Our tanks are moving along a pretty small path that hugs a mountain. Amu (amu - mom) and Master Windu are both sweating and hot. But this climate is perfect for me, it's pretty close to the climate on Tatooine, at least that I remember. But the tank we're in, get's hit. All of us leap out, and Master Windu yells,

"Take cover."

He runs to the front, and breaks the glass to get the trooper out. He hauls out the trooper, and then runs with us.
"Eh, we're pinned down!" I hear Ponds say.

He isn't one of buir's (buir's - dad's) batchmates, but I've spent a good amount of time with him. So instead of calling him commander, I just call him Ponds. I think he's sort of adopted me as his niece of some sort. Most of the Vode (Vode - brothers) that I've met have adopted me in some way, niece, sister, cousin… The list goes on.

"Commander, bring out the Lightning squad."

"I want Lightning up here now!"

Amu (amu - mom) presses her comm, and says into it, "Logan, get Kya and as many members of Shadow as you can. We're going to need them."

"On it, Ila."

Buir (buir - dad) disconnects, and I hear Master Windu say,

"Get the injured back. I'm gonna clear the road." Then he turns to amu (amu - mom) and I, and says, "Come on!"

We both nod, and run after him. We stand in front of the downed tank, and I reach into the Force. We all give a big push with the Force, and the tank slides off of the cliff edge. Yes!

One of the Lighting squad members comes up to me on his ride. It looks pretty sweet. We have some of the one person walkers in the 345th, but I've never gotten to use one.

"All yours, kid."

"Woohoo!"

I run forward, and jump onto it. Oh, this thing is awesome! And it looks fast. Oh yeah, one of my favorite things. Amu (amu - mom) comes up to me, riding one herself, and says, "Leeda, don't do anything di'kutla (di'kutla - idiotic, stupid)."

"I won't amu (amu - mom). I promise… Maybe."

She rolls her eyes, but we both join Master Windu at the front, and we run across the sand dunes of Ryloth. This is so much freaking fun!

The Seppies start firing at us, and so we dodge it. I have got to drive one of these things more often! I manage to avoid the Separatist fire with ease, and keep going toward them. Amu (amu - mom), Master Windu, and I are in the lead, and we soon get up to the Seppie tanks.

We start firing on them, and even throw a few droid poppers. Not as fun as explosives, but useful, I guess. When all of the Seppie droids are gone, we all hop down from the walkers. When buir (buir - dad) comes over to me, I guess the look on my face tells him everything.

"No. You cannot have one."

"Aww… but buir (buir - dad)."

"Sorry."

"Fine."

We walk over to where Ponds, amu (amu - mom), and Master Windu are talking. I hear him ask,

"How many men did we lose?"

"56, I think, and that's combining both legions, it includes command crews of 3 walkers. The good news is, the other General Kenobi has broken their lines. We have a clear path straight to the capital now.

"This battle was costly," amu (amu - mom) says. "We're going to need help to take the city."

We get the tanks moving again, and Chancellor Palpatine puts us on a group comm with uncle Anakin, Senator Taa, Master Yoda, and Admiral Yularen.

"What's your progress, Skywalker?"

"My fighters have secured control of the space around Ryloth. We have the Separatist cruisers on the run.

"Very good, General Skywalker."

I put up a holoprojection of Ryloth.

"Obi-Wan has taken the Jixuan Desert so the southern hemisphere is ours."

"Then it's almost over," Senator Taa says.

I speak up, and change the holoprojection to the capital city, "Not yet, Senator. The key position is the capital of Lessu. From the reports I've seen, our spies are certain the Separatist leader, Wat Tambor, has his command center there."

"When taken the city we have, capture Tambor we must," Master Yoda says.

"It's not going to be easy, Master," amu (amu - mom) says. "Tambor has chosen his stronghold well. This plasma bridge," I focus in on the bridge, "is the only way in or out."

"I'm afraid a siege could drag on indefinitely," the Chancellor says.

"My people have suffered so much already," Senator Taa says.

"A plan you have, to take the bridge, Master Windu, Ileema?"

