At last. After all this time. I have return with a new chapter. Be ready to enjoy it for it will be a longer one than expected.
Coruscant 22 bby, Four months after the battle of Geonosis.
Commander 71 looked at the latest group of natborns as they were taking a battle course. So far they have been doing this four times as per his orders due to the fact that while they may not have the same training at a young age, they need to make up for it with a lot of simulations.
It also helps that after fighting on Geonosis, and several other battle fronts that he can put what he learns to good use. However he felt rather unfitting for himself to be here training these natborns. He still doesn't know how to feel about it.
All those years of training, all those years in the simulations, being trained to be a clone commander. Just to have these natborns come along, he's still trying to wrap his mind around it. Sure they got the skill and dedication, but the question is how would they put it to good use? These natborns don't have the training they got from the Cuy'val dar, from Alpha class clones, from Alpha-17, to Fordo, to Arc trooper Sly himself. The last one 71 considers to be the top dangerously close to the skills of Jango Fett himself.
Shaking out of his thoughts he looked to see the natborns finish their training session with a few wounds and casualties in the simulation. As the troops came out, 71 went to see them as he took in what they did within the simulation.
"Good work troops, we may be able to make you like us yet. You still have some lessons to be learned but I'm sure within a few weeks the Republic will have the finest soldiers we can make you. Now get some rest and relax until the next simulation." 71 ordered as the natborns nodded as they began to leave.
71 began to make his way to see how his Vode were doing with the other recruits when he heard a voice call out, "Commander a moment please?"
The commander turns to see a 25 year man coming up to him, Rieken from what 71 was told when they meet as the man in question had a datapad in his hand, stopping before 71, Rieken gave it to him as the clone commander read it over, he frown of what it said, "They want us to speed up the training of the troops by a few weeks?"
"Orders from the Supreme Commander sir. The 501st, along with the 212th need the troops as quickly as they can before they tackle Christophsis" Rieken explained which made sense. During the Cromhills first few weeks in office he made it clear how things are gonna work.
To accommodate the recent Clone army and have them work with normal natborns, Cromhill worked on a doctrine called the Star doctrine. It was from what he gathered five military command leadership for each legion, battalion, division or corps depending on how important they were. The Admiral of the fleet would be the first one, followed by a Ground general, a Jedi general, a Fighter commander and a Clone commander. The five leaders would have a share of power and would be in charge of the said legion.
This meant that new Admirals, Ground generals and Fighter Commanders had to be selected from each group. The 212th being an example with Jan Dodonna who from what 71 knew as one of the contenders for the Supreme commander position before Cromhill came along was transferred there and given the rank of Admiral. Solomahal was indeed another example who was transferred from a planet called Azure. Why the general was on that planet 71 couldn't be sure.
There were some exceptions though. Cromhill was one of the few who though he made the Star doctrine kindly refused a Jedi due to the fact that he didn't want them to be too much of a warrior. Which 71 kinda understood, he heard several times that Jedi were keepers of the peace, not soldiers and when K'Kruhk refused to send his men to their deaths at Teyr.
Shaking his head from that memory, 71 looked back to Rieken as he nodded, "Very well. I'm going to check with my brothers and inform them of this. Tell the troops to be ready for another simulation in 15 minutes tops."
"Yes sir." Rieken said as he turned to find the others as 71 began to move to meet up with his Vode and inform them of the new orders. Finding them 2 mins later, seeing them comparing reports of what they saw the natborns do right and wrong made 71 appreciate them, he just hoped the news he gave the troops would be taken well.
One of the clones named Quin looks up and stands to attention upon seeing him, "Commander on deck!" which made the rest of the troops stand up too.
"At ease Vode. I just got some new orders, were to accelerate the training of the natborns up a few weeks. A major attack is coming up and we need them ready to move out." 71 explained as the clones grumbled in annoyance. Truth be told he couldn't argue with that, but they had no time to talk about that right now. Now they had to get ready.
"I know most of us don't want to be training these natborns, and I know some of us can't get used to them, but Cromhill is right, we can't win this war alone. And our Vode in the 501st and 212th needs these troops for the attack coming up. This doesn't give us much time to finish their training so we need to get the most important basics into them before they march out, understood?" 71 asked as he put his hands behind his back as he looked at his troops.
