(Author's note: I'm using the origin of the Rogue-Class Starfighter featured in Legends as opposed to that found in Canon as I think it's more interesting and makes more sense considering the design similarities. For this reason, I will be referring to it often as a Porax 38 or P-38 for short. Also, I will shorten the C-9979's full name to C-9.)

Arakai could hardly contain his excitement. He was on his very first mission with the Separatist Alliance. He had just arrived in the Deralex system and was now leading a squad of vulture droids escorting four C-9979 landing craft to the surface. Grievous had given him a Rogue-Class Porax 38 starfighter that had been modified to fit an astromech. He really liked the ship, enjoying its speed capabilities as well as its smooth control scheme. Outside he saw three Munificent-Class frigates and a massive Lucrehulk battleship that the invasion craft had just departed. The section had been badly damaged in a battle with a fleet of Republic Star Destroyers that were holding a position above the planet. He could just make them out in the distance, their ominous presence sending chills through Arakai's spine. Luckily for him he was out of their range at the moment and all was quiet.

"Well here we are, Chip," he commented, "We're officially combatants in a galaxy wide war."

A series of beeps and boops could be heard through his headset.

"No," he answered the concerned droid's question, "You'll be staying at the command center with the tactical units."

The droid let out a few more interrogative whistles.

"If we have an airborne mission I'll take you but I've been assigned as a ground commander so I doubt that will be happening."

Chip made a sour whir as if to say "You get to have all the fun".

Arakai chuckled, "Don't you worry, you'll get your fair share too."

Unlike the vulture droids, which broke off and went back to the Lucrehulk mid flight, he continued following the C-9s all the way down to the designated drop zone at which point he landed and exited the his starfighter. The surface was an interesting spectacle. He felt lighter due to the planet's lesser gravity. He had landed in a field filled with a noodle-like grass. It was surrounded by thick trees of a rubbery substance, all of which swayed heavily from side to side. The wet and sticky ground was covered by a white mist. He watched as the C-9s unloaded their MTTs and AATs. They lumbered across the along a gravel road toward the front lines. Walking alongside them, he made his way to the mobile command center.

The mobile command center stood next to a Sheatipede-Class shuttle. There was a tall man at a holopad carefully examining the layout of the battlefield. He had three T-series tactical droids standing with him as they discussed a strategy for their next assault. Arakai walked up confidently hoping to make a good impression.

"Morning gentlemen," he said with a smile.

The officer looked at him curiously. "Men?" he inquired. He spoke with a thick Coruscant accent.

"Um…" Arakai stumbled, "Man? …and droids?"

One of the tactical droids spoke up, "You're analysis is incorrect. It is currently afternoon."

The officer raised his eyebrows, "And you are?"

Arakai just stood silently with his eyes closed, a flabbergasted smile fixed to his face.

"Right, well then," the officer continued, "I'm going to assume you're the new captain sent here by General Grievous. It's Remes?" he pronounced it with two syllables, "Am I saying that right?"

"Um.. no. No sir, it's… just Remes,"

"Alright then, I'm Colonel Blaze Wellington," he introduced himself, "This is TX-31, TX-46, and TX-90" he said gesturing the droids. "I'll be your commanding officer. Welcome to Deralex, or as I like to call it, hell."

"Um… there must be a mistake," Arakai was confused, "I'm in command here now. Grievous sent my company as a relief force. That means I'm in charge, right?"

Wellington's eyebrows raised even higher than before. "Excuse me?" he began, "Captain, I believe you may be overstepping your boundaries a little."

"I'm not," Arakai confidence level was rapidly diminishing, "Grievous sent me here to take over the command."

"Grievous sent you here as a relief force, not a relieving force," Wellington corrected, "Your troops are meant to replenish those that the 5th army, my army, has lost. And as for the extent of your command, Captain, Grievous assigned you a single company. That is equivalent to one hundred twelve B1s. Nothing more."

There was another long moment of silence.

"Oh."

"Did you have anything else you'd like to lay claim to before we begin?"

"No…"

"Very good. Now I'm told you have exceptional training in marksmanship. Is that correct?"

