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 50: A War on Two Fronts

Separatist takeover complete!

Another Republic planet has fallen!

Onderon has seceded to the Confederacy of Independent Systems under the rule of a new king.

However, a small band of rebels have taken refuge deep within its vast and savage wilderness.

From an abandoned outpost, they plot to take back the heavily fortified capital city of Iziz and end the Separatist occupation.

In the Jedi Temple...

The Jedi Council were contacted by Senator Lux Bonteri, Saw Gerrera and the rebels of Onderon.

"Unfortunately, the only way to reclaim Onderon will be through armed struggle."Lux admitted."But we lack sufficient hardware and supplies."

"Onderon is in your king's rule and at the outbreak of the Clone War, he chose to align it with the Separatists."Obi-Wan said.

"Our true king has been silenced."Saw stated."The one you recognize is a traitor and a Separatist minion, we need your help to survive this."

"Find a way we shall."Master Yoda said.

"We await your answer."Lux commented with a bow.

Lux then looked at Ahsoka, who smiled at him causing Nadia to silently notice and smirk at the sight.

Then the holograms of Senator Bonteri and the Onderon rebels turned off.

"There are pockets of rebels on many of these planets that just need guidance."Anakin commented."With training and resources, they could attack soft targets while the Republic continues to engage them on the battlefield."

"That sounds like terrorism, Anakin."Obi-Wan replied.

"Well, I think of it as an insurgency to help realign these planets with the Republic."Anakin remarked.

"We can divide the Separatist forces and press them on two fronts."Mace Windu added.

"A means to an end fear cannot be."Master Yoda stated."Stop those who spread terror the Jedi must."

"Indeed."Obi-Wan agreed."What you're suggesting would open up dangerous possibilities and we must not train terrorists."

"You mean rebels."Anakin corrected.

"How we conduct war is what distinguishes us from others."Obi-Wan said."Funding rebels to overthrow a legitimate government puts innocent lives at risk."

"We can minimize collateral damage by using arms that mainly affect droids."Anakin suggested.

"The least we can do is help them defend themselves, test the tactic while we're at it."Mace Windu admitted.

"This could be a great new weapon for us."Anakin said with a smile.

Both Ahsoka and Nadia were completely silent and in deep thought.

"Hmm, train and observe."Master Yoda commented."Send advisors we will."

"I'll assemble a team."Anakin stated.

"I'm going with you."Obi-Wan said as he stood up and walked up to his former student.

"What, you don't trust me?"Anakin asked.

"Too much."Obi-Wan answered."That's what worries me."

Obi-Wan looked at Master Yoda, who gave him a nod.

A While Later...

Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia went on a shuttle that was heading to Onderon's wilderness while wearing their Jedi cloaks.

Accompanying them on the mission was Rex and a couple.

"This is Valkyrie 2929."the pilot reported."We're coming up on the drop zone."

Then the ramp of the shuttle lowered in front of the group to show them the wilderness.

"Go, go, go, go!"A Clone Trooper Pilot demanded.

Obi-Wan, Anakin, Ahsoka and Nadia landed safely on the ground while Rex used his jetpack to head down before the shuttle took off in the starry night sky.

Ahsoka and Nadia used the Force to jump on the trees while Obi-Wan, Anakin and Rex sneaked quietly on the ground.

But then they were surrounded by Steela Gerrera (Saw's sister) and another Onderon rebel, who were riding on Dalgos.

"Stay where you are."Steela ordered."Identify yourselves."

Anakin lifted down his hood to show his face to Saw's sister.

"It's all right."Anakin assured."We're friends."

"Jedi."the young woman said quietly.

Then Ahsoka and Nadia arrived on the scene before lifting down their own hoods to show their faces.

"I'm Commander Tano."Ahsoka stated.

"And I'm Commander Aomori."Nadia added."We're here to help you take back your planet."

Obi-Wan then lifted down his hood, showing his own face.

"My name is Steela."Steela replied."I'll guide you to our secret base."