"Sir, yes sir." The clones answered as one as they saluted him.
"Good, gather the troops and have them come to simulator room 12. They had time to work into squads, now we need to see how they work as a unit, see you in 10 mins." 71 ordered as the clones dispersed. 71 began to turn towards the room as Quin spoke, "Sir. A moment?"
71 turned around curious as to what Quin wanted as the clone came up to him, "Some of us were thinking and thought it was best if we gave you a name to help the Natborns remember you by besides your number."
"A name?" 71 asked curiously as he never thought in his years with Quin as one of the surviving members of the 416 corps would tell him this, "What sort of name did you suggest?"
"Well sir, we know you fought on Geonosis and Teyr, and help gave out orders that had us win the battles in the end, so we thought that the name Bark would work." Quin answered though he was hesitant of saying the word Bark.
71 raised an eyebrow as he took a thought to the name. Yes it was true that he gave out the orders for the SPHA-T to destroy the coreships, and help direct the troops at Teyr even under the most dangerous of conditions. Looking back at Quin he nodded, "Thank you Quin. As of now my name is Bark, meet up with your troops and be ready for the simulator."
"Yes sir." Quin said as he turned to head to his troops, Bark began to head to the simulation room thinking about the orders and his new name. Bark, yeah that can work.
Cromhills office, Coruscant, 22 bby, five months after the battle of Geonosis
"And Palpatine took up the offer, just like that?" Cromhill asked as he sat on his desk, staring flatly at Windu along with Yoda who accompanied him while Master Koon and Undili were overseeing their troops and forces. Cromhills clone commander Thorn was in the room with them as the clone had his arms crossed.
"Accept it he did. Not proud of this, we are not." Yoda answered to which Windu nodded. To the Korun Jedi master himself, it was a dark day for the Republic dealing with criminals and something told him that maybe Cromhill was thinking the same thing.
"And Palpatine hopes that I will gather the Republic to rescue Jabba's son. Without my opinion on the matter…" Cromhill trailed off as he stood up from his desk, Windu could sense a small hint of anger within the man that Cromhill kept hidden quite well, and a carefully keen eye would notice Cromhill's hands cripping the desk.
Neither Windu, Thorn, or Yoda dared to speak as Cromhill moved towards the window to look outside. What seemed like a minute almost felt like hours for Windu. He couldn't imagine what it was like for a non force-sensitive to feel angry but yet keep himself calm and collected. Windu himself partly wondered if Cromhill was secretly trained by a sect of the Jedi or some other force group.
His thoughts were shaken out when Cromhill turned around to face Thorn, "Do we have any word of where Jabba's son might be?"
"No, nothing yet Supreme Commander. We can begin searching for the star system Tatooine for him." Thorn responded by putting his hands down before speaking again, "Sir. I don't like this more than you or anyone else here."
"We all agree on that, but the Chancellor is adamant that we find Jabba's son, so that we can gain the trade routes Jabba has." Windu added, while appreciating Thorn's opinion when he and Yoda came in as a way to get insight from the commander and report to the Supreme commander, he knew that Thorn was stating partly Cromhills thoughts.
"He didn't tell us how though, did he? What ways we can use, what precautions, what people? I am reluctant to send military support to rescue a well known Crime lord's son. What do we get besides the trade lanes and routes Jabba and the hutt's use? What can we get out of this?" Cromhill asked as he looked at Windu, Yoda, and Thorn for their answers. Windu knew that Cromhill was the person who is open to options and suggestions when it comes to planning out battles that Cromhill needs to see from a different perspective or when he needs a different opinion from someone else who isn't afraid to point out flaws in a plan.
"Sir I'm not a diplomat, but if we are gonna be dealing with the hutt's, then we need everything we can use that can tell the Hutt's that we mean to give Jabba's son back to him in exchange for some non aggression packs." Thorn responded first, Cromhill looked at Thorn as he nodded his head in agreement. Windu was a bit surprised at the clone's answer, but then again, he saw more answers from Ponds when he, Ponds, Locus Geen, and Krillen discussed several battle plans.
