Chapter 21
The 703rd Clone Battalion
KAMINO
Topica City
Kamino was an aquatic planet located in an extragalactic star system that straggled south of the Rishi Maze satellite galaxy and beyond the larger galaxy. It was inhabited by the Kaminoans—a race of tall, elegant beings with long necks who were regarded as a mysterious species that tended to keep to themselves. They were also known for their cloning technology which ultimately led to the creation of a clone army for the Galactic Republic. Kamino was a remote water planet outside the main world's oceans held an abundance of life. Kamino was renowned for its science and production of clone armies and often contracted with private security forces and other clients. Receiving minimal trade, Kamino's imports were only enough to support the planet's population of one billion. There were many cities scattered across the surface that were built on stilts and many of them were devoted to cloning.
Kamino often rained heavily and during some parts of the year was covered with heavy electrical storms. During this season, Kaminoans rode on Aiwha underwater and resurfaced once they were near their location. Tipoca City was the capital city of the watery planet Kamino, and home to several million Kaminoans. The city was a network of stilt structures built over 150 kilometers at Kamino's equator. It served as a major military base for the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars, and was the location of the Kaminoan cloning facilities that created the army prior to the war.
The city was also the main fighting ground during the Battle of Kamino, which saw the Republic's enemy, the Confederacy of Independent Systems, launch an assault on the city to cripple the Republic's production of clone troopers. The capital city of Kamino, Tipoca City, was a network of stilt structures that held the city above the massive water ocean covering the world. The city was distributed over 150 kilometers near Kamino's equator. At the core of one of its larger domes, Tipoca City held an immense fusion generator in its heart, powering the city by extracting hydrogen from seawater. The generator was secured by insulator plating. A network of power processing units surrounded the generator, as well as exhaust vents. The central hub contained extensive cloning facilities and offices for members of Kamino's Ruling Council.
Each large dome was designed with a streamlined outer shell used to shed water and wind during storms, with hatches on the sides that could be opened for maintenance or repair. Located near the top of the main dome which housed the fusion generator was a Kaminoan Planetary Defense substation, utilized by Kamino's defense network, and several static discharge towers to secure the city during electrical storms. Several turbolaser turrets were located around the top of the dome as a defense mechanism. Near the fusion generator were expansive troop barracks, as well as the Ha Zurh Library and Records Office, containing the city's records and a swath of information. The library was maintained by a droid librarian. At the bottom of all of the domes are support pylons which hold up the cities and supply seawater to the fusion generator and to desalination plants where salt was removed from seawater and the water was distilled and purified. At one such plant was a storage tank filled with untreated water, compressor units and tanks used for condensation or evaporation. At the tops of other domes were communications towers designed to warn Kamino Space Control of incoming spacecraft. Outside of the domes were extensive training grounds and rainwater collection ducts. Every room in the city was fitted with emergency access hatches in case they were to flood.
Domestic apartments located inside the city were sparsely furnished, occasionally designed with furniture designed to descend from the ceiling on stalks, connecting to electromagnetic floor markings. The Tipoca City Military Complex was the largest portion of Tipoca City's structure, containing the Central Armory, DNA room, the Egg Lab, an embryo room and the Genetic Records Hall. All of these rooms contributed to the cloning facilities that Tipoca City was prized for. Weather vanes hung off the bottom of a part of the facility, designed to monitor outside conditions to provide storm warnings, or adjustments to atmosphere systems within the buildings. The facility also contained combat rooms and quarters for the clones during any stage of their training. The Military Complex also had many training rooms. One such was the Citadel Challenge, used to train troops to become ARC troopers.
These Arc Troopers were the reason Leo and Plo Koon were there, recently arrived from Coruscant, Leo was standing in the observation deck with Shaak Ti and two of the clone trooper instructors the Siniteen Master Chief Bric and the Arcona bounty hunter El-Les. They were watching the arc troopers running across the challenge field taking out the training droids left and right.
