"Pursuit of Peace" marks the eleventh installment in the third season of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television program. It was originally broadcast on December 3, 2010. The events of this episode occur before those depicted in "Senate Murders."
"In an effort to prevent the passage of a bill that would allocate resources for the mass production of clone troopers and negatively impact the Republic's economy, Padmé Amidala, Bail Organa, and Onaconda Farr seek to gather support from fellow Senators. However, their opposition leads them to become targets of hired assailants. After narrowly escaping an ambush by hired thugs — Chata Hyoki and Robonino — during a thrilling speeder bike pursuit, Padmé manages to sway the Senate's opinion by delivering a powerful message about the war's impact on ordinary citizens, using her handmaiden Teckla Minnau as an example."
Following the droid suicide attack, the Senate has largely shifted its stance towards continued warfare and increased funding for the production of additional clone troopers. Padmé Amidala makes a valiant attempt to persuade her senatorial colleagues that not all Separatists are proponents of war, but this effort backfires, creating animosity towards her. Furthermore, Count Dooku unexpectedly communicates with the Senate, asserting that Republic forces launched a devastating assault on Confederate territory, resulting in the death of Mina Bonteri (although the Republic claims she was assassinated by Dooku's operatives due to her peace initiatives). He then formally rescinds the Confederate Senate's peace proposal, further inflaming the diplomatic situation.
Subsequently, in a private discussion, Padmé, Onaconda Farr, and Bail Organa decide to engage with the Banking Clan to secure a loan for increased logistical supplies, hoping to gain leverage against the deregulation bill. To their dismay, Padmé and Farr discover from the Banking Clan representative that the Clan is not only imposing an exorbitant 25 percent interest rate on the Republic, which would deplete funds for essential social programs, but also funding the creation of over three million Separatist battle droids. Additionally, Senator Organa informs Padmé that several principled senators were coerced into supporting the bill, causing other senators to fear a similar fate to Bonteri and abandon their opposition.
Later that night, Farr is ambushed and severely assaulted by bounty hunters Robonino and Chata Hyoki, yet he remains steadfast in his resolve to oppose the bill. This prompts Count Dooku to urge the two inept assailants to resort to more extreme measures. The following night, Padmé requests Organa to address the assembled Senate and present the relevant facts, while she personally attempts to sway the opinions of undecided senators. After an unproductive visit to Senator Christo with Farr, Padmé decides to take a walk to clear her head. She is then attacked by Robonino and Hyoki, but the intervention of two police droids provides her with just enough time to evade the worst. Without her driver, she quickly commandeers a nearby speeder bike and manages to evade her pursuers in a high-speed chase. However, this draws unwanted attention from the police, and Padmé is detained while the thugs escape. Upon returning to her quarters, Padmé is attended to by her handmaiden Teckla Minnau, who expresses her admiration for the senator. Learning that Teckla's family is deeply affected by the war, the two women engage in a conversation.
The next morning, Robonino and Hyoki also target Senator Organa. Although Organa manages to alert his guards and the police, leading to the arrest of the two thugs, he sustains serious injuries during the altercation. Consequently, he asks Padmé to deliver his prepared speech. Encouraged by Teckla and Farr, Padmé addresses the Senate and delivers an unscripted and impassioned speech, highlighting the struggles faced by ordinary citizens (such as Teckla's family) due to the financial burden the war has already placed on the Republic. She argues that passing the bill would harm the very citizens of the Republic they are sworn to protect. This speech earns her grudging approval and respect from the entire Senate.
Subsequently, in his private chambers, Chancellor Palpatine expresses his anger to Mas Amedda regarding the impact a single passionate voice can have on his own authority, revealing his true nature for a moment. Nevertheless, he decides to bide his time, confident that fate—and the Senate—will eventually align in his favor once more.