As promised there will be three chapters dropping this week. Here is the second of the three chapter. Enjoy!"
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS!
Cresh alongside the other leaders of the various clone companies and battalions on Kamino stood within the briefing room. Each of them stood around the holotable, going over battle plans. Jedi Kenobi and Skywalker had intercepted a seperatisit transmission revealing a plan to attack Kamino and cut off the Republic supply of troops.
A second battle of Kamino.
Cresh still remembered the first one well. It was when he was officially thrust into the war. The Arcs had been awoken in hopes of turning the tide of the battle. They were successful but at heavy cost.
Many of his alpha class brethren were lost in the confusion of the battle. Many good arcs lost their lives that day.
Shaak Ti along with Siysa stood alongside the clowns going over battle plans. Kenobi and Skywalker were elsewhere leaving their respective clone commanders behind to stand in the briefing for them.
It was Commander Cody that spoke first, in terms of plans.
"Commander Cresh. You're the only one of us besides Master Ti that participated in the first battle of Kamino. Any improvements or plans you think that can be made to help us this time around?" asked the clone commander.
Cresh stroked his beard in thought for a second, then before to manipulate the holographic projector displaying Tipoca City.
"When the seppies last attacked Kamino they mainly targeted our learning centers and other areas where the young cadets were. Their main mission, must like last time, was to deprive the Republic of troops. What better way to do that than to eliminate young cadets in training. I propose we move all cadets to the barracks first and foremost. Protect our future troopers. The barracks are much easier to defend than many other areas here." he said
Everyone else conversed, thinking this over. It was Shiv who brought up a question next.
"Protecting the barracks and younger troopers is fine but what about the other areas. The seperatist won't just be targeting the learning centers. There are other areas susceptible to attack as well." he added.
Cresh simply nodded.
"Correct. When they last attacked the defenders were ill prepared for assault. Their forces quickly overtook our landing bays and hangers and from there they were able to easily push their way through to the interior of the city. We'll need forces stationed at each location and the main hangars to repel enemy attacks. I propose the Arcs and the Al'Verde spearhead that defense." he said, noting the looks of confusion on many faces when he used the mando'a word.
Those who weren't used to his vernacular or around him when he spoke the language were utterly confused but kept it to themselves.
"We'll also need a team to protect the chamber where Jango's D.N.A sample is being kept. We can't risk that falling into enemy hands either." he finished.
Commander Colt stepped forward, pointing to himself.
"I'll defend that position. Give me some of your best ment and we'll hold it down." said the arc, giving Cresh a thumbs up.
Cresh smiled and nodded.
"Good as for the rest of you. We'll need floaters. Strike teams capable of moving freely between battlefronts to assist the various defenders." Cresh added.
Captain Rex smacked Cody on the back lightly.
"Cody and I will make up a team. We work well together." he said.
Once more Cresh simply nodded in response.
"Then that'll leave myself, Tracyn and Shiv to make up the second team. Any questions?" Cresh asked.
All within the room shook their head and began to head out to their positions. Cresh watched Siysa go, noticing a small smile on her face as she left. She knew he was staring.
Now with everyone gone,save for those that needed to be in the briefing room for operations, Cresh looked at his own squad.
Shiv and Tracyn.
"You lads ready to go?" he asked as he put on his helmet.
Tracy responded with a thumbs whilst Shiv smirked, and walked past him, placing his hand on Cresh's shoulder.
" Time to see if you live up to the tales or not...old man." he jeered as he left.
The lieutenant then began to whistle a tune as he left, slowly placing on his helmet.
"Ohhhh this is gonna be fun.." Cresh thought to himself.
~OOO~
Cresh took cover behind a wall, from the heavy blaster fire of an aqua droid. Beside him was Tracyn and on the opposite end was Shiv. The trio had taken to their "floating" duties when the battle had started and were assaulting droid forces trying to sneak up on main defense points.
"So Cresh is this anything like the first battle?" Tracyn asked over the sounds of blaster fire.
Cresh peeked from behind cover, taking a few potshots with his westar. The subsequent drops and thuds let him know his shots rang true.
"Not at all! Less organized on our part plusss it was all supers and the regular clanker. Not this newer model of droid!" he said in response
"What's that I hear class Arc trooper? Too slow to keep up with us younger models?" yelled Shiv in response.
"I never said-"
"Watch this and try to keep up then old man!" said Shiv, interrupting him.
The lieutenant unsheathed the blade he had sheathed, which seemed to be a karambit, and held up a pistol. He then rolled from behind cover, taking a kneeling firing position and downing a few b1's before lunging forward with his knife. Shiv weaved between blaster bolts, coming up on the approaching droids , slicing the first one's head off with his knife.
Cresh cursed seeing the approaching Aqua droids coming for him.
"Di'kut!" he yelled as he too rolled out of cover and took a firing stance.
