Chapter 5
Tipping Points
ONDERON
Highlands
A small detachment of Onderonian Royal Militia were moving through the thick jungles at the foot of the highlands. At the head of the column was General Tandin, he had a cloak on with a hood over his head as his men looked at the shadows before Tandin heard a branch crack. He raised his hand the old generals hair grey but eyes like a hawk could see something in the darkness.
And he was right.
Out of the brush and branches sprung the rebels, Lux, Saw and the leader herself appeared in front of Tandin "We knew. you were here three miles ago." Saw hissed at Tandin.
"I was wondering when you'd introduce yourselves." Tandin said, removing his hood.
"General Tandin?" Lux gasped seeing him "Weapons down men." Tandin ordered his Royal Militia who lowered their pikes.
Steela lowered her blaster rifle but kept the rebels' other weapons up "What do you want, General, shouldn't you be getting the Governor's new army ready to kill us?" Steela asked.
"... At first, I thought Governor Primus was a man of honor, I believed he had the people's best interest at heart but if the will of the people is with their King then so am I." Tandin said up to her.
Steela looked at her lieutenants who gave her unsure looks "How many are with you?" she asked.
"What you see before you are all those who left the palace with me, but I assure you more will follow." Tandin confessed "We'll see, blindfold them we're taking them to the king." Steela ordered.
"Do as they say men, we're all friends here." Tandin said, surrendering his blaster to Saw who took it forcefully before he blindfolded the General.
Later, Tandin was brought to the new rebel base far away in the highlands, thick wooden barricades had been constructed with watchtowers and the Onderonian flying beasts the rebels flew perched on top of them. In the halls of one of the ruins that sat on the highlands Tandin's blindfold was removed so he was kneeling across from King Dendup.
"Your majesty." Tandin said bowing "Hello my old friend, Steela has informed me you wish to change sides and all I can think is, why now?"
Tandin looked at the rebels and even noticed the Jedi in the background, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka. "Because I am a loyal son of Onderon, I've given everything to the throne and to it's King, I refuse to believe it was all for nothing."
"Yet you were still loyal to the Separatists?" Anakin chimed in.
"Only because the people were deceived." Tandin said, rising to his feet "And what of the people in Iziz, what's the mood?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Tandin answered "Fear, the city filled with the Governor has flooded the streets with battle droids and those loyal to him."
"Loyal to him?" Obi-Wan asked "Yes Master Jedi, there are those in the ranks of the Militia who were faithful to Rash only because of his obedience to the Separatists, their loyalties are now to Primus."
"Can we expect more defections?" Steela asked Tandin "In time, if we can hold out long enough."
Then Saw stepped in "Whoa, whoa, whoa who said we ever wanted your help you're a traitor to Onderon?"
"And yet my dear boy, here he stands ready to join us?" Dendup asked, putting a hand on Saw's arm soothing his anger "Apologizes your Majesty." Saw said remorsefully
Tandin took a step "If we are to rally more people to our cause, the people must know their King has returned." Tandin urged them "I think I have an idea." Lux said looking over to Ahsoka.
"Then it's decided Tandin you are welcome here." Dendup said rising from his seat "Thank you, your majesty." Tandin said smiling.
The meeting broke and the Jedi started to head back to their ship "Do you think Tandin's defection will help?" Ahsoka asked her Masters.
"It's a powerful sign your efforts are working Ahsoka, Onderon has a rich military history and respect for those who serve." Anakin said at the bottom of the ship's ramp "We'll report on the situation to the Jedi Council, in the meantime continue to assist the rebels as you have, I sense this war is far from over." Obi-Wan said.
"And if I should encounter Le- I mean Primus?" Ahsoka asked them.
Obi-Wan was about to speak but Anakin answered "You deal with him." Then the two got on their ship, leaving Ahsoka on Onderon.
After the sun had risen Ahsoka and Lux snuck back into the city after leaving the new base outside of it. The couple walked through the market before Ahsoka put a satchel on the ground and a small holoprojector fell out while a beast was in front of them and in the way of a battle droid that was trying to see them. The two moved away and the droid walked up to it before a hologram of Dendup appeared from it and the droid pulled the trigger of its blaster out of surprise as it stumbled back, the bolt hitting a stand and the owner ducking for cover behind it.
