The walk down to the 501st barracks was familiar yet somehow not so. The layout of the Resolute was exactly the same as the interior of the Doubtless, the late flagship of the Outer Rim Garrison. The difference, though, was the feel of a different Legion. There was a certain feeling that made it the home of the 501st. The banners didn't help.
Joystick, Dusty, Shuriken, and Mate followed Vaughn into the living space of Torrent Company. Lines of bunks, each with attached chests, followed the walls, stopping to leave spaces for some tables or when a door was present. Blue banners sporting the 501st's logo were hung around, here and there, taking up the wall space accompanied by sparse shelves, and some tacked up posters featuring amazing landscapes. Occasional pin-ups featuring Twi'lek, Togruta, Human, and other women were here and there, but somewhat scarce. A few glass portals at intervals in the left wall showed into the training room, filled with equipment, mats, and crates. Soldiers lingered about, most in the red clothing sported by Republic troopers while in the barracks, each with the emblem of the Kaminoan's, the creators of the clone army, symbol on both shoulders. Others sported dark red muscle tees, or even no shirt whatsoever, revealing their inherited musculature. Lounging on chairs, crates, chests, bunks, or even the floor, some conversed with varying volumes. Others played holo-games on the tables or read from tablets. Others still exercised in the adjoining training room or even just napped on their bunks. Atop a table sat a holo-projector, playing a catchy tune with a fast pace and strong beat. The sights and sounds were all familiar and welcoming to the three newcomers, yet created a feeling of loss as they remembered that very scenario taking place countless times within their own barracks.
"Welcome to Torrent Company's barracks," Vaughn announced, gesturing grandiosely towards the room. Several heads turned to watch as they walked inside, most curious, though a few wary stares were cast towards them. Joystick and Dusty managed to turn them back to their own business with friendly and creepy grins, respectively. Shuriken strutted, casually examining the place and nodding to a few of the men. Mate stayed utterly silent as they went, Joystick probably the only one in the galaxy to know the boisterous astromech suffered from extreme shyness.
"Seems... lively," Shuriken observed as a commotion broke out across the room, several loud cheers erupting. A rough circle of soldiers surrounded two others who had been arm wrestling upon a box. One with tattooed blue lines on his face jumped up, celebrating his victory loudly, the loser rubbing his forearm but grinning, nonetheless.
"That's Hardcase," Vaughn said with a smirk. "He's a... special one."
Hardcase, having come out of the euphoria of his victory, looked over at the approaching troopers. "Vaughn!" He greeted in a thunderous voice. The heads of all the clones around him turned in response. "Where have you been? It's been boring just beating Jesse over and over again!"
"I've been helping the Commander with her duties on the bridge. She's still pretty new to the Naval lifestyle. What, has Jesse gotten weak in my two-hour absence?" Vaughn aimed the last remark at the man Hardcase had been wrestling, who stood with his hands on his hips. His face was cleanly shaven, matching the rest of his head. A prominent tattoo of the Republic crest dominated the top left side of his face and head in black ink.
"More like someone smuggled Caf to Hardcase again. He's off the walls right now" the trooper snarked, causing his brothers to snicker. "Who are your tag-alongs?"
"These are Joystick, Dusty, and Shuriken." Joystick cleared his throat, gesturing towards the droid. "Oh, and Mate," Vaughn amended.
"They float in through the hangar doors or something?" Another trooper with a standard short haircut called. Unlike most of the others, he wore his armour which was blank white. His helmet was clipped to his belt.
"More like crashed, Sterling," Vaughn replied, grinning as the other members of Torrent Company nodded and ahhhh-ed appreciatively.
"I don't recognise their markings. Where'd you guys come from?"
"We're from the Outer Rim Garrison," Dusty said quickly. Joystick prepared himself for the inevitable questions.
"The Garrison, huh? 303rd?" Jesse scratched his chin. "Ryloth, right?"
"Not anymore," Shuriken dropped. "We lost there in the big way." Understanding dawned in the eyes of the 501st clones and they all nodded sympathetically.
"They're in need of a new home," Vaughn said after a brief silence, putting a hand on Dusty's shoulder. "I thought we might show them around the place, see if we can get the captain to recruit them."
"We're always looking for newbies for Torrent!" Hardcase laughed, sauntering up and pounding Joystick on the back hard enough to knock the wind out of him.
"Yeah, 'cause if the droids don't get 'em, Hardcase does," Jesse said with a smirk.
