New chapter, all about Crosshair. Hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
Crosshair is sitting on his bed. Checking on his 773 Firepuncher rifle. But place it on his lap, as he looked at his quarter. It's messy with Tech equipment's and other junk his old 'squad' have laying around. And yet, he's the only one left in the room. His brothers, the other commandos of Clone Force 99 deserted the newly formed Galactic Empire. Taking along with them is a new Clone named Omega. Crosshair can't help but feel betrayed from his squad mates. They're the only ones who understand him, the ones who fought side by side during the war. But now they're gone, left him alone.
Suddenly, stuck in his thoughts the door opened. Revealing a Clone Officer in black uniform with a badge on his left clothes, with two reds and one blue. With a new symbol of the new Empire on both sleeves. The officer entered giving Crosshair a salute.
"Greetings, sir!" The officer greeting Crosshair "Reporting to duty!"
Crosshair look at the Clone "Who are you?" Ask Crosshair standing up.
"CT-9616! Captain Scowler, sir!" Scowler responded.
Crosshair walked up to the captain "What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I been assigned to your command, sir." Scowler responded.
"Assign you say? Then why are you here for anyway?"
"To inform you of your mission."
"Mission? On whose authority?"
Both Crosshair and Captain Scowler walked down the hallway passing other Clone Troopers "Admiral Tarkin wants you head back to Onderon to finish the mission." Scowler explained to Crosshair.
"Finish the mission? You mean eliminate the Separatist insurgents?" Ask Crosshair.
"Yes, those are his orders."
"Why? If you haven't noticed Captain, the mission failed and got arrested for treason."
"I'm well aware about the incident with the other members of Clone Force 99. However, the Admiral wanted to give you a second chance. To prove yourself to carry out the mission."
"How exactly? Does he expect me to take out the insurgents, by myself?"
"Who says you're going alone?"
Once they entered into the landing deck, standing in front of the Nu-class attack shuttle are four Clone Troopers. All wearing dark armors, holding their helmets in their left arm. When the four sees both Crosshair and Scowler on the landing dock form they all stood straight and salute them "At ease men!" Scowler shouts as they halt saluting.
Crosshair took a good look at them. Standing at the far left is a Clone who shares the same appearance as the other Clones. The second Clone next to him shaved his hair completely while having a goatee. The third Clone is completely bald. The last one on the far right has the same appearance as the other Clones but has sideburns.
Scowler turned to Crosshair "Men this is your commanding officer. Commander these are your new squad." Scowler introducing Crosshair his new unit.
"My new what?" Crosshair asked.
"Your new squad. These four are from the Special Forces." Scowler explained.
"Special Forces?"
"Yes, it's a new program the Kaminoans are working on. These four young Clones have been selected to take part of the Elite Squad program."
"You don't say?"
"Yes, they all receive same training as any other elite units. You could say they're on par with ARC-Troopers."
Crosshair take a look at their armor's. The armor looks similar to ordinary Clone armor. Only difference it's all black and the lens on the helmets are green "What's with the armor color?" Crosshair asked.
"It's the latest modification of the Army." Scowler explained "Modified only for the Elite Squad Troopers."
Crosshair went silence as he looked back at his 'new' squad. Scowler walked up to the men with Crosshair standing in the back "Listen up men. You four been selected to take part of this mission. Your assignment is to find and eliminate the Separatists insurgents. You're all will be under Commander Crosshair command on this mission. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir!"
"I said do you all understand?!" Scowler shouted.
"Sir yes sir!"
Scowler looked back at Crosshair smirking "They're all your's sir. Go luck, I'm confidence for your succus." Scowler salute and walked away, leaving Crosshair alone with his new teammates.
The Nu-class shuttle exited from hyperspace, approaching to Onderon. In the shuttle Crosshair and four other Clones stood on their feet. ES-02 is giving Crosshair the stink eye. Glaring at Crosshair with disgust "Can't believe, we're stuck with this sorry excuse of a Clone." ES-02 muttered which left unnoticed by Crosshair.
"Something you want to say?" Crosshair asked.
"I do in fact." Said ES-02 looking at Crosshair "Why is it the Kaminoans put you in charge when your just some defected Clone?"
The other three Elite Squad Troopers groaned at ES-02 "Would you knock it off 02? Getting tired of your complaining." ES-01 told ES-02.
"I'm serious! Out of all the other Clone Commandos and ARC-Troopers, why are we stuck with him?" Question ES-02.
"Because he's a commando, what's wrong with that?" ES-04 ask his fellow Clone.
"Because he's with the so-called Clone Force 99. But the rest of our vod called them 'The Bad Batch' which I could see why they're called that. And I heard that his comrades betrayed the Empire."
"Do you have a problem with that Reg?" Crosshair stares at ES-02.
"What did you call me?!"
"Enough 02! Show some respect to the commander. Understood?" ES-01 glared at 02, making him turned away scoffing. ES-01 looked at Crosshair "Sorry, about him sir. This is our first mission so he's a bit… antsy to get some action."
"First mission? I thought you been off world." Said Crosshair.
"Not really. We were about to finish our training to fight those Separatists clankers. But when word about the war ended and the Jedi betrayal to the Republic. Well, you know the rest." ES-03 telling Crosshair.
"And how did you four ended up being the first Elite Troopers?" Crosshair asked.
"The Kaminoans just started the program shortly after the war." ES-01 starting speaking "They saw our potential and have us go through special training. It'll be great honor to fight by your side commander."
The shuttle landed in the jungle. Crosshair and the Elite Troopers placed their helmets on their heads as they exited the vessel. Thanks to their dark armor they blend in the shadows. Coming up to where the insurgents camp is at. Laying low ES-03 took out his binoculars. He checked out the camp.
