Twenty four hours passed. The squad settled in to sleep. Martial dreamt of Zel. There was a knock at the door snapping out. His lover disappearing from his arms as his eyes snapped open and he snapped up looking towards the door.
"Wake up war lock! We've got ourselves a mission boys." It was Dral's sharp voice. The whole squad looked at each other for half a second. Slowly a smoke crept on Martial's face.
"Bout damn time," Martial said, "Lets go boys we're getting some action after all."
They we're on their feet in a second. Armor went over their bodies in two minutes. Their packs slung over their backs in half that time. And their blasters grabbed and primed in a quarter of that. Martial with his helmet led his two compatriots out of their cabin and infront of the barracks. A large flat bed speeder zoomed up. The other squads filled in behind them. Dral then moved up ahead.
"Alright let's load up, Grail's hit himself in a bit of a situation. We're going to help dig him out. Any complaints."
"Hell no." Martial said, "Bout to blow my brains out sitting around thumb twiddling." The Corporal was first to jump into the back of the flat bed.
"The field report corporal?" Lieutenant Dral asked.
"Right here." Jaster said passing him a data pad.
Dral looked at him for half a second then shrugged his shoulders, ultimately not caring about the irregularity. He turned and talked with the other squad sergeants as the platoon filed in back.
Martial sat accross from sergeant Prowl and Zen squadron. The boys in woodland cameoflage the boys trained by the mandalorian huntress Vhonte Turvo. They were all skilled shots and had a calm vibe to them.
"Corporal," Prowl said the easiest voice crawling from his helmet's microphone, "How's it going?"
"Well I'm still alive," Martial said in a matter of fact way, "So it can't be too bad."
"Ha, ha," A laugh crackled from the man, "Suppose it is good to be alive."
"Yeah," Sergeant Chieftain said as he and his squadron took a seat next to War lock, "Well let's hope things stay that way. That whole last op cut it close."
"Not close enough," Cassus said as he settled in, "You boys got the fun job. I sat in a building and took potshots at guys for a tedious five hours."
"Course the Vau guy complains about not almost dying." Chieftain said, the eye roll complimented his tone.
"It's no fun if I don't get at least three near death experiences." Cassus said, "Don't you agree Jaster?"
"See I view this as more of a job," Jaster replied, "I prefer a quick clean op. Get in, kill every one get out."
"So old man Vau didn't rub off on you as much."
"Honestly I don't even think he remembers me. We never talked much because it only took one beating for me to learn to get everything right the first time. And so I always got everything right the first time."
"See I was stubborn and a wise mouth. He dished on me at least twice a day." Cassus said as he eased in his seat, "Ain't that right boys." He looked back at his squad.
"Clearly beatings weren't very effective. Because you're still both of those things ner'vod." Said Prowl.
"Hey he didn't beat me because I was a stubborn wise guy he beat me when I couldn't back it up." Cassus replied, "What about Sergeant Vhonte Tervo the huntress how'd she train you."
"Basically raised us as mandalorian hunters," Prowl said, "Honestly I remeber it being a lot of fun. She didn't usually get mad and rarely resorted to corporal punishment. But if you managed to get her there, man you were in for it. Tempest learned the hard way."
"Yeah," Zen squads tech specialist said, "I wanted to see if I could get her to just snap. And she snapped me."
"We are all bunch of idiots when we were kids." Prowl concluded.
"Unfortunately not everyone grows out of it." Lieutenant Dral said as he crawled in back and signaled the driver to move, "See I'm still a kid at heart. Just like playing with little toy soldiers when no one's looking."
Martial staired, at first surprised by the comment from the Lieutenant. Everyone else laughed and he joined in. He imagined Dral lining up little plastic molds of mandalorians and going pew pew pew pew after ensuring no one was watching.
The transport sped off from the base. It went on for about fifteen minutes leaving the behind. They arrived at the steal mill shortly after. It was massive with a hulking steel plant and storage facilities. And surrounded by soldiers. Heavy blaster fire sang in the back around as mortars thumped. The commandos helmets noise filtration system made the noise a lot less intense then it actually was. Martial was fully aware of that and knew they were in an active combat zone.
Grail ran out to meet them flanked by another ARC trooper. Smoke rose from the barrel of his westar M5 he held in the air. His white armor was darkened in several areas suggesting hits. He'd been in the thick of it.
"Lieutenant Grail, how's it going?" Dral asked.
"Miserable," Grail replied, "We've retaken this position about eight times."
"Eight?" Martial asked surprised.
"Uh huh. Pop open the mill you'll see a bunch of bodies from sides. In fact the stench is so bad I wouldn't dare remove my helmet for even a nano second. The toxins being released from decaying bodies would kill you."
"You've had a day." Cassus said.
"Yeah I have, I kriffing knew this would happen. But no one listen to junior officer even if he is an Alpha class ARC trooper hand trained by Jango Fett." He said and one could picture the eye role with his words, "You boys better make yourselves useful I'm in no mood to take this back for a ninth time."
"Well, We certainly won't make worse for you." Dral said, "We were supposed to meet Masara here to receive some intel you haven't happened to…"
"You think the spooks actually tell me what they're up to," Grail interrupted, "Not a damn word Dral. Just go take position towards the west end until she shows up."
Martial wasn't sure if he liked the idea of being used simply as extra muscle. But Grail didn't seem to exactly have a lot of patience.
"Grail we're the same rank. You can't just give me orders." Dral replied.
"Then stay the kriff out of my way because now you're wasting my time and that means people's lives."
