Sixty Five

Fives walked into the Hanger and went to his designated lift. Walking on board with a couple of other troopers he nodded as he held out his arm to be scanned.

ARC-5555

He found a spot and grabbed a hold of an overhead support and swayed slightly as he felt the shuttle lift off, heading towards to the awaiting star Destroyer, and his next mission.

Twenty Six.

Fives smiled to himself under the guise of his helmet and took in a deep breath. He then recited the reg in the manual he had memorised over and over again.

It was his new ritual.

One that he would use as a mantra during missions. He couldn't remember how many times he repeated it throughout the entire Umbaran campaign. He knew it had become more than habit, it was now part of his psyche.

'Whereby and ARC reaches and survives thirty concurrent missions...'

It was now an obsession.

'Tash would have a field day with this,' he thought. "Just another psychological problem to pile on top of all the others.'

Fives sighed and remembered their last meeting.

He shook his head at his behaviour. 'Di'kut!' Collapsing on the floor she had held him emotionally exhausted, in her arms. Tash had been there for him. He owed it to her, it was the one thing he knew for certain.

That, and the number tally.

Twenty Six.

Fives looked out the window to see the large grey vessel come into sight. Landing on the deck, the Hanger Bay was a hive of activity as he stepped forward at the sound of the Boatswain welcoming them on board.

Casparar in the Seleucami System. A seventeen hour in flight ride, then debriefing two hours before deployment.

He looked around feeling anxious. This was a new vessel, one he was unfamiliar with. Trying not to appear apprehensive, he slung his kit over a shoulder and headed to the First Officer for his designated compartment below deck.

#

She was called the Ramsey.

A Victory I-Class Star Destroyer. She had been laid down late in 21BBY and launched eight months later, now fully operational she was on her maiden voyage forty one days after leaving the Kuat Drive Yards. Her motto, 'Nothing Daunts' was suitable considering her Commanding Officer. Admiral Wallis was renowned for making the tough calls. The Ramsey followed Fearless, Intrepid and the Resolute, delivering troops to new worlds and inevitable conflict.

With the eyes of the Republic Fleet all watching, the Admiral gave the order.

"Ahead quarter speed Helmsman."

"Aye, aye Sir," the clone in grey said as he maneuvered the craft slowly out.

With a maximum atmospheric speed of 965km/h and with a passenger capacity of over 2000 people, she was a floating city in her own right.

#

Fives found the quarters and settled himself down when he felt the surge as the ship headed into hyperspace. He began to undress when he saw a face peer around a corner.

"Heard you were on board."

"Niner, right?"

"Yeah." The Republic Commando steeped in and held out a hand, which Fives took. "We heard about what happened on Umbara."

Fives shook his head as he continued to strip down to his bodysuit.

Niner could sense that the ARC wasn't about to elaborate. He had heard the stories involving a firing squad and the assassination of the Jedi. "Where they got you going this time?"

"Casparar. You?"

"Gaftikar."

"Good luck."

"Yeah, you too."

Niner turned and left as Fives lay down on his cot and set his chrono.

Within minutes, he was fast asleep.

#

"Are you clear with your orders ARC?"

Fives had gone through the mission brief and nodded before placing his bucket back on. "Yes Sir."

"Tracker squadron will fly over as decoy while you are being dropped in the landing zone. You'll have approximately eight hours to obtain the intel, lay the charges and get back to the RV for extraction."

"Copy that Sir."

The clone captain softened his tone. "Good luck soldier. It won't be easy."

Fives saluted before leaving the briefing room and headed straight down to Ordinance.

'Fek,' he thought to himself. This was going to be a difficult mission whichever way he looked at it.

'Whereby and ARC reaches and survives thirty concurrent missions or the war ends,

he will have the choice to be transferred...'

Forty five minutes to lift off.

The new armour was lighter than his regular kit, and with no kama swinging around his hips he felt vulnerable and stripped bare. That uncomfortable feeling only lasting a minute as it was replaced by the weight of the aquatic propulsion pack.

"You familiar with this kit?" The sergeant in Ordinance had a look of concern as he watched the formidable ARC redress.

"Yep, all good," Fives replied as he tested the greaves jet's. He continued to refit the new armour until he got to the last piece and took in a deep breath. The helmets were built with different lenses that enabled the soldiers to see in even the murkiest of water. It appeared bulkier than his own, and the anxious feeling returned, to be briefly interrupted by a voice from behind.

"The internal comm system is delicate to say the least."

The voice startled him.

Fives turned to see another Commando, one he didn't know, standing in the doorway watching. Fives nodded and the man moved forward and grabbed the helmet.

"The sound of your own breath will distract you after a while. It's too loud, but the scuba guys don't seem to mind. I find that if you readjust the mic here," he thumbed through some data scrolling in red inside the helmet, "you'll find that the noise is muffled significantly."

"Does it affect the long range comm's?"

"Nope, just the internal sound of the bucket. You'd think Ordinance would get it right." They both stopped and looked at the Sarge who had been listening to the two clones interacting.

He tilted his head and replied sarcastically, "I guess it's because you pretty boys have more sensitive ears."

The two men smiled at each other and he handed the helmet back to Fives, "here, try it on for size."

"I think we both know it's going to fit," the ARC laughed in return. "Thanks ner vod," he said as he held out his hand to shake, "the names Fives."

The commando took his hand and shook it hard, "they call me Gregor. Good luck," he said as he turned and left, as quietly as he appeared.

#

"Two minutes to drop zone, repeat, two minutes to drop zone." The pilots voice was calm and in a way, distracting. Fives was half way through the third recital of his mental protocol and was annoyed that he would have to start again.

'Fek,' he mumbled to himself. "Yeah, all good," he replied as the bay door automatically opened revealing the watery surface of Casparar.

He was now 'on the job,' and switched the long range freq's in his comm off with a couple of blinks. The ARC would be out of Republic communication for the next twenty three hours.

He knew what to do and looked up as the bay interior light began flashing and he waited until it stayed static.

"Green means go ARC. See you at the RV," the Laat/i hovered for a few seconds as Fives clutched his weapon close to his chest and raised one leg and stepped off silently into the dark waters of Twenty Six.

#