"Wake up Deltas, we're home."
The LAAT finally landed in Hanger A of the Prosecutor. The doors opened and the commandos stretched their legs and stepped out. Sev went back to his quarters to rest more and Boss headed to the canteen to write up his report. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad made their way to the firing range. There they met the weapons assessor RC-8011 or 'Bullseye' as he liked to be called. To the squad's surprise he was quite helpful for one of Sev's sniper friends. After an hour's training it was time for the test. Fixer and Scorch stood next to each other as they started to reassemble the blaster parts.
"What you gonna do after you pass Fixer?"
"If you must know Six-Two, I'm going to ask the advisor how to get promoted. I think I'll ask how he became a Commander."
"Maybe it's because he was chosen randomly at birth?" Scorch quipped.
Fixer rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well maybe he enjoys his job and works hard. As Walon Vau once said, 'Pleasure in the job, puts perfection in the work'.
"What?"
"Walon Vau. Our old drill sergeant when we were cadets." Fixer said slowly like Scorch was stupid.
"I know who Walon Vau is! I don't remember him saying that to us?"
"Yes, I thought that would be lost on you. I read it. In a book. They're like holomovies, but quieter." Scorch glared at Fixer talking down to him. Unfortunately, this meant he wasn't paying attention causing him to accidently close the blaster's slide against his hand!
"Argh!"
This caught Bullseye's attention who rushed over promptly, filled with concern.
"Let me see, are you alright? Well good news Scorch. I can call you Scorch right?" Scorch nodded his head. "Good news Scorch your hand will be fine. Bad news is you've failed the test."
"Damn it Fixer!"
"Hey, don't worry Scorch, all the best people fail at least once." reassured Bullseye.
"Have I failed?" asked Fixer.
"No, you've passed Four-Oh. Congratulations!"
After Scorch cussed up a storm and retook the training, Fixer met up with the squad advisor. He found it a bit jarring speaking to the advisor face to face instead of via hologram. As the war progressed, he was ordered to move from Kamino to The Prosecutor. Fixer explained his problem to the advisor who listened silently at his desk. At last, he spoke.
"I understand your predicament Four-Oh. Let me tell you about a young clone I once knew rather well. He was just like you because… obviously."
"Right."
"But also, he desired a higher rank. He felt overlooked. Do you know what he did?" Fixer didn't reply as the Advisor opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a slightly tattered handbook, about the size of a small datapad. "He read this. The Rules of Combat by Sun Fac. Geonosian battle theory. Heard of it?"
"No, sir."
The advisor flipped the book open to a random page. "'A good leader must be prepared to wear many hats.' You see, genius".
He handed the book to Fixer who realised something about the author. "Wait, Sun Fac? As in-"
"Yes, I believe your squad encountered him on your first proper mission together".
"Didn't we assassinate him?" The two stared at each other awkwardly.
"…Anyway, that clone read it when he was a cadet, and without naming any names, he's now the advisor for the best elite commando squad in the republic.
Fixer gave a smile as he realised what the Advisor was saying to him. "Ah. So you're saying this book could get me promoted?
"Who can say?"
"Can you?"
"I can."
"Will you?"
"No."
"Hm."
Fixer browsed through the book as the Advisor concluded. "But study up on this, use it to defeat your enemy, then report back and tell me what you've learned."
Fixer gave a nod before reading out loud. "Well in the words of Sun Fac, 'Dressing like the enemy is the first step to thinking like the enemy'."
"Well, don't dress like Sun Fac or Oh-Seven will blow your brains out."
"Yes sir."
"Carry on."
/
Author notes: I know the advisor explains it but yes Sun Fac is from the first level in Republic Commando as an assassination target. Why did I choose this random Geonosian to be the author of this book? You'll find out on chapter 5, stay tuned!