Chapter 23

Soldiers of Rendili

RENDILI

Knight's Hanger

In the hangar bay of the recently christened Knight, both Arc troopers Alpha and Wolffe were sitting across from one another playing a game of holochess. Tapping his fingers on his armor Alpha was watching the holotable across from Wollfee who's cybernetic eye moved up on its own looking at his older brother "You planning on making a move?" Wolffe asked him.

Alpha scratched his chin moving his hand over his Rancor piece, it moved towards Wolfe's Kathound piece eating it, Wolffe moved a gorog piece and Alpha sent his Krayt Dragon in to devour it. Across from them Dogma, Jax, Hotshot and Whiplash were watching "We shouldn't be doing this?" Whiplash said behind them all as Dogma and Jax were in front "We need to at least ask?" Hotshot suggested.

"Admiral Tarkin already gave us our orders Jax?" Dogma pointed out "We aren't going against orders Dogma, we're just asking a question?" Jax said smiling as they walked up to the two Arc Troopers.

"Um… excuse me, Sirs?" Jax asked.

Both Clone commanders were ignoring them and focused on their game "Uh Commanders?" Jax asked.

"Go away shiny." Alpha said.

"We're busy." Wolffe said brushing his nose "I can see that sir, but we were wondering if there was any plan to rescue the Jedi, we just got General Rock and we'd hate to lose him on our first campaign?" Jax said smiling at them.

Both the older clones glared at the rookie clone "They're fine." Alpha said before looking back at the game "Don't worry about it Jedi get captured, we wait here a bit and they come back eventually happens all the time." Wolffe said to the clones.

Dogma and Jax glanced at one another "And… that works?" Whiplash asked him.

"Well, General Skywalker was caught more times than I could count but Commander Tano and Captain Rex usually saved him if they weren't captured too and then, General Kenobi would get captured and they'd save him if the other wouldn't and… uhhhh." Dogma started to get confused.

Alpha moved another one of his holo pieces "Like I said, don't worry about it." Wolffe said. Dogma and his squad mates turned around after hearing that "Come on Jax, lets get some food." Dogma said patting him on the back.

"So who do you think will save who, the Kel Dor or the Berserker?" Alpha asked Wolffe "Please General Koon is a Jedi Master, the Berserkers still green."

Alpha raised his head looking at him confused "I meant rookie General not his robe." Wolffe said back to him, "Yeah yeah droid eye, focus on your pieces." Alpha said looking back at the game.

Across from the Knight, aboard the Flagship of the Rendili Home Defense Fleet, Out from the bridge windows Lt. Yago could see the Republic cruisers holding their attack positions, poised to strike the moment their hour was up. The pale faced man glared at them with unfettered hatred in his eyes when Gallan approached him from behind "I don't like this Lt." Gallan said addressing him "This Tarkin means business, what if the rest of the fleet discovers we've seized command?" Gallan asked him.

"I've already sent word to Count Dooku, Gallan, we need only delay them until the Separatist fleet arrives." Yago said, turning around smiling at him.

Gallan fidgeted "But relying on artificial soldiers, clones are one thing but droids it's...?" Gallan didn't finish his sentence.

"It's what Gallan?" Yago asked him "It's a necessary evil for Rendili's freedom Lt." Gallan replied much to his leader's approval "It is, and Gallan you'll refer to me as Commander Yago from now on, I've alerted the rest of our fleet that Commander Dallin has betrayed us to the Jedi." Yago said, turning around.

"Yes… Commander, but what if they grow suspicious, they could turn on us?" Gallan asked him from behind, Yago was looking at the other five Rendili Dreadnoughts beside them "Once the fighting begins all that will matter is who's Rendili and who's not." Yago said confidently even as sweat rolled down his brow. Gallan took notice of the new 'Commander's wavering faith in their cause before he raised his hand in salute, Gallan put his right fist over his left pec and beat it twice "For Rendili Commander.'

Yago looked at himself in the reflection on the window "Yes, for Rendili."

Down in the restraining cells the Jedi and Commander Dallin were held prisoner, the floors and walls were lit with a red tint each of them in a different position. Commander Dallin was sitting on one of the benches, Plo Koon was kneeling on the floor in meditation, Leo paced the small back and forth of their cell the other officers loyal to Dallin were packed in as well sitting beside Dallin or on the other side of the room "How can you just sit there Master?" Leo asked him.

"Patience Rock, we still may yet prevail." Plo Koon said behind his mask.

