Chapter 22
Rebellion of Rendili
HYPERSPACE
Enroute to Rendili
The combined fleets of both Leo Rock and Plo Koon were soaring through the hyperspace lanes of the Republic straight for the Rendili was a planet in the Core Worlds and one of the Core Founders of the Galactic Republic. The planet was ruled by an Arch-Provost. It was the headquarters of Rendili StarDrive, founded in 20,000 BBY, and was affiliated with the starshipwrights Rendili Hyperworks, Rendili/Vanjervalis Drive Yards and Golan Arms joint venture. At some point during the Mandalorian Wars a Republic Military installation housing thousands of troops, vehicles, and starfighters was stationed outside of the major cities, though by the time of the Clone Wars the installation had been all but forgotten, until now.
The three commanders in charge of the invasion were standing aboard the fleets new flagship the Knight, Jedi Generals Leo Rock, Plo Koon and the recently promoted Admiral Tarkin. Atop the holotable in blue holographic form were Jedi General Windu and Master Yoda along with the Supreme Chancellor. "Rendili will not be an easy world to tame, the planets population are descended from the Old Republic garrison stationed their and have had a long history steeped in military tradition." Plo Koon said as senior Jedi and General aboard the bridge
"Yes Supreme Chancellor, much like my own world the Rendili will not go down without a fight, which is why we plan to strike hard and fast."Admiral Tarkin added.
"That is only if a diplomatic alternative cannot be reached." Plo Koon reminded him.
Tarkin didn't much care for such a maneuver but his silence let the Jedi know he'd follow their lead "We cannot afford to lose another core world to the Separatists, this Independent Provisional Government is not recognized by the Republic they are rebels and traitors, they should be treated as such." The Chancellor announced to them all.
That's when Leo spoke "Pardon your excellency, but many of the leaders of the provisional government served in the Stark Hyperspace War on behalf of the Republic if they treat them as hostile we only in dear them even more to the Separatists?" Leo theorized.
"So is trying to negotiate with traitors, they have taken up arms against the Republic and as Jedi we must restore the peace." Mace Windu insisted to him "It will be done in Masters." Plo Koon said "May the force be with you." Windu said before they cut the transmission. Leo leaned on the table and looked at Plo Koon then at Tarkin who spoke up as soon as the holograms were gone.
"Generals, I will prepare our fleet for the coming battle should negotiations fail, I want the record to show that I strongly disagree with offering them any chance of leniency." The Admiral said before walking away.
Leo rolled his eyes "Why, out of all the Republic officers, did we get stuck with Tarkin?" Leo asked Plo Koon as the young knight leaned on the holotable arms folded scowling at Tarkin.
"You answered that already, Tarkin served in the Stark Hyperspace War the same as I, you fought alongside the Rendili Home Defense Fleets Supreme Commander Jace Dallin. We are the optimal choice in ending this conflict as soon as possible." Plo Koon said facing Leo.
"I know your feelings about Tarkin are mixed, but for the sake of our mission I must ask you to control them?" Plo Koon ordered "So its true." Leo scoffed.
"What is?" Plo Koon asked.
Leo turned to face him now, arms locked over his chest leaning on the holotable "Don't toy with me Master Koon, the Jedi Council only knighted me as a publicity stunt— a way to show they don't have to answer to the Chancellor directly, if anything it was to stick to the old man."
Plo Koon didn't outright answer Leo instead he just glared at the young knight "Make what you want of it Rock, but we have a duty here you should focus on." Plo Koon said walking down the bridge. Leo got off the table to leave the bridge, as soon as he was off he heard a voice he'd never hope to hear in a million years "Pardon me General Rock." It was Tarkin.
Stopping so Tarkin could catch up he saw Tarkin approach him "May I join you?" Tarkin asked politely "We're on the same side aren't we?" Leo asked the two of them walking down the hallways.
"I'm not blind General Rock, I know what you think of me." Tarkin replied as they strutted down the halls of Leo's ship "Oh really?" Leo asked sarcastically.
"Yes, General Skywalker was gracious enough to let me know of my many faults in your eyes. He is a dear friend." Tarkin told him, Leo shuttered at the idea of Anakin and Tarkin even being close to the word friends
Leo shoved the thought away "Though I must confess how envious I am of you." Leo gave Tarkin a puzzled glance "Envious... of me?" Leo asked him.
