There is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Tired of corruption and stagnancy, several thousand solar systems have declared their intentions to legally secede from the Republic. This Independence Movement, under the leadership of reformed Jedi Count Dooku, has made it difficult for the cabal of Jedi cultists to maintain their stranglehold on the galaxy. Senator Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, is returning to the Galactic Senate to vote on the critical issue of creating a PEACEKEEPING FORCE OF THE REPUBLIC to keep the Republic secular, and free from Jedi control... Palpatine paced impatiently in his chambers. With each passing day of this wretched Chancellery the pressures and stresses on his person keep increasing. He thought that with so many of the member worlds seceding - a perfectly legal and peaceful procedure ratified by the Galactic Constitution - the Jedi hold over the Senate will be weakened. But at what cost? With so many worlds joining the Independence Movement, this thousand-year-old Republic was at the danger of falling apart. And what then? War, chaos, perhaps even... decentralized government?? He shuddered at the thought, then composed himself. His job was to serve the Senate as its chancellor, and that is what he would do. A government as inept and corrupt as the Republic surely needs to be kept in check by free worlds offering alternatives to Senate rule before its decadence becomes its own downfall. A mass secession would surely give the Senate reason to pause and consider - why would so many choose to leave so? What is it that Count Dooku offers? Count Dooku - that magnificent bastard! Palpatine knew him well, since they were both young, insignificant nobles from Mid Rim worlds trying to find themselves in a massive galaxy. They both felt an affinity for the Force, and each other. But, one was ambitious and shrewd, and enlisted in the Jedi Order for power and glory. The other, humble and plain, followed the way of the Sith and turned to quiet meditation and public service. So similar, yet so apart. They had kept in touch over the years, meeting over matches of Holo-Chess in Coruscant. Palpatine's fears about Jedi interference were confirmed by Dooku's complaints over the Jedi leadership. 'Bickering old coots with less sense than a bantha!' he exclaimed, one of the last few times they had met. 'Now now, Dookie, they are still your masters,' Palpatine replied, pondering his next move. 'And masters they want to be! Controlling the whole republic in their brutish ways. Does liberty and sovereignty not mean anything to them?' 'You know how I feel about the Jedi's creeping influence on our fair republic's politics, but I feel your views on liberty and sovereignty may be too... idealistic. A government of representatives, with power federated to member worlds relies on the incorruptibility of many leaders to function well, or even, at all. A populist or trade-baron could easily sway support one way or the other. But in a strong, centralized government, there is need of only one incorruptible figurehead at the helm. Surely, the whole galaxy can hold at least one such person.' Dooku reached out for Palpatine's hand. 'Thank the Force the Republic has found you.' Palpatine let his hand stay, for the first time. He would not betray the Sith path by denying his feelings - but he knew a greater task was in front of him. 'I know what you are doing, Dookie. It won't work any more than it worked before.' Palpatine made his move - his Houjix took Dooku's Monnok. 'Ha! Well done, that move crippled me... but alas, your victory is short-lived,' Dooku moved - his Grimtaash stunned Palpatine's Houjix. 'Exactly where I want you!' Palpatine sighed. 'Winning and losing - is that all you think about, Dookie?' 'At the end of the game, there are only the dead, and those who remain. I would hardly call that winning - but it's certainly more agreeable than 'losing'.'