Jerome POV

Each Spartan Fireteam was given a specialised craft for us to use for battlefield deployment called a Pelican. These Pelican Crafts had 4 adjustable thrusters that are used for both lift off and manoeuvring. This made the crafts as manoeuvrable a fighter while being the size of a small transport ship. It was designed to accommodate for anything a Spartan team may need for longer deployments, this included a small hold for storing items, rations, supplies and the gun rack; a small bedroom, this cut the hold from the bridge meaning you need to go through the bedroom to get to the bridge, it had two beds on either side with a Spartan Armour Removal Machine, nicknamed the Spartan ARM, in the centre of the room; and the bridge itself, which looked more like a slightly scaled up gunship cockpit.

It had a front mounted Rotary style blaster cannon installed in the bottom half of the cockpit with 2 sets of 2 Laser Turrets attached to either side of the cockpit, they could rotate to fire at any enemies located behind the craft. This was helped by the Pelicans slim profile, when compared to other ships of its class.

I had manoeuvred the Pelican on the top of the ridge. We were to rendezvous with Kit Fisto on the other side of the cliff but I felt it best not to leave the craft within view so was landing next to a small outcrop of trees and planned to cover the Pelican with some foliage before meeting up with the others.

'How are we?' Isabel was a little nervous. She didn't like the thought of Cortana being injured and the fact that we were sent chasing down the same droid put her a little on edge. The real problem, though, came from our orders, we were meant to execute Gunray at the slightest hint of us being unable to recapture him. Isabel didn't like causing pain to others but Gods forbid if you ever hurt one of her friends, 'cause then all bets were off.

'We're fine Is, once we touchdown I'll cover the Pelican and we can go meet up with the others.' We both put our helmets on upon touchdown and grabbed our loadouts. I grabbed the Assault Rifle and an SMG, I preferred the high fire rate and closer range, while Is took a DMR and Magnum, preferring the range more than anything else but still packing a decent punch.

Once we arrived Master Fisto had only just landed. He seemed to be having a reunion with the Mon Calamari, Nahdar Vebb.

'It is good to see you again my old Padawan. I am sorry I could not be there for your Knighting.' Vebb looked grateful for the consideration but told his Master that he knew that he had other commitments.

'And these must be our Spartan support. I must say, you are taller than expected. I hope you live up to all the rumours.' I inclined my head to him but Isabel always was the more social of us.

'Well, one can only hope.' Fisto gave a reassuring smile but Vebb just screwed up his face, he didn't seem to appreciate our presence. I would have to keep an eye on him.

A trooper came to inform us the signal was coming from the end of the canyon and that it would take a bit of a walk to get there. I started to make my way there with Is following close behind but Vebb wanted to show off to his Master so used his powers to blow away the fog.

'Now we can see the way.' This is why I don't like working with Jedi.

'We already knew the way we needed to go but now we don't have any cover.' Vebb looked like he was going to start arguing, trying to justify his decision, not that he really could with such a stupid decision as getting rid of our cover. You want cover like fog when making a covert assault on a building, it's when you're defending the building that you want to be rid of it. Isabel laid her hand on my arm.

'Jerome…' Yeah, I get it, play nice. She was too soft on them sometimes.

'Let's go.' We reached a heavy duty door that seemed sealed tight. No visible way in and no side entrances.

'The entrance looks sealed.' Not just an idiot but it turns out he was a Captain too, of the obvious that is. At least the troopers had more sense.

'We specialise at making entrances.' They at least come up with a reasonable solution to the problem at hand with all available intel. The thing is sometimes there are alternate routes.

'Save your ordnance Commander. Isabel, open the door.' Isabel specialised in Logistics but was a good splicer and a better pilot. She was one of the few selected to test out the experimental ARC-170 before it was introduced into mass production.

'A second look usually pays off.' Master Fisto moved up to the door as well and started to have a look. A few minutes later the pair opened the door after finding a button and we moved on inside.

