The drums of war sounded all across the universe.
From the Core Worlds to the Outer Rim, systems tumbled into a growing abyss of chaos. The Jedi were no longer peacekeepers. They turned into leaders, strategists among a large-scale battleground.
From his commanding position on Coruscant, Palpatine saw it all and felt the pulse of the Republic pounding beneath him.
Never had he felt the Force as alive and so flexible.
The galaxy was breaking apart exactly according to his intentions.
Kamino.
The gales howled as always.
Deep within Tipoca City, clone troopers stood in endless lines, silent under flickering lights. Mechanical detachment allowed the Kaminoans to move about and care for their creations.
From a hidden transmission, Count Dooku watched with a controlled face.
Lama Su said, "Every clone is educated, obedient; ready for battle."
Sidious replied across secure lines, "Excellent." "The Jedi believe in these soldiers. oblivious to the noose around their necks.
Is Order 66 in effect?
Dooku verified, "executed with surgical accuracy. They will betray without second thought when the moment comes."
Sidious remained quiet. He lacked want to.
His silence showed approval.
Geonosis.
Millions of battle droids gushed from subterranean factories under the surface of the desert. Under Dooku's direction, the Confederacy of Independent Systems flourished. Greed, fear, and ideology linked systems to his cause.
Freshly forged, General Grievous wandered the war rooms.
"The Jedi underestimate our power."
Dooku examined the cyborg general with a critical eye. Let them be. Their arrogance will bring their demise.
Deep growling came from Grievous. "I shall gather their lightsabers personally."
And he would. Dooku would guarantee it.
The seeds of conflict have been planted.
Coruscant.
Seated in his room, Palpatine was wrapped in darkness looking over Plagueis' final log. Hidden in ambiguous symbols and metaphors was the information inside—how to handle midichlorians, how to sustain life, even. . . create it.
Palpatine, though, translated all of them.
His mastery of the Force was heading toward declension. He had strengthened his form, extended his life, and enhanced his physical abilities past human standards by means of introspection and Sith mysticism.
He was becoming something more than only a plotting shadow dweller.
An intersection.
A black sun.
His eyes, lightly colored with a crimson tone, closed the diary.
One further item needed to be taken. Anakin Skywalker.
The Jedi Temple.
Before the Council, Obi-Wan Kenobi spoke on the growing strength of the Confederacy. Anakin knelt beside him, his face wary but agitated.
Yoda's ears twitched. Count Dooku has gotten strong on the dark side. His master's undetectable impact persists. "
Mace Windu furrowed. "We are fighting shadows, not only warlords or droids; there is something more profound. "
Palpatine had meticulously cared for the seed.
Division started to permeate the Council. Doubt grew.
Anakin noticed everything. He could see their mistrust and unease toward him. Despite their relationship, Obi-Wan had also begun to distance himself.
And Palpatine's voice became increasingly loud inside that cold, desolate area.
During their secret meetings, he told Anakin, "You hold the answer. The Force travels through you in a way I've never seen in any other Jedi. You have to grow. Don't allow anything to restrict you.
Within him Anakin sensed a powerful longing. power, recognition, punishment for his mother, punishment for the innocent.
He was set.
As the fight got stronger, planets got destroyed.
Grievous slaughtered Jedi with absolute accuracy.
The Senate called for more strong action.
And Palpatine, ever the benevolent ruler, suggested one: the Emergency Powers Act—giving him absolute authority to lead the Republic's war effort.
The Jedi were against it. Still, logic was eclipsed by worry.
The statute got clearance.
And in the Senate chamber's shadows, the Sith Emperor grinned.