[17 BBY]

[The Upper Levels, Coruscant, Coruscant Subsector, Corusca Sector, the Core]

The streets were full of students below Malorum, along with university professors, and many of the parents of those students. Beyond here, across the great city-world, other great masses of sentients were marching, largely against the war, against the military government…against a lot of things really. But, most importantly, FOR Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. That was the important part for Malorum, even if he really didn't enjoy this part of the world. He was a natural introvert, and rabblerousing was…

Hard. Difficult. Grating.

Many terms like that he thought darkly, the Dark Side surging inside him, strong and defiant, just like the seething currents of anger and pain running through the millions marching and chanting below. But there was an undercurrent of unease too, something Malorum couldn't quite place despite his best efforts. Yes, there was going to be violence, there was always violence where his Crimson Bloc was involved, but this was…a wary feeling, a concern to him. He pushed it aside. He would be Sith. He would be powerful. Fear was but power to him.

"Big crowds lawd" Drevin Las, one of his better 'troopers' said looking down at the vast sea of humans marching and shouting, the streets and towers filled with the roars and echoes from the marching masses, Palpatine's name the loudest roar. Personally, found the students and their talk about rights, and freedoms, and 'civilized peoples against militarists', a bit silly. Most of these ones were the children of the formerly privileged within Corusca society. He was Corellian so he could recognise the pampered, bitter, darlings so used to being privileged that they couldn't recognise exactly how much they had despite rage within.

'Those near starving on lower levels are less enraged than them' he thought with amusement. The Militarists had brought back Old Rights as it were, and life was better for the aliens and various lower class ranks down below. Kriffing vermin the lot of them. The students were right when they screamed that lot were granted too many privileges. Like being allowed to exist at all "Tis Drevin. Good cover us. Need to show them troopers where the real power lies. With the People!"

"WITH THE PEOPLE!" the hundreds of humans on the rooftop with him cried out as he raised his hands, giving a gentle shove with the Force. These, like many similar groups across the nearest city sectors were well armed, for militia really, and had decent body armour too. Arms shipment since the Coup had allowed something resembling a resistance against the Alsakan backed junta to be created and used to target the forces of reaction within that Republic. Malorum found them very hard to direct actually, as did the other agents sent here and to other worlds of the Core with similar undercurrents.

Quite simply they were filled with righteous rage, and they were far too eager to kill just about anyone with the association of 'Juntaist!' as they called them. Which was a problem when trying to build a movement to tear down said military government, or at least cripple it as they were doing now. Mass strikes were damaging production as it prevented the actual workers getting into their factories. It was so easy to unleash at least to unleash the students upon them, beating and brutalising those they saw as lesser, as dumber, as evil now for serving the Grand Army of the Republic.

'With crowds like this we'll be able to do some real damage over the next few days' he grinned, heading back to his 'command centre' where a number of the better qualified technical loyalists were setup with tactical holo-displays. Funny what you could do when his angry, wrathful, now 'suddenly' oppressed had access to wealthy family. Malorum bet some of this stuff was better than the gear that the Grand Army of the Republic units opposite them had access to…

"Boos" one of them, a human female with half gold hair, half green, called out in that fake 'rough' accent the rich little bitch liked to put on since she began a 'real' freedom fighter "Gotta prob! Deys inna dem Senate Guard or dem stormies. Says deys dem five-oh nineth"

Malorum paused, looking at the displays, bringing up the Division name…

'That's a veteran unit. They are bringing in…why?' he wondered suddenly "Check the news sources, high ups news"

"Sure Boos…nadda…nadda, fancy kriffers…na…wait. Deys be sayin deys…"

"Assassinations of Senators and explosions in…" he cut off before cursing. Sudden unit changes in response, and riots, violent, blaster bolts flying riots were consuming other continents. Areas he'd stepped away from to try keep a handle on her. The Force was beginning to purr in his ears. The Dark Side rearing, thirsty for blood…

Potentially his blood…

He gestured "Change of plans. We need to evac to…"

…an hour later Malorum found out he was correct in his fears as the communication channels were blacked out and veteran legions of troopers, drawn from those that had suppressed Separatist worlds in the past. Iron discipline and hatred burned in their hearts, and Star Destroyers came down from the skies in line with them, gunships emerging from within them. Emerging, descending, and the opening fire wherever anyone showed resistance to the stunners and capture vehicles of the arriving Undercity Suppression Squads. Martial law had been declared, and all who were traitors to the Republic would serve in the mines or farms of distant worlds droids and gunships screamed at the screaming crowds.

'This is a disaster' Malorum though even as the Dark Side howled, as it laughed, as the pooling darkness near the destroyed Jedi Temple sank out with bloodlust as Malorum's crimson blade deflected blaster bolts as everyone that could arm themselves, was arming themselves. There was no choice but to fight now. Fight far too soon. Malorum drew on his rage, blade swinging and Dark Side rising as he crushed a large combat droid butchering its way through defenders. It was too soon, but there was no choice now as it was fight or die, or fight and be sent to toil like a slave on some distant world…

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[17 BBY]

[Confederacy of Independent Systems Warship Invulnerable, Providence-class Dreadnaught, Reconstituted Confederate 2nd Fleet, Wroona System, Inner Rim, on Harrin Trade Corridor and Rimma Trade Route Hyperlanes]

Admiral Trech clicked his mandibles in agitation as he sat in holo-conference while his fleet sat, resupplying, in the Wronna system. The locals, the Wroonians, blue-skinned near humans, were grateful to once have a Confederate force back in system, more so for the fact trade was flowing again, and therefore the sieges of the former 'Yag-Dhul-Vandelheim Pocket' had last come to an end. Truth be told Admiral Trench was glad of it too, and, more importantly, getting veteran starfigher pilots as well as repairs done to his fleet after the vicious engagements to relieve the pocket. Chardaan and Foless had been vicious engagements, and the ground battles were still going on Chardaan even.