Afterwards...

The sun was rising while Steela took Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka, Nadia and Rex to the Onderon rebels' hideout.

"Hmm, a bit rough around the edges, wouldn't you say?"Obi-Wan asked.

"That's why I brought Rex here."Anakin replied.

"They're not exactly what I would call shinies, sir, but I could work with them."Rex answered.

Then Saw landed in front of the group while riding a Ruping.

"General Skywalker."Saw replied.

"At your service."Anakin stated before introducing his comrades."This is General Kenobi, Commander Tano, Commander Aomori and Captain Rex."

"We're looking forward to taking the fight to those scrapping droids."Saw commented.

"Yes, all in good time."Obi-Wan assured.

"Saw, Saw Gerrera."Saw replied folding his arms.

"He fashions himself as our leader, though no one elected him."Steela explained.

"Well, for now, we're in charge and there is much to learn."Anakin reminded.

The group then checked a holo projector.

"The Separatists have strength in numbers, we're gonna show you how to target and destroy them."Anakin explained.

"Now, to be clear, we are not here to fight your war rather, to show you how to conduct it in the most efficient and successful way possible."Obi-Wan commented.

"Captain Rex."Anakin gestured.

"I'll show you how the 501st destroy clankers."Rex said."First, I need volunteers to carry supplies from our entry point a half-klick west."

"Shouldn't be a problem."Saw replied.

"Excellent."Rex said.

The group began to walk away while Ahsoka walked up to Lux.

"Lux, it's good to see you again."Ahsoka said.

"It's good to see you too, Ahsoka."Lux replied back.

"I didn't realize you had such strong ties to Onderon."Ahsoka commented.

"Onderon is my home."Lux exclaimed."My mother represented it in the Senate."

Steela walked up to Lux.

"Your voice is strong like hers was."Steela remarked with a hint of admiration.

Ahsoka frowned at what she was seeing, but brought her attention on Lux.

"Have you reconsidered joining the Republic Senate?"Ahsoka suggested.

"Even if we do take back Onderon, it won't change how I feel."Lux declared."I'm not fighting for the Republic."

"Well, what matters now is, we need each other's help, just like we did on Carlac."Ahsoka reminded.

"Carlac?"Steela asked, becoming suspicious."What happened on Carlac?"

"Ferus, Ahsoka and Nadia are the reason I'm here and not with Death Watch."Lux explained.

"Really?"Steela questioned.

"What he means is-"Ahsoka started.

"They saved me from a huge mistake."Lux finished.

Lux then walked away as Ahsoka watched him with a smirk and her arms folded.

"Hmm, Lux obviously thinks highly of you."Steela complemented.

"I guess so."Ahsoka replied.

"Let's hope that respect is well founded."Steela retorted with a glare.

Steela then walked away as Nadia walked up to Ahsoka, who had a frown on her face.

"Don't worry, Soka."Nadia assured with a quiet yet smug smile."She is probably jealous because Lux has the hots for you."

Ahsoka gives Nadia a playful punch in the arm.

"Hey."Ahsoka whispered."Watch what you're saying, Dia."

"Why?"Nadia chuckled."It's the truth, isn't?"

Both Ahsoka and Nadia then walked forward to join their comrades and the Onderon rebels.

A While Later...

Ahsoka and Nadia explained to the Rebels on how to take down an empty tank.

"The pilot in the front hatch controls the tank, the shelves and the short range blasters."Ahsoka stated."The commander in the top hatch controls the turret and the main cannon."

"You have to take out both chambers."Nadia explained."Otherwise, the tank will remain operational."

Rex then jumped on the Separatist Tank and used two detonators to electrify it before jumping off.

"Everyone, divide up into teams of two and we'll practice an assault on both hatches."Anakin ordered.

"I'll take the top."Lux voted.

"Let's see what you're made of, Bonteri."Saw said giving him a shove.

The two then rushed to the tank as Lux climbed on the cannon.

