Star Wars: From the Clone Wars to Starfaring Heroes

Chapter 146, Section 148 - Another Peaceful Day

Yoda looked down at the ground, his hands gripping his Gimmel cane tightly.

What response could he possibly have to this?

This was not the reason the Jedi were summoned, but Yoda still felt it necessary to say something.

“This development was unexpected,” at least he could alleviate the speaker’s self-blame, “we all made mistakes, we let our guard down before we were truly safe.”

“That was certainly unexpected,” Palpatine said, seeing Mas Ameda shuffling into the office. “Even the Jedi didn’t anticipate this… Ah, my friend, is there any good news?”

The Chaglia deputy speaker shook his head with a serious expression. "The Oversight Committee is very determined. The Media Security Act must be passed before the Senate learns about the Frost Fleet. A majority of people in the various committees and factions of the Core Star Alliance already support the bill."

"A bill?" Senator Mosma retorted. "It hasn't even been submitted to the Senate yet! If we have a way, it can only remain a draft!"

“The Media Security Act,” Master Gallia said, arms crossed. “I don’t like the word ‘security.’ It’s just a fancy excuse the committee uses to glorify the new tyranny.”

"Because this is tyranny in itself!" Representative Mosma exclaimed emotionally, waving his hands. "The essence of this bill is to nationalize all media in the Republic! First the media, then the end of all private enterprises in the Republic! Can't we see that? This is setting a precedent that must never be allowed to happen!"

“Representative Mosma,” Mas Ameda said expressionlessly, “I’m afraid this bill has enough support to pass the Senate. The main opponents, Representatives Amidara, Organa and Brem, are not in Coruscant. Chandella alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of opposing it.”

"Speaker!" Representative Mosma pleaded desperately, making a last-ditch effort, "If this bill is brought to your desk, you must veto it! Otherwise... otherwise you will be signing the death knell for democracy in the Republic!"

“Member, this idea is strange, after all, this bill will be reviewed by democratic institutions,” Director Armand said, deliberately lowering his voice. “Speaker, I agree with the Oversight Committee’s opinion. If the media learns that the enemy fleet is only hours away from their planet, the core region will fall into chaos. Our home fleet has been dispatched to the front lines, and the ‘Deep Core Reserve Fleet’ is nowhere to be seen. With the peace summit still underway, we cannot afford any disruption to public order.”

Speaker Palpatine looked up at the Jedi, his eyes filled with pain, as if trapped between an airlock and a vacuum, unable to move forward or backward.

He exuded an eager expectation, as if hoping that the Jedi could provide some kind of magical solution to his predicament.

“Wait,” Master Gallia tried to ease the tension, though her swaying tentacles betrayed her unease, “Director, could you explain how the separatists managed to build a fleet when they were besieged?”

“It was a shameful oversight,” Director Armand admitted sourly. “Unlike most shipyard planets, Forrost is largely uninhabited because there are no mining regulations or restrictions, and the entire planet has become a resource source for its shipyards.”

“Having lost contact with their government, Forrest is now under siege,” Master Yoda asserted.

“Master Yoda is right,” Mon Mothma seized on this point, “Forrest may have no idea what’s going on in the galaxy; they might still think the war is on! Can’t we contact them?”

“Unless Dooku comes in person, they won’t believe any news, Congressman Mosma, you know that too,” Director Isad gripped his tablet tightly. “What’s more troublesome is that we’ve already tried, Frost Shipyard has cut off all communications, all our attempts to contact them have been met with no response.”

"So, is there any indication that the Technology Alliance intends to use this fleet?" the desperate senator asked in a final attempt.

“Absolutely not, that’s the only good news,” Isad replied. “But you and I know as well that the people of the core region only want to hear what they want to hear… Speaker, when the bill passes, you must sign it to make it law. We are almost at peace. Once peace arrives, this law will expire when your term ends. This is the last sacrifice, Speaker.”

Palpatine slowly and painfully rose from his chair, walked to the transparent steel window, gazed at the busy sky of Coruscant, put his hands behind his back, and buried his chin in the collar of his velvet robe.

“You know what, my friends,” he finally broke the heavy silence, “sometimes I start to doubt whether I still have the strength to keep going.”

“Don’t say that!” Mas Ameda cried out urgently, “Without you, the Republic would have collapsed long ago!”