"My fellow subjects, I appear not as your king but as a servant of Onderon. 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 this planet. We must all-." suddenly the transmission was cut.
Ahsoka looked to see a patrol of Separatist Militia smashing the device, two battle droids were with them as well.
"This is Patrol sixteen, we've just destroyed a terrorist propaganda machine requesting more units to secure the area." their captain said as some of the people weren't happy about losing the message some gave the Militia nasty looks others went about their day.
Ahsoka watched some of the people start to surround the patrol "Stay back." one of the Militia ordered the growing mob "Free Onderon!" A person shouted, Ahsoka smiled before she heard a scream at least fifteen Militia had flooded into the market grabbing the descenter but that riled up the people even more causing more people to start throwing stones.
"Hostels in the market open fire." one of the Militia said before Ahsoka watched in horror as the Militia opened fire on the citizens.
Fighting her instincts to help her run into a nearby alleyway where Lux was, the Jedi hopped up onto one of the roofs where Lux was waiting on one of those flying beasts. Ahsoka hopped on behind him and wrapped her arms around his stomach before Lux took off back towards their cliffside base.
He landed on the wooden railing and the three hopped off where Gerrera, Steela, Dendup and Tandin were waiting. "The people are turning against the droids and the Militia, there's rioting in the streets now." Lux said with a smile.
"That's a beautiful thing." Gerrera said patting the other teen's shoulder with a smirk.
"We need to keep the battle to the outskirts of the city." Steela said as she walked over to them. "Less structures and people." Lux added. "But less clankers. Their main focus is in Iziz. We should join the fight down there and take it straight to Primus." Gerrera said.
"We all want victory, but not at the cost of innocent lives if we fight door to door, no one is safe." Steela said.
"This is war, Steela." her brother argued.
"She's right." Dendup said. "I agree the more you draw the droids from the city to the highlands, the safer the people will be." Ahsoka added.
"My men await your command, my lord." General Tandin said too looking to the King. "I believe there is a new contender." the old man said with a smile before turning to Steela.
"You will lead our forces, including the Royal Army." he said, taking a few steps forward. "Steela is now the commanding general." he said to everyone. "A great choice." Ahsoka said with a smile.
"As you wish, my lord." Tandin consented with a bow,
The rebels all cheered and pumped their fists as Steela was lifted even higher in prestige to their cause "You and your rebels renewed my faith in myself. Now i'm putting my faith in you." the old man said to Steela as he stood in front of her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you, you're majesty." she replied. Lux whistled for one of the creatures and it flew down and landed on the railing, followed by Ahsoka who sat behind him. Steela came over from hers and suddenly kissed Lux. "Just in case." she said. "Alright, lover boy, get ass up here." Lux blushed and smiled before hopping up in front of him and taking the reins then taking off.
Back in Iziz, Leo was overlooking a the city which had been engulfed in riots ever since the message had been put out, he wasn't alone arms crossed next to him was Kalani "Our spies have confirmed Tandin's betrayal, we have captured twenty percent more deserters."
"At this rate we'll lose the Militia." Leo hissed "What of the rioters?" Leo asked.
"The city is secure, martial law has been declared." Kalani told him.
Leo squeezed his arm "I give the people their freedom back, I give them their own soldiers to protect them and this is how they repay me…" Leo hissed to himself walking back into the palace.
Kalani shifted "General Tandins army is weak, they will not be able to withstand the power of the Separatist Army, nor the terrorists."
A commando droid approached Kalani "General, our scouts have located the rebel base hidden in the Mountains."
Leo walked over to his desk grabbing an open bottle of wine "Can we spare the forces here?" Leo asked.
"Do not underestimate our means Governor" Kalani said when a squadron of Hyena bombers appeared in front of the palace balcony. "The rebels are hiding in the mountains, go there and leave no survivors; the droid army will follow." Leo looked at the bottle at his own reflection.
"No." Leo said, turning around "Governor?" Kalani asked him.
"The droid army will remain here to secure the city, I'll take care of these rebels myself." Leo said, starting to leaver.
Out in the highlands, the rebels were waiting at the foot of the mountains, the thick purple foliage of the jungle had a large open road the rebels had amassed. Tandin was on the back of a dalgo with some of his men. Steela, Lux and Ahsoka were up on a tall rock structure overlooking the field as Saw and a flock of Ruping Riders were ready to begin. "The droid army will be here soon, everyone get ready." Steela relayed when they started to feel the ground trembling.
