Several Months Later

"Hey, Sylva. Haven't seen you in a few weeks," greeted Anakin, walking through the hanger. "How'd the mission with Obi-wan go?"

Sylva smiled as she walked up to him. "Oh, you know, had to stop an onslaught of droids from taking over a planet. The usual. Waxer and Boil have started calling me "nerra". Haven't quite figured that one out yet. I think Obi-wan is a little jealous, to be honest."

Anakin just chuckled. "He does like to be held in high regard with the clones. Maybe he thinks you're competing for attention."

"Whatever the case," said Sylva, "he's been a bit mopey. Go cheer him up, will ya? I've already been summoned by the council."

The Jedi Knight nodded and walked in the direction of the ship Sylva had just departed from, Clones and personnel still exiting the craft.

Sylva found her way to the Council room and walked in silently, shutting the door behind her. The masters took notice of her immediately and finished the conversation quickly, something about the Chancellor.

"Back from the mission, I see," greeted Master Yoda.

Making her way to the center of the circle, Sylva answered, "Yes, Master. It went as well as expected, if not better."

"Very good, Miss Cotaru," commented Master Windu. "Since your training has gone so well, we are going to review whether or not you are ready to assume full command."

Obi-wan entered the room, not even changed from his battle attire that was stained with smoke and blaster burns. "Sorry I'm late. Usually, I have enough time to freshen up before meetings." He crossed the room and sat in his chair, now focusing on Sylva standing before him. "What were we going to discuss?"

"We are evaluating Sylva to see if she is ready," Master Plo Koon stated. Obi-wan understood immediately, figuring this would happen eventually.

"Miss Cotaru," Kit Fisto began, "I had the honor of evaluating your first training exercise. Though it was simulated and certain obstacles were presented, you managed to bring your entire team to the top of the 'fortress'."

"You also aided me when we had to escort supplies to the Twi'leks and showed exemplary skills when negotiating with the Madalorians," Master Plo Koon added.

"The Mon Calamari are still thanking us for the tasks you completed for them," said Master Windu. "Master Obi-wan, what is your report on the assignment to Florrum?"

Obi-wan pondered for a moment, then responded, "She saved my life yet again. Hondo and his pirates certainly like to take prisoners. She managed to evade capture, rescue me, and didn't lose any of the men we brought. To top it off, Hondo agreed to our trade conditions because of her."

Sylva stood silently, a little overwhelmed by the summary of everything she had done in the past three months.

"She teaches Clones on Kamino in her spare time," chimed in Master Shaak Ti.

They remained quiet after she spoke, debating the information. The silence seemed to drag on as Sylva awaited their decision.

"I believe," Master Windu spoke, "she is ready. Everyone in favor?"

Nearly everyone raised their hand, except for Master Krell. He scowled, seeming to begrudgingly accept Sylva's promotion, but his hands remained by his sides.

""Then we are in agreement. Tomorrow, Sylva will lead her own task force to the planet of Seline."

"So, you're telling me that only two of these soldiers know each other, have little battle experience, and all have been sent here from failed missions?" Sylva said quietly, standing in the control room on Kamino, reading off the soldier bios.

The admiral nodded. "It was the best we could muster on short notice, General Cotaru. Our forces are being stretched thin."

Sylva let out a sigh. "Looking at their records, they're all basically Shinies, except the Sergeant. These troops should be broken. All of their teams were killed and they haven't even finished half their reconditioning. I hope we don't end up in a dogfight."

Leaving the room, the Jedi walked through the passageways until she entered the Mess Hall. She walked to the front where a small stage was placed, carrying the list of her troops.

"Attention!" she called out, silencing the crowded room. "CT-2746, Zephyr. CT-1822, Inferno. CT-2020, Killshot. CT-5543, Pyre. CT-1420, Reefer. CT-1142, Gary. CT-2213, Blaze. Report to Sergeant Permafrost in Bay 3 for mission briefing, immediately." With that, she walked to Bay 3, awaiting the Clones.

