In cleaning out a lot of old data, I found the original pitch document for stories on HoloNet News.com. Interesting to see that most came through untouched.

TOP STORIES


#0. Sy Mirth, Ando Secede. To set the stage for just how bad things have gotten, two worlds with important commercial influence pull out of the Republic. Senators Po Nudo and Toonbuck Toora announce their secession via droid proxy. (This story will be archived as Issue #1 launches)

1. Date Set for Army Vote. This will serve as a countdown to the film's release. The issue of army creation - one that has been debated for the past two years - will be resolved in a general vote in the Senate. Palpatine sets the date: May 16 on our world (or thereabouts).

2. Corellia Closes Borders. Not wanting to be a part of what it describes as a shameful collapse, Corellia turns inwards, reducing Republic representation, refusing to vote on the Army issues, and instead, taking a stance of "we know what's best for our people." Corellian Senators strongly denounce claims of joining the separatist movement, saying instead that its intent is to remain independent and neutral in the "inevitable conflict." A big black eye on Palpatine's office, and a sign of just how murky the times are.

3. Palpatine Extends Separatists Invitation to Parley. Based on Palpatine's line "my negotiations will not fail," the beleaguered Supreme Chancellor extends an open invitation to Count Dooku to talk. He guarantees safe transit to a neutral world for open discussion. Of course, these talks never happen. Some in the media have a heyday regarding the weakness of Palpatine's image.

4. Palpatine Forms Loyalist Committee. In preparation for his parley, Palpatine gathers his most trusted Senators to form a Loyalist Committee. More removed senators moan about favoritism and partisanship, accusing the Committee to be little more than a means of propagating an anti-army stance, but Palpatine's office denies that, pointing to the fact that such pro-army senators as Aks Moe are aboard.

5. Senator Moe Killed. One of Palpatine's Loyalist senators is killed in a terrorist attack on Aargau. Senators begin to fear for their safety. More moderate senators begin to question Palpatine's handling of the issue, and popular opinion in favor of the Army begins to rise.

6. Free Transit Restricted. In the current crisis, Republic authorities restrict independent operator piloting licenses, and insist that public transit instead be conducted on properly chartered vessels. Security searches at starports increase.

7. Mid-Rim Worlds Open to Refugees. A number of Mid Rim Worlds, including Naboo, open their borders to refugees from Separatist planets. This means more "properly chartered vessels" (from the above story) are now in service, giving more options for travel.

8. Would-Be Bomber Captured. A would-be terrorist is captured rigging an explosive on a Senate landing platform (perhaps Yag'Dhul's - see story #9). Jedi interrogation eventually dismisses the bomber as a lone nut, and not connected to the Separatists.

9. Yag'Dhul Secedes. Another blow to the Republic - a major world, this time a technological player with connections to the Techno Union - secedes.

10. Dooku Spotted on Onderon. Scattered reports tell of Count Dooku being spotted on the ancient rim world of Onderon. No proof that he was really there, or what he'd be doing there if that indeed was him. (Yeah, I know... it's an ancient Sith world. Pure coincidence, of course.) This is just an excuse to get Dooku in the headlines without actually having to use his character.

11. Peace Rally Dispersed. Peaceniks start a sit-in at the Senate's entrances, anticipating the big Army vote next week. Republic guards and Jedi are called in to disperse the well-intentioned citizenry, for fear that such a large crowd would make it easier for a terrorist to slip in. Civil liberties activists cry foul, and that their freedoms are being trod upon.

12. Senator Amidala Attacked. The threat hits home. Senator Amidala's landing platform is attacked, destroying her vessel and killing over a dozen. Amidala is feared among the dead. More as it develops...

12a. Senator Amidala Alive. In a quick update, Senator Amidala is not only alive, but she arrived at today's Senate session for the vote. Palpatine stalls the vote date, and of course, opposition senators cry foul (If it WASN'T an anti-army, Loyalist Committee senator in the attack, would the vote be delayed?)

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Secondary Storylines

Continuing Threads (4-5 stories each)

1. Malastare fall-out. After Aks Moe is killed, Ask Aak named his replacement. Dug protestors, seeking equal rights, disrupt funeral proceedings on Malastare. Investigation continues on Aargau. Malastare shown to be a vital ally closely aligned to Palpatine's government, so that Aak can't be the one who motions that Palpatine be granted emergency powers.