"Very well. Master Windu, Yoda, I want you both to gather a few diplomates and prepare to negotiate with Jabba's son. Thorn, I want you to call upon Arc trooper 05 code name Sly." Cromhill ordered as everyone nodded but Windu himself had concerns.
"Sir, even if we do find Jabba's son, I have no doubt that the kidnappers will fight hard just to keep him." Windu responded, as Cromhill put a hand to his chin in silent thought.
"Assistance, Sly will need, send someone we must, to reinforce him." Yoda added as Cromhill walked around the room as he looked in the army groups to see who was available. The 104, was busy holding the Rimma trade sector, the 41st was busy in the south, 327 to the north east, and many others in their own battles. Except two, that was close. The 501st, and 212th.
He frown a bit at the 501st, before Anakin became general and had Gentis and Yularen assigned to him, he was a padawan nearing knighthood and under Obi wan's command, before leaving to their assignment of Muunilinst, Cromhill wanted to see Anakin in private with Obi wan, Yoda, and Thorn as witnesses.
Cromhill made it no secret that while he wasn't happy that Palpatine suggested that Anakin be made commander despite Yoda almost suggesting something else to Anakin before Palpatine finished it by saying it's decided. Though it didn't stop Cromhill from making it clear to Anakin that while he may be the commander for the assault for Muunilinst, he made to clear to the Jedi staff and other generals and Admirals beforehand that this war is not meant to gain glory or power, it's meant to have devotion to protect what they believe in.
He remembered those words he said to Anakin and made it clear that there are consequences should Anakin disobey any orders given, and that this is a trial run to see if he is a good leader. Which Anakin passed close. It was thanks to Mace Windu arriving that Anakin and his squadrons were able to hold off a ship which had been identified as Ventress, one of Dooku's Sith apprentices.
Now Anakin, while he maintains that youthful ignorance that he had a few months ago, he's been maturing slowly ever since. It helped that he assigned Gentis to Anakin, still he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to send him and the 501st. Nonetheless, both them and the 212 were close, he just hoped they had to make do.
Looking up at Thorn, Yoda, and Windu he spoke, "Contact General Kenobi and Skywalker. Informed them, I have new orders for them once they are done.".
Teth Monastery, Teth, 22bby, 5 months after the battle of Geonosis.
The engines were quiet as the ship approached the monastery, it really didn't matter, though alpha clone arc trooper, zero five or sly as his brothers will call him getting himself ready for the fight and the mission. Which honestly wasn't really a good thing in his mind. His mission was to rescue the kidnapped son of a hutt while the main force outside distracted the enemy.
A hutt, he already heard about them backstabbing very big slugs who ruled over a criminal Empire. This particular Hutt was Jabba the Hutt. And sly already heard a reputation about him.
Checking his gear from his Wester rifle, to his DC-15 rifle with the grenade launcher attachment, to finally his two pistols. The rest of his gear is already for him. Sly is going to need it for this mission. He doesn't know who exactly he's going to be in here, but he does know for a fact if there's an Enemy commander, he needs to be on high alert for he and the other alphas have been treated about this said Enemy commanders were sometimes dark acolytes.
"Sir, ETA till arrival at the back of the monastery 2 mins." The clone pilot Triax announced over comms.
"Understood. Initial jamming sequence and keep the gunships engines silent. Monitor comms at all times Triax." Sly instructed as he hoisted his Westar rifle around his back while reading his DC-15 rifle, with any luck he wouldn't be able to use the grenades for it just a simple rescue but just to be the same a few grenades were in the launcher.
As the gunship approached the Monastery, Sly could overhear the sounds of battle going on. Good, then it means that the seps are taking the bait, hopefully that means the republic is going to come in through the front. The red light went on as Sly checked his weapons one more time and checked his jetpack he brought. All were 100%, nodding Sly stood at the ready as the light turned green and the door opened.
Taking off, Sly jumped and activated his jetpack to the platform. Landing down, Sly landed as he looked around with his rifle up. All clear, moving to the door he looked at the terminal and opened the door. Aiming his weapon around, Sly Quietly moved in while being careful of not running into droid forces on his way to rescue the huttet.
