Sup, it's TKDrift.
Apologies for the late update. It's been a busy new year and I moved back to my old place. Enjoy.
Chapter 2: We're not cannon fodder
Hangar 9 of the Airbase was relatively quiet, much like the rest of the base. AT-RTs were being parked, soldiers were hitting the barracks or updating their datapads. In any case, Sergeant Boomer had just returned from the mess hall and was chatting with everyone else when the Captain arrived. They didn't expect Krell to come up with any plan less reckless than his last ones, but once they heard their new orders, everyone turned even quieter from the shock; Jesse stopped working on the datapad he was on and looked up. Boomer himself spit and choked on the drink he was sipping. Dogma didn't even flinch as he cleaned his blaster while Fives leaned down on a starfighter stroking his goatee in disbelief, and Tup kept fixing the wing of a starfighter, pretending he never heard Rex's words.
"Those missiles have a hundred megaton yield." Fives explained to the rest of the group. "We won't even make it to the Delta."
"What can I do?" Rex asked "I tried to reason with him. Those are the orders."
"Great. Another suicide mission." Jesse muttered rather loudly. "The capital is too well armed."
"Why does it seem like he has it out for clones?" Tup added, stopping his work.
"I think you're all overreacting." Dogma interjected. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. The Jedi had caused so many deaths and yet he was still supporting him and obeying every single order.
'What is that kid, a battle droid running on blood?' Boomer thought to himself as the rookie continued.
"Obviously General Krell knows what he's doing. Do you really think he doesn't care if he loses men?" Dogma continued, asking Jesse the question.
"I'm not saying that. But I do think his desire for victory has blinded him to the fact that there are lives at stake." Jesse retorted. "I've never seen a general with these kinds of casualties."
"He's out of control. He is not acting like the other Jedi." Fives retorted, agreeing. "He has NO respect for us" It was common knowledge that Jedi valued all life, naturally or synthetically created and that they were patient, calm and had very little to almost no temper at all. But Krell didn't fit in any of those categories. And to add on to Jesse's casualty quote, Krell was known for that he had the highest casualty rates of all Jedi; at least 60% or more of his troops died during each mission.
"He's General Grevious with flesh" Boomer said meekly, and everyone, save for Dogma and Rex, nodded and murmured in agreement.
"Listen, I don't agree with him either. But I don't have a better plan" Rex told them half-sympathetically.
"But what about using these starfighters to destroy the supply ship?" Fives asked, motioning to one of them.
"Our fleet has been trying. The Umbarans have it as protected as the Capital." The Captain scowled, a little frustrated from his soldiers' constant protests.
"But we've got their access codes and their own hardware." The ARC Trooper retorted matter-of-factly.
"You were able to crack it?" Rex asked, taken back and surprised. They managed to access the fighters of perhaps the most militarily advanced planet?
"Euhem." The last Domino Squad member replied, playfully punching Jesse's shoulder. "We can sneak right past their blockade. Get where our own ships can't."
Rex stroked his chin, in thought; 'This is clearly the better option than charging into missiles and risking casualties. Surely Krell would accept this strategy at least.'
"If we take out that supply ship, then we cut off arms to the Capital" Fives reaffirmed him.
"Come on Rex" Boomer added, "Even Krell should know that THIS is the better plan."
Rex looked back at the ARC Trooper and almost smiled. Maybe they could convince Krell to go with their plan rather than his this time.
Sergeant Kano was as silent as Krell currently was. The Jedi was observing a map of the Capital City, looking for weak spots while the Sergeant tried to reestablish communications with the rest of the attack force. Kano was still angry at the fact that they were literally going to march towards death. As he kept working, Captain Rex came out of the elevator. But something was different. He wasn't wearily disappointed but rather a little….enthusiastic.
'Either he gave up on trying to persuade Krell or he lost it' Kano thought to himself, shaking his head as the Captain approached the General.
"Sir with all due respect, might I suggest another option to help us secure the capital?" Rex asked. 'Wait, what?'
"What with that be, Captain?" Krell asked, his eyes still scanning the map.
"My men have cracked the Umbaran codes." Rex told him. He still wasn't sure however, if Krell was going to accept it, but it was worth a shot. "With the starfighters, we can sneak past the supply ship's defenses. We take IT out; we cut off the arms to the capital."
"And who do you propose would fly these starfighters?" Krell asked defiantly. "Are your troops now, pilots?"
That was a counter Rex didn't expect, but the Jedi had a point; there were no pilots among them. But Fives and Hardcase still managed to fly them.
"My men may not be pilots sir, but they ARE able to learn and adapt quickly. A few of them have already demonstrated that." He retorted.
"I'm afraid I can't afford to waste any clones on 'frivolous adventures'". Krell replied, emphasizing on frivolous. "We're going to need everyone to take the capital"
Bowing his head in defeat, Rex didn't know what to say and the room was silent until Kano detected something and yelled "Sir, incoming! Sector delta, long range missiles!"
True to the Sergeant's words, the map changed from the Capital to a bird's eye-view of the airbase. From a corner three missile holograms, colored in red, streaked out and flew towards the base. Frowning, Krell turned toward the window. Sure enough, missiles flew by and bombarded some trees nearby, though no one was hurt. Krell himself saw only even more determination in the full frontal charge, while Rex and Kano felt nothing but another loss of hope.
Review please.
This is TKDrift, signing off.