Training was going very well. Cody had split off, at some point, to do some hands-on training with Ghost Company. Not that they needed the extra coaching; his boys were kicking shebs at training. Rex suspected Cody missed the comforting routine of daily drills.

If training continued at this pace, the men would be in perfect fighting form for the Outer Rim sieges. The troopers training in front of him looked nothing like the starved and injured troopers he'd hauled out of cells on the jungle planet.

While Rex and Cody had been locked up in the RMB, Coric used his authority as medic to ensure the men had six daily meals, mandatory time in the gym, followed by rest periods. Rex had to hand it to Coric; he'd kept the boys out of trouble in his absence. There wasn't a single report of Hardcase blowing things up or troopers running naked through the hallways. Granted, the chance of that happening was less with Fives occupied with Echo. But, Fives' influence had spread to a lot of the younger troopers and it wasn't uncommon to see the boys strutting about during their downtime. Fives insisted the armor (and bodysuit) needed "airing out" between campaigns. Rex was sure he just liked the attention.

Whatever Coric had done, it had worked.

Clone bodies were genetically designed to recover very quickly. When Rex returned from the RMB, he noticed a difference in his troopers and he'd only been away a few days. The weight gain which had started on the return trip from the jungle planet had accelerated. His troopers no longer had gaunt hollowness to their cheeks. These were troopers he could take on a prolonged siege. Suited up now in their Phase 2 kit, they looked every bit like soldiers again.

Admittedly, they were still short on numbers, having lost a great many troopers in the disastrous battle of Kaz'haria and in their subsequent imprisonment on Darknell. There had been some talk of reinforcing their numbers before they shipped out. Something about "a new type of clone trooper."

A new type?

Why would they need something new?

The old type of clone trooper suited him just fine. He was confident they could win at least the initial battles with these troopers and backup from Cody.

But, it was true they couldn't sustain significant losses at their current numbers. They would need more troopers, even if they were some of these "new" troopers.

He continued his rounds, observing each of the training groups. He checked in with the designed squad leader of each group getting updates as he went. In some cases, the squad leaders were sergeants, but in other cases, Rex was working on building leadership abilities in promising troopers who had yet to be promoted.

The familiar sounds of troopers' training were soothing. Shouts. Equipment clacking against the deck. Troopers egging each other on.

Rex tilted his head and looked over at Radar as he moved his DC-15 behind his back, took a shot one-handed, and hit the target dead-on.

"That's the way, Radar!"

It was the same fighting style some of the Andoan troopers used to compensate for mobility issues on the other side of their body. Bracing the DC behind their backs provided a great deal of added stability when you couldn't do it with your other hand, (and some Andoan troopers didn't have another hand.) Radar must have seen the move during his rescue from the Darknellian dungeons.

Radar gave Rex a cheery salute and proceeded to hit the target again.

# # #

Appo had no idea what he was seeing as he stared at the troops training in the hangar. After several long moments of gaping at them, he belatedly realized his jaw was hanging open. He snapped it shut and gritted his teeth trying to find his "inner calm." Commander Tano had talked to him Jedi philosophy during their time locked up together.

Appo didn't understand all of it. He wasn't sure he understood any of it. He thought very highly of Commander Tano, but wasn't sure about many of the other Jedi. They seemed like poor choices for Generals. If what Commander Tano told him was true, and he had no reason to believe it wasn't, they were better suited for philosophical shab.

He'd given orders for the men to run through standard training drills. Calisthenics. Stability Training. Engaging Targets. Advanced Marksmanship. Maneuvering Techniques. These were the standard drills they did time and again, and after so many months in captivity what the men needed was to brush up on the fundamentals.

He was not seeing fundamentals in front of him now.

The drills in front of him looked like something ARC troopers would do; no, there were hints of RC techniques in it. No, it was definitely ARC grappling techniques, but mixed with the distinct fighting style of the Marine Corps? Who fought in such a manner?

These were not standard drills. How could he command his troopers if he didn't know the drills? And, where was Rex? And, why hadn't he been informed of the change?

Appo forced out a hot breath. "Captain Rex, come in."

"Right here, sir." Rex appeared beside him, entirely too stealthy for Appo's likely, and yet when he seemed so perfectly at ease amidst all of this chaotic training going on in the hangar. It was entirely unacceptable. All of it.

Appo took another deep breath. He measured his words carefully. "Care to explain what I am seeing here?"

Rex studied Appo for a measured moment as if judging his mood before replying. "Integrated training drills. General Kenobi is very much in favor of this approach."

Appo startled. "He is?"

"Yes, sir. I understand the confusion, Commander. The change just happened this morning. The squads are combining the best of their knowledge together. Airborne expertise from the 212th. Infantry knowledge from the 501st. Extraction techniques from the Wolfpack. Short-range tactical fighting with the ARC troopers. Forward advancement drills with Lighting Squadron."

