Take them by suprise.....

Sidious told Vader to move quickly and take the Temple by suprise. My question though is was the temple really taken by suprise. Did the 501st march up in there with Vader "totally" unexpected or where the Jedi standing ready when they marched in. I don't know personally. I think suprise at first, but then after rewatching the scene and noticing how many troops march toward the temple, I begin to think someone noticed; perhaps a sentinel or lookout jedi, and went and told the others. The more I think about it, I can start to envision a few jedi lining(sp?) up just waiting for them to enter so they could defend their home while others began to come for backup and spread the word.

I'd like to hear anyones thoughts, or maybe if there is anything in the EU I don't know about...

 

The very fact that one of the top, most respected Jedi marched into the temple with a squad of troopers is surprising enough. I don't think anyone there expected that and even if they were spotted or whatever, many of them were likely baffled.

 

For sure they would have noticed a huge mass of troops marching on the temple. Problem is that they were still totally off guard and very likely not sure of what was going to happen. They surely sensed that something bad was afoot, but for their allies to come advancing upon the temple with weapons ready would have been a really confusing shock. Likely all radio transmitions for help were either jammed or picked up by other troopers who ignored it.

I can picture jedi amassing along the entrance of the temple, hands on their lightsabers, watching these troops marching towards them but still not certain what they were going to do. Then the firing squads starts, all hell breaks loose, and a jedi version of the Alamo occurs.

They would have been overwhelmed fast, and retreated further and further into the temple as they took more loses. When the film cuts back it is the very end, and the jedi have retreated so far into the temple that the only victims left are the children hiding in the innermost sanctuaries. Kind of a shame that we didnt see any of the surely-epic fight that got us there. A sort of Star Wars version of Helms Deep.

 

Here's how it goes in the novelization and ROTS video game. Mace informs Shaak Ti that she needs to put the Temple on lockdown and give Lightsabers to everyone who knows how to use one. When Anakin shows up with the 501st, he is greeted by Gatemaster Jurokk. Jurokk sees the Clonetroopers and is killed before he can sound the alarm. Anakin then enters and the Clonetroopers begin attack every Jedi that they see. Jocasta Nu got the Younglings to the Council chambers, before being confronted by Anakin. He kills her when she refuses to help him activate the beacon. Shaak Ti is killed and then the Younglings. Serra Keto was killed shortly before Cin Drallig, Bene and Whie were. By the time we come to the death of the Younglings, the alarm was sounded, but it was too late.

 

If I'm a Jedi Knight at the temple, this is what I am thinking.

1. I know Mace and crew were on a Special Duty.
2. I felt a disturbance in the force so strong that it could only mean the death of a powerful Master like Mace.
3. Anakin Skywalker, THE CHOSEN ONE, is coming to the temple with a band of troops and is looking very serious.
4. Anakin must know who killed Mace, and whoever that person is must have been a Sith Lord...a VERY powerful Sith Lord.
5. Anakin is supposed to kill the Sith. Look at him walk with purpose, with swagger. The time has come for him to Fulfill the prophecy. Losing Mace, Kit, Sesee, and Agen is tragic, but hope remains while the Chosen one lives.
6. This Sith Lord must be really powerful if Anakin needs that many Clone Backups. He is probably coming for more Jedi Support, too. I will probably die in this battle, but if it means Anakin fulfilling his destiny and destroying the Sith I am prepared to do so. I will go get my lightsabre and do what I can to help Anakin.

Carnage

 

i really hope this scene, along with so many others, are expanded upon in the EU, either books or TV series or even short movies done in the TV series style. not just to see a bloody massacre involving thousands of troopers and lightsaber (although that itself does sound awesome), but i would really like to hear the whole thing out through the viewpoint of one unsuspecting jedi who manages to survive almost to the very end.

 

They could very well still have been suprised.
After all, until the Clones open fire the Jedi believe them to be on their side.
They've no reason to think otherwise.... except maybe a disturbance in the force.

Which reminds me of a line from the novel I wish was in the film.

Shaak Ti: "I feel a disturbance in the force..."
Anakin: "I AM a disturbance in the force!"

 

Must've been the junior novel, because her death is never shown in Stover's book. Shaak Ti did feel the death of the Jedi Posse, but she went to her quarters to meditate and try to determine what was going on. Anakin walked in the room and came up behind her, before running her through. According to the script, Anakin walks out of her room and heads to the Council chambers to kill the Younglings.