22bby - Toola campaign

The Whiphids of the Tundra world of Toola were on the whole tribal and nomadic. 

Their lives revolved around following the herds of mastmots between the geezers and hot springs, migrating to the briefly visible grasslands on the equator for the planet’s two month summer. These tribes were generally disunited, in a constant state of tension or conflict.

The small space ports had long existed outside their control, holding small colonies of offworld merchants. These ports were little more than remote trading posts, insignificant and the planet had thus largely been ignored. It lay within the Outer rim Nilgaard sector, solidly composed of Separatist systems. With the planet having no centralised control, the Separatists had thus assumed that use of Toola’s ports for stationing and resupply would be uncontested. 

However, in the course of 22bby the planet came to assume an unexpected importance. One of the Whiphid tribal leaders, Sortem Iko, rapidly rose to prominence. Two tribes were united under him after an inheritance dispute resolved by a challenge. More tribes appeared in alliance to him and a confederation was formed. Within a month he was master of the whole planet, and the Whiphids, dismissed by all as barely sentient, had wrested control of the space ports. 

Republic intelligence was quick to pick up the news, and the Jedi council persuaded the chancellor that this new planetary leader of their recognition and greater respect for his rule than would be shown by the Separatists. With the Whiphids in the Republic, or at least allied, the Republic would have a staging post within a sector they had so far discounted. 

The council decided that Asha, whose fleet was then patrolling in the outer rim, should be despatched to secure the planet. During his work outside the temple in the university, he had studied many societies, that some in the Republic would have considered primitive, but who had strong connections to the force. He had an understanding and respect that the council valued for this mission. Indeed Saesee Tiin, in recommending Asha, had also asked whether, to accomplish such a feat of control, Sortem Iko himself might not be force sensitive? Few Jedi ever stopped on Toola. 

The Jedi council thus authorised Asha to defend Toola against the Separatists. 

...

‘It is imperative,’ the hologram of Mace Windu instructed Asha, ‘that the Separatists not be allowed to land forces on Toola. The council recommends that you land your forces in the space ports, defend them against Separatist attack, and that way demonstrate to the Whiphids the Republic’s seriousness in protecting their sovereignty.’ 

Asha was concerned. 

‘Forgive me, but they might not take kindly to our military presence in the region. I agree that if we are to stand any chance of winning over their support, we have to demonstrate that we are able to protect them, surrounded as they are in the sector. But the Separatists will surely have started making their own overtures as well. We must not appear too presumptuous. I think it would be far better if I approach them first with a diplomatic mission.’ 

Windu considered his words. ‘It is up to you to decide what is best. But you must, at all costs, prevent Toola falling in to Separatist hands. Toola is a blind spot in the Separatist ranks, and we mean to make the most of it. That means you are to prevent Separatist forces landing with or without the support of the Whiphids. And if it turns out that the Whiphid confederation has made an alliance with the Separatists... then it is likely that if Sortem Iko was... removed, the Republic would still be able to occupy Toola’s space ports without much opposition.’ 

Asha’s heart sank. ‘I understand. I mean to exhaust the diplomatic solution first though.’ 

‘Fine, we will despatch a squad of Ceremonial Senate guard to give the right appearance.’ Master Windu flickered out.

Asha’s stomach was tight. He had not believed the council or the Republic capable of suggesting the violation of neutral Whiphid sovereignty, nor the assassination of their leader. It was of course important to gain a foothold in the sector, but wasn’t it all being fought for the purpose of democracy? To free these worlds from the grip of vested interests and trade cartels? At least he had the freedom to handle the situation however he chose. He hoped Sortem Iko was more receptive than his reputation suggested. 

...

Asha and Tara, wrapped in winter cloaks, boarded the gunship. The detachment of ceremonial senate guards was with them as they headed down to Toola. Scans had picked up no apparent Separatist fleet presence yet. The gunship headed down through the atmosphere and across the tundra, towards the site of the new permanent capital camp of Sortem Iko. 

Landing before the palisades of ice, they processed in with the senate guard. The buildings were made of shaggy hides stretched over large bones, with large mastmot tusks curving to form doorways. The Whiphid warriors and their families came out and stared at the procession with curiosity and suspicion.

