Post by Swiftbow on Nov 6, 2005 21:46:11 GMT -5
For those of you what have read the Uber Phantom Menace, and are eagerly waiting for me to finish the sequel, partake in the first few scenes (which I don't expect to change in the final version). Scroll below to read!
Edit: Actually, found out I had changed a few things in a more recent version. So it be updated now!
EXT. SPACE — TITLE CARD
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main title, followed by a roll-up, which crawls into infinity.
EPISODE II: THE CLONE WARS
Hostilities are escalating in the GALACTIC REPUBLIC. Numerous systems have now joined the SEPARATIST ALLIANCE, while the Trade Federation Rebellion – spurred by government repression of free enterprise -
rages on. The Separatists offer no ideals of freedom, however. Their goal is simply to replace the Republic’s repression with their own. Their new Alliance threatens to split the Republic in twain… under a new generation of dictators.
Chancellor Palpatine, wishing to end the new threat quickly, has marshaled the Republic Fleet and the Jedi Knights for battle… but it may not be enough.
Pan down to reveal a fleet of Separatist warships in battle with the Republic fleet. The Separatist forces are protecting an asteroid mine colony near a nebula star cluster.
The battle is fierce, with large capital warships and fighters on both sides. Large emplaced guns on the mining colony repeatedly fire ion and turbolaser blasts at the Republic ships.
Two Jedi fighters break away from the main battle, en route to the mining colony. Panning into the cockpits reveals OBI-WAN KENOBI and ANAKIN SKYWALKER. Both are dressed as Jedi Knights, though Obi-Wan no longer has a Padawan braid and Anakin does. Anakin is now about 17 years old and as tall as Obi-Wan.
OBI-WAN
Target the emplaced guns, Anakin.
Both ships make a low altitude run over the asteroid surface, detonating charges on the turrets. Explosions indicate their success.
OBI-WAN
Good shooting.
ANAKIN
(pleased)
You as well.
Anakin grins, then looks in dismay at an incoming barrage of ten enemy fighters.
ANAKIN
Master!
OBI-WAN
I see them.
The two ships dodge aside as incoming laser fire flies all around them.
OBI-WAN
Strange…
ANAKIN
What?
OBI-WAN
I am detecting a strange presence aboard those ships…
The ships make a banking turn and pursue the Jedi. Their turbolasers fire a withering storm.
ANAKIN
On your six, master!
Obi-Wan’s ship is hit, one of his engines burns out.
OBI-WAN
Blast!
The enemy fighters close in Obi-Wan. Anakin hits the brakes on his ship, the enemy craft blow past. He fires repeatedly, downing three of them.
The rest close in on Obi-Wan, who, at the last moment, guns his ship into a loop the loop to gain the firing advantage. He and Anakin destroy the remaining fighters.
OBI-WAN
Part two, then.
The two Jedi ships zoom toward the asteroid’s mining colony and pass through a permeable atmosphere shield that keeps air around the colony.
EXT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DEEP SPACE DAY
A swarm of droid soldiers pour onto the landing platform as Obi-Wan and Anakin come in to land. The droids open fire as do the Jedi ships. Some droid shots penetrate the shielding, but for the most part they are ineffectual. Many droids are blown to bits. The Jedi land and leap out of their ships, lightsabers blazing.
OBI-WAN
Standard tacticals, Anakin.
Anakin nods. They rush the entrance doors under a hail of small arms laser fire from a mounted turret, deflecting the blasts with their blades.
As they reach the entrance, Anakin slices the turret in half while Obi-Wan uses the Force on the doors. After a few moments, they wrench open, bending in several places. The Jedi rush inside.
INT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DARK
Obi-Wan and Anakin enter the eerily empty facility, their lightsabers providing a feeble light source. It seems the colony is shut down. Hallways lead away at angles to the left and right of the entrance.
OBI-WAN
Strange… this colony should have been in full operation. This mission was top secret; very few knew we were coming.
ANAKIN
I have a bad feeling about this.
OBI-WAN
As do I… this smells like a trap.
They begin to back away, but as just as they reach the exit, a force field suddenly shimmers to life, striking Anakin and knocking him to the floor.
OBI-WAN
(grimly)
It would seem the trap is sprung.
Obi-Wan turns to the hallways, obviously sensing something.
