Chapter 13
Together Again
TATOOINE
Tusken Camp
The Sun Guards fleet had set down outside the Tusken village, the Tusken Raiders who had assembled to join Leo's army were boarding the Sun Guards ship carrying their weapons and only a few belongings. Hett was speaking with some Sun Guard Legates who were arguing with a sand person who wanted to bring his bantam along. Up on the ridges the Black Knights we're preparing the Star Lark to leave the village and return to space after one of the Sun Guard's transport ships had brought down a fuel shipment so they could fill up before leaving. Turok was overseeing the transfer as Aayla stood beside Sian watching the younglings train again. Petro sat across from them watching them train still resting from his injury to the head. Aayla looked at him curious to what the boy was thinking, she saw him look over at Leo who was speaking with both Ra'Gun and Pluma before nodding and heading over to the Rogue Shadow alone. "Master Tholme." Aayla said to him.
"Right, I'm on it." Tholme said.
Leo had returned to the Rogue Shadow stripping down to nothing in his room and getting in the shower, he let the hot water cascade down his scar covered body and could feel the water getting into the new wounds that Ra'Gun had given him on Quarzite. After he got out of the shower he walked over to his fogged up mirror and wiped his hand over it to see his wet face. The pathetic excuse for a beard hadn't even filled in all the way the gaps between his chin and side burns along with his lips made it look like patches of white fur glued to his face.
Sighing Leo, opened the mirror pulling out a razor, he activated it letting a soft laser scan the hair on his cheeks, chin, jaw and neck cutting the hair at the root letting it fall into the sink before he shaved around his lips. Running his hands through the sink he wiped off the remaining hair till he was clean shaven once again. He looked at his hair now down to his shoulders like Anakins was the last time he saw him. The thought of his old friend made Leo's memory strain wondering what would happen when the Jedi Council found out he had assembled the army. Leo took the razor and dragged it on the sides of his hair and the back pulling up the back top so he had a bit more. Shaving it clean on the sides and back, Leo tied the last bit on top into a wolf tail haircut.
Would they send more jedi after him, clone troopers, would they send Obi-Wan he thought.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when heard a knock on the door, getting up he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked to his room's door opening it to see Tholme standing their.
"Tholme, has something happened?" Leo asked.
"No, may I come in." Tholme asked.
Leo stepped aside so he could walk in, Tholme passed over Leo's dirty clothes looking at all the cuts and wear and tear "I'll have someone bring you some fresh clothes, those rags are about to fall apart."
"They've kind of grown on me honestly." Leo said as Tholme paced the full length of the room "What is it?" Leo asked.
"It's time we talk about the younglings, we have Masters they need to become Padawans." Tholme said.
Leo nodded at this "Your right, has our Council chosen them?"
Tholme nodded "We're coming up with a way, but some think you should take a padawan of your own."
Leo rolled his eyes scoffing "We've been over this, I'm not ready for a padawan." Leo said "Are you sure, there's much you could teach an apprentice."
"Don't patronize me Tholme, I'm not Master material." Leo replied.
"I'm not, but you can't deny the younglings need direct focus of a Master, Quinlan can't stop training Jinx, Maris and Dray will need proper teachers too, besides Petro already wants to be your apprentice and you like him, so why not?" Tholme asked him, shaking his head Leo walked over to a fridge in the corner of his room taking out a bottle of water.
Leo uncorked the bottle and sipped it "I can't."
"Can't or won't?" Tholme asked.
"Tholme." Leo said as the man continued pacing the room "Your reluctance to take a padawan is understandable, but the younglings idolize you, if you took more of an interest in them as you claim it could help us all."
"Tholme." Leo said again "Now I know what it's like being a young knight but-" "DAMMIT THOLME LOOK AT ME!" Leo screamed, throwing the bottle shattering it, catching Tholme off guard at the outburst. The old man's one good eye went wide and even the milky one was surprised. Leo clutched the side of his towel so it didn't fall off gesturing to his scars "Look at my body, look at my damn hair." Leo grabbed the roots of his white hair "Do you really think I should be put in charge of a padawan, a child's trust when I can barely take care of myself?" Leo asked Tholme his voice cracking.
Leo paced over to the bed sitting down rubbing his hands "I can't lead an army and be a teacher to someone like Petro, he deserves someone better than me." Leo said, sighing "You trained Quinlan and Aayla for a time you should train Petro. I need to focus on Oba Diah, the Pykes won't go down easily, but they have to go down."
Tholme stood up straight, he walked over to Leo and joined him on the bed sitting beside him "Why do you try to bear the galaxy's problems on your shoulder, these scars on the surface heal, but you must let the ones inside heal as well." Tholme said, trying to console you.
"The Masters here know the pain Pong caused you, the High Council was wrong to let him do what he did to you but you let that pain define you, as Master Yoda told you to let go of the past, why is that so hard for you."
Leo looked at the floor "Because I can't just let it go, none of the Masters who tell me that know what it was like, to go days without food until I could lift a boulder with the force, to break bone after bone and still be expected to hold my lightsaber in proper form, I can't just forget what made me who I am." Leo said to him.
"I will never forget." Leo said "And if I take a padawan, that's the only way I know how to train, it be to easy to become Pong Krell and do what he did to me all over again." Leo said.
Tholme looked forward "I will respect your choice, as long as you respect our choice of the Master for Petro."
"I do." Leo said to him, Tholme patted him on the shoulder "Try to get some rest." Tholme said getting up and walking out of the Rogue Shadow, as the fleet began to take off.
Outside the camp, both Durge and Karkko were watching the army board their ship "I like this plan of yours, as much as I want to fight an army again this sounds way more fun." Durge said as the fleet started to take off. The frigates went first followed by the blockade runners and at last the Dreadnought and Stark Lark. Turok went into the Rogue Shadow and heard Leo snoring inside his cabin before he took the ship off into the sky boarding the Dreadnought.
Karkko sat in the shade of his ship, his black hood up "I'm glad you think so my friend, by the time we're done we'll have broken the Black Knights."