Meanwhile on the other side Ventress watches the battle unfold from the tower she was in. As her master predicted, the Republic forces would come for Jabba's son. Her orders were to let the Republic forces win, and when they found him, to record what they were doing to Rotta so they could blacklist the Jedi and secure the alliance with the Hutts while afterwards she was to either capture or kill the Huttet. A win for her to kill some jedi.
However as the battle went on, she became uneasy. Something wasn't right about this battle, the Republic should have come up about now and taken out these droids, but they didn't. Perhaps they didn't want to risk hurting the hutts son, or perhaps… She turned to one of her droids, "Commander, send a squad down to check the Hutt son, see if he's still there. If not then send out all forces to hunt him down."
"Yes mistress." The droid responded as he ordered a few droids off to check while Ventress turned back to the battle at hand, wondering who's leading this Republic force.
Back with Sly, he stealthily made his way towards the cells, as he heard a squadron of battle droids approach. Taking cover behind a wall he overheard the droids talking as he began to record the audio as per Cromhills orders to be used as proof against the Separatist for the crimes they committed as part of a psychological warfare tactic to turn Separatist worlds against their faction.
"You sure the mistress thinks it's a good idea to send us down here while the rest of us are fighting the Republic?" A b1 asked as they marched towards the cell where the Huttet was at?
"Well we are guarding the son of Jabba the Hutt that we kidnapped in order for Dooku to make it look like the Jedi were the ones that did it in order for us to gain access to the Hutts' hyperspace lanes, so yes." Another B1 answered as he opened the cell door to reveal the small Huttet looking at them with some fear.
Sly, getting what he needed to record, put the audio device away as he got out a emp grenade and quietly threw it towards the 4 droids. When the Grenade landed the emp came out and shocked the 4 droids in question as the young hutt looked at the falling droids in surprise and joy as they fell down. Looking up to see his savior that walked to the door, Rotta looked up at the armored man with white and yellow armor with modifications to it along with 4 weapons on him.
Sly kneels down to the hutt and picks him up, "I was told that your father wants you back. Ain't gonna disappoint him." Sly then heard droids march as he began to run out back towards the landing pad as droids began firing at him after one of the B1's shouts, "A clone! Open fire!"
Running towards the exit with an excited hutt hanging on to him, Sly got on the comms built into his helmet, "Triax, this is Sly! I have the Hutt in question but the clankers are following on to me! Call 501st and 212th and instruct them into pressuring the Seps to focus on them!"
"Already did that Sly, they should be coming in right now!" Triax responded as indeed they boys and girls of the 501st and 212th did. The monastery began to shake as the Republic forces began to fully arrive. Sly knew that he had to move quickly in order not to be taken out along with the hutt as he rushed with the young one outside.
Out in the courtyard, things could be described as chaotic in a little area such as the monastery as both sides began to fight one another for control. The effectiveness of the 501st with its clones taking the lead while Republic troopers gave cover fire.
In the skies the 212th began to show why they were a part of the 7th Sky corps as they provided cover fire in Laat gunships along with modified Vaat gunships. These vehicles were modified with one of the doors being replaced with a panel that houses an E-web gun.
Laying down cover fire, the gunship gave the separatist droids no chance to fire back on the towers or in the main area, as their choice was either to take cover or to be torn apart by the E-web gun.
Meanwhile three Jedi and their clone commanders were already taking cover as they received word from the generals and admirals that the orbit was secured. Now all they needed to do was to cover the Arc trooper that was sent to get the Huttet and leave. Speaking of said Jedi Ahsoka spoke up as she reflected some bolts back at the seps, "This fighting is partly not what I had in mind!"
"Well you got to learn on the move snips!" Anakin responded back as he blocked and slice a few droids coming their way as Obi wan smirked a little as he used a force push, sending a few droids flying.
"Well you two are getting along quite well! Keep the droids occupied, I'm going to find the enemy commander! Cody, you're in charge of the 212th till I get back!" Obi wan ordered as Cody responded, "Yes sir!"
Anakin and Ahsoka nodded as they moved up with Rex to support him and some of the 501st boys while Obi wan went into the monastery.