The ARC Lieutenant looked right about to leave. However a figure emerged from a bush off to the left. It was Masara she was dressed in a grey hoodie and jeans very civilian like. The other ARC trooper caught off gaurd snapped around and almost fired.
"How nice of you to finally join us Agent."Grail was quite sarcastic, "Find anything useful?"
"O no not really. Just the location of their brigades CO and where they're keeping their reserve tanks."
"That's it then," Grail said, "Well Dral looks like you can do something useful. I would like you to slip behind enemy lines and hit their hq and reserves while I launch an offensive that in the chaos would rout them. However obviously I can't order you to do anything because despite the fact I've been a Lieutenant far longer we're the same rank."
"Go kriff yourself. We'll take care of it." Dral snarled.
Martial never saw the Lieutenant get snappy or impolite. But Grail was also a Lieutenant so Dral probably didn't feel he was overstepping his bounds by talking to his equal in rank.
"Right well here's what I have mapped for you," Masara said withdrawing a holo projector in her palm. The target was a small neighborhood. Several patrols were illuminated and it was about five clicks from their location, "There's a way in through their lines for a small force. I've mapped it out here."
A path was highlighted in yellow crossing several roads with several turns taking them around the enemy. Obviously a large force would be noticed by the enemy moving a long the way.
"We'll need speeders. Small compact one's."
"Thought you might say that. Convinced a few locals to lend us some civilian speeders in this niehborhood here." Masara says, "It's literally the one infront of us."
Dral looked over. He nodded his head.
"How'd you do that?"
"How does one do anything? I paid them obviously." Masara replied.
"Just seems to simple." Dral commented.
"Yeah why can't we just pay the Seperatist off?" Prowl asked.
"You could ask the reverse question," Masara said, "And to answer both. Both sides think it would be far more profitable to fight."
"Well that's kriffing stupid," Chieftain said, "Does this look profitable to you."
"It's profitable to someone," Grail said, "Just no one planet side."
"We're getting off track," Dral said quickly, "Platoon fall in we're going to hit enemy HQ."
Everyone replied yes sir and then moved out. They swept into the niehborhood first. Where indeed Masara had procured them civilian vehicles. This included one SUV like vehicle that could eight and two compact cars. Dral quickly directed Zen and Warlock to take the SUV while everyone else took the compact vehicles.
Martial hoped in the drivers side. Sergeant Prowl next to him as everyone else piled into a back row. Martial got a good look at the windshield and exterior.
"Kriffing hell. We take any fire in this thing. It'll tear right through and all of us will die." Martial said.
"Well your answers simple. In fact you just answered it yourself Corpral," Prowl began, "We simply can't get shot at."
There were healthy laughs from the back rows as they drove off. Not get shot in a war zone. Martial thought to himself while laughing a little.
They drove off about a click from the neighborhood. Lieutenant Alor then ordered the platoon to go in on foot and to remained formed up in their detachments. They did and moved quickly, blasters held up. Sergeant Prowl assumed command over Warlock squad, outranking Martial. Something Martial didn't really have a problem with. They got to know Zen quickly. They were lead by Prowl an easy talking ice cube of a person. He was complemented in many ways by his second in command, a sniper named Jaig. Prowl was east but Jaig was smooth simply put. The later two members however were the exact opposite. First was Specialist Smelt. One thing to note about Zen was non of them were privates, something Martial was curious about, Smelt was the engineer of the group who talked loud and proud and had a smile that added to it. He was good at putting things together and smashing them back apart. And lastly was Singer there comms,slicer, and medic. Guy loved music and had actually rigged the SUV to play music tapping into the planets radio station. He cheered as some love song popular on curscabt that he liked was played here on Askaria. Martial found it somber the Askarians kept up music on their radios while ear consumed their whole planet. It had put a smile on his face.
They looked at the neighborhood, managing to move towards it rear on a ridge which some kind of church was built. They saw the enemy's brigade HQ. They'd fortified the place. Turned a neighborhood into a strong hold. Heavy blasters position in housing facing the steal mill. Houses had been demolished and tanks moved into the remnants turning them into entrenched canons of sorts. Other tanks were in garages of peoples houses as mechanics got to work on them. Mortars had been placed behind it all and constantly fired. The artillery guns were further back. They were in the enemies line but not entirely behind them yet. That made Martial uneasy because that meant they were encircled by enemy soldiers. He felt his heart rate increase slightly. Remeber never panic. His training sergeant had always said it's not as bad as it seems even if it is. Martial began to regulate his breathing to get himself under control again.
"Alright platoon. Here's my plan. We're going to literally kick them in the ass. One detachment will advance the other will provide overwatch and cover. Basic stuff. The assault element will penetrate from eastern end of the villages where they're keeping their tank reserves. Light it up. When that happens they'll respond hold position because then the support element will swing from the west near the mortars and will entrap them from two ends before meeting up to secure the AO. Any questions or concerns. I'm all ears."
"If they send reinforcements," Prowl began, "What's the plan. Because from our position they can draw people from their positions further up. Or for all we know their division might have its own reserves to chuck at our rear."
"They wouldn't draw troops from the front. That's the only thing holding Grail and company back." Dral said, "As for our rear. Well we'll just have to be quick about it so they don't call in rear area reinforcements. This is after all a raid. We are not holding the position just running their reserves and support."
Martial was glad Dral Alor was Lieutenant. The man knew war like the back of his hand. More then just a grunt he was a military scientist. All those trained by Llats Ward were. The real war nerd of the Cuy'val'dar. He had his batch study the campaigns of Mandalorian generals, admirals, and rulers closely. Practically raised batches of officers. So it made sense Dral was Lieutenant. The man had a sense of what they were doing and why. And kept that focus on every order.