"Of course, since your exodus and magnificent return you have been the talk of the Republic and the Senate, a young Jedi Padawan gone undercover to spy on the Separatists and even kill Dooku, brilliant you had all of us fooled and now look at you." Tarkin said stopping and smiling at Leo "The youngest Jedi Knight of your Order and the youngest Jedi General in the Grand Army of the Republic, I misjudged you on our first meeting."
Leo turned out at the end of the last bit of praise "Misjudged me?"
"Yes, that incident at the citadel you tried to save those prisoners-" "The men you let die?" Leo reminded him, stopping dead in his tracks "Yes…" Tarkin said "I see now it was part of your greater ambition." Tarkin halted with him.
"Ambition?" Leo asked him.
Tarkin nodded "Why of course what else is there in the life but to be ambitious, to climb the ranks of our society till we reach the apex? I wonder how far you're willing to climb, Berserker." Tarkin said using the name Leo could never escape.
"My only ambition Admiral; is to serve the Republic as a Jedi." Leo told him adamantly his voice dripping of the fangs behind his words, they locked eyes before Leo started to walk away.
But Tarkin kept speaking "And mine is to serve the Chancellor, it was he who ordered this invasion and personally requested me to oversee it in his name when he learned the Berserker was charged by the Jedi Council to take command alongside General Koon."
Leo stopped again and looked back at him, a clear challenge to Leo's knighthood from the Chancellor had been thrown down "Do you know what it means your name Berserker?"
Leo rolled his eyes "Um to be berserk, of course I know what it means?" He asked sarcastically back to Tarkin.
"That is the modern translation indeed, but do you know it's history?" Tarkin asked walking up to him holding one finger aloft to get his attention.
"I do, but I feel you'll remind me anyway?" Leo asked.
"In the earliest days of the Republic when many words refused to join them, the Jedi and Republic Legions encountered a very unique enemy on many human worlds from worlds like Onderon and Rendili to mighty Mandalore they were found, warriors who would enter a dream like trance as they fought sometimes without even without armor or any protection you know the fabled Mandalorian steel I assume; Beskar?" Tarkin asked him.
The young knight was starting to get agitated by Tarkin's insistent yammering "Is there a point to this history lesson?"
"My point is that Beskar and the word Berserker share a root dialect of the same meaning, the unbreakable, the indomitable force or shield to be a Berserker is to Be War." Tarkin said before pausing "... and So I wonder, will you break young Jedi or be unbreakable, tata." Tarkin said, leaving Leo alone in the hallway. When Tarkin rounded a corner Leo sighed with relief that he was gone speaking to himself.
Heading to his quarters alone at last "Thought he'd never shut up."
After he returned to his quarters Leo had laid down in his bunk hands behind his head to try and get some sleep before they arrived at Rendili, after staring at the blank metal ceiling for half an hour Leo started to drift off into sleep.
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The first thing he heard was the sound of crashing waves, he was on Telerath, the vacation planet he'd gone to with Anakin and Ahsoka, when he was padawan. It was only less than two years ago but it felt like a lifetime ago. He was laying on the beach house veranda under shady trees dancing in the wind, his thick rough green jedi robes were gone instead he was wearing a light fitting tunic made of the softest cotton he'd ever felt, his legs were covered in swimming trunks fitted to his legs down to his knees. Getting up he walked toward the beach and could feel the burning hot sand under his feet, it felt amazing.
Leo let out a warm sigh of relief at the touch of sand, the feel, the texture, rough and hard getting everywhere between his toes with every step he took. Off in the distance he could see the resort and the rest of the city beyond, in the distance were ships and cruise liners going back and forth across the sea.
"Should we go for a swim?" Someone asked next to him.
Leo turned his head to see Ahsoka, she was wearing a white top over her orange skin and a white gown with the sides cut showing her exposed legs next to him. "Yes." Leo replied before she took his hand and started to lead him into the water.
The dream collapsed at the sound of the signal the fleet would be dropping out of hyperspace, Leo awoke from his bed the dream still as painting in the eye of an artist. Leo heard the alarm and rubbed his eyes "Hrrnnn." He grumbled knowing what was about to come. Then came a new noise a harsh wrapping on the outside of his quarters, "General Rock, we're about to exit hyperspace sir." It was a clone's voice, Alphas from the gruffness of it and the straightforward manner in how he talked.
