Chapter Eleven
Having sent Blendri to Coruscant and Cuthallox to Ossus, Xendor had to admit that he was nervous about declaring war against the Jedi like this. If neither battle was successful, it meant a full-scale war that would not end until either the Jedi had defeated him or he had defeated them. Then there was the fact that the Talisman was taking possession of his mind as his wife Arden was observing. By now, he had made amends for hitting her and vowed he'd try his best not to let it take possession of his mind.
"Just remember that in time, it will leave you in a mad stupor where you'll be no better than one of the whackos that you were forced to put down in your pirate hunt," she warned. "If it comes to that, I want you to kill me and find a way to destroy the Talisman. In fact, I think it'll soon be time that I give it to you so that you may bear it," he replied. "Wait, why would you give it to me and place this burden upon me?" she asked.
"Because unlike Kashi Mers, normal humans can resist the effects of the Talisman no matter how much they use it. But be warned: the power it gives you comes at a price even so, whether to you or to those around you," he answered. "I understand," she said after a moment. "Let's hope so because our lives and our future may depend on it," he said.
"Masters, may I interrupt? Blendri has just sent word that negotiations with the Chancellor have failed and she'll be engaging the Elite Guard within a matter of days or so. Cuthallox has also sent word that she will be arriving to Ossus in an equally long amount of time and will begin preparing formations. Forgive my interruption if it was most unexpected," a soldier interjected.
"No, your news is somewhat disturbing but your presence is not unexpected or rude. Dismissed, continue to give me and my wife intel as best you can. I want to know the outcome of the battles the moment that it's certain we're either victorious or defeated," Xendor replied. The soldier bowed and turn to leave then Xendor remembered that Councilman Priam was last seen on Coruscant.
"There is one more thing, actually. Did Blendri confirm whether or not the Elite Guard will be led by anyone?" he asked. "She didn't confirm anything but she said she believes Priam will be leading them into battle," the soldier answered. "Very well then tell her I want her to directly engage Priam in combat the moment she confirms that he's aiding the Elite Guard, that is all," Xendor said.
The soldier bowed once more and went to make sure the message was delivered to Blendri for her impending fight on Coruscant. "Why such a serious risk? Priam is so old for a human that she could probably wait for her soldiers to wear him out before then striking him down with ease," Arden asked. "Though inferior to Tiberius, Priam has an uncanny talent for winning battles with only two or three thousand troops in any given battle even when the enemy force was ten times greater," Xendor replied.
Arden understood then that Xendor was taking no chances with allowing Priam to lead two thousand guards with no military training to victory with his uncanny talent. "Has Tiberius done anything like that?" she inquired. "Not likely but he does have the strategic ability to plan out entire battles before then leaving it up to Priam to find a way with the small numbers that he's an expert with," he explained. "Then Cuthallox should have little difficulty taking him down at Ossus unless he can think on the fly and/or Pina is there with him," she suggested.
"I wouldn't be too certain, Tiberius will be desperate to have as much absolute power as the Code will allow him and he is afraid to die without fulfilling his goals. If Pina's there, he'll use his skills to fulfill that end in addition to his emergency strategy skills and military expertise," he countered. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?" she asked. "Almost but I'm not sure what I'll do if both battles fail though I know at least one of them will," he answered.
"Maybe it's just false alarm, Xendor. Who knows? The will of the Force is always mysterious even to the best eyes," she said. "For all our sakes, I hope its will is on our side," he said as he kissed her.
"Tell me Danzigorro, have you ever seen the carnage of battle with your own eyes?" Priam asked. Danzigorro Potts had been transferred to an observatory post on Coruscant alongside Councilman Priam after defeating his former Master, Jook-jook H'broozin, in fair combat. And as he thought about how to answer Priam, the memories of the duel had raced back to him. He remembered how he had lured his opponent to a volcano on Corulag and led the duel closer and close to its magma.
Then remembered how Jook-jook had attacked with such malevolent intent despite Danzigorro's best intents to dissuade him from the path of the Legions of Lettow. Worst of all, he remembered how Jook-jook had attacked as though Danzigorro was a Kashi Mer trying to kill him. "It's never too late to turn back to the Light, Master. Tiberius has been nothing but generous to you despite the protestations of the rest of the Council," he had said.
