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The electronic document that arrives in Cassian's inbox could only have been written by Count Dooku. Its writing bears the Count's signature style: courteous, formal, considerate, yet laced with notes of cool detachment and the casual arrogance of the born aristocrat. He begins by politely thanking Cassian for taking on the great task of attempting to sort out galactic history, and for his service in the Separatist war effort. In Dooku's words, "Whatever the outcome of our struggle for independence, no one can take away the great sacrifices and courage displayed by the Rockrenders, or the nobility of the cause you fought for."
BACKGROUND
The Count uses that little display as a segue into a background of why that cause came to be. He briefly sketches the order of the galaxy before the Clone Wars: a democratic, demilitarized Republic uniting thousands of different worlds, with law and peace served by the Jedi Order, answering to an elected Senate and headed by a Chancellor. That leads to a background of Dooku's own career as a Jedi Master, covering the high points of a greatly-respected career in diplomacy, teaching, and peacekeeping: treaties forged, apprentices trained, criminals apprehended over decades of exemplary service. Dooku uses his experience from journeying all over the Galaxy to provide his perspective on why he came to believe that the 'peace' of the Republic was built on a lie. He focuses on three main issues:
First, lawlessness resulting from a complacent and weak Jedi Order lacking the power to truly combat bounty hunters, pirates, and organized crime. Many times Dooku witnessed the Jedi risk their lives to bring the worst galactic criminals to justice, only to see them walk free or immediately be replaced. While the Republic boasted of a pacified Galaxy, in truth it was smouldering with dozens of brushfire conflicts, planet-level civil unrest, the predations of criminals like the Hutt Cartels and Black Sun Syndicate, and other low-level violence that the authorities were powerless to deal with effectively.
Second, inequality between the comfortable and influential Core Worlds and the neglected, forgotten worlds of the Outer Rim, reflected in both the taxation of lucrative trade routes by the centralized bureaucracy and the lack of effective representation Outer Rim worlds found in a Senate dominated by entrenched special interests who profited from maintaining the status quo. Many worlds felt little allegiance to a Republic that they felt did not truly serve them- for good reason.
Third, and linked to both the first and second issues, rampant corruption within the ruling Senate, bureaucracy, and corporate elements ensured that the wealthy became wealthier, that the guilty went unpunished, and that those most in need of swift and effective governance to resolve their problems were left wanting. Dooku singles out the vast bureaucracy of the Republic for breeding stagnation by focusing more on their own budgets than on serving the population, ensuring that important matters would be endlessly debated in committee rather than acted upon by a central authority. He also condemns the Jedi for serving the Senate rather than holding it accountable for its widespread bribery, graft, and incompetence. "In this way," he writes, "Those who were sworn to maintain order in the Galaxy found themselves bound to protect its most influential criminals. Such a state of affairs could not be tolerated forever."
THE SEPARATIST CRISIS
In the next section, the Count identifies 3245 LY (32 BBY) as a crucial year in the history of the Galaxy. The peaceful world of Naboo was blockaded, then invaded by the private droid army of the corporate Trade Federation, a wealthy and greedy trading power so influential that it had its own representation in the Senate. "The catastrophe at Naboo," Dooku writes, "exemplified the rot that had spread in the Republic. The Senate was so paralyzed by idiotic bickering that Chancellor Valorum was forced to deploy the Jedi in secret, for he knew that the Senate would never have approved the mission if it was put to a vote. Instead of intervening in force, he sent the Jedi to negotiate: only two of them, one of whom had once been my most talented apprentice, Master Qui-Gon Jinn. The other was still only a Padawan learner. It was a hopelessly weak gesture in response to aggression."
The Trade Federation attempted to outright murder the Jedi, but failed to stop them from rescuing Naboo's Queen, Amidala. The Jedi brought her back to Coruscant to appeal to the Senate for justice, but once again the Senate did nothing, as the Trade Federation demanded proof of a planet-wide invasion and occupation. This led to a crucial event: Chancellor Valorum was ousted by a vote of no confidence, and Senator Palpatine of Naboo replaced him as the Galaxy's elected leader. "At the time, I had thought this a hopeful development," says Dooku. "Palpatine had a reputation for reform. But I did not yet know how ruthless he truly was, or how deep was his hunger for power. He would continue to twist the Republic into his image for many years to come."
Meanwhile, the people of Naboo were able to oust the invaders, but the Trade Federation's leaders escaped justice for their blatant crimes. And Master Qui-Gon was killed in battle with the Trade Federation's secret ally: a Sith Lord named Darth Maul, strong in the Dark Side of the Force. Here, Count Dooku's writing shows a rare trace of emotion- genuine or not, it is hard to tell. "The Jedi had thought the Sith destroyed centuries before. They believed themselves wise, but were ignorant of the true menace gaining strength in the shadows. Qui-Gon was one of the wisest and most perceptive beings I have ever known. He deserved far better than to pay the price for the failure of the Jedi."