"That doesn't sound like droids?" Lux said up to Steela, "What are our scanners picking up?" Steela asked one of the rebels who held up a radar device "Something, something big and closing fast?"
In the distance the rebels and Ahsoka could see a large dust cloud moving on the horizon "A dust storm?" Lux asked
"That's no storm." Ahsoka said when it came into view "Stars in Heaven." General Tandin gasped when he saw what was heading toward them.
The entire Separaitst Militia was on dalgoback charging right toward them, in a massive shock cavalry attack. At the head of this charge's vanguard atop a black steed was Leo, he tore out his red lightsaber and the other dragoons unsheathed vibro swords like Commando Droids would carry.
The rebels opened fire taking out a few of the cavalry but the charge kept coming "Saw, begin your attack." She said over her com, a few seconds later, Gerrera and three rebels flew towards the charge on the flying creatures before he tossed a thermal detonator, but they kept charging fifty yards. The militia and rebels opened fire on each other after the explosion while Steela sniped some of the cavalry they were closing in fast twenty yards.
Steela saw Leo in her sights and opened fire, but he deflected it she tired again, deflected it again this time almost hitting her when he redirected it, ten yards "For Onderon!" Leo shouted, "FOR ONDERON!" The dragoons chorused hundred yards away from the rebel lines.
The cavalry broke into the rebel lines without mercy, rushing over me like a tidal wave of metal and death. Some of the dragoons were knocked from their mounts but got up and started to engage in close quarters combat with Tandin or Steela's men. Without any fear or hesitation the rebels met them head on with valorous resistance using their blaster rifle buts as clubs against the Militia swords. The screams and pitched battle cries were drowned out by explosions and cannon fire from both sides, when Steela, Lux and Ahsoka looked down all they saw was a killing field and in the center a Sith Warrior.
Leo had led the vanguard straight into the rebel lines, cutting men down left and right from atop his steed when Saw came down from on high. His flying beast swooped down on top of Leo's dalgo and picked it up before Leo jumped off back into the battle. His double bladed lightsaber drew almost every rebel blaster to him which he deflected back into them but some got through "Shoot him down, shoot him down, shoot him down!" Tandin ordered from the cannons in the rear.
"We're pushing back." Lux said to Steela while they provided covering fire from the ridge, it looked as if the Militia charge was about to be routed.
When it seemed they were winning, four HMP droid gunships suddenly appeared and took out one of the flying rebels before another took out one of their cannons. "No!" Steela shouted.
"Where did that come from?" Lux asked. "There!" Ahsoka said as she pointed to two of them as they flew towards them. Steela and Lux opened fire on them, only for shields to stop the bolts. "Any ideas?" she asked them.
"Yeah. Run!" Ahsoka said before the four did. The gunships fired on their location and the group fell. Luckily Revan, Lux and Ahsoka managed to get onto one of the creatures while Steela managed to get back onto hers.
Leo saw the gunships save his advance "Rally to me, push forward!" Leo ordered over the chaos as his men followed him back into the meat grinder.
Saw came back around on his winged steed and dive bombed right toward Leo, who saw him coming "Your mine Primus!" The beast drew back its massive talons ready to pick up Leo, who stood his ground "Saw no!" Steela shouted when Leo held up his free hand.
The entire battlefield stood still when the sound of thunder broke the air despite not a cloud in the sky, Leo had unleashed a storm of force lightning on Saw's ruping knocking him off its back, the ruping fell to the ground barely alive before Leo drove his lightsaber into its head. The sight of such power shattered the rebel moral "We can't fight against that- Run, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" The rebels screamed before turning tail to run.
Once back on the ground, Lux, Steela and a few others covered the Jedi while they contacted Anakin and Obi-Wan on Ahsoka's holopad. "I take it the rebels have Dooku's full attention." Obi-Wan guessed.
"Not Dooku's Leo's he's leading the attack himself with non droids, it's a full-scale war, they need our help please talk to the Council." Ahsoka said.
"Even Master Windu would be wary at this point. The Council will not engage or involve the Republic in an internal affair." he replied.
"The Separatists have a new gunship with a powerful ray-shield. Nothing's getting past it." she said back to the two on Coruscant. "I am sorry, Ahsoka. They will have to find a way to not stay there if their failure is certain, evacuate who you can and return to Coruscant immediately, do you understand?" he asked. "Yes, Master." she replied before cutting off.
