On Board the Resolute

Over Kamino

"Ship's crew, prepare for high-atmosphere orbit."

Preparation klaxons rang throughout the Resolute and Chopper paced his way toward the armament closest to Spin's barracks where he and the pilot had been going over starfighter vids.

"Rookies from Kamino for the 501st, Spin," Chopper had said as he pulled on his helmet. "I'll probably be busy, but I hope to see in two days when everyone and everything is loaded."

"That sounds good, Chopper." Spin nodded as he set the notes he'd made for his squad squarely on the table. "We'll be getting some new guys also but I'll run your thoughts through my squadron and see what they say. Your ideas sound pretty good." He had tapped the small stack of his notes and grinned. "For a ground-grunt."

Then Chopper was out of the captain's cabin and striding rapidly down the corridor with steadfast purpose. He wasn't thinking about rookies or new equipment, his mind was on the tubes. The plasma exhaust tubes were usually run parallel with the vents incrementally open to coldspace for cooling the big lasers. From there he could make it….

He turned a corner and froze. Captain Rex was there, helmet marked in blue Jaig eyes in the crook of his elbow as he was speaking with Sergeant Coric, gesturingly lightly. Chopper turned, hoping he looked like he was going to his assigned post.

"Chopper," Rex called and Chopper had no option but the turn again and face his captain. Sergeant Coric was already moving towards the hangar where the LAATs would be landing. There was a pleased smile on his face and Chopper was pretty sure it was because they were getting two new medics and not at the thought of Chopper getting reprimanded. Chopper shook his head, he knew Coric was pleased about the new medics. Chopper had done well enough in the 501st. So far.

To Chopper's regret, he was about to change all that.

"Sir," Chopper said as he came to attention, his mind counting down the time until the tall, white specters came and took him away.

"Your post is this way, trooper. Hangar 42." The captain gave a small smile, pleased at reinforcements, and gestured down the corridor with a small nod. "I know you're aware of its location."

Chopper was and wondered why he hadn't plotted a path to the plasma tubes that was nowhere near his assigned post.

Chopper didn't move and Rex cocked his head as he looked at Chopper; sensing hesitation in following the orders.

"You are 501st, Chopper." Captain Rex lost the smile as he shifted slightly away from Chopper, preparing to move to the hangar. "You will assist in getting the rookies to their barracks, showing them the mess, getting training equipment, setting up courtesy calls on the general and commander."

Chopper felt sick. He could feel trembling dread in the center of his lungs, his breathing shallow and rapid.

Rex noticed Chopper hadn't moved and turned back to his trooper, inspecting him for a moment.

Kriff, he couldn't even obey simple orders. Already he was panting inside his helmet, something unusual enough to fog his visor.

Rex slipped on his own helmet, turning toward the entry of the hangar, as if he expected Chopper to follow.

"Captain…" Was he actually going to tell Captain Rex he needed to hide? "Sir, I…" Chopper was shaking his head. Let me die before they take me. His blaster was at his hand and he glanced around. There were no Kaminoans here; simply Captain Rex who had turned toward the still, white figure of Chopper frozen in place.

The captain changed Chopper's assigned orders. "With me, trooper," he commanded as he turned and was through the doorway to Hangar 42, not looking back to see if Chopper followed.

Chopper swallowed and caressed his blaster with his thumb then followed Captain Rex. He had the odd thought that even if the Kaminoans came for him, the captain wouldn't let him go.

Chopper waited with Captain Rex in the hangar, taking place as his second, a step behind and to the side of the captain. Nervously he shifted his weight on his feet. His mouth felt dry and his heart thundered, knowing that the first figures off the LAAT would be Kaminoans. Chopper shook his head. No, they'll be troopers.

There would be twelve new squads coming in for the 501st as well as several full squadrons of fighter pilots stationed on the Resolute to replace those clones lost in battle.

Chopper started counting, going over in his mind which troopers were assigned to Coric, who would be with Zeer, with the new and temporary squad leaders; with Kix, with Hardcase, with Knife, with Luck. How the men would be arranged. Everything he remembered or heard about the new troopers. Several already had names; Caber, Dogma, Shadow. Chopper tried to match the names with their CT designations. They'd be getting two more medics and six heavy gunners, a slicer and four snipers. Each man had his gear; a bag of gear weighed 54 kilos and that multiplied by one hundred and eighteen men was sixty-three seventy-two kilos plus the extra twenty kilos for each medic. Sixty-four twelve. The heavy gunners had extra weight also; ten and a half kilos each. Sixty-four seventy-five.

Usually enough numbers could drown out most thoughts, but there weren't enough numbers in the galaxy to keep the thoughts of where he was – orbiting Kamino – away from Chopper's mind.

Suddenly, Chopper was too busy to worry. The first group of rookies was unloaded from the LAAT and Captain Rex ordered Chopper to take them to pick up their training gear then see them to barracks 4162A, schedule the courtesy calls and make sure they knew where the mess, the refreshers, and the gym were located.

Chopper nodded. "Yes sir," he told the captain with sharp precision. He'd get the rookies to their barracks then he'd...

"… then return to me, Chopper," Captain Rex had added to the order.

So it went through the long day and longer night.

"Chopper, this group goes to barracks 4159, near the medical unit. Then find the other medic, Chopper, set him and his gear with this squad. Then return, Chopper."

"Chopper, find the slicer and take him to Yularen's coders. I want him to know the Resolute's standards before he goes to mess. Then return."

"Chopper, take the heavy gunners… Then return."

"Chopper, make sure the snipers have… Then return."

For every order the captain gave, there was always 'return', as if the captain knew he wanted to hide.

Chopper could do this; just one more order, he promised himself throughout the long day, just one more order then he could hide. The captain expected the orders to be followed. The rookies needed to have their gear, needed to know...

Until the klaxons called out they were departing from Kamino orbit and Chopper had, in the middle of following some order of Captain Rex's, closed his eyes and leaned his head in his helmet against the metal walls of the Resolute corridor.

Safe.

A short chapter... read and enjoy.