“The Vice Speaker is right, Speaker,” Mon Mosma quickly echoed. “This is not your failure. If we must attribute it to anything, it is bad luck. We should blame the intelligence services for failing to detect the threat in time, and the Senate for overreacting. They have failed the Republic, not you.” Director Isad did not refute this, which in itself was a reluctant acquiescence.

“But I have indeed failed!” Palpatine retorted loudly, turning around abruptly. “I have failed because I have repeatedly allowed the Senate to ‘overreact’! In the name of defense, in the name of protection, in the name of security… Now, I stand before you as the Speaker of the Republic’s Supreme Council, but at the same time, I am also the one who is dismantling the Republic’s Constitution bit by bit! We were just a hair’s breadth away from escaping this terrible war! And yet, I have to sign off on yet another remnant of the Republic’s democratic system?”

“That’s not how it is!” Mon Mosma turned to Jedi for help. “You can still veto this bill, and besides, it hasn’t even been submitted to the Senate yet! I assure you, Speaker… I will do everything in my power to oppose this bill, and I will not allow Padme and Bell to return to a republic where the voices of the citizens no longer belong to them.”

Just as he slowly rose, Palpatine slowly sat back down in his chair, composed himself with a hint of shame, and said, “I must admit, Senator Mosma, you have surprised me. Given your close relationship with Senator Amidala, I’m not sure if you still support me.”

Representative Mosma said with a wry smile, “Yes, the representatives of Naboo and I disagree with you on several key issues, especially during the separatist crisis, but we have never denied that you are just doing what you believe is right for the Republic. None of us can imagine what it would feel like to be in your current position, trying to ensure our ‘security’ and ‘freedom’ at the same time.”

“This is by no means an easy road,” Yoda agreed. “It is not shameful to fall down along the way; you can still get back up.”

“That’s right,” Master Gallia stared at Director Isad, as if challenging him to refute, “You can still widen this path, compromise with the committee, and the bill is still a draft; it can be amended. You must never let it be submitted to the Senate in its current state. Senator Mosma’s concerns about precedent are correct, but she is wrong about one thing… Every harmful bill we allow into the Senate makes it easier for the next similar bill to be introduced, even if it is ultimately rejected.”

Speaker Palpatine stared at them, his hands slightly raised as if grasping something invisible, as if the Jedi had just returned his soul to him.

“Compromise,” he murmured excitedly, “Yes…we can still compromise, Maas. Tell those loyal members of parliament that I will not be the one to sign documents that strip the Republic of its freedom in the name of peace.”

Mon Mosma nearly collapsed.

Perhaps, in the private space of her own apartment, she would do this.

Yoda understood her feelings very well.

“Once the Frost affair comes to light, the bill still needs to retain sufficient enforceability to prevent media chaos,” Chief Isard warned, then stepped back half a step to indicate that he had finished speaking.

Palpatine rubbed his hands together, lost in thought. "The current legislation attempts to overcorrect. Instead of establishing this new agency, wouldn't it be better to temporarily expand the Holographic Communications Commission's regulatory powers over the Holographic Network? That way, the commission could issue gag orders and censor any media content that might threaten public order..."

Senator Mosma tensed up again, but then breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t like this, but I can’t deny that this is probably the most acceptable option for the committee. I will talk to my caucus and the Loyalists Committee. I assure you that this bill will be rejected before it even enters the Senate chamber.”

“I must also take my leave, Speaker, Master Yoda.” Master Gallia bowed slightly. “I’m afraid I’ve made too many ‘friends’ in the Senate lately. On the bright side, I can assist Senator Mosma’s cause.”

“Please, my friends,” Palpatine said, his face full of gratitude. “I’m so sorry to have taken up so much of your precious time, especially the Jedi Masters… I owe you all a huge favor today. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

MP Mon Mosma and Master Gallia left to consult with their allies.

Mas Ameda slumped onto the sofa, letting out a sigh of relief.

Director Issaad methodically packed his things, preparing for the long journey back to the military operations center.

Speaker Palpatine absentmindedly tapped the communicator beside his desk, as if waiting for news from the peace summit...

Yoda shook his head as he left the office. Today was a good day.

After all, the Republic had survived another day peacefully.

(End of this chapter)