GENERAL GRIEVOUS holds a secret meeting with REPRESENTATIVES of Onderon’s neighbouring systems. They sit at a table across from each other. PROBE DROIDS hurry about, translating and transferring documents into their data pads.
GRIEVOUS
It is inevitable. The Mandalorians are prepared for another invasion. We must strike now, before it’s too late.
TWI’LEK SENATOR
(in Twi’lek)
But we need Republic support to even stand a chance against those barbarians!
GRIEVOUS
Forget the Republic! They are no help to us. It is clear that Valorum and the Senate do not take this threat seriously. I urge you, sign this treaty, free yourself of the Republic’s shackles, and together we can utilise the technologies at our disposal to defend ourselves against the Mandalorian scourge!
DURO SENATOR
(in Duran)
What ‘technologies’ are you referring to?
GRIEVOUS
Cloning. For military purposes. Illegal under Republic law, but not under this new treaty. Just think: a Clone Army for the Confederacy of Independent Systems. This will provide us with all the security we need. Security that the Republic will not afford us.
RODIAN SENATOR
(in Rodian)
Where do we sign?
41 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – COUNCIL CHAMBERS – DAY
MASTER SIFO-DIAS stands before the JEDI COUNCIL.
KI-ADI
You summoned us, Sifo-Dyas?
SIFO-DYAS
Yes. I wish to lead a force of Jedi Knights on Dxun.
YODA
Why? Help Grievous you will, if to Dxun you go.
SIFO-DYAS
I do not agree with Grievous’ rule, but the Mandalorians are a threat to the Republic. If we do not take this threat seriously, systems will lose faith in the Jedi and the Republic.
YODA
Grievous cannot be trusted. Overestimated the threat may be.
SIFO-DYAS
But what if Grievous is right? We cannot afford to take that chance. If Onderon falls, the Republic will fall, and we will be forced to fight as soldiers in a war we cannot win. I only ask for the means to defend the Republic!
MACE
If it were defence you were proposing, we would have no reservations about granting your request. But what you are proposing is something entirely different. A pre-emptive strike is not the Jedi way.
KI-ADI
Patience, Sifo-Dias, patience. I sense there is a greater evil at work.
SIFO-DYAS
But our inaction will only allow the evil to grow!
YODA
No. We must wait. Wait for the true enemy to reveal itself.
SIFO-DYAS
Clearly, we do not see eye to eye on this matter. I can see that we will not come to an agreement. I wish you well. Goodbye.
SIFO-DYAS leaves the chamber.
42 INT CORUSCANT – JEDI TEMPLE – FORUM
SIFO-DYAS holds a forum of JEDI KNIGHTS.
SIFO-DYAS
The Jedi Council has decided to take no action. They believe we should wait for the Mandalorians to invade Republican systems before we respond. The Republic will fall if we do not act now. The Mandalorians have conquered many systems in the past. They are stockpiling weapons and rebuilding their arsenal as we speak. They will only grow more powerful with time. Come, stand with me, and together we will battle this menace.
A group of JEDI KNIGHTS cross the floor and stand beside Sifo-Dyas.
SIFO-DYAS
Join us. The Jedi Council is wise, but will take too long to deal with this threat. We must act now to stop the Mandalorians. The Jedi are not called to apathy, but to compassion and peacemaking. When systems burn and people suffer, will we still sit idly by while we ponder our response? No! If we allow this to happen, systems will lose faith in the Republic and the Jedi.
Another group of JEDI KNIGHTS cross the floor and stand beside Sifo-Dyas.
SIFO-DYAS
I am proud that we will be taking up our lightsabers for the good of the Republic. The Council will continue to watch, to debate, while entire systems fall to the Mandalorians. If we don’t act now, there may be no Republic army to assist in the future.
JEDI KNIGHTS
(raising their lightsabers)
For the Republic!
43 EXT ONDERON – IZIZ - OUTER CITY LIMITS – CANYON – NIGHT
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN land their JEDI STARFIGHTERS and hide them in the foliage. They run fully cloaked across Onderon’s rocky terrain with speed and stealth. They hide behind a large rock as a SENTRY of CLONE SOLDIERS march past.
44 EXT ONDERON – IZIZ – CITY STREETS – NIGHT
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN sneak through the streets of Iziz. OBI-WAN peeks around the corners to see another SENTRY of CLONE SOLDIERS approaching. They back up against the wall. The soldiers walk past, inspecting the area. Obi-wan and Anakin are no longer there. Instead, they lie flat on the roof of a nearby building. Once the danger is passed, they get up and leap from building to building.
