-Chapter 9: Growing Prominence-

Location: Antazi

"Wars are won by men. Now what happens when there are no men...?"

With each successful mission, Count Dooku began to realize just how notorious Scipio's soldier would soon become. It seemed to be a prevalent thought in many minds that the secretive nature of Project Sunstorm would soon be revealed to the Republic. The reality was inevitable, but had anyone really thought the day would come? Dooku began to consider what kind of role this soldier would play in the coming days.

In the end, he decided that Wraith should have a more familiar presence among members of the Separatists. He should be a figure with whom many are acquainted, that way his feats would be more renown and his terror well spread. Not only was he proving to be most effective against the Republic, but he could also be an enforcer when it came to keeping supposed 'loyalists' in line. The first step in this approach was to allow Wraith to accompany him on a simpler mission.

Dooku had been asked to review a new battle droid factory that had been constructed on the desolate world of Antazi. Comprised of little else apart from rocks and ores and located in the far reaches of the Outer Rim, the factory seemed to be in a very good position beyond the reaches and immediate gaze of the Republic. It would be a gathering of several key Separatist leaders, including those of the Techno Union and the Trade Federation. To the Sith it seemed like a good idea that the Wraith join him as an enforcer and a measure of security... just in case. Plus, his presence may put an element of fear in those who may consider Dooku to be an 'outdated' leader. The one who mercilessly killed the Bonteri Family at the Count's beck and call would surely establish his role. Those who were on good terms with Dooku should view the Wraith as an ally. Those who didn't need only remember what happened to Mina Bonteri...

Dooku was relaying this information to Doctor Scipio at his genetic engineering lab, located at the heart of a Separatist stronghold.

"So, you see Doctor, I would like for Wraith to become better acquainted with his superiors, for the simple purpose of them getting better acquainted with him."

"A most excellent idea, my liege," Scipio applauded the plan, "I shall ready him momentarily. Where would you like me to send him?"

"We shall arrive together on Antazi. Perhaps it would be better to have him shipped to my current location. I'll upload the coordinates to you momentarily."

"It shall be done, Count Dooku." Scipio readily agreed.

"Tell me, where is Wraith at this moment?" Dooku inquired.

"We were just finishing a reconditioning session, to keep his mind a peak capacity... and complicity." Scipio informed him. "Don't worry, my lord, he'll be ready for departure within the hour."

"Excellent work Doctor. Continue on, you are the important link between Separatist success and failure."

"I live to serve, my liege." Scipio bowed as Dooku ended his communication. Moments later, Wraith entered the room, his mental reprogramming finished.

"What's the word?" He asked the doctor. Scipio responded with a smirk,

"First, I'm pleased you're speaking more often."

"The Republic might say I've gone from a silent menace to a talkative one." Wraith replied.

"So they might," Scipio chuckled, "secondly, you're going to Antazi. Dooku wants you present as he reviews a newly constructed droid factory."

"As much as I would like to see the loss of Geonosis compensated, why me?" Wraith asked.

"Simple, really, Dooku wants you more familiar with Separatist leadership. Some representatives of the Techno Union and Trade Federation will be there and our leader would like to you to be present."

"Hopefully he's not just showing me off." Wraith growled, preferring the heat of battle to the dull atmosphere that came with socializing.

"I doubt it. He wants you there as a measure of security, a representative enforcer of Separatist ways." Scipio replied, hoping Wraith would see the good in this.

"That I can handle." Wraith crossed his arms, satisfied. "When do I leave?"

"Whenever you're ready. Dooku would prefer you rendezvous with him beforehand so that you two might arrive together." Scipio explained.

"If that's the case, I'll leave now. Wouldn't want to keep him waiting." Wraith replied, turning to go.

"No, we wouldn't." Scipio agreed, knowing Count Dooku was prone to attacking even his allies when they disappointed him. He shuddered at the memory of having the Force close around his neck, choking the very life from his lungs after he commissioned Wraith for a mission that was not of Dooku's design.