"Alright, Prowl take your group down. I'll cover."
"Alright," Prowl said, "Fall in boys."
"Lieutenant doesn't want to get his hands dirty." Te'Anila growled over the squad chat.
"Seems he likes watching from a safe distance." Jaster concurred.
"He's the CO he's gotta be able to survey the whole op. Besides, he'll be leading the western push." Prowl said back over the chat.
"How are you on our chat?" Te'Anila asked surprises.
"How'd you think?" Singer jumped in implying he sliced into it, "Obviously the corporal put us in. I totally didn't hack into everyone's chat and I never listen to your interpersonal conversations ever."
"Wait are you being sarcastic or serious. Vod your tone is very vague here." Jaster said.
"O You'll never know." Singer replied with a laugh.
"Guy's let's stay focused. We are moving towards a heavily fortified position full of guys who want to kill us." Martial said.
"Marsh I'm actually way more scared of Singer right now." Jaster said, "All those osik heads can do is kill me. Singer over there might actually have dirt on us."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Singer laughed as they continued their advance.
They came to the neighborhood's rear near a stone wall. Everyone knelt down. Prowl peaked around the edge. Then nodded. Everyone moved over the top scaling over the wall and landing in a back yard on the other side.
"Alright," Dral said over comms, "You've got a squad of ACG patrolling the other side. Deal with em as you may. The tank reserve is on the other side."
"Let them pass." Prowl said over comms, "Don't want to wake up the whole place just yet."
Te'Anila sighed. Martial didn't entirely like it other. Just ducking down in some back yard unable to actually see what was happening on the other side. He could hear the boots of the ACG marching against the ground. Then he could hear their voices. They spoke in a language he didn't understand. They laughed and then stopped. Martial tightened his grip around his blaster ready to fire if they turned to go inspect the backyard.
They kept walking, their voices and feet disappearing in the distance. Martial let out a sigh of relief. Prowl gave a swift hand signal for everyone to move out.
They were quick as the swept out I the back yard down an alley and into the streets. They saw tanks parked in garages of houses. The mechanics hard at work fixing them up. They stopped seeing the commandos who had their blasters trained on the engineers. The men and women froze in place. No one move an inch.
"Surrender." Martial said immediately.
They threw up their hands in the air. Prowl then checked all of them for weapons and directed them towards a position away from the tank. Te'Anila and Smelt moved in and fixed charges on the tanks.
Both squads then pulled back with their prisoners. Boom! The garage rose in flame and smoke as thunder roared. Martial could hear heavy footsteps rushing towards them. He snapped his blaster up and caught an enemy soldier coming around a corner. Martial shot the man once through the side of the head. Two bolts cracked from Jaster as put down another man.
However more footsteps hammered in from down the street. Zen squad all opened fired. A heavy blaster rifle wailed. The bolts streamed towards the commandos.
They all ducked down. Martial saw the gunner at the other end of the street with several riflemen with him. He knew they were being suppressed for an assault.
"Hold position LTs moving down." Prowl said.
"Jast cover me." Martial said instead.
"Didn't Prowl just….."
Martial moved and Jaster instinctively laid down covering fire. Three bolts slammed into Nartials armor. He dove right into the flames of a destroyed building an on to the other side where he saw an advancing squadron of soldiers. They stopped and turned about to fire. Martial squeezed his trigger and held the blaster steady. He watched as men fell dead in front of him. Their bodies thumped as they hit the ground.
He pulled back Jaster still laying down covering fire. A mortar cracked as a round soured through the air. Then boom! An explosion broke to Martial's left, sweeping him off his feet. The heavy blaster soldier turned to him and looked like he had him.
Dral pounced from the side and slid a vibro blade across the man's neck pushing him to the ground. Numerous blaster bolts cracked as men fell and the other squad moved in. Dral helped Martial up.
"Let's finish this and hit that mortar position."
"Yes sir."
The mortar team was placed at the center of the town. The men shivered from the explosions shouts and blaster fire. Their sergeant shivers having heard nothing since redirecting the mortar towards a position his lieutenant request. A Lieutenant he hadn't heard from since.
A he heard something clink a shiver shot up his spine as he turned and saw a small metal orb. He knew exactly what that was. He formed a hard look accepting his death.
Dral lead the charge in as his thermal detonator exploded. He fired a burst of three rounds nailing another man in the chest. He saw a rifle man near a house and shot him through the head. Foot steps hammered as the last squad rushed to the mortar team who'd been turned to ash. Several bolts flew. Dral smiled as he felt the adrenaline rush and the heat of bolts flying over him. Colossus squadron swooped opening fire in sync killing the remaining rifle men.
"Search the area," He ordered his platoon, "Find supplies burn it. Find data pads, take 'em."
Dral lowers his blaster and looks around. He focus on the rifle men who attempted to press him. Why? He thought to himself. They were outnumbered and outgunned; they should have withdrawn. Maybe they were angry about their lost comrades. Or maybe it was something else.
"Prowl get me one of your POWs."
Prowl carried out the order immediately bringing with him one of the engineers. The man was pretty burly. Yet fear was written in his eyes as he looked at Dral in his dark armor and cold emotionless visor.
"Your CO, the brigade CO was here."
"No," the engineer admits, "He lead the assault on the factory."
That mean's he can still give orders. Dral thought which meant that because the enemy CO took a huge risk he'd actually survived and kept command over his unit and could very easily and quickly redirect them. He looked back towards the steak mill which ge could see rising in the distance. Fighting was going on in several small villages around it.
