Chapter Sixty-One: The General

I was still seething over the conversation I'd had with Krell. He'd been trying to intimidate me, and I hated to admit that it had worked, even if only a little. He had leverage over me, even if it was only military rank and potentially taking me away from the 501st for the mission.

I wasn't sure why, but the Force was whispering that I just couldn't leave. The thought of going made my stomach hurt. So I'd play along, just like I did in other jobs when bounty hunting. Or when I had to not die as a slave. I'd play along….for as long as I could, at least.

"Quicken that pace, battalion!" the before-mentioned general shouted over his shoulder. "This isn't some training course on Kamino!"

He was leading our march behind an AT-RT, followed at a distance by Rex and Fives, who were right in front of me. I fought down the glare I wanted to shoot at the Jedi's back, choosing to close myself off by sliding up my mask and snapping on my goggles. My interface came to life as we walked, Apex searching through databases for information on Krell.

"The new general has a way with words," I heard Fives joke lightly, mildly annoyed. The Force rippled around Rex. He was conflicted. Annoyed with Fives' boldness to talk ill of a general. Annoyed with the general of being an asshole. Annoyed with the chancellor for taking Anakin away.

"He's just trying to keep us on schedule," Rex managed in a dismissive sigh, keeping his annoyance at bay.

Fives tilted his head, not being deterred. "By raising everyone's ire?"

My brows lifted with the corner of my lip. "Ire?" I cut in quietly, earning a chuckle from Jesse and Tup behind me. "Is that a fancy word you learned at ARC training?"

Rex ignored us, keeping his gaze forward. "Either way, he's in charge, and we've got a job to do. Just treat him with respect, and we'll all get along fine."

"Do you see that?" Fives asked suddenly, cutting the conversation off. I was glad for that, actually, not wanting to blow up during a discussion about Krell. Fives drew his gun, aiming it at the sky.

"Yeah," Rex said immediately, drawing his pistols. "Ready your weapons." The clones opened fire at the two glowing bug-like creatures that were flying towards us. I drew my lightsaber, slicing the blade sideways through one of the bug's pincers as it flew past. I went to pursue, seeing the other creature pick up a clone, but something big wrapped around my wrist, disengaging my blade.

"You are not a Jedi," Krell threw my wrist away, tossing me to the ground. "You will not wield that weapon in front of me. It is disrespectful."

"But," I started, but stopped when his grip tightened around the hilt of his lightsaber. The Force rippled with darkness in warning. I cleared my throat, getting to my feet and tucking my lightsaber into the pouch at the back of my belt. "It won't happen again, sir," I said smoothly, hiding the bite in my tone this time.

Krell leapt away, freeing the clone and killing both creatures easily. He stomped over the dead bug between Rex and Fives, pushing his foot over its spine, making it twitch. "Anyone else want to stop and play with the animals?"

I wanted to shoot him. So bad. It would be so easy because he was so cocky right now. But I couldn't. Shouldn't, too. That didn't stop me from daydreaming about it, thought.

"Didn't think so," Krell growled, looking directly at the helmet Rex had welded himself-merging the visor of Phase I with the filtration system of Phase II. "Now keep moving!" He took off again, my shoulders slumping only slightly.

"Alright?" Fives asked as he stopped beside me, hand on my shoulder.

I nodded, letting him guide me into walking again, the battalion taking off in our march. "Not tired, if that's what you're asking."

"Good. Me neither."

"Wonderful," a voice behind us made us turn, seeing Kix's painted helmet. He sighed, the sound weird through the helmet's filters. "You're both exhausted."

My laughter was automated sounding through my mask, too. "Exhausted?" Fives asked over my laughter. "Is that what we said?" We quieted immediately when Krell glanced back, feeling like anything happy wasn't what he wanted from us.

Kix shoved past us gently, getting up to Rex's side. "Sir," I heard him say soft enough for Krell not to hear. "We've been keeping this pace for 12 hours now. The men are getting worn down. We should rest."

