Pursuit of Peace

"Truth can strike down the spectre of fear."

- Moral

"Pursuit of Peace" is the eleventh episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series' third season. It aired on December 3, 2010.

Official summary
"Padmé, Bail Organa and Onaconda Farr attempt to rally Senators in opposition to a bill that would appropriate funds for millions of new clone troops and have disastrous financial consequences for the Republic. Their opposition to the measure, however, soon makes them targets for intimidation and attacks by hired guns. After escaping two hired thugs -- Chata Hyoki and Robonino -- in a harrowing speeder bike chase, Padmé, is able to sway the Senate with a stirring account of how the war has affected an everyday civilian, her handmaiden Teckla Minnau."

Plot summary
The droid suicide attack has dramatically swung the Senate towards continuing the war and funding the creation of more clone troops. Padmé Amidala desperately tries to convince her fellow senators that not all Separatists are warmongers, but this turns the general mood against her. In addition, Count Dooku suddenly contacts the Senate and declares that the Republic armies have carried out a devastating attack on Confederate territory, killing Mina Bonteri in the process (in actuality, she was murdered by Dooku's agents for her peace efforts), and officially withdraws the Confederate Senate's peace proposal, further agitating the diplomats.

In a private conversation afterward, Padmé, Onaconda Farr, and Bail Organa decide to approach the Banking Clan for a loan for more logistic supplies in order to gain some means of fighting the de-regulation bill. From the Banking Clan representative, Padmé and Farr learn to their outrage that not only is the Clan charging the Republic with an extraordinarily high interest rate at 25% which by itself would drain out public funds for many of their social programs, but also that they are financing the creation of more than 3 million Separatist battle droids as well. Also, Senator Organa tells Padmé that several of the more upright senators were threatened into voting in favor of the bill, which frightens other senators so much that they decide not to fight the bill, the alternative being ending up like Bonteri.

The same night, Farr is accosted and brutally beaten by bounty hunters Robonino and Chata Hyoki but doesn't back down from his decision to fight the bill, making Count Dooku urge the two dead-beats to employ some more drastic measures. The next night, Padmé asks Organa to speak to the assembled Senate and present the facts, while Padmé tries to personally approach those still undecided. After she and Farr have paid a rather futile visit to Senator Christo, Padmé decides to take a walk to relax her mind. Robonino and Hyoki assault her, but two police droids buy her just enough time to prevent worse. Bereft of her driver, she promptly mounts a nearby speeder bike and manages to shake off her attackers in a vicious chase, but that results in the police taking an undue interest in her, and Padmé is held up while the thugs escape. Back in her quarters, Padmé is taken care of by the handmaiden Teckla Minnau, who expresses her admiration to the senator. Upon learning that Teckla's family is severely affected by the war, the two young women get into a talk.

The next morning, Senator Organa is attacked by Robonino and Hyoki as well. Organa manages to summon his guards and the police, and the two thugs are arrested, but he is severely injured in the struggle and therefore asks Padmé to deliver his speech. After some encouragement by Teckla and Farr, Padmé steps before the Senate and delivers an impromptu and passionate speech, recounting the problems of the simple people (like Teckla's family) due to the financial strain the war has already brought upon the Republic, a speech which wins the favor and respect - even reluctantly - from the entire Senate, arguing that if the bill passes, then they'd be harming the citizens of the Republic they've sworn to protect.

However, later in his quarters, Chancellor Palpatine angrily muses over the success one passionate voice can have over his own power with Mas Amedda, showing his true face for the first time. But he decides to wait until fate - and the Senate - will work in his own favor once again...

Cast

 * Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala
 * Dee Bradley Baker as Onaconda Farr, Robonino and Mot-Not Rab
 * Phil LaMarr as Bail Organa, Orn Free Taa and Alderaan Guard
 * Corey Burton as Count Dooku, Chata Hyoki and driver
 * Ashley Moynihan as Teckla Minnau
 * Stephen Stanton as Mas Amedda, Mak Plain and Edcel Bar Gane
 * Jason Spisak as Christo, Zinn Paulness and Coruscant Guard
 * Tom Kane as narrator, police droid and Twi'lek punk
 * Ian Abercrombie as Chancellor Palpatine
 * Kath Soucie as Mon Mothma
 * Gideon Emery as Mee Deechi
 * Jameelah McMillan as Halle Burtoni