"Platoon!" Dral began about to order his men to pull out before a massive force of enemy soldiers fell in them. He stopped hearing footsteps and turned.
He aimed his blasters but stopped. He saw an old man approaching him unarmed. One of the villagers.
"Sir, I am with the GAR. We are aligned with your….."
"I know who you are I watch the news I know what a clone soldier looks though you're armor is unusual."
"Ok I need you to return to your house, it's very dangerous…"
"You will stop them," The man said, "The ACG. Their forces won't return here right."
"We have a seperate bigger force that can push in now that we've destroyed their mortars but me and my platoon have to pull out."
"Please don't they are lead by a mad man Colonel Syvax when ge sees what happened here ge will kill us all. He will. He shot my daughter look over there."
Dral shouldn't have looked at the old man's front yard. He saw the body of a little girl face down in the front yard. Why? Was all he could think. He shook his head stay focused.
"Sir, I don't have the….."
"We're republic commandos." Martial's voice boomed over the comlink, "Come on Lieutenant we can't leave these people here. Enough good people have been killed already. We can hold this position just long enough for Grail to relieve us."
"Corporal," Dral began frustration pumped in his voice, "We could lose people."
"Yeah, it's war," Martial said giving a little attitude, "But we're out here fighting for a cause. What's the point of democracy if we tail it and run to let the little guy get butchered."
"I agree with the Corporal," Prowl said, "We're in a position to save lives."
"Chieftain, Cassus?" Dral asked.
"That girl deserves justice. I don't give a kriff what you're going to order I'm going to slit this colonel's throat." Chieftain said.
"Look I actually think we should retreat. But I'm not going against the majority here."
To the old man they were just standing around moving their heads. The conversation kept completely with in the platoon's comm channel.
"We're leaving." Dral says coldly, "That's an order."
"But sir…."
"Corporal there's a few thousand ACG out there. All of them are going to converge here. They'll kill most of us and then make the survivors watch as they execute the townsmen anyways. We're withdrawing, we did what we had to. We stay, we die and you don't get to see that cute senate commando you got back on coruscant."
Martial went dead silent. O he didn't think I knew. Dral thought to himself. Yet Dral knew everything about his troops. He hated being a miserable and cruel bastard but some one had to be.
"Yes sir." Martial said depressingly.
They looked at each other, turned around and left.
Lieutenant Dral lead the platoon back to the steel mill. Fire rose in the distance from the town they'd just left. Everyone around him was dead silent. They could hear blaster fire erupting from the town and knew that meant the Colonel had returned and was less than pleased.
Dral jumped out of his speeder and was met immediately by Grail who laughed as he approached the man. The ARC trooper Lieutenant padded Dral on the back of the shoulder, "Nice work." He said as he guided him towards Masara and away from his platoon, "The second they no longer had their mortars they panicked. I'll admit I doubted you could pull it off or that it would have the effect you claimed. But we've just swept all the surrounding towns clear of ACG and we've got them bottled up in their HQ."
Dral nodded simply glad Grail was less hostile towards him and not miserable for once. The Alpha class ARC trooper had only been a miserable bastard since they'd first met. Dral didn't think the man was even capable of cracking smile. Yet the way he spoke he seemed delighted for once. Yet also seemingly ignorant of what was going on in the enemy brigade's strong hold.
"How long will it take you to seize their HQ?" Dral asked.
"I want armored support first." Grail said, "So I've given an order for everyone to hold position and to simply keep them pinned till the tanks arrive. Shouldn't take longer then ten minutes, Seljuk's scrambling them as we speak. Once that happens I plan to send the tanks down the center and have the infantry advance on both flanks in a text book combined arms strike that'll envelope the cents and take one braids out of the battle! All thanks to your fine efforts Dral."
"There's civilians," Dral said immediately, "They're being massacred if we don't do something soon….."
"Dral, are you seriously prioritizing the lives of some civs over military concerns?" Grail asked as he turned around.
Dral looked at Masara briefly to see if he could get any support. She didn't seem to be showing any emotion. What do you mean seriously. Dral thought to himself with out saying it. He'd heard Alpha classers were cold and calculating hand trained by jango himself. But he didn't think they would have a complete disregard for lives of civilians that were on their side. His heart began to pump. He'd justified leaving because he believed Grail would advance forward.
"Grail those are kheshigan civilians on the federalist side of this civil war. People we were sent here to help. You're telling me your just going to sit there and let them die."
"Yes," Grail said with out even an once of hesitation, "If I launch an assault now I do not doubt I would take the neighborhood. However they have a small squadron of tanks left? they've repositioned in defensive postures. I could overwhelm them with the infantry but would lose countless soldiers I spent a considerable amount of time training. Good troops I could use to keep the momentum of the counter offensive against the enemy. If I wait for the tanks to arrive to launch a joint attack I will lose less troops and push the enemy out any ways and then be able to launch several follow up attacks to really push the enemy line back. Those civilians can not enhance my mission. I don't see the point in it."
Dral said nothing he frowned under his helmet. I made the same call.He thought remembering what he said to Martial. But a small part of him had hoped that they'd done enough damage so Grail could seize the town. I left them to die. He finally thought.
"Dral you're not going hero on me now are you?" Grail asked his voice colder then ever, "Do I need to remind of why we're here, of the objective."
"To ensure the Federalists do not collapse before the General's arrival." Dral said slowly and he didn't like the way Grail was speaking to him as if he were stupid.
