[Sector Delta, Umbara]
Clone Sergeant CT-2323 "Rampage"
The mission, focus on the mission, nothing else matters. Even as I say the words that have followed me ever since I first came out of the tank, I can't help but worry for the future of the Republic.
I will be the first to admit that I don't know a lot about politics and complexities of running a government like the Republic's but what those in power are doing is almost bordering on treason.
Some of the other clone squads are planning to hold a meeting when or if we survive this mission, to determine our course of action on what should we do if we believe that the loyalist portion of our government is being controlled or pressured into this new arrangement.
The signal from Delta, brings me out of the grim thoughts of what could be considered treason by some of my more rule focused brothers, the flare shines some light into the desolate landscape and following close behind it the sound of lasers passing through the air.
"Come on rookie, if you want to see more of the galaxy other than this sorry planet don't fall behind and shoot at anything that doesn't look like a clone" the running starts and our objective becomes clear.
The central communications tower for this sector of the planet, just like us all over the world, other clone squads are aiming to leave the sepies blind, thanks to the new war regulations the only way that we can receive reinforcements is if the people of the planet don't call for help.
Those Kaminoans may be creepy but they prepared perfectly for situations like this.
"Sir, that thing is massive. How are we supposed to destroy it?"
"Don't you worry rookie, we are going to make it smaller, I didn't earn my name for no reason. Now I want you to take the supplies we brought and place the charges inside all along the gates, once you've handled that wait for my signal, don't worry you won't miss it"
My newest brother does as ordered, if he survives I will recommend some names for him. I move to a better position closer to the maintenance entrance. Taking the high ground lets me see if he will be interrupted.
According to republic spies, this installation is different compared to the others as it also serves as a supply depot and vehicle refueling station, other clones have been taking pieces and sometimes even whole vehicles from the Umbarans, I just need to take an Umbaran mobile heavy cannon or an Umbaran crawler tank to complete the mission.
Personally, I would prefer the heavy cannon, but I will take what I can get.
"Sir" the rookie calls through the comm "I'm in position, the charges have been set and I await your signal" he works fast, maybe he was given to us for a reason.
"Great work, we need to wait until the rest of the squad has drawn out all the enemies they can into their position"
Tense moments pass us by as the sounds of battle continue, distant as they may be, I can't help but worry about the outcome. Drops of sweat start forming on my brow and then the voice of Delta finally comes.
"Sir" his voice is almost breathless and ragged
"Delta, tell me things are going as planned"
"Things are going better than planned, we are pinned down, their mobile units are taking us out and we have lost air support…brother, I think this is it for me" nonononono, NO. this can't be happening again.
"Wait! Delta don't do anything foolish; the rookie and I can draw them from your positions; Rookie I know your eavesdropping, blow those gates to hell right now!"
"DON'T, don't do anything stupid, Finish the mission. FOR THE REPUBLIC!"
"DELTA!" there is no response, and, in the distance, new suns emerge from the ground as a whole company of my brothers holds their last stand.
"…Sir, we…we don't have much time"
"Blow it up rookie, let's make sure Delta and the rest of Heavy squadron can see that we succeeded"
The earth shakes as the explosions ring out, the tower's foundations are now slanted towards one side and with some help it will come tumbling down.
"Rookie I can see hostiles coming to your position take cover and start sniping them out if you can, once I complete the mission I will rescue you, just hold on, there have been many dead brothers today, but I won't let you join them just yet"
"Oh, I won't be going anywhere sir"
Once more I'm running but this time there is no need for subtlety, my trusty Repeating Blaster Rifle starts shooting anyone that comes out of the door, several militia men fall on top of each other.
"Suck laser, you damn traitors"
Finally, I'm in, the tower is as alien as the rest of their technology, the whiteness of the building reminds me of Kamino though, the long hall to the vehicle bay is empty, so I continue.
As I enter a group of unarmed militia men are walking towards the vehicles, wasting no time in shouting a warning, my blaster does a heavy toll on them, killing half in the first seconds after I started.
"Please we are unarmed we surrender" an elderly male takes off his helmet and starts walking towards me.
"Stay there, don't move" I can't waste more time but it's against Republic law to kill surrendering prisoners.
Before I can come to a decision by myself the old man injects himself with a stimulant and charges me, shooting him blindly I hit him in the leg and torso, but he doesn't fall, finally he reaches me.