Sylva spotted the Sergeant in the room designated as Bay 3, a classroom with two rows of tables.

"Hey, Frost. How's the snow?" Sylva greeted him, chuckling softly.

"If you're commenting on my attire, I thought we were going directly to Seline," the Sergeant deadpanned. He had already donned his cold-weather armor, only missing his helmet, which sat next to him on the podium at the front of the room. He was clean shaven, the only distinguishing mark being a snowflake tattoo on the left side of his temple.

Sylva smiled at his seriousness. "Glad to have you on board. I thought we would be going directly to Seline as well. Here come the others."

Said Clones walked through the hall to where the two were standing, a few complaining about how they didn't get to finish their lunch. They took seats in the class-style room, more quiet than usual, except two with facial hair.

"Settle down, men!" The Sergeant ordered. "I am Sergeant Permafrost, but you may shorten it to 'Frost'. Time for the briefing. Go ahead, General."

"Thank you," Sylva nodded at him, becoming serious once again. "Our mission is to check on the Outpost of Seline. They've been broadcasting the 'All Clear' signal but haven't responded to any of our hailings for the past two days. We expect to find some kind of communication malfunction, but in case we stumble upon otherwise, be prepared for a fight. Make sure your equipment is in good condition. Don't want any of you freezing out there. Any questions?"

No hands raised, so Sylva continued. "Alright, I need to know everyone's specialties to make a few adjustments."

One Clone stood up and introduced himself. "Zephyr, sir. I'm a pilot and aerial specialist."

"Zephyr," Sylva repeated, looking at her bios list. "Says here that you survived a crash when droids shot the engines. How'd you manage that?"

"Just a bit of finesse, sir." He was also clean shaven, few discerning marks, including a bruise over one blue eye. The Kaminoans must have been slacking.

Another stood as Zephyr took his seat once more. "Reefer here, sir. No specialties but if we're in a pinch, I always have some ideas floating around."

Sylva nodded, noting his facial hair. The man sitting next to him stood up as well. "I'm Blaze, sir. I'm aiming to be a Fire Trooper." This guy was bald, facial hair similar to Reefer's. They were the only two in the room who were previously acquainted.

"The name's Inferno. I'm an explosives expert." The man had burn marks on his right cheek, almost scarred.

"Oh, I bet," said the Jedi, a little surprised at his bio. "It says you escaped two burning buildings within a week."

"Yes, sir," Inferno sat down, his neutral expression exhibiting a fierceness.

A man with cross-hairs tattooed across his right eye spoke. "Killshot, sir. Sniper."

"To the point. Thank you. Who's next?" Sylva looked at the remaining two. One was staring at her, almost studying the Jedi. "You, soldier. What's your name?"

"Pyre. Heavy artillery." He looked away, realizing he was staring. Another quiet one.

"Last, huh," commented the most generic looking Clone Sylva had ever seen. "I'm Gary. I guess I'm just really lucky."

"It certainly looks like it. I don't understand how you took out an entire droid squadron 'by accident'." Sylva shook her head, closing the bios. "We leave for Seline immediately. Dismissed."

"We're nearing the planet's surface," called Zephyr from the cockpit. The rest of the team was presently trying not to vomit from his piloting. Sylva tried to distract the men from their nausea but she wasn't used to the turbulence, even after three months, and almost fell onto the floor of the transport.

"I thought you said you were good," Blaze shouted at the pilot.

Zephyr cackled from his seat, "I said I could do aerial maneuvers! I never said I was good! Hold on, we're coming in for a landing! With this wind, it's gonna get bumpy!"

A cumulative groan resounded from the back, six passengers about to hurl on the metal floor and one Sergeant threatening that anyone who does would clean it up. The transport landed without any lost lunches and a cheerful pilot announcing the arrival. Sylva pulled up her hood and placed goggles over her eyes, checking the rest of the team. With a nod from the Sergeant, she opened the hatch and stood against cold air blasting into the small space. The wind wasn't strong, a few snowflakes swirled in the air, but Sylva knew a storm was about to hit. It would reduce visibility to nothing and finding the ship would be impossible.

