One month after the battle of Geonosis, the band of four young clones called themselves the Angel Force and were permitted to join the Clone Wars. They painted a few red schemes on their armor as a symbol of the Republic. Angel and Thrasher wear the classic Phase 1 standard helmets while Med wears the BARC Phase 1 helmet and Dash wears the same but with a visor. The brothers are stationed guarding a Jedi Sanctuary on the planet Rhen Var, a snow-almost uninhabitable planet.
In the outpost near the sanctum, the three young clones sat guard while Med was checking through his medical supplies and Dash checked the sensors for anything. Thrasher, on the other hand, was annoyed by being stuck on the snowy planet as he whined, "I'm bored! Nothing is happening around here!"
"Quit your whining, Thrasher," Dash says, annoyed at his brother's childlike behavior. "We're stationed here to protect the Jedi. It's our duty to serve them and the Republic."
"And look around ya! No action at all! Just sit around and do absolutely nothing! That's what we've been doing the entire time since we ended up at this dump! Just sitting around doing nothing! So if you would've told me what we're doing five minutes from now… we're still here! Sitting around doing nothing!"
"Do you ever stop whining, Thrasher," Med asks him. "Just be grateful that we weren't put in the front line."
"That would've been more fun!"
Angel steps into the room, wearing his ARC trooper armor. "You need to be patient, Thrash," he told his brother. "We were given more training to be more prepared for the war. When the time has come, those Separatists are gonna regret attacking us."
"Easy for you to say! You're an ARC trooper! You basically outrank us!"
"Well, he is the leader of our squad," Dash added.
"And you're my second-in-command, Dash," Angel told him as he placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you and… Etah…"
"He would've been proud of what you've become now, brother."
"Thank you."
"Speaking of brother," Thrasher shouted as he gave Angel a brotherly noogie, "In a couple of months or maybe a year, we will be your older brothers and you'll be our little brother!"
"In my point of view," Angel smiles as he pushes his brother away, "you all will always be my little brothers."
"He's not wrong, you know," Med agreed.
"Oh yeah! After I graduated from becoming an ARC trooper, the Cuy'val Dar gave me a new weapon as a congratulatory gift."
When he opened the case, the clones were surprised to see a WESTAR-M5 blaster rifle. "That's a rare Mandalorian carbine rifle," Thrasher said, amazed. "The greatest blaster ever existed!"
"Looks great… but I'm okay with what I got. Here, Dash." The ARC trooper hands the blaster over to his second-in-command, which surprised him. "You keep it. Plus, it looks good on you."
"Oh uh… Th-Thanks, brother," Dash nodded to his leader.
"What," Thrasher whined. "WHY HIM?!!"
"Because he's not gonna use it for fun," Angel told him.
"True…"
Then, a Jedi Master, Sirrus, and his apprentice, Aubrie Wyn, entered the room. "Attention! General in the room," Dash shouted as he and his three brothers stood at attention.
"At ease, troops," the Jedi Master told them. "Just want to check on you all. Making sure you're all comfortable."
"We're fine, general," Angel told him. "Just settling down and ready for anything."
"But it's also good to let your guard down and ease your mind, trooper. We may be at war but we must learn how to be patient and find inner peace."
"With all due respect, sir," Dash says to his superior. "We clones are made for combat and action. I don't believe we have time for a break or relaxation."
"Well, until the war comes to Rhen Var, I suggest you all find peace. Continue with your time here and always be prepared for whatever comes next. That's all." The Jedi Master and his apprentice soon left the clones and headed back to the Jedi sanctuary to meditate.
"Find peace," Thrasher said, annoyed. "This is war. How can we find peace during a galactic war?! That's ridiculous!"
"Be grateful the general hadn't heard that, Thrash," Med told him.
"We're clones! We fight and win battles! Nothing more!"
"Do you always think of violence, Thrash," Dash asked him. "Because that personality isn't going to get you anywhere and it'll get you killed."
"I'm proud of who I am. You can't change me."
"I'm gonna get some air for a bit," Angel told them as he took his helmet.
"Angel, it's a snow planet. It's gonna be cold outside."
"Better bear the cold than to listen to all of you arguing all day."
"Fair."
