Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapters 114 & 115 - Is the war over?
This is where I belong.

Padmé was absolutely determined, and had a clear understanding of what she was about to say.

“Representative Amidala, what are you talking about?” Representative Paulus’s voice, filled with confusion and unease, broke the brief silence.

“I’m saying,” Padmé’s voice, cold as metal, pierced the entire Senate, “that those who fell were our fellow citizens! Living, breathing people! Not products off an assembly line!”

Her gaze swept across the faces—some shocked, some evasive, some angry. "They weren't clones! They were loyal citizens! They were patriots with unwavering faith! They were young lives who took up the flag of the Republic and were willing to shed their blood for it! In just one day! In one day, ten million such lives were lost! What did we get in return? A few light-years of meaningless 'territory' in the Central Star System?!"

She abruptly turned to the seats in the Luna system, her gaze sharp as a sword, piercing directly at Senator Edsel Bar Garne: "Those families who have lost loved ones, those heartbroken friends, are watching us right now in front of the hologram! And what about you? Besides yelling at each other like street aunties over credits and funding, what valuable things have you said?!"

She took a step forward, her hover chair tilting slightly forward, the oppressive feeling increasing sharply. "Congressman Bar Gaines, you fight so hard for the appropriations bill! But while all you think about is replenishing those cold warships, I'm thinking... who will pilot them?! Will you personally knock on the doors of families who have just lost their eldest sons? With your left hand, offer your 'deepest' condolences, your empty words and prayers! And with your right hand, immediately hand over conscription orders, demanding they send their second sons to the battlefield as well?!"

"Dear colleagues!" Padmé raised his voice again, addressing the entire Senate. His tone suddenly became unusually calm, even carrying a hint of deliberate sweetness, which only made it more ironic. "As I listen to the debate over this appropriations bill, I hear only one voice: that another ten million people should be herded into the next slaughterhouse like livestock!"

A tremendous scream swept through the entire council hall like a tsunami!

Shock, anger, disbelief, even fear...

A mixture of emotions—this is exactly the effect Padmé wanted.

She paused briefly, waiting for Speaker Mas Ameda to interrupt and reprimand her for violating ancient parliamentary rules.

But, unexpectedly, nothing happened.

From the speaker's seat, Palpatine leaned forward slightly, his unfathomable gaze fixed on her.

“Enough…enough, Representative Amidala,” Representative Saam’s voice trembled as he tried to smooth things over and calm the out-of-control situation, “Your point…is very clear—”

"Is it clear, Representative Saam?! Is it really clear?!" Padme interrupted him rudely, her gaze sweeping across the thousands of representatives under the dome like a searchlight, trying to meet as many eyes as possible. "Have I made myself clear? This solemn institution, faced with the deaths of ten million compatriots, comes up with a 'solution' that is to let more people bleed?! Have I made myself clear? This solemn institution, faced with the deaths of ten million compatriots, comes up with a 'solution' that is to let those immoral corporations that profit from the war machine fill the pockets of your gorgeous silk robes with blood-stained bribes?!"

Representative Saam's face flushed instantly, and he instinctively took a step back, glancing nervously at his colleagues who represented the interests of large corporations.

Lotte Dodd of the Trade Federation, Nix Card of the Corporate Alliance, and others.

But these representatives were frozen in place, motionless and expressionless, clearly having quickly realized the tide was turning against them and choosing to protect themselves.

These transfers of benefits were not a secret, but no one had ever dared to expose them so blatantly in the parliamentary hall.

Padmé knew that his words had made him a mortal enemy of at least half the power in the Senate.

But she didn't care at all.

This matter is more important than any of their political lives.

Even though she was completely isolated and helpless at this moment, she had already used the sharp blade of words to cut through their gorgeous disguise and seize the handles they dared not show to others.

“Congressman Amidala, please… conclude your remarks.” Speaker Mas Ameda’s voice finally rang out, tinged with a barely perceptible tension.

Padmé cleared her throat again, her gaze briefly meeting that of Tekra beside her.

Tekra's eyes gleamed with excitement and undisguised support as he nodded vigorously.

Padmé took a deep breath, turned back to face the entire Senate, and her voice regained its strength, but was no longer sharp; instead, it carried a heavy sense of mission:
"Dear colleagues."

I have absolutely no doubt about your loyalty to the Republic!

