The Separatist crisis is full swing, and when we last left off,
Palpatine and his apprentice Dooku were about to launch the war to end
all wars. Like all big things, it would start small, everything
carefully and intricately planned to cause everything to occur exactly
as they desired. It would begin with something as simple as Senator
Amidala's trip to Coruscant.

Realizing that Padme stood in the way of Palpatine's creation of the
Grand Army of the Republic, he plotted to get rid of her. Not to
eliminate her, but merely drive her from the capital and remove her
staunch protests and powerful influence from the Senate. It was in
fact very key that she remained alive, for she would serve a
two-pronged purpose in Palpatine's plans. And so it was that Palpatine
insured the bombing attempt was botched, for the Sith Lord certainly
would know Padme would use a decoy and travel in disguise as a Naboo
escort pilot. Had assassination been his goal, he could have easily
insured this information was given to Jango Fett and subsequently to
Zam Wesell, his subcontractor.

The reason why Padme was needed alive was to deploy the team of Anakin
and Obi-Wan to protect her following the failed attempt on her life.
It was critical that this particular team of Jedi guarded her.
Palpatine was sure that a second attempt on her life was made, but
under the protection of the Jedi (whom Palpatine specifically insisted
on), she was sure to survive the second attempt as well. Why? So that
the Jedi could track down Zam Wesell, and through her begin to unravel
the mystery that would lead to Geonosis. Whether or not he was
initially privy to having to sacrifice Zam, Jango did his job and
preserved "confidentiality" by eliminating her. But he used a Kamino
saber-dart, which would lead Obi-Wan to to Clone Army, just as
Palpatine desired.

This second attempt also held the purpose of splitting up Anakin and
Obi-Wan as well as finally driving Padme from the capital. Thus in
fact THREE prongs, not two, are accomplished. First, Obi-Wan would
launch his investigation leading to Kamino. Second, Padme would be out
of the way so that the GAR could be pushed into creation. And thirdly,
Palpatine knew that Padme would become a liability for Anakin if they
grew closer. Palpatine would be able to exploit all three of these:
the first and second within days, and the third he would sit on until
the end of the Clone Wars, when he would bring Anakin into his fold.

The plan went perfectly. Obi-Wan traced the dart to Kamino thanks to
his friend Dex, and then discovered the planet deleted from the Jedi
archives, despite the shadow of gravity remaining where the planet
should have been on the map. This troubling mystery prompted Yoda to
dispatch Obi-Wan to search for the planet at that location, while all
the time brooding on the prospects of who could have deleted the
planet. As we know from previous installments, it was of course Dooku.

Furthermore, Obi-Wan failed to discover who ordered the Clone Army when
he reached Kamino, as the dead Sifo-Dyas (murdered by Dooku, of course)
was a dead end. The Jedi suspected a Separatist or even Sith plot, but
realized that in time they would have to claim the Clone Army for the
Republic before someone else did. Following a discussion with Mace
Windu and Yoda, Obi-Wan failed to apprehend Jango Fett, who led the
Jedi to Geonosis, just as Palpatine desired.

Obi-Wan was captured after discovering Dooku's plot but not before
conveniently informing the Jedi Council. This knowledge prompted
Palpatine to manipulate Jar Jar Binks, serving in Padme's stead, to
propose the first of many emergency executive powers to be bestowed
upon the Supreme Chancellor. This was ratified by the Senate, and the
GAR was born. Yoda went to retrieve the clones, and Mace Windu went to
rescue Obi-Wan.

Meanwhile, Anakin and Padme had fallen in love. Their bond was a level
of attachment the Jedi forbid, and one that would cause Anakin to grow
upset at the prospects of hiding their relationship. He valued Padme
above all else, and would do anything to save her. Palpatine would
exploit this attachment, and the fear and anger it brought about in
Anakin, in three years time. As one can see, this is clear evidence of
Palpatine's ability as a far-seer and a long-term planner. Though the
Clone Wars was a more immediate and vital part of his plot, the Dark
Lord already planted seeds for future plots that would be just as vital
down the road.

As a fringe benefit of Anakin's separation from Obi-Wan, he went off to
Tatooine in an attempt to save his mother. Her death cause him to
commit a grievous Dark Side act in massacring the entire Tusken camp
that had taken Shmi Skywalker captive. Anakin would later relate his
experienc to his mentor Palpatine, further evidence to the Dark Lord of
Anakin's Dark Side potential as well as how easy it would be to turn
him. I'll delve into this in more detail when Anakin actually turns to
the Dark Side, but suffice to say that there would be parallels between
Anakin's failure to save his mother and his attempt to save Padme.

Back on Geonosis, Dooku elected to interrogate Obi-Wan. He used his
oratory mastery to deceive the Jedi, telling him the absolute truth
about Darth Sidious, since at hearing that Obi-Wan would never believe
it nor suspect Palpatine. But it is intriguing how Dooku played up the
corruption in the Senate, and how his old apprentic Qui-Gon knew about
it. Dooku uses Qui-Gon's memory in what I believe is a vain attempt to
sway Obi-Wan to his side, perhaps as an apprentice. It is in the
nature of the Sith to try and overthrow the reigning Sith Lord, and
what better way than by combining Dooku's own strength with that of
Obi-Wan? For whatever the reasons behind it, Dooku most likely knew
his attempt would fail, but it couldn't hurt to try.

At any rate, Dooku drew the Jedi into Palpatine's trap, killing many at the very start of the war. The clones were drawn into the conflict as well, and though technically a Republic victory, it was indecisive at best. The majority of the CIS battleship cores escaped, and the perpetual stalemate that was to be the Clone Wars began with the convoluted battle.

Though Dooku drew Obi-Wan and Anakin into a duel, they could not defeat him, and Anakin displayed his arrogant weakness which played right into Dooku's hands. With the arrival of Yoda, Dooku cemented himself as a true Sith Lord in order to ensure the participation of the Jedi in the war. The Count escaped after battling Yoda, and the lack of resolution or clear victory in that duel would be extended into the entire war itself with countless narrow escapes and operations designed at perpetuating the war until the key moment.

Dooku returned to Coruscant victorious, where he reported to Palpatine that that everything was proceeding as planned. The GAR assembled on Coruscant, and the powers of the military and the executive powers of Palpatine would expand as the conflict widen. Begun, the Clone War has.


NEXT TIME: Part IX: The Clone Wars - Year One

All of Palpatine's major schemes in the war's first year are detailed, and I show how the war is perpetuated and plotted to the ruin of the Jedi.