ANAKIN
(getting to his feet)
Master—
OBI-WAN
(quietly)
Shh.
Obi-Wan closes his eyes, concentrating. Suddenly he sweeps his blade upwards, destroying a small attacker droid that was clinging to the ceiling.
OBI-WAN
(staring at the remains)
That presence again…
ANAKIN
Incoming!
Before them, hundreds of droids’ lights flip on, revealing the horde advancing before them. Clicking sounds emanate towards the Jedi as blasters lock into firing position. Numerous ceiling droids, clawed attack arms deployed, advance along the ceiling. The Jedi are trapped, pinned against the rear force field.
Before the Jedi can do anything, the droids open fire, laying down a massive salvo. The Jedi deflect the salvos, but they are many. The droids in the front line activate small force shields on their forearms, using them to deflect the blaster fire the Jedi have ricocheted back at them.
OBI-WAN
We need a way out!
ANAKIN
We’ll have to make one.
Anakin and Obi-Wan lash out with the Force, blasting a corridor between the droids down the right hallway. The shield droids are knocked aside, and several of the rear droids are struck by deflected blaster bolts, but their armor seems to absorb the shots.
OBI-WAN
Go!
The two Jedi race through the momentarily disabled battle droids, their lightsabers cutting many down as they pass. The droid’s armor is unable to stop the lightsabers.
Just as they clear the robotic force, a ceiling droid drops onto Anakin’s back, its claw blades suddenly whir into spinning saw blades and it attacks. Anakin cries out as it slices into his back.
Obi-Wan snags it with the Force and casts it into a wall. The droid leaps back to its feet and Obi-Wan squeezes his fist, obviously intending to crush the droid with the Force, but nothing happens. He reacts with dismay. The droid leaps at him, but Anakin slices it in half.
The two Jedi make it around the corner and partially down the next hallway. In the distance, the sound of the droids regaining their feet is clearly heard.
Obi-Wan reaches into his pouch and pulls out a bandage for the wound on Anakin’s back.
OBI-WAN
These are unlike any droids I have ever seen… they resist damaging attacks by the Force… only natural lifeforms have any kind of protection such as that.
ANAKIN
They’re fast… and hard to follow.
OBI-WAN
Yes… my senses are affected when near them. I cannot understand the cause.
The skittering from the other corridor grows louder. Obi-Wan quickly finishes with the bandage.
ANAKIN
How do we get out of here?
OBI-WAN
We disabled the primary shield generators for the colony, so the force field blocking our exit must be localized to the entrance.
ANAKIN
(looking at the ceiling)
Then we go up.
Obi-Wan reaches into his cloak and pulls out a pack of detonator charges.
OBI-WAN
Well, we won’t need these to blow their main computer any more.
EXT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DEEP SPACE DAY
An explosion blows the roof off a small section of the facility and the two Jedi leap out of it. Mere moments later, the shield droids and a large number of the ceiling droids follow. The shield droids all halt, their chest cavities opening to reveal blaster cannons.
A running fight begins as the Jedi race along the roof, fighting off the scuttling ceiling droids and trading blows with the shield droids, whose localized shields are capable of deflecting the lightsabers.
Suddenly there is a loud alarm sound echoing through the base, followed by a woman’s voice.
ALARM
Danger, air shield disabled, atmospheric venting will commence in 30 seconds.
Anakin and Obi-Wan exchange a quick glance of extreme concern and turn to run for their ships. The droids cascade after them, moving nearly as fast as the Force enhanced Jedi.
The Jedi reach their craft, using the Force to knock back the attacking droids. The droids quickly begin to regain their footing as the Jedi get inside their ships.
ALARM
Five seconds to atmospheric venting.
The Jedi’s canopies close and they both brace themselves. The droids leap forward and the venting suddenly commences as the atmospheric shield collapses.
Jedi ships, droids, and assorted debris are suddenly caught in an intense upward vacuum. The droids, unequipped for space travel, begin floating aimlessly away. Obi-Wan and Anakin’s ships roar to life and head off for the rest of the fleet where the enemy fleet is now escaping to hyperspace.
OBI-WAN
Well. That was interesting.
Anakin chuckles into his headset as both Jedi smile. The ships zoom for PALPATINE’S flagship. It sits towards the fringes of the battlefield.