Soon, Angel steps outside on the landing pad during the cold as he approaches a clone pilot checking the gunship. The pilot wears a phase 1 clone pilot armor with a red marking on the top of his helmet and a red-colored Republic symbol on his shoulder pieces. "Ha, Hob," the teen clone greets his brother. "How's it going?"
"Oh just checking on the gunship's system," the pilot told him. "Always making sure this girl is ready for combat. Also, hoping this planet doesn't mess with her condition."
"Good to hear, Hob. I'm gonna be honest with you. You could be anywhere you want. Why do you choose to be a part of our squad?"
"You boys saved my life and didn't abandon me. I wanna fight alongside you and repay you, Angel."
"You don't owe us anything, Hob. Just having you alive is already enough."
"Thanks, brother."
"Anytime."
"So, what brought you out here in the cold?"
"Oh, I just want some fresh air. The others are bored out of their minds being cooked up here."
"Let me guess… Thrasher?"
"Especially him. Out of all the planets we could've been stationed on, it has to be this frozen wasteland."
"It's mostly to keep you boys safe. Look at this planet. I don't see any reason why the Separatist would want it."
"Every planet has its value and benefits in the galaxy." The two clones turned and spotted the Jedi apprentice Aubrie Wyn approaching them. "That's what my master always says whenever we travel to other planets."
"Greetings, commander," Angel said as the two clones stood at attention and saluted.
"It's okay. No need to refer to me by my rank. My name is Aubrie Wyn."
"Greetings… uh Wyn? I'm CT-9925 but my brothers called me Angel. This is Hob, our pilot." Hob waved before resuming check up on the gunship.
"And you're a clone? You don't look like a clone to me."
"As a matter of fact, I am but I'm not a clone of… Jango Fett. I'm actually a clone of his deceased son. I was supposed to be his replacement but… he chose a kid of himself instead."
"Oh… What happened to him?"
"I heard that he died at an arena in Geonosis."
"Oh! I'm sorry?"
"He was nothing but a bounty hunter. He had an army of clones of himself but he chose the wrong side and looked at where it got him. He got what he deserved."
"That sounds rather harsh. You don't feel sorry for him."
"Not one bit. He could've saved himself and abandoned the Sep but he stayed loyal to the credits and got him killed."
"Would you abandon us if it was too much?"
"Never. Unlike him, I'm loyal to the Republic and not some useless credits."
"I respect that, Angel."
"And besides he betrayed all of his clone brothers when he worked for the Separatists. If he were still alive, he would've been loyal to them and slaughtered his own. I would never betray my brothers. I grew up with them, trained with them, and even fought with them. I'm loyal to my brothers to the very end."
"That's sweet to hear, Angel. I'm glad we have a kind trooper like you."
"Well, I have a big heart for my brothers. I would even lay down my life for them."
"Now that's loyalty. I'm sure all of them feel the same way towards you."
"Thank you, command-I mean Wyn."
"You know… Have you and your brothers ever taken a temporary leave?"
"No, why?"
"How about we take your brothers out for some fun routine since we're on a beautiful snow planet?"
"Fun routine? What do you mean?"
"I'll show you when we leave. Go gather your team for a quick patrol out in the field."
"Understood, ma'am."
Moments later, the squad's gunship flew across the landscape until they landed in the open. The Jedi Padawan and the clones step out and take in the cold breeze as the troops are confused by them being out in the open. "Uhh commander," Dash asks. "Is there a reason why we're out here and not at the station?"
"Of course," she told them. "You troops spent your whole lives preparing for this war and becoming a grand army of the Republic. So, it's time for you soldiers to experience some fun."
Then, Aubrie quickly threw a snowball at Angel and hit his chest piece, confusing them. "Uh ma'am… what was that," the ARC trooper asks.
"It's called a snowball fight."
"Snowball fight? What's that? A combat training," Med asks.
"Is it a safety competition or is it… to the death," Thrasher asks.
"Of course not," the Jedi told them. "It's just a friendly, joyful game. Just gather some snow, make a snowball, and then throw it at another person. Give it a try."
They looked at each other confused until Angel went first as he made a snowball. "Ha Thrash," he calls his brother as he throws a snowball at his face.
The clone was angry at first but he slowly began to understand the game as he slowly began to laugh. "Ha Med," he laughed as he made and threw a snowball at him.
