**Chapter 350: Shadows of Bounty and Blood**
Anakin Skywalker had been standing on the bridge of the *Hunter* for a couple of hours now, ostensibly peering into the swirling blue tunnel of hyperspace, but his thoughts were occupied with something completely different.
"Padmé…"
Once again, after a brief, stolen time with her on Coruscant, he had left for another mission, and he couldn't say when they would see each other again—a week, or a month. The uncertainty drove him to quiet despair. She was everything to him. When he was with her, the aching pain in his heart eased. Padmé gave his life meaning; without her, everything dissolved into chaos, violence, and the agony of loss. At times he was amazed that Obi-Wan never suspected a thing. How could he continue to love her so passionately while hiding this all-consuming fire from the person who knew him best?
"I guess I really am a powerful Jedi," Anakin muttered bitterly to himself.
He felt Admiral Yularen approaching from behind. The older officer stopped beside him, posture rigid with military discipline.
"Another two hours and we'll reach the Both system," Yularen reported. "According to our latest intel, there are no Separatist ships there yet. We should be able to secure a foothold in the area unhindered."
"Thank you, Admiral," Anakin replied, forcing his voice steady. "Although I don't think there will be any problems. The real threat is far away from here."
Yularen stood side by side with him, gazing into the hyperspace tunnel. "The Commander-in-Chief emphasized that we need a foothold in this part of space at any cost."
Anakin winced slightly. The military habit of calling Grand Master Yoda "Commander-in-Chief" still felt unnerving and wrong to him.
"Yes, but… that's not enough," he said.
At that moment, his Padawan Etain Ter-Murkan joined them on the bridge. Anakin once again thanked the Force for such a student—self-confident, diligent, and mercifully free of pointless questions.
"And what's its importance?" Etain asked the admiral, who eagerly launched into explanation.
"It's a strategic point," Yularen said. "Bothawui lies at the intersection of two major routes: one leading from Malastare to Dantooine, called the Bothan Way, and the other from Druckenwell on the Corellian Run to Hutt Space."
Anakin, deciding to distract himself from his gloomy thoughts, added his own knowledge. "Bothawui is home to the Bothans. They're known for their legendary information-gathering skills. Bothans have repeatedly assisted the Jedi—albeit for a price. They're among the oldest members of the Republic. Apparently, Ilydium is mined on the planet. The Bothan language is descended from Galactic Basic."
Skywalker was distracted by a beckoning gesture from Captain Rex, who stood near the communications station.
"What's happened?" Anakin asked, already moving.
"You should take a look, General."
The Republic's new Venator-class Star Destroyers were equipped with hyperspace receivers, allowing real-time communication even while traveling through hyperspace. Something important had clearly broken through.
Anakin hurried over, with Yularen and Etain following close behind. Rex activated one of the large wall screens. After the familiar intro of the Mid Rim Broadcast Station, a sleek, energetic host appeared.
"So, good morning, Galaxy! It's me, Benia Kramarzik, and welcome to the Mid Rim Broadcast Station! What's so important in the Galaxy, you ask? Well, here it is! A sensation! Word of new orders is spreading rapidly among bounty hunters across the Shadow Broadcast network and illegal HoloNet access nodes within the Mid and Outer Rim! The updated list of eighty-two targets came personally from Selena, and for the most part, it contains bounties for the capture of Jedi!"
The screen shifted to a recorded holomessage. Selena's striking Dathomiri features filled the frame, her voice cold and commanding.
"Fringe hunters, I speak to you on behalf of the Count and the General, the leaders of our movement. You have long operated outside the system because you know its flaws. Strike back at these outdated enforcers and bureaucrats who are only thinking about how to rob you of your last means of subsistence."
Benia Kramarzik continued with dramatic flair. "What was the reaction to this message, you ask? Quite natural! On Nar Shaddaa, independent bounty hunters are lining up at illegal HoloNet access terminals to download the new list of bounties. Since these bounties do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Republic Ministry of Criminal Investigation, they are considered illegal and are not subject to the standard restrictions and regional laws governing bounty hunting."
A Vuvrian bounty hunter appeared in a quick cut. "Unofficial bounty hunters are not subject to Guild fees, taxes, or other levies that end up in the pockets of the authorities. But there are some nuances. The lack of rules means that on your way to the bounty you'll encounter a crowd of amateurs eager to intercept your catch. And besides, payment is made in Confederate currency."
The report cut to an Aqualish hunter. "However, these orders are hardly easy! A hunter must have special skills to capture a Jedi. And the Seps aren't particularly demanding, since they don't ask for their victims to be delivered alive. You just have to watch your rear and attack from afar, otherwise you might end up like Janao."
