Ministry of Intelligence,
Coruscant.
"I'm here for the communication that the Vice-President of SoroSuub transmitted to the Supreme Chancellor," requested Senator Padme Amidala to the Republic Intelligence officer that was in charge of all non-military messages received.
"And you are ?" asked the Intelligence officer who was evidently annoyed.
It was surprising that an intelligence officer did not know who she was, since she was one of the better known Senators of the Senate."I am Senator Padme Amidala of Naboo," introduced Padme to the on-duty Intelligence Officer. "And my senatorial position allows me to request and retrieve and intelligence information that is non-military in nature."
The officer looked to Padme before looking down to his console that was on his desk. "Wait a moment Senator," said the officer as his fingers danced across his console. "I have found the file Senator."
"Can I have it then ?" asked Padme eagerly.
"Unfortunately I cannot let this file leave the ministry," informed the officer. "You can only view it here within the ministry."
"On whose order ?" demanded Padme.
"On direct order from the Office of the Supreme Chancellor," informed the officer who was becoming increasingly irate with the Senator, "its restricted so that it would not jeopardize the negotiation process."
"Fine," replied an also increasingly irate Padme, "show me the message." The officer proceeded to press a button on his console which activated his desk's holo-projector. A holographic image of a Sullustan male materialized in front of Padme.
Greetings to you Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, I am Vice-President Sin Suuv of the SoroSuub corporation, and I am sending this communication to inform you that the leadership council of SoroSuub as well as the people of Sullust have lost fai..
"Pause it," ordered Padme to the Intelligence Officer while the message still ran. The officer followed the Senator's order and paused the message. Padme took out a data retriever.
"What are you going to do with that ?" said the officer while pointing to the data retriever.
"I'm just going to run an authentication scan on the message." informed Padme.
"Senator we already vetted the message when it first came in," stated the intelligence officer from behind his desk, "the information is good."
"Then it should pass this scan without any problem," said Padme as she turned on the data retriever.
The intelligence officer rubbed his temples, "Fine," he said with an obvious hint of annoyance.
"Information authentication," Padme said to the device, "I need you to determine the authenticity of a message," ordered Padme to her data retriever as she placed the machine in front of the holo-projector. "Play it," said Padme. The intelligence officer pressed the play button to continue the message. Padme waited for the data retriever to scan the message. The data retriever beeped and the green indicator on the data retriever flashed green. The green flash indicated to Padme that the message was authentic in nature.
"See Senator, the message is indeed authentic," said the intelligence officer who felt vindicated.
Padme turned off her data retriever and put it back in her jacket. "Then I shall be off then. Thank you for all your help," said Padme in a rather sarcastic tone before making her way out of the office.
The Intelligence Officer waited until he was absolutely sure that Senator Amidala had left before he turned on his holo-communicator. A hooded holographic figure materialized in front of the officer. The officer bowed to the figure.
"My lord, you were right. Senator Amidala did come to authenticate the message."
"As I predicted," replied the figure. "It seems that the Senator trust the Supreme Chancellor and his office even less as the days go by. But regardless, soon the Separatist would have an important pawn to barter with. You have done well."
"The Supreme Chancellor and the Senate is none the wiser to the duplicity of the message. Your praise is much welcomed, but praise alone is not enough," said the officer while rubbing his two hands together, "I need my payment."
"Yes, your payment," said the hooded figure before raising his hand and outreached his bony fingers. The officer gripped his neck as like he was being choked. The figure laughed in delight as he saw the life slip out little by little from the officer. After a few moments, the officer slumped over his desk, dead.
"You're service is much appreciated," said the holographic figure before it flickered out of existence.
Artifact Storage Room,
Jedi Temple,
Coruscant.
Padawan Yi-T'an carefully lifted the container full of ancient Jedi artifacts on to a repulsorlift trolley using the Force. The human Padawan, being a Jedi Librarian in training had been transferring numerous Jedi artifacts in to containers to be transported off world to the Hidden Temple with other Jedi Librarians.
"Is that the last one ?" asked a familiar voice that came from behind T'an as he placed the container down on the repulsorlift trolley. T'an turned around to see his master, Jedi Knight Sha Koon.
"Yes Master Koon, this is the last one," answered T'an, "we can begin moving it to the hangar bay."
"Very good," replied Sha. The death of her first Padawan on Giju had been extremely hard on the Kel Dorian Jedi Knight. When T'an , who had lost his master during the Battle of Coruscant was given to her to train, she was at first apprehensive on taking on T'an. But after having a brief telepathic conversation with her new keep, Koon knew that T'an would be the right Padawan for her. Unlike her previous apprentice whose thoughts were playful and wild like a fast river, T'an's thoughts were calm like a slow flowing river which was both soothing and reassuring. It would be a shame to lose another Padawan, thought Sha to herself as she watched her Padawan give instruction to another Padawan.
