The Sergeant
Six months later
When the war was first announced Beskad rejoiced. How could he not? They were bred to fight for the republic. No war, no purpose. The clone commando didn't ask why at the time.
But now, as he sat up on his bunk in the squad's allocated quarters and stared at a well made and tucked empty bed across from him. He was unable to sleep. That word, Why. Was on his mind. Why did the Separatist have to sentence a Republic senator to death in an arena? Why did that mean full scale war across the stars? Why did the CIS go on the offensive? And why was private Xavier no longer in his bunk across from Beskad but dead, his body left on the cold hard ground of Agamar light years away.
Beskad recalled how it happened every dreadful second of it. They inserted into the kill zone objective to kill or capture a CIS Admiral and his staff behind enemy lines. The plan was terrible but the General had gotten impatient with small isolated raids,intelligence and sabotage operations. He wanted something dramatic so he threw the whole of O9 Commando into the fray. Every soldier under his command.
The infiltration happened with out a hitch. They moved in and hit the Admiral's planet HQ and seized him and his staff. Exfil was where things had gotten hairy. The whole planet alerted them to their position.
Their LAAT rose in the air. They began flying up towards orbit. Then as the side door was about to close, boom. A rocket blew the wing off they swirled to the ground and crashed. Battle droids swarmed their position. Blaster fire roared from every positions. Grenades were thrown Beskad led his men desperately through the first wave with out a single casualty. A second LAAT crashed, the one with the Admiral a few clicks away. As Beskad stopped staring at the flames in the distance. Should he go after it and save the entrapped men or hold position and wait for support. He kept staring at the rising smoke imaging the entrapped commandos. Snap! A sharp red sniper whisked by.
Xavier in his solid tone green armor tumbled back a bolt burned through his helmet. He hit the ground dead. The rest of the squad flinched as their demo specialist sank on the cold hard ground. Beskad traced the direction the bolt darted from, switched his blaster to sniper configuration and made out the enemy sniper on a hill in less then a second. He saw a mandalorian mercenary with a Verpine rifle. He shot her then ordered his squad to press towards the other downed LAAT. Xavier left lying dead on the cold ground.
Beskad thought about Xavier's lifeless body as he stared at the man's bunk. He was a good soldier, a very good soldier. He could set an explosive charge in under three seconds. He could clear a room faster. The man was also devoted to the squad, always encouraging his squad mates and looking on the bright side of every situation. Isn't the system's star beautiful sarge he'd say on every mission. Beskad tightened his fist and shut his eyes reflecting on what was now dead and gone. It happened in an instance, a quick snap and he dropped. Nothing anyone could do about it. Some sergeant's blamed themselves for losses. Not Beskad, he acknowledged death was the reality of war. People had to die on both sides, it was the natural order. But why did it have to be the natural order? For what purpose were two sides killing each other.
The sergeant shook his head deciding he couldn't and wouldn't sleep. He reached for his datapad, rose from his bed and left his squad's quarters not wanting to wake them with the data pad's light.
He glared at the datapad as he left the room. He read the schedule the CO (commanding officer) sent out, in two hours Xavier's replacement would arrive. In four they were scheduled to run combat drills in the facility simulator. He'd wake Martial and Jaster up in one more hour. They'd already gotten a solid eight. But the other two survivors of War Lock squadron deserved all the rest they could get. The whole of 09 commando deserved rest after the last operation. Fifty percent casualties were rough even for the most jaded of soldiers.
Beskad walked down the long hallway with its gray walls and gray doors in entrances to the various quarters. He decided to make his way to the mess hall, grab something to eat and read a little before he had to wake the squad and get to work.
As he walked down the hallway he saw two more clone commandos who were clad in armor just coming from a sim. Their armor colored an aggressive black and green woodland camouflage pattern, Zen squadron. They were talking to one another over their shared com link and from the way one of their helmets shook they were laughing, one told a joke or something funny happened in the sim perhaps. They saw him and looked over.
Beskad had earned a rep after the last op among 09 commando. He'd saved the last lives of countless troops that day while managing to get the captured Admiral back under their control. Everyone paid him some form of respect whenever they saw him. The guy who just kept going back. Beskad felt uncomfortable; he was a commando who did his job wasn't much more to it.
"Mourning Beskad," said one of the Zen squad commando, "Sleep well?"
Clones could tell each other apart easily from mannerisms alone. Beskad knew the easy cool posture that complemented a light tone of voice was Sergeant Prowl, Zen squads leader.
Beskad thought about his answer first. He formed a hard line across his lips. He never lied to another commando. "No," He put it honestly.
"Last op still on your mind?" Prowl asked.
That op had gotten at him once he'd woken up. He had night mares before that ones so vicious he decided to stop sleeping. Those from a different battle in which he lost people his original squadron. Sigma squad was his second.