There was really nothing much to Antazi. It was a smaller planet that boasted no unique fauna, no indigenous life-forms, no civilizations, nothing. The only thing Antazi had was incredibly vast amounts of rock, dust and ores. It was an out of the way world that was probably the most insignificant piece of rock in the known galaxy.

And it was perfect for constructing a battle droid factory away from the Republic's prying gaze.

It seemed good to the Techno Union and the Trade Federation that a new droid factory be constructed somewhere less popular than other worlds such as Geonosis who seemed to be under the Republic's constant watch. But once Antazi was found, meeting every qualification the company heads put forth, a decision was readily made to have a new factory constructed on the small, desolate world. And upon the realization of Antazi's vast supply of ores, the Mining Guild quickly made an effort to pool their own resources and assist in the Separatist occupation of Antazi, in order to harvest these ores for the production of more Separatist weaponry. The factory had been completed in record time and was now ready for review. It may not be nearly as impressive as the factory on Geonosis, but it would certainly help replace what had been lost.

Count Dooku's personal solar sailor touched down on the freshly constructed landing pad just outside the factory. A small entourage of Separatist officials were already waiting, not far away. The docking ramp extended out before the exit doors opened to reveal the Count of Serenno. But behind him, concealed by shadows, stood the Wraith. With only a pair of blood-red optics visible, he was just as menacing even without being fully revealed.

Such was his trademark nature.

Dooku slowly made his way down the ramp, Wraith following right behind him.

"Count Dooku, we are honored by your presence." A Neimodian of the Trade Federation welcomed him.

"An opportunity to review a new battle droid factory seldom occurs, Tu Khaan. Besides, I was personally invited by Manager Kaf himself." The Count replied. Rel Kaf, the lone Geonosian present, was the representative of the Techno Union and the one responsible for the factory's upkeeping.

"So I understand." The Neimodian glanced behind Dooku at the Wraith. "And I see you're not alone."

"I thought it prudent to bring along a fellow Separatist." Dooku stated. "Gentlemen, may I present to you the first creation of the Techno Union's Project Sunstorm: The Wraith." He introduced the soldier behind him, stepping out of the way so the officials could get a good look at the soldier in his complete battle gear. Dooku had to admit, the way the soldier carried himself with an air of intimidating readiness always looked impressive when accompanied by his large arsenal. Dark blue jacket, dusty coattails, glimmering helmet and sharp visor were very definitive and the twin sets of pistols wrapped around his belt just screamed 'try me'.

"I certainly hope this isn't an effort to show up our battle droids, Dooku." Khaan mused.

"Far from it. I simply wished for our secret weapon to meet his superiors. You know, he is the one who helped us conquer Ryloth and win the first battle of Felucia. He is also responsible for the sabotage on Geonosis and Muunilinst, the retrieval of THX1138 on Honoghr and the execution of Mina Bonteri. For being active only a year, he already possesses a rather impressive track record and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Republic Clones." The Count explained. The Separatists nodded amongst themselves.

"I must agree Count Dooku. From the stories and reports we've heard, The Wraith has certainly put the fear of the CIS in the hearts of the Republic." Another Neimodian concurred.

"And I'm not done yet." Wraith rumbled, crossing his arms. "There's plenty more Clones for me to kill." The Separatists appeared startled.

"He speaks?!"

"A recent enhancement." Dooku explained. "You didn't expect him to be the silent but deadly type forever, did you?"

"I-I had originally assumed he was an assassin, trained to be stealthy." Tu quickly replied.

"I happen to be quite effective on an open battlefield." Wraith informed them, his synthesized voice sending chills through a few spines. "As a matter of fact, it is my preference. But I am adept at all forms of combat."

"Are you now?" The Neimodian's curiosity was piqued.

"Yes. But enough about me, there's a factory to be looked over." Wraith cut the conversation short, hoping to avoid the boredom he was already feeling.

"Quite right, soldier." Dooku agreed. He motioned back towards the factory. "Shall we, gentlemen?"