Inside was tight and narrow, long hallways with lots of doors, in short a kill zone. We couldn't check every door and if any droids shot from around corners we were screwed as we didn't have the access codes for the doors so that meant no cover.

As we moved further in several troopers commented on the smell and sounds of the facility, we weren't alone and it wasn't just because the Viceroy was here. We were coming up to an open door with light streaming out of it so I called for a full stop.

'Why are we stopping? Gunray is just there, we should go now!' Overeager and stupid made for a dangerous couple and they seemed to have made a home in Vebb.

'Patience Nahdar. What is it Spartan?' Fisto had a good head on his shoulders and he was starting to suspect the same as me, we were walking into an ambush.

'The doors are open. We don't have the codes so we would have to break our way in and blindly search every room, but we're not because we are following the transponder.' Vebb was getting annoyed with waiting and jumped in, trying to hurry us along.

'Now that you've told us what we already know let us go get Gunray.' He made to move so I grabbed his arm.

'The transponder is supposed to be on the ship they stole. We are to far underground for that to be a hanger. There have been no guards, no droids shooting us down corridors and the Viceroy is just inviting us in. This is a trap and they know we're here, most likely thanks to you.' He threw my arm of and started to try to defend his actions but Fisto interrupted.

'Now is not the time. This is indeed a trap but a trap for whom?' No one responded.

'Either way Gunray is our mission and he is in there, we need to go.' Trust Isabel to stay on task.

We entered the room cautiously. I had suggested that Fisto and I go in first while Vebb and Isabel take up the rear guard. This was because while we could hear Gunray there was no sign of Ventress or the droid. With Vebb and Isabel at the back we had people capable of fending them off if they decided to attack from behind.

The droids forces around the Viceroy were just about to alert Gunray to our presence in the room when I burst into action. I fired 5 shots, each hitting a droid's head, before reaching the Viceroys chair and spinning it around. A hologram of the Viceroy was sitting there.

'Ha ha ha, I welcome you to your doom. Aha ha ha.' I was unimpressed. I turned my head to Vebb who stepped up to the chair, abandoning the rear guard and leaving us exposed.

'I told you they knew we were here.' Vebb came to stand next to me in front of the Viceroys hologram.

'This proves nothing. He could have been gone before we arrived.' His delusions were getting worse.

'I said I welcome you to your…'

'The fact that this isn't a prerecorded message and the fact that he only started talking just before we entered the room means he knew we were coming.' It was obvious.

'He could have been lucky.' Even when he had no defence he refused to admit he was wrong, I hate working with Jedi.

'That's funny coming from a Force user.' The Viceroy jumped in.

'STOP IGNORING ME.' Just then his hologram was replaced by one of Count Dooku.

'I must commend you for your detective skills Jerome-092. You really are a credit to your brothers and sister. I welcome you, and sweet young Isabel too.' The rest of the group filtered into the room. Vebb ignited his saber, most likely trying to intimidate Dooku. One, he was a Master Jedi before he left the order who specialised in Makashi. Two, he was a hologram.

'Dooku, show yourself coward.' The look he gave Vebb was of utter contempt.

'I must also commend your patience.' The insult did not go unnoticed but Master Fisto join the conversation before Vebb could further embarrass himself, he had done enough for one day.

Dooku explained that while we couldn't have Gunray we could have another, more valuable target. I commented that he should have just given us Gunray then, as he was practically useless. He responded by saying he thought I would appreciate the challenge. So we were bait then, my answer only received a smirk in return before Dooku left.

Fisto suggested we go further into the facility and look around. It seems Dooku gave us access to the facility as the doors now opened for us. The first thing we came across was the statue of a Kaleesh Warrior. Fisto called it a strange shrine to the warrior.

'He's Kaleesh. They have warrior culture and are known Jedi Killers but due to their small numbers and the fact that they are a single race of beings, rather than a menagerie of them like the Mandalorians, they go relatively unknown in the galaxy at large. Their most accomplished warriors become Gods in the eyes of their people.' Isabel loved to talk but only in meaningful conversation. She didn't rattle off trivia, ask pointless question to receive pointless answers or just run her mouth. No, Isabel liked to have a meaningful conversation, she wants to get to really know a person.

