Chapter 25
Battle for Rendili
CORUSCANT
Senate Tower
Back on Coruscant, Obi-Wan was sitting across from Padme, Senator of the Naboo who was behind her desk "So the Jedi have no troops to spare?" She asked him, Obi-Wan nodded "Yes, Anakin and Ahsoka have been sent to Cato Nemodia. My own forces are exhausted or else I wouldn't hesitate." Obi-Wan told her. They were joined by Senator Orn Free Taa, Bail Organa, Riyo Chuchi and a red haired woman in white gowns and silver chains.
"The Council is hoping to call on the Senate to assist us." Obi-Wan explained to her "What do you think the Senate can do?" She asked him.
The Jedi Master took a breath gathering his thoughts "The Senate has the power to raise a relief force."
"But the session won't be called for another two days?" She asked him "Only the supreme Chancellor can call the Senate into an emergency meeting, do you think he will?" Obi-Wan asked him.
Padme turned grim before she stood up crossing her arms "It's no secret the Chancellor wanted Rendili made an example of."
"An example of?" Obi-Wan asked standing up "What example?"
Padme turned around looking at him "Rendili's open defiance like Onderon has divided the Senate, the worlds with their own Self Defense Forces are beginning to question the need for Clones, those who don't are siding with the Senator, there's even talk of dismissing the clones all together since the wars still going on?" The red head woman said.
"Obi-Wan allow me to introduce Senator Mon Mothma." Padme said as the red headed woman approached him.
"Rendili is under attack as we speak, do you think the Senate will send a relief force Senator?" Obi-Wan asked her again "I don't know Master Jedi, you'll need to speak with the Chancellor, if he agrees to an emergency session it will be up to the Senate." Padme said.
"Such a force would have to come from somewhere, but who would suggest such a thing?" Senator Mon Mothma asked, as Orn Free Taa fiddled with his fingers.
RENDILI
"Troopers!" Alpha shouted, walking into the mountain base's citadel lower levels that the Clone Troopers were all amassed in. The mountains continued to shake from the battle being waged outside. When the Arc Trooper walked in he had his helmet off not under his arm but held in his hand when he walked into the hanger. The rookie battalion all ran up to stand in line one behind the other. Out of all the other clones only Dogma had a special V mark on his helmet, the rest were identical with white armor that had some mud and dirt staining their shiny new armor. They stood at attention until Alpha stopped in front of them when he was they stood at ease hands behind their backs legs a part. "The Droid army has advanced up the road and the Rendili are falling back to the next level, you know what that means?" Alpha asked, walking out in front of them.
None of the troopers answered, Alpha snickered, putting on his helmet "Means we're going in!"
The clones stood there motionless, "Now I know your all eager to get out there and show the Rendili, the Republic and our General what you can do."
"But I already know what you can do, we're one and the same- brothers to the last man!" Alpha shouted at them "We have the best training in the galaxy, the best looks in the galaxy!" He added getting a few clones snickering under their helmets "But the droids don't care about that do they, bunch of clanking crud munching droids think they're gonna beat us?"
"Who wants to go prove'em wrong?" Alpha asked.
A thunderous front step echoed in the base from the 703rd "Then what are you standing around for, get your blasters, get your grenades and let's go droid hunting!"
The clones dispersed like lighting swarming over their gear and weapons, picking up their blaster rifles locking and loading in a matter of seconds before they were back in formation at the front gate with Alpha at the front he took out both his extended nozzles blaster pistols "Dogma." Alpha called out.
"Here Commander." Dogma said coming up behind them at the gate started to churn and unlock "You're the only other trooper here with experience, I'm going to need you out there to keep the men together."
"Sir, yes sir." Dogma replied when the gate opened.
The light from the outside began to shine in over the clone troopers "It's morning already?" Jax asked Whiplash.
"That's not the sun." Dogma said when the clones all rushed out behind Commander Alpha, the shield generator was back up again under a fierce barrage from artilitery down in the valley below. With the gate open the Rendili garrison was in full retreat, they were soaking wet from the rain with mud and blood mixing together on them. Wounded were carried on stretchers back into the base passing by the clones. "Come on men, go, go, go" Alpha ordered running out of the shield at the front.