"See any who catch your eye?" Bric asked him.
"You talk as if I'm about to buy a speeder?" Leo asked, looking at Bric with a scowl "There disposable." Bric added crossing his arms.
Plo Koon spoke next "Not to us Master Chief." The Kel Dor added.
Leo I watched a few of them break through to the next level, each of them were in experimental phase II armor with duel blaster pistols of varying colors. "These are the top of the class?" Leo asked Shaak Ti.
"... yes." She said looking down at them, Leo leaned on the observation deck "Shinies." He added.
"What?" Bric asked "The other clones call them Shines, untested, green?" Leo said looking back at them.
"So which will you choose?" El-Les asked him.
Leo looked back and then smirked "I have one in mind."
That one in particular was walking up behind the Jedi, in battle scarred phase I red and white armor, the Jedi and instructors looked back to see Arc Trooper Alpha. "Generals, Master Chief." Alpha said greeting them "You want CT-0017?" Bric snapped.
"I want Alpha as my second in command, rank of Commander." Leo insisted on them.
"This is highly irregular?" Plo Koon said, "Indeed, Alpha has been invaluable in training the cadets?" Shaak Ti pointed out.
Bric was even more objective "More than that he's outdated, his rapid age growth will take effect soon he'll be an old man by the time the wars are over."
El-Les said nothing, but looked concerning back at all the Arc Trooper who wouldn't get chosen
"How about we ask what he wants, Alpha?" Leo said looking to the graying haired Arc Trooper "I want to serve the Republic to the best of my capability as a good soldier." Alpha said back to them.
Leo smiled hearing him looking at the older clones scared face his brown eyes looking at him "I won't accept any other." Leo said back to Shaak Ti and Plo Koon.
"Very well." Shaak Ti said conceding to his request, she held up a datapad "But this other clone trooper, he was deterred unfit for duty." Shaak Ti said looking at the trooper in question "I disagree." Leo said.
Later, three Jedi and Commander Alpha were walking into another part of the city, to a lone tower at the edge of the cloning complex, they were greeted by a tall Kaminoian woman with black and silver garments approaching them "Master Jedi, Sir Rock welcome we received your request for the asset in question?" The Kaminoan said.
"Master Plo, Rock, this is Dr. Xenra, she is in charge of taking care of the clones unfit for duty." Shaak Ti said introducing them "Ah, Alpha 0017 I never expected to see one of our best here?" Xenra said seeing Alpha.
Alpha nodded at her "Please follow me." Dr. Xenra said. They followed her into a very strange part of the facility, it was filled with cloud glass windows where the Jedi could see clone troopers inside pressing their hands to the glass. "What is this place?" Leo asked.
"It's where we keep the failed assets." Dr. Xenra said callously walking past the foggy glass gesturing to one that was in a fiddle position rocking themselves back and forth. "Take this one for example." She said stopping in front of one of the glasses pressing a button on it. The glass became clear for the Jedi to see, inside was a clone in a black body glove he sat there on a single bed looking at the floor. He had long black shaggy hair and an unkept beard.
Dr. Xenra spoke "CT-7431 code name Slick, he betrayed his entire platoon after a Separatist agent tricked him into thinking he had free will." She said as Slick sat there looking at the floor.
"Can he see us?" Leo asked.
"Yes, this asset hasn't said a word though not to us or to any doctors." Xenra replied "He will be scheduled for termination most likely." Leo looked into the room where Slick was, still looking at the floor not moving except for the steady rise and fall of his chest.
The others moved on Leo waited a few moments before he followed the others "Ah here's another interesting one." They came to another glass but this one was the opposite of the of Slick, this one had torn off his body glove, his entire body was covered in mandalorian tattoos with scars on the sides of his face CT-5567, proved to violent and uncontrollable for field duty." Dr. Xenra said.
When the glass was unfogged the clone trooper rushed he glass banging his hands on the glass "KILL YOU!" He shouted.
