Re-constructed 11/6/2016
Hello, theotherpianist is back with another chapter. I was pleased to receive more reviews. Many thanks to those that took time to review.
This was a fun-ish chapter to write. When brainstorming it was really hard to decide upon a plot afterwards and this was the only decent thing I could come up with. I would like to keep this somewhat semi-realistic, if this bothers you, my apologies. I hope future ones will satisfy you. I think this is one of my less decent chapters honestly, but you may think differently. If you feel the need to flame, don't. Say it some other way.
This chapter is more action oriented and then a lot more backgroundish. You may read accordingly.
Reviews worth mention:
HALO: Once again, the whole OC x Ahsoka thing I think is over done. I mean, I can already think of four or five fics that use this. I mean I could but I would like to finish this first.
Ventros:You are correct, I wanted to try and do something new. I guess I didn't put two and two together. Technically Lt. Commander's and Commanders can command such ships. I don't know how to fix what's been set in stone. Sorry if this bothered you too much. I did add a segment of their backlash but it probably wasn't enough. *Edit* William is... well you'll see. I'm plotting this out. Thanks for noticing.
Without any further delay,
Chapter Eight:
Planet designated Alpha 1:
Tobali System,
Andromeda Galaxy, 4:45 hours December 3rd 2559
Five minutes ago…
William was pursuing Ventress cautiously with a trio of Elites flanking him. They had successfully sent small units to chivy the droids into pursuing the ODST's right where they wanted. From what he understood, Ventress was guaranteed to have tried to follow and then monologue right before killing them. It was the perfect window opportunity to rescue, destroy hostiles, and eliminate a HVT, textbook in fact.
"How we doing Sarah?" he asked the AI who was monitoring their positions.
"All are in position." she reported. "Republic is on standby."
The ODST's and been forced to the edge of the cliff where they realized they had been surrounded. Ventress was now striding forward.
"Allied Species Strike Force this is General Skywalker reporting in." the voice of the Jedi Knight interrupted his observations.
"Go ahead General." He said.
"We are in position now and we are ready for capture of Ventress." He said.
"Rangers ready on your mark Spartan." Major Crespo said chiming in.
"Read you loud and clear. On my mark and signal." said Will.
William motioned the Hunter pair forward. They charged their cannons, a sickly green light illuminating the immediate area.
"Execute in three…two…one…"
William gestured and the Hunters fired. The pair sported a fuel rod beam cannon that sprayed a lethal radioactive beam that cut through the army ahead of them. Many of the droids burst apart in heaps of sparking scrap or else exploded into shrapnel. Some unfortunate few where atomized to their basic components.
In any event the Hunter pair was outdone by the rest of the Allied Species who unveiled themselves suddenly. From all around the report and whine of plasma weaponry suddenly was drowned out for a brief moment by the report of Chelsea's M90 shotgun. William unhooked a grenade from the belt around him and tossed it. It exploded with a bang eliminating a group of five or so clustered together. Several Elites took his cue and tossed their own grenades which proceeded to adhere to the droids who tried in vain to rip the ball of latent plasma from themselves.
The Ranger's quickly unveiled themselves and the sharp crack of DMR's and sniper fire filled the air instantly taking down a column of robotic forces. Droids everywhere fell and collapsed, bursting, exploding, melting, shredded into razor sharp basic components.
William was becoming surprised by the comical behavior of the opposition. He was quickly becoming aware that the "B1's" as they had been designated were not a serious threat unless they were in large numbers. The more serious threats were faced by the B2's, the B1's taller, heavier, deadlier cousins." He brought up the MA5D to his shoulder and fired a three second burst into the abdomen of one of the Super Battle Droids. It collapsed onto the ground in a heap and William leaped forward tossing another grenade. They were slow to react the oncoming attack.
