In another section of the Temple, Mace Windu, Yoda, and several other Jedi Knights and Masters were cutting through Ultron drones to protect the younglings.
They cleared the surrounding drones temporarily, and Yoda directed the children toward a secure location within the Temple.
More drones began targeting the Padawans, but Jedi Master Tera Sinube, along with Masters Tiin and K'Kruhk, repelled the attackers with Force pushes.
"Come along, little ones," Shaak Ti said, guiding the children to a safer section of the Temple. "Stay close. Follow me."
Masters Yoda and Windu moved through the corridor, joined by Kit Fisto and Ki-Adi-Mundi.
They soon passed a shattered wall and witnessed the devastation unfolding across the city.
"The city is under siege!" Windu declared.
"Defend the city, we must!" Yoda commanded. "All Jedi to arms. Those who can remain, ensure the younglings' safety. The rest must fight."
Not since the days of the Old Republic had Coruscant been attacked so viciously. Yet history seemed determined to repeat itself in one form or another.
"Oh, come on!" Peter exclaimed, webbing several Ultron drones into a makeshift wrecking ball and swinging it with full force into another cluster.
"Move!" Ahsoka shouted to the large group of civilians behind her, whom she, Barriss, Peter, Thorne, Jack, Reese, and several other clones and Coruscant Guard had been protecting.
Chaos surrounded them as seemingly endless drones emerged from nowhere, causing people to scatter in panic.
"Damn machines!" Jack cursed. "Where the hell did these things come from?!"
"These aren't Separatist droids," Thorne observed, momentarily clubbing one drone with his rifle stock before returning to rapid fire.
"Then what are they?" Barriss asked, Force-pushing several drones away from the fleeing civilians.
Suddenly, blurred silver-blue streaks began racing around them.
Drones exploded into countless fragments, some swept away and shattered against whatever hard surfaces they struck.
Within moments, several more silver and blue blurs passed through the area, circling the entire perimeter.
The clones paused their blaster fire as a twenty-something man skidded to a halt before them, holding a drone's head like a high-speed projectile.
The man hurled the drone head directly into another machine, the high-velocity impact denting and destroying it instantly.
Brushing the remaining metal debris from his hands, he turned to the somewhat stunned but relieved clones.
"Hey, Pietro. Good to see you joining the party," Peter called out cheerfully.
"Sorry I'm late," the Sokovian said. "Had to get some civilians to a shelter."
"It's fine. You're here now," Peter replied.
Pietro nodded and surveyed the ongoing chaos.
"What's happening, Pietro?" Ahsoka asked. "Are we being attacked by the Separatists?"
"We already established that wasn't the case," Commander Thorne interjected.
"No, you're right," Pietro's voice carried such coldness that it made Peter deeply uncomfortable, and to a lesser extent, Ahsoka, Barriss, and several clones who had worked with him before.
It was disturbing to hear the usually relaxed and cocky Pietro sound so grave.
"Pietro, what's wrong—"
"It's Ultron."
"Come again? Who?" one of the clones asked.
However, Peter froze in realization, his white lenses widening.
"Ultron? You mean that Ultron?"
"What other one would there be?" Pietro replied dryly.
Ahsoka and Barriss exchanged confused glances before the latter spoke up. "Peter, do you know who he's referring to?"
"Oh, I definitely do. Haven't heard that name in a while since we came here."
"Wait, came here?" Barriss asked quickly.
"You mean from Earth?" Ahsoka asked in surprise.
"What did he do?" Commander Thorne demanded.
"Let's see—he nearly destroyed the Avengers' headquarters," Pietro said through gritted teeth. "On top of that, he almost turned my entire hometown into a planet-killer that could have wiped out all life on Earth."
"What?" was the collective response.
"He... he's not going to do that again, is he?" Peter asked nervously.
"Wait, are you serious?!" Ahsoka said in disbelief. "How could he do that?!"
"Not the time," Pietro waved dismissively. "Ultron's attacking. We need to stop him."
Without another word, Pietro streaked away at super-speed, leaving a trail of destroyed drones in his wake.
Commander Thorne shook his head momentarily before barking orders to his troops. "You heard the man."
"So what's the plan?"
"What do you think? Blast these machines out of the sky and protect the civilians," Thorne commanded. "Get the gunships airborne, damn the regulations. Jack, Reese—take the 212th Battalion and begin evacuation procedures. Get as many civilians to safety as possible. The rest of you, stay with me. We're going to destroy every last one of these machines we can find."
Peter was drawn back to helping his two Padawan friends as Thorne relayed orders through whatever communications he could establish. Peter lifted several Ultron drones with his webs and swung them toward the Force users, who sliced them in half before Force-pushing the debris into several flying enemies.
"We need to find the others," Peter said. "I just got word from Scott. There are massive attacks happening all across Coruscant!"
Both Jedi Padawans' faces went pale.
"You're kidding," Ahsoka whispered.
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" Peter said in an uncharacteristically serious tone, causing both to step back slightly. "I... I'm sorry. It's just—"
"We understand, Peter," Barriss said gently.
"Commander."
The three teenagers turned toward Thorne.
"We need to move."
"Right, Commander Thorne," Barriss nodded.
A mixed force of clones, two Jedi Padawans, and an Avenger quickly mobilized and spread across the capital as rapidly as possible while chaos reigned around them.
Emergency broadcasts went out on all civilian channels, directing people to the nearest shelters.
Of course, this was largely ineffective due to the surrounding pandemonium, and few paid attention.
Jedi Knights, clone troopers, and small groups of Avengers could be spotted throughout Coruscant as the battle raged across the planet's surface...