OBA DIAH
Pyke Dungeon
After the Pykes recaptured Ahsoka and The Martez Sisters they locked them up in a cell in the Pykes dungeon. Across from the stranger who revealed himself to be Jaybo Hood, he slicked back his shaggy brown hair as he sat across from the girls. He had a pack of cards he was shuffling playing a game of cards by himself. "Sooooooo where you ladies from?" Jaybo asked.
"Coruscant, what about you?" Trace asked him.
Maybe shrugged "Little place called Iego."
"The world of a thousand moons, I heard stories no pilot ever escaped there how did you?" Jaybo smiled at her winking "I'll tell you about it sometime doll."
Rafa poked her head out from behind Trace and shook her head, before she dragged her finger across her neck at Jaybo "Let's focus on a way of getting out of here, maybe we could pretend to be sick or dead." Rafa said thinking of a plan to get out
"Won't work, tried it already, they just leave you to die." Jaybo said in his cell.
"He did say he tried to escape six times, maybe he could help us out." Trace asked.
Rafa and Ahsoka looked at her like she was crazy "Pastent, tried and failed right Mr. Hood?"
Jaybo held up one card "Mr. Hood is my- was-… I don't know I never met my dad, anyway call me Jaybo. And if you want to try and escape, the guards change every three hours, and they shoot to kill."
"We know, so thanks but no thanks." Ahsoka said, Rafa focused on her.
"What do you think we should do, Ahsoka?" Trace asked.
"Let's look at how we got here." Ahsoka said.
Rafa rolled her eyes "Oh, I know the answer to that, we're here because you convinced Trace to dump the spice and she did."
Ahsoka didn't take kindly to the accusation "I never told her to do that."
"Wait, so you're blaming me for this?" Rafa asked her. "If we went through with my original deal, we'd be back on Coruscant counting our money right now." Rafa hissed at the torgrutan.
"But your original deal was the problem." Ahsoka reminded me.
"For you!" Rafa snapped, while Jaybe watched the ladies start to fight "For me as well." Trace said jumping to Ahsoka's defense. Jaybo's jaw dropped at the sudden new drama.
"When did this happen?" Rafa asked.
Trace looked confused and hurt "What?"
"The two of you against me, when it was always just you and me, Trace." Rafa said to her.
"Always. Rafa, I'm not choosing sides here, I'm just... Just siding with her." Trace said back to her "Only in this case, Rafa. But I look out for you!"
"She's your friend today. But what about tomorrow?" Rafa asked her, Jaybo looked back and forth putting his cards away. "And the next day, what about then, you and I were always good, ood until she showed up." Rafa said.
Jaybo made an o with his mouth "Oh damn."
Ahsoka, Trace and Rafa looked over at him "Are you just going to take that, togrutan?" Jaybo asked Ahsoka.
"Is this all some sort of show to you?" Rafa asked him, Jaybo shrugged "Well when you've been trapped in a Pyke cell for more days then my wall over here can count, and had nothing but the voices in my head for company, yeah I this is more entertaining than a pod race." Jaybo said.
The three girls looked away "Ignoring him, I think I know of a way to get us out of here."
"Won't wooooooork." Jaybo said "Shut up or I am going to feed you your teeth." Rafa snapped at Jaybo who just made 'pffffft'
Refocusing on Ahsoka, Trace asked "What's your plan? It's better if you don't know."
"I hope it's better than your last one." Rafa said not hopeful.
"Rafa, you need to trust me." Ahsoka told her.
"Me, trust you?" Rafa said sarcastically, still hostile toward Ahsoka.
"We each played a part in getting here, now we need to do the same to get out. But we have to trust each other." Ahsoka said firmly.
"What choice do I really have?" Rafa replied.
Later, two Pyke guards came up to the cell with their blasters, opening it "Come with us." The guards told the Martez's and Ahsoka. Jaybo shuffled his cards "Hey Clim, hey Nix, we still on for pazaak later?"
"No, you win too much." One of the Pyke guards said while Jaybo made another "Pffft, that's cause you stink at cards." Jaybo said.
Soon, they were escorted back into the throne room of Mar Krim, his head of security Fife stood to Krim's right. Ahsoka stood between Rafa and Trace, The throne room had pillars lining the walls and no one else in the room except for the Pyke's and their prisoners "So, are you ready to make a choice?" Krim asked them.
"Depends on what the choices are." Rafa said back.
"Pay your debt" Krim said "Or watch your friends die...Slowly"
"I want to cut a deal with you alone." Ahsoka said, getting Krim's attention.
"What?" Trace asked in disbelief.
This caught Krim's entrance "You would betray your freinds?"
"Trust us they aren't myfriends" Ahsoka said lied playing it cool.
Marg Krim leaned in his chair pressing his slender ringed fingers "Where is my spice?" Krim demanded.
"They hid the spice off world" Ahsoka replied "I don't know where"
"Send them to go get it and give them one rotation, if they don't come back I'll tell you where their family is from and that should motivate them." Ahsoka said, pretending to betray the Martez's
Trace's brown eyes and fluffy head of hair looked more hurt than a wounded puppy "Ahsoka, why would you say that?" Trace demanded
"Because she's a snake, just like I tried to warn you" Rafa said venomously.
Krim tapped his ringed fingers on this throne mulling it over "And what do you get out of all this?" Krim asked her.
"Just my percentage" Ahsoka replied "A small price to pay for a large shipment once its returned to you?" She asked hand on her hip doing her best Asajj Ventress impersonation minus the raspy voice.
"Very well" Krim agreed "You have one rotation to bring back my spice and if you don't I'll torture the information out of your friends here and kill them, you and your family"
"I won't forget this" Rafa said as the guards took her and Rafa to the Silver Angel, and Ahsoka to her cell.
HYPERSPACE
Enroute to Oba Diah
Leo awoke from his sleep and yawned getting up, he looked around his room, his clothes, harness and mask were gone. He walked over to his closet and pulled out some loose brown sleeping robes to throw on. A pair of loose trousers and robe that he draped around his shoulders and arms, walking out he stretched his head hearing music from the cockpit. Leo followed it to see Turok holding a cold drink in his head "There is, how's it feel to be a General again?" Leo looked out the cockpit window to see the hangar was an absolute mess. The Sand People had set up camp in the middle of the hanger even tying their tents up to the Sun Guards Starfighters.