Rex didn't answer but had been looking back at Kix and immediately walked up to Krell. He was a good leader. He put his men first. Kix fell back in step with us, but I focused my mind, reaching out tentatively to focus on their conversation, allowing myself to hear despite the distance.

"General Krell," Rex said, earning the Jedi's attention, "The top of this ridge will make a good place for the men to make camp."

"The men don't need rest." Krell's response caught me by surprise. I nearly stumbled into Fives, the clone tilting his helmet at me in question. "They need the resolve to complete the task at hand."

Rex was taken aback too. "But sir-"

Krell didn't give him a chance. "CT-7567, are you reading me?" I gaped beneath my mask. I knew Rex's number, of course-the code the Kaminoans identified him by. But I'd never heard anyone actually use it when addressing a soldier.

Rex seemed equally as shocked. "Excuse me, sir?"

"I asked you a question, CT-7567. Do you understand the need to adhere to my strategy?"

I was seething from my place behind them and I certainly would not have answered in as respectful a voice as Rex did. "Sir, the terrain is extremely hostile. Despite the difficulty of the conditions, the battalion is making good time. These men just need a little break."

Krell turned abruptly, our battalion stopping as the general towered over Rex. "Captain, do I need to remind you of this battalion's strategic mission in conquering this planet?" Krell's chubby finger was shoved in Rex's face, my anger flaring dangerously. "Look back. See those platoons?"

Rex turned dutifully, his frustration buried deep below the surface as he looked out over us.

"Their mission is to take this city and take it swiftly. Time and rest are luxuries the Republic cannot afford. We are the key to this invasion! The other battalions are counting on our support." Krell was practically screaming now. "If we fail, everyone fails. Do you understand this?" He looked up, glaring at us all. "Do all of you understand this? Now, move on!"

Rex said nothing, jerking his head over his shoulder at us, getting us moving again. It looked like we wouldn't be getting a break, then.

We were weary. Exhausted. Still, despite keeping up such a fast pace for so long with no break...the clones were still itching for a fight.

"Sir," Rex said as he approached Krell. I watched him from afar, wanting to keep my distance from the general. "We're ready to bring our forward platoons in for a surgical strike on the city's defenses." I glanced cooly at Fives. This was the plan Anakin and Rex had developed. It would work...I could be assured in that.

And then Krell had to open his damn mouth. "There won't be any need, Captain."

"Sir?"

"All platoons will execute a forward assault along the main route to the city," Krell replied easily, his tone firm. My jaw dropped. That was suicide.

"But sir," Rex tried, "General Skywalker's plan was to surprise them with multiple attacks. If we come in from the main route, they're likely to engage us in a full-frontal assault."

"Change of plans, Captain," Krell smirked, making me simmer in my anger. "I'm in command now."

Rex looked….afraid. Not for himself, of course, but for his men. For me. "With all due respect, General, we don't know what we are up against. It might be wise to think first." The Force rippled in warning. I wanted to step forward and warn my captain, but I couldn't.

It was already too late.

Krell whirled on Rex. "Are you questioning my order?" He tapped his wrist, a hologram of the capital appearing. "This battalion will take the main road straight to the capital. You will not stop and you will not turn back regardless of the resistance you meet." The hologram disappeared again as the Jedi stood tall with pride. "We will attack them with all our troops, not some sneak attack with a few men."

I couldn't stop myself any more. "Sneak attacks are to ensure victory with as little cost to us as possible," I spoke up, my tone hard. "Your plan is suicide." It was bold to say, but someone had to. And it was true, after all. We were all thinking it.

Krell glowered at me, his yellow eyes burning. "That is my order and you will follow it explicitly," he growled, my mouth closing slowly into a scowl when he looked away from me, the discussion over. I usually was never one to let the verbal battle go….but I didn't forget his threat earlier. I wasn't going to leave Rex and the boys alone with him, especially knowing the death wish this Jedi apparently had. "Do I make myself clear, CT-7567?" He was talking to Rex again, their faces close. He was degrading him by refusing to use his name.

