While fighting to control the darkened
world of Nocturnus, Shadow the Hedgehog's
battalion is temporarily placed under
the command of Shinobi General Zavok.
As Zavok's disastrous strategies result
in increasing casualties, his men begin
to turn against him. Captain Fang
struggles to balance loyalty between
his commander and his fellow men.
Under his watch, Mighty and Jet disobey
Zavok's orders, resulting in their
court-martial...
Fang entered the tower command centre where Zavok was "General Zavok, I respectfully request you reconsider court-martialling Mighty and Jet". Zavok had his back to him "The actions of Arc-06-1993 and CT-2006 were a clear act of treachery and disregard for my command. If punishment isn't swift, their defiance may inspire others to follow suit". Fang looked at him pleadingly "Sir, the men are with you. It's just that some of them feel you're putting their lives in danger needlessly". Zavok still kept his back to him "All the more reason to send a clear message that I am in charge, and insubordination will not be tolerated. The truth is these clones have had a difficult time respecting my command since the beginning. I've seen it before. Some clones are just defective. They are unable to succumb to authority. You're right, Captain. I don't think I can court-martial them. It will only be a waste of time and that's something we don't have". He turned around and faced Fang "I'm afraid they'll need to be disposed of. Prepare a squad for execution". This shocked Fang "What? But-but, sir" the other clones in the room were surprised as well, "You heard me, Captain! Have it done immediately, or I'll do it myself".
Fang and four more clones entered the brig and went to Mighty and Jet's cell. Fang sighed "Mighty, Jet, I'm sorry. General Zavok has ordered your execution immediately" "What? But how? He can't do this" Jet said. "He has authority to render punishment during combat" "I can understand a court-martial and locking us up I the brig, but executing us?" Jet sounded slightly scared. "I tried to convince him that it's my fault, but he wouldn't let me", Mighty stepped closer "Fang, you have to face it. He's been using you. He needs your loyalty to control the others". Fang sighed and opened the shield door, two clones entered to take them. "I won't let him get away with this" Fang told them, "Ah, don't beat yourself up about it. We made our choice. We knew what the price was" Mighty said. Jet looked at him "Yeah, speak for yourself" "Heh. Still got your sense of humour, I see" "Who said I was joking?". They were taken out of the brig "I guess this is it" Mighty said.
A line of clones including Charmy were holding weapons and faced a wall, Cat was standing at the side reluctantly watching. Antione stood next to them "Line up the prisoners", Fang arrived with Mighty and Ray. Jet looked up at the tower window and saw Zavok staring down at them. They were placed at the wall and Antione stepped forward "Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?" they stayed silent "I'll take that as a no" "I hope you can live with yourself, Antione" Mighty said. Antione stood next to Fang "Ready weapons" they did so, Jet sighed "Never thought we'd go out this way" "Aim". Mighty shook his head "Wait! This is wrong. And we all know it. The general is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on it". The clones lowered their weapons slightly as they listened "No clone should have to go out this way! We are loyal soldiers. We follow orders but we're not a bunch of unthinking badniks! We're men. We must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we are given are wrong". "Fire!" Antoine ordered coldly, all the line of clones did so but every shot missed and hit the wall. Jet and Mighty opened their eyes and were surprised to find themselves to still be alive. Antione walked forward in confusion "What… what happened?" the whole line dropped their weapons. Fang stepped forward "They're doing the right thing, Antione, because if this is how soldiers are rewarded for heroic actions then one day, every man in this battalion may face a similar fate.. Take off their binders". Cat was the first to walk forward and free Mighty and Jet, Antione got in the way of the others "No, the General gave us orders. We have to go through with this". "Good luck finding anyone to do it" Cat said to him.
Fang and Antione entered the tower where Zavok was waiting "You wanted us, sir?". Zavok turned to them "I ordered those clones to be executed. You are making a mistake by crossing me, clone" he got right in Fang's face threateningly. Fang looked up at him defiantly "It's Captain, sir ", Zavok growled but Fang stood his ground. A clone at control console stood up "General, there's an incoming transmission" "Put it through" Zavok said as he turned to the holo-unit which showed a rat clone. "General, the Nocturnus have stepped up their offensive. We're holding them off, but their squadrons have ambushed one of our platoons, seizing weapons. We believe they may be planning to launch a massive attack". The message ended and Zavok turned back to Fang "Looks like you have your stay of execution for now. Lock the traitors in the brig and prepare your platoons to move out immediately. We need to pre-empt the enemy by hitting them now with everything we've got". The three of them entered the lift "We're finally going to take the capital. And, Captain, make sure the troops are aware that if the enemy have taken our weapons, they may remove their armour to pass as clones" "I will, sir".