In the aftermath of Naboo, Dooku left the Jedi Order and reclaimed his ancestral title and fortune on the world of Serenno. After meditating on the galaxy's problems for a time, he made the decision to found the 'Independent Movement for Self-Determination' to represent the neglected and frustrated beings of the Galaxy. Dooku re-emerged as a political figure, spreading his message to a willing audience: the Republic was broken beyond repair, and its members should secede and form a new Confederacy to represent their interests. The Separatist movement was in full swing by about 3253 LY (or 24 BBY), about two years before the Clone Wars began. Dooku briefly describes the principles of the new Separatist Alliance that took form: an efficient and representative elected government instead of the bloated stagnation of the Republic Senate, private interests represented in the Separatist Council with their wealth used to help fund the cause, and an independent droid security force to keep order and defend against criminals, without relying on the Jedi.
THE CLONE WARS
Dooku stresses that the Separatists aimed to leave the Republic peacefully, and blames the Republic for escalating the situation into war. In Dooku's narrative, the Republic abandoned its peaceful principles by debating a Military Creation Act in the Senate specifically to combat the 'Separatist threat,' then started the war by invading the Separatist world of Geonosis with a massive secret army of clone troopers that suddenly sprung onto the galactic scene, bred years in advance by the reclusive genetics experts of the water world Kamino. This took place in 22 BBY, or 3255 LY.
Dooku admits that a droid army had been in construction on Geonosis, but insists it was for defensive purposes only. Since Chancellor Palpatine was still offering to negotiate with the Separatists when the invasion began, Dooku characterizes the attack of the clones as "An act of unforgivable treachery that will never be forgotten." He notes that the Geonosians were placed under military occupation, that the Senate voted Palpatine extensive 'emergency powers' to deploy the clone army, and that the Jedi fully betrayed their ideals by joining the war as Generals in the new Army of the Republic.
The remaining three years of the Count's history were too eventful to be summarized in full. Dooku's narrative is as slanted as one might expect: he characterizes the war as one of aggression waged by a corrupt government to crush a movement that seeks only independence, and focuses on the crimes of the Republic to the exclusion of any misdeeds perpetrated by the Separatist side. Massive armies of clones and droids clashed on thousands of worlds, with massive casualties on both sides, and among the civilians caught in the middle. A few particular events Dooku focuses on include:
-A movement for peace negotiations with the Republic spearheaded by the Separatist Senator Mina Bonteri of Onderon, that was approved in a vote by the Separatist Parliament. The initiative fell apart after Bonteri was killed in a Republic attack, in what Dooku describes as "Yet more treachery from a Republic that was completely devoted to destroying our cause through violence." This took place in 21 BBY, or 3256 LY.
-The continued expansion of Chancellor Palpatine's emergency powers during the war, to the point where the Republic was practically under martial law.
-The continued 'manufacture' of millions more clone soldiers by the Republic, who Dooku describes as "fearsome, yet perhaps also tragic. They were living, breathing beings who were literally engineered to be our enemies. What choice did any of them ever have in their lives, but to obey the Republic?" A notable event here was the passing of bills for financial deregulation and military enhancement in the Republic Senate, which allowed the InterGalactic Banking Clan to fund the purchase of five million further clone troopers through a massive high-interest loan to the Republic. This took place in 21 BBY, or 3256 LY.
-Republic sponsorship of 'terrorists' like Steela Gerrera on the planet Onderon, aiming to overthrow the rightful government that had joined the Separatist cause (20 BBY, or 3257 LY)
-The invasion and subjugation of the planet Umbara, which joined the Separatist cause and was attacked by a massive clone army due to its strategic position on supply routes (20 BBY, or 3257 LY).
-Dooku also condemns the Republic for bargaining with criminals and pirates to ransom Separatist leaders, smuggle weapons to insurgents, and secure supply routes.
-On the Separatist side, Dooku praises the 'heroes' who fought for independence, naming the fallen Commanders Sev'rance Tann, Alto Stratus, and Riff Tansom as those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. He also notes the "skill and honour of General Grievous, our finest warrior, who bravely seeks to battle the enemy's Jedi Generals in single combat."