He could also see the Kage Warriors were on one side with the rest of the Sun Guard on the other. "I love the sight of a full hanger." Leo said.
"Hey what happened to my clothes?"
Turok sipped his beer "Oh, yeah uh Pluto- Pluma the Kage girl came by then that Sun Dick- Dictator Meat- Meto also came by for your mask?"
"And you let them take my clothes and wait a sec… are you drunk, without me?" Leo asked him. The trandoshan shrugged, spilling his beer a bit "Guilty hahahaha."
Leo giggled, patting him on his trandoshan friend on his shoulder. "Well enjoy it, just try to be sober by Oba Diah." Leo asked him. He walked out of the cockpit and walked to the loading ramp. He walked down rubbing his eyes still trying to wake up before he looked to his left to see a Kage Warrior had appeared out of nowhere 'Whoa." Leo nearly jumped out of his own skin "How did you…"
Leo looked at the Warrior who stared back at him with yellow eyes "This is a gift from Princess Pluma, please accept it on behalf of the Kage." Leo looked around before he held out his hands "Um… Thank you." Leo said as the Kage placed it in his hands and pressed his left and to his right in a fist bowing. Leo was about to open the box when he heard someone clear his throat.
Leo turned around to see Meto standing there in his black fatigues holding a metal chest, "General Rock, on behalf the Supreme Sun Guardian please accept this gift, your trandoshan man servant was kind enough to allow us to borrow your mask, our armor are still working on it."
"Man servant-" before he could ask more, Meto put the chest on Leo's other box from the Kage warrior "What okay thank you." Leo said before the Thyrsusian walked away Leo looked at the metal chest noticing it was made of Cortosis, wondering what was inside he started to open it when he sensed someone behind him. Slowly Leo turned around to see a Tusken Raider standing behind him holding a bundle of skins "uh…. Hi." Leo said.
The Tusken held up the bundle of skins and put it on top of the cortosis crate, which now stood taller then Leo in his arms. Followed by the Tusken Raider saying something in his own language which Leo couldn't understand.
"Um, thank you." Leo said, assuming it was along the lines of what the others had told him.
Turning around Leo carried the three gifts back into the Rogue Shadow and dropped them on the holotable in the commons, sighting Leo opened the three of them to see they were set of gray Kage robes with a mask and electro daggers, Tusken raiders had given me a set of linens and leather harness or belt, he wasn't sure exactly. The last part was the cortosis chest, he opened it to see black cortosis armor.
"Rank has its privileges click-click-click." Trench had boarded the Rogue Shadow, he was still wearing his blue white collared Admiral uniform unlike Leo who had a new set of clothes to wear from all three of the respective forces he'd gathered.
Leo picked up the Sun guard helmet looking at it "What's all this for?" Leo asked.
The harch walked on his cane clicking his mandibles "Each will try to seek favor with you, each has something they want click-click-click, whichever you choose to wear will show you you favor most."
"You really put that much on appearances don't you?" Leo said.
"Most only see what their eyes tell them click-click-click few can read between the lines." Trench said.
"But you can?"
Trench stopped "We can click-click-click, I have prepared a strategy for Oba Diah, when you are ready join us on the bridge, our forces are waiting, click-click-click General." Trench said, it was the first time Leo had felt like a General again and it felt good.
OBA DIAH
Pyke Dungeon
Ahsoka sat in her cell as Jaybo had found a new way to entertain himself he was throwing a ball against a wall that bounced back off the floor and into his hand then did it again, over and over. Ahsoka made sure he wasn't looking when she used the force to open the cell door again and slip out. Jaybo stopped when he heard the door open she held a finger up to her lip shushing him "Hmmm, well well well." Jaybo said as she ran off. Ahsoka dashed down the corridors of the dungeon. She slunk her way into another room and looked between some railing to see a processing plant for spice. Sneaking her way past the Pyke guards and workers she entered a new part of the palace and found a large unguarded door opening it to see she'd found her way into one of the Pyke's armories.
"Well since we're here might as well do some good" Ahsoka said as she walked over to a crate of grenades and grabbed all the explosives she could carry. Sneaking past the guards using her jedi training to stay behind cover and move through rafters Ahsoka placed bombs all across the palace's factory. Unscrewing the detonators and pressing the magnet ends against machines, silos and anything else that looked important.
As she placed another explosive on a large machine she overheard voices above on a walkway. "I assure you this delay does not change things we will proceed as planned" Krim said to someone. Ahsoka looked up to see Marg Krim, Fifee his sentries and a mysterious hooded hologram they were speaking to.
"You are but one small piece moving in this mechanism which I designed andWhen you Alter it jeopardizes everything. Do you understand?" Ahsoka thought the voice sounded sinister, dark, evil.
"I understand" Krim replied "But the Republic is cracking down on my operations. Just a week ago one of my spice shipments arrived on Coruscant" Krim said to the shadow.
"Were there jedi?" The dark one asked.
Krim hesitated to answer before he finally did "I don't know, none of my men made it out."
"Hmm. Well then the answer is yes, I have things to attend to other than your incompetence make sure there are no more delays and if there are I'm certain the Crimson Dawn would love the opportunity to take control of your operation" Ahsoka remembered she'd heard the same name brought up by Jaybo and Trace, a new criminal syndicate. Ahsoka saw the hood move in her direction before she ducked behind cover hiding, did the shadow see her, how, he'd have to be millions of miles away and even then hologram views aren't that good.
"He pit's the other syndicates against one another, a wise strategy." Marg Krim said as Ahsoka followed him.
Fife scoffed "He thinks the Pykes are going to do what he says?"
"Would you care to test that theory?" Marg asked Fife before the two walked out of the processing plant, going through an office and out some doors. Ahsoka leapt up into the last room they were in and planted her last bomb under the table before she walked up to a computer system.
"Let's find out where you are." Ahsoka said as she typed in the pass code and it showed where Maul's transmission came from.
"Mandalore?" She asked.
"I knew you were no petty smugglers" Ahsoka spun around to see Marg Krim and Fife walked in on her blasters at the ready "Now who are you?"
