Short, but a hopefully powerful, prologue. It's an idea that played around my head for a while but I was not sure how to formulate it. This is the short result and will probably continue this.

English is not my mother-language, and I will try to correct and prevent grammatical errors. Though I am only human. Enjoy!

Prologue

There she was. After training her entire life, this was it.

Her first mission.

She breathed deeply through her helmet, sweat already trickling down her left temple despite the suit's cooling system, and swallowed thickly. Nerves churned and nestled themselves in her stomach as she stood between the rest of the troopers of her regiment, most of them more experienced and hardened than she. The ship rumbled underneath her feet, despite its own gravitational field that prevented them to be thrown around, she could still feel their descend to the planet.

'Search and extract.'

Those simple orders echoed in her head. Search and extract what, she did not know, but she knew that her Captain would. The said individual's voice echoed in her helmet's radio.

"When we land, crush down any sort of resistance," his deep voice resonated. "Round-up the villagers and await further orders."

"Yes sir!" Echoed throughout the ship.

By the time the ship touched the ground, her grip on her rifle was almost painful. The hydraulics hissed like snakes when the doors opened and light flooded inside the dark confinement of the ship's hull, it would have blinded them if not for the helmet's dark visor.

With her blood rushing thickly in her ears she walked down the ramp, stance straight and rigid like the full-fledged trooper that she was. Rounding up the villagers and securing the village's lockdown was an easy enough task. The slaughter that followed wasn't.

The First Order was ruthless. Loyalty and discipline was expected of everyone within its ranks or ties to the Order. Liars and traitors were dealt with accordingly and villages were set as an example for those who harboured such rebellious thoughts. Unforgiven.

With the past hour just a blur in her head, she felt the ship come back to life underneath her feet and once again she was squeezed between the others of her regiment. All stone, cold statues of order and discipline. Each and every one of them stripped from their identity and reduced to just a series of numbers that would stick by them the entirety of their probably short lives.

Dread started to envelop her blood pumping organ and clench down onto it like a vice when the ship started to lift. It caused her breaths to come out in short, shallow rasps only audible in her own ears.

This was her first mission as a Stormtrooper. And she was sure many more would follow.

"FN-4026."

The deep metallic voice of her Captain caused her to turn around and salute, posture straight. The rest of her regiment marched on, towards the barracks to clean up their rifles and armour. Her captain stared down at her, the black visor of his helmet depthless. He was just a few centimetres taller and she had to slightly tilt her head to meet up his gaze.

"Yes, sir?"

"Follow me."

Without explaining why he turned and marched off, and she followed like it was expected of her. His armour was still the pristine white as it always was, and she almost felt out of place with hers being dirty and containing blood specks here and there, that were a cruel reminder of what happened earlier.

Images of screaming people holding up their arms in a futile attempt to defence themselves of the onslaught of her blaster fire flashed before her eyes. The rifle that she held on to was heated in her memories, smoke coming from the barrel due to the excessive use. Though her helmet could filter smoke, she had still smelled the burning.

After several corridors they halted inside an elevator. Captain punched in a few buttons and the doors closed. A small tremor in the floor indicated that they were moving upwards, towards the command centres. The elevator ride was silent, leaving her to her thoughts.

FN-4026 had never ventured there. Reason number one was that it was unnecessary because her regiment did not operate nor was needed there. Her Captain was not of exceptionally high importance, the regiment was more training focused and held the simplest of tasks. Reason number two was that she would do anything to avoid that place. Kylo Ren and General Hux roamed those halls. Both she had not talked to personally, only observed from afar, but it was enough to put her on edge. Her being did not like the vibe both of them were putting off.

They exited the elevator in an orderly fashion, passing several patrols of Stormtroopers and down some more hallways. The black floor gleaming and reflecting their white suits. Finally they rounded a corner and stopped in front of a door. Her captain pushed a button on the console next to it and with a small ping the door hissed open. He motioned for her to follow inside.

Captain Phasma was a fearsome woman, towering above all with incredible height. Her gleaming chrome armour and black cloak, that was draped over one shoulder, amplified her frightening image. She was known for her brutality, training her own troops hard and demanding but with results. They were one of the best regiments and she took personal orders from Kylo Ren and General Hux themselves. Making them also an important asset to the First Order. And right now, FN-4026 found herself in the company of this notorious captain.

"Ah, Captain Rosco," Captain Phasma started and turned to them. The white light above them reflecting on her armour. "Thank you for bringing unit FN-4026 on such a short notice."

Her captain nodded in response and turned to her. "Captain Phasma, will be your commanding officer from now on," he stated. She regarded her Captain silently for a second, unsure how to react properly. Questions bubbled up inside her, but she did not know how to form them without seeming disobedient.

"Yes, sir. May I ask why?"

"Because I requested for you personally, soldier." It was the only answer that was given on her question. As a good Stormtrooper, FN-4026 accepted it, though a small voice in the back of her mind was still a bit bugged by it. The voice was squelched down easily.

Captain Phasma took a few steps towards them, easily looking down at both of them. FN-4026 felt uncomfortable when the Captain's dark gaze solely set on her.

"Thank you Captain Rosco, you may leave."

Her old captain saluted, turned and marched away. Even without saying goodbye, good luck or any of the sort.

It was another chapter ending of her short life.

She remembered the training runs. He had been unrelenting and drilling most of her regiment to an almost breaking point, holding no expense for the rookies. But after each time she came out stronger than before and with the brief memory a small flicker of pride and respect passed through her.

After Captain Phasma went over what she expected from her as a member of her regiment, she was dismissed. The walk towards the barracks was almost robotic. She unclasped her armour, piece by piece and cleaned it in a precise but in a severely routine motion that was effective and fast. It dulled her thoughts and emotions like she was trained to do.

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