Laws enacted during peacetime
are mostly repealed by war,
and those enacted during wartime
are repealed by peacetime.
(folk saying).
***
Bright rays of sunlight bathed the surface of Raxus Secundus. Located in the Raxus system—part of the Tion Hegemony—it was one of the oldest formations in the modern Galaxy. It is said to have been created in time immemorial by the Ancients, the same civilization that had once shaped the famed Corellian system.
Raxus Secundus, like the rest of the Raxus system, belonged to the Confederacy of Independent Systems. It was here that the main command post of the Separatists was located.
The war was gaining momentum. Having recovered from the initial shock of the Republic's clone army, the leaders of the Confederacy's principal factions gathered on Raxus Secundus—some in person, others via long-range communication—to discuss their next steps.
The spacious hall, situated in one of the palaces along the ocean shore, lay in soft twilight. A stately, gray-haired man dressed in a luxurious black robe entered the chamber where representatives of the Separatist organizations had assembled. At his belt gleamed the unmistakable hilt of a lightsaber.
Dooku was an aristocrat, and considered himself the standard of elegance, even his manner of speech resembled that of a man of high birth. It was precisely because of such convictions that he had left the Jedi Order, claiming it had betrayed the very ideals it once stood for and become a mere pawn of the decaying Republic and its corrupt, deceitful senators.
Dooku dreamed of creating an Empire ruled by humans—where non-humans would serve as slaves or be eradicated. Many shared his views, which was hardly surprising. In those distant ages, when Rakata technology had not yet fallen into the hands of humans and Duros, and when the hyperdrive had yet to be invented, sublight ships filled with colonists in anabiosis had drifted through the vast expanse of the Galaxy.
And at a time when the Rakata Empire was still developing, people were already founding their own states. Ever since then, Coruscant had been the center of the civilized world's development—and it was Coruscant that became the capital of the Galactic Republic some twenty-five thousand years ago.
Much had changed since then, but humans continued to expand and dominate. Now, five out of every ten citizens of the Republic were human, and two more were of human descent. Count Dooku believed—rightly, in his mind—that humankind deserved more.
That opportunity had come from Darth Sidious, his master, who had long been orchestrating his grand "Plan." Dooku willingly placed himself under Sidious's command, embraced the Dark Side of the Force, and took on a new name: Darth Tyranus.
He began executing his master's "Plan" and vanished from public sight for eight years. When he reemerged, it was as the leader of the newly formed Confederacy—while secretly aiding in the creation of the Clone Army, which would one day become the backbone of the future Empire. Dooku was also responsible for the creation of the fearsome warrior known as Grievous.
Now, as Count Dooku, leader of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, he began the meeting of the Separatist Council.
***
"I am pleased to welcome you, esteemed members of the Council," he began smoothly. "Before we proceed, I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished Po Nudo for providing us with the communication systems of the Hyper-Communications Cartel. Thanks to them, we can now maintain contact with any point in the Galaxy."
Po Nudo, head of the newly formed Cartel—an analogue to the Republic's Holonet—nodded with solemn pride.
Count Dooku's gaze moved slowly across the gathered figures:
Nute Gunray, Viceroy of the Trade Federation; his aides Rune Haako and Ruth Gunney; San Hill, chairman of the InterGalactic Banking Clan; Lo Veepit, vice-chairman of communications for the same organization; Poggle the Lesser, Archduke of Geonosis; Shu Mai, president of the Commerce Guild; Wat Tambor, foreman of the Techno Union and overseer of the Baktoid Armor Workshop; Skakoan legal deputies — Tambor's aides and staff; Passel Argente, magistrate of the Corporate Alliance; Denaria Ki, deputy planetary representative of Kooriva; and Po Nudo, leader of the Hyper-Communications Cartel.
The power wielded by these organizations was immense—millions, no, billions of battle droids; hundreds of thousands of organic soldiers; vast fleets of warships; and incalculable financial resources.
Count Dooku smiled inwardly. His master, Darth Sidious, had foreseen everything—every piece of this grand design. Star systems weary of the Republic's corruption, absurd legislation, and oppressive taxes had risen in rebellion. Soon, the decrepit Republic and its decayed Jedi Order would crumble, making way for the New Order—a new power that would rule the Galaxy. Their power.
"How are our affairs progressing?" Passel inquired.
"Quite successfully," Dooku replied calmly. "We are launching a general offensive across the Republic worlds."
"All factories producing battle droids are operating at full capacity," reported Nute Gunray.
"Tens of thousands of new warships are under construction in the shipyards," added Shu Mai.
The protocol droid translated the Geonosian clicks and hisses:
"Poggle the Lesser assures us that the restoration of Geonosis's factories is well underway. Many Geonosians have also been dispatched to another planet you are familiar with, where new droid factories are being constructed. The climate is challenging, but progress is on schedule."
One of the Skakoans raised a concern.
"We are troubled by the situation in the Metalorn and Charros regions. Republic forces have approached dangerously close to our industrial centers."
"We have already taken appropriate measures," Dooku assured them. "Moreover, we are nearing completion of the secret weapon my master revealed to us. With it, victory will be within our grasp..."
"What about payment for the mercenary regiments?" asked Wat Tambor, his mechanical voice slightly distorted through the vocoder.
"All payments are proceeding on schedule," San Hill confirmed smoothly.
The Separatists—led by Count Dooku—continued to discuss the details of their military campaign against the Republic...