They approached a hut constructed from the carcass of a gigantic mastmot. The Whiphid guards, carrying E5 blasters, blocked the procession, gesturing at the Jedis lightsabres. Asha and Tara handed their weapons to the Senate guards, and followed the Whiphids inside. 

Sortem Iko sat upon a mastmot skull covered in hides. He face was scarred and he stared at them with piercing eyes, leaning on a thick spear. He spoke ‘Who are you?’ 

...

Asha bowed low. 

‘Great chief, we are representatives of the Republic and have come to ask for an agreement with you.’ 

Sortem made no reply but waved his three fingered hand for Asha to continue.

‘The Republic recognises that you are surrounded by Separatist systems and they will want to use your space ports for their military. Make no mistake, wherever their droid armies go, they respect no sovereignty. They will not respect your rights in the ports, and if you resist, they will send their droids against you. We on the other hand, are keen to offer you either membership of the Republic or protection of your sovereignty against Separatist threats.’ 

‘And what would you have of us?’ He growled.

‘That you allow us to defend your space from the Separatists, and refuel in your ports.’ 

Sortem scowled. He raised his hand and waved it at them. ‘You will go and not return.’

Asha felt the chief pushing against his mind. ‘Great chief, mind tricks don’t work against us.’ 

‘Hm you are not as weak as the Karkarodon envoy,’

‘No chief, we are Jedi.’

‘Jedi,’ he snarled, ‘thegns, imprison them!’ 

The warriors surrounded them with blasters and spears. 

‘Wrong thing to say,’ whispered Tara. 

‘I see that!’ Asha retorted. 

‘Well, negotiations were quick.’

 ...

Asha and Tara found themselves bound by the wrists to the inner pole of a mastmot hide tent. 

‘This is not good master,’ Tara worried out loud, ‘when the Separatists find out the chief pulled a mind trick on them, they’ll be back! What if te Whiphids hand us over to them? How are we going to complete our orders and stop them landing if we’re prisoners?’ 

‘Don’t worry Tara, calm down and trust in the guidance of the force.’ 

‘Like you did back there?’ 

‘Yes, well I’m sorry about that. But we did discover that the chief is force sensitive. If we remain calm, I believe we’re still in control.’ 

‘How?’ 

Asha didn’t reply, but closed his eyes in deep thought. 

It was night outside now, and the Whiphids had all gathered around fires. 

Tara heard crunching in ther snow outside. ‘Listen,’ she said, but Asha only lifted a finger up to his lips. 

There was a quick flash and part of the hide wall fell open. Torch light blared in. 

‘I had a feeling you were here, sir.’

‘Captain Fordo,’ Tara whispered with great delight! 

The ARC troopers of Fordo’s squad cut them free and handed them their lightsabres. 

‘Quickly,’ beckoned Fordo. 

They wove their way through the dark parts of the town, dashing over the palisade as the sentries passed by. Fordo gave the signal and the Rancor mawed gunship appeared. They leapt aboard as the Whiphids raised the alarm, and were off, back to the fleet. 

‘How did you know where to find us?’ Tara asked Fordo. 

‘I think, somehow, General Putra was telling us.’

...

Asha, Tara, Commander Colo and Captain Fordo stood around a holo of Toola, a fleet of Separatist ships on its far side. It had only been a matter of time. By the Whiphids’ reaction, it seemed that they would now be more receptive to the advances of the Separatists than the Jedi, though the Separatists would not be keen to waste time. 

Asha knew, faced with the current situation, he had the authority of the council to do everything in his power to secure the ports. But he was uneasy, and this gave him a continued hope for the Whiphids. 

He gestured at the holo. ‘The Separatists are disembarking troops as Sortem’s camp comes round in the rotation. We can no longer stop them. Instead we are going to disembark our own troops outside the ports and between the droids and the Whiphids, while our ships and fighters prevent the Seps landing at the ports. I want at all costs not to have to fight the Whiphids or violate the ports. Our aim will be to demonstrate to them both our respect of them and our commitment and ability to defend the planet against the Seps.

The Seps will likely move to intimidate the capital and secure Whiphid support, before seizing the main port. 

