Mission to Denalia Prime | Chapter 6

Mission to Denalia Prime
Chapter VI

For being led by an elderly Denali, the walk to Niajin was surprisingly long. The Denali chief led the way with many more Denali around him. Barriss, Ahsoka, and the Clones followed closely behind. The Clones were very happy to see that they were leaving the acklay and many of the Denali warriors behind.

The acklay camp was a lightly wooded area and they seemed to be heading further towards the edge of a forest. The trees were still titanic in scale reaching far above the clouds, but were becoming fewer and fewer, giving way to the sight of the sky above. Night was fast approaching and the Clones couldn't help but continually stare up at the Separatist frigates that were becoming visible in the waning light. With the lack of trees providing a canopy, the ships in orbit were finally visible without any technical assistance like Rex’s binoculars. It had been two hours since Rex observed Luminara's retreat from the battle. They had, at most, one more hour before the clankers would start landing their troops. Gree hypothesized that the Seps were waiting on a supply ship to join the blockade in orbit above Denalia Prime.

As they walked, Ahsoka and Rex debriefed each other on what had occurred since their separation. It took only a few minutes for Ahsoka to describe the river ordeal and the acklay ride. She was very eager to hear what happened to Rex and the other troops. "We didn't know if you were going to be able to join the fight, Commander," Rex continued. "With the acklay closing in, I had to make a choice. We were about to be overrun and your survival is more important than ours."

"Rex, your survival is just as important as mine. No life is more important than another," Ahsoka said smiling. It was a talk they'd gone back and forth on ever since they met on Christophsis, but Rex insisted that the Jedi were more valuable. Strategically, he was right. Morally, he was wrong.

"Nevertheless, I am sorry for trapping you and Commander Offee in that cave. Collapsing the entrance was the only way I could think of to keep the acklay from getting to you," Rex continued getting caught up in his apology.

"It's alright Rex. We're all here and still breathing," Ahsoka reassured him. She rested her hand on his shoulder as they walked. It was a gesture of friendship and trust that most Jedi wouldn’t normally do, but Ahsoka wasn’t a normal Jedi. She was his friend; a result of Skywalker’s teachings if anything. "What happened next?"

Rex took a long sigh and then explained. "After collapsing the cave entrance, the acklay charged us and we had no room to maneuver. Hardcase got a shot off with his rocket launcher and took the closest one out, but it was too close. The explosion sent us all to the dirt. Tup, Hardcase and Gree were out cold. Dura, Jesse and I were disoriented from shell shock. We were bait for the remaining acklay, but then they stopped attacking. The Denali found us, probably from hearing Hardcase's explosives, and with some odd-sounding commands stopped the acklay."

The Clone captain continued to shake his head in disbelief at the Denali's control over the beasts. "The acklay stood there only meters from us and didn't move. The Denali that seemed to be in charge shouted something else and the acklay withdrew. I'd never seen anything like it. We thought they were allies, but as soon as the acklay were gone they turned their spears on us. We were in no condition to fight, so they took our weapons and armor. We didn't really recover until we were in that cage you found us in."

Ahsoka pondered for a moment before responding. "Their beastmastery is unusually strong. It bears similar resemblance to a Jedi's ability to control or manipulate animals through the Force."

"You think they are Jedi, Sir?" Rex asked.

"No," Ahsoka replied while looking deep in thought.

Barriss then chimed in with one of her 'did you know' facts that was surprisingly relevant for once. "I read in the Jedi Archives not too long ago about native Felucians. They, as a species, have a strong connection to the Force. They don't use it directly like Jedi do though. It's more passive, like an ability to sense danger, understand wildlife and grow crops. Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, there have been reports that they can even domesticate rancors. It's possible that the Denali are similar in that way."

Ahsoka agreed. "Rancors aren’t as impulsive and intelligent as acklay, but that would explain their ability to control the acklay while the acklay still clearly have an independent and wild spirit about them. I wonder…"

"Commander?" Rex asked not sure if Ahsoka was aware that she didn't finish her comment.