Getting up sure enough when he opened it Commander Alpha was standing there in his black and white phase II arc trooper armor helmet under his arm. "Then lets not keep the others waiting, Alpha." Leo replied.
In a few minutes Leo and Alpha walked onto the bridge where Tarkin, Plo Koon and Wolffe were already waiting.
"General Rock, Commander welcome." Plo Koon said as they dropped out of hyperspace in front of the world of Rendili. From their view on the bridge Rendili was a small blue and green marble of a planet, and standing guard over them were a dozen Rendili Dreadnoughts waiting for the Republic cruisers, they were half the size of the Republic vessels but they outnumbered the Republics three cruisers three to one. "Dreadnoughts, how flattering they appear to be serious?" Tarkin said, scratching his chin.
The Jedi looked at the ships starting to move "Enemy fleet is moving into attack position." One of the clones said "Raise shields." Tarkin ordered.
"Belay that order, send out a transmission requesting a meeting with their commander." Plo Koon interjected before the clones could follow Tarkins orders "A meeting when they have us outnumbered two to one, we cannot afford to look weak." Tarkin replied.
"Which is why Rock and I will take a shuttle over to their flagship, what better way to show them we are not afraid then to offer ourselves up as prisoners if they wish it?" Plo Koon asked.
Admiral Tarkin frowned sternly at the plan "Generals I must protest, this is foolhardy."
"Your protest is noted Admiral." Plo Koon said hands behind his back walking over to the holotable.
Leo and Tarkin followed him and a bridge officer answered "Transmission received General Koon, they're hailing us now." The hologram on the table took form and the familiar but grave face of Jace Dallin appeared in front of the jedi and Tarkin. Jace Dalli was wearing a blue Rendili uniform with brown leather shoulder epaulettes and yellow over his jacket's torso. The scar on the left side of his face ran down like a teardrop the way his face looked "Hello old friend, I wish this meeting was under better circumstances." Plo Koon said, greeting him.
"I regret it too Master Koon, I've received your request for a ceasefire and negotiations. They are most welcome please come to my flagship so we may speak." Dallin said hand open in friendship.
Plo Koon nodded "We will be there shortly Commander and thank you."
The transmission was cut off "Admiral Tarkin, if anything out of the ordinary should happen you are in no way to take action against the Rendili Defense fleet, is that clear?" Plo Koon asked Tarkin.
The Admiral didn't answer him "Is that clear Admiral?" Plo asked again.
"It is General, but I will do what I think is best to achieve our goals here as ordered by the Chancellor." Tarkin replied, locking horns with the Kel Dor jedi Master
"So be it." Plo said before he turned to Rock "Rock and I will take a shuttle to the Rendili flagship and hopefully stop this fight before it occurs."
CORUSCANT
Jedi War Room
Ahsoka was looking over the invasion plans for her own coming battle on Cato Neimoidia, a separatist stronghold and homeworld of the nemodian Separatist leader the Viceroy Nute Gunray. She was studying potential battle scenarios watching Starfighters engage the city and separatist fleets defenses over and over, Artoo was standing by her helping her with the program "Run it again Artoo, this time change the odds up again." She ordered. The astromech gleefully replayed the scenario with a different algorithm. Two holographic jedi starfighters flew in through the canyon gorges when a separatits rocket took out a large pillar of stone that crashed down on them "Hmmm falling rocks, shouldn't be a problem." Ahsoka said to the droid.
"Working hard I see Ahsoka?" Ayala Secura was walking down the steps in the war room smiling warmly at the torgurtan.
The twi'leks smile made Ahsoka smile back "Of course Master Secura, how can I be of service?"
"I was hoping to speak to you about something?" Aayla asked.
Ahsoka turned off the program "Give us the room Artoo?" She asked the droid who started to foll away using its legs rocket boosters to go over the stairs and roll out into the hallways, leaving both women alone.
"What is it Master?"
Aayla waited till Artoo was gone "The return of padawan- I mean Leo, has it affected you?"
"Affected me?" Ahsoka asked.
"His supposed betrayal sent ripples through the Order when it happened and I know both you and Skywalker took it the hardest besides Kenobi." Aayla said, walking around the table.
Ahsoka watched Aayla "It was hard to come to terms with it, harder when I learned it was all a ruse I felt betrayed that Leo and Obi-Wan didn't trust my Master and I."