Just as the former jedi was surrounded, Ahsoka used the force to push the Pykes back and fight off some of them. She kicked one away and grabbed the other blaster pulling him in front of her to get shot by Fife before she force pushed him into her. The attacked the next closest one pummeling him with her fists but unfortunately more guards entered the room and they were surrounded again.
"A Jedi" Krim said crossing his arms "Are your friends Jedi as well?"
"No just me" Ahsoka replied "They have no Idea"
"Well then the Jedi Council will regret sending you" Krim said as two of the guards stunned the ahsoka with the pale blue rings of light knocking her out cold.
EDGE OF PYKE SPACE
Leo's Fleet
The Black Knights were on the bridge of the Sun Guard's flagship all talking in hushed voices on one side. Trench stood on the other with the Sun Guard Commanders, Pluma and her Kage and some sand people who stood in the corner next to Hett who translated what Trench was saying when the doors opened and Leo walked in.
He had taken something from each of the gifts he'd been given, he wore the gray Kage robes, the under cloth lined with the yellow silk embroidery. Over the armor he wore the armor of the colorless Sun Guard, their chest piece, shoulder pauldrons, bracer and greaves. Around his waist he wore the Tusken Raider belt, and bandolier harness on his left shoulder under his right with his lightsaber strapped over his back. The new hair cut, clean shaven face and new outfit made the jedi hardly recognize Leo, as if he'd been reborn into a new person, a new man. Trench gaze Leo three winks from separate eyes at the idea to wear one of each of the clothing that the factions had given him.
"Out destination is is the Pyke stronghold on Oba Diah." Leo said turning on the holotable showing the planet then zooming in on the Pyke Palace of Marg Krim. "Oba Diah is a heavily mountainous world, there canyons and gorges all over the world so landing a ground force will be near impossible unless we can the landing pads and have multiple factories and bases scattered across the world, Admiral Trench your plan?" Leo asked.
Trench stepped forward "I'm glad you asked click-click-click Orbital bombardment."
"Effective." Ra'Gun said next to Meto and his Sun Guard.
"And overkill, there's a city at the foot of the Pyke palace thousands of innocents will die." Aayla argued.
Leo looked over at Aayla then at Trench "Alternatives, we're going to fight the Pykes not civilians."
Trench sighed "With respect General, the Oba Diah is vast as you say, launching a military campaign here could turn into a guerilla war click-click-click, but then both the Separatists and the Republic will catch wind of our operation, therefore we must be swift and effective click-click-click." Trench
"We have no short list of enemies." Ra'Gun said, folding his arms.
Trench clicked on "Indeed, click-click-click therefore in exchange for high civilian casualties, we shall divide and Conquer, intel provided by General Vos." Trench nodded to Quinlan "Had given us the tactical advantage of knowing the largest depots and factories of the Pyke operations scattered here." Trench said pressing a few buttons on the holotable to show six spots on the surface of Oba Diah "The largest of which is on the place of Marg Krim, leader of the Pyke's."
"Speaking of Krim, what's your plan for him, his drug operation has ruined countless lives, are we going to kill him?" Pluma asked.
Leo felt Tholme, the Dark Woman and K'Kruhk's eyes on him "We take him alive if we can, interrogate him for everything he knows about the Shadow Collective and their leader." Leo said.
"Sidious?" Ra'Gun asked.
"I don't think so, an agent, maybe an apprentice, we find him, we find Sidious." Leo replied looking at the others.
"Now decide who hits which targets, I'll lead the Vanguard against Krim's palace, it'll be the most heavily defended." Leo said pointing to the palace to make it go larger "We'll carve path with the Starfighters, then use the Sun Guards SS-54 assault ships to land troops on the landing pads and docks once we secure those positions we clear the palace."
Hett cleared his throat "The raiders here want to know about the spoils?"
"Spoils, you mean steal?" Aayla asked.
"They came to fight, but they expect bounty Master Secura." Hett said, Ra'Gun and the Sun Guard all agreed nodding their heads.
Leo shrugged "Tell your raiders, and the rest the forces they can take whatever they can carry, weapons, credits you name it, but no slaves or prisoners, and we destroy all the spice."
"Cutting off the spice trade here will cripple the Pyke syndicate, they may never recover?" Tholme said scratching his chin.
"Good." Leo said standing up "Masters, if your willing I'd like one of you each to assist in the attack on the other four targets?" Leo asked them.
Sian smirked coming out from behind "Fighting criminals and drug dealers, sounds like a Jedi's calling."
"Agreed, I will take the north east hemisphere target." K'Kruhk said.
"Dips open the south west." Quinlan said smiling as both Aayla and Hett volunteered for the other two.
Leo nodded in gratitude "Also if you let me Master Vos, I want Jinx with me in the Vanguard." The Twi'lek had been sulking in the back of the Masters with Maris and Dray before he sat up surprised to hear his name.
"Of course brother." Jinx said, stepping forward.
"Out of the question." Tholme suddenly interjected "What?" Jinx snapped.
Tholme quickly answered calmly saying "We all agreed that padawans and children had no place in the war we left, not here either this Council will not allow Padawans or younglings to enter combat." Maris and Dray both looked stunned at the declaration, but Leo could see the other masters were all resolved in agreement. Leo looked at Jinx who begged him with his eyes to let him go.
"As you wish Masters, at least allow the padawans to assist in landing the operation and assisting with the wounded?" Leo asked.
Tholme looked at the Dark Woman and other Masters, each nodding "Very well."
"Anything else?" Leo asked the war council, "I will stay aboard with the padawans." Aayla said.
This got everyone's attention "As you wish." Leo replied.
Turning back to Ra'Gun "How many men can you spare to the additional factories and outposts?" Leo asked.
"I'll have the number for you by the time we arrive, the main force should be striking at Krim's palace, there's a good chance the fighting will spill out onto the streets of Spice Town." Bree said changing the holotable to show the small city that surrounded the palace.
Leo folded his arms thinking "If it does, we secure the palace first and sweep the city second if it comes to that, do I have your word your men will not attack the civilians?"
"Only they don't attack us." Bree replied putting on his helmet.
"Understood." Leo said "Then may the force…" Leo didn't finish the traditional jedi saying or anyone who kept the faith would say, instead he looked down at the table
When he didn't say a word for a full two minutes the Kage princess "General?" Pluma asked.
