Location: Far Outer Rim, Planet Earth, ISA-ECUCNA, Ground to Air Rapid Deployment Hanger, ISA/USAF Operations Division, 41 days since Battle of Geonosis, Earth year 2035

Trevor was relieved that his talk with the Admiral and General worked out so well. It was shorter than he'd expected but he wasn't the one that should be talking to them. No, that job belonged to the President and the UN Chairman. They were the diplomats, they would do what was best for his planet, he hoped.

Trevor had just ordered a group of technicians to help Right'eye patch the Holo-communication through to command. No one was sure if it could be done, it was after all a different way of communicating. Hopefully the techies could manage it.

Trevor was starting to wonder how much from the Star Wars movies and television series was correct. He couldn't believe that he had just talked with Anakin Skywalker. He looked and sounded almost exactly like what Trevor could remember from the movies. For that matter so did the clones. How this was possible was beyond Trevor. The coincidence of thirty year old movies becoming a reality made Trevor suspicious and to some degree nervous. He knew how they went and the time period they were currently in didn't end so well for the Jedi.

Currently, Trevor sat outside the Consular Cruiser on a crate of ammo. He needed a break; the confinement inside the ship had bugged him. Tens quickly followed him out but was staying near the boarding ramp. He looked unsure, split between going back inside and coming over to join him. Tens hadn't spoken a word to him since their discussion; Trevor could understand why. He hadn't been the most receptive Marine in the world or friendliest for that matter but he had every reason to be. His information told him that Tens was a threat to his squad and he wasn't going to let another clone finish them off.

Thinking this over brought up painful memories of why he'd lost three-fourths of his squad. Delta squad had been composed of four Fireteams with four men in each. Because Delta was slightly larger it had been assigned both a Sergeant and Corporal to look over the squad. But Delta was also selected to take part in a secret UN/US program; Project Genesis. Delta was given a clone who was ranked Corporal and second in command for the squad. He didn't have a name rather a unit designation, C-42. In other squads these clones were given different positions or separate jobs that they had been specifically made for.

Only a hundred or so clones were made, their DNA changed so they would age faster. It took only fifteen years for them to be ready for service, biologically they were eighteen. Just quick enough for them to be financially viable. The first batch was a surprising success, excelling at everything from endurance to fitness, memory and intelligence. But they were psychologically challenged. Never having a proper family they tended to bond to the technicians who raised them. Plus the army wasn't the best at nurturing anything, period. Luckily for the program, by the time the clones were ready for combat, they'd barely passed their final psych. exams.

Trevor remembered how Delta had treated their new companion. Distrust, suspicion, hate and anger were just a few of the more commonly shared feelings in the squad. It was Trevor's view that since the clone came from a test-tube and not a womb it wasn't worth as much as the rest of his squad; in essence it was a product not a person. Trevor encouraged the rest of his squad to view the clone in the same way.

The first weeks were harsh. Unit C-42 tried ending his own life due to the squad's animosity towards him. It was Trevor who had stumbled upon the clone just as he attempted it. Thankfully Trevor stopped C-42 just in time. That event was a turning point and eventually Delta started seeing the clone as a fellow human rather than just a lab experiment. Ironically it was Trevor who decided that he needed a name. Tye was chosen as his first name and his designating would be his last.

Over the next six months Delta squad became rather close with Tye. They taught him about things he hadn't learned in training, which was a lot. Due to Tye's lack of a childhood or for that matter a family he became bonded to the squad and in particular to Sgt. Trevor. By this time Trevor viewed Tye as a young brother; he was only three years older than the clone biologically. He trusted the clone unconditionally and Tye in turn began to fill in his role as second in command.

However everything came to a head two weeks ago. Delta was deployed overseas to Lhasa to aid in a UN backed popular uprising against the Chinese Government. It was one of the multiple little proxy wars occurring in Asia against the Chinese and UN allied Nations. The second cold war as it was called. No one on either side publically admitted to their role in the conflicts but it was clear to everyone in the world what was happening.