"A normal feeling, but what about you personally, for your mission reports there were times you and Leo were alone, quite often?" Aayla suggested across the table "Master Secura what are you implying?" Ahsoka asked.
"I imply nothing Ahsoka, such hardships when shared can create a strong bond and rekindle it when broken even." Aayla lectured, Ahsoka frowned at her use of words "Leo is a Jedi so am I, isn't it natural we have a strong bond that gets tested?" Ahsoka asked.
Aayla was trying to get at something underneath Ahsoka could feel it "So you do share a bond, a strong emotional one?" She asked directly
Ahsoka hesitated "Master?"
"When you told me about the incident you had with Leo, you told me the two of you agreed it was a mistake, do you still agree?" Aayla asked her "I… don't know?" Ahsoka said, crossing her arms holding her elbows. Aayla walked back around the table looking at Ahsoka with a stern glare.
Then she spoke quickly "Ahsoka, you must beware the dangers of such attachments, it may seem harmless you may even think it makes you stronger but in the end they are still dangerous, deadly even?"
"Leo and I are j-just, just friends, fellow Jedi." Ahsoka stammered up to her "I can sense you don't believe that Ahsoka, what has Leo said to you since his return?" Aayla asked her, but Ahsoka didn't answer it, instead she had a question of your own.
"How do you know?" Ahsoka asked "That these kinds of attachments are dangerous?" She asked.
"Because Ahsoka, I was once like you, the padawan. I didn't tell you what happened to the other padawan, the one who I grew close to." Aayla said her face turning dark, "What happened to him?" Ahsoka was afraid to hear the answer but knew she had to.
Aayla turned to her slowly "He died… during the first battle of Geonosis, when we stormed the arena to save Kenobi and Skywalker it was the first time we'd seen each other in years with so many Jedi gathered." Aayla said retelling the past "When the battle began a Geonosian cannon had knocked me to the ground, the battle droids were closing in before he… he flung himself between me and the droids, taking what was meant for me." She said looking away closing her eyes.
"But he saved your life-" "At the cost of his own." Aayla snapped at the young torgurtan slamming her hand on the table.
Aayla's anger subsided "You blame yourself? "
"I do Ahsoka, for when I saw the force leave his eyes I saw he had no fear, no pain, but the same way he looked at me when we were padawans, and I knew he'd never lost his feelings for me if we had never shown such emotions to each other, never tested our masters teachings then he would still be alive." Aayla said, finishing her sad but important story eyes closed fighting back her own emotions that she had contained for so long.
Ahsoka walked up and took Aayla's hand "Master Secura, I'm sorry for your loss."
"There is no death, there is only the force." Aayla quoted the code looking at her "Please think about what I said Ahsoka, before it's too late for both of you."
RENDILI
Rendili Home Defense Fleet
Leo and Plo Koon were on the star deck of Jace Dallin flagship, Commander Dallin was standing in front of the deck's window as Rendili bridge officers were working around them in the background. The interior of the Rendili Dreadnoughts was impressive for such an older model, the bridge itself was massive with windows three size the times of the Republic cruisers, the stardeck matching the windows in size, out through them Leo could see the enemy fleet between them and Rendili and their own ships waiting in the black waters of the stars like sharks ready to strike. "These are the Senate's terms my old friend I beg you to consider them?" Plo Koon asked Dallin.
Dallin continued to read through them "Total disarmament, an oath of loyalty from every citizen of Rendili to the office of the Supreme Chancellor, financing a Clone Garrison for reparations, the list goes on— the Provisional Government will never accept this Plo." Dallin said throwing the holopad over to the Jedi, Leo caught it and looked at it aghast.
Whispering to Kel Dor "Did you know of this, I thought we would be in charge of the negotiations?"
"We serve the will of the Senate no matter how distasteful it may be." Plo Koon whispered back "Now watch and learn, you may be a Knight but there is wisdom in experience trust me." Plo Koon said walking up to him.
"I agree, these terms are unfair and without reason, but the loss of Rendili has wounded the Senate and the Republic's pride a great deal, insist the Provisional Government renegotiate the terms, offer to secede from the Separatists they are not your true allies." Plo Koon said as Jace Dallin heard him, Leo noticed some of the bridge officers on the Rendili ship glance over at them. Unlike Dallin they all wore goggles, with gas masks and hard helmets hiding their expressions but their feelings weren't as easy to hide from a Jedi.
