*Han turned, and whispered to the guards*

"Have a nice flight boys, the three of us can handle ourselves"

*Han winked at his cousin*

"All taken care of, Master Solo."

-on the surface of Coruscant a mob began to grow. They were advocates of the people and the freedom of Coruscant. BSD was one of them. One of the leaders of the group began to speak-

Grab your arms, we will remove these parasites that threaten our well being.

-shots were heard from a ways away. Most likely in acceptance of the what the speaker had said. BSD stood in the middle of the croud of about six thousand wearing a white T-shirt, blue pants that were too loose for him and a blaster on his hip. He was ready to fight for his freedom. He knew that any invading forces would make life diffrent for him and his friends. Maybe for the better, but also maybe for the worse. The speaker continued his speach. He pulled up a child onto the stand.-

If I have to die for this little brother today, well then I'm a dead mother f****r.

-Cheers came from the croud-

ooc:bump

'Police General?'

The secretary looked up at Xarrin incredulously. She raised the card in her hand, seemingly comparing the two.

"Yep, that's me, sweetie."

'I could have sworn that you were honorably discharged last week.'

Xarrin just shrugged, as if it was only a minor thing.

"Well, someone real high up rehired me, see- they got me doing undercover work."

She shook her head again, tapping a few keys on her data terminal. If all had gone well- and Zack's contact was worth the credits- then his file would come up, and all would be in order.

'Your file is here.... but I don't see how... I was never informed...'

Xarrin nodded knowingly, glad his story fit so well into hers.

"Yeah- that's because I'm doing undercover jobs!"

The secretary sighed again. She glanced out the window, surveying the view from one of the highest levels on Coruscant.

'Alright. You can go in, now...'

Xarrin swaggered into the office, smirking all the while with a grin that broadcasted an absolute confidence in his men. His men, who were right now swarming in through the exits Crae had opened at a computer terminal on a lower floor. The Governer was a pasty-faced, stupid looking fellow- the kind of guy who got into office because he could be controlled like a dovin bassal on a Vong coralskipper.

Which was fine with Xarrin.

"Hey, mack."

'You...' the Governer started, 'Crae! You just cost my government a load of cash, covering up-'

"Blah, blah blah. Honestly, I'm happy I cost you money. Shove your indignation sideways up a bantha, buddy- I'm here to talk business."

The Gov looked at Xarrin, eyes widening at the black trenchcoat he wore.

"Oh, my coat. Yes, makes it easy to conceal weapons... but you won't be telling anyone about me. So I won't conceal them."

Xarrin calmly pulled out his Virel & Sienar pistol, pointing it openly at the governer's head.

'Wh-what do you w-want?'

"I want Coruscant. Give me the codes for your computer. Now."

The man's hand inched toward a small red button, most likely an alarm. Xarrin's arm moved reflexively, training the sights on the pasty-white fingers and firing. The blast crippled his hand, and he fell from his chair to the floor, wretching with pain.

"The codes. NOW!"

'62... 342... 1942... Belsavis Duro Asthentia.'

"Good."

Xarrin fired one shot into the puppet governer's head, and sat down at the computer, typing in the code- and the fool had really given him the right one. He began inserting commands cooly.

Change this... there... Governer: Xarrin Crae. Insert the profile... erase this nasty little record... and... remove those bunch from the council. Perfect.

As he did so, his forces burst in the door with a bang.

'Xarrin?' Asked Zacharov.

"It's done. We're in... the security forces are currently mobilizing to remove all the corrupt assholes from the planetary council. Within a day, we'll have propaganda up all over the planet- and soon enough, a force to stop the New Republic."

'Ve're actually going to do it- ve're ack-tually going to save Coruscant.'

"Yes, we are. Thank the Force."

The New Republic task force emerged from hyperspace and continued insystem.

It was at this time in a small compartment closet converted into a slicer's office that the resident slicer was attempting to sift through Coruscant's main database and began to pick up a few descrepencies in the data flow.

Somebody was attemping to change the data of the higher circles. This intrigued the slicer, it had taken him over a month just to figure out how to gain access to those files from this ship. He set to finding out just what was going on...


Meanwhile on the bridge Leia stared over the sensor technician's shoulder as his readout showed ships approaching.

"The orbital defense force is coming out to meet us. Even if they came in full force we could probably down them, they barely have any military assets at all" He announced.