My nose crinkled in distaste. All I wanted to do was put him on his ass. Show him that I'd been a player in this game before...but I wasn't anymore. And never would be again.

But I couldn't. For the sake of the ones I loved.

"Yes, General," Rex replied, his shoulder slumping slightly. Krell was getting to him. I could feel the tension within the clone. How trapped he felt.

"Now, engage," Krell ordered, the captain snapping off a salute before walking past us dutifully.

"Rex," I whispered as he went, but he didn't turn. He would follow the orders….as he was told.

"Fett," Krell growled, earning my attention. I approached, but didn't stand at attention. Screw this guy. "Perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough before."

I cleared my throat slightly, remembering to play along for now. "You did, sir. It's a...habit."

"Then break it," he hissed, making me fight off the urge to flinch. "I considered taking Skywalkers advice and using your talents," he allowed pacing before me. "And I was going to keep you on the ridge with me for strategic uses." My eyes widened at the fact that he was going to observe the battle from afar, rather than fight with his troops. "But insolence will not be tolerated. Follow the clones you seem so desperate to protect. You'll be part of the assault."

Secretly, as much as this was a suicide-mission….I'd rather be on the ground where I can at least try to protect my friends than standing next to that foul monster, watching everyone die.

"Yes, sir," I replied easily, walking away without being dismissed. A part of me half expected a lightsaber to hit me in the back, but Krell let it slide.

Maybe because he expected me to die during the assault.

Him and me, both, really.

I fell into step with the other clones as we walked along the main road that led to the highway. I did my best to keep my sighs of disbelief in. This was ridiculous. I was glad for my mask and goggles. Otherwise the clones would see the anger I was barely containing.

"So why aren't we sticking to the original plan and probing the city defenses first?" Tup asked as he walked behind me.

Hardcase turned from where he walked beside me. "We can do this. Let's take 'em!" He was terribly confident. More than me, at least. The entire planet rippled with the Dark Side, making it hard to feel the things around me. Not to mention Krell was a mystery that just bundled around either an idiot or an asshole.

"Yeah, leave it to Hardcase to dive in head-first," Jesse teased, trying to keep the mood light.

"The general's new plan is reckless," Fives said, unable to contain his frustration any long. "What you said was right, Kida."

Dogma glanced over his shoulder at us. "You ever think that maybe the general knows what he is doing?"

I scowled at the young clone behind my mask, but Fives only ignored him. Apparently he was used to rigid shinies like Dogma. "I know you think this is a bad idea," Fives said to Rex, forcing the captain to stop ignoring our conversation.

"I raised my objection to General Krell's plan, but he didn't agree," Rex explained calmly, as if reading through the instructions of a manual on how to deal with superiors having dumb plans. "So this is it."

"Well, what if he's wrong?" Fives questioned. "Then what?"

"This isn't the time for a debate," Rex smoothed the situation as best he could. I disagreed, since the debate could save our lives. Of course, I felt Rex's mind racing. They weren't trained to question orders. If they did, they could be charged with treason, and that was never a good thing for a clone.

We were backed into a corner.

"Right now, we have to stay alert," Rex finished, his tone final. The men listened, dropping the argument. For now.

"Eh," Tup worried, his barrel panning over the tree line. "It's too quiet out there."

My pistols were drawn into my fists already as I hummed lowly in agreement, eyes scanning the trees. I brought up thermal imaging, seeing nothing yet.

And then suddenly the ground shook, a tiny shockwave throwing my forward. A clone had stepped on a mine in the road. Another went off as their victims screamed. I froze, Fives and Rex dropping to the ground.

"Mines," Fives called, "Nobody move!" I glanced around, seeing them all prone. I had already found my feet again, dusting off my armor.

Rex signalled to Kix and Hardcase, the two checking on the injured clones. "Oz is down," Hardcase called, his hand on his brother.

Kix shook his head sadly. "So is Ringo."

The captain approached between Fives and I, looking at us. "Can you sweep 'em?" he asked us both.