"Remind me again why we landed so far from the outpost?" Inferno griped.

Sylva answered curtly, "We don't know if enemies control the base, so it was a precaution. We're close enough to make an escape, if need be."

They trudged through the snow, trying to avoid rocks hidden in the white expanse. Reaching the landing platform in front of the main door, Sylva noticed that no sentry was posted. It felt a bit odd, though they could've been ordered inside from the oncoming blizzard. "No sentry. Stay sharp."

The group moved towards the door, four moving to the sides of the door, while the remaining four and Sylva pressed the com button. They stood for a minute, listening to the wind, howling now. After no answer came, Sylva pressed it again. No answer.

"Something feels off," Frost said, stepping back from the door. "Even if there's no deck officer out here, someone should always be manning the com."

"Let's get this door open," commanded Sylva.

Pyre moved from his spot beside the door to the com panel, opening it and messing with some wires. "Sir, this looks like it's been tampered with."

"Blasters ready, guys. Pyre, the door."

After a few seconds, the door slid open. Sylva cautiously walked forward into the entrance. It was a long hallway that sloped up: she couldn't see what was over the top. There was also a door on either side of the passage, both closed, probably for maintenance. She motioned the troops forward carefully. They made their way inside and stopped. A lone Clone trooper walked towards them over the slope.

"You there!" called Frost. "What's going on in this outpost?"

The Clone remained silent and continued walking towards them. Sylva saw he was unarmed, which seemed unnatural.

"This temperature is too warm for a base. It's against regulation," whispered Reefer, who was promptly told to shut up by Inferno.

As the trooper neared, Sylva could make out something he was saying under his breath, "...out of here..."

"Soldier, what is your number? What's that you're saying?" Sylva asked, concern edging in her voice.

"I SAID GET OUT OF HERE!"

The doors snapped shut behind the group and a blast fired from the top of the slope. The unarmed Clone fell into Sylva's arms, dead.

"Get those side doors opened now!" she yelled.

Blaster fire hailed on them, each scrambling to find shelter. Sylva found herself dragging the body with her behind a beam. Peeking around, she confirmed their fears: Commando Droids.

"Pyre! Doors!"

The troops didn't have sights on their targets, except for Killshot, earning his name. Sylva took note of everyone's positions, taking cover behind beams and what few crates lay in the hallway. She was the furthest one up, Frost, Blaze, Zephyr, Inferno, and Pyre all behind her. Killshot was picking the droids off from behind a crate, flanked by Reefer and Gary against the far wall. She could try to deflect fire and protect the men but she couldn't cover all three, if she could cover them at all with the large volume of fire raining down on them. Killshot wasn't making a dent in their forces, it seemed.

"Got it!" Pyre called.

"Everyone in, now!" Reefer ran first, making it unscathed. Sylva moved back, beam by beam, leaving the dead Clone. Gary crossed, thanks to Killshot covering him, and followed closely as Blaze and Inferno fired off a few rounds. Sylva made it in, finally, and ordered the door shut once everyone was accounted for.

Propping themselves against the walls, the team took a breather, only to be startled by a voice rising from the darkness behind them.

"I was wondering when they'd send reinforcements," came the chiding, female voice.

Sylva stood, hands on her lightsabers as a figure emerged, the one and only Asajj Ventress.

"Uh uh. No playtime today." Ventress raised her arm quickly and Sylva flew against the door they had just come through.

Pain shot through the Jedi's head and back, groaning as she tried to focus her vision. What she made out through the haze was Ventress easily downing her troops with a wave of her slim, tattooed hand. Sylva tried to stand against the door but slid back to the floor, blacking out.

"Sweet dreams, Jedi."