Chapter Three

Bombs Away

Coruscant

Post Battle of Geonosis

Several Days Later...

Mereel was sleeping in his bunk when Jaing woke him up which of course made him stiffen up. Ever since their vod'e disappearance the Skirata clan had irrevocably changed. Ordo was completely closed off from the remaining vod'e and refused to talk about anything save for the mission or Sergeant Kal, Jaing had become secretive and silent only focusing on his datapad all of this resulting in Mereel being alone. Mereel himself had become much quieter, his daredevil antics and carefree attitude becoming a thing of the past and didn't care to join training exercises outside any necessary tasks. Most of the time he spent walking around Tipoca City training area and training with Boss and the rest of Delta squad.

Even then team exercises with the Nulls was a token effort considering he knew that they were replaceable. After all Kal had abandoned A'den, Kom'rk and Prudii so what was stopping him from doing the same to them? Also though he still called himself their buir he insisted they obey the commanders much to Ordo's anger. But then again he'd encouraged free thinking in them all so maybe it was Skirata's own fault.

As a result of this he'd also lost faith in Sergeant Kal and didn't follow the Resol'nore anymore. He didn't refer to Kal as Kal'buir anymore just a rank. How could he? The man promised to protect them and had failed. Miserably failed he could barely look at the man without thinking how callously he abandoned A'den, Prudii and Kom'rk, he didn't know what a family was. The various squads that has trained under him failures were another good example of his incompetence. Vau's boys proved his methods while brutal were better since most of them survived. And so Mereel tried to dedicate himself to that ideal. Better then blindly following Sergeant Skirata like Ordo or Jaing did. As a result they'd drifted away from each other with Jaing, Ordo on one end and Mereel on the other. For all intents and purposes he wasn't a Skirata anymore.

"What do you want?" Mereel snapped cutting off whatever Jaing was going to say. Best to get it over with.

"I-" Jaing stumbled over his words in light of Mereel's hostile words. Jaing wasn't a good talker anymore. He was better at digging information out of computers nowadays. Kom'rk was the one that was a good interrogator of the group. But he was gone now along with A'den and Prudii. Jaing's however fleeting charm was another causality of the breakdown not that Mereel minded since it meant he didn't have to deal with his faux charm now.

"Listen," Jaing continued once he'd gotten his bearings back. "We're taking over the barracks and we need you for..."

"WHAT?!" Mereel bellowed jumping up into Jaing's face. "Are you both karking insane!? This goes against everything we've trained for!"

"Mereel," Jaing sighed sounding tired like he'd gone over the argument in his head. "Captain Ordo has ordered you and me to meet him in the main hall so we can make a better defense against the outside forces-"

"So we can have a gloriously idiotic last stand?" Mereel sneered ignoring the emphasis on Ordo's rank. "Great work, wonderful have fun. Count me out."

"Mereel," Jaing hissed yanking him to his feet. "Being flippant about it won't help and that wasn't a request that was an order."

"And what will help you in your suicidal crusade I wonder?" Mereel snarled. "You think you can take on a Jedi? Can you? I've seen them in action and if you think you can take them then you're cracked in the head. You two are committing a court marshal worthy offense. How are you going to escape the consequences this time? Remember how Prudii, A'den and Kom'rk vanished?! Do you want that for us?! Not that you seem to care because if you did this wouldn't be happening. There's no Kal to protect you now. You're on your own this time. I can't wait to see the fallout."

"Mereel Skirata," Jaing said sounding exasperated and angry. "You follow your orders that Captain Ordo gives you! That was part of your training!"

"What?" Mereel feinted confusion. "Oh wait, so I can't follow the Republic or the Jedi who while I don't like them actually make sense and save vod'e from wherever they are but I have to follow the orders of an imbecile, who I might add wouldn't be in trouble if he didn't act like an adolescent, that'll result in our deaths? Yeah no thanks. And oh just to make the point clear, there's no way in Manda and haran that I'm going to follow a moronic order like that."

"Are you a droid?! We're going to be reconditioned!"

"Did you even think that might be because Ordo refuses to listen to anyone save for Sergeant Kal and he left us just before Geonosis?" Mereel barked at Jaing in the face. "Use your karking brain! What makes you think we stand a chance against the Jedi? Can you tell me?"

