Chapter 34
Surrender is Betrayal
RAXUS SECNUDUS
Temple Asimov
The sky was a dark gray, thunder rumbled overhead as raindrop fell heavily down on Temple Asimov, the mood was as tense as the weather inside the communications tower. Lord Asimov looked over the war map of the outer rim, his sights focused on the blue and red border of the militia blue foundry and imperial red Lothal system. The ghost still sat on the platform with Hera sitting in the cockpit leaning forward, hands clasped. Kanan was in his quarters meditating, Zeb worked on his borifle in the lounge as Sabine slid down a ladder to the ships exit. Ezra was sitting up in the top gunner seat looking at the rain clouds in a somber stare, he saw Sabine climbing the steps of the temple alone her helmet off water falling into her white and pink hair. Inside the temple Sabine saw Corto speaking with the other padawans, his sister Yumi, the quarren Kraggen and Fatima the veiled human. Sabine saw them glancing over at the window and she walked into the main hall to peek out at what, no who they were staring at.
Standing in the training yard in the rain alone, his hair, robes and armor soaked was Ahkilleon looking to the sky. He closed his eye as a darker cloud covered the sky. The storm grew angrier with thunder and lightning, matching Ahkilleon's mood it roared with fury and Ahkilleon roared back so loud everyone in the temple grounds heard him.
24 hours earlier
"You lying, no good stinking pile of scuffy nerf herding piece of-" "Rex!" Kanan, Zeb and Ezra had to hold Rex back and in front Ahkilleon and Lord Asimov had to hold back the Azure guard who had their straight vibroblades out ready to dice Rex into a milliion pieces after what he'd just done.
Captain Rex, clone tropel, Hero of the Republic, Veteran of over a hundred battles and more had socked Fives Freeman the Supreme Commanding General of the Militia right in the face and the General was, laughing?
"Hahaha you still got it Rex." Fives said as he rubbed his clean shaven chin, his mustache a bruise starting to swell.
"General please accept my apologies, I did-" "At ease Asimov, to be fair I probably deserved that." Fives said as he waved off his own guards, Rex pulled away from the rebels staring daggers into Fives.
Fives stood up and adjusted his breastplate, "A punch in the face is good for you every now and again." Fives joked as he walked back up to Rex "Hmm, so you did loose your hair not that you liked having any to begin with?" Fives asked, walking past him.
"Is that all you have to say to me, after Mandalore, after everything that's happened?"
"What else is there to say Rex, we're here now." The rebels looke at one another and the Militia who followed them inside "The fact you faked your death when we tried to free the clones imprisoned by the Empire?"
"He didn't fake his death!" A voice shouted walking into the temple from the steps, everyone looked back to see Turok "I did."
Rex glared at the trandoshan "I should have known, you snake."
Turok barred his fangs, "This is how you treat your hosts, we welcome you in and you punch our leader in the face?" Turok moved toward Rex in an aggressive manner, one never to back down from a fight Rex stood his ground.
"Leader, Fives?" Rex asked, "Enough." Lord Asimov pushed them apart "Captain Syndulla control your crew, or I will."
Coming up beside Rex, Hera grabbed his arm "Not the time Rex."
"Agreed." Fives said still rubbing his jaw, "I will speak with you as soon as I've conducted my business with Lord Asimov and Captain Tano." Fives said.
Kanan pater Rex on the back "Come on buddy, let it go."
Finally relenting, Rex turned storming to another part of the Temple the rebels following. A silence filled the hall and Fives turned to the Jedi and Turok, "Is it always this exciting with the Specter's?" He asked.
Ahkilleon signed "Pretty much."
"Reminds me of the good old days with Skywalker." Fives snickered as he walked over to a nearby seat and sat down, "The ships are already on their way to our penial colony, the prisoners have been told they'll be transferred not to where exactly won't be easy getting all of them to cooperate."