The original blueprints for the Geonosis factory had been used in the design and construction of this new one. The layout was remarkably similar, save for the lack of an underground feeling. Since this facility was to replace the lost Geonosian facility, and make up for the lack of droid production, it only made sense that this factory be equipped with the same state-of-the-art production systems that made the Geonosian factory the prime producer of battle droids. The production line was the first destination of the tour, led by Tu Khaan himself.

"As you can see, Count, the way we build droids here is incredibly similar to the manner used on Geonosis. We start with forging raw components before having them assembled and activated. We are projecting a two-hundred percent efficiency rating by the time we are operational!" The Neimodian proudly stated.

"Geonosis boasted a four-hundred percent efficiency rating." Dooku mused. "But... beggars can't be choosers." Wraith leaned over the balcony as he examined the conveyors and machinery being fitted into place by construction droids. He found himself growing fond of battle droids. They were easily to build, easy to maintain, excellent at following orders and engineered to take objectives with ease. Wraith could only imagine droids were much easier to work with and command than the erratic Clones who, despite being duplicates, all possessed different personalities.

It was a wonder the Republic was even surviving the war.

His moment of reflection was cut short as Tu moved ahead, meaning he had to keep up with the Count he was 'guarding'. The next destination was a series of laboratories where the droid schematics were maintained. A collection of scientists evaluated droid performance, watching for any design flaws, exposed weak points and possibilities for improvement. This was a first among battle droid factories, a feature not even Geonosis had boasted.

"Here in these labs, Techno Union scientists are constantly working to improve the B1 and B2 battle droids, always on the lookout for improvements and possible corrections." Tu explained. He led the small group over to a human scientist who was bent over a table, studying some holo-schematics of what appeared to be a modified B2 battle droid. "This is our factory's chief scientist, Doctor Zek Stromm. He is a brilliant mechanical engineer and innovator." The Neimodian introduced his colleague.

"Foreman Khaan is too kind." The human stated as he stood up straight and bowed. Wraith quickly sized up the scientist. By appearance he looked to be in his mind-forties, salt and pepper sideburns, matching goatee and striking jet-black hair. The dark blue lab coat certainly completed his appearance, making him look just like you'd imagine a scientist would look like. "I like to think of myself as more of an inventor, one who would use his skills and spend his time working for the Separatist Alliance."

"And we are glad to have you with us." Dooku replied. "Tell me, Doctor, what are you currently working on?" The Count asked, gesturing to the holo-design on the table.

"These are our newest designs for a series of advanced B2 droids. Given the copious amounts of Phrik on this world, I've decided to accelerate the production of the B2X model. Their indestructible armor would prove most valuable on the battlefield." Stromm explained. Wraith knew what he was talking about as phrik comprised the entirety of his armor. "This factory could be the first to test and produce the most powerful battle droid yet. A true milestone!"

"And as much as I would like to agree with our Techno Union friend, we simply cannot afford to waste time on theories and tests. The current versions of the B1 and B2 droids are doing their job and we need more of them. These B2X's should be built in a closed lab and not in an essential factory." Tu countered.

"And why do you say that?" Dooku asked him, curious as to why progress should be delayed.

"Simply put, my lord, it would divert time and resources away from the production of droids we need more of. The B1 and B2 are tried and true, we need more of them right now." Khaan replied. Dooku paused as he considered the matter before him. Should he really be making the decisions the foremen of this factory were supposed to make?

"Wraith, what do you think?" The Count asked his enforcer. "Should we continue on with normal droids or give these next generation 'super battle droids' a chance?" All eyes turned to the soldier. Crossing one arm over his chest, Wraith held his chin in one hand as he mulled over the options before him.

"I'd recommend starting work on the B2X designs. Once we have the Republic at a point where it's weakest, we can steamroll right over them. These droids would be the key to overcoming their Jedi." He stated at length. Count Dooku trusted the soldier's tactical opinion, knowing Scipio had engineered him with such capabilities. Nodding in agreement, the Count added his affirmation as did the rest of the Separatist leaders.

But Tu Khaan did not.

"You are foolish to think now is the time for progress!" He accused Wraith. The soldier turned on the Neimodian, shooting him a withering glare through his blazing red optics.