However by now the Confederacy's attention had been turned to the advancing infantry. Concentrated blasterfire found their mark and a couple minors slumped to the ground. Enraged, several others broke ranks and dashed forward igniting their swords in a fury slashing through their ranks. The droids continued firing at these new closer threats until they clutched their throats dead.
"Move up and secure Ventress!" William ordered. "Skywalker where are you?"
"Look up." He said cockily. William glanced up for a moment and saw seven LATT/i's streak in overhead from behind clearing a landing zone for their troops. The majority deployed their payload of Clone soldiers quickly and efficiently taking off again and filling the space where the droid army stood with lasers and many missiles.
William was forced to take cover while a group of B2's hosed his position with blaster fire. He observed the clones disembark and almost immediately un-shoulder their weapons and open fire. They all certainly had an aura about them off professionalism that showed in their combat. He had to admit to himself, Clones or not they were lethal warriors. Whoever they were cloned from had to have been a master warrior.
His thoughts were again diverted by a Super Battle Droid that had gotten too close and was trying to take him down with its integrated blaster. He ducked and the bolts of energy flew over him. He fired another burst that made it stumble and fall to the ground. William stomped as hard as he could on the droids head and it stopped moving as the armored boot punched through the metal casing and crushed its circuitry to bits. William realized in his distraction he had lost sight of Ventress. The Sith had inexplicably disappeared.
"Target lost! Where's Ventress?" He called out.
Suddenly near where the Republic had landed a dual pair of red sabers lit up. He saw the flash of a blade and someone screamed. One of the Gunships overhead began unleashing a payload of missiles which decimated the Confederacy's ranks. Another blur of red light lit up the night and the wing and engine exploded. The wounded gunship reared back drunkenly for a moment before it crashed into another taking off. A fireball ensued and gave a great amount of heat as it consumed the wreckage.
A sudden wave of energy threw the flaming wreckage and other debris at the Allied Species and threw him, the other Clones, Allied Species, and the last dozen or so droids that were alive back. Another wave of a hand caused the sides of the buildings to suddenly fall off burying and trapping many under rubble. William watched in mute shock now buried as Ventress tore through those not buried with flicks and slashes of those lethal blades decapitating a Sangheili before slicing a grunt in two.
Her actions elicited an angry roar from the survivors buried. She turned and her face twisted as she caught sight of Anakin and Ahsoka who were still standing between Ventress and the squad of ODST's.
"Skywalker!" she snarled.
"Well if it isn't the hairless harpy!" said Ahsoka.
"This is Major Crespo." The voice of the Army Ranger blared in his helmet.
"Go ahead Major." He grunted as he struggled to extricate himself.
"We're on the roof tops with an angle. Permission to kill?"
"Shoot her!" he coughed as a piece of masonry fell on him.
Though he couldn't see him he saw the yellow dots of the Ranger's appear on his motion tracker. The three were still circling each other getting ready to attack.
Suddenly the air was split with a dozen plus sharp CRACKS that stunned the combatants. Ventress suddenly in another jaw dropping display of mobility leaped far backwards, faster for the rangers to track. He watches as the vapor trails came close, but not close enough. She caught a couple of the rounds with her blade and they flash-vaporized. One of them nicked her and she gave a pained yelp as the saber failed to completely stop the round. Overhead several curses and startled remarks broke the silence immediately after. Ventress without a second thought raised another hand and made a throwing motion. He saw the Rangers stagger, like they had been pushed roughly.
Ventress stared incredulously at the scene. Clearly this wasn't the reaction she was expecting.
Anakin and Ahsoka moved as one with their blades and suddenly Ventress was put on the defensive. The three traded strikes, ducking and weaving around, trying to get the upper hand. Some of the rangers took shots now and then, but there wasn't much they could do.
William was almost through the rubble buried on top of them. Some of the soldiers burried were almost through as well.
Suddenly she lashed out with her hand again and both Anakin and Ahsoka were thrown backwards. At the same time, Ventress seized some object out of his sight and there was a loud cracking sound followed by a whoosh. William heard the Rangers cry out.