She then walked up behind Steela and Lux. "Is the Republic going to help us?" she asked them while still shooting. "No." the padawan replied, putting her arms behind her. "What's it going to take?" Lux asked, moving his head to avoid a bolt as he returned fire.
"The Separatists rule Onderon, unless that changes, the Republic can't do anything." Ahsoka replied when Steela saw their forces faltering.
"They're pulling back. Cover them." Steela told him before they moved to help the others retreat nnce the rest of the rebels had moved back the four quickly followed the others as they retreated.
Any rebel who couldn't make it was cut down by blade or blaster, Saw had come too just in time to see Leo cut down another rebel he got to his feet, the last rebel standing before the Separatist forces bearing down on them. Tandin and the others were ahead of him in the retreat when the Saw picked up a blaster drawing the eyes of the rebels. Tandin too, even as he saw all his men dead or dying he looked down at his dalgo, then up in the sky seeing ruping riders falling to their deaths. A lone Onderonian Royalist caught his eye falling against the backdrop of the sun, a sign of the end.
But one he'd have a hand in making.
Tandin kicked the heels of his steed directly toward the enemy Militia for all to see, Saw caught the wind of the dalgo when it passed "Stooooop!" Saw shouted but Tandin was already past him. His Dalgo crashed into the Militia like battering ram with the full force of a cavalry. He swung his pike left and right at anything around him shouting furiously holding off their entire advance. Be it Tandins sheer savagery, fear or the respect his former soldiers had for him Tandin came at them with every ounce of his strength.
A random laser bolt shot Tandin in the chest, his breastplate saving him from death, but knocking him off his mount. When he got to his feet he saw his dalgo still fighting before it went down "PRIMUS!" Tandin shouted, picking up his pike blood trickling down his forehead.
Two militia men charged Tandin before he stabbed one and shot the other with a free blaster pistol "FACE ME!"
The militia all stopped dead in their tracks, every single one. Even the rebel retreat had stopped to look "What's going on?" Ahsoka asked when she noticed the gunships had halted their bombardment.
Lux was looking through his binoculars "Tandin he's calling Primus out, in front of the whole Militia."
"Primus, you want my army, come and take it if you can!" Tandin shouted from down below "If Tandin can defeat Primus, the Militia will side with us it'll turn the tide." Steela said hopefully watching from "Will the Militia go along with it?" Ahsoka asked while watching.
Lux held up the binoculars to her "It's a sacred Onderonian ritual, the Challenge of Command, no weapons, no tricks, just fists." Lux explained "If Tandins smart, he could win."
"PRIMUS!" Tandin shouted again when he saw Leo push through his men, others parting out of the way for the two to see each other. Leo was covered in someone else's blood again "Tandin, there you." Leo said "Is this who you follow men?" Tandin said leaning on his pike "They follow me right now, they didn't follow you." Leo said holding his arms up.
"They will, one I show them what you really are, no lightsaber, no force magic, man against man for the right to command." Tandin said, throwing away his spear.
Leo saw all heads turned to him, he held up his lightsaber turned it off and dropped it accepting the challenge. The entire crowd parted into a a large circle around Leo and Tandin, it was more than that of a sacred ring of challenge. Where two warriors would enter, one would leave, one would lie, one would lead. They came up and started to undo Standings armor and Leo even started to remove his robes so both warriors would face each other without armor.
Ahsoka's eyes got wide when she saw Leo had modified his original jedi Order tattoo on his chest, a set of dark black sith tattoos were coiled around the red Jedi emblem, they looked like vines or weeds, no like a beast of some kind with its jaw locked around the symbol ready to devour it. Tandin's own body was adorned with ink, onderonian tattoos with an elegant design marred in scars from a lifetime of service, battles won and survived.
Tandin spread his feet into a defensive stance and held up his arms to in a fighting position, Leo held his arms up to before the match began. They rushed one another, fists colliding, Tandin struck first with Leo blocking and reflecting using his leaner build to get an edge of speed on Tandin, but when he tried to hit Tandin's blindside the General spun around with a furious right hook making Leo spit out blood.
Leo staggered at first but smiled "Good, I thought this wouldn't be interesting?" Leo said, attacking again.
