Author's Note: I don't own Star Wars: The Clone Wars or its characters, but I only own Nadia Aomori and my other OCs.

Enjoy!

Threads of Destiny

Chapter 52: The Soft War

The rebels elect a new leader!

With their training complete, Obi-Wan and Anakin have left Ahsoka and Nadia on Onderon to monitor and advise the rebels as they continue to strike Separatists targets under the command of Steela Gerrera.

Facing an escalation of rebel attacks, the Separatists have sent reinforcements to strengthen their hold on the city of Iziz, as the battle for the planet unfolds.

In Onderon...

The Onderon rebels continue their attacks on the Separatist droid forces occupying the capital city, Iziz. However, even though their continued successes, they were once again hard-pressed to gain the people's trust and support.

Lux, Ahsoka and Nadia were wearing hoods to cover their faces as playing small-holo projector in a few parts of the city.

"Looks like more reinforcements."Saw commented."A small droid convoy leading a multi-troop transport, an AAT bringing up the rear."

"Copy."Steela replied.

She counted to three until shouting was heard from beneath causing her and her group to fire the droids from below.

"Do not be afraid, brothers and sisters!"Steela stated."We mean you no harm."

"It's time."Lux whispered pressing his comlink.

Ahsoka and Nadia nodded and pressed their comlinks causing holograms of Steela to appear thought out the capital city.

"People of Onderon, the time has come to take back our freedom."Steela commented. "We have all been deceived, King Rash is a traitor who has sold Onderon to the Separatists for the crown. But Onderon is ours. We need your strength to reclaim our planet and restore our sovereignty under our true king, King Dendup..."

Despite Steela giving an honest yet courageous statement, her words caused the citizens to look at each other with unsure looks due to being scared of speaking out against their corrupted king.

Afterwards...

It started to rain and the rebels were placing carts inside the safe house as Steela, Ahsoka and Nadia watched them.

"Okay, guys, put it in the back with the rest."Ahsoka instructed.

Dono then ran up to the group.

"Steela!"Dono called out."They're executing King Dendup tomorrow in Yolahn Square!"

"Where did you hear this?"Steela demanded.

"Malgan Market."Dono replied."The merchants, the Separatists are saying he's behind our attacks."

"More lies."Steela muttered in annoyance."They're making him an example to humiliate us."

Nadia held her chin in thought.

"The Separatists' puppet king must be accusing his predecessor of having triggered our movement and now wants him executed in order to shatter our morale."Nadia exclaimed with a frown."But no doubt, Count Dooku would get rid of him if we dethrone him."

"Maybe. But their efforts could work against them."Ahsoka suggested."Executing him would only make him a martyr."

"We can't let him die."Saw stated."We have to break him out somehow."

"No, we should wait until he's in public at the execution."Steela insisted.

"That's where they'd expect it."Saw commented.

"I know, but this is our moment."Steela admitted."We'll save him for all of Iziz to witness. We don't have much time."

"They're counting on us to show up."Saw retorted.

Saw began to walk away causing Steela to become concerned.

"Where are you going?"Steela questioned with a frown.

"Trust me."Saw insisted.

"Stop."Steela ordered sternly.

"Let me take care of this."Saw responded.

"This isn't about you."Steela stated.

"We can't afford a reckless move right now."Lux reminded.

Saw glared at Lux.

"Yeah?"Saw retorted rudely."Go write a speech about it."

Lux looked at Saw with a small glare.

"You have to weigh the risk."Ahsoka commented.

"That's why I'm going alone."Saw answered.

Saw then walked away from the group, making Dono look at Steela.

"Follow him."Steela instructed.

Dono nodded and rushed off to follow after Saw.

Nadia silently frowned, knowing Saw was still disgruntled about not having been chosen as the rebel leader.

"He probably wanted to be the leader, so that Steela doesn't get into harms way."Nadia thought.

When night time arrived, Ahsoka and Nadia contacted Obi-Wan and Anakin via hologram.

