ladyofleithian | Murder the Dawn: Chapter One: Invasion

In which Padme and Maul are ordered to invade Mandalore.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Notes: I think I might have gotten the matter of the "vote of no confidence" wrong, but I'm not quite sure. If there's any mistakes regarding that, feel free to correct me.

The day that Padmè remembers most is the day that the Trade Federation decided to invade Mandalore, home of Duchess Satine Kryze. She was more than excited to finally get a chance to test her training there -- especially considering she had endlessly trained and honed her skills -- no doubt preparing for this day. Maul, she knew, had been quite eager to go through with the process.

At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi, he had said to Sidious on Coruscant that night, long after Satine had been successfully tricked into giving the former Chancellor, Finis Valorum, a vote of no confidence -- all but the death sentence in terms of one's leadership.

Even now, hearing the news from Sidious, Padme had felt something deep within her begin to bubble and rise to the surface -- was it regret? At least, disappointment that Valorum had to go down so quickly, abandoned by his own comrades

but that was the way of the Senate, was it not? As it was the way of the Sith -- although, she mused darkly, not for long. Once she had grown to challenge her master, the way of the Sith would change. And it would change for the better.

in order to make room for a better galaxy.

But then again, she guessed that she shouldn't expect that much from Valorum. From what she had seen of him as a child, he was a good man, but far too naive and easily manipulated for his own good. And no doubt that was already contributing to his downfall before he realized it.

At the very least, Lord Sidious was good at finding chinks in others' armor. She could assume he had honed those skills over the years -- that, or the Republic was so weak and corrupt and bloated that finding the weak points was, for lack of a better word, easy.

Either way, Sidious' skills were, for lack of a better word, commendable.

Sidious' words stirred her back to the present.

"Go to Mandalore and await my orders," he said. "This day will be a day long remembered -- it has seen the end of Valorum, and it will soon see the end of the Jedi."

"How is it you know the Jedi will show up?" Padme asked. "They could never be that gullible."

"Satine Kryze no doubt can no longer bear the cries of her people...the sufferings of millions," Sidious said. "She will arrive on Mandalore. And while it will be far from easy, she will bend, eventually...she will bend and she will break, and she will lose."

In the Force, Padme could practically feel Maul's body vibrate with excitement -- excitement, no doubt, at the concept of the Jedi facing their own reckoning.

"Then," he said, "Let us make them pay for everything they've done. Do you not agree, Padme?"

Padme could only nod.

"Your anger serves you well -- the both of you," Sidious said. "Go to Mandalore and await further orders from me."

"We shall," Padme said, "My lord."