"I am the result of progress!" He growled. The menacing tone in his synthesized voice caused Tu to shrink back in fear, not wanting to become Wraith's next victim. Anger abating, slightly, Wraith returned his gaze to Stromm. "But we shouldn't start just yet. The Republic has yet to reach its weakest point." He added.

"I'll keep that in mind. After all, there are still some bugs to work out." Zek nodded in agreement. Then he paused, glancing over the soldier. "You are The Wraith?"

"I am."

"I've heard about your exploits and I am truly pleased to see you in person. You are a true triumph of the Techno Union."

"And I bring more triumph to the Separatists, with every Clone I kill." Wraith rumbled in reply.

"That I have no doubt you will do." Stromm nodded before turning back to Dooku. "I have no doubt you have pressing matters to attend to, my lord, don't let me keep you."

"Thank you for sharing your research Doctor." Dooku thanked him before turning back to Khaan. "I believe we are ready to continue when you are Khaan. As long as my associate hasn't frightened you too terribly." The Neimodian cast a quick look at Wraith who turned and glared at him. Tu shivered with fear.

"Of course not, my liege." Tu quickly scampered to the front of the group, avoiding all possible eye contact with The Wraith. Dooku cast a quick smirk at his associate who calmly shrugged.

"Nerves." Wraith stated simply. The Count chuckled as the tour continued. The group continued onward, exploring the factory in its entirety as Tu pointed out the supply docks, shipment bays, refineries, smelting pits and recyclers. The factory had been outfitted with every possible mining tech available, to ensure a smooth conversion from raw material to functional battle droid. The final destination of the tour led the group up a winding staircase to the top of a spire where holo-screens adorned the surfaces and consoles lined the walls, all of which were being carefully observed by a red-marked security droid.

"This is our observatory." Khaan explained. "From here we will able to keep tabs on all areas of the factory. Security has been our top priority since construction began, we wouldn't want the Republic dropping in unannounced, now would we?"

"I'm pleased to see you have considered such variables." Dooku stated. "Such an important location needs to be protected at all costs."

"Quite right, my lord," Tu agreed, "our defense sentries are still under construction, but by the time they are operational, this factory would be considered an impenetrable fortress!" Tu proclaimed with a smile. He was feeling quite proud of himself, having forgotten about how terrifying The Wraith was. But his moment of glory was cut short when the droid reported,

"Proximity sensors detecting multiple hostiles approaching from sector three!" Having gained the attention of everyone in the room, the monitor was soon crowded by the guests, Wraith and Dooku at the front.

"The Republic? Here?!" Khaan gasped, not expecting such an early infiltration.

"A pity your sentries are still under construction." Dooku mused.

"Contacts indicate ten Clone Troopers moving in." The droid reported again. Running his digits over the monitor, the droid pulled up a live holo-feed from the perimeter system. Wraith looked intently at the images before he suddenly recognized the squad of Clone troopers as the Muunilinst 10: the ones responsible for the Republic takeover of the Banking Clan homeworld.

They were Clones he had wanted to battle for some time now.

"Captain Fordo." Wraith growled. Tu seemed to recognize the name.

"You mean... ARC Troopers?" He worriedly asked.

"The same ones that helped conquer Muunilinst." Wraith affirmed. He turned to Count Dooku. "They are approaching from the southwest. I could leave now and cut them off before they do any damage."

"Do so," Dooku nodded, "and be quick about it! We can't afford to have them relay a transmission." Wraith nodded and moved to obey.

"We are most fortunate you have joined us Wraith, we lack the firepower to repel such an assault." A Neimodian called out as the soldier made to leave the room.

"Clones are dead men walking whenever I'm around." Wraith stated before marching through the exit, leaving those behind him to dwell on his chilling comment.


The factory was too much of a maze for him to retrace his steps, so Wraith followed the nearest possible exit: a ventilation shaft. While not his most proper exit, the Muunilinst Ten needed to be dealt with immediately. Once outside the facility, Wraith quickly studied the terrain as he determined his approach. Antazi was barren and rocky, so unless the Clones had decided to don desert camouflage armor, they would be very easy to spot.

