-X-21 Bane 1st Person POV-

I walked into the office, it wasn't that big but boy was it impressive. I knew I would be meeting someone important, but I couldn't figure out who it was. I was told to sit in one of the chairs, so I did. I felt a small jolt in my arm when I touched the fabric of the chair.

Fierfek, I said to myself as a slight pain shocked my arm.

I waited for a little bit before he came in, and I immediately knew how drastic this must have been. The Supreme Commander of the Republic Military, was assigning me a mission. I know I'm one of the best soldiers in the Republic, if not the best, but still. As he walked over to me, I stood at attention.

"At ease." He waved him off.

I sat back down.

"Now," The Supreme Commander strode to his chair. "You are aware of why I called you here, correct?"

I took a long breath before responding.

"Aye, sir. Three months ago, several members of the SOB-DE team dispatched to a planet in the outer rim have gone rogue."

"Yes," CC-088 nodded. "Now, as one of our most elite warriors, and assassins, I am sending you along with a team of some of our best ARC troopers to eliminate the traitors, rescue the prisoners, and end this conflict once and for all." He said, sitting down in his chair.

"Sir who are the trai-"

"No, it wasn't who you're thinking."

I immediately rushed the thought of any of Omega being traitors out of my head, and I sighed with relief.

"Who are they then sir?"

"A team of Covert Ops SBH Troopers." CC-088 explained. "We sent in the 21st Nova Squad, and a Torrent company squad, both failed to accomplish their goals. A large regiment of the Third Systems Army was sent in after the 21st Nova Squad confirmed a green light for invasion. As the rest of the Army came to reinforce, led by General Kenobi, they found that their passage was closed and we lost total contact with our forces. There may yet be hope for the others, we think that at least 1 of the SBH in the second team is loyal to the Republic, and is alive. We are unaware of the 21st Nova's condition, although we predict it may be grave."

I thought for a second, I had met most of the 21st Nova only a few months ago, now they're all dead or being held prisoner?

"Sir, with all due respect, how is this possible?"

"I'm trying to figure out the same thing, '21."

I thought about all the troopers who I'd spent months with on dozens of missions, all suddenly disappearing. As I thought more and more about it, I got angrier, and angrier. I clenched my teeth, and put my helmet back on.

"I'm ready to dispose of this waste, sir." I told him, with the sound of deep hatred and disgust in my voice. As I walked out of the office the Commander said one last thing,

"'21, bring these vile traitors to justice."

I turned and made a promise, "I'll die before I let this scum escape."

I left the office and went down to where a speeder was waiting to pick me up, and take me back to the Retribution. The trooper driving the speeder was obviously spooked.

"Trooper, why are you so nervous?"

"Well sir, it's just.. I've never been in the presence of a force user, not even a Jedi."

"Heh, I'm nothing like the Jedi, trooper. I'm much more relaxed about rules, but that doesn't mean I can't rip a super battle droid in half."

"Now that is a sight I'd like to see!"

We arrived shortly after our conversation ended, the trooper gave me a salute and flew off in the speeder. I walked to the Venator class cruiser, which was docked at our military base with a few others. Once I got to my bunk, I found that it wasn't empty. There were several armor sets scattered across each of the six other beds, and it wasn't normal trooper armor. It was heavily modified, not to mention more, geared up he could say.

Huh, ARCs, I thought to myself.

I had heard the reputations of these elite super soldiers, much like myself, but I'd never had the chance to meet one. I grabbed my helmet and pauldron from my locker. It was the armor of Captain, except the fact he wasn't a Captain. He never really had a rank. He didn't need one either, as he normally worked alone.

Wearing phase I armor, each colored red or blue, three ARCs walked into the room. They were chatting about something random, I hadn't been paying much attention to it, but when they saw me, they each paid their respects, and nodded. I did the same back to them.

I got up and walked over to them, extending my hand, the first one to shake it was the one on the left, "Alpha-087, Ranger, nice to meet you."

"And you as well."

Then the middle one, "Alpha-039, Viper."

"Nice to meet you, Viper."

He nodded again.

"Alpha-066, Ripper."

"Ripper? That's an interesting nickname"

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it before we get planetside."

I got a message on my comms that the Captain of the ship wanted to brief me on the mission, so I went to the bridge to look for the him. I found him in the center of the bridge, waiting for me. I walked down the center aisle, and stopped once I reached him.

"Ah, Bane, is it?" The Naval Captain turned to face him.

"Yes, sir." I stood at attention.

"Well I must say I'm excited to have you with us on this mission. Now, here's the story," The Captain leaned closer to Bane, leading him to a holotable. "Most of the hands on board the Retribution are not aware of your mission. As far as they are concerned, we are moving to defend trade routes towards the outer rim territories."

"And what is our story?" I asked him.

"Under some deep, nasty, covert ops bullshit, intelligence believes they have found an artifact similar to the one located by the SBH and 21st Nova ARCs on Celanon. Here's the catch; it's not in our hands."

"Assuming you plan on keeping this classified, how are we being deployed?"

"We are going to pass by Celanon to, quote-on-quote, charge routes, then make our way to Ord Mantell. During our brief time above the planet, your team will be deployed on a commandeered freighter ship, and land. From there, the mission will be on your own. You won't have any support or contact with us unless you establish one."

"That won't be a problem." I assured the Captain.

"I heard ARCs were tough," The Captain grinned. "Just how tough are you?"

"If you've read my file sir, you wouldn't ask."

"Prep your team 21'." The Captain ordered. "You deploy in twenty. Best to be on the freighter in fifteen."

"One last thing sir." I stopped him.

"Yes?"

"Who is in possession of the artifact?"

"Unknown." The Captain answered. "I'm assuming it's insurrectionist forces, but intelligence says there might be a third party involved."

"Understood sir."

I left the bridge and strode down to the barracks, reaching my bunk. There, I found three more Alpha ARCs waiting for me.

"Ah, Bane," Ranger greeted. "These are the other three Alphas you missed. Alpha-048, Red, Alpha-043, Spade, and Alpha-064."

I stopped for a moment, waiting for the nickname of the third one. When I got no reply, I asked, "And what should I call you?"

"A-64." Alpha-064 shrugged.

"I mean, what nickname do they have for you?"

"Do I need one?"

"You don't want one?"

"Names are for those who want to be more; for those who see themselves as more than just another number. That's not the truth now is it?"

"That's not rather the best way to think about life."

"Prove me to think differently."

I was a bit interested in what went on in this ARC's head. He was cold, hard, and stiff. Why would any clone refuse a nickname, especially ARCs, who were designed to be free thinking.

"Well, good to have you all." I pressed on. "I'd suggest we gear up. We deploy in fifteen."