The Wheat and The Chaff [Red Dawn]

[Geneviève Lasedri]

It was time to weed out the traitors. [member="Commander Lusk"] and the clone elite had infiltrated the Imperial Remnant's headquarters on Carida--previously provided through Lasedri's and Levik's dubious hospitality. Of course, the author of the most anti-fascist literature in recent history was not likely to honor any sort of protection agreement for too long. It was a world of opportunity, however.

Outside the barricaded capitol on Chazwa, the Imperial political prisoners--mostly ranking officers and politicians--were lined up before a handful of marionette officials and the 'General Secretary', the red-coated and red-hatted Geneviève Lasedri, and all were surrounded by a legion of clone troopers under her direct command. "Here are your true traitors," she began, waving her hand towards the doomed men and women. "The sins of selfish imperialism have corrupted the Republic in spite of our generosity. They have influenced the Senate to be weak and blindly nationalist rather than steadfast defenders of the people! They would rather we run and hide in our own expansive graveyard, unchallenged, than protect the Republic we vowed to uphold and preserve against the tides of another sinister empire!"

The skies were blue and the air a little chilled by a brisk breeze. It was a perfect day for executing the law. And for executing dissidents.

"They feed on you with their corporations and usurp your sentience with oppression! If we had not stopped them now, they would have spread and infected our worlds, empowering the corporate leeches that assemble in defiance of your natural rights!" If Laseri had anything to her political personality, it was at least charisma. It took conditioning to embed the lies of outright democracy or imperialism, and she would condition to the reverse. And that had to begin with a cleansing. It was a shame, considering how many of the Imperial officers were indeed talented--if economically beset--strategists.

After citations of their 'crimes' from the General Secretary's accomplices, half the captives were brought forward and tied to posts. A company of clones was then called forth, and Commander Lusk was given the orders to dispose of the Imperials.



OOC

The Republic is NOT dead.

While Geneviève will be taking over the capital and attempting to instigate her rule across the Republic's territories, [member="Faith Balor-Organa"] will be leading the Senate-in-exile to arrange a rebellion against Geneviève's plans. All are welcome to choose sides, but the Republic as we know it will ultimately triumph in the end and restore things back to how they were prior to the dominion of Tholatin.

This is a side story event and it is not required that players participate or let the event affect their RPs.

Please do not flood-post this thread. Give the Republic members time to react and help them forge their path to victory.

 

[Commander Lusk]

A cold breeze rolled past as everything went silent. The thousands of eyes stared at Lusk and the execution line of clone troopers, a billions more watched on live TV to what was the death of democracy, to what was against everything Lusk's mother had taught him about the Republic. There was just so much red, so much blood on his hands. He had been the one to secure these prisoners from Carida, to leave a trail of slit throats and dead bodies in his wake. They were just children and he had taken their lives, he had ended them.

Now it was to fall downhill to his younger brothers and sister, to pass the flame of murder. Lusk couldn't let that happen, he knew they didn't have a choice in the matter. Unlike him he was born without the inhibitor chip, he was born to fight as a free man and seeing his family want to do this due to some biotech in their head made him sick, this was not what they were made for, this was perverse this was wrong.

He had blood on him already, but if there was anything he could do to keep his brothers and sisters from becoming like him then he would do it.

"Detail, stand down." Lusk said in a firm voice.

The Spaarti clones shifted to parade rest with their rifles at their sides and in a straight line. Lusk wasn't going to let them fall like this, he'd make the sacrifice for his younger siblings.

"You have all been found guilty of treason to the Republic, and have been sentenced to death." Lusk stepped forward and drew his blaster pistol.

Stepping up to the first captive imp Lusk removed his helmet and stared into the eyes of his prisoner, the Moff he had captured from the school along with his beloved tied up to the post next to him. He looked into him for a moment and there was an understanding, an understanding that soldiers did what they had to, that they had to follow orders. Lusk took a deep breath and much like the slaughtering of a lamb Lusk placed his hand over the Moff's eyes before placing the barrel to the elder man's chest and pulling the trigger.

