Lord Darth Yoda - Yeah the Jedi always do see themselves as 'above' everyone else. It comes from wanting to protect people, and be guardians of the Republic, but it does often come off as arrogance. As far as the droideka...I don't think that combat was easy! Tiplee basically had to destroy a building (or part of it) to bring it down.

Speechbubbleme - Thanks! Tiplee only has 3 appearances in official canon, two clone wars episodes and a brief appearance in Darth Maul, Son of Dathomir. So basically everything about her is my creation. I think it feels sufficiently 'Starwarsy' though.

thejoker122 - Thanks. Writing battle scenes is difficult, so I'm glad people are enjoying.

A/N - Sorry this chapter is a little short but if I combined this chapter and the next one it gets way too choppy. Still, it should be entertaining enough (I hope).

Anyways, all reviews, follows, and favourites are deeply appreciated as always.

Please enjoy the next chapter

Chapter 27: Resistance, Part One

"I want to meet whoever designed these useless battle droids and strangle them to death. While these droids are good as an army, they cannot be trusted to keep rebellion from fermenting. For one, when they are deployed in small numbers, they can easily be overwhelmed. For another, they have a difficult time of discerning whom their enemies are. Their processors appear to just be that slow.. Unless you are pointing and firing at a battle droid, it will see you as 'not a threat.'"

"I need sentient troopers that I can delegate the subjugation of these cities to. Admiral Varless doesn't see the point, but he's sitting safe in orbit. I told him that he could sell some of his droid fighters that failed to deliver air superiority to raise funds for some mercenaries. He didn't take that well."

-From the Journal of Pravin Ecalt, Five days in to the Invasion of Ubrora

"So how do you think today went?" asked Nara.

He and Nara were cleaning up after they had staged an impromptu training session for the new resistance they were forming here in Bontha. It was threatening to rain, but the rain was holding off for now. Still, with the sun fading, it looked like it was about time to pack it in for the day. "It went…okay. I guess. I wasn't really sure what to expect," he said. "I have about as much practical experience at training people how to fight as you do, Nara."

"I was disappointed at how few Ubrorans showed up." Nara shook her head, "And then some of the ones that did show up were so young! I think one of them said that he was twelve."

"I applaud those younglings' desire to fight if not their good sense. It was the right thing to do to send them home." Sascha bent down and picked up a blaster that one of their resistance group had dropped, shaking his head. The fact that someone had just dropped a blaster and left it there without picking it up was indicative of the level of expertise that the Ubrorans had displayed when it came to firearms. He had half expected that someone would ask him which way to point the blaster. "I had hoped that the Ubrorans showed more ability when it came to fighting."

Nara grimaced, "Yeah, they aren't very good. The ones that wanted to fight probably joined the army already, so we just got the leftovers. But at least they have us."

That was true. During the training session he and Nara had almost been treated like gods. While he was used, somewhat, to getting deference from people far older than him, to be fawned over was something quite different. He and Nara had put an end to that. The Jedi had stressed that that they were going to be working with the Ubrorans and would be colleagues. It had taken the Ubrorans a few days, but at least some of the initial awkwardness had been phased out.

"Nara, we can't babysit them. They have to learn how to fight the droids on their own. We can't be everywhere. That's the key to forming an effective resistance. No one person or persons can be bigger than the whole thing."

Nara shook her head, "That doesn't feel right. We've given these Ubrorans the hope that we will fight with us, we can't just let them fight the droids on their own, you know what will happen. We treat the droids like temporary obstacles, because they are. But the droids will be pretty effective against half-trained 'insurgents' like we are training. I don't want to think that I'm training these Ubrorans just to be slaughtered."

He would have liked to disagree with Nara, but he too had watched the Ubrorans as he and Nara had drilled them. While they tended to be quick learners, the simple fact was that they had very little martial tradition to fall back on. Today they had to teach the Ubrorans simple things like learning to aim a blaster or how to take cover. Forget anything more advanced like small unit tactics or target selection, the Ubrorans were still in the 'learn the basics' stage. Sascha hoped that experience would be the best teacher for their allies.

