Supreme Chancellor Palpatine of the Galactic Republic sat straight and attentive in his official chair, hands folded atop his desk and attention raptly focused on the hologram standing before him. Outside, the artificial wind and rain battered the roof and window in heavy sheets, making a great deal of noise.
“… and so I regret to report, Your Excellency,” Master Obi Wan Kenobi was saying. “That despite all our efforts General Grievous was able to slip away with the aid of Count Dooku.”
“That is most unfortunate,” said Palpatine with a frown. “Tell me, were you able to trace where they might have gone next?”
Obi Wan shook his head. “I’m afraid not, though initial scans indicate they were headed deep into Separatist space.”
Palpatine’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “So a pursuit is impossible?”
Obi Wan nodded slowly.
“I see…” Palpatine looked down at his desk for some seconds before resuming eye contact with the Jedi Master. “Have you anything else to report?”
“Yes, Your Excellency. Though the means of acquiring their cooperation I found extremely objectionable – and let me take this moment to petition for Admiral Tarkin to be immediately stripped of rank and dishonorably discharged for conduct unbefitting an officer of the Galactic Republic. I’ll put in more details on my return to Coruscant.”
“Your petition is duly recorded, Master Kenobi. Please, go on,” Palpatine gestured.
“Yes, well…” Obi Wan looked uncertain at the Chancellor’s neutral reply, but continued. “The local creatures here assisted in our initial capture of the general and suffered heavily at the hands of the Separatist Droid Amy. They put themselves in danger because of us and fought valiantly alongside our troops to defend their homes. I ask that you keep that in mind while you listen to the following.”
Obi Wan looked at something off camera and nodded, before stepping outside of the holocam’s field of view. Two equine-looking creatures stepped in to take his place. Though both rendered in standard holographic blue, it was clear that the smaller one was considerably darker than the taller one. Both had long, flowing heads of hair that seemed to blow in an invisible breeze and very feminine features. Despite their clear beauty, they were both looking exhausted and battered from the recent fighting. The tall one had one of her forelegs and both of her wings bound tightly and was using a small crutch to keep her balance. Moreover, the smaller one had a heavily-bandaged stub in place of the larger one’s long horn. More than any of that, though, was the hollow look in the larger one’s eyes.
She looked… broken.
“Thou art this Supreme Chancellor Palpatine that General Kenobi hath told us of?” the smaller one asked, her voice sternly neutral.
The old man nodded. “That I am.”
The tall one spoke up next. “I am Princess Celestia of Equestria. This is my sister, Princess Luna of Equestria,” she indicated her companion. “Though we cannot speak for our entire planet, we…” she bowed her head low with obvious difficulty and sighed. “Request immediate emergency admission to the Galactic Republic.”
Palpatine looked surprised. “Why, whatever for?”
“We have betrayed General Grievous,” Luna said. “When thine admiral forced our hoof, we assisted in handing him over to thy forces. Then we felt the full weight of his retribution when the droid armies attacked Equestria. Had it not been for General Kenobi and the clones, we should all have perished. As it is, our lands lie in ruin.”
“I’m very sorry to hear that,” said Palpatine sympathetically.
“But we fear Grievous is not through with us,” Celestia continued. “He may come back for further revenge, and alone we stand no chance.” She looked up, her eyes moist and pleading. “Please, Chancellor Palpatine, your Republic is our only hope for the survival of our people! Please help us!”
“Well…” Palpatine looked thoughtful. “It is unorthodox, but I believe I might be able to make a wartime exception to normal admissions procedures for your sake. And perhaps authorize some degree of rebuilding assistance, though I’m afraid our finances are stretched very thin.”
“Thank thee, kind Chancellor,” Luna bowed her head in a dignified manner.
“You realize of course, my dear, that there will be a need to establish a Republic garrison in your system?” Palpatine asked. “For your own protection, of course,” he added.
“We do, Chancellor. We are immensely grateful for your gracious extension of protection to our planet in these times of war,” Celestia said, with a deeper and more emotional bow of her own head.
“Let us hope better times come upon the galaxy soon,” Palpatine said.
Both princesses nodded solemnly, and the hologram vanished.
Darth Sidious sat back in his chair and smiled. Since the day his visions had led him to ensure the leak of Jedi Master Hera Ceidia’s next location to General Grievous, everything had gone perfectly. Grievous had killed her, which was a good start, but then, as the dark side had promised him, the chain of events had led to a new source of power being revealed to him. Tarkin had served his purpose in forcing their hand. Then the droid invasion and Grievous’ genocidal tactics had terrified the new planet right into his waiting arms, as expected. Now all that remained was to properly exploit it.
And the Jedi? Suspected nothing. Darth Sidious was almost tempted to laugh aloud.
Everything had proceeded as he had forseen.