2. Jedi custody dispute. A young couple wants their child back from the Jedi Temple. One of the non-vital news story that the media latches onto (a la Elian, O.J. and JonBenet). Possibly give secondary or tertiary Jedi like Coleman Trebor or (smirk) Pablo-Jill a quote.

3. Jedi watchdog group. Stories involving activists who want the books opened up on Jedi funding. They are less than impressed by the order's inability to get things done, and want public subsidies discontinued.

4. Kashyyyk-Trandosha Tension. When it rains, it pours. Violence erupts in the Kashyyyk system as Trandoshan activists seek out senate representation. Wookiees, of course, point to the bloodthirsty nature of the Trandoshans as evidence enough for their exclusion. The Trandoshans are connected though, and actually manage to have their case heard, which the Wookiees protest. Senator Yarua threatens to pull Kashyyyk out of the Senate and close their borders to the Republic.

Why? Well, this whole story serves to alienate the Wookiees from the Republic and Palpatine's government as a really subtle foreshadowing of their second-class citizen state by the time the Emprie arises.

5. Refugee Plot Stories. Coruscant's public ports are getting crowded. Fights between aliens with long-standing feuds are common (Weequay and Houk brawls, for instance). Another story is an outbreak of disease that comes from so many disparate species commingling. This story is somewhat alleviated by the Mid-Rim announcement to take on refugees.

One-offs:

Intelligence Forces Consolidated: A connection to long-term continuity, a number of Republic security agencies are consolidated into an intelligence office which will eventually become Imperial Intelligence. Perhaps, if he's available in the timeline, Ysanne Isard's father can be brought in.

Baktoid Closes Plants: Presumably, the Trade Federation incident of 10 years ago prompted new legislation regarding battle droid armies (as intimated in Rogue Planet). Baktoid has been reeling ever since. They close down a number of satellite operations, seemingly slowing down production. In truth, they're just increasing security and increasing production in their larger, guarded plants - namely, the Geonosis facility (though of course, the readers don't know that. This is based on the general surprise expressed by Obi-Wan regarding the size and presence of Trade Federation forces).

Seinar Story: To be developed as Dark Horse and Lucy flesh out this angle.

Jedi Starfighter story: Since LucasArts' game happens in this time frame, I'm sure there's something we can reference here.

Spice miner conflict on Naboo: We can add some groundwork to this thread. Perhaps as a passing mention after we run the refugee story. Spice miners threaten to jam incoming refugee space lanes as protest.

Dean of Alderaan University Suspended: This is just an all-in-good-fun jab at aldera.net. The Dean of Alderaan is suspended for various improprieties.

Automotive: New Speeder: Clegg Holdfast test-drives the new XP-22. Or whatever.

Chancellor Valorum releases memoirs: In a slight jab at reading habits of the general public, it's revealed that Chancellor Valorum has released his memoirs... and no one cares. Sales are abysmal. Curiously, Nute Gunray's mistress has just released an unauthorized biography on the CEO, and the lurid tales are briskly selling.

Podracing Banned on Caprioril: The tireless efforts of the Ratts Tyerell Foundation result in the banning of Podracing on yet another world. But it's not over yet (the irony, for detail-oriented fans, is that Caprioril will become a hotbed of just-as-dangerous swoop racing sport).

Merson Pirate Incident: Some sort of tie-in to the old Marvel comic regarding the Merson pirates.

Guide to Snivvians: An extension of Ben Burtt's guide book, have a 'feature' guide to a peripheral alien, written by Ben's character, in the same style.

Industrial Automaton pulls R5's plug: The R5 just didn't sell well. Find out why.

House of Tagge Sides with Loyalists: Just a story that puts Palpatine's allies in the right place.

Virgillian Civil War Concessions Disputed: Tie in to Truce at Bakura backstory. Might be demoted to a tertiary story or even just a headline if it proves too boring.

Standards & Measures Dept. Dispute Calendar Reform:

Outer Rim HoloNet Expansion Delayed

Incom / Subpro Agreement Cancelled: The Z-95 was the last thing ever to come out of this partnership.

New Xim Exhibit at Galactic Museum

Gormaanda's Culinary Corner: I really want to do a recipe.


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