"What the? See how you like it," the medic shouted as he threw a snowball but Thrasher dodged and hit Hob instead.
"What the?! Oh, you punks think it's funny," the pilot laughed as he started throwing snowballs at them, causing everyone to scatter.
All of the team began laughing while playing a friendly game of snowball. The clones experienced joy and happiness for the first time in their life as they were throwing snowballs at each other. Angel took a moment to stare at his brothers having fun and enjoying themselves before he was about to throw one at Aubrie until she accidentally tripped but he caught her and fell with her on top as the two stared at each other awkwardly. The moment ended when the clones gang up on the ARC trooper by ambushing him with snowballs, causing him to flee while laughing.
Angel reaches the top of the mountain and makes another snowball… until he stops as he watches in horror at what he's witnessed. Soon the rest reach up to him to mess with him some more until they're shocked as well. The group watches terrified at the presence of the Separatist dropships releasing hundreds of tanks and thousands of battle droids.
"It's an invasion," Dash says in disbelief.
"How did they get here without being detected," Hob asks.
"We… We need to get back to the station! Now," Angel shouts as they all hurry back to the gunship.
"Looks like you got that action you've been asking for, Thrash," Med shouted.
"I was hoping for a battle, not an invasion," Thrasher yelled.
They all boarded the gunship and flew back to the station at full speed. By the time they return, the station is under attack by battle droids while Jedi Master Sirrus and three other Jedi are defending themselves against the invaders. Hob flew down and gunned down the enemy forces before dropping Angel and the others into battle.
"Alright! Let's do this," Thrasher shouted, eager for battle.
"Thrash! I need you to stay with Hob and provide air support," Angel ordered him.
"What?! How can I provide air support?!" Hob presses a button in the cockpit to pull out a heavy blaster turret attachment. "Oh hell yeah!"
"You better put on a leash around you so you won't fall off!"
"I will! I will!"
The gunship took off to provide air support while the rest joined the fight by aiding the Jedi. The ARC trooper rushes to Jedi Master Sirrus and fights alongside him while holding the line. "Lieutenant! Why did you and your men abandon your post," the Jedi asked him while blocking the enemy's blasters.
"I… I was giving my brothers some fresh air until we spotted the enemy forces landing nearby! We got here as quickly as we could! Please forgive us, general," Angel told him while firing his dual pistols.
"I should be ashamed but you returned in time to help us."
"What's the plan, sir?!"
"If this is the invasion, then we don't have any advantage in winning. We need to hold off the enemy until rescue arrives."
"Understood!"
Dash and Med took cover and provided covering fire for the Jedi. "Uh, Dash? Where's that blaster Angel gave you," the medic asked his brother.
"I… I think I left it inside," Dash said.
"Why?!"
"Because, Med, I didn't know we were scheduled for an invasion!"
"Go get the rifle and head to the roof to provide sniper fire!"
"Roger that!" Dash rushed inside as he talked to himself, "Can't believe I took orders from a medic."
Multiple droid gunships deploy garrisons of battle droids to attack the Jedi and clones until they're gunned down by both Hob and Thrasher. The pilot kept blasting down enemy armored carriers and gunships while the gunner was gunning down enemy units. "Haha! Take it clankers! Haha! This is so much fun," the reckless clone shouted with excitement. Hob was enjoying the fight until he was shocked to see vulture droids flying towards them, causing the pilot to take off and fly from the fight. "Wait! Wait! What are you doing?! They need our help!"
"Tell that to them," Hob radioed him as Thrasher looked over and shocked to see enemy starfighters, causing the clone to try his best to blast them down.
Angel was firing at the enemy until he saw his brothers being chased by enemy fighters. "Hob, you and Thrasher got four fighters on your tail," he radioed the pilot.
"I'll try my best to lose them! I'm so sorry for abandoning all of you," Hob apologized.
"Don't be! Just try to stay safe! We can defend ourselves! We'll hold off as long as we can until help arrives!"
Dash reaches the rooftop with the Mandalorian blaster carbine and begins sniping battle droids. Sadly, one enemy ship carrier dropped off an AAT tank. The rest immediately seek cover until the tank fires and sends a Togruta Jedi flying. Angel saw what happened as he rushed to the Jedi.
