" What I remember about the Clone Wars... was how brutal it was. A war that seemed to last forever across the Galaxy, watching as brother and sister fought mechanical soldiers and political bureaucrats for 'Galactic Stability'. As a Commando in the service of the 501st Legion, I was assigned the worst operations. Whenever a Separatist location was to be assaulted, they'd send me to weaken the defenses for the Legion. They said this would be the battle to end the war. But I suspected there was more than I was being led to believe. "

Utapau Orbit
The Negotiator, Venator Class Capital Ship

On board the Negotiator, the Venator in the service of High Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi and Clone Commander CC-2224 "Cody", CC-3275, otherwise known as Dare, was summoned to the Bridge by the Jedi. The operation that was about to commence was the most vital of the war. It could even end it.

Dare was an aspiring and powerful Clone Commando of the 501st Legion, the most famous Clone Battalion of them all. With the joint command of Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, their legion was the sole reason the Republic had been successful against the Confederacy of Independent Systems or CIS for short.

She was dangerous, calculating and ruthless, matching the reputation of the Commando line of Clone Trooper. A by-the-book girl, she does whatever it takes to get the job done and follows orders to the letter, even if ethics were brought into question. Armed with her interchangeable DC-17m Blaster with Assault Rifle, Sniper, Shotgun, Under barrel Grenade Launcher and RPG attachments, she ensured she was equipped to combat most situations. She sported a darker tone of skin and flowing red hair which sometimes made wearing her helmet uncomfortable, but she didn't care.

Entering the Bridge, she was waved over by Kenobi and Cody as they briefed her on the mission.

Kenobi: "Good Morning, Dare. I trust you slept well?"

Dare: "No thanks to your driving, yes."

Cody: "You'll get used to it."

Kenobi: "Quite."

Bringing up a hologram of one of many Hanger bays within one of Utapau's holes, Kenobi and Cody began laying out the ground work for the invasion.

Cody: "According to our intel, General Grievous is situated within this Hanger Bay here. Most likely organizing his troops for another strike."

Pointing to the sides of the Hanger Bay doors, the hologram displayed Surface-To-Air Anti Aircraft Gun Batteries on each side.

Cody: "Each Hanger Bay is protected by a series of anti-aircraft gun emplacements. Whilst those are active, our LAAT's and ships cannot land to drop off our forces."

Kenobi: "Which is why we're sending you in to disable those guns. Once you do, I can appear and deal with Grievous."

Dare: "Understood, General. I'll have the first set of guns neutralized before you arrive."

Saluting the pair, she began to turn around when Cody stopped her, planting a hand onto one of her purple shoulder-plates.

"This is the biggest mission out of the entire war effort. I don't need to remind you what's at stake."

"I know what's at stake, sir. I'll get it done on my honor as a Commando. You can count on those guns being down before you arrive."

"Good. Good luck out there, sister."

"Same to you, brother."

Walking out the door, it shut behind her as she double checked her weapon. On the grip of the DC-17m had an engraving; "D A R E" on the grip. Her weapon was precious to her, as she had never had it replaced, only repaired in certain situations. Time for her to make good on her training...

Utapau Surface
Moments later...

Touching down onto the planet ahead of everyone else, Dare's objective was simple. She put on her Commando Helmet and flashed her objectives.

First Objective: Gain entry into the Hanger Bay.

Second Objective: Sabotage AA-Guns

Third Objective: Await orders on the field.

"Simple enough. Wish I had my team with me on this, but if they were here, they'd slow me down."

Whilst her tone of voice sounded cocky, it also had genuine emotion carried with it. She was originally a team of five. Her team had Thermal; a Demolitions Expert, Intel; a Communications Officer who spent more time within a vehicle than out on the field, Deadshot; the Sniper, whose aim was as deadly as his attitude, and CM-5267; an unnamed Clone Medic.

They had perished in the same way as they took care of others. Thermal was eliminated by high yield explosives, Intel was outsmarted and killed by a CIS hired Bounty Hunter, Deadshot was outclassed and lost a Sniper Duel against a Spider Drone, and CM-5267 died to radioactive poisoning on a hostile world.

Reaching into her backpack, she attached mini Jump-Jets to the back of her legs and slowly descended down the pit. As she descended downward, the words of Cody ringed in her mind.

' I don't need to remind you what's at stake. '

It ran through her head like the drowning alarm sound on an Acclamator Assault Ship. Of course she knew what was at stake. Her actions now could decide how the war ends, victory or defeat. The capture or elimination of General Grievous, the individual responsible for the kidnapping of Chancellor Palpatine.

Landing just outside the Hanger Bay, she reached for the comm unit on her wrist to report back to the Negotiator, but was met with static. How would they know if the guns were disabled if communications were jammed? That simply would not do. She had to act fast. Pulling out a pair of Binoculars from her backpack, she scoped the area out for some kind of Jamming Tower.

"There."

Her scope revealed one such Tower nearby on a lower platform, but there was a severe complication. In front of the tower and around it was several AAT class Droid Assault Vehicles, detachments of B2-series Super Battle Droids and inactive Droideka models racked against the surrounding walls on a sensor. To say it was heavily defended was an understatement.

She would have to make it quick before the fleet sets down on the planet. Making use of her element of surprised, she slowly started sneaking around the hanger bay, avoiding patrols and socket-sight along the way. She couldn't afford to get detected now. Not whilst she was diverted by a lockdown of communications.

Eventually she made it to the base of the tower, hiding behind it whilst she prepares for Sabotage. Reaching into her backpack, she grabbed out a few remote detonation Thermal Grenades and started attaching them at the base of the tower. Once she was satisfied with enough of them, she quickly backed out the way she came and started to retrace her steps to the Hanger Bay.