Nara stood head down, shaking her head slowly, an expression of pure sadness on her face. He moved to her side quietly and put a soft hand at the small of her back, "Nara, we aren't forcing them to do anything. We are training volunteers and we aren't making them to do anything that they are uncomfortable with. Plus, the ones that were truly awful at fighting we've grouped into non-combat roles. We have to do the best that we can with this task. If there was any other way to do things, don't you think our Masters would have explored them? This is war. It's terrible, but it's the reality."

Nara considered his words for a while silently, and then she turned to him and smirked, "I always thought that I was brave. That was until a few days ago…how is it that you don't seem to fear anything? You jumped into that Starfighter without a second thought, you train these Ubrorans, heck you even make friends with them, even when you know that we are probably all doomed. I don't understand it. Aren't you scared?"

Sascha pulled Nara in close with a chaste embrace, "I'm beyond terrified," he admitted. "But…I know thanks to a conversation with a very wise Jedi, that I shouldn't ignore my feelings. Because I know what I fear, I also know how to deal with my feelings."

Nara pulled away and smiled clearly remembering who the 'very wise Jedi was,' "Huh, you think that wise Jedi should maybe listen to her own advice?"

"Possibly, but she's not very good at listening." Sascha ducked Nara's slow, playful punch, but was surprised when Nara stepped towards him. Thinking that she just wanted another hug, he opened his arms. Nara had other ideas. She took his extended arm and used it to throw him, softly, to the ground.

Coughing at the dust that his body had kicked up from its unceremonious deposit on the ground, he stared up at Nara with an indignant look on his face, "What was that for?"

Nara extended a hand, and he grabbed on to it, using the leverage to pull himself to his feet, "Sorry," she said, "Couldn't help myself. It's just so fun to throw you around."

"I think that maybe we should try to act a little more mature, now that we have the hopes of an entire city, an entire planet on our shoulders," he said sternly.

"I disagree." Nara paused, "I think if we stop acting like we would if we are alone in the Temple…we've already lost. So yeah, I'm going to keep being playful with you, because if we focus on how dire things are, we'll lose track of what we are fighting for, it's so that I can throw you around on the sparring mats in the Jedi Temple again."

"Did you ever think that I don't enjoy that as much as you do, Nara?"

Nara shoved him lightly, "Puh-lease, I can read your emotions, Whitestar. I know you enjoy our sparring matches, and at least when its unarmed combat, we are pretty even. Admit it; it's the most fun we ever get to have in the Temple."

"I dunno if I would say it's the most fun, I enjoy my time researching in the archives as well."

"Okay, well you stay with the dusty holobooks, I'll keep training," Nara joked lightly.

Sascha punched Nara lightly, affectionately, on her arm in response. "Can I tell you the main reason I think that we might get through this?"

Nara nodded.

"It's that I get to do this with you."

"Don't get attached little human," Nara said lightly.

He rolled his eyes, "Don't flatter yourself Togruta. It's not like that Nara, but you know how well we fight together, how comfortable we are together. I wonder if maybe, just maybe that will be enough."

The Togruta smiled, "I think it might be enough too."

Sascha and Nara started walking back towards the heart of the city, their footsteps in perfect unison, "So, what did you think of Lirri Boikana joining us?" Nara asked.

"A pleasant surprise," he replied.

Lirri, who had been their tour guide for this very city what seemed like months ago, but was actually little over a week ago, had proved to be an excellent leader, and several of the young Ubrorans clearly looked up to her. Also, it seemed that she was a level above the other Ubrorans when it came to fighting, she was a reasonably good shot and actually seemed to understand tactics at some level, which was nice. They didn't have a ton of leadership options, so they had to hope that Lirri might be ready to become the leader of the whole resistance. However, it was one thing to be admired, it was another to lead troops into battle. They'd have to wait and see if she would be ready for such a thing.

