HoloNet News War! Corellia under Imperial Assault!

[The Gatekeeper]

In response to THIS THREAD.​

Screens across ISC space and elsewhere cut to a blue screen suddenly, interrupting scheduled programming with the holonet news symbols. A voiceover speaks quickly, coming across as slightly hurried and altogether rather breathless.

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you live to Corellian News Network main studio, where anchor-man Chetubetcha has urgent news regarding the safety of Corellia."

The blue fades, replaced by a close up of legendary CNN achor-man Chetubetcha, who seems to be holding the camera that he is broadcasting from himself. Footage shakes as dust rains down from the ceiling behind his head. The legendary news reporter seems shaken, with a small trickle of blood running down from the side of his face.

His makeup, however, remains excellent.

"If you are receiving this broadcast then it means the ISC navy's attempts to bypass the signal blockage is working - Corellia is under attack by the Sith Empire! Stormtroopers are marching through the streets, launching strikes on anything that they deem to be important for their assault. As you can see..."

The video footage moves, showing that there is an almost destroyed news studio around the presenter, with a massive hole in the side of the wall. In the distance, down the street, streaks of blaster fire can be seen even as ISC troopers and Sith troopers seemingly take turns in charging and counter-charging each other. Bodies fall by the dozen even in the brief amount visible before Chatubetcha returns the camera to himself.

"... they have already attempted an assault on my life and destroyed much of the studio. This, gentlebeings, is nothing less than an act of outright war! Citizens of the ISC, the time has come for you to rise up and defend our way of life!"

From off screen a voice calls out.

"Drop the camera! Drop the camera or we will fire!"

The scene spins as he turns the camera, catching a trio of stormtroopers as they climb in through the hole in the wall, blaster rifles trained on the reporter who seems to growl.

"Freedom of speech and of the press - I'm not stopping this broadcast!"

One of the troopers turns to his allies before cursing.

"Command says no broadcasts are to leave the planet... call in the bombers."

The camera shakes as the reporter rages.

"You can't do that!"

The Imperial looks back at the reporter for a second - before firing twice, blasting the reporter and the camera to the ground. The camera skids off to one side, showing Chetubetcha tryng to crawl away, before the Imperial takes two steps forward and blasts him in the back of the head. With the camera still rolling, the trooper then turns to it and there is a flash of a blaster bolt before the screen goes black.

It is replaced by the blue screen and the voiceover, who seems even more shaken up, stuttering for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"W-We now return to your regularly scheduled episode of "Every Rose needs a Thorne". My the Force have mercy on us all..."

 

[Kaisa Vanloa]

For what seemed like the umpteenth time, Kaisa had managed to find herself a small respite only to have it interrupted by fucking insanity. Normally the insanity that ruined her solitude was Jedi related - there always seemed to be some padawan somewhere doing something that gave her migraines.

This time, however, the insanity was on a far grander scale. The Sith had engaged in open war with the ISC, and not just in some random skirmish that had gotten out of hand. The maniacal Empress had invaded Corellia, one of the most well known worlds in the entire galaxy.. and very deep into the galactic Core. This was brazen even for the Sith, and Kaisa couldn't help but think it was only the first step in a plan that would see the galaxy burn.

From her quarters on Brighthome there was little Kaisa could do, but she felt in her heart she needed to do something. The Sith couldn't just keep getting away with shit like this, though as far as Kaisa was concerned, they had probably bitten off more than they could chew in taking on the ISC. She only hoped the bite was enough for the Sith to choke and die.

Deciding the first step for the Jedi was to make something very, very clear. They were not going to remain neutral. They were not going to be a passive bystander in this and just hope the ISC did the work for them. They would muster everything they could - including the new fighting force they had gained on Ailon - and they were going to stand tall and pick a fucking side.

Pulling out her laptop, Kaisa calmed herself with a sigh before beginning to record video.

As I'm sure you are all well aware by now, the ISC is under attack. This blatant and unwarranted act of aggression by the Sith will not go unanswered. I believe in the ISC and their ability to defend themselves from such malicious aggression, but I also believe that when push comes to shove, you stand tall next to your allies.

I want to make it very, very clear that the Jedi Order aligns itself with the ISC and we will not hesitate to defend our friends and allies with everything that we have.

The Sith may think themselves infallible conquerors; would be gods amongst men who believe they have the right to invade and destroy whatever they see fit. But I am here to tell them, and tell you, that as long as a single Jedi draws breath we will be a bastion against the darkness.

Citizens of the ISC, know that you can count on the Jedi Order. Believe in us as we believe in you. Stand in the face of tyrants and do not give up or give in. You are stronger together than the Sith realize.

May the force be with you.

