"The only real diplomacy ever performed by a diplomat is in deceiving their own people after their dumbness has got them into a war."
–Will Rogers
Responses:
hadrianceaser: thanks.
Blaze1992: Wrong intel, the farmers are pointing away from where the Rangers ambushed the Clones so I hope that clears it up.
Superpierce: Yeah, they are pretty much stuck on square 1.
Halo Star Wars X-over fan: I think they are starship grade, it's just I conveniently forgot about it because of 'wahoo, railguns'.
LictorMagnus: PTSD indeed.
Guest: Dude, you have horrible grammar. It's "I've read your fics, by the way, and as an author, I think they're garbage. After all, your writing is one of the worst pieces I have ever read. You have no talent and are a piece of fucking garbage." If you're going to attack someone at least make your sentence legible. Just saying.
Sci-Fi Guy 22: Yep.
Rogue1bois: Yeah but at the same time the Republic can just replace a whole squad of Venators like that. Though this means the Republic would have to focus more on the Terrans which should mean the CIS would press the advantage (but then again Palpy can order them to stand off for a bit). Also yes the war will turn into an actual conflict.
Don Cheeto: To answer your question about nukes, no, the UTF and by extension, the Commonwealth did not settle down long enough for there to be any installation of nuclear silos (since why would you install those on what would then be a backwater world). Second, I'm sure this war would cause some rift in the Jedi, but I am not sure about the idea with Skoll since he lost faith after the war and after Order 66 (at least according to the Wookipedia article since I can't be bothered to renew my D+ subscription when I have the DVD collection of all 7 seasons of the Clone Wars)
Archdruid Gilneas: Nope.
Naufalrakha0104: More to come.
Zone-Meister: Yeah, the Republic is corrupt af.
Zacker1590: Pyrrhic Victory indeed.
Tony McNucklz: Honestly I would like the UTSC to follow some rules of war, mainly because it would seem hypocritical in the long run.
Monkeywrench542: They will soon
Candel06: Thanks
LegoDoc: Unfortunately sorry won't be on the menu
Just a Crazy-Man: Thank you
Arbiter3670: They will eventually, also thank you.
[26 MARCH 2590]
Operation MILKMAN
FROM: ONI HEADQUARTERS OLYMPUS
TO: ONI ANDROMEDA DIVISION, Commodore Admiral Jackson Harper (11016-20070-JH)(O-8)
….
Commodore,
I am sure you have heard of the news considering it is everywhere in the media so I will spare you the details.
Now that we are in direct conflict with the Republic it is time we place Contingency Plan MILKMAN into play.
8 Documents Attached
4 Image Files Attached
These are the splinter groups which our analysts identified as being most in line with our cause within the Confederacy. As of now you are to conduct covert smuggling operations to their forces using the Baobab Merchant Fleet, Trade Federation vessels, along with multiple other native Andromeda freighter vessels we have obtained.
Godspeed Commodore.
–Admiral Veronica Dare
Location: Senate Rotunda, Coruscant
April 3 2590
Senator Padme Amidala
The roaring of the senate seemed to burst Padme's ear drums, as it would anyones, listening to roughly 20,000 people or more simultaneously seemed to be equal to that of a bomb going off right next to her.
Yet to a seasoned stateswoman as herself it was just a normal day. At least as normal as it could be with the current topic flying around.
'The Terran Menace.'
'Extragalactic's.'
'Mud-eaters.'
'Primitive Monkeys.'
All these terms were being thrown around the Rotunda as an emergency session was about to start. It was all slander. Slander against a people who had so far treated this galaxy with respect and kindness.
When the Trade Federation committed to their invasion of Naboo, it wasn't Republic warships breaking through the blockade, it wasn't Republic supply ships giving aid to the beleaguered civilians, it wasn't even Republic Judicial Officers maintaining order on the streets.
They were all Terran, a Terran task force, a Terran lead convoy, and finally the deploying of their 'Marines' to mop up the Trade Federation's droid army and assist the Gungan Army.
But that was a long time ago, well at least 15 years ago. Then Padme was grateful, as were a lot more Senators who sung the praises of Terra and her exploits. Now it was a competition to see how much mud could be dug up on them.
"How can we forgive these people when they have so clearly betrayed us, the people protecting them from the Separatists on THEIR DOORSTEP!" Yelled Zorin Krasul, the Senator for Anaxes. The pro-war hawk received a wide cheer of praise from a certain half of the senate. If he were bathing in his glorious thunder then he certainly wasn't showing it.
