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"Such are the joys of bureaucracy," Dooku said with a slightly wider smile, which disappeared as he got down to business. "We have a lead on an…issue…that may grow into a very large one, one that I have to refuse to discuss on a Holonet relay, because there is evidence to suggest that our target group has somehow suborned people in the relay systems."
"That is a very harsh charge given that neutrality is part of the HRS's charter," the Chancellor said slowly, leaning back in his chair in the pickup, his hands coming up to rest on the table in front of them in a pyramid as he tapped his fingertips together. "Indeed, the very idea would cut at the heart of one of the pillars of the Republic: that information and news, while censored or given spin, will at least be accurate in some fashion. You have evidence, I presume?"
"Not evidence against an individual, but evidence of the fact of duplicity, yes. However, we might also be producing a lead to the source of this pustule, but that will require naval aid to lance. As such I need a force that you can free up with no one the wiser."
"That narrows down the choices tremendously, my friend, and you have no idea about the amount of paperwork or clearances I would need to send even a small flotilla out from one of the Ord system patrol fleets. Still…it is possible," Palpatine mused. "The sector fleet that I called in to deal with Naboo's embargo by the TF has remained in that sector, performing various anti-piracy training exercises. I could redirect a squadron of cruisers, though questions would be asked if we have nothing to show for it."
"That will be perfect in many ways. Again, I don't want to give out too many details, but we will be basing our chase of this group out of Naboo."
"I see." Inside Sidious was thinking hard, wondering what this was about, but the inclusion of Naboo gave him a clue. The slaves, they found a way to trace them, and it's led into a much larger issue. Could it be connected to the various piracy activities out there that are not under my or Plagueis's control?
Sidious and Plagueis had both known that there was some other player in the game out there, but hadn't really cared because their activities had given their own, far more clandestine activities significant cover. Now that the game seemed to be up on whoever it was, Sidious would remove some of his tools from the area, and this action could be used to further cover that exodus. Further, any action launched from Serenno against the privateers who were actually acting as pirates out there could be used to sow discord and bad feeling between the two sectors, something that could be used to good effect down the line.
And on the other side of the scale, working with the Jedi on this will show that I am a friend of the Jedi, allowing me to further worm my way into their confidence and let me keep on acting as a friend to Dooku, even if he is no longer even close to falling into my earlier designs for him. It will also win me both more respect in the Senate for my swift action, and further aid to my my public stance of being an "ethical" individual who isn't afraid to act. Yes, I don't see a downside to this.
Aloud he said, "Very well my friend, I will trust you on this." He typed something in on his desktop computer, his fingers disappearing out of view of the bottom of the pickup, and a series of letters and numbers flashed on the screen over his image. "That is the communication line to the cruiser squad in question. It will prove you have my approval to abscond with them from the rest of the fleet for up to a week's time."
"Thank you my friend. You won't regret it."
"I'm sure I won't, my friend," Palpatine replied, nodding his head. After the connection cut off Sidious smiled evilly, leaning back in his chair as he let his mask fall away for a brief moment. "I'm sure I won't."
OOOOOOO
True to their word, the group of Jedi arrived on Naboo early the next day and were greeted by Obi-Wan and Padme as clandestinely as could be contrived, which unfortunately wasn't very much. "I'm sorry the spaceport controller wouldn't let you down without calling the palace over the official channels, but after the invasion they're all rather jumpy about unscheduled arrivals. I hope that won't be enough to tip off our enemies that you are on the case, as it were, but I can't promise that."
"Connecting our presence to our purpose should be quite impossible," Master Fay said, smiling lightly at the young woman as Lily looked over her shoulders, causing Obi-Wan to start in surprise, not having been around her before. "You're looking much better than you did over the Holonet, my dear. Much less pasty…" she teased.
"Yes, well, that isn't saying much now, is it?" Padme quipped. Unlike when they talked over the Holonet, Padme was not wearing her formal garb. Indeed, she was posing as one of her own handmaids out on an errand at present, with the others running interference for her so she could meet the Jedi. And instead of leading them up to the reception area, she led them into a small unused room where they could talk informally.
"And now that we have gotten the moment of levity over with, what do you need from me to retrieve my people?" Padme asked intently as she sat down, the girl disappearing, subsumed by the worried queen.
"I will require the heading of the initial jump of this small flotilla, and then a place to meditate. Master Obi-Wan and Master Dooku may join me in this, but quiet and that first step will be all important," Fay replied, matching Padme's seriousness with her own.
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