No point in the sabre? That is still the most dangerous weapon on this planet, in the hands of a Jedi, you know! It just loses its defensive edge here.
---
Both sides are lined up in the ruined north quarter of the city.
The Zeitonian council member Jeren'Toc steps forwards on behalf of the defenders. (this convo is in the native language but it can be translated by others for you)
"People of Zeiton!" he calls out. "What is this senseless slaughter? Would we tear down our anicent civilisation for the sake of mere demagogues and rabble rousers? Look what we have done to our city! If we all lay down our arms now, there will be no recriminations, simply the effort to re-build!"
Shi'Haia, for the aggressors, comes forwards also.
"Don't try and fight us with mere words, Jeren'Toc! The lies you wish to perpetuate have done nothing but enslave our people!"
"I speak no lies! We no longer recognise the authority of our doddering Elder! We see the truth of things, of the Galaxy, and of the Force!"
"Hah!" says Shi'Haia. "Yet you are blind, as you seek to fetter us in unseen chains. Too long have we skuled beneath the surface, trapped on this dying world, left to die like wounded animals. No more! We now ally ourselves with the piwer that will free us! The Sith will lead us to victory!"
"You fool, Shi'Haia!" cries out Jeren'Toc. "The Sith will only bring you death and enslavery of a sort you cannot even envisage! They are your doom, not your saviours! Only the Jedi can be our salvation now! Our people must turn to them!"
"Oh really?" says Shi'Haia. "Because look what they have done for us before! Did the Sith plan to leave us locked up down here for all eternity? No! The Jedi are the jailers of the Force, the Sith are those who will free us to take our place in the Galaxy! Zeitonians, the Sith bring us freedom! Tear down this old order, and build one that will be a monument to the might of Zeiton!!" There is a huge cheer from his side, and they start to charge forwards.
"Engage them," says Jeren'Toc. "Set your weapons to stun, don't hurt them unless you have to!"
Shi'Haia just snorts. "Annihilate them all," he says, simply.
As you feared, the Dark Siders are not interested in negotiation. Battle is re-joined.
Kinetic blaster, Kosta! Only Xeth is carrying a sonic weapon. Blimey, it's flashy going in this war, isn't it?
The fighting is getting increasingly desperate. The combatants joining each side now number about a million in the city. Whole blocks are being torn down and destroyed.
But you seem to be getting the upper hand in this part of the city. You are driving them back!
Can we all do our "Come back Gundy?" wishes?
(sorry gang - damned real life again. here comes the calvary)
Kellan fought alongside her companions, Jedi and Zeitonian alike, shaking her head in frustration at Shi'haia's manipulation at the hands of Kuylen. Elbow to elbow with Marcus, she did her best to avoid actually killing any of the combatants on the other side, utilizing the Force over her blade to attempt to drive their opponents back.
The war intensifies, as your combined effort drives the insurgents back. Soon you re-claim this sector, though there is no immediate hope of repair for the transit tunnels which have been very much blown away at this end.
However, there are a dozen other sectors to worry about and you only won ehre because you have concentrated your forces- where the other side is concentrating theirs, you cannot tell.
"I don't see that we have any choice other than to press on sector by sector," says Jeren'Toc. It is hard to disagree.
And so the fight puishes on. Gundy, not used to such intense contunuous fighting, you hang back for a bit, on a slope in the vast cave (seeming more like a hill, with buildings and streets and walkways on it), giving you a good view of half the city. Burning, screaming, dying.
And suddenly things feel very wrong.
It's the war raging around you, Gundark. You do not think you have ever been in the midst of such large scale conflict. You take a step forwards, and nearly trip over a dead Zeitonian on the ground.
You remember the first dead Zeitonians you saw, when being escorted back after your trial.
"Two dead. How many more?"
The words of the Elder come back to you. Now, thousands more already. More than that perhaps. They seem to be rining true now.
But not your fault, surely? This war is not of your making. You are helping these people to defend themselves... aren't you?
Just why ARE these people fighting?
(everyone, you can help out here if you wish)