Part 10 (2/2)
Mace made it emphatic. ”We're not rogues.”
Palpatine spread his hands in a gesture of appeas.e.m.e.nt.
”Of course you're not. Nothing could be farther from the truth. But, as I say... Well, if nothing else, the Senate at least needs to believe that it is being kept informed - - particularly in light of the extraordinary powers it has granted this office.”
He sat straighter in the chair.
”Not a day pa.s.ses that I am not subjected to suspicion, accusations, suggestions of ulterior motive. And, I will tell you, the suspicions do not end here, in this office. They extend to the role of the Jedi in the war. Master Jedi, we cannot, under any circ.u.mstances, be perceived as being in collusion.”
Yoda frowned. ”In collusion we must be, if victory the goal remains.”
Palpatine smiled tolerantly.
”Master Yoda, far be it from me to lecture someone of your vast experience on the nature of politics. But the truth of the matter is that with the war now exiled to the Outer Rim, we must be judicious about the campaigns we undertake, and about the targets to which we a.s.sign our forces. If a lasting peace is ever to be achieved when this madness concludes, each and every act from this point forward must be handled with utmost delicacy.”
He shook his head.
”Many worlds, loyal to the Republic, circ.u.mstance forced us to sacrifice.
Others that joined the Separatists may wish to return to the Republic.
These aren't matters with which I wish to burden the Jedi. But they are the province of this office, and I need to place them first and foremost.”
”The lessons learned from a thousand years of serving the Republic aren't entirely lost on us,” Mace said strongly. ”The Jedi Council is fully aware of such concerns.”
Palpatine took the rebuke in stride.
”Excellent. Then we can move on to other matters.”
Mace and Yoda waited.
”May I inquire as to how the Jedi learned of Grievous's plan to attack Belderone?”
”A hyperwave transceiver that belonged to Viceroy Gunray was seized at Cato Neimoidia,” Mace explained. ”The device allowed Intelligence to decipher the Separatist code. A message transmitted by General Grievous to Viceroy Gunray regarding Belderone was monitored, and we acted on it.”
Palpatine was staring at him in disbelief.
”We have the ability to listen in on Separatist transmissions?”
”Unlikely,” Yoda said. ”After Belderone.”
Palpatine considered it, then frowned.
”For Belderone you forfeited the ability to continue monitoring the Separatists.”
He took a breath, and the frown ebbed.
”Had I been included in this matter, I would have made the same choice.
But I must add, Master Jedi, that I am greatly displeased about having been circ.u.mvented. Why wasn't I told? Am I to infer from this that you no longer trust me?”
”No,” Yoda almost barked. ”But into this office, come and go many. Our own counsel we kept.”
Palpatine's face took on sudden color.
”And yet you continue to place full trust in those around you? Do you realize how some might respond to that, when many of your Order have deliberately absented themselves from the war, and some have even gone over to the Separatist side?”
”A decade old, such reproaches are, Supreme Chancellor.”
”I fear you delude yourself in this instance, Master Yoda, if you believe that the pa.s.sage of time makes thosereproaches' any less valid to your critics.”
This is getting out of control, Mace thought. He calmed himself before speaking.
”There's a more important reason for your not being informed about the transceiver.”
Now Palpatine waited.
”It contained a stored message - - a message transmitted to Viceroy Gunray from Darth Sidious.”
Palpatine's broad forehead wrinkled in uncertainty.
”Sidious. I know the name...”
”Dooku's Sith Master, Sidious is. Learned of him on Geonosis, Master Ken.o.bi did. But eluded us, proof of him has.”
”Now I recall,” Palpatine said. ”Obi-Wan was told that this Sidious had somehow infiltrated the Senate.”
”Dismissed that, we have. But lying about Sidious, Dooku wasn't.”
Palpatine swiveled his chair toward the room's immense curved window, the panorama of Coruscant.
”Another Sith.”
Turning back to Yoda, he said: ”Forgive me, but why is this of such great concern?”
”Carefully balanced this war has been. Republic victories, Separatist victories... In prolonging it, a part the Sith may play.”
Again, Palpatine paused to consider Yoda's words.
”I think I begin to understand the reasons for your secrecy. The Jedi are attempting to expose Sidious.”
”In pursuit of clues, we are.”
”Might the capture of Sidious end the war?”
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