- "We've invented a Separatist threat that's bigger than the reality. The claim of quadrillions, quintillions, and even septillions of Separatist battle droids is so ludicrous that we'd rush to debunk it if someone didn't have a vested interest in making us believe it. Nothing adds up—literally. Do you know how big a quadrillion is? Let's use the Galactic Standard notation—a thousand million million. A quintillion? A million quadrillions. A septillion? A billion quadrillions. Any coalition capable of producing even quadrillions of any machine could roll over the Republic in a few days. And the amount of materials and energy needed to produce and move even a quadrillion droids is immense—it would drain star systems. Either our government is composed of innumerate idiots, or it's inflating the threat way beyond the average citizen's math skills so that it can justify the war and where it's heading."
- ―Hirib Bassot
Hirib Bassot was a media pundit broadcasting on the HoloNet. On a political show, Bassot argued that the threat of the Separatist armies was overinflated, and hinted that this was part of a government propaganda effort to continue the Clone Wars beyond reasonable means to maintain a hidden agenda.[1]
The pundit was later found dead at home, with the cause of death said to be contaminated glitterstim.[1]
Appearances[]
- Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel (First appearance)