INT. PALPATINE’S FLAGSHIP – SPACE
Chancellor Palpatine sits in the command chair, his fingers steepled. His gaze is on the fleet outside. An OFFICER approaches.
OFFICER
General Palpatine, you have a private message from Coruscant.
Palpatine rouses from his trance and turns to the Officer.
PALPATINE
I shall take it in my quarters.
He is about to enter the elevator, when Anakin and Obi-Wan emerge from it.
PALPATINE
Ah, Master Jedi. How good of you to join us. I trust your mission was a success?
OBI-WAN
I’m afraid it was a trap, Chancellor.
PALPATINE
Explain.
OBI-WAN
They’re using some new droid models I’ve never seen before. Fast and strong. And they can’t be crushed with the Force.
PALPATINE
(concerned expression)
I will inform the Senate of this. Perhaps they will finally see the point I have been trying to make. But don’t worry about it now, Master Kenobi… you look like you need some rest.
He smiles and nods to Obi-Wan, then enters the elevator. The doors close and he is gone.
ANAKIN
Something troubling you, master?
OBI-WAN
Something is always troubling me, Anakin.
He grimaces a smile. Anakin chuckles.
INT. PALPATINE’S QUARTERS – SPACE
Palpatine emerges from the elevator into his spacious quarters. PADME approaches, carrying a datapad. Dressed attractively, but not revealingly, she is no longer the straight-shaped girl of three years before. She speaks to Palpatine in the tone of an assistant.
PADME
Excuse me, Chancellor.
PALPATINE
(amicably, eyes glancing over her figure)
Yes, Padme?
PADME
Senator Tarkin is urgently waiting to speak with you. As are several fleet commanders and most of the rest of the Senate.
PALPATINE
I wear too many hats, my dear.
(Padme hands him the datapad)
Now… I do believe your friend, Master Skywalker, is aboard…
Padme’s eyes light up.
PADME
Is he?
PALPATINE
Yes… so even this overworked old man wouldn’t complain if you went to see him for a while.
PADME
Thank you, sir!
PALPATINE
Think nothing of it.
Padme hurries off. As soon as the elevator doors close, Palpatine’s smile fades and he tosses the datapad onto a table.
He turns and activates the holopad on his desk. The figure of Tarkin appears.
TARKIN
I trust your little off-world foray is coming to an end soon?
PALPATINE
(lip curling)
Is it so difficult to keep the Senate in check while I’m away?
TARKIN
You are Chancellor now, sir. You can’t stay away for long.
PALPATINE
I’m well aware of that, Tarkin. Rest assured I shall be returning soon.
TARKIN
(conspiratorially)
How did it go?
PALPATINE
This line is not secure enough for idle talk, Tarkin. But it did go well. Only a few more steps remain.
TARKIN
I look forward to your return.
His hologram flickers out. Palpatine leans back in his chair, smiling.
INT. DROID FACTORY – DAY
COUNT DOOKU descends from a stairwell onto the observation platform. GENERAL GRIEVOUS, a hulking cyborg alien, stands on the platform near Dooku. Various, more human-sized, ALIENS are nearby.
Below, a gigantic assembly line is churning out battle droids of the models seen by Obi-Wan and Anakin.
DOOKU
Most impressive. How many units are you producing daily?
GRIEVOUS
10,000 at this facility. But we have many others.
DOOKU
Still… they are droids.
GRIEVOUS
Have you not then seen the specifications or the results of the recent battle tests?
DOOKU
I understand that the Jedi escaped. Not exactly a successful test.
GRIEVOUS
We did not intend their destruction at this time, Count Dooku. They must report back, after all.
DOOKU
Granted. Perhaps you should show me these specifications then.
Grievous leads the group into another room. A large hologram projector sits on a platform near Grievous’ control station. He presses some buttons and an image of the weaker battle droids appears on the projector.
GRIEVOUS
Grunt type X67 Battle Droid. Neutronized plated armor capable of repelling multiple blaster shots before failing.
The hologram simulates the armor absorbing multiple shots before the droid is destroyed. The hologram switches to the ceiling droids, displaying their movement and a simulated attack against a human.
GRIEVOUS
G56 Scuttler. Assassin droid, armed with twin reciprocating vibro saws and backup blaster.
