I would like to give credit to Belated Media on Youtube for their own version of the prequel-trilogy, especially since their take on Episode 3 inspired in part what I will eventually include in this story. If you haven't checked them out already, please do, I think you will enjoy it.
Now, in my version of Episode 2, Anakin assassinated not only the leaders of the Confederacy, but also Dooku/Darth Ty'Rahn, on behalf of Chancellor Palpatine. As you can imagine, this is very troubling for the Jedi High Council. It has also brought Anakin and Palpatine closer as friends and allies, and, let's not forget that it has brought Anakin that much closer to falling to the Dark Side. The love-interest between Padmé and Anakin is also not a secret, because the Jedi can read thoughts and sense emotions; the Jedi have confronted Padmé and taken the decision to move her to a different campaign, far away from Anakin. This story takes place some 2-3 years after Episode 2, and 6-8 years after Episode 1; by now, Obi-Wan is about 60 years old and Anakin is close to thirty. The reason for this is that in A New Hope, Tarkin seems to think Obi-Wan should have died by old age by the time of those events, and Anakin in Return of the Jedi was played by a 78 year old actor, so Anakin/Vader needs to at least be around 50 years old as we reach A New Hope, I feel. Anyway, on to the story!
A Revenge of the Sith rewrite
Star Wars Episode 3
Revenge of the Sith
After years of war, the Old Republic has finally gained the upper hand against the evil forces of the Confederacy and other separatist factions, having defeated most of their armies and fleets and liberated hundreds of planets. As a Republic victory draws nearer, so does the chance for peace.
But it is at a great cost. In a desperate attempt to even the odds on the battlefield, GENERAL GRIEVOUS has ordered his troops to single out the Jedi, a successful strategy that has killed as many as HALF of all Jedi Knights in the last few years.
But even so, a Republic victory is imminent. So much so that one of the Confederacy's most crucial member-worlds, MANAAN, has dispatched a delegation to the Republic to discuss its unconditional surrender and to rejoin the Republic once more.
Coruscant System:
A Republic MC30 frigate leaves hyperspace, with four TIE Advanced X1's in escort, and travel towards the distant planet of Coruscant. On the bridge of the frigate, crewed by Mon Calamari, stands a delegation of selkath, the inhabitants of the planet of Manaan, together with Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"There it is" Obi-Wan says. "Coruscant. We will reach orbit within the hour."
The selkath ambassador ( an amphibious species introduced in the Knights of the Old Republic computer-game ) addresses Obi-Wan in his native tongue.
"Not to worry" Obi-Wan says, clearly understanding the alien language. "I have personally been assured by Chancellor Palpatine that Manaan and the selkath people will be welcomed back to the Republic with open arms. And that you will have a seat in the senate."
The selkath ambassador speaks again.
Obi-Wan bows out of respect. "The Republic is most grateful that you are willing to share with us your most valuable resource. The healing qualities of the Kolto-plant is legendary and will be of great use to our troops on the battlefield."
The selkath ambassador replies to this.
"Yes" Obi-Wan nods. "Denying it to be used by the Confederates will greatly affect the outcome of battles as well."
Outside, the TIE's are flying escort. One of the TIE's is being piloted by Anakin.
"Ataru squadron" Anakin says, "This is Ataru Leader, keep your shields at full effect until we receive fleet-escort."
A young female Jedi of the Togruta species pilots one of the other TIE's ( an unnamed cameo by Ahsoka Tano ). "Surely we are in the clear by now? This is Coruscant after all."
Anakin sighs. "Ataru Four, you would do well to listen and learn until you've gained some real experience. Now, do as you're told."
Ataru Four shakes her head. "Yes, sir, Commander Skywalker."
"And cut down on the snippy attitude" Anakin remarks.
On the frigate, a Mon Calamari officer turns to his captain. "Sir, we have a dozen objects leaving hyperspace at eight-nine-three-one. No Republic transponder."
The Mon Calamari captain is quick to issue orders. "Battle-stations! All ahead full!"
Obi-Wan picks up his commlink. "Ataru Leader, we have incoming fighters. Get ready."
Exiting hyperspace are twelve very familiar fighters, one of which is piloted by Mara Dendron.
"Lock S-foils in attack-position" Mara Dendron says over the commlink. "Increase to full throttle. I'll make a sweep and draw their fire."