A super battle droid stood above the unconscious Jedi and was about to execute her until it was gunned down by the ARC trooper as the clone blasted down several more battle droids. Angel carried the Togruta back to the others as his clone brothers were covering him. The clone carried the wounded to Med to treat her. "Hob! We got an enemy tank gunning down on our position! Can you destroy it," Angel radioed the pilot.
"I'm sorry, brother! We can't shake these fighters," Hob radioed back while avoiding enemy blasts. "I'm afraid you all are on your own."
"Understood. Just keep yourself safe!" Angel checked what he had on him: dual pistol, grappling hook, and one thermal detonator. He turned to the rest and told them his plan. "Alright! Listen up! I'm going to sneak behind it and throw this detonator!"
"Understood," Sirrus nodded.
"Please protect yourself," Aubrie told him.
"I will!" Angel moved out and sought cover as he radioed Dash. "Dash! I'm going to take out the tank! Keep it distracted long enough for me to destroy it!"
"Understood, brother. Don't worry. I got your back," Dash responded.
Meanwhile, the gunship flew off as fast as it could while being chased by the vulture droids. "Thrasher! You better hang on," Hob radioed him while flying the ship.
"Huh?! Why," Thrasher asked. Hob then turned off the engine for only two droids flew ahead of them and then blasted them both. "Ahhh! Next time tell me the plan first!" The two remaining fighters kept blasting at them while the reckless clone tried firing them with his turret until he shot one of them down. "HAHAHA!! Yes! Take that you stupid, clank-"
Suddenly, the remaining vulture droid hit the ship, causing Thrasher to fall off but tangled in midair panicking. "Thrasher?! Thrasher! Climb!" The fighter hits the gunship again, making this more intense. Hob tried his best to handle the situation until two more fighters emerged to join the hunt, which feared the pilot because this might be the end for them both.
Luckily, when he found balance, Thrasher pulled out his blaster and aimed at the fighter. The vulture droid had a lock on the gunship until it spotted the hanging clone, causing it to pop its head up confused. "DIE CLANKER!!!" The clone blasts it and shoots its neck, causing the fighter to make it off balance and crash into the other two droids.
Hob looked back and saw what happened as he laughed with joy. "Hahaha! Way a go, Thrash! Way a go kid!" The pilot rocks the ship side to side out of joy but he completely forgets that Thrasher is still tangled as the clone screams. "Oh sorry!"
Back at the battlefield, the AAT tank kept blasting at the rest as it closed in until it got distracted by Dash's firepower. Angel took the opportunity to charge while blasting the battle droids in his path. The tank's cannon aimed at the lone clone as the clone attached a hook line to a pool and jumped down before the blast could hit him but the trooper fell only five feet.
Before the tank fired again, Angel climbed on top and opened the hatch. "Huh? Ha," the droid pilot said.
"Got a present for ya, clanker," the ARC trooper said while tossing an armed detonator into the battle droid's hand before jumping off the tank.
"Huh? Wait? Ah! Oh my G-" The tank exploded.
Angel rushed to his brother Dash and helped him up. "Are you okay, brother?"
"Yeah… Just a bit brushed up though," Dash laughed.
Suddenly, more enemy dropships and fighters flew towards the group as they all stood shocked. "More of them… Damnit! And no sign of Hob."
"Then, this shall be our last stand," Sirrus told them as he ignited his lightsaber.
They were ready for their final stand against the Separatist forces until they were all gunned down. A yellow Jedi starfighter flew in for the rescue. "A Jedi," Med says, confused.
"This is Commander Anakin Skywalker! Sorry for taking so long to get here," the Jedi radioed.
"Commander Skywalker, thank you for the save sir! I don't think we could've handled another attack," Angel radioed back.
"It's all good, trooper. We're evacuating the planet. Your gunship is going to take you back to base."
"Hob?"
"Look there he is," Aubrie shouted as their gunship returned.
"Wait a second is that Thrash," Med shouted as they saw the clone tangled in midair before the ship landed with him in the snow.
"Let's move," Angel shouted as he carried the injured Jedi and joined the others to the ship while Dash and Med helped Thrasher up.
"Come on, Thrash! Stop goofing around," Dash shouted.
"But I wasn't," Thrash complained.
