Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Chapter 7: A Changing in the Senate
About ten minutes after the Queen's meeting with Senator Palpatine ended, while changing into another one of her elaborate royal costumes, a message was transmitted from a guard outside her room. Although she already knew what it was about, Padme motioned for Rabe to receive the call.
"Yes?"
"The boy's here to see Padme," the guard informed.
Before responding, Rabe turned back to the Queen, who nodded. "Let him in," she instructed.
The sound of the entrance door hissing open was heard and there walked in Anakin.
Rabe approached him. "I'm sorry Anakin, but Padme's not here right now."
At that moment Padme, who'd just finished changing, came out of her dressing room with Eirtae and addressed Rabe in her Queen Amidala voice; it was much deeper than her normal tone.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Anakin Skywalker, to see Padme, your highness," Rabe said bowing.
Padme went with the first excuse that came to her. "I sent Padme on an errand."
"I'm on my way to the Jedi Temple," Anakin informed, "to start my training, I hope. I may never see her again. So I came to say goodbye."
She gave the boy a queenly smile. "We will tell her for you," she said. "We're sure her heart goes with you."
Anakin bowed. "Thank you your highness." And with another bow he left.
Soon after, Padme and her entourage left as well, but for the Galactic Senate Building. On their way, Rabe commented on how polite and proper Anakin was, while Eirtae spoke of how he was going to be quite the handsome young man when he grew up. If Padme hadn't been dressed as the Queen just then she would've snarled for both Rabe and Eirtae to be silent. Alas, as members of her security forces were present in addition to Panaka, she merely told the handmaidens to quiet down. The rest of the journey, as such, was spent in silence.
The Senate Building, oftentimes known as the Senate Rotunda, Convocation Center, or the Senate Dome, was the structure on Coruscant, which served as the seat of the Galactic Senate. The designers claimed that any weapon capable of destroying the Chamber were also powerful enough to destroy the entire planet, making the facility invulnerable against sabotage or orbital bombardment.
A massive building boasting a diameter of more than two kilometers and was several hundred meters tall, with a shield shaped dome mounted on a narrower dome-shaped body, the Senate Rotunda was built some time after the founding of the New Republic, around 995 NRE, due to the older Senate Hall being damaged during the Great Sith War.
Located in the heart of the Senate District (also called the Government District or Government Center), the building was stimulated at the end of a large, flat concourse known as the Avenue of the Core Founders. This area was lined with tall, thin humanoid statues; each dedicated to a founder of one of the Core Worlds. At the end of the concourse was one of the ceremonial entrances, the Great Door. It was adorned with the Great Seal of the Republic and the sigils of the Thousand Worlds, which were members of the Senate. Directly inside the Great Door was the Atrium of the Senate. This was a grand entry hall, lined with statues of the Republic's greatest heroes and politicians.
Upon their arrival at the building, this is where Palpatine greeted Amidala and her entourage before they headed for the Grand Convocation Chamber together.
The majority of the Senate building was dedicated to this room. It was a large, round room several hundred meters tall filled with floating repulsorpods (also known as Senate pods) for each Senator, and dominated in the center by a podium used by the Supreme Chancellor, the Vice Chair, and the Senior Administrative Aide to coordinate the sessions. There were 1,024 repulsorpods located in the chamber, one for each Senator.
Amidala, her five handmaidens, Palpatine, and Captain Panaka seated themselves in Naboo's pod and awaited the beginning of the session. The rest of the security force waited outside in the hall. While doing so, it was decided that Palpatine would address the Senate first, Amidala later.
Finally, Chancellor Valorum rose from his podium in the center of the arena and spoke, beginning the session. "The chair recognizes the Senator from the sovereign system of Naboo."
Palpatine rose and activated their Senate pod, causing it to detach from the wall and move towards the center of the chamber so that all Senators could see it. As it did this, he began to speak.
"Supreme Chancellor. Delegates of the Senate," he greeted. "A tragedy has occurred. It started right here with the taxation of the Trade route. And has now engulfed our entire planet under the oppression of the Trade Federation."
