Chapter 6. Senator Palem
After Coad Beno lost the election to Barto Gunry Senator Palem returned his attention to dismantling the trade federation. He and many others were convinced that the trade federation was up to no good. Palem was in his office speaking with several of his friends online when his assistant burst into the office with several Republic security guards.
"What is the meaning of this?" Palem demanded as he switched off the holo-projectors…"
"Senator in the name of the Republic I here by place you under arrest for treason, conspiracy, and fraud…"
"This is outrageous…"
"If I may Senator… I am with the board of ethics committee… As you know Viceroy Sing committed suicide… He left a note and in it he named you as the architect behind the Valor VI incident…"
"That is ridiculous… I wish to speak with my attorney…"
"Yes Senator, but all your Senatorial duties are suspended and you are under house arrest…"
Because of Senator Palem's arrest Supreme Chancellor Dentai Vellax returned to Coruscant and held a meeting with Jedi Masters Yoda, Ors, and Frieda. Also there was acting Senator Bishop of Chandrila. Derjon Wells was there and he stood in the window with his back to the others.
"My friends I am shocked as well, but all the evidence points to Palem as culprit… A signed confession by Sing before he committed suicide… Then the Attorney General has a witness in his custody who will testify that he was hired to steal those credits from the banking clan…"
"Has this witness been examined by a Jedi…" Frieda asked.
"No…"
"Then how can you trust his testimony…"
"Correct is Master Frieda… A Jedi is needed to examine the witness for lies…"
"I will examine the witness…" Derjon said.
Master Ors an Iridonian looked at Derjon, "You thoughts betray you Jedi Wells… You have ulterior motives…"
"Yes I believe there are certain things connected in some form or another and I wish to follow a hunch…"
"I hope your hunch clears Senator Palem, but I must warn the Jedi… I spoke with the Attorney General and the Senator… Palem was offered a deal… Time already served, if he pleads guilty and retires from the Senate…"
Derjon looked at Master Yoda who said, "Looks as if someone trying is to remove the Senator from office…"
"Makez sense…" Derjon said, "…Whoever is trying to remove Palem from the Senate iz tied to the Valor incident… and The Trade Federation…"
"You must be careful…" Dentai said, "…If the Attorney General thinks you are investigating on Palem's behalf they will prosecute…"
"Discreet we shall be…"
The Jedi Council made arrangements to speak with the witness and found he was telling the truth or at least someone had trained him well against the Jedi mind trick. Derjon's investigation sent him from one end of Coruscant to the other and he turned up nothing, but rumors and whispers. Senator Palem was released on house arrest back to his home world of Chandrila. While Barto Gunry the new Viceroy made a name for himself by convincing the Geonosians they could join the republic despite dismantling their weapons and droid factories. They only agreed because of the secret deal made allowing them to rebuild on Geonosis itself. The stage was being set for the downfall of the republic and the Jedi.