"At least we have Arslan handling all the non-combat roles. He's a born organizer," he commented. Arslan Ivalice had been a pleasant surprise to see join their rag-tag group of resistance fighters. He hadn't been all that interested in learning how to fire a blaster rifle, but he had been interested in helping form a quasi-intelligence service, pointing out that by watching the myriad broadcasts of various Ubrorans, one may actually be able to monitor enemy movements. Arslan had been a sensible choice to put in command of all non-combat activities. He hoped that the older Ubroran would be up to the task.

"So what's next?" asked Nara.

"Next, we give the next wave of droids that are inevitably heading in our direction as we speak a very rude welcome to Bontha."

"And how do we do that?"

"We blow them up."

"The direct approach. I like it."

Sascha Whitestar tried to pull his cloak tighter around him, but even his well-worn cloak could not keep him from being soaked from head to toe by the insistent rain that had started this morning and not eased since. Though he had been on many planets in his career as a Jedi, he couldn't remember getting rained on like this, the rain was just torrential. Lirri had assured him it was just the way the weather worked on the planet, and that this was the 'rainy' season on Ubrora. At least the temperature was warm, otherwise he'd have needed to find a tailor to craft him some human sized rain gear appropriate to dealing with this rain.

As it was, he just endured. There was something to learn from that, he felt.

The two Jedi were surrounded by members of the resistance as they awaited the imminent arrival of the droid army in Bontha. From what they have gotten from Arslan's hastily formed intelligence team, they had been able to predict the probable path that the new detachment of droids that had been sent to occupy the city. He, Nara and Arslan had estimated enemy strength at greater than a thousand droids, though Sascha had noted with some amusement, the same transport that had carried that terrified Neimoidian that he and Nara had terrified was heading back this way as well.

"So is your dad mad that you joined our resistance force?" he asked Lirri. The mayor of Bontha had been fairly vocal in his displeasure at how he and Nara had treated Vash Varless' 'envoy' and his 'guards.' Why the elder Boikana was so friendly towards Vash Varless was anyone's guess.

"He'd be furious, if he knew," Lirri said offhandedly. "I assume he'll figure it out eventually. Don't worry, I'm a big girl, I can handle my dad."

"Do you think he's serious about the threats that he is making?" asked Nara.

Lirri stood and snorted loudly, causing a few of her fellow Ubroans to look over at the group, "I think anyone with half a brain can figure out that branding you two Jedi traitors to Ubrora was a pretty self-centred thing to do. But he does have support from his loyal followers, business leaders and anyone he's catered to over the years."

"If I didn't know any better, it seems like your dad wants the city to fall to the droids. He knows that these invaders won't let him stay as mayor, right?" he said, trying to remain somewhat diplomatic.

"You are more than free to go tell him, Master Jedi."

"It might be worth exploring," chimed in Nara, "It would make it easier for everyone if we all get on the same side."

Sascha considered that. While they didn't necessarily need the mayor to be a part of the resistance, it would be nice if he didn't paint him and Nara as vigilantes defying the will of the people. Perhaps it would be a good idea to sit down with Murgo, especially because it appeared that his daughter was going to be playing a starring role in the resistance.

"Contact!" barked one of the nearby Ubrorans that was monitoring communications.

Sascha, Nara and Lirri went over to his console, sure enough the droids appeared to be marching into the city. Sascha was finding that it was very helpful that everyone on Ubrora was broadcasting their personal cameras to the world. It was making it very easy to track their enemies moves.

"Positions everyone!" yelled Nara, "Battle plan Alpha-J."

A few minutes later, everyone was (hopefully) in the right position for giving the droids a rather hostile welcome to Bontha. Over the past two days, the resistance had laid a series of traps for the droid army, and now they were going to spring them. They wouldn't be able to destroy all the incoming droids in one day, in one attack, but if things went right, they could put quite a dent in their numbers.

He was on a rooftop that offered a good view of the incoming army. He and Nara were together, overseeing two Ubrorans that had shown the most aptitude for sharpshooting, Lirri and another Ubroran named Sekac, a former hunter. Sascha had tried to talk to Sekac, but he was tight-lipped about who he was and where he came from. Sascha had learned to leave him alone.