Ventress was rightfully so fuming after she got off the comms with her master Dooku, how did she not see this coming? After informing her master of the fact that the Republic wasn't going aggressive as they thought they would, then all the sudden one of her droids reported that a clone seemed to appear out of nowhere and rescued Jabba's son and is now escaping. Dooku made it very clear to her that failure will not be tolerated as he already said that with some jedi and senators at Jabba's it would be hard for him to make his case to Jabba.
Ventress decided to hunt the clone down herself and kill him and recover the hutt when all the sudden she sensed someone approaching as she turned around with her lightsabers activated as she saw who the Jedi was.
"Master Kenobi, always coming with Skywalker in tow, how predictable." Ventress says as she stared down the Jedi master she engaged with several times in the few months since the war started.
"It seems we came at the right time it seems and we both know that Anakin leaves quite a mess, which seems to lead us to you Ventress." Obi wan replied as he assumed his form three stance and prepared to duel with Ventress. However Ventress had no time as she instructed her super battle droids to engage Obi wan as she turned to hunt the clone down.
Sly mean time already made his way to the pickup point and was waiting to be picked up as Rotta began to cry. Looking at the young Hutt, Sly began to wonder what was wrong, but he had no time as he heard some battle droids approach, closing the door and blasting the controls he turn and set Rotta down, "Don't go anywhere kid, i'm gonna leave behind a present for your hosts."
Turning to the door, he began to place Detonators on the door as he began to send them to explore when someone tries to cut the door open. Setting them up Sly heard the sound of the gunship arriving as he turned around, pick up Rotta, and got into the gunship as the sound of lightsabers could be seen cutting the door, and when the gunship door closed the detonators exploded, sending Ventress trying to pursue the clone and the child flying while a few droids were destroyed.
Ventress survived by using the force to land safely as she snared at the gunship escaping, a failure that she will have to pay for as the gunship began to take off. Hearing the sound of the lightsaber, she turns to see Obi wan at one of the doors pointing his weapon at her, "Ventress, there is no need to fight, surrender."
Narrowing her eyes she pressed a button on her wrist as she activated her lightsaber to buy her some time until her ship came as she activated her lightsabers and began to duel with Obi wan. The both of them began taking the fight to one of the pathways outside as Obi wan was gaining the edge on Ventress due to his form three lightsaber of Soresu. Seeing her ship appear Ventress disengaged and landed on the Vulture droid appearing as the ship took off to meet up with separatist forces that escaped.
Obi wan deactivated his lightsaber as he turned to see Anakin and Ahsoka approaching him, "I guess you both got done with your respective battle?"
"Oh yeah, and I totally showed skyguy here a thing or two about my skills." Ahsoka teased as Anakin nodded his head and looked to see Ventress' ship heading to the rest of the escaping seps.
"So, the Arc trooper got the little hutt?" Anakin asked as they began to head back to their troops.
"Yes and with the success of this mission, we may be able to get the lanes we need in order to deliver more troops to the areas that requested reinforcements and hopefully be able to win this war." Obi wan answered as they met up with the Republic forces that were securing the area for the Republic that is going to garrison a force here as Cody and Rex meet up to greet the three jedi.
"Sir. Report from the Resolute shows that Arc trooper Sly has boarded the Venator that is going to take them to Tatooine with the Hutt." Cody reported as he saluted Obi Wan. Cody was one of the few who knew the effectiveness of Sly personally when training with him and seeing Sly in action a bit when he came to Christophsis to add them against the sep forces there.
"Good, we are much closer to winning this war gentlemen." Obi wan responded as they began to walk back to their transports and return to their fleets. They were going to be separating
After this to assist on different war fronts and their own sectors as ordered by Cromhill due to a doctrine that he is in the works of making. However little did they all know that they were going to be meeting up again, very soon.
And that my friends is the end for this chapter aka opening arc, we shall now begin to move into the Hunt for Malevolence arc. Sorry it toke so long to write this, I only had time to work on parts of it but due to school work, I had to delay it until now. But hopefully this chapter makes up for it. For now I hope you be excited for the next part.