Threads of Destiny

Chapter 50: Tipping Points

War in the Inner Rim!

Rebel leader Steela Gerrera has joined forces with General Tandin after boldly rescuing Onderon's former king from execution, evading a trap set by Separatist ally King Rash and the droid general Kalani.

Amid growing public support and rising unrest, Ahsoka and Nadia continue to monitor the rebels efforts as they rally around Ramsis Dendup to restore his reign as the rightful king and finally put an end to the Separatist occupation of Onderon.

To prepare for the upcoming battle, Ahsoka and Nadia sneak into the capital city, where the two female deposits a holographic communicator in the midst of a market square.

"My fellow subjects, I appear not as your king but as a servant of Onderon."Ramsis stated. "We are in the midst of a great struggle, the Confederacy has used the recent attacks as an opportunity to tighten their hold on Onderon, they have accused me of leading these so-called terrorists, it is a lie they have engineered to further restrict your independence and use deadly force against our people, the truth is, I have never met them before now, I have come to know them as the true sons of Onderon, they are unwilling to surrender our freedom to those who conspire to take it from us, our destiny is tied to them and this planet, we must all rise together to protect it."

Once the people heard the hologram, Ahsoka and Nadia went at the top of a building, where Lux was waiting for them on a Ruping.

Then the three took off on the flying beast.


A While Later...

The trio returned to the new rebel camp in the Onderon highlands, where they have long since been joined by General Tandin and the loyal fractions of the Onderon military forces.

"The people are turning against the droids."Lux commented. "There's rioting in the streets now."

"That's a beautiful thing."Saw admitted with a smile while placing his hand on the senator's shoulder.

"We need to keep the battle to the outskirts of the city."Steela explained.

"Less structures and people."Lux agreed.

"But less clankers."Saw said. "Their main force is in Iziz, we should join the fight down there and take it straight to King Rash."

"We all want victory, but not at the cost of innocent lives."Steela reminded. "If we fight door to door, no one is safe."

"This is war, Steela."Saw commented.

"She's right."Ramsis said.

"I agree."Ahsoka added.

"Me too."Nadia responded. "The more you draw the droids from the city to the highlands, the safer the people will be."

"My men await your command, my Lord."General Tandin said with a bow.

"I believe there's a new contender."Ramsis stated and looked at Steela. "You will lead our forces, including the Royal Army, Steela is now the commanding general."

"A great choice."Ahsoka remarked.

Nadia nodded in agreement.

"As you wish, my Lord."General Tandin replied.

"You and your rebels renewed my faith in myself."Ramsis stated. "Now I'm putting my faith in you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."Steela said and looked at her companions. "Let's ride."

Lux then did a whistle causing two more Rupings to appear in front of them.

Ahsoka went on the second Ruping with Lux while Nadia went on the third one.

But before they departed, Steela planted a kiss on Lux's lips.

"Just in case."She said with a smile.

Ahsoka secretly looked down with a frown before Lux joined her and the four of them took off on their Rupings.


Afterwards...

The four arrived on a hill and they got off their Rupings.

"The droid army is almost here."Steela stated. "Everyone, get ready."

Beneath the Hill, the Rebels were getting ready to attack the droid army.

"Ready."General Tandin said.

"Saw, begin your attack."Steela commented in her comlink.

Saw flew off in his Ruping followed by his companions and he threw a detonator at the battle droids causing the rebels to begin their attack.

Then General Tandin and his guards charged while riding on horse like creatures.

At the top, Steela used her blaster to fire at the droids.

Saw and his companions threw detonators at the Separatist tanks causing them to explode.

Few of the soldiers cheered at the sight.

But then the Gunships attack shooting one of the rebel tanks down.

"No!"Steela shouted.

"Where did that come from?"Lux asked.

"There!"Ahsoka said.

The four spotted gunships approaching, but when they fired their guns, the gunships activated their ray shields to protect themselves.

"Any ideas?"Steela asked.

"Yeah, run!"Nadia stated.

The four got out of the way as a Gunship tried to fire at them and they took off on their Rupings.

Then the rest of the Rebels began to retreat.

The two female jedi then contacts Obi-Wan and Anakin and informs them of the dramatic change of events.

"I take it the rebels have Dooku's full attention."Obi-Wan said.

"It's a full-scale war."Ahsoka replied. "They need our help. Please talk to the Council."