Ahkilleon and Asimov stood in front of Fives as he was flanked by two of his Azure guards, the rest took positons at the entrances to the hall they were in. "You really think this will work Captain Tano?"
"I… I think- I know this will work General, will the empire accept peace no. But they'll have to take their men back, one planet over half a million P. . Even if the emperor has a special interest in Lothal he'd risk loosing control of the imperial senate and his own army if they refuse." Ahkilleon argued.
"Asimov?" Fives asked.
"The Empire cannot be trusted, this will be seen as a sign of weakness." Lord Asimov declared.
Ahkilleon didn't respond "And yet you supported him in the Union."
"My padawan teaches me just as much as I teach him, mercy is something to be admired not condemned." Lord Asimov said.
"We should start calling your Lord Enigma, the Vanguard will escort the prisoner fleet to Lothal, and sequestered additional ships to support you if things go south." Fives said as he got up and headed to the door "Now, how about a tour Asimov."
The Jedi Lord nodded and turned to his padawan, "See to your rebel friends."
Ahkilleon nodded and they split up, he found his Rebel Friends in a room down the hall where Rex was pacing, "I can't believe you punched him Rex." Ahkilleon said.
"Where is he?" Rex asked.
"On a tour of the Temple with my Master, Rex, he's the Supreme General of the entire Militia you were lucky his bodyguards didn't kill you." Ahkilleon snapped. They were inside a large room with many sofas and chairs, windows on the west side with a balcony overlooking the lush landscape of Raxus.
Zeb chuckled, "They don't look so tough."
"Not helping Zeb." Hera muttered.
Rex scoffed "He liked me junior, he-" "Did what he thought was best." Turok said, walking around the corner behind Ahkilleon.
"Do you just wait around corners to interrupt people Turok?" Ezra asked him, "No only you rebels." Turok grumbled looking at Rex who had daggers for eyes.
"I won't apologize for lying to any of you, or you lad. I did what I thought was right, so did Fives." Turok explained.
"I want to hear it from him." Rex snapped.
Ahkilleon held his hands up in front of him "And you will, after you calm down."
"Calm, calm oh I'm just fine it's not like one of my closet brothers is secretly alive and been hiding in the shadows for a decade in a half and comes back at the head of a massive army!" Rex barked.
Turok stepped forward "Not an army, a Nation."
"What?" Kanan asked.
Sabine looked back at the trandoshan "Yeah, what?"
Turok reached up for his pipe and pressed it between his lips lighting a match, "If your peace deal works lad, the Militia becomes more than a army we get legitimacy."
"Stars he's right." Hera said it by clicking "If the Imperial Senate agrees to peace terms, they aren't negotiating with a rogue element, no offense." Hera said as she looked to the others "That was your plan all along?" Hera asked Ahkilleon.
"I… want the war to end, same as all of you and if we do end it with the Militia, we can do more for the Rebellion, send more weapons, train troops, everything." he replied.
Hera frowned "Can I speak with you alone?" She asked.
"Got something to say, we can all hear it Captain?" Turok asked her, Ahkilleon held his hand up "It's okay Turok, I trust Hera."
Hera opened a door to the balcony and walked out, Ahkilleon followed her and shut the door, they overlooked the Temple and the surrounding landscape of Raxus, trees and mountains in the distance. "What did you want to talk about?" "Are you trying to become the Jedi King?" Hera asked bluntly.
Ahkilleon didn't respond to her direct question, "Do you believe you are?"
"My Master does," he replied.
"That's not an answer."
He looked back into the room where he saw everyone speaking among themselves, he walked over to the edge of the balcony "And if I am?" he asked.
"Then you could be putting yourself in even more jeopardy than you or Asimov realizes?"
"Lord Asimov has taught me much about Hera, more than just about being a Jedi but as a soldier, where I lead others in the Militia will follow." he told her.
She stood next to him even height but he was slightly taller in his armored greaves, "I know you believe in the Militia cause, but some of the Warlords you're fighting with were Separatist war criminals, Mar Tuuk, Lok Durd even Kanan has told me about General Kleeve. He sent assassins into the Jedi Temple-" "The Jedi Temple was a military Target, even I know that Hera."