Fear, suspicion, betrayal.
Plo Koon came up to Dallin putting a hand on his shoulder "Your points make sense Master Koon, but you always made sense." Dallin said somberly "Even when the situation was impossible— which it frequently was at Mount Avos."
"Mount Avos, that's where you fought the Stark Rebellion?" Leo asked.
Dallin smiled at him "You've been studying your history young man, it warms my heart to know they sent you as well Sir Rock, I would congratulate you on your Knighthood but I feel you must be bored with the praise?" Dallin asked him.
"Like you wouldn't believe." Leo replied, Dallin nodded before turning his attention back to Plo Koon "Still, it's difficult when you have to choose where your loyalty lies— to your home planet, or to the Republic?" Dallin said, turning away from Plo Koon putting his hands behind his back to look out across the planet below, Rendili his home.
"The answer is both Jace." Plo Koon said following him.
"It's a matter of where your greater loyalty must lie." Plo insisted "You know the debt in pain and blood that has been paid to preserve the Republic. You will not dishonor those who died to preserve it, all our friends who fell during the Stark Hyperspace War." Leo's mind was drawn back to his family thinking of how they turned away so quickly when he rejected their generous offer of becoming a family, something he'd never had before, his mother, father, brother and sister all together as one. He found himself wondering what happened to them, would his father be working in the commerce guild on Coruscant, would his mother be alright alone in whatever home they'd found to live in. Was Elli dragging Iaclyn out of some trouble he'd gotten himself into, he'd have to check once he returned to Coruscant.
Meanwhile Plo Koon continued to press Dallin's honor "You've worn the scars on your face as a badge of honor from those days. This is simply a matter of being true to the man you've always been."
Dallin saw Leo then focusing on the scar Leo had across his face "What do you say Leo?" He asked him.
"What?" Leo asked snapping back to the present "You've fought this war for the Republic, sacrificed your body and soul for it, how should the people of Rendili react to such terms when we've been loyal for thousands of years?"
Leo could feel Dallins brown eyes on his scar, Plo Koon looked over at Leo seeing this was his chance to convince Dallin to surrender. "The people of Rendili should do what they think is best for Rendili, not the Republic."
"Rock" Plo Koon started to say "Let him speak, old friend." Jace said raising his hand to let Leo continue.
"I fight for the Republic because I believe in it like you once did and I hope you still do." Leo said up to Jace. "The Republic has stood for thousands of years because it has sought to bring liberty and justice to all worlds, if Rendili doesn't believe the Republic can anymore it has every right to choose its own destiny but we as the Knights of the Republic beg you not to abandon her in our hour of need." Leo said up to Jace, even some of the bridge started to pay notice.
"During the mandalorian wars your people welcomed the army in the days of the Old Republic, embraced them and gave everything soldiers dream of, honor, family, a home to defend and cherish. I believe men like you Jace Dallin embody everything that makes the Republic what it should be: a principled, honorable, willing to lay down his life in the name of democracy even when you disagree with another side." Leo spoke his words echoing on the bridge reaching the rest of Dallins crew.
"The Republic is dying her children are leaving her and with every planet that secedes it grows weaker the Jedi and the Clones can't save it alone, we need the will of the people we need Rendili." Leo said before he bowed his head letting them now he'd finished.
Dallin looked at him hands behind his back "So what you'd you have my people do, swear unwavering loyalty to the Republic blind obedience?"
"There is no Republic without the people." Leo replied.
The first thing Leo heard wasn't a scolding from Plo Koon or an answer from Dallin; it was from the bridge officers. A bang on one of the walls from a guard in the back, he had his hand on his rifle, the other a fist banging on the metal wall 'bang… bang… bang' it was a simple rhythm but others on the bridge began to do it too. 'Bang...bang...bang, like warriors with their spears to wrap on shields the other bridge officers started to join in till the beating echoed through the bridge.
'Bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang...bang."
"Your words have reached not only their ears but their hearts Sir Rock, Master Plo please inform the Jedi Council I am willing to renegotiate your terms on one condition?" Jace Dallin said, Leo knew no one could see it but he could sense that Plo Koon was smiling under his mask, though Leo wasn't sure what a Kel Dor smile looked like.
