Ch8: Choosing Wolffe Squad
"Master Plo it is good that you are here again." Jedi Master and Council Member Shaak Ti's voice was sonorous as she greeted the Kel Dor Council Member on the observatory tower of the training grounds. "I have another batch of promising troopers ready for a simulation of your choosing.
Plo Koon nodded politely though his mind was musing on how it was he would know which Commander was to be the best fit for his tactics. Some of the Jedi Masters and knights were assigned smaller squadrons of men already led by lieutenants or Captains without such a need as observations and simulations. However Council Members like himself were to choose from the Commanders, the elite of all the units that had been created to be the first line of defense for the Republic. He hadn't thought it to be that difficult at first, however after observing over ten Commander Squadrons in action the force was still silent and the Squads left little of an impression on him. He wasn't sure what he was looking for but he assumed that much like the other Masters he would know what it was when he'd find it.
"This next current Command Squadron goes by the name 327th Star Corps Command Unit. The three twenty seven is their battalion's designation and they are led by a Commander Bly. They excel at quite a number and wide range of deployments and are especially good at demolition and jungle like terrains. They're performance is average however compared to the other Squadrons and are likely to be delegated to an acting Jedi Master." Plo Koon's eyes narrowed as he felt the clone troopers through the force. They were different and rather difficult than the average human to read through the force but he could still feel their surface thoughts and impressions through the force. The Commanders signature was a violet green; he could feel his focus and dedication.
"Run the general ambush simulation." He allowed himself to sink deeper into the force as Shaak Ti tapped off the designated codes for the droids to follow. The room shifted and a buzzer went off. The men instantly fell into positions and he could feel their focus and confidence through the force. The shooting display went on for quite some time and the men lasted a good half an hour but in the end they were all sprawled on the ground cradling their wounds. "Match and set." Shaak Ti said as she powered down the simulator and turned to face Plo Koon. "What do you think Master Plo? They lasted quite longer then the last batch, I believe this is their personal best as well."
"Tell me Master Ti…what was the objective of this exercise?"
"Survival." The Togruta Jedi Master folded her arms as she turned back and observed as the men helped each other up and began limping off to the med bay.
"I see…and the men…they were aware of this?"
"Yes, most of these scenarios were presented before so they know what we're looking for. I gather you will not choose this batch?"
"I believe not Master Ti. Two of your other squadrons chose to treat this as a battle scenario and not as a survival exercise in which there is no room for a victory. Their performance may not have been as well as this squadron's however their approach made far more sense to me."
"I understand. We have several more squadrons on standby of course. Most are in the mess hall at the moment but this next one is the 104th battalion. They call themselves the Wolffepack and are led by a Commander Wolffe. Plo Koon's brow furrowed in curiosity at that. "So they named their squadron after their Commander?"
"Yes they did indeed." The five clones made their way out and Shaak Ti seeing that the name had peaked Koon's interest continued as she turned on a standard warm up round. "The main unit is made up of five troopers as always. Theirs Kolto, he's the medic, Gravity, demolition expert and heavy weaponry, Fidget, heavy weaponry and sniper, Boost close range and midrange arms, Sinker, he's the second in Command and Wolffe whose leading the squadron."
"I see…" The men had begun the warm up round and were following a trooper whose hair was dyed white and who was giving out orders to the rest of the troopers.
"Is that Wolffe?"
"No he's the one hanging behind and watching."
"I see…" That was curious. Of all the troopers in his unit he was the most nondescript. Kolto's hair was died a wild green, Gravity was cleanly shaven, Fidget's hair was dyed grey and he had three teardrops in the same color under his left eye. Sinker's hair was a shock of white and Boosts was an odd shave with two streaks on his head died a deep red. Wolffe however retained the standard clone cut and bore no markings or even indications of his rank. It was curious to say the least. "Well Master Ti, I believe they are finished with the warm up."
"I will begin with the general ambush simulation, yes?"
"Yes, I wish to see what this unit is capable off."
"Very good." Master Ti hit the intercom. "Helmets on soldiers I will commence the simulation now. The troopers had all turned to look up at the observatory when Shaak Ti spoke, hearing the new sets of orders they put on their standard military helmets and broke into a ready formation as the guns lining the walls and floors began whirring to life.