It was what made talking to her so easy. She was my first friend back on Kamino, in general really. The only thing I remember from before Kamino was that I used to take things, steal them, and that sometimes it got violent. I liked to hit things when I was younger but it had translated to me being one of the more aggressive and ruthless Spartans. Isabel was the first person I didn't drive away. She talked with me, got to know me and introduced me to her friends, Alice and Douglas.

Once my violent impulses tempered to more subtle personality traits, aggression and ruthlessness, my training scores went up, catching Cortana and John's attention. We became good friends but I was still more involved with Isabel, Alice and Douglas.

After realising that everyone was looking at her for her insight Isabel ducked her head, she probably had that cute little blush dusting her cheeks again. She didn't get embarrassed often but I did like it when she did.

We continued to explore the facility and found a room filled with Kaleesh Masks, General Grievous masks.

'This is the lair of General Grievous.' At Fisto's exclamation I sprung into action. Ordering Commander Fil to contact Niner and Bel on the ship and to bring as much of the explosives as they could and bring it to the facility. I wanted to blow this facility and deny Grievous one of his most important bases, his repair base. This would reduce Grievous' ability to repair himself after each fight, allowing us to kill him by whittling away at him. Just before contacting the two they contacted us to tell us that Grievous was coming. All the more reason to destroy the facility, only this time with Grievous in it.

We continued to explore the facility while we waited for the pair to join us. We came across a room filled with Jedi lightsabers and Padawan braids.

'Who could do this?'

'A God. These aren't trophies, they are tributes to Grievous' status as a God amongst his people.' Vebb looked at me shocked. He had little experience with Gods of War but Spartans grew up learning about them. The greatest tribute a God could receive is one that corresponds to their domain. For a God of War, as Grievous was seen by his people, they was no greater tribute to those who fell in your name, those who were conquered in your name.

'Sir, Niner and Bel are nearly here.' I nodded at the Commander and took the two troopers to rig the storeroom of Grievous' parts. I asked Isabel go with the Commander and the other troopers along with the Jedi to find the control room. She nodded and went to explore the rest of the facility.

I quickly found the clones and we made our way to the room of Grievous parts.

'How much explosives do you have?' Niner took the lead.

'Not enough for a facility of this size, if that's what you're asking.' I nodded.

'We'll focus here and the control room once it's found.' Just then my comms buzzed and the sounds of fighting flooded through.

'Isabel?' A tinge of panic entered my voice. She quickly told me that they had encountered Grievous and that Fisto decided to try to capture Grievous but they were being tossed around by him, even after he lost his legs. I turned to Niner and Bel who told me that they had it here and to go help the others. I nodded and left them to their work.

I had just reached the others when Fisto called for his droid to contact the Republic and inform them of this facility. As I slowed my approach the floor opened up under the group. I rushed to the them and dived for the edge, grabbing Isabel before she fell further. Commander Fil used his grapple to stop himself but Fisto and Vebb had to pull him up.

I pulled Is up and we both took a running leap to cross the chasm. After a brief exchange of taunts between Fisto and Grievous we made our way into a circular room with multiple exits, the doors all shut leaving us trapped inside.

There was a thumping sound and the smell noted earlier was getting stronger. One set of doors opened slowly to reveal a Roggwart, outfitted with battle armour, that roared before charging at us. We all dove apart.

Isabel, Fil and I all took aim at the beast's head and neck, scoring many, but relatively minor, hits. It charged at the us while the Jedi made to engage but Fisto was knocked aside and disarmed. He recovered quickly but Vebb had jumped on the creatures back, stabbing it. The Roggwart's back panel used its mechanical arms to throw him off and then used its tail to grab the Commander. I started firing at its face again and hit it's eye, making the beast drop the Commander. Isabel rushed to his side, firing her Magnum, she then pulled him to the side of the room before switching to her DMR.

Vebb moved to cut off the Roggwart's tail, and Fisto its hands, using one of the many Cho Mai strikes. It fell at Fisto feet before he finished it off.