"No, it was Geonosis last night," Beskad admitted dryly,He then turned to the commando who wasn't a sergeant, "At ease Private." And the other commando relaxed. He'd almost forgotten to say it, "Just come back from a sim?" He asked, deciding to change topics all together.
"We did," Prowl confirmed as he nodded his head "we're about to hit the freshers, she really hit us hard."
"She?"
"Beskad, did you check your inbox yet?" Prowler responded surprised, "We've got a new General incharge of Zero Nine. They canned Fylur after the last op and his replacement just got in."
Beskad raised an eyebrow no one liked Jedi Master Fylur. Especially after the last op fifty percent casualties made you hate two people. The enemy and the hair brained moron who got you into the situation. Fylur hadn't listened to Alor, another squad sergeant who kept saying they'd lost the element of surprise that the CIS would see the attack coming. But Fylur wanted to look good and capture an Admiral. So he ordered the whole commando group in and everything went to hell and a hand basket from there. They lost over half the commando group, which apparently did not please Director Zey.
"What's she like?" Beskad asked.
"Don't know," Prowl said, "She didn't say much. Just had us run drills and watched."
Beskad nodded, "She at least give a name?"
"Check your inbox vod," Prowl said, "I'm hitting the Fresher."
The two commandos then kept walking. Beskad looked at his datapad and quickly opened his inbox. Pallas Assyr was the new commander's name. Former Commander over twenty seventh airborne legion. She was an airborne commander. Beskad nodded he assumed that would mean she had experience dropping in behind enemy lines to complete an objective. But he really didn't know.
Up ahead he could see the famed sergeant Dral'Alor outside the mess. The man twirled a dagger between his finger tips. He caught it by the grip and resheathed it then looked over.
"Sergeant Beskad," He said the man spoke with a sharp and cold tone, "Have you met the new General."
"I just learned we got a new one. I assume you've talked to her."
"I have," Dral'Alor confirmed, "She was very impressed with my performance in the simulations."
"I'd be surprised if she wasn't," Beskad said. Alor and his squadron were the top squad in the commando group. And Dral was easily the smartest guy out there. His quick thinking had made a bad op work. He also had a fearsome rep. Killed a mandalorian mercenary in hand to hand combat on a separate operation. People liked and respected Beskad but people respected and some feared Dral. Guy was a war machine.
"So she gave me a promotion. You're speaking to Lieutenant Dral'Alor now," He announced, "First assignments to assemble a platoon for a special mission she'll debrief me on later."
"Uh huh," Beskad said, "Sounds interesting enough. My boys need some rest so if you're asking if we want in….."
"I haven't decided who I want on the operation yet." Dral replied, "But you're right all of zero nine could use some rest. The Major told her as much, "The General plans to give us all some leave.
Beskad nodded. Then moved towards the mess hall. He swept into the mess and grabbed a plate of what was being served for breakfast. Some kind of sausage and some kind of eggs apparently. Then he had a seat other commandos filled in after him.
As he finished his meal he raised his datapad to his face. Opened up a book, one of many he kept on there. He enjoyed reading when he could find time to do so. His Mandalorian training sergeant had taught him one of the many things the woman had taught him. She taught everyone to read and write the training sergeants had to fulfill the role of normal school teacher as well as drill sergeant. But training sergeant Nakota Te'Anhur had taught Beskad how to really read not just field manuals and orders. But novels as well. She didn't show partiality when training the commandos and treated them all like students during training sessions. But in little ways some Commandos she grew closer to than others. Beskad was one and she showed by teaching him how to read literature and providing him with novels when the commando requested. They talked about it often. It's how Beskad learned to read between the thought about her for a brief moment before beginning to read. He missed his old mentor bitterly. Beskad sipped a cup of cafe as he read.
Several footsteps moved closer to him. He peered up over his data pad with a frown. He saw four commandos approaching him all still in full armor. Cavalier squadron. He thought to himself as they approached.
"Beskad." Spoke their sergeant, Chieftain. Easily identifiable by the black paint pattern over his gray armor. He always spoke with a wide bellowing upbeat tone.
"Chief," Beskad said meekly as he nodded as the man sitting across from him with the rest of his squad.
"How've you been?" Chieftain said as he removed his combat helmet and placed it beside him.
"Same as usual," Beskad said, placing his datapad face down, "How are you boys doing?"
"Just ran a sim." Chieftain began, "We met the…"
"New General. Yeah I heard she just got in." Beskad said. "Tell me how she is?"
Now Chieftain was brutally honest about what he thought. And he had trouble keeping his mouth shut when he disagreed. He was on record calling the last general a di'kut to his face. Had the man spoken mando'ade, Chieftain's career would have been over. Beskad intervening fast enough in the interaction saved the guys hide.
