Cloak of Deception

Cloak of Deception is a novel by James Luceno that takes place less than a year before Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Narration for the audio version was performed by Alexander Adams. The paperback version included a 15-page excerpt of Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream.

Back cover
One man's fall from power could lead to the end of the Republic, and the irreversible rise of the dark side&hellip;

Inside flap
''Mired in greed and corruption, tangled in bureaucracy, the Galactic Republic is crumbling. In the outlying systems, where the Trade Federation maintains a stranglehold on shipping routes, tensions are boiling over—while back in the comfort of Coruscant, the hub of civilized space and seat of Republic government, few senators seem inclined to investigate the problem. And those who suspect Supreme Chancellor Valorum of having a hand in the machinations are baffled—especially when Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi foil an assassination attempt on the Chancellor.''

''With the crisis escalating, Valorum calls for an emergency trade summit. As Humans and aliens gather, conspiracies sealed with large sums of money run rampant, and no one is entirely above suspicion. But the greatest threat of all remains unknown to everyone except three members of the Trade Federation who have entered into a shadowy alliance with a dark overlord. While the trio will be content with more money and fewer problems, Darth Sidious has grander, far more terrifying plans.''

''It is a time that tests the mettle of all those who strive to hold the Republic together—none more so than the Jedi Knights, who have long been the galaxy's best hope for preserving peace and justice. Yet despite their most valiant efforts, the meeting will explode into fiery chaos beyond everyone's worst fears&hellip;''

Paperback
''Mired in greed and corruption, tangled in bureaucracy, the Galactic Republic is crumbling. In the outlying systems, where the Trade Federation maintains a stranglehold on shipping routes, tensions are boiling over—and now even the comfort of Coruscant is being invaded, as Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi foil an assassination attempt on Supreme Chancellor Valorum.''

''As humans and aliens gather for an emergency trade summit, conspiracies sealed with large sums of money run rampant, and no one is entirely above suspicion. But the greatest threat of all remains unknown to everyone except three members of the Trade Federation who have entered into a shadowy alliance with a dark overlord. While the trio will be content with more money and fewer problems, Darth Sidious has grander, far more terrifying plans.''

Plot summary
Cloak of Deception is told in four parts: Dorvalla, Coruscant, The Outlying Systems, and The Inner Circle.

Shortly before the Battle of Naboo (33 BBY), Darth Sidious is in the middle of his plans. As Senator Palpatine, he manipulates Supreme Chancellor Valorum and other senators. As the Sith Master, he begins to slowly put the Neimoidians and the Trade Federation in position for his blockade of Naboo. A terrorist group known as the Nebula Front threatens the activities of the Trade Federation. They are protesting the actions of the group and will resort to any means necessary to disrupt the Trade Federation. They have hired Captain Arwen Cohl to carry out terrorist acts against their business, including robbing a Trade Federation ship of aurodium ingots, worth billions in orbit of the planet Dorvalla. However, Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are hot on the trail of the terrorists. Though Cohl escapes, he is forced to crash-land and all but him and two of his crew members, Rella and Boiny, perish. He later flees in his ship, the Hawk-Bat.

Fearing more trouble, the Trade Federation petitions the Galactic Senate to allow them to increase their number of droid fighters, battle droids, and other defenses. Valorum considers this, but only if he can tax some of the trade routes they hold (on advice from Palpatine). This sparks a debate and a summit on Eriadu is scheduled to be held on the matter.

Taking extreme measures, the Nebula Front sets plans in motion to assassinate Supreme Chancellor Valorum at the summit to prevent the taxation. Cohl has been hired by a mysterious being known only as Havac. He travels throughout the Outer Rim, hiring several experienced assassins. Unknown to him however, Havac (secretly in league with Darth Sidious) has another plan. Meanwhile, the Jedi Council, along with Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, steps in to track down Captain Cohl and the would-be assassins.

On Eriadu, Cohl dispatches his helpers throughout the capital city. He is ambushed by Havac after realizing the true target. Most of the assassins are captured by the Jedi outside the summit building, but one remains inside. A sniper, he has been given the order to fire at, but miss, Valorum. The Jedi find Cohl and his partner Boiny, who, wounded, agrees to help them. They discover the sniper a second too late, but are surprised when he misses Valorum. Then Cohl remembers the true intent of Havac: to kill the non-Neimoidian members of the Trade Federation. Cohl tackles Havac and kills him, though he and Boiny are mortally wounded in the attempt. Suddenly, the battle droid rises and draws its blaster. With a shield activated for safety, the members of the Trade Federation are trapped. The droid kills them all while the crowd watches, stunned. In the ensuing shock, the bill to tax is passed by the Senate. Later, the leading members of the Federation are named. They are all Neimoidians. Darth Sidious later meets Nute Gunray on the bridge of his ship, suggesting they invade Naboo for revenge against Palpatine, who helped pass the bill. Little do they know that it is just part of the Sith Lord's plan for control of the galaxy.