A large section of a wall hurled past him towards the ODST's and Clones. It took the combined efforts of both Jedi to stop the wall in its track and hurl it over the edge, more than enough time for William to watch as Ventress dashed away suddenly leaving Anakin and Ahsoka the only Jedi left.
"Target has fled proximity." Sarah informed him.
Anakin extinguished his blade and cursed.
"And she runs to fight another day." glowered Ahsoka.
William felt the weight lift off him and he scrambled out from underneath as the Jedi lifted the rubble telekinetically off of him.
Anakin moved toward them and concentrating with Ahsoka moved the rubble off Will and the other troopers. As more and more people were excavated Will started requesting more and more medical transports as the extent of damage done from Ventress's blast was revealed. Nearly everyone save himself and Chelsea, the Clone Troopers, and a few of the Allied Species soldiers were injured in same way shape or form.
He spotted the prone figure of Dean sprawled on the ground. A nasty gash on his arm that had torn through the tough Body Armor. Satisfied it wasn't serious he detached a trauma kit from his leg. He pulled out a canister of Bio-Foam and began to stitch it up.
Corporal Dean Gunther
Dean moaned and opened his eyes gingerly as he felt someone probe a needle into him. He woke up to see the Spartan standing over him injecting a can of bio foam into his torso somewhere.
"On your feet soldier. We can't stay here anymore." He said helping him to his feet. He stood up with a grunt and observed a scene of total chaos.
All around him was fire and destruction. The Allied Species soldiers were trying to extricate survivors from the rubble. What most found were bodies. Angry roars for vengeance or howl of grief filled the air. Dean turned to find his team and found them all gathered around one figure.
He pushed his way through and saw Clarissa, helmet knocked off her eyes contorted in death throes. A sudden burst of anger filled him as he knelt down and confirmed she was dead. Killed by Ventress. His eyes traced downwards and in the center of her heart were two charred holes from Ventress's lightsabers.
His vision turned red and he raised a fist to the sky and roared as well with all the rage and energy he could muster.
"That ******!" Gasped Miguel as he looked over Clarissa's body as Dean finished.
Dean noticed that everyone except Amanda was there looking at her body.
"Guys, where's Amanda?" He questioned fearfully.
A wave of fear and dread washed over all assembled.
"Amanda?!" the squad all started calling out with the same fear.
The started expanding their search in an ever bigger circle. Alex's mind went blank.
"No, no-no, please not another one of us!" he thought.
"Guys!" screamed Samantha choking down a sob.
They all ran over.
Dean had to avert his eyes to look. Amanda was impaled on a piece of rebar. She was still breathing though but it was very labored. The injury wasn't as bad as he had seen but seeing her painfully twisted and impaled was too much.
"Move aside!" he ordered suddenly looking back to her. He looked it up and down.
"We can still save her! Someone hand a metal cutter to me!" he yelled.
Sergei tossed the tool to him. Alex bent down and with great effort cut through the thick piece.
With her body now freed from its ghastly push-pin it slumped to the ground.
"We need a transport ASAP!" he roared to no one in particular.
"We got one thirty seconds out!" yelled one of the Ranger's." he looked over and saw his brother Eric again.
"Well this is certainly convenient." He said bitterly.
"Move her to the edge of the cliff so we can get all on board ASAP!" He said ignoring him.
He looked him up and down as well.
"You're wounded too! Can't you see it?" he questioned incredulously.
"I can freaking feel it!" yelled the Ranger angrily gesturing to a large gouge wound from something torn in the explosion. It was bandaged but it would need more attention in a dozen hours.
"Just help me move her!" said Dean feeling his temper rise. The other members of his squad were transporting Clarissa and her remains aboard the Pelican that just landed. Alex observed with mute shock the body bag that his teammate was sealed forever in. He watched as they sealed up her face.
"I'll kill that…that…freak!" he bellowed angrily as Ventress flared up in his mind again.
