On Coruscant, an emergency session was called as the news of the Imperium's creation of the dimensional gate spread to Republic news stations.
Once the Chancellor saw it, he knew that they had to do something or else they would eventually be consumed by the Imperium and its ideas. If they wanted democracy to become the leading force in the galaxy, then they would have to do something about this.
As the emergency session began, the Chancellor began by addressing the gathered senators with a tone of urgency that immediately commanded attention.
"Senators of the Republic, we face a threat unlike any we have encountered in recent history. The Veldari Imperium has developed technology that fundamentally alters the strategic balance of power in the galaxy. Instantaneous travel across galactic distances means they can project military force anywhere, at any time, without warning."
Senator Vorliz Vearn from one of the core world planets had risen to speak. "Chancellor, while the technology is certainly concerning from a military standpoint, we must also acknowledge its humanitarian applications. The medical supplies demonstration alone suggests enormous potential for disaster relief and…."
"Senator Vearn," interrupted Senator Obwo, "You speak of humanitarian concerns while ignoring the existential threat this poses. The Imperium could deploy invasion forces to Coruscant itself within seconds. Our entire defensive strategy becomes obsolete overnight." Murmurs of agreement rippled through the chamber. The fear was present, though not universal across the room.
"We must demand they share this technology with the galaxy," declared another Senator. "Such a power cannot be monopolized by a single government. The Republic should propose a joint research initiative, or failing that, prepare countermeasures against the technology." The relationship between the Republic and the Imperium was well known to all, so the idea of a joint research initiative was just hoping for the best.
The Chancellor raised his hand for silence. "The Jedi Council has already provided their assessment. Master Vandar is here to address the Senate directly."
Master Vandar made his way to the central speaking platform. "Honored Senators," Vandar began, "The Jedi Order has studied what information is available about these dimensional gates. The technology itself is not purely mechanical in nature. It looks like it requires Force-sensitive operators to function."
This reveal caused an immediate stir amongst the Senators. Most had a vague understanding of the Force but they understood the abilities of the Force. So, to them for the Imperium to have combined technology and the Force was certainly something.
"The implications are clear," Vandar continued. "The Imperium has weaponized the Force itself, binding it to their technological infrastructure in ways that violate the natural order. This is not merely a military concern, but a philosophical threat to the very understanding of Jedi Order's belief."
Senator Vearn stood again. "Master Vandar, with respect, the Jedi Order has long maintained that the Force should guide your actions. How is the Imperium's use of Force-sensitive individuals to power beneficial technology a violation when you yourselves use the Force in combat and diplomacy?"
Vandar looked at the Senator and scoffed as Senator Vearn was part of the pacifist faction within the Senate. Most of the Senate were controlled by the militaristic faction which primary goal was to combat the rising threat of the Imperium.
"There is a difference between working with the Force and enslaving it to machinery. The Balance Keepers' philosophy already corrupts proper Force understanding. This technology takes that corruption to its logical extreme."
Senator Vearn replied, still combating Master Vandar's words. The two continued to bicker back and forth before the Chancellor stopped them and decided to move on.
Several dozen Senators voiced their words, some from the pacifist faction, some from the militaristic faction, and then some neutral senators. Near the end, a vote was initiated to decide what to do.
And contrary to what some thought, the Senators for the militaristic faction voted to not take any aggressive actions out of fear of the Imperium's use of the dimensional gates.
The Chancellor was extremely disappointed with this decision. For most of his political life, he has watched the Imperium grow into more of a threat. He knew that if the Republic doesn't stop them then democracy would be threatened and eventually become overshadowed by Imperialism. But luckily, he prepared for this decision to be made.
After the emergency session ended with nothing really being done, the Chancellor met with a handful of the most extreme Senators from the militaristic faction. The group of 8 Senators had gathered in his office and began to talk about their plan of fabricating an excuse for the Republic to go to war.
"The people will not support a war based on fear alone," Senator Obwo said, his tentacles writhing with agitation. "We need a casus belli that even the pacifist faction cannot argue against."
Chancellor Thrace leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. "Then we manufacture one. The Imperium has been expanding aggressively in former Hutt space. There are contested worlds where both our forces and theirs operate. All it would take is a single incident; one that can be presented as Imperial aggression against Republic citizens."
"You're suggesting a false flag operation?" another Senator asked.
