"Of course." Obi-Wan agreed, after only a fraction of a second's hesitation.
"Good. then you agree that when the attacker is revealed to be the Trade Federation, it will be in the interest of all to make this knowledge public."
...
The certainty in Count's voice gave Obi-Wan pause. "It is far too early for such accusations. We're just trying to get to the bottom of this."
"And at the bottom of this is the Trade Federation." Dooku harrumphed. "You can be sure of that."
"Is that why you're preparing for war?" Anakin asked.
Dooku turned to regard him. "I don't believe we've met before. Padawan…?"
"Anakin Skywalker." He bowed.
"Ah yes, I remember now." Dooku frowned. "If the Trade Federation is prepared to wage war on me, should I not prepare to defend my people as well?"
"Sure," Anakin agreed with an easy shrug. "But it looks to me like you're the one who wants this war to start."
"Oh?" Dooku raised an eyebrow.
"Well, I might lack your experience in military matters, but even I've noticed that in some ways the Alliance has the upper hand against the Trade Federation."
"And what would those ways be, Young Skywalker?" Dooku asked. "Our combined fleets are still a fraction of their size, we would be madmen to want a war we stand no chance of winning."
"No chance?" Anakin raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. "That's not how I see it. You've already demonstrated that their current fleet of converted cargo haulers are poorly designed for battle, and you seem to be able to capture them with near impunity when they cross into your sector, though I'm not sure how. The Corporate Sector sits at the end of the Hydian Way, and has access to the Perlemian Trade Run. Which means that if you do shut them out of Alliance space, they won't be able to access their markets in the Core at all. You've got your hands resting comfortably around their neck, and now you just need an excuse to start squeezing."
Dooku stared at him, the corner of his lips slightly upturned. "A fair assessment, if not for their industrial capacity dwarfing ours completely. Even with the dockyards at Botajef and Raxus Prime restored to working order, they can produce almost three times as many ships as we can. Any prolonged conflict against the Trade Federation would see the Alliance crushed."
"You know, you're right," Anakin agreed, smirking. "But somehow I just can't shake the feeling that it won't stop you."
Obi-Wan stepped forward. "I think, what my Padawan means to say, is that our purpose here is merely to bring criminals to justice. If our investigation should incriminate the Trade Federation, or exonerate them, we will follow the evidence where it leads, you have my word."
"...Very well." Dooku finally agreed. "I propose a joint investigation. I will dispatch my two best investigators to aid you on Mandalore and share information, ensuring the Council and I can be confident in whatever you uncover."
It seemed like a fair deal to Anakin, but Obi-Wan looked worried. "May I ask, who will be your representative?"
"Jedi Knight Vos, and Jedi Knight Prialla are my two most experienced investigators."
Anakin recognised Obi-Wan's expression. The one where he just received bad news, but was trying not to let it show. "I see."
"Is something the matter?" Dooku asked
"Knight Vos and I have something of a history." Obi-Wan explained, and Anakin had to resist the urge to stare. Vos had left Coruscant only a year and a half after Anakin had arrived, but he remembered Kenobi being friends with him. "I'm worried our prior disagreements might affect the investigation."
"I see." Dooku frowned. "Well, if that's the case, I can ask the Jedi Council to recall you, and send investigators that won't cause such concerns."
"...That won't be necessary." Kenobi said. "I'm sure we can put our differences behind us."
"Very good." Count Dooku gave Kenobi a satisfied smile. "Well, if that will be all?"
"Actually." Anakin spoke up. "I was hoping for a chance to meet your eldest daughter. Is Tan'ya not on Indinoor right now?"
The Count turned to regard him. "No. She's on Serenno, preparing its armies for a potential war. She had duties at home that she must attend to in my absence."
"A shame," Anakin lowered his head in disappointment. "I was looking forward to meeting the fellow child of prophecy."
"I am afraid she would not share your enthusiasm," Dooku huffed, before turning to rejoin the rest of his family inside the Temple. Obi-Wan watched the man leave, an annoyed expression on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just can't escape the feeling that we're being toyed with."
"In what way?"
Obi-Wan frowned. "I believe Vos is the Council's spy, keeping an eye on Dooku, and now he's sent the man away at a crucial moment."
"And Master Yoda didn't mention this to us?" Anakin scowled. "If Dooku has a spy right next to him, we should have contacted him to ensure Dooku isn't hiding anything from us!"
"I think you're missing the bigger picture, Padawan." Kenobi grunted, and Anakin fell silent, recognizing the dismissal for what it was.
A protocol droid waddled out of the temple's entrance, sent by Dooku to give them a guided tour, while its master retired to his office, no doubt to scheme the destruction of the Federation. Even Obi-Wan didn't get a chance to speak with Duchess Satine, as she was also caught up in preparation for a potential civil war. It would have been nice to get a chance to have a conversation with some of the Jedi from Indinoor, but none of them seemed to have time for him, all rushing about in a frenzy. The few he spoke to only had time for a few platitudes, assuring that he and the other Coruscant Jedi were welcome here, in a way that only highlighted how they all felt the need to say it. It was a little frustrating that many of the students were already knights. It seemed Dooku wasn't as determined to infantilize his pupils as Master Yoda was.
After a day of fruitless milling about, Anakin and Obi-Wan eventually made their way to their quarters, preparing to rest..
Before Anakin could say his goodnites, Obi-Wan stopped him, lingering in the door to his bedroom. "I've been thinking about what you said earlier, and I think you're right. There are two Hyperlanes coming out of the Corporate Sector, and the Alliance has control over systems that would allow them to block both.
I checked my compad, and it's not looking good for the Trade Federation - they are yet to financially recover from the disaster at Naboo, even after getting a major bailout from the Senate. A few bad battles could be all that stands between them and total bankruptcy.
Even worse, most of their Security Fleet is spread out across the entire Galaxy, committed to their existing security contracts with various worlds. They can't just withdraw their ships, or they'll be drowning in lawsuits."
"If their overheads are so high," Anakin added, "and they need their ships to make money for them, what do you think the chances are that they've been keeping up with maintenance on their reserves?"
"For obvious reasons, they won't share that." Obi-Wan said. "On paper, the Trade Federation fleet might be far bigger than the Alliance's, but how much of it can they actually use?"
"...Do you think Dooku knows?" Anakin asked. "How long do you think they've been planning this?"
Obi-Wan frowned. "I'll try calling Yoda. Why don't you try to get some rest, and we'll see what we can confirm in the morning. At the moment all we have is speculation."
Anakin nodded and stepped into his room. "Goodnight, Master."
It wasn't a good night, though. Anakin lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. It wasn't the looming war that plagued his mind, or the investigation into the assassination, but Padme that kept him awake.