"With all due respect Master Koon I may have my doubts?" Commander Dallin said crossing his arms and leaning back in the cell "I had my worries about Lt. Yago fought for the Secessionists in the civil war, he made his wish to join the Separatists known at the start of the war."

"And you, what happened when you returned to Rendili?" Leo asked, looking at him.

Dallin smirked unlocking his arms "Quite the scene, everyone assumed I was dead that I had both sides asking for me to fight for them." Dallin explained "What did you do?" Leo asked him.

The Commander grew very quiet. "What could I do, I went home to my family… not the welcome I expected." Dallin said, growing grim.

"Your wife?" Leo asked.

"Remarried then widowed during the civil war, her new husband was an old comrade of mine, a good man, they had a son." Commander Dallin said looking at the floor "Your daughters?" Leo asked.

Dallin nodded "Both alive and well, one of them is on one of the other ships as a Captain the other is home with her mother." Dallin said.

"All the more reason we need to escape this cell and retake your ship Commander, Tarkin wont show any mercy once the fighting begins." Leo urged Master Plo "We need to come up with an escape plan."

Plo Koon sat motionless in meditation "What can we do Leo?" Dallin asked him slouching "My men have betrayed me, I only agreed to take command knowing Master Koon or some jedi like you would speak with me."

"Now that Yago has seized the ship he's probably fed the rest of the fleet some lie to follow his command, the RHDF are loyal and obedient, they will follow whoever's in command in the face of an enemy force, I never dreamed it would be the Republic." Dallin sighed.

Leo walked over to him "It's not the Republic, Yago has deceived them, betrayed them if we can retake the bridge and send a message out we can still stop this fight from happening?" Leo suggested.

"And then what, this coup shows how much the Separatists have infected Rendili the Republic Navy will destroy us all the same?" Dallins asked him slinking in his spot, the fight gone out of his eyes "The Republic never hat its own navy for a century until the clone wars, it always depended on the on the home fleets to supply what was necessary now the home fleets are perceived as a threat by the Chancellor." Dallin said bowing his head "The Republic has already died."

Leo looked down at Dallin, he could feel the despair growing inside him "Commander?" Leo asked.

The scared face of Dallin raised his head to meet Leo's fist smashing him across the face, Dallin fell to the floor "Commander?" One of the Rendili officers gasped all rising to come to his defense

"Wait…ugh damn." Dallin said, feeling his bruised jaw "So you felt that huh, that means you're still alive and so is the Republic."

"It may be lost, but not as long as there are fools like us willing to fight for it." Leo declared to the others with Dallin getting to his feet "First we're getting out of this cell, then we're heading to the bridge and I'm going to personally teach this Yago why you don't take Jedi's lightsabers, who's with me?" The officers looked to Dallin waiting on his nod but instead Dallin did a salute in Rendili form like Gallan beating his leather breastplate with his two times, he was followed by the other officers showing they were with Leo as well.

Master Koon spoke then "And how do you plan to escape this cell Rock?"

"I'll figure something out." Leo said down to him "No need, while you were giving your plan I was putting it into action." Plo Koon said as the back of their cell suddenly came loose of all the screws in the wall that had held it up "Behold." Plo Koon.

All the Rendili loyalists looked amazed at the Jedi's power "Master Koon, if it wouldn't kill you I'd take that mask off and kiss you." Dallin said walking up to their escape route "Now that we have our way out of the cell, what do we do Commander?" One of the Rendili officers asked.

"We free the other officers and we take back my ship." Dallin said going through the hole in the wall.

CORUSCANT

Jedi Temple

Ahsoka walked out of her padawan dorm while the rest of the temple slept soundly. It was night on Coruscant and she was on a mission. Running down the hallways of the padawan dorms she rushed out of the doorway into the greater halls of the temple. Using the force to leap from platform to platform. The torgurtan padawan made her way to the hangar where she saw two Temple Sentinels on duty. Tucking behind a corner Ahsoka held up her hand and made something on the other end of their corridor fall over prompting both guards to go investigate. With the entrance clear she quickly moved to the hanger door opening and slipping in before the temple guards came back.

Looking in the hanger, Ahsoka saw it was almost entirely empty except for a few Astro droids. She snuck behind some crates and made her way to her red jedi Starfighter where to her surprise she saw Anakin under the ship working on the engine.

"Going somewhere snips?" Anakin asked, rolling out.

"I uh… um nowhere in particular Master, just wanted to check on my ship before we leave for Cato Nemo…" Anakin's gaze at her was part sarcastic and skeptical at the same time, he knew she was lying.