The simulation having begun the five troopers broke for strategic cover, Sinker's mouth was moving and it was blatantly obvious that he was the one giving out orders. The shooting began Plo Koon's eyes narrowed as he observed the firefight below. "Tell me Master Ti, why is Wolffe not in Command?"
"That is indeed a very good question Master Koon. He's been training the Sargent should the case come that there is a need for a replacement."
"I see, is it possible to hear what they are saying?"
"Yes of course." Normally the observatory muted the comms unless they were monitoring how the men were proceeding with their strategies. Master Koon had asked her to turn on the comms several times before so she thought little of it as she tweaked the volume and resumed to observe the gallery below.
"Gravity over there! Shoot out those cannon with some charges."
"On it Sinker!"
"Fidget snipe that turret!" Wolffe covered him as he did so.
"Kolto! I want you to cover me while I-"
"Negative!" Wolffe interrupted. "Kolto on your six, take that out first! Sinker, don't forget about the five o'clock turret."
"Right sorry, I'm on the three, you take the four."
"Already on it."
"This is taking a lot longer than last I remember…" Fidget frowned as he turned to snipe at another turret.
"They upped the difficulty no doubt, focus."
"Right…"
Plo Koon frowned thinly at the display below as he observed Sinker leading the men. "They are making good time…very good time."
"Indeed they are, this is one of the top performing unites on par with Commander Gree's, Pond's and Cody's."
"If that is so why has no one chosen this unit as of yet? Surely they have been presented to the other Council Member's."
Shaak Ti frowned mildly at the men down below. "That is a good question." She folded her hands across her chest which Master Plo Koon did as well, as he peered down below though her eyes were still on the men as well. "The problem is with the Commander actually. When he is on the field he is capable…more than capable actually. However the moment we place a ranking officer above him he…well I'm not so sure how to put it but he defers to anyone we place above him."
"How so?" Shaak Ti sighed. "I'm not sure how to explain it however the moment we have an acting General barking out orders he begins to second guess himself. It's as if in his mind he is demoting himself."
"Have you tried to have the acting General place his men in harm's way?"
"We don't run simulations like that Master Plo. No Jedi would actively place their men in harm's way."
"And what if it were a fallen Jedi leading the men?"
"We don't run simulations in such a manner Master Plo, and it's not only that, he will always defer to his handlers as well, be it a language teacher or a combat master. From a normal clone this is adequate behavior however from a Commander that is highly unusual. His battle strategies and abilities are on par if not exceeding many Commanders' however the moment he is off the field he will always defer to those he believes are above him in power." If Plo Koon was frowning before he was practically oozing displeasure now. He had his reservations when he heard of a Clone army ready to fight for the Republic but now? How much control did these men have over their own existence? How much freedom did they have? When he returned to Coruscant he and the Council would have words."
"Kriff!"
"Wolffe!" The man had taken a laser from one of the turrets to his right arm and was cradling it, hissing lowly while doing so. "Sinker, keep to the four o'clock, Kolto to your left!"
Plo Koon sank into the force…he had assumed that just like his appearance the Commander would be nondescript in the force but it was not so the clone in question was a sharp gold and liquid amber. The presence was powerful and spoke volumes to his Commanders character and abilities. But there was a grey shadowlike quality at the edges of the amber, a cold shroud that hovered at the edges of the senses; it piqued his interest if only for the sharp chill that radiated from it. "Fidget, get that turret at three o'clock before it hits Sinker."
He nodded at Shaak Ti and the Jedi Master muted the comms. "Well what do you think?" Plo Koon's frown deepened and though Shaak Ti could no doubt not see it through his mask she paid it little heed. "I believe that perhaps I should speak with them and commend them on their good time."
"Yes of course." Master Ti smiled warmly. Forty five minutes is nearing their personal best. "Though of course Commander Cody holds the one hour mark with his squadron." The two of them filed out of the observatory and descended down a staircase which led into the arena below. The five troopers had by now gathered and aligned themselves in a parade rest, though they were all sporting quite a number of bruises and two were limping from the stun settings of the simulation.