When they arrived at their base, they were shocked to see it being under attack by enemy forces and being overwhelmed. Once they landed within the Acclamator assault ship, the squad rushed to the base commander while the Jedi hurried to their fighters to hold off the Separatists. "Commander! We're the Angel Squad! How can we help," Angel asks.
"We're being overwhelmed by enemy forces! It'll take some time for the cruiser to take off but I don't think it will handle enemy fire," the commander reported.
"There has to be something we can do to hold off the enemy!"
"Well… we have three prototype starfighters you could use to hold off the enemy. I need two of them to help the wounded."
"Understood! Hob, Dash, and I will take the ships."
"Are you two pilots?"
"Yes sir!"
"Wait wh-"
"Med and Thrasher will help the wounded," Angel cut off Dash.
"Understood," Med nodded.
"What?! Why do I have to tend the wounded instead of fighting the enemy," Thrasher complained.
"You had enough action for today, Thrash! Plus, you were tangled for Pete's sake! Just help Med out now!"
"Follow me to the starfighters," the commander led three of the clones to another hanger and showed them the three prototype fighters: the Z-95 Headhunters. "They're in the testing phase but these are desperate times. Piloted those fighters and eliminated the enemy forces! Good luck, gentlemen!"
"Sir yes sir! Let's move out!"
They hurried to the starfighters and climbed into the cockpits while Dash was complaining to Angel, "Angel! Are you kidding me?! We're not pilots! We don't know how to fly these things!"
"Sure we do! We did that flying simulation back at Kamino."
"That was a simulation! These are real fighters and we're going into a real battlefield with real enemy tanks and real enemy fighters!"
"We did great in the simulation."
"We always crash!"
"Well… uh… don't crash."
"Great prep talk, brother," Dash says sarcastically.
The three clones took off in their fighters and joined the battlefield. "Alright! Get in formation! We're going to take down those tanks in front of the ship," Hob radioed and instructed them as they got into formation. "Fire now!" The three shot down rows of enemy tanks and a few battle droids as the brothers shouted with joy.
"Haha take that clankers," Angel shouted.
"Focus, Angel! We're going to shoot down those armored carriers next." They flew towards the enemy vehicle carriers and began firing and destroying them both. Suddenly, two squadrons of vulture droids appeared and began firing at the clones. "Enemy fighters! Split up!" The three split up as two sets of three droids followed Angel and Dash while two chased Hob.
"Dash! Hob! I got three fighters on my six," Angel radioed his brothers.
"I got three as well," Dash radioed.
"I got two but listen to me! Try your best to avoid their fire and try to lose them," Hob radioed.
"Understood!"
Angel flies fast while avoiding enemy fire. He used the enemy fighters to his advantage as he flew across enemy tanks while the vulture droid accidentally fired on their own. One of the tanks tried to shoot down the clone's ship but missed and accidentally hit one of the three droids, causing it to crash into the tank. "Serve you right, you stinking 'clankers," Angel shouted.
"Guys! I can't shake these droids off me! They're right on my tail," Dash panicked.
"I got you, Dash!"
"Don't you still have some on you?!"
"Right… Let's play a game with these droids."
"Huh?"
"Dash! When you see me, fly straight towards me!"
"What?! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Just do it!"
When the two clones regrouped, they flew straight toward each other with the vulture droids chasing them. "Angel! This is suicide!"
"Focus, Dash! Focus!"
"We're getting close!"
"Not yet! Not yet!"
"ANGEL!!!"
"Okay now!"
Before they were about to impact, the two brothers separated as the droids tried but two crashed into each other and one of their shrapnel destroyed another. The two brothers cheered at their clever tactics.
Meanwhile, Hob was still being chased by the two vulture droids as the enemy was firing him. "Alright, clankers! Let's see if you like this," the pilot says as he makes his move. The clone turned off his engine but turned it back on when he was behind them. He ended the chase by blasting the enemy fighters. "This is Hob! I eliminated the fighters hunting me. I'm on my way to help you two out."
"Hob, focus on taking out the enemy ground forces," Angel radioed. "We'll take care of these clankers!"
"Understood. Please be careful."
"And how are we gonna destroy those clankers on our tail," Dash asked, panicking.
"I got an idea! Try to get ahead of me!"
"Why?!"
"Just do it!"