Ahsoka dropped her shoulders "Master we can't just abandon Leo and Master Plo to their fate?"

"Who said we were?" Anakin asked rolling out from under the ship and getting up, Ahsoka noticed Anakin's black and yellow jedi Starfighter parked next to his "Does that mean we're going to Rendili?" Ahsoka asked hopeful.

"... no." Anakin said getting up crossing his arms "But Master-" "Ahsoka." Anakin snapped at her hands on his hips now, she shut her mouth at his raised tone "You need patience, did you know when we're on Mon Cala Master Yoda caught Leo about to try and come and help us?" He asked.

Ahsoka's eyes got wide. "He did?"

Nodding at her "Master Yoda convinced him to stay here, to rest and heed their wisdom, which is what I'm asking you to do."

"But Master we just got Leo back, I…" Ahsoka trailed off, she crossed her arms like she usually did when something was bothering her "Ahsoka what is it?" Anakin asked.

She shook her lekku back and forth "It's nothing Master, you're right I should have faith in them." She said dropping her arms knowing it was her tell.

"I sense there's more troubling you, you can talk to me you know?" Anakin said walking up to her and taking her shoulder in his hand.

Ahsoka was unsure if she should speak or not but when she opened her mouth it all came flooding out "I'm just so confused right now Master, when we betrayed us or we thought he did- I-I I was hurt, sad then angry. It only got worse when I found Obi-Wan and you— You of all people were in on it and didn't tell me." She said holding her hands up "Didn't you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you Ahsoka, but for the mission to work it had to remain secret."

"Mission he turned on us then all of a sudden he comes back, the Council Knights him out of nowhere- you and Master Obi-Wan forgive him like nothing happened and I can't get over that he lied to me." She berated stomping forward pacing back and forth "He used to go on and on about what if he wasn't a jedi, meeting his family and now he rambles about Jedi this and Republic that, it's like he's a completely different person?" Ahsoka said looking back at him.

Anakin had taken a seat on her Starfighter leaning in and listening "People change Ahsoka, it's part of finding out who we are?"

"The trials Leo's faced are shaping him into the young man he's becoming, so will yours?" Anakin added but Ahsoka scoffed.

"But what if he can't this time, I'm not..." Ahsoka said, cutting herself off again, "Not what?" Her master asked him "I'm not-not strong enough for this Master."

The chosen one let out a sarcastic chuckle "Strong enough Ahsoka I've seen you take on hundreds of battle droids, you think going to Rendili to save Leo will make you stronger?"

"No." Ahsoka snapped "Then what, what is it?" Anakin asked her "I can't lose Leo again!" Ahsoka practically shouted with how it echoed in the hanger "Not Leo, not Obi-Wan, not even you Master?" Ahsoka said looking up at him tears forming in her eyes "How can I be a Jedi if I don't know how to let go of these-these feelings?" Ahsoka said brushing her wet eyes.

Anakin rose from where he sat and walked up to her again, he pulled her into a soft hug "I don't know Ahsoka, letting go is hard even for a Jedi." He said as Ahsoka hugged him back, burying her head into his robes, she looked up at him her eyes still red from the tears.

"I'm going to tell you something Ahsoka, something that drives me to be the way I am." Anakin said, taking her over to her Starfighter where they both sat down.

Anakin clutched his hand together "When I was a padawan like you, I had visions like Leo's about his family in danger, about my mother." He said looking at her.

"I saw her in pain, dying at first. I thought they were nightmares but they turned out to be visions. If I had trusted them sooner I could have saved her but couldn't." Anakin confessed looking down at his hands as if he was still holding his mothers lifeless body in his arms. "Her death still haunts me Ahsoka but I don't let it define me. It pushes me to try harder even if the impossible is in front of me." Anakin told her.

He got up then "That's what you need to find out for yourself, what will you let drive you into becoming a Jedi Knight?" He asked before he started to leave "Your just going to leave me here in the hangar?" Ahsoka asked looking at the open cockpit of her Starfighter and the hanger doors unguarded.

"I can't make every decision for you Ahsoka." Anakin pointed out.

Ahsoka looked at his back while he walked away "Master?" She called out.

"What did you do, after your mother passed?" Ahsoka asked him.

Anakin was silent for a long time "... I mourned her in my own way."

