1 Month Before the Deadline — Naboo
The skies above Naboo were no longer serene. Hundreds of Republic cruisers hovered in formation, their presence casting deep shadows over the peaceful cities. From the Senate Rotunda to the Outer Rim, public holoscreens across the galaxy flickered to life, breaking every scheduled broadcast.
A female Twi'lek anchor appeared on the screen, her lekku twitching with the weight of what she was about to deliver.
"Breaking news — and perhaps the only kind we'll get this year that matters," she said, her voice sharp with urgency and excitement. "Across the Core Worlds and beyond, all eyes now turn to Naboo. Why? Because today… the Armored Man has resurfaced."
A dramatic pause followed, and behind her, archived footage played — a towering figure in a dark, futuristic suit walking across the Korda six , blasts echoing around him as he cut down Mandalorian Death guards with precision. The image then shifted to a grainy shot from the Hyperspace War — the Armored Man driving a spear through a Stark fleet's flagship reactor core, walking away from the explosion without a word as he fight many raksghouls .
"For nine — perhaps ten — years, no one has seen him. No name. or even face. Just a shadow in high-tech armor, doing what entire battalions failed to do. He ended the Mandalorian Civil War. He turned the tide in the Iaco Stark conflict. And then… vanished."
She leaned forward slightly, her voice darkening just a touch with intrigue.
"Today, Queen Amidala of Naboo claims the Armored Man will return — not in myth,or rumor, but in full view. Senators from the o Mid Core Worlds have arrived. Even members of the Jedi High Council, including Master Yoda himself, are attending."
The screen cut to massive crowds gathered in Theed, lined with security droids, Jedi, and dozens of high-ranking senators. The throne room and every avenue leading to the palace had been cleared and cordoned off. Journalists swarmed in assigned zones, all whispering the same question.
Was the Queen bluffing? Or will the legend return?
The Twi'lek anchor narrowed her eyes at the camera, lekku tightening.
"We're about to find out if Queen Amidala is telling the truth… or playing the most elaborate political game the Republic's seen in decades."
Theed Royal Palace – Meeting Room
The flickering holo-countdown continued in the background, casting a rhythmic glow on the walls of the chamber. Tension hung in the air as Queen Amidala stood calmly at the head of the polished table, her fingers lightly interlaced. Around her sat Captain Panaka, Sabé in her bodyguard stance, and a half-circle of her loyal but varied advisors.
Panaka broke the silence, his voice low but edged with concern.
"Your Majesty… is it true?" he asked, leaning forward slightly. "You know the Armored Man personally?"
Sabé kept her face neutral, but her thoughts flickered fast.
Of course she knows him. He's Jin-Woo. But he hates being in the spotlight… and Padmé's moving up this entire stunt early? She must know something.
Padmé's mind replayed Jin-Woo's words, clear and precise:
"Right now, your circle is thinner. Many of your advisors are good people… BUT one of them is a snitch. And you'll know who. I trust your instinct. For now, only trust Sabé. As for the rest… their brains sometimes rank just below a monkey's. Still good guys, though."
Her gaze drifted across the room, catching the eyes of each advisor briefly, before settling with calm authority.
"The Armored Man himself will be here, Captain," she said firmly, looking Panaka in the eye. "And I need you to trust me to handle the incoming officials… including the Chancellor."
One of the older advisors blinked, sitting straighter.
"Chancellor Valorum? You mean… Valorum himself is coming to Naboo?"
Padmé nodded once, regal and composed.
"Yes. Chancellor Valorum will be in attendance."
The room grew quiet. Even the more composed advisors looked rattled.
She turned slightly, voice cool and edged.
"Now… I'll ask for the room."
Panaka stood immediately.
"I'll go receive the guests, Your Majesty."
The other advisors, murmuring among themselves, followed Panaka out—none daring to question her further.
Only Sabé remained.
As the doors closed behind the others, Padmé's expression didn't change, but her thoughts darkened.
One of them is the leak.
Suddenly, space itself folded open.
A tear in the air like shimmering glass widened into a swirling slipspace portal, casting deep blue light across the room. From it stepped Morgan, her coat trailing , followed closely by the ever-floating, all-seeing presence of Adjudant Resolution, its core pulsing with light, photoreceptors blinking in calm sync.
Morgan crossed her arms and huffed.
"That damn Offensive Bias... He's overdoing it. Promoting Jin-Woo like he's the galaxy's greatest war hero."
She glanced at Padmé with a dry look. "You'd think he was selling propaganda at this point."
Adjudant Resolution's voice hummed with mechanical precision as it hovered beside her.
"I do not engage in political elevation. My function is singular: to oversee and facilitate the bunker project beneath Theed in accordance with Supreme Executor Jin-Woo's specifications. Emotional context is irrelevant."
Padmé stepped forward slightly, her tone crisp.
"Then tell me, Adjudant — how far along are we?"
A moment passed as lights blinked in computation.
"95% complete."The AI's voice echoed calmly through the chamber. "Level I — Core Ventilation Shafts and Shield Buffers remain partially unfinished. Estimated time to finalization: 36 standard hours, barring interference."
Sabé, who had stood quietly off to the side, now leaned in with interest.
"Offensive Bias?" she repeated, arching a brow. "Your boss or something? Some kind of… floating monitor with an attitude?"
Morgan gave a grin, her teeth flashing.
"Oh, he's more than that. Think of him as the AI version of a terrifying accountant, a battlefield general, and a walking ego complex all rolled into one. He's… extremely efficient."
Adjutant Resolution let out a short, low modulation, almost like a soft whir of condescension.
"Your description is… insufficient, but contextually amusing."