The ironic part was that trade between the UN member nations and China didn't stop, no one wanted to face the economic consequences and China was desperate for food. Their problems started when their over-fertilized over-used crop lands stopped producing food due to a large drought in the early 2020's. The largest famine in Chinese history soon followed halving China's population. By 2030 the government was weak and was desperately trying to stay in control of its people. In 2034 the power struggle began between the UN and China as UN member nations quickly replaced China as the main trading partners for China's former allies. Not wanting to give up its newfound economic prowess to a once again strengthening Chinese government, the UN started backing popular uprisings and regional wars against China. The hope was to keep China from ever becoming a superpower again.

So to Lhasa Delta Squad went. The thin air and freezing nights took a toll on the UN troops who were not used to fighting at such high altitudes. The Chinese were tough to fight and heavy loses were the result. But Delta was the exception. Under Trevor's leadership they all managed to return from each confrontation alive. It was at the UN led attack on the Chinese held pass of Pomdo that Delta Squad ran out of luck.

Pomdo Pass was a secondary northern route to reach the strategic Chinese held city of Nagqu. Situated from north to south at just under 16,000 ft. in elevation, Pomdo pass was located between two 18,000 ft. peaks. Both slopes leading up either side of the pass were covered in a thick slushy snow. This forced the assault straight up the steep southern side of the pass to where the Chinese army had set up barricades. A former road switch-backed up the pass that was now covered with IED's, coiled barbed wire, and multiple trenches with Chinese soldiers waiting in them. There was no surveillance as drones faltered at such altitudes and temperatures and the ones that did work were constantly shot down. Satellite surveillance was out of the question because of thick cloud cover.

So before the main UN and Tibetan fighting force was to advance, two other scouting Fireteams were sent out with Delta covering. They were to asses the condition of the pass and to see how big of an army was awaiting them.

The clouds put forth a numbingly cold rain. To make matters worse it was at nighttime that the assault was taking place. Quietly following the other two Fireteams Delta took up the rear and fanned out. Using the night vision in their helmets to identify friend from foe they slowly climbed up the steep boulder strewn pass avoiding the road at all costs.

Half way up the pass Trevor fell and fractured his femur and a rib. Luckily his body armor took most of the shock.

"Tye, you're in charge now. Connor will stay with me. Make it to the objective rally point. Assess what you can then get out of there. I know you'll do it right."

"I won't let you down sir."

"I know you won't, now get going. I'll see you soon."

With those last words Tye and the rest of Delta left Trevor and Connor at a boulder. They climbed another several thousand feet almost to the first barricades before they ran into trouble. Tye couldn't locate the two Fireteams that had made their way up the pass in front of them.

"Come in Fireteam's Alfa, Bravo, come in. Report to confirm position, over," Tye called over his helmets comm to the other two missing Fireteams. The only answer came in the form of static. Signaling for Delta to regroup next to him behind a boulder, Tye once again called for the other two Fireteams. Nothing came in, no responses at all.

Looking up the slope, Tye could see the first barricades. They were close to their objective. Tye knew he needed to call in the missing teams but that would waste time and risk detection by using the long-range radio. He had to make a decision and quick, the longer they stayed put the more likely they were to be detected. Finally, not wanting to let Trevor down, Tye issued his order, "Delta, move to objective rally point and watch for the Fireteams, move it!" With that they fanned out from the boulder in a diamond formation, two flanking Fireteams and one front and rear Fireteam. All had their rifles raised ready to fire at a moments notice.

"No! Tye don't…." yelled Trevor into his comm. He had been watching his HUD which showed the progress of Delta. He knew a trap when he saw one. His warning came too late as camouflaged Chinese soldiers opened fire from all sides behind the numerous boulders. It was horrendous the consequences of that order.

"Retreat!" yelled Tye who was leading with Fireteam One. Just after he issued the order he was hit with grenade shrapnel and tossed back down slope to the rear Fireteam Four. The rest of Fireteam One died instantly.

Aaron and Julia with Fireteam Four rushed forward and grabbed Tye and dragged him back to a boulder where the rest of their Fireteam was held up. All of the Marines could tell by their HUD's what their teams vitals where and what the fatality rates were. Using this Trevor watched in horror as Fireteams Two and Three slowly lost all of their members. Only Fireteam Four remained intact with Tye, held down behind a boulder slightly farther down slope.

"Fireteam Four, retreat! Get out of their now!" cried Trevor through his Comms from farther down the pass. He couldn't lose his entire team, he couldn't.