The two's fighting styles were completely different, Leo came at Tandin with furious lighting strikes. But Tandin stood there and took it blocking and countering when he could, the power of youth versus the age of experience clashing in the ring. Leo drove a pressure point strike into Tandin's ribs and twisted. But the General grabbed Leo headbutt the forehead and headbutted him back before coming up at Leo and delivering a barrage of body shots on Leo's stomach.
Moving fast Leo drove an elbow down on Tandin and kneed him in the face walking around to get his bearings while Tandin quickly recovered. Despite Leo's youth Tandin was a General and an old one at that for a reason, when Leo flung a wild haymaker at him Tandin sidestepped and locked Leo into a headlock squeezing his arm around his neck choking him.
"He's got him!" Lux shouted.
The other rebels cheered with Saw starting to chant "TANDIN, TANDIN, TANDIN, TANDIN!"
Leo gasped feeling himself losing air "Yield boy." Tandin gorwled "N-never." Leo hissed, throwing an elbow into Tandin's gut but the old man's grip was like iron.
"You've fought with honor, now- YIELD!" Tandin squeezed harder starting to crush Leo's windpipe. Ahsoka watched Leo's face turn different colors, it would be so easy for Tandin to snap Leo's neck but Ahsoka and Steela knew the General was a man of honor to his core.
Sith weren't.
Leo could see Ahsoka watching him from on the ridge, in times like this when he was close to death he'd think of her. He'd look for her in the force to guide him back to the light but when he tired all he saw was darkness, the only thing that would keep him alive now was the Berserker inside.
Ahsoka felt it through the force, that moment when her friend let it out, when he let go, when she said "It's over."
"What are you talking about, he's got him." Lux said.
Down in the ring Tandin was looking like he was the clear victor "If you won't yield with honor, you can die with hono-" Tandin saw something then, coming right out of the corner of his eye, Leo's hand. The Sith apprentice drove his left hand thumb directly into Tandin's left eye socket gouging out the man's eye like popping a boil. The sudden shock and surprise of the attack took Tandin by surprise he screamed blood gushing from his eyes.
Leo broke away and turned around, Tandin looked out with his one good eye, but he didn't see Leo.
It wasn't Primus either.
The thing before Tandin had its arms at its sides, no defense, no fear of Tandin.
Taking his hands away from his eye Tandin fought through the pain "Have to… have to stop you…" Tandin rushed the Berserker who caught his first blow with one hand and twisted Tendons arm before driving his other fist right into Tandin's elbow shattering it, Tandin tried the other one but the Berserker caught it and twisted again to the point it broke.
The General's agonic cry deafened to those chanting his name and then, the killing blow. Like a beast in the wild Tandin's enemy went straight for the jugular. The rebels, Militia and Ahsoka watched a white haired animal dug white fangs into Tandin's neck. Crimson ichor sprayed from the old man's brown neck and onto the animals chest any yelling Tandin could muster drowned in his own blood before the Militia in the ring heard flesh be torn from bone and spat out onto the dirt before them.
It dropped Tandin onto the dirt drowning in his own blood, his one eye closing forever.
When it turned around Lux, Steela, Saw and Ahsoka saw Leo was standing there Tandin's blood from his lips down on his chest over the Jedi order tattoo. Raising both his arms Leo exposed his chest right for Steela or anyone brave enough to take a shot. He spat out Tandin's blood onto the dirt mixed with his own spit to ad more insults.
But nobody dared, they were too afraid and Leo knew it. He dropped his arms and turned around picking up his black robes and lightsaber leaving Tandin on the ground to rot "My lord, are we not going to pursue?" One of Leo's men asked.
"That's enough for today." Leo said looking back at Primus "Leave the body where it lies." he said before his men slowly started to withdraw, letting the rebels retreat.
Back at the base the main rebels, King, general and Jedi stood together before Saw spoke. "The highlands may slow down the traitors, but they won't stop the gunships." he said.
"We have to leave." his sister said.
"Any word from Master Skywalker?" Lux asked the Jedi.
"Not yet." Ahsoka replied.
"We're not giving up yet, stagger our defenses to secure the approach. Stay in small teams." Steela instructed her brother.
Saw reached out to her shoulder and squeezed it hard "You really are the best leader among us couldn't be more proud of you, my sister." Gerrera told her with a smile. Steela returned it and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I learned from the best, big brother." she said.