"Ner Vod, we need to try or we'll end up like the Alphas..."

"Oh no we'll just end up shot for our troubles. All you di'kuts have to do is follow orders that's all and this reconditioned thing wouldn't be an issue! You know what?! I just divorce you and your aliit and be done with it! Save me time and headache! In fact I will right here and now!"

"Oi Alphas aren't in stasis shebhead," a voice said making them turn. Standing in front of them was an Alpha commando who had his arms crossed. "The Jedi saved us from that. General Ti and General Yoda said it was cruel to beings. Now stand down. The both of you."

"Like the blazes we will! We won't be reconditioned, you won't make us go," Jaing snarled before launching himself at the Alpha. Mereel hesitated and instead thought about what was said.

The Jedi stopped them from going into stasis, that was the thought that kept reverberating in his mind. The Jetiise who according Kal were using them had saved a batch from being put into stasis. How were they selfish and users when that action wouldn't benefit them? And...hadn't Kal used them? Hadn't he molded them into his own army to use? He left us, Mereel thought. He promised to care for us and what does he do? He molded us into his hit squad. At least Vau realized what he was doing and changed course. If the Jedi stopped that status issue then maybe...they can be more then we thought.

Mereel curled his hands into fists as Jaing fought off the Alpha...or attempted to until Mereel tackled him to the ground and knocked him out.

"Thanks soldier," the Alpha said relieved. "Name's Sull."

"Mereel," he replied. "Can you get the others out?"

"Sure. But what are you going to do?"

"Take out the leader. Let's secure this deserter."

Mereel didn't want this even if he effectively was estranged from the remaining batch of his brothers. But to save them from the execution squad he'd do what he could do to save them from their stupidity.


The Baccaratuq barracks were quiet which was good. Maze had expected some trouble from some of the shinies but it seemed to be unfounded. So he wasn't expected things to go awry. So when Sasori came to him and mentioned that the Nulls or the Rejects as they were called by most of the troops both commandos and regulars had taken the shinies in Arca hostage he wanted to punch something or rather someone. Namely the CO of the group and the leader of the Arca barracks that let it get out of hand.

"What happened? How did this occur?" He sighed.

Sasori looked mightily pissed as he answered him. "The son of the vetch, Ordo, was muttering about not wanting to be reconditioned, which wouldn't happen if they just listened to orders, or put in status which really isn't a thing incidentally. Anyway he was talking to Jaing who went to the next one. Next thing I knew was they except Mereel took over the barracks knocking out Taz and his second in command Zekk. Fortunately they don't have many hostages to work with since I was able to make it out because they were too busy establishing perimeters. So I get most of the shinies free. It's just the ones nearest to them now that are captive and I doubt they'll that slide."

"Thank the Force we have some competent people."

"So what will we do now?"

"I'd say send in General Zey," Maze said rubbing his face tiredly. "If that doesn't deter them then we'll go hunting with General Windu or Master Yoda."

"Yes sir. Oi Sai!" He called to a clone seating in a seat nearby.

"Sir?" He looked distractedly up from his datapad.

"Call up the General tell him of the situation. Operation Strill is a go."

"Hmm...Issue is there?"

"General Yoda!" Maze and the other troopers stood at attention at the green diminutive General who was accompanied with one of the Coruscant Guard, a shiny named Corr if he remembered entered into the room. "There's a bit of situation in Arca barracks. So insubordinate soldiers have taken over the barracks."

"For what purpose?"

"Something about not wanting to be reconditioned," Sasori spoke up.

"Reconditioned? Why?"

"Beats me considering all they have to do is listen to orders you what they've been trained to do," Sasori grumbled looking angry. Not that Maze blamed him. The Nulls were a pain in the sheb. They'd been raised in isolation disappearing entirely from Tipoca City training facilities or at least they avoided all areas with regulars and Alphas well save for one that Maze had seen whose name was Mereel. He'd gotten chummily with the Delta Squad so that didn't make him too bad by his book.

