Jesse was standing in the middle of the town square overseeing the troopers inspecting the Bith homes when he was approached by Kip and Topps.
"All clear in quadrant four, Corporal," Topps reported. He lowered his voice and addressed Jesse with the frankness of a fellow trooper."There's not much here on this rock worth noting."
"Yes, well, that's a good thing," Jesse responded, trying to channel his inner Rex. "Don't go looking for trouble or it will find you."
Topps chuckled and gave a snarky salute. "Yes, Colonel."
Jesse made a mental note not to try to imitate Rex. He wasn't pulling it off very well.
He cleared his throat to regroup and checked his datapad. "Alright, then. Proceed to quadrant five." He transmitted the new coordinates to both Topps and Kip, both of whom gave him a quick hand signal to acknowledge receipt of the new orders, before heading off.
Ever since his leadership role on Saleucami, Rex had granted him increasing responsibility. Appo's lack of trust still stung, but with Rex's return, Jesse was resolved to reassert himself. Rex could've chosen Fives or Echo while he was topside; instead, he chose Jesse. That meant everything.
"Jesse," Fives said over the comms, "I've got someone here wanting to speak to the person in charge."
Krek. I guess that means me. Still, maybe I should double-check with Rex...
"Is this something that requires the Captain?" He was reluctant to disturb Rex, who had just headed up to the Resolute.
"No, I think we can handle this one. He's another one of the local leaders. I believe he just wants to make sure his grievances are heard. We can do that." Fives' voice was full of confidence, and it was infectious. Truly, his vod had enough bluster to fill a cruiser. It did make him feel better, though.
He double-checked Fives' position on his HUD."On my way, Jesse out."
Fives' coordinates were several long city blocks away. Jesse walked briskly, determined to get there as quickly as possible. He was grateful for the trust Rex had placed in him putting him in charge while he went back topside. Rex had told him he was a candidate for ARC training, and both Fives and Echo were pushing him to go for the training. But, the difficulty was with the scheduling. They would be deployed constantly during the 'Rim sieges, and if he headed to Kamino to begin the three-month training program, he'd be away from the 501st. Anything could happen in three months. A clone could perish in the blink of an eye in this war so three months was an eternity. He could lose all of his squadmates in that time. Rex said he would leave the decision up to him. It was an incredible opportunity, and a heart-wrenching decision.
I should stay. It's enough that Rex considered me for the program. It's not that I don't want to be an ARC. I do. I'm ready to move up, and I know I have the skills. But, my place is here with the 501st. If anything happened to Kix or Hardcase, I'd never forgive myself. What if I came back and one of them was gone? Or, fek, both of them? I'd always blame myself for not being here.
He looked around at the tidy symmetrical dwellings that lined the streets of the domed capital of Weogar. There were no civvies out and about now, but like most places he'd been dropped in during the war, he was sure this was a bustling place normally. There were shops, an unusual amount of cafes and bars, an outdoor market, and something he thought might be either a school or a place of worship. He briefly wondered what it would be like to live in a place like this when the war was over, and then immediately dismissed the thought as foolish.
There was no "after" the war.
We're soldiers, created to fight a war. This is all we have and our entire purpose for being.
That's enough, right? There is no need to want anything more.
There was no place for them in the civilian world. They weren't like them. Any of them.
They were fighting a war so the citizens of the Republic could be free of tyranny from the Separatists. Simple.
So, why didn't it feel so simple anymore? And, why did he feel cheated on some level, like there should be a plan for what happens to them after the war?
Gah. He was spending too much time around Fives.
"Over here, Jesse," Fives said, flagging him over. "This is Killeu Gilo. He says he speaks for all of the Bith who live in this area of the city."
Jesse studied the Bith male standing in front of him. He was taller than most Bith, and his skin had more of a greenish hue. His expression was placid, and his hands were folded calmly in front of him, but his shoulders gave away an underlying tension. He studied Jesse and then Fives, just as he was studying him. Deciding to put the Bith more at ease, Jesse removed his helmet and clipped it to his belt. Fives immediately followed suit. Rex had told him civvies did better when they could see their faces. Gilo studied their identical faces with unabashed interest, looking back and forth from Jesse to Fives.
"How can I help you, sir?" Jesse had no idea what the social etiquette was for greeting a Bith. He didn't much care to learn either. Etiquette was for Jedi, like General Kenobi. He had no use for it, as a soldier. He just erred on the side of being civil, even if these civvies were on the wrong side of the war.