When the 703rd arrived at the road overlooking the hill that led up to the valley in its zig-zag form, what they beheld was the entire valley was filled with battle droids, hover tanks, spider walkers and crab droids scaling the mountain walls of the road. Artillery droid cannons were dotting the valley below firing relentless overhead lighting up the sky with red cannon fire. Vulture droids were everywhere up above coming in and out for passes but the Rendili aim guns were holding true. Jax and his brothers halted for a second before Dogma appeared "Jax, don't stop keep moving." Dogma napped.
"You heard him Whiplash, Hotshot, let's go." Jax said rallying his pod mates behind Dogma. The clones ran down the main road where Alpha was calling out to them all "Squads 18 to 25 take positions here." Alpha said to the clones in the back who were jumping into the empty machine gun nests and mortar positions the Rendili were retreating from "The rest of you follow me." Alpha ordered while the Rendili passed by them.
They were covered in so much mud the clones couldn't even see the blue of their uniform, they had run out of stretchers and they were carrying their wounded in their arms. Coming down the next level the fighting had gotten even worse. There were craters from enemy artillery and dead Rendili soldiers left behind "Squads 12 to 17 hold these positions." Alpha ordered "That's me, see you on the other side brothers." Whiplash said breaking off with his men. Dogma, Jax and Hotshot watched him go before following Alpha and Dogma down into the worst of it. The road was practically unrecognizable, the garrison had been pushed back to the trenches halfway up the road, the clones battle droids, limbs scattered and tangled on the ground when they saw Captain Tess and Gallan holding the line. Red blaster fire was flying over the trenches the clones were pouring in with fires roaring from small pits or from flaming sandbags.
Gallan had a bloody bandage around his head, Tess was covered in mud and when Alpha saw her stripes he came up to her "Captain, we're here to relieve you." Alpha answered.
"Alright men, you heard the trooper fall back to the base!" She ordered "Fall back, fall back!" Gallan shouted over the battle, with the Rendili garrison in full retreat the clone troopers were taking their place rising up over the trenches to see the droid army pushing its advance, with the sudden change of soldiers the droid had a window they didn't hesitate to exploit. The droids came out of the smokesclanking feet stomped over the fallen broken droids before the clones could get behind the e-web turrets resuming the barrage.
Dogma had taken one of the guns when Jax and Hotshot saw buckets of snowy water next to it "What's this?" Hotshot asked.
"Coolant so the gun doesn't overload, come on go find more." Jax ordered.
He took a postion next to Dogma starting to shoot droids that he or any of the other ones missed "So Dogma this anything like when you were with Skywalker?"
"You know Jax" Dogma started to say "There isn't this much talking in a battle?"
"A shame there's so much to talk about like- WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!" Jax shouted pointing up to a spider droid tank that had made its way up to the road under the smoke. It turned its head around a red hot laser beam shot down carving up the road, if it reached the trenches it would lay waste to the clones when in a flash of green and white Leo appeared in front of it. He caught the laser against his lightsaber like a mirror catching a beam of light Leo used the laser, redirecting it back at the droids slicing them in half like his lightsabers reach had been extended ten fold.
Alpha rose up from the trenches "He's taking the fall, cover the General!" He barked. The 703rd popped up from the trenches the red blaster fire of the droids was doused in a shower of blue clone fire around Leo, the young Knight moved his lightsaber so the spider tanks laser sliced off its own legs falling down onto the road right into its own laser "DOWN!" Leo shouted, jumping back into the trenches, a wave of fire washed over the trenches but the clones were spared a fiery demise thanks to Leo's orders.
When the smoke cleared Leo rose up coughing a bit "Geez, they punch that much gas in the droid it should be a ship?" He said.
"Spider Droids are so stupid." Alpha said next to him.
Leo nodded in agreement when he saw Dogma and Jax looking at him "Dogma, you made it." Leo said walking over to him.
"Wouldn't miss it sir." Dogma said getting up to the turret "That's what I like to hear and you…" Leo looked over at Jax, he had a scorch mark on the top right side of his helmet "Jax right?"
"Y-yes sir." Jax said blushing under his helmet "How are you feeling?"
"Fine sir, ready to do my part." Jax replied.