When they'd appeared during the Battle of Geonosis they'd been a blessing that soon turned into a pain when they constantly defied orders or at least two did while the third, perhaps Mereel, of the rumors were correct was constantly overruled. Now Maze could accept that they were specially trained but relaying that information would've been helpful instead acting as a one person army. That wasn't the point of the GAR. "If they'd just waited for orders then they'd be fine. But no the Rejects insist on being a bunch of morons oh brother."

"Rejects you say?" General Yoda turned his huge emerald greens to Sasori.

"Ah sorry sir," Sasori rubbed the back of his neck. "It was a nickname for the group on Kamino. They have a bit of a reputation of insubordination and their issues were one of the few times that Jango himself intervened. As a result he was pissed. Namely because they were arrogant..."

"I heard from Piccolo that they don't like Jedi for some reason," Sai pipped looking apologetic. "They only take orders from one guy and he was let go several months ago by the Kaminoans just before the Battle of Geonosis. Now? They don't seem to want to listen to anyone hence the talks of reconditioning considering they're unmanageable. Well two are, I've heard rumors one is reasonable."

"Who the kriff thought that being a bunch of undisciplined and insubordinate nerfherder was a good idea needs to be shot in the kneecaps," another member of Maze's group named Fordo muttered.

"Corr?"

"Sir?"

"Gather the forces you will. Take care of the situation we shall. The Supreme Chancellor mustn't be bother with this."

"Yes sir."

"Please let there be a court marshal," Sai sighed explosively. "I and I'm sure everybody is sick of them and their attitudes."

"Wish ill will on your brothers?" General Yoda raised an eye ridge looking disappointed.

"Sir with all due respect if you'd seen them you'd understand."

"Would I?"

"Well the shooting at the techs is prime example of their psychotic behavior and acting all high and mighty when they're briefly seen doesn't help either."

"At least they didn't try to kill their instructor like that Kaddak guy did," Sasori commented.

"Tried to kill his instructor did he?"

"Yeah he was eliminated with extreme prejudice," Sai said shaking his head sadly. "What a mess. Scared the Kaminoans and us. I mean if he could turn like that then could we?"

"Hmm. Perhaps thought the Jedi would do the same to them once they if they failed to comply with reconditioning they did. Hence why they barricaded themselves."

"What?!" Maze looked at the small green being with shocked look. He'd served on Geonosis along with Sai. He'd seen the Jedi work and he knew that no Jedi would entertain the idea. "You'd never do that. That's unthinkable."

"Hatred rarely rational it is," Yoda said sadly his long ears drooping. "If despise the Jedi then little there is that can be done except to disprove it. Even then impossible it may be if an open mind they don't possess."

"But sir..." Maze hesitantly said still reeling from the thought. "You don't have to prove anything. Your actions speak louder. I mean you got us Alphas away from being stuck in stasis when Ko Sai mentioned it."

"Perhaps accompany me to Rosuma to negotiate with King Katuunko could to prove that foul intents the Jedi do not have," Yoda mused as Corr arranged the strike force. "Yes that I can do."

"Sir, a Null has surrendered," Corr reported. "Calls himself Null-7. He's come out with the remaining shinies and some Alphas, Sull and Tavo, I think. Captain Fox is with him now."

"What is his name?" General Yoda asked. "Not a designation I wish to call him."

"His nickname is Mereel," Sasori said.

"Patch through the message."

"Yes sir," Corr said as he allowed Sai to gain access to the comlink frequency. Then finally the signal came through and there was Fox with a throughly traumatized Mereel.

"Mereel," General Yoda said bowing his head. "Under the impression that we'd recondition you and your brothers were you?"

"Uh, yes," Mereel said clearly trying to get a grasp of General Yoda's rather odd syntax. "We has issues listening to orders and so we thought we were being scheduled to be reconditioned. So because of that Cap-no former captain Ordo ordered the occupation but...I changed my mind and freed everyone. The threat is neutralized."

"What prompted this change of mind?" Yoda leaned on his gimer stick looking curiously at the clone.

"Talking to an Alpha trooper named Tavo and his friend Sull," he said. "Sull told me that you saved the Alphas from stasis after Geonosis and Tavo elaborated once I freed him. Fett had all but completed their training and they would've gone into stasis until you Jedi intervened."