"Those are our orders. We are here to keep the Federalists in the fight and then to force a regime change on this planet. Anything outside of that is not our prerogative. We're officers Dral I know you just became one and unlike me you weren't drilled into the responsibility. So let me give you a little guidance as an experienced officers and one who was bred for this purpose. Our job isn't to play hero its not save people. We're here to ensure every action taken is done with the big picture in mind. We're to make the calls that are hard,cruel, and dirty. Yeah the boys under our command they believe we're here to help people and they want to go out and save every man,women,child, and house hold pet whose life is in jeopardy right now. And we can't let them. We do not have the resources to and that will distract from the main objective. We're not here to help people, we're not here to be the good guys, and we're not heroes their are no heroes in war just the victors and the vanquished. So get that through your true mando induced brain and do your kriffing job."
Dral said nothing in response. Silence fell upon the battlefield, the blaster fire ceased and no screams roared from the village. Dral frowned and clutched a fist remembering the old man and the girl who was face down in the garden. I could have saved them. He suddenly thought to himself. It would have distracted from the main objective sure but Dral knew it would have been the right thing to do. Training Sergeant Ward thought hard military science but he also taught the ideals of the true mandalorians and why warriors needed to strive to be pillars of honor and stick their necks out in the name of justice. Something Dral just failed to do. Was Grail right? Is this what military leadership meant? And if so is this truly what Dral wanted?
Dashia woke up in her private quarters she'd been given. While certainly she resented the rank Commander, she did not resent the fact it came with a private room and comfortable bed when not in combat. She had been on the front in the Eastern front remembered the feeling of the cold hard miserable ground that formed her bed. A bed she rarely slept in due to constant attacks from the ground and air, having to lead night operations, and just not being able to sleep because fear spiraled through her head.
She clutched the sheets of her mattress as the sub bore through the window above. Then begrudgingly she sat up stretched, groaned, and got dressed. She ditched her Jedi robes a week after the coup. They needed to go undercover Jedi robes were a dead give away. She now had a forest cameoflage patterned jacket Borjid had given her, green pants, and black boots. Dashia rolled up the arm sleeves to her upper shoulder then grabbed her hair and crumbled it up into a nice bun she tied with a rubber band. She liked it more when her hair was down but a female Sergeant in the Federalist army told her it was better to keep hair short when wearing a helmet and suggested Dashia actually cut hers. Dashia didn't.
She smiled at herself in the mirror briefly before leaving her quarters with in a apartment in the city. As she walked into the streets it was hard to imagine war was occurring. She sniffed the air and could smell freshly baked goods. She smiled then every day she was here and usually avoided the shop. But the smell was especially thick today so she went in.
As she walked in she saw other patrons seated at tables. They ate and talked. All civilians. They took notice of her uniform and staired especially when they saw the lightsaber hilt hanging at her side. Dashia heard her communicator chime as she got in line. Instinctvely she raised her wrist com to her slips and answered.
"Hello." She said.
"Xiphos, it's Cyrus I need to speak you before you see Beskad at the Captain General's quarters."
"I'll be there soon." Dashia said.
"Soon? I need you here now."
"With all due respect Agent I don't take orders for you and unless there's something that needs to be done immediately all you're going to get from me is soon."
"Xiphos you're a Commander," Cyrus said using her rank, "A senior military officer. In fact you have more authority then even a naval commander because you're a jedi. So please take this seriously."
Never asked to be Commander. Dashia thought to herself. The line moved she frowned and let an annoyed sigh. "Yes Agent I am a Commander and you'll get my attention when you get it. Not much you can do about it." She then hung up.
Dashia got to the front of the line and met the gaze of the shop owner. He was a mid aged man with brown eye and a warm smile on a round face. He looked at her for a moment processing what she was.
"So Commander," He said revealing he heard the conversation, "What'll it be."
"What's you recommend?"
"All of it. But people here like the rye."
"Alright a loaf of that then." Dashia said.
The shop owner nodded and quickly grabbed a loaf from the display case and bagged it for Dashia. The Jedi commander reached in her pocket and got a bag of credits.
"No, it's on the house." The shop owner said, "Least I can do for those keeping the ACG out."
Dashia wasn't comfortable not paying the man for his food. She didn't believe she deserved his gratitude. But she could sense he wouldn't be convinced otherwise. So she smiled brightly and accepted the man's gratitude.
Dashia walked down the street towards the Captain General's residence. She was saluted by the troops on guard and allowed in. Then quickly made her to the office.
Captain General Pileser Borjid sat in his chair in full uniform with a welcoming smile. He stood up to great the Jedi commander hand extended to shake.
"Ah Commander Xiphos. Always good to see your face. And I can smell Hashyr's fine work in that bag. You'll enjoy that I'm sure of it," Borjid said, "Please sit. Cyrus has intel for us."
Cyrus didn't look as amused as he stood up. Dashia could sense his anger towards her. He didn't even try to hide it.
"Now that we're here," Cyrus began, "Ardashir has been encircled. Several divisions managed to seize several positions between here and there. No troops in until the encirclement is broken." Cyrus then paused, "However I've got good intel suggesting they moved their most experienced troops from the east for this offensive."
"Please get to the part where this concerns me." Dashia replied.
"You we're our top operative in the East. In fact you had better relations with their people then the Kheshigan officers we send down there. We need you to convince them to launch an offensive while the ACG presents in the region is weak."
"Back to the east." Dashia said and frowned.
"Yes," Borjid said, "We would like you to go back. I know General Assyr sent orders for you to be reassigned here to prepare for an offensive into the Asynyr but given the situation….."
"What about Beskad?"
"What about Beskad?" Cyrus asked folding his arms.
"I'm not done healing him yet."