"I'm suggesting we create the conditions that reveal the Imperium's true nature," Thrace corrected. "They are expansionist tyrants hiding behind humanitarian rhetoric. We simply need to expose that truth in a way the Senators cannot ignore."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Senator Obwo.
"We will stage an attack on one of our frontier worlds near Imperial-controlled space. A settlement with significant civilian population. We stage an attack; make it appear as though Imperial forces conducted a raid on Republic territory. We will plant and fabricate evidence making seem like an Imperial attack."
Any other Senator would have been uncomfortable hearing a proposal like this, but the ones gathered here were the most extreme of the militaristic faction. They would do anything just to see a war started either for profit or personal ambition.
"If we do this, we can prevent a future where billions die under Imperial subjugation," Thrace stated.
"Which world would this operation take place on?" asked one of the Senators.
"Giju is a significant world, located on our western border. It has a big population which will allow us to mask our activities and cause larger outrage from the people. We'll use mercenaries with some Imperial equipment acquired off the black market. Once its done, the evidence will point directly to the Imperium."
"The Jedi will investigate," another Senator warned. "They might sense the deception."
"Let them investigate," Thrace answered. "Once the High Council has learned of our intention to go to war, they won't pry too much and just join us. Many Jedi are already convinced the Imperium represents a threat."
The other Senators nodded. They continued discussing this plan for an hour, finalizing some of the finer details.
The plan would be completely secret from anybody else and would take a few weeks to prepare.
Within two weeks, everything was in place. A few hundred mercenaries were scattered across Giju in secret warehouses and other locations. They wore armor made to look like Imperial soldiers and wielded Imperial weapons purchased from the black market.
Captain Vrell, a mercenary with decades of experience in dirty work, commanded the operation. He'd been paid extremely well for this job, enough credits to retire comfortably on any rim world he chose. The fact that he was attacking Republic civilians didn't bother him. In his line of work, morality was a luxury only the weak had.
They would first target a few agricultural settlements first. They wanted it to look like a resource raid. They planned to kill enough people to create outrage but leave some survivors to tell the story.
Once the attack began, the mercenaries made it seem like they appeared out of nowhere. The attacks targeted three farming communities which were mostly peaceful settlements, defended by nothing more than a small local militia with outdated weapons.
The mercenaries moved through the settlements, killing civilians and burning structures. Among the ruins, they planted evidence: Imperial military ration packs, spent ammunition casings with Imperial manufacturing codes, even a damaged datapad containing falsified operational orders. Everything was designed to withstand forensic analysis, at least on the surface.
The survivors who were deliberately left alive told stories of soldiers in Imperial armor, speaking a language they didn't recognize. The description matched Imperial forces well enough to be believable, especially to those who wanted to believe it.
Within hours, news of the attack spread across the Republic holonet. Images of burning settlements and grieving families flooded every news channel. The public outrage was immediate and overwhelming.
Chancellor Thrace appeared before the Senate within a week, "Fellow Senators, I come before you with the most terrible news. Three settlements on Giju have been attacked by what appears to be Imperial forces. Over five hundred civilians are dead, including women and children."
The Senate chamber erupted in chaos. Even the pacifist faction looked shaken by the reports. Senator Vearn stood up, his face pale as he couldn't believe such a thing had happened. "Chancellor, do we have confirmation that these were Imperial forces? Not pirates or…."
"The evidence is overwhelming," Thrace interrupted, displaying the holographic images of the planted Imperial equipment. "Our investigators have recovered Imperial weapons, supplies, and operational orders. The survivors describe soldiers matching Imperial military profiles. This was a coordinated military operation conducted on Republic sovereign territory."
"This is an act of war!" Senator Obwo declared. "The Imperium has crossed a line that cannot be uncrossed. We must respond with force!"
Master Vandar stood in the Jedi section of the Senate. "The Council will send investigators immediately. If the Imperium is responsible, they must answer for this crime. But we must be certain before committing to war."
"The evidence speaks for itself, Master Jedi," Thrace replied. "But of course, we welcome the Order's investigation. Transparency is essential in matters of such significance."
The debate raged for hours. The militaristic faction pushed hard for immediate military action, while the pacifist faction called for diplomatic solutions despite the damning evidence. In the end, a compromise was reached: the Republic would mobilize its fleets and issue an ultimatum to the Imperium while the Jedi conducted their investigation.