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Cloak of Deception

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Cloak of Deception
Attribution
Author(s)

James Luceno

Cover artist

Steven D. Anderson

Publication information
Publisher

Del Rey

Release date

May 29, 2001

Media type

Hardback

Pages

342

ISBN

0345442989

Chronology
Canon

C

Era

Rise of the Empire era

Timeline

33-32 BBY

Series

Episode I lead-in series

Preceded by

Darth Maul: Saboteur

Followed by

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter

[Source]

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.

Contents

[edit] Editions

ISBN Release date Publisher Pages Format Language Title
ISBN 0345442989 May 29, 2001 Del Rey 342 Hardcover English Cloak of Deception
ISBN 0375418407 May 29, 2001 Random House Audio Cassette English Cloak of Deception
ISBN 0375418466 May 29, 2001 Random House Audio CD English Cloak of Deception
ISBN 0345442970 July 4, 2002 Del Rey 344 Paperback English Cloak of Deception
ISBN 9022533824 January 2003 Uitgeverij M Paperback Dutch De Dreiging van de Sith
2002 Terra Fantastica 480 Hardcover Russian Звездные Войны: Под покровом лжи
ISBN 849507026X February 2002 Alberto Santos Editor 254 Hardcover Spanish Velo de Traiciones
ISBN 0099439972 July 4, 2002 Arrow Publishing 368 Paperback English (UK) Cloak of Deception
ISBN 8025205843 2007 EGMONT ČR 266 Paperback Czech Háv klamu
Presses de la Cité Hardcover French Vent de trahison
Fleuve Noir Paperback French Vent de trahison
Amber Paperback Polish Maska kłamstw

[edit] Publisher's summary

[edit] Hardcover

[edit] Back cover

One man's fall from power could lead to the end of the Republic, and the irreversible rise of the dark side…

[edit] 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…

[edit] 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.

[edit] Opening crawl

CLOAK OF DECEPTION 
After a thousand generations of peace, the
Galactic Republic is crumbling. On Coruscant,
at the center of civilized space, greed and
corruption riddle the Senate, beyond even
the abilities of Supreme Chancellor Valorum
to remedy. And in the outlying systems, the
Trade Federation dominates the hyperlanes
with its gargantuan vessels.

But now even the Trade Federation finds
itself assailed from all quarters, preyed
upon by pirates and raiders, and victimized
by terrorists, who demand an end to the
Federation's tyrannical practices.

It is a time that tests the mettle of all
those who strive to hold the Republic
together—none more than the Jedi
Knights, who have long been the
Republic's best hope for preserving peace
and justice…

[edit] 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. 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 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.

[edit] Excerpt

[edit] Appearances

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Creatures

[edit] Droids

[edit] Locations

[edit] Organizations

[edit] Technology

[edit] Vehicles and vessels

[edit] Miscellanea

[edit] New continuity

[edit] New characters

[edit] New creatures

[edit] New droids

[edit] New locations

[edit] New organizations

[edit] New technology

[edit] New vehicles and vessels

[edit] New miscellanea

[edit] 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.

[edit] Cover gallery

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

Hardcover

Paperback

Audio Cassette

Audio CD

Dutch paperback - De Dreiging van de Sith

French hardcover - Vent de trahison

French paperback

Japanese

Polish - Maska kłamstw

Polish alternative paperback

Russian - Под Покровом Λжи

Spanish - Velo de Traiciones

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Cloak_of_Deception"

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