"Betrayed? Tell me Senator who betrayed them! Who clearly went against their rights! Thanks to you we may have lost another planet to the Separatist cause!" Yelled Onoconda Farr, The senator from Rodia receiving an equal amount of praise from the pro-peace side, Padme included as she could see Krasul's face scrunch in anger on the holoprojector.
"These Terrans knew what they were getting into! They refused our requests for them to stop trading with the CIS, they were very blunt and in many cases rude to our diplomats in that regard! They simply had it coming for them!" Krasul hollered back.
"And what about the Slaughter of Farbanti? Is that what was coming for them? That our forces dare to stoop as low as the Separatists and kill innocent civilians? This is unacceptable and you should be ashamed of yourselves for thinking killing innocents is simply bad karma!"
The Senate seemed to erupt at such comments.
The Slaughter of Farbanti as it had come to be known was quickly spread across the galaxy, being denied by Republic supporters and pushed in CIS propaganda. It was a definite blow to the Republic who built themselves up as the moral side of this war, one of peacekeepers and not warmongers.
"The reason we are here my fellow Senators is simple, the Gaulus Sector Security Act, pushed by the Republic High Command landed us on a second front in this war, a second front we can not afford, morally or economically!" Farr continued, putting his momentum to good use by stirring the boiling pot.
Padme and many other Senators knew all too well that the Gaulus Sector Security Act would be brought up eventually. Logically the Act was controversial out of its conceivement by the minds of Republic military officials and the Mandalorians, a first for their people to be involved in the sphere of Galactic legislation.
Padme had personally made it her mission to negotiate with the Terrans seeing as how the Naboo Senator was particularly close to them for good reason. But it seemed such sympathy only applied to her end.
"Are you saying we can't win this war Senator? That we should lie down to the Terran dogs and by extension to the Separatist menace?" Krasul bellowed, regaining his footing as multiple jabs were directed towards Senator Farr, such calls as 'traitor' and 'bootlicker' were most common among other things.
"I am not suggesting anything Senator, I am simply pointing out a mistake which we made which will affect our ability to fight!" Farr replied, the exhausted Rodman looked to Padme for backup.
Padmé took a deep breath, steadying herself as the Rotunda vibrated with the echoes of shouting senators. The debate had spiraled into an all-out verbal brawl, but that wasn't surprising. This was how things had been for months now—divided, bitter, and driven more by pride than reason.
She activated her podium, rising into the central space where all could see her. The volume dipped slightly, more out of curiosity than respect. The Naboo Senator was a known advocate for diplomacy, but in this climate, diplomacy was a dirty word.
"Senators," Padmé began, her voice cutting through the din with measured poise. "We are standing at a precipice, one of our own making. The Gaulus Sector Security Act has not strengthened us—it has fractured us. It has opened a second front in a war we are already struggling to sustain, and worse, it has turned former allies into enemies. This was not just a military failure. It was a diplomatic catastrophe."
A ripple of murmurs passed through the Senate. Some nodded in agreement, while others scowled, unwilling to acknowledge the truth behind her words.
"Fifteen years ago, when my world was under siege, it was not Republic forces that came to our aid—it was Terra. They broke the blockade, they delivered relief, they fought to free our people. And yet today, we have repaid them not with gratitude, but with suspicion, hostility, and now open war. Tell me, Senators—how many of you truly believe Terra would not have stood with us against the Separatists had we given them reason to trust us? Instead, we have treated them as threats, as outsiders, simply because they refused to be dictated to."
Padme could see the Trade Federation Senator, Lott Dod physically recoil at such comments, the Nemodian silently fuming at his pod, the only thing preventing him from saying a few things of his mind was the cold glare given by Krasul.
He would not steal Krasul's thunder.
Senator Krasul scoffed, his holoprojected image sneering. "Dictated to? They engaged in direct trade with the Separatists, arming them with resources that have prolonged this war! What did you expect, Senator Amidala? That we would simply sit back and watch as they fueled the enemy?"
Padmé held her ground, her gaze unwavering. "And whose fault is that, Senator Krasul? I was negotiating with the Terran delegation myself, working toward an agreement that would have kept them neutral. But I was called away, and what happened in my absence? Others, with far less patience for diplomacy, delivered ultimatums instead of compromises. They demanded Terra comply without consideration for their sovereignty, their economy, or their security. And when Terra refused, we escalated. We turned a potential partner into an adversary."
