Chapter 7: A Gaze from the Other Side of the Milky Way

7. A Gaze from the Other Side of the Galaxy

The Galactic Republic, a behemoth that had ruled tens of thousands of star systems in the galaxy for over 25,000 years. Since its founding, it had been governed jointly by the Galactic Senate and the Jedi Order.

April 15, 25018 of the Republic Era, 35 BBY, 0:4:15 {Note 1}. Coruscant, the capital of the Galactic Republic, was also the most developed and prosperous planet in the entire galaxy.

The Jedi Temple, alongside the Galactic Senate, stood as one of the most magnificent structures on Coruscant. Five towering spires rose above the massive, trapezoidal main building, which stood over a thousand meters high and five hundred meters wide. This architectural structure symbolized the supreme authority of the guardians of the Galactic Republic—the Jedi Order.

A man in his seventies, with graying hair and beard but a spirited and imposing demeanor, stood within one of the Jedi Temple’s towers. He reported in a somewhat cold tone: "Master Yoda, Senator Palpatine has agreed to provide support in the Senate to push for the Judicial Fleet to be dispatched directly to relieve the planet Niele."

Standing by the hall window with his back to the room was a withered old man, entirely green, less than a meter tall, with long ears and a goblin-like appearance. He leaned on a cane, looking down at the entirety of Coruscant through the window.

Master Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and a highly respected elder. Hearing the report, he did not turn around, but nodded and said, "Much appreciated, Master Dooku. Very important, Senator Palpatine’s help."

His grammar was peculiar, consistently placing the subject at the end, resulting in awkward inversions.

The response from the man called Master Dooku was equally cold. He gave a slight nod and turned to leave. As he reached the door, he turned sideways and said coldly, "If we must use personal connections to push a motion through the Senate just to rescue a planet besieged by pirates, then tell me, where does the future of the Galactic Republic lie? And how is the Jedi Order supposed to conduct itself?"

Master Yoda remained with his back to him, and only after a long while did he slowly say, "Call me Master, you should."

Dooku’s cheek twitched. He turned abruptly and slammed the door behind him as he left.

After a long time, Master Yoda took a deep breath, turned to face a certain direction, his gaze deepening, and he shook his head slightly.

Outside the door, Master Dooku walked quickly down the corridor, suppressing the anger in his heart. Approaching him was a master and apprentice pair dressed in coarse cloth robes: a middle-aged man with disheveled hair and a very spirited young man with a crew cut.

Seeing Dooku approach, the middle-aged man quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully, saying, "Master."

Dooku was feeling frustrated, but upon seeing this man, he nodded in acknowledgment before walking straight out of the Jedi Temple.

The middle-aged man maintained his bow until Dooku had walked far away, then led his young apprentice into the room Dooku had just exited.

"Master Yoda, did you summon me?" The middle-aged man entered the room and bowed deeply to Master Yoda, who was standing by the window.

"A disturbance in the Force, I have felt," Master Yoda said.

The middle-aged man was startled, his gaze immediately sharpening. "Could it be that the power of the Dark Side has appeared again?"

"The power of the Dark Side, this is not. A chaos, I only see." Master Yoda closed his eyes, sensing the Force.

"A chaos? Where? Why would such a situation occur?" The middle-aged man frowned.

"Cannot be known." Yoda shook his head. "Growing stronger, the disturbance in the Force. With your own eyes, you must see. Go to the Mordel sector, Master Qui-Gon Jinn."

The middle-aged man asked again, "What am I to look for?"

"Do not know. May the Force be with you." Master Yoda sighed softly and said no more.

"May the Force be with you." Qui-Gon Jinn bowed deeply once more, then turned to the young man beside him and said, "Let us go, Obi-Wan Kenobi. To the Mordel sector."

"Yes, Master." The young man nodded in reply.

...

Master Dooku returned to his quarters and activated his communicator. The miniature projector displayed the image of a man in his forties, wearing senatorial robes and showing signs of balding.

Dooku nodded slightly and said, "Thank you very much for your help this time, Senator Palpatine. Otherwise, the millions of residents on planet Niele would have suffered heavy casualties under the siege of the Biscarian pirates."

Senator Palpatine smiled and said, "This is what I should do, Master Dooku. I am also very fortunate that in such a decadent era, I can still meet a Jedi Master like you who dares to break with tradition and is full of a sense of justice."

"But this is not what I wanted," Dooku said, shaking his head. "This matter should not have been resolved in this way."

"The environment we are in is as it is; this will not change because of the efforts of one or two people. Therefore, we should be glad that this matter could be resolved. As for other, more serious matters, such as the recent dispute between the planet Malastare and the Corporate Alliance, that is already beyond our capabilities," Palpatine said.

Dooku agreed deeply. "I very much agree with your point of view, Senator. This is not a problem that one or two of us can solve; we need more comrades."

Palpatine nodded with satisfaction. "That is exactly what I wanted to express. But I believe that as long as we hold to our original intentions, the opportunity for change will eventually come."

"I hope that day comes sooner," Dooku’s tone turned cold.

"It will, it will come eventually," Palpatine said meaningfully. "By the way, I heard recently that there might be some problems in the Mordel sector."

"That is a desolate area in the Outer Rim, full of anomalous hyperspace traps, and as far as I know, there is a giant black hole. That place is already beyond the control of the Galactic Republic. Is the problem occurring there important?" Dooku asked, feeling a bit strange.

"Not important, just a bit concerned. If you could help me by having someone investigate, that would be best," Palpatine said nonchalantly.

"I will send a few Jedi apprentices... hmm, never mind, I will send a few bounty hunters directly from my home planet, Serenno." Dooku had originally intended to go through the Jedi Order, but he immediately dismissed the thought.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master Dooku." Palpatine revealed that meaningful smile again, bowed slightly, and ended the communication.

"The recent Force disturbance in the Mordel sector, why let Dooku handle it?" A voice, incomparably deep, suddenly came from behind Palpatine.

"It is just like training a Ssi-ruuvi battle dog; only by using it often will it slowly get used to your requirements... and in the end, that becomes an order," Palpatine replied with a smile.

"Is that truly your only thought?" the voice asked again.

"Of course, my Master." Palpatine bowed slightly, hiding his expression well.

"Very well. Since that is the case, the dispute on planet Malastare still lacks some heat. You, go and light another fire," the voice in the darkness said.

"As you wish, my Master." Palpatine maintained an impeccable smile on his face as he backed out of the office.

{Note 1}: The dating system in the *Star Wars* world is based on the Battle of Yavin, the battle in the first *Star Wars* film, *Star Wars: A New Hope*, where the Death Star was destroyed. BBY stands for "Before Battle of Yavin." That year is 0 BBY.

After the Battle of Yavin, it is ABY, meaning "After Battle of Yavin." This book will not cover that era.

The Galactic Republic was founded in 25053 BBY and destroyed in 19 BBY, lasting 25,034 years. 35 BBY corresponds to the year 25018 of the Galactic Republic's founding. Therefore, according to the history of the Galactic Republic, this year is 25018. This is also the starting point of this book, though this is not the official calendar of the Galactic Republic.

New fans can understand it this way: BBY is like BC (Before Christ), counting backwards; ABY is like AD (Anno Domini), counting forwards. That is all you need to know.

As for 0:4:15, this is the official standard calendar of the Galactic Republic, the "Great Resynchronization." You don't need to worry about this; I will basically not use this dating method in the rest of the book.

[Easter Egg Chapter Attachment 1: Master Yoda]

[Easter Egg Chapter Attachment 2: Master Dooku]

(End of chapter)