"You want my hard unfiltered raw opinion?" Chieftain asked.
"Lay it on me." Beskad said.
Chieftain nodded, "She's cold as they come. I could feel it from her gaze. Imagine if the arctic planet Hoth were a person and could stare at you. That's my impression of General Pallas Assyr. Which isn't a bad thing to have in a General, she watched how we moved very attentively and she'll know how we operate. I think we're looking at a cold pragmatist."
Beskad nodded, he wanted a General that simply cared about the troops. But frankly as long as they were competent he wasn't going to complain.
"What's the rest of the squad think?" Beskad asked.
"She's got nice assists." Errant, a commando with gold lines on his armor chimed in, "Her face is pretty plain but…."
"Shut the kriff up private," Chieftain said, not even looking at the guy.
"Hey in Errant's defense," Galaar, the squadron's demo specialist, began.
"Careful what you say." Chieftain began.
"Let me finish, in Errant's defense his training sergeant was a guy. He's never seen a woman most clones probably hadn't. Attraction is a scientific thing. So I'm willing to bet even if they're not saying a lot of the boys are thinking the same thing."
Chieftain nodded, finding the defense credible even if he didn't approve. And Beskad had to admit he knew that applied to at least one of his commandos. Chieftain then sighed.
"She's a General officer and our superior officer. She's owed the same respect as a male. And you will show it." He said looking specifically at Errant.
"Alright alright Sarge. I'll keep my thoughts private…..on the squad chat."
Chieftain groaned and rolled his eyes. Beskad nearly chuckled. He then checked the time. The new recruit would be in soon meaning he needed to wake his other two surviving squad mates Martial and Jaster up.
They stood in the hangar waiting for the shuttle to get in. New guy has been sent back to Kamino for an evaluation first. Beskad stood in his fatigues including the red vest with the black shirt underneath. He also wore a black republic cap. The sergeant stood firm with his arms crossed as he waited. Martial stood next to him with the squad sniper, Jaster. Jaster was a Vau trained commando. And was as dark as they came.
"Say Martial, how many Geonosian does it take to screw in a light bulb?" He asked.
"I don't know."
"Neither do I, but I didn't need them to, they seemed to illuminate the room for me with a little tibana fluid and a lighter."
"Shevick Jaster," Martial said but he also laughed.
Beskad kept himself from laughing. Jaster always cracked jokes of that nature. First thing the guy said when they met was a joke about his dead squad, specifically how they died on a snow which he remarked chilling right. He was unsettling to be around for a while. But they gradually warmed up to him.
They all straightened up as an LAAT gunship came into the hangar. The doors swished open support personnel, probably logistics officers emerged first with an ARC trooper. Then behind them emerged a Republic commando with a demo back. He sprinted out decked out in a suit of midnight blue armor with an aggressive red visor.
"Private Te'Anila reporting for duty." He said saluting.
"Te'Anila," Jaster said, "Like the guy who got his shebs kicked by the Jedi, then dooming our people to near extinction."
"The guy who ravaged the Galaxy and brought the Galactic republic to its knees!" The demo Private said, clutching a hard fist in the air.
"Aren't we fighting for the Galactic republic?" Martial asked, raising an eyebrow.
"He was the greatest warrior the Galaxy ever knew." Te'Anila said as if that would make it better.
"He was a moron," Jaster laughed, "Conquering the Galaxy is for morons because it's kriffing impossible. Manda, who trained you?"
"Kal Skirata who trained you."
"Walon Vau," Jaster replied, "And I didnt think Skirata trained blaster brains."
"Well I always knew Vau trained little shevicks."
Jaster burst forward about ready to fight a man in katarn class armor bear fisted. Beskad grabbed him because there wasn't a doubt in his mind Jaster would kill the guy. This was not going well. Martial then moved between them.
"Alright you two let's take it easy. And start over," The Corporal said, "Jaster, that's Te'Anila our new demo expert. Private Te'Anila this is Jaster the team's sniper."
"And you?" Te'Anila said, looking at the tech specialist.
"Names Martial I'm the corporal and tech specialist."
"Who trained you?"
"Evir Devron."
"That doesn't sound mandalorian."
"That's cause it's corellian."
"Fierfek you're not a mando. You expect me to fight alongside a kriffing aruetii."
Now Martial was among as easy going as easy going came. The comment more then likely flew right over his head. The corporal knew he was good at his job and didn't really care what the new guy thought. At the same time he wasn't the type to return an insult for an insult. However the squad sergeant did not like the disrespect.
"Hey," Beskad snapped, "Say anything bad about the Corporal I'll let Jaster here show you how Vau handles bad manners. Got it private."
