Fighting is something I know we all know to well. We've spent out lives fighting. Born to kill nothing else. We were thrust into a war we thought we believed in. Born into deception. We killed and were killed for it. The cause meant nothing and I see that now. Now I'm left with one question is anything worth dying for is anything worth killing for.
(Journal entry of commander Cody former Marshal of the seventh sky Corp)
A solid year had past by since the coup failed. It all started when Fives revealed the chips to Skywalker from there the Jedi council slowly unraveled the whole plot. They didn't inform the senate no Palpatine had to be put down. So they had every chip in every trooper under their command removed then they lead an army to storm coruscant which was put under martial law shortly after. Delta squad under Mace Windu and other Jedi masters stormed Palpatine's chambers to find him not there. No he was on Bastion with the Admirals loyal to him having raised an entire battle ready army. The Jedi and clones were villainized as war criminals a republic civil war was imminent. Then the grand master decided not to go forth. As stating it would only harm the galaxy and they were not going to win with the whole galaxy united against them. So they settled for exile which meant every clone and every Jedi sent to the unknown told to go beyond a thousand Parsecs before being allowed to stop.
They left in numerous ships once used against the separatists made sure to leave by Palpatine's stormtroopers with their new star destroyers. The clones and Jedi knew they failed and this was their punishment. Commander Vill stationed on a warship filled with clones and younglings shared command of it with Alpha 17. Clones were hard at work operating every single system there was on the ship. There were no non clone technicians to do any of it. Vill and Alpha found themselves looking over a holo chart of territories already found. They regularly maintained communication with others as they explored quadrants. Now they were facing issues many issues as they flew to the next quadrant.
"Vill we're running low on rations we have enough for maybe three cycles then things will turn ugly." Alpha informed him, "If this quadrants like the last thirty we're as good as dead. In fact I heard we lost two ships out of the Armada to fuel loss already."
"You don't need to remind of our situation Alpha I know." Vill replied sharply, "But there's nothing we can do about it exile was a death sentence. But we can not and will not tell men that."
"Then what will we tell them should this planet be just as uninhabitable like the rest?" Alpha questioned bring a scary but very good point up.
"We'll deal with it when we get there." Vill replied wanting to keep hope. This next system had to be the one it just had to be.
"I'm having serious doubts Vill." Alpha said shaking his head. Deep down inside he knew this would be the end of the line.
"Alpha you're always the pessimist."
"I prefer the term realist."
The conversation was only meant for certain ears. The two men had placed themselves under the assumption no one was listening. They were wrong former 91st reconnaissance commander Neyo had heard the whole conversation. He had questioned the coup the only one to question if it was rash. The only one to question if there were alternatives. For that other clones branded him spineless even an imperialist sympathiser. Unlike other clones he was not willing to take an unnecessary blaster round to the chest for his jedi. And she had understood that. She had been the only one to ever understand that he wasn't some cold monster. Now she was gone the only person who did killed along with many of his legion. This angered the trooper every single day he woke up.
When he fell asleep all he could hear was his former comrades scream. So he limited himself on sleep only granting himself a total three hours. Most of the time the other clones avoided contact with him for his morbid nature save a few. However they needed to know their current odds it wasn't far to keep them uninformed. Neyo left down the hallway to get to hanger.
Down in the hanger clones had gathered. Arc pilot A10 engaged in conversation with Bly,Bacara, Cody, and Gree as he did maintenance on his personal headhunter starfighter. Cody himself didn't talk much he listened and answered any questions that pertained to him. For all they ever talked about was the war that awful thing Cody wished never happened.
"So you're telling me you battled an entire legion of battle droids including supers with your hands." Commented Gree in disbelief hearing a war story from Bacara.
"We did what had to be done." Bacara said making it sound like a simple task. The man opposite of Cody cherished memories of the war. The good old days he'd mark them.
"I wasn't aware we had a bar on this ship cause you're obviously hammered if you expect me to believe that." Gree replied.
"I don't know it doesn't sound totally implausible I've known this bastard long enough to know just how stubborn he can be." Bly commented remembering the missions they'd executed together.
"Well I could definitely see the men I transported and provide air support for pulling a stunt like that then again they were Alphas and Commandos." A10 an Alpha himself commented as he came out from under his ship.
"Back me up here Cody." Gree said still in utter disbelief, "That's straight up suicide."
"I've seen crazier." Was all Cody said trying not to recall anything he'd done.
"Hey!" Neyo shouted the former officers all turned to see the man walking towards them. Gree sighed seeing the man not in the mood for some depressing tail from the outer rim.
"Have news for us Neyo?" Questioned Bly who was the only one who really engaged the man in conversation.