The Confederate fighters and the TIE's engage in mid-space, the Confederate fighters continuing towards the frigate and the TIE's follow.
Anakin informs his squadron. "They are the new Confederate space-superiority fighters. T-65's, X-wing class."
The unnamed togruta fires her blasters. "I've never seen shields this strong!"
"We got speed on our side" Anakin says. "Ataru Squadron, draw power from your shields and redirect it to your guns. We'll outfly them and outgun them."
"Understood, Ataru Leader" a human Jedi says piloting a TIE.
Three X-wings gets gunned down pretty quickly, but many of them launch torpedoes at the frigate. Onboard the frigate, everyone gets shaken around by the blasts. Mara Dendron gets up behind one of the TIE's and opens fire.
The Jedi being chased by Dendron is a zabrak. "This is Ataru Three, I can't shake this pilot."
The human Jedi responds. "This is Ataru Two, cut to mark nine, I'll cover you."
The zabrak Jedi looks over his shoulder. "I'm taking fire. Shields are down. Taking hits to the hull. I'm sorry my friends, may the Force be with you."
The zabrak's fighter gets shot down by Dendron's X-wing.
Anakin guns down another X-wing. "Two X-wings coming in for an attack run!"
The two X-wings Anakins spotted fly in towards the frigate and launches torpedoes; all four torpedoes hit their mark.
On the bridge, everyone is shaken around.
Two of the TIE's come up behind four X-wings and manage to gun down three of them.
"Good work, Ataru squadron" Anakin says. "Seven down, five to go."
One X-wing ( Dendron ) chases one of the TIE's ( the human Jedi, Ataru Two ).
"That fighter-ace is on me" Ataru Two says. "Damn, that pilot is good."
"Hang on, master Yarlen" the togruta says. "I'm coming around."
"Too late!" Ataru Two says. "I just lost my port engine." Part of the cockpit erupts with fire. "I lost my droid. I have no control!"
Dendron fires several salvos and then lets the damaged TIE crash into the frigate.
Dendron looks over her shoulder at the destroyed TIE. "Scimitar Three and Seven, get ready to hit the frigates engines. I will draw away the Jedi escort."
Anakin's TIE forces a pair of X-wings to veer off with his cannons. "Watch out Ataru Four, they are drawing you away from the frigate."
"I know what I'm doing" the young female togruta says, following two X-wings and blasting them with her cannons.
Anakin looks out through his cockpit. "Ataru Four! Get back here!"
On the bridge, the Mon Calamari captain speaks over the commlink. "Ataru Leader, this is Captain Raddus. Two enemy fighters are coming at us from the rear. Our engines are exposed. You must intercept them at once."
"Understood, captain" Anakin says and turns around and moves to intercept the two X-wings.
Anakin flies along the frigate and comes out with guns blasting forcing the two X-wings to veer off, but not before one of them launches a pair of torpedoes.
"Captain Raddus, this is Ataru Leader. Watch out, two torpedoes heading your way."
On the bridge, the captain turns to his crew and the passengers. "Brace for impact!"
The two torpedoes hit the engine-section and on the bridge many are thrown to the floor. Obi-Wan catches himself against a computer-station.
Obi-Wan turns to the captain. "How far off is the Coruscant defense-fleet?!"
"They'll be in range in ten minutes" Captain Raddus responds.
Obi-Wan turns serious. "It's going to be close ."
The togruta keeps firing her guns at one of the X-wings, when all of a sudden, she comes under fire herself and beings evasive maneuvers.
"I'm in trouble!" the togruta says. "I've lost my starboard stabilizer and ventral shields."
"Damn it, Ataru Four!" Anakin growls. "Turn back now, I'm coming for you!"
The wayward TIE races back towards the frigate off in the distance, followed by two X-wings.
"I'll never make it!" the togruta says as her fighter shakes with each hit.
Anakin flips some switches. "T7, give me all the power you got. Reroute it to engines, now!"
The togruta watches as her controls all malfunction. "Anakin, forgive me" she says and then the cockpit erupts around her.
The X-wings in pursuit blasts the TIE to pieces. Anakin opens fire and splits up the X-wings and turns around and gives chase.
"Alright, T7" Anakin says. "We got five X-wings left to deal with. Shut down shields altogether." T7 objects. "Just do it! Power up the guns. Give them everything you've got!"