45 EXT/INT ONDERON – IZIZ – PRISON BLOCK - NIGHT
OBI-WAN and ANAKIN use their lightsabers to cut a hole through the wall of the prison block, using the Force to pull the slab out. OBI-WAN looks through the hole and inspects the area. OBI-WAN uses the Force to make a sound outside.
CLONE GUARD #1
What was that?
CLONE GUARD #2
I don’t know. Let’s go check it out.
The CLONE SOLDIERS walk out through the front door. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN leap down into the prison corridor. ANAKIN sees a beautiful woman, trapped in a force cage, and runs over to her.
AMIDALA
Who are you?
ANAKIN
Shhh…The name’s Anakin Skywalker.
QUEEN AMIDALA looks puzzled, as if she’s supposed to know who he is.
ANAKIN
I’m a Jedi Knight; I’m here to rescue you. Step back for a second…
ANAKIN gestures to Obi-wan. ANAKIN and OBI-WAN push their lightsabers in both ends of the force cage to disrupt its field.
AMIDALA
They’re coming!
A SENTRY of CLONE SOLDIERS come running down the corridor. They stop to fire at the three fugitives with their blaster rifles. OBI-WAN and ANAKIN deflect their fire with their lightsabers, rebounding to hit some of them. ANAKIN picks up a blaster rifle with the Force and hands it to the Queen.
ANAKIN
Here, take this!
AMIDALA, taken aback, holds the blaster awkwardly and fires at the clone soldiers. The Jedi deflect enemy blaster fire and carry the Queen back through the wall opening they created.
OBI-WAN
Any clues on what Grievous is up to, your Highness?
AMIDALA
I’ll show you…follow me!
46 EXT DXUN – JUNGLE – AFTERNOON
SEPARATIST DROPSHIPS land in the jungle of Dxun, CRUSHING the trees beneath them as the CANNOKS, MAALRAAS, and BOMA BEASTS STAMPEDE to get away. Their hangars open uniformly and battalions of clone troopers march onto the surface of the jungle moon. They march towards the Mandalorian Base Camp…
47 EXT ONDERON – IZIZ – OUTER CITY LIMITS – CANYON - NIGHT
OBI-WAN, ANAKIN, and QUEEN AMIDALA hide behind a rock overlooking the canyon. They spot a SQUAD of CLONE SOLDIERS scrutinising their starfighters.
ANAKIN
Damn! They’ve uncovered our transports!
OBI-WAN
Stifle your disappointment Anakin, or that won’t be the only thing they uncover. Now, here’s our chance.
The ground opens up in the canyon, and a BATTALION of CLONE SOLDIERS marches out into the hangar of a SEPARATIST DROPSHIP. Once the dropship takes off, the three run towards the opening before it closes. OBI-WAN jumps down the shaft.
ANAKIN
Quick, get on my back!
AMIDALA
I’m not –
ANAKIN
Sorry, your Highness, we don’t have time to discuss this.
48 INT ONDERON – IZIZ – CLONING FACILITY
ANAKIN slings the Queen over his shoulder and climbs down the wall with Obi-wan. They slide down to land on the elevator platform as it descends. The elevator comes to a complete stop. They witness the awesome spectacle of human soldier production at every level.
OBI-WAN
Good Heavens…
ANAKIN
These soldiers, they all look the same…
AMIDALA
They’re clones.
49 EXT DXUN – JUNGLE – LATE AFTERNOON
The CLONE ARMY marches through the jungles of Dxun, eliminating any MANDALORIAN SENTRIES along the way with BARRAGES of blaster fire. The clone army commander sees the JEDI DROPSHIP above them.
CLONE COMMANDER
Squad, halt!
The DROPSHIP lands in front of the clone army, CRUSHING the trees beneath it. The hangar opens.
SIFO-DYAS
Wait here. I will discuss the attack with the commander.
JEDI KNIGHT #1
I have never seen such discipline and uniformity in an army.
JEDI KNIGHT #2
Do not underestimate the Mandalorians. They are cunning and unpredictable above all things…
SIFO-DYAS walks out to meet the clone army commander.
SIFO-DYAS
Impressive. We have come to aid Onderon in its struggle against the Mandalorians.
CLONE COMMANDER
Yes. The General has been expecting your arrival. We will commence the attack shortly.
SIFO-DYAS
And we will lead you.
COMMANDER
Very well. Just give the order.
The JEDI KNIGHTS join the front ranks of the clone army. The army marches onward. Finally, they reach the entrance to the Mandalorian Base Camp, where the MANDALORIAN ARMY is waiting for them.
SIFO-DYAS
Attack!
MANDALORIANS
For Mandalore!
The Jedi run towards the Mandalorians, brandishing their blue lightsabers as blaster fire ERUPTS from the ground. The CLONE SOLDIERS follow their lead and storm the gates.