"Alpha and Vill are leading us to our deaths they said it themselves the odds are this next world will be like the others then resources will run to thin to continue." Neyo told them no emotion was felt from that phrase.
"What's the point in knowing?" Questioned A10 coming out from under, "The way I see it if this planet does have what we need it to. Then we've saved everyone else."
"How noble it's time to face reality and consider the logical outcome for once." Neyo began every one even Bly groaned a little.
"So what?" Cody said out loud tired of hearing anything for a day, "We die then we die the universe moves on."
"I may be cold and Cynical but I still see purpose in existence." Neyo replied annoyed with Cody.
The two commanders stared at one another. Neither had liked the other since training seeing each other as rivals during Alpha 17s program. There personalities were different Neyo driven by his cold logic Cody took after his general and made decision based on his principles and logic.
Suddenly everybody felt as the ship was thrown from hyperspace making a sudden stop not far out from the planet passing it's moon. Suddenly the conflict that was building was over. The two troopers backing off the other.
In the bridge everyone was silent. They stared at a group of blue ships orbiting the world they were headed for. Alpha and Vill both knew by the looks it was nothing from the republic or CIS. However they didn't know they were staring at covenant corvettes.
"Try hailing them." Vill ordered wanting to see if the three ships had information regarding the planet below.
"What if they're hostile?" Questioned Alpha the communications officer stopping for a split second.
"Then we'll deal with it." Vill replied fully confident in their ships capabilities.
A volley of plasma fire answered that question. The venator was struck hard but it's shields held Alpha cursed under his breath.Vill quickly knew what his next call would be. There was only one logical choice of actions.
"Power up all turbo laser cannons and move us behind the moon for cover activate the attack alarms and get all pilots to their ships. I also want LAATs ready to go because I have formed a theory. Alpha I' m under the assumption you'll want to brief the men on contingency four." Vill said having used his time to come with contingency plans for contact with an alien species.
"Don't have to tell me twice when it comes to fighting." Alpha said as he left the bridge everyone working rather quickly.
The whole venator moved eluding fire from the covenant cruisers which assumed they were UNSC and one corvette moved in to pursue as the republic craft hid behind the moon. The other two decided to wait and see what would happen.
Alarms blared in the venator permanently ending the conversation. Everyone went into soldier mode ready to fend for their lives. The ex commanders,ARCs, and Commandos were the quickest to get ready for a fight guns locked and loaded. The pilots were just as fast hopping in their starfighters. Drills had been run in the event of an attack. A10 had this rehearsed even knew his assigned fighter squadron already.
Cody and other ground assets gathered together they formed few legions more than enough for a planetary invasion. All bore colors from all different units and armor variations. Alpha 17 walked t0 grief all of them.
"Alright there's a hostile fleet near a planet we believe to be habitable I want a regiment on the LAATs ready to go planet side to explore. Our fighter pilots will cover along with light protection from the venator."
"Yes sir." They all replied in perfect sync.
The star fighters took off quickly just as a covenant began to move in. The venator unleashed it's turbo cannons up in the enemy craft which was taken by surprise of the power of the vessel. The fact greatly damaged the shields shaking the ship up. Y wing bombers made things worse as they executed a flanking maneuver and unleashed their payloads of explosive and ion torpedoes. The corvettes shields were disabled the bombs shook the ship violently and blew away sections creating holes sucking it's crew members out into space. The venator the returned fire again landing numerous critical hits causing the craft to glow with sparks jumping off. Clone pilots pulled off and the venator quickly put distance between itself and the craft.
Everyone watched as it exploded in a purple haze never seeing anything like it before. A10 who'd just taken off was amazed at the sight. The way they attacked suggested these aliens thought the clones would've been easy prey a mistake they definitely wouldn't make twice. He swerved ship ahead zooming past the wreckage as the LAATs took off. He watched over them threw his viewpoint as they left the cover of the moon. The venator came out opening fire on the other two warships. Vill carefully calculating the energy of their shields.
Up ahead A10 finally saw it the enemy pilots in banshees a craft he'd never encountered. He increased in speed seeing one going for an LAAT. He got the purple craft in his sights he squeezed his fingers on the trigger as he came over it green blaster bolts flying str9ke the crafts engines causing it to explode. A10 pulled over the LAAT before making a course correction seeing a wave coming in triangle formation. His assigned squadron managed to join him. The arc pilot could feel the adrenaline as they moved upon the enemy increasing greatly in speed as he opened fire taking one head on. He blew it apart in mere seconds then tooted his ship on his side as he swooped around getting behind the rest of the enemy squadron. He had each pilot in his sights. He didn't hesitate to open fire watching as his bolts streaked across every enemy fighter each one blowing up. His squadron was scattered all around engaged in dogfights with numerous other enemy pilots.