"Cool it Corporal!" the female Spartan ordered shocking some sense back into him.
"The Sith just killed my teammate!" he bellowed. "Where is the heartless-"
"I said COOL it soldier! Or did you forget there are others here that just lost friends as well?!" the male Spartan shouted making him retreat a few steps back.
"No..sir."
"Are you capable of fighting?" asked the Spartan again.
"...Yes sir." he said after a moment.
"Then prepare to move out. We can't stay here." Underneath his cold voice was a note of sympathy and compassion. Dean seized onto it and gathered himself and his wits together.
Spartan William
William watched the ODST stagger away back to his squad now missing a member.
By now the Search and Rescue teams had rescued everyone alive and were preparing those who didn't make it for transport.
There was a still large group of able-bodied men left. There was the entirety of the Ranger's, the Hunter Pair, the squad of ODST's and the remnants of the Sangheili led lances of SpecOp troops. Not nearly as many as William would have preferred but it was still better than nothing. That left the Republic, they had a lot more soldiers left unscathed than the Allied Species. The two sides were awkwardly mixing together. None really interacted with each other but stuck to their own side.
He decided to try and break that quickly and set an example.
He walked over to Generals Skywalker and Tano with a clone, decorated in blue accents to his armor, a blast skirt, and pauldrons covering his left arm.
"My apologies Spartan." said Anakin. "We were so close to capturing her."
"Don't sweat it." he said.
"Have we introduced you to Captain Rex?" asked Ahsoka pointing to the clone.
"I don't believe I have." said William. He suddenly saluted.
"At ease soldier, I don't think you need to salute me."
"But you outrank me right?" asked the Spartan.
"Positions are irrelevant. It's experience that counts in my book. Judging from the amount I've heard about you Spartan you have enough. I don't understand why you were demoted from your position of Commander. That's a pretty significant fall."
William flinched and the Clone immediately backtracked.
"My apologies sir, I didn't mean to get-"
William waved it off.
"It's a story for another time."
"Will?" asked Chelsea running up.
"What is it?"
"We're ready to move right now."
"Tactical analysis suggests we should move out to engage the Separatist's on their unguarded flanks." Sarah chimed in over the external speakers.
"Sync, Generals?" Will said turning over command to them.
"Let's move out."
The Ranger's were divided into two groups on the side. Will noticed Eric climbing into the entrance on the Pelican and try to shrug his injuries off. He was reluctantly allowed a Huragok to heal him and soon disappeared as it flew off. The remnants of the Sangheili SpecOps soldiers were scattered throughout. The clones made up the center and the ODST's covered their flanks. The Generals and the Spartans took point.
The order was given and a brisk march took its place. The group settled in for the march, after about five minutes after they started jogging Will noticed Alex hanging back a little, he slowed his pace and allowed him to catch up. William had some guilt about yelling at his brother and decided that he would apologize.
They were crossing into a canyon now, they started descending into its bowels when the ODST spoke up.
"What do you want Spartan." said Dean coldly as William matched his pace with his.
"I wanted to apologize soldier."
"For what?"
"I might've been too hard on you earlier. Have you ever lost someone close to you before?" he asked.
"I guess...not. I mean the only time I've had that happen was when I was much younger and just now."
"Who was it when you were younger?" he probed.
"My...oldest brother."
Will found it hard to swallow for a second.
"Was he a great person?"
"He was just like any of us. I never really guessed how much I actually would hurt until he never made it off the planet. We were traveling when it was suddenly attacked. We got split and he just...told me to run and that he would find us eventually. That was it. Never saw him again."
He looked down again, and then back at William.
"How do you do it?"
"What?" asked William surprised.
"I mean, you've obviously lost people close to you before right? How...do you go about dealing with it, or do you at all?"
"Corporal, I've had that happen before many times. Technically I was a Commander of a large special forces team. There were twelve of us in the very beginning. Now there are two." he pointed up at Chelsea who was scanning the area ahead moving with her weapon at the ready.