The hologram switches again, revealing the shield droid. The hologram shows the shield droids, their shielding, and their chest blasters. In the hologram, the droid takes on a Jedi at close range, deflecting the lightsaber and finally scoring a direct hit with its chest cannon.
GRIEVOUS
M85 Command Unit. We call them “Jedi Slayers.” Their localized shielding makes them far cheaper than destroyer droids but still capable of repelling blasters and lightsabers. Their chest cannon is usable at close or long range.
Dooku regards all this with interest. An ALIEN looks skeptical.
ALIEN
But they are still droids. Any Jedi could easily crush those little scuttlers with the Force, or even those big ones.
ALIEN 2
And there is another reason why droids have never replaced soldiers. They are too expensive and dependent on programming.
Grievous chuckles and taps a few more keys on the control pad. The display switches to a strange looking computer chip.
GRIEVOUS
Gentlemen, I present the latest in computer processors: the Organic Neuron Chip.
Dooku smiles as the others gasp.
GRIEVOUS
Combines the speed of the brain with the efficiency of a computer.
(he taps his own head)
Each droid is fully capable of independent, learned battle behavior, as well as being able to instantly communicate information to its fellows, and at one tenth the price this technology used to cost. And, of course, they now cause a Force ripple, rendering them immune to a Jedi’s ability to crush non-living objects.
ALIEN
But how can you produce computer chips with organic components? You’d have to harvest the material from people!
GRIEVOUS
No… thanks to the miracle of cloning.
He leads them to another room, where massive tanks are revealed. Brain matter can be seen growing inside them.
GRIEVOUS
We can clone just what we need, when we need it. Our droids are now the most powerful army in the Galaxy.
DOOKU
(turns to the other aliens)
And so, now that you have seen… what is your answer?
The aliens turn and confer with each other. The first Alien steps forward.
ALIEN
The Separatist Alliance can count on our support.
INT. PALPATINE’S FLAGSHIP COMMISSARY – HYPERSPACE
Obi-Wan sits at the bar, a drink in hand. He seems lost in thought. Behind him, toward the rear of the room, Anakin stands up as Padme enters. The two embrace happily.
Obi-Wan half-turns in his chair, regarding this with concerned interest. He takes a long drink.
Edit: Actually, found out I had changed a few things in a more recent version. So it be updated now!
EXT. SPACE — TITLE CARD
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
A vast sea of stars serves as the backdrop for the main title, followed by a roll-up, which crawls into infinity.
EPISODE II: THE CLONE WARS
Hostilities are escalating in the GALACTIC REPUBLIC. Numerous systems have now joined the SEPARATIST ALLIANCE, while the Trade Federation Rebellion – spurred by government repression of free enterprise -
rages on. The Separatists offer no ideals of freedom, however. Their goal is simply to replace the Republic’s repression with their own. Their new Alliance threatens to split the Republic in twain… under a new generation of dictators.
Chancellor Palpatine, wishing to end the new threat quickly, has marshaled the Republic Fleet and the Jedi Knights for battle… but it may not be enough.
Pan down to reveal a fleet of Separatist warships in battle with the Republic fleet. The Separatist forces are protecting an asteroid mine colony near a nebula star cluster.
The battle is fierce, with large capital warships and fighters on both sides. Large emplaced guns on the mining colony repeatedly fire ion and turbolaser blasts at the Republic ships.
Two Jedi fighters break away from the main battle, en route to the mining colony. Panning into the cockpits reveals OBI-WAN KENOBI and ANAKIN SKYWALKER. Both are dressed as Jedi Knights, though Obi-Wan no longer has a Padawan braid and Anakin does. Anakin is now about 17 years old and as tall as Obi-Wan.
OBI-WAN
Target the emplaced guns, Anakin.
Both ships make a low altitude run over the asteroid surface, detonating charges on the turrets. Explosions indicate their success.
OBI-WAN
Good shooting.
ANAKIN
(pleased)
You as well.
Anakin grins, then looks in dismay at an incoming barrage of ten enemy fighters.
ANAKIN
Master!
OBI-WAN
I see them.
The two ships dodge aside as incoming laser fire flies all around them.
OBI-WAN
Strange…
ANAKIN
What?