The plan was to do damage at a distance and then retreat further into the city, set up again, rinse and repeat. He and Nara were there to make sure that nothing unfortunate happened to their sharpshooters. "Remember," said Nara, "Don't be picky with targets, just hit what you can. This is a war of attrition, and each droid we disassemble is one that they won't be able to replace. And don't be overly brave, those droids are disposable, but you aren't."

"Copy boss," said the deeply male voice of Sekac.

Lirri made no reply, she just settled in, shrugging off the rainfall, and stared down the sight of her rifle. While he and Nara would have been the better snipers, it was important to get the Ubrorans experience in fighting, plus they needed to coordinate the rest of their traps. They settled in to wait until the droids were in range.

The droids were just about in firing range when he felt Nara tense up beside him, "What the hell?" Sascha was about to ask what had drawn Nara's ire when he saw it too. Making a beeline for the incoming droid army was a procession of Ubrorans, dressed richly even in the pouring rain. There was no mistaking the person in front of the group, it was the smug features of the Mayor of Bontha, Murgo Boikana.

"Dad?" said Lirri, temporarily abandoning her post to stare at the procession as they walked by. "What are they doing?"

Sascha began to have a feeling about where this procession was going, and it did not bode well for them.

The two lines moved towards each other, one a procession of well dressed, older Ubrorans, the other a procession of killer battle droids. Somehow, Sascha didn't think that the mayor and his companions were trying to do the same thing that they were. Nara shot him a look, openly wondering what they should do, now that circumstances had changed quite dramatically. They had explosives and other ambushes set up along the path that the droid army was likely to take, but they had assumed that the area would be clear of civilians. They apparently had assumed wrong.

The transport stopped and unloaded the Neimoidian that they had scared a few days ago. He was much cockier today and he walked over to Murgo Boikana, and extended a hand in greeting. The Ubroran accepted the proffered hand and the two processions linked up and started heading back in the direction of the main hub of the city with the Neimoidian and Murgo in friendly conversation with the other.

Sascha closed his eyes for a brief moment, feeling all the hard work he had done over the last twelve hours go up in smoke. Then he activated his comlink, "This is Sascha Whitestar, mission is scrubbed, return to base. If you can collect your munitions without being seen, do so. Regroup and we'll get them next time."

Lirri reacted demonstrably, jumping up to yell at him, "No! Let me shoot! Who cares if these traitors die!" Lirri raced back to her rifle and stared down the sight, trying to find a target to fire at. Nara wrenched the rifle with the Force, taking it from Lirri's hands. Lirri marched towards Nara, but was quickly restrained by Sekac. Undeterred, she fought against Sekac and tried to go nose to nose with the taller Togruta, "Who are you to decide what happens on my planet! Those are our enemies out there! And my father is with them! They don't deserve mercy"

Nara was calm during the outburst, and replied calmly, "We are fighting to free the planet, not to kill your fellow Ubrorans. We don't know all the factors. Maybe your dad has some information that we don't have. Maybe he doesn't. Our enemy is the droid army, understand?"

Lirri gestured angrily towards the droids and intermixed Ubrorans that were walking away, "This is a fight for my planet, and I say that I deserve a say in what is going on. I say we spent too long setting up these traps to just discard them."

"Okay, Lirri has spoken, let's go Nara."

Nara seemed confused but followed his lead and walked beside him as he started to leave the rooftop.

"Wait, what?" said Lirri, "Where are you going?"

"Back to our Masters. Clearly you don't seem interested in having our help."

Lirri at last seemed to realize that perhaps she had overstepped her bounds and bowed her head, "I'm sorry if I offended you," she said, "of course, we still need your help."

He looked at Nara for a moment. The Togruta shrugged, so he went back over to speak to Lirri, "We are going to things our way, got it? I know this looks bad, but we'll have to find a way to turn this to our advantage. That's our new plan, okay?"

Lirri straightened, "Yes, sir."

He smiled confidently at Lirri and Sekac, "Don't worry, we're going to make a statement, and I know just how to do it."