"Proxy." Leo said his personal protocol and training droid was standing by in the corner before it stood at attention "Open a channel, fleet wide." Leo said walking around the holotable. Everyone looked at him curious as he walked over to the command chair and stood beside it. Proxy approached a nearby console and entered in a few commands "It's done Master."
"Attention all personnel, I know we've only been together for a short while but you have something to say before we arrive at Oba Diah." Leo said looking at the floor "I could talk about how the Pykes, I could tell you about the Jedi and what we're supposed to be, or some sense of honor and loyalty but you already gave me that but all I want from you now, is to FIGHT!" Leo slammed his hand on the metal commander chair turning back to the others. "The Pykes, the Hutts, the Sith and all the powerful who prey on the weak, who use fear and pain to rule now it's their turn to be afraid. Their turn to run and hide, and we will make them know why they hide in the darkness from the light"
Leo looked to Ra'Gun Bree "Give the order, we march on Oba Diah."
OBA DIAH
Krim's Throne Room
Later Ahsoka woke up and found herself cuffed as she stood up and faced Krim, Fifee and a dozen of his bodyguards. He wasn't taking any chances with her after what she just pulled.
"I want to thank you" Krim Said in a mocking tone. "Your execution will help restore the Pykes reputation. Your timing is perfect" Krim said, delighted at her demise.
"Speaking of perfect timing", the doors to the throne room opened suddenly and both Rafa and Trace entered the room.
Trace ran up to stand beside Ahsoka "Stop what your doing" Trace said "Look you don't have to execute her. We brought the spice back"
Fife and Marg glanced at one another before they snickered, then they burst out laughing "Foolish" Krm sighed "We know you are both working for the Republic and these Jedi"
"Jedi?" Trace asked as she and Rafa looked at the couple.
"Her?" Rafa asked "Come on"
"I see" Krim said "So It's true the Jedi used you both how unfortunate that your stupidity is so authentic"
Ahsoka found the younger Martez's sister looking at her confused "Why didn't you tell me?" Trace asked
"How could I?" Ahsoka asked
"After what you told me about your parents?" Ahsoka replied "I thought you wouldn't trust us"
The Pyke guards started to raise their blasters getting ready to execute the three of them even as they had the heart to heart chat "Wait you're an actually Jedi?" Rafa asked stunned.
"I'm not a jedi, not since I left."
"You can do that?" The Martinez sisters asked at the same time as the guards got ready to shoot.
Krim had enough of the argument "Prepare to execute them all!" Krim ordered as the guards surrounded them.
"Look now is not the time to explain all this" Ahsoka said.
"Yeah you know when the time was?" Rafa asked "When we were in prison"
"You should've told me" Trace said .Suddenly there was a massive explosion inside bowls of the palace that rocked the room. Not waiting the opportunity Ahsoka broke free from their cuffs and force pushed the guard into the walls.
"Come on!" Ahsoka said as she and the others, ran out of the throne room Marg Krim shouting "AFTER THEM!"Running down the hallways with pyke blaster fire chasing at their heels, another explosion hit the palace. Making Rafa stumble but Ahsoka helped her up. "You planted bombs?" Rafa asked.
Ahsoka ran next to her "Figured I'd do some goo-" another explosion this time it shook the entire palace followed by a series of explosions outside, alarms began to blare in a different sound, with an intercom going off "All sentries to defenses, all sentries to defenses." The sentires chasing them we're hesitant to continue before they ran off down another hallway.
"How many did you plant?" Trace asked.
"None outside only inside-" The intercom came back on "We are under attack, repeat we are under attack all sentires get to the defenses now!"
Rafa and Trace looked at Ahsoka, "Don't look at me." "Then come on, let's get out of here while we still can." Rafa snapped, they managed to make it to the landing pad where Trace had parked the silver angel to see red cannon fire reigning down from the sky bombarding the Pyke's palace. Followed by three swarms of Rogue Class starfighters flying down attacking Pyke ships in the air and bombarding their docks with bombs sending their spice up in flames.
"Those aren't republic fighters." Ahsoka said as something started to break through the clouds, Ahsoka, Trace and Rafa looked up to see the Sun Guard flagship descending over the Pyke palace "And that's definitely not a Republic ship, we need to go now." Ahsoka snapped.
Trace grabbed her arm "No need to tell me twice." Trace said as they boarded the Silver Angel. Rafa looked out the window to see the Sunguard starfighters were shooting down every ship in the sky regardless of Pyke or other. "Trace you better get us out of here fast, those fighters are running out of ships to shoot."
"I'm on it, I'm on it." Trace said taking them into the air, the Silver Angel took flight just as Marg Krim saw them escape and the attackers.
"This isn't the Republic, who-" "Look out!" Fife grabbed Marg pulling him back into the palace as the dreadnought's hanger doors opened and the gunships descended. Ahsoka looked out to see SS-54 gunships burst from the hangar droves flying down to the palace. She looked at one in particular that had the decal of some sort of animal with razor sharp teeth and red eye on it flying at the front. She started to feel something she knew, something she loved when another attack from the Pykes broke her concentration.
Among the vanguard Leo opened the bayside doors of the gunship, fitting on his new and improved helmet. The eyeholes had been glassed over with a thin polymer to protect his eyes and the back now had a banded set of square cortosis that went down his neck so he could still move his head, and a new black paint job like the armor. He put it on and locked it into his armor before Leo took out his lightsaber, turning on the purple blade as the gunships swarmed over the landing pad even as the Pykes came out of the main gate blasters blazing "Attack!" Leo shouted at the Sun Guard leaping from the gunships. Those armed with blasters opened fire on them as the ones with the double bladed vibro pykes activated their ray shields.
"Legionnaires, rally to me!" Ra'Gun shouted under his silver helmet, "SHIELD WALL!" Ra'Gun roared, the Sun Guard formed a row of arm mounted ray shields absorbing the blaster fire from the Pykes. The gunships departed after they dropped off their forces and started to engage the Pyke ships in the air "Ra'Gun order your men to shoot down any ship, no more spice is getting off this planet." Leo ordered, with both Fives and Dogma behind him dressed in their Arc Trooper armor.