"An adversary that annihilated our fleet at Strangreal with nuclear weapons!" Krasul shot back, seizing the moment. "Or have you conveniently forgotten that, Senator?"
A wave of angry shouts erupted in support of Krasul's words, drowning out Padmé's initial response. She tensed as the momentum shifted—just as she feared it would. The near destruction of the Republic fleet at Strangreal had been a devastating blow, not militarily but psychologically. The mere mention of it ignited a fresh surge of outrage, one that Krasul was more than willing to exploit.
"I haven't forgotten," Padmé replied, her voice calm but firm. "But I refuse to forget the events that led to it, either. We brought war to their doorstep, we attacked their supply lines, and when they defended themselves, we feigned shock at their methods. Terra did not escalate this conflict—we did. And now, instead of seeking an end to it, some of you would rather stoke the flames further, knowing full well it will cost us more lives."
The Chancellor himself finally stirred, leaning forward from his elevated position. The shadowy figure of Sheev Palpatine, his expression unreadable, spoke with the air of a man above petty disputes.
"You speak passionately, Senator Amidala," he mused, his voice smooth as silk. "Yet I wonder—if we were to seek peace now, after Strangreal, after Farbanti, after all that has transpired… Do you truly believe Terra would be so willing? Or would they see weakness and press their advantage?"
Padmé swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest. The trap was clear. Palpatine was not outright dismissing her stance—he was reframing it, subtly planting the idea that peace was no longer viable. That even if the Republic wished to end this war, Terra would not. And in doing so, he was shifting the weight of responsibility onto them, justifying further escalation.
She glanced at her allies—Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, Onaconda Farr. Their expressions were grim. They knew what she knew. The Senate was turning against reason, as it had before.
Padmé inhaled deeply. "Chancellor, if we assume that Terra would not accept peace, then we doom ourselves to endless war. We must at least make the attempt. Otherwise, we are not defenders of democracy—we are conquerors who refuse to acknowledge when we are in the wrong."
A murmur of unease spread through the assembly, but Krasul seized the opportunity to strike again. "And what of justice, Senator? What of the thousands killed at Strangreal? Would you have us grovel before the ones who slaughtered our people?"
Padmé did not hesitate. "I would have us take responsibility for our part in creating this conflict. I would have us prevent further slaughter, not pursue vengeance at the cost of more innocent lives. That is what justice demands."
The Senate chamber was alive with noise now, split between those rallying to Krasul's call for war and those shaken by Padmé's words. She could feel the ground shifting, but not in her favor.
With a loud boom the staff of Mas Anedda connected with the floor of the Chancellor's pod, signaling the end of today's legislative session. Padme felt empty inside, her gut replaced with a twisting sensation.
She had failed to stop the war and by extension set the path towards lasting peace in the Galaxy a step back.
"My lady is everything alright?" C3PO asked, the protocol droid checking in on his master who shook her head.
"No threepio, but I appreciate your concern," Amidala said, a small smile breaking out on her exhausted face.
"Mistress Padme, I believe you had a conference scheduled with Senator Organa and Senator Mothma later today, if you aren't feeling well shall I inform them of your absence?" the protocol droid rambled on.
"No threepio, I will attend, we need to get to the bottom of this, for all our sake."
Location: Terran Parliament Building, Earth
April 3 2590
President Haley Odalwa
"How certain are you about AEGIS SPEAR succeeding?" Haley Odalwa, the President of the Federation asked, sitting within one of the many round table discussion rooms within the Terran Parliament Building.
To her left were her aides and notable political figures from the Parliament and the Donum Represenativis whilst to her right sat the Joint Chiefs, HIGHCOM, and their own aides with terabytes upon terabytes of information.
A career army officer, she had always been cautious of politicians, their words, their tones, all reflective of the issues their caucus voiced which with the around 500 planets in the UTF, had their own niches. This also applied (though on a much lesser scale) to the military officials entrusted to lead the United Terran Space Command.
"We are confident AEGIS SPEAR will complete its objectives, our goal is to lure the Republic into a war of attrition and we did and still doing just that at Strangreal," Fleet Admiral Jacob Keyes replied, the Chief of Naval Operations Class-A officers uniform noticeably absent of the pile of medals the career naval officer had earned.
