Above a vast conference chamber in the Geonosian city, Obi-Wan watched a curious gathering he felt sure he would have been allowed to witness otherwise. He could identify pretty much everyone in the room. Shu Mai, president of the Commerce Guild, San Hill of the Inter-Galactic Banking Clan, Passel Argente of the Corporate Alliance, Wat Tambor of the Techno-Union and of course Nute Gunray of the Trade Federation. There was also the Aqualish senator Po Nudo and the Quarren senator of Mon Calamari Tikkes. “Matters such as that do not apply to us,” droned San Hill.