"How...?"
"It doesn't matter how. I had trained with each of them from the very beginning. It was hard to accept that they were all gone. Your brothers and sisters all in an instant, gone. And you can't bring them back. I don't really know for myself how I dealt with it. All I know that it's an individual thing. I found parts of my family later on which gave me some comfort but, I can't replace your brother, or your squad member, or my team, or Ash..." he stopped.
"Has it been bothering you since we came here?"
"Let's face it Corporal. We have a UNSC distress signal from somewhere inside this galaxy. All we know is that it's UNSC. And, for whatever reason I know that it's somehow connected with those I lost. It has to."
"Will, I need you up here. General's are discussing stratagem, you might want to listen in." said Chelsea over a private channel.
"Roger." was all he spoke back.
"Corporal, I'm going to have to cut this short. We're arriving shortly at the target."
He said nothing back but waved him on.
Will easily caught up to the head of the column.
"What's the target?" asked William as he approached the two Jedi.
"We're approaching a large Comm station, your superiors believe it to have data on where your SOS signals originated from. We're currently breaking our backs over it right now. We're going to flank and take it swiftly." said Anakin.
"We're just charging through?"
"Yup." said Ahsoka chiming in.
Up ahead the crested over top of a hill and looked down on a large plain.
All around below was the scene of a frenzied battle.
Explosions of all sorts lit up the world below. Above the Republic was dueling with the CIS in the sky, Capital warships raining fire on each other. Two UNSC Frigates were providing air support to the troops below. The scene was a mass of smoke, gunfire from laser, plasma, and chemical weaponry.
"This should be fun." said Chelsea.
"You know, you could almost pass for Obi-Wan."
Outskirts of Separatist COM station
6:04 hours UNSC STANDARD MILITARY TIME
Will took a moment to crouch below a rock shielding them from the eyes of any observers. They had been in contact with friendly forces who had now redoubled their efforts at breaking through to provide distraction for the troops trying to break their way in through the back. They were currently holding their position. The com station stood above them on the mesa. Due to the sensitive information possibly inside, they would have to infiltrate from the bottom and work their way up, never a fun job, but he had done harder things.
"What are we waiting for?" an Elite growled nervously.
The army should be starting their next assault soon. They'll serve as a distraction while we infiltrate the center." Anakin answered.
The Sangheili nodded and ducked back to his lance.
"I hate waiting." Ahsoka mumbled.
"Ah, waiting's the best part." Rex chuckled. "What's the fun living second to second when you're not being shot at?"
Before she could respond, the dull thump of artillery began landing to their left.
"That's the signal!" yelled Ahsoka. She ignited her sabers and rushed forwards to provide cover for the troops. The more Will had been around her the more surprised he was at the competence of a 16 year old General. Originally he had his doubts about the capability she had but was now gradually erasing them.
"Charge!" roared one of the Rangers.
Will jumped up with the MA5D clutched in his grasp. And took point with the Jedi igniting their lightsabers. They jumped over the boulder they were hiding behind and began darting up the side of the hill. Everyone else moved to follow Ashoka and followed by the Clone Troopers and the Spartans followed by everyone else. The Rangers to his right took a running start and ignited their trademark jetpacks and then stopped allowing for a dramatic fall.
The group let out a general war cry leaping over their cover and then sprinting up the hill.
Their were a few guards manning the rear of the center. Will sprinted down and arming a grenade, threw it into the droids below. Running out to meet them were various droids but they were all cut down without much effort.
"Push for the control center!" yelled Anakin next to him, deflecting blasters back at the defenders.
The Republic put on a show this time as a group of 20 or so B2's appeared. The stopped and crouched firing their weapons. The Barks of DC-15's stopped as they eliminated the droids.
That threat eliminated they entered the main base and saw a series of steps leading up to their destination.