"If only you knew the way he treated me whenever I had to tend to his wounds or cure his ailments with my medicines!" Jook-jook replied before keeping up the fight. Danzigorro decided that the only way to beat Jook-jook was to first wear him down then throw him into the magma chamber. After all, it'd take the blood of his hands unlike killing him with his sword and when Jook-jook showed signs of fatigue in combination to his old age, Danzigorro exploited the first opportunity he obtained. Then he watched as the man who had raised and trained him spiraled down to a fiery depth in the volcano and became one with the Force before he even knew death was coming to him.
So when he answered Priam, he stated that if he meant seeing men cut each other to pieces for a certain cause then he hadn't seen the carnage of battle. "Ha, I expected nothing less from the warrior who first went on the defensive then developed a fatal offense to finish the duel. Your technique has potential to be added as a style of combat for future warriors, you know," Priam told him. "I don't take your meaning sir," Danzigorro admitted.
"You will take it in time, if you don't before this battle is over. I promise you that much," Priam said. "How long before we reach the Narrow?" Danzigorro asked, changing the subject. "We're already there, my dear lad," Priam answered, extending his hand below them to indicate.
Danzigorro looked to see a diagonally sloping hill that led down to the Narrow and would likely serve as a platform to attack from the flank. "Why such a steep overcrop if attacking from the flank in that tight space is already going to do its job well?" Danzigorro asked. "Therein lies a problem, dear lad: there's no guarantee that a mere attack flank will actually play its part that well. In fact, the wisest General is one who makes up a strategy and gives no more than a 50-50 chance of success.
"At any rate, the charge down the hill will give the flank attack some momentum and with that, some power to do serious damage. It's a precaution to prevent a flank attack from falling flat almost from the moment the forces collide and it's always better to be safe than sorry. Even so though, victory is not always guaranteed and I know my luck can turn on me," Priam answered rather uninterestingly. Or the will of the Force could dictate your death then take your luck away, whichever is first Danzigorro thought silently.
"How long before their forces begin arriving in the Narrow?" he inquired aloud. "Not long according to the scouts, no more than a few hours at best. Even then, we'll wait until the very front soldiers are closer to the end of the Narrow before we strike. That way we can kill as many as possible and then use whatever momentum is left from the downhill charge to rise up another hill to repeat it.
"If Blendri is cocky enough, she may stash all her Padawan equivalents right in the line of our blades and we'll be able to make more than enough kills to have a true victory going on," Priam said. "Why would you want to destroy Padawans first before proceeding to the Knights and Masters in the Legions?" Danzigorro asked, shocked he'd hear that. "Each soldier here needs to be able to make at least six kills before perishing if we're to stand any hope of victory. The more we can kill the initial charge, the more likely we'll be able to win this battle before it progresses for long," Priam answered.
Danzigorro nodded in understanding though he didn't necessarily agree with the morality of the strategy. "Captain, how many troops do we have available?" Priam asked a nearby soldier. "We have all two thousand ready to fight and die at your orders. You may initiate the charge whenever you're ready, sir," the captain replied.
"Good then I suggest that you find a good seat and fight only when you need to defend yourself from Legionnaires. In the meantime, watch history as it unfolds in unfiltered detail before your eyes. You're going to understand why Tiberius had hoped the destruction of the Kashi Mer Dynasty meant the end to all war," Priam stated, smiling. Then he absorbed his scabbard shortly after unsheathing his sword and ordered the men to fight and die with honor.
He also requested Jedi Warriors be put in the front with Sentinels in the back and Guardians in the very middle. "Wait until my command then charge with me," he added. So much buildup to the inevitable, it's almost as disgusting as it is boring Danzigorro told himself quietly. Then Priam shouted the signal and two thousand Elite Guard charged down the hill and nearly breakneck speed.
As he watched them descend down to make the attack, Danzigorro didn't doubt that Ossus would be coming under attack around this time as well, thanks to Priam's intel. His duel with Jook-jook on Corulag, this battle on Coruscant, and the inevitable fight at Ossus told him only one thing. That a great schism of the Jedi Order had been initiated, war had returned to this galaxy from within. All he had to wonder was when war and suffering would ever end now that this conflict was underway.