But the cannon shifted down causing Lux and Saw to fell back on the ground.

"Sorry about that."Lux said offering his hand out.

"You're a terrible soldier, Bonteri."Saw muttered.

The young senator looked down while Anakin and Obi-Wan looked at each other.

Rex began instructing the other rebels.

"I'm not sure if they're more interested in fighting the droids or each other."Obi-Wan said.

"They'll learn."Anakin replied."We just need time to train them properly."

"Keep your eyes on the quick learners."Obi-Wan reminded."In this fight, time is not on our side."

"Go, go, go, go, go!"Rex ordered.

The two men rushed away from the tank as two more took their turn.

"Come on!"Rex stated."Move it like a soldier, like a real soldier!"

"Come on, Dono!"Saw said."Pick it up, Hutch, you can do better than that."

"Come on, hustle!"Rex instructed."I said hustle! That's what I'm talking about right there, go, go, go! Good, good."

Saw then notice Steela wiping Lux's face causing him to frown and walked up to them.

"You sure you're up for this?"Saw questioned.

"Saw."Steela protested.

"It was an accident."Lux replied.

"You would've had us both killed."Saw answered.

This caused Lux to stand up and glare at Saw causing Steela to stop the two from fighting each other.

"Just stop it."Steela demanded.

Ahsoka and Nadia turned their attention on the three rebels.

"Sit down, boy."Saw insulted."This isn't the Senate, you've got no talent for this."

"It's going to take a lot more than muscle to defeat the Separatists."Lux replied.

"Politics have failed us."Saw reminded."We have no choice."

"We always have a choice."Lux answered sternly.

"Then make yours."Saw threatened.

"Look, if we're going to succeed, you'll need to be exceptional with words and action."Steela commented."There will be time for both."

Saw then walked away as the Separatist Tank was electrified.

Once training on the tanks were done, the group moved onto handling the droidekas.

"Destroyers are quick, pack twin blasters, and come with their own shield generators, nothing short of a cannon will pierce it."Anakin explained."But they do have two weaknesses and you will need to work together to exploit them."

Rex activated a button causing one of the droidekas to go on and also its shield.

"The shields deflect high-velocity attacks."Anakin commented.

Rex fired at a droideka, but the shield deflected the bullets.

"What the shields don't stop are slow or stationary objects."Anakin admitted."They're designed to absorb them so nothing hinders their movement."

Rex then dropped a detonator causing it to roll into the shield and then the droideka got electrified.

"Droidekas are blind from behind."Ahsoka stated."A distraction combined with a rear assault will give you a kill."

"The trick is to get the right speed on the droid popper."Nadia added."But also seeing the right time to take it down."

Rex then pressed a button causing the three droidekas to activate.

"These are unarmed. Just concentrate on getting it past the shield."Rex instructed and threw a detonator at Saw, who caught it.

Saw glanced at Lux.

"Watch and learn."Saw insisted.

Saw then threw his detonator, but it didn't go inside the shield.

"Quite brilliant."Lux commented with a smile.

Ahsoka gave the Senator of Onderon a detonator, who took it.

Lux threw the detonator to the Destroyer and it went inside the shield.

"Nice touch."Ahsoka remarked.

"Thanks."Lux replied with a smile.

Lux and Ahsoka looked at each other lovingly causing Steela to frown in anger.

Nadia notice the sight and covered her mouth to lower her giggle from being heard.

"Oh my gosh!"Nadia thought with a smirk."She is jealous!"

Steela suddenly went up to Lux to give him a playful punch on the arm.

"Not bad."Steela praised.

Ahsoka handed Steela a detonator and she threw it, but it didn't go inside the shield.

Steela groaned in frustration.

"Be mindful of your frustration."Obi-Wan reminded."It'll only hold you back."

"Here."Lux said while holding Steela's hand."Use your shoulder, let your arm swing and keep your eyes on the target."

Ahsoka's eyes widen in shock seeing her crush helping Steela.