Commander Wolffe stood at parade attention despite his previous injury, to his right were Sinker and then Boost, followed by Fidget Gravity and Kolto. "At ease troopers." Said Master Shaak Ti as she came to a stand opposite the clones. Plo Koon himself to her right looked up and down the file as the men took a parade rest.
"This is Jedi Master Plo Koon from the Jedi Council. He was quite impressed with your performance and would like to commend you on it." She inclined her head slightly in his direction and the troopers all looked to him.
He folded his arms before himself studying the men briefly. Something curious seemed to be occurring with the Commanders force presence but he ignored it for the moment. "The most important thing in any survival exercise is not to treat it as a survival exercise but a battle simulation. You have done this here and it is most impressive."
"Thank you sir." The troopers all said roughly around the same time. Before Shaak Ti dismissed them indicating for the Commander to remain. The men all filed out shooting a last look at their Commander before Shaak Ti too made her way up to the observatory to prepare for the next squadron of men allowing for Plo Koon to have a moment to speak with Wolffe.
"I hear your squadron's performance is most impressive."
"Thank you sir." He studied the clone before him and the sudden shift that had occurred. And while to him reading the clones was still not a simple task he could gather much when said clones stood before him or in this case said clone. "Tell me Commander Wolffe would you like to serve under my person?"
"It would be an honor Sir." The words were quick to be said but there was little confirmation that the Commander himself wanted it to be so. It was as he had suspected a simple deferring to his superior rank. "And if you had the choice Commander under which General would you wish to serve?"
There was a pause and he could tell that the choice did not so much confuse Wolffe, in so much as it simply did not register as much of a choice. "My Wollfepack and I would be honored to fight under any Jedi Master or General, Sir."
"I see, thank you Wolffe. Though perhaps we should continue this conversation at a different time. I believe it would be prudent for you to visit the medward." The man looked up sharply at the use of his name over his title but gave a quick nod of assent. "Thank you Sir. It's an honor Sir." The man saluted smartly and turned making his way towards the arena's exit, finally allowing himself to acknowledge his injury and cradle his right arm. Though through it all Plo Koon's frown merely deepened.
-0-0-0-
It was later that evening that that the Wolffepack was all getting ready for bed. Wolffe occupied the middle bunk, the third of five. Sinker was a bed above and to the right of Wolff's with Kolto's being below and to the left of Wolffe's. Gravity and Fidgets were the lowest bunks Gravity below Wolffe and Fidgets below Sinker with Boost's bunk being next to Kolto's. Their pods were all pulled out and they were all sitting in various positions on their beds save for Gravity who was leaning against the closed pods and looking up to speak with his brothers. Unbeknownst to them however a silent and concealing shadow was crouched in the rafters above that dominated only two other pod rooms, as they were still under construction and were to have a different structure then the older rooms.
"Well that wasn't so bad." Sinker said as he settled on his bed having just finished changing into his crimson standard sleep wear.
"You're telling me." Gravity groused. "Could have been worse, at least that blaster shot only clipped you."
Wolffe sighed as he absently rubbed at his arm now covered with a bacta patch and gauze.
"Even if Wolffe had went down we would have known what to do." Fidgets hands were clasped before himself and he was worrying them nervously against each other.
"Not the point." Sinker frowned. "Could you imagine our score? They say that Jedi coming to check us out is on the Council itself."
Gravity whistled. "You don't say."
"Yea one of the last ones too, to need a squadron." Boost added in. "What do you make of him? Wolffe?"
There brother in question seemed to have went deep in thought. Whether this was a good or bad thing was a thing still debated but it wasn't that rare to see it happen. Though brooding as Kolto liked to put it was not healthy, Sinker maintained that there was nothing wrong with thinking things through. "Kamino to Wolffe." Boost waved a hand in the air from his pod.
"I was listening." Wolffe sighed again before running his good hand through his hair in discomfort. "I think what we think of him doesn't matter. But he seems like he knows what he's looking for."
"That's for sure." Gravity inclined his head smartly. "We seemed to have impressed him then. I heard we were the only squad he spoke with personally."
"We were also one of the few elite squads to have been showcased. If he really is a member of the Council that will be the deciding factor." It was logical but that was Wolffe.