The stress on Pina's face was also reflected in the face of every single member of the Jedi Order that he had come across so far. Danzigorro had gained renown for his Knighthood and for killing Jook-jook but even that inspiration was not enough to keep everyone's fears at bay. Tiberius was frantic to make the best military preparations to Ossus' temple as possible but still struggled. Then the worst happened when a scout reported that Priam had engaged Legion forces at Coruscant.
As if that wasn't bad enough, he also reported a force coming from across the Great Plains for the Jedi Temple. "Impossible, how did Xendor manage to rake up a massive force and send it here so quickly!?" Tiberius demanded. "Lettow is conveniently located to give an army of any size speed and efficiency with getting here thus giving them the element of surprise. Now quit talking and rally our forces, we're at war!" Pina exclaimed.
Before Tiberius could stop him, Pina ran across the halls of the Temple to the alarm bell that would signal the others that they were going to be attacked. Using his spear, the ring was more than loud enough for everyone in the temple to hear and answer the call to arms. Then he prepared himself for battle with a quick incantation that would allow him to immediately access Force Valor. He was finding that he was needing it more and more though he was glad there would be others helping him. "Soldier, give me a report on the numbers approaching Ossus at present!" Pina ordered a scout.
"Sixteen thousand as far as I can tell and at best, we can only rake up a little over half that," the scout replied. "Good, then rally everyone who can fight and ready the military customizations for a test of blood. We need to know if Tiberius' arsenal is truly a worthy addition to the fortress of the Ossus Jedi Temple," Pina demanded. "What the hell are you doing, Pina!?" Tiberius exclaimed.
"Using your arsenal to stall the Legions until our main force is ready for the attack. I'll let you lead that force if you want as compensation for what I do here," Pina countered. "Very well, I shall alert them immediately. All Jedi forces, meet with me outside the Temple to defend it!" Tiberius said.
"Archers, I need you all to head to the towers immediately and launch your arrows at the Great Plains. You'll know why when you get there!" Pina shouted. "Yes sir!" the leader replied. "Healers, do what you can to preserve all the herbs and medicines in case the Temple is overrun!
"Save the most vital ones first then work your way down to the most expendable!" Pina continued. "Roger!" the leader of the Healers stated. Arden, what have you and Xendor done? There can't be any peace between the Jedi and the Legions now Pina thought silently.
But then, he reminded himself that if the Legions hadn't struck first then Tiberius would likely find a way to frame them and start a war anyway. At least this was a little more honorable than waiting long enough for Tiberius to make such an elaborate deception since his fear was genuine here. After ensuring that all the preparations were being made, Pina took a breath and began waiting on Tiberius. Even with his fear of death, Tiberius was never one to turn down the chance to personally put down an insurgent force meaning to destroy him.
Pina shook his head in wonder as to how Tiberius could have obtained that fear from those assassin brothers when they had faced far worse even back then. But he kept this thought at bay as he watched Tiberius take all nine thousand of his troops to meet the enemy on the field. Of course, he was wise to wait until the Archers had managed to clear him a little space with their fire arrows. However, Tiberius also was wise to wait until the weekly rain showers managed to put out the fires as well.
Unfortunately though, his wisdom ended there and his dumb luck began for his attack on the numerically superior Legions was impulsive and reckless. Not to mention that despite the Archers using the arsenal to help the main army become a little more numerically equal, there was no strategy in them. It was the desperate fighting of a man who only wanted to ensure the fulfillment of his own vendetta through bloodshed and destruction whenever either were necessary. Some Legionnaires even got past him and made it a point to gloat about it before the Archers brought them down.
However, by the day's end, Tiberius' troops emerged victorious and successfully forced the remnants of the Legionnaire Army to retreat with the aid of the Archers. In many ways, Tiberius' victory over the Legions reminded Pina of how he had chosen to attack the Kashi Mer Dynasty. Pina remembered when he defended their right to practice their ways and how Tiberius had silenced him. He also remembered how Tiberius had planned the entire course on impulse, counting on the supernova.
Priam was the finest strategist of us all, he knew how to take small numbers and make them the stuff of victorious armies. I wonder if he's doing that at Coruscant, right now Pina thought to himself in reminiscence of that time. However, his reminiscence temporarily blinded him to the fact that Loki the Destroyer also played a part in Tiberius' victory during the late part of the battle. "What in the name of the Ones of Mortis were you doing, joining the battle!?" Pina demanded.