OBI-WAN
I am detecting a strange presence aboard those ships…
The ships make a banking turn and pursue the Jedi. Their turbolasers fire a withering storm.
ANAKIN
On your six, master!
Obi-Wan’s ship is hit, one of his engines burns out.
OBI-WAN
Blast!
The enemy fighters close in Obi-Wan. Anakin hits the brakes on his ship, the enemy craft blow past. He fires repeatedly, downing three of them.
The rest close in on Obi-Wan, who, at the last moment, guns his ship into a loop the loop to gain the firing advantage. He and Anakin destroy the remaining fighters.
OBI-WAN
Part two, then.
The two Jedi ships zoom toward the asteroid’s mining colony and pass through a permeable atmosphere shield that keeps air around the colony.
EXT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DEEP SPACE DAY
A swarm of droid soldiers pour onto the landing platform as Obi-Wan and Anakin come in to land. The droids open fire as do the Jedi ships. Some droid shots penetrate the shielding, but for the most part they are ineffectual. Many droids are blown to bits. The Jedi land and leap out of their ships, lightsabers blazing.
OBI-WAN
Standard tacticals, Anakin.
Anakin nods. They rush the entrance doors under a hail of small arms laser fire from a mounted turret, deflecting the blasts with their blades.
As they reach the entrance, Anakin slices the turret in half while Obi-Wan uses the Force on the doors. After a few moments, they wrench open, bending in several places. The Jedi rush inside.
INT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DARK
Obi-Wan and Anakin enter the eerily empty facility, their lightsabers providing a feeble light source. It seems the colony is shut down. Hallways lead away at angles to the left and right of the entrance.
OBI-WAN
Strange… this colony should have been in full operation. This mission was top secret; very few knew we were coming.
ANAKIN
I have a bad feeling about this.
OBI-WAN
As do I… this smells like a trap.
They begin to back away, but as just as they reach the exit, a force field suddenly shimmers to life, striking Anakin and knocking him to the floor.
OBI-WAN
(grimly)
It would seem the trap is sprung.
Obi-Wan turns to the hallways, obviously sensing something.
ANAKIN
(getting to his feet)
Master—
OBI-WAN
(quietly)
Shh.
Obi-Wan closes his eyes, concentrating. Suddenly he sweeps his blade upwards, destroying a small attacker droid that was clinging to the ceiling.
OBI-WAN
(staring at the remains)
That presence again…
ANAKIN
Incoming!
Before them, hundreds of droids’ lights flip on, revealing the horde advancing before them. Clicking sounds emanate towards the Jedi as blasters lock into firing position. Numerous ceiling droids, clawed attack arms deployed, advance along the ceiling. The Jedi are trapped, pinned against the rear force field.
Before the Jedi can do anything, the droids open fire, laying down a massive salvo. The Jedi deflect the salvos, but they are many. The droids in the front line activate small force shields on their forearms, using them to deflect the blaster fire the Jedi have ricocheted back at them.
OBI-WAN
We need a way out!
ANAKIN
We’ll have to make one.
Anakin and Obi-Wan lash out with the Force, blasting a corridor between the droids down the right hallway. The shield droids are knocked aside, and several of the rear droids are struck by deflected blaster bolts, but their armor seems to absorb the shots.
OBI-WAN
Go!
The two Jedi race through the momentarily disabled battle droids, their lightsabers cutting many down as they pass. The droid’s armor is unable to stop the lightsabers.
Just as they clear the robotic force, a ceiling droid drops onto Anakin’s back, its claw blades suddenly whir into spinning saw blades and it attacks. Anakin cries out as it slices into his back.
Obi-Wan snags it with the Force and casts it into a wall. The droid leaps back to its feet and Obi-Wan squeezes his fist, obviously intending to crush the droid with the Force, but nothing happens. He reacts with dismay. The droid leaps at him, but Anakin slices it in half.
The two Jedi make it around the corner and partially down the next hallway. In the distance, the sound of the droids regaining their feet is clearly heard.
Obi-Wan reaches into his pouch and pulls out a bandage for the wound on Anakin’s back.
OBI-WAN
These are unlike any droids I have ever seen… they resist damaging attacks by the Force… only natural lifeforms have any kind of protection such as that.
ANAKIN
They’re fast… and hard to follow.
OBI-WAN
Yes… my senses are affected when near them. I cannot understand the cause.