Tara and Colo will take Sando battalion to the plains around Sortem’s camp. Fordo and Opee squad will move to deactivate the turrets around the camp, and then join me in the mountain pass which is the only access to the main port. If the Whiphids are hostile you may only fire to stun.

May the force be with you!’

...

With the light of the small sun creeping towards the capital, Fordo and the ARCs, equipped in their cold assault gear, skimmed across the dark tundra. The gunship’s lights illuminated the white ice, then flickered out as the palisades approached. 

At the corners of the Whiphids permanent capital camp, several solid gun turrets were installed. These had been bought from the last Separatist envoy. Now they posed the threat of being used to prevent Republic troops from landing on the plain. Desperately wanting to avoid a conflict with the Whiphids, such as the downing of several gunships would necessitate, the ARCs of Opee squad were to preemptively strike to destroy the turrets. They would thereby remove the possibility of escalation. 

The gunship, unnoticed in the early darkness, dropped down to deposit the troopers on the palisade. Running along the ice dyke, they attached detonators and deactivators to each of the towers. When a few Whiphid sentries disturbed them, they took them out with weak immobilising stuns, and dragged them out of blast range. 

At the last tower, with the sun rising, the alarm was raised, and they leapt into their gunship, firing off a hail of stuns into the pursuers. The gunship stepping up, Fordo quickly set off the deactivators, then the detonators. The turrets came tumbling down. 

...

The swarm of gunships hurtled through the still cold air as the distant sun rose. Tara watched Commander Colo as they made their descent. Through the slats she could already see the droid forces approaching, while on the other side, the smoke rising from the camp’s palisade spoke of the ARCs’ mission’s success. 

The gunships came to land in a line between both. The clones gripped their weapons tightly. The bay doors on the droid-ward side slid back. The rapid eruption of laser fire was instantaneous. The clones dived from the transports to take cover in the snow. Tara ignited her lightsabre and stepped out into the storm. 

The morning air was filled with laser fire. Various troopers worked to heap snow and ice up into hurried cover, while others dashed to unload their squad’s consignment of speeder bikes. Tara stood atop a snow drift, creating cover as Colo directed the battalion. 

Droid forces were heavy, but the battle droids were slow in the cold and ice, and the clones made the most of their cover. They were quickly thinned out. The clones got their wits together. Several droid landing craft pile be seen descending in the distance. 

‘Now the hunt begins!’ Tara said excitedly to Colo. 

...

Mid-morning, Asha and a squad of the Sandos were making their way along the mountain road to the main port, lugging with them a blaster cannon. Above them appeared a gunship. Asha ignited and waved his lightsabre. It landed in front of them, and they joined Opee squad on board. Taking off, they skimmed over the road. 

‘Clankers in sight, general,’ commed through the pilot. 

‘Very good, put us down.’

The gunship came down, and they disembarked on the unspoiled snow of the valley side. Several of the ARCs were now re-equipped with sniper rifles and rangefinders. They dug in on the hillside, while the Sandos erected the tripod and cannon in the road. Asha watched the distant creeping droids through his binoculars. 

The column of battle droids was led by two dwarf spider droids. ‘Aim for the eyes,’ ordered Fordo. The snipers leaned in. ‘Fire!’

The spiders collapsed where they were, blocking the narrow road for the column. 

‘Fire at will.’ The snipers began picking off the droids that attempted to move the wreckage. 

Two more spiders scuttled on the valley side past them. The snipers again fired, but missed the eyes, their shots bouncing of the carapaces. 

As they scuttled forwards the Sandos opened fire with their cannon. Their concentrated fire detonated one of the spiders, but the cannon on the other hit one of the clones. 

Asha slid down the snow bank, and leaping forwards, carved the remaining spider. He caught the fire of the again advancing droid column and fell back, sniper shots flying past him. 

...

The combined fire of the ARCs and cannon ground the droids to a slow crawl. Battle droids littered the road. But here was the column of shining Supers. They did not fall so fast, and their fire forced the clones to ground. 

As they came closer, Asha called back to Fordo, ‘Fall back.’

Fordo gave a signal. Their gunship bobbed up from behind the hills. It hurtled forwards, strafing the droids and unloading a payload of detonators across the column. Fordo clicked the remote. Explosions ripped through the droid column. 

