On Golden Bridges

[Herr Vanderhing]

On the surface of Cato Neimoidia within one of the largest bridge cities Herr Vanderhing limped up to a podium in front of many Neimoidians and humans. Vanderhing then spoke into a microphone and his voice echoed across the masses

"People of Cato Neimoidia! Neimoidians, Humans, Droids, Duros, EVERYONE!!! This planet is now in SHAMBLES!!!!! CRIME RUNS RAMPANT!!!! THE POOR WALK OVER THE STREETS!!!! AND THE CORRUPT BUREAUCRACY THAT HAS STARTED THIS TREND DOES NOTHING BUT POINT FINGERS!!!! THEY NOW POINT THERE FINGERS AT ME!!!! They say... T-that I, am a criminal!!! They wrongfully accuse me of organizing the crime on this planet and try to arrest me for it!!! I always have been and always will be a simple owner of a simple ship building company!! BUT NOOOOOOOOOW, THEY PEG THIS AS SOME SORT OF CRIME!!!! DEAR PEOPLE IS IT A CRIME TO EARN CREDITS SOMETHING THAT THIS PLANET USED TO HAVE AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF!!!!"

Vanderhing cried out to the crowd waving his fist in the air several times. There were many poor on the planet or at least in several cities. The poor ones were mostly humans. Many Neimoidians were still rich but wanted to make even more money. So the crowd screeched back

"NO!!!"

Then Vanderhing shouted back to them

"The Republic has FAILED YOU!! Has FAILED ME!!! Has FAILED THIS PLANET!!! And MANY OTHER PLANETS AS WELL!!!! Whatever is left of that beurocratic mess DOESN'T GIVE SPIT ABOUT US!!! THEY PROBABLY DON'T EVEN CARE ABOUT THEIR OLD CAPITAL YUTAN!!! That is whyyyy, I have put my faith, and trust into the Confederacy of Independent Systems!!! They- no we're here to restore Cato Neimoidia to the economic powerhouse it was many years ago!! They have brought their fleet and their army to liberate us from what few Republic loyalists there are left!!! Now I suggest that when the army lands we rise up and help them SCRUB THE FEW REMAINING REPUBLIC SCUM AND ANY OTHER ENEMY GOVERNMENT FROM OUR PLANET!!!!!"

The crowd went wiled and began to cheer

"VAN-DER-HING!!! VAN-DER-HING!!!!! SEP-RA-TISTS!!!! SEP-RA-TISTS!!!!"

Soon after the people began to riot and loot and attack any loyalists they saw

[member="Werah Unon"], [member="Jessica Med-Beq"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Jessica was a little bit ambivalent, as a Jedi Princess, to be fighting the very same Republic she fought for five years ago. But as a Senator of the Techno Empire, now that Charzon was no longer able to act in that capacity, she had to come, and not just because she was apprenticed to one [member="Werah Unon"], the Emperor of the TE. She was nothing but troublesome to his eyes but that was because she sought to become a Jedi in the style of Hart Daele or Kazdan Paratus. Highly intellectual, weaponizing the Force, she knew how to cast a few spells: pyro/cryokinesis, Electric Judgment, Force-cloak, and here there is no Force-nexus to help reduce her energy expenditures. If she proves strong enough, she can chain-cast Electric Judgment. Again, she feels as if her knowledge of all sorts of things like biology, and especially physics, dwarfed her actual power to use the Force based on it. But in a sense she was a Technician counterpart to more politically-oriented Cathul, who was known as a public health expert in Mandalorian space, regardless of any actual medical merits, who were somewhat uneven. She wanted to screen Force-sensitives into an accelerated medical school program, firmly believing that Force-healers were more cost-effective than conventional medicine. Now she was going to aim for a target's thought nodes in the Force before the target could attack, with Julie in tow to teach her and whatever recruits they have found:

"You will swear fealty to the Techno Empire"

"I will swear fealty to the Techno Empire"

"The Techno Empire believes in the knowledge economy"

"The Techno Empire believes in the knowledge economy"

"The Republic's space wizards have failed you"

"How did the Republican space wizards fail Cato Neimoidia?" the mook asked in its anger.

