The capital ships landed right in front of the podium.
"Let's be presentable. We must have order here!" Councillor Tari said, as he saw the stunned lot of people outside the podium. "We must clear out these crowds."
"The clones will do that themselves." Said Voax, "We need not worry," he said sardonically.
Several Clones arrived, escorting a man in the dark green uniform, who walked stiffly up the platform. He had to be a higher ranking officer. The Republic used several non-clone officers in high positions. They tended to be far more ambitious and political.
"You greet us, Admiral." Tari began immediately.
"Spare me the pleasantries, Councillor. There has been a bombing here, and we're going to sweep down the city to find the perpetrators."
"Of course. Our City Watch will assist you. We have some suspects and their addresses. We can go there together. Some of your Garrison could also visit the prison here, where some terrorists have been held. You can question them there. Councillor… Gaar can go with them there. He handles the prison system."
"No need, Councillor. Round up the suspects you have and bring them here. We will however, conduct our own sweep."
"Admiral." Said Voax, "Let us issue a warning to the population. They may feel threatened by troops… invading their homes… their may be some unfortunate skirmishes… due to lack of communication."
"Anyone who raises arms against the Empire are terrorists. In fact, we shall find them out this way.
"So you'll show force against civilians to test if they are hostile?" The serene and collected Voax seemed to be losing some of his colour.
"Oh, no," said the Admiral, "We won't go that far. We shall simply display the military might of the Galactic Empire... that tends to scare any rebels... they are cowards anyway... it worked with Separatists, it will work now."
He waved his hand to the Clones who immediately began dispersing around. Tari nodded at Gaar, who too, raised his com-link and ordered the Watch to gather detainees from the prison.
The Admiral turned to Tari and said, "There might be some government infiltrators. We need information of that too."
"I assure you, Admiral. No one in the City administration is capable of such treason. We vet out our members very carefully."
He was coolly ignored, and the Admiral began ease fully walking around the podium, his eyes, scanning any details there.
But suddenly, there were sounds of blaster fire. "Aha," said the Admiral, "It seems some of the terrorists were foolish enough to attack us. They will now face the wrath of the Empire."
"I urge restraint, Admiral," said Voax, "Let us give them a chance to surrender. Let us not provoke hostilities. Men from your side are dying too."
"These scum are not capable of such civilised protocols, Councillor! They will be dealt with a hard hand. We are no longer a Republic, having to cater to such seedy and slow procedures. We are an Empire now. You may have heard the Chancellor, announce, 'We are an Empire of Laws, not of Politicians.' The Laws of War clearly grant us the power to shoot and kill anyone who threatens the order of the galaxy. You politicians… with your high handedness and scruples at such times, are completely insignificant and irrelevant now."
"Yes, I know," Voax gritted his teeth, "Your ideals seem to have changed."
The Admiral scoffed, as more blasts seemed to be heard.
"Can't we go the ships and leave?" Asked Padme.
"They'll have occupied the the bays, and we're under siege anyway." Ahsoka said. "And they'll check every home in this city. We really are trapped."
"We'll have to destroy them all then." Anakin said.
"That'll blow your cover, Anakin... our cover… We can't defeat all the Clones." Ahsoka said, wary of all possibilities.
"I can." He said.
They contacted C3P0 and rushed back to the inn, not knowing what to do and having no choice. They carefully walked up the lobby to their room… when… suddenly they felt blasters pointed at them…
It was the innkeeper, with several other men and women all armed and looking ferocious. Rebels…?
Anakin thought of igniting his lightsaber but realised that that would jeopardise them…
"You're the terrorists." He said coldly.
"Rebels." The innkeeper replied defiantly. He had planned to say, 'Freedom Fighters', but that would be an admission that they had lost almost everything... and that point hadn't been reached... yet.
"You all can't fight the Empire like this!" Ahsoka said. "You've just provoked them into invading and occupying the planet."
"That was ill advised, Jor," said a woman.
"I know! I know!" He said, "but I couldn't control the boys… they were paranoid about the Empire… Now they say, they will begin to impose higher taxes and nationalise our industries… that can't happen! They had to act."
A man lifted his blaster back at the trio, "We've been hiding here... we can't let you leave."
"But they can find you anytime. They're sweeping every home in the city." Ahsoka said.
"Then we'll have to be ready for battle!" The man seemed wishing to prove himself – something she often saw in the young throughout the war - the desire to make one's purpose - that it should be in war and bloodshed, was regrettable, thought Ahsoka. He couldn't be older than seventeen.
"Who all are you anyway?" Asked the innkeeper. "You can fight."
"They're my bodyguards," Padme said, thinking on her feet. "I'm the Senator from Naboo."
But this reply gave a surge of disgust and aghast among the band… "Senator! … The Senate voted for this change. To bring about this pain and suffering... You all betrayed us!"
"We didn't have a choice!" Padme exclaimed. "We tried to stop it, but Palpatine's control was too much...
"A group of us tried to oppose him... He had the whole machine to subordinate any of us... and," she said softly, "let liberty die."
They merely listened... but.
Footsteps approached the inn. "They're coming right here!"
"Give us, weapons, quick!" Said Ahsoka, "We can help you!"
And this was when the door burst open, and two blasters were tossed at Anakin and Ahsoka.