She saw the intensity in his eyes "I know you all still see Ezra, Sabine and I as children but if I can make a difference, as more than just a soldier on the front lines I owe it to the Galaxy and to my parents legacy."
"Your parents, both of them died fighting in the name of democracy, a monarch… is the opposite?" she stated plainly.
He leaned on the railing "Was it not a monarch who founded the Republic, Empress Teta broke the rebels of the Mid rim territories and forced them into the Republic, with the help of the Jedi?" Ahkilleon asked.
"Those are legends, Ahkilleon." she pointed out "We all know legends have truth in them, my father prophesied a Jedi King would come and it's me." Ahkilleon said facing her.
"We don't know if he meant you?" She asked.
"My mom did, it's why she took every measure she could to keep me hidden from the Empire." Ahkilleon said as he held ups his hand he summoned some force lightning how Asimov had taught him "This Force in me, in Kanan and Ezra, it can change the course of entire worlds. On Ruusan I saw that force unleashed in terrible and wonderful ways. Politics destroyed the Jedi because we were too arrogant to not know we would fall to it."
Hera stared at him puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"The old Jedi Council cared only for the status quo, keeping the peace when that peace was a noose around thousands of worlds necks. Count Dooku was able to turn the Outer Rim's grievances against the Republic into war, the Emperor turned the war into a reason for the people to lose faith in the Jedi, the Militia has restored that faith to the people, and Lord Asimov has shown me the way."
Hera wanted to object but she "Lord Asimov has… changed in my opinion and that's not small part to you, if this peace plan works things will change."
"Yes." he said "For the better I hope." Ahkilleon said as he saw four clone war era Separatist supply ships flying overhead, the prisoner barges and their only hope to end the war.
LOTHAL
The Seventh Fleet led Armada
Grand Admiral Thrawn stood at the front of his bridge, his ship the Chimera was the pride of his fleet, a great Star Destroyer with his personal insignia painted on it's underbelly so that even when the people of the galaxy saw the symbol of the Empire's navy, it saw him. "Capital City has fallen, Grand Admiral, the Militia forces here have fled into the wilds, there are few smaller settlements holding out but we've severed aid from the second moon for now." Admiral Konstantine told him, Governor Pryce stood beside Thrawn and turned.
"At long last, Lothal is rightfully under the control of the Empire." she said.
"Do not consider our victory set in stone Governor, in my experience these Militia pushed to the edge, will do the extreme." Thrawn said to the others.
The doors of the bridge opened up and everyone but Thrawn turned around to see Grand Moff Tarkin walked in, Thrawn turned slowly as he entered with everyone stood for the Moff who walked past Governor Pryce and Admiral Konstantine to the helm of the ship to look out over Lothal "Another victory Thrawn, as expected." Tarkin said.
"I do only my duty to the Empire, Moff Tarkin." Thrawn replied.
"And the Emperor will be most grateful I'm sure, when can you expect the planet to be fully subdued?" Tarkin asked him.
Thrawn looked down at Lothal the planet still burning with fires raging over the great grasslands and beyond, in the distance poking out from behind the planet were the twin wolf moons, Black Wolf Moon still had canon fire breaking out from it's barren surface and there were even a few Militia ships still there. "Given the level of resistance this far, the Militia forces on Lothal abandoned the city rather then defend it, they won the planet with guerilla tactics, if we send a full scale invasion down on the planet could we create a quagmire?" Thrawn said.
"I leave this in your hands Grand Admiral-" the alarm started to sound when "What is it?" Admiral Konstantine demanded.
"Ships dropping out of hyperspace, Admirals." The crewmen who sounded the alarm said they looked out across the open stars by Lothal and a dozen Militia Vanguard fleet dreadnoughts and four massive barges in front of them. "Battle stations!" Admiral Konstantine ordered, the Imperial fleet twice that size.