The tall Bith blinked several times as if suddenly remembering there was a purpose to this conversation other than staring unabashedly at the clones' identical faces. "We are a peaceful people," Gilo started, waving his slender arms expressively as he spoke. "Why must you search our homes? Thal K'Sar has already surrendered. Why are you still here?"
"We're securing the planet before our relief forces arrive," Jesse reassured him, finding the words came easily to him now. "We shouldn't be much longer."
A child Bith appeared in the doorway, looking like an exact replica of Gilo, except a third of the size. The youngling also moved with a willowy grace, and their eyes had the same expressiveness. "Are they going away now, Papa?"
While Jesse was no expert on younglings, he thought this one must be a female. He'd read enough about the species in the pre-mission brief to recognize the subtle differences in bone structures. Clones were certainly suited to spot minute differences among beings who looked nearly identical.
Gilo's eyes widened and he spun around. "Go back inside, Kisa! It's not safe here."
"I am not afraid of them," the youngling, Kisa, said proudly, with a defiant jerk of her chin toward both Jesse and Fives. She held her ground.
She stared down Jesse and Fives with a defiant look. He'd always had a soft spot from the cadets around Kamino, and their fierce determination to prove themselves as capable soldiers as the older troopers. There was something about this little one that reminded him of a little cadet, so fierce in her tenacity.
He knelt down at eye-level, looking at the youngling. "We'll be done here soon."
She gave him a long, considering look and then nodded as if satisfied with what she saw in his eyes. "You must finish quickly. When you are done, then you must leave." She spun on her heel and headed back in the house.
Jesse turned his attention back to her father. "Look, just tell your people to stay inside and cooperate with our troopers when they come to search. We're working as fast as we can."
Once again not sure of the proper etiquette for ending the conversation, he settled for giving the Bith leader a curt nod before walking away with Fives.
"I guess she told you," Fives huffed with amusement.
"Pipe down," Jesse grumbled, although there was no malice in his words. "And, I don't want you repeating that story in the mess."
"What? That you were told off by an itty bitty Bith?" He tossed his head back and laughed, before sliding his helmet back on and switching to a private helmet. "She only came up about wee high." He leaned down to hold a hand up to his knee. "But, krek, did she tell you!"
"She was taller than that!" Jesse objected, then realized he was being baited. "Gah, Fives, drop it."
Fives laughed again, delighted he could needle Jesse so easily. "Still, you handled that well," "Not surprising we're getting some flak from these civvies-"
Jesse tuned out the rest of his brothers' words as his new orders flashed across his HUD. He froze mid-step and read them again. He sent a ping back to Rex asking him to confirm the orders, something he rarely did. He never questioned orders.
The confirmation came back almost immediately.
"What's wrong, Jesse?" Fives stared at him in alarm, hands already poised on his twin DC-17s.
"We've been ordered to arrest the Bith leadership, effective immediately," Jesse tried to keep his voice steady and neutral.
You can do this, Jesse. Handle it like, Rex. Just be calm and follow orders.
He stared down the street toward where Gilo lived with his young, defiant daughter.
Gah. Why did following orders suddenly make his mouth taste like ash?
Fives stood shock-still, and Jesse knew his brother was thinking all the same things he was feeling. But, it was not their place to question these things. This basic concept had been drilled in them again and again at Kamino from their earliest flash training lessons. He'd done the right thing. He'd confirmed the order. But, now that they'd been given an order, they had to follow it.
Jesse squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, and inhaled deeply. He forced the image of the defiant youngling out of his mind. Kisa. She had a name.
What did it matter if the child had a name?
He needed to prove to the Captain he could handle difficult orders; the trust in him was not misplaced. He looked toward Fives. "The Captain and the General are on their way back down, but they've given permission to proceed immediately. All units in the other city-states have received the same order." He tapped his compad to signal backup units to meet up with them at the home of the Bith leader. He jerked his head toward Fives and led the way back down the street. "Let's get this done, then."
# # #
Obi-Wan finished up his report to Cody and Admiral Blank and slipped his comlink back on his belt. He missed having Cody by his side. But, maybe after the two recent attempts on Cody's life, the bridge was the safest place for him.
He twisted his lips and huffed out a small amused breath.
Cody would never stand for it. He needs to be with the 212th, leading from the front, and not watching things from the safety of the bridge.
And, truth be told, Obi-Wan wouldn't like that arrangement very much either. He'd grown used to always having Cody around on missions. His dedicated commander had saved his life more times than he could count.