"Saw no need to do so I and Master Ti did," Yoda replied. "A waste it was and unnecessarily cruel to your brothers. Have no worries for your other squadmates. Taken care off and not harmed they will be. In exile perhaps but not executed. Of this you have my word."

Mereel looked shell shocked and incredibly grateful. "Thank you," he breathed looking relieved. "Thank you sir." He saluted General Yoda with tears in his eyes. "Lieutenant Mereel reporting for duty sir!"

"At ease soldier," Yoda said gently. "Where are your brothers?"

"Tied up and in a closet," Mereel said looking ashamed. "I tried to convince them to stand down but they were beyond listening."

"Send troops to extract them we shall. Under my command you shall be for now."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."


Three Months Later

Christophsis...

Chance was walking around with his lieutenant, Whistler, when he noticed something was off with the walkers. It was a small detail and most wouldn't notice it but it stuck out to Chance. He was running some basic drills to keep his men sharp with Trig overseeing the training of a shiny that had joined the group a few weeks ago named Dozer with the others watching him. Normally they wouldn't be out but he'd decided at the spur of the moment to do it outside the compound. He wanted his boys to be prepared for anything that the Seppies would throw at them. The boys and the Jedi were counting on them.

"Sir?" Whistler being the good Lieutenant that he was noticed that Chance was staring at something interesting. He'd been assigned to his company and like many of this other vod'e he'd subverted expectations by learning to be as observant and good with patterns as any of his brothers once he'd gotten the hang of it.

"Get the boys quickly," he said. "I think we've got a situation."

"Yes sir," he said and let out a shrill whistle. Trig, Shadow, Gizmo, Dozer and Itachi all came from their drill running to them looking confused and concerned. Chance using the hand-sign Sergeant Skirata had shown him when he was younger directed the boys to the bombs. True to their training they immediately got on it disarming the bombs from the walkers. Chance ran across the tarmac to see if all were rigged as the ones he'd spotted close by were.

Unfortunately all of them were armed and ready. Even if his boys had time it would take several minutes to disarm them all. Minutes that they didn't have they would seem if the beeping was any indication. Odd why was it their bombs and not the Clankers?

"Shabbat," he mutters as he slammed down and began disarming the one closest to himself as the beeping sped up. Finally he disarmed the first and made his way to the second and continued to systematically disarm them. When he was running to his sixth bomb he almost crashed into Captain Rex of the 501st and Commander Cody.

"Sorry sir need to keep going," he panted as he pushed them aside making his way to his sixth one.

"What the-"

"Leave it Rex and let the men do their work," He heard Cody interrupt Captain Rex's exclamation. "If I know their Captain he'll disarm most of these and what he doesn't get his men will. Now let's go find our traitor!"

Chance toned out the rest of the conversation and the two COs leaving in favor of instead concentrating on the bomb in front of him. Almost there.

Whistler let out a sharp trill which made him roll out from beneath the Walker. A second later the bombs went off taking out two thirds of the Walkers. Blast it all. This wasn't good. Chance looked over to see if his boys were okay. He saw all of them emerge from the smoke shaken but alive. He breathed a sigh of relief. Good the vod'e were safe but what had caused that? Did the Seps have back up in the barracks?

"What was that sir?" Itachi asked.

"I don't know," Chance answered. "But I'm sure Commander Cody will tell us when necessary. Now let's start scavenging. Best get started with that."

"You heard him," Whistler said. "You've got your jobs now move it!"

"Yes sir!" All the cadets cried as they descended upon the ruined Walkers. Chance monitored them for a bit before turning his attention to the other vehicles. Looking over the one closest to he sighed as he realized it was a total loss. He moved over to see if he could salvage something from another vessel.

"What happened here?" Kom'rk's voice cut through the silence as he came out with his medic team including Lieutenant Wynn who looked armed and ready for a fight.

"A bomb attack," Chance grimly replied. "We're salvaging what's left. Mind giving us a hand?"

"Sure," Kom'rk said. "Wynn get these boys on salvaging."

"Yes sir!"

"Well done boys," Captain Rex said as he came back out with the generals who looked a little haggard in tow.

"Told you Generals," Commander Cody said proudly puffing out his chest slightly. "When the Prudii Squad delivers it delivers."