The Count closes his history by outlining his intention to personally lead a final Separatist offensive against the Republic capital, Coruscant, to capture Palpatine and force an end to the war's bloodshed by securing Separatist independence once and for all. He notes that while the Porter abducted him to Earth before he could experience the outcome of this offensive, he considers the news that the Republic will ultimately transform into Palpatine's dictatorship to be a final vindication of the Separatist cause, which was formed to seek independence from such corruption. This was to take place in 19 BBY, or 3258 LY.
BACKGROUND
The Count uses that little display as a segue into a background of why that cause came to be. He briefly sketches the order of the galaxy before the Clone Wars: a democratic, demilitarized Republic uniting thousands of different worlds, with law and peace served by the Jedi Order, answering to an elected Senate and headed by a Chancellor. That leads to a background of Dooku's own career as a Jedi Master, covering the high points of a greatly-respected career in diplomacy, teaching, and peacekeeping: treaties forged, apprentices trained, criminals apprehended over decades of exemplary service. Dooku uses his experience from journeying all over the Galaxy to provide his perspective on why he came to believe that the 'peace' of the Republic was built on a lie. He focuses on three main issues:
First, lawlessness resulting from a complacent and weak Jedi Order lacking the power to truly combat bounty hunters, pirates, and organized crime. Many times Dooku witnessed the Jedi risk their lives to bring the worst galactic criminals to justice, only to see them walk free or immediately be replaced. While the Republic boasted of a pacified Galaxy, in truth it was smouldering with dozens of brushfire conflicts, planet-level civil unrest, the predations of criminals like the Hutt Cartels and Black Sun Syndicate, and other low-level violence that the authorities were powerless to deal with effectively.
Second, inequality between the comfortable and influential Core Worlds and the neglected, forgotten worlds of the Outer Rim, reflected in both the taxation of lucrative trade routes by the centralized bureaucracy and the lack of effective representation Outer Rim worlds found in a Senate dominated by entrenched special interests who profited from maintaining the status quo. Many worlds felt little allegiance to a Republic that they felt did not truly serve them- for good reason.
Third, and linked to both the first and second issues, rampant corruption within the ruling Senate, bureaucracy, and corporate elements ensured that the wealthy became wealthier, that the guilty went unpunished, and that those most in need of swift and effective governance to resolve their problems were left wanting. Dooku singles out the vast bureaucracy of the Republic for breeding stagnation by focusing more on their own budgets than on serving the population, ensuring that important matters would be endlessly debated in committee rather than acted upon by a central authority. He also condemns the Jedi for serving the Senate rather than holding it accountable for its widespread bribery, graft, and incompetence. "In this way," he writes, "Those who were sworn to maintain order in the Galaxy found themselves bound to protect its most influential criminals. Such a state of affairs could not be tolerated forever."
THE SEPARATIST CRISIS
In the next section, the Count identifies 3245 LY (32 BBY) as a crucial year in the history of the Galaxy. The peaceful world of Naboo was blockaded, then invaded by the private droid army of the corporate Trade Federation, a wealthy and greedy trading power so influential that it had its own representation in the Senate. "The catastrophe at Naboo," Dooku writes, "exemplified the rot that had spread in the Republic. The Senate was so paralyzed by idiotic bickering that Chancellor Valorum was forced to deploy the Jedi in secret, for he knew that the Senate would never have approved the mission if it was put to a vote. Instead of intervening in force, he sent the Jedi to negotiate: only two of them, one of whom had once been my most talented apprentice, Master Qui-Gon Jinn. The other was still only a Padawan learner. It was a hopelessly weak gesture in response to aggression."
The Trade Federation attempted to outright murder the Jedi, but failed to stop them from rescuing Naboo's Queen, Amidala. The Jedi brought her back to Coruscant to appeal to the Senate for justice, but once again the Senate did nothing, as the Trade Federation demanded proof of a planet-wide invasion and occupation. This led to a crucial event: Chancellor Valorum was ousted by a vote of no confidence, and Senator Palpatine of Naboo replaced him as the Galaxy's elected leader. "At the time, I had thought this a hopeful development," says Dooku. "Palpatine had a reputation for reform. But I did not yet know how ruthless he truly was, or how deep was his hunger for power. He would continue to twist the Republic into his image for many years to come."
Meanwhile, the people of Naboo were able to oust the invaders, but the Trade Federation's leaders escaped justice for their blatant crimes. And Master Qui-Gon was killed in battle with the Trade Federation's secret ally: a Sith Lord named Darth Maul, strong in the Dark Side of the Force. Here, Count Dooku's writing shows a rare trace of emotion- genuine or not, it is hard to tell. "The Jedi had thought the Sith destroyed centuries before. They believed themselves wise, but were ignorant of the true menace gaining strength in the shadows. Qui-Gon was one of the wisest and most perceptive beings I have ever known. He deserved far better than to pay the price for the failure of the Jedi."