The gunship appeared back through the smoke, dropping down to the road, where the clones rushed aboard. As the next wave of droids hobbled through the smoke and mounds of wreckage, they took off, sending a last hail of shots down the road. 

 ...

Tara surveyed the Tundra horizon through her electronoculars. The tundra stood out bright against the darkening sky. The biker company around her was waiting on her signal. A cloud of snow nearby indicated Commander Colo’s scout party returning. 

‘We’ll wait to see what Colo has to say. At ease.’

Her bikers dismounted, chatting and taking on rations. She continued to survey the horizon. 

Colo pulled up beside her. 

‘Commander, we’ve spied a large contingent of clankers moving up the river bed on the capital,’ Colo gestured beyond the horizon, ‘we should move soon to head them off.’

Tara wriggled in her seat, terribly saddle saw after the day’s riding across the barren wastes. They had engaged several droid STAPs and probes, but nothing more. Now night was falling and battle called. 

‘Let’s go.’ 

‘Mount up!’

They sped through the night. All around them was white and ghostly. The torch lights of two STAPs flickered out ahead of them. Quick as a flash Colo had downed one with a pistol. Several clones fired their bikes and a second flash reported a hit. Scouts downed, they sped on.

They came to a halt overlooking the frozen river bed. Tara switched her electronoculars to infrared. Three AAT tanks were leading the large column. Silently Colo signalled for detachments to spread out along the banks, while Tara’s contingent moved down to the stream. 

...

As the droids approached, the tanks began to fire on the clones in the valley. Tara put her foot down. The bikers sped forwards, tank shells flashing around them. Rapidly approaching, the first bikers tossed detonators and veered back round. One of the ranks crashed down. Tara ignited her sabre. 

The bikers flashed between the tanks. Tara’s blade sliced through the engine of one and she sprang from her bike onto the last. She sliced open the tank lid. A passing clone tossed her a grenade, she dropped it and sprang onto the back of another bike. A wave of heat told of the tanks’ demise. 

The ranks of bikes crashed into the droids’ column. Tara was on the ground, slicing around her, as the bikers turned about firing. But clone casualties started to mount. 

‘Get back here,’ Colo commed. Tara leapt up on a riderless bike and gave the signal. 

Fleeing back down the river, the droids slowly pursued, picking their way over the wreckage. Laser fire hit them from all sides as the clones fired down from the banks and Tara’s men, dismounting, fired across their saddles. Soon the droids were beating a retreat. 

The Sandos pursued, encircling and harrying them from the backside. By dawn the river bed was strewn with wreckage. 

...

With Republic forces having landed and engaged the enemy, Asha’s fleet of Venators, Thunderer, Defiance, and Unity, moved into the atmosphere to defend the main port against the larger Separatist fleet. In the morning they drove off a tentative probe by several frigates.

The next day the Separatists made a more serious attack, but this was again beaten off, though the loss of clone fighters was significant.

The following evening saw a determined encircling attack. Unity suffered a crippling blow, but managed to land in the port. Without support, Thunderer and Defiance were also forced down into defensive positions

Hovering low over the port, they turned their turrets to aerial defence, with their fighters working hard to hold their position. Unable to break them, but with the fleet now holed up in port, the Separatist fleet started jamming Republic communications.

Travelling in the ARCs’ gunship, Asha received a haltering holotransmission from the Thunderer’s captain. ‘Ou.. ..gnals.. re.. jam..d’

‘Transmit this message to the nearest Republic waves,’ Asha shouted at the juddering hologram, ‘This is General Asha Putra, we are stranded on Toola and in need of reinforcements, we are hard pressed, but,’ the hologram snapped out. He tapped the commlink. No connection. He hammered it again. ‘Tara come in. Commander Colo come in.’ No answers.

He looked up at Fordo. The clones stared at him. ‘We’re on our own now.’

The gunship put them down again on the road, and they set up their positions to ambush and slow the droid columns as they had each day. Again, as they came on, bringing an AAT tank up now, Fordo signalled back the gunship.

It came back along the road. But suddenly shadows fell across them. A swarm of vulture droids. Rockets flew across the valley, catching two clones, and forcing the gunship to veer off course. It came about, but the droids were pursuing it with harassing fire, and the gunship evaded again.