Fleet Admiral Jacob Keyes was one of the few people in this room she could fully invest her trust in. His mile long rap sheet of military engagements and involvements had led her to endorse him to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs based on his ability to lead.
Even then Admiral Keyes had his critics, his tactics were often too quick for most to follow and his focus as CNO for the Navy to invest in smaller, more tactile warships instead of large lumbering battleships and carriers had many (mostly naval contractors) banging fists on the table.
"Still the numbers you gave irk me, if the Republic breaks through our lines and seizes New Cascades then we would give up control of a functioning Halo to them and god knows what they'll do with it," said the Chancellor for the Federation, Seong Kyung-Sam, his voice sewed with worry.
Haley had much of the same concern as did the rest of her civilian cabinet. If the Republic got a hold of Forerunner Artifact B-1 and its sister relay, it was unknown what they would do with it. Of course in Separatist hands it was obvious they would use it, but under Republic ones, Haley shuddered with what they would do once they found the gateway to the Milky Way.
"Forerunner Artifact B-1 is being moved to a classified location away from New Cascades, in the case that New Cascades falls we would still have ownership of the Halo," replied the Director for ONI, Admiral Veronica Dare.
Admiral Dare was an interesting case to Haley. A rather low ranking officer in the intelligence agency when the SPARTAN scandal was released by a few key whistleblowers, she was thrust into the high brass after ONI HEADQUARTERS had a full cleanout to avoid being shut down entirely by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
There was a reason why they were called M.I.A with how much bureaucratic red tape the ministry cut off once it became aware of such shenanigans. Possibly why the Minister of the MIA, was staring daggers into the Director.
Still, she was a spook and Haley, coming from the regular military, did not trust spooks.
"Still, even with your assurances, we are going up against an entire galaxy, the fact that we were able to keep with our neutrality for so long in this 'Clone War' is a miracle in itself," Haley replied, interlocking her fingers and putting them on the conference table.
"A fact that is not lost upon us Madam President," replied Field Marshal Edwin Koch, the overall Commander of the Army.
The room was heavy with tension, the soft hum of holo-terminals the only sound in the brief silence that followed Field Marshal Koch's words. President Haley Odalwa studied the faces of those gathered. Career officers, intelligence operatives, politicians—each representing a different aspect of Terran power. Each with their own interests.
Fleet Admiral Jacob Keyes, ever the composed tactician, was the first to continue.
"Operation AEGIS SPEAR remains our best option," he said, his voice firm, unwavering. "With the Republic fully committed to a prolonged engagement at Strangereal, we've successfully forced them into a logistical nightmare. The key now is reinforcing that problem."
He gestured to the holo-map at the center of the table. It displayed the theater of war in real-time, Republic-controlled sectors pulsing in deep blue, while UTF-aligned regions gleamed in Terran crimson. The contested systems—like festering wounds—flashed in a hostile yellow.
"With the arrival of the 11th Fleet in Andromeda, we've increased our combat-capable ships to approximately 700. That gives us the strategic flexibility to hold key positions rather than conducting a full retreat." He tapped the holo-table, zooming in on two blinking red points. "Which is why we're making our stand at Coleville and Nova Terra."
The tension in the room deepened. Everyone knew the Galactic Republic had a military industrial complex that dwarfed anything Terra could field alone.
To many of the Civilian cabinet it seemed like suicide.
"Our strategy remains the same," Keyes continued. "AEGIS SPEAR is about forcing the Republic into a war of attrition. We've already begun tactical withdrawals from less critical systems, drawing their forces deeper into the Commonwealth."
He highlighted two systems on the holographic display—Coleville and Nova Terra—both of which pulsed a bright blue.
"Now that our reinforcements are here, we're shifting into defensive stands at Coleville and Nova Terra. These are highly populated core worlds, heavily fortified, and logistically self-sufficient. The Republic must take these systems to maintain their advance, and we will bleed them for every meter of ground."
The Minister of Defense, Arturo Valdez, folded his arms. "You believe they'll take the bait?"
Keyes nodded. "They already have. Republic forces are mobilizing for an offensive, focusing their efforts on the Nova Terra Corridor. Intelligence indicates they're diverting resources from the Mid Rim to reinforce their push here. They're committing, which is exactly what we want."
John-117, now Admiral of the entire SPARTAN Branch, leaned forward, his presence alone commanding attention. His voice was calm, measured, but carried the weight of the man's extensive combat record.