With that, Kaisa would end her recording and send the video immediately to every news outlet she could think of as well as posting it herself on the holonet. It would come in on official Jedi channels to verify its authenticity and would likely broadcast across the galaxy in short order.

Her work far from unfinished, Kaisa would start making official contact with the ISC government. It seemed high time for her to officially meet President Thorne, though she wished it could have been under better circumstances.

As the holocall line trilled, Kaisa poured herself a tall glass of Corellian whisky.

It had always been her favorite.

 

[Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl]

It was a longstanding rule that Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl was not to be woken from his midafternoon nap, but collectively his aides decided that this was simply too important and drew lots to decide who would face the Senator's wrath for a chance to deliver news that represented a monumental shift in galactic history.

The Sith had attacked the ISC, bringing the most powerful faction in the galaxy into the conflict. No longer did Kashyyyk, Kuat, and a few scattered Jedi and FWA worlds stand alone against the Sith Empire. It was by far the biggest news he'd received since this conflict began, but the Wookiee felt no joy upon hearing the report of the Sith's attack on Correllia. Instead, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl looked even older and more tired than ever before.

Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl had come under fire in the past for his criticism of the ISC's neutrality; criticism that had ultimately led to the ISC cutting off relations with the FWA following the Sith's bombardment of Kashyyyk. More vain leaders might be tempted to rub the turn of events in the ISC's face, or even to play the neutrality card in the presence of an 'isolated ISC/Sith war', but any thought of that was banished from his mind as the holovid in his office replayed the desperate distress call from Correllia. Now was not the time to dig up old divisions, nor to use the tragedy befalling another faction to score political points.

"Get me a line to Ordalos" he said, not knowing if the Vice President still accepted calls from Kashyyyk (@Altaris).

"Vice President... I'm sorry." For all the history between him and Galek, Aezzairrfhowrrhudrrl meant it; although he'd privately hoped that the ISC might decide of their own accord to enter the war, that was very different from the invasion that was playing out at the expense of Correllia's people. "A fleet from the FWA is currently on it's way to Correllia; with your permission, they can assist in its defense against the Sith?" He knew how jealously the ISC guarded its borders, but also that they'd been willing to work together with the FWA before in the face of a common enemy...

...which the Sith now were.

 

[Darth Trelain]

Darth Trelain had watched the broadcast repeatedly, fingers drumming on the desk in front of her. She steadied her breathing as her mind churned. The Empress had made the decision unilaterally, and now, Lord Trelain would be left with the fallout. And what fallout it would be.

She prided herself on knowing things before they happened, but this one she hadn't anticipated, and it made her angry. She had yet to figure out how she felt about the decision to invade. It was perhaps a foolish move to attack another government of such power when coming off of a war with the FWA, but then... Trelain was no fan of the Empire. The "Sith Empire" was barely that anymore. It was made up of people who had lost sight of what it meant to be "Sith." They all mirrored Palpatine, but Sidious had had the entire galaxy in his grasp and let it all slip away... twice.

To be Sith wasn't to be an Empress or even a Council member, and far too many "Sith" had lost sight of what the Code actually meant. They were enslaved to their systems. Perhaps conflict - even defeat - would be good for the Order. A real and genuine purge.

Hmmm, she hummed to herself as she pushed to her feet and began to pace around the room.

Insurance policies, she said to herself with a nod. It was time to begin preparing for what may come: win or loss.

She walked over to the desk and pressed a transmitter on her desk. Summon the Enforcement Director and the SIN director. Separate meetings, she said. One for if they won and one for if they lost.

Trelain closed her eyes and pressed her steepled fingers against the bridge of her nose. She was playing a dangerous game, but she always was. Such was the nature of being a true Sith.

 

[Newton]

Newton was sitting in his office desk, doing some paper work. Another boring day at the office. Until his secertary droid L3 barged into the office. "Master! Master, switch to the holonet news! It's important!" Newton turned his attention to his to her, and then on his terminal he switched to the holonet news. Oh? The Sith has attacked the ISC? The Sith have gotten bold. Last Newton knows that that their rival religious order the Jedi have been chased off their 'capital' world and are so backwards and really hopeless that they pose no threat to the Sith at all. The FWA are also inept as a whole.

The reasons for why the Sith are attacking the ISC don't matter too much in the great scheme of things. Newton would contemplate. This is an opportunity. Although Blackwell Technologies can make big profits in times of peace. War is really where the credits and crowns come in.

"L3, send private messages to President Thorne (@Sreeya) and Defense Secretary (@Nefieslab). Let them know that we are offering them and the ISC a generous discount in addition to our usual discount for our products for purchase effective now. Weapons, vehicles, ships, droids. Droid capital ships. Anything of use to them, lethal or otherwise" the CEO of Blackwell Technologies himself ordered. The ISC are very good customers, so Newton would return the favor and entice them to purchase more. The ISC was weakened by the Killiks were they not? They might be tempted to purchase more of those droid capital ships perhaps.

