Cassius Olcott was dragged straight out of his hiding place by IDA soldiers, his hands pinned behind his back. He was hauled before Isanne Isard, Director of Imperial Intelligence Bureau. Facing this cold-faced secret police chief, and remembering the atrocities that had spread white terror through the Core Worlds, Cassius nearly collapsed.
"All right, I don't want to waste words. Tell me all your plans and every one of your accomplices. Perhaps I can still grant you some dignity," Isanne Isard said coldly.
Cassius opened his mouth, cold sweat trickling down from his temples. After holding back for a long while, he finally spoke in a trembling voice. "This... has nothing to do with my family... It was all Zaarin's and my personal plan..."
Isanne Isard sneered, lightly tapping the tabletop with her fingertips. Her blade-like gaze stabbed into Cassius. "Whether it has anything to do with your family depends on whether your answers satisfy me..."
She crooked a finger, and an intelligence officer beside her immediately stepped forward and placed a holographic projector before him.
When it activated, Cassius Olcott saw that the Republic Senate Building had already been seized by large numbers of Imperial Stormtrooper soldiers. Vast numbers of senators and senior officials, whether they had participated in the rebellion or not, had all been dragged out. And the one overseeing the Republic Senate Building was none other than Imperial Marshal Ruffan Digorinus!
He also saw that Herman Strak, who had taken part in the earlier conspiracy but had hesitated throughout the rebellion and ultimately remained inactive, had been dragged out of his warship and thrown into the spaceport like a dog.
Finally, he saw that his homeworld, Camaas, had been surrounded by dozens of Star Destroyers. Large numbers of Imperial Stormtrooper soldiers were advancing toward his family