The Senate chamber had not seen such chaos since the days of the Ruusan Reformations. News of the violent confrontation—Jedi wounded by clone supersoldiers in full view of the galactic body—rippled outward like a hyperspace shockwave.
Within hours, systems across the Mid and Outer Rim called for formal investigations. Holonet channels spun wild speculation. Some Core Worlds declared Cassian a rogue actor, demanding immediate censure and revocation of his corporate rights. Others—particularly systems already disillusioned with the Jedi—defended his actions.
A prominent senator from Corellia delivered a statement:"Cassian Damaris acted in self-defense against unauthorized aggression. The Republic must decide whether it values results or bureaucratic obstruction."
Not everyone agreed.
From Chandrila, Mon Mothma's voice was heavy in a holoconference:"If this is the Republic's future—governed not by law, but by men with armies of their own—then we are no longer a democracy."
Meanwhile, Padmé Amidala sat alone in her Coruscant quarters, the city's lights gleaming through the transparisteel windows. Her brow furrowed in worry. She had trusted Cassian once. But now... what was he becoming?
She turned to her aide."Get me Bail and Mon Mothma. I want to open a discussion—off the record—about emergency protocols. If we can't trust the Jedi, and we can't control our industrialists… we need contingency plans."
Elsewhere, Chancellor Palpatine convened a closed-door meeting with the Jedi Council. His tone was calm, fatherly even.
"We cannot allow a narrative of Jedi overreach to take hold," he said. "The public is afraid. We must present unity… and humility."
Master Windu, still grim from the Senate clash, responded coldly, "Cassian provoked this."
"But the footage shows Jedi attacking first," Palpatine replied smoothly. "The public will not see nuance. They will see chaos. That chaos must have a source. And if it cannot be Cassian..."
Yoda's ears twitched slightly. "A scapegoat, the Order must not become."
Palpatine nodded slowly. "Then restore trust, Master Jedi. Fix this. Or you will find the Republic listening to other voices."
The Jedi left in silence, their once-golden authority now tarnished by scandal.
Meanwhile, the Confederacy struck hard.
Count Dooku's fleets—now equipped with ships designed from Cassian's original schematics—swept across three sectors. And leading the charge was Requam.
No longer the crude, coughing cyborg of canon history, Requam was Serion's perfected vision of General Grievous: a sleek, towering commander with adaptive tactical AI, magnetic-field sabers, reactive armor, and precision neuro-link coordination. He was war made intelligent.
On Falleen, he orchestrated a flawless orbital drop, slicing through Jedi-led defenses and occupying the capital within three days. On Muunilinst, he hijacked planetary communications and turned the people against their own Senate-aligned leaders.
Clone legions found themselves outgunned and outmaneuvered. Kuat's hastily built ships—lacking the hybrid designs of Cassian's advanced prototypes—couldn't withstand Requam's assaults. Star Destroyers cracked like tin beneath CIS cannons enhanced with repulsor-overcharge arrays.
The Jedi were dying.
Reports came in by the day.Master Vos lost above Saleucami.Knight Dree cut down on Dantooine.A full battalion missing on Obroa-skai.
The Republic bled.
The Council pleaded with Palpatine for reinforcements, but the Chancellor offered only condolences and empty promises. Behind his mask, he smiled.
Privately, he met with Count Dooku via hologram.
"Our enemies grow weaker with every loss," Dooku said. "Soon the Senate will beg for expanded powers… and you will deliver salvation."
Palpatine's voice was as smooth as durasteel. "And when the time comes… you will fall."