Palpatine said gently. "Jabba is desperate. His empire is declining because he is losing profits. Any business man or crime lord would be worried."
"Bounty hunters, the Jedi are not." Master Yoda said.
"True." Palpatine dipped his graying head. "But this alliance with Jabba would strengthen the Republic, something we need now that Count Dooku is gaining followers. I am sorry, Master Yoda, but I must ask for the help of the Jedi."
Yoda closed his eyes. "One Jedi, we will send. No more."
Palpatine nodded agreeably. "One Jedi should be enough to hunt down the pirates. I assume that once the Jedi finds something, others can be called in to help with the actual capture?"
Master Yoda nodded his agreement.
"I would like to send Jedi Knight Kenobi." Palpatine said.
"Why?" Master Windu looked up sharply.
"Knight Kenobi has a nearly spotless record." The Chancellor pointed out. "He knows what he is doing. He is an excellent Jedi, one well- suited to this particular mission."
"True, this is." Yoda conceded. "A good Jedi Obi- Wan is. On this mission, he will go."
"Excellent." Chancellor Palpatine smiled gently. "Hopefully this matter can be resolved with minimal effort, and the Republic can have itself a new ally."
"We shall go and speak to Knight Kenobi." Windu declared. He bowed politely to the Chancellor. "Good day, Chancellor. We will keep you informed."
The two Jedi Masters left the Chancellor's office, the door whooshing softly behind them.
"Do you really think that a few pirate heads will earn us the allegiance of the Hutts?" Bail Organa's voice was soft, worried. "Dealings with them have been risky at best. They might not uphold their end of the bargain."
Palpatine smiled benignly. "Senator Organa, the Hutts are desperate. I am quite sure that they will do whatever it takes to eliminate the pirate threat."
"Who will negotiate the peace treaty?" Senator Amidala stepped forward, her face bright with keen interest.
"You and Senator Organa are both rather good at negotiations and treaties." Palpatine said indulgently. "When the time comes, it shall be your responsibility."
"As you wish, Chancellor." Amidala inclined her head. For such a young woman, one of only twenty-two, she seemed to handle stress rather well.
The Senators all shuffled out, talking amongst themselves. The prospect of new allies excited them, Palpatine knew. Turning back to the bustling heart of Coruscant, the Chancellor steepled his fingers once more. There was something intriguing about the pirates, particularly their mysterious captain. Palpatine resolved to have Dooku keep an ear out for reports of the pirates as well as the Jedi. After all, the prospect of new allies was exciting.
And the Sith Lord smiled. Oh yes. He thought. Very exciting indeed.