He double-checked his chrono and pushed out a sigh. The minutes seemed to be creeping by with agonizing slowness. But, he didn't feel comfortable taking a break with both his top command clones out of action. The men needed him. Waxer was doing a fine job supervising the troops, but it seemed unfair to leave him on his own.
This mission was not what they'd been led to believe. The initial reports from Republic Intelligence had made it sound like the CIS was fully engaged on Clakdor VII, yet they'd only encountered light resistance. Something wasn't right.
This was just the first in a series of missions all along the Rimma Trade Route. As per their initial briefing, there were concerns about planets increasingly aligning themselves to the Separatists. Their mission was to swiftly get these planets back under Republic control. Or, as the Chancellor had originally worded it "back in line." Obi-Wan did not like the wording. He understood the necessity of preserving the Republic, but it made sound like joining the Republic was not a choice.
Now that the Bith had surrendered, Obi-Wan could sense they simply wanted the Republic to leave. But, it was not that simple. There were concessions to be made, and Obi-Wan had been informed in a communique by the Council this morning that they were planning on setting up a permanent base on Bith. It made strategic sense. The planet was in a perfect position as a jumping-off point for the rest of the Rim. But, it still felt like the civilians were getting the short end of the deal in all of it.
The Bith themselves were the most unlikely enemy. They were a race of engineers, artists, and musicians. They'd only allied themselves with the CIS because they'd been offered better trade routes. Putting a race of musicians under a military lockdown seemed like overkill.
All of it gave him a dark unsettled feeling low in his gut like there was more going on. He was feeling that way more and more lately and wanted to bring it up with the Council. But, there'd been no time since he and Anakin had been rescued from those awful dungeons on the jungle planet of Darknell, (another debt he owed Commander Cody.) Maybe he could track down Mace at some point and share his feelings with him.
He shook his head and started another round to check on the men. Maybe, just maybe, the feelings would pass once they moved on to their next assignment in the Outer Rim, but he doubted it. The Force was clouded when he was on Coruscant, but he could sense things better this far away from the core worlds. He wasn't sure if it was because there were fewer people out here and he could tune into the Force more easily. But, the Force was quietly whispering to him now that trouble was on the horizon.
# # #
Barriss paused in her work of setting up a mobile field hospital for the 41st Green Company. As soon as Master Unduli had recovered, they'd immediately been deployed again. There had been no time to catch her breath, or more importantly, say any farewells. She knelt down to stock bandages in a lower cabinet, mentally chastising herself for her foolish thoughts.
A Jedi should not form attachments. To whom, therefore, would I need to bid farewell?
Still, it would have been nice to check in on Ahsoka one more time before shipping out. She saw her fellow padawan so rarely these days and missed her friend dearly.
Although she had to admit, Ahsoka wasn't the one she most wished to see. She lingered in the cabinet, much longer than necessary, needing the brief reprieve to collect her thoughts.
No, she'd been rattled even after the brief encounter seeing Cody at the medical center. He'd called out to her for help.
Had he meant to do so? He'd made it clear during their last meeting that their relationship was over. In his delirium, did he unintentionally call out when he needed her the most? It was the right thing to do. She had the unique skills to save him, and in his current condition, he would not have lasted much longer. Somehow, she was pleased by it either way. There was a part of him that still reached for her. Maybe they could never be. But, he had not forgotten her.
# # #
Obi-Wan's compad blinked to life with a new set of orders directly from Republic High Command. He stared at the small screen, then blinked, sure his eyes were playing tricks on him.
He immediately commed Mace, who had taken several squads from the 91st over in the neighboring city-state of Nozho. Before he could speak, Mace cut in. "I received it, too, Obi-Wan, and I've received confirmation on the orders."
"This can't be right!" Obi-Wan objected. "Why would we possibly-"
Mace's voice was firm, but soothing. "I'll make a call, Obi-Wan, and get some clarity on this issue. Until then, we are to proceed as ordered. Ensure all of the Bith are treated with respect and dignity at all times."
"Of course, but, Mace-"
"No time to debate, Mace out."
Obi-Wan was left sputtering and staring at his comm. He didn't want to debate. Why did Mace always seem to assume he was being argumentative? He closed his eyes for a brief second to compose himself and restore a sense of Jedi calm. He was always telling Anakin to calm down. Surely, he could do so now himself.
He looked across the square to where Waxer was standing very still and studying him. Behind him, his squad had gathered.