Three X-wings fly past the frigate and launch torpedoes, one of the X-wings gets shot down by the tubolasers. The frigate is leaving a trail of smoke as it flees towards Corucant. Anakin comes charging in and guns down another X-wing.
The four remaining X-wings form up away from the frigate. Dendron looks out of her cockpit at the other Confederate fighter around her.
"Look sharp, people. I'll deal with the Jedi. The rest of you, go for the frigate. Target the engines."
"Colonel" one of the other pilots say over the commlink, "enemy fighters are coming in fast, only two minutes away."
"That's more than we need" Dendron replies. "Let's finish this."
The four X-wings accelerate towards the badly damaged frigate.
On the bridge of the frigate, Obi-Wan picks up his commlink. "Anakin, the enemy fighters are coming in for another attack-run. We will open fire with everything we've got at quadrant four, four, zero. They will be forced to go low to avoid getting hit. That's where you will catch them and split them up. Reinforcements will reach us before they'll have a chance to regroup."
"Understood, master" Anakin replies in his cockpit.
Racing to reach the frigate are seven V-19 Torrent fighters. The leader of the fighters flips some switches in his cockpit.
"General Kenobi, Commander Skywalker, this is Commander Dreis of Red squadron. Hold them off for just two minutes and we'll be right there."
"Will do, commander" Anakin says.
The frigate opens fire and the X-wings duck down below the incoming barrage, instantly coming under fire from Anakins TIE and one of the X-wings gets one of its four wings blown off. The TIE turns around and chases the damaged X-wing. All of sudden, Anakin comes under fire and is forced to evade.
"Whatta…" Anakin looks out of the cockpit and spots the X-wing giving chase. "Damn, you're good" he says as he tries to shake Dendron. "Master, we've got trouble. I can't get a clear shot at the fighters coming your way" he says as he keeps avoiding Dendrons fire.
The damaged X-wing gets shot down by the frigate, but the remaining two launches their torpedoes and veers off.
Captain Raddus turns to all on the bridge. "Hold On!"
The torpedoes hit their mark, destroying a large portion of the engine-section. The X-wings abandon the attack. Anakin turns around and gives chase, firing his blasters. The burning frigate heads towards Coruscant and the T-19 fighters of Red Squadron begins to escort the damaged ship.
"General Kenobi" Commander Dreis says, "we're providing escort. You are clear to launch escape-pods and shuttles. We got you covered."
Obi-Wan contacts Anakin. "Anakin, disengage and get back in formation. We have to evacuate the ship. Get back here and provide escort."
Anakins TIE keeps firing at Dendrons X-wing. Two other two X-wings jump to hyperspace.
"Sorry, master" Anakin says. "As long as I force this Confederate pilot to evade my guns, he wont be able to calculate the jump to hyperspace. I wont let this bastard get away."
"Anakin, I'm giving you a direct order" Obi-Wan growls. "Return to formation, now!"
In Anakins cockpit, we hear Obi-Wan over the commlink. "Anakin, do you hear me? Anakin!"
Anakin keeps chasing Dendron. Anakin closes his eyes, and with his eyes closed, keeps following Dendron and operates his controls. In the end, Anakin manages to gun her down and the cockpit explodes around Mara Dendron and the X-wing gets ripped to pieces as it detonates. Anakin opens his eyes and lets out a sigh.
( Why X-wings? Well, the main bomber used by the Confederates have so far been the Y-wing. I decided to make these ships Confederate in origin, to show that the Rebellion would later rely on equipment from the Clone Wars in its fight against the Empire. So the Rebellion will scavenge old X-wings and Y-wings that used to belong to the Confederacy to get hold of military-grade starships )
The MC30 frigate crashes towards Coruscant, and as it enters orbit, several tugboats move in and aim tractor-beams at the ship, trying to slow it down. At the same time, escape-pods and shuttles leave the frigate and get escorted by Red Squadron away from the ship.
On the bridge, a skeleton-crew remains, together with Obi-Wan.
"All non-essential personnel have left the ship" Captain Raddus says. "The Manaan delegation are safe."
"Good" Obi-Wan says. "Now all we need to figure out is how to stop this ship from crashing into the city."
Raddus, sitting in his captains chair, turns to his two pilots. "Fire retro-rockets. Extend flaps and reroute all available power to our repulsor-panels."