And so would he.

Wraith decided he needed to stalk his victims, watch them from a distance and attack from behind... before they arrived at the factory. He began to move at an angle, away from the base and towards his quarry, in a direction from where he could see them but he would remain unseen. Now facing away from the factory, Wraith triggered his thermal vision. On an empty world like this, the only heat signatures would be coming from the Clones, giving him a clear indication of where they were.

With minimal environmental advantages, he would need every ounce of his training to ensure he remained undetected.

He broke into a run, quickly maneuvering across the rocky terrain as he left the factory behind him and zeroed in on the Clones before him.

Meanwhile, Clone Captain ARC-77, AKA 'Fordo', was leading his elite team of ARC Troopers on foot across the rocky plains of Antazi. The Muunilinst Ten was a famous group of hard-hitting Clones, taking after their Captain's preferred tactic of overwhelming firepower, who were some of the best among ARC Troopers. For this reason, and because of their successes on Muunilinst and Hypori, the team was selected to investigate rumors about a new Separatist droid factory being constructed somewhere on this rocky planetoid. So far, Fordo could confirm the existence of the factory, having spotted it from a distance, and now had plans to disable it. Permanently. His team was well equipped for a sabotage mission and had high hopes to throw a big wrench into whatever the CIS was planning.

"Sir, we're within the factory's perimeter scan now." A lieutenant reported.

"Any indicator's they've spotted us?" Fordo asked, not expecting this to be easy.

"Negative. They would've done something by now, I'm sure of it." The Clone replied.

"Fair enough. Stay on your toes men, keep an eye out for any clankers who might want a piece of us." Fordo commanded, not willing to run the risk of being spotted. The Clones nodded in obedience and continued to move.

Wraith's long-range audio scanners had only managed to detect the latter half of Fordo's orders. But now he had a much clearer picture not only in regard to their movements, but also as to where his enemies were.

Breaking into a jog, Wraith began to move in a wide circle, hoping to approach from behind unnoticed. He bounded across rocks and as he quickly moved across the terrain, hoping to end the Clone threat before they truly became one.

The Clones moved in single file as Fordo led them towards the factory. While his sensors were trained on the objective before them, keeping him informed on possible droid activity, he and his men remained oblivious to the threat looming behind them...

Wraith had managed to sneak behind the Clones undetected. He kept the squad of ten in his sights at all times, thermal vision telling him exactly where they were. He crouched behind a rock outcrop as he tuned his audio receptors to pick up anything his opponents might be saying. He had to time his attack just right, at a moment when the Clones would be least prepared for an ambush. An opponent lulled into a sense of security was much easier to defeat than one on high alert. But these Clones weren't slowing down, obviously intent on fulfilling their mission.

Meaning there was no time to waste.

The Muunilinst Ten was notorious for their efficiency. If Wraith didn't take them down now, he may very well miss his opportunity and be too late to stop them from sabotaging the factory.

Choosing his course of action, Wraith quickly evaluated the positions of the Clones as he drew and armed his carbine. All he needed to do was attack from behind and storm his way to the front, fell the leadership and mop up whatever was left.

Easy.

Wraith sprung from his hiding place, rifle in hand, and opened fire on the nearest Clones. With a volley of shots, he gunned down two in quick succession before the others noticed him.

"Look out! Incoming!" A Clone cried out in warning, moments before Wraith drew his pistol and blasted the Clone square in the forehead. Fordo wheeled about and examined the situation unfolding before him. He hadn't been expecting such a surprise attack, or such a different opponent.

This was no mere battle droid.

"Take him down, men! Weapons free!" The Captain ordered as he drew both of his sidearms and took aim at the Separatist logo on the soldier's chest. But Wraith was already moving, holstering his pistol and sprinting away from Fordo as he barreled into another Clone with his shoulder. The force of impact sent the wind rushing from the Clone's lungs, stunning him as Wraith triggered the wrist blade under his right hand and impaled the Clone's chest, weapon piercing clean through the white armor.