Kramarzik leaned toward the camera with theatrical excitement. "Imagine your impatience, dear viewers, has reached its peak. Who made it onto this list? So-o-o-o! Topping the bounty list are Jedi Generals Mace Windu and Yoda, valued at one million, two hundred and fifty thousand credits each. A gigantic sum! The list also includes General Obi-Wan Kenobi—three hundred and fifty thousand credits, General Ki-Adi-Mundi—three hundred and fifty thousand credits, and General Shaak Ti—exactly three hundred thousand credits. The highest bounty offered for an ordinary member of the Order is for Anakin Skywalker—two hundred and twenty-five thousand credits."
Anakin's jaw tightened.
"But that's not all, dear viewers! The list also includes a number of loyalist politicians who play a prominent role in the Republic military machine. Among them are Senator Ask Aak of Malastare, Senator Orn Free Taa of Ryloth, and Senator Onaconda Farr of Rodia. The CIS is willing to pay twenty thousand credits for each of them. But that's not all! The highest bounty has been offered for Senator Padmé Amidala of Naboo—but it's not Selena who's offering the incredible twenty-two million credits for her head. It's Trade Federation Viceroy Nute Gunray himself! What's going on? It seems the Neimoidian can't forgive the Naboo cutie for his fiasco ten years ago!"
The broadcast ended with the host's usual sign-off. Anakin stood frozen, rage and fear warring inside him. Twenty-two million credits on Padmé's head. Gunray's personal vendetta had just painted the largest target in the galaxy on the woman he loved.
**Scene 2**
Entering Bail Organa's private office in the Senate complex, Padmé Amidala asked without preamble, "What's going on? The whole Senate is in an uproar…"
Bail looked up from his desk, expression grave. Mon Mothma stood beside him, arms folded tightly.
"Hale Bertoni, at the head of a large group of senators, put forward a proposal to increase military production and allocate additional funds for the purchase of weapons," Bail explained.
"You don't have to be a fortune teller to say that this proposal will be accepted by a majority of votes," Mothma shook her head sadly. "I don't think we can influence this decision in any way."
"That's only natural," Padmé said. "After dentaal came under attack, everyone became… concerned about their worlds."
"I'd use a different word. Scared," Amidala absently twirled a small Alderaanian statuette she had picked up from Bail's desk. "And yet, I still don't understand how the Separatists could take such a step…"
At that moment, one of the senators supporting the Loyalists burst into the room. "Did you know? Senator Farr is about to say something important!"
Bail and Mothma exchanged glances. "Onaconda didn't warn us about anything like that," Padmé muttered.
In the Senate chamber itself, the noise was deafening. Mas Amedda's voice boomed for order.
"We will have order! The Chair recognizes the Senator of Rodia."
Senator Onaconda Farr stepped forward, his Rodian features set in determined lines. "My people and my home lie on the Outer Rim. When the war started, our home lacked food and began to suffer from shortages due to pirates. As a member of the Loyalist Committee, I was too blinded by peaceful solutions to even see the suffering of my own people. So I started to send pleas for help. That help came not from the Senate, but from the 12th Sector—by General Dagon Marek. He arrived, rid my home sector of pirates, and supplied us with food directly from the 12th. And thanks to the families of the agricultural worlds of Yulant, we have even started to grow enough food to supply our own people without relying on exports.
"Now I face a grave decision. As hours earlier my world was attacked by CIS ships, but thanks to the Republic occupation my world was defended. And now recent news of the CIS's new super ships—the video of the Battle of Dentaal—has appeared, shocking many senators. It was only due to Dagon's quick thinking in sacrificing part of his own ship to prevent further loss of life.
"Many of you only know Dagon by name, or some have actually met him. But I say this with certainty: he and many other Jedi constantly risk life and death to defend our worlds while we only debate paths of peace. I propose we grant our Chancellor the new orders to fully push forward with the military bill—the recruitment and production expansion. The time for hesitation is over."
A large applause erupted across the Senate chamber, rolling like thunder. Loyalist senators rose to their feet. Even some moderates joined in. The militarist faction had just gained powerful new momentum.
Padmé stood in the observation gallery with Bail and Mon Mothma, watching the tide turn. Her hand unconsciously drifted toward her abdomen for a moment before she caught herself. Twenty-two million credits on her head. Dagon Marek's legend growing with every battle. The war spiraling deeper into total militarization.
She closed her eyes briefly, thinking of Anakin somewhere out there in hyperspace, unaware of how much higher the stakes had just become.
The Senate had chosen escalation. And the galaxy would pay the price in fire and blood.