He's punching me with wild abandon, breaking his hands on my armor with each punch and dealing very disorienting blows. Finally, his body starts to fail and he dies.
The rest of the people were left there in shock, nobody had moved even as I was fighting the old man. I raised my weapon against them and prepared to shoot.
"Please! don't shoot, we are being forced to fight in the militia not everyone wanted to involve themselves in the fighting but those in power are doing terrible things to people who don't join the war effort" a woman is the one talking now.
"I won't fall for the same trick twice" the cold tone of my voice only highlights my urgency to act, I'm losing time. The rookie might die if I keep taking so much time.
"I beg you" they all start to kneel as soon as they see the woman do the same "take us prisoner, please, don't kill us"
"…Good soldiers follow orders" with that grim reminder of duty, I kill them all and I doubt I will ever forget their scared faces or their screams as they die, but right now my brothers are counting on me, and I will not disappoint them.
To my luck the Umbaran Hover Tank is here, as I get inside I try to remember the information of how to pilot them, forwards is backwards but left and right stay the same and the more I push the faster I go.
After a couple of failed attempts, moving becomes easier and I blast my way out, dragging another Hover tank with me.
"Rookie, I have the tank"
There is no response, another dead brother.
"Dammit Rookie, answer me, are you there trooper" come on, I can't have another one dying on me.
"Sir" finally "Sir I'm still here, I lost my helmet and my communicator with it, I just managed to get it back, I'm barely holding on, they have me surrounded"
"Don't panic, stay down. I'm on my way and I have a present for you, you hear me trooper don't die that's an order"
The machine hums as it speeds up and after a rather sudden turn I can see where my brother is pinned down, firing a tank has never felt so good in my life.
It doesn't take long for them to realize that I'm not on their side and even less for them to start running away.
"You know sir this is the first time I'm glad a superior officer comes to me without announcing himself" damn shiny
"No time for your sass Rookie, I hope you paid attention to the briefing on Umbaran weapons, get on the other tank, we have a mission to complete so let's Rampage"
"Yes Sir"
Destroying the foundation of the tower takes no time and we are now almost home free, the sight of that great building toppling over was amazing, and the cheers of the Rookie certainly help to lift my spirit.
"That was great, those sepies will lose this world in no time" full of enthusiasm as always, the voice of a shiny that hasn't really lost anyone is something to be treasured.
"We still have to get out of here, the enemy troops will surely have told them of our position, and I doubt the Umbarans will let us keep the tanks, let me call for evac"
An encrypted comm for officers with a longer range is something precious, even more than armor these days, it always amused me that to make it inconspicuous they made it look like a thermal detonator.
"CT-2323 reporting, Rampage here, our mission was successful, we have incurred heavy casualties however, Heavy squadron has suffered almost complete destruction only the rookie and I remain, Orange company was completely overrun in our distraction maneuver"
"Great work sergeant, it's a shame about Orange company but their sacrifice will be honored once this dirt ball is ours, what is your position?" the voice of Commander Pitt Onoran answered.
The man was good for someone that was not a clone, originally a logistics officer, the man quickly climbed ranks because of his organizational abilities and unorthodox strategies for dealing with obstacles.
"We are moving south on route to the nearest safe spot on some hover tanks we acquired, I'm requesting evac on my position as some heavy fire power is coming our way"
"I can have a pilot pick you up, but you will have to hold that position. Don't worry Rampage, help is coming and once you are here, we can have a drink on me"
His ability to get alcohol anywhere on the galaxy was also one of the reasons we were glad to serve under the man, I really need a drink.
"Well Rookie, it seems we must wait for rescue. Follow me, we need to gain altitude and a proper view if we are to survive until evac, and hey if you survive and I don't you can keep my name"
"Would you really let me have your name?" I couldn't help but chuckle at the incredulity in his tone
"Sure, I got it from another brother of ours on the first battle of Geonosis, he was a sergeant too, he said that by passing his name to me he was living once more, think of it as our own little method of immortality"
We were finally in a better position, a little plateau that gave us a perfect view of the tower we just destroyed and of the columns of droids and Umbarans headed our way.
"Do you really think we'll make it?"
"I think we have a chance, on my mark start shooting and don't stop, I will cover the sky and any kind of armor they have, you concentrate on the ground, time to see if clone trooper Rampage can live forever"
"Can I still be Rampage even if you survive?"