Ra'Gun nodded and relayed the order, even as the Silver Angel flew off into the sky trying to escape three Pyke fighters in pursuit. I'm sorry "I couldn't tell you before, Trace." Ahsoka said in the copilot seat next to Trace, Rafa sitting behind them holding onto the armchair she was sitting in with all her strength.
"Well, if you're a Jedi, I assume you're a good shot?" Trace asked as she swerved and turned around the narrow canyons of Oba Diah.
"Yes."
Trace pushed a button to activate the ships weapon system "Then shoot something!" The silver angel opened up it's hull to reveal a turret under the bow of the ship. Ahsoka looked at th gunner console and shot down one of the fighters and but the other two were still gaining on them.
"Got another one closing point 4-6." Rafa said.
"Keep it tight. I'm on it." Ahsoka said as she kept shooting at them, but they were shooting back their weapons rocking the Silver Angel's shields.
Trace saw a spot for the Silver Angel to go "I'm banking right." She told Ahsoka. Trace swerved the ship in the direction she was going and Ahsoka took out the second fighter.
"He bit... Got him." Ahsoka said, before the Angel took a massive hit the gun Ahsoka was using blew off and the shields giving out to the bombardment.
Rafa looked at her console go all red "We've lost the rear deflector shields and the gun."
"Hang on." Trace said, spinning the ship around the dead set on the other ship. "What are you doing?" Rafa asked her sister.
"We might have lost the rear deflectors, but we still have the front." Trace said hitting the ships excelerator, in a game of chicken with the
"Uh, this isn't a good idea." Ahsoka said.
Rafa gulped as Trace and the pyke ship were getting closer and closer "Yeah. I'm gonna agree with Ahsoka on this one." They were only feet away before the Pyke fighter swerved left and crashed into a canyon wall. The Martez let out cheers of celebration shouting "We did it-" Rafa said before she was thrown from her chair by a rocket hitting the Silver Angel. Trace almost lost control and she looked out the cockpit window with Ahsoka to see a squadron of Rogue Class fighters circling back.
"Oh no." Trace said as the fighters lost a barrage of missiles into the Silver Angels engines..
"NOOO!" Trace screamed when they made impact, the Silver Angel's engines ruptured sending the nebula class freighter into the canyon below. The Silver Angel Trace pulled up with all her strength to keep the nose from dipping, Ahsoka ran up to help her and so did Rafa all three women keeping the ship level when it smashed into the ground scraping up the underbody and rock before coming to a rugged halt.
Everyone's heart was racing as they looked at one another, then Trace screamed so loud Ahsoka jumped out of her skin "Trace- Trace are you alright?" Rafa said getting up and running over to check on her "NO I'M NOT ALRIGHT, I JUST GOT MY SHIP BACK AND SOME JERK SHOT IT OUT OF THE SKY, I'M GOING TO KILL THEM I'M GOING TO KILL WHOEVER DID THIS!" Trace pushed Rafa off her and kicked out the remaining glass of her ship's window and stormed out. She tore out a pipe that had been pushed up from the haul holding it like a club before Ahsoka and Rafa followed back to the Pyke palace but in the distance Ahsoka could see the entire fortress was under siege.
"Bring up the gunners!" Leo shouted behind the wall of the ray shield wall the Sun Guard had formed. The legionaries who were holding blaster rifles were brought up and the Sun Guard behind them formed into teams of two behind the shields to lift the gunners up over the shield wall and open fire at the Pykes. The sentires and guards were all dug in around the landing pad entrances by crates as defense.
Ra'Gun looked over at Leo "We don't have time for this General."
'I agree, Pluma." Leo said looking over his shoulder at Princess Pluma and her Kage warriors, "With me."
Leo took a few steps back and leapt over the Shields wall with the force followed by the Kage charging the Pyke's, using their training to avoid the blaster fire that came near them. Ra'Gun watched Leo storm through a hail of blaster fire, his lightsaber drawing the fire "He's taking the flak, charge!" The Sun Guards broke ranks and all at once by the time Leo reached the Pyke lines he cut one down, deflected a shot into another and was about to kill a third before Ra'Gun threw his pyke into him. Overwhelmed, the Pykes retreated into their palace, harassed by the invaders with every step.
Leo looked at the other landing pads to see the other defenses were breaking and the rest of his vanguard moved inside. He held up his comlink on his black gauntlet "This is Rock, we've broken through the defenses at the palace."
Across the planet at the same factory where Rafa and Trace had stolen the spice, Vos and Tholme with a small contingent of Sun Guard had begun their offensive with little resistance already sweeping through the factory "This is Vos, barely any resistance we're setting charges now."
Sian and Hett were at another location a large outpost with the Tusken Raiders terrorizing the Pyke guards and workers with their war cries and cycle rifles taking the heads off the Pyke guards who were shooting up from a defensive tower. Hett suddenly rushed over drawing out two lightsaber of emerald green he rushed their perch dodging the incoming fire before he jumped up and unleashed a flurry of double swings turning around to his warriors Hett unleashed a furious Tusken war cry "Sian and Hett here, we've taken the outpost."
In the northern hemisphere, K'Kruhk and Turok were both overseeing a Sun Guard Battalion in a snowy peak moving up a drift of snow toward a Pyke refinery. "K'Kruhk to Rock, beginning our assault now." K'Kruhk said as Turok loosed a rocket on a refinery silo sending the spice up in flames, the explosion sending Rock waves across the refinery before the Sun Guard rushed down the snow drift blasters unleashing hell on the Pyke's guarding it.
Up in the bridge of the Dreadnought Trench was overseeing the whole offensive from the holotable. "We've jammed their communications system click-click-click, they will be unable to call for reinforcements click-click-click."
Leo looked up at the Dreadnought then back at the palace "Good work everyone, but this day isn't over yet, destroy the factories, the spice, all of I want the Pyke's criminal empire burned to the ground." Leo said walking into the palace.
