The capital planet of the Confederacy of Independent Systems was surrounded by five massive orbital shipyards constructed in a ring formation. Nearly a dozen fleets either occupied the hangars or patrolled the space around the world.
Starfighters maintained constant rotation patterns, though now nearly half consisted of piloted craft rather than droids. Vulture droids and Tri-fighter droids still flew alongside them, but always accompanied by squadrons of sentient-piloted vessels.
On the planet's surface, a critical meeting convened in the Separatist Senate building.
"I'm tired of simply sitting here waiting to be attacked!" Voe Atell, leader of the Separatist Council's war faction, shouted in frustration. "We're behaving like wounded banthas while the Republic undoubtedly gathers its forces and Ultron waits for another opportunity to strike."
"So what would you have us do?" demanded the senator who'd been most vocal about recruiting new systems to the Separatist cause. "Marshal our armies and march on the Republic's doorstep, demanding their surrender?"
"Yes!" Voe raised his hands as if this were the most obvious solution in the galaxy. "We need to strike hard and fast against the Republic. Eliminate a familiar enemy first, then focus on the unknown threat."
"And leave ourselves vulnerable?" Mina Bonteri countered. "Are you mad, Voe? The entire galaxy is still reeling from Ultron's declaration of war. He seized Jabiim as a statement—targeting both the Republic and our Confederacy. Why would you wish to further strain our military resources?"
"Stop delaying and end this!" Atell snapped back fiercely. "The Republic is weakened and vulnerable right now. If we strike at Kamino and eliminate it, we'd have one less enemy to worry about."
"Perhaps there's another approach to our predicament," offered a Quarren senator.
"I'm willing to hear anything except Voe's reckless proposals," another female senator said with a bored expression, completely ignoring the glare Atell directed at her.
"People can blockade trade routes, cut off supplies, even isolate entire planets. But how long can such measures endure? These problems resolve themselves given time," Voe argued passionately.
"No, I believe the damage to the Republic runs far deeper than they realize. It will require years to recover—this could even prove their fatal blow," Mina said, eyeing her primary rival within the Confederacy with wary concern.
"What are you proposing?" Voe's eyes took on a fanatical gleam. "To seize something the Republic currently values above all else. Their entire military is supplied from Kamino."
Numerous exclamations and shocked cries echoed through the Separatist parliamentary chamber.
"Are you insane?"
"Attacking Kamino? That would be suicide!"
"If you want us to assault Kamino, you're essentially asking us to sacrifice half our forces!"
"We have a newly aligned system willing to assist us in this endeavor," Voe said, gesturing toward a haggard, pale man who carried an aura of defeat about him.
"They've abandoned the Republic—because the Republic abandoned them, just as it abandoned all of us."
"They abandoned the Republic out of fear," Mina said pointedly. "Lest you forget, Voe, some of our own have done the same—some declared independence, others crawled back to the Republic."
"Cowards," the green-skinned senator spat. "Traitors, every one of them."
"Some would say that's precisely what we are," a teal-skinned, bald alien remarked with a heavy sigh.
"It's not just my system willing to contribute to this effort," the Confederacy's newest member said with poorly concealed arrogance.
"What say you, Count Dooku?"
Every eye focused on the head of the CIS standing before the assembly. He'd appeared in person rather than via hologram—a rarity that had become increasingly shocking to witness, yet necessary in these uncertain times.
He stood silently for several moments, contemplating and weighing the arguments. Finally, he began addressing the assembly.
"All the proposals sound reasonable in theory, but their true weight will only be felt once implemented."
The former Jedi Master spoke with calm authority. "Given the circumstances, I believe Voe's proposal has merit." His words carried both wisdom and determination. Seeing he'd gained the upper hand in the political contest, the Separatist senator could barely suppress his triumphant smile.
"Lord Dooku," Mina said pleadingly, "I firmly believe there's another path available to us. Perhaps peace cannot be achieved overnight, but a ceasefire—a temporary truce to focus on the greater threat, Ultron—isn't he the more dangerous enemy?"
Count Dooku regarded Senator Bonteri with an expression of genuine sympathy. "My dear Mina," he began, "I completely understand and appreciate your perspective." His voice carried the kindness of a mentor, yet firmness underlay his words. "I recognize the danger you're describing, which is precisely why I partially agree with you."
A glimmer of hope appeared in Mina's eyes, and she allowed herself a small smile.
"However," Dooku's tone became resolute, "I cannot prevent this course of action from proceeding."
Senator Bonteri's expression shifted from hope to profound disbelief.
"Mina," Dooku's voice softened yet remained firm enough for everyone present to hear, "if there were another viable path, I would support and pursue it wholeheartedly. But the Republic—if they perceive any opportunity to strengthen their position, they will not hesitate to take drastic measures. You need only look at what they did to Mandalore."
Though he wished to leave such painful memories behind, he understood that certain truths must be confronted for the sake of "galactic peace."
"I'm sorry, Mina," Dooku said gravely, "but I cannot allow the Republic to prey upon us as though we were wounded animals."
He turned to address the other council members. "Who opposes this action?"
Ultimately, only one-third of the CIS Senate raised their hands in opposition. He surveyed the remaining two-thirds. "And who supports this measure?" They raised their hands in solemn agreement.
"It appears we have a majority decision," Dooku announced with measured calm. "The assault on Kamino will proceed as planned."
The parliamentary chamber fell silent, each senator understanding that every decision, every word spoken here, would shape the fate of the galaxy itself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to over 50 chapters, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~