I was glad Fives had detection software in his toolbelt, too. It would make things go faster. In order to sweep with my HUD, I had to turn off the thermal, unfortunately. I prayed silently to the Force for it to warn me if we were under attack.

"There's more over here," Fives called as he swept the right side of the road, my feet taking me down the left.

"Here, too," I reported over my shoulder. "It looks like the whole road's been booby-trapped."

"Everyone, watch your step," Fives advised darkly as we began leading the troops down the safest paths.

And then there was a ripple of air across the back of my neck, just barely disturbing the hair there. I turned just in time to see the giant ball of green fire exploding into the road behind us. It was followed closely with the yelling of the Umbarans in their native tongue, green bolts flashing by as they ambushed us from behind.

To be fair, I'd hoped for a warning from the Force. While I was expecting more than half a second….it was a warning, nonetheless.

"We're completely exposed!" Tup cried as we were quickly surrounded on all sides. My pistols rattled off endless, taking down the Umbarans. Still, it's like they kept coming endlessly.

"Stand your ground!" Rex ordered.

Hardcase stood near the center of our group, firing his rotary blaster. "You want a piece of this?" he taunted as he mowed down rows of attackers. An explosion rumbled the ground as another cannon blast came in.

"I think Hardcase made 'em mad," Jesse observed, still shooting into the trees.

Speaking of, some Umbarans raced from the tree line, trying to take us down by hand. "The Umbarans are advancing," Fives yelled. Tup easily flipped one, my own attacked swinging high. I ducked below him, easily shooting him twice in the ribs before easily stepping past and moving to my next target.

The Umbarans knew their territory well and had good weapons, I'd give them that. But their hand-to-hand was shit. I wasn't even sure why they tried it when they had massive cannons to use instead.

I rolled beneath a volley of shots, sending my own into the trees as I reactivated thermal. And then a shot caught me from the side, grazing across the side of my goggles and mask. It burns the material of my mask, making me drag it from my face with a cry of pain. The goggles were fine, besides from some spider-webbed cracking at the corner. They'd hold.

I tapped them.

Osik. Knocked out my thermal, the bastard.

I shook my head, trying to find my way off the ground-where I'd dropped to when my face began to feel like it was melting. "They're coming from all directions," I heard Dogma yell somewhere beside me as my goggles recalibrated.

"We don't have any cover!" Fives screamed.

We were loosing too many men and far too quickly. Screw what Krell ordered. I holstered my pistols and drew my lightsaber as I stood, the blade igniting brilliantly in the misty darkness of Umbara. "Sooran ni'jagyc, Krell," I grumbled as I began deflecting the incoming bolts to protect my friends. "I'm your new cover," I called to the men. "But we need to fall back!"

Rex nodded, falling in behind me as I blocked the shots I could. "Get them to follow us. If we can draw them out, we can see them. If we can see them, we can hit them!" He raised his voice louder to be heard over the battle. "All squads, fall back now!"

We raced back down the road in the direction we came, our AT-RT exploding when it hit a mine. I deflected the shots while trying to keep up with the men, the Umbarans closing quickly. As we ran back, some of our other squads came racing in to help. Thank the stars...maybe Krell found some sense when he saw how stupid an idea this was.

Taking up a position further back to meet up with the other squad, I took the front like Krell should have been doing. I wasn't a Jedi, and I certainly was no Skywalker….but I was better than the general we had now. So I'd protect the men as best as I could.

"Stand fast," I heard Rex say to his men behind me. "Hit 'em with everything you've got!" With the added power of the new squad and the AT-RTs, we were able to push the Umbarans back. Of course, we still hadn't gained any ground.

"Where you going?" Hardcase yelled after the retreating enemy, sending bolts into the mist after them. "Get back here!" They fell back, the battle falling silent for the moment.

I glanced over when I felt Krell's approaching presence. He was pissed. I put my lightsaber away quickly, tucking it into my pouch. "CT-7567," Krell growled as he shoved past Fives. "Do you have a malfunction in your design? You pulled your forces back from taking the capital city! The enemy now has control of this route. This entire operation has been compromised because of your failure!" He shoved his meaty fingers into Rex's pauldron aggressively, the clone stumbling backwards slightly.

