The Resolute

A Tour of The Resolute

The Resolute was huge. Chopper strode slightly behind Commander Tano as she listened attentively to one of the deck officers.

Chopper had volunteered to second her, knowing that as commander and a pilot-in-training, she would be given a tour and briefing of the star destroyer while the troopers would be settling into barracks and given briefing material on where to find the nearest escape pod in an emergency and not much more. Captain Rex had looked with shock as he volunteered and Chopper had flushed under his helmet.

"I can wear full armor, sir." Chopper forced his tense muscles to relax, to look as though he didn't have a reason for wanting an in-depth tour of the venator-class ship. "She won't have to look at my face."

"I see no reason why not, Chopper," the captain said, his brows still high with surprise and curiosity. "Coric and Kix are being briefed on medical procedures and checking out the medical units while Hardcase and Knife asked permission to inspect the hangars and the starfighters." The captain glanced down at this desk and manipulated the console. "Her tour begins at 1600 hours."

So Chopper had been at the door of her cabin slightly before the appointed time and she must have been excited because she came out of her cabin a moment later.

"Rex told me you had volunteered, Chopper. I appreciate your company." She paused and looked at him.

Once again Chopper felt as though she could see through his helmet, through his scars into the deepest portion of himself. He tightened, trying to be like a good trooper might be. "Yes, Commander Tano."

"How is the droid project going?" Her head tilted in interest and Chopper relaxed.

This he knew. "Very well, commander. I've found seventeen separate weaknesses on the B1s as well as a comparable number for the SBDs. I believe they were designed by the same engineer and have similar defects. I have very few vids of droiddekas but I am getting some idea of how they perform."

"Oh, that is excellent, Chopper."

Their guide, a clone captain of Yularen's crew in grey garrison uniform, had come up and was standing at parade rest, simply listening to the conversation, waiting for Commander Tano. Chopper was silent, nodded at the deck officer and stepped back. The deck officer saluted Commander Tano then turned his inquisitive glance and arched eyebrow to Chopper's presence.

"Chopper is acting as my second." The commander spoke. "Sometimes he explains regulations to me." She gave the deck officer a grin. "I know Jedi ways but sometimes my understanding of the military could use some assistance and Chopper has that most valuable commodity of experience."

The deck officer gave a nod, Chopper moved to a second's position behind and to the left of the commander.

"The Resolute," began the deck officer with a gesture at the steel corridor. "Designed by Kuat Drive Yards in cooperation with Allanteen Six shipyards, the Resolute is the largest ship capable of atmospheric operations as well as hyperdrive and space travel. Its height is comparable to a 60-story building, but much of that area is taken up by the hangars holding just under 500 smaller ships including starfighters, interceptors, shuttles and gunships." He paused then turned to Commander Tano, his eyes bright. "Would you like to see the hangars first, Commander Tano?"

"You're leading," Commander Tano gestured her hand open palm up, accepting whatever decision the captain made.

Chopper frowned in his helmet. Hangars were easily accessible; he could explore the hangars anytime. "May I suggest," he began then his voice faded to nothing. Commander Tano had caught his quiet words and turned toward him.

Or perhaps she caught his thoughts.

Fierfik, no! Not his thoughts!

"You were saying, Chopper?" Even shielded by his helmet, he couldn't look into her face, shamed by his irrational fear. He shifted his weight on his feet nervously, then licked his lips, turning his helmeted face toward the captain.

"May I suggest from the heart of the ship outwards. The reactor first, working our way out through the engines, the living quarters, then armaments and shielding. Finishing with the bridge and hangar decks." He glanced at the commander then back at the deck officer. "You're both pilots and I suspect if we start with the hangars we'll never manage to get anywhere else."

The deck officer raised his eyebrows then gave a sheepish grin. Commander Tano laughed. "You are right, Chopper." She turned to the other clone. "Let's do as Chopper suggests." The commander tilted her head with a friendly smile and looked up at the clone. "What do I call you?"

"Captain is fine." He started to turn to continue the tour, but Commander Tano stood firm with her arms crossed and Chopper was a statue in white armor behind her.

"If you have a name, I'd be honored if you shared it."

The captain was nonplused for a moment. "Captain Spin, sir. Or just Spin."

At the end, the deck officer gave a respectful nod to the commander as she went with Captain Rex then turned to Chopper. "I heard you discussing droids?" He was in parade rest, his feet solid on the deck and he didn't seem to have anyplace else to be at the moment.

"A special assignment," growled Chopper, his mind on the small tunnels leading off the hypermatter annihilation reactors and the deep cold cabinets holding the laser cannon repair crystals. If they weren't in hyperdrive, then the plasma exhaust tunnels would be reasonably safe; safer than Kamino. The cold cabinets were also a possibility. Neither would be comfortable and...

"Have you delved into the vultures? The Variable Geometry Self Propelled Battle Droid Mark I?" Spin clarified.

Chopper's mind switched gears. "Vultures? No, we're a ground unit and haven't had experience with anything airborne." He paused and removed his helmet, running the back of his thumb against his chin. His scars seemed to burn as Spin noticed and evaluated them. "If you have any battle vids, I could look." His eyes slid to the other clone's face then around his face to the wall. "It would be interesting."

Captain Spin nodded, no longer looking at Chopper's scars. "I've got my helmet and my ship's vids in my barracks." He chuckled softly. "My wings are temporarily clipped with my 170 on the repair line so I also have time if you have any questions."

Chopper nodded as he followed Spin to his barracks, Spin detailing what he knew of the vultures. "They're fast, faster than our ships and capable of maneuvers that would leave us spattered against the windshield. They also outnumber us; usually two or three to one." Spin dropped his head in sorrow. "We lose a lot of brothers in every encounter."

"So what's their weakness," asked Chopper in a grunt.

Spin jerked his head up. "I've just been telling you," he said angrily, "they have no weaknesses."

Chopper stopped in the hall not looking at Captain Spin, but at the metal walls of the corridor. "You've just told me that in spite of being faster, more maneuverable and more numerous the the Republic fighters, you still have clones and ships that come back." He glanced at the dawning increduality on Spin's face then slid his eyes to Spin's shoulder. "Let's see the vids. I'll need you to explain because I am infantry, but..." Chopper shrugged and repeated himself. "It will be interesting."

Captain Spin had a small cabin to himself with an attached office containing a captain's desk, two chairs and a caf maker. They had emptied the caf maker twice before Chopper's chron beeped and he stood. "I have duty." He paused, nervous. "These are good vids, Spin, I'd like to come back for more. And to go over how the 170's fly."

"I'd appreciate it, Chopper." Spin grinned slightly. "As I said, my wings are clipped for now." There was a pause as they moved to the door then the pilot captain put his hand on Chopper's shoulder. Chopper froze, waiting for words about his scars, about how he was an incompetent trooper but those words he feared didn't come.

"I want you to know I appreciate the commander asking my name," Spin continued talking. "There are seven thousand crew on board, most of us clone, so I understand she won't remember me, but I really appreciate…"

"She'll remember," affirmed Chopper absently, his mind again on small tunnels. "And she'll recognize you when she sees you again. So be prepared for it."

Spin was quiet for a moment. "It must be…" He shook his head. "I can't even think of how it must feel to second a commander like that. Admiral Yularen grants respect, but only knows his bridge crew by name."

Chopper was silent. He didn't know how it felt either but only because he couldn't name the emotions that whirled in his mind.

I'm in a situation where I should be able to update weekly... so look for the next chapter (orbiting Kamino and picking up the battalions of shinies) next Tuesday.

And, as always, read and review but make sure to enjoy the story also.