"You mean left to be showcased." Kolto put in. "Then again members of elite units have been moved around so there's no telling what could happen."
"I still say he liked us said." Gravity tightening his arms folded across his chest. "We were good."
"Good or not the question is if he's good." Boost put in.
"He wouldn't be on the Council if he wasn't." Kolto said putting away the brush he'd been running through his hair.
"You know what I meant." Snapped Boost.
"We're not going to talk about that again." Wolffe interrupted before Kolto and Boost could devolve into argument. "We will serve whoever we are placed under to the best of our abilities."
"It's been a long day maybe we should turn in." Fidget said his hands still worrying against each other his own face troubled.
"Lets." It was Gravity. He'd had enough of these sorts of arguments and was quite worn out. He knew his brothers to be worn out as well from all the stress they'd been placed under this week with talk of a Council member coming to view the squads. With Wolffepack being one of the last of the elites the pressure was up to be chosen or face ridicule from the lesser ranking of the squads. He pulled out his pod folded himself in and pressed the release to be pulled in for his sleep cycle.
Fidget followed his example after wishing his brothers a goodnight and having his pod pull him in.
Wolffe rose from his bed and dimmed the lights of the room. He was about to climb back up to his pod when Boost who'd risen from his own pod stopped him with a hand. He frowned. "Did you hear about what happened to CT-8344?"
"Heard he'd been sent for 'reconditioning' whatever that's supposed to mean." Sinker put in, in a low voice from where he was sitting.
"You mean he'd been quietly disposed of." Kolto snapped.
"Kolto!" Wolffe cut him off.
"What it's true!"
"Why don't you say it a little louder so that someone could hear you?" Snapped Wolffe, he sighed after his sudden moment of anger. "We all know what goes on behind closed doors Kolto. If we could do anything about it we would, but he broke protocol and attacked a trainer."
"I say he was provoked." Muttered Sinker. "There was no way he would've done anything otherwise, they've been rumors about him in other squads to.
"The trainer in question was let go as well, at the very least he will no longer trouble the other cadets." Wolffe said folding his hands across his chest.
"That's not the point!" Boost said in a low whisper.
"Or is it?" Wolffe whispered back his eyes narrowing at Boost. "We're expandable, don't ever forget that and don't let the trainers let you hear otherwise. They may say we're crucial to the Republic and I'm committed to that vision of peace as are we all but the ideal is not reality. Remember that. Even the Jedi are only pieces. We're all pieces; some just have more freedom then others."
Boost looked into his eyes then looked away allowing Wolffe to climb into his pod, he sighed, Boost noticed he'd been doing that a lot lately. "Get to bed…all of you, we may have another exercise tomorrow and healing only happens so fast, you may need to take point again tomorrow Sinker."
There was a chorus of goodnights before Wolffe activated his pod for sleep. Boost Kolto and Sinker stuck around all frowning and huddled in a circle. "He won't say it but he's worried…"
"What do you think Sinker, we're an elite squad and we have yet to be chosen. I'd be worried too if I were him." Said Kolto frowning.
"Yeah well I don't know, it's hard to read that Jedi's face. And I don't like that."
"Theirs yet a Jedi for you to like Boost." Kolto just shook his head. "Wolffe is right, we've all heard things. But we have a job to do. Even if we get a General who we don't approve of, it wouldn't be our choice. We get who we get." He pulled himself into his bunk. "Goodnight." He pulled himself in with a hiss.
"It's not right." Sinker muttered.
"Yeah whatever." Boost shrugged. "Let's just hope we don't get kriffed over."
"Lets." Sinker ran a hand through his hair before he set his pod for sleep. The room was silent save the worried form hiding in the rafters.
-0-0-0-
"Tell me Master Ti, have there been any incidents of late?"
"Incidents?" Master Shaak Ti was in the lounge of her chambers, a room rather spacious and made to allow Jedi visitors and other guests. Both Masters were sitting in the Selkath styled couches a pot and cups of tea between them.
"Indeed, I have heard that there had been a trainer let go recently."
"Oh yes, I know what incident you speak of. We had a clone cadet attack one of the weapons trainers last week. He was relatively new and had only been with us for two months. One of the clone cadets seemed to have had an issue with his teachings on Mandalore and attacked him in one of the corridors. We questioned both and while the cadet maintained that it was self-defense the trainer was adamant that it had been deliberate."
