Chapter 379: Darkness (Part 1)

377. Shrouded in darkness (Part 1)

The emergence of the Apocalypse-class light cruiser still caused an uproar, because it was a complete challenge to the authority of the Galactic Republic by the Fourth Group. The sanctions and fines here have not been implemented for you, but over there you just tore up the Rusang Treaty and started selling such over-limit warships on the black market?

Where is the face of my majestic Galactic Republic?

But when I think about it, the registered headquarters of the Fourth Group is on the planet Mequito, the headquarters of the Interstellar Banking Association, and its active place is Nashada in Hutt space. Everywhere is beyond the control of the Republic. !

The Apocalypse-class light cruiser has also made several other warship manufacturers extremely nervous. The three warship manufacturers, Quart Power Shipyard, Rendili Star Power Company and Corellian Engineering Company, have expressed serious concern about this. They each Everyone has purchased between 5 and 10 Apocalypse-class light cruisers and is preparing to start dismantling and analyzing them.

However, the Commerce Department of the Fourth Group directly rejected their purchase request, so these warship manufacturers had to look for other people to buy second-hand ones.

But now the sales of the Apocalypse-class light cruiser are booming, and when they want to get the goods, they will have to wait for at least two years.

However, they still started to make an emergency plan. Quart Power Shipyard immediately started a new light cruiser project. It was chaired by the famous battleship design expert Willix Blissex. The project was named 'Project Aquitens'.

Corellian Engineering Company has also launched a new project, preparing to build a new spacecraft that costs no more than 5 million credits and can ensure the defeat of the Apocalypse-class light cruiser. The new spacecraft is named the CEC-class light cruiser. Although Rendili Interstellar Power Company has been a little worried recently due to competing with Kuat for military orders, it has still launched the '546 Project' to prepare to build a light cruiser.

…

Just when the arms race in the field of light cruisers officially began, the Speaker of the Galactic Parliament, Sheev Palpatine, also received a communication.

Count Dooku appeared in the holographic projection. He looked a little doubtful, "Sir, Speaker, do you know Darth Sidious?"

Palpatine had a kind smile on his face, "It sounds like it's the name of a Sith. Why do you ask me?"

"During the Battle of Naboo, I heard this name. I no longer have anything to do with the Jedi Order, so let me ask you, maybe as an eyewitness of the Speaker and the Battle of Naboo, you should Know something." Count Dooku said.

Palpatine frowned. He hesitated, but then he relaxed his brows and said, "I do know something about Darth Sidious. Because..."

His expression turned cold, and his voice was twisted and greasy, "I am Darth Sidious."

Count Dooku was not too excited. He looked at Palpatine thoughtfully and said, "Unexpected, but also reasonable. However, I really didn't expect you to admit this so straightforwardly."

"Come to Coruscant, I want to talk to you - really, honestly." Palpatine said slowly.

…

Count Dooku set out for Coruscant. He and Palpatine stayed in the office for more than three hours before leaving solemnly.

Palpatine was still sitting in his office, with his hands crossed to support his chin, a ferocious expression on his face. He looked at the two alloy statues placed at the door of his office, and said to the one on the left: "You saw it Master. As we planned before, Count Dooku does have the potential to turn to the dark side, but he actually came to me, which I didn't expect."

Inside the statue on the left is the corpse of the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis!

Palpatine shook the document in his hand, "Look, I have also become the Speaker of the Republic Assembly and the most powerful person in this Republic. I will continue to implement our plan, destroy this Republic, and then... establish Build an empire that has never been more powerful! And you, I will give you this opportunity... Let you stand at the pinnacle of power and exercise this supreme right! "

He laughed loudly, "Isn't this what you want most? Now I'm right in front of you! You can see it every day, but... you can never touch it!"

His expression became more ferocious, and he let out bursts of terrifying laughter. But the soundproofing and various security devices in the Speaker's office prevented his voice from leaking out at all.

There are two alloy statues at the door of the Speaker's office. On the left is the body of Darth Plagueis, and on the right is the lightsaber that he has not used for more than ten years!

…

Count Dooku has returned to the Jedi Temple. The news of his withdrawal from the Jedi Order has not yet spread, and with his reputation, even if he is no longer in the Jedi Order, he can come and go freely, at least for now.

He came all the way to the galaxy database stored in the Jedi Library. The Jedi and apprentices on the road bowed respectfully when they saw him.

But Count Dooku ignored them. He walked into the database and found the information about the planet Kamino. He smiled coldly and deleted it directly. After that, he purposefully deleted the information on the other 35 planets before turning around and leaving.

The star map in the Jedi database is the most comprehensive in the entire galaxy. The existence of some planets cannot be known to others, otherwise it may cause trouble. The planets deleted by Count Dooku may all be used in his plans.

Walking out of the Jedi Temple, Count Dooku took out his communicator and called Master Sever Dias, "Has the order for the clone army been placed? Master Dias, my friend."

Seve Dias looked a little tired, "I have signed a contract on behalf of the Jedi Order, and the capital injection from Damask Holding Group has been completed. A mercenary named Jango Fett came over and volunteered to provide genetic samples. Cloning. The army has begun preparations.”

"That's good. You have lit a bright torch for this rotten republic, my friend. So where are you now?" Count Dooku asked.

"I am on the planet Felucia, and there is a group of Pike people here who are smuggling spices." Master Seve Dias answered honestly without doubting that he was there.

The smile on Count Dooku's face gradually turned cold, "It looks like you need help. I'll come right away to help you."

"This group of Parkers is very cunning. I think I really need your help, Master Dooku." Seve Dias has been doing tasks outside and does not know that Dooku has left the Jedi Order.