Te'Anila looked at him and it didn't take long for him to figure out Beskad was the squad sergeant. A man who did have the power to make his existence a living hell. His eyes widened and he nodded.
"Yes Sarge." He replied.
"And before you ask, you don't need to know who trained me. What you need to know is this, I survived Geonosis after my squad got fragged, I fought my way back to base, and got put incharge of a platoon of regs despite only being a private, we went CQC with the bugs and destroyed the bloody factory my squad was assigned originally to neutralize. They then dropped me into Jabiim as squad sergeant of this little outfit and we accomplished every task given to us on that hell hole. Point being I'm damn good at my job and I will not have this squad's reputation ruined by a demo Private who is antagonistic with our sniper and racist towards its corporal. I'll have you throw right out an air lock and file it as an inflight malfunction and train a reg demo myself to fill the position am I kriffing clear private!" Beskad said and he was more serious then he'd ever been. He'd never had to bark at a commando before. Frankly he didn't like it. However he could not have the new guy bad mouthing the rest of the squad, it would endanger the delicate and essential social fabric that commandos needed in order to operate. Small squads of four men working highly complex operations needed to at least be willing to rely on the skill of the other commandos. If they detested each other things could go bad quickly. If they at least sustained a professional relationship then they could effectively complete assignments and keep pushing forward. Te'Anila needed to know that expectation was rock solid. And there would be zero tolerance in regards to disrespecting anyone on the squad.
Te'Anila looked like he had the fear of Manda burned into him. He shrank beneath the weight of the Sergeant's authority. Then slowly began to nod.
"Yes sir."
"Good, now we've got a sim coming up and the new general is going to watch. So I want everyone in the armory ready to go yesterday. Move it WarLocks." Beskad ordered his men.
"Yes sir." They all replied.
They went to the armory first. Each commando had a personal locker. Beskad pressed in the code and the door on it slid open. His armor was a simple forest green hue. With a mythosaur in gold painted on the side of his helmet. He'd also painted the shoulder blades also gold.
Beskad got his own armor on relatively quickly. He grabbed the cuirass first and slid it over him like a shirt. Then he slid the shoulder pads up his arm. That was followed up by the gauntlets completing his upper body. He strapped on a plate that covered his groin and lower stomach the cuirass over lapping it slightly. That was followed by the shin pads he slid on and locked in place around his upper leg. And then he stepped into the boots. He finally put on the gloves and grabbed his helmet sliding it over his head.
The HUD came on in an instance. It displayed the ammunition in his blaster and the status of his squad mates except for Te'Anila. He looked over at Martial who kept his armor in the same hue but lacked any insignia. "Get Te'Anila synced up." He ordered the Corporal.
"Te'Anila, need your communicator." Martial said.
The demo specialist said nothing, he slid the gauntlet with the communicator embedded in it off and tossed it to Martial. He pressed several buttons on both Te'Anila's and his own. Then tossed it back. RC1556 appeared on Beskad's HUD.
"Martial can you change it so his name comes up instead of his numbers?" Beskad asked.
"Give me a second," Martial said pressing several buttons on his wrist, "And boom." RC1556 instantly changed to Te'Anila.
"Jaster, you all good?" Beskad asked, looking towards the sniper.
Jaster was seated on the bench, he wore green but favored a black paint job on his upper shoulders and helmet. He held his DC17M in sniper configuration. He gave a thumbs up and a nod.
"Te'Anila, are you going to follow the squad's colors or just be the sore thumb?" Jaster asked, looking at the demo expert.
The demo and said nothing at first he looked over. Despite the fact he wore a helmet over his face, Beskad imagined he held a hostile look on his face. Jaster in tone seemed hostile towards the idea of Te'Anila's clashing colors with the rest of War Lock squad.
"No rule says we need to have a single unit color." Te'Anila replied, "It doesn't matter." He shrugged his shoulders, brushing it off. Beskad certainly disagreed there, they chose forest green because it wasn't overly flashy and kept a look of solidarity among the unit made it harder for the enemy sharp shooters to pick out a possible leader among them. The sergeant wanted a strong disciplined and uninformed culture among his squad.
"No but we agreed on forest green as a squad. You're a part of the squad so maybe you should consider getting with the program." Jaster barked.
Te'Anila looked at him. Beskad did not need another fight on his hands. He was quick to move in between them. He imagined Te'Anila's old squad wore the colors he was running. Having him paint over it may have caused an unnecessary amount of personal pain.
"We don't have the time," Beskad said, "Nor the spray paint. Now let's run the sim."
Te'Anila nodded his head as a way of saying thank you. Beskad patted him on the shoulder. Jaster sighed and fell in line nonetheless. The man just lost his squadron. It was likely the pain of it was still very fresh, especially if he hadn't lost people before. Ordering him to erase his paint job may have been too much at the moment as if saying you need to ditch the last thing you have from your old squad. But eventually he would need to get in line with the squads colors Beskad planned to climb the hurtle later.