He released a barrage of bolts, downing the last remaining aqua droids that were coming for Shiv. With their efforts, the droid forces in the corridor had been completely eliminated. Cresh approached Shiv, who currently had his foot on the destroyed body of one of the aqua droids.
"That was a reckless move you made Shiv." Cresh said sternly.
"Aye..but was it not a move from the playbook of one of the original arcs..Pure Jango as y'all would say." came the lieutenant's retort.
Once more Cresh's eye twitched. He..was certainly a handful.
"Besides..had to see if you were able to keep up. Ya know with you being older and all the accelerated aging catches up to you faster. Age will drop you faster than the droids ever could." replied Shiv as he walked away laughing to himself at his joke.
Tracyn walked up, stopping beside Cresh, looking at him.
"Well that was rather..morbid." came his response.
"I agree..Wonder what his de-
Cresh sentence was cut off as he received an incoming comms transmission.
"Cresh, come in. This is Colt, can you hear?" came a voice over his helmet's comm system.
"Hearing you loud and clear brother. What's your status?" Cresh responded.
He could hear the telltale sounds of battle loud in Colt's background, letting him know it was intense.
"Assistance is needed near the D.N.A chamber. Blitz and Havoc were the nearest to me but Blitz reported that Havoc was recently k.i.a and that he was still facing resistance. Wouldn't be able to get to me fast enough." The Arc stated.
Cresh uttered a silent prayer for the fallen arc. He didn't get to spend much time with Havoc, but could tell he was a good brother.
"Copy that. Shiv, Tracyn and I are enroute to your position. Hold tight brother we're on the way!" He responded, as he took off in a full blown sprint towards the DNA chamber.
When Colt's comm came back on for response, he could hear the dying screams of troopers felled by Blaster bolts.
"I have eyes on General Greivous and a small droid, force moving to engage. See ya soon." Came Colt's response.
However, Colt had not yet cut off his Comms. Cresh heard the sounds of blaster fire before they were replaced by the sounds of the Arc struggling for breath, as if he was being choked.
"Colt status report?!" He yelled into the comms hearing a loud thud and the snap-hiss of a lightsaber before another softer thud followed.
Cresh looked back at his companions.
"Double time it! Colt needs us asap!" he ordered as they hastened their speed
~OOO~
By the time the trio had arrived, it was too late. Colt's entire force had been entirely wiped out. They found Colt a bit farther down from his men, on his side.
There was a still smoking hole through his chest and back, made by a lightsaber. Cresh was currently kneeled beside his body, reciting a Mando'a mantra for fallen soldiers. He then placed his brother's hands on his chest and closed his eyes.
The fallen arc's helmet was placed gently beside him. Cresh then stood up, facing his brother's in arms.
"Now it's starting to look like the first battle of Kamino. Bodies of fallen arcs littering the battlefield." He said as he walked away from the body of his fellow arc to reconvene with his team.
"His body's still fresh. That means his killer isn;t too far away and likely enroute to the DNA chamber now as we speak. If we move fast, we can reach them in time to intercept." He stated.
As he finished, his comms began to beep once more.
"Cresh come in! This is Siysa. I need immediate reinforcement to the main hangar as soon as possible. There were many more droids than initially reported and we're being overwhelmed. Requesting immediate backup!". Came the strained voice of his lover.
Cresh had to make a decision fast. His lover or the fate of his future brothers. His happiness or his duty to the Republic.
"What's the word..Commander?" came Shiv's voice.
Cresh checked his rifle and looked at his team.
"You two head to the chamber. I'm going to go support Siysa's force in the main hangar." He said as he began to head towards that direction.
"Just going to disregard your duty to the Republic, and the war effort. Is that how you original Arc's operate?" came Shiv's response.
Cresh did not stop his stride, continuing forward.
"Not at all. I have a duty to the Republic yes but I also have a duty to myself, those under my command as well as Siysa. Neglecting them nor will be disregarding that duty to myself. When this war's over what will be left for me when this all ends?" he asked
Tracyn followed behind him checking his own weapon.
"You know I'll follow you wherever Vod." he said following behind Cresh.
Within his helmet, the older clone smiled at his support. However the sound of another set of footprints surprised him. Shiv was beside him walking alongside him.
"You Arcs sure are a handful. Choosing personal duty and your own men over the greater good of the mission. I respect you for it. What kind of brother would I be if I left my own to struggle on their own..Older or not. Besides..I'm sure all the other jedi we got can handle it, no?" came his reply.
Cresh exhaled softly.
"Much thanks ner vod… I will always remember this. Now..let's get to the main hangar."
Looks like the battle is really starting to heatup. Join us next chapter as Cresh, Shiv and Tracyn go support the ongoing battle between Siysa and the droid forces in the main hangar. Fave follow and review. You all have a great day!