"Coleville is defensible. The terrain favors us, and we've reinforced the orbital perimeter with additional MAC platforms. Nova Terra is trickier. If the Republic decides to commit their main battle fleets, we'll need to fight them in the void and keep them from landing ground forces. If they do land, urban warfare will be unavoidable, and it'll be brutal. We're already preparing contingency plans for full-scale planetary engagement."
Chancellor Seong Kyung-Sam still looked uneasy. "And what about the civilians? We have millions living on Nova Terra—what guarantees do we have that we can protect them?"
John's jaw tightened. "There are no guarantees in war, Chancellor. But we won't let them take the planet without making them pay for every street, every building, every inch of ground they set foot on."
"I still don't like this," the Internal Affairs Minister muttered. "We're turning two of our largest civilian population centers into battlefields, we'll have triple the amount of Farbanti's all over again."
Haley sighed, massaging her temples. "I want a full assessment of what committing to this will cost us. If we do this, it needs to be calculated. No half-measures."
Keyes nodded. "Understood, Madam President."
She glanced at Field Marshal Koch. "Ground forces?"
Koch straightened. "I already have the 4th Andromeda Corp stationed on Nova Terra. Coleville has the 1st Armored, 2nd and 8th Marine Divisions, and a contingent of ODSTs."
"I have already discussed this with General Schmidt and we can reinforce them both with elements from the 6th Marine Division," Keyes added, his Marine counterpart noticeably absent.
Haley absorbed the information, then slowly leaned back in her chair. "We'll move forward with the defensive strategy at Coleville and Nova Terra, but I want contingencies in place. Evacuation procedures, fallback positions, last-resort options. If the Republic commits overwhelming force, we need to be able to pivot."
Haley glanced at John-117, the President not withering under the cold glare of the veteran supersoldier. "Your Spartans will be critical in securing these defensive lines. Are they ready?"
John's response was immediate. "They always are."
Valdez grunted in approval. "A long, grinding fight will make the Galactic Senate second-guess this war. That could buy us time."
Haley was quiet for a moment, considering the broader picture. "And our supply situation?"
Field Marshal Koch spoke this time. "Better than expected, but still tenuous. With the 11th Fleet came much-needed reinforcements and supplies, but make no mistake—this will test our limits. We're repurposing civilian infrastructure, converting shipyards and factories to war production, but at some point, we'll need external support."
That was the unspoken reality hanging over them. Alone, Terra could only hold out for so long. Which meant there was only one logical conclusion.
"We need allies," Odalwa said plainly.
"I have already talked with the Arbiter and while he supports our struggle he is hard pressed to send us any reinforcements considering he's still dealing with stubborn Kaidons in his own government," Chancellor Kyung-Sam replied, crossing his arms as Keyes chuckled.
"Still salty about their little civil war hmm?" Keyes said. Years ago it seemed evident that war would erupt again between the Sangheili and Humanity. 2 sworn enemies that simply saw a greater threat to each other's existence.
Haley knew Keyes was an adamant figure for peace between the 2 species. His experiences on Installation 04 having molded his respect for the split lips, even then he was still cautious.
Luckily cooler heads seemed to prevail, the possibility of war between the 2 species waned each day till eventually there was no need, the Blooding Years on Sanghelios had the Sangheili focus on internal matters rather than settle an expired rivalry with humanity.
Haley could say it was much the same with the UTF. The Insurrection was still rather fresh in the minds of humanity, even with the end of the Human-Covenant War, business continued like normal.
"We possibly have allies in the CIS but I am aware of how you feel about them," the Parliamentarian Ronald Kearsarge from Reach replied.
Haley shook her head at this statement. While the cause of the CIS or the Separatists was admirable, the way they went about it seemed to contradict everything they stood for. War crimes, executions, constant coups, dictatorships… Haley could go on and on.
That was an entity the UTF did not need to ally with, especially if she wished to save grace with the relations with the Outer Colonies and the wishes of the Unionist opposition party.
So naturally the room was silent for a beat. It was the obvious answer, yet no one was eager to be the first to bring up the CIS.
Finally, Chancellor Seong Kyung-Sam sighed. "The Separatists are the only faction with both the will and the means to help us. But working with them..." He shook his head. "Their leadership is corrupt, unstable. And frankly, many of them are no better than the Republic."