"I sense fear in you both, Ahsoka and Nadia."Obi-Wan admitted.

"The rebels are divided, Master."Nadia declared."If they try to rescue the king now, we're afraid we might lose them."

"We cannot control their fate."Obi-Wan reminded.

"It's just, they're risking their lives to save just one."Ahsoka commented.

"Do not underestimate the king's power."Obi-Wan warned firmly."He represents hope and is critical to their success."

Lux then walked by causing Ahsoka and Nadia to look at him a little bit.

"We feel responsible for them."Nadia answered while rubbing her arm a bit."Me and Soka should at least keep helping them out if they're going to save their true king than let them gain strength on their own."

"I know you both do, Snips and Kitty."Anakin stated."But remember, purpose must come before feelings."

"I know, Master."Ahsoka responded.

"Step in only if you must."Obi-Wan instructed."But remember, if this experiment is to become an effective strategy. They must learn to survive on their own."

"Yes, Master."Nadia replied."We understand."

A While Later...

Steela got Ahsoka, Nadia, Lux and the rest of the Onderon rebels together to talk about their plan to rescue King Dendup while looking at the hologram of the Iziz.

"Do any of you have questions?"Steela asked.

"It's a risky plan, but it's our best shot."Lux responded and looked at the two female Jedi."Ahsoka, Nadia, will you two join us?"

"We can't."Ahsoka replied."We've already been more involved than the Council wanted. But it seems we've been instructed to sit this one out."

"We want to help you guys, Lux. We really do."Nadia assured and frowned a bit."Unfortunately, we were told not to do that anymore."

"I never seen you two as the ones to follow orders that much."Lux remarked with a hint of amusement.

Dono then rushed into the room, earning everyone's attention.

"They have Saw."Dono stated."He's alive, but I watched them take him away."

Shocked looks appeared on Ahsoka, Nadia, Steela, Lux and the other Onderon rebels' faces.

"We have to save him."Lux suggested.

Lux stood up from where he sat causing the rest of the Onderon rebels shouted in agreement and got their weapons out.

"No."Steela admitted."We have to save King Dendup. We don't have time or the bodies to do both."

"He's your brother."Lux reminded.

"That's what Saw would want, what he would expect."Steela answered."And I expect the same from everyone in this room."

"I know it's a hard choice, but I agree."Ahsoka stated."Purpose must come before feelings."

"I agree on that as well, Steela."Nadia responded and thought uncomfortably."Though I'm not overly fond of having allow someone to might end up losing a sibling as I did."

This caused everyone in the room to fell silent.

The Next Morning...

Steela, Lux, Ahsoka, Nadia and a small troop of rebels go to the palace square, where Dendup's execution was about to begin along with Saw's.

"As your king, I present to you Ramsis Dendup not as a former king but as a criminal sponsoring terrorist acts against the people of Onderon."King Sanjay declared."But fear not, good citizens, as your leader and protector, I will see that you are safe from such villainy, he has betrayed you and today he will pay for those treasonous deeds with his life."

The Magna Droids forced Ramsis on his knees and his face was close to the side where he was going to be executed.

"Time to die."King Sanjay sneered and raised his hand."Ready weapons."

The Magna Droids activated their electric staffs, ready to execute King Sanjay.

"Now!"Steela ordered.

Lux handed Steela a blaster and the leader of the Onderon rebels took out two of the Magna droids that were going to execute Ramsis.

Then Lux removed his cloak and threw detonators, where King Sanjay was standing causing smoke to appear while the citizens ran off in panic.

Ahsoka and Nadia had to stood by watching since the Jedi Council ordered them not to get involved with the Onderon rebels' movement.

"Come on!"Lux instructed."Go, go, go!"

The Onderon rebels then rushed to the front to rescue Ramsis while taking out the battle droids.

Steela went up to Ramsis while holding her blaster.

"Come with us."Steela encouraged.

Then a squad of super battle droids and droidekas appeared and surrounded the rebels.