Without a doubt, my fellow citizens, the people of Naboo, are in that defeated fleet.

They gave their lives for the Republic.

Similarly, I have no doubt that people have also perished on your planet, on your people.

They are all true patriots!
Therefore, the Naboo galaxy believes that we must respect their enormous sacrifices!
We must make sure that no one else has to repeat their mistakes!

The Naboo galaxy believes that—

This war must end!

"The Chandrila system fully agrees with Senator Naboo's viewpoint!" Senator Mon Mosma immediately stood up, his voice firm and clear, breaking the brief silence. "The Rodia system seconds Senator Chandrila's viewpoint!" Senator Fal followed closely behind, his voice booming.

"The Alderaan system fully supports Senator Naboo's position!" Senator Bell Organa's face beamed with a bright and proud smile, his voice full of power.

Senator Bana Breem raised her hand high: "The Humbalin system agrees!"

"Traitors! You are all traitors!" Congressman Mort-Nott Lab from Tarn roared furiously, completely ignoring the sudden shift in the atmosphere of the meeting room. "Whose side are you on?! Who are you speaking for?!"

Padmé did not respond immediately; she simply gazed calmly at Senator Raab, giving him the illusion that she had the upper hand.

In fact, she was keeping a close eye on several holographic camera robots out of the corner of her eye.

Under the operator's remote control, they were silently and swiftly encircling Senator Raab's hover chair.

Just as Senator Raab took a deep breath, preparing to unleash even more vehement remarks—

“I stand on the side that we will no longer send our children to their deaths, Congressman Raab.” Padmé’s voice was unusually calm, yet clear and resonant throughout the room. “I don’t want to see heartbroken mothers weeping before cold coffins anymore, I don’t want to see innocent children waiting at the door for their fathers who will never return… And what about you, Congressman?”

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze locking onto him as if it were a tangible presence. "I'm curious, and I think the hundreds of millions of people watching this holographic image right now are also curious. Your constituents, they must also want to know the answer. Look, the holographic camera robots are right above your head, faithfully recording and eagerly awaiting your reply. So please tell us, Mr. Raab... which side are you on?"

Mott-Nott Rab turned around abruptly, horrified to find at least three holographic camera robots hovering above his head like silent ghosts, their cold lenses mercilessly pointed at him, capturing the fleeting panic, anger, and bewilderment on his face and projecting them onto screens across the entire galaxy.

He opened his mouth, but it was as if his throat was being choked; he couldn't utter a single word, only heavy breathing remained.

In the end, he could offer nothing but a stunned silence.

The camera robots seemed disappointed as they slightly adjusted their angles, then drifted away without a second thought, searching for the next target that could create "interest".

Seeing that dissenting voices had been completely suppressed, Padmé knew the time was ripe.

She straightened her back, and with all her might, uttered her final declaration:

"The Naboo Galaxy has formally initiated a motion...to immediately begin peace negotiations with the Separatist Alliance!" Her voice, booming like a bell, echoed in the silent hall. "The Milky Way has shed too much unnecessary blood! Therefore, I hereby solemnly declare that this war must end! Now! Immediately! Proceed to a vote!"

"The war is over!"

That shout was like lighting a fuse!

The entire Senate erupted in cheers!

The deafening cheers and thunderous applause surged in from all directions like a tangible wave, crashing against the massive dome!
The air itself seemed to be buzzing and vibrating with excitement!
Dozens of new holographic camera robots were urgently deployed into the hall, frantically capturing this historic moment from all angles.

The lawmakers stood up excitedly, waving their arms and hugging each other, their faces beaming with long-lost hope and excitement!
"She's right!"

"Listen to her!"

"The war is over, now vote!"

"The war is over!"

"The war is over!"

The shouts grew louder and more unified, eventually merging into a breathtaking torrent, as if the entire Milky Way was shouting through this hall!

At the heart of it all, Padmé felt a wave of exhaustion, yet her heart was filled with an unprecedented strength.

Her gaze pierced through the surging crowd and landed on the Speaker's seat high above.

Speaker Palpatine stood there, with his signature, affable smile on his face, and nodded approvingly in her direction.

Padmé's tense nerves finally relaxed, and she slowly sat back in the hover chair.

A huge sense of relief enveloped her, because she knew...

The war is over!
but……

Can it really end?
(End of this chapter)