"The Sub-Adult Group is an absurd, sensationalist fabrication, a baseless and malicious slander against us!" Chancellor Palpatine's advisor, Krueya Vandron, said angrily during a media interview. "Those gathered here today are the finest members of the Sub-Adult Group. They are the finest generation of the Republic, the Republic's future! Your accusations are the greatest blow to these outstanding young people!"
Krueya Vandron declared loudly, "The Sub-Adult Group does not recruit only Humans, of course! It is merely a coincidence that the first application we received and the first member we accepted happened to be Human. The group will naturally recruit members from non-human species, and we have indeed received many applications from non-human species!"
"Then have any non-Humans joined?" the reporter pressed relentlessly.
"All applications are under review. If someone's application is rejected, they should examine their own shortcomings more closely. The Sub-Adult Group represents the future of the Republic. Only the Republic's finest young people may join!" Krueya Vandron answered evasively.
Click. The hologram shut off. Senator Chi Eekway Papanoida of Pantora said worriedly, "This cannot continue... anti-non-Human sentiment, centralization of power—Palpatine is pushing the Galactic Republic in an extremely dangerous direction."
"That is beyond doubt, but what worries me is that we are already powerless to stop him," senator Bana Breemu said with a sigh.
"Our previous impeachment proceedings against Palpatine had no effect on him whatsoever," senator Mon Mothma said. "The Senate's power is dwindling, and there is less and less we can do. Palpatine has now cast off almost all restraints."
Bail Organa remained silent. Looking at the senators futilely discussing possible solutions, he felt a profound chill in his heart.
Ever since the outbreak of the war, they had persistently fought Palpatine. Though this battle had neither aircraft nor artillery, neither tanks nor warships, the