"Hey sarge." Martial spoke over a comlink on a frequency directed just between him and Beskad.
"Yeah Marsh." Beskad responded he had a faint idea what he was going to ask.
"Zel's free tonight. I was wondering if I could go out and take leave."
"The new CO (Commanding Officer) actually plans to put the whole of zero nine on leave. But Martial you've barely told me anything about this woman. Is this another one of your flings."
"I don't think so, Sarge." He replied, "I was dreaming about her while on the last deployment."
"Osik," Beskad cursed, "This Zel, she's ok with how you live."
"Yes she's a senate commando and lives a similar life but on the law enforcement side."
"OSIK! You're dating a senate commando. Those guys hate us."
"Not Zel." Martial said and Beskad could hear it in his voice. His affection for this woman, whoever she was.
"Marsh, I really don't think it's a good idea for guys like us to form relationships. But if she makes you happy I'm glad for you."
"Thanks Besk," Martial replied, "I hope you find someone out there."
"O please don't hope for that. Last thing I need on my mind is some woman."
The combat simulation room looked like the one on Kamino. It was big and wide and split into a grid of dark blue squares. A viewing deck sat above. Normally that's where Major Song Zero Nine's executive officer stood and monitored training. He had control over the simulation from there. Today however there were two figures. It was hard to make out the other. But the feminine figure told Beskad that was the new General.
"Warlocks attention, General on deck." He ordered his men.
They all snapped in the direction of the observation deck and raised their hands in a brisk salute. Pallas Assyr stood up and nodded. "At ease War Lock," She replied, "Major, run the simulations."
Song pressed several buttons on the console and looked up towards the commando squadron.
Beskad nodded and raised his DC17M up, placing his eye behind the sights. The room shifted boxes rose in front of them forming cover. Blaster fire erupted immediately.
"War Lock, behind the cover now!" Beskad shouted as he squeezed the trigger on his DC17M laying down cover fire. Song deployed a group of B1s.
Martial and Jaster were quick to move behind the wall. Te'Anila fell in behind them. Martial was quick to open fire, giving Beskad time to sprint over with cover fire laid down. Jaster looked at him.
"Eight B1s advancing from two directions ten clicks each." Jaster said, "They're trying to encircle us."
Jaster did his best to take it seriously. But his voice lacked any urgency since of course their lives weren't in any real danger. Beskad nodded, "Te'Anila hit the left flank with the launcher. Martial, sweep around to clear any survivors out. Jaster you and me will suppress the other flank."
They moved into action quickly. Beskad fired off his carbine at the droids coming from the right in an open field. Jaster joined him. They dropped two of the battle droids instantly. The others froze allowing two more to go down. Easy credits. Beskad thought to himself.A plunk followed by an explosion cracked from the other end. Then several blaster shots echoed.
"Alright good," Song said as the droids had been neutralized, "Scenario two LRRP."
Beskad nodded. Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol. The sergeant thought to himself. That meant they were deep behind enemy lines scouting out enemy positions and launching ambushes when opportune. It would be left to his judgment. The room shifted huge towers rising all around to obscure vision. Like a thick forest or jungle.
"I'm on point." Beskad told his squad and took lead, "Jaster watch out six. Everyone on your toes."
Beskad moved forward blaster raised up as they navigated through the maze of towers. They moved slowly and kept distance between one another. He heard clamping it was heavy and thick. Meaning SBDs. There was also a low electric hum. Beskad put up a fist everyone stopped, then went down using the towers as cover.
Six super battle droids marched out in front of their view. Beskad watched them carefully, the hum still coming from the north.
"Six SBDs we can take 'em." Te'Anila said over the squad comms, "I can take 'em."
"You hear that huming," Jaster said, "That's a vehicle bolt brains."
"And?" Te'Anila said, "I got a rocket launcher bring it on."
"We need to know what type of vehicle it is first," Martial said, "Not to mention why have those droids stopped? What are they waiting for?"
"Course the Correlian's being hesitant."
"Hey," Beskad snapped looking right at the demo sergeant, "Shut your mouth."
Beskad continued to watch the super battle droids. They were too was bait. Meaning the enemy knew the commandos were in the area. And whatever the humming noise was would be the thing to kill them. It wouldn't be smart to launch an ambush with out more detail.
"It's a no go," Beskad said, "Let the droids pass."
"Seriously Sarge?" Te'Anila whined.
"That's an order!"
Te'Anila shook his head. The super battle droids continued to move south. Beskad then radioed in to command. "Command this War Lock 01 SBD squad moving south. And we think they're being accompanied by a vehicle."