It was obvious to him Waxer had received the orders but was not willing to act on them without further guidance from Obi-Wan. It pleased him somehow to know that Waxer didn't blindly follow orders. He quickly walked across the square, unsure of what he was going to say to the men when he arrived there. He was being placed in a terrible position.
"Sir," Waxer said, walking up to meet him halfway across the village square so he could speak with him privately, "I've received orders to-"
"Yes, Waxer, I am well aware," Obi-Wan responded, impressed with how calm and control he sounded when inside he was anything but calm. If anything, he was fuming and that was a most un-Jedi-like emotion. "Master Windu is clarifying these orders. Hold until we receive further details on how to proceed."
"Very good, sir," Waxer nodded, "I'll inform the men." He dipped his chin respectfully to Obi-Wan and returned to the rest of his squad.
"Obi-Wan, this is Mace."
"Go ahead."
"The Council has confirmed the orders from Strategic Command. We are to proceed."
Obi-Wan stared at his comlink flabbergasted, unable to even find the words to respond.
"Obi-Wan," Mace's tone dropped a beat softer than it normally did, "I sense your unease with these orders. I feel the same. But, it is necessary."
"Necessary?!" Obi-Wan found his words again, his voice sharpening with suppressed outrage. "What is High Command thinking?"
Mace sent him a code on his wrist link directing him to switch to an even more secure channel. Obi-Wan made the switch. "Obi-Wan, these orders came directly down from the Chancellor and then through Strategic High Command."
"But, it still doesn't explain-"
"Let me finish," Mace's tone rose in pitch, "there is a reason for it. This planet will act as a secure strategic base for all of our forces along the Rimma Route. We will have easy access to Sullust, Eriadu, and the Hydian Way. It's in the perfect location to act as a jumping-off point for our invasion forces. This is just a temporary measure until we secure control of the Rim. The regular citizens of Bith will be allowed to go about their lives here on the planet. No harm will come to them."
"And, what of the Bith leadership?"
"They will be detained, but they will be treated with respect and dignity. Once the conflict is over, they will be free to return to Bith."
"Mace, surely there is another way. Why can't we negotiate-"
"The decision has been made, Obi-Wan. The Senate and the people of the Republic are pushing for the war to be over swiftly. This planet is now seen as the key to the Outer Rim sieges. We are to secure this planet, and by doing so, secure key access routes for our forces. If all goes well, we will soon have peace."
If all goes well…
"Yes, that's always the hope, isn't it?" Obi-Wan couldn't keep the touch of bitterness out of his voice, even though he knew it was unfair to vent his frustrations on Mace.
There was a sharpness to Mace's tone when he responded: "We will discuss this more later, Obi-Wan. Proceed as ordered. Windu out."
Obi-Wan pressed two fingers to his temples, as though he could physically hold back the storm of disquiet these orders had provoked. He immediately gave up and just embraced the pain as part of the day. He walked over to where Waxer and the 212th were waiting for him, ensuring he once again appeared calm and composed for the sake of morale. He would give a quick briefing and then turn things over to Waxer, who had all the makings of a fine officer. He inhaled deeply, putting on his most confident, in-control voice. "Alright, men, here's the plan…"
## # #
A/N: I used the terms "High Command," "Strategic Command" and "Strategic High Command" interchangeably as these are all acceptable canon terms for the group of admirals and generals responsible for managing the GAR.
A note about Jesse: I struggled with the issue of Jesse's rank for this chapter. The Outer Rim sieges take place in 19 BBY, which places it in the same timeline as season 7 of Clone Wars. In season 7, Jesse suddenly appears as an ARC and Rex refers to him as "lieutenant." In previous seasons, he carries the rank of corporal. Wikipedia gives him the following write-up: "Jesse (CT-5597) was an enlisted officer under the rank of corporal, who began as a standard clone trooper then a specialist (marksman) and corporal, but eventually became an ARC Lieutenant sometime during 19 BBY prior to the Siege of Anaxes." Since we didn't see any explanation for Jesse's promotion and rise to ARC in S7, I'm adding some of that into the narrative in this chapter.
Coincidentally, there are two references to Anakin Skywalker and his fleet being part of a staging mission to Bith in S106: Rising Malevolence. The first line of dialogue is from Wolffe: "Skywalker's fleet is nearby in the Bith system." The second line comes from Anakin in a conversation with Plo Koon early in the episode: "I was given strict orders to protect our staging area."