"And?" Cyrus asked, "Look he's a good soldier but it's not game changing to get him back to his troops which we can't even do right now."
"He's our good soldier. And I said I would have him patched. I promised him."
The intelligence officer formed a hard look. Borjid hiwever nodded seemingly understanding. And he probably did. The man loved his troops and his troops loved him. Positions switched Dashia had no doubt he would say the same thing.
"How much longer do you think you'll need to get him to get him to the point of walking. Because if he can walk then whatever damage remains he'll be able to recover from on his own."
"Three days."
"Perfect General Assyr will be here for us to inform her of the plan." Borjid said.
Cyrus frowned, "We're pressed for time."
"Ardashir will hold far longer then three days." Borjid said, "Let the commander heal Beskad."
"You just want to talk to him."
"Uh huh. And as Captain General of Army Group north and the appointed High General over Askaria's Republic recognized PDF the position you got me I have decided Commander Xiphos should heal Beskad."
Cyrus muttered something to himself. Dashia smiled wittily. Borjid looked out for ever since they fled the capital together. He saw her as qoute an innocent little feather that got blown into a Hoth ice storm.
"Thank you High General." She said and saluted before leaving.
Dashia walked down the street towards the hospital. As she walked and passed the rooms she could feel the pain and suffering all around her. It saddened her to feel children in several of the hospital rooms. There's no mercy in war. She thought to herself. The whole hospital was filled with refugees and soldiers from various fronts of this planetary war. The North was viewed as the only place war hand touched. Dashia could vaguely recall her eagerness to fight and now couldn't understand why she ever felt that way. The awfulness of it all. She just hoped they could now stop the conflict from reaching Altai.
She arrived in Beskad's room. He still had his arm in a sling. Dashia could also feel pain deeper then just the arm. The damage from the explosions had undoubtedly caused other underlying injuries. Dislocated joints that had been relocated. And trauma to various points. He'd still need time to physically recover even if Dashia finished healing his arm even if he could walk.
"Ms Xiphos." Beskad said nodding, "What's that smell."
"Bread," She said with a smile, "Want some?"
"Definitely." Beskad said.
Dashia broke a bit off and placed in Beskad's hood arm. He ate it. Almost feeling immediately rejuvenated.
"That is good. You gotta tell me where you got it. So I can take it to my squad."
Dashia stopped smiling instantly remebering the bitter news she got. Beskad's squad was encircled in that city. And she would have to go back to the east. She remeber the bitterness of that front in seething detail.
"Something wrong?" Beskad asked immediately.
"I've got some bad news," Dashia began, "Ardashir's encircled they're not willing to transport troops in or out. Even if I heal you we can't get you in."
Beskad went dead silent as he leaned his head back against his hospital bed. He squeezed hist fist. Dashia felt anger from the man. It was hot and seething and then instantly gone as he nodded.
"Thanks for telling me." Beskad said.
"I half expected you to shout in rage and maybe throw something."
"See, I would but then I realized. I'm a Republic commando. I'll sneak back in and find my men."
"Beskad that could be very dangerous. You could get caught and killed."
"Uh huh," Beskad said not really listening, "That's part of the job."
That's the most valiantly stupid thing I've ever heard. Dashia said admiring his commitment to his troops. Yet it was such a waste of his life.
"You don't even know where they are in the city."
"I'll find them," Beskad said ignoring any possibility of failure.
"Beskad," Dashia replied, "Please don't. I've spent enough time with you to not want to get killed."
"Ok I promise," Beskad began getting Dashia to perk up, "That I won't get killed because I'm going to find a weak point in the enemy encirclement, breach it, get into the city, find my squad, and kick some ACG hide."
Beskad was dead serious. His mind was focused now. There was almost nothing that would stop him from going on a one man infiltration mission the absolute second he could walk. He almost laughed at the frustrated look on Dashia's face.
"Course Ma'am as a Commander if you have a direct order for me to not attempt it I would have to oblige or else risk a court martial."
Dashia looked at him with the most resentful look the man had ever seen. For a moment he wondered if he over stepped. Why's she hate being a commander so much? He wondered. After all surely being incharge couldn't have filled someone with that much resentment. Beskad would have loved to be a commander.
"Go kriff yourself biscuit." Dashia responded sharply.
"I touch a nerve?" Beskad said raising an eyebrow, "I apologize ma'am."
Dashia leaned back in her chair. One of her hands was visibly shaking. She then took a deep breath and sighed.
"Something else troubling you?" Beskad inferred, "You just seem on edge."
"It's nothing." Dashia snapped.
Beskad however could see pain in her eyes. He squinted and tried to prop himself up. He recognized the pain in her.
"Ok, you tell me what's scared you I'll you what scared me." Beskad said, "And why I have to get back to my squad."
Dashia said nothing at first seemingly considering it. Then she leaned forward and nodded slowly.
"Alright," Dashia began, "It's a deal." Then the Jedi padawan let out a deep breath as she briefly reflected on the last six months, "They want to send me back to the East because I they look at what I did there and they call it success."
"What'd you call it?" Beskad asked.