"Even Master Windu would be wary at this point."Obi-Wan replied. "The Council will not engage or involve the Republic in an internal affair."

"The Separatists have a new gunship with a powerful ray shield!"Nadia admitted. "Nothing's getting past it."

"I am sorry, Ahsoka, Nadia."Obi-Wan responded. "They will have to find a way. Do not stay there if their failure is certain, evacuate when you both can and return to Coruscant immediately, do you two understand?"

"Yes, Master."Ahsoka and Nadia answered in unison.

Then the hologram went off.


In Coruscant...

"We need to help them."Anakin suggested.

"We will do what we can to relocate the survivors."Obi-Wan replied.

"Before they lose their planet."Anakin reminded.

"We can't."Obi-Wan said simply.

"What difference does it make now?"Anakin questioned. "The Separatists know we're involved."

"I don't disagree with you, Anakin, but to send in Republic gunships defeats our purpose."Obi-Wan commented. "We must stay true to our intentions, learn our lessons."

"It doesn't have to look like we're the ones helping."Anakin admitted. "What if another party was involved?"

"Another party?"Obi-Wan asked. "Who in the galaxy would be running around with an extra batch of missiles?"

"Hondo."Anakin replied with a smirk.


Back in Onderon...

The rebels were firing at the battle droids.

"Is the Republic going to help us?"Steela asked.

"No."Nadia replied with a sad frown.

"What's it going to take?"Lux questioned.

"King Rash rules Onderon."Ahsoka said. "Unless that changes, the Republic can't do anything."

"They're pulling back."Steela stated. "Cover them."

"At this rate, the clankers aren't going to need reinforcements."Saw commented.

"We have to regroup at the nest."General Tandin agreed.

The rebels then began to head back to their base.


In Space...

Anakin travels to Ohnaka's base on Florrum in order to hire him for a delivery of heavy weapons to the rebels.

"Skywalker, my old friend."Hondo said with a smile. "You come alone?"

"For your service."Anakin replied.

"Oh, business!"Hondo laughed. "Good, good, good that I understand."

"I need you to make a delivery for me."Anakin commented.

This caused Hondo's men to point their blasters at them.

"And that all I am to you, Jedi?"Hondo asked. "A delivery boy?"

"I know that if I need arms shipped illegally, you're the man I need to come to."Anakin admitted.

"Illegally?"Hondo asked. "Now, why would a Jedi need to deliver arms illegally?"

"How about I pay you well enough that you just deliver the missiles for me and don't ask any questions?"Anakin suggested.

"Well, as long as you're not paying me in credits, I'm sure I could accommodate your wishes, Master Jedi."Hondo stated.


Back in the Rebel Base in Onderon...

The Rebels were discussing about their next plan.

"The highlands may slow down the droids, but they won't stop the gunships."Saw explained.

"We have to move."Steela suggested.

Lux looked at the two female jedi.

"Any word from Master Skywalker or Master Kenobi?"He asked.

"Not yet."Ahsoka replied.

"We're not giving up yet."Steela admitted. "Stagger our defenses to the camp, secure the approach, stay in small teams make use of our training."

"You really are the best leader among us."Saw remarked. "Couldn't be more proud of you, my sister."

"I learned from the best, big brother."Steela responded with a smile.

"Let's go, General."Saw commented.

Then he and General Tandin walked away.

"You have to help us."Lux said.

"We'll do all we can to protect you, but we can't fight this war for you."Nadia answered.

Lux looked down in disappointment and walked away.

"We wouldn't have made it this far without you two."Steela admitted.

"I wish we could do more."Ahsoka replied.

Then a ship landing was heard.

"Wait."Nadia said. "Looks like we have company."

The three went outside and saw Hondo's men took out a crate while the rebels pointed their guns at them.

"Don't shoot!"Ahsoka warned.

"Well, you could be my new favorite spice."Hondo said.

"Yeah, I don't think so."Steela answered with a frown.

"Careful, pirate."Lux warned while pointing his blaster at him.

"Hondo, what are you doing here?"Nadia questioned with a glare.

"Oh, no, no, no, you should thank me, Aomori."Hondo responded. "I have brought you and your friend a gift from Skywalker and Kenobi, the latest from Sienar."

His men opened up the crate revealing rocket launchers.

"Rocket launchers?"Ahsoka asked.

"Shoulder fired."Hondo instructed. "Very expensive."

"Paid for?"Nadia questioned folding her arms.