"General Krell," Fives cut in before I could shoot the Jedi on impulse. "In case you haven't noticed, Captain Rex just saved this platoon. Surely you won't fail to recognize that." Fives' tone was...disrespectful. Even I'd admit that.

"ARC-5555," Krell practically growled, standing over the trooper ominously. "Stand down." His green saber ignited beside Fives' head, immediately prodding me to step forward. A hand caught me, making me turn to see Jesse. He didn't look at me, but his hand didn't release my wrist to ensure I stayed beside him.

It was for the best. It's not wise to tempt someone who clearly wants blood.

"Sir, yes, sir," Fives said back, his words tight. He stepped away immediately to keep himself from saying something that'd actually get him killed.

"Sir," Rex continued, earning the general's glare again. "If I may address your accusation. I followed your orders, even in the face of a plan that was, in my opinion, severely flawed." The anger was billowing in him now, too. "A plan that cost us men. Not clones!" He ripped off his helmet, showing the Besalisk his face. "Men!"

Krell said nothing, but looked over the clone calmly.

"As sure as it is my duty to remain loyal to your command," Rex continued, his voice more even now. "I also have another duty." The captain gestured past the general to us, who were standing in a group watching the dispute. "To protect those men."

The Jedi was quiet for a moment before his lightsaber disengaged, a small smile coming to his lips. "You have a spark of tenacity, Captain, I'll give you that. I know that I don't command like the Jedi you're used to serving. Certainly not like General Skywalker. But I have my way." My jaw clenched as I kept myself from saying anything, Jesse's hand still around my wrist. "It may be difficult, but these are difficult times. And it's proven effective."

I glared at the general as he continued. He wasn't admitting any wrongs. He was lecturing us.

"I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. They seem to admire this. That's important to an effective commander." Krell's gaze cut to me. "Though I don't understand the loyalty to the Sithling." I felt the darkness in me rear its ugly head. Jesse's fingers tightened impossibly around my wrist to keep me in place. Still, the clones seemed to fidget like I did. They didn't like Krell calling me that any more than I did.

"All right, Captain Rex," Krell sighed finally. "Your opinion has been noted. Dismissed." He walked away, leaving us behind on the destroyed road.

"I think he almost complimented you," Fives teased, glancing at our captain.

"Eh," Rex sighed, looking tired. "It's hard to tell."

"Incoming!" The clone's scream didn't give us time to prepare for the next attack. The enemy appeared from everywhere, raining hell onto us.

"The Umbarans must've regrouped for a counter attack," Rex surmised calmly, putting his helmet back on and drawing his pistols. I tried to engage my thermal vision, only to curse loudly. I'd forgotten it was broken. "Everyone, we must hold this position!"

"They're above us," I called, drawing my rifle and relying on the thermal vision in the scope to start picking off the Umbarans in the trees. We ducked into cover as best we could, the clones still eerily calm.

I suppose that was their training, after all.

"You think General Krell still intends on taking the capital using this strategy?" Fives asked, firing over Rex's shoulder.

"I don't know," Rex admitted, firing his pistols along with us. "I'll get back to you on that if we survive this battle."

"When we survive this battle," I corrected with a grunt, switching my hold on my rifle to better my angle. I took the shot, downing my target easily.

"Right," Rex muttered. He dipped sideways to dodge a bolt before gunning down his attacker without even looking. "When." I appreciated the attempt to follow my optimism. It was pointless, though.

Because that was when the Umbaran gunships arrived to rain hell down upon us.

MANDO'A

Osik- shit

Sooran ni'jagyc- suck my dick

Author's Note:

Who's been watching the new episodes of Clones Wars? I'm super excited about them, but I'm sad over how much we are missing out on that Filoni had planned but can't create.

As always, thank you for reading. Reviews/Likes/Shares are always appreciated and encouraged.

-Ryder