"Yes Master" With that, now Newton would muse on this. It it's going to be fun to speculate how this war is going to turn out. The Sith and ISC are the strongest governments in the galaxy. A war between them would shake the galaxy. "Lets see how this plays out..." Newton muttered as he would lean back in his comfortable spaceleather office chair.

 

[Emryc Thorne]

Emryc wasn’t entirely surprised. But he didn’t take any action without contingencies in place. He knew the galaxy would wait for his answer. He had done the formalities of meeting with his advisors and Executive Council, but he had always suspected this would come one day.

“Citizens of the galaxy,” Emryc’s voice boomed as he addressed his people, the channels being routed out throughout the galaxy, “Since our conception, we have valued our neutrality. It has allowed us to grow our very own ecosystem and thrive as a government. My commitment has been to the people first above all and keeping us out of senseless battles. However, that commitment also extends to the protection of all those within ISC’s borders. We prevailed through the fight with the Syndicates, and our enemies learned exactly what happens when ISC citizens are threatened. They have learned we do not take strikes against our people lightly. We are not so proud that we would refuse help and we welcome it - whether it be from Alliance planets, the Jedi or any others that wish to aid our cause. However, we will continue to maintain our neutral stance and will not be forging any formal long term alliances in the midst of this.”

He paused there, his eyes narrowing slightly, “To the Sith, I say this to you directly: I will not come to the negotiation table unless it is to accept your unconditional surrender. In the meantime, I hereby declare our nations at war. Your engagements with us will not end at us defending our borders. We will mobilize. We will strike you where you are weak. You will witness the collapse of your Empire. That is a promise.”

Emryc switched off his feed, deciding to keep his address brief. He called up Jaikus to get the children to a safe location. His next call was to a top agent within the Bothan Spynet.

“Get me the best slicers and pilots we have,” He said simply, “I have a mission for them.”

 

[Dr Ilana Morata]

Dr. Morata watched the news report without flinching. Thankfully, Silvi was in school. She didn't need to see this broadcast. Or maybe she did; maybe then she would finally listen to her mother and drop the ridiculous talk of becoming a Senator. But either way, whether she liked it or not, wars needed two things:

Munitions, and bandages.

And MorataCorp would always be there to provide the bandages.

Clicking off the broadcast, she paced towards the holopad she had set into one glassy wall. The entirety of it rippled to life; a Fondorian aide's face materialized, and gave the Doctor a nod.

"Mobilize the Kuatian medical frigates, and notify President Thorne( @Sreeya ) that MorataCorp will treat and request to mobilize the wounded to the closest medical station."

"Understood, ma'am."

She was sure Emryc would already request for MorataCorp's services, as one of the largest shareholders. However, it would not hurt to be prepared. War was bitter, cruel, and unkind, and the fallout would be equally harsh. They had to be prepared, regardless of the outcome.

 

[Darth Tiamat]

Stunned silence.

For the first time in her life everything was strangely quiet, even the thousands of thoughts and calculations that ran through her mind every waking minute had stopped entirely. The holonet continued to replay the death of the reporter, images of the Empire and its troops swept through every place she had set foot; everything was either scorched or burning, bodies laid everywhere. It was surreal.

Normally the experienced Sith Master was desensitized to such images; death was a natural occurrence in her work and among the order. However, this was different, this felt like a part of her was under attack too. This was her home: Corellia, and despite all the terrible things that happened to her there, it was home at the end of the day, it was protected, and now seeing how vulnerable it seemed under the Empire's attack, there was a different type of coldness that ran through her veins. Her attention was suddenly brought back to the present as a timer sounded, signaling her Life Day spiced cake was finished; she had been in the middle of baking when the holonet broke news.

Emryc came on with a statement over the holo and she listened, knowing very well how much the ISC meant to him, knowing very much so his ability to hold his promise. She knew... and that brought unease. Her thoughts started to speed up again, this time it felt like chaos inside her head, a feeling as though she was being pulled in many directions as she had to contemplate on so many decisions. She waved her hand, the holo shutting off as she stood over her cake, palms pressing into her countertop and she breathed in deeply.

The move by the Empire has put them in a precarious situation, was the Empress this foolish to approve such a blatant attack? Were they testing the ISC? To see just how mobilized they really were? It seemed like a waste of resources to launch such a massive attack, a gamble that the Empire did not efficiently analyze those odds. She quickly switched on her holopad, looking for any notification and data streaming in from her sensors, relieved to see they did not touch her work to harm her home. The woman let out a small sigh, but that did not make her feel any better.

Perhaps she didn't feel better because she was chained to an ideal she did not feel was earned.

Especially when it came between her and what she truly did deserve.