Aboard the Fire of Exodus, flagship of the League fleet...
Commander Hossk stands at attention on the bridge of the starcruiser, officers of many species working at the consoles around him, performing essential star-craft duties such as astrogation. Hossk speaks to a hologram of his commander-in-chief, Ceres. She orders a sit-rep, to which Hossk replies that all ships in his fleet have amassed at the rendezvous point above Kessel and are awaiting her command. Ceres orders a commencement of attack and bids the commander farewell. Hossk complies, and the warships jump into hyperspace...
In the seediest bar on Coruscant...
Ben Cortel has just used the Force to cheat in a Sabacc game against rival smuggler Hal Dagman, earning a large sum of credits and spice in the process. Hal stomps away dejectedly after giving a thinly-veiled threat to his competitor.
As Ben is counting his winnings, Bail shows up and greets his friend. He requests passage to Alderaan that can avoid any "Republic entanglements", promising to pay Ben a sum when they get to Alderaan. Ben waives the fee entirely, not just because of his recent winnings, but also because he is on good enough terms with Bail.
The two men go to the hangar bay where Ben has docked his freighter, the Belisarion. Inside Bail tells Ben about goings-on in the higher political circles, with no fear of consequences after having relinquished his Senate position. Ben cares little for the over-arching political machinations at work, focusing instead on Bail's remarkable brazenness when he threw away his Senate brooch.
We see Zero making last minute flight checks before Jeni returns from an arms dealer, newly-modified blaster holstered at the thigh...not unlike another smuggler who will one day help decide the fate of the galaxy.
With Bail and the crew aboard, the Belisarion takes off. But as the freighter leaves the skyscraper-laden stratosphere, a massive fleet of alien warships jumps out of hyperspace just outside Coruscant's gravity well. The League force is far larger than any of the Republic's military strategists had predicted.
Furious pillars of plasma and light rain down from the sky and vaporize thousands of beings each second on Coruscant. The defensive detachment in orbit scrambles to put up a fight, but it is ultimately not enough to hold off such a concentrated assault.
Ben and Jeni expertly weave through the battle, sustaining only a single hit on a starboard maneuvering thruster. Zero hovers over there to patch up the damage with whatever parts he can bring to his disposal. There is chaos and warfare all around the Belisarion. Ships on both sides plummet to fiery deaths, exploding like a hundred suns. Bail really hated being right about the war.
The Fire of Exodus moves into position above Coruscant's seat of government and lets loose with every weapon at its disposal. All of the Senators and other officials on the planet perish in flames, the government complex rendered a smoldering crater.
As Zero finally makes the necessary repair, Ben and Jeni have moved the Belisarion to the edge of Coruscant's gravity well. The battle is essentially over at this point, and League gunships are mopping up any survivors. Two gunships then pursue the Belisarion through space. Evasive maneuvers give way to a decisive jump into hyperspace, on to Alderaan...
On the Fire of Exodus...
As the last pockets of resistance on Coruscant are being wiped out, Ceres shows up in person via shuttle to greet her subordinate Hossk. She congratulates the Trandoshan for his victory. As a reward, Ceres orders a pair of Red Nikto clone warriors to bring the captive Chancellor Antior to Hossk...for consumption.
The Republic is dead. The Clone Wars have begun.