"Copy War Lock 01, intel reports an armored battalion headquartered north of your position. It's likely there's an AAT in the area. Command wants you to neutralize it and if possible capture the tactical droid." Song said playing his role as well.
Beskad nodded and his eyes narrowed. "Copy that War Lock one out."
"What's the move Sarge?" Martial asked.
"Te'Anila you got a way to disable the tank that wouldn't destroy and wouldn't put the squad in mortal jeopardy?"
The demo expert was the natural person to ask in this scenario. Te'Anila didn't say anything at first he simply thought. "The main problem is the canon. It turns it on us and boom we're dead. Frankly Sarge I'd prefer just to hit with the launcher and call it a day."
"The tactical droid will have untold knowledge," Jaster said began identifying a target they may have proved more valuable captured than destroyed.
"Which won't matter if we're too dead to bring it back," Beskad said.
"What's war with out a little risk," Jaster mused, "I say we stalk it see if it parks for refuel or something and then take it."
Beskad thought carefully about the call he'd make in real life. That's what the General wanted to see. She didn't want to be wowed, she wanted to know how commandos actually functioned. So that's what the sergeant was going to show. The humming was growing steadily louder as the tank was growing closer and more metal marching accompanying it. Meaning it had an infantry detail. That made the whole thing extraordinarily dangerous.
"Corporal, Blow it or stalk it."
Martial nodded as he thought. "Ok the rationalist in me says we blow it that it's a ludicrous notion. Hence why command put capture the tac droid as a secondary. But the Correllian in me wants to try it if nothing else it'll be fun."
"Is getting blown to smithreens fun? Correllians suicidal or just psychotic?" Te'Anila blurted.
"Yes," Martial replied. Jaster laughed.
"We stalk it," Beskad concluded, "But the main gun turns, Te'Anila you blow it."
The tank rolled by and the Tactical droid sat in the canopy comfortably. Battle droids flanked both sides and commando droids strolled behind it. With the knowledge of more super battle droids several clicks in front Beskad felt more inclined to do it Te'Anila's way. But non the less fought that instinct and stalked it.
They moved carefully, sticking among the towers. The tank kept moving and even turned around once. Then it came to a stop probably to simulate fueling. It was surrounded on all sides.
"I got a good shot," Te'Anila said the rocket launcher already unslung, "Just give the word."
"Sarge, if we draw its fire and attention to a different direction it could give us the opportunity to slip in and get the droids head." Martial said, "Two of us open fire from a different flank. While the other two advance from here to get the tac droid. Then regroup at a seperate point."
"That's risky corporal," Beskad replied, "Two guys taking that much fire."
"Just keep low and among the towers. You don't need to win just distract long enough for us to slip in." Martial said confident it could be done.
Every ounce of Beskad said in a real situation he'd say no. But the General was watching. If they pulled it the squad would look impressing and no one would actually die worse case scenario they get an earful from Song.
"Alright let's try it." Beskad said, "Te'Anila you and me are going to draw fire."
"What?" Te'Anila said, "Why?"
"No time to answer," Beskad said and could tell the man was rolling his eyes, "Alright let's go."
Beskad and Te'Anila ran off to another flank. They both went down on their stomachs making themselves small. Beskad switched his blaster to sniper configuration. He zoomed in on one of the SBD's heads. He pulled the trigger. The droid fell to the ground. The other SBDs stopped and began scanning the area. Te'Anila fired a grenade from his side barrel launcher. The round immobilized three more. Three more trigger pulls and three more SBDs. Te'Anila went full auto with his weapon. Highly un desplined but it drew the enemies attention.
Martial and Jaster kept watch as all that happened. The commando droids raised their blasters and sprinted towards the direction of the fire. The SBDs were all returning fire. The tactical droid's gaze was locked on the direction of the blaster fire.
"Now," Martial said.
Him and Jaster sprinted with their guns up next to the tank. They were unseen still no one looking their direction. Quickly Jaster jumped grabbing the side gun of the tank and using to pull himself to the top of the canopy. The tactical droid snapped its gaze around. Jaster ejected his wrist blade and slashed through its neck the head flying off the body. He caught it.
The commando droids however snapped around. They swiftly turned their blasters. Martial opened fire quickly. He fired three seperate controlled bursts in a near second. Two of the commando droids dropped. Jaster jumped from the tank as the enemy's blaster rounds sang out.
Martial threw a grenade out and continued firing as he ran back. They made it back through towers that simulated tree lines. The tank turned its main gun towards them.
"Te'Anila blow it!" Shouted Beskad as he continued to open fire on the droids approaching them.
Te'Anila slid the rocket launcher from his back and fired almost instinctively. The round made contact with the front of the tank disabling the main gun but not the tank it's self.