"Great."Ahsoka muttered.

Ahsoka looked down while Nadia walked forward and lightly tapped her best friend's shoulder.

"You'll get your chance."Nadia reminded with a smirk.

"Okay, let's get back to work."Rex ordered."Everyone pair up, we'll practice in groups."

As the rebels walked away, Ahsoka took a detonator to ask Lux to help her.

But then the female Torguta saw the Senator of Onderon walking with Steela, making her feel sad.

Then Saw walked up to Ahsoka.

"Hey, Commander Tano, how about helping me practice?"Saw suggested.

Ahsoka nodded and the two of them walked away.

Nadia stood beside her best friend as Saw tried to get another detonator onto the Destroyer's shield, but it blocked it as well.

"I can't get the distance or the speed right."Saw said.

"Don't give up."Ahsoka reminded."Learning this could save your life and those around you, little backspin might help."

Nadia then notice Lux still teaching Steela, how to throw a detonator.

Saw threw one last detonator at the Destroyer causing it to got passed the shield and electrifying it.

The rebels cheered at Saw's success.

"You got it."Ahsoka said with a smile.

"Well done."Nadia remarked.

"You're a good teacher, Jedi."Saw admitted.

Steela then walked away while holding her gun.

"Uh, keep practicing."Ahsoka insisted.

The two girls then walked up to Steela, who checked her gun.

"You made it look easy."Steela stated.

"It wasn't always that way."Nadia replied.

"Right."Steela answered sarcastically."The Force that your secret?"

Both Ahsoka and Nadia frown at Steela's lack of trust in them.

"No. Perseverance. Look, you'll get the hang of it."Ahsoka declared."Besides, we wouldn't let it get you down."

"Ahsoka is right, Steela."Nadia agreed firmly."We're only here to help you guys out."

"I'm not feeling down."Steela replied."I just know what I'm good at."

Steela, Ahsoka and Nadia smiled at each other a little bit.

The group then watched as Steela practice shooting on battle droids heads.

"Impressive."Anakin praised."Most impressive."

Nadia glanced at Anakin upon suddenly having butterflies in her stomach at what she heard the Jedi Knight just said.

"Fixed targets are one thing."Ahsoka reminded."How about this?"

Ahsoka then lifted up a droid head causing Steela to fire at it a few times before taking it down.

"Nice job."Ahsoka said simply.

Lux and the rest of the Onderon rebels walked up to Steela.

"You have clearly mastered your ability to focus."Obi-Wan stated.

Ahsoka glared at Lux and Steela with a small frown before Ankin walked up to her.

"Snips, are you losing focus?"Anakin asked.

"No, Master."Ahsoka answered.

"Good."Anakin responded with a small smile.

Nadia couldn't help but smirk at seeing Ahsoka jealous of Lux being with Steela.

"Looks like my master and Satine aren't the only ones, I have to play match maker after all."Nadia thought in amusement."Guess this mission is going to more interesting than I expected for it to be."

"A headshot is the only decisive way to disable a droid."Rex explained."They don't need arms, legs or even bodies to pass intel to central command, all right, shoot at will."

Steela aimed her gun, but then notice actual battle droids coming their way.

"Wait a minute."Steela said suspiciously."What is that?"

"Droids!"Saw warned.

"Take cover!"Rex ordered.

The battle droids fired blasts at the group causing Obi-Wan and Anakin to activate their lightsabers as they took cover with the others.

"It appears the training is over."Obi-Wan said.

The jedi deflected the blasts while Rex and the Onderon rebels fired at the battle droids.

"I'll take the left flank if you take the right."Anakin suggested.

"No, Anakin."Obi-Wan replied."We can only protect them, we cannot fight this war for them."

Obi-Wan then looked at Steela.

"There are too many."Obi-Wan said."But Anakin, Ahsoka, Nadia and I can hold them off while you get your people out of here."