Moff Tarkin held his hand up "Stand down Admiral Konstantine." Tarkin said calmly, "All ships, attack position, do not fire unless fired upon."
The Imperial Armada moved away from Lothal to intercept the Vanguard fleet, the Shatterpoint moved out over the barges and Konstantine tensed up, "Sirs, we're getting a communication from the enemy flagship."
Tarkin led the Imperial leaders to the holotable in the center of the bridge, "Put it through."
The hologram came forward to reveal Lord Asimov and Ahkilleon, Admiral Zygote stood beside them "The 'Lord' Asimov I presume?" Moff Tarkin asked.
"Moff Tarkin." Asimov said arms folded, "What do we owe the appearance of the Warlord Jedi?" Tarkin teased with a thin smile.
Lord Asimov grunted, "I bring an offer from the Militia Union, and a gift." Lord Asimov said as he gestured, the four barges appeared on screen "Four prisoner barges with over five hundred thousand Imperial prisoners of war removed from Raxus." Asimov said "We offer them back to the Empire, in exchange for a ceasefire to open negotiations for…. Peace." The last words were like bile in his mouth.
The Imperials looked at one another, "You are in no position to negotiate barbarian." Admiral Konstantine said.
"Silence." Moff Tarkin said thinking it over "And you would not come here just to make this offer, if Lothal was not already under our control." Tarkin said.
Asimov turned his head looking out his own ship at the planet, "If you say so, the conditions of this ceasefire include your forces leaving Lothal, immediately."
Governor Pryce sneered at that, and she then recognized Ahkilleon but said nothing, allowing Tarkin to scratch his chin "Send the prisoner barges, we will scan them and should this be true, we will consider it."
Asimov waved his hand again as if using the force to send the barges toward the Imperial fleet, the four barges flew toward the Star Destroyers and the rest of Tarkins entourage watched them move across the holotable, "All ships, target the four Militia vessels, scan them."
Thrawn eyed Tarkin as one of the crew scanned them and handed a datapad to Konstantine, "These ships are stocked the brim with life forms, all expect the bridge, no weapons, no shields Moff Tarkin."
"This is a trap." Pryce whispered to the Moff, "I disagree, this is unorthodox yes but if they truly are Imperial prisoners of war, the Empire must-" Tarkin held his hand to hush both of them.
"Fire." Trakin said.
"What?" Thrawn asked, "All ships, open fire on the barges."
The Imperial guns started to move and aboard the Shatterpoint Ahkilleon ran to the windows of the bridge sensing death "...no."
The entire Imperial Armada opened fire on the four prisoner barges, the ships metal hauls erupting inflames for all to see, Ahkilleon watched in horror as the Empire attacked their own prisoners of war. The ships exploding out and the bodies of white armored and black bodygloved stormtroopers, officers and more being spread out like sand in water, if the blast hadn't killed them the void of space had, it was over in a matter of seconds.
"Moff Tarkin, why?" Thrawn asked.
"Surrender is betrayal Grand Admiral, these soldiers would rather die then be used a bartering chips for our enemy, let this Militia see what it means to challenge the Empire's resolve." Trakin said.
Back aboard the Shatterpoint Ahkilleon was still looking in horror, Lord Asimov looked down at Lothal and Zygote asked "Do we attack?"
"No, Bloodwolf made his mess return to Raxus, we're done here." Lord Asimov said, he looked at his Padawan still watching the derby float around them, the hundreds of thousands of bodies floating in the stars "Should… should you not say something?" Zygote asked Asimov.
Lord Asimov turned away "This was his idea, his failure, he must accept it."
RAXUS
Temple Asimov
Ahkilleon finally stopped shouting and bowed his head, he needed to get his anger out and he saw his opportunity as four of Emesa's sentinel droids approached, they activated their lances and attacked Ahkilleon, he ignited his red and blue lightsabers taking off one's arms and cutting it in half. Another one attacked from the rear and he deflected to block another. The third one unleashed rapid thrusts with his lance and Ahkilleon backed up dodging and slashing at him. Ahkilleon backflipped, slashing the droid's head off before he stabbed another one in the face.