RENDILI

Knight

The standoff continued far from Coruscant, Admiral Tarkin was in the hangar with the clone fighter squadrons gathered around him in front of one of the holotable showing the Dreadnoughts. "The Rendili ships are well made, but they do have a crucial weakness." Tarkin explained to the pilots. Across from them Jax and Dogma were watching the Admiral go over his plan.

"While our cruisers press the advance I want the fighters to outflank their fleet and disable their engines from the rear." Tarkin explained "With their ships crippled we will destroy them easily." He added.

"Rendili is also equipped with a planetary defense system from the days of the old Republic, that protects it from orbital bombardment once the fleet is dealt with that will be our next objective."

Dogma watched with disgust "How can he just abandon General Rock and General Koon, their Jedi?"

"He is the acting officer, we need to follow his command right?" Jax asked him "Good soldiers follow orders, but better ones know when orders are wrong." Dogma said squeezing his helmet, "Like leaving men behind." Dogma said, approaching Tarkin from his flank.

"Dismissed." Admiral Tarkin told the pilots, the flyers dispersed back to their hanger.

Dogma stopped behind Tarkin and stood upright at attention "Excuse me Admiral, sir?" Dogma asked.

The Admiral turned around bug eyed that Dogma was addressing him personally "What is it trooper?"

"Sir, is there to be any attempt at a plan for rescuing the Generals?" He asked him.

Tarkin eyed Dogma with intrigue and suspicion "Are you questioning my orders trooper?" Tarkin asked hands behind his back, pacing around Dogma "Sir no sir, but if we are to take Rendili after we eliminate the enemy fleet the Jedi would surely be needed in the ground offensive."

"Perhaps, what is your ID number?" Tarkin asked him

Dogma squeezed his helmet under his arm, flashes of Krell addressing the clones by their id numbers rushed through his name "My name... is Dogma sir." The clone trooper slightly growled.

Tarkin stopped behind the clone trooper, the answer gave Tarkin pause "So it is?" Tarkin asked smiling as he came back around "Well then Clone Trooper 'Dogma', there will be no attempts at a rescue, we will engage the Rendili fleet and if the Jedi should fail to make an escape then we will accept the losses, such is the price of victory, understood." Tarkin said to him.

"But what about the time you gave the enemy to return the jedi?" Dogma asked him "I will not explain my strategy to a lowly grunt such as yourself, clone, now do you understand or are you defective?"

The clone trooper looked straightforward not showing his true emotions "Crystal sir."

"Good, now get back in line trooper." Tarkin added with his own growl underneath the words looking Dogma in the eye, Tarkin met his pale blue eyes "Sir-yes-sir."

Dogma's glare was unwavering against Tarkin who drew back not impressed or intimated, only more irritated "I will be sure to remember you trooper." Tarkin said getting the last word in before he started to walk away. When he was out of sight Jax, Whiplash and Hotshot came up behind him.

"Geez Dogma, are you crazy talking to the Admiral that way?" Jax asked him.

Hotshot snickered "Dunno, something about that guy gives me the creeps good on you Dogma." Hotshot said patting the older clone trooper on the back.

"So, it doesn't look like we'll be rescuing the Generals after all." Whiplash pointed out "No, we follow our orders." Dogma said looking over at Leo's green jedi Starfighter and astro droid, left unattended and unguarded.

On the other side of the battlefield, aboard the Rendili flagship, Commander Yago was standing in private transmission room punching in a coded transmission. "This is Commander Yago of Rendili to Count Dooku." Yago said addressing the transmission. A few moments passed before the red hologram of Count Dooku appeared over him, the Dark Lord pulled back his hood glaring at the traitor who dropped to one knee "My Lord, the fleet is ours and soon Rendili." Yago said humbly."

"Good, good and the Republic fleet?" The Count asked.

"Has not moved on, I believe they will attack soon regardless of our hostages." Yago replied, raising his head.

The Count gave a low hum "Indeed, kill the hostages they are of no use to us anymore and Commander, make the death of Leo Rock slow and painful." Count Dooku ordered before continuing. "Once your Home Defense Fleet has fallen and the Republic forces driven back, you will oversee the removal of the Provisional Government with the invasion force that will be there soon Commander Yago." Count Dooku told him.

"And for my efforts, just as we agreed?" Yago asked him from his kneeling position.

"You will be given Rendili to rule in the Separatists name as the Dictator, the droid army will follow your command to the letter and kill anyone who gets in your way." Count Dooku said to the smiling Yago "By your command Count, Rendili will be ours." Yago said rising up to meet his gaze.

