Chapter 19

Split in the Road

"What would the Republic want with a bunch of farmers? There is nothing on Dantooine."

-ARC-104056, Dogmeat commenting on his first mission with Survival Regiment.

Jax watched as the last LAAT was emptied of the troopers inside of it. He thought about what his new Battalion Commander, Dogmeat, said earlier. There isn't much on Dantooine, that's for sure. Why would we be here?

Jax approached the two Battalion Commanders, Dogmeat and Camo. Jax wasn't completely used to Camo's new rank yet, as Captain Camo just sounded better. It was probably because it rolled off the tongue more for Jax.

"Sir, we're dividing the squads into three groups. Gamma's company and my battalion are taking the left side. Camo's battalion and Stigma's company are taking the middle. Spine's company will be taking the right. Both you and Allia will choose for yourselves," Dogmeat informed Jax. He was obviously more formal than Camo, but that was probably because he wanted to make a good impression.

"Why are there less troops on the right?" Jax questioned.

"Well sir, the right is a smaller path, but it should arrive at the base quicker. We can't fit as many troopers in there, so we are only sending a company," Dogmeat explained.

"Hmm, sounds reasonable enough. I will go with Camo and Sitgma."

Camo acted like he was chosen for the lottery and fist bumped the air. Jax chuckled slightly, then he shouted orders to the rest of his men.

"I guess I will go with you and Gamma, Dogmeat. I'd like to get to know you and your men better anyways. Besides, it is fun to watch the new guys adjust to a new division," She said with her usual smile.

"Alright ma'am..." Dogmeat responded. Something seemed odd about his response, but Jax didn't take notice due to him shouting orders.

Blazde's black cloak remained down and still as he took a walk with his new apprentice Kaa'tana aboard the CIS cruiser. He had already sent Anne out somewhere Kaa'tana couldn't remember the name of.

"Master, is there a reason for why I am still here?" Kaa'tana finally asked after a long hesitation.

Blazde's head slowly turned to her, but he didn't respond and turned back to look where he was going. Kaa'tana sighed to herself and continued to follow Blazde somewhat blindly.

They passed many battle droids on their way, each stopping to salute. They all were black and painted with red on them. Unlike most droids, they didn't seem to be clumsy and poorly made. They were well created and intelligent.

At last Blazde walked through a currently opened blast door. When Kaa'tana walked in after him it closed, making the room darker then night.

Out of no where, before Kaa'tana could even react to the suddenly dark room, a blue light flashed and covered the whole room. After a blinding second Kaa'tana looked back and saw it was a holographic map. Blazde was already walking towards the Outer Rim territories on the map. After a while she realized he was going to where the Raioballo sector was. At last Blazde stopped.

"What planet am I sending you to, Apprentice?" He questioned her. Kaa'tana thought hard, then she finally remembered what the planet was.

"Dantooine, master."

Blazde would look at Kaa'tana. Did Kaa'tana sense a grin on his face? No, it wasn't, but she still felt that he was satisfied with her accomplishment.

"You are correct. Now leave me and land on Dantooine. You will know what to do soon enough," Blazde ordered.

"Yes, my master..." She'd kneel before him, then stood up and walked to the door.

"Kaa'tana," Blazde stopped her with words.

"Yes, master?"

"Take a battalion from Hellfire Brigade with you. You will need them."

Kaa'tana would nod slowly. Inside, however, she was excited. She was glad she finally had the chance to lead droids into battle.

"Th-thank you, master," Kaa'tana said, holding in her excitement. With that said, she walked out the door, away from the room her master was in.

"...That girl still has a lot to learn," Blazde would say to no one in particular. After a few moments, he himself would walk out of the room and went straight to the hanger.

The sound of wildlife increased regularly as Spine and his company walked through all of the bushes and past the trees.

"Dang, this is a hard path to follow," Spine said between breaths. The terrain he and his company walked on was rough and uneasy. No one was steady as they walked, and they had to leave their All Terrain Recon Transports a mile ago.

"Sir, I hope this trail ends up being worth it..." one of Spine's men said from behind him.

"I do as well..." Spine said. He looked ahead once. Earlier he had heard an odd sound. It sounded like a ship landing, but none of them knew what it was.

"Captain, get down!" A voice of one of Spine's men shouted behind him. Spine rolled when a laser sword zoomed over his head. Wait, no, it was a called a lightsaber if he remembered correctly. The lightsaber was colored red, and another one like it came from the same direction after it.

Around that time, Spine heard his comlink go off. He didn't have time to consider it as his arm with the comlink on it was chopped clean off.

"Gaagh!" Spine shouted in pain and agony. He fell back as the other lightsaber stabbed him into the ground. Everything went black just as soon as Spine realized what was happening.

AN: I updated the chapter for you guys, as I know it's been too long. I am working on it right at this moment as well. Hopefully, as long as I don't get distracted or writers block, it should be finished before the end of the day.