Excerpt

 * Del Rey - Excerpt
 * StarWars.com - Sample Cloak of Deception

Characters

 * Mas Amedda; senator, Champala (male Chagrian)
 * Padmé Amidala; queen, Naboo (female Human)
 * Bail Antilles; senator, Alderaan Sector (male Human)
 * Passel Argente; magistrate, Corporate Alliance (male Koorivar)
 * Darsha Assant; Jedi Padawan (female Human)
 * Tendau Bendon; senator, Ottega Sector (male Ithorian)
 * Depa Billaba; Jedi Master (female Chalactan)
 * Boiny; mercenary (male Rodian)
 * Anoon Bondara; Jedi Master (male Twi'lek)
 * Chack; sniffer, Eriadu Customs and Immigration (male saurian quadruped)
 * Jorus C'baoth; Jedi Master (male Human)
 * Cindar; mercenary (male Nikto)
 * Arwen Cohl; captain, mercenary (male Human)
 * Lott Dod; senator, Trade Federation (male Neimoidian)
 * Daultay Dofine; captain, Revenue, Acquisitor, commander, Saak'ak (male Neimoidian)
 * Kinman Doriana; aide (male Human)
 * Com Fordox; senator, Corellian Sector (male Human)
 * Adi Gallia; Jedi Master (female Human)
 * Edcel Bar Gane; senator, Roona (male Roonan)
 * Bor Gracus; senator, Sluis Van (male Human)
 * Grebleips; senator, Brodo Asogi (male Child of the Green Planet)
 * Nute Gunray; Trade Federation Viceroy (male Neimoidian)
 * Rune Haako; lieutenant, Viceroy Gunray (male Neimoidian)
 * Havac; leader, Nebula Front (alias)
 * Jalan; mercenary (male Human)
 * Qui-Gon Jinn; Jedi Master (male Human)
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi; Jedi Padawan (male Human)
 * Ki-Adi-Mundi; Jedi Master (male Cerean)
 * Plo Koon; Jedi Master (male Kel Dor)
 * Eeth Koth; Jedi Master (male Zabrak)
 * Nap Lagard; captain, Acquisitor (male Neimoidian)
 * Lope; mercenary (male Human)
 * Eru Matalis; former journalist, Eriadu Free HoloDaily (male Human)
 * Aks Moe; co-senator, Malastare (male Gran)
 * Hath Monchar; Deputy Viceroy, Trade Federation (male Neimoidian)
 * Po Nudo; senator, Ando (male Ualaq Aqualish)
 * OLR-4; security battle droid, Trade Federation
 * Palpatine; senator, Naboo (male Human)
 * Pampy; aide, (female Twi'lek)
 * Panaka; captain, Royal Naboo Security Forces (male Human)
 * Sate Pestage; aide (male Human)
 * Pezzle; mercenary (male Human)
 * Even Piell; Jedi Master (male Lannik)
 * Yarael Poof; Jedi Master (male Quermian)
 * Mot Not Rab; senator, Tarnab (male Tarnab)
 * Oppo Rancisis; Jedi Master (male Thisspiasian)
 * Rasper; mercenary (male)
 * Rella; mercenary (female Human)
 * Horox Ryyder; senator, Gravlex Med (male Anx)
 * Orn Free Taa; senator, Ryloth (male Twi'lek)
 * Orn Free Taa's Twi'lek aide; aid, (female Twi'lek)
 * Wat Tambor; representative, Techno Union (male Skakoan)
 * Sei Taria; aide (female Human)
 * Wilhuff Tarkin; lieutenant governor, Eriadu (male Human)
 * Ainlee Teem; co-senator, Malastare (male Gran)
 * Saesee Tiin; Jedi Master (male Iktotchi)
 * Tikkes; senator, Dac (male Quarren)
 * Toonbuck Toora; senator, Sy Myrth (female Sy Myrthian)
 * Luminara Unduli; Jedi Master (female Mirial)
 * Finis Valorum; Supreme Chancellor, Galactic Republic (male Human)
 * Theala Vandron; Lady, House Vandron, ambassador, Senex Sector (female Human)
 * Vergere; Jedi Knight (female Fosh)
 * Mace Windu; Jedi Master (male Human)
 * Yaddle; Jedi Master (female of Yoda's species)
 * Yarua; senator, Kashyyyk (male Wookiee)
 * Yoda; Jedi Grand Master (male of Yoda's species)