The battalion were patrolling the jungle "Stay alert" Fang told them. Charmy was near the back when he saw Antione about to step on a vine "Watch out, Antione. I saw that thing attack Bean. It'll chew you up and spit you out". He picked up a rock and threw it at the body of the creature causing it to open its mouth "Ew, gross" Antione said. There was suddenly blaster fire "We're under attack!" "I can't see anything" "Get the mortars up!". A squad of clones set up mortars and fired in the direction of the fire. "Anyone have a visual?", Cat used binoculars to look ahead and saw a group of 'Nocturnus' soldiers without armour. "I see them. They're passing as clones, all right". They charged forward managing to kill a few of them but they were losing men as well. Fang was as another part of the battle when his commlink activated "Captain, we're sustaining heavy casualties" he heard Cat say. Fang looked across a group of trees and saw a strange shape. He ran over to it and there was a dead echidna 'Nocturnus' with an offline Omega next to it but Fang saw that there was a Republic symbol painted on it.
Fang realized that he has met this Omega before. A terrifying idea entered Fang's head and he went over to the dead body and removed the glove on its right hand. There was a glowing Republic symbol on its palm, Fang stumbled backwards "What?". He ran out "Everyone, stop firing!" he waved his arms in the air trying to get attention "We're shooting at our own men! They're not Nocturnus. They're clones". He ran past Charmy, Antione and Cat "Take off your gloves! Show them you're not the enemy!". Fang quickly took his hat off in hopes he'd be recognised before taking off his glove. A badger and an owl clone on the other side were lying on a hill with the latter looking through the scope of a weapon. They both saw Fang running in their direction just as he removed his glove and held up his symbol "We're clones!". A look of shock came over the badgers face just before he stopped the owl from firing "Whoa. Whoa!". Fang ran up to a chipmunk clone who was confused up seeing him. Fang tackled the clone to the ground before taking off his glove and holing both their right hands up to the others "Look. We're clones. We're all clones". Both sides stopped firing and walked towards each other in disbelief. Fang released the clone and fell to his knees.
Cat and the 212th medic were helping the wounded while everyone else was just sitting in shock "This can't be happening. What have we done?" Charmy said sounding utterly broken. Antione put his hand on his shoulder reassuringly, he glanced at Fang "I don't understand. Why did these troopers attack us?". Cat ran up to them "Captain, I've found the platoon leader. It's Rotor. He's still alive" he led them back to Rotor. He was lying injured against a tree with Jeff kneeling next to him. Fang kneeled down in front of him "Rotor", he groaned in pain. "Tell me who gave you the orders to attack us" "It… it was General Zavok. He sent us to these coordinates to stop the enemy". Tears began to fall down his face "We thought they were disguised as us… but it was… you". Rotor 's head fell down and his eyes closed, Jeff sighed at the loss of his brother. Fang stood up, his eyes were now full of anger.
Fang stood in front of both platoons "We all know who's responsible for what happened out there. What we don't know is why. Something has to be done. What I'm proposing is highly treasonous. If any man chooses to opt out, do it now". Every clone stepped forward; Fang nodded "From this point forward we are entering uncharted territory. My orders are, we arrest General Zavok for treason against the Republic".
The clones entered the base with Fang leading the, he put his back on and had a determined look on his face. Antione was at the back of the group, but he suddenly stopped and went a different direction. Fang entered the brig and released Mighty and Jet, he handed them both weapons. They then entered the control room and surrounded Zavok who had his back to them. "General Zavok, you're being relieved of duty" Fang said. Zavok turned around and smirked "It's treason, then", Fang raised his pistols "Surrender, General" "You're committing mutiny, Captain" Zavok moved to the middle of the room. "Explain your actions" Fang said through gritted teeth, "My actions?" Zavok said feigning ignorance. "For ordering your troops against one another" "Oh, that. I'm surprising you were able to figure it out… for a clone" he said mockingly. The clones advanced on him "Surrender, General. You're outnumbered". Zavok pushed them all away with the Force before igniting his lightsaber "You dare to attack a Shinobi". They all fired on him, but he effortlessly deflected the blasts. He cut through some of them "I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some laboratory!". He broke through the window of the tower and landed down on the airstrip. He charged through any clones in his way and escaped to the jungle. Fang and the others made it to the ground and chased after him, but Antione ran in front of them holding a blaster "Hold it right there". They stopped "Lower your weapon, Antione" Fang ordered, "I… I can't do that, sir. It's my duty. You're all traitors". Fang slowly walked towards him "I used to believe that being a good soldier meant doing everything they told you. That's how they engineered us. But we're not badniks. We're not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions". Charmy stepped closer "Antione, don't do it", Antione sighed and lowered his blaster. A clone came up to him and put binders on his wrists, "Take him to the brig" Fang told them.