"Misery," Dashia replied, "Cyrus gets me there hands me a corp of partisans just to get me out of his way. Doesn't really care a Commander should only have a division at most. He just wanted me out of the way so formed up a group of criminals, vandals, bounty hunters, drunkards, and a few militia men and put me incharge. They wanted to rip each other's throats out. Should have been a disaster. But I actually got the bastards to like each other after a month of running drills with Druid's guidance first clone I ever met taught me how to run a military unit so I looked like I actually knew what I was doing. Then he sent Probus an ARC sergeant to advise me. Good man that Druid you should meet him when you get the chance." Dashia said, "Sergeant Probus was the bravest most daring person I've ever met. Gets this idea after we've got the boys and girls all trained he says it like it is they're a bunch of bastards so let's fight like bastards non of this fixed defenses pitched battles and combined arms bantha. So we go full guerrilla mode shed are military uniforms looked more like some hutt's personal clique then a military unit. We raid outposts, ambush patrols, sabotage supplies and communication lines and assassinate officers. It got ugly real ugly. I remeber rising from a river grabbing some ACG soldier probably only sixteen you can feel that in the force a whole three years younger then me." Dashia froze, "And I slit his throat with a knife. No lightsaber we needed stealth people would have seen the glow in the darkness. No grabbed him by the mouth held him tight then plunged the knife into his neck and pulled. People think you slash no you got stab first then carve, Borjid taught me that." Dashia stopped the moment playing out in her head as if it were happening again. Her hands trembled, "Blood oozed from the cut I threw his body into the river and moved on. Just like that. You don't think about those things while you do them it's after it stays with you. That's what the fighting was like close and personal we fought like bastards! And it kriffing worked ACG expected conventional attacks and maneuvers. Not constant bitter harassments, raids, surprise attacks, and I'll admit terrorism. We found out a ACG police commissioner was in town so we fixed a bomb to his speeder. Cyrus comes back admits he's impressed didn't think a Jedi could could get dirty then starts including me in the grandeur war says a few of the rebel leaders have gone rogue tells me he needs some one to take care of it. That cold hearted piece of fierfek thought I'd be his enforcer. No I negotiate with these 'rogue elements' find out they weren't getting the reasources to keep their people fed so they turned to the mafia. It really only took a call to Druid who sent credits, medical supplies, food, and engineers to help improve their infrastructure. They pledge their loyalty to me and devote their fighters to my cause. I lead a massive battle besiege a kriffing city we take it. Lots of people on both sides die." Dashia stops again, "Probus coordinates several follow up attacks we carve ourselves out a little kingdom, the most powerful warlord in the region Masayuki, he doesn't like that. Threatens Cyrus, threatens Borjid, and once again I'm told we need to kill him. But I'd grown rather tired of killing and war so I go talk to him. See no one understood Masayuki they all thought he was a power warlord. No this guy genuinely thinks everyone is plotting to kill him all the time. And in his defense everyone was trying to kill him well accept me. It takes time several meetings, several exchanges, I find out the guy like beer and mystery films so Ivhave Druid get those for me. Then finally I convince him at least I'm not going to kill him. I have an alliance and have basically reunified the East then comes the last month is bloody. I was too successful Sylor through everything at us. We're no longer doing little guerrilla stuff. It's attrition a thousand people die a day. No gains or loses ground nothing changed people starve, people get sick, and people die. They hit us with nerve gas most my original group has gas masks that doesn't extend to other people's troops nor does it extend to even a quarter of the civilian population. A Jedi can feel pain and sometimes if you're close enough to people you almost see them die. I was never hit with nerve gas but I could feel people suffering as it enter their lungs and then slowly disintegrate. The fear and sadness realizing what happens and no one can help them. And the excruciating pain that sends them spasming on the ground. I can feel all of it. They're trying to break us and they broke me I was but a visitor for everyone that lives on this sad little planet it's status quo just fills them with more hate which makes it harder to convince them diplomacy is an option and maybe that's what Sylor wants, the whole place to just stay like this keeps him in power after all." Dashia sighs, "Then your General announces she's coming to end the conflict and they want me here to meet her and receive a new assignment. I think Druid saw what was happening to me and pulled strings to get me out of it for a bit. Course Masayuki used it as an opportunity to get formonalized as General of the Eastern army group the bastard." Dashia says rolling her eyes, "And they want me to go back there. Do it all over again. I just don't know if I have the strength to do it. My master would have if he were alive he'd probably found a way to actually end this damn thing by now. But no he's dead and I'm here."
"You can't control everything." Beskad says, "Galaxy enjoys dealing people bad hands to see what you do with it. Those of us that work with it get rewarded eventually before giving them another bad hand. Those of us who can't, it chews up and spits out. It ain't fair but that's the Galaxy."
"That supposed to make me feel better?" Dashia asked with a smirk
"It's what my training sergeant always told me. Wasn't much an idealist. Does it make you feel better."
"Well a little actually," Dashia said, "I still don't want to go back."
"Look all I'm saying is don't go down the road where you think you shouldn't be where you are or that you shouldn't have been the one to survive. I've seen guys go down that path and it's bad. If you've gotta go back East you've gotta go back East if you don't want to do it ask yourself is there another option. If there really isn't then well try focusing on something else. Maybe you focus on Probus sounds like you too got along well enough. Your troops also probably miss you too. Those are the things that'll help you bear it."
Dashia nods in response. Then smiles before taking another bite of bread. She leans back more comfortably now. Beskad knows what that means.