"Don't push your luck shiny, now FOR THE REPUBLIC"
[Onderon, Unifar Temple]
Lord Durd
"Lord Opress, I can't express enough gratitude to your exalted person for relieving me from the Republics unjust imprisonment"
Time and tide as they say and right now it was Savage's time, the Zabrak had done well for someone that hailed from the witches' planet. He has earned my undying respect for taking control of the CIS however and my loyalty for my freedom.
"I hope" the Zabrak spoke as he turned around and finally stopped the discussion on the other end of the call "That you know, how much political favors I had to use to guarantee your release, Count Dooku spoke highly of your genius and while he classified your weapon as a failure, I see potential"
The aging human must not have believed the reports sent by the tactical droid that oversaw my experiment otherwise he wouldn't have called it a failure.
"I assure you my lord, that the weapon is functional"
A rasping laugh that sent chills down my spine came from the man.
"I don't doubt it's functionality, I know you wouldn't dare to deceive me" I felt pressure all over me as he spoke, an unknown force holding me in place "but you are thinking too small, I want the weapon to be used on a planetary scale"
Tha-That was horrifying to contemplate, unthinkable by any measure, no civilized being would use something that left a barren world.
"Lord yo-you can't ask me to build something like that, if such a thing were to be used against us we would-"
"I have news for you Lord Durd" he sneered. "The republic is building a machine, a weapon the size of a small moon with the power to destroy a planet in its entirety. They of course have kept it a most guarded secret"
Impossible, who? Who in their right mind would create something that could alter the face of the galaxy like that, not even the old Sith Empires that have long since faded into memory would create something that can destroy a planet on command.
"We are left with no option but to prepare, if we are to win, we need a new weapon, imagine if we had to only use it once. All it would do is leave a world empty of sentient life, infrastructure, machinery and plants would be intact. Animals and sentients would perish sure, but worlds can be repopulated and seeded with animal life again, what they are making is an affront to civilization itself"
He is right of course, how could I doubt the wisdom of the leader of the CIS. The galaxy needs Savage Opress and him ruling will only lead to a brighter future.
"I will start working on it as soon as possible my lord, the republic will never be allowed to win"
"Excellent, the CIS expects great things from you Durd, don't fail me. Operation New Dawn must succeed"
[Coruscant, 500 Republica]
Anakin Skywalker
"I don't know what to do anymore Padme, the council keeps pushing for war, unable to see or think about the feelings of the people, Chancellor Palpatine has even begun to stand against them publicly and Obi-Wan has been harsher than ever in his criticism"
"Ani, you need to be patient, things are getting better. Peace is finally a real possibility, I'm sure the Jedi will realize it soon, come here give me hug, I'm here for you, I can see how stressed you are"
Running I slam against her and throw her on the bead as I cuddle into her side, this is the only moment that I can be at peace, only her and now, only with her.
Nothing else matters but the heat of her body, the smell of her clothes and beat of her heart, I wish to stay here forever but life calls even when I wish it didn't
"I don't think I can be a Jedi anymore; this is killing me Padme" I look into her eyes and my soul sighs in relief at the sight of my love "if the men and Ashoka weren't counting on me I would have long since left the war effort"
"Ani, you are no longer a general remember" she says with a laugh and a smile in which I could get lost for days or even a lifetime.
"You know that is only temporary, the council is pushing for more control and the chancellor has admitted privately that he intends to bow to this demand but only when war restarts in Ernest or rather if it starts again" the thought of my mentor having to appease the Jedi as if we weren't servant of the Republic but overlords of it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
"Don't say that, this peace will last. The galaxy is not perfect, but I know we can make it better if only we tried" a question emerged to my mind as I remembered something
"Shouldn't you be in a meeting with senator Organa right now?"
The most beautiful laugh and a dainty smile are my answers.
"You sent Sabe so you could spend more time with me didn't you?" there is no hiding the happiness in my voice
"And if I did? What would the courageous hero do to this misbehaving senator" with a coy smile and playful touches on my collarbone I know what comes next
"Don't tempt me like that my love"
Her answer is an arched eyebrow and a kiss.
Author note: sorry for the late update but i forgot to pay the internet and i had trouble getting it back, as always i'm here to remind you that you can find the next chapter on my P atreon, you can find the link on my profile. Hope you enjoyed the clone POV and that you have a nice day.