"He still owes me for that trip to the ER!" A random clone with a buzz-cut yelled from the back. Many began sniggering.
Hardcase shook his head, scowling. "For the love of dwang, Koho, I didn't mean to knock that AT-RT over! You were conveniently standing right-"
"He means well," Vaughn said with a hand over his mouth as Hardcase continued arguing with Koho good-naturedly. "Go ahead and acquaint yourselves with the men. I get the feeling you may be here a while."
"Looks clear," Scuff whispered, looking around the corner of the building.
"Alright, let's move." Raid motioned for the rest of their squad to move forward as he broke cover, dashing through the night-time darkness of the deserted streets.
Within the confines of the town, Raid, Diego, Shock, Awe, Scuff, and Twitch made their way stealthily towards the Old Republic compound in the centre which now functioned as the Separatist's Forward Operating Base. The installation had once served as a communications outpost for the Republic during the old wars, according to Shock, but had fallen into disrepair in the years leading up to the clone wars. The trading town that had grown up around it had been a somewhat prosperous and safe place of civilisation due to the space port the outpost provided. At least, it used to. Now, crumbling and decrepit buildings lined the streets, rubble and debris strew in alleyways, doors hanging off their hinges, windows blown out, and no signs it had been lived in since the Separatists had attacked the planet.
After the gutkurr attack previously that night, the clones had decided to keep moving. They had reached the town that perched atop the cliffside not more than three hours later and had rested in the confines of a ruined house. Occasionally droids patrolled outside, but security was pretty lax. Some gear had been shuffled around in the group, and now Shock wore the Keeli's old kama. Raid had reasoned that extra leg protection was most likely a good idea for someone with a leg injury.
"The compound is just around the next intersection," Scuff said in a hushed voice. "You sure they have something with a hyperdrive?"
"Nope," Shock whispered cheerily. "Let's go browse!"
"Let's do this!" Diego approved quietly, rubbing his hands together. The group cautiously rounded the corner, revealing a modest airbase. With a dull grey colour, it stood out from the surrounding brick houses like a Loth Cat in a herd of Nerf. Surrounded by a wire fence with wooden elements, the courtyard had some parked Vulture droids and piles of crates.
"I see our entry point," Awe said, pointing at one of the side doors. Two B1 battle droids were stationed on either side of it, unmoving. "We hop the fence to the right a little where the crates block the view and sneak over. The launch bay will be on the other side, overlooking the cliff."
Diego patted Scuff's shoulder, looking back at the others. "Me and the newbie will go first and take 'em out. Try not to gives us away, crippled one."
Shock snorted. "I may be injured, but I can still kick yours and the Seppies' butts in my sleep."
"That's not all you can do in your sleep," Awe muttered as the Diego and Scuff took off quietly, reaching the fence in no time. After what seemed like a moment of deliberation, they both vaulted the fence, landing on the other side and stealthing around the crates stacks.
"Let's move," Raid said, moving at a modest pace. Slow enough so that Awe and Shock could keep pace yet faster than a jog. When they reached the spot that their companions had vaulted over, Raid could no longer see the side door nor the guards. "You think you can get over this, Shock?"
"My leg is hurt, not my arm," he responded testily, bracing himself against the fence. "Don't have to coddle me." Shock vaulted easily over, landing on his good foot only and slowly lowering the other to the ground. Not to be outdone, Awe vaulted one handed and with a flourish, landing quietly. Taking care to grab hold of the wood crossbeam, Raid hopped it in a less stylistic way, landing more or less silently.
"Not very effective as a fence," Awe observed, supporting Shock once more. The troopers made their way stealthily around the crates.
"Its purpose was to slow people down, not keep them out," Shock said, looking up. "There should've been at least one more line of fence, maybe of concertina wire, and rooftop turrets." The side door came into view. No droids were in sight.
"Looks like the other two did their job," Awe said, head on swivel mode as they crossed the open ground. Raid pressed the open button on the door's panel, and it slid open with a slight whoosh. Inside were Scuff and Diego, standing beside two dead droids. The hallways of the base went on before them, supports at intervals against the wall holding up the metal roof. Crates sat here and there out of the way.
Diego patted Raid as they entered, door closing behind them. "Took you long enough. It's time to get off of this rock."
"Go! Go! Go!"