"Fierfek run!" Beskad shouted.
The two commandos ran through the towers as the twin side canons cracked and towers dropped simulating a fading tree line. They could also hear the sound of the SBDs used as bait marching back around in fast succession.
"That bone head!" Jaster shouted realizing Te'Anila didn't hit the tank in the right position.
"Shut up and deal with it," Martial switching his blaster to grenade launcher configuration Jaster doing the same in near sync. They both fired one round hit the fuselage on the back of the tank. It ceased moving droids around it dropped simulating the explosive range. And shrapnel then ran to try and regroup with their squad mates.
Beskad and Te'Anila both had their fingers pressed down on the triggers of their carbines. The SBDs were so close accuracy no longer mattered. Bolts poured forwards towards the droids several dropped. Bolts streaks over head.
More blaster bolts streaked from the side and the enemy squad was cleared. Jaster and Martial emerged from the other end with the tactical droid head.
"Your welcome," Jaster told Te'Anila, "For doing your job."
"You try aiming a launcher while under fire!" Te'Anila shouted and pointed his finger aquisingly, "And place a rather large round right on the thin neck of an AAT."
"Ya know I think I actually could!"
"Command we got the droid," Beskad said in the comms, choosing to ignore their feud, "Requesting emergency evac!"
The towers dropped down signaling simulation end. Beskad looked up at the observation deck. Song pressed more buttons into the console. "Good job, Sim three."
The squares rose to form an outpost. It had a guard detail of super battle droids, droidekas, and B1s wielding a turret at top. Beskad figured this one would be simple enough.
"Alright Te'Anila hit the destroyers with a rocket. Everyone else pick a target and assault." He ordered.
Jaster switched to sniper configuration. Beskad and Martial raised their carbines and had their fingers itching the triggers. Te'Anila fired a rocket off it, striking the Droidekas and clearing them out. Martial and Beskad opened fire in sync, dripping several super battle droids. Jaster shot the turret droid out of his canopy. The squad then moved on to the outpost. Te'Anila placed a charge on the locked door and it exploded. Beskad instantly charged in. He fired quickly nailing another battle droid. Jaster fired covering his right. Te'Anila covered the middle and Martial came in, going towards the computer begging the slicing process.
General Pallas Assyr watched from above. She didn't smile or frown, just watched as the squad proceeded to take out a small reaction force of commando droids that Major Song sent at them. They then began to pull out of the outpost heading back to a designated extraction point. They covered each other under direction of sergeant Beskad as they went a long.
"What's you think ma'am?" Song asked.
Pallas placed her hand under her chin. They'd gotten every operation done thus far. Yet she could sense friction between the demo specialist and the rest of the squadron.
"In the next scenario," She began, "Have things go wrong. Horribly wrong. And kill the sergeant. I want to see something."
"Ma'am?" Song asked and she could sense the major's unease.
"I didn't stutter Major." Pallas replied coldly.
"Whew!" Martial said, "Forth sim down. Brigadiers gotta be loving us. We've been kicking ass all day."
"Alright War Lock on the way back the LAAT was shot down crashing in a city. The droids are moving in, you need to hold out until reinforcements push in to relieve you." Song said over the comm.
"What kind of sim is….." Beskad began.
He was cut off by an instant sniper shot. It hit his helmet according to an indicator. "Fierfek." He said, then played his part and fell over 'dead'.
The territory formed many buildings. And a block resembling the down LAAT formed in the middle. Every one crouched down. Jaster had already traced and countered the sniper.
"Alright in that building there. We'll hold out…." Martial began.
"No kriffing way," Te'Anila said, "We need to fall back and get out of the city."
"Private we have no clue where the CIS is coming from. I ain't going to have us in an open field. Fortify the apartment complex to our rear. As the acting corporal that's an order." Martial affirmed his authority.
Te'Anila said nothing and the sound of metal marching began to pound in the distance. "Kriff that I say we kill them first." He then squeezed the trigger on his DC17M and charged out on his own.
"Insubordination!" Jaster said and then shot Te'Anila in the back of the head, "Take that ya kriffing bastard!"
"Jaster!" Martial said.
"What? He would have died anyway. Now let's do something smart."
"Damn it, you pack smoke grenades?"
"Did I pack smoke grenades?" Jaster asked and throughout. A puff of gray smoke then flooded the area between them and the droids.
They sprinted off the building. All they had to do was hold out. They ducked away from the windows and held still clutching their blaster carbines. The droids marched by and stopped right next to the house. It looked at the door then with its small nimble hand began to twist the nob. Jaster shot it through the door and both commandos retreated towards a stairwell. The droids threw a grenade in but it was too late.
SBDs breached the front. Jaster tossed a grenade down the stairs ending them.
