This was originally supposed to be a guest chapter written by a collaborator ... fitting, because this trip is where Palpatine meets his future wife, her character. But, I'm pretty sure that chapter is never going to be written, so I'm going on without it.

If it ever is, I'll put it here, but don't hold your breath. A pity, because it would have contained some Alderaan court intrigue and a glittering night at the opera with the Alderaanian Queen and Viceroy.

*sigh* What can you do?

Chapter Text

Gossamer force fields spread between six freighters, looking like white dots at this distance. One above, one below, and four spread in a circle like an equator, linking themselves into one huge shield like a gargatuan egg of the very thinnest crystal, floating eerily in space.

The firepower ship, much closer to the tour vessel, is called theAcclamatorand Palpatine is very interested in it. As he, Senator Organa, Alderaan merchant Amon Selrieen, and Sereine Lumisol tour the Mavrica Mining operation in Deep Core space near Vulpter, he asks many questions about the massive ship, impressive enough for a warship, that provides the weaponry to blow meteors one quarter the size of Coruscant into smithereens.

"Rothana designed that for us," says their tour guide, a tall, intimidating Pyke who introduced himself at the beginning of the tour as Dwarin, Executive Vice President, referring to a subsidiary of Kuat Drive Yards. "It was a special order, very expensive as no one else orders a ship this size with this type of weaponry. We actually have three of these in our fleet, theDestroyer, theAnnunciator, and theAcclamatoryou see here. We run these with minimal crew. As you can see, all we really need with these ships is the targeting and the firepower capacity. And in about ten minutes, you will see that firepower demonstrated."

"I anticipate that with great interest," says Palpatine.

The five of them huddle on the Mavrica Mining control shipPanorama, at one end of a huge floor-to-ceiling transparisteel wall in the ship's grand observation room, waiting to watch a destroyer explode a meteor. The observation room is built to impress: soft glowing gold lighting, and plush, with tables like an exclusive restaurant.

"So, this catch field is actually rather small compared to the size of the meteor," says Selrieen.

"Yes, it is," says Dwarin. "We've gotten quite precise at this over the years. Obviously, the smaller the catch field, the sooner we can gather and process all the fragments of the meteor."

Sereine Lumisol turns from the velvet starfield to their host. "And you're looking for, again? I'm sorry."

Looming over Sereine and Palpatine, Dwarin draws forth a tiny vial from a chain around his neck, hidden beneath his clothing. At the door to the observation room, two armed guards stir to attention.

"This," he says, and beckons Sereine close. "Put out your hand."

She offers him her palm, and he punches in a code along the side of the vial, screws off the top, and sprinkles its contents into her hand, then uses the corner of the vial to spread them out. Tiny, craggy pebbles wink back at her, iridescent, in all colors of the rainbow. The gentlemen in the party draw close to observe.

Sereine turns her hand this way and that in the light, watching the fascinating play of color across the mirrorlike surfaces. "They're beautiful."

"Aren't they?" says Dwarin. "Iridium salts."

Selrieen has arranged the tour with upper Mavrica management, since the proposed deal between Alderaan, the desert planet Malotrok, and the Gran Protectorate is known only to a few just now. Otherwise, the mining concern would never extend such hospitality to a potential rival operation. The Senatorial party has already seen the processing lines where sentient geologists analyze each meteor fragment for any veins of iridium, where droids crack the fragments apart and grind them into powder, painstakingly isolating every sliver of the element they can find with their specialized eyepieces.

Now … the big finale.

"What you're holding in your palm is worth two thousand Republic ditaries," says Dwarin.

"This isn't much material," says Sereine, and Senator Palpatine, looking over her shoulder, emits a low whistle.

"It's what makes your datapad and holoscreens light up and most electronics work," says Dwarin. "It also doesn't corrode, so deep ground pipes use it for obvious reasons. It's found in some meteors in this galaxy." He nods to the two security guards, who observe closely as Sereine guides the jagged pebbles back into their container. One of them takes it from her and they exit.

"Only, precious few meteors have much iridium ore, if I'm correct," says Senator Organa.

"Yes," says their host, "so mining for it is an expensive undertaking, precarious for several reasons. We are proud to be the only firm who can do it."

Organa leans close to Sereine's ear. "Hence, the astronomical price-gouging," he whispers.

"Closing the test pattern," booms from a loudspeaker in the ceiling. "Incoming!"

The crystal egg in space, held aloft by six Baleen-class freighters, disappears.

A grayish-white, sparkling, tumbling meteor twice the size of theAcclamatoritself enters the frame. End over end it tumbles, leaving behind it a shiny trail of ice.

TheAcclamatorturns to follow it, golden-orange engines flaming as it dives for the meteor.

"These shots are precisely measured and timed," intones Dwarin as his tour group is pulled to the viewing wall, watching the hunt. "All of this—the angles, the trajectory, the moves—are plotted and analyzed for weeks prior to a collection. We can even tell you in advance what size fragment will hit each shield where."

"That's amazing," says Selrieen.

Before their eyes, theAcclamatordives after the meteor like a convor after prey. Glowing neon laser beams pierce the meteor like bright green claws attempting to pull it apart.

"Each shot is perfectly placed according to our design," says Dwarin. "Our engineers work for weeks on each capture."

The meteor spins on its axis; cracks form in its icy surface. It glows from within, first blue, then green, then orange, then yellow. The colors reflect from the outer ice layer, making a spectacular light show. It bursts into a million pieces, radiating outward from the center. The Acclamator turns in a fast arc and the shields are up again between the six freighters, trapping the fragments in the fragile crystal egg.

