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Palpatine had angled himself to the left, in order to watch the seven members of the directorate assume their seats. Flanking the four humans, the Sullustan, the Gran, and the Neimoidian, contingents of security droids stood with blaster rifles affixed to their squarish backpacks, like skeletal sentinels of death.

Palpatine was so engrossed that he failed to observe the approach of Senator Orn Free Taa, despite the fact that the bloated Rutian Twi’lek had arrived by means of a repulsorlift chair, with his retinue of attachés and aides trailing behind him like servants.

“An impressive showing,” Taa said to Palpatine, glancing around the resplendent hall as he lowered his chair to the floor. “Delegates from Sullust, Clak’dor, the Senex sector, Malastare, Falleen, Bothawui … Why even some of the Hutt worlds are represented.” Taa paused to track Palpatine’s gaze to the Trade Federation section. “Ah, the objects of everyone’s fascination.”

“Assuredly,” Palpatine said in a distracted way.

“How like the directorate to bring droids—though I suppose it makes little difference whether one chooses Jedi Knights or droids. I have heard, however, that the directorate also insisted on a shield projector.”

“Yes, I heard the same.”

Taa regarded Palpatine for a long moment. “Senator, permit me to say that you seem somewhat preoccupied.”

Palpatine finally swiveled in his chair to face Taa. “In point of fact, I have just received some rather distressing news from my home system. It seems that Naboo’s King Veruna has abdicated the throne.”

Taa’s massive head-tails twitched. “I … I must confess, Senator, that I don’t know whether to feel sorry or glad for you. But where exactly does this leave you, in any case? Is there some danger of your being recalled?”

“That remains to be seen,” Palpatine said. “Naboo will have an acting regent until elections are held.”

“Who is in the running to replace Veruna?”

“That, too, remains to be seen.”

“Dare I inquire as to your hope?”

Palpatine shrugged lightly. “Only for someone enthusiastic about opening Naboo to the galaxy. Someone less—how shall I put it?—traditional than Veruna.”

A glint came into Taa’s eyes. “Or more easily persuaded perhaps?”

Before Palpatine could respond, a swell of agitation began to sweep through the hall. To all sides, heads were turning toward the south entrance. Shortly, Supreme Chancellor Valorum and the rest of the Coruscant delegation appeared. The hall responded with extended if merely cordial applause.

“He arrives,” Taa said, as Valorum was being escorted to his seat. “But who is that with him? I recognize the sector governor, but not the lean and hungry-looking one beside him.”

“Lieutenant Governor Tarkin,” Palpatine replied, while clapping his hands.

“Ah, yes—Tarkin. A bit of a throwback, isn’t he? Very militant and authoritarian.”

“Power can turn even the meekest of bureaucrats into a raging manka cat.”

“Just so, just so. And speaking of that, Senator,” Taa added in a conspiratorial tone, “do you recall the information I brought to your attention a while back, regarding Valorum family holdings here on Eriadu?”

“Vaguely. Something about a shipping company, wasn’t it?”

Taa nodded. “As you know, many small concerns are poised to see their market status considerably advanced as a result of Valorum’s taxation proposal, and also as a consequence of investments from Core worlds, like Ralltiir and Kuat, who are ever on the alert for opportunities.”

“What does all that have to do with Valorum’s holdings?” Palpatine asked mildly.

“It appears that said shipping company has recently received a significant inflow of capital, and yet the Supreme Chancellor failed to inform appropriate parties in the senate. Naturally, I began to wonder if he was even aware that someone had invested so heavily in the family business, and just who it was that had invested.”

“It wouldn’t be like Supreme Chancellor Valorum to conceal something of that nature.”

“Initially, I believed