Pallas looked from above, "Alright end the sim I've seen all I needed."
Song nodded and clicked a button signaling the sim had ended. "Alright, War Locks we're done here."
"Tell the sergeant I'd like to meet him."
"Beskad report to the observation deck."
"Mother kriffer," Beskad cursed as he stood back up. In truth that was a bad situation there only hope if that ever actually happened would be the GAR scrambles support ASAP and they can call in airstrikes like crazy. But the simulation still went horribly. His squad completely evaporated with out him. He didn't like that. And he could feel the meeting with the Brigadier General would be to focus on that.
He stood before the General. She was of average height for species the Echani. She had a sharp diamond shaped face in a bright pale complexion. And cold silver sharp eyes and elegant white hair tied in a disciplined bun above her head. She wore the brown Jedi robes. And kept her hands behind her back in disciplined military fashion.
"Sergeant Beskad," She said, "What do you believe I'm going to say?"
"That was a mess," Beskad said, "That order completely disintegrated the second I died."
"And was that your fault, sergeant?" She asked, looking him in the eyes.
Beskad thought hard about it. Clutched a fist behind his back. It wasn't. "The new demo specialists got an attitude and that's what caused the situation to collapse. Made worse by my snipers content for the man."
"Yes, it seems your squadron is dysfunctional and a liability," Pallas said, "Can you fix it, Sergeant?"
"Absolutely," Beskad said with out thinking, "Te'Anila will learn to respect Martial's rank that'll solve any issue in the event of my demise and it won't be that hard to get the man to understand."
"What if it's down to him and Jaster?"
"Ma'am if we're in a situation in which we have lost half the squad there's not much they can do but try and flee." Beskad said honestly I've been in that situation, "But there's numerous things I can do to ensure professional respect between the two. They don't have to like each other, just do their jobs."
Pallas nodded and smiled slightly, "Good, as long as you know the problem and know how to fix it I'm not overly concerned. Otherwise you demonstrated a high level of competence. I've also revealed your record and found it very impressive."
Beskad nodded, "Ma'am would it be possible to get leave for my corporal. I said the zero nine would get leave before the next deployment."
"They can take leave wish to go off the barracks but I take it you're going to discipline Jaster and Te'Anila first."
Beskad froze caught off guard by the fact she actually knew their names not their numbers with out being told. He liked the new General more already.
"Yes Ma'am I plan to discipline Jaster and Te'Anila and reward my corporal. THank you ma'am."
"You've very much welcome," Pallas replied, "Make sure to take time for yourself as well." She continued and got a subtle nod from the sergeant, "Dismissed Sergeant."
Beskad got back to his squad's quarters. Everyone was silent as they looked at him. He didn't smile nor did he frown. He folded his arms in front of him.
"You're all lucky we didn't get sent back to Kamino for evaluation," He began, "Te'Anila, follow the damn chain of command. Corporal orders you to jump off a bridge you do it or I'll throw you off of it myself! If I'm dead I'll come back as a ghost, possess your body and jump!"
"Sir, I had a disagreement on the method."
"If I had ordered it would you have fought back?" Beskad said and he didn't reply, "And you charged out there like a moron. You have a suggestion, you speak up if we don't agree, too bad."
"Ha!" Jaster laughed.
"Jaster shut up," Beskad said, taking the man by surprise, "If there's insubordination then I or the corporal will administer punishment. And you only did it to spite Te'Anila don't make this kriffing personal. I do not care if you like each other. Just do your kriffing jobs." Beskad continued, "Martial, good job. You get your leave.. You two are going to spend time cleaning this barracks. Then you'll clean the whole commando group's weapons. And finally you're washing out the washrooms. If I'm in a good mood then I'll let you enjoy the rest some leave."
"Sir, wait… I'll obey the corporal."
"What! it wasn't my fault."
"You're complaining, it looks like you just signed up to work in the mess hall tomorrow."
They both fell silent. Beskad was hoping by punishing them together they'd work through their issues. But he highly doubted it, they seemed to detest each other's personalities and there wasn't a lot he thought he could do about that. Either way punishment needed to be hashed out.
"Sir you're not going out too?" Martial asked, getting ready to leave.
"No, I've gotta watch these two hooligans." Beskad said, "Have a good time, Corporal."
"I will!" Martial overjoyed for a night out on the town. He was out with near the same speed he moved with while breaching a room.
Have fun Martial might not be awhile till you get to do that again. And a part of Beskad wanted to just make it a slap on the wrist and let both Jaster and Te'Anila go out as well. For he hardly knew when the next mission came how long they'd be gone for or even if they'd come back alive. However a slap on the wrist wasn't to scale with their actions. Maybe after they finished the weapons he'd randomly decide to let them go if it seemed they really got the point or proved him wrong and learned to get along.