The Resolute

Departure from Christophsis

Captain Rex called Torrent Company together in the mess. It was a small group.

There were the five men who'd been to Teth, Coric at the captain's side. Kix and Hardcase who had been in bacta tanks on Christophsis were sitting at the closest table, a cup half-full of caf in Kix's hand while Hardcase's mug was already empty. There were the two squads Commander Cody had offered the 501st. The men were in armor now trimmed in royal blue instead of gold. And there was Chopper who'd been re-assigned from the traitor's squad. All together they were less than one quarter of a full company

Commander Tano and General Skywalker were there, General Skywalker relaxed and leaning against the edge of one of the tables listening to Captain Rex while the commander was talking with Sergeant Zeer.

Order of Battle, thought Chopper as he noticed the gestures of Zeer's hands and the commander's concentration. Sergeant Zeer had a passion for the GAR as an entity, for the way it was put together and interacted, for its precision. Chopper nodded to himself as he made his way to the back of the small group, against the wall, where he could keep his helmet on without too much notice. Probably one or two of the other on-duty men would keep their helmets on as well. They'd do so to monitor the constant chatter, Chopper would keep his helmet on so they wouldn't stare.

The general stood and the troopers shuffled, their attention drawn to the young Jedi as he spoke. "We're being reassigned to the star destroyer Resolute under Admiral Wullf Yularen. We will make a run to Kamino where we will pick up three platoons of rookies then we'll..."

Chopper stiffened at the thought of Kamino ignoring the rest of Skywalker's words. He shook his head. Not Kamino. He knew it was irrational, but he knew the Kaminoans would find out he was there, would demand his presence back into their lab; would hone their laser-scapels on his still-living skull then...

Resolute. Chopper's mind grabbed that piece of information. Resolute was a venator-class star destroyer; it was big. There'd be lots of places to hide unnoticed on a star destroyer. Chopper would find them. A small plan in his mind, he turned his attention back to the general.

"…just an easy shake-down cruise."

There was laughter from the men, it started with Coric and the remnant group of remaining 501sters then spread to the men from the 212th. Chopper didn't laugh. The captain smiled at the laughter then raised his hand to quiet the men as he stepped forward from General Skywalker's side.

"I will be re-assigning everyone. Several of you will be filling sergeant's positions or squad leader slots. I should be able to get one of you, at least one experienced man, into each squad." He paused and looked over the men, catching each man's eyes. "You troopers are the core of the 501st; the rookies will look to you for how to act, how to behave, how to fight. Train them, teach them; make them into the best company in the Grand Army of the Republic, the 501st."

Chopper wondered what he was doing there.

Chopper got a chance to speak with Jester before Torrent Company – and he – left Christophsis. He didn't ask Captain Rex or Commander Tano in case they'd say 'no'. Chopper was pretty sure they wouldn't object, but he didn't want to risk breaking orders because he needed to talk with Jester. He needed to make sure Jester would be all right and to let Jester know he'd been re-assigned to the 501st, that it seemed a good assignment. And Chopper needed to do so in person to watch Jester's expressions, to hear if he stuttered, to see his body language as he spoke.

Jester had laughed, slapping Chopper on the arm of his armor, glad to see him, and Chopper had relaxed. "Look," Jester pointed out gold paint on the edges of his armor. . "Commander Cody's second, Wooley, is my sergeant. He told me to color the armor, Chopper. I hadn't been here a day and he told me to color it. Even after I told him there might be others who wouldn't appreciate it." Jester grinned. "He said, 'you're 212th, trooper, you're one of my men and you will seam your armor in gold'."

Chopper smiled at Jester's pleasure. It seemed he was on to a good start. Jester nodded, following Chopper's thoughts. "He's a good trooper and Cody is a good commander. Things like what happened under," he paused only a moment, "the old command won't happen under Cody and Wooley. They both interviewed me about what squad I should join; whether I wanted to continue in a specialist squad or if I wanted to move to a line squad. They gave me options!" Jester gave his head a swift tilt to one side. "I thought I'd take a chance with a line squad. When I had my courtesy call with General Kenobi, he assured me that what had happened with Slick wouldn't happen in the 212th. That I had leave to see him personally, no appointment or going through anyone else to report if I saw it happening."

Chopper nodded. "That's good news, Jester. It looks like you're in a good company." He gave Jester a small smile. "You'll make sergeant, wait and see." Then he grunted and looked down at his mug. "I was assigned to the 501st. The court-martial didn't go badly. All our demerits were reversed." He snorted and jerked his head up to look Jester in the eyes. "I'm not going to Kamino for reconditioning; so I count it a victory."