"And with it the Republic." Count Dooku said, smiling at him before he cut the transmission. Yago smiled seeing his plan was working. Yago walked to the exit, the door opening with a whoosh before he walked out. But a few minutes later the door reopened with Gallan walking in, he walked around the transmitter and reached underneath it pulling out a small holodevice plugged into its lower router. Pressing a button on it a small recording of the entire conversation replayed at fast forward for Gallan glaring at it with disgust "By your command Coun, Rendili will be ours." Yago's recording said as Gallan squeezed it in his face.

"For Rendili… Commander." Gallan said shoving it in his pocket.

In another part of the ship, two guards walked over a ventilations shaft in the floor before turning a corner. When they were out of sight the vent opened with the Jedi and Loyalists climbing out "I swear one day someone will realize vents are to big." Leo said helping Commander Dallin out of the shaft.

"Pray that day never comes Leo, then we're all doomed." He said looking around the ship.

"Where are we, Commander?" Plo Koon asked "Outside the detention level, the entrance has armed guards but plenty of blasters." Dallin said pointing down the hallway.

Leo and Plo Koon nodded at one another taking point "Leave that to us." Plo replied.

"Spare here lives if you can Master Jedi, they're only following orders." Dallin asked them "We will do our best." Plo Koon answered.

The jedi approached the detention level entrance before opening it, the entrance had a single control desk with two guards sitting behind it, on each side of them were racks of blaster rifles ready for usage in case of an escape or an instant just like that. There was a long corridor down the hallway with red laser grid walls over the cells. The guards shot up seeing them, "They Jedi have escaped!" One of them shouted reaching for his blaster pistol, the other fumbling with it. Leo dodged the first shot and jumped at him kicking the guard down against the hard metal floor.

Plo Koon used the force to pick the other guard up and throw him into the wall, both guards out cold, Dallin and his followers came in next, Dallin picked up both blaster pistols from the guards as his men took the blaster rifles off the wall, arming themselves.

"Free the officers Rock." Plo Koon ordered "Yes Master." Leo replied walking down the corridor opening cell doors left and right.

"Commander, Master Jedi someone's coming!?" One of the Loyalists called out. Plo Koon and Jace exchanged a worried glance "Get to cover, men." Dallin ordered. Both Plo Koon and Commander Dallin took positions at the entrance ready for whatever was about to come through that door, when it did Plo Koon pounced like a wolf locking his arms around the neck of the man who walked in.

Dallin shoved his blaster pistol in his face before they recognized him as Gallan, Yago's second in command "Wait!" Gallan cried out feeling Plo Koon's iron group around his neck, one twist and he'd be dead from a blaster shot at point blank range.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't shoot you dead traitor?" Dallin asked, pushing his pistol barrel between Gallan eyes.

"Yago is the traitor Commander, I have proof." Gallan pleaded sweating hard at what looked like an inevitable.

Plo Koon squeezed his arm around his neck "Your actions are all the proof we need soldiers."

"N-no, in my pocket-ack my pocket." Gallan choked out before Plo Koon could knock him out from lack of air. Dallin tucked one of the blaster pistols in his belt using his free hand to dig through the traitor's pocket and pull out the recording device. He played the recording of Yago and Count Dooku's meeting for the rest of them to hear, Gallan's face now turning purple fell under Dallin's eyes, "Why?" The Commander asked.

Plo Koon loosened his grip so Gallan could plead his case "I have no love for the Count, or for the Republic but if Rendili is to survive then I'd rather choose the lesser of two evils." Gallan explained. Suddenly the whole ship was rocked by cannon fire and the ship's lights turned crimson going into red alert.

"It's begun, Tarkin's attacking." Leo shouted coming down from the cells with the loyalists behind him.

"Then there's not a moment to lose, the Home Defense Fleet will fight to the last ship, to the last man if we don't take the bridge back." Dallin said, taking the holorecording from Gallan.

Turning to the Jedi "Master Jedi, will you help my men?"

"Of course." Plo Koon said behind his mask "Rock, now would be an opportune moment for your battle mediation."

"Battle meditation?" Gallan asked.

"I've seen it before, Rock here has a unique force ability he can inspire the hearts of soldiers to fight, while the others lose the will." Dallin said all eyes on the young Knight.

Leo looked startled at the suggestion "Master Koon, you can't ask me to use it against our own troops?" Leo asked him.