I went to check on Isabel and Fil. He was okay but unconscious. Isabel hoisted him over her shoulder and we moved to find the control room.

When we found it we waited for Grievous to get someway down the corridor before we made for the door. Once open, a droid on the other side alerted Grievous to our presence and closed the door, separating Vebb and I from Fisto, Isabel and Fil.

I raised my Assault Rifle and fired on his MagnaGuards while Vebb went after Grievous himself, despite his Masters warnings. The droids were swinging their staffs with great precision but their central processor, located in the red circle in their stomachs, was especially vulnerable. It was placed there as most would aim for the head making the MagnaGuard able to operate without one.

After the brief engagement I turned to the sound of a blaster and watched Vebbs body slump to the floor. This meant little to me except I now had to face Grievous alone. He rushed at me as I sprayed blaster bolts at him before ducking his first swing. I slammed the but of my rifle into his mask. He stumbled and I let loose once more before Grievous cut the rifle in half so I dropped the broken halves and punched Grievous in the chest stumbling him again. Jumped back to create some room and got into my hand to hand combat stance, side facing with fists raised.

I could have brought out my Spartan Saber but Grievous had already shown that, while the corridors were great for ambushes, that lightsabers were more likely to get caught, limiting their use.

This is because the lightsaber is a slashing weapon, it uses quick slashes and precision strikes to get behind enemies defences or to return blaster bolts. The Spartan Saber is more suited to thrusts and sweeps The thrusts are only meant to either catch a blade and disarm an opponent or to be blocked by the opponent, this is then meant to be followed by a wide sweeping strike that will crash through the new, hasty, defence made with the blade to either dissect the enemy or to impale them with a final thrust. This combination of sweeps and thrusts were even more unsuited to the tight halls.

My next option could be to use the Cortosis Weave knives issued to use by Dr. Halsey but I never really took to them so wouldn't be much good for me here, even if the Cortosis would short out Grievous' lightsabers.

So that left hand to hand combat. It was perfect for such a tight space and, while Grievous' longer limbs helped in lightsaber combat, I could get within his guard and fend of any attack. It was also my best type of melee combat.

Grievous swung but I delivered another body strike, he tried to then use his other arm but a quick forearm block stopped it. He went for a front kick but I dodged and delivered an elbow strike to his knee, snapping it. He roared in pain and cut off the useless, hanging limb. He detached his arms and used a pair to manoeuvre his way around the ceiling while holding two blades in the other hands. I dodged his quick flurry of strikes but one grazed the breast plate leaving a trail of carbon scoring on the Beskar. I tried to get inside his guard again but he learned quickly and was using one blade to block, forcing me to pull my punches, and another to strike, I would have used kicks but with him hanging it wouldn't do much good. I finally broke through his guard and scored another hit to the breast plate causing it to cave in slightly, with another roar of pain from him I quickly slammed the other side of the plate. He seemed to have planned on me capitalising on this because he had prepared a counter attack, he was learning my style too quickly. With his durability it was only a matter of time before he found a way to beat me.

His foot had shot up and grabbed me. He used it to slam me into the wall and then threw me into the other. Now, while Mandalorian Iron was lightsaber resistant the under suit was not, leaving vulnerable gaps at the joints and other places were armour was lacking to increase mobility. Grievous knew this which is why he used my disorientation to strike at my wrist, my exposed wrist. His blade came crashing down so fast that I couldn't stop it. The blade made contact with my arm, that I had hastily thrown up in defence, but Grievous' carried on through, finding no resistance after his blade touched my arm.

'Jerome. We have the control room but we need to get out, now. We have the door open, hurry.'

I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and ran into the door that Isabel had opened for me. Grievous roared in fury behind me, not just because I got away, but because his lightsaber had just shorted out. You see, Halsey knew each Spartan better than we knew ourselves, and she knew we each had our own preferences to combat. This meant she tried to accommodate us all leading to the inclusion of Beskar gauntlets with Cortosis Weave. When Grievous made to strike my wrist I adjusted my arm so that the blade would hit the gauntlet which shorted his blade.