"I see, and what was the deliberation based upon?"
"The clone cadet had simply disliked him."
"I see and the clone?"
"The clone claimed the man had prejudice against Mandalorians and his bias extended to clones under his training, he as well maintained that the trainer had provoked him by attacking him first."
"Is this true?"
"It may be but it is highly doubtful. I sensed a general dislike in him of this however this does not excuse the clone's behavior. He could have come to us with his misgivings."
"And what if he was threatened to silence?"
"Threatened? It would have been caught on tape at the very least. I assure you Master Plo I select each trainer personally. We rarely have incidents if any."
"And yet you allowed a man with prejudice against the template of these clones to train them." Plo Koon frowned not liking where this was going. "Do you have copies of the training sessions?"
"Not all rooms are monitored but we should have some from room 5A, he held one or two classes in that arena." She rose and tapped on a console and the class in question came up. "I have several reports to file make yourself at home I will return shortly." Shaak Ti left and Plo Koon approached the console in question, in it was the training session and while nothing nefarious came up as he watched it was clear the man held a general dislike for the clones in the extreme work out he put them through before berating them for their general lack of inefficiency and lack of stamina. The undercurrent of dislike was unnerving more so since the clones seemed to have little say in the matter.
"Tell me Master what do you make of this session?" Shaak Ti who had only just returned approached to observe the moment he'd paused the recording at. She pursed her lips frowning. "Well it is certainly not ideal but these aren't temple younglings there men, Jedi in training so to speak."
"Men who have no say in who has authority over their own wellbeing you mean to say. Even initiates have a say in who is to be their Jedi Master."
Master Ti tapped on the console closing it down before settling onto one of the couches with a displeased sound escaping her lips. "It is unfortunate Plo, but even we are not infallible, I had thought he was the best choice, but it appears that perhaps I was wrong. However perhaps this was a good way for the clones to encounter a real life situation in which they encounter a biased individual and learn to work with them."
Plo Koon settled on the opposite couch folding his arms across his chest. "I would sorely hope they are never placed under an individual who has such bias against them. Particularly since they are to be placed under Jedi, and all living things are precious."
"I have no doubt of that. However on to more pressing matters have you decided on which squadron you want for your Command?"
"Not as of yet."
"I can have several more squadrons run some stimulation tomorrow. There are only a few more that I would truly suggest but the choice is truly all yours."
"The exercises will not be necessary. Tell me Master Ti what happened with the trainer in question." Shaak Ti smiled wryly; leave it to her fellow Council Member to have a one track mind when it came to such things as justice. It was almost nostalgic.
"He's still here, due to leave sometime next week after another questioning."
"And the clone? What happened to him?"
"The same thing that happens to any clone that attacks a ranking officer."
"And that is?" She gave him a hard look, and need not have said anything further.
"I see. Do you mind of if I question this trainer myself?"
"Go right ahead, he's in his rooms on the east wing."
Plo Koon rose and made his way to the door his mind troubled. He could not fault Shaak Ti for her oversight, these things occurred, she was not infallible, Jedi were not infallible, he could little fault the Jedi in general at what they'd become when they'd needed men to protect the Republic from destruction. These things were inevitable. But the treatment of the clones was not. He knew some of the Jedi were skeptical of a clone army, some had misgivings but they were Jedi first and foremost no matter their beliefs.
-0-0-0-
"Commander Wolffe please report to the general training area. Commander Wolffe." It was a generic and general intercom voice used throughout the facility, though in this case it was only heard in one specific pod.
"Whaa?" Wolffe woke up with a start his eyes going to the chrono. It was only two hours into his sleep rotation and he was being called into a meeting now?" He groaned under his breath as he released the hatch to his pod. It was likely connected to the presence of the Council Member, whatever it was he'd find out shortly though he sorely hoped it wasn't one of the other Commanders pulling a prank on him. Such things were of course looked down upon by their trainers but they all snuck in what they could to make their life more lively. They wouldn't pull anything big and if it was low key the trainers would for the most part look the other way.