"This one has taken the name Kaddak after the Mandalorian destroyer god, he killed his own instructor with his own bare hands." Dr. Xenra fogged up the glass again before they moved on.
They walked by other foggy windows all with the silhouettes of the clones who weren't good enough to be soldiers. While they walked Leo could see a cloud of sadness hanging over Shaak Ti, despite her calm demeanor she was in great pain on the inside. "Here we are CT-8234, one of the newest generations, a shame really he held such potential." Dr. Xenra said the Jedi cast their eyes down on the clone trooper from Umbara with a V tattoo on his chest.
"His name is-" "Dogma." Leo said pressing the button on the door opening the cell, Dr. Xenra was about to stop him but Shaak Ti held up her arm.
Leo walked over to the sitting Dogma, the second he saw the Jedi Dogma shot up standing to attention "Generals, Doctor." When he saw Leo Dogma lost his voice "Commander Rock." He gasped seeing him with the white hair.
"It's General, trooper." Alpha told him.
Dogma shook off his bewilderment "Yes sir, sorry sir, what can I do for you."
Leo looked back at Xenra "He doesn't seem deficient?" He asked.
Dr. Xenra walked in "This one is a special case, he asked to be put in here."
"You did?" Leo asked Dogma, the clone trooper nodded "Correct sir, you there on Umbara you know what I did." He said, looking forward.
Leo nodded "You obeyed your orders, you were a good soldier to the end." Leo replied "I betrayed my brothers, I followed Krell's orders to the letter, I couldn't see past his treachery." Dogma said.
"You acquitted yourself with bravery on Umbara, Dogma, it's why I'm here." Leo said, Dogma looked down, sighing heavily "For my court martial."
"For your second chance, how would you like to get out of this cell?" Leo asked him "You mean, you want me under your command?" Dogma asked.
Leo smiled with a firm nod, Dogma looked at Alpha who just scowled at him but Shaak Ti gave him a warm smile and nod. Dogma followed Leo and Alpha out of the cell and down the hallway of the deficient clones who at the sight of one of their own being set free, sending them into a frenzy. They were banging on the glass screaming and shouting behind it "No, no, let me go!" One of them shouted followed by more.
"Choose me General, I'll fight for you!"
"Don't do it you fools, we're slaves, to the Repuiblic to the Jedi!" The one named Kaddak shouted.
But more just cried out for a chance "I can do it- I can fight, choose me…. For the Republic, For the Republic I'll die for the Republic…. Smash'em, smash the droids to scrap…"
"Hmm best we leave before the rest of them become agitated." Dr. Xenra stated as they neared the exit.
When they were out of the madehouse Leo stopped "Dr. Xenra is there anything that can be done for these men?"
"Unfortunately these assets are of no value to the Republic and when our experiments and studies are done they will be terminated." She said coldly "They are just clones." Xenra said before she walked off down the hall.
Dogma looked at the floor hearing that while Alpha stood there stoically "Not to us and not to me Dogma." Leo said over to him "Come, time to get you some new armor that'll match the rest of the battalion."
"What battalion would that be sir?" Dogma asked behind him.
After they left the detention cell, the Jedi had gone to the docks where a The Venator-class Star Destroyer, also known as a Republic attack cruiser or Jedi Cruiser, was the wedge-shaped capital ship utilized by the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars. The backbone of the Republic Navy, the Venator was a versatile capital ship able to fill the roles of both a warship, capable of ship to ship combat, as well as the role of a carrier with its impressive starfighter complement against the forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, in some of the most well-known battles. This one was being loaded up with everything they would need, ships, tanks and of course clone troopers. They were in shining white armor with black schemes on their armor to identify them.
The Jedi were standing on the dock watching the clones march up the ramp onto the ship "The 703rd Clone Battalion, latest generation of clone troopers to reach maturity." Shaak Ti said watching them.