"Is something wrong Master Sha ?" asked T'an.
"No, nothing," replied Sha, "was just thinking about something. Don't worry about it. Anyways, we should get back to moving these artifacts," said Sha to her young Padawan.
"Alright Master."
Republic Barracks,
Coruscant.
"Why are we stuck here ?" asked Fives to Rex who was sitting across the room with a datapad in hand, "we should be on the front lines pushing the Sepis back from whatever factory they came out from."
Rex put down the datapad on the table. "Look, we got orders from the Supreme Chancellor directly. He wants the 501st stationed here to defend Coruscant in the remote eventually that the Separatist launches another attack."
"But you know that the only way to keep the Core secure is if we are on the front lines pushing the Sepis back," argued Fives as he looked out the barrack's windows to the Coruscant city scape.
Rex walked over to his friend, "You've got no arguments from me or from General Skywalker. The General has been trying to get us back to the front lines, but it looks like the Supreme Chancellor is adamant that we remain here on Coruscant.
"Bloody politics and bureaucracy probably," muttered Fives to himself.
"We are soldiers of the Republic Fives, whatever orders that the Chancellor gives has to be followed," said Rex before pausing, "unless its an order that goes against our conscience."
Fives nodded in agreement with the Captain of the 501st.
Republic Forward Command Base,
Utapau,
Outer Rim.
General Obi-Wan Kenobi entered the Republic Forward Command Base while he brushed the dirt off his Jedi robes. "How goes the offensive Cody ?" asked Obi-Wan to his clone commander who was standing by the FCB's holo-table which represented the battlefield.
"So far so good General," informed Cody, "Grievous bunker's inner defence have fallen. We'll be ready to launch another offensive once we regroup."
"Very good," said Obi-Wan while he looked at the holo-table representative of the battlefield. "What's this gap here ?" asked Obi-Wan referring to a small red dot that was present on the representation.
"It's a small hole that can takes us into a tunnel that runs under the bunker," reported Cody. Cody could see the scheming look on Obi-Wan's face, "Unfortunately sir, the tunnel was collapsed by Grievous' forces when we punched through the outer defences."
"I see Grievous is not going to make this easy for us," lamented a disappointed Obi-Wan.
"When has he ever General," said Cody in response.
Obi-Wan chucked, "He never does."
Obi-Wan made his way to the FCB's exit. "Looks like where doing it the hard way then. Don't let me down Cody."
"When have I ever let you down General ?" asked Cody
"Well there was that one time Cato Neimodia," said Obi-Wan jokingly before leaving the FCB. Cody chuckled upon hearing the General's comment before turning his attention back to the holo-table.
Green Jedi Enclave,
Coronet City,
Corellia.
The five members of the Green Jedi Council sat in silence while they meditated. The silence was finally broken by Arkan Farus, "So do we follow with the High Council's plan and initiate Plan Zero ?"
The rest of the council exited their meditative state and opened their eyes, but no one answered the human Jedi. Farus' question was finally answered by his fellow council member, Kedrin Finsok. "We have already cut ties with the High Council on Coruscant ever since the start of this dreaded war," argued the human to the rest of his fellow councillors."It would be weird for us to suddenly go along with an order that comes directly from the High Council on Coruscant."
"With contemplys hermi still in effect," added the male Duros councilor Sorok, "we are technically safe from any outside threats. Especially from the meddling of the Republic who is becoming ever more militaristic."
"But Plan Zero was made in such a way to protect the Jedi if a large threat looms over all of us." argued Master Jemini Bestor. "Just because contemplys hermi is in effect means that we are safe on Corellia. The Sith can attack us at anytime, whether contemplys hermi is in effect or not."
"The point is-," said Sorok
"The point is," interjected Selonian council member Muzhil, "Plan Zero is a viable plan, for our brethren outside of Corellia under the current situation. Both Sorok and Kedrin nodded in agreement "That being said we should still carry out our own version of the larger Order's contingency plan. I suggest sending our youngest initiates away from the city for an extended period of time until this blows over." Master Bestor nodded her head in agreement with the suggestion that Muzhil presented. The only person that had not voiced his opinion was Master Farus.
"So what do you think Master Farus ?" asked Sorok
"I think that Master Muzhil's suggestion is the most sound," voiced Farus. "By following Master Muzhil's plan we maintain our distance from the war and the rest of the Order and at the same time, we protect the next generation of Corellia's protectors. In conclusion, I agree with Master Muzhil."
"I guess it is a good precautionary measure to take," agreed Master Finsok.
"Then it's decided then, we the Green Jedi, will initiate our own contingency plan," said Master Muzhil, "independent from the larger Order but in the same spirit and trust in the Force."