He got dressed into his uniform, it was grey and similar to the one he would receive once actually deployed under a General save the official rank bars. He got as far as the dimmed hallway before coming face to face with the Council Member that had been observing them earlier that day, Jedi Master Plo Koon.
"Commander, apologies for waking you however I had wished you to accompany me for a walk."
"It is nothing sir." The Jedi in question was taller then he and looked down at him almost as if in question. Unbeknownst to him was Plo Koon's surprise at the speed at which he'd presented himself and the general lack of care at being pulled out of bed in the middle of the night by a Jedi Council Member he'd only met that day with no explanations nor questions asked. They walked at length and it seemed to Wolffe the Council Member was deep in thought. That was alright by him if only because he was too tired to care and wondering where exactly the Kel Dor was taking him.
"Do you know where we are heading to Commander Wolffe?" The name again. It was strange to hear the Council Member say it. His brothers used it. Some of the trainers used it if only for convenience but he'd always assumed they were to be addressed by number.
"No sir." The Kel Dor sighed. "Trainer Demrel, you are familiar with him are you not." Wolffe's mind stilled his heart convulsing suddenly in his chest. "Yes sir."
"Tell me, what do you make of him?" The Kel Dor had stopped abruptly and he found himself at a crossroad of the hallways with only droids patrolling the area for any interlopers. Wolffe swallowed heavily. That man was a prejudice piece of bantha kriff if there ever was one. Wolffe had tried to run interference when he could but that man was relentless in his adamant disgust for the clones. But he couldn't say that…and a Jedi could tell if he was lying. So he settled for something in between. "He was certainly very dedicated to encouraging us to reach our peak efficiency."
"I see." The Kel Dor brought up a hand to his rebreather as if in thought. Did he? Did he see? Master Ti didn't seem to see though at the very least she'd decided that the man should be let go, but that was largely due to his short tenure in comparison to the rumored complaints against him. There were others like he, perhaps not as ruthless and more subtle, but it was there. Not all the trainers were so impartial, to some it was just a job.
He stood at attention wondering if he should speak. At length the Kel Dor brought his hand down and motioned for them to proceed. He followed the Jedi wondering where they were possibly going.
-0-0-0-
Plo Koon for his part was even more concerned after he'd spoken to the Commander. From his words it was quite clear on what had occurred more than what hadn't and what kind of man Trainer Demrel really was. But there was no better way to confirm the man's true nature then by provoking him into showing his hand. As much as he felt for dragging the Commander out of bed this had to be solved soon and it had to be solved now. And after all this he'd need to have words with the Council, there was much here that was concerning.
The Commander seemed surprised when they reached their destination. The door slid open with a hiss and they entered into a small living room. Trainer Demrel was sitting on a couch skimming through a datapad, he rose when he caught sight of the Kel Dor. "Jedi Master, what a surprise. To what do I owe this visit." He motioned for Koon to sit. "Ah cadet, bring us up some caf."
The Commander inclined his head briefly. "Anything specific for you Master?"
"Nothing." Plo Koon was not amused in the slightest with the treatment and the apparent acceptance of it by the Commander.
The Commander bowed out to get the beverage in question and Plo Koon was left with his quarry in silence. "So," the man said at length clearly uncomfortable with the general lack of conversation. "Here to pick a platoon? Can't say I envy you, their all a mess, human soldiers would at least be… well at least human. The Commander from that pack CC-36 something would be my choice if only because he does what he's told. Keeps his mouth shut too. Then again they all look the same."
"I see." Plo Koon replied a feral smile gracing his features though it was hard to catch under his mask. There was nothing Plo Koon loved more than a man who made it only so easy to bring himself to justice.
"Well I'm surprised you would humans must all look the same for you, these clones more so. But enough of all this how can I help you?"
"I heard that they'd been an incident recently."
"Oh yes, nasty business with that clone, he cornered me in one of those halls with no cams and tried to choke me." Demrel said rubbing his neck almost absently.
"I see. And how exactly did this occur?" the force was murky around the man and it was difficult to discern if what he spoke of was the truth, a half-truth then to conceal what had most likely occurred.
