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rivulet027's review
4.0
It was nice to read an Ahsoka centric story that takes place when she's just starting to find her feet as a padawan. The story opens with Ahsoka and Rex fighting in a Y-wing together. Despite Rex not being in the story much he and Ahsoka's friendship shines in their few scenes together. After the battle Ahsoka, along with Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda go down to Kothlis, a Bothan colony. When Ahsoka calls out First Secretary Fey'la over lying about his loyalties it jeopardizes the Republic's alliance with his people. Yoda tells Ahsoka, "Because of the war, padawans like yourself are rushed into service. Neglected some aspects of your training have been, aspects a Jedi knight must have. Making peace is more important than making war. Any sentient with a club can make war. Your training as a diplomat we will start. Separatists and Republic both need tibanna gas. Prime unaligned source are the Denfrandi, on the planet Taloraan." Yoda decides that Anakin will negotiated the treaty and teach Ahsoka diplomacy. Obi-Wan quips about who will teach Anakin, gets reminded from Yoda that this was his job, and is then sent along as well.
When they arrive on Taloraan they're attacked by a party of Wind Raiders lead by Nardek. The Wind Raiders fly Fleft-Waufs, which appears to be large birds. The Denfrandi escort arrives and attacks the Wind Raiders. Ashoka objects, stating, "Masters, this is wrong! Our attackers weren't trying to kill us! It's like they were playing a game!" Obi-Wan agrees and gets the escort to stop attacking the Wind Raiders. The backstory given is that Taloraan was populated by human castaways. The Denfrandi are the dominant clan, they've embraced technology, while the Wind Raiders haven't embraced technology and occasionally raid and attack the cities. The negotiations are with the Denfrandi in Taloraan City.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka are greeted on the landing platform by Sech Govlinder, an emissary to Magister Orlin Denache. Sech explains that Orlin 'has taken ill' and he'll be conducting the negotiations. Ahsoka is very bored by the negotiations, but proud of herself for observing and not calling Sech out on lying. She asks to go explore and quickly uncovers the Separatist force in Taloraan City. A fight ensues and she's forced to flee the city. She ends up nearly dying and being caught by Stormwing, a Fleft-Wauf, ridden by Jeru.
Meanwhile it's shown that Sech is told by Orlin to be his go through to the Jedi since Orlin doesn't trust Jedi mind tricks. In truth Orlin has already signed a treaty with Dooku and is worried the Jedi will sense this. Count Dooku orders the Jedi killed. Obi-Wan and Anakin are knocked out in an explosion and Sech steps in to keep them from being killed. He then helps them escape so they can warn their ship they'll be an attack.
Ahsoka wakes up and discovers that Jeru believes she is his 'prize' because he saved her and brought her to his camp. She objects. It turns out that Nardek believes that Ahsoka is also his 'prize' and is arguing with Chief Bafor about it. Chief Bafor decides that the two will fight "for possession of the female." Yes, those exact words. Ahsoka objects, stating, "No one is getting 'possession' of the female except the female! I'm not a prize! I'm a Jedi!" Cheif Bafor say he doesn't know of the Jedi tribe, but Ahsoka may join in the fight. Nardek knocks out Jeru and gets overconfident. Ashoka takes Nardek out and then negotiates with Chief Bafor for help against the Separatists. Everyone works together to defeat the Separatists. Orlin realizes he has no future and kills himself by stepping off a platform. Sech describes this as, "He has, as we say, gone for a walk in the clouds." His suicide is a four panel sequence of him stand on a platform, looking down at the clouds, then his foot stepping off, and then an empty platform. It's not graphic, but I really wasn't expecting it.
The story ends with Rex asking Ahsoka if she's changed her mind about diplomacy. She decides it's not as boring as she thought and that she's pretty good at it. Then Jeru let's her know that Chief Bafor has named her an honorary Wind Raider and the two go ride some Fleft-Waufs together.
TW: Suicide.
When they arrive on Taloraan they're attacked by a party of Wind Raiders lead by Nardek. The Wind Raiders fly Fleft-Waufs, which appears to be large birds. The Denfrandi escort arrives and attacks the Wind Raiders. Ashoka objects, stating, "Masters, this is wrong! Our attackers weren't trying to kill us! It's like they were playing a game!" Obi-Wan agrees and gets the escort to stop attacking the Wind Raiders. The backstory given is that Taloraan was populated by human castaways. The Denfrandi are the dominant clan, they've embraced technology, while the Wind Raiders haven't embraced technology and occasionally raid and attack the cities. The negotiations are with the Denfrandi in Taloraan City.
Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka are greeted on the landing platform by Sech Govlinder, an emissary to Magister Orlin Denache. Sech explains that Orlin 'has taken ill' and he'll be conducting the negotiations. Ahsoka is very bored by the negotiations, but proud of herself for observing and not calling Sech out on lying. She asks to go explore and quickly uncovers the Separatist force in Taloraan City. A fight ensues and she's forced to flee the city. She ends up nearly dying and being caught by Stormwing, a Fleft-Wauf, ridden by Jeru.
Meanwhile it's shown that Sech is told by Orlin to be his go through to the Jedi since Orlin doesn't trust Jedi mind tricks. In truth Orlin has already signed a treaty with Dooku and is worried the Jedi will sense this. Count Dooku orders the Jedi killed. Obi-Wan and Anakin are knocked out in an explosion and Sech steps in to keep them from being killed. He then helps them escape so they can warn their ship they'll be an attack.
Ahsoka wakes up and discovers that Jeru believes she is his 'prize' because he saved her and brought her to his camp. She objects. It turns out that Nardek believes that Ahsoka is also his 'prize' and is arguing with Chief Bafor about it. Chief Bafor decides that the two will fight "for possession of the female." Yes, those exact words. Ahsoka objects, stating, "No one is getting 'possession' of the female except the female! I'm not a prize! I'm a Jedi!" Cheif Bafor say he doesn't know of the Jedi tribe, but Ahsoka may join in the fight. Nardek knocks out Jeru and gets overconfident. Ashoka takes Nardek out and then negotiates with Chief Bafor for help against the Separatists. Everyone works together to defeat the Separatists. Orlin realizes he has no future and kills himself by stepping off a platform. Sech describes this as, "He has, as we say, gone for a walk in the clouds." His suicide is a four panel sequence of him stand on a platform, looking down at the clouds, then his foot stepping off, and then an empty platform. It's not graphic, but I really wasn't expecting it.
The story ends with Rex asking Ahsoka if she's changed her mind about diplomacy. She decides it's not as boring as she thought and that she's pretty good at it. Then Jeru let's her know that Chief Bafor has named her an honorary Wind Raider and the two go ride some Fleft-Waufs together.
TW: Suicide.
knitchick's review
5.0
A short comic focusing on an adventure in learning diplomacy for Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka. It takes place during the Clone Wars, and is a great little snippet of life during the war for Anakin and his padawan. It's a kids book but it's well written and enjoyable.
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