"And that would be?" Plo asked him.
"That Sir Rock speaks these words to the Provisional Government on Rendili, they must know the sacred bond between the Republic and its Jedi Knights still holds strong-" "ENOUGH!"
A blaster shot rang out at the entrance to the bridge, the guards at the door spun around before they were shot with stun blasts and a dozen young human men in Rendili officer uniforms rushed in, they all had military haircuts except for one who appeared to be their leader. He was thin and pale with bags under his eyes, his blonde hair parted down the middle as he rushed toward them. Leo saw he had a weak chin and sweat dripping down his cheek. He and the other young men came in stun blasters blasting at any bridge officer who tried to stop them.
Leo unsheathed his lightsaber in an instant looking at the blaster wielding young men's leaders "I am sorry Commander Dallin, but this is just wrong!" Their leader snapped, our first loyalty is to your own homeworld and our orders-" "I know the Orders Lieutenant Yago." Dallin thundered.
In that moment Leo thought all the young men would drop their blasters the way they shook at Dallins voice "Rendili has been taken by the Separatists and told what to say, you are a junior officer, and need to learn when to be silent." Dallin ordered but they fell on deaf ears, the Lt. Yago was on a mission and raised his blaster switching it from stun to kill "So we should obey orders when you will not? I don't think so Commander."
"You're under arrest in the name of the Independent Provisional Government of Rendili. We're taking command of the fleet traitor." Yago said with his conspirators raising their blasters behind him surrounding Leo and Plo with Dallin.
"So much for negotiations." Leo said raising his lightsaber ready for them "No Rock, they have merely gotten more aggressive." Plo said, holding his hands up to Yago.
But Yago grabbed Dallin suddenly pressing the blaster to Dallins signature scar "They're over." Yago barked, pressing a knife up to Dallins neck for good measure "Twitch even a little and the traitor dies!"
Dallin to his credit didn't even flinch at the blaster or knife to his throat "I'm not implant, do what you must."
Leo looked to Plo Koon, who paused before holding up his lightsaber. Everyone tensed up wondering if the battle would begin right there and now "When there is a choice between life and death, it is best to choose life." Plo Koon dropped his lightsaber.
"We surrender, there will be another time." Plo said as the conspirators through shackles on his wrist, Leo dropped his lightsaber too letting them cuff him as well "Take them and the rest of the senior officers and lock them in restraining cells." Yago said bolstering his weapons as the conspirators took the jedi and Dallin away.
One of the conspirators stopped "Why Yago, why not just kill them and be done with it?" They had tan skin and dark black hair cut in the same fashion as the other Rendili conspirators.
"Because Gallan, they are of better use as hostages than as corpses, the Republic won't sacrifice Jedi like Plo Koon or noted heroes like the Berserker here."
Leo snickered then "What are you laughing at, Jedi?" Yago said slapping Leo across the face "Because you obviously don't know Admiral Tarkin, hell we don't even like him when he finds out you took us prisoner of your fleet you, even us along with it will burn."
Lt. Yago took up Leo's lightsaber and pressed it under his chin, Yago was older then Leo and taller too forcing his head up to meet his age "We need only to delay, Count Dooku himself promised Separaitst ships will come to our aid. We give the signal and we'll be joined in a matter of hours, take the prisoners away." Yago ordered pushing Leo back with his own lightsaber and clipping both of them to his belt.
When they were being escorted away Leo couldn't hold his tongue "You're a fool Yago, you can't trust the Count I know, he's using you all of you."
"Silence him now." Yago ordered, the officer now as Gallan shot Leo in the back of the head with a stun blast knocking him out.
CORUSCANT
Jedi War Room
Shortly after Leo's capture the transmissions had been sent and broadcast back to Coruscant directly to the Jedi Temple, Masters Yoda, Windu, Tiin, Kenobi were watching a hologram recording of Lt. Yago holding a blaster to the back of Plo Koon's head, beside the jedi as a hologram was Admiral Tarkin, Yago speaking to the Jedi as Anakin and Ahsoka came rushing in just in time to see Yago make his demands known.
"Do you think I won't do it Tarkin?" Yago said pressing the butt of his blaster to Plo Koon's head "If you don't clear out I will kill the hostages starting with Plo Koon."
