Planet LJ-115- Just outside the Coliseum.

Galen Zaun was just standing there, staring into the gloom and the low hanging fog that was hugging the ground. He was scowling through the fog, hoping that he could detect threats before they materialized.

But he was also preoccupied, today was his first blood, the first blood that he had experienced in a long long time.

The first major battle that the Jedi had experienced in over a generation.

But his thoughts, as they always seemed to, drifted back to his beloved Arkadi. He missed her, he felt a big gaping hole in his chest where she once was. Her absence remained a bitter pill for him to swallow.

But he could not deal with it, he had a mission to complete and a battle to win.

John Zaun was sitting on the ground and the dirt, staring down with unseeing eyes.

He was preoccupied. The events of the day were passing back through his eyes in some freakish holo vid. He was only a seventeen year old boy! And he had already killed, already maimed, and was participating in a campaign.

He longed to be back in school with his friends, the girl with the black hair, Devylyn.

Not in the dirt and the muck eating three day old rations.

But he had ruined that part of his life, he sighed glumly, shifting around trying to get comfortable.

He failed to get comfortable sitting where he was. It was rocky and he did not have a cot or a mat or anything, the limited number of supplies they had brought with them made it so there were not enough real camping supplies at that point.

He observed a figure sitting down right next to him, he paid it no attention as he continued to sit there in his brooding.

"Hello." She greeted merrily.

He finally looked up startled to see a young woman before him, a few years younger than he was. "Hey." He glumly replied, not feeling like being bothered by anyone.

"Whatcha doing?" She asked him.

"Sitting here." John replied darkly.

"I can see that." She informed him, her eyes widening sarcastically.

He sighed suddenly, looked at her and gave her a crooked, apologetic, smile. "I am sorry."

"Hey no problem." She smiled back at him.

He took the first moment to really look at her, she was short, and stocky, though obviously still had a lot of growth to go through. She had typical tan colored Jedi robes, she had light red hair that was cut short, curved around her ears. If John had to estimate he would have guessed her age to be around thirteen or fourteen. Her features were quite plain, but showed potential for being real striking in a couple of years.

He decided to introduce himself. "John Zaun."

She smiled extending her hand to his "Sora, Sora Shan."

John perked up instantly, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Shan? As in the great Jedi's Bastilla and Satelle?"

"The same." She nodded at him, blushing.

"Wow." He grinned excitedly. "I learned all about your ancestors in history class."

"Class?" Sora asked, she looked at him sideways and her eyes sparkled intelligently.

"Yeah, at the school I went to." John explained.

"School? You went to school?" Sora asked confused.

"Yes." John responded just as confused.

"Well then what are you doing as a Jedi?" Sora asked.

"People can be Jedi later in life." John scowled defiantly.

"I know its just…odd." Sora smiled apologetically back at him, she shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah, well my father is a great Jedi Master. Master Galen Zaun." John explained further.

"Ah yes, he I have heard of," Sora nodded, " a great Jedi Sentinel."

"One of the best." John agreed, pleased that his father was known for something.

"My master is around here somewhere." Sora looked around over her shoulder seeing if she could make out her Master. "She is a Master Healer. The greatest healer of all of the Order, and a great Master. Nice and kind, I am truly lucky to be her padawan."

"I see. My Master is Master Windsword." John waved his hands around a bit.

"Really? One of the Council? But they never take on Padawan's that late!" Sora's eyes widened perceptibly. "You must be a special case."

"Yeah, I suppose I am." John dodged, remembering just why he was a Jedi Padawan.

He and Sora continued to talk for much of the rest of the night, he had found a good friend.

Jedi Command Post

Galen, Death and Master Windsword were standing around a holomap of the area, planning out their next move when the rest of the strike force got there, any second from now.

They were studying the map intently, looking at the overlays of the latest intelligence reports and sensor scans. The enemy force was deployed around the city, their forces were heavy and were in pockets all throughout the approaches to the city.

There was nothing they could do until the main combat teams got there.

The three of them swiveled their heads around as they heard a knocking by the tent's door.

Standing in the doorway was a Republic trooper, he was in full body armor, but he had his helmet in one of his hands. He blushed under the scrutiny of the four Jedi and then cleared his throat. "Colonel Lesak, I am the assault commander of the Division that is now landing." He extended his hand as he came into the room.

"Master Windsword." The elder Jedi looked the Colonel down curiously.

"Galen Zaun." The Jedi Master's bristled as he smiled in friendly greeting.

