Sixty
Jesse stormed back into their quarters and looked at his bunk. He waited, head down, normally he was just behind him.
'Always will be ner vod,' he had promised.
That's when he heard it.
The innocent ping from Hardcase's datapad that sat lonely on the end of his bed.
It was flashing a blue light, meaning there were several messages accumulated on it, probably from her.
Jesse walked over and picked it up.
It was dirty.
He ran his fingers over an obvious caf stain, the bantha milk leaving a tiny crust where the pool of liquid must have dried.
He would have been drinking, reading, laughing.
Living.
That's when it hit him.
The overwhelming sadness, the overwhelming sense of loss.
Jesse turned and threw the electronic device hard against the wall, then marched over and systematically smashed it to oblivion.
He was angry and tired.
Kix walked in and stood watching.
This time, the medic couldn't fix it.
This time, he too, was at a loss.
He stood silently, allowing the tears to run down his cheeks openly, as he watched his friend direct all his grief into the tiny black platoid and perspex square.
Jesse stopped when he felt his presence from behind, his sides heaving as he held all that remained of someone he loved so much.
"I don't want to do this anymore," he said as he walked over into his brothers arms.
"I know."
"I loved him Kix," he whispered through the tears.
"Me too Jess, me too."
#
Rex headed into the Jedi Temple. The second time he had been summonsed during the War. The second time he was there to explain himself, but this time, a Jedi had been killed, not a Sith.
He knew what Dogma had done was wrong, but what Krell had put them all through deserved no less.
He kept asking himself the question that had plagued him since the execution.
Why didn't he pull the trigger, why had a junior soldier been put in that position?
He had been back on Coruscant for two days.
During that time, he had been in the Infirmary checking on the wounded.
He had written a report to High Command and delivered it in person, whereby he was questioned at length by superior officers, including Commander Cody for a period of nine hours.
Interrogation more like it.
Now, it was the Jedi's turn.
Dogma was in lock up, Hardcase and Waxer were dead along with two thirds of the combined strength of the 212th and 501st.
"Well done, congratulations," he was repeatedly told.
Yes, they had taken Umbara.
At a cost, he reminded himself.
This was no victory in his eyes.
At a cost.
#
Nineteen hours earlier.
"Please state your name and rank for the record purposes."
"Field Marshall CC-2224. Commander and chief of the 212th Attack Battalion."
"Commander Cody, could you please outline the events leading up to the assassination of General Krell on Umbara."
"Sir. Upon arrival on the surface of Umbara, the 212th and the 501st were collectively split between General's Kenobi and Skywalker. The 212th under orders from General Kenobi were deployed to stop the insurgent rising from the south. The 501st under the order of General Skywalker prepared to take the northern front. With all due respect Sirs, we were out numbered from the very beginning. The Umbarans had weaponry and resources, the likes of which we had never encountered before. After a communiqué from Chancellor Palpatine, General Skywalker was relieved of duty and recalled back to Coruscant. General Krell then assumed command of the 501st Attack Battalion. General Krell ordered to the 501st to march on the Umbaran airbase in a full forward assault, contradicting the orders that General Skywalker had discussed previously with him. The unit was ambushed and CT-7567 pulled back in full retreat much to the chagrin of General Krell. The 501st continued to hold position even under heavy resistance from the local militia and managed to secure the Umbaran airbase through pure determination and ingenuity. In the meantime, our battalion, the 212th, was under heavy fire and held down just outside the main Capitol, our efforts falling short thanks to the Umbarans being re supplied by the Separatists. With captured Umbaran starfighters, the 501st then took out the main reactor of the supply ship, severing all arms to the planet's surface, which was pivotal in the 212th taking the Capitol. Under request from General Krell, General Kenobi relinquished two platoons to assist the 501st who were under threat from the last Umbaran front who had turned back towards the air base, currently under Republic control. Via a communiqué from General Krell, CT-7685, was informed that the Umbarans had stolen Republic uniforms and were impersonating as 501st soldiers. The same information was relayed to CT-7567, although the Captain was informed that the impersonators would be wearing the colours and amour of the 212th. Both platoons, sent to the same coordinates were under the impression that each was the enemy and engaged in a bloody battle, which resulted in the death of sixty percent of troopers including - ." Cody stopped and steadied himself.
"Please continue CC-2224."
"Excuse me, including CT-7685, Sir. It is my understanding that when questioned by CT-7567, General Krell revealed that he was intending to defect to the Separatists as he had foreseen the Jedi losing the war. The clone soldiers mere pawns in his strategy to lose the campaign. General Krell escaped but was eventually captured and incarcerated in the Umbaran air base prison facility, whereby he eventually met his demise from a single shot to his back."