Ahkilleon tackled the last droid and smashed it mechano arms fist into its face over and over denting the metal and even breaking his mechano arm, the fingers mangled and crooked "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" He screamed out in the storm before sagged in the puddles of rainwater. The stone had darkened much like his mood, there was nothing but his own self hatred at his failure.
When his lungs gave out he sensed he wasn't alone, "Leave me alone Kanan."
"It wasn't your fault Ahkilleon." Kanan said behind him, Ahkilleon had dismantled the training droid before rising to face him holding his brown mechano arm "Isn't it?"
"Half a million men & women dead, prisoners I promised would be going home. And they…. Their own people killed them." Ahkilleon said, still barely able to believe it.
Coming out of the communication tower into the rain with heavy footsteps to sound his approach, Lord Asimov approached them and spoke "The Empire will spin this as a trick by us, that we destroy edthe prisoners ships to discredit us."
"I sent those men to their deaths, Master." Ahkilleon said out loud.
"No-" "Yes." Lord Asimov cut Kanan off, "But your intentions were noble, you tried to make peace with our enemy but now you can truly see Ahkilleon, the Empire must be defeated whatever the cost." Asimov told him walking past Kanan looking right at him.
"Whatever the cost." The apprentice repeated.
Kanan tried to hold his tongue "No, there's always a cost."
"And we will pay it, in blood Kanan, that is how I will train my apprentice. You can train yours however you want, now leave us." Lord Asimov said as he drew his lightsaber, he turned to Ahkilleon "Padawan, attack me."
Ahkilleon looked at his Mechano arm and tried to move his fingers, the joints fidgeted showing they wouldn't work, he remembered the spots on the forearm that he needed to press them and twisted the arm tossing it aside, summoning his blue lightsaber. He flipped its reverse grip and attacked Lord Asimov. Kanan didn't see them fighting but he could feel their intensity, the sound of their lightsabers clashing off one another but there was more he could sense. "The Empire seeks, war, we cannot shy away from it, we must be ready, we must fight." Lord Asimov said.
"Yes Master." With every strike, the anger that Ahkilleon felt, the self loathing wretch began to vanish. "There can be no doubt Padawan, the Empire is our enemy, they will show us no mercy even if we show them it, you must not falter."
"Yes Master." In the duel, the sparring, not the training Kanan felt Ahkilleon become focused, driven. Lord Asimov for all his faults had found a way to take the inner turmoil of Ahkilleon and channel it into something productive, even if it was training in combat, it was better than letting the toxic emotions fester.
Kanan turned around, and left the training arena as the rain pelted his visor. Walking up into the house he wiped the water out of his hair, where the others had been waiting "Kanan?" Hera asked, offering him a towel. He took it and wiped his face and beard dry, "It's war Hera, always has been."
"Where does that leave Phoenix Squadron?" Ezra asked.
THE NEXT DAY
Militia Union, Raxulon
The Gunship escorting Ahkilleon and Lord Asimov landed outside the Union, Ventus and Terro escorted them in, as they walked up the steps into the Union entrance "Our opponents will try to use this against us, Sovereign Destiny will become a target, and they will use this to push Neo Iron League into an alliance at our competence, it could even challenge the Jedi's place in the Militia High Command, she'll need the Neo Iron League to do that." Lord Asimov said as they stopped at the entrance, others were starting to go in.
"Because of me."
"Because of the Empire, you're not the first to try and negotiate with them, the Empire we can fight but politicians in our ranks are an entirely different enemy, they will use your own words of peace against you, do not rise to the empty threats, words cut deeper than lightsabers to their kind." Lord Asimov said as he spotted Voe Attell walking in with Tuuk, the nemodian Warlord was whispering to her as they entered.