The skittering from the other corridor grows louder. Obi-Wan quickly finishes with the bandage.
ANAKIN
How do we get out of here?
OBI-WAN
We disabled the primary shield generators for the colony, so the force field blocking our exit must be localized to the entrance.
ANAKIN
(looking at the ceiling)
Then we go up.
Obi-Wan reaches into his cloak and pulls out a pack of detonator charges.
OBI-WAN
Well, we won’t need these to blow their main computer any more.
EXT. ASTEROID MINING COLONY – DEEP SPACE DAY
An explosion blows the roof off a small section of the facility and the two Jedi leap out of it. Mere moments later, the shield droids and a large number of the ceiling droids follow. The shield droids all halt, their chest cavities opening to reveal blaster cannons.
A running fight begins as the Jedi race along the roof, fighting off the scuttling ceiling droids and trading blows with the shield droids, whose localized shields are capable of deflecting the lightsabers.
Suddenly there is a loud alarm sound echoing through the base, followed by a woman’s voice.
ALARM
Danger, air shield disabled, atmospheric venting will commence in 30 seconds.
Anakin and Obi-Wan exchange a quick glance of extreme concern and turn to run for their ships. The droids cascade after them, moving nearly as fast as the Force enhanced Jedi.
The Jedi reach their craft, using the Force to knock back the attacking droids. The droids quickly begin to regain their footing as the Jedi get inside their ships.
ALARM
Five seconds to atmospheric venting.
The Jedi’s canopies close and they both brace themselves. The droids leap forward and the venting suddenly commences as the atmospheric shield collapses.
Jedi ships, droids, and assorted debris are suddenly caught in an intense upward vacuum. The droids, unequipped for space travel, begin floating aimlessly away. Obi-Wan and Anakin’s ships roar to life and head off for the rest of the fleet where the enemy fleet is now escaping to hyperspace.
OBI-WAN
Well. That was interesting.
Anakin chuckles into his headset as both Jedi smile. The ships zoom for PALPATINE’S flagship. It sits towards the fringes of the battlefield.
INT. PALPATINE’S FLAGSHIP – SPACE
Chancellor Palpatine sits in the command chair, his fingers steepled. His gaze is on the fleet outside. An OFFICER approaches.
OFFICER
General Palpatine, you have a private message from Coruscant.
Palpatine rouses from his trance and turns to the Officer.
PALPATINE
I shall take it in my quarters.
He is about to enter the elevator, when Anakin and Obi-Wan emerge from it.
PALPATINE
Ah, Master Jedi. How good of you to join us. I trust your mission was a success?
OBI-WAN
I’m afraid it was a trap, Chancellor.
PALPATINE
Explain.
OBI-WAN
They’re using some new droid models I’ve never seen before. Fast and strong. And they can’t be crushed with the Force.
PALPATINE
(concerned expression)
I will inform the Senate of this. Perhaps they will finally see the point I have been trying to make. But don’t worry about it now, Master Kenobi… you look like you need some rest.
He smiles and nods to Obi-Wan, then enters the elevator. The doors close and he is gone.
ANAKIN
Something troubling you, master?
OBI-WAN
Something is always troubling me, Anakin.
He grimaces a smile. Anakin chuckles.
INT. PALPATINE’S QUARTERS – SPACE
Palpatine emerges from the elevator into his spacious quarters. PADME approaches, carrying a datapad. Dressed attractively, but not revealingly, she is no longer the straight-shaped girl of three years before. She speaks to Palpatine in the tone of an assistant.
PADME
Excuse me, Chancellor.
PALPATINE
(amicably, eyes glancing over her figure)
Yes, Padme?
PADME
Senator Tarkin is urgently waiting to speak with you. As are several fleet commanders and most of the rest of the Senate.
PALPATINE
I wear too many hats, my dear.
(Padme hands him the datapad)
Now… I do believe your friend, Master Skywalker, is aboard…
Padme’s eyes light up.
PADME
Is he?
PALPATINE
Yes… so even this overworked old man wouldn’t complain if you went to see him for a while.
PADME
Thank you, sir!
PALPATINE
Think nothing of it.
Padme hurries off. As soon as the elevator doors close, Palpatine’s smile fades and he tosses the datapad onto a table.