"I'm not, but perhaps you can use it to influence both sides to not fight?" Plo Koon suggested, shaking his head back and forth "Both sides, you're talking about two fleets, thousands of men I've never tried anything like that?" Leo asked him.

Plo Koon approached him with confidence "Do or do not, there is no trying for a Jedi Knight."

Still unsure Leo took a deep breath finding his courage. "I'll give it my best shot, but I need someplace where I can focus." Leo told him "Here's good enough I'll leave some of my men with you while we retake my ship." Dallin said before he turned to his men "We've only got one chance at this men or Rendili and the Republic are lost forever, FOR RENDILI, FOR THE REPUBLIC!" Dallin shouted his men all held up their fists shouting in unison ready to risk it all or die trying. They poured out of the detention level as Leo sat down on the floor closing his eyes meditating reaching out with the force.

He could feel Dallin and Plo Koon leading the men through the ship, using the force Leo saw each of them as an individual light in darkness, Plo Koon shining the brightest of them all in a radiant blue like his lightsaber which was currently on Yago's belt. He could see the others light too Dallin and Gallan were both flickering shades of white with the other loyalists. Leo fed the force through himself into them, rousing their courage to hurry through the hallways. He focused on the soldiers under Yago patrolling the ship from the bow to stern, he could sense the emotions radiating on them while cannon fire rocked the ship. Most pungent from them was fear, the fear of death, fear of failure that drove them to obey Yago's orders.

Capitalizing on it Leo stoked their fears, making them loose heart, the first of them to see Dallin and Plo Koon comin down the hallway held up their blasters but couldn't bring themselves to pull the trigger. Either dropping their weapons or running others who Saw Dallin out of his cell were radiating confusion within if they should fight him or join him. Leo found this harder to manifest, he focused on Dallin trying to get them to side with Dallin if they didn't join him they were shot with stun blasts and knocked out cold.

Reaching out from beyond the Rendili Dreadnought, Leo could feel the roar of the Home Defense Fleets engines, the rumbling of the ships through the void of space and the thunderous roar of cannons echoing across the stars. He could see starfighters flying headfirst into Republic cannon fire followed by squadrons of clone troopers obeying Tarkin's orders. Back aboard the Knight, Leo could feel Admiral Tarkin's emotions pride, confidence, resolve to commit to the attack with no remorse for loss of life. It almost made Leo puke, breaking his battle meditation when he had connected to the Republic and Rendili forces Leo held up his arms where he sat the soldiers left go guard him with curiosity, his white hair started to ruffle on its own the force rippling through his clothes.

""Do not fight…. do not kill…. survive." Leo said to himself trying to get these emotions across to the entire battlefield.

But it was too late the clone fighters and Rendili ships soared into one another in a ferocious dogfight of starfighters on starfighter clashes. "No!" Leo shouted when he saw the battle begin, he could feel the deaths of every clone and Rendili pilot in that moment, following forward Leo felt as if he would actually vomit "Jedi?" One of the Rendili men asked.

"No, stop." Leo said getting back into his meditation pose "I'm not done yet." Leo said reaching in again.

He couldn't stop the pilots, there were too many, moving too fast he had to focus somewhere else. Using the force within leo reached out to the gunners on each of the ships urging them through the force to not trust their aim, to have their hands slip, anything that would spare the soldiers aboard each vessel, he couldn't keep it up forever but he just needed to be Commander Dallin time.

Aboard the Knight, Tarkin was watching their progress slow "What going on, why aren't any of our guns hitting the enemy fleet?" Tarkin asked.

"I… I don't know sir, but the enemy is missing our ships as well?" One of the bridge officers pointed out just as lost as the Admiral.

"Admiral Tarkin, General Rock's starfighter has just left the hanger?" One of the crew shouted up to him, Tarkin twisted around "What, by who?"

Dogma was glad there wasn't any way people could hear you scream in space, because he couldn't control his screams of terror as Leo's astrodroid flew him and the stolen jedi starfighter through the droid piloted them around the dogfight using the advanced starfighter to outmaneuver and out run the Rendili starfighters. Dogma was holding a republic soldier backpack with his blaster rifle between his legs. The droid beeped at Dogma from its position on the left side of the ship "For the last time, I-don't-speak-DROID!" Dogma yelled at Essix they broke through to the Rendili lines.

"Just get us onboard the Rendili flagship." Dogma yelled. The green Starfighter whizzed under one of the Dreadnoughts before flying past another engine and in between two of them that were too close for comfort for Dogma almost wetting his armor.