They look at each other, and Master Windu speaks up. "Not our plan. Padawan Skywalker's."

"Explain her plan, then, Padawan Leeda should."

Amu (amu - mom) nods to me, so I walk over again.

"With our forces stretched so thinly, our only hope to take the city is to enlist the help of the freedom fighters led by Cham Syndulla." I project a picture of him from a monitor. "His fight against the droids has made him a symbol of freedom for the people of Ryloth."

"Cham Syndulla... was a radical before the war. He is very unpredictable," the Chancellor says.

"He can't be trusted. I know Syndulla seeks to gain power. We were political rivals," Senator Taa says.

"We'll leave the politics to you, Senator. But we're gonna do whatever we can to help these people," amu (amu - mom) says in a steely calm voice. It's the voice she uses when I know I've done something I'm not supposed to do.

"Perhaps we could send you Republic reinforcements instead."

"There are no reinforcements available, Chancellor," Admiral Yularen says.

"We can't win without Syndulla's help," I say.

The tanks stop a little while later, and we mount the walkers again. I take the lead, and stop my walker at an old battleground. This is where I believe Cham Syndulla's fighters are.

"What makes you think the rebels are this way, Commander?"

I notice something and bend down, amu (amu - mom) and Master Windu coming up behind me. It's a footprint from one of the creatures that the freedom fighters are known to ride. And it's a fresh one too.

"What is it, sir?"

"The resistance fighters ride creatures native to this region. And these tracks are fresh. Which means they can't be that far."

My Corporal, Keys, walks up to us and says, "Isn't this the spot where they were massacred?"

"Looks like it was a hell of a fight," one of Master Windu's men says.

"Wonder who put up these gravestones," Flip says.

"Is that them?"

Master Windu holds up his hand, and we all mount our walker again. Walking off to find the freedom fighters. I see battle droids, and all of us hide behind one of the destroyed ships. I can faintly hear the droids say,

"Did you hear that?"

I don't see anything."

"Look, it's RB-551."

"No wonder he got blasted. He's one of those older models programmed by a central computer."

"Not us. We're independent thinkers."

"Roger, roger."

"Roger, roger."

Ugh. Those battle droids get on my nerves. They're so repetitive.

"Why don't we take them out, sir," Keys asks.

"I have a feeling the rebels will do it for us," amu (amu - mom) says.

I hear the sounds of blaster fire, and animal roars, as well as the battle droids saying,

"Look out! It's an ambush!"

"Help! It's the resistance!"

Amu (amu - mom), Master Windu, and I all ignite our lightsabers and start running towards the battle. It's kinda nice not to be the only one with a purple blade for this battle. We run uphill, and aw… we've missed all the fun! Then freedom fighters surround us.

"I was wondering when you'd find me, Master Jedi."

I step forward. Amu (amu - mom) told me that since it was my plan to bring them into it, I should be the one to at least attempt to convince them.

"General Syndulla, we've come for your help," I say.

"What makes you think you'll get it?"

General Syndulla takes us to his hideout. It's impressive.

"Some hideout you have here," amu (amu - mom) says.

"It has advantages."

We walk past the creatures, and I speak up.

"We saw the graves of many of your people in that battlefield as well. Together, perhaps we can prevent that from happening again."

"Do you know why we were massacred, Padawan Skywalker?"

I shake my head, the reports that I read never said why. They only said how many were killed, and what happened in the battle.

"When the droids swept over Ryloth, the Republic was unable to help us. We were forced to surrender, and we came here unarmed. The Separatists brought tanks to exterminate us."

Amu (amu - mom), Master Windu, General Syndulla, and I turn around when we hear one of the men saying,

"Come here, boy. Come on. Don't be afraid. See, there's nothing to be afraid of here."

The creature roars at him, and I smile, Keys really should know better. Creatures… ah, don't really like him very much.

A male, purple twi'lek says, "Jigh-sen moof deng-ka."

"Hm, probably," I mutter.

"He says his blurrg may be ill-tempered, but she's much faster than your riding machines," General Syndulla says.

"I don't know about that."