"Forgive me." Lusk said trying to fight back tears.

A red bolt of energy passed through the moff and Lusk was all but internally screaming at this point. One down, nine to go. One by one Lusk made his way down the line until each body lay limp and slumped against their post.

"Detail, remove the bodies and bring forth more prisoners." Lusk said with a hoarse voice.



[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Serah Oricion]

Yusan stood and watched silently as he saw this. He remembered a long time back when a bill had been passed that would have done this. And here it was happening infront of his eyes as he stood there and shook his head. Beside him was a officer from a friend of his' private military force. "Therin, what I need you to tell me if any of these men have families in the republic, station two legionnaires on any that do and have them in constant contact with Home base... This is too far." He shook his head and pulled the cloak around his body tighter while he otherwise remained silent during each death. The only words he made after each one was a small prayer for the dead and a hand held to his chest.

He was both hoping that one would escape, but knew what would happen if that happened and could not act yet alone. There was being brave and being stupid. Right now, any act to help these people would just get more in danger and probably get himself killed. With a cautious eye though, he let himself look towards any others in the crowd whom might have a discomfort with all of this. His own hood hiding his eyes from the others in this area. Last thing he needed was being recognized after his little speech. Whether that speech did anything or not.

 

[Keira Priest]

Politics were something Keira was never interested in nor claimed to understand. They lent some sort of efficiency to keeping the galaxy functioning as per usual, but oftentimes led to scenarios like these. The executions were necessary to make a point, she knew, and perhaps these people really had committed some form of treason against the Republic she had been assigned to protect, rather directly or indirectly. It wasn't something she knew clearly for herself, and so she didn't raise any vocal protest when each of the nine shots were fired, systematically ending the lives of those deemed unworthy. No, she would never really grasp politics. Not when they took this form.

This was a scene better fit for the remnants of a battlefield rather than the capital of a nation meant to symbolize only the highest democracy and freedom within the known galaxy. And she knew something was wrong, really she did, even as someone whose instincts were better suited for war than for any sort of senate. There was something decidedly off about the Prime Minister, had been shortly after their private retreat on Chandrila. Though she hadn't known the woman personally beforehand, it wasn't difficult to tell when a front was being put on, intentional or no. And this wasn't quite the same Geneviève she had woken up next to that quiet morning. This was someone else.

Everything about this was wrong, down to the armor and helmet she wore that shaped her into something more akin to a symbol than a person. Her position standing at the side of the Minister was eerily similar to the label of attack dog that she had worn in the past, and it felt alien to her. It would be easy to end it all here. One shift of the hand, or a careful application of the plasma blade at her hip, and it would be over. And she almost did it, breathing in and drawing on the ethereal in the same breath. But any preparations were bled away with the exhale, and she remained still, hands still clasped behind her back, the stance she took military. For now she would remain silent.

This was what had to be done, she realized, eyes sliding shut beneath the mask. Whether right or wrong, this was necessary in the moment, and wasn't that all that mattered? Still, she blinked away tears even as they rolled down her face, and for once she was thankful for the apparatus she wore. The same numbness she had thrived upon in the past nearly resurfaced, but she quelled it, allowing herself to feel each death openly and purely through the Force, each life ended serving as a reminder of what had happened here. Something would have to be done in time, but not now, because now she wasn't supposed to care as she had learned to. And even that had begun to fade, replaced again by the volatility she had worn so well. She spoke, voice modulated by the helmet she wore, to the one that had ordered this chaos in the first place, "What do you wish?"

[member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Dish]

He watched them die, and he didn't flinch. Dish wasn't a part of the execution detail, in fact he was no doubt under close watch. He hadn't taken kindly to yet another clone army, filling the shoes once filled by his brothers, and he'd lashed out irrationally. But now he understood, now the man in black armor who was nothing more than a void in the force watched from behind the opaque visor and the grim visage carved onto his faceplate. What they were doing had to be done, to stomp out the Sith in the Republic, to stop them from taking power and destroying everything his brothers had fought and died for all those years ago.