"What's the situation Master?" Ahsoka asked Obi-Wan.
"Negotiations at Rendili have failed, Master Koon and Leo have been captured by a coup who ousted Dallin from command, this is Lt. Mellor Yago seems to be in charge now and he's quite… chatty?" Obi-Wan said as they turned to hear Yago make his demands.
Ahsoka looked at the kneeling Plo Koon who had his head bowed, but unbroken "I will rip the mask off his face and let him drown in the oxygen before your eyes, I'm not afraid of you Jedi or your sorceress ways, I'll do it." Yago snapped, the Jedi and Yago both knowing a Kel Dor needed their breathing masks to survive or they'd choke to death on the oxygen their bodies were unable to handle the air.
"It is death you fear Mellor Yago. I do not." Plo Koon said stoically "It places you at a disadvantage I suggest you surrender, now." Plo Koon advised even on his knees stronger than his captor.
Before the jedi could answer Admiral Tarkin spoke "Lt. Yago is it?" Tarkin asked "Listen to me and listen well, I will mourn the death of the hostages if I must. They knew the risks when they went to your ship to negotiate." Tarkin said getting the jedi to look at the Admiral taking charge "The Supreme Chancellor was explicit. If negotiations failed and with your little coup Yago, I think we can safely say negotiations have failed the Rendili home fleet will be destroyed."
"What is he doing, he'll kill Leo and Master Plo." Ahsoka whispered to Anakin who hushed her "Tarkin is an Admiral and he knows what he's doing."
"But I am merciful, you've had time to reconsider your actions, your time is almost up. You have an hour to surrender and return the hostages or be destroyed. Begin killing the hostages and the truce ends now, Admiral Tarkin Out." Tarkin said cutting the transmission before the Jedi could object.
The Jedi all looked at Tarkin with dagger like glares at him, strong-arming the situation "I will begin moving my fleet into position immediately." Tarkin addressed them "And you have a plan for saving the hostages, right?" Ahsoka asked.
Tarkin gazed her way annoyed and even insulted she, a young girl and lower rank questioned him, even if she was a Jedi "The Generals new the risk, I have given the traitors an ultimatum they surely won't take it so we must show them the measure of our resolve, swiftly and without mercy." Tarkin said, putting it aptly.
The other jedi in the room were uncharacteristicly silent "Very well." Master Windu said "Admiral Tarkin should the hostages not be returned, let us know if you're in need of assistance?" Windu asked.
"A gracious offer General Windu, but that will not be necessary. We will destroy the Rendili fleet and secure the planet soon after, but I do hope the hostages are returned. It would be a shame if more Jedi were to die." Tarkin said smiling at the end of it, that smile made Ahsoka shiver before he disappeared with the rest of the holograms.
The jedi filed out, Ahsoka followed a quiet Anakin and Obi-Wan "So what's the plan?" She asked.
"Plan?" Obi-Wan asked "Yes plan, we're going to Rendili right to save Master Plo and Leo?" Ahsoka asked.
"No, We are going to Cato Neimoidia Ahsoka, or have you forgotten?" Anakin reminded her, Ahsoka stopped jaw dropping to the floor "What- how can you say that Master Leo and Master Plo are in trouble." Ahsoka asked him.
Obi-Wan answered her "Leo is a Jedi Knight now and Plo Koon is a Jedi Master, they can take care of themselves, we must have faith in their abilities."
Ahsoka looked at Obi-Wan even more stunned at his willingness to abandon Leo "But you can't just…" Ahsoka started to trail off "Master?" She asked looking to Anakin knowing he was in agreement, so she didn't argue it anymore, dropping her shoulders sulking.
Seeing she wasn't going to die on that hill Obi-Wan turned to leave so Anakin could speak to her "Ahsoka listen to me, I know your close with Leo-" Ahsoka's head shot up wondering if he new "-And Master Plo, but I believe the Council and Plo are testing Leo."
"Testing him?" Ahsoka asked "Even if you are a knight there are still challenges we have to face, and sometimes we have to face them alone." As Anakin spoke, far away in orbit around Rendili in the restraining cells of the Home Defense Fleet, Leo was bound arms stretched out attached to the wall "Good thing forJedi, we're never alone when we have the force." Leo's green eyes opened.
A/N: Thought this was a good place to leave it, if you all have any ideas for the "Rendili Arc" send them my way.