Never Underestimate a Jedi

Master Pa'oka Hontaas of the Jedi Order scowled as she and her clone forces were hit by a slight setback. The Togruta Master had been dispatched with her forces to destroy the droid factory on a jungle planet in the outer rim. Every moment it remained intact it created a new battle droid, ready to march and attack Republic forces.

They'd managed to push the droid forces back and reach the factory. But upon arrival they found it was protected by an energy shield. The unfortunate obstacle was expanding, covering the forest as droid forces marched just behind it. Shielding them and the factory from heavy fire.

Master Pa'oka ordered her men to fall back as she covered them. She twirled and spun her green lightsaber as she slashed the droids apart and deflected their fire back at them. But eventually she became surrounded. Tanks started rolling up on her. She called back to her captain, ordering him to fall back to the cannons and defend them. The captain shouted in confirmation before ordering the men to fall back.

As she became surrounded she deactivated her lightsaber and raised her hands up. The droids lowered their weapons as a man popped out of one of the tanks. Master Pa'oka gave a calm smile to Separatist commander Ratcliffe. The man wore black armor as he sneered down at the Jedi.

"Master Pa'oka I presume?"

"Commander Ratcliffe," Pa'oka said with a bow. "A pleasure to meet you commander."

Ratcliffe preened. "Yes. It is isn't it," he said smugly. "I believe we should begin negotiations for surrender General."

"Of course Ratcliffe. But maybe it would be better if we did this out of the Jungle," Pa'oka suggested. She wrinkled her nose as she swatted at a bug. Ratcliffe cursed as he smacked a bug on his neck.

"Of course. Your lightsaber," he said gesturing to her weapon. The Jedi Master nodded as a droid took her weapon off of her. Shock manacles were placed on her wrists as she was led inside the droid factory. She was escorted inside, closely watched by super battle droids and a handful of commando droids. Ratcliffe was over confident. He didn't realize how powerful and dangerous a Jedi could be. Even when unarmed.

He also came from a planet in which females were not military officers. So he wasn't threatened by the female Togruta. If he had to admit, he was rather taken by her exotic beauty. Her skin tone was a copper red and her face possesed white marking that looked like war paint, with four vertical lines on both her cheeks and a line running down the center of her forehead and to the center of her brow. Her head was adorned with jet black montrals and head-tails with white stripes. He heard of her species, and he thought them primitive savages.

As Ratcliffe led Master Pa'oka the Togruta took note of the building that looked to be the origin of the energy shield. She kept walking as Ratcliffe led her inside his personal quarters. A large tower with a large window that allowed him to look out over the jungle in luxury. His room was filled with lush couches and sofas and a large dining table. He led her to it as he began to negotiate.

"Now then General. I believe its clear which side is the victor," Ratcliffe began.

Pa'oka nodded. "Agreed commander. We should discuss the terms of surrender."

"I'm glad you agree. I believe they should be unconditional."

"Very well. I accept your unconditional surrender," Pa'oka stated.

Ratcliffe flinched before stuttering in disbelief. "Come now General. Enough of this foolishness," Ratcliffe barked. "If you surrender now, I may let your precious clones live. But to be honest your capture alone is more than enough leverage against the Republic."

Pa'oka smiled. She cocked her head to the side as she assessed Ratcliffe. "You've never faced a Jedi up close, have you commander?" Ratcliffe cocked a brow. He opened his mouth to speak when she suddenly thrust her palm forward. He shouted in alarm as he was sent flying out of his chair and into the glass window.

"Commander! Open fire," a droid shouted. The droids took aim and shot at her. Pa'oka stood and used her superb reflexes to dodge. But she timed the trajectory of one particular blast and raised her hands up, letting it destroy the manacles.

"Uh oh," a droid said nervously. The commando droids rushed her, swinging at her with their large knives. Pa'oka dodged, ducking and side stepping their attacks. She thrust her palm forward to send three of them flying across the room. The remaining one she waited for. As it stabbed at her she spun out of the way. She grabbed it by the wrist before bringing her hand down on its arm. Using the Force she broke through the arm before she sent it flying across the room and into the others.

Now armed with its knife she began cutting down the battle droids. As she came upon the super battle droid holding her lightsaber she hurled the knife at it. It pierced it chest plate, causing it to malfunction. She extended her palm and pulled her saber to her. She activated it as she found herself surrounded.

"Kill the savage! Open fire!" Ratcliffe commanded angrily. Pa'oka raised her hands up before drawing all the furniture in the room to her. She arranged it to form a makeshift barrier as she got to work. By the time the droids got through it all they found was a hole cut in the bottom of the floor with the Jedi Master nowhere in sight.

Ratcliffe started receiving transmissions from the droids supervising the construction facility. There were shouts of terror and panic as the Jedi Master made swift work of cutting them down. As he looked outside he found the shield surrounding his factory disappearing. And then the clones starting to press the attack once again. Ratcliffe knew he had to escape. He ran out of the room, shoving past the droids. This planet and factory was lost.

He ran to his private cruiser. He opened the ramp and rushed inside. But when he made his way to the pilot's seat he froze as he found the General sitting in his chair. Sipping a cup of tea from his private stock without a care in the world.

With a growl Ratcliffe drew his blaster and fired upon her. But the Jedi jerked her head to the side before activating her lightsaber and deflecting the second blast back at him. It struck his weapon and knocked it from his hand. He hissed and cursed before he found the lightsaber in his face.

"Now then. I believe you surrender was...unconditional," Pa'oka said with a smile.

In the end all Ratcliffe would do was nod in acceptance. Pa'oka hailed the Jedi Council to inform them of her success. They congratulated her as they sent a convoy to take Ratcliffe into custody.

Ratcliffe learned a valuable lesson that day. And he learned it too late.

Never underestimate a Jedi.