Cloak of Deception Cloak of Deception is a novel by James Luceno that takes place less than a year before . Narration for the audio version was performed by Alexander Adams . The paperback version included a 15 - page excerpt of " " . Publisher ' s summary . Hardcover . Back cover . One man ' s fall from power could lead to the end of the Republic , and the irreversible rise of the dark side … 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 … " 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 . " 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 in orbit of the planet Dorvalla . 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 , Rella and Boiny , 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 assassinate the Trade Federation Directorate . Cohl tackles Havac and kills him , though he and Boiny are mortally wounded in the attempt . Suddenly , the battle droids draw their blasters , influenced by the single droid present that didn ' t require a Central Control Computer to act . With a shield activated for safety , the members of the Trade Federation are trapped . The droids kill them all while the crowd watches , stunned . The only survivors were the Neimoidian members , who were away to their ship which had been tampered with . 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 . Behind the scenes . While writing the novel , James Luceno was granted access to parts of the screenplay drafts and concept art of . 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 . At the end of chapter 29 the word ' thought ' is missing the ' t ' at the end . In chapter 33 , the word ' a ' is incorrectly written as ' an ' . " Cloak of Deception " was originally titled " Vengeance : Cloak of Deception " . Since " " was released after " Deception " , Luceno compared relationship with to " Deception " < nowiki > ' s relationship with the rest of the < / nowiki > " Star Wars " saga . Luceno made a conscious effort to fully introduce and explain the Jedi Order , the Galactic Republic , Lightsabers , the Galactic Senate and many other things . Cover gallery . This is a gallery of the different cover variations of " Cloak of Deception " .