"Sir, we're pinned down. We have Tye but he's severely injured, his suit vitals show that he has sustained severe spinal trauma from the blast, a punctured lung from shrapnel and a fractured vertebrae in the neck from landing. His suit has hardened up but it will be impossible to get him down slope without causing further injury, sir," replied Lennox, Delta's most experienced medic.

"Understood Lennox, but that's an order, get out of there now, leave him if you have too!"

"Sir? We can't leave him he's part of…"

"Go! He's done his job now do yours!" interrupted Trevor.

Lennox wasn't about to leave Tye, no he would do his job. His Sergeant must have taken leave of his senses but Lennox wouldn't abandon anyone, ever. Opening a comm with just his Fireteam, Lennox issued his order, "Julia, Aaron, you are carrying Tye down, me and Reed will cover your backs. Your HUD's will paint the safest path down; go as fast as you can. Ready?"

Both Marines grabbed Tye while Reed and Lennox got into position.

"Ready!" they replied back in unison.

"Go!"

Immediately they all started at a run back down the pass. Their HUD's constantly calculating the best and safest route. Tracer rounds and explosions followed their path as they swiftly made it down the slope. A yell on their comm slowed them down briefly. Julia, Aaron and Reed watched in dismay as Lennox's vitals went out and a marker went up in their HUD's showing him as KIA.

"Keep going! Were almost there," yelled Reed running after them.

Finally they were approaching the rock that Trevor and Connor were at. The firefight was starting to subside; they knew they had made it to safety. Julia and Aaron slowed down and brought Tye behind the boulder. Reed had stopped returning fire and was just yards behind them. As he approached the boulder and was slowing down a stray bullet hit him in the back of his neck. He was dead before he hit the ground in front of him. His momentum caused his body to tumble-down the slope passing his horrified fellow soldiers. His body then plummeted off a small cliff and landed with a thud at the bottom.

The remnants of Delta sat for a few moments in mourning. Then Aaron and Connor immediately went to help Tye while Julia went over to talk with Trevor who was leaning against the rock.

"Sir, we need to evac Tye right away or he'll die. We can get him farther down so that it can be done safely, do you want me to call it in?" Her question was choked with tears. They were all close to breaking down and crying.

After everything that had happened, all those horrible sounds, screams, Trevor was distrait. He was in an unstable state of mind. He blamed Tye wholeheartedly for everything that had occurred. Taking off his helmet to avoid recording he issued orders that he would regret for the rest of his life.

"No, it's too much of a risk. If the clone dies it's his fault and his alone. Call into forward command and let them know what happened. Issue a full report and inform them that unit C-42 is a failure," replied Trevor bitterly. He was confused and full of emotions, more than he could express.

"Sir? But he will die if we don't…" she started, shocked that he'd said no.

"I do believe that was an order Private."

"Yes, sir," she replied hesitantly, fully disagreeing with her Sergeant.

Aaron and Connor continued to apply first aid to Tye to the best of their abilities but it was obvious that he was going to die if he didn't get evaced soon. They'd taken his helmet off to stint his head and neck. He was fading in and out of consciousness but when Trevor ventured over he opened his eyes.

"Trevor, I'm sorry," he managed weakly.

"I am sorry too," replied Trevor with as much malice as he could muster, "for ever trusting you. You betraye..."

The remorseful, desperate and tearful look Tye gave him made Trevor avert his eyes. Instead he found himself looking at a fist. Connor punched Trevor as hard as he could in the face, knocking him down against the cold bedrock. The punch knocked him out.

"How dare he say that! Julia call in an Evac asap. Me and Aaron will carry Tye down to that hummock, you get Trevor. If he wakes up, punch him again."

Tye was sent at once to a joint Indian/UN military hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred back to the US for immediate surgery. What was left of Delta soon followed. It was only after arriving back at ISA headquarters that Trevor finally started coming to his senses. Realizing what had occurred and who had remained calm Trevor promoted Connor to Lance Corporal in anticipation of their new recruits.

When he asked what had become of Tye, all the UN doctor would say was that Tye had died shortly after surgery. For the brief moments that he had been awake he had asked for Trevor and the rest of the squad. Trevor regretted not being there and he hated himself for how he had treated Tye for the last time.