Despite using her Jump Jets to get down there, she couldn't use them to go up. Not whilst she was now neck-deep in Droids. She would have to scale the wall the old fashioned way, and so she did, starting to climb back up the top. Unfortunately, her timing was not great...

Suddenly, the sound of combat loomed over the horizon as the AA Batteries started to fire out into the open. When Dare turned her head to find out what the commotion was, she found out that the attack had been launched. LAAT's and Venator ships were descending down the pit, launching fighters and gunships to each of the various platforms, dropping off troops, AT-TE's and various other ornaments of war. The full-scale invasion of Utapau had commenced, and Grievous was getting ready to depart, when the General appeared in front. Dropping his robes, he was dressed in his General Outfit and addressed Grievous as Dare watched.

Kenobi: "Hello there."

Grievous: "General Kenobi."

As he spoke, the entire Hanger Bay's worth of Droids of various models began to surround him as Grievous backed away; whilst four Magnaguards walked in front of him.

Grievous: "You are bold to come here. Kill him."

Dare: "I don't think so."

Dare immediately ran in with her DC-17m locked into the Assault Rifle mode and fired off several rounds of Ion Cells towards some of the surrounding Droids, prompting them to prematurely shut down. Kenobi spotted this and used the power of the Force to lower a loaded crane down onto the Magnaguards; crushing three of them with one trying to escape. The one trying to escape however, was interrupted as Kenobi sliced it's head off.

Dare: "It's over, Grievous. Republic Forces are everywhere, and you're outgunned two to one. I think it's time you surrendered."

Grievous: "On the contrary, Clone. I have been studying the Jedi Arts under Count Dooku."

Grievous dropped his robes and revealed his fully robotic body, before detaching two pairs of arms. Each one armed with a Blue and Green Lightsaber as he spun them around towards the pair. As Kenobi began to duel the General, Dare had her own problems; the surrounding Droids. She saw this as an opportunity to start thinning the ranks around her as she swapped to the Shotgun Attachment; running towards a group of regular Battle Droids. Pumping the weapon, she fired off slug rounds towards their optics one by one as they started to barrage her in Blaster Fire.

However, help had arrived.

?: "Go go go! Cover that ground, assault sector's bravo, nine, charlie, foxtrot."

Several LAAT's had landed in the Hanger Bay after they blasted the Anti Air Emplacements to dust. Least that made her job easier. Detachments of Clones dropped down from the ceiling and barraged the area in Blue Fire, knocking out droid after droid as Kenobi began to chase a fleeing Grievous.

Dare: "General!"

Kenobi: "Secure the rest of the area, Dare!"

He shouted back to her, as she and the clones began to slowly push the area. Reaching one of the Communications Towers, she activated her detonator and the Thermal Grenades exploded in unison, causing the tower to crumble and fall onto the service racks of Droideka's. All out war was waged across Utapau, Venators even joining in on the bombardments of Droid installations, factories and outposts.

It wasn't long until some of the Jedi even dropped in to assist. A Padawan joined Dare's side, a small girl with a big heart and prowess in the force as she pushed and pulled various droids around like toys in a bouncy castle. Dare smiled under her helmet as she watched them decimate the CIS forces.

Then. The dreaded order came through. Whilst the battle was underway, a scheme was underway on Coruscant as the Chancellor turned out to be the Sith Lord the Master Jedi's had been investigating for so long. And what was worse, was that Anakin Skywalker was also there, being manipulated by the same one. As the battle on Utapau raged on, everyone suddenly got a communication.

Dare outstretched one of her hands with a Holographic Projector and it activated; revealing a robed figure which spoke to her.

"Clones. Execute Order 66."

Order 66. "Under this directive, any and all Jedi Leadership must be executed for treason against the Republic. Any soldier who does not comply with this order will also be executed." Dare immediately looked towards the young Padawan who was fighting in front of her, defending herself against Droideka Blaster Fire.

Her hands started to shake a little as she clutched her weapon, very slowly and hesitantly applying the Sniper Rifle configuration. She knew what was at stake. What she was about to do. Did she have any doubts? She was about to murder a young girl who had most likely been inducted into the order as of recently.

"Come on, trooper, what are you waiting for? Let's push ahead whilst we have time!"

The Padawan exclaimed. Noticing that Dare had stopped moving. Underneath her helmet, she was questioning everything whilst on the outside, she was frozen still.

"Commando?"

She was really about to do it.

"Are you in there?"

Was she really thinking any last minute, traitorous thoughts? Looking for opportunities to break the code and save the girl from certain doom?

No.

She didn't say a word.

Not when she clutched the trigger of her rifle.

Not when she took aim.

Not when she pulled the trigger.

Not when she just commenced the execution.

Dare watched as her bullet pierced through the Jedi, watching as life exited the girl's body, watching as the physical remains of a small girl dropped to the ground, her Lightsaber rolling to her feet.

She bent down and picked up the blade, putting it into her backpack and contemplating what she had just done.

"Good soldiers... follow orders..."

Was what was going through her mind.

As she returned her weapon to the Assault configuration.

And returned to the battle. Mopping up the remnant Droid forces alongside her brothers and sisters.

Hours later, and she received a personal message from Anakin Skywalker himself. Or, the communicator's new identification for the Jedi... No, not a Jedi anymore, as he was now going under the name of "Darth Vader."

*Ready yourselves. Attached to this message are coordinates. Ready your weapons to kill, and march with me.*

" With the Death of General Grievous at the hands of General Kenobi, the raid on Utapau had broken the morale of the CIS. Under normal circumstances, I would of considered this a time for celebration. We had just brought peace to the Galaxy. We should all be so proud. But my next orders... Put those plans on hold. "