Guts
Imperial Munitions Disposal Report #4813_02 / LAAT/i Gunship.
Subject was disposed of via crush pressure and converted into scrap. All weapons systems have been sold and along with most of the computer tech. This particular LAAT is one of the oldest Gunships I've seen. It was one of the first LAATs on Geonosis, and was the last one out. This LAAT has been in every major conflict since the beginning of the Clone Wars, and some in the new Galactic Empire. The LAAT bears multiple scorch marks and other scars all over the hull, and it has been painted to a sand-like color. On the nose has a depiction of a Krayt Dragon and the word "Nehutyc", which is Mandalorian for "Gutsy". The status of the LAAT's crew is listed as MIA, but the Gunship was found under a tarp in a Mandalorian forest six standard days ago. It is unknown who placed it there. Imperial Intel operators are looking into it.
CREW: IP-0486 "Duch" Pilot, IP-0487 "Sairim" Copilot/Gunner, IP-0488 "Ven" Crew Chief.
"Buckets up!" Ven shouted over the packed cargo bay of the LAAT/i gunship. Thirty Clone Troopers looked up at Ven standing in front of the small doorway that lead to the cockpits. Ven raised a fist and counted to three with his fingers. "Three minutes! Check kit!" The Clone Troopers began their routine of checking each others armor and weapons, making sure they were ready for landing. They had all done this countless times before, but this was the first time any of them had seen real combat. It was the first battle of the newly formed Grand Army of the Republic.
"Ven, how's it looking?" That was the pilot, Duch, in Ven's helmet-commlink.
"Dark. Lets open a window, eh?"
Just then the side bay doors of the Gunship bursted open, blinding everyone in the cabin for a second. All the Troopers craned their necks to look at the sprawling desert below. The Gunship, named Nehutyc, or Gutsy, was the third LAAT/i in the massive formation of other Gunships currently descending from the thick clouds. Ven could feel the adrenaline now, and he knew the rest of the Troopers could feel it too.
"One minute. Parjir ner'vods." That was Duch again. Parjir meant "Be Victorious" in Mandalorian. The crew of Nehutyc was trained by Mando pilots, and embraced Mando culture, just like many other Clone units.
"One minute! Prepare for drop!" Ven shouted once more, as he slammed his fist against the first button on the bulkhead beside him, an eerie red light descended amongst the Troopers. They started giving eachother nods, a gesture that usually meant "Good Luck." Ven grabbed the DC-15A mounted on the bulkhead below the buttons and checked the charge and sights.
"Osik!" Sairim yelled over the comm, just as a exlposion rocked the gunship. The LAAT/c that was just flying on their left was gone, replaced by a cloud of flame and smoke. The AT-TE it was carrying fell and exploded onto a rock formation below. The Troopers inside Nehutyc were peppered with shrapnel and soot. They wiped their visors and kept their eyes at the approaching LZ, marked on their helmet HUDS.
Ven watched the POV indicator on the left side of his helmet HUD that showed the view of both the pilots. A swarm of red blaster fire and missiles was shooting past them now, and Ven could see the Droid Army they were approaching.
The Gunship swooped down into the LZ and turned itself to the right, so the left side door was facing the army that awaited the Clone Trooper squad. Ven slammed the next button on the bulkhead and a green light lit up the cabin.
"GO GO GO!" Ven screamed as he raised his Deecee and started firing bursts at the closest Battle Droids. The Troopers hopped off and sprinted into the chaos of the battle that was beginning. Hundreds of LAATs were doing the exact same drop-off routine at the same time of Nehutyc. Blaster fire was striking the Gunship repeatedly. Just as the last Trooper was out, Ven hit the last button on the Bulkhead. The inside lights shutoff and the bay doors screamed shut again. Ven was left alone in the dark. He could see the green light appear in the cockpit through Duch's POV screen. The LAAT/i lifted off and shot back into the clouds.
This was the first of countless drops Nehutyc would make in its long career, and the first of hundreds on Geonosis alone. The Gunship went back into the staging flight plotted around the battle. They flew slowly above the fight until they were needed again.
Ven flipped the small light on his helmet on and looked down at his armor. It was covered in soot and dust. He stood up and put the Deecee back into its rack, and sat down. He took his helmet off and leaned back against the bulkhead.