"There're several armed hostiles. And lots of supplies." He then notices the ship "Wait. Is that an LAAT/le patrol gunship they got there?"
"Let me see." ES-01 took the binoculars and look through them to see the gunship "Yeah, that's defiantly an LAAT/le alright."
"Where did they get it from?" ES-04 asked.
"Doesn't matter. We're here to carry out the mission." Said Crosshair standing up as the others followed.
With Gerrera's militia are loading the ship with supplies and four civilians. The captain of the garrison holding a sensor device. One of his subordinates walked up to him "Sir, just receive a transmission from Gerrera. He's standing by at the Rondevo." Said the rebel fighter.
"Alright, let's move out." Ordered the captain.
Walking to the ship, the sensor went off. The captain took a look at it "Wait, sensor been trigger in sector 2A. Alert the others!" Ordered the captain.
They gather with weapons up. They looked around in the dark jungle. Silence among the group. With tension raising red bolts shot through the vegetation. The first rebel gets killed instantly. The refugees stare in horror as more shots fired onto them. One of the rebels crouch down to check on the fallen ally.
"Get our people on the shuttle! Now!" She ordered.
As the refugees quickly headed to the shuttle, the fight intensified. A smoke grenade was thrown in. Releasing the thick smoke, blinding the area. Crosshair signal his men to advance. As the gunfight rain down hard, hitting one of the rebels. Crosshair snips one of the rebels running and the second from the shuttle. Crosshair and two others move forward. Taking over the fight.
The captain ordered his men to fall back. Two of them fallen back with one still firing. ES-04 walked to the left side of the rebel. Held his flamethrower up he lit up the rebel. With the rebels on the run ES-02 fired onto the fleeing rebel. As the rebel fell face first the rocket launcher went off, firing a rocket at the ruins, which exploded on impact. ES-03 fired at the captain who ducked and ran to the cockpit. Starting up the shuttle, the doors shut close before ES-04 could burned the people inside.
Crosshair and two other Elite Troopers walked up as the shuttle begin to hover. Before it could escape ES-01 had climbed a tree. He took aim and fired onto the cockpit, killing the leader. The shuttle crashed down. Everyone walked up to the shuttle as it opened. The last fighter and the four refugees exited the shuttle with the rebel hands in the air.
Crosshair walked up to her holding his DC-17 hand blaster towards her "Where's Gerrera?" Crosshair question her.
"I don't know." She answered, "But I wouldn't tell you if I di-" Crosshair fired at mid-sentence.
Her body fell to the ground as Crosshair put his weapon away "I believe you." He said coldly with no remorse.
He walked up to the refugees "Do any of you have any information you like to share?" Crosshair ask the refugees.
"We don't know anything." Said the male refugee afraid "We were promise for safe passage off-world. That's all."
"Then you have no farther use for the Empire." Said Crosshair aiming his hand blaster.
"Sir, what are you doing?" ES-01 asked confuse.
"What does it look like? Finishing the mission." Responded Crosshair.
"What? But they're civilians."
"They're traitors to the Empire."
"Yes… but-"
"Are you out of your damn mind?!" ES-02 butts in angrily "We were train to protect, not murdering innocent civilians!"
"But you were train to follow orders." Crosshair turned to face ES-02 "And we have our orders."
"Gerrera's men are dead! We should bring them in and let the Coruscant Guards or Security on Coruscant for interrogation."
"Those weren't our orders."
"Kirff our orders! This is wrong."
"So, you're not going to comply." Crosshair tone getting dark.
"No… None of us are."
"ES-02 you need to calm down." ES-01 spoke.
"No, 01 this isn't right!" ES-02 turned to face his brother "You and I both know this isn't right. I'm not going to kill unarmed civilians. We weren't train for this." He looked at his fellow troopers "Delay that order. We're taking them in for questioning."
"Do you really want to know why out of all the other Clone Commandos, you're stuck with me?" Crosshair ask with ES-02 turned around to face him "Because I have what it takes and willing to get the job done. You know why?" Crosshair then whipped out his DC-17 and fired at ES-02 chest area. ES-02 body fell backwards laying motionless on the floor, with the other squad members looked at him in shock "Good soldiers follow orders." Said Crosshair lowering his weapon.
"Any other objections?" He asked the three remaining Elite Troopers "Finish the mission." Walking past and stood behind.
The three troopers looked at the civilians who looked at them with fear. Hesitate at the order but rose their weapons. Bolts and sound of flamethrowing is heard as Crosshair looks on.
Returning back to Kamino Captain Scowler is waiting for their arrival. As the Nu-class shuttle landed Crosshair and the three Elite Troopers exited the ship. Captain Scowler walked up to them saluting.
"Welcome back Commander. Is the mission a success? Did you manage to eliminate Gerrera?" Ask Scowler.
"It's done. But Gerrera wasn't there." Crosshair replied bluntly.
"I see, I'll let Admiral Tarkin know." Scowler then notice the squad is one member short "What happen to ES-02?"
"He didn't make it." Crosshair lied.
"I see, a pity we lost a good man. At least his sacrifice wasn't in vain. Go take a rest. You all earned it."
Crosshair and his team walked away. Upon arriving at his quarter, he notices how clean and tidy it is. As the other troopers settle in their new room. Crosshair took the time to look around. He notices the number of missions that Wrecker kept track is still there. Walking to his bed he sat his rifle down and sat down on the bunk. He looked at his new squad mates, after witnessing what he did to ES-02, there's going to be some distrust. But it doesn't matter. What's done is done. With a new battle over the horizon.
Hope you all enjoy this new chapter. Have a good summer.