"I think we're finally arriving at our destination," Ahsoka announced.

A Denali woman walking near them turned back towards Ahsoka. "You hear Niajin? You hear like Denali!" She seemed amused, but it confirmed Ahsoka's guess.

Ahsoka looked around to see Barriss and the Clones all looking very curious and clueless. "I hear drums slowly getting louder. You should hear them soon." Ahsoka smiled feeling a little more special than usual.

Barriss grinned and referenced their earlier conversation. "Definitely better than having to manage hair. I'm only just now starting to hear drums."

"Yeah," Ahsoka replied, "but the cries of the acklay at close range are torture for my montrals."

"There's a bonfire up ahead." Commander Gree pointed forward.

The same Denali woman who had spoken before pointed to the fire in the distance which was also where the drums sounded like they were coming from. "We go to Niajin. Chief talk to Jedi."

"Finally." Ahsoka replied bluntly.

---

Niajin was apparently the fulcrum of the Denali civilization on Denalia Prime. There was a large bonfire in the center with countless huts or dwellings stretching out in every direction. Trees that were a bit smaller than those seen previously shot up here and there amongst the settlement along with large, rust-colored rock formations. On each side of the central bonfire were pairs of trees with large drumheads stretched between them. It was unclear what the drums were made out of, but what was more interesting was how they were being played. A Denali stood to the side of each of the two drums and they were throwing stones across the bonfire at the drum opposite of them respectively. The stones struck the drums hard enough to bounce back across the fire to the Denali. It was like a beautiful juggling act as the Denali musicians threw the striking stones across the fire and caught them as they returned.

As the Jedi and Clones followed the Denali chief towards the bonfire and performance, Barriss and Ahsoka couldn't help but notice all of the art surrounding them. The trees had beautiful carvings all through the trunks, the huts and dwellings were covered in illustrations of everything from landscapes to Denali faces and stones were carved into intricate sculptures. They were learning more and more about the Denali culture and were beginning to truly appreciate how different they were from others in the galaxy. While their spear weapons were primitive and crude, their artwork had a level of sophistication and craftsmanship that transcended most other cultures. It was becoming very clear what the Denali valued most.

The group of travelers encircled the bonfire and seemed to be sitting down for their continued talk. The chief made a few gestures towards the Clones that didn't look particularly friendly and Barriss interpreted it as something about disapproval. So, she ordered the Clones to sit further back from the fire behind them as they sat down near the chief. The chief seemed to approve. Barriss smiled and whispered to Ahsoka. "I think I'm getting a handle on their sign language."

"One more language. What's one more to the dozen you already know? Just some light evening study…" Ahsoka playfully mocked Barriss' talent for xenolinguistics.

"I have to do something while you're busy drooling over the beastmastery of acklay." Barriss retorted.

Their playful banter would've probably persisted for a long while, but the chief raised his hand to silence everyone nearby. "Jedi talk." They were all sitting around the fire which was just a little too tall to see over from a seated position. Ahsoka and Barriss, who were sitting to one side of the chief, looked at each other briefly before silently deciding that Barriss should start. The Mirialan Padawan stood up to address the chief, but he motioned for her to sit again.

Barriss sat back down next to Ahsoka and pivoted in her seat to address the chief. "As Jedi, we wish to keep the peace on your world, but we need your help. The Separatists threaten your world and we need a base to maintain your sovereignty."

The chief scowled. "What do Separatists want?"

"They wish to take control of your world, Denalia Prime, and use it as a base to launch attacks on other worlds." Barriss answered.

"They want what you want; a base. Why should we choose Jedi?" The chief replied simply.

"We wish to defend you and keep the peace on your world. The Separatists won't ask. They will take your world and do whatever they want with it." Barriss tried to keep the negotiation simple. The Denali were surprisingly advanced culturally despite their technologically primitive civilization, but their understanding of the Clone Wars was debatable.

The chief seemed to be in deep thought for a long while. He then finally replied. "Jedi, you say, are peacekeepers. You fight for peace, yes?"