Among them both Alpha and Dogma had upgraded to the new armor, Dogma was spraying his helmet with a V decal like the rest of his armor to match his tattoo, and Alpha was wearing the experimental phase II arc trooper armor with a new comma and shoulder pauldron that had white over the black armor, his helmet had black under the glass visor and on the fin. "Looks good kid." Alpha said over Dogma who finished putting on the V on his helmet.
"I won't let you or the General down sir." Dogma said putting on the helmet, he let out a deep breath feeling his helmet's breathing apparatus send it out.
"I know Dogma, now get in line as a soldier." Alpha said, grabbing a blaster DC-15 rifle off a crate and handing it to Dogma who joined in the march aboard the ship. He walked up the ramp and a few of the other clones with heavy blaster fire showing they were a unit apart.
Back with Leo he was admiring the cruiser "Have you thought of a name for your vessel?" Plo Koon asked him.
"I've come up with a few names?" Leo said looking at it "A word of advice best to give it a name that inspires your men." Plo Koon.
Leo shrugged, arms crossed "Well you and other Generals surely know how to do that, the Resolute, Guardian, Triumphant, Liberty etc." he said over to him "And what will yours be?"
Leo scratched his chin "The Knight."
"Hmm a bit audacious?" Plo Koon said over to him, Leo frowned at him "My ship, my men, now are we going to Rendili or not." Leo said walking up the ramp with his men. Leo made his way into the hanger seeing them load ships and weapons onto the Knight. "The Admiral who will be commanding with us is already waiting for you on the bridge." Plo Koon called out after him. He passed by clones being brought on and then he saw it, a dark green and white delta atheserprite Jedi Starfighter. "Hello baby." He said walking up to it drawing his hand across the ship, it was brand new without a single scratch.
A sound beeping came up behind Leo and he turned around to see an Astro droid, it was an R6-model, it had a conical frustum head with eye piece like and R2 unit. It had an unusual red paint scheme, appearing to be a camouflage style of different shades of red.
"And who are you?" Leo asked.
"R6-S6, which do you prefer, Arsix or Essix?" He asked the Astro droid, the astromech beeped at him "Good point, we'll figure it out later." Leo said walking toward the elevator any clones who saw him saluted him he returned their respect with a nod before he arrived at the elevator. In another part of the ship, Dogma had arrived in one of the crew bunks and there were already clones of the 703rd inside. As Dogma walked in he took off his helmet and smiled but the clones all gave him the cold shoulder.
"Thats him, the one who helped Krell." The Clones muttered to themselves, "Brother killer." One of them hissed with his hair cut across the side "Enough." One of the clones said.
He had dark hair combed over to the side with a few bangs, he had black tri-stripes running down his arms and his helmet, "It's Dogma right?" The friendlier clone asked him.
"Yeah… you?" Dogma asked the other one, he smiled at him "Names Jax." He said, shaking Dogmas hand, "Hotshot, Whiplash get over here!" Jax called out to the others Hotshot had a shaved blonde head with a red flame tattoo under his right eye and Whiplash was sporting a brown mustache that matched his brown flattop.
"Make our brother feel welcome." Jax said, looking to the rest of him.
Up on the bridge Leo finally walked in seeing bridge officers already working around the clock on the final preparations, Leo smiled and nodded at all of them he spotted one and approached him "Officer, where's the Admiral?" Leo asked him.
"At the end of the bridge General Rock." Leo liked the sound of that so much he smiled, looking to the end of the bridge Leo saw a Republic Admiral in the grayish green uniform standing on the end, he was thin with greying brown hair that Leo recognized as he got closer and his smile started to disappear when he saw the Admiral, was Admiral Tarkin.
"Ah 'General' Leo Rock welcome aboard." Tarkin said with a smile like a snake "I trust you and I will make great progress together against the traitors on Rendili."
Leo and Tarkin locked eyes, the only words Leo said were "Hell no."
Yes, it was a short chapter but I thought this was a fun place to end it haha.