Leo smiled then heard more droids coming "That's what I like to hear."
Turning back over to Alpha the droids are coming in at patterns, two battalions of regulars then one super battle droid battalion, when those big clankers come in take out the ones with the extended arms those aren't sticks their rocket launchers, smoke four the mortars will only be used on the super battle droids." Leo said looking back over to Dogma.
Commander Alpha nodded "Yes sir, what about you?"
Before he could give him an answer or a command the Jedi and clones heard more battle droids clanking their way up the hill. Leo walked to the other side of the trench where clones were already shooting down at the droids dropping down grenades "Don't waste the grenades focus on the crab droids." Leo said as three of them were already scaling the roadside wall.
"Well Alpha, to answer your question, I'm up seventy five and you need to catch up." Leo held up his lightsaber and turned on both ends and backflipped out of the trenches and into the sea of droids 'AHAHAHAHAHA!"
The clones watched Leo land into the middle of them spinning his lightsaber around in a whirl when of white laser for the clones to watch cutting off the droids "Was he… laughing sir?" Jax asked Alpha.
"So I guess we're doing this." Alpha said, taking out his blaster pistols, "Sir?" Jax asked.
"General Rock likes to keep score, how many droids he can break is a Jedi thing." Alpha said walking up to the trench "I'm already at Seventeen about to be more, here they come!" Dogma replied by activating the turret he was behind.
Up in the command center, Captain Tess and Gallan came in to see Commander Dallin and Tarkin overlooking the battle from the safety of the command table "Captain, report?" Dallin ordered his daughter Tess.
"Droids pushed us back up the road two levels, General Rock was able to slow the advance of their tanks by destroying them as they climbed, we held them at the third level before the clones relieved us." She said "Casualties?"
"Almost a hundred dead so far." Tess said regretfully "They will be remembered for their sacrifice, now go get some rest." Dallin ordered.
Tess and Gallan nodded before giving a salute "Yes sir, thank you sir." and leaving "And Captain." Commander Dallin said to his daughter "Good work."
Before she left Tarkin turned to the Commander "Come Dallin, we should retire to we will be no use to the men if we aren't well rested." Tarkin insisted walking to the door.
"By all means go ahead Admiral, my place is here if you can contact the Republic about the reinforcements they promised that would be great." Dallin said, crossing his arms walking around the table so he didn't have to see Tarkin's grim face.
SEPARATIST FORWARD CAMP
On the other end of the valley, General Kleeve and the Kage Warriors were gathered at the droids forward command center, battle droids were guarding crates of supplies and more droids as the army marched toward the valley and up the mountain. The planetary shield still towering over them behind the blue shield bubble protecting the planet from the Separatist fleet overhead. Kleeve cybernetic eye zoomed in on the road where he could see Leo's white lightsaber flashing in the distance taking out droids with every swings, the clones holding the line despite such odds.
"What a waste." He said.
"They're just droids General." One of the Kage warriors said behind him "I wasn't talking about the droids "Suke." Kleeve said looking to the other three Kage. The three of them removed their hoods, two men and one woman all with pale gray skin and yellow eyes. Markings on their cheeks except for the one named Suke, his hair was tied behind his forehead protector with headband with bangs riding over the top, "Are you ready?" Kleeve asked them "Ruto, Kura are and so am I." Suke said.
Ruto's hair was a platinum blonde with three marks on each cheek, while the only female Kage had pinkish hair with a diamond mark in the center of her forehead. Suke's face was clear except for his eyes which were piercing to behold.
"You'll get your chance, but for now we must report to the Count, I swear my friends succeed here and I will bring the full force of the Separatist armada to liberate your world." Kleeve said to three warriors "Once Leo Rock is dead."
CORUSCANT
Office of the Supreme Chancellor
Back on the Republic Capital, the Jedi sat across from the Supreme Chancellor and his Vice Chancellor Mas Amedda, on the other side were Masters Obi-Wan, Mace and Yoda. It was blue skies behind Coruscant city skyline with a few clouds here and there among the thousands of ships and speeders. "The Separatist fleet has made landfall at Rendili, General Rock and the Rendilians are besieged at their planetary shield if it falls the rest of the planet will with it Chancellor." Obi-Wan explained, the Supreme Chancellor turned to Amedda then back at the Jedi "What is it you ask of me Master Jedi, I have made my concerns and they are valid, about the Rendili's treachery." Palpatine inquired.