His eyes were directed towards the two warships in view there turrets opening fire into the combat zone. Something had to be done for the LAATs to make it. He then opened up the com link.
"I'm going to strafe those warships give the transports some cover bomber assistance would be appreciated." A10 said as he made another course correction.
The rest of his squad flew in with him Y wings crept up as well. Their tail gunners during away at numerous Banshees in them. A10 himself switched to his torpedoes as he got ready. The enemy turrets tried to redirect their fire but it was to late as ion bolts hit them first. Then the torpedoes came blowing turret emplacements away as they were strafed. However several clone pilots were hit blown into smithereens marking the first deaths experienced since exilement had began. A10 and his force pulled off the venator targeting the shieldless warship with great force explosion breaking all over. However the final corvette opened fire striking hard against the clones. The banshees seeing what was going on pulled back to defend the final warship the damaged ship was being abandoned as another strafing round blew it apart. Then the com link cracked on.
"This is commander Vill pull back to the venator the LAATs made it. Return for refuel and so our shields can recharge then we'll finish off these purple demons."
A10 pulled up following orders along with most of the fighter force many however were lost to enemy pilots their ships exploding. Their deaths wouldn't be in vain soon they'd return and finish the job. A10 was sure of this.
Cody meanwhile stood in the LAAT that had entered orbit with him were Bly and Bacara DC 17 blaster rifles ready. The pilot was taking them to an area with heavy life signatures claiming they'd found a city aside them escorts engaged the same purple alien fighters in dogfights keeping them off of the LAATs. They came to a stop.
"Alright we got heavy anti air fire coming from this area I suggest you go down there and take care of it." The Pilot suggested.
"We'll get right on it." Bly said taking charge of the small squadron as he raised his rifle.
The LAAT came down for landing the clones jumped out blasters ready. Cody was ready he moved DC15A raised constantly reminded of the clone wars. They joined up with two other squads their objective set remove those AA guns. Bly took charge quickly as they charged threw a town ravaged by war buildings were blown apart and their was very little sign of life.
Cody began to wonder what happened to those who had made the call out. Where they all dead and what force could be so ruthless to slaughter absolute everyone. Those thoughts were scattered as the sound of a carbine cracked a green bolt flying threw a man in five o first armor. Clones were quick to respond to conflict. They knew immediately where it came from.
Some of the clones rolled Cody simply turned and took aim. He placed a blaster bolt right threw an elites face he fired twice more ensuring the kill. Bly shouted orders as they engaged several other covenant soldiers. A small squadron all the clones opened fire. None of them panicked they'd seen to many battles to panic to many dead to mourn.
"Target the big ones!" Bly said quickly seeing the elites as they leaders.
The clones were very effective at this job the elites hit ground dead blaster bolt holes burned in their chests and faces. The grunts scattered as the jackals were shot up. Bly knew better then to let them run to warn a larger force.
"No survivors!" He yelled getting the sense he was in charge.
The clones moved in with cold precision as every grunt was shot dead. Cody looked around at the dead aliens he saw one an elite still moving. He quickly turned the blaster on him shooting him twice along time ago he may have felt something hesitated however at the end of the day the alien he killed was just another soldier. He was expandable and uncared for by those he worked for. This was something Cody knew well.
The group kept their progression threw the city as they heard sounds of distant fighting. The recognisable echo of blaster fire. Then as they were about to round a building Bly held his hand up as if there was something in the way. Everyone stopped and lined up against the building. He gave a signal to Cody who sprinted up.
"You're easily my best man I need your advice." Bly said.
Cody got a quick peek around the corner. They saw the alien anti air cannon that was giving air support so much trouble. It was under heavy protection grunts naming turrets with elites in command plenty of jackals in guard along with two hunters.
"The heads are exposed on those turrets an average clone marks man can make that shot no problem. Utilize grenades on those bigger ones as we have others provide cover fire against the smaller ones." Cody suggested, "We need to move fast."
"Right," Bly replied, "Bacara you and Gree better have grenades ready Cody you and me will take the shot everyone else get ready and open fire once you have an enemy in sight."
Everyone raised their blasters ready to go. Bacara and Gree readied thermal detonators then very quickly everyone moved out. Bly and Cody opened fire in sync the shots going right threw the heads of the grunts who fell out dead. Thermal detonators fire threw the air and exploded the shots threw off the hunters for a quick moment. More grenades were thrown as every single trooper opened fire engaging the covenant in a fierce fire fight. Plasma rifle fire came right back at them. Two troopers were struck down that was returned as the elites fell dead. The grunts were dead right when the fire broke out. The hunters tried to regain footing however after numerous shots to the head and grenades to the body they fell dead.
