Oh! Due to some peculiarity of my mind I NEVER understood that beat. Once we got to Dukoo's kabal of interplanetary losers I just let the story collapse in my mind. They entertain themselves and their bug pals with the execution, but that goes poorly-- then the Jedi show up. By this time I guess I just stopped really keeping score. I guess if Amidala wasn't (almost) assasinated, then Gunray would've gone with the Republic against Dukoo? What is the ultimate disposition of Gunray in this Saga? I realize now I never paid strict attention to that whole throughline. Ay-yi-yi.

I REALLY like this idea of simplifying the Clone Army mystery. Things get very convoluted in AOTC.