Ahkilleon gulped "What will you say?"
"Only that we are prepared to fight, anywhere any time, but they will demand a response from you." Asimov said as they walked into the Union hall, everyone taking their seats.
"But you said not to rise to the empty threats?" Ahkilleon asked him.
Asimov led Ahkilleon to the Sovereign Destiny side and sat down "I did, but I also told you to never let any blow go unanswered."
Everyone started to take their seats in the hall and, Consul Kushi sat down and banged his gavel, "This session is called to Order, the Merchant Alliance has requested to have the floor first, Voe Atell may speak." The hall grew quiet and Ahkilleon watched Voe Atell rise and walk forward to the center of the room, she was dressed in her old Separatist senators garments, "I'm sure we all saw the news today, usually I'd celebrate dead Imperials but we're the ones suppose to kill them?" She said making her side stomp their boots and some even laughed.
"This is what happens not when you let Jedi enter politics, but children playing at war." Atell said looking at Ahkilleon, he felt everyone looking at him and knew the jab was obviously at him. Ahkilleon didn't speak, he waited for Atell to continue "This Union was established so that the factions of the Militia could govern itself better, but we have given our military wing and its Jedi overseers too much power. Just like the last war." She said.
"The war the jedi won." Lord Asimov said "And made way for the Empire, lest we forget." Voe Attell reminded, Asimov didn't rise but he did turn to the Consul.
"Consul Kushi our efforts to open negotiations with the Empire were sanctioned by the General, but we all knew it wouldn't last. The Empire has shown their true colors, they don't care about peace or even their own men." Lord Asimov got up after that "The Vanguard Fleet and the New Jedi stand ready to face whatever the Empire throws at us."
Their were many stomps and claps from Sovereign Destiny, Atell smiled "And how many worlds have you saved, you lost Serenno, Selucami had to be recovered by Admiral Tuuk, Ryloth was a catastrophe and Jabiim has already launched a guerilla insurgency against us. It's the Clone Wars all over again only we don't have any Clones?"
From the Neo Iron League, General Kleeve rose up "And tell me Senator, which side were you on?" Kleeve asked, walking out "The same side as you General Kleeve, the side fighting for freedom." She said promptly.
Kleeeve walked toward her "The Separatist alliance did fight for freedom, we fought the Jedi, we fought the clones and we fought well." Kleeve said General Gerrera and her daughter were the only one who didn't cheer with the Neo Iron League, Ahkilleon even saw the droid General Kalani sitting in the seat next to where Kleeve had sat. "Now we fight an evil greater than any that has faced the Galaxy, one that wiped out the Jedi, used their clone army to crush our fellow holdouts and we offered peace."
"He offered peace to our sworn enemy." Voe Atell pointed right at Ahkilleon, and he stood up, for a brief moment he said nothing seeing everyone look at him then his mouth moved without his brain thinking "Yes." he said "I offered them peace, and they blasted it into a star dust with their cannons." Ahkilleon said walking out.
"I wanted peace, I'm a soldier, I fight for a peace I may never see. I accept that, but not exploring every strategy is a fools gambit." He said.
"Sounds like cowardice to me?" Voe Attell asked him, Asimov rose slowly hearing that but Kleeve spoke first "Senator, I fought with Captain Tano, when he and a hundred of my best men were cornered like rats he led a charge so fearsome it broke the enemy lines just in time for our fighters to get through, if you call him coward you are calling me one?" Kleeve said to her, Atell met his gaze and then turned away.
She then refocused on Ahkilleon "So Captain, what is your next great proposal shall we ask nicely?" she asked, making her side jeer at him.
"I serve the Militia, whatever the Militia demands, I will see it done." Ahkilleon said turning his back to Voe and taking his seat.
"Consul." Senator Atell said turning to Kushi "I move this chamber to vote that all and every Jedi be removed from military command."
"Seconded." General Gerrera said standing, "The motion is put forward and seconded, we will vote." he hammered his gavel and the di was cast.