Daily Entry 08 - Commander CC-4242 (159 Days ABG)

Can't believe how often I'm writing these. I tried avoiding it tonight, but I couldn't sleep, the thoughts of the day were stuck in my mind, and I just had to unpack it all. Splinter's right, it makes more sense when you try to write it down on a datapad.

This has been an eventful day, I'll explain everything in chronological order.

To begin, we've finally made contact with my troops. En route to the crashed assault ship, one of our burrowrat allies made contact with CT-66/018 "Wait." A tense standoff ensued until Kali'sto and I diffused the situation. Wait was one of several recon troopers tasked with finding survivors, and he apprised us of our situation. 389 of my troops have been accounted for, in addition to 130 surviving crew from the Carrick. 51 confirmed dead, and 135 missing. Teams are still searching for the other survivors, there are numerous other escape pods scattered across the region.

I tried to contact Splinter, only to find that comms were jammed. We quickly deduced that this meant Separatists.

Gala confirmed the presence of a Separatist patrol, which we made quick work of.

Within five hours, we made it to the cruiser. Splinter has taken charge of the survivors, and turned the Carrick's wreckage into a makeshift fortress, using its remaining turbolasers to protect the area. The troopers have camped in the caldera. My first command was to promote Splinter to captain.

Though some mistrust ensued between some of my troopers and the Burrowrats, Kali'sto and Gala agreed to negotiate a temporary alliance to work together to free Doan. They are currently still in the midst of doing so.

Though we are still trapped in the heart of enemy territory, I have never felt happier than to be back with my brothers. There is still much to do: we have 135 troopers to locate, strategies to plan, battles to fight...this will most likely be a grueling campaign. But, everything feels...a little better now.

Perhaps this optimism has influenced my thoughts somewhat, but I have finally solved on one last crucial matter.

Though Geonosis was a sandy, bug-ridden hell, there was one thing I remember being awed at the moment we touched upon that accursed planet. The sun.

I never saw a single touch of light on Kamino.

Now, on Doan, whenever I got a chance to see it from within these endless caverns and ravines, I always treasured it, always took the rays that extended into the caverns and added traces of natural illumination.

And then, just now, as I was writing in this datapad, it came to me.

Rays.

I like the sound of it.

I am Commander Rays, leader of the 525th. And I am ready to face whatever comes.