Chapter 33: The Curtain Slowly Rises

33. The Dark Curtain Slowly Lifts

Emerging from the high tower of the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan Kenobi grabbed Qui-Gon Jinn, who was marching ahead with his head down. "Master, are we just going to let this matter drop? Leave it to the Republic Department of Commercial Management to investigate? By the time they remember this even exists, I’ll likely be ninety years old."

"You heard it yourself; that is the decision of the High Council." Qui-Gon shook his head and continued walking.

As they passed a room, they caught sight of a tall, white-haired elder speaking into a holographic communicator with someone dressed in ornate robes. Sensing they were being watched, the elder flicked his fingers, and the room door slid shut of its own accord.

"That was Master Dooku. It seems he was speaking with Senator Palpatine. They have been quite close lately," Obi-Wan sighed.

"Ever since that campaign in the Mandalore system ten years ago, my master has gradually lost faith in the Jedi Order. He now favors solving problems through political means; it is no surprise that he and Senator Palpatine have grown close," Qui-Gon replied.

"Very well, but back to the point—what about the Endor system? Are we truly just going to ignore it?" Obi-Wan pressed.

"We will investigate it ourselves." Qui-Gon Jinn stepped onto his ship and immediately set a course for the administrative sector of Coruscant.

Seeing his master’s actions, Obi-Wan smiled. "So, you’ve started to lose faith in the High Council as well?"

"It is not a matter of losing faith, but rather that there is so much happening in the Galactic Republic that they lack the executive power to attend to everything," Qui-Gon Jinn said, pointing to the co-pilot’s seat. "But that executive power—we have it."

...

"...And that is how things stand, Senator." Inside the room, Master Dooku spoke calmly to the holographic projection of Senator Palpatine.

"So, a group of people are operating a massive civilian vessel on the planet Endor for colonization, and they wiped out the bounty hunters you sent," Palpatine smiled. "Well, it seems like a matter worth noting, but certainly not one we need to be concerned with. Perhaps in two hundred years, Endor will become a member of the Republic."

"With all due respect, Senator, Endor is located in the remote Outer Rim. Even if a sovereign world were to rise there, the reach of the Republic’s administration would not extend to it," Dooku said, shaking his head.

"That is exactly why we are working toward a goal, Master Dooku. To transform the Galactic Republic into a better, more powerful nation. A powerful nation that can command obedience, one capable of mobilizing the resources of the entire galaxy with a single word. On that day, we shall be capable of anything," Palpatine said, spreading his arms with longing.

"You are a good man, and a politician unlike any other, Senator Palpatine. But I must remind you that in this decaying Galactic Republic, people like you rarely live very long," Dooku said in a deep voice.

"Even if I were to be assassinated tomorrow, I would die on the right path. My death will point the way forward for those who follow. The Republic needs people like me to die," Palpatine said gravely.

Dooku took a deep breath and bowed. "The existence of someone like you proves that the Republic is still worth saving. Thank you, Senator Palpatine."

"It is my duty, Master Dooku," Palpatine replied.

After closing the transmission, Palpatine left the Galactic Senate building and returned to his modest residence. He stripped off the ornate robes that signified his status as a senator, donned a grey, rough-spun cloak, and pulled the hood low over his face. Confirming that no one was watching, he took a secret passage to board a covertly hidden landspeeder and departed.

In a dark, complex corner of the lower Coruscant industrial district, Palpatine stepped off the speeder, pulled out a unique communicator, and established a connection. The hologram displayed a fierce-looking woman with tattoos on her face. Seeing Palpatine, she growled, "You elusive rat, you finally decided to contact me!"

"You had best hope that next time I am as good-humored as I am today. Your Nebula Front is entirely under my control!" Palpatine’s voice turned dark and raspy, like an old beast roaring with an injured throat.

The woman’s temple twitched, clearly suppressing her rage. She lowered her head and said, "Speak. What is our objective?"

"The Rima Trade Route. In forty-seven standard hours, a Trade Federation merchant fleet carrying minerals will stop there for supplies. Hijack this shipment and send it to the planet Kalinda. Someone will be there to handle the cargo for you," Palpatine said in a low voice.

"How will payment be made?"

"I will have a specialist launder the money. You will receive half—two million credits. The other two million credits are for another task: you must use your name to donate that money to my agent through a bank trust fund."

"As long as the money is paid, that is a minor issue. Tell me, to whom is this credit to be given?"

"The current Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Senate, Finis Valorum." Palpatine spat out the shocking name with a voice twisted by malice.

"Hah! Very interesting. We accept the mission."

...

In the outer space of the planet Dawn, on the lower deck of the mothership.

A solemn and majestic bugle call echoed through the empty deck.

There was no military band; the sound was played directly by the mainframe, but it did nothing to diminish the tragic atmosphere of the scene.

Tang Xiao stood at the front, dressed in a crisp uniform, maintaining a salute as he looked ahead. Qi Jian, Clement, and other key officials of the Fourth Civilization stood in the row behind him, also maintaining their salutes.

Before them, one hundred marines stood in two lines, their assault rifles tipped with bayonets held high toward the sky. In the center, forty-two metal coffins were neatly arranged, each etched with the emblem of the Fourth Civilization.

It was a newly designed emblem: the main body was a galaxy shape with four cantilever arms, crossed by two swords representing military might and power. Above it was the text "4TH," and below it, "Scourge," representing the Fourth Civilization—or, as they were known, the Fourth Scourge.

These forty-two coffins held the remains of the thirty-four fighter pilots and eight transport crew members who had fallen during the bounty hunter attack. These were the first warriors of the Fourth Civilization to fall since arriving in the *Star Wars* universe, and everyone present knew they would certainly not be the last.

Tang Xiao took a deep breath and said slowly, "They were the best warriors, the best pilots. I believe that if given an equal chance, any one of them could have easily killed the attacking bounty hunters. But they had none... all they had to fly were outdated starfighters."

His voice grew louder. "But even so, they did not retreat in the slightest! Knowing their weapons could not pierce the enemy's shields, knowing that a single shot from the enemy's laser cannons would destroy them, they did not retreat! Because every one of them knew that they were guardians—guardians of the final spark of our Fourth Civilization!"