All of this seemed like it had occurred years ago compared to now. Trevor looked over to Tens; he was still near the ramp sitting on some rather expensive scientific equipment of which Tens was oblivious. Smiling slightly, Trevor waved him over. Tens sat down beside him, but stayed silent. Trevor realized he didn't want to make the same mistake with Tens as he had with Tye; even if he'd only known Tens for little more than a day.

"Tens, I'm sorry for the way I treated you. It wasn't right of me to say what I did, it was a mistake…. I just wanted you to know that I can make mistakes too."

Tens looked surprised at the soft-spoken apology from the Marine; it hadn't occurred to him that Trevor should be apologizing for anything. Yet Tens felt better after hearing it.

"Thanks Trevor. I, uh, understand. We all make mistakes but the best thing to do, I think, is learn from them," he paused frowning before continuing, "For example, I now know to never ever put a shinie in as the pilot of your ship, or you might end up in some unknown part of space with a critical coolant leak. Then you have to get rescued by the Jedi and an élite legion of brother's and it just gets worse from there…" Tens smiled a little and so did Trevor. They sat in silence for a while, both watching the frantic movements of the technicians as they tried to solve the Holo-projector/Earth technology compatibility problem.

"Tens, when we head back to command in a few minutes, you will be separated from your brothers to have a private conversation with the Vice President and President. They will tell you very important information that may seem at first to be impossible. Believe it, I have and you'll realize soon that it is true. It explains why we seem to know so much about you and the Republic even though you're the first intelligent life we've met from outside the Solar System. I just wanted to tell you ahead of time, so you don't think we are trying to hurt you by separating you from your brothers again."

Tens sat for a little longer before getting up. He was glad that Trevor had warned him in advance. He didn't want to screw up by doing something stupid, especially now that the Republic had arrived.

"Thanks for the warning. We clones are known for perfect recall of information so don't worry about me forgetting anything. As to believing what they have to say, we'll see. I ha…."

Before Tens could finish what he was saying an excited shout came from the Cruiser. Right'eye came running out followed by Riot and Jumps and the rest of Delta. Trevor and Tens couldn't tell who was more exited.

"I …. I mean we got the Holo-transmission patched through to command!" said Right'eye triumphantly. His face beaming with success, "It won't be holographic, just 2D but it should work. I guess we can head back with Sgt. Trevor now."

"Good job ner vod, I can't believe you actually finished that quickly," Tens said proudly.

Right'eye beamed with the praise before looking back to the ship. He had forgotten to do something, he knew it. He'd secured the transmission, the Resolute was encrypting it so the Separatist couldn't track or trace it to its origin. He had checked the ship's power, everything was running smoothly. He'd even instructed one of the ISA technicians on how to keep the transmission running smoothly; as long as the techie didn't press the red button everything would be fine.

No matter what he thought of though, he couldn't remember what he'd forgotten to do. But before he could go back to investigate Trevor called for everyone's attention.

"Okay, let's head back. We'll get something to eat on the way. By the way Tens, you'll get your weapons back when we arrive at command. If the Separatist somehow find your ship then you'll need them. Let's go."

With that they proceeded to enter the lifts back underground to command.

Food, Tens thought as they descended, how long had it been since he or his brothers had eaten something? Too long, I guess it's time to bring out the ration bars… fun…

###

A/N: Okay, first off, please take notice that I made a rather big mistake last chapter by stating in Palpatine's P.O.V. that Padawan Ahsoka Tano was onboard the Negotiator. I was eager, perhaps a little too eager to get her into the story. Ahsoka is in fact still on Coruscant in the Jedi Temple. She would have appeared in the normal Star Wars story as a messenger from Yoda to Anakin and Obi-wan on Christophsis. My fault, I've updated the chapter so it won't show the mistake. Not to worry though, she will appear later in the story…

Finally, this chapter was going to be longer but, Trevor and Delta's back-story was a little too long to not be its own chapter. I hope you don't mind a bit of a back-story into Earths politics and conflicts. Due to an overabundance of caution story has been rated T instead of K+. Doesn't hurt to be on the safe side of things. Thanks for reading, please review and suggest ideas, they are most warmly welcomed. As always, I do not own Star Wars…