In the aftermath of Naboo, Dooku left the Jedi Order and reclaimed his ancestral title and fortune on the world of Serenno. After meditating on the galaxy's problems for a time, he made the decision to found the 'Independent Movement for Self-Determination' to represent the neglected and frustrated beings of the Galaxy. Dooku re-emerged as a political figure, spreading his message to a willing audience: the Republic was broken beyond repair, and its members should secede and form a new Confederacy to represent their interests. The Separatist movement was in full swing by about 3253 LY (or 24 BBY), about two years before the Clone Wars began. Dooku briefly describes the principles of the new Separatist Alliance that took form: an efficient and representative elected government instead of the bloated stagnation of the Republic Senate, private interests represented in the Separatist Council with their wealth used to help fund the cause, and an independent droid security force to keep order and defend against criminals, without relying on the Jedi.
THE CLONE WARS
Dooku stresses that the Separatists aimed to leave the Republic peacefully, and blames the Republic for escalating the situation into war. In Dooku's narrative, the Republic abandoned its peaceful principles by debating a Military Creation Act in the Senate specifically to combat the 'Separatist threat,' then started the war by invading the Separatist world of Geonosis with a massive secret army of clone troopers that suddenly sprung onto the galactic scene, bred years in advance by the reclusive genetics experts of the water world Kamino. This took place in 22 BBY, or 3255 LY.
Dooku admits that a droid army had been in construction on Geonosis, but insists it was for defensive purposes only. Since Chancellor Palpatine was still offering to negotiate with the Separatists when the invasion began, Dooku characterizes the attack of the clones as "An act of unforgivable treachery that will never be forgotten." He notes that the Geonosians were placed under military occupation, that the Senate voted Palpatine extensive 'emergency powers' to deploy the clone army, and that the Jedi fully betrayed their ideals by joining the war as Generals in the new Army of the Republic.
The remaining three years of the Count's history were too eventful to be summarized in full. Dooku's narrative is as slanted as one might expect: he characterizes the war as one of aggression waged by a corrupt government to crush a movement that seeks only independence, and focuses on the crimes of the Republic to the exclusion of any misdeeds perpetrated by the Separatist side. Massive armies of clones and droids clashed on thousands of worlds, with massive casualties on both sides, and among the civilians caught in the middle. A few particular events Dooku focuses on include:
-A movement for peace negotiations with the Republic spearheaded by the Separatist Senator Mina Bonteri of Onderon, that was approved in a vote by the Separatist Parliament. The initiative fell apart after Bonteri was killed in a Republic attack, in what Dooku describes as "Yet more treachery from a Republic that was completely devoted to destroying our cause through violence." This took place in 21 BBY, or 3256 LY.
-The continued expansion of Chancellor Palpatine's emergency powers during the war, to the point where the Republic was practically under martial law.
-The continued 'manufacture' of millions more clone soldiers by the Republic, who Dooku describes as "fearsome, yet perhaps also tragic. They were living, breathing beings who were literally engineered to be our enemies. What choice did any of them ever have in their lives, but to obey the Republic?" A notable event here was the passing of bills for financial deregulation and military enhancement in the Republic Senate, which allowed the InterGalactic Banking Clan to fund the purchase of five million further clone troopers through a massive high-interest loan to the Republic. This took place in 21 BBY, or 3256 LY.
-Republic sponsorship of 'terrorists' like Steela Gerrera on the planet Onderon, aiming to overthrow the rightful government that had joined the Separatist cause (20 BBY, or 3257 LY)
-The invasion and subjugation of the planet Umbara, which joined the Separatist cause and was attacked by a massive clone army due to its strategic position on supply routes (20 BBY, or 3257 LY).
-Dooku also condemns the Republic for bargaining with criminals and pirates to ransom Separatist leaders, smuggle weapons to insurgents, and secure supply routes.
-On the Separatist side, Dooku praises the 'heroes' who fought for independence, naming the fallen Commanders Sev'rance Tann, Alto Stratus, and Riff Tansom as those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. He also notes the "skill and honour of General Grievous, our finest warrior, who bravely seeks to battle the enemy's Jedi Generals in single combat."
The Count closes his history by outlining his intention to personally lead a final Separatist offensive against the Republic capital, Coruscant, to capture Palpatine and force an end to the war's bloodshed by securing Separatist independence once and for all. He notes that while the Porter abducted him to Earth before he could experience the outcome of this offensive, he considers the news that the Republic will ultimately transform into Palpatine's dictatorship to be a final vindication of the Separatist cause, which was formed to seek independence from such corruption. This was to take place in 19 BBY, or 3258 LY.