"Humor them" Leia threw over her shoulder as she left the station. In the large main viewport of the bridge Coruscant's bright daytime side glowed brightly.

"We're here..." Leia mumbled under her breath to nothing and nobody in particular.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The wheel clicks...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



>>Operation 1: Labyrinthine
>> Encoding Status: Active
>>Passive Recording archiving


The Unitech Diagnostic Systems Diverters were in place. Cicsero looked at his palm datasearch device powered by the latest advanced datasearch engine 14C.

It was amazing, really, how Gormul, Intel's resident Research and Developing Agent, used everyday items to enhance the reach and abilities of Intel's children.

The Analysis/Encoding computers had nearly finished all the subroutines. Aided by the Intellex Automaton IV Internal Computer (borrowed from a nearby companion), there was no system left uncopied.

The "bridges" created by the systems diverters would leave him virtually undetectable. And even then, with hackers, inferior constructs and the general techy lowlifes that Coruscant housed he would be extremely hard to pinpoint.

He looked at the archive and smiled.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Seventeen diverter systems installed...and that is just here.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

A tightbeam signal was sent to it's proper recepticle and Cicsero started to close operations.

Upon entering the area, he was pleased to find that the transport had arrived with the needed items.

Thousands upon thousands of the MerenData 45-T Info Cores

It took him a while to get the automation devices ready to retool his "companions" but he had the time. The a/e computers would take time, especially with the more encrypted files.

He disconnected the Automaton Series IV and moved it back to it's host. Snapping the encasing back into place, there was not much left for him to do.

Slowly, one by one, his companions left to reenter service.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Everything was copied and none too soon for it looks like there were visitors.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


He was about to dismiss the efforts as one of Coruscant resident geeks who sat behind terminals day in and out finding out ways to hack into planetary operations computers when his shadowing devices picked up the localized area of interest.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> High Command Database -Main<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He grinned a rather grim smile.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The New Republic is here..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->



He pulled out a single datapad and flipped it in his hand. The software device on his pad would work to his benefit...especially with everything tightbeam.

The datapad he held (TC-40 Padlink) needed to connect to a mate for it to really be effective.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Where to go? Where to go?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->


Before he left the area, he pulled up an image up (one of millions) from the security systems.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> So a revolution begins anew does it? What happens when revolutionaries go to war?<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

The irony was almost overwhelming.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> ..and this is the reason why noone is being alerted..<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

In the middle of the image stood a scruffy looking fellow in a black trenchcoat, recognized as the former Head of Security, Coruscant. He had a weapon outstretched and the Planetary Governer was sprawled back, his hand mangled by a presumably earlier blast.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Fool<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

He saw that the cyphers were recording a data change. One where this assassin was the new Planetary Leader. They seemed to be so hell bent on making sure there was data confirming his imaginary office that they hadn't stopped to realize that while computers can be fooled, people couldn't.

Everyone in the "planetary government" (such as it was) would know the usurper was a fake.


<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Unless he plans to strongarm...<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

..more data was recovered and sent via tightbeam. He turned his gaze from the monitor and shut it down.

His last companion left.


The New Republic prided itself on it's moral stance (however misplaced) especially against the Empire.

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> The black rook takes the black king...but alas,...the White Queen has yet to make an appearance on the board.



Soon enough.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->




Ciscero laughed to himself as he left the area.

Xarrin Crae sat, stone faced, behind his desk. Surrounded by his new advisors- Zacharov, mostly, and his lieutenants- he shook his head, looking at the datapad one more time before sighing. Unbelievable... so much for the New Republic being humanitarian.

The plan had worked; with recruitment posters and heart-wrenching propaganda promotions for the Coruscant Planetary Defence Forces, recruitment rates had more than doubled over the past week. The polling rates showed no one seemed to care they didn't know the man in charge; a carefully-planned series of speaches and rallies had stirred up the patriotism within the people.

"Look at this. Look at this kriffing @#%$. Who are we kidding?"

'Vell, zeir fleet is quite big, yez...'

"It's not big, it's huge. They'll be in range in a half an hour... we've got nothing."

'It waz the best vee could do-'

"I know that, damnit man, don't think I don't! We just can't match them. They've come to crush us, and we can't stop them."

'Vee knew all along vee couldn't.'

"I know. I know..."