"Yes, we only fight in order to bring the war to an end. We strive to keep the peace in the galaxy." Barriss wasn't sure where this was going, but she hoped that honesty would guide the way.

"So, Jedi are same as those men. Jedi are warriors." The chief didn't seem to be confused so much as trying to prove a point.

"No," Barriss answered. "We are peacekeepers. We maintain the peace, and only fight to end fighting."

The chief sighed. "You do not stop fire with fire. You do not stop water with water. You do not stop fighting with fighting. Jedi think peace opposite to war? No. You want base to fight Separatist. Separatist want base to fight Jedi. Separatist and Jedi same. No base."

Barriss took a long, deep breath and sighed. This negotiation was not going to be a short one.

---

Meanwhile aboard the Tranquility, Luminara Unduli was finishing her directions to the helmsman. Admiral Hodgens had been waiting patiently for an explanation and seemed to finally be getting one. As soon as Luminara turned away from the helmsman, Hodgens addressed her. "Sir, if I may ask, where are we going?"

"To the battle above Denalia Prime, Admiral." Luminara answered simply. She then addressed the bridge. "Divert all power to the forward turbolaser batteries and the remaining power to the forward deflector shields."

"General, we have not repaired the damage to the Tranquility nor have we received reinforcements. Returning to battle is suicide!" Admiral Hodgens was growing increasingly nervous.

Luminara turned to the helmsman. "How long until we've completed our last segment of our hyperspace maneuver?"

"Only a few minutes left, General," the helmsman answered.

The Mirialan Jedi Master finally gave Admiral Hodgens her full attention, complete with the authoritative gaze of a teacher. "Let this be a lesson in not only patience, but trust, Admiral Hodgens. I can seek your approval and keep you informed on every decision that I make if you so desire, but keep in mind that if I had done so earlier, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Those hyena bombers would've killed us both."

"Yes, General. I do understand, but-" Hodgens tried to stand his ground, but was cut off.

"When I am not on board, I need to place all of my trust in you to command this fleet," Luminara continued. "I trust you, Admiral Hodgens. You haven't earned it, but you have it because I can't spend my time constantly second-guessing or requiring explanations for your decisions as a commander. I trust you to do your job. Trust me to do mine."

The admiral was speechless. He had no retort or continued argument. Satisfied with the effect of her lecture, Luminara returned her attention to the helmsman. He updated her on their progress. "Any moment now," he said as he pointed to the front of the bridge.

"Bow turbolaser batteries, prepare to fire!" Luminara ordered to the bridge. The Tranquility finished its complex hyperspace maneuver. It jumped out of hyperspace and was immediately joined by the rest of the fleet, but not in a position that any Separatist droid or commander was prepared for. "Fire!"

The entire Republic fleet had exited hyperspace directly above the Separatist fleet with their bows faced directly down towards the planet. The Separatist frigates and the supply ship that just joined the blockade were prepared to fight ships in front of them, not above them, and were positioned level with the planet below them. Artificial gravity generators took a lot of energy and it was more efficient to use the planet's gravity instead when in a blockade formation. Blue laserfire rained down on them like a meteor shower. "Aim for the bridge of each ship!" Luminara ordered.

Admiral Hodgens was baffled by the tactic. The Separatist munificent frigates had most of their heavy cannons mounted on the underside of the ships which made orbital bombardment very easy, but it left the top of the ships mostly defenseless. One by one, the ships broke apart and were destroyed during their helpless attempt to reposition their defense. Hodgens stood alongside Luminara and spoke with new humility. "My sincerest apologies for doubting you, General."

Luminara turned the young admiral with a warm smile. "No apology necessary. Commanders too often forget that we are in space. They try to orient their fleets and strategize on a two-dimensional battlefield with the planet fixed below them. Space is three-dimensional and there is no up or down. The hyperspace maneuver took longer than I'd hoped, but I'm glad to see that it worked and that we got back before they could land their troops."