"Spartans, move up and secure the top with Rex, we'll take the outside forces!" yelled Anakin as the troops streamed past. Will charged up and burst inside.
The interior was very sparse and shadowy. He moved cautiously into the room with the others.
Suddenly a figure launched itself out at him. A blaster fired and he stumbled for a moment as his shield's took the hit. His fixated on an alien of some sort firing at him with a small blaster. Behind him Chelsea's shotgun roared as it found it's mark. The attacker was blown backwards.A second one appeared out of no where but Rex stopped him with a single bolt from his pistols.
There was a panicked cry and William saw others like the alien trying to escape to the upper levels.
"Mercs?" Rex questioned as he rolled one of the bodies over. "Since when did the Confederacy assign Mercenaries to guard outposts? They must be getting desperate."
"Sarah, I didn't see any reports of organic soldiers, can you recheck?" William asked.
"Already on it." She responded. "You should probably interrogate a couple of them."
Rex ordered his men to spread out and secure the lower levels. He motioned the Spartans forward and the they climbed to the top.
"Please don't shoot us! We surrender! We surrender!" They cried out.
"Throw your weapons on the ground and step forward one by one." he ordered.
They complied so
Rex ushered some troops forward to secure the aliens.
The soldiers at the top struggled to comprehend who this new attacker was. The rest retreated when the saw the Clones.
One suddenly burst out of hiding and managed to knock William off balance.
Will came up from his roll and lunged at the nearest alien plowing into it and pinning it to the ground. The attacker struggled to grasp at him but his shields made it as slippery as oil. he connected a fist and shot once with his gun. His shields flared and William slapped the blaster out of his hand before disabling the alien.
"Where is all the comm data stored!" he asked the terrified Alien.
"No...idea, who are you...guys!" he said trying to struggle free.
"I said, where is the data!" William said louder unsheathing the knife strapped to his shoulder, behind him Captain Rex and another two squads eyed his interrogation.
It paled when it caught sight of the blade.
"Please...please don't hurt me! We're just pirates! The Confederacy co-opted our base to use as a communications outpost! Please...you have to believe me!"
"Over there, left side." William let him go only to be restrained by Chelsea. He walked over and taking Sarah's chip placed it against the computer transferring her to it.
"Good news Sarah?"
"Scanning right now, it looks as though the station identified a transmission of unknown origin, we can analyze all data later. We should be moving. They've recently called for reinforcements and they should arrive in another few hours.
"Thank you Sara." William said transferring her back and into his helmet again.
"Right, we're done here! Let's move out and help the others."
As it turned out they didn't need any help. The surprise of the armies entrance to caused the majority of the defenders, (mercenaries in fact) to surrender immediately. They were rounded up and sent back up to Republic ships to await processing.
When the word had been spread that reinforcements were due soon it had been decided that the Sangheili would glass the critical areas of the planet and then retreat to Coruscant. As Will watched the Battlecruisers and a few Carriers begin to descend Ahsoka came up to him.
"Excuse me, I don't get one thing."
"What don't you get?"
"This whole concept of glassing. I only heard it mentioned offhandedly-"
Without warning a loud crack filled the air followed by a roar as the Carrier some distance away opened up with its energy projector bleeding forth a solid beam of plasma that tore through the air and vaporized the ground underneath. Thunder crackled and lightning flashed as the plasma burned away at a dense concentration of buildings. It moved overhead and when it was done Ahsoka saw nothing but a molten mass of white hot metal. Then the heat wave hit them followed a by a wave of dust.
"Did that explain?"
Ahsoka nodded mutely somewhat shocked.
The Republic troops were having similar reactions as they all waited for pickup via Gunship. Lots of curses were traded as they watched the Sangheili ships cauterize the planet's surface. They had similar reactions of shock, awe, and fear.