‘Abort lift,’ cried Asha, seeing them soon entirely without transport.

Fordo gave the signal. The gunship turned and bombed back up the road, taking the vultures with it.

...

The day after having destroyed the first column of droids, Tara, Colo and the Sandos again scoured the tundra for more heading on the capital. Tracking footprints in the snow, they caught up with a large detachment of Supers.

In the midday sun the clone bikers encircled them, firing. But the droids put up stiff resistance. Another contingent of droids caught up with them, with tanks and massed STAPs they began inflicting heavy casualties on the clones. ‘Pull back,’ Colo recommended to Tara and she gave the order.

At a distance they took down pursuing STAPs and regrouped. Throughout the afternoon they continued mounting increasingly tentative attacks on the advancing droids, harassing them, but unable to commit to cause significant damage.

‘This is no good,’ bemoaned Tara, ‘we don’t stand a chance against these numbers, and the other clanker columns are advancing elsewhere unhindered.’

‘If I might suggest commander,’ proposed Colo, ‘we stand our best chance and can make the most of our bikes. We could split up and send out companies to locate and harass the droid columns.’

‘Good plan! I’ll take a company and try and sense where the other columns might be.’

Tara sped off with a detachment of bikers as the sun began to set from its short daylight journey. Tara was very cold, having been outside with just the bike for the last two days. She was worried about meeting another heavy droid column, worried about not completing her mission and scared of losing the men entrusted to her. She felt these thoughts clouding her senses, and she tried to be courageous and push through them.

...

They found another column of Supers, and throughout the night constantly harassed them. STAP scouts occasionally appeared, forcing them to peel off. The droids put up a tough defence, and they could rarely get near enough to inflict significant damage. Still they slowed them and whittled down their numbers. 

There was no rest for them that night, and in the morning, Tara, exhausted, sent two of the clones to scout the droids’ route ahead. Finding a forested ravine, Tara and her company quit the droids and joined them.

Some rested, other planted detonators. They waited throughout the afternoon, taking it in turns to go out, report on the droids’ progress and launch tentative attacks. Having reported her plans to Asha and Colo, Tara leant back on her bike, moored against a tree, and rested. But as she closed her eyes, her comm beeped. She answered. The image of the Thunderer’s commander appeared, crackling and hazy.

‘Ja-m-d,’ was all she made out. She tapped, trying to reestablish contact. Then she tried contacting Asha, becoming increasingly frantic. Nothing. She tried Colo. Her heart was racing. No good.

She raced through the snow to where the company sergeant was tapping his own comm.

‘Commander, we’ve lost contact with the scouts.’

‘They’ve jammed us.’ She stared across the frozen wastes, night closing in.

...

Committing to remain in position, Tara’s company sent out several scouts to try and locate the other members of Sando battalion scattered across the Tundra. Tara was trying to turn to the guidance of the force, but her panic was overwhelming.

Their objectives seemed very far from hand, the battalion in her charge, scattered and broken across the frozen wastes, as the droids just walked on the capital. All they could do, as the Sergeant assured her, was complete the current mission, and ambush to approaching column.

The sun was again fading, and the resented cold encroaching. Bikes and blasters were ready. Tara went back to try and rest, before the cold made it impossible.

She woke with a start, a cold hand covering her mouth. She felt for her lightsabre. It had been removed from her side, but she sensed it in the snow through the darkness. It leaped up into her hand and she ignited it. At the flash of light the great hairy arms dropped her.

She spun round. Several large Whiphids with spears and blasters squinted against the bright light, but quickly turned to rage. One leapt at her, and she carved his spear in two, remembering Asha’s orders not to harm them. Two clones were now at her side. She deflected a blaster shot into the snow and the clones fired stuns at the Whiphids. One clone dropped from a shot, before the final warrior was stunned.

The clones dashed to bind the stunned Whiphids. Tara knelt by the clone in the snow. Dead. In the falling darkness she felt overwhelmed by despair. They could not stop the droids, and now Sortem Iko had decided to send out hunting parties to track them down.

She tapped uselessly for Asha on the commlink. She repeated his words to herself, ‘trust the force.’