"Your excellency, our forces are stretched thin in preparation for the outer rim sieges, we've come to ask if you will call an emergency meeting of the senate." Master Windu explained.
"On what grounds?" Mas Amedda asked his staff stomping at the floor
Obi-Wan glared at Amedda before speaking "To request a relief force from the surrounding worlds to send to Rendili, security forces, private guards even the Coruscant Guard if need be."
"Is the situation truly that dire?" The Chancellor asked.
Amedda still scoffed "I beg your pardon Jedi, but if my memory serves me well the last time we requested a volunteer army was the Gungans to defend the Mon Cala and they were all captured?" Amedda asked.
"We prevailed in the end Amedda, thanks to the Quarren intervention." Mace Windu pointed out to him "Who's to say the Quarren won't revolt again once the war is over, it was a freak incident nothing more." Amedda said before the Chancellor raised his hand commanding the entire room into silence.
All eyes turned to the old man "Master Yoda, you are uncharacteristically silent?" The Chancellor asked looking at the little green alien, the Chancellor smiled hopefully at the Chancellor.
"Dark is the hour, fall should Rendili the end of the Republic I foresee." Yoda said up to him.
"Very well, I shall call the session but this must be left up to the Senate to decide." The Chancellor said standing, the Jedi all did as well.
Within the hour, the Senate was convened and after the situation on Rendili "In short my dear Senators, the Jedi have called on us to raise a relief force for Rendili with our brave troops spread across the galaxy." The Chancellor said sitting back down so that the Senators could speak, the moment the floor was the Senate a roar of mixed shouts and screams filled the chamber.
Mas Amedda shot to his feet smashing his staff on the Chancellor's boxes floor "Order, Order!" The Jedi were standing in the entrance ways of Nabooian Senator Padme Amidalla who had her personal advisor and Captain of the Guard.
"The honorable Senator from Kamino shall speak first." Amedda said as the hover box floated out into the floor of the Senate, Senator Halle Burton's the elderly female Kamino appeared standing none to pleased "Senators, Senators, why in the stars would we call on our own worlds to sacrifice our own people when we the Republic commissioned the Clone Army to in the first place, if we are in need of reinforcements Kamino is happy to offer more clones?"
Before she could continue the Alderaan box appeared with Bail Organa "An offer that would only give more wealth to your world in war profiteering." Organa declared.
"The Chair does not recognize the Senator from Alderann." Amedda called out to Organa.
Organa being a stark loyalist to the Republic conceded, making Burtoni smirk at Organa being shut down "I propose the order of an additional one million clones?"
"The Republic can't afford such a cost?" Senator Organa said loudly, "The Banking Clan would gladly give out another loan to finance this endeavor?" The Baking Clan ambassador said coming out from his own hovel in the sea of Senators.
That's when Senator Amidalla couldn't hold her tongue any longer, "Senators, Senators please must have this conversation again." She brought out here senate hover box to the center of the floor "The Chair recognizes Senator Amidalla of The Naboo." The Chancellor said personally.
Padme was dressed in her blue and beige gown with her brown hair held up in a golden headdress "Are we so quick to dismiss the Jedi who have selflessly come to our aid for thousands of years?" Amidalla asked the Senate looking back at the Jedi behind her "We have called on them to lead us through these trying times and they have given their blood and more to this war, and now when they come to us for help we turn away?" She asked.
"If the Jedi are so desperate for help, then perhaps they should be removed from leading this war and go back to meditating?" Senator Burtoni asked, some of the Senators even laughed at the Senators cruel words, when the only person to request the floor moved forward "Senators, Senators countrymen please peace!" A large boisterous voice echoed into the chamber.
Out of all the Senators to speak the last one expected suddenly moved their own hover cart to the floor "The Chair recognizes Orn Free Taa, Senator of Ryloth." The large blue twi'lek Orn Free Ta came out, he appeared to be sweating too
"This won't be long." Burtoni said sitting back down knowing the fat twi'lek was not known for his strong will
"We-we do not have the troops to send to Rendili, that is true?" Senator Taa said up to the Senate "However, Senator Burtoni his it not true that the Republic Naval yards here on Coruscant have been resupplied with weapons, ammunition and ships just two days ago?"