It beeped at Dogma when they were approaching the flagship "Yeah-yeah I see it, just keep your eyes on the-CANNONS!" Dogma shouted pointing at the antistarfighter cannons aboard the Dreadnought. They opened fire on the green starfighter but the droid swerved around the lasers like they weren't even there "To fast, to fast- your coming in too fast!" Dogma shouted when they flew into the hanger. The red astro road hit the ships brakes and dropping the landing gear trying to make it stop, the starfighter came to a screeching skid with flaming sparks before the landing gear gave out scratching up the rest of the starfighter. Any Rendili soldiers in the hanger dove out of the way or ran for over before Dogma and Essix came to a final halt.

When the danger had passed for them, the Rendili soldiers rushed into the hanger surrounding the ship "Come out with your hands up." One of the soldiers shouted.

"Droid?" Dogma snapped, Essix beeped a few times at him "What do you mean your job's done, do something?" He ordered.

Essix beeped at him asking a question "Anything!" Dogma droid quickly override the ships fire safety system and exhaled flameretadent foam out from the exhausts in the ship spraying the Rendili soldiers with white foam. Taken by surprise the soldiers backed up slipping on the foam, when they got to their feet they slipped back down again. "Wow… that worked, alright my turn" Dogma said unbuckling himself and kicking open the cockpit.

Dogma held up his blaster rifle "Alright you Rendili scum- GIVE ME BACK MY JEDI!"

The battle raged outside of the Rendili flagship, "Why aren't we making any hits, we have twice the cannons!?" Yago was nearly toppled from his spot on the bridge by another shot from the Republic warships closing in on them "All ships, wedge formation hold the line no matter the cost." Yago shouted at them but all of a sudden the flagships cannons stopped firing.

Yago looked out stunned "What… what just happened?" Yago asked, seeing his ship was out of the fight. The traitor looked at the crew and at Gallan, turning around "What are you doing, attack we have them on the run- do as I comm-" Yago spun around and saw Commander Jace Dallin holding his blaster pistols up to Yago's face, the other to one of Yago's conspirators and to Yago's greater surprise Gallan was pointing his own blaster pistol at the other traitors side by side with Dallin and the other loyalists.

"What- Commander Dallin how did you get up here?" Yago barked, reaching for his blaster pistol, that move proved fatal because Dallin shot him where he stood, smoke rising from Yago's chest before he hit the floor. The last thing he heard was Dallins answer "We walked." He said lowering his blaster pistol looking at the other conspirators seeing if they wanted to test the Commanders resolve. Yago's demise was followed by the conspirators throwing down their blasters hands in the air.

Dallin turned over to Gallan the young officer kept his blaster pistols trained on his former comrades, "Take the traitors to the brig Gallan." He ordered.

The young officer nodded with a smile "You heard the commander move it." Gallan ordered the traitor.

"Broadcast me to the fleet and send this recording to every channel coming from Rendili and to the Republiuc." Dallin ordered putting his pistols away and tossing the copied drive to one of his men "Yes sir Commander." One of the crew said glad to be under his command again.

"Attention Rendili Home Defense Fleet, people of Rendili, we have deceived Count Dooku and the Separatists aren't sending us reinforcements, but an invasion meant to wipe us out along with the Republic." Dallin said as the recording of Yago and the Count speaking appeared fleetwide to the Rendili and the Republic cruisers, even down in Rendili's many cities and settlements. From the highest tower of their Capital City to the most distant farm on their frontier.

The hologram played for everyone to see Yago's treachery and the Count's scheme "Once your Home Defense Fleet has fallen and the Republic forces driven back, you will oversee the removal of the Provisional Government Commander Yago." Count Dooku's repeated words echoed across the Rendili flagship and the rest of their fleet. Leo was seeing it too down in the holding cell, he was sweating bullets from his battle meditation pushed to the limit, but it had worked.

"And for my efforts, just as we agreed?" The recording of Yago asked him "You will be given Rendili to rule in the Separatists name as the Dictator, the droid army will follow your command to the letter and kill anyone who gets in your way." Count Dooku said to the smiling Yago "By your command Count, Rendili will be ours."

The recording ended and reverted to Commander Dallin "The traitor Mellor Yago is dead and his conspirators have been taken into custody, we will not be slaves to Count Dooku that why I am ordering all Rendili forces to disengage the Republic and for an immediate cease fire."

The broadcast was even received aboard Leo's flagship that Tarkin was in command of, the Admiral looked liked just had something that ruined his meal "Send the order, withdraw our forces and open a channel to Commander Dallin."