On the way down to, what I presume to be, the main cavern, General Syndulla asks me,

"You know Ryl?" I look at him with surprise, and he clarifies. "I heard your agreement before I had translated."

I nod to him. "Yes, I do. My twin brother is the Padawan Learner to a twi'lek Jedi. And her master and my own are friends. So she taught me Ryl when I was little."

He nods, and we continue walking. When we enter the main cavern, he picks up a little twi'leki girl. I assume his daughter. Then a blue, male twi'lek comes up to him.

"What is this, a scratch? Gobi, get better. I need you."

"Rahn fanyo, Syndulla."

"We have little food or drink, but it is our tradition to share what we do have with our guests," he turns to amu and Master Windu. Ba'vodu (ba'vodu - aunt) Aayla has taught me a bit of Twi'lek culture, so I know some tidbits like that.

I think it's interesting to learn about different cultures and languages.

After dinner, while amu (amu - mom), Master Windu, and I are sitting with General Syndulla, a group of his people get up and start to dance. It's interesting, watching how they spend their days here. Seeing the families together, makes me remember why we Jedi fight this war in the first place.

"I hope you don't mind this. A little distraction goes far to ease the burden of the war on my men," General Syndullla says.

"You have provided well for your men. All your people," Master Windu says. "So why won't you help us free them from this occupation?"

"I don't trust Senator Taa. His plans for our world after the war…"

"The Republic will help you rebuild. We won't abandon you," amu (amu - mom) says.

"Your troops will stay for security?"

"For a while, to keep the peace," Master Windu says. I listen to the conversation while I watch the dancers. And listen to the music.

"Another armed occupation is not a free Ryloth. How long before I am fighting you, Master Jedi?"

I am broken from my trance of listening to the music, by a beeping sound from Master Windu's comlink.

"What is it, Commander?"

"The droids have begun a firebombing campaign. Several villages in our sector have been destroyed, sir. As have several in Commander Logan and Captain Kya's sectors."

Whispering breaks out, and General Syndulla pinches the bridge of his nose. he looks like he is think about something. And when he seems to decide, he turns to me, not to amu (amu - mom) or Master Windu.

"Make the arrangements. I will speak to Senator Taa."

Amu (amu - mom) and Master Windu have entrusted the duty of negotiating between Senator Taa and General Syndulla to me, should it be necessary. It's nerve-racking. If I don't do it right, everything might fall to pieces.

"Senator Taa, so glad you could join us from comfortable Coruscant. Our people have survived with only me."

"I knew you would try to turn this into a campaign to take power. Need I remind you that it is I... who leads our people in the Senate?"

"And it is I who leads our people here and now."

I step in between them, and say,

"There will be nothing left to lead if you two refuse to work together."

I hear from the other corner, and from my comm since I got copied in,

"General Windu, Ileema, Leeda, do you copy?"

"I hear you, Skywalker."

"Loud and clear, uncle Anakin."

"My fighters are taking out the bombers as fast as they can, but there are just too many. I doubt we can stop them all. I suggest you get the people away from the cities."

"You must destroy those bombers, Anakin."

"Then meet us at the capital, please, uncle."

"I'll do what I can."

"What can the Separatists hope to gain from burning our homes?" Senator Taa asks.

"Nothing," General Syndulla says. "Wat Tambor spoils for others what he cannot possess."

"Then we must act quickly."

"Senator," I say, "your people are hesitant to join us because they're worried there'll be another military occupation."

"The people have my promise that the clone army will leave once Ryloth is free of those droids."

"General," I say, "what assurance can you give Senator Taa you will not try to assume power?"

"I only want to see my people free, Master Jedi. I give my word. I believe in democracy."

"Then we are together in this."

Senator Taa's hologram disappears, and General Syndulla turns away. I catch amu's (amu's - mom's) eyes, and give her a small nod and smile when we come out of the little cave.

"Men of Ryloth, the time has come to free ourselves!"

I smile, this war may be ugly, but there are times when it isn't so bad. When we get to meet new people, and to gain their trust. The Jedi are untrusted by so much of the galaxy, it's nice when some see that we are not the way that they think we are.

We get ready to leave, and General Syndulla comes over to me.