The chant of the surrounding clones grew more animated by the moment as Shuriken and Hardcase strained their arms against each other, determined to make the other drop. Joystick sat on a box, watching the strength contest with a grin. Mate, right beside him, was playing a game of Dejarik with Sterling, completely decimating the clone's holographic monsters on the board. Sterling, somewhat frustrated, rubbed his chin as the droid beat everything he threw at it. They were already at 'best eight of fifteen,' Mate holding seven wins versus Sterling's one over the course of two hours. Nearby, Dusty and several other pilots, one being named Hawk, laughed and talked while drinking a blue beverage called spotchka. Joystick had passed up the opportunity of drinking a flask once he learned it came from krill, a shellfish or some other aquatic creature. Loud Corellian Rock blared from the holo-projector nearby, adding to the rowdy ambience of the room.
Hardcase growled as he slowly lost momentum, Shuriken aiming for victory. With a primal shout, he threw all he had left, slamming the sniper's arm in the other direction. Shuriken, unable to hold against the sudden assault, lost, his knuckle pounding the table.
"Yeah baby!" Hardcase yelled, leaping up and pumping his fist. Nearby, clones clapped, cheered, or groaned as they cashed in their bets, mostly in rations. "You got taught!"
"I never learn anything," Shuriken retorted, holding his arm out for a rematch.
Hardcase laughed. "If you insist!" He got down to commence again.
Suddenly, a trooper yelled from the back: "Female on the floor!"
In an instant, the room descended into chaos. Soldiers quickly tidied up their spaces, putting away loose armour and blaster pieces, shoving boxes where they belonged, and straightening sheets on bunks. Several troopers hastily put on shirts, and one who wore nothing but a bath towel dodged into the nearest refresher. Random objects flew through the air as men tossed them to others who packed them in storage crates. Hardcase practically leapt across the room in a single bound and slammed the button on the holo-projector, cutting the music off mid-guitar solo. A trooper swiftly flipped three pictures featuring Twi'lek women on the wall over, revealing on the backs were photos of Generals Windu, Yoda, and Plo Koon. They were captioned with inspirational quotes like "May the Force Guide You," "Keep Fighting the Good Fight," and "Hard, the Path to Peace is." Mate began protesting loudly as Sterling powered down the Dejarik game, complaining about the unfairness of stealing another win from him. Dusty swiftly quieted him with a slap to the head.
"Thank the Force for Coric," Hardcase panted as he and the other troopers all began doing various tasks like reading the Reg Manual, shining boots, or discussing upcoming assignments. Joystick turned back towards the door, still seated on his box, to see a familiar Togruta girl enter the barracks.
"Hey there, little Princess," Shuriken called, smirking as she wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'm glad I found you guys here." Ahsoka stopped near Joystick, hands on her hips as she stood in the decidedly female akimbo stance as her eyes roved the room, taking in the rather quiet and boring setting. "You guys do much?"
Joystick could see Hardcase shaking his head out of the corner of his eye, but grinned. "Meh, just partied a little."
"Some party," the Padawan snorted. Her eyes caught on the three pictures on the wall, beside which the trooper was dutifully studying his boots for grime. "Hey Mixer, can I see the picture of Master Plo please?"
Mixer looked up, looking only slightly nervous. "Sure thing Commander." He stood, setting his boots on the ground. Plucking the picture off the wall, he turned and walked over, handing it to Ahsoka before backing up a few steps. She looked at the Kel Dor's face intently before turning the photo around. Joystick's eyebrow raised in a way to match the helmet beside him when he saw the Twi'lek lady picture was missing. Glancing towards Mixer, he saw the clone discretely slip a piece of paper under a pillow behind his back. Ahsoka handed it back with a smile.
"Always liked that shoot of Master Plo," the Togruta said. She turned to Joystick, who was trying hard not to laugh. "We're going to be underway for the Bith System soon. The mystery warship has been hanging around that area of the galaxy, and we need to protect some 'vital infrastructure.'" Ahsoka finished the sentence with air quotes.
"And... what does that mean for us?" Dusty asked, walking beside her.
"It means we don't have the time to drop you off anywhere, so you'll be tagging along." She paused for them to think before continuing. "We can go talk to the Rexter about getting you on the 501st."
"I think that's in all of our best interests," Shuriken said.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the bridge." She waved them to follow her as she walked off towards the door. "Vaughn, could you come too? Afterwards, I have to finish with the starship identifying charts, and you were in the middle of explaining."
"Yes sir!" Vaughn said quickly, marching off with the crew of Riddler Six.
Raid was starting to think that their luck had finally turned around. Naturally, that's when everything went kaput.