Creatures

 * Garhai
 * Needle flier
 * Sovereign beetle

Droids

 * OLR-4

Locations

 * Asmeru
 * Coruscant
 * Galactic Senate Medcenter
 * Dorvalla IV
 * Eriadu
 * Eriadu City
 * Eriadu Spaceport
 * Seswenna Hall
 * Karfeddion
 * Karfeddion Spaceport
 * Docking Bay 331
 * The Tipsy Mynock
 * Raioballo Sector

Organizations

 * Allocations Committee
 * Association of Free Trade Worlds
 * Commerce Guild
 * Corporate Alliance
 * Dorvalla Penal
 * Duro Shipping
 * Eriadu Customs and Immigration
 * Eriadu Free HoloDaily
 * Eriadu Spaceport Control
 * Galactic Republic
 * Internal Activities Committee
 * Nebula Front
 * Pulsar Supertanker
 * Rights of Sentience League
 * Seswenna Sector Bank
 * Skull Crackers
 * Stark Veteran Assembly
 * Techno Union
 * Valorum Shipping and Transport

Technology

 * blaster
 * field disruptor
 * mimetic suit
 * monofilament cable
 * photoreceptor

Vehicles and vessels

 * Acquisitor
 * Ecliptic
 * Famulus
 * Lancet
 * Prominence
 * Revenue
 * Tempest-class gunship
 * Hawk-Bat
 * Cloakshape
 * Tikiar

Miscellanea

 * Amended Proprieties Bill
 * brandy
 * Core Classic
 * Coruscant Opera
 * curtain
 * Eriadu Trade Summit
 * Incident at Dorvalla
 * Mid Rim Ornate
 * Rights of Sentience
 * riot
 * sallap tree
 * scoopball
 * Spherical Flame
 * sweetmelon
 * The Brief Reign of Future Wraiths
 * window

New characters

 * Tendau Bendon
 * Boiny
 * Chack
 * Cindar
 * Arwen Cohl
 * Com Fordox
 * Bor Gracus
 * Havac
 * Jalan
 * Nap Lagard
 * Lope
 * Eru Matalis
 * Old Republic Chief Justice
 * Pezzle
 * Mot Not Rab
 * Rasper
 * Rella
 * Wat Tambor
 * Luminara Unduli
 * Theala Vandron

New creatures

 * Garhai

New droids

 * OLR-4

New locations

 * Asmeru
 * Dorvalla IV
 * Eriadu City
 * Eriadu Spaceport
 * Seswenna Hall
 * Galactic Senate Medcenter
 * Karfeddion Spaceport
 * Docking Bay 331
 * Raioballo Sector
 * The Tipsy Mynock

New organizations

 * Allocations Committee
 * Association of Free Trade Worlds
 * Commerce Guild
 * Corporate Alliance
 * Dorvalla Penal
 * Duro Shipping
 * Eriadu Customs and Immigration
 * Eriadu Free HoloDaily
 * Eriadu Spaceport Control
 * Internal Activities Committee
 * Nebula Front
 * Pulsar Supertanker
 * Rights of Sentience League
 * Seswenna Sector Bank
 * Skull Crackers
 * Stark Veteran Assembly
 * Techno Union
 * Valorum Shipping and Transport

New technology

 * mimetic suit

New vehicles and vessels

 * Acquisitor
 * Ecliptic
 * Famulus
 * Lancet
 * Prominence
 * Revenue
 * Tempest-class gunship
 * Hawk-Bat

New miscellanea

 * Amended Proprieties Bill
 * Core Classic
 * Coruscant Opera
 * Eriadu Trade Summit
 * Incident at Dorvalla
 * Mid Rim Ornate
 * Rights of Sentience
 * sallap tree
 * scoopball
 * Spherical Flame
 * sweetmelon
 * The Brief Reign of Future Wraiths

Behind the scenes
While writing the novel, James Luceno was granted access to parts of the screenplay drafts and concept art of Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. As such, Cloak of Deception was the first (real life) appearance of almost all of the new characters and organizations from Attack of the Clones, including the Techno Union, Passel Argente, and other Separatists.

Cover gallery
This is a gallery of the different cover variations of Cloak of Deception.