Four Clones dead. Six to go.

Clones started rushing him from all angles, blaster lighting up his back as bolts chipped away his armor.

It was time to thin the herd.

Whipping about, Wraith drove his outstretched foot into a nearby Clone, clubbing them across the face. Promptly gunning him down with his rifle, Wraith turned to see a single Clone with a pair of blaster pistols standing directly before him. Unfazed by the twin pistols staring him in the face, quite possibly able to kill him at this point-blank range, Wraith moved like lightning as he set about disarming his opponent. After dropping his rifle, a quick pair of palm strikes knocked both weapons away, opening his opponent and allowing Wraith to move in and deliver a quick jab straight to the Clone's armored head. Whipping about, Wraith drove his armored elbow back and into the Clone's face, the sharp impact creating an audible crack as the helmet fractured. Grabbing the Clone's flailing arm, Wraith forcefully threw the Clone over his shoulder before slamming his body on the ground and breaking his wrist. As the Clone cried out in agony, Wraith raised his boot and stomped on his victim's neck, cracking the spine. The dead Clone fell limp in his grasp as he released his hold and moved on. He soon spotted his next victim, the Clone nearest to him. Sporting blue markings and the rank of a lieutenant, the Clone trained his blaster on Wraith and squeezed the trigger. Rapid-fire blaster rounds leapt from the barrel and slammed into Wraith, chipping his armor and scorching his jacket. But he remained unhurt. Triggering his right arm blade, the Separatist rushed his attacker and thrust his blade clean through the trooper's chest and right through his heart. Shoving the dead body away, Wraith retracted his bloodied blade and searched for his next target.

He didn't need to wait long.

A Clone rushed him with a cry and attempted to bash Wraith with the butt of his blaster rifle. But the Separatist grabbed the rifle, wrenched free of the Clone's hands and promptly smashed it into the trooper's chin. The Clone stumbled backwards and fell to the ground before Wraith stalked over to him and stomped down on his exposed neck, crushing windpipe and spine beneath his boot. Snapping the rifle over his knee, Wraith tossed the pieces aside in a show of minimal effort... maybe even a little annoyance. Blocking twin jabs from another attacking Clone, Wraith attacked with a trio of hard blows to the torso, the Clone grunting in pain with each heavy hit. Following up, the Separatist spun around and delivered a hard kick to the Clone's head, armored boot cracking the white helmet on impact. As the dazed Clone recoiled, Wraith grabbed hold of his head and slammed it down into his raised knee, crack echoing from the shattered face of the helmet. Wraith finished off the Clone by executing a back-flip, both feet connecting with the Clone's chin and breaking his jaw with a final, audible crack. The force of impact knocked the Clone flat on his back, leaving him groaning in pain on the ground. Seizing the opportunity to ensure his defeat, Wraith leapt atop his downed foe and extended his wrist blade before plunging it through the Clone's neck, blood spurting around his hand. Standing up and retracting his weapon, Wraith scanned around as he suddenly realized he had killed every one of the Muunilinst Ten. This was the Republic's finest? This is what they called 'elite ARC Troopers'?

Pathetic!

His musing was cut short as a Clone he had blasted earlier started to rise up, slowly crawling to his knees. Groaning as he rose, the Clone had no idea death was coming his way as a sudden throwing blade whistled through the air and pierced his throat. The Clone stopped suddenly, coughing and gurgling as blood flowed from his neck before promptly collapsing, blood pooling around his body. Satisfied, Wraith turned and confronted his last opponent. He had managed to slaughter nine out of the ten squad members.

The only one left was Fordo.

"I don't know who you are, seppie, but you've made a big mistake killing my men!" The Captain growled, arming his blasters.

"Does the term 'wraith' ring a bell?" The Separatist asked.

"Seen it in reports. But those are just theories... legends even."

"Well..." Wraith stretched his arms out, "the legend exists." Fordo was taken aback, but didn't visually show any surprise. He was face to face with the Wraith.

Bagging him would be a much bigger success than demolishing a factory.

