SWtCW: Power Projection pt. 2

Coruscant, Galactic City

Ventress descended the ramp of the transport and eyed the cloaked figure standing before her.
“You're Hadranus?”
The figure nodded silently, Ventress saw the glint of a lightsaber just inside his cloak.
“You're a jedi.” she said with a growl, her hands resting on her own sabers.
“No.” he replied hastily. “I am no jedi. Count Dooku merely trained me when I was a child...I never joined the Order.”
Ventress snorted. “A wise decision.”
Hadranus licked his lips nervously. “Count Dooku made certain assurances when I agreed to help you.”
“Don't worry Senator,” she hissed darkly. “I know my mission.”
Behind her, the commando droids trooped off the transport and stood at the ready followed by a swarm of hovering sabotage droids. The commandos were all wearing Senate Guard armor, disuising their true nature.
Hadranus eyed them dubiously. “I don't want any innocents hurt.”
Ventress leered at him. “I can't promise that there won't be...casualties.”
He hesitated for a moment before nodding again. “I understand.”
“And the others?”
“They're ready to pledge their planets to the Confederacy, they no longer feel that their peoples' best interests are served by the Republic...they just need a nudge.”
Ventress smiled and nodded towards her droids. “They'll have it, by the time we're done here they'll be begging to join the Confederacy.”

Conradin Hadranus considered his new ally dubiously for a moment longer before reaching into his cloak and taking out what was needed.
“These codes will give you access to the facility where they're holding Loathsome.” he indicated the first set of codes and then the second set. “And these will allow you to enter the power station for the entire Senate District.”
The Sith smiled viciously. “You've done well. Leave the rest to me, I'll contact you if anything else is needed of you.” her eyes flicked to his and he felt himself tensing under their homicidal gaze. “And remember, you are expected to bring those other planets with you.”
Conradin swallowed nervously but nodded. “They'll come, they're all ready to cave.”
“Good, have a pleasant evening Senator.”
Conradin turned and left the Sith to her business. The less he knew, the better, this was for the good of his people, and all the people in the Republic. He had to believe that. The Republic was corrupt and decadent, its ears turned deaf to the cries of the people it was meant to serve. Count Dooku's Confederacy promised to change all that...his mentor promised to change all that. For that cause, Conradin would betray the Republic, the Senate, and his friends...no matter how bitter a pill it was to swallow.

Padme stirred restlessly, her nostrils filling with the scent of breakfast. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, rolling over in bed and staring at the ceiling for a long moment before she stood up and wrapped herself in a robe. She proceeded to the kitchen where she found Anakin cooking, he didn't seem to notice her approach and so she remained in the doorway for a time, watching him as he worked. She loved this man. She loved him for all that he was. For his courage, his strength, his kindness...but also for his fear, his weakness...his everything. It was the completeness of Anakin that drew her to him...but also the sense that he was injured and in need of caring...she wanted to be his strength when he had none of his own left to give.
She crossed the kitchen and leaned against his broad shoulders, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath and reveling in the scent of her husband.
“Good morning.” she murmured lovingly.
“I didn't wake you did I?” he asked worriedly.
She shook her head. “No, no you didn't Ani.” she kissed his shoulder tenderly. “I've missed this.”
He put the food down and turned, taking her in his arms and kissing her tenderly, concurring with her statement in a manner which needed no words. There was a sudden electrical moan and the apartment went dark save for the light from the rising sun.
Padme looked around. “What is it?”
Anakin shook his head. “I don't know...something isn't right.”
He released Padme and went back to the bedroom as Padme picked up her comlink.
“Bail, this is Padme, have you lost power?”
Bail Organa's voice answered her immediately. “It's not just us, the entire district just went down.”
“The whole district? Even the Senate building?”
“It has its own power source, as do a few other major structures, but the rest of the district is completely dark.”
Padme frowned as Anakin entered the kitchen again, his saber attached to his belt.
“Thank you Bail, I'll meet you at the Senate.”
“What did he say?” Anakin asked.
“He said that power is out across the whole district.”
Anakin frowned. “Is that normal?”
“No.” Padme said. “Even when power outtages happen, they never happen to this extent.”
“I'll contact the Temple an—“
Before Anakin finished, both their comlinks squawked noisily.
“We have taken control of the Senate District's power station, we will destroy it if you try and take it. We will issue our demands shortly.”
Anakin's eyes narrowed. “So much for contacting the Temple.”
Padme nodded, kissing him on the cheek as she rushed to get dressed. “Stay safe out there Ani.”
He smirked at her. “I always do.”