Senator Burtoni looked puzzled "That is, correct?" She asked, confused.
"Your excellency, Members Senate Ryloth was one of the first to suffer in this war and as the Jedi promised there has been no clone left on Ryloth?" Taa explained.
Burtoni spoke again refusing to yield "But senator, you have just said it yourself you have no clones to send?"
RENDILI
Leo deflected another blast of droid fire with his double bladed lightsaber, rain continued to shower down on him steaming with the red lasers flying toward him. He was at the foot of the mountain on top of a small mountain of battle droids before he saw a tank heading toward him. The cannon raised up toward him and fired, Leo jumped out of the way during the last second sliding back down the mountain of droids. It smashed into the pile of metal showering the area in metal and wires. Shoving a droid head off him Leo got up "Alpha, fire mortars your location."
But no answer came and all he heard was battle droids clunking over the other droids, getting up Leo was ready to started deflecting them with one hand "Alpha come in?"
"Clones withdrawn Jedi, what's your location?" The voice of Gallan came out of is wrist "Gallan, has it already been six hours?" Leo asked when he saw a droid hold up a rocket launcher. They blasted at him and Leo felt the ground shatter before him sending him flying across the air.
He hit the ground hard with a thud "Jedi, come in, come in." Gallan called out.
Rolling over onto his back Leo picked up his lightsaber and got up crawling to his feet, all he could see in front of him was smoke and fire so he drew his lightsaber up to give him I'm some light "I see your lightsaber, do you still want to call in a mortar strike?"
"Do it." Leo coughed out "Firing in effect, concentrate on the white laser sword." Gallan said back at the trenches, the Rendili garrison had taken up their positions again at the mountain road. Filling in the mortars with shells they blasted them into the air, when Leo saw them about to rain down he turned and ran back up the road, he cut down any droids who were on the road seeing they had doubled, not tripled in number of broken droids. The very road itself was nearly caked in battle droid parts; it was like walking through piled up trash before he saw their lines. The mortars exploding behind him echoed behind him as he ran up the road. E-web turrets sprayed the battlefield before him cutting down droids when they saw Leo coming out of the smoke "Hold your fire, hold your fire Jedi incoming!" Captain Tess shouted.
Leo jumped over them sliding back into the trenches trying to catch his breath, Tess came over "Jedi, where the hell have you been, we've been getting hammered, you've been gone for hours!" She snapped.
Pushing off the trench wall "The droids aren't letting up." Leo said.
"Where's Commander Alpha?" Leo asked.
"Back in the base." She told him.
"Hold the line, I'll be back as soon as I can." Leo said walking away from her "Captain we've got droids incoming." Gallan shouted from the E-web turret, Tess picked up a blaster rifle and ran to the trench line without a helmet "Alright men, we've lost the Jedi for a bit, it's our time to shine, Rendili Forever."
"Rendili Forever." The Rendilians echoed as Leo ran up back the road, he climbed the steep hills zig zagging back up the base passing by shattered mortar pits, clone and Rendili bodies were lined up and out of the way on the ground as he climbed up. Sharp shooters with sniper rifles were higher up than others till Leo came to the top of the road walking toward the force field. When he passed through he saw the 703rd outside the base. Some of the clones were sleeping, others wounded on beds all of them covered in dust and mud when Dogma saw him, he hit Jax who was kneeling over Whiplash's body, the rookie clone trooper had done his duty to the end.
Commander Alpha was the first of the clones to approach him "General sir."
"Our losses?" Leo asked him to see the dead clones on the ground.
"Forty two dead sir, more wounded but most if properly cared for will live." Alpha explained "Come on, we need to speak to Dallin and Tarkin." Leo said wincing suddenly almost losing his grip, Alpha's hand was there up against his chest keeping him up.
"Breathe." Alpha said.
Leo straightened up and whispered back "What?"
"Breath General, I know you're a Jedi but you've been fighting for over twelve straight hours sir." Alpha said back to him in a low tone "The men can't afford to see their General faint." Alpha added.