Isabel had set up some minor charges and we were going to blow the room once we got out. I called Niner and Bel and had them meet us at the outer platform that we were heading to. Once there we handed off the Commander to Bel, who had medical training, but Grievous quickly caught up to us. I ordered Bel to take the Commander to the Pelican and had Niner cover him. They pair broke off and hurried to complete their assignment.

Fisto was distracting Grievous and I ignited my blade to help him. We were holding him off but Grievous was a skilled opponent, even with only being able to move on one leg, and my skills with a blade were around average when compared with my brothers and sisters. Isabel was much better but she used Soresu/Ataru mix. It wasn't the most offensive style, more for holding off an opponent and then using flips and acrobatics to get around them and strike. It was actually close to the style Grievous was using now, but he did have training in all VII forms.

Fisto managed to disarm Grievous during our brief fight and reclaimed Vebb's blade. Just then a shot rang out and I turned to Isabel who had collapsed to the floor.

'ISABEL.' I ran to her and only just covered her downed body before another shot rang out and hit me in the back. It was powerful but my shields held. Isabel stirred below me but she was still out of it. I looked up to see Fisto surrounded by Manga Guards but his droid was piloting his ship towards him. I hoisted Isabel onto my shoulders and made for the cliff were the Pelican was parked. I took a brief look and saw one of the rust coloured droids Cortana reported with a sniper rifle, and he was aiming at me. I dodged the first shot but the second grazed my shoulder, which finished my shields. The third hit the rock that I had just passed and now I was out of sight.

I was running back to the ship and commed Niner to warm the engines. I also contacted Bel to see how the Commander was doing, he was fine just took a bad knock, I also told him to prep the other bed. Isabel was fine but I wanted to be safe.

After dropping Isabel off in the bedroom and left her in Bels care I joined Niner in the cockpit and we took off.

'Niner, set off the bombs.'

'Right away sir.' Even if we hadn't gotten Gunray or Grievous we at least crippled the Kaleesh, well more than he already was.


Jerome POV

We returned to Kamino to deliver our report to Halsey in person, we could only use the screens in the cockpit for calls as we didn't have a holotable, and Halsey didn't want to do it there. Fisto was to make his report to the Jedi High Council about what happened and that left the 3 clones in my care.

They did well on this mission and none of them were from any of the Spec Ops divisions. They also liked large and flashy explosions, men after my own heart. I suppose Isabel and I could do worse than have men like these under our direct command. I mean, with Vebb dead they weren't under his command any more so there was no one to return them too.

Isabel, who had regained consciousness, and Fil, also conscious, were transferred to medical for a more in depth check up. Halsey had met us on the platform and dismissed Niner and Bel. Before they left I told them to meet in the Auditorium at 0600 tomorrow to discuss their reassignment. I left with Halsey after that.

She seemed most interested in the fact that the droid used sniper tactics instead of the close combat, as seen before, either it was a different model or they used a whole range of different techniques and tactics, I didn't know what was worse.

After I finished my report I asked Halsey to reassign Fil, Niner and Bel to my command. She looked at me for a second and reminded me that she didn't have the command of regulars so couldn't do this. I said I know but without a commanding officer, Vebb, they would be automatically reassigned back to their division but not if they were Killed In Action. She took a long hard second to look at me.

'You want me to label these 3 KIA? You want me to lie on an official report?' I nodded. She informed me of a new squad that she was transferring to my command called Trivium. She raised an eyebrow at me for that, just to see if I understood. I did.

The official report said the 3 were ambushed on the way to the Pelican but we told Niner and Bel, Fil once he recovered, that high command had them reassigned to become a part of what high command was calling the Spartan 3 project and would undergo chemical augmentation and remedial training for the next 4 months. When they asked why 3 and not 2 Halsey said that the Spartan 2's were the second generation of Spartans, whatever that meant. It sounded like she meant any child born from Spartan parents but she couldn't mean that… Could she?!