He turns and activates the holopad on his desk. The figure of Tarkin appears.
TARKIN
I trust your little off-world foray is coming to an end soon?
PALPATINE
(lip curling)
Is it so difficult to keep the Senate in check while I’m away?
TARKIN
You are Chancellor now, sir. You can’t stay away for long.
PALPATINE
I’m well aware of that, Tarkin. Rest assured I shall be returning soon.
TARKIN
(conspiratorially)
How did it go?
PALPATINE
This line is not secure enough for idle talk, Tarkin. But it did go well. Only a few more steps remain.
TARKIN
I look forward to your return.
His hologram flickers out. Palpatine leans back in his chair, smiling.
INT. DROID FACTORY – DAY
COUNT DOOKU descends from a stairwell onto the observation platform. GENERAL GRIEVOUS, a hulking cyborg alien, stands on the platform near Dooku. Various, more human-sized, ALIENS are nearby.
Below, a gigantic assembly line is churning out battle droids of the models seen by Obi-Wan and Anakin.
DOOKU
Most impressive. How many units are you producing daily?
GRIEVOUS
10,000 at this facility. But we have many others.
DOOKU
Still… they are droids.
GRIEVOUS
Have you not then seen the specifications or the results of the recent battle tests?
DOOKU
I understand that the Jedi escaped. Not exactly a successful test.
GRIEVOUS
We did not intend their destruction at this time, Count Dooku. They must report back, after all.
DOOKU
Granted. Perhaps you should show me these specifications then.
Grievous leads the group into another room. A large hologram projector sits on a platform near Grievous’ control station. He presses some buttons and an image of the weaker battle droids appears on the projector.
GRIEVOUS
Grunt type X67 Battle Droid. Neutronized plated armor capable of repelling multiple blaster shots before failing.
The hologram simulates the armor absorbing multiple shots before the droid is destroyed. The hologram switches to the ceiling droids, displaying their movement and a simulated attack against a human.
GRIEVOUS
G56 Scuttler. Assassin droid, armed with twin reciprocating vibro saws and backup blaster.
The hologram switches again, revealing the shield droid. The hologram shows the shield droids, their shielding, and their chest blasters. In the hologram, the droid takes on a Jedi at close range, deflecting the lightsaber and finally scoring a direct hit with its chest cannon.
GRIEVOUS
M85 Command Unit. We call them “Jedi Slayers.” Their localized shielding makes them far cheaper than destroyer droids but still capable of repelling blasters and lightsabers. Their chest cannon is usable at close or long range.
Dooku regards all this with interest. An ALIEN looks skeptical.
ALIEN
But they are still droids. Any Jedi could easily crush those little scuttlers with the Force, or even those big ones.
ALIEN 2
And there is another reason why droids have never replaced soldiers. They are too expensive and dependent on programming.
Grievous chuckles and taps a few more keys on the control pad. The display switches to a strange looking computer chip.
GRIEVOUS
Gentlemen, I present the latest in computer processors: the Organic Neuron Chip.
Dooku smiles as the others gasp.
GRIEVOUS
Combines the speed of the brain with the efficiency of a computer.
(he taps his own head)
Each droid is fully capable of independent, learned battle behavior, as well as being able to instantly communicate information to its fellows, and at one tenth the price this technology used to cost. And, of course, they now cause a Force ripple, rendering them immune to a Jedi’s ability to crush non-living objects.
ALIEN
But how can you produce computer chips with organic components? You’d have to harvest the material from people!
GRIEVOUS
No… thanks to the miracle of cloning.
He leads them to another room, where massive tanks are revealed. Brain matter can be seen growing inside them.
GRIEVOUS
We can clone just what we need, when we need it. Our droids are now the most powerful army in the Galaxy.
DOOKU
(turns to the other aliens)
And so, now that you have seen… what is your answer?
The aliens turn and confer with each other. The first Alien steps forward.
ALIEN
The Separatist Alliance can count on our support.
INT. PALPATINE’S FLAGSHIP COMMISSARY – HYPERSPACE
Obi-Wan sits at the bar, a drink in hand. He seems lost in thought. Behind him, toward the rear of the room, Anakin stands up as Padme enters. The two embrace happily.
Obi-Wan half-turns in his chair, regarding this with concerned interest. He takes a long drink.