Leo took a deep breath like his Arc Trooper suggested "Thank you Alpha, see the men get fed and have some time to sleep, I need to speak with the Admiral."
"Perhaps... some medical attention General?" Alpha said looking over at a clone medic who came running, but Leo pushed past them both "No, do as I ordered."
"Understood sir." Alpha said letting Leo base into the base, more wounded clones and Rendili were inside, those who didn't have bandages around their eyes or were asleep from medicine being administered stopped and stared at him as he walked by. He climbed up the stairs into the command center, when he walked in the entire room froze "General?" Tarkin said seeing him "Admiral Tarkin…. any word from Coruscant?" Leo asked.
Dallin was at a loss for words seeing him even though Tarkin was speechless for a minute "Admiral?" Leo asked.
"... The droids have been jamming our distress calls, General, we've been unable to receive or transmit anything?" Admiral Tarkin reported, Leo approached the holotable and looked at their lines, the Rendilians were retreating again up the hill as more red symbols of droids slowly making their way up it suddenly halted. "What's this?" Leo asked pointing to it, when he did he noticed blood drop from his hand onto the holotable.
"The droid advance has halted." Dallin said looking at it, before the red markers began to move back "They're withdrawing?"
Admiral Tarkin and Leo looked at the red lines and recede back "Then we've won, Commander send in your men to route them?" Tarkin said quickly.
"No, they're regrouping they'll be sure to attack again as soon as they're reorganized, I've seen it done on Felucia. It's how they retook the planet from us last time?" Leo said up to them "We should withdraw further up the mountain and but leave the road." Leo said.
"But that will leave us trapped here, the droids will march up and destroy us?" Tarkin asked him.
"Not if we follow your plan Admiral." Leo said glancing over at him "What?" Dallin asked Leo as if he were insane.
Turning to Dallin Leo felt beads of sweat roll down his face "The droids aren't going to back down, they'll hammer us into exhaustion and wipe us out to the last man, unless we draw them in and cut them in half." Leo said pointing back to the map.
"If we take out the army here the droids will have lost nearly half their numbers in the attempt that gives the rest of Rendili a chance to fight back, maybe even give us time to escape." Leo urged him "We need time to move all our forces up, get them into the base, do you think we'll have it." Dallin pointed out.
Tarkin was frowning despite his plan being put into action "So it's to be a final stand then, die in a blaze of glory?"
"I don't think so." Leo said over to him "What makes you say that, your Jedi magic?"
"..." Leo didn't say a word leaning on the table, his legs weak suddenly.
He looked to Dallin and Tarkin, his green eyes glaring at the two of them "For a little longer, understood." Dallin said.
"Tarkin?" Dallin asked "I shall oversee the withdrawal personally." Tarkin said, Dallin moved over to Leo holding his hand up "We should get that looked at."
"Get what looked at?" Leo asked, Dallin pointed to Leo's right arm, the green sleeve of his robe had been shredded and his arm was covered in blood and cuts, there was even a piece of shrapnel sticking out of it. Even more so his face was stained with ash from the fires and blood was in his hair from his hand ruffling through it earlier and Leo groaned seeing it grabbing the shrapnel and gritting his teeth feeling it come out "Damn droids." Leo hissed following Dallin.
He followed the Commander back to his private quarters where Dallin applied first aid, stitching up his arm and wrapping it up in white linens "I appreciate you doing this, I don't like medics they talk to much." Leo said, he had his right sleeve torn off and now his arm was wrapped up like a mummy. Dallins sleeves were rolled up covered in Leo's blood while Leo sat on the bed.
"I always thought dentists were worse, then I met medics." Dallin said cutting the bandage and clipping it over the last fold.
Leo snickered "The clone medic in my first platoon was hilarious, his name was Morph."
"Why'd they call him that?" Jace asked the young Jedi, getting up walking over to the bathroom to wash his hands "Morphine."
Jace snickered while he washed his hands, he walked over to the nearest cabinet after he finished cleaning up and pulled out a bottle of dark red liquid, Leo held up his hand "None for me, I don't drink anymore."
Dallin looked at him surprised "Water?"