The jackals held their ground using energy shields. Bacara charged forward going into a roll getting on their right flank. He raised his blaster and opened before the hackles could react the blaster bolts gunning them down. The group then moved around the cannon as they were quick to strap charges to it.
They cleared it as the covenant cannon battery exploded. Bly then turned to everyone he had left casualties weren't too heavy but still they were working with the element of surprise. By now that had been lost. He got on his com link.
"AA gun cleared." He said.
Minutes later above head LAATs that had previously been staying clear of enemy fire swooped in. Their doors came upon as troops fast roped down. The ARCs were the fastest when it came to this. Bly stayed on the com link.
"From what I'm hearing cities mostly clear move into the occupational phase and look for the natives." Boss said, "And for once I think we may have good news we've found a home."
Home. That was a word Cody hadn't used in a very long time. He looked around some home it was with buildings blown away and skirmishes breaking out everywhere.
"You heard him occupational phase." Bly ordered.
Meanwhile in space Vill had the last covenant ship to deal with. He knew it was waiting for him cause according to scouts it had not moved. The shields were mostly regenerated. He took a deep breath then turned to his crew.
"Alright everyone ready?" He questioned as turbo turrets were primed, "Go!"
The ship increased in speed pulling in view of the corvette. Quickly pilots moved out A10 taking off as he refueled. The enemy pilots flew out as well as if they had agreed to this battle of attrition. It was honorable to say the least.
The darkness of space became vibrant with blaster fire. A10 with his squadron flew in perfect formation against the enemy. They quickly maneuvered around them taking shots where they could keeping fire off the ship. One enemy pilot was so bold to head for the bridge but unlucky to end up in the ARC pilot's viewpoint. In three seconds he was blown to dust.
The venator fired off at the corvette landing several hard hits managing to blow the frigates shield. However this did not come with out a cost taking shots themselves their ship shook as shields were lost. Then a suicide pilot moved in striking the deck. Everyone saw the explosion along with a number of unlucky men sucked out into space. Vill cursed.
A10 took that on himself as he quickly looked at the enemy frigate which had its engines blown out. They needed to hold off only a little longer. A10 strafe right headed towards a squadron of four enemy fighters. He moved getting the first one from behind he squeezed the trigger the blue bolts thundering out striking the wings off the craft disabling it sending it's pilot to his death. The remaining three split up he went after the pair of two his wingman the one.
He moved his hand over a throttle increasing in speed as he opened fire. The two enemy pilots took evasive maneuvers and went straight upwards A10 followed them still firing away. They both came down upon him firing away he managed dodging a volley and blowing up one banshee. They other passed him as he quickly used his controls changing course putting him behind the banshee. His enemy targeted the bridge firing a rocket. A10 shot him down his bolts boots striking the rocket right as it hit exited the sillo save the ship in a split second.
He then rejoined his squadron as they all turned to see the enemy warship blown apart. He smiled rejoicing in their victory.
Vill saw this and heard everyone in ship cheer. It was their first victory in a long time celebrations were indeed appropriate.
"Get me in a com link with the rest of the fleet they need to know." He told his communications officer who replied with a sharp yes sir.
Meanwhile on the planet below the occupation was still in order. No clone dare rest for they had rested much already. Cody stood on his toes at all times as he and Gree watched a road. They saw figures walking down it carrying what looked to be guns. Cody readied his own. Gree stopped him and gave him a stern look.
"Look at their figures they're human." He said.
"Doesn't mean we shouldn't exert caution." Cody replied with his rifle ready.
They stood their as they saw the humans appear in odd armor carrying odd guns four in all. Cody held his rifle up just in case.
"That's far enough." Cody looking down his sights.
"Stare our name this our planet state your name and business." One of them shot back Cody flinching unsure what he'd do.
"Easy Flynn." Said the other one, "You marines can be a little to gun o. It's obvious they're not from around here and more obvious they've been shot at all day."
"They're aliens Arthur." The marine called Flynn replied, "I don't trust'em."
"Yeah well seeing as how we haven't been glassed yet I think they saved our lives," Arthur the one in charge replied. He then turned to the clones and extended his hand, "Hi my names Arthur Jones ODST for the United Nations Space Corp and I must ask you're not here to exterminate us."
"By the force no,"Gree replied, "We got your message in fact it damn well near saved us we owe you one."
"No seeing what you've done here kind sir we owe you."