"Right," He says, "My turn." Then he sighs, almost regretting his proposal. Always do as you say. He thinks to himself, "We grow up to be commandos. They raise us in our squads who are our brothers. Then the training sergeant is the closest thing we've got to a parent. Some of them take that role, some do their job and nothing more, mine saw herself as a teacher except me I was one the few she allowed herself to get close to. Called me her din'beskad little sword and then I grew and I just became sword. Never suger coaded said I was stubborn little bastard but damn sharp and precise. My squad sergeant Tyr, Genet, and Sixer I was the sniper and point man because of my skill. Really thought I was the best commando out there. They send us to Geonosis. I meet my first Jedi, Master Tai'shok this golden scaled Transdoshan who embody the phrase martial spirit who has thus brilliant plan to get the factory and took Sergeant Tyr's advice on how to employ commandos to disable a shield generator behind enemy lines that'd allow artillery to hit the place. I went this is a Jedi the embodiment of warrior ideals. He embody them to much apoearntly got wounded by a grenade and taken off the field gave it seen him sense. He was replaced with this knight who didn't even bother giving a name. He was arrogant and stupid. Told us to destroy the factory while he fought the bulk of the CIS army. We try are best breach the place shoot out the droids plant the charges and flee. I'm the point man I lead the way because I can detect danger because my senses are sharpest. Sniper takes out Grenet I break Tyr covers kills the sniper does my job for me. We move set the charges off. I'm shaken, I don't here the tank come. I should've noticed the change in vibrations in the ground or the slight hum before it became obvious. But I didn't a bloody tank came out of no where. I can't remeber what happen just Tyr pressing the trigger on the charge the factory blew up. Somehow the tank blew up to. But the dust settled my whole squad was dead I was alive. Limbs all over the places. My brothers were dead in an instant it. That was the first bad hand I was dealt. I marched back to camp General glory boy still incharge throws me in a reg legion that's lost fifty percent and is on the verge of collapse. I get there the death continues I watched twenty people die. The troopers are thrown into choas. I take charge because I have to people still die but I manage to get most of the people who were there when I got there out. They thanked me called me a hero. I couldn't really here them." Beskad tightened his fist. He remebered their faces those that died that day, "I get transferred to Warlock Squad who lost their sergeant as their new sergeant. Culturally different they were raised by a Correlian. We run drills together get a repertoire going all of us like jokes so it helped. Then we do an op sabotage a shield generator ahead of an invasion. Quick in and out like the first mission should have been. Then they send us to jabbiim. Counter insurgency real brutal stuff. Killed another sentient being shot him three times durring a raid and thought nothing of it. Insurgents launch a massive offensive. We survive and lose one guy. Then Jaster my current squad sniper gets put in the squad we do five missions together all successful then the last whole commando group gets thrown into a luxury city to capture an admiral. He saw us coming. It's hell I did my best to not just save my boys but the other boys as well. And yet Xavier died. That was the last op before this one. It didn't shock my like the others. It's what happens I've accepted that. But why is the thing that gets me. What's the point of it all? Are we really here just to suffer and die. No there's gotta be a greater point I'm not seeing." Beskad found himself rambling, "And yet one thing I concluded was I have to get my squad out this time. Even if I don't get out alive. Because I won't I can feel it in my bones this thing will claim. But If they can survive this thing then at least my death would have meant something not just another body in a Galaxy filled with them."
Both of them had only been at war for six months. Yet Dashia knew it may have well been six years her old life felt so distant from her life now. Then Sergeant Beskad a clone commando some one bred for war she found commonality. Yet more tragedy. Why would anyone create some one for war. Beskad wasn't given a choice he didn't even have any clue about the government he fought for and that his brothers died for. Dashia wasn't sure if telling him all the Republic would make it better or worse. And he wouldn't even be alive if it weren't for war. If there was galactic peace and only galactic peace the kaminoans would have never made him. His life was tragedy. His belief the Galaxy enjoyed dealing people bad hands had to come from his own self realization of that. Yet he'd seemingly survived and over come every bad hand it gave him. Dashia smiled admiring his tragic commitment. She grabbed his hand hopefully the small act of compassion would make him smile. It barely did.
"If you die trying to find your squad you can't help them. If you wait for the General to arrive maybe she can find them. After all they have com links and then once they're pinpointed they can use a gunship to drop you in from the air with reinforcements. Just please be patient."
Beskad looked at Dashia and said nothing. She was fully correct. The sergeant really wanted to say something like I'll kill my way through don't you worry. But he couldn't manage no had ever been able to talk him down from an idea with out a direct order. Yet here he was unable to say it. Because she cared about him and Beskad couldn't hurt someone who cares about him. Great Manda this is what happened to Martial. He thought to himself.
"Fine, I won't go on a suicide mission once to you patch me up. Happy."
Dashia smiled at him brightly as she sat up. She knows the effect she has. Beskad realized immediately it actually annoyed him. She knew exactly what he was doing.
"Delighted." She said with a diamond bright smile.
"Right, fix my arm please." Beskad said motioning to his last broken bone.
"At once." She said.
Dashia however resolved that she would finish healing him entirely. She wouldn't stop when it exhausted her this time. If he could push through six months of hoping from war zone to war zone she could push through the fatigue and devote just a little more of her life force to finish the healing process. She closed her eyes and focus. She felt Beskad's presence in the force it was heavy, warm,conflicted, and calm. Slowly she transferred her life force towards the broken bone and all of the other fractures and bruises the man had incurred.
Beskad sat back and felt the pain in his arm slip away. He half expected it to stop but then felt the soreness in his back disappear. The fatigue in every muscle faded away. More and more pain began to fade from and his body began to feel a new. It continued and continued. Beskad felt awake, jovial, powerful even as if he'd been reborn.
It ended.
Beskad sat up and watched Dashia collapse on the hospital bed. Head on his shoulder. He slowly shifted her off. She gave it everything. Beskad thought as he stood up from the hospital bed and slid out Dashia in so she could rest.
He then looked out the window at the horizon imagining somewhere out there his squad was fighting for their lives encircled by enemies. He formed a hard look on his face as he touched the window. I'll get you boys out, that's a promise. He thought to himself.