While Anomaly contentedly drifted in the northern quadrant of space, several conflicting groups determinedly combed the galaxy for it. Or, more specifically, for its contents.

"Update on the south quadrant search," demanded Queen Amidala.

"Nothing yet, my lady," said an equally frustrated ensign. "No reports from the Coruscant party or the Naboo search groups."

Amidala restrained a royal sigh and paced away, checking in with the other communications posts for any word at all about the missing group. Remains of their ship had been found; floating in space, a derelict vessel with its door cut out from the inside and containing no answers or clues whatsoever. Except one: on the outside of the hull, a small patch had been ripped away, and the wires inside (which connected to the through-ship paging system) tapped into. This meant nothing to the Coruscant delegates who reviewed the evidence other than the fact that someone from the outside had chosen to communicate directly to those in the ship. To the Federation group, however, it meant something quite important: Maldad.

Quite simply, in pulling away from the vessel, a few stray "threads" of some sort had been caught in the jagged metal of the hull's tear. Investigation only proved them to be organic, unrecognizable, useless. To the Senate's investigation.

To the Federation, however, it indicated the presence of their missing scientist and his cloning information, not to mention his fabulous and organic ship: Anomaly.

What the Federation did not know was that Queen Amidala, while still quite young and still a bit too hopeful in the innate goodness of sentient beings for her own good, was anything but naïve. She had her own spies. And while the Federation's spies were steadily siphoning information away from the Coruscant's search party's information banks, Naboo's spies were steadily siphoning information away from the Federation's.

"Queen Amidala," called a hopeful young man from the opposite side of the room. "We've found something."

Amidala strode magnificently to him, not allowing herself to rush. "What is it?"

The young ensign stood and bowed gracefully.

"The Federation leak, your highness. He has indicated not only who has the Jedi and the Chancellor, but where they might possibly be headed - toward Iridonia."

Amidala gave the slightest, subtlest smile, but the look of steely triumph in her eyes made the ensign take an involuntary step back.

"Contact Coruscant immediately with this information," she said. "Then instruct your contact at the Federation that if he can do anything, anything at all, to slow their own investigation, his reward will be doubled. Tripled. Captain," she said, turning to Panaka, the captain of her guard. "Ready the ships, including mine. I will accompany the fighters at a distance."

Everyone scurried to do her orders, glad at last to have something to do.

And so everyone at once began to close in on Anomaly and its unsuspecting crew.

Maldad was definitely not going to make it to Iridonia.

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