Chapter III

The bodies of the pilots lay on the decking of the freighter, and in their place at the console Six and Zero were confirming the nav computer's calculations to for the jump to Mustafar and accessing the information about the planet. The final adjustments were made and Six readied the hyperspace motivator. Before they made the jump, Zero opened a channel to the ARC-170s.

"Men I'm having Klank fly the IIB back to the dock yards, I want you to board it and follow us in." He paused to give a chance for the change to sink in. "I have discovered some information about troop levels. The freighter has a large supply of battery fluid and recharge cables. This leads me to believe that the troop levels are twice what we assumed. As soon as you can, make the jump. Zero out." His squad turned to face him. Boom looked a little startled, Klank surprised, Ghost had a glint in his eye, and Six looked a little worried. Valdar too also seemed unsettled by the news. Klank was the only one who said anything, "I'll get to it sir; see you on the other side." Handled with professional precision.

"As soon as he undocks and is clear go lightspeed."

"Yes sir."

After a day and a half of hyperspace the countdown to exit reached 45 minutes. The clones gathered in a circle and joined their hands. Their helmets off, they bowed their heads.

"Ni su'vui, gar kyr'adyc, ni partayli, gar darasuum," Zero said. "TK-765 Shock."

"YT-411 Alpha," Six continued.

"SO-4902 Bear," Boom followed.

"RT-7903 Reaper," Ghost added.

"Aliit ori'shya tal'din," Zero concluded.

The clones got up and went back to preparing themselves for combat. Valdar went over to Zero and asked him about what he just witnessed.

"It is the daily remembrance of those that are dead. We being soldiers don't always have time to do it daily, but we make sure to do it at least before we enter battle."

"I'm not a linguistic but that certainly wasn't basic, though I've heard it before." Valdar replied.

"Mandolorian. Except for the names of our comrades that is. What it translates too is: 'I'm still alive, but you are dead. I remember you, so you are eternal.' Then the names of loved ones are mentioned. I concluded with 'Family is more then bloodline.'"

"Why that last sentence?"

"In Mandolorian culture there are often many people that influence a child when it is raised. Because of this he or she grows to know many people closely to the point of calling them family, even though they aren't related. We follow the mindset of, 'Who plays the role of family, not who technically is.' The people we mention are often people we met in basic training that have died recently, or were drill sergeants or other people we're close to."

"Oh, I see now. Similar to the bond of Master and Apprentice in Jedi culture."

"Yes very similar."

"Sir, we're approaching the exit point," Six said. "Shall I disengage the hyperdrive?"

"Yes, go ahead."