Dash was hesitant at first about his brother's plan but he went with it as he increased his speed and flew ahead of his brother with the vulture droid tailing him. When the enemy fighter was in front of him, Angel fired and shot the droid as it went off balance and crashed into the one chasing him. "Haha! We got 'em!"
"How did you know that would work?"
"I… I didn't!"
"Oh… Wait what?!"
The three clones regroup in a formation as they fly towards enemy ground tanks while the Republic frigate is about to take off. "Alright, brothers! Let's show these clankers what happens if they mess with the clone army!"
"Roger that, brother!"
"We're with you, Angel," Hob radioed.
The trio flew across the waves of Separatist forces released drop bombs and fired upon them, eliminating almost thirty as the brothers shouted. Finally, the frigates began to take off as they were all radioed by the commander, "Pilots! We're taking off! Hurry back to the frigate or else you'll be left behind!"
"You heard him! Let's fall back! We did our part! Rhen Var is lost."
"Understood! We did all we could here," Dash responded.
"Roger that… I wished we were more prepared," Angel said, saddened by their loss while he and his brothers returned to the frigate.
Finally, the three brothers landed the prototype starfighters into the hangar before the ship took off into hyperspace, escaping Rhen Var. When they exited the fighters, Med and Thrasher rushed to their side. "Are you three okay," the medic asked.
"We're fine, Med," Angel told him.
"That wasn't fine out there! You guys flew those awesome fighters without me," Thrasher whined.
"Thrash, last I've checked you're not a pilot," Hob told him. "If you flew that fighter, you would instantly crash."
"You don't know that! Plus, Angel and Dash flew out there and made it back alive!"
"That's because we're professionals," Angel told him.
"No! All of that was just luck! We could've died back there," Dash told him.
"But we didn't. And that is all that matters, Dash."
"You three did very well out there." The five clones turned to see Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker approaching them as the troops stood at attention. "You troops did a fine job holding off the enemy and defending the cruiser."
"Thank you, general. We wouldn't hold off the enemy for long if it weren't for commander Skywalker, sir. He saved our lives today."
"It wasn't a problem, soldier," Anakin told him. "You and your men would've done the same for me."
"Absolutely, sir."
"These troops did well fighting by our side at the Sanctuary," Sirrus told them as he and his apprentice joined the conversation. "Of course, they did abandon their post before the Separatist forces invaded."
"I would like to apologize for abandoning our post, sir. If we didn't abandon our post, we would've been more prepared for an enemy attack."
"Actually, it's my fault, master," Aubrie told them. "I thought we were safe on that planet and ordered the troops out to have fun. I… I should've known better since we're at war."
"Please don't blame her, general. My brothers were bored and she wanted to bring joy and boost our morale for this war," Angel defended her. "We fought bravely today thanks to her. In fact, if it wasn't for her morale… we probably wouldn't survive the invasion. We owe her our lives."
"Well, you men did hold off the enemy long enough for help to arrive and for us to escape. You all did well. The Republic honored your bravery and heroic efforts," Sirrus appreciates the Angel squad.
"Thank you, sir."
"Now, master Kenobi, do you know why the Separatist forces would want Rhen Var?"
"I do not know, Master Sirrus," Obi-Wan responded. "We must report this to the Jedi Council. They know what to do."
"Understood. We shall transport our frigate with the Republic fleet. The Republic will decide where these troops will be stationed."
"How many of my brothers survive," Angel asked with concern.
"Unknown. We need to process a roll call to see how many we lost during the invasion," Obi-Wan told him. "Meanwhile, you and your squad get some rest. You were all heroes out there today. You've earned it."
"Understood, sir."
"And due to your bravery in the field of battle, you and your squad will be assigned to a general and a commander. You shall follow their orders and serve under their command."
"Sir yes sir," the clones said together while saluting before their heads to their quarters.
"We're being assigned to a Jedi to lead us," Med asked his brothers while they were walking.
"Sucks for you huh, Angel," Thrasher laughed. "You no longer led us anymore."
"Quiet, Thrash," Dash shuts him.
"It's fine. I'm actually thrilled to serve a Jedi. Would like to see them in action and follow their command," Angel smiles. "Although, I wonder which Jedi we are going to serve under and our new commander."
"Probably just gonna be a new Jedi Master and its apprentice."
"Well, at least we're not going to be guarding anymore. Looks like we're going to be part of the war after all."