"Let's go." he said to his men before they all left, but Lux, Steela, Dendup and the jedi left.
Back in the room, King Dendup was standing over the covered remains of Tandin who had been carried from the battlefield by the rebels in a place of honor. Ahsoka and Lux watched Steela approach the King from behind "General Tandin's sacrifice won't be in vain your highness."
"What about the sacrifice of those men out there?" Dendup asked, wiping his eyes "They'll be avenged." Steela added "Who will avenge the others, our brothers who followed the… man who did this to my oldest friend." Dendup said looking at the blood stain on the death shroud.
Behind them Lux spoke to Ahsoka in hushed voices "You have to help us." he pleaded to her.
"I'll do all we can to protect you, but I can't fight this war for you." Ahsoka told him. The teen didn't reply and instead just left.
Steela had left the King to mourn "We wouldn't have made it this far without you." Steela told her. "I wish we could do more." the padawan said before they heard an a ships engine sound.
"Wait looks like we have company." she said before the three exited the room and ran towards the shuttle landing. "Don't shoot!" Ahsoka told them as two Weequays each carried a single crate and Hondo walked down the ramp as they stopped in front of him and Lux pointed his blaster at the pirate leader. Hondo chuckled as he looked at Steela. "Well, you could be my new favourite spice." he suggested with a smirk.
Steela rolled her eyes "Yeah, I don't think so." she replied.
"Careful, pirate." Lux warned with a glare his blaster ready to put a laser through Hondo's goggles.
"Hondo, what are you doing here?" Ahsoka asked him with a frown.
Hondo through his arms in the air at such an insult "You should thank me, child. I have brought you a gift from Skywalker and Kenobi the latest from Sienar." he replied as a pirate opened one of the crates to reveal rocket launchers inside, enough for a full platoon.
"Rocket launchers?" she asked in mild surprise. "Shoulder-fired very expensive." he replied grinning.
"Paid for?" she asked, skeptical. "Very handsomely." he added.
Steela took one of them out and checked its sights "See we aren't out of this yet." she said as some more of her rebels came up behind them "Distribute this to the men, make sure Saw's men have them." Steela ordered.
"Yes General." The rebels replied to Steela taking the crates.
The rebels walked away with each of the crates leaving the three of them alone with the pirates "Guess you're not too bad." Lux said, still glaring at Hondo.
"Once you get to know me, you'll love me lad." Hondo said hands behind his back "Your welcome to some of our fuel if you need it." Steela said as Hondo watched some of the royal militia setting up a pile of faggots on a flat stretch of stone. "Ah a bonfire, you are throwing a party I have drinks to sell you'd die for." Hondo said kissing his fingers.
"Saying farewell to a friend, a General." Steela said, giving Hondo a glare cold as ice.
Hondo dropped his facade of swashbuckling and stood straight "Oh, my condolences for your loss, we shall trouble you no longer." The Pirate said before he gave her a respectful bow with a soft almost apologetic smile.
"Come men, we have done our part." Hondo gestured for his men to board their ship, but Hondo lingered a bit and looked at Ahsoka "What?" she asked him.
"A rumor has reached my ears my dear, a former associate of us both is who you're fighting and I must confess I was curious, do you think you can do it?" Hondo asked.
Ahsoka squeezed her hands into fists "Get out of my sight." she hissed.
"Till next time young Jedi." Hondo said tipping his metal hat and returning to his vessel.
The sun began to set on the highlands, across the battlefield the Separatist Militia had set up a war camp of their own. Sentires had been posted at every entrance and in the tree line watching for any surprise attacks. Tents for the men and for Leo had been set up across the camp with wounded being brought in hourly, their moans and screams while medics tried to stabilise them were a song of pain to all who heard it.
Leo had cleaned the blood off his chest and redid his robe while he listened to a report "We've lost half our forces in the day's attack, our medics are running low on supplies and we've received word new riots have broken out in Iziz." the officer reporting to him said.
Leo looked out at the camp before turning around "Understood, Captain." he walked toward a map of the highlands laid out on a table for him to look at "They'll be mourning Tandin tonight… assemble twenty of your finest men, we're going on a hunt." Leo ordered looking across the field to the mountains, when the sun began to set and a new day would rise on Onderon tomorrow.