The Redoubtable was a big ship, Venator-class, and Redemption was fairly sure he'd memorized everything of immediate importance by the time the LAAT had him aboard. Discovering where and how he would fit in might take a little more time.

"I know the ship's layout," he told the LNO who met him at the flight deck. "There's no need to escort me unless there are details you'd like to ensure I'm aware of."

"No. No," said the human. "And if there are, I'm sure your squad will let you know. They didn't know logistics when they got here, but they're quick learners. Most of our concern is deployment of forces and supplies as well as keeping the CIS on the run and out of Republic space." He sighed deeply.

"It's not easy, is it, sir."

"No," he frowned with a sad look on his face then shook his head. "Your section chief is Lieutenant Laski Ewoy. Three days ago it would have been Captain Ea Balinji. We weren't personal friends - ship's too big for that. But he was a good captain."

Redemption tilted his head quizically then realized that losing a good captain, losing someone you could trust would be almost as bad as losing someone in your squad.

"Your barracks are bulls-eyed at Wesk 1-niner-5 284." The LNO paused and took a breath. "That's a section where we have a line of turbolaser turrets." His lips twisted. "Near where Captain Balinji and one of the turret squads died. Now that you have arrived, I'd like your squad trained as relief for those gunners as well as continuing their logistic duties."

"Of course, sir. I'll have them ready in twenty-four hours."

The LNO blinked. "No need to push them that quickly."

Sergeant Redemption gave him a tiny smile. "I suspect they're already trained and all they need is a sergeant to assign and guide them." He shrugged. "Maybe not even that." He glanced at the LNO's surprised expression. "We've been training with weapons all our lives. The squad has probably been standing in the back of the turret watching the crew, itching to get their hands on a weapon that big to see what they can do." He paused for a moment. "If it was close enough, then I suspect my new squad will have assisted medical in trying to get any survivors out of the turret.

The LNO tilted his head at Redemption's assessment. "They were. All of them."

"Of course they were," agreed Redemption.

Of course." The LNO grinned widely and his eyes sparkled. He gestured down a corridor. "Carry on, sergeant."

Redemption almost cried at the smiles of relief he received from his new squad when he found the barracks. Here he belonged.

They jumped up and saluted. He saluted back. "Call me Sergeant Red. CS-21-8644." He glanced and gave a nod to the ranking clone. "At ease and no further need to salute in the barracks under normal circumstances." Three of the clones returned to what they'd been doing when he'd entered. One on the bunk going through some regs, another in the bunk adjacent polishing his armor, the last checking and packing up a field medic kit.

"I'm Stat and I've been acting as squad leader." The young clone gave a shrug. "But this logistic thing has got me almost stumped." He gestured to the others. Thirteen and Nine-nine were the two in the bunks while Dation checked the medic kit. Reap, Eight, Shine, and Sixty-two stood with Stat, smiles on their faces and anticipation in their eyes.

"I ran through the flimsiwork on my way here and it seems you've done well. No reprimands, mislaid equipment, or delayed forces. And the RLO told me you were all quick learners."

Stat leaned slightly forward, his words a bit lower. "I think we've been lucky." Then he straightened. "But we're glad to finally have a clone sergeant."

"Didn't you have one originally?"

One of the other standing squad members, Reap, shook his head. Eight looked upward and let out a huff of air.

"We were hived off a company being transported to Ryloth when the Commodore requested some men to replace a logistic team he'd lost during battle."

"The captain was pretty happy to see us go," said the trooper in his bunk who'd returned to reading regs - Nine-nine. The position looked vaguely familiar to Red, as if Nine-nine was hiding. "We were his dregs."

Shine turned toward them to comment but Redemption touched his arm for silence and spoke. "There are no dregs among clonetroopers. Remember that."

"Not what the captain said," added the trooper polishing his armor. He hadn't raised his face. Stat looked vaguely embarrassed, as if what the trooper said was true but he didn't want to talk about it.

"You're my squad and I will make you the best." Redemption looked at each trooper until they stood or sat a bit straighter, taller, prouder. "I'll tell you now that I've been reconditioned." There was a slight hesitation in the room, several indrawn breaths. "Something to do with a power overload that took me out of sniper training. But since then I've been acting as a trainer on Kamino. I've trained squads that are well-respected by their captains as well as four ARC troopers. Colt, Havoc, Iron, and Blitz of Rancor Battalion." A smile twisted the corner of his lips. "General Ti herself said she was sorry to see me go."

He set his helmet on the sergeant's desk with a frown. He hadn't been on Geonosis for more than several hours. Did that count? He decided it did. "I was on Geonosis for a short time before being assigned to you. Captain Silver wanted to keep me but apparently, someone higher up decided I'd be better here."

"We appreciate that," put in Stat. "We've been without a sergeant too long."

"You trained Commander Colt," asked Eight and received an affirmative nod from Red.

"Is that where you were wounded," asked Reap, sitting at the main table.

He meant 'in battle', but Redemption didn't want to go into being attacked by vode. "Yes. Not something I want to discuss." He paused, giving them time to ask any questions. There were none and he gave a nod. They'd let him keep his secrets. It also meant they'd been around born-humans enough to realize that questions could be an irritant.

"I'd like to go over my rules for a squad. They aren't difficult. First rule is you fight together. You can have arguments, disagreements, fights here in the barracks. But outside of this room you present a united front. You don't go one-on-one with each other and you back each other if someone else calls one-on-one."

"There aren't that many clones onboard," put in the one polishing his armor. "And we don't interact with the others enough for them to hate us."

Stat glanced at the trooper then back to Redemption with a tiny shrug. So, Thirteen would be his problem trooper. Those kind of problems came from being hurt, injured. Redemption nodded and pursed his lips. Whatever bothered Thirteen was from before the Redoubtable assignment, likely his previous command. Maybe something as simple as a miscommunication. He'd find out and he'd fix it the best he could - that was his job as sergeant. "Then interact with the others a bit. You'll get your first opportunity tomorrow. We're going to be training as backup for the laser turret."

Even the trooper hiding in his bunk reading regs reacted to that, his eyes wide with excitement. "How'd you get command to…"

Redemption gave a small motion with his hand. "Rules first. In battle, you cover each other." He paused letting them soak in that information. "Think about if any of you have a problem with that rule and get back to me individually."

"Second rule is you don't let anyone get sent back to Kamino." He grimmaced. "I know that it isn't always possible to overrule command or the Jedi but - as much as you can - you keep your vode away from Kamino. Volunteer in medical. It might grant you a little leeway with the medics, a little more time for your vode to heal."

Again he allowed a little time for them to think about those two rules. Stat and Shine nodded their own agreement to volunteering with medical.

"Last, if you have a question or problem. Of any kind. From equipment you have no idea how to work…" He grinned at the rolled eyes of his squadies. "Yes, unlikely, I know - to disagreements with someone in another squad or even an odd interaction with one of the civilian contract workers, you let me know. You let me know if you even suspect something might become a problem. I'm your sergeant but I cannot lead or protect you from something I am not aware of."

They were a good squad and Sergeant Red had a good feeling about them.