"Vod'e an," Dozer replied with a smile in his voice as he looked up from his Walker. "We aim to deliver the best the Republic can get."

"You speak Mando'a?" General Kenobi asked looking quite surprised. Anakin looked at Rex with a raised eyebrow that made him sheepishly shrug.

"He doesn't it well enough but I do speak it fluently," Chance said. "I was taught by my instructor on Kamino. I and Captain Medic Kom'rk of the 501st and Lieutenant A'den of the 104th to my knowledge have taught troopers under our command. I find it's good for cohesion in the troops and less likely for enemies to translate it."

"I see. Well then. Kandosii napnilyara'r, taylir laam jate borarir," General Kenobi replied with a smile and with no hint of his Coruscanti accent much to Chance's shock. He knew the Jedi were well traveled but some reason he'd assumed none knew Mando'a. That'll teach me not to assume anything about the Jedi from now on. Especially General Kenobi, he seems full of surprises.

If there was one of the many things grateful for being pulled out of Skirata's team was not only getting closer to his brothers but also learning much more then the narrow minded viewpoint of an extremely biased Mando'ad. Now it seemed his worldview was being expanded once more.

"Bic b ner staja jatne vod," Chance said enthusiastically saluting him. It was like being with Skirata before he'd found out what a massive hypocrite that man was. It was nice and made Chance wonder how much more did he know about being a Mando'ad.

Perhaps he could ask later when the General wasn't too busy. Now that would be an interesting conversation.


Kom'rk looked at Chance his jaw going slack as the Generals and their superiors walked into the barracks. The General know Mando'a! A'den was going to be so jealous when he heard this. Just proved Skirata was lying dar'manda as far as Kom'rk was concerned since he'd made it out as if it was an elite warrior language. Another facet of his life that was being challenged it would seem. It was a pity that the remaining bit of their batch were under the impression that the Jetiise were ignorant of Mando'a.

Eh well their loss not his. If they wanted to play that then it was no skin off his nose. He and his brothers had divorced him. That chakaar could die for all he cared now. General Skywalker was his priority and his honorary vod as far as he and the 501st were concerned.

"So you want ask the General where he heard it from?" Kom'rk heard Chance asked pulling him to the present again.

"Well of course vod!" He felt like a kid in the candy store. "Maybe he's been to Mandolore or at last one of the tribute worlds."

"Then lets go."

Kom'rk jumped to his feet and gleefully followed Chance down the halls towards the General Kenobi's quarters. Squaring himself up he watched as Chance knocked on the door too excited to use the chime.

The door opened to find General Kenobi looking a little haggard but if the papers on the table were any indication it was the paperwork that was tiring him out and whatever excursions he'd gone on with General Skywalker.

"Ah good evening gentlemen," General Kenobi said stepping aside so they could enter into his room. "I thought you two might come."

"Yes sir," Chance said stepping forward. "Kom'rk and I wanted ask you a few things if you've got time and if it's alright."

"Certainly," General Kenobi nodded amicably. "I've got some time to kill if you pardon my flippancy."

"Of course sir we're just a bit curious about a few things like how you learned the language and if you know any more about Mando'ade culture."

"Well since we have the time then let's start from the beginning shall we?"


Mando'a translations:

Mando'a- language of the Mandalorian people

Mand'alor- the ancient leader of Mandolorians

Mando'ad, Mando'ade- Mandalorian, Mandalorians

Kandosii napnilyara'r, taylir laam jate borarir.- Well done trooper, keep up the good work.

Bic b ner staja jatne vod.-It's my pleasure sir.

Dar'manda- someone that has lost their Mando heritage aka soulless

Manda- heaven, collective consciousness

Haran- cosmic annihilation, Hell

AN: I never understood why the Alphas were stasis in Legends when that's literally what they're made and trained for. So they made them too independent they say but yet the Nulls who arguably are harder to control were unleashed with no issues about insubordination whatsoever? Just doesn't make sense and also bad business to hold out on things that supposedly the Jedi paid for. Hence I got rid of the idea. I'd think Palpatine and Dooku wouldn't care about the clones being independent as long as the chip is in place.