The datapad on Xarrin's desk beeped like a Naboo songbird. Annoying, given it's happy tone- considering what was about to happen. Another messy assault... Xarrin hit the button, and the hologram of his Holonet Security officer sprang forth. He was skinny, young, but not too young. Xarrin knew he was younger than he looked... apparently spending a life in front of a data terminal aged you.

'Sir, someone hacked into the primary planetary computer.'

"Again?"

'Yessir.'

"Who was it?" Xarrin asked, wearily.

'Who is it always? Probably some anonymous kid in the basement of his parent's two-floor appartment, tapping on his holocomp.'

"What did they want?"

'Seems he was looking at your profile, sir.'

"I see. Thank you. Crae out."

Zacharov looked up at Xarrin, appearing very worn all of a sudden. He wasn't cut out for this, and it was only because he was a good friend that he'd stuck around, Xarrin realized.

'Zey're getting suzpizious.'

"Let them. We don't plan to keep this office forever, just until the NR's siege is over... besides, it looks like we'll be dead soon."

The both sighed simultaneously, then Xarrin grinned wrly.

"Can they touch us on the ground?"

The Ground Forces officer, Krillion, spoke up. 'Yes, but at a great cost to them. Their forces aren't trained for fighting here; they don't know the complexes like we do.'

Xarrin rubbed his temples. "Tell me again why we aren't just working out a peaceful surrender?"

'A peaceful surrender wouldn't be peaceful, sir.' Said his Political Officer, Daeril. 'There would be riots; no one would accept the surrender.'

"Are you sure?"

'Yes, sir.'

They couldn't do this. So many people would die, and in the end, they would be fighting for nothing. They would lose.

"Then maybe... Zack, get Organa Solo on the line. Maybe, just maybe, we can save some lives today."

Above the fleet had spread out into an attack formation, though the only ship with it's shields up was the Mon Cal cruiser the main political leaders were on, and that was only standard security protocol.

Leia had just about opened her mouth to voice an order for a comm line into Coruscant when the comm tech announced that he was picking up a transmission through a nearby orbital communications buoy back to Corellia. She walked over to the station.

"The encoding on it is top priority, and it.... is addressed to you"

The tech stopped a moment to double check the destination.

"Yeah, it is being broadcast to your office, which is why we picked it up. Do you want to take it in private?"

Leia paused only a moment in thought. "No, I'll take it here."

The tech vacated the station and Leia sat down, then logged in and opened a direct line, watching the data scroll by as the computer worked.

"It's out of the.... but how?"

She was cut off as the line opened and she was forced to snap to a stately attention.

"Chief of State Leia Organa Solo"

With a crack, and a small pop, the aging holocomm spat forth the image of the Leia. Xarrin put on his most roguish smile, and eyed her. No use groveling, so he wouldn't...

"Well, Princess, hello again! How are you today? Sitting on top of a rather large fleet, I see. Oh, don't seem so surprised... I told you I'd be doing something about this, and lookey here, now I'm the governer!"

In an instant, Xarrin Crae dropped the smile, and faced the holocomm fully. Sighing, he went ahead.

"To be perfectly honest with you, Princess, I'll tell you what you already know; you're about to come over here, with Xylon Hexyra and his gigantic fleet, and kill about two hundred thousand of my young men and women in uniform. Because we can't stop you worth a twopenny damn- no one in the galaxy can match your fleet.

"But as I see it, you're one of those Jedi, and probably don't want to waste three million innocent people on the ground, or two hundred grand not-so-innocent folks in the air. And I'd really rather not see my boys die."

Xarrin flashed a brief smile before continuing.

"My Political analyst tells me if I surrender to you without a fight, then the total number of people who will die in the rioting will be larger than those killed in a siege. So there are two options I really don't want to take.

"So, for a short time, I'm on your side. One way or another, whether I like it or not- which I kriffing well don't- Coruscant will land in New Republic hands. I'm not a warmonger. We're going to figure out the way that can get done with as few deaths on either side as possible. Any ideas, Princess?"

<!--EZCODE ITALIC START--> Looming to the fore of the massive communications system, Xylon stood placid to the bearing of regal stars in fire. His lips quivering faintly, his desolate voice soon pounded at the corridors.<!--EZCODE ITALIC END-->

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--> "…Our time is running low…"<!--EZCODE BOLD END-->