Appo thought this over for a long moment. "I see. There could be some merit in this approach. But, where are they getting..." He gestured toward the nearest group of troopers, "Marine Corps techniques from?"

"Eh... I think some of our boys are great admirers of other Legions, sir. Guilty of studying their fighting styles."

There was something off about Rex's answer, but Appo wasn't quite sure what it was. "Great admirers? Yes, fascinated by the RCs, or enthralled by the Marines. So, you'll see them trying out some of their techniques here, too. Eh... it is best if you see for yourself. Walk with me."

"Are you telling me what to do?"

Rex tilted his head in such a way it made it clear he thought Appo needed to get over himself. "Eh... no... sir." The belated tacking on of the honorific was not lost on Appo.

Appo took another deep breath and nodded. He was stuck with Rex, for now, at least. Perhaps in the future, he could replace him with a pick of his own choice. Maybe a trooper that would actually follow orders.

# # #

Over on the far corner of the hangar deck, Cody was working with an integrated group of 501st, 212th, and Wolfpack troopers. The 'Pack was showing them insertion and drop-in techniques.

Cody cast a wary eye over at his Ko. There had been something off about his second-in-command all morning. His steps were unsure and his shots were off-center. He flashed Ko a hand signal.

Okay?

Ko immediately signaled back he was alright.

Cody wasn't convinced. His Captain had snapped at him, which was completely out of character. Even on his worst days, Ko was even-tempered. It was one of the reasons Cody had promoted him over Trapper, Waxer, Boil or one of the other promising candidates.

Maybe it was the new gear? The new armor was uncomfortable at first and Ko's gear had arrived late. Most troopers liked to do a few mods of their kit and adjust it for their preferences. They might all be 'clones,' but every trooper wore their gear a little differently.

If Ko was struggling, maybe it was best he go back to quarters.

His Captain walked over, his steps still stiff and somehow off. "I'm fine," Ko said, but his voice was flat, and belied his words, "stop looking at me like I'm going fall over."

"I don't know, brother. You just seem off today."

Ko didn't respond.

"Are you having issues with your kit? Is it your audio?"

Ko didn't respond. Cody touched him on the shoulder pauldron to get his attention. Ko was startled at the slight touch. It took several seconds before he swung his head around to focus on Cody. "What? Uh… no…my... uh... audio..." He hesitated for entirely too long, wavering on his feet. "G-Good..."

Cody grabbed at his second and turned to shout for his medics. He couldn't see them anywhere. Fek. Where were they? He was so short on medics now. "I need a medic over here! Where's Digger and Glitch?"

"They're on the far side of the hangar doing combat medic training."

Cody wasn't sure who responded as his entire focus was on Ko. "Get them over here. NOW!"

He turned back to Ko, the urgency in his words drawing the attention of all the troopers around him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Wolffe and his pack working their way over to him.

Ko was murmuring something to himself over and over again, but Cody couldn't understand it. "Ko, what is it? I don't understand what you are saying."

"... follow orders."

Ko's head snapped upward. Their heads were so close Cody could see through his brother's visor. His eyes were wide and panicked as if he were waging a battle with himself. "No no no no no no no no no no no no no no no..."

Something hard jammed in the center of Cody's chest armor. He stared down, even as his mind refused to accept the sight of Ko's carbine pressed into his sternum. He couldn't react fast enough to push the blaster away. Or, maybe his brain was too frozen by the fact Ko, his own brother, was trying to kill him.

A white-hot jolt of pain cut through him, and he smelled burning flesh. He barely registered the sound of the blaster shot.

Cody tried to take charge of the situation, after all, he needed to help Ko. But, the only sound he could get out was a harsh choking sound. He collapsed to his knees as he fought for air.

This could not be.

"No no no no no no no no no no no..." Ko's hand was shaking as he stared at Cody as if he knew what he was doing but did not want to do it. Ko raised the blaster again to fire at Cody's temple.

He knew he needed to get the blaster away from Ko, but the shock of the shot to his chest was paralyzing his system. He was freezing and burning at the same time and his limbs would not respond to his commands.

Ko's finger tightened around the trigger.

Rex is going to be so pissed that I'm dead.

His brain dimly registered shouts of clone voices as Ko's finger depressed the trigger.

The killing shot went wild as a blur of white plastoid and Wolf Pack grey slammed into Ko from the side, knocking the blaster out of his hands and sending it clattering across the deck. Ko was hit so hard, Cody heard plastoid crack. The world began to swim as Ko was hauled to his feet by Wolffe and his hands swiftly bound his back.

All of the burning in Cody was replaced by coldness.

He wanted to ask about Ko but his body was shutting down. Cody tumbled forward, face-first, but a firm set of hands caught him before he cracked his head into the hangar deck.

He caught a brief glimpse of Waxer's visor pressed against his own, pleading with him to hold on until the medics arrived. "Cody, no! Don't go. Please, brother, don't leave us!"

The coldness surrounded him.

# # #