Chapter One

Ambition

Count Dooku was seated in his office at his headquarters on Serenno whenever the com link on his desk began to ring.

He recognized the frequency as belonging to his master Sidious, Dark Lord of the Sith.

Dooku switched the com projector on and knelt, bowing his head with forced humility.

The truth was he absolutely loathed answering to this man he called master.

"What is it my Lord?" Dooku asked.

"I have a particular assignment for you Lord Tyranus. I would like you to capture the Queen of Naboo as a prisoner."

"To what purpose my Lord? If I may ask..."

"Very well Lord Tyranus," Sidious replied. "I will keep no secrets from you, my trusted apprentice. I would like you to force Naboo's secession from the Republic, which would help our cause by prolonging the war."

"I understand my Lord," Dooku said subserviently. "It will be done my master..."

Sidious rang off and the com went into standby.

Dooku rose with a sour expression across his features.

He was beginning to tire of this seemingly never-ending conflict that his master said would bring about the Jedi Order's destruction.

He was tired of this method. This plot of the Clone Wars...

This was taking too long, and Dooku was beginning to wonder if Sidious's plan would even work.

Thus far, the Republic still stood, and the Jedi seemed to be going nowhere.

Dooku also had another worry on his mind.

It seemed that the bio chips inside the clones might not last indefinitely.

Only recently, a clone unit had malfunctioned when his chip mysteriously started to deteriorate.

Dooku pounded his desk with his fist. He had paid a lot of money to finance those chips and buy the cooperation of the Kaminoans!

The clones must carry out the Jedi Purge soon...

Dooku pondered the matter to himself for several moments. Then his lips quirked into a calculating smile.

The time had come at last!

He activated the com unit and rang General Grievous.

The droid leader bowed.

"What is it my Lord?" Grievous asked in his robotic voice.

"You remember the plan we discussed? Is the data chip prepared?"

"It has been done," Grievous confirmed. "Should I prepare it's transport to the Jedi Temple?"

"Yes," Dooku said with a grin. "Our time has come at last. Soon we will be writing the future destiny of the galaxy, and the Jedi will be no more."

"It will be done my Lord," Grievous said with a final bow and rang off.

Dooku continued to smile coldly.

His master trusted him. He was completely fooled.

Now the time for the Republic's overthrow was drawing near. It would not be according to his master's plan...

"It will be according to my plan," Dooku said aloud to his empty office. "Soon I will rule the galaxy. I alone..."