As the snuck down the halls, the clones moved a little too hastily and rounded the corner straight into a group of eight droids loitering by an open blast-door.
"Bantha-poodoo," Diego spat as the B1s all turned to face them.
"Hey, what are you doing here?!" One of the droids exclaimed in its nasal-sounding robotic voice.
"Cleaning the hallways of trash!" Scuff said, firing his carbine at the nearest one, taking it down instantly. The clones opened fire, mowing down the droids and allowing only one to pop a shot back which went wild as it got blasted, striking the roof.
"Is it too much to hope that no one heard that?" Shock asked right before an alarm sounded.
"Apparently, yes," Awe grunted as he urged his brother forward. "We've gotta keep moving before they get here!" The clones began moving at a fast pace, Shock barely keeping up. Diego looped his arm around from his left, aiding their wounded comrade to move quicker.
"Hey! Stop right there!" Raid looked behind them to see another group of droids. Red blaster bolts began streaking down the hall as the droids opened fire.
"Cover!" Diego yelled, practically throwing the other two behind a support on the walls. He produced his rifle as he got down on his stomach and began rattling off bursts of Republic-blue lasers before rolling to a different niche in the wall. Twitch knelt by a support and traded some shots with his DC-15A. Scuff and Raid both dashed a bit further down the hall before finding a respective crate to hide behind. Both used their carbines to pick off clankers with headshots.
As the number of droids began to dwindle, Diego motioned for Shock and Awe to fall back. They complied, rounding supports as they made their way towards Raid. After they got down, Diego broke cover and dashed back, taking a few pot shots as he moved. Raid focussed on providing covering fire, hitting B1 after B1.
"Super Battle Droids, incoming!" Scuff called, falling back. Raid began shooting at the silver death machines. In close confines, they could be particularly deadly, especially since their armour was tougher than that of a normal battle droid. The B2s began adding more rapid-fire lasers to the skirmish, making the air thick with red.
"Go Shock!" Awe stepped around his support, exposing himself to cover his brother. Shock stumbled through a set of open blast doors, taking cover to set up a firing position.
Raid was about to move back when the hallway exploded in a loud boom, smoke billowing about. The force of whatever explosive detonated threw him back and through the blast doors. He crawled to a better position as the smoke cleared. Down range, Diego scrambled into cover while Awe lay on his back out in the middle of the hallway, gear lost on the ground around him. His pack had spilled, leaving grenades and gear on the floor. A B2 marched up to the prone clone, blaster-arm pointed at him.
"Ha! An easy kiii-aah!" The droid's deep voice panicked as it stepped on the toothbrush, which rolled out of under it. Its bulky body fell with a crash beside Awe, who rolled onto the droid and, with a mighty tug, ripped its arm loose. Retrieving the toothbrush and his carbine from the floor, he blasted a hole in the droid's head then retreated, diving through the doorway beside Shock.
"I knew this thing would come in handy!" Awe yelled, pocketing the brush. "Come on, come on!" Scuff and Twitch retreated to positions farther back, firing as they ran. Diego was dashing towards the door when suddenly it clanged shut, stranding him on the other side alone.
"What happened?!" Raid shouted, running to the control panel. When it wouldn't work, he activated his comm. "Diego, can you hear me?" Static greeted him, signaling that they were jammed.
"They're locking the facility down! We've got to run for it!" Shock replied as Awe grabbed him.
"But Diego!"
"They're trying to trap us in one section, but don't know we're on this side yet. We have to go!"
Raid kicked the door in frustration before turning and booking it after the others, who had already made some progress. Rounding the corner, they saw the hangar straight ahead. Vulture droids and a few shuttles were idling inside, along with several B1s.
A droid shouted, pointing at them. It was awarded for its vigilance with a bolt to the face from Twitch. Doors began clanging shut behind the clones, one at a time, echoing loudly.
"Go! Go!" Shock and Awe were the first in the hangar, exchanging fire with the enemies. Scuff was through next, followed by Twitch. Hearing the last one slam shut, Raid poured on the speed, fueled by desperation. He dove through the doorway, feeling the whoosh of air as it clanged shut. He stood to follow his brothers to the nearest Sheathipede shuttle with its ramp down as droids continued firing at them. Head roving, Raid realised the bay door was sealed. "Where are the controls for the door?"