 ...

Rigging the valley and their discarded cannon with detonators, Asha, Fordo and the ARCs had closed the road with a snow drift and given themselves a head start to get back to the port. Evacuation in what remained of the fleet was all that was left to them. Asha was desperately worried for his padawan, but this made him more determined to follow the guidance of the force. He tried to sense through the clouds, but his fear held him back.

Coming to a metal bridge, erected by the merchant colonists over a crevasse field, they laid their last explosives across it. With the droids visible on the road behind them, they waited. The ARC snipers shaved them down as they advanced. As the droids crossed the bridge, Asha stood at the end deflecting their shots. With the column over half way, he stepped back. Fordo gave the signal.

They blew the bridge. It crumbled down into the crevasse field, droids flying with it, causing more explosions. Good. That would take the Separatists at least a day to replace, long enough for them to get ahead and evacuate the port.

It took them another day to reach the port. But when they arrived, they were disappointed to find the fleet holed in port. Separatist frigates floated all around in the air. The last clone fighters fought a desperate battle to fend off the droid bombers. Indeed, as Asha and the clones approached the port, they found themselves sprinting, hyena bombers pursuing them.

With the droids all around them, there was no evacuation. There was not even any getting to Tara. By the side of the port’s dark steaming street, Asha sat and meditated, giving up all his concern to the will of the force, trusting that it would guide Tara.

...

Tara’s ambush of the droid column was a brief success. The charges ripped through the ranks of supers, sinking a tank, while she took out a second herself. The clones’ fire from the forest scythed down ranks of battle droids. But another column, close on the heels of the first, brought a heavier defiance. Again, the clones were forced to run.

The scouts that had been sent to find Colo returned as they were mounting. Colo had found most of the other detachments and was falling back on the capital-camp to make a last stand against the advancing droids. Tara’s company sped to join him. What awaited them there was a mystery. Whether or not the Whiphids had cemented an alliance with the Separatists, it was their last hope.

In the early morning the Sando bikers massed on the plains before the capital. Colo and Tara shot up and down, partly surveying the field, partly in furious and frustrated anticipation. The droid columns soon came, dark against the Tundra, five on the horizon. Behind them the smoke and steam of the Whiphids’ campfires rose.

Suddenly they saw the great gates of the ice palisade open. Out poured large bands of armed Whiphids. They massed before their camp, filling the air with their bellowing war chant.

Colo looked down at little Tara, ready, at her order, to commit his battalion to die. But her face, that had been so contorted with anxiety, was now stilled by peace.

‘Commander Colo, hold the clankers off as long as you can. I must do this.’

She floored her bike, speeding towards the Whiphids. As she came close they did not fire but stared in curiosity. She slid from the saddle and approached the huge warriors on foot.

‘I want to speak with the great chief, Sortem Iko!’    

 ...

The force guided Tara. She felt its pull strongly. Staring at the child before them, the Whiphid warrior moved apart to let her pass. She crossed through the bands and under the great mastmot tusks of the camp gate. She strode through the camp and to the door of the great hide tent.

The guards did not stop her as she walked inside, throwing down her lightsabre in the snow. In the dark and musty tent, Sortem Iko looked up at her, clutching a bone beaker.

‘You have lost Jedi!’ he growled, ‘imprison her.’

She bowed. ‘Let me plead my case great chief.’

Intrigued by her calm, he signalled to leave her be.

She did not know what she was going to say, but she saw clearly through the force now.

‘Great chief, we have been fighting hard, and have kept back the overwhelming forces of our enemies for days. But there are now too many of them, and the Republic will not send us more forces unless they are assured of your goodwill. We have not harmed any of your people, even when you sent your warriors to hunt us. We have fought to defend you, and have successfully defended your camp and space port. You can see that we can defend you.’

Tara got on her knees, the force guiding her. ‘I ask now that you let us defend you.’

...

Sortem Iko gazed at her with piercing eyes. A deep rumble crept from his throat. Tara felt his resistance like a cloud.

‘I am immune to your mind tricks Jedi!’

Tara got to her feet.