"I may be mortal but every now and then, my hammer and my ax like a little blood spilled on them," Loki replied. "That desire will prove most useful for what I'll have you do next. The Followers of Palawa have announced themselves as allies to the Legions of Lettow," Tiberius began. "Let me guess, you want me to persuade them to reveal what they know of the Legions' activities," Loki interrupted.
"I'd prefer you persuaded the Seconds with this bribe that I'll send you with but if you have to, use your brute force to make them see our way. And just to make sure that your lack of gift for words doesn't show, I'm sending you with this message on my behalf," Tiberius replied, handing him a scroll. "You can read, right, or was that not required of the gods?" Pina mocked. "Careful who you insult Pina: Loki is our ally, like it or not and he can turn the strength of a god on you," Tiberius warned.
"Better me than Xendor and Arden," Pina replied. "You still wish to defend them? No worries, we'll remedy that soon enough," Tiberius promised. Don't count on it, a father's love for his child is not easily destroyed Pina mentally stated.
"We'll be checking on the status with Coruscant after Loki leaves, that way we know whether or not we can move forward with our plans. Until then, I want only for the Palawa to betray the Legions even if they don't actually join us for the remainder of this conflict," Tiberius continued. Loki nodded, vowing that he would not fail Tiberius and asked four Warriors to go with him as escort. Though Tiberius didn't see the necessity other than the formality, he approved and made the order.
The Battle of Coruscant continued to rage in the Okehazama Narrow as it had for two rainy days. Danzigorro had only been forced to kill five Jedi Warriors in order to protect himself but he watched as Priam cut through the ranks of the Legions with unrelenting momentum. Then he watched as Blendri challenged Priam to a duel only to be killed despite putting up a good fight. Not too long after that happened, the remaining Legionnaires began to call a retreat and fell into chaotic disorder.
However, Danzigorro was most shocked when a wounded Archer from the Legions' side shot an arrow with the last of his strength and saw pass through Priam's throat, killing him instantly. Danzigorro rushed down to assist Priam even though the man would undoubtedly be dead long before the young Knight arrived to aid him and watched as the Elite Guard beat back the Legion forces. When he finally arrived, he held Priam's body close and even watched as his scabbard reappeared in his hand. "It seems too easy to blame everything on Xendor and the Dark Side," Danzigorro said into his audio-recorder.
Sheathing Priam's sword and positioning his corpse so that the stretcher carried him in a formal manner, fit for the old Jedi's funeral. Then, after all that, Danzigorro continued into his audio-recorder with his thoughts about this conflict. "Maybe we... maybe the Jedi were partly to blame too," he added. Then he stopped recording and asked the Captain what the status of their casualties had been as of the end of this battle.
"Nearly eight-hundred of our men are dead and four hundred more are wounded, sir. One thing's for sure: we'd never sustain another attack if those Legionnaires chose to turn around. Even now that we've beaten them, they still outnumber us by an incredible large margin," the Captain answered. "Or maybe they'll go somewhere else so that Xendor doesn't have to sacrifice too many to keep this war going, that would seem more like him," Danzigorro stated.
"With due respect, it'd be wise to remain vigilant for the return of any Legion forces to either Coruscant or Ossus. Both worlds are undoubtedly too weak to sustain another attack from the Legions of Lettow and Xendor is sure to know that too," the captain warned. "True but Tiberius is not without a plan to avoid seeing Coruscant or Ossus sustain another attack, I know that much about his tactics. No, I don't think we'll be seeing another Coruscant or Ossus attack on his watch," Danzigorro replied.
The Duel of Corulag and the failures at Ossus and Coruscant troubled Xendor and troubled him immensely. "Looks like I'm going to have to go to Plan B: attack Brentaal IV, Chandrila, Metellos, and Colomus with a force of thirty thousand for each. I didn't want to do this before but Tiberius has forced this out of me," he said. "That could be dangerous, could even leave Lettow vulnerable," Arden warned.
"Not likely, Lettow would still have eighty-thousand troops devoted to its defense. All I need now is someone to lead Brentaal IV while you stay here," he replied. "I can help that," a woman said.