They were back in the jungle, Fang got on his commlink "Anybody got anything?" "Negative, Captain. We lost him. Wait-". Fang heard a lightsaber whirring and then clones screaming "He's too powerful. Hurry-AH!". They set a perimeter in the direction the squad was when "You should have listened to the armadillo from the beginning, Captain". The voice was coming from above, but they couldn't see anything. They heard chuckling "He was right. I was using you". He leaped down killing two clones "You've all been my pawns" "Get him!" they fired but Zavok was enjoying the fight. He cut though a dozen clones before he deactivated his lightsabers and lifted one clone up and broke his back with is knee. Charmy charged forward but Zavok grabbed him and threw him away. He got up and heard a growl, he realised he was next to another tentacle creature and he had an idea. He activated his commlink "Captain Fang, this is Charmy. If you can, force the general towards me" "What? Why" "Trust me, sir". Charmy waited behind the creature when he saw Zavok chasing the others. He fired at him getting his attention "Hey, ugly! Come and get me!". Zavok charged at him but once he got close, he hit a tentacle which then grabbed him and swung him around. It threw him against the ground injuring him. Charmy fired at the creature killing it causing Zavok to be dropped to the ground. He tried to get back up but Charmy stood over him and shot him with a stun blast. Fang and the others arrived "Nice work, Charmy".
Zavok was now in a cell with his wrists in binders, Antione was in the cell next to him. Fang and the others were staring at Zavok from outside the cell "Why, General? Why kill your own men?". Zavok stood up and chuckled "Because I can. Because you fell for it, because you're inferior" "But you're a Shinobi. How could you?". Zavok laughed "A Shinobi? I am no longer naïve enough to be a Shinobi. A new power is rising. I've foreseen it. The Shinobi are going to lose this war and the Republic will be ripped apart from the inside. In its place is going to rise a new order, and I will rule as part of it". "You're a separatist" Fang said, "I serve no one's side, only my own. And soon, my new master" "You're an agent of Dimitri". Zavok shrugged "Not yet. But when I get out of here, I will be. After I've succeeded in driving the Republic from Nocturnus, the echidna will reward my actions and make me his new apprentice". Antione angrily banged his fist against the cell wall "How could you do this? You had my trust, my loyalty. I followed all of your orders, and you made me kill my brothers!". Zavok laughed and turned to him "That's because you were the biggest fool of them all, Antione. I counted on blind loyalty like yours to make my plan succeed". "That will never happen. You're a traitor, General, and you will be dealt with as one" Fang told him. "You never learn, Captain. The Nocturnus are going to retake this base, and when they do, I will be free" he calmly sat down and meditated.
They went back outside when Jeff came up to them "Captain, we fixed the transmitter. It looks like it was sabotaged. General Espio says he's taken the capital, the remaining Nocturnus are heading here". Fang nodded "Can your platoon stay to help us?" "Anything to make sure he doesn't escape" he said coldly. "Good, get everyone on the perimeter. We need to prepare for a full-scale attack" "Yes, sir" he headed to the barracks. Mighty looked worried "If the Nocturnus get to Zavok, he'll turn over all our intel. The defence codes, everything. He'll strike a crippling blow to the Republic" "We can't risk that" Jet added. Fang hesitated before answering "I agree".
They went back into the brig, Mighty opened Antione's cell and helped him out. Fang took out his pistol and opened Zavok's cell "Turn around. Step toward the wall". Zavok rolled his eyes and did so, "On your knees". Zavok chuckled "You're in a position of power now. How does it feel?" "I said, on your knees". Zavok obeyed "It feels good, doesn't it? But I can sense your fear". Fang's hand shook as he pointed the pistol at Zavok's back, "What're you waiting for? The Nocturnus are getting closer" "I… I have to do this". Zavok smiled "You can't, can you? Eventually you'll have to do the right thing and-Ah!" a blast went right through his chest and he fell to the ground dead. A confused Fang turned around and saw that Antione had taken Mighty's pistol. He looked shocked "I… I had to. He betrayed us". Mighty made him lower the pistol and patted his shoulder reassuringly.
Gunships arrived delivering reinforcements, Antione was taken on board one and he gave Charmy and Fang a nod before entering. Mighty happily walked up to them "General Espio's battalions have routed the last holdouts of the Nocturnus, and we've secured all sectors. We did it. We took Nocturnus". Fang watched the injured getting loaded onto the gunships "What's the point of all this? I mean why?" "I don't know, sir. I don't think anybody knows. But I do know that someday this war is gonna end". Fang dismissively shrugged "Then what? We're soldiers. What happens to us then?".