A murmur of agreement swept through the civilian cabinet. Many here had little love for the Separatists, despite their mutual enemy.
Admiral Dare, always the pragmatist, spoke next. "There are factions within the Confederacy that we can work with. Not everyone follows Count Dooku blindly. Some corporate entities and planetary governments are more interested in their own survival than in Sith ideology."
"Such as?" Haley asked.
"The Free Systems League," Dare answered. "A coalition of Separatist-aligned worlds that are increasingly disillusioned with the CIS High Command. Then there's the Lok Cartel—technically criminals, but they control key hyperspace routes we could deny the Republic. And lastly, the Outer Rim Mutual Defense Pact, a collection of worlds that only joined the Separatists out of fear of Republic occupation."
Haley considered this carefully. "And what would they want in return?"
"Recognition. Security assurances. Trade agreements," Dare listed. "They're looking for a way out of this war, but they won't make a move unless they're certain we can hold the line against the Republic."
Keyes exhaled sharply. "Then we need to make damn sure Coleville and Nova Terra hold."
Silence fell over the room once more as the weight of the decision settled in.
Haley finally spoke. "Contact these factions discreetly. If there are Separatists we can work with, we'll explore it. But under no circumstances do I want us aligning with Dooku's inner circle. This war is about our survival—we will not trade one overlord for another."
There were nods of agreement across the table. Haley felt it was the appropriate time to adjourn the meeting.
The Federation had a metric ton of work set out for them and Haley intended to see it done.
Location: Private Senate Chambers
April 3 2590
Senator Padme Amidala
The tension in the chamber was suffocating. The meeting had been hastily arranged, and now a portion of the small group of Senators who had opposed the Gaulus Sector Security Act sat in quiet frustration around the polished durasteel table. A single datapad displaying the amended bill rested in the center, the text glowing softly in the dimly lit room.
Padmé sat with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable as her mind raced through the implications of what had transpired. She had spent months negotiating a neutral trade agreement with the Terrans, only to return and find those efforts sabotaged by the very people she was supposed to be working with.
Bail Organa exhaled slowly, breaking the silence. "I think we all know why we're here. The Gaulus Sector Security Act was altered before it was passed—words changed, clauses added, none of which were in the original draft. And now, we're paying the price for it."
Padmé exhaled slowly. "We don't have much time before the war hawks push for escalation. We need to talk about what happened, and what we can still do to fix it."
"It was supposed to be a compromise," he said, shaking his head. "A way to secure the Gaulus Sector while keeping Terra neutral. But after you were called away to Mon Cala, Padmé, the wording was changed. Instead of a defensive measure, it became a direct military intervention," Organa replied, arms crossed.
Padmé frowned. "I don't understand. We had agreements in place—Terra was willing to abide by a neutrality pact as long as their economic ties weren't threatened."
"They were threatened," Mon Mothma cut in. "After you left, certain Senators—Senators like Krasul and his goons inserted provisions into the Treaty and resulting Act that essentially criminalized any Terran trade with the CIS. It wasn't a security act anymore, Padmé. It was an ultimatum: 'Stop your trade, or face consequences.'"
Padmé's stomach twisted. "That wasn't the deal I was told to be negotiating."
"But it was what was presented, of course we all voted down on it but Krasul managed to rally enough voices, including Orn Free Taa who was the most vocal about it, thus turning a majority of the Rim Faction for the bill and it passed and thus put us at odds with the Federation," Mothma replied. Padme sighed with annoyance.
"Why would Taa be in support of that? Did he not read the new bill?" Padme asked. She had drafted this bill to ensure that no war would be possible with the Terrans and by extension their 'Andromedan Commonwealth' which they lay claim to.
If she were not away negotiating a separate peace on Mon Cala none of this would have happened but such things were privy to happen when one tried to multi-task, especially Galactic peace.
"Likely since the ones who changed it were smart enough to leave the wording in regards to Ryloth alone, Taa is not the…" Organa searched for a word as he placed a hand on his chin. "...smartest Senator out there and it is very easy to manipulate him."
Padmé's fingers tapped against her arm as she leaned forward. "Then who changed it?"
Riyo Chuchi looked hesitant, but she spoke up. "We don't have direct proof, but it's clear that key figures in the Senate's military bloc had a hand in it."
"Then we have to speak with Taa immediately, he was present today so it shouldn't be hard to explain to him what the bill actually did," Padme replied.