He thought Jester glanced at him with pity but decided it was just the angle of light in the 212th's mess hall. Jester nodded and gestured with his hand for Chopper to continue so Chopper did.

"Instead we're heading out in a day; going to hop the Resolute; pick up just enough rookies to make us close to full strength. I think the general is pleased to be going out into space where he can fly. I figure it's also for quick transport of a full company to areas under attack by the seppies. Their attacks don't seem concerted; they appear randomly and the Resolute filled with troopers can be pretty much anywhere pretty quick." Chopper paused then shook his head. "Captain Rex wants us to teach the Kamino rookies, to lead by example." Chopper worried his lips, chewing on the bottom and looking away from the trooper seated across from him. "I can't do that, Jester."

Jester nodded. "You can Chopper. You will." He paused and took a drink of caf as he considered his words. "You'll do well and good, I think, under Captain Rex. He has a reputation for being hard but fair." Jester touched Chopper's cheek, on his good side and even then Chopper jerked back. "You need fair, Chopper." Jester's voice was softer. "You've always had 'hard' but I don't think you've ever really had 'fair', certainly not since joining us under Slick."

Chopper thought about Jester's words as he made his short way back to the barracks of the 501st.

Before he had walked the distance to his duty station, at the far end of the base, Captain Rex saw him and gestured for Chopper to follow. They passed Captain Rex's office and Chopper gulped under his helmet. Captain Rex's office had no door. That meant he wanted to speak to Chopper in private where no one could overhear.

They ended up in General Skywalker's office, the general and padawan absent. Captain Rex turned and stood in parade rest. That meant Chopper snapped to attention.

"Chopper, I've had reports that you were in the 212th's barracks today." Captain Rex certainly didn't believe in small talk.

Chopper stood at attention waiting for the question. There was a pause, as if Captain Rex expected Chopper to speak. When there was no response Captain Rex asked.

"Did you go to visit Jester?"

Chopper sighed and his shoulders dropped. "Yes sir."

Captain Rex nodded slightly and there was no anger in his face or stiffness in his stance. "Next time, Chopper, let me know when you visit another company."

Then Captain Rex was gone and Chopper followed from the general's office and made his way to his duty station. He didn't realize it had been a rebuke until almost half-way through night shift when he looked up from watching droid vids on the command data pad and stared at the wall open-mouthed as if the answer was written there.

He had put Captain Rex in a corner, blindsided him. Someone had seen him with Jester and reported him to Commander Cody who had come to Captain Rex. Osik! The captain hadn't known when he'd been asked.

Ah, kriff and double-kriff. The captain had had to blindly cover his shebs without knowing what was going on. Chopper swallowed. The captain had; the captain had covered his back as if… as if he really was one of the 501st instead of… a placeholder for a good trooper. Chopper turned off the data pad and stared at the wall until his shift was over.

The next morning when Rex came to his office Chopper was there, helmet in the crook of his arm, standing at stern attention. Several troopers were staring at Chopper, two were shinies and Rex knew Chopper usually kept his helmet on around the shinies. He gave a small nod of his head, both acknowledging and dismissing them on their way to the mess then turned to Chopper and gestured to his office.

Chopper paused. "No sir, I simply wanted to let you know it won't happen again."

"What won't happen again, trooper?"

"I won't knowingly let you be blindsided by my actions." Chopper reached into his helmet and removed his chip with a smooth, practiced move then held it out for the captain. For a moment Captain Rex seemed taken aback then he reached his hand up to Chopper's gloved fist, lightly curling Chopper's fingers back around the chip.

"If I want your chip for a reprimand or demerit, Chopper, I will let you know. And a lot sooner than a day later." Then he began walking down the hall towards the mess, pausing only a moment. "If you wish to join us for caf, Chopper, I'll be with the commander and Sergeant Coric discussing the new assignments."

Chopper stood, his mind abuzz with the new information, staring down at his fingers around the small chip.

Being in Torrent Company and the 501st was very different from Sergeant Slick's squad and the old 212th.

"Thank you, sir," Chopper replied absently to the suggestion of joining them in the mess as he stared at the chip. The commander would be there and he really couldn't wear his helmet sitting at the table with superior officers. "But it was a busy night."

"As you say, Chopper," commented Captain Rex as he continued towards the mess.

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