"Death." Death muttered dismissively as he went back to study the map table.

"So, what's the situation?" The Colonel asked after an uncomfortable pause.

"Don't you know?" Death looked surprised.

"I did not have time to look over the real time updates on the way down." The Colonel sheepishly responded.

Master Windsword nodded as he glanced over the table, "well the main enemy forces have moved and concentrated themselves around the Capitol. Given that they are in constant movement it makes bombardment or close air support difficult. Since we cannot confirm their numbers we do not know their exact strength. But it seems they are at least one division."

"I see, we are outnumbered." The Colonel nonchalantly summarized.

"Yes but we have several things going for us. Gun ships, heavy close support speeders, heavy troops, and we do know where they are." Death pointed at the assets that they had on the map.

"Yes but it will still be a tough fight." The Colonel grimly studied the map.

"I say we hit them fast, hard, and right now before they are ready." Death decisively thumped the table.

"We are not ready yet." The Omega Captain chimed in as he entered the room.

"The Captain is right," Galen said grimly.

"Well then I will get back to my troops, make sure they are all-wait whats that?" The Colonel asked to the assembled crowd.

The rest of the people peeled their ears, the Jedi reaching out through the Force.

There was a commotion going on outside, the Jedi could feel a large group of people…civilians...gathering outside. Agitated, concerned, but yet determined.

"What the?" Galen asked as Master Windsword opened the flap going out into the grounds outside of the tent.

"What's going on here Sergeant?" Master Windsword demanded of one of the Sergeants standing guard.

"I don't know sir." The Helmet's com system distorted the voice that was speaking.

"I see." Master Windsword said, he marched over to the group.

The group was an assorted smattering of locals, most of them non human. They did not have any weapons beyond pitchforks, but they clearly were not looking for a fight.

They were agitated though, their minds were on fire and they were looking for…answers. And they sought them at the Republic that had sworn to protect them, and the guardians of the Republic, the Jedi Knights.

Master Windsword and the others approached the group cautiously, not knowing what they were getting themselves into.

The group were looking at the Jedi too, studying them and observing them, to determine if they were friends, foes, or if they were the detached gods of rumor and legend. The group eyed the entire Republic force, feeling solemn.

"I am the leader of the group, the town mayor." A fat fellow came forward and spoke, inclining his head in greeting.

"Master Windsword, I am the Jedi in charge of this operation." The Jedi Master introduced himself, also inclining his head in return. "What do you want?"

"We want to express our views on the situation." The Mayor explained.

"Ah." Galen uttered for the group.

"We feel uncomfortable about our current situation." The Mayor frowned.

"You were just invaded, you should be uncomfortable." Death chuckled, sounding slightly amused.

"Yes and the Republic was supposed to protect us from that." A woman in the back shouted, sounding cross. "And we have waited for two weeks."

"We are…angry." The Mayor explained uncomfortably.

"I can see that." Master Windsword addressed the group. "The Republic can only do so much, because of the economy, budgetary constraints, and fleet size, we cannot effectively defend our entire territory."

The group scoffed in return. "We are an important planet in the Republic, you promised our defense, you should have enough."

"The right of protection for most of the planets and local defense is purely the responsibility of local defense forces." Death reminded them of Republic policy in the matter.

"Then what good are you?" one of the group yelled angrily.

"Over all protection, from enemies of the Republic. Settling contract disputes and protection of the Jedi Knights and outside parties. Economic facilitation, and again protection, free trade with the rest of the Republic except for illegal substances." Windsword recited by memory.

"Well then the Republic has failed in its responsibility." The same member scoffed at official doctrine.

"Maybe so, but the Republic cannot be responsible for local problems. We cannot subsidize your Government's responsibilities." Death barked harshly, advancing aggressively on the group, as the group backed up into a defensive posture.

"Hold on let's not get out of control here." The Mayor held up his arms to stall the developing tide of anger and resentment. "We thank the Republic for its contribution and honoring its treaty requirements, but we just wonder who is responsible for the attack, for driving us out of our homes and abolishing our locally elected Governments."

Windsword sighed, almost finding the insults to be better than this. "We do not know, we will be looking into it over the next several months and make sure that justice is done."

"We understand." The Mayor bowed before the group began to disperse, some of them chatting with the troops.

"By the Force I hate politics." Death muttered darkly.

"Yes but we have to put up with it." Galen teased, slapping Death on the shoulder.

Death nodded, glaring off into the distance on the battlefield to be.