"Please." Leo asked him, Dallin put the bottle up and removed a metal capsule, a pair of cups and poured two cups of water for the both of them, walking back to the bed and handing one to Leo.
"Oh by the way…" Dallin said poking his head out, he was holding two cups of clear clean water giving it to Leo "The most beautiful creature-" Leo choked on his water spitting it out and coughing "You've ever seen, Leo I've been with a few women in my life they all love to be called beautiful but not creatures."
Fighting to capture his breath Leo gagged "You-you saw th- ack, you saw that?" He asked.
"Well it was on the floor in my private quarters?" Dallin laughed as Leo had to force himself to drink more water to clear his sore throat "But hey good for you, take more courage to confess your love then to face a hundred armies."
"You don't understand." Leo said back to him, as he Saw Dallin hold up the holopad Leo had used to record the message "Sure I do, Jedi aren't allowed to have feelings like that, hell people in the military try to tell us not to." Jace tossed the pad to Leo the recording still ready to be sent, when he caught it.
Leo set it down "But that's just wrong..." Dallin said finishing the water and walking back over to the cabinet "If we're talking about this I need this." Dallin said, taking out the alcohol.
"You're talking about it, I'm not." Leo said back to him pacing over to the windows other side.
Dallin spun around uncorking the bottle "Oh rancor Pooda, I saw you in that recording you're in love, real love."
"I can't." Leo snapped back "I'm a Jedi Knight it's forbidden."
Dallin looked at Leo before taking a sip "I know you're a Jedi, and I feel so sorry for you Leo." Dallin said after he looked at the bottle.
"Sorry for me?" Leo asked him.
"For all of you, the Jedi have sacrificed so much for the Galaxy for the Republic and you don't do it because the Senate tells you, or because the Force tells- you just do it because someone has to, someone has be honorable, just, strong for everyone." Dallin said in a sigh "And what's your reward, you either die and get your name written down on a wall or become a lesson that's forgotten in three generations, selflessly sacrificing your heart, body and soul for people you don't even know." Dallin added before Leo shook his head.
The Commander grunted "You don't get all the things you're fighting for, a home to call your own, a family to love and hold you, the memory of being a child without worrying about the galaxy's troubles, you have to carry all our burdens, our sins until you die." Dallin looked down at the floor, it almost looked like he was about to weep "The galaxy doesn't deserve the Jedi's to fight our wars."
"Commander... it's the duty of the Jedi to protect all life, war is our natural enemy and I face it gladly with a smile on my face." Leo said walking over to the window the rain started to let up into a thin drizzle. Even then he could see the droid army marching outside the valley readying for the second attack.
He heard Dallin take another drink "Is it?"
"Is what?" Leo asked.
Dallin grumbled "Is that what you want, or is that what you think you want, to want?"
Now puzzled and perplexed "Huh?" Dallin held up his hand waving off the question for another day.
"If you really do love that girl, Ahsoka was it?" Dallin asked, putting the bottle down "Yes?"
Commander Dallin fixed his sleeves and uniform looking at himself in the mirror before he walked to the holopad and held up the screen, before he pressed his finger on the delete message "You won't tell her over a holo message." Dallin dropped the holopad walking to the door "Get some sleep Leo, you need it."
"Jace?" Leo asked.
The Commander stopped gazing around again "What should I say to her?"
"When the time comes you'll know." Jace said opening the door, leaving Leo alone, he took one last look out at the valley, dark clouds still overhead so he was unsure what time it was, walking over to the bed Leo looked down at it before the urge to fall down into the mattress overcame him and he was on the bed before he new it.
Outside the base on the other side of the battlefield, General Kleeve was watching the Republic and Rendili retreat up the mountain. The droid army was marching back toward them and reassembling in front of General Kleeve's command center on the hill.
One of the commander droids next to Kleeve "The enemy is retreating admiral, do we attack?" The droid asked.
"No not yet… my friends." Kleeve asked turning back to Suke, Ruto, Kura who were all sitting their kneeling in a meditation circle "Your time has come, infiltrate the base, kill the Jedi and become heroes." Kleeve said, the three shinobi rose to their fleets pulling up their hoods and placing their masks over their faces, they jumped off the hill running through the droids straight to the mountain into the lions den.