Uh oh, that could mean only one thing: her power in using mind tricks is fading. She had to talk to the bandit the old-fashioned way. While a little aggressive, the bandit was getting increasingly angry while she kept using space magic. Jessica was getting more tired and had to reach for her bowcaster on stun setting before her Force-pool of energy recharged. Julie had to explain the angry, reluctant recruit how the Republic's failures on Cato Neimoidia pertained to space magic. Perhaps Jessica could become one of the main trainers for space magic in the Techno Empire.

"The Republic's Jedi contingent has deserted them"

"Is there anyone among you that can use the Force here? We will undertake basic Force-training here today!"

[member="Herr Vanderhing"] [member="Freanne"] [member="Acaleus Thorn"]

 

[Herr Vanderhing]

The crowds all cheered "Van-Der-Hing!!! Van-Der-Hing!!!" Raising their fists into the air in support as they began to riot in the streets and Vanderhing began to shout

"Now is the time to take back our planet ladies and gentlemen!!!!! NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE US RICH ONCE MORE!!!! REMOVE THE LOYALIST FILTH FROM THE STREETS!!!!" He raised his cane in emphasis "GO!!! GO!!! GOOOO!!!!"

The people threw bricks through windows and looted as loyalist riot police began to suppress them. Vanderhing reached into his pocket and pulled out his comms "Bring in the Battle Droids!!!! NOW!!!!....." He shouted "*Roger, roger*" was replied as dropships began carrying the droid's in. The immediately took formation on the streets with one in front carrying a large blue banner with a Confederate symbol emblemed upon it. One of the droids with a gold circle on its forehead and chest walked up to the Neimoidian with a salute "Your orders sir?!?!....."

"Help the people!!!! Kill the police!!!! NOW!!!!........" Vanderhing yelled back

"Roger, roger!!!! Alright, all units....... Attack!!!!!" The droid shouted letting down his salute

"Yes...... YEEESSSS....... FORWAAARD MARCH!!!!! THE LIBERATION OF CATO NEIMOIDIA HAS BEGUN!!!!!!" Vanderhing shouted as he pointed forward "All hail the Confederacy!!!! All hail the Confederacy!!!! All hail Cato Neimoidia!!!!!......"

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"], [member="Werah Unon"], [member="Aut-X"], [member="Maxerian Gron"]

 

[Causstik Rahn]

Causstik Rahn and his forces marched through the streets of Cato Neimoidia. They were once again being hailed as liberators... It was unbecoming of a warrior... Causstik was a gun for hire, a mercenary built for war. First he found himself under the employ of Sith on Artisia, now he was under the employ of Jedi separatist on Cato Neimoidia. The Trandoshan forces marched below the great bridge that held the city. Here he and his army fought the remnants of the Republic forces. Great hulking war beast smashed into the Republic lines. Augmented Rancors charged massive enemy tanks. Firing their mechanized artillery shoulder cannons as they did.

The Trandoshan warriors marched through the slums of the city above. Here is where the Humans resided and the Republic forces were most prominent. Causstik's troops breached and cleared building after building. They found cover in the trash strewn streets. Suppressive fire, move up, grenade. Rinse, cycle, and repeat. The humans here were tired of the oppressive rule of the Nemoidians and saw the resurgence of the Separatist as a call to the times of the old. When Nemoidian rule reigned. So they fought tooth and nail for the Republic. They fought using guerrilla warfare tactics. Striking from the shadows or crowds and then retreating.

Causstik was here to stomp them out. Regardless of what they believed. He charged across the open field of what use to be a public park. Massive hulking Drouk's laid down artillery fire on the enemy building at the end. Still machine gun fire raked across the charging Trandoshan's. They reached the building stacked on either side. Molotov's fell from the roof below atop the Trandoshans. Their armor shrugged the fire off. Causstik layed a thermite charge on the door. "Breaching!"