"Yes, it is," Arakai sensed a chance for redemption, "As well as hand-to-hand combat, piloting, and-"

"Good," Wellington stopped him, "I want you on overwatch duty. You'll take your troops to the top of that ridge and provide cover fire for the main force. I trust that won't be too difficult?"

"Overwatch?" Arakai was disappointed, "Sir, with all due respect of course, I think I'd be better suited for the front lines. Let me lead the main force."

Wellington sighed, "Captain, if you continue to show insubordination I will be forced to court martial you. Now tomorrow at 0800 hours you will take your company and provide cover fire for my main force. Otherwise there will be serious consequences. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Arakai trailed off.

Wellinton's eyebrows raised once more. "Yes?"

"Oh, sorry. Yes sir."

"Better," Wellington remarked, "Now I suggest you familiarize yourself with our weapons. Short range blasters won't be sufficient for a sniper role." With that, he turned back to the holopad and continued his discussion, leaving Arakai to orient himself with the camp on his own.

He headed back to his fighter to unpack. Great job, Arakai, he thought, you really know how to make a fool out of yourself. Chip had already done most of the work and made a few excited whistles when Arakai arrived.

"No, it didn't," Arakai answered, "Apparently I'm not in command here and the guy that is, well, let's just say we got off on the wrong foot."

Chip made an inquisitive beep.

"No, I'm sure he likes me," Arakai said sarcastically, "It's not like he humiliated me in front of his officers or anything."

Over the next few hours they moved everything out of the starfighter, unpacked it all, and pitched a tent. After finishing, Arakai started a fire and began to prepare a dinner for himself. He threw some minced nerf meat into a pot along with a mix of vegetables and spices and boiled it for a while. A bit later, Wellington approached him.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm preparing a stew," Arakai answered, "I packed the meat from Alderaan for a little taste of home. Care for a bite?"

"You realize there are rations aboard the shuttle?"

Arakai stared for a while, "No, I hadn't realized that."

Wellington looked down at that stew, "Well, it's already cooked. I suppose it wouldn't do any harm to enjoy something different for a change."

Arakai smiled, "That's the spirit!" he acclaimed, reaching for an extra bowl. He filled it up with some stew and handed it to the colonel. Wellington graciously accepted the bowl and begun to eat, only to trigger his gag reflex on the first bite.

"Goodness, what did you put in this?" he asked incredulously.

"Sorry, they didn't really focus on culinary arts on Mandalore."

"Not to worry, Captain. It's still better than the rations."

"Please, call me Arakai," Arakai offered.

Wellington gave him a look of disapproval. "Captain," he stated clearly, "if we are to hold a professional level of respect for each other then it would do us well to refer to each other by our professional titles."

"Right," Arakai was embarrassed, "Sorry, Colonel."

"Sir," Wellington corrected. There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Captain, I don't mean to come off rude. I just expect a certain level of discipline within my ranks. This is a war; one not won easily."

"I understand, sir," Arakai acknowledged, "It's just… on Mandalore things were a little more relaxed."

"You keep mentioning that," Wellington noted, "What exactly did you do on Mandalore. I thought they were a pacifist planet."

"They are," Arakai explained, "but even a pacifist government must have a means of defense. Satine set up a military task force to protect the planet from invasion. She kept it a secret because of militaries being illegal within the Republic."

"And you were a member of this military?"

"I was. I was dishonorably discharged after breaking protocol to protect a friend."

"That is exactly why you should always think of your comrades as fellow soldiers, not friends."

Arakai nodded. He didn't agree with the sentiment but he didn't want to cause another argument.

"Come," Wellington invited, "Sleep on the shuttle. It's much more comfortable than this tent and I'll need you at full strength for the assault tomorrow."

"Sir," Arakai replied, "I know you need soldiers on overwatch but I really want to fight on the lines tomorrow. Please, if I could just-"

"Captain, I've made my decision on this matter. We will speak no more of this."

Wellington stood and left, heading for the shuttle.

"Well Chip, I guess we're on our own," Arakai muttered.

Chip made a worried sounding tone.

"Look, I'm not gonna sit back and watch the main force have all the fun," he declared, "I'm gonna take my company and start the assault at 7:30. Maybe then he'll start showing me some respect."

He then crawled into his tent for the night's rest, dreaming of the glory he would achieve in the morning.