The rebels rushed to escape with Ramsis, but then Dono got shot dead and fell on the floor.

Upon seeing the awful sight, Nadia's jaw clenched tightly upon being annoyed that she and Ahsoka weren't allowed to help their friends.

"Surrender now or die!"the tactical droid demanded.

Ramsis glanced at Steela, Lux and their fellow rebels.

"It's over."Ramsis said sadly."Do as they say."

The rebels lay down their weapons and were forced to watch as Rash attempted to repeat the execution.

"Calm yourselves."King Sanjay instructed."The threat is over, see for yourselves as these traitors all endure the same punishment."

The Separatist Droids got a hold of the Onderon rebels.

"Good try, sis."Saw praised silently.

Steela didn't respond and gave a firm look to her brother.

However, no longer to follow orders to remain inactive, Ahsoka and Nadia took out their lightsabers, ready to activate them to save their friends.

"Stop!"

"What?"King Sanjay questioned.

Then General Akenathen Tandin, commander of the Onderon military forces, rushed to the scene due to be disgusted by the Separatists' and Rash's takeover of his home world.

"The only snake I see, sire, is you."General Tandin stated.

"Traitor!"King Sanjay snarled angrily.

"I was."General Tandin said and looked at Saw."Not anymore."

Both Ahsoka and Nadia placed their lightsabers back in their places, seeing their friends had inspired an unexpected ally.

The Onderon rebels then escaped with Dendup as the crowd made way for them while cheering for their bravery.

General Tandin then took Sanjay hostage causing the droids to point their weapons at him.

"What are you doing, General?"King Sanjay questioned with a smirk."As soon as you release me, you'll be shot dead."

Ahsoka and Nadia then abandoned their orders to step in and force pushed the droids to knock them over.

"Jedi?!"King Sanjay said in shock.

Ahsoka and Nadia glanced at General Tandin.

"General, follow us."Ahsoka ordered.

General Tandin then followed Ahsoka and Nadia out of the crowd.

"After them, kill them!"King Sanjay ordered."Kill them!"

However, the outraged spectators in the palace square rise against their king, stemming themselves against the droid squad and thus allowing Ahsoka, Nadia and General Tandin to escape in the process.

"Dendup is the true king!"

"We want the Separatists gone!"

"Save Dendup!"

Afterwards...

The two Jedi and the Onderon rebels brought King Ramsis back in the safe house, where he sat down next to Lux.

"Why now?"King Ramsis asked.

"It was time for a new approach, my lord."General Tandin replied.

"Do I have your loyalty?"King Ramsis asked.

"And that of the army."General Tandin answered.

"You also have ours."Steela remarked firmly."With your rule, our numbers will grow."

"Thanks, child."King Ramsis replied with a smile and looked at Lux."Your mother would be proud."

"Thank you, my lord."Lux responded.

"We must first win the will of the people."King Ramsis stated firmly as he stood up."That is the only way. The Separatists will assemble their forces. Count Dooku will want me dead more than ever."

"Then we'll have to teach them another lesson."Saw remarked and placed his hand on Steela's shoulder."Together."

The Onderon rebels cheered in agreement.

Lux then walked up to Ahsoka.

"Ahsoka, I knew you and Nadia couldn't resist a good fight."Lux commented.

"Am I becoming that predictable?"Ahsoka asked with a smirk.

Lux chuckled. "Only to me."

Ahsoka smiled shyly causing Nadia to glance at them and smirk in approval.

Afterwards...

Ahsoka and Nadia contacted Obi-Wan and Ahsoka again via hologram.

"The Separatists definitely know we're backing the rebels."Nadia admitted.

"Then prepare yourselves."Obi-Wan instructed."The real fight is about to begin."

"Will you be able to send some help?"Ahsoka asked.

"That's up to the Council, Ahsoka and Nadia."Anakin replied.

Nadia slightly frowned at Anakin's respond.

"Of course."Nadia answered simply.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter

See you all in the next one and have a good day!