Meanwhile back on the Rendili flagship, Leo walked out of the detention cell "Uh what day." He said before an explosion sounded in the hallway. A group of Rendili soldiers were running the opposite way past Leo when he heard a shout "Where is he, where!" Dogma came running around the corner with Essix behind him, when he saw Leo, Dogma froze behind his helmet

"Dogma, what are you doing?" Leo asked, smiling "Uh… saving your… General… sir." Dogma said standing up looking back at the R6 unit beside him. Essix beeped at Leo a few times filling him in "You stole starfighter?"

"I-I did sir, to save you sir- but Alpha told me not to worry, guess he was right." Dogma said reaching up and taking off his helmet, Leo walked toward him with a warm smile "I'm glad you came anyway, come on they'll be waiting for us on the bridge."

LATER

After the ceasefire had been declared Leo, Plo Koon, Commander Dallin, were standing in front of the holotable of the retaken vessel. A hologram of Admiral Tarkin was present as well with them sending a transmission all the way back to Coruscant, Master Windu, Yoda, Kenobi were standing on the holotable with the Ahsoka and Anakin in the background. Last but not least was the Supreme Chancellor standing beside the Jedi Masters "We are pleased to hear a ceasefire has been reached General Koon, General Rock but what of this Separatist invasion fleet?" Master Windu asked.

"The fleet is a massive Master Jedi, even with the now combined fleets of the Republic and the Home Defense Fleet we are still outnumbered, can you spare any reinforcements?" Commander Dallin asked him.

Tarkin answered for them "Certainly not, our forces scattered across the galaxy."

"Correct Admiral Tarkin is, reinforcements we can spare not." Master Yoda said proving Tarkin's words true.

"And your fleet is needed elsewhere Master Koon, the Slecumai system has been overrun by the Separatists there and we have none but your fleet to spare." Obi-Wan said not happy to report it.

Plo Koon turned to Dallin "We cannons abandon Rendili to the Separatists, if Rendili falls Coruscant is open to an attack." Plo Koon Pointed out.

Then the Chancellor spoke "I beg to differ Master Jedi, Coruscant is well defended and why should we not leave Rendili to its fate after it abandoned the Republic so brazenly? "The Chancellor asked him to earn scowls from Commander Dallin and Gallan.

"It won't." Leo said, stepping forward, "Masters, Commander, Admiral, your excellency." Leo said addressing them "We can't defeat the Separatists in naval combat, but we can slow them down." Leo said up to them.

Tarkin's hologram spoke to Leo before anyone else could "Am I to believe you have a plan, General Rock?"

"Rendili is equipped with a planetary shield generator here, in the northwestern hemisphere mountains." Leo said, pulling up a hologram of Rendili zooming in on a gigantic satellite dish located at the peak of a mountain range. "It was built during the Mandalorian Wars to prevent any chance of invasion, I believe with our combined armies we can hold off the droid army, until reinforcements arrive." The jedi all looked at one another curious, it was crazy, insane and it may even work.

"And you're sure Rendili can survive such an assault?" Anakin asked him, Dallin spoke first.

"Rendili has not been idle Master Jedi, our army is strong, our defense manned and our resolve unwavering when the Separatists come for this fight, we'll make sure it's one they won't forget." Commander Dallin insisted.

Mace Windu furrowed his brow thinking "Chancellor what do you say?" He asked his excellency.

"Admiral Tarkin?" The Chancellor asked, looking at the only Republic officer in the room "The plan is insane, your excellency, we could all be wiped out and Rendili fall all the same." He said dismissively "Even so, your safety and the safety of Coruscant is paramount for winning this war, if you will permit I would ask to stay and fight." The Admirals' answer was a surprise to everyone, none more so than Leo.

"It's decided then." Obi-Wan said "Master Plo will leave Rendili while you prepare your forces General Rock, may the force be with you."

Leo nodded up to him "Yes Master, and with you." The transmission from Coruscant disconnected leaving the combined fleets on their own "I will depart immediately after I have landed our troops on the surface, are you sure about this Leo?" Plo Koon asked him.

"Not really, but I don't see any other way to stop the Separatists from tearing the heart from the Republic if we fail." Leo replied to him.

"It'll work Master Jedi." Dallin said up to putting his hands on both the Jedi's shoulders "As long as there are fools like us willing to fight for it." Dallin said confidently echoing Leo's words back to him, the real Battle for Rendili was about to begin.