[member="Herr Vanderhing"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

"Come on, Summer, this is your chance to provide us with air cover and support Herr's troops as they fought on ground"

A few years later and rebels calling themselves loyalists have surfaced on Cato Neimoidia, presumably related to the Republic Sure, they had riot police at their disposal but riot police with rubber slugs is useful only against B1s or BX droids at best. She had a chance and a half to prove that she could be a decent ground commander, too. Sitting inside a MTT-X that serves as her mobile headquarters, with no ability to carry droid troops onboard, and sitting on the lower deck of the vehicle. She took care to position the tanks as to force the loyalist troops out of the main bridge, that is, two MTT-Xs were wide enough to completely block that bridge all to themselves, positioned sideways, while vulture droids and tri-droids were deployed overhead the bridge with Summer at their head. Hopefully the turbolaser's inability to fire dead ahead unless at high elevations won't prove to be too much of a hindrance, she thought.

"[member="Herr Vanderhing"], this is Jessica, Summer is there with vulture droids and tri-droids to provide air cover, over"

[member="Causstik Rahn"] [member="Summer Sovereign"] [member="Maxerian Gron"] [member="Werah Unon"]

 

[Eli-Mae Forrest]

Summer would hear her master and she was already ready. She was in her flight suit and had her helmet under her arm. She would climb into the cockpit of her fighter and lower the hatch. She knew she would have droids to back her in this fight she felt good. As soon as she closed the cockpit she would hit the ignition switch and feel the engines roar to life under her. She would check and double check all systems ready for a fight. She would then take flight. As she left the hangar she would hear the droids behind her come online and fall into position. They would fly down to the bridge and get in position to cover the ground units. "right over you master." She would say into her headset. She had recently been trained by [member="Werah Unon"]. He had taught her a lot and she had seen first hand what these droids could do and that was just on low power...

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]
[member="Causstik Rahn"]
[member="Herr Vanderhing"]

 

[Maxerian Gron]

Maxerian was among the crowd when this all started. He was wearing his usual but on a world like Cato Nemoidia at least he didn't stick out too much. He knew what was about to start, heck this is what he was hired for. He looked around between those in the crowd, among the mix of races. Nemodian, Human, Duros, so many. He had a good number of weapons hidden all around him under his armor, and what not. He looked up as Vanderhing began to speak, crossing his arms. He pushed his way among the crowd breaking out as the Viceroy began to speak up.

Oh yes, Maxerian knew where this was heading so he was setting himself up in a good position, and that's when it began. Maxerian connected his headset to the main CIS line, as he nonchalantly drew his blaster pistol. The riot was starting as civilians fought police. From the corner of his eye he caught one of the loyalist about to shoot a human civilian. Keyword: About. From under his arm he hid his gun aiming and then with a slight squeeze bang the man was down.

"Maxerian Gron, calling in," Maxerian spoke in on his communications headset. He spotted the CIS troops first flying down in their own transports, and it was then as he rushed along the streets that he noticed another group fighting the republic. Transdoshan's by the look. "This is Gron calling in, it seems we have some unexpected company fighting the republic as well, Transdoshans by the look, where do you want me?" All the while he quickly took down any armed republic loyalists with ease. This was child's play for him.

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]
[member="Summer Sovereign"]
[member="Causstik Rahn"]
[member="Herr Vanderhing"]

 

[Herr Vanderhing]

The droids marched forward with an in sync stomp towards the riot police and immediately took fire at them. Alongside fought the battered Neimoidian people assaulting every loyalist in sight. One by one the riot police fell as the droids marched towards the capital building each formation carrying a large blue CIS banner in the back. Behind all the formations Vanderhing limped forward with a sneer, shadowed by a battle droid Commander, his advisor Genf Orkay, and an entourage of Neimoidian officials he's chosen for his cabinet

"I-I-I'm going to be the King of Cato Neimoidia!!!....... Me!!..... The nobody that started off as a measly servant boy for the mob!!!......" Vanderhing whispered to himself with a shaky twitchy smile just strolling past all of the discarded corpses and downed droids

[member="Maxerian Gron"]
[member="Summer Sovereign"]
[member="Jessica Med-Beq"]
[member="Causstik Rahn"]