At that moment, Lott Dod, the Nemoidian Senator of the Trade Federation, activated his pod and began to roar, "This is outrageous! I object to the Senator's statements."
"The chair does not recognize the Senator from the Trade Federation at this time," Valorum said coolly.
"To negotiate our allegation," Palpatine continued. "I present Queen Amidala, recently elected ruler of the Naboo, who speaks on our behalf."
Padme rose from her seat, muttered a quiet "Thank you Senator", and took her position in front of the Senate.
"Honorable Representatives of the Republic, I come before you under the gravest of circumstances. The Naboo system has been invaded by the droid armies of the Trade-"
"I object! There is no proof!" She had been cut off by Lott Dod. "This is incredible," he continued. "I recommend a vicinity be sent to Naboo to find out the truth."
Senator Aak Aak of Malastare then spoke up, agreeing with Senator Dod, but Padme wasn't really paying attention. She was standing there with her hands balled into fists, livid with rage at Dod for cutting her off and denying the invasion. She felt like killing something.
Some of her anger must have radiated off her, because Palpatine was soon by her side again with a hand on her shoulder just as Chancellor Valorum was about to say something, only to be cut off by the Vice Chair of the Senate, Mas Amedda.
"Enter the bureaucrats," he whispered to her. "The true rulers of the Republic. And on the payroll of the Trade Federation I might add. You will find this is where Chancellor Valorum's strength disappears."
When Chancellor Valorum finished speaking in whispers with Mas Amedda he addressed the arena, and Naboo's Queen, once more.
"The point is conceded. Will you differ you motion to allow a vicinity to be sent to Naboo to find out the truth?"
"I will not differ. I have come before you to settle this mess before your sovereignty now."
By now the Queen's voice had risen a great deal. "I was not elected to watch my people suffer and die while you discuss this invasion in a committee!"
Padme then lowered her voice to an icy tone. "If this body is not capable of action, I suggest new leadership is needed."
She paused, noticing several Senators whispering among themselves while others began to make outbursts. Before they could get too loud she continued. "I move for a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Valorum's leadership."
An even louder outburst started. Senators were now on their feet shouting random things, some even throwing their fists in the air. A chant then rose above the crowd of "Vote now!" on going and continually.
"Order!" Mas Amedda boomed. The Chagrian, who'd briefly sat down after conversing with Valorum, was on his feet again, trying to quiet the arena. But the chanting only grew louder.
Padme smirked at this and noticed Valorum siting in his chair with a look of disbelief on his face.
Whatever man. Get over it.
Palpatine, who was still standing beside her, whispered to her again. "Now we will have a strong Chancellor. One who will not let our tragedy continue."
"Ah yes Senator. Someone perhaps like you?""But of course my dear," he thought back to her.
"Let us leave now," Amidala said, turning her back to the arena. "I have no more desire to be here. I pleaded my case to the best of my ability, but obviously the Senate is full of people who don't care about anything but themselves and their own planets or systems. No offense Senator." she quickly added.
"None taken my dear. But yes, let us go."
Upon leaving the Grand Chamber, Palpatine bid them farewell as he had other matters to attend to.
Ah yes. I know what matters they are.
As she and her entourage, now rejoined by the security force, boarded the shuttle that would take them back to 500 Republica, Padme connected with her father's mind and began to eavesdrop.
He won't mind…I think.
He was presently conversing with Valorum.
"Palpatine you were my friend, my ally. How could you let your Queen do this to me?" the soon to be ex-Chancellor was saying.
"I am sorry Finis," he replied in that fake apologetic voice she had heard him use so many times before, "but I think it's better for everyone that you're out of office. As I'm sure you know, a lot of people, myself included, have wanted you out of office for sometime now. You just aren't a satisfactory enough of a Chancellor like your father and grandfather before you. Never were. And now if you'll excuse me."
Before breaking the connection, she heard her father's high-pitched laughter of utter delight.