Coruscant, Galactic City, Senate District Power Station

“Good,” Ventress said as the broadcast ended. “That should get their attention.” she looked at the droid commando leader. “Keep them occuppied as long as you can,” her smile turned wicked. “Destroy the station when you're finished.”
“Yes ma'am.” the droid replied.
Ventress nodded and turned to leave, stepping over the dead bodies of the power station's workers. It was time to conduct her real mission...she was not looking forwards to seeing General Loathsome again so soon, but he was no good to the Confederacy imprisoned.

Coruscant, Galactic City, Senate Building, Grand Convocation Chamber

When Padme stepped into the Senate Chamber she was greeted by a roaring cacophony of noise and confusion. No one knew what was going on, or who the apparent terrorists were. She took her seat and waited for the noise to die down which it finally did as Palpatine took the stand before the gathered delegates from across the Republic.
“My friends,” the Supreme Chancellor began. “We must remain calm if we are to react to this unexpected threat from within our very home. Already we have dispatched men to retake the power station and at this very moment they are preparing a plan to do just that.”
“With all due respect Supreme Chancellor,” Padme turned her gaze on the speaker. “But how did this happen in the first place?”
The individual who was speaking was Ursa Padronis, senator from Brionne, one of the group who'd been voicing concerns over remaining within the Republic in light of recent developments. It was no surprise that he was among the first to challenge the Chancellor's words.
“I have already said that our forces are moving to secure the situation,” the Chancellor began, only to be cut off by Senator Padronis.
“And I am not concerned with what is being done about the situation.” he snapped angrily. “I am concerned with the fact that it happened in the first place! What purpose does our newly reborn military serve if it cannot stop acts of terrorism like this?”
The Senate Chamber began to rumble with the beginnings of a fresh argument as Padme sat back in her seat, waiting for the inevitable explosion that was about to take place.

Coruscant, Galactic City, Republic District Power Station

Anakin stepped out of the speeder and approached the command post that had been set up outside the power station's perimeter.
“Status?”
The precint commander shot him an annoyed glance before speaking.
“They're dressed as Senate Guard, that's how they got into the damned facility. Near as we can tell they've shot their way through the entire place, no prisoners.”
Anakin viewed the holocording of the initial attack and felt his stomach knot angrily as he watched helpless civilians gunned down without so much as a thought by the aggressors.
“What are your plans?”
The commander looked at him, his annoyance obviously growing.
“Wait until they make their demands.”
“What?” Anakin asked in amazement. “Wait?”
“Unless you've got an assault team on your belt Jedi, yes, that's exactly what we're going to do. We've confirmed two bombs inside that station, either one goes off we can kiss this district's power grid goodbye.”
“You've got an assault team right here commander.”
Anakin turned at the all too familiar voice and couldn't resist the smile that spread across his face.
“Good to see you troopers.”
They saluted crisply. “Good to be here General.” the lead trooper replied. “Situation?”
“Unknown number of bad guys wearing Senate Guard uniforms inside the power station, two confirmed bombs.”
“Roger that, we can handle it.”
Anakin looked over the three troopers, their custom armor, their specialized weapons and came to the obvious conclusion.
“ARCs?”
Again the lead trooper nodded. “Yes sir, Captain Dekar at your command.” he indicated his two brethren. “Lieutenants Avner and Grenn.”
“You wouldn't know an ARC trooper named Alpha would you?” Anakin asked, memories of his friend coming to mind.
“Yes sir, he was there when we woke up.” Dekar confirmed. “He mentioned you, said you were crazier than any of us.”
Anakin snorted, missing Alpha's snide humor already.
“I don't think I'm that bad, ready to break into a power plant held by terrorists?”
Dekar nodded and Anakin got the sense that his brothers were almost giddy at the prospect.
“General, it would be our pleasure.”