1942, For the Galactic Republic
"I'm sorry, Padmé. I swear on my life that I'll bring Princess Leia back," Bail Organa said.
Padmé Amidala reached back and patted Bail's hand. "Tell me."
"What?" Bail Organa did not understand at first.
"Tell me... everything," Padmé said.
Bail Organa sighed and told her everything. They remained there talking until nightfall.
From the fall of the Jedi Order and Palpatine's monopolization of power, to the disastrous defeat of the two armies that attacked the Duchy of Dawn; then, that devastating loss finally made it impossible for the Galactic Republic to suppress its internal contradictions any longer, and overnight it was reorganized into the Galactic Empire.
Then came the Duchy of Dawn's surrender, Palpatine's increasingly secure imperial throne, and the Galactic Empire's intensified exploitation of the Mid Rim and Outer Rim territories, concentrating all wealth in the Core Worlds before militarizing wildly and preparing for war.
After that came the fall of Saleucami Planet, the massacre, and the destruction of the Confederacy of Independent Systems...
This series of earth-shattering changes left Padmé Amidala silent. Though her body was incredibly weak, she could not suppress the anger in her heart. Her fists clenched tightly, and her body trembled faintly.
"We were all deceived... every one of us," Bail Organa said. "This war gave Palpatine far too much—power, armies, strength... Some even say that the war itself was a controlled conspiracy. We failed. All we could do was watch as he destroyed the Galactic Republic and crowned himself Emperor."
Padmé Amidala remained silent, trembling. Even the news of her daughter's kidnapping had not shaken her, but now tears streamed down her face. "Everything we once swore to protect has become an illusion... Palpatine will pay the price for this!"
"Yes, there is still much we can