The two Mon Calamari pilots operate their controls. As retro-rockets ignite and flaps are extended, the frigate enter atmosphere and catch fire. More tugboats join in and aim tractor-beams at the crashing vessel.
The pilot turns to Raddus. "We have eight tugboats trying to slow us down, but we are moving too fast! Our mass and velocity is more than they can handle!"
Raddus is not about to give up. "We need to find a way to slow us down, lieutenant, or millions will die the moment we crash into the city. Empty our water-supplies, that's a couple of hundred tons we don't need right now."
"Yes, captain" the pilot says and operates switches and dials.
The frigate leaves a massive trail of vapor as the ships water-tanks are emptied into the upper atmosphere from the burning vessel.
Obi-Wan turns to the captain. "Well?"
"It slowed us down" Raddus says. "But not enough."
More tugboats join in and there are now twelve in total trying to prevent the frigate from crashing. The frigate and the tugboats leave the clouds and are now dangerously close to the tallest buildings.
At the Jedi Temple, Yoda and other Jedi step out onto a balcony and watch in the distance as the frigate, trailed by thick smoke, cross the sky.
"A shuttle I need" Yoda says. "And quickly."
The MC30 frigate begins to cut down the antennas sprouting from the tallest buildings. Two more tugboats join in and try to slow the ship down.
A tugboat-pilot gets frustrated. "It's no use! She's coming in too hot!"
The frigate crashes through hovering satellites and antenna-clusters. The top of a building gets scrapped against the hull. On the bridge, Obi-Wan holds on where he stands at a viewport.
"We're not going to make it" Obi-Wan says as he turns to Captain Raddus.
Raddus turns grim. "I'm the captain. I'll be damned if my ship goes down without me."
Anakins TIE catches up to the crashing frigate and flies alongside it. Anakin looks out through his cockpit at the ship.
"Master, you have to abandon ship" Anakin says over the commlink. "You can't prevent the ship from crashing. There's no need to go down with the ship."
Obi-Wan looks at Raddus as he answers Anakin. "Whatever the Force wills, my young apprentice."
"Master, don't do this!" Anakin calls out in his cockpit. "You wont accomplish anything by dying a pointless death! Master!"
Anakin can only watch as the frigate continues towards the tallest buildings.
A shuttlecraft lands on top one of those tall buildings and Yoda exits the vessel with aid of his cane. He can see the cruiser coming straight at him.
Yoda turns to the pilot. "Leave."
The pilot doesn't need to be told twice and the shuttle takes off. Yoda turns to the frigate once more and closes his eyes and extends his hand towards the crashing ship. The frigate comes closer and closer, and Yoda slowly begins to focus more and more, gripping his cane tight with his other hand.
On the bridge of the frigate, the pilot can't believe his eyes as he looks at his controls.
"Captain Raddus!" the pilot says. "We're slowing down! I can't believe it, but we're slowing down!"
Yoda keeps focusing while the frigate comes ever closer.
The tugboat-pilot can't believe what is happening either. "We have momentum-control! Crash-vector is being reversed!"
Captain Raddus is just as surprised. "It's impossible… We are in control. Our descent is leveling out. We are no longer crashing!"
Obi-Wan lets out a sigh of relief, as does Anakin in his cockpit. The tugboats carry the frigate towards orbit, smoke still leaving the engine-section of the large ship. The frigate is carried in over Yoda where he rests with both hands against his cane and takes a deep breath as he slowly regains his strength.
To be continued…
So, that is how I would open Episode 3. We learn the origins ( my version of it at least ) of the X-wing, like we have learned the origins of the Y-wing previously. We also get to see one of the main villains killed, Mara Dendron, who has been around from the very beginning. And we have a cameo made by Ahsoka Tano, who gets herself killed ( or does she eject? ) and we have a cameo by Admiral Raddus ( from Rogue One ), now only a captain. But more importantly, we get to see Yoda in action; not jumping around like a frog on steroids, but actually using the Force to demonstrate how powerful he is. As Yoda uses the Force to stop a frigate from freefalling towards the surface, we realize what little effort it required to lift Lukes X-wing out of the swamp. I think something like this would create a greater impact on the audience, Yoda using the Force to dominate, instead of him flipping around all over the place with a mini-lightsaber.