'Like several worlds still' he thought as Admiral Mar Tuuk stated that he had driven the Tarkinist Second Fleet from the Christop system, but that fighting had only begun. Driven them from the system yes, but in exchange the Neimodian's own fleet was no longer battle-worthy and would not be again for quite some time from the sounds of it. The Harch clacked his mandibles again, in annoyance, but also to get attention of his colleagues in this council of war "We can't…sssttt….afford more losessshhh, like, cccclllkkk, like this!"

"I have to agree with the Harch" the human, Toth agreed with a glaring nod "There's dozens upon of dozens of planets fighting to the last droid and sentient. Geonosis is a wreck…don't you deny it Mar Tuuk, the droid foundries are simply gone. We've pushed this offensive as far as it can go"

The Nemoidian didn't argue, merely nodding "For my fleet, yes, it has. But these Republic-scum are being unreasonable, they will not return what is ours!"

"Indeed" Dua Ningo stated calmly, though the Sullustan was rarely the calmest of late "We have our orders, we must push forward"

"We can't take Sullust Ningo" Toth stated with exasperation, and Trench gave a nod, albeit a slow one in agreement as the human continued "We've probed Vondarc and Zeheth, let alone the Malastare system…and every time their First Fleet's lurked beyond a line of hyperspace traps and delays. There is no way we rushing them and getting to Eriadu or your homeworld"

"That is why contingency Retribution is our chosen option"

'What exactly is the Trade Federation's obsession with Naboo?' Trench wanted to ask the Nemoidian, but that wouldn't fly as it was a decent strategic option…if it wasn't politics pushing it "Issshh it, truly?"

Dua Ningo nodded, clearly unhappy, as he had been pushing, forcefully, to strike directly at one of the planned, and stated, objectives of Operation Dooku's Justice. Unfortunately, that would be insane, not with the losses their various fleets had suffered, or the fact they were stuck putting down fanatical resistance from here all the way back to Mimban. And while the Bothans switching sides had brought badly needed supplies, they refused to send much of their forces beyond their space owing to Republic raiding squadrons. Or so they claimed at least, though Trench knew it was more than that.

"I'm loath to agree, but it probably is" Toth interjected "Naboo, Enarc, Ryndellia taken would allow us to interdict wherever Lucas Geen and his fleet vanished off to. As we've all just agreed, the Eriadu-Sullust attack is just not viable this campaign season with the sensor nets and all the systems we'll have to slug our way through. Knocking the Gungans out of the war would also be a major blow militarily to the Tarkinists, along with their energy shield production"

'Says the good friend of the Trade Federation' Trench thought, though General Cleeve, back on distant Racus, stayed largely silent as their avatars debated. As Toth waved his hand "We know they've recalled their Fifth Fleet from the frontiers, and Zsinj's Third has been refitting…if don't cut the route, then we could lose Christophsis again before it's even fully secure. Which opens up Rodia and Geonosis once more to threat"

"Ccllkkk….yess, perhaps" Trench offered carefully "Once we…shh….resupply?"

"Yes" Cleeve finally interjected "Toth will take the lead, along with our remaining assault fleet for ground assault. He will take down the planetary shields and draw out Zsinj, the Stormcrow to if the Fifth Fleet has gotten into position within the next three standard weeks. At which Trench and Ningo's fleets will jump into system to overwhelm then. Mar Tuuk you will not be reinforced I'm sorry to say, those reinforcements will be formed into a further fleet to support the attack, should the need arise. Or to exploit the advance after taking Naboo to drive unto Enarc and then opening the route to you in Christoph Mar Tuuk"

"That would be our reserve…shhhh….yesss?" Trench asked with a clack of mandibles, metal hand's fingers drumming on his arm rest "Cllkkk….jussst to clarify?"

"Yes, it would"

Toth nodded, clearly still unhappy despite being supportive of the plan "Well, yes, all good and all…but I don't like this idea of dangling out there like a piece of meat before a rancor I'll state for the record"

Cleeve waved it away "It was partly your idea Admiral, and there none better suited for assaulting a recalcitrant planet than you we've found"

'The only true benefit is that Naboo, increased defences aside, won't be as well defended as the other primary targets since we've just taken out the primary defensive systems between here and there' Trench reminded himself studying the offered map. After all, the simple truth was there would be no 'surprising' the Republic forces once an advance began, at least not in regards targets due to their sensor nets. Numbers they could obscure though, and Toth would clear the way nicely, and certainly force a response with the hyperlanes beyond that system were threatened. But it was still more politics in a campaign decision than Trench would like, all things considered….

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