William noted an uneasiness forming in the ranks of the clones. It didn't sit well with him, in fact, even since their first introduction there had been a stark difference in attitude between the two factions. He had noticed the UNSC oodling over them, almost worshipfully in some cases, the Republic it had seemed was uncomfortable with the idea and way this 'Allied Species' fought. It was deemed "archaic, aged, and not very effective". In some of the conversations he had heard they had referred to them as "barbarians." The Sangheili were no better, talking scathingly behind their backs about the dishonor of being a clone.
In short it didn't brood well. It was still there when he and other personal boarded a Pelican bound for the Dauntless which had returned during the fight with reinforcement ships from the UNSC. He was troubled by it. It was to be expected of course, after all the Republic's military had only just been recently introduced, how were they to know how to respond. He was particularly concerned by the Sangheili's response. He had seen in the course of the Great War what lengths they took to do things "honorably". It was a bad combination that threatened disaster given the Sangheili's pride and the Republic's scathing opinion of the UNSC, or any of the other races in fact.
It was still bothering him when the Pelican touched down in the Dauntless's largest hangar. He proceeded with Chelsea to the Spartan Deck, (still sparse and unfinished) and removed his Generation One armor from his body to be repaired and made ready for instantaneous use. After being debriefed by the replacing Captain , (who had taken charge after Will had been released from duties) and an ONI officer on the data retrieved from the comm outpost. He made his way to his quarters, and then to the Observation deck.
They had transitioned to slipspace by now en route to Galactic City. Several of the Allied Species counselors had accompanied the Dauntless and were meeting with the Galactic Senate to negotiate a treaty of alliance, or something to that effect. William noted as he scrolled through a datapad with the official briefing of deployment for what was being called the "Andromeda Fleet" that the Arbiter was accompanying in one of the Supercarriers that had arrived (it had been on the otherside of the planet conducting glassing operations) That was sure to provoke a reaction from the Republic, it wouldn't be a positive one either.
"Hello."
His thoughts were interrupted by Ripa who had approached him.
He didn't answer.
"Are you well brother?"
He sat in silence for another minute.
"Yeah. How was action in space?"
"Interesting. The enemy's fighters were no real opposition. You know, the Republic has some interesting ideas on its opinions of us.
"I noticed." Will said dryly. "In fact I was just thinking about that. You would think they would have thanked us for assistance or something."
"Their technology certainly impresses. I think the Sangheili do a wonderfully job just without laser based weaponry." ignoring him.
"What do you think of their mass cloning usage."
"Unacceptable. However dire their situation was or is, to breed that many clones that quickly is not honorable, to make an entire army and use them like we did with Unggoy, dishonorable."
"Which is another point. How did they create an army that fast, to create the same army now takes more time than it did for the first group that saw action."
"An excellent point indeed." A lot of things remain under cover of darkness.
"How then do we expose them to light?"
Ripa laughed. "An excellent point as well!" his face fell though. "How was your encounter with this...Sith."
"Horrible, there were too many things we didn't count on. It was textbook until we were surprised by Ventress and her her force powers. She killed good men and women."
They sat for another moment.
"If we enter system within a few hours let me know, I need to rest. I haven't done so properly since before Rhen Var." said Ripa.
"May honor follow you." said Will in Ripa's native Sangheili echoing a phrase used for parting. Ripa nodded and exited as William.
Then he was alone with his thoughts again.
Alright another chapter done. Ventress escapes, we learn a little more of Dean's perspective's on things, and he loses a squad member.
William was demoted from his previous position of Commander? What? More to come on this later. What do you guys think? How was he demoted? We have a mini action moment, with the Comm outpost and then we have tensions.
This chapter starts to begin to explore some of the basic differences between the two sides which many of you pointed out. You truly are amazing. It was really fun to start to address this on a basic level. You'll have to wait to see where this all goes. They're going to Coruscant right? *Winks*
Read and review is all I ask of you. Thanks to those who PM'd suggestions. Who knows, I might incorporate your idea.
Cheers,
yours in writing
theotherpianist