"You tell me I didn't make them defective, then again you never know. Better get rid of the lot of them if you ask me. Wolffe had entered prior to this statement and while it was still difficult for himself to read the clones through the force he could feel the general dislike of the statement though the Commander did not show it.
"Ah great." Demrel took the cup and took a swig with the Commander going to stand behind the couch. "Wolffe why don't you take a seat?" The Commander looked up at him sharply and then at the trainer, and it was quite evident through the force that he was conflicted. He sat a moment later, no doubt the suggestion of a Council Member outweighing whatever orders he'd received from a now retired trainer. The trainer said nothing though it was quite clear that he couldn't understand why it mattered whether the clone sat or stood. In his mind it probably appeared all the same to him. They sat for a good few minutes. Plo Koon had heard what he'd needed and it was evident that the Commander was quite uncomfortable and no doubt still exhausted from his harrowing day and sudden awakening from his sleep. He had made his decision. "Come Commander," he ignored the trainer's farewell and other such nonsense and was followed out by the Commander.
They made their way towards the barracks and after several minutes Plo Koon stopped abruptly. "Commander, is this manner of treatment of clones a norm for this man."
The Commander did not meet his eye. The silence dragged on and though the Commander said yes at length he needn't have.
"Are there any other trainers who treat you and the other clones in such a manner?" There was an even longer pause of silence. He could see the man before him struggling to put what he had experienced in words. "If I may sir it wasn't that bad." To anyone else these words would have meant nothing, would have meant everything was fine and all was well. But to himself who had seen what he had seen and lived through what he had lived well let's just say he wasn't on the Council itself for nothing. Those words were worrying, they indicated a beaten down mentality. One where the subject who'd suffered had been so ignored that he'd come to accept the treatment received as the norm.
"Do you follow all orders given to you by anyone of superior rank?"
"Yes sir. Those are the proper protocols."
"I see and what if you received an order to harm a fellow trooper, would you carry it out?"
"No sir. That would be against protocol."
"Have you ever received such an order?"
"No sir. If I may sir, some of our trainers may not like us but we know how to deal with it. Most of them are all too happy to do their hours and leave us well alone. A man such as Trainer Demrel is not a common occurrence." There was a silence after that outburst. "Sorry Sir, if I spoke out of turn I mean."
It was at this moment that something in Plo Kooon snapped. He knew he couldn't make everyone see the clones as he did nor could he force those that were non Jedi to do the same. The Jedi themselves were a different matter but to those who were human and all others, to them the clones were something new something not understood, something more akin to droids then sentients. But he could if only in this case make sure that this clone never had to go through such a thing again. He wasn't sure what prompted him before but now he knew it was the force that had made him so interested in the Commander. There was something about him something that the force knew would work. It was ironic but in some small way the Commander reminded him of Ashoka timid yet bold at the same time.
"You never need permission to speak freely before me Commander."
"Thank you Master."
"I prefer Master Plo, or General Plo."
"Sir?"
"I won't order you to serve under me. Nor will I ask Master Ti to assign you as my squadron simply because I wish it. I am giving you an offer however to work with myself. And I can assure you Wolffe, outside of battle I will never give you a direct order, and if during a battle you disagree with my orders I will expect you to do so freely. And if I see the wisdom in your judgement I will defer to you Wolffe."
There was silence, the Commander's eyes widened in confusion in disbelief. "I see…if I may Sir…it would be an honor."
Plo Koon couldn't say he was pleased. If anything it once more appeared that the Commander was deferring to himself if only because he was a Council Member. But perhaps this was the best he was going to get. The Commanders acceptance rang true with the force, it appeared this course of action seemed appropriate then. And all else, the Commanders hesitations included could be worked on.
"Well then I believe we have an agreement." The Commander dismissed himself and Plo Koon himself made his way to speak with Master Ti on the transfer. It appeared he finally had a command squadron to call his own. And truth be told he was looking forward to it. After all he'd worked with Jedi Padawan's before, how different could this be?
Andddddd I'm finally done with this ch! Well this took some time. Again leave reviews and please forgive grammatical errors etc.
Regarding the Jedi, I'm sure some had their misgivings etc about the clones and brought them before a council but there's a war going on so there was only so much that could be done.
Well thanks again to all those that reviewed and later guys.