"Good to know." Fordo mused as he began stalking forward. "Now I know whom I'm taking prisoner."

"If you're trying to intimidate me, you should know you're failing." Wraith replied. Fordo made no response but snapped up his pistols and blasted Wraith, pulling the triggers as quickly as he could. Wraith swiftly raised both arms to ward off the incoming fire, blaster bolts ricocheting off his cortosis arm guards. Dashing forward, Wraith plowed through Fordo's defense and punched the Clone across the head before launching two mighty uppercuts that knocked him senseless. With Fordo stumbling back, incapable of defending himself, Wraith stepped forward and delivered the killing blow. Triggering his both of his arm blades, the soldier executed the Clone before him with a simple decapitation.

Muunilinst had been avenged.

Fordo's headless body lay on the ground, his helmeted head nearby. And all around him lay the bodies of the Muunilinst Ten, the so-called 'elite ARC Trooper squad'. All of them had been cut down and killed.

Killed by the Wraith.

He stood tall amidst the field of bodies, splattered from head to toe with the blood of Clone troopers, scorch marks decorating his attire. The whole scene seemed unbelievable at best.

Yet it remained a visceral reality.

Retracting his blood-soaked swords Wraith began to walk back to the factory, stepping over bodies as he left the carnage behind him and made to return to the droid factory.

The battle would go down in history as one of the most brutal defeats in ARC Trooper history. With no survivors, those who retrieved their data could only guess what fate had befallen the Muunilinst Ten. Thus, another tale in the legend of 'the wraith' was added to the annals of history. This legend of the Clone Wars and its notoriety would only grow through wild speculation and vivid imaginings. For now, 'the wraith' was still a vengeful spirit, lurking around the battlefields, waiting for unsuspecting Clones to pounce upon and tear into pieces...


Later...

Wraith had been ordered to return to base by Count Dooku upon his return to the factory and having reported a successful mission, adding Captain Fordo and the Muunilinst Ten to his list of kills. Scipio was surprised to see Wraith in such battle-damaged attire, but understood once he viewed the footage from Wraith's helmet.

"So, you've conquered the Muunilinst Ten. Well done!" Scipio congratulated him.

"If that's what the Republic calls its best, I'll have no trouble carving through the Jedi." Wraith replied.

"One opponent at a time, my boy. Don't overwhelm yourself." The doctor quickly reminded him.

"Sure," Wraith shrugged, "I'm going to need some environment appropriate attire. Might make life easier next time."

"Yes, so I've noticed. I have been working on some 'extreme environment' attire for you, but I'll have to begin work on some camouflage as well." Scipio made a mental note to review the appropriate colorations for camouflage attire. Wraith had a point in wanting to blend in, such a silent killer rendered invisible would be the ultimate threat against the Republic. Scipio finished his viewing moments before the holotable activated and the form of Count Dooku appeared.

"How is our super soldier, Doctor?" He asked.

"Quite well, my lord. We were just finishing a recap of what happened on Antazi." Scipio replied.

"I certainly hope you see how effective he is, even under surprise circumstances."

"I most certainly do. Just the way I engineered him." Scipio proudly stated.

"After some consideration, I have decided to have Wraith promoted from Elite Combat Specialist to Elite Commando. This will not only result in more missions specially designated for him but also in an increased use of his capabilities, something I know you've been avidly seeking Doctor." Dooku informed him.

"I only wish the best for my creation." Scipio replied. "I cannot thank you enough, my lord, we are honored by your decision."

"Loyalty and efficiency beget great rewards. Continue your work Doctor, I'm sure we will have need of it." Dooku replied before the communication ended.

"Guess I'm moving up in the world." Wraith mused, crossing his arms.

"Not a bad turn of events, now is it?" Scipio responded.

"Hardly. Just give me another Clone squad I can rip apart." The soldier rumbled, cracking his knuckles in eager anticipation. Scipio couldn't help but laugh.

"I have no doubt one will come, my boy. Speaking of which, I must have your attire cleaned before the next mission. Blood can be a rather difficult stain to remove."