Hero of Naboo Chapter 29 Preview

NOTE: Sorry for the long delay. Ontop of IRL issues, I got covid over the holidays.  It was only a mild case, thankfully, but yeah, that was unpleasant. Anyway, here's some proof that I'm still around. Hope you all had a good Christmas, and happy holidays.

Things were not going well for Nute Gunray.

Darth Sidious hadn't made any attempt to contact him, nor was he answering any of Gunray's own attempts. And that was the problem.

"I thought I told you! All communication from outside Naboo is suppose to be cut off for the time being!" Gunray reminded sternly.

"We have, Sir, we have," Captain Daultay Dofine answered via a hologram. "Some of our officers have found ways to pick up transmissions. Personal relays or hacking the transmitter. They are scared and wanting to know what is going on."

Gunray blustered to himself. "We should have just brought droids for this operation," he muttered.

Dofine watched him carefully. "Sir, there is talk of some disaster on Coruscant-"

"I have no desire to converse of these conspiracy theories!" Gunray denied.

Dofine paused, letting the director ccalm himself some. "I only wanted to know, if Lott Dod is still well."

Gunray paused. Yes, that was an important question. Did they still have their representive in the Senate to manipulate things to the Trade Federation's desire. "I have recieved no word from him. I am sure there is a senate session currently in progress."

"Of course, Viceroy," Dofine accepted neutrally. "I will do my best to end all attempts to break the communication blackout."

With that, the hologram flickered off.

"This cannot continue forever."

Gunray leveled his ire on Rune Haako, his right hand in this mess. "Obviously. If too many hear that a disaster has befalled Coruscant, our officers may begin to question why we're bothering to hold this blockade."

Rune tilted his head. "We both know that's not why you're really doing this."

Gunray stifened, practically shriveling nito himself a bit. There were moments when he forgot that Rune  was fully aware that they were working with Darth Sidious, and all the plots that entailed. "Are you any more willing to risk his wrath?" he countered in a cold voice. Not of anger, but of fear.

His fellow neimoidian shared his expression and shook his head. "No, no I am not. If he's alive."

Gunray all but leared at him now. "Do you really believe a fluke storm would be enough to do in someone like that? No, Sidious is alive," he insisted, for he could not believe that man was truly dead. He had felt his power, felt the man reach across time and space to strangle his throat when they first met. He seen Sidious's schemes come to fruition, leading to the  neimoidians having full control of the Trade Federation, with Gunray himself as its leader.

No, Sidious was too skilled a schemer to be dead now.

"If he has abandoned us to rot than?" Rune countered. "The prievous administration didn't exactly have a peaceful end."

Yes, the Eriadu Summit. How Gunray found himself leading the Trade Federation. He had no idea what was going to happen at that time, but finding all rivals to his power removed made it obvious who was truly behind that little incident. "He has complete control of the Trade Federation through us," Gunray countered. "Replacing us would gain him nothing."

"Sir, I know it is not something you wish to entertain, but have you considered that this was his objective?" Rune stated with a worried tone. At Gunray's confused look, he elaborated. "That this has been all nothing more than a ploy to destroy the Trade Federation from the inside?"

".....No, no, that couldn't be true," Gunray said, almost sounding unconvined himself. "Enough of this. We shall continue to wait for a message from Sidious, or until we recieve the queen."

Rune didn't object to that, despite looking disappointed.

"In the meantime, we must deal with more present concerns," Gunray shifted the topic. "How goes the situation with these Gungans?"

"I met with a messenger in the feilds outside their swamps," Rune explained, accepting the change in discussion. "They have no desire to fight us for the time. They have a great distaste for humans. I think us not being humans actually made them more receptive to our terms."

Gunray nodded in understanding. Humans were the most populas spieces in the galaxy, with many near-humans subspieces. Just as there was a sense of humancentism among the race, there was some warriness about humans in general among the other races of the stars. Something that the Trade Federation had used to their advantages on several occassions.

"And what was said, exactly?" Gunray pressed.

"They are primitive, but they are not unaware. They know, to some extent, what us taking possession of the planet would mean for their swamps," Rune stated. "They found it agreeable, to aid us against the resistance, and in securing the Queen if she should return. If they are promised assistance in relocating to one of Naboo's moon, Ohma-D'um."

"Hmm. We have no interest in Naboo's moons. That would be a cheap price to pay towards ending this situation," Gunray mused, nodding to himself.

"Are you certain, Director? We may find valuable resources on that moon," Rune reminded carefully.

"Yes, but a moon will much be easier to deal with than an entire planet," Gunray all but spat out. "Just see it done, Rune."

Rune stepped back a bit before nodding in acceptence. "As you say, Director."

Gunray grumbled to hismelf in dispeasure as he sat on the throne of Naboo, empty save a group of B1 Battle Droids and three Droidikas, his own personal protection.

He may bluster, but he knew perfetly well why he had brought along other living officers besides himself and Rune: he had been afraid. Afraid that, with only droids, it would be easy, too easy for all blame of any failure to fall on him. Not just Sidiious, but the Trade Federation turning on him was a true concern. Rune would not speak in his defense, he knew. All Rune had to do was let him fall and the Trade Federation could find itself with Rune as the new Viceroy.

But with others as part of this operation, it made shifting blame a viable plan if this operation failed completely. In theory at least.