There comes a point where the GM has to subtly remind the players what they were supposed to be doing, what they've so far ended up actually doing, and provide some sort of underscoring to the inevitable immense gap between those two things. Chancellor Valorum is turning into a very handy campaign plot exposition device for the GM here.

Vision-Impaired Transcript

Valorum: The Senate could use a shake up. As could the Jedi Council, for that matter.
Qui-Gon: There's a Jedi Council?
Valorum: Not for long if I—
Qui-Gon: Maybe they'll tell us about the Lost Orb.
Valorum: Pish. Bunch of old women. I order them to intimidate the Trade Federation, and they send a couple of pawns.
Qui-Gon: And us too!
Obi-Wan: Um... that was us.
Qui-Gon: Oh...
Valorum: I'm so sorry. Feeble-minded pawns.
Valorum: What was it again? Something about forcing a settlement on taxation to break an embargo?
Obi-Wan: Yeeeah... on that... Maybe we should report to the Jedi Council first.
Valorum: And now I hear you've started a war! That's even more entertaining than I could have hoped!