Then—without warning—shadows shifted along the walls of the meeting chamber. The light dimmed just slightly, and in a silent blink, Jin-Woo emerged from the pool of darkness in a smooth shadow exchange. His coat billowed slightly as he stepped into the room,
"Padmé," Jin-Woo said flatly, "don't be surprised if there are two of me running around today. I hate being a celebrity."
Padmé nodded calmly, clearly expecting this. "Got it."
Sabé, however, narrowed her eyes. "Is that one of your abilities, then? The 'Armored Man'... with the annoying habit of disappearing through shadows after completing his missions or snagging whatever objective he wanted?"
Jin-Woo gave the faintest of smirks. "One of them, at least."
Padmé stepped forward, curiosity flickering behind her eyes. "So… how are you going to show up for the crowd, then?"
Jin-Woo turned slightly, the glint in his eyes unreadable. "Don't forget to look up."
He extended his pinky toward her, deadpan. "Have fun, Padmé. This will be the only time where fun reigns before reality claws back. Watch closely—today, someone will feel their highest humiliation."
Padmé smiled, a rare, real one. She hooked her pinky with his. "Fun is more than enough for a fourteen-year-old queen like me."
Then she straightened, brushing her skirt, voice crisp. "Also, Sabé—I'm stepping back into my role as queen. No more pretending to be a handmaiden. Jin-Woo already assured me the security will hold."
Sabé crossed her arms, giving Jin-Woo a sharp look. "You better be right, Jin-Woo. If not, I swear—I'll make sure your peaceful life becomes a very loud one."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
On the streets of Theed, the capital city pulsed with anticipation. Rows upon rows of Naboo citizens filled the polished stone walkways — children on their parents' shoulders, flags waving, holocams floating to record every moment. Among them were several Gungans, curious and alert, standing tall with their long ears perked in attention.
Dozens of Republic ships lined the skyline above, looming like silent guardians. Senate guards and various republic officials stood in orderly formations. Holoprojectors broadcasted the event to the core worlds. The ceremonial fanfare was muted only by the nervous of expectation.
Padmé Amidala stood at the forefront, regal in her royal attire, her crown glinting under the Naboo sun. Her gaze wandered briefly toward the gathered Jedi — cloaked figures standing atop a nearby balcony, watching the plaza below with passive vigilance.
They're still keeping their distance, she thought, eyes narrowing slightly. They've been tense ever since I announced the return of the Armored Man. Is there some… fallout between them and Jin-Woo?
Before her thoughts could spiral further, she spotted a distinguished man approaching — flanked by aides and security — the Chancellor of the Galactic Republic himself.
"Welcome, Chancellor Valorum," Padmé said warmly, bowing her head with a graceful dip. "To the humble world of Naboo."
Valorum offered a practiced smile, bowing in return. "The honor is mine, Your Majesty. You are the youngest sovereign to grace the Republic in a generation. Naboo stands proud under your reign."
Padmé gave a modest smile, then glanced toward the sky briefly.
"I suppose everyone came here today to witness the legend in person."
Valorum nodded. "Not just me. There's another who's been waiting far longer."
A tall, crisp-shouldered man stepped forward from Valorum's side. His uniform bore the emblems of a high-ranking military officer . Ranulph Tarkin.
Padmé instantly recognized him.
"Queen Amidala," Tarkin said quickly, his voice lit with barely-contained excitement. "You cannot imagine how grateful I am. That you — somehow — managed to make the Armored Man resurface after all these years."
"I've searched for him for nearly a decade. He saved my life during the Stark Hyperspace War. The way he fought… the technology he wielded — that armor… no one else could even approach it."
He turned toward Valorum and the others, his voice rising with unfiltered admiration. "The Armored Man's skills, his tech — they could redefine the future of the Republic military.
Padmé gave him a calm look, even as her heart raced. The air was charged now. The people were ready. The Jedi were watching. The Chancellor was watching.
But then— A sharp voice cut through the ceremonial .
"Queen Amidala," came the sneering tone, "I prefer you stop lying. We all know you are still a child — and Chancellor Valorum is simply too kind to call you what you are."
The voice belonged to Senator Lott Dod — his slug-like features as smug as ever, adorned in the thick, ornate robes of the Trade Federation. He stepped forward boldly, flanked by a pair of pale-skinned Neimoidian aides, their expressions unreadable.
Padmé's gaze slowly turned to him, her tone cool and precise. "And you are?"
"Senator of Trade federation ," Lott Dod replied, puffing his chest with mock dignity. "Representative of the Federation under Viceroy Gunray. We are tasked with ensuring no planetary ruler misleads the public. And this… this hubristic event… parading a ghost, claiming a myth? It's unbecoming of a queen. Especially a child."
Padmé's lips didn't move yet — but her mind echoed back, and clear .
"Padmé, you have enemies," Jin-Woo had told her fifteen minutes ago, as he prepared in the shadows. "Root them out. One by one. This is where deception meets provocation. And like how you always try to roast me and fail? Now it's time for you to humiliate them."
Padmé stepped forward, her voice steady, her expression unimpressed.
"Interesting. Isn't it the same Viceroy," she began casually, "who participated in the quiet crippling of the Republic Navy during the Stark Hyperspace War?"
The murmurs in the crowd grew louder.
"Strange ," she continued, "that your name surfaced in the Senate Security Council minutes… in connection to the near-fatal ambush of a Jedi Master during that same war. A Jedi whose survival was credited to the one we honor today."
She tilted her head slightly, her eyes glittering now. "And now, whispers float around the Core whispers that say you were quite friendly with a certain… Joever Bideney."
A pause. A dangerous name. Even the Jedi stiffened slightly at the mention.
Padmé smiled and stepped forward again, her voice now closer to a mock .
"I hope you've kept a little extra in your Trade Federation pockets, Senator. Because if things continue this way… you just might need to start paying off every judge in the Core."