"Very handsome-"Hondo started.

Then a shot was fired.

"Oh! Oh, my, look at the time."Hondo said. "Well, my work here is done."

The rebels began to fire at the battle droids while Hondo and his men took on their ship.

Then Steela let out a whistle causing a Ruping to take out the last battle droids.

"Ugh, they must have seen Hondo's ship."Steela said.

"It was only a patrol."Ahsoka replied.

"We have to get these down to the others."Lux admitted gesturing to the rocket launchers. "Load them up."

"I hope they work."Steela said.

The two female jedi each placed a rocket launcher on their shoulders.

"There's only one way to find out."Nadia responded.


A Whiler Later...

Steela, Ahsoka, Nadia and Lux arrive just in time to save the king from the droids.

"We've tried everything, but we're target practice for those gunships."Saw stated.

"Now it's their turn."Lux admitted.

Steela handed a rocket launcher to her brother.

"Thank the Jedi."She said.

Saw used his rocket launcher to fire at a gun ship, which caused it to go down in flames.

"I love this!"He remarked.

The Rebels cheered at what they just saw.

"Distribute the rocket launchers and take out those gunships."Steela ordered.

She then got a call in her comlink.

"Steela, they're attacking the nest."A Woman reported. "They're after the king!"

"Come on!"Steela instructed and then took off on her Ruping.

"She sure leads by example."Ahsoka remarked.

"What good will that do us if she gets herself killed?"Lux asked.

"Good point."Nadia commented.

The three then took off on their Rupings and headed to the base.

Saw shoots down the last of the enemy gunships, but the damaged unit careens, out of control, right into the rebel camp.

Steela got trapped on a collapsing rock on the edge of a cliffside, broken loose by the droid's impact, and while trying to jump to safety, she was caught hanging from the cliff.

"Steela!"Saw shouted and rushed to where she was.

Lux reaches out to get Steela's hand.

"Hang on."He stated.

But then nearly falls off himself causing Ahsoka to use the Force to float him to safety.

Nadia then used the force to lift Steela into safety.

"I got you!"She said as she concentrated really hard to pull her up.

But as the raven haired girl focused on saving Steela, the not yet fully disabled gunship wounds Nadia with a laser blast causing her to inadvertently drop Steela to her death.

Lux fired down the disabled gunship as Ahsoka checked on Nadia knowing the wound on her arm.

The three and King Ramsis paled in horror seeing Steela dead on the ground.

"No..."Nadia said weakly and with a shocked look.

Lux and the two girls flew down on a Ruping, where Saw held his dead sister and his rebel companions watched him in sadness.

"It was my fault."Saw said sadly. "I shot that gunship down and it crashed into her position."

"Saw, it's not your fault."Lux admitted weakly. "She knew what the risks were, we all knew what it would take to free Onderon."

Nadia looked down in sorrow and regret while Ahsoka placed her hand on her best friend's shoulder to comfort her.


Later on the steps of the Royal Palace...

Steela was given a public memorial in full honor of her struggle for freedom.

Ahsoka, Nadia, Lux and Saw received medals for their bravery on freeing Onderon.

The Raven Haired girl looked at Steela's body that was covered with a white sheet with a sad look before walking away.

Obi-Wan and Anakin watched her quietly.

"This has been quite a journey for our Padawans."Obi-Wan admitted.

"Steela will be a powerful spirit in their lives."Anakin commented.

"Yes for all of us."Obi-Wan agreed.

Ahsoka, Nadia and Lux walked up to Saw.

"I'm sorry for your loss."Nadia admitted quietly.

"Thanks, but it's over now."Saw responded. "Let's just leave it at that."

He then walked away from the young teenagers.

"Steela would be glad."Lux said. "Her sacrifice gave Onderon its freedom."

"But at what cost?"Ahsoka asked. "It's like you once said many lives get caught between the Republic and the Separatists."

"I did say that once, but after watching your heroics and the selflessness of the Jedi, I do believe the Republic is the right side to be on."Lux admitted.

"What do you mean?"Nadia asked.

"Dendup has appointed me the new Senator of Onderon."Lux answered. "I will follow in my mother's footsteps and I will bring us back to the Republic."

"Remember this day, the day Onderon became free again!"King Ramsis announced.

The crowd cheered in happiness and their shouts were heard around the entire parts of the capital city.


Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter

Feel free to review what you think so far:)