They all had to die.

He wondered to himself privately if this was right, if this was how everything was supposed to happen. Would the leaders of the Republic he'd been born to serve do all this? Even to the man who butchered his foes and took a degree of pleasure in it questioned this. It all seemed so new, so unknown to him. Dish himself had executed plenty of people, killed and slaughtered plenty, but he was supposed to be one of the Republic's dirty little secrets, a last resort, someone who got his hands dirty so that the rest of the Republic could keep their's clean. But now the army, those that represented the Republic as a whole were doing it. Suddenly his perfect government seemed tainted and his actions felt less justified. In his stomach a feeling he knew all to well began to eat at him.

Regret.

He wondered what [member="Cody Jorin"] would've thought of him now, with what his 'father' had become he doubted he'd bat an eyelid. He still respected the man, he was after all the murderous terrorist he was because the sacrifices Dish and all the others Jorin saw as he 'sons' had been relatively forgotten and swept underneath the rug, that and he blamed force users rightly for causing every war now or ever. If Dish asked anyone around who Cody Jorin was, he doubted any would have an answer besides a terrorist determined to somehow kill the force, and to ask what a Jorin clone was would only earn him a confused stare. They had been forgotten, and now they had been replaced. Suddenly he felt the anger burning inside him again, it wasn't right, but nonetheless it was the bitter truth now. Perhaps one day the Jorin's action, or even his, the one and only ARC-052's would bring some justice to those who had fallen.

First though, every threat to the Republic had to be stomped out, destroyed, and left nothing but a distant memory to be forgotten, much like him at this point. Silent as ever, Dish remained at attention, not bothering to look at any of the five clones standing around him. His eyes remained locked on [member="Commander Lusk"] from behind the execution line, watching the young commander take life after life. For once, Dish found himself wishing for the killing to stop, but he knew it wouldn't, and he knew soon he'd be taking part.

[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Yusan Fenn"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Gilamar Skirata]

Gen had her attack dog at her heels, as was expected. The clones stood silently, almost eerily around him. It was strange, very, very strange to him. He either fought alone or with vod and they always had something to say. A Mando's com was never quiet unless radio silence was being taken seriously. The red-clad Mandalorian sighed behind his helmet and looked at the mini map in the upper right-hand corner of his HUD. It displayed every Mandalorian sniper in the area. All of them with their weapons on a swivel, ready to take down anyone perceived as a threat.

Sure, she had her watch dog, but it was always good to have an eye in the sky, and that's what the Shriek-Hawks were there to do.
[member="Keira Ticon"] [member="Geneviève Lasedri"]

 

[Krenis Skirata]

Krenis leaned forward against his desk, forehead resting against the cold metal. This was wrong. It was more than wrong. It was murder. It was Order 66 all over again with a different scapegoat. As of this point, the Lasedri regime was, in his mind, illegitimate and needed replaced with a legitimate and elected government that would not engage in such illegal behavior. He pulled up his comms, setting them for maximum encryption. Under the current regime, it would be treason. Under most other administrations, it would be insubordination at best and treason at worst. So, no matter what happened, he'd need an exit ready. Fortunately, he had been eyeing homesteads on Mandalore and could get a decent one easily enough.

First, to his soldiers. None of those he trained would stoop to such measures, condone them, or otherwise participate. He tapped out a new command order, deploying it to all those under him in the ARC program.

Henceforth, all orders from the current administration are considered null and void having originated from an illegitimate governing authority. No further orders from command are to be followed. I will be instigating activities to depose the current regime and dispose of the fake clone army. Your course from here is up to you. I will not order you to commit what amounts to treason. Those who wish to leave would best to find refuge on Mandalore. I've taught and trained you akin to our culture. Those who wish to join me, secure and strip down the ARC compound. Secure a ship with room for us and our gear. We go mobile until we amass forces and allies to act directly.