Lightsaber on Leo passed by rooms of fighting, shootouts in spice chambers, the hallways the Pyke's who were brave enough to try and stand against the Sun Guard or Kage in hand to hand were quickly subdued or killed. Leo walked down one hallway where he saw a Sun Guard with a flamethrower incinerate a Pyke sentry. It didn't even bother Leo, he remembered what the Pykes had done not just to the people of the galaxy but to the jedi. To Sifo Dyas, working for Dooku to create the clone army to slaughter infinite people for the Sith, they deserved every ounce of pain and suffering a hundred times over.
Up ahead Dogma and Fives were with Ra'Gun and his Legionnaires in a shootout in the hallway. Ra'Gun rushed forward behind his shield taking a Pyke sentry by surprise impaling him on his pyke's blade and bashing another with his shield before he swung the spear around taking off a Pyke head with a single swing. The nearest one dropped his blaster and held up his three digit hands "I surrender I surrender!" The Pyke screamed.
Ra'Gun answered by thrusting the tip of his weapon's blade into the other Pyke's mouth "No!" Dogma shouted running up "Look at what you did, he was surrendering."
"Was he, I didn't hear anything, did you mean?" Ra'Gun asked the other Sun Guard who outnumbered the arc troopers five to one, they all shook their heads or said "No… didn't hear anything… looked like he was reaching for a weapon…."
Dogma started down Ra'Gun under his helmet before Fives came up "Not the time Dogma."
"Listen to your fellow trooper, not the time." Ra'Gun said before he advanced with his men to Krim's throne room.
Marg Krim and Fife had barricaded themselves inside, a holo monitor was set up showing fighting was going on everywhere in the palace. From the dungeons to the landing pads the Sun Guard and Kage were swarming, looting and killing without mercy. "No, no, no, we'll lose everything, contact the Collective, contact anyone we need reinforcements."
Fife was fumbling with the communications system "I can't- I can't we're being jammed."
Marg snapped his head around to shout "We'll lose more when he finds out-"
BOOM
The throne room gates were blown off and a volley of blaster fire and flame throwers came through the Pyke's closest to the door and went down first, followed by the Sun Guard and Kage running through with their melee weapons to cut down any Pyke who remained. Marg Krim dove behind his throne to cover Fife and his guards rushed to Krim picking him up and trying to get out through a side door before it opened to reveal the Pluma and her Kage who killed the two guards with Fife throwing two throwing knives into them.
"This way." Krim pulled Fife with him toward another side door but when he opened it the door exploded knocking Fife and Krim back to the foot of the throne, Ra'Gun, Dogma and Fives walking in before the two were surrounded.
Seeing they'd lost Fife tossed his blaster away and got up slowly with Marg Krim, the two Pyke's looked at the masked and helmet-covered faces of their conquerors before they saw him walk in. Leo approached the lightsaber in hand, the purple blade letting off a soft humm as Leo got closer. "So you're the Jedi leading the attack…" Krim said standing up straight.
"And here I thought you only used clones, running out I see?" Krim said as Leo walked up in front of him.
The young knight didn't say a word behind his helmet, his identity still unknown to Krim, Krim took a breath before he held up his hand "Master Jedi, I see no reason we cannot not negotiate a fair deal for-" with one stroke of his lightsaber Leo severed Marg Krim's left hand. The Pyke dropped to his knees letting out a silent scream before Leo turned off his lightsaber he walked over to Marg Krim's throne and sat down and took his helmet off
"Y-you." Krim said seeing he was Leo Rock.
"Marg Krim, you are under arrest for the creation and distribution for the narcotic use of spice, take him away." Leo said.
A Sun Guard and a Kage warrior both grabbed Marg but he struggled shouting "Under whose authority, you're not a jedi anymore you're an outlaw, the Republic doesn't recognize you."
Leo gave him a cold stare "Under my authority, if he talks again, take the other hand." Leo told the soldiers under his command. Marg Krim made no resistance and Leo turned his attention to Fife who stood their unsure if he'd make it.
"What's your name?" Leo asked.
The Pyke stepped forward and dropped to his knees "Fife my lord."
"Well Fife, I want you to take a message to the Shadow Collective." Fife's head shot up hearing Leo speak of it, "The jedi know?"
Leo leaned back in the throne "Tell your leader, that his days and all like him are numbered, that our Crusade is just beginning, get him to a ship and let him go."
Dogma and Alpha came up to Fife who slowly got up and followed him out, Leo looked to the other leaders of his attack Ra'Gun and Pluma both looked at him. "The day is ours, Sun Guardian, Princess, have your men free all the prisoners, load every weapon and explosive onto our ships, and help yourselves to the spoils of the palace." The last order made all the legionnaires and warriors cheer. Everyone filed out to finish the first two orders so they could move onto the next leaving only Ra'Gun and Pluma who pulled down her hood and mask, the same time Ra'Gun removed his helmet.
"Hell of a first day." Ra'Gun said.
"Agreed, your men move well Sun Guardian." Pluma complemented.
The Sun Guard gave a gracious nod "My lady."
Leo smiled at them "The first of many I hope, Ra'Gun, have your men established a perimeter around the palace?"
"Yes General, when we attacked the Docks the pyke working them fled into Spice town, we should move door to door before they can counter attack, but there is a crowd gathering outside the gates they want to know whats going on." Ra'Gun suggested.
"I thought we were leaving Spice Town alone?" Pluma asked.
Leo thought it over for a few seconds, "Hmm make an announcement to the town, anyone who turns over the Pykes can have a share of the spoils, is that fair?"
"Maybe, but the men fought for those spoils, you'd be taking their right of conquest." Ra'Gun pointed out.
"All the same, we can't let them counter attack, have your men move into Spice Town, take key access points and if you see a Pyke with a blaster." Leo stood up taking his helmet with him "… shoot them." Not long after the Sun Guard assault ships were stocked full of the palace's armory, ordinance and now treasure. The Sun Guard were carrying out crates of credits, valuables, anything that looked like it was worth something was being taken. Fife had been given a single fighter and flew away from Oba Diah, on the surface the other strike teams had finished up with their attacks. The pyke factory was in flames, their outposts were razed, the refinery was being bombarded by the Star Lark with Turok smirking next to Jinx "Nice shot." Turok said before the Star Lark flew back to the fleet.