"You didn't teach us to run."Steela stated and looked at her comlink."Saw, use your disruptors to take out the droids."

"I'm on it."Saw replied."Ready disruptors on my mark, now!"

The Onderon rebels threw the disruptors at the battle droids causing them to explode.

"Hey not bad."Anakin praised.

"That is only the first wave."Obi-Wan reminded.

Then a tank arrived and started firing shoots at the group.

"We'll handle this."Obi-Wan admitted.

"No, I will."Steela said and fired shoots at the cages causing the creatures to be released and to charge at the battle droids.

Ahsoka and Nadia continued deflecting the blasts with their lightsabers.

"Hey, Bonteri, you ready to try again?"Saw asked.

Lux took the detonator and the two of them began to run.

"Hey, what are you doing?"Ahsoka questioned.

"What you taught us."Lux replied.

The two boys climbed on the tank and throwing the detonators inside it before they took cover when it exploded.

Steela rushed up to them and helped Lux up.

"We, uh, need to clean you up."Steela said.

"I like it."Saw admitted."Now you look more like a soldier than a politician."

"Well, maybe a good politician needs to get dirty now and then."Steela commented.

Steela smiled at Lux before they walked away causing Ahsoka and Nadia to follow them.

"Take confidence from this victory."Obi-Wan explained."But rest assured, there will be more droids coming now that they know your position."

Anakin looked at Steela, Lux, Saw and the rest of the Onderon rebels.

"It doesn't matter. You're ready now."Anakin stated."We are going to take the fight to the droids, you don't have to hide in the jungle any longer."

"Droids were a bit dim, more so than I imagined."Saw said.

"They make up for it in numbers."Nadia explained."They're designed to overwhelm."

"But they're not designed to deal with our approach."Anakin replied.

"We hit them where they least expect it and before they realize what happened-"Lux started.

"We fade in with the rest of the population."Steela explained.

"Exactly."Anakin agreed.

"We need a plan to get inside the city."Ahsoka suggested.

"I have an idea."Lux replied with a smile.

A Moment After...

Thee group disguised themselves as a group of hunters and foragers, they split up to secure vital supplies.

Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Nadia placed on their hoods to cover themselves.

"Halt."A battle droid ordered."What were you doing outside of the city gates?"

"Hunting."Lux replied."We've been trekking for days."

"Did you register before your excursion?"A second battle droid questioned.

"No, but most of our time is spent in the bush, collecting our traps."Lux answered and took out a package."We come to the city to sell, you can't get thrip larva like this in Iziz only the biggest trees on the other side of Onderon."

"Hey, listen, we need to deliver all of this in time for supper."Steela complained.

"Hmm, are you scanning anything?"the battle droid asked.

"It's hard to tell with so much organic matter."the second battle droid said.

"Come on!"A woman called out."Our merchants are waiting inside! Can you hurry it up?"

"Let them through."the battle droid ordered.

The gate shield closed down causing the hidden Jedi and rebels to go inside.

"Good plan."Nadia commented with a smirk.

"Like Saw said, those droids are dumber than we thought."Lux replied.

Obi-Wan looked at Anakin.

"Not a bad start."Anakin said."But now the hard work begins."

"You must find recruits and choose your targets wisely."Obi-Wan instructed.

"They'll be looking for us."Steela said.

"We should split up."Lux suggested.

"Regroup after nightfall."Saw stated."I'll alert our brothers."

Lux then began to walk away from the group.

"We'll make sure you have the supplies you need."Anakin assured.

"Rex and I will take care of that."Lux replied.

"Good luck."Steela and Ahsoka answered in unison.

Nadia smiled in approval to see they were now getting along.

"You too."Lux answered back.

The two men watched their padawans walk away with their group.

"How do you think they'll do?"Anakin asked.

"I have a feeling, we'll be pleasantly surprised."Obi-Wan replied.

"So you admit our new strategy will work?"Anakin questioned.

"I am hopeful, Anakin, hopeful."Obi-Wan responded.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter

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