"General."

"Padawan Skywalker. My wife has told me to have you speak with her."

I nod, and follow him. A green, female twi'lek smiles at me when we stop in front of her. She is holding the little girl that General Syndulla was holding for a while last night.

"Padawan Skywalker, my husband has told me that you have quite an interest in twi'leks."

"Not just twi'leks, ma'am. Any other culture and language really. I enjoy learning about the different people, their customs, and everything I can. I find it fascinating to learn about other cultures that are different from my own."

She smiles at me and nods. "Come with me."

I follow her to a cage where a very pretty blurrg is being kept.

"This is my blurrg. Sia. I won't be going with you to free Lessu, but you remind me of myself when I was your age. Passionate, headstrong, and a bit reckless. I would like you to ride her in the battle."

I gape at her. "Me?"

She nods, "You learned things about us when you did not have to. That shows you care about the galaxy. I think you and Sia would be a good match. And she's getting restless."

"I would be honored. If she'll let me."

"Well, let's find out."

She opens the cage, and we walk in. I let Sia sniff me, and she licks me. Mrs. Syndulla shows me how to lead her, saddle her, mount her, and ride her.

"Your Master already knows about this, so go ahead and give it a try."

Since we're already outside, I put my foot into the stirrup, and mount up. It feels very different from a walker, but not bad.

"Good, you're ready to go. Help win us back our freedom."

"I'll do my best, ma'am."

She smiles and me, and goes back into the cavern. On the way to Lessu, I ride beside General Syndulla, who gives me a few pointers on riding a blurrg. I'm definitely going to be sore tomorrow.

When we get close to the city, amu, Master Windu, General Syndulla, and I all dismount whatever is was we were riding, and look over the city. General Syndulla and I use EBs to scan the city.

"Tambor is still there," General Windu says.

"How are we going to attack with my people so close?"

"Your people will never be in danger if our walkers can cross the bridge into the city. The key is getting control of that bridge," amu (amu - mom) says.

"Perhaps there is your way." I swivel my head to look where General Syndulla was looking. There's a path. There are Separatist transports on it, but it shouldn't be too hard to get those transports. "My spies tell me those transports carry treasure. It's not enough for the Separatists to enslave and murder us. They must rob us, too."

"You think we can use them to get across the bridge?" I ask.

"It is risky. They are usually scanned while crossing."

I stay with General Syndulla, and watch as amu (amu - mom), and Master Windu take a transport.

"They're in. Let's go," General Syndulla says.

I run back to Sia and mount up. Mrs. Syndulla was right, she is restless. But excited.

General Syndulla and I ride up to Ponds.

"My men are ready," he says.

"The 345th is ready to go, Ponds."

He nods.

We wait hidden on the ridge for the all clear. I help keep watch from on top of Sia, watching through my EBs.

"Trooper, prepare to fire," Ponds says.

When Master Windu and amu (amu - mom) move inside, we charge with a yell from General Syndulla.

"Charge!"

We storm over the hill, and race across the bridge. As we ride into the city, the people of Lessu wave and cheer as we ride by and storm the city. General Syndulla and I stop by amu (amu - mom) and Master Windu. I help them block blaster bolts, but I block the ones that are up high.

"You take these droids," Master Windu says. "We'll go find Wat Tambor."

Amu (amu - mom) and Master Windu run off and we take down the droids. I even get to stab a few tanks with my lightsaber! How awesome is that?

Just as Separatist bombers start coming in, uncle Anakin and Ahsoka fly in and shoot 'em down. Right in the nick of time. We ride in, and I dismount from Sia when we all circle up around Wat Tambor.

"What are your terms for surrender?"

"They're unconditional."

"Agreed."

"I thank you, Master Jedi. Today, all of Ryloth thanks you."

They look at me, and I speak up, "You've earned your freedom, General, all of you."

There is a parade through the city when the battle is over. Keys even gets to ride a blurrg. Him almost falling off makes me laugh though. The end of the battle, when it is time for laughing and remembrance is perhaps the sweetest moment of all.

"Compromise is a virtue to be cultivated, not a weakness to be despised." -Unknown