The holofeed was still live. Nobody was cutting this one off. No, it was important this would be seen across the republic, no doubt horrifying the many citizens of the republic. Now they saw who they had voted for. What had they expected from one such as her? She was a politician and radical.

He composed another message for @Danger Arcenau, sent with the same identifiers as before and messages for replies. This one was far shorter.
Military counter-revolution in preparation. Will work in coordination with corporate forces.

Footsteps echoed through the hall outside, and then shuffling, followed by a quick shriek that was cut short. Well, so much for the secretary droid. Apparently they were on to him or at least suspicious. He hefted his Wester and slung it across his shoulder. The other ARCs, the ones that would join them anyways, would bring his gear to the ship. The door exploded open and he threw himself down below the durasteel desk as blaster bolts pierced the room. He could get out the window, but only if he gave himself more cover. Unfortunately, none of that existed. Other than the desk.

He stared at it for a few moments. It was heavy, most certainly, but it was worth a shot. Krenis shuffled beneath it, wincing as the scorching hot metal touched his skin, but he gritted his teeth and pushed himself upwards. The metal groaned and then shifted slightly. Muscles burned in Krenis' arms and legs but he forced himself upwards quickly, tilting the massive desk upwards and then he shoved it towards the door. It skidded across the floor and crashed into the entryway, pinning of the clones that was breaching.

Krenis collapsed to his knee for a moment,panting. Then he was up and sprinting for the shattered window. More blaster fire echoed nearby and a bolt slammed into the back of his shoulder, sending him toppling forward. The table rattled as they pushed at it and Krenis crawled forward to the windowsill, flinging himself over the edge onto the rain-spattered roof. Lightning crackled above him. Another blaster bolt slammed into his back, sending him skidding along the cold metal rain.

He yanked the rifle around and pointed in the general direction of his old window, spraying it with fire. Then his comm buzzed.

"Colonel! ARC Team Five is at your location on speeders."

"Good," Krenis grunted, grabbing a hold of the edge of the roof, scanning the storm drenched streets below. Nothing so far, but he could hear voices searching through the roof above. Then came the whine of speeders as two pulled to a stop directly below him.

"Good to see you hanging around, Colonel!" There was some laughter, but Krenis couldn't hear it. His grip failed and he plunged from the roof, landing heavily in the back.

"Go!" He barked, coughing as he tried to pull himself up, but ended up curling in a ball as the injuries flared with pain. But he forced himself up. "You get a ship?"

"Aye colonel, a Hammerhead frigate in for refits. Skeleton crew only, most of those joined us. Recruited some Marines and Navy folks as well."

Krenis nodded and slumped against the seat as the speeders screamed away towards the ship, weaving through traffic and dodging clone-manned patrol vehicles. Krenis had to admit, these new clones were good. Not as good as him though and not as good as the ARCs.

Some time later they screamed up the boarding ramps into the frigate and Krenis staggered out of the speeder. Field medics rushed towards him and stuck bacta patches on the injuries and tried to usher them to a medical bay but he waved them off and pulled himself upright.

"Get me to the bridge and prepare a mass-scale broadcast online. Somebody slice this computer and change the IFF and name to the True Republic. Get us into space and power up the hyperdrive."

He staggered to the bridge and rested against the command console while people scurried about to make preparations. First, he had personal calls to make.

First went to [member="DS-772"] .
Captain, we are undergoing a second Order 66 scale treachery. We both remember the pain that brought to the Republic and the galaxy as a whole. I aim to stop this before it gets much worse. Join me, if you will. Send me the coordinates of you and your men and we will come extract you. I need you, brothers. We can not fight these new clones alone.

