~Side Notes!~

~Sorry for slow updates, this chapter has taken much time to think up. More than I thought it would...

~Ok so Previously Smoulder got sick, and I mean really sick so he puts Pulse in charge of the team. Who's curious about how it'll end? Well read on!

Smoulder's team was separated into groups; much to Cody's dislike, one recon team to locate the exact location of the Seppies, and the rest were divided in four assault teams. The plan was to locate the target and swarm them from all sides, no escape route. The replacement commander suggested that each team have a captain to receive further orders to be prepared for changes.

"Um I hate to interrupt Sirs, but shouldn't each team have a runner to pass on commands to the next team?" a shinie; named Baton, asked tentatively.

"I don't think that's necessary." Cody answered.

Another clone; called Banner, spoke up "With all do respect Commander, but the shortwave transmissions are easily jammed. I think Baton here has made a valid point and an excellant suggestion."

"It also means less field troops." Cody countered.

Pulse finally spoke up "Numbers don't win battles Commander Cody. Coordination and communication does. This team has proven that as I'm sure you know."

"And what do you suggest we do?" the commander challenged, glaring at Pulse. He watched those grey eyes intently.

Looking closely at the medic's eyes, he saw the same sharp edge that made his blood run cold. He was told the medic was caring, gentle, and not one to fight anyone. He wouldn't ever fire a blaster. He was informed that his eyes were comforting and never harboured ill intent while oddly coloured. Why did his eyes take on that killing edge when Cody made eye contact?

"I think Baton's idea will help out the others. Everyone stays informed and with this tactic, the more ground we gain the faster orders will travel."

Baton beamed at the praise but quickly lost it before Cody could tell him to wipe the smile off his face.

"We'd be short four men!" Cody protested.

General Kenobi; who had remained silent up until then, cleared his throat. "Actually eight men. Teams of two continuously circling around the perimeter, actually it's a brilliant idea."

Pulse looked at Baton and gave him a quick smile of approval. \between them and the general, they had come up with a plan that would minimize communication loss and take the Sepratists completely by surprise. Cody had no choice but to go along with it.

Pulse returned to the men and assigned each team a medic. No on e questioned Pulse because of the fact that Smoulder would beat them if they didn't follow orders from Pulse in his absence. Also since Pulse was the chief medical officer who had saved their team during what would have been a dud mission, they knew he would never put the team in harm's way.

Cody on the other hand, often challenged Pulse but backed down quickly. The commander never did get how a medic could be so intimidating. He decided to look up the medic's number and see what history he could find.

As the team neared their coordinates, Pulse gave the signal to attack via flare. All at once the air around them exploded into blaster fire and yells of the others insulting the driods they had swarmed with very colourful language. The droids hesitated only briefly before returning fire on the clones who initiated the attack.

The sky was no longer the soft blue, it was now a brownish grey colour with red and blue streaks flying back and forth across the field. The comm channels were a jumble of commands, insults, freak outs, and the occasional cry as a trooper ducked or was hit.

Pulse directed the medics and made sure the shinies stayed close to him. Everyone noticed that Pulse's blaster was still cold, he was only directing and patching up the fallen troopers.

Baton saw danger and yelled at Pulse over the comm "Pulse! Get out of there!"

Pulse glanced towards the battle droid charging at him. Without so much as a thought, he gripped his rifle and fired at the droid which fell when the bolt found it mark in the central processor of the droid.

The was a hush on the comm channels. Pulse had pulled the trigger; but in actual fact Pulse hadn't, rather it was Snipe who did.

Cody barked an order and everything resumed. There were whispers as the troopers tried to get over the shock of Pulse retaliating. The medic ignored it and continued to direct while healing the others who had fallen. He'd never reveal his secret to anyone but Smoulder. Cody would be left in the dark.

Snipe had taken control of Pulse's left arm and defended the medic as he worked. Cody couldn't believe the troopers had lied to him. They said Pulse wouldn't ever fire his DC 15 A blaster rifle, yet here he was blasting driods left right and centre with barely a glance. He would be interrogating the survivors of this mission. That is to say if they made it out alive.

Progress was slow and soon they had reached were their objective lay. Problem was getting inside without being blasted. No one knew what to do.

Pulse looked at Cody "So Commander, what's your suggestion?" he asked looking at the small battle hologram.

Cody rolled his eyes "Oh you actually want my opinion?"

"Yes, you are more experience and I feel one of your direct approaches may prove useful now."

Cody looked back at the floating map "I say we lure them out."

Kenobi stroked his beard thoughtfully "If we can get the door open we can swarm them and enter the base. I consult the council, if I can get through that is..." he said before leaving.

Cody looked a t Pulse. "I don't see why you need be present at tactical meetings Pulse. You're just a medic of little rank on the field."

Pulse squared his shoulders "Actually i am chief medical officer Cm-59-675, Senior medic on this team, Smoulder's adviser, and I out rank you were the teams health is concerned, therefore I have a place here, Commander."

Baton nodded "Not to be rude Commander Sir, but Commander Smoulder does rely on Pulse's opinion on plans. Really it was thanks to Pulse that their first mission was a success."

Cody frowned, he never had issues when planning with the somewhat thick headed Captain Rex of the 501st Legion. "So a medic save 180 troopers from death on some backwater planet? I find that hard to believe."

Baton backed off.

"Commander, this team knows me not you, they will expect orders to pass my judgement first. Smoulder has ordered me to look after them, I will expect you to follow suite. Sorry if you feel challenged but I am just following orders."

"Of a dead man." Cody commented.

"He's not dead!" Pulse blurted.

"You don't know that, Medic." Cody challenged since Obiwan wasn't there.

Pulse's eyes went cold and dark "Keep your jealousy to yourself Cody. Smoulder would not die so easily." he said, his voice like a heated scalpel. Sharp and unyielding.

Cody backed up. The medic's gaze was unwavering, wild, territorial, he was terrifying. Then the medic smirked.

"Keep your mind on the fight, you'll last longer. The grey eyed medic warned before leaving with Baton. Something was not right with that medic, why did no one else notice it?

Last second, Cody noticed something he hadn't before. It was a small mark on his neck for some time ago. Was the medic involved with someone? More importantly, who?

~Author's note~

Just want to thank my faithful readers, without you these stories would sadly die and I'd be really upset about that. Love you lots, especially you Babe cause I know you're reading this. Rogue