Part 1:
• What If Anakin Believe...
What if Fives Convinced Anakin of the TRUTH Behind Order 66?
The clone commander stares at him for a long moment, then slowly nods.
Fox: It will be done, my lord.
Gesturing towards his men, the other Coruscant guard fire at the Jedi. The Jedi there are taken off guard and are cut down. Palpatine smiles as he watches the battle unfolding around him. He knew the Coruscant Guard commander would never question a command, even without the inhibitor chips.
However, he can only expect the clones in the prison to help him. These troopers wasted no time targeting the Jedi ordered to guard him.
Fox uses his clearance to get them into the hangar where a pair of shuttles are waiting for them. Fox and Palpatine get onboard one while the other heads towards the Jedi Temple.
That means he cannot hope to use Order 66 to defeat the Jedi. He would need to change his plans. This attack is simply meant to provide a distraction.
Anakin and Obi-Wan stand on one of the walls, deflecting shots from the shuttle’s turrets as clones rappel down and fire at the other Jedi.
Anakin: What is going on here?
Obi-Wan: I don’t know, but those colors mark the clones from the Coruscant guard.
Anakin: Ya, so why are they here and not guarding Coruscant?
A rocket flies out from behind them and strikes the attack shuttle in the wing, sending it spirally into the courtyard. Rex lowers his rocket launcher and runs up to them.
Rex: Fives reports the clones trying to storm the temple entrance. The other Jedi managed to deal with them, but I recognize those troopers. They’re part of Fox’s unit.
Anakin: Fox! Oh no!
Anakin tries to contact the Jedi guarding PAlpatine but receives no response. When another team is dispatched, they confirm the Jedi’s worst fears, Palpatine is gone.
Meanwhile, Palpatine and his escort journey to the Outer Rim where a CIS ship is waiting for them. Once onboard, Palpatine is greeted by Count Dooku.
Dooku: Master, I feared the worst when I heard of your capture.
Palpatine: It is of little consequence, the Jedi could never have held me for long. Now, we must adjust our plans after this setback.
Palpatine begins to give orders, telling him to redirect CIS forces to retake Coruscant, but Count Dooku hesitates following them.
Dooku: Actually, my master. As with these changes of plans, perhaps its also time for a leadership change.
Palpatine narrows his eyes.
Palpatine: You overstep yourself, my apprentice.
Dooku: No, I understand my position quite well. You are no longer chancellor, therefore you have no more power. I, on the other hand, remain the leader of the CIS.
Palpatine: I still have power.
The dark lord suddenly unleashes a burst of lightning at Dooku who effortlessly blocks it. But as Palpatine runs forward, he is greeted by a barrage of blaster fire from the gathered droids. This forces him to block their attacks, leaving Dooku free to leap at him and strike.
Dooku: You have grown weak, my Lord.
Palpatine's eyes flash with anger, but his breaths are labored. He parries the blows, but each deflection saps more of his strength. Dooku's movements were lethal grace, his mastery of Makashi clear with every thrust and block.
Palpatine's defense grew increasingly desperate, his swings wild and unfocused. After weeks of imprisonment, he had not yet fully recovered and this fight was the last thing he expected. With a powerful swipe, Dooku disarmed Palpatine, sending his lightsaber clattering across the floor.
With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of Force energy that knocked Palpatine off his feet and slammed him into the wall.
Gasping for breath, Palpatine struggled to rise, but Dooku was upon him, his lightsaber poised at the fallen Sith Lord's throat.
Dooku: It seems the apprentice has surpassed the master.
Palpatine: This... is not over... Dooku.
However, all he could do was accept defeat bow his head, and allow Dooku to control the war effort.
Without Palpatine trying to sabotage the CIS, the Separatists reorganized their battle plan. One part of this is his access to Captain Rex's battle strategy algorithm, allowing him to counter most Republic tactics.
Combined with their massive advantage in numbers, the CIS began to gain ground. All across the galaxy, worlds fall to the Separatists, putting the Republic on the back foot.
Palpatine observes this from the sidelines, surprised by this change. At first, he believes it is simply because of his lack of interference, but over time he realizes there is more to this success.
Eventually, he learns about the battle algorithm and begins researching it, gathering whatever information is available from the Republic and CIS databanks. He eventually pieces together an algorithm created by Captain Rex and Fives, the two clones responsible for his arrest. But he finds a third name mentioned, Echo.