Only it's not so fragile, after all, as the pieces of meteor hit the shields and spin away again, creating another light show inside the shield sphere—yellow, pink, and purple. Sereine gasps.

"It's quite a show, isn't it?" says Dwarin with pride.

"Yes," says Selrieen. "Yes, it is."

"As the fragments come to rest over the next few days, we collapse the shield bubble smaller and smaller until we're able to send a few shuttles from the freighters into it. They rake up the pieces and transport them to the freighters, and our processing lines are busy again until the next one."

"But you may not find iridium in this meteor?" Organa clarifies.

"We may not," says Dwarin with a sad shake of his head. "Even though we have this down to a very precise science, some thirty percent of the meteors we select as having a high chance of containing iridium actually do not, making this a precarious and expensive endeavor."

"… which is why they get away with overcharging," Organa told them all later at dinner, on the Royal corvette on the way back to Alderaan. "I have it on good authority the actual figure is more like fifteen percent … but the sob story keeps us all paying more for any technology that uses iridium." He turned to Palpatine. "Which is why I've spent some time lately discussing with you the situation on Naboo, since your government allowed the Trade Federation in. I know you were a proponent at first, but I understand your reservations now. Which is why Merchant Selrieen and I are asking for some help from the two of you."

Palpatine sat back, pensively turning the stem of his wine glass in his fingers.

Amon Selrieen took over. "Malotrok in the deep core has been found to have extraordinary deposits of iridium—"

"—enough to make mining meteors obsolete," Organa finished for him. "We will all pay so much less for everything from datapads to holovision to telescreens to spacefaring vessels if the price of iridium comes down. Better technology and transport could actually be in reach for the planets of the Outer Rim. It's a tremendous opportunity."

Palpatine sipped his wine and nibbled his appetizer, a crumbly sort of patty filled with vegetables topped with a white sauce. "And you're asking me about the Trade Federation. Seems the Directorate must have its grimy long fingers in this already."

"Unfortunately," said Selrieen. "And it's tempting to hand the business to them, because Malotrok is, in fact, a Deep Core planet. Very difficult navigation, as you know. But we do have a competitor asking for the contract. It's a new concern, partially owned by private businessmen on Malastare and partially owned by the Gran Protectorate."

"They've hired me as a consultant, being new to the shipping business themselves," said Selrieen. "'Upstart Shipping.' They're planning to stick it to the Trade Federation and steal some of their business."

"And you want my help in securing the shipping lanes," said Palpatine, "because of the enormous voting bloc the Trade Federation possesses in the Senate, and my outsize voice at the moment."

Bail gave him a nod. "Yes. And I have to say, you're the voice of experience in these matters, as well. I want to make a point about corporatism and the exploitation of weaker worlds, and who can say that better than the two of you?" He widened his glance to take in Sereine.

"If I might ask," she said, leaning forward, "how did Alderaan get involved in mining iridium in the Deep Core, anyway?"

Bail looked at Selrieen, who took up the baton. "Malotrok issodamned dry you can't even moisture farm. All plants and natives have evolved to be very small and to live on almost no water. The problem is, you need water to run mining machines and so any other species on there to mine can live. And, Alderaan being so close, with all those mountains, all those lakes, and all that snow cap, is the perfect place from which to buy and transport water."

Palpatine set his wine glass down and cast side eyes at Bail Organa. "I presume you and the Queen are grateful for the opportunity to help set Republic policy, or at least comment upon it."

Bail forked up a bite of his own pastry. "Indeed, we are. The current trend in favor of megaconglomerates and exploitationdistresses us both, as I know it does you." He sat back and folded his hands and looked full at Palpatine, ready to ask for the commitment. "Which is why I hope you'll join me in cosponsoring Alderaan's and the Gran Protectorate's bid for the lanes, and I hope the two of you will collaborate in introducing it on the floor. Eriadu is providing lemmite ore for the construction, and we already have some limited shipping underway for that."

He looked at Sereine. "I know I was a bit skeptical of the Chancellor's asking a consulting firm to introduce legislation, but you two made a believer out of me with the Emancipation Act … as well as out of everyone else." His tone settled into a gentler note. "I hope you'll think about it, Sheev." He met Sereine's eyes. "And you, as well."

Palpatine looked at Sereine as she sat back and toyed with her wine glass. "What do you think, 'Reine?"

She met his eyes. "It's good," she said. "Foryou." By which she meant,It's a lovely encore for the Emancipation Act speeches and good exposure for your career. She was fairly certain that was what he would pick up from that.

"Yes," said Palpatine, staring into his glass. "Not so good for the King, I think. Bail, I'm going to have to consult with home rule before I take this one on." He gestured with a meaningful tilt of his glass. "You know why."

"Yes, I do," said Bail as their second courses arrived. He looked at Sereine. "Can you help with that?"

"I don't know the King personally, I've never met him," she said. "But Sheev and I can put our heads together and think this one out. Although, I think it's going to come down to how much the Trade Federation can squeeze the King in retaliation. And whether and how much any public goodwill can offset that. I know you're thinking, produce another introductory film and have Sheev speak off that, the way we did the Emancipation Act, and I have to nix that idea right now. We do a film, and we get Sheev fired."

"I was afraid of that."

Sereine smiled. "Don't worry, Bail. If Sheev can't do it, I'll work it with you. As long as you take those voice lessons before we start."

Bail rolled his eyes and laughed, and Sereine laughed, too, and shook her head once.

"The Valorum caucus and the Teem caucus on the same side. Who would have ever imagined that?"