Back at the palace, the Sun Guard were already moving through Spice Town, they did nothing to stop people coming and going. They avoided the soldiers except for the growing crowd outside the palace, the Sun Guard standing in a full row in front of the gate with snipers already in the towers. At the entrance to the small city, the Silver Angel's crew had found their way back.
"Trace, I know you're upset but this isn't safe." Rafa said, watching the Sun Guard moving through the streets.
Whirling back, Rafa came face to face with Trace looking madder than a Rancor "Upset, upset, Rafa you nearly got us killed, now my ship is ruined, do you have any idea- I'm beyond upset."
Ahsoka stepped toward her "Anger won't-" "No, you shut up, you didn't tell us you were a Jedi so your going to help me find who brought my ship down, and and and… aaaaah, where is he!" Trace stormed off again toward the Pyke Palace swinging her pipe in the air.
"Who are these guys?" Rafa asked.
Ahsoka looked at their armor, beige cloaks and weapons "Mercenaries?"
"What, I thought jedi knew everything?" Rafa said as she walked toward the gate.
"I told you I'm not a jedi, I left-" "I don't want to hear it now, we need to get Trace out of here." Rafa hissed at Ahsoka while they passed by a group of Pyke who were on their knees hands over their head a squad of Sun Guard Legionnaires and a Legate standing over them
Inside Leo walked through the docks with Ra'Gun and Pluma examined the plunder. The inside of the containers had more than just credits and spice, they opened them up and sitting inside the container in front of them were fully armed Ubrikkian tanks, WLO-5 speedermodels. The tank was flanked on each side with one large turbine engine. It was armed with one heavy laser cannon turret, which could turn 360 degrees and was located on the top of the tank. The tank was also armed with anti-personnel blasters located on the bow.[4] The turret gunner sat in the open, behind the laser cannon, protected only by the gun's side-armor. Two additional crewmen piloted the craft from inside the vehicle, protected by its armor. The additional crew had access to sensors and computer-based targeting software.
Leo smiled at the sight of the tank "Inform Admiral Trench to land…" Leo stopped looking at Ra'Gun, "I just realized I never knew the name of your ship?"
"Our ship General, she's called the Lightbringer."
Leo looked up at the dreadnought "Fitting name, have Admiral Trench bring the Lightbrigner bows round we'll load up every tank we find."
"Look at this, what's this Shadow Collective preparing for?" Pluma asked to open another container that was filled to the brim with rocket launchers.
"Whatever it is, we'll make sure they aren't." Leo said next to her, he was going to say something else when he heard a knocking from the inside of a crate. Leo walked up to the crate that was making the noise and saw it was locked. He took his lightsaber out and opened it by force.
Pluma gasped "Stars." She whispered covering her mouth and nose, inside the container were people. Twi'leks all women of varying age, all stinking of excrement and malnutrition. Kneeling down in front of a young twi'lek Leo spoke in their language offering his hand the child took it and the rest followed him out.
"Get them some food and water." Leo told Ra'Gun.
Ra'Gun didn't say anything "Is there a problem?" Leo asked.
"We came here to destroy the pyke right, not babysit slaves, we can't stay here or bring them with us." He told Leo who looked back at the slaves "We aren't leaving them here to be sold to another slaver, now get them medical treatment." Leo ordered.
Ra'Gun grudgingly said "Yes General."
In the distance Leo saw the Star Lark landing to assist with the loading, letting the child stay with her people Leo walked over to Turok and Jinx who were smiling "You should have seen the refinery go up boooooom, who knew Spice made such good fireworks." Turok laughed, slugging Jinx on the shoulder "You were told to stay out of combat." Leo said to his friend.
"And I did, but I did man the gun." Jinx said happy he'd found a loophole.
Unable to hold the smile, Leo patted him on the arm. "Good work, now all we need to do is-" "I said stay back!" A Sun Guard Legionnaire barked at the gate.
A commotion was going on at the entrance, Trace, Rafa and Ahsoka had pushed their way to the front of the crowd as people were shouting and arguing like the other Spice Town citizens. "How are we supposed to make credits, the Pykes employed us."
"The Pyke's are gone, once we're gone you can have whatever's left." The Twinsun Legate said his armor was adorned with two suns on his shoulder pauldrons.
"No, you shot down my ship MY SHIP!" Trace snapped to the Legate who was in charge of the gate stood over her in his yellow and black armor "Be thankful you didn't go down with it girl, go home."
"How, you shot down MY SHIP!" Trace screamed at the Legate holding up the pipe.
The legate didn't flinch at her shouts, "I-don't-care, were you smuggling spice?" He asked.
Before Trace could say anything Rafa flung her hand over her mouth "Sorry sir, my Sister is just-" "PISSED OFF." Trace pushed Rafa's hand away and grabbed the Sun Guard by his cloak "Now your going to pay for my ship or I-"
The Sun Guard grabbed Rafa by her throat "Seize them." He snapped at his men holding his pyke up at Trace. Before they could move in, Ahsoka grabbed Legate's arm and twisted his wrist and threw him over her shoulder slamming him on the ground. In an instance the Sun Guard surrounded her pykes at the ready. Ahsoka turned to face them and force pushed five of them off their feet before she grabbed the Legate's Pyke off the ground and spun it at the nearest Sun Guard.
He caught it but she parried and kicked him back, the crowd started to run. Ahsoka was too focused on the Legionnaires in front of her to remember the Legate drawing his blaster pistol to shoot her. Rafa pounced on him wrestling the blaster away from him, Trace stood next to Ahsoka "Trace, run." Ahsoka told her.
"No, I'm not running till I get credits to fix my ship." She told Ahsoka holding up the pipe "Come on yellows.' Trace snapped at the Pyke's.
"What is going on here!" A voice yelled over the others, Leo, Jinx and Turok pushed past the Sun Guard and Leo dropped his helmet when he saw who was causing all of the commotion. Jinx slapped his forehead seeing her and Turok gapped.
"Oh boy." Jinx said "I'm not sticking around for this." Jinx added walking off, Turok stayed watching the whole thing.
Ahsoka lowered her stolen pyke and Leo stared at her speechless, she looked back at him with her blue eyes and his green meeting. "Ahsoka you know this guy?" Trace said she didn't answer her, "Leo." She greeted him.