Then one to someone who could be a friend, but he was unsure. He would certainly be no friend to this new regime however. It would be a bit terser, however.
Marshal [member="Strider Garon"],
Given recent turn of events in the Republic, it is no longer for me and my men to remain in Republic space. I ask your permission to utilize empty space in Mandalorian territory to rendezvous with those of us who will not bow to another treacherous tyrant. We have no desire to stay long. Only enough to bring our ship up to full-ready status and organize before beginning our resistance campaign. If such a thing is not possible, I understand and will go elsewhere.

"Sir! Transmission is ready to broadcast. On mark three!"

Krenis pulled himself to a full upright position, his blaster wounds obvious beneath the bacta patches and other scrapes and injuries visible across his face and arms.

"My brethren in the Republic, treachery has befallen our Republic from the highest echelons of command. It is a repeat of the infamous Order 66 committed by Palpatine to create his empire. I was there and I saw the pain it caused. I will not allow it to happen again. Abandon the traitors at the top, Lasedri and her cabal. Abandon this new clone army and join us, the..." He paused for several moments trying to come up with a name. "The True Republic in stopping this disaster from destroying everything we fought for."

That was enough for now. He cut the transmission and slumped to the floor as the ship tore from its mooring and headed towards the atmosphere.

"Colonel! Hostile forces inbound!"

Krenis pulled himself to his feet once more.

"Clone navy? And someone bring me my armor!"

"Negative! Techno Union and One SIth! Looks like a raid!" The ensign grabbed his console as the ship shook free under fire from the emplacements.

"Full battle stations then! Target the One Sith ships and power up the guns. We have no tangle with the Union yet."

 

[Tanith Alde]

[member="Krenis Skirata"]

772 Stood grim faced as he listened to the message playing on his helmet's commlink. Then he replayed it again, and a third time just to make sure he'd heard the words correctly. Gods..It was happening again. He gazed around at the helmeted faces of his men, Three dozen clones, and a single dozen soldiers that had been forwarded to him. He knew the loyalty of his men was without question, but he couldn't trust these recruits. He went onto the clone's secure channel and initiated order 227. The clones didn't comment, swarming the dozen unprepared men. Within minutes they were incapacitated and bound together. Only when this was done did he return the man's message.

"This is Captain DS-772. Scion squads reports full fighting strength. We're on Rori, we'll await your imminent arrival"

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

((Just a simple reaction post, hope that's ok. Won't be flood posting)


While Siobhan was trying to spend quality time with her family, news reached her about the Republic executing former Imperial functionaries in public. Well, the news was a bit confused since some reports mentioned civilians, but it seemed former officials of the Imperial Remnant were being shot. That was obviously unpleasant, though many regimes did a lot worse. The shrill socialist rhetoric was a tad alarming though. Wary of indulging in actions that might benefit the Sith too much, though the Republic was extremely battered by the time this mess started, Siobhan decided to freeze Firemane's old contracts with it. Then she went back to playing with adorable, little Morrigan.

Her staff was ordered not to disturb her unless the Socialists tried to export the revolution to Tygara. Siobhan doubted that would happen. Her mood was still a bit foul because she'd been woken up from her beauty sleep.

 

[Kay-Larr]

Kay was stuck in her office, all the while being 'protected' by members of the Prime Minister's army. Voting along side [member="Geneviève Lasedri"] at least gave her a bit of a reprieve from what the other Senators may be going through. But not much. She had only two soldiers in her office with her as opposed to more.

She clenched her jaw as she watched the executions take place. This wasn't what she voted for. By the new laws Kay should be up there with the poor souls being executed. Her only crime? Being naive to think that there was good in everyone and that she could find it. She had hired some Sith, among others, for her slave rescue missions in Hutt Space and such actions are considered treason, even though she played no part in the wars, never killed anyone in cold blood. Her head was almost on the chopping block until the Prime Minister changed her mind, asking for complete and utter loyalty in return. It was why she voted in favour of the Prime Minister. But she didn't vote for this...

Kay shut off the holonet and put her head in her hands, her elbows propped onto her desk. She had to do something. But what? The pair of soldiers in her office just remained almost frozen in place as they watched her. Today was not a good day.