"Thank you Field Marshal Cody. Your report is duly noted. Dismissed. Oh, and Commander?"
"Sir."
"Can you please send CT-7567 in now."
"Yes Sir."
Cody turned crisply, helmet under arm and left the Court Marshall. It was now his friends turn to explain to HQ exactly the events that lead up to one of the worst victories for the Republic since the beginning of the war.
That, and the execution of a Jedi General.
Walking through the door he stopped and looked at Rex, still dressed in his armour since arriving back on Coruscant. He noticed his friends pallid complexion, the dark rings and the blank look that had replaced the one of anger.
On board the Intrepid heading back Rex had vented his anger to the Commander, sighting his frustration behind the closed door of Cody's quarters. Cody just sat and listened, understanding his disappointment and feeling the pain at losing good men.
"It was got up from the very beginning! Krell relieved Skywalker and placed himself in a mission to fail from the outset. You've got to wonder Cody, where did the Chancellor sit with all this? I mean, why did he recall Skywalker?"
"Those questions are ones you need to keep to yourself ner vod," he warned, not liking the direction Rex was heading. He knew though his friend was right, the mission only validating the sense of unease growing in his own mind about being a commodity of the Republic.
The ship landed on Coruscant in the main Hanger Bay of the Republic facility. Cody and Rex grabbed hands and clasped them to their chest plates briefly. There was no need or talking, not this time. Cody turned and marched the 212th out along with General Kenobi.
Rex stood firm, looking at the forlorn faces of what remained of his battalion as they waited to disembark next.
If he was going to make a stand, this was his moment to do so.
"Men, listen up," his voice growing stronger with each word. "I want you to file out as you would if your fallen brothers were still here. You remember where they stood, let their memory at least, march home." The men nodded in understanding and when the hatch lights illuminated green, Rex placed his helmet over his face and stepped out. There was a long space when only one other soldier came through. Slowly, as the men waited their turn to alight from the transport, the effect Rex was after, became obvious.
It was a display to the General and military waiting just how bloody a battle they had survived.
Greater than Teth, bigger than Geonosis.
Cody turned to see the men file out and stopped his own company and stood them to attention.
General Kenobi turned and stood silently, the disturbance in the Force palpable.
#
Omega had heard the news from Fi, who always managed to get the latest gossip going around the base.
"The 501st were massacred on Umbara. Over 60% loss. Hardcase bought it. That thug Krell turned on them and Rex ordered his execution." The squad said nothing, thinking, but saying nothing. They remembered Krell, no one like him and he wouldn't been seen as a loss to any of them in the room. Niner waited until Fi left and stood, grabbing his bucket he headed out as well.
"Hey Sarge, wait up," it was Atin jogging after him.
Both Niner and Atin went to the Hanger viewing area to watch the walking wounded arrive back, and the mighty 501st limp in. Fi was already there, sitting up the back of the waiting area. He, together with Atin had a soft spot for the heavy gunner.
The loss was now personal.
"Fek," Atin mumbled, "look what he's doing." Niner didn't say anything, but watched the display the Captain was putting on for the command centre. Together they sat quietly as the remaining soldiers stood in the formation of the fallen.
Standing next to the memory of a brother no longer there.
It was a grid of only a third of the battalion, but it spoke volumes to the men assembled, and those standing with pride at what they had survived.
Skywalker marched over to his captain, his eyes dark with rage. "Rex? So it's true? This is all that remains of the 501st?" Rex and his General had a unique relationship, and he was glad that he didn't try and placate him. That would have been even more intolerable than the loss.
"I'm sorry General." There was nothing else to say.
"Captain, the Jedi Council will need to - ,"
"With your permission Sir, I first need to oversee the wounded into the medical facility. I of course will have a full report for both High Command and the Jedi Council within the next twenty four hours."
Anakin studied his Captain, with his bucket still on he knew Rex would be feeling this loss more than any other. His own disappointment at not being on Umbara during this particular campaign, a war he was raging with himself.
"Dismissed Captain." Anakin turned on his heel and glared at Obi-Wan as he left the Hanger bay, his shoulders hunched and his jaw set tight.
Rex blew out a long breath under his helmet and studied the men in front of him standing at attention.
"C-o-m-p-a-n-y, left face!" He bellowed.
Sw-ish, stomp.
The remaining rows turned sharp and the sound of their boots on the tarmac startled all in the area.
The 501st may have been down, but they were anything but out.
Omega stood to attention, as did every other brother, mechanic, pilot, ground crew in the bay.
"For-ward March."
And with that, they marched their brothers home, into the Republic Airbase with the pride and honour they deserved.
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