Before anyone could answer, C-3PO shuffled in from the sidelines, his golden plating gleaming under the artificial light.
"Excuse my interruption, Mistress Padmé," the protocol droid said in his usual flustered tone, "but I have an urgent update regarding Senator Orn Free Taa. He is currently away on a diplomatic mission to New Kilauea."
Padmé's brow furrowed. "New Kilauea? Another Terran colony?"
"Indeed, Mistress! A most unexpected development. It appears he departed shortly before this meeting was arranged. I have no record of any prior notification sent to you or your colleagues."
That made her sit up straight. "No one was informed?" She turned to Bail, Mon, and the others. They all looked equally puzzled. "Why? Why would Taa leave for a Terran colony now, of all times? And why was none of us informed?"
Bail rubbed his chin. "If Taa truly wasn't aware of the changes to the bill, then he might be trying to salvage relations with Terra. But the fact that we weren't told suggests that someone in the Senate didn't want us interfering."
Merrick, who had been silent until now, leaned forward, folding his hands on the table. "Orn Free Taa's absence is unfortunate, but let's not lose sight of another crucial matter—the Mandalorian claim to Strangreal."
Padmé sighed, rubbing her temples. "The Terrans won't recognize that claim, Merrick. Strangreal has been under their control for decades. They settled it, developed it, and considered it part of their territory."
Merrick scoffed. "Strangreal contains Beskar—Mandalorian Beskar. We have ancestral claims to the system. When the Republic moved in, we saw an opportunity to finally secure it under our jurisdiction. You can't blame Mandalore for wanting to reclaim what was stolen from us centuries ago."
Bail sighed. "Tal, let's be honest—this was never just about Mandalore's claim. The Republic military wanted Beskar to use against the Separatists. That's why they backed Mandalore's involvement in the act."
Merrick didn't deny it. "And Terra responded by attacking Republic forces with nuclear weapons. Are we just supposed to ignore that?"
Padmé's jaw tightened. "We forced their hand, Tal. We backed them into a corner. If the Republic had sent an invading force to Mandalore itself, would your people not have responded with equal force?"
Merrick said nothing, though his jaw twitched.
Kin Robb, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. "This is all a mess of our own making," she said. "If the Gaulus Act had stayed as intended—if we had simply protected the sector instead of trying to dictate Terra's policies—we wouldn't be in this situation."
Mon Mothma nodded in agreement. "But now that we are, the question is how we move forward. The Senate is not in a forgiving mood, and the Chancellor will use Strangreal to justify further action and possibly more emergency powers. The war with Terra will escalate unless we find a way to de-escalate it first."
Padmé leaned forward. "Then we need to push for an immediate repeal of the Gaulus Act."
Merrick scoffed. "That won't happen, Padmé. Not after Strangreal."
Riyo Chuchi, always diplomatic, intervened. "Senator Merrick, I understand your concerns, but the way this was handled was reckless. The Mandalorians pushed for recognition of their claim, and in response, the Republic drafted a security act that directly antagonized the Terrans. That is what led to Strangreal becoming a battleground."
Mon Mothma nodded. "We can argue over rightful claims all day, but the reality is this: the Republic overstepped. We forced the Terrans into a position where they felt compelled to defend themselves. And now, we've handed Krasul and the war hawks all the justification they need to escalate this into a full-scale war."
A heavy silence settled over the room. The weight of their failure pressed down on them all.
Padmé exhaled. "Our priority now is undoing the damage before it's too late. We need to speak with Orn Free Taa as soon as he returns. If he truly didn't know about the wording changes, he may be willing to help us repeal the act or at least revise it into something that won't keep dragging us deeper into conflict."
Bail nodded. "And in the meantime, we need to find out exactly who was responsible for changing the bill. If we can expose them, we might be able to shift public opinion against further escalation."
Merrick looked unconvinced but said nothing. Padmé could tell he was still thinking about Strangreal.
"When Taa returns we will call a special session and discuss the repeal of this Act, in the meantime I believe we all have our own investigations to do," Padme said as she stood up from her chair, her colleagues saying their goodbyes and soon it was only Padme and C-3PO.
C-3PO approached the Senator. "Mistress Padme, I believe your schedule is clear for tonight, would you like me to arrange you a speeder home?"
Padme nodded in response. Quietly leaving the private chamber accompanied by a few Coruscant Guards. As she climbed into the speeder there was only one thing that was on her mind.
Anakin.