"Catwalk at the back of the hangar!" Shock yelled as the group reached the ship. Sure enough, a ladder at the back wall by crates marked for ammunition led up to a catwalk, the length of which spanned the large chamber. It ended at a small control room on the side wall which protruded slightly, large glass panels allowing the view of several droids manning the station.
"Twitch and I will go for it. Shock, get this bird running! Awe, Scuff; hold back anyone who comes," Raid ordered. In response, doors on either side opened up, allowing droids to begin to march in.
"Make it quick!" Awe shouted, taking Shock's rifle as he entered the ship and began firing off at full-automatic. Raid and Twitch darted across the hangar, dodging bolts and occasionally returning fire. Cutting beneath a docile Vulture droid, they reached the ladder, Twitch beginning the ascent first, and Raid followed closely. Most of the droid fire was focussed on the clones at the shuttle, though a few B1s seemed to think exposed troopers would be easier targets and began trying to shoot them on the ladder. Narrowly escaping some close shots, the duo clambered onto the catwalk. A short distance away was the door to the control room, guarded by a single B1 which saw the clones pointing their blasters at it.
"Great," it muttered to itself. "'Guard the control room. Get a promotion!' Roger, that's the last time you listen to OOM 22." An instant later a blue bolt impacted it, sending it over the railings with a cry.
Raid and Twitch barged into the room, clearing out the occupants rather effectively, and the latter began searching for the controls for the hangar. Raid was about to help when a door in the back of the room opened, revealing more droids.
"Quickly!" He called, picking off droids as they tried to advance inside.
"I think I found it... here!" An alarm sounded and the large hangar began to yawn open. Twitch turned around and fired into the crowd of droids that pressed forward. Both clones bobbed and weaved through the enemy fire, too pinned down to retreat. "What do we do?!"
"Duck!" A voice yelled outside. Both clones flattened themselves on the ground as the glass behind them shattered inwards, spraying shards all over the room. Blue lasers flew in from outside, and the loud sound of an engine rumbled. "Need a lift?" Awe asked from the ramp of their shuttle, blasting droids left and right. Scuff hurled a knife, sticking a B2 in the head and dropping it.
Raid and Twitch slowly backed up towards the window, trading shots. Twitch was the first to turn, jumping out on the ramp of the hovering craft. Raid followed next, leaping the four-foot gap between the control room and salvation. As he stood, a red bolt streaked by, striking Scuff in the chest. The trooper collapsed with a yelp.
"Shock, go now!"
The shuttle started off towards the exit, but Raid glimpsed a something on the floor below that made his heart stop.
"Rocket droid!" Raid and Awe were thrown back when the projectile struck the ship with a catastrophic BOOM! Through the smoke, they watched in horror as Twitch stumbled out of the shuttle and plummeted off of the ramp. The shuttle lurched forward as Shock hit the accelerator, smoke trailing as they left the hangar behind and flew out into the open Ryloth air.
"Close the hatch!" Awe yelled in obvious grief. Raid was too stricken to react.
"I can't," the pilot responded frantically from the front, hand flying over the controls. "The motor is dead, and so is the hyperdrive. We also have fuel leakage. That rocket did us in."
"Are you kriffing kidding me?!" Awe screamed. "All this for a shuttle just so its hyperdrive gets blasted out?!"
"It has a long-range communications array," Shock offered. "We may be able to beam a transmission to Republic space."
"I guess that's our only hope." Awe turned. "Raid. I'm sorry, but we can't go back. We gotta focus up."
"I know," he replied in a small voice. It had all happened so fast. First Diego, now Twitch and-
Raid crawled over to Scuff, who lay on the floor gasping for air. A blaster mark was right next to his heart, and by the smell of burnt flesh, it had pierced the armour. "Raid..."
"You did good brother," Raid whispered, knowing full well that he wouldn't make it, even if they had medical supplies.
"No more cheating death... for me..." Scuff coughed. "Thank you... for the name. It seems the mission... the war... it's over for me." The trooper breathed his last breath. Heavy silence reigned inside the shuttle as Raid and Awe sat beside the fallen clone, both men wrapped in grief. Even the rushing of the engine was muted by the depressing shadow of death.
A beeping began at the front.
"We've got Vultures, and this bird hasn't got any guns," Shock warned them. "I'll try to lose them in the canyons."
"I'll beam out the transmission," Awe volunteered, standing to go up front, but he felt a hand gripping his forearm, stopping him. Having taken off his helmet, Raid held a determined face as he looked up at Awe.
"And I'll buy us some time. Gimme that rifle."