‘Great chief, I would not so insult you! I know that you too possess an understanding, though it is dark to you, and you do not really know what it is. But we Jedi do know it. It is called the force and it lives in and moves all things. Some children have a special connection to it. I was one of them, and so were you. The Jedi found me and taught me how follow its guidance and use it for good. They never found you, but the force has still helped you unify your people. Perhaps it was the force that guided us here to you, so you could know more about it.‘

He stared at her a while from between his tusks, and she stared back in earnest. 

He smiled. 

‘You are strong little one, and your warriors are brave. Your enemies are machines, but Whiphids value courage. You have shown great honour in your respect of us. My warriors will not attack you. Indeed, now I will rescue you!’

He stood. His attendants brought him his armour and gave him a thick spear and a blaster. Out he strode, his warriors around him. Tara ran after them, scooping up her lightsabre from where she had cast it down in the snow.

Emerging through the tusk gates, Sortem Iko raised his spear and bellowed. The roar was taken up by the whole host of Whiphid warriors, and they advanced. Tara ran for her bike, speeding off towards the embattled clone lines. She waved her sabre above her head and in joyful excitement hollered at the top of her voice!

...

Asha looked up at the sky, a bristling fleet of Separatist frigates dropping through the atmosphere to mount a last attack on his crippled venators. So, this is how it ended. The brave troopers of Sando battalion, broken on the frozen surface, dying for his proud ideals, respecting the Whiphids in all their apathy and hostility until the end. Maybe it had been the arrogance of an idealist against the realities of war, and in the end the Whiphids would still suffer. There was no going back now.

The droid fighters rushed down to engage the last of the Sandos’ fighters. What was that now, the snap, snap, snap, of more ships leaping from hyperspace above the atmosphere. Asha suddenly force grabbed Fordo’s electronoculars and stared. Those were venators, a whole fleet of them!

A hologram sprang up from his neglected comm.

‘This is general Plo Koon.’

‘Master, this is Asha Putra, I read you!’

Caught from front and back, the Separatist frigates took heavy damage and raced to flee the atmosphere. Gunships shot forth from the new ships hanging in the atmosphere. Asha and Fordo leapt into the ARC’s gunship and signalled for Plo Koon and the wolfpack to follow.

They headed for the plains.

‘Master,’ Asha signalled, ‘we’ve lost contact with the rest of the battalion, our last hope is to stop the droids taking the capital-camp.’

‘Take a look Putra,’ came Plo Koon’s reply.

Asha looked out of the open gunship. Shots flashed across the distant tundra, and explosions spoke of battle. He tapped his comm.

‘Tara?’

‘Master!’ What incredible relief. ‘The Whiphids are with us and we’ve got the tinnies on the run.’

...

As the gunships landed, the battle was almost over. Sando bikers took after the last droid holdouts, with a wing of the wolfpack detaching to help them. Asha stepped from the ship, sighing with relief at the sight of tall Plo Koon in his winter cape. His heart pounded as he saw Tara skim up to them on her bike, and it skipped a beat when he saw Sortem Iko dismount from behind her.

The Jedi bowed as the high chief approached. He touched his heart in respect.

‘You are alright?’ Asha blurted.

‘Yes, yes,’ Tara was beaming, ‘great chief Sortem Iko wishes to enter into an alliance with the Republic.’

‘That it is good news!’ Plo Koon gestured to Asha and the Whiphid, ‘let us confirm an agreement.’ As they turned to the camp, he bent beside the padawan, ‘well done little Tara!’

Sortem Iko signed an agreement with the Republic, offering use of his space ports, and even his own resources towards resupply and repairs in exchange for Republic protection. Asha’s commitment to the Whiphid’s sovereignty, noted Plo Koon, had won for the Republic not just a base but an ally.

After this the high chief bombarded the Jedi with questions about the force. By the end of their stay he was levitating multiple small objects.

With Sando battalion regrouped and their ships repaired, Asha and Tara set out back for Coruscant. Asha sat with Tara.

‘How did you persuade Sortem Iko to join us?’ he asked.

‘The force guided me, as you said it would. I didn’t know what I was going to do or say, but I wasn’t afraid because I knew I was following it. Your respect for them impressed him, and learning about the connection to the force, which he shares, softened him.’

‘You have done very well, and I am very proud.’

She beamed.