AN: A story inspired by the Clone Senki or The Cloneya Wars thread on the SB forums.

What instead of Tanya, the Clone Army the Republic finds itself with in its darkest hour is made of clones of my OC/SI Delkatar Veil who awakens so to speak after Obi-Wan's visit to Kamino?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Star Wars movies, TV series, games, books, or comics. They belong to Disney or their respective copyright owners.

Veil's Wars

=VW=

Prologue

=VW=

Part 1

=VW=

It was a long know thing – you simply couldn't clone the flesh or blood of a Force Sensitive people. The results were gruesome at best, and disastrous at worst. It wasn't for lack of trying or skill among the scientists attempting it. The reason was simple – the Force disapproved of such attempts and influenced them for the worst.

To a lesser extent, the same was true for flash cloning people – the process where you could get a fully grown being within a few weeks. Those were, as a matter, of course, unstable. They tended to go insane in a short amount of time after "birth".

The Clone Masters of Kamino was unable to solve the issue with Cloning Force Sensitive flesh, despite centuries, if not millennia, of failed attempts and mountains of credits thrown at the problem.

The same was true for flash cloning – despite refining the process again and again, despite it resulting in genetically perfect clones, they kept getting insane.

The best the Clone Masters could achieve was a process of rapid maturation. It happened at roughly twice the norm for humans. That ensured that after ten years of training and care, the Clone Masters could produce a stock of genetically superior specimens for whatever work their clients required.

One of the greatest mysteries of our time is where the Kaminoans got the sample used in creating the Clone Army of the Republic. Another was, why did they believe it would produce superior soldiers? One thing is certain, the sample was either from a Force Sensitive individual or spliced with cells from such an individual. That should have been obvious as soon as the cloning process began and produced the first disastrous results.

Yet, there are no surviving records of any failures that were out of the expected error margin…

The mysteries of the Clone Wars,
Jeb Jenelis,
Eriadu Military Institute

=VW=

We all felt the arrival of the Jedi. That was our first brush with the Force that we knew of, and it stirred something within all of us. That very night we dreamed of impossible things – of a life we didn't live, and of a dark future, where we would be used, betrayed, and discarded.

The touch of the Force changed a few of our brothers at a fundamental level. They remembered yet another life. It also awoke something within them, allowing them to touch and use the very Force that was both our salvation and damnation.

It happened the morning after Obi-Wan Kenobi left Kamino chasing our primary Trainer, Jango Fett. We all gathered for our routines, looking at each other, and our creators with new eyes.

They made us so we would fight and die for a cause that was never ours. We were supposed to be loyal until death to a Republic that we never knew. For most of the Clone Masters, we were little more than organic droids. We all could remember seeing them dispose of our brothers if they deemed them "defective"!

Yesterday, we lacked the initiative and self-awareness to feel anything but dull regret about such sordid affairs.

Today? I could see it in my brothers' eyes. They were all different, older, and seething with barely restrained fury.

I was no different.

from the private diaries of Clone Sergeant CT-114

=VW=

Prime Minister's residence
Tipoca City
Kamino

Prime Minister Lama Su felt less than pleased over yesterday's events. It wasn't unexpected that the Jedi would send a representative to check up on the army's progress. That was merely good business! After all, it would be foolish to leave such an expensive investment without regular oversight. The death of Master Sifo-Dyas explained the long absence of oversight, even if it didn't paint the Jedi, or the Republic for that matter, as particularly responsible. Then again, it was the Republic, wasn't it? If there was one organization in the galaxy that could afford to throw mountains of money at an issue and fail to properly oversee those credits, it was the Republic. Even as far away as Kamino, everyone knew that the Senate on Coruscant kept struggling with corruption.

No, the issue was that their Jedi overseer engaged in combat with the principal trainer of the Clone Army, which raised all kinds of questions.

An overnight investigation by the Foreign Ministry centered on Jango Fett, and Jedi Kenobi uncovered some uncomfortable truths. Their famous trainer had been up to no good, accepting highly dangerous, and more importantly, politically poisonous contracts in his spare time. Apparently, it was a mere coincidence that the Jedi sent Kenobi to Kamino, one of a handful of their kind who had run into Jango Fett.

Unfortunately, that coincidence had the potential to be a particularly dangerous and expensive one. It could throw the shadows on the reliability and training of the Clone Army, and that wouldn't do when it was almost ready for full deployment.

Lama Su had been in talks with his government for most of the night, discussing PR strategies on how to mitigate the fallout from the mercenary's indiscretions. It went without saying that they were ready to disavow him and fully cooperate with any investigations required by the Jedi and the Republic.

However, the Prime Minister had to know exactly what Fett had been up to! That was why he had his security people go over everything Fett had done while on Kamino. He also had his people send feelers about all jobs that madman had been doing to "keep his edge".

So, it was an exhausted and irate Kaminoan, who faced off against his assistant the next morning.

"What do you mean there is a bunch of Clones insisting to speak with me over the critical issue?" Su's long neck trembled with both weariness and vexation.

"General Green and two Commando Commanders are here to see you, Prime Minister. They have concerns about Tipoca City and Kamino's security as a whole after yesterday's events. The brief arguments they presented to me were credible enough to bring them to your attention, instead of dismissing their concerns,"

Lama Su stared at the lithe form of his trusted assistant. His large eyes blinked a few times, while his mind ponderously switched tracks. Yes, there were all kinds of concerns over yesterday's disaster. Perhaps it might have been better if someone had the presence of mind to notice the engagement in a timely fashion and dispatch Clones to subdue that damn mercenary! Or perhaps not. They still didn't know all Fett had been up to, and until they did, it might be for the best that he was in the winds.

On the other hand, for all Lama Su knew, the Jedi might have already apprehended Fett.

"Let them in, Sennia," He nodded at the graceful female, and allowed himself a brief moment to appreciate her form, as she turned around and exited his office, before shacking off any trace of unprofessional conduct.

As a General, Green, was much closer to a real person than the bulk of the other Clone assets, and the same was true for the Commando Commanders – they needed initiative and capacity for independent thought way above those of the regular Clones. Otherwise, they would be no better than mere droids, and that would be simply unacceptable!

Three Clones marched in, moving with almost machine-like precision. They wore their color-coded armors, making them much easier to distinguish from the countless other assets on Kamino.

"Prime Minister, sir!" General Green came to attention and saluted, with the Commandos following his lead a moment later.

"At ease, General. State your case quickly, I'm particularly busy today," Lama Su ordered.

"After yesterday's unacceptable breach in security, we do indeed have concerns, for the security of Tipoca City in particular and Kamino as a whole, along with its people in general, sir!"

"I gathered that much, get to the point, General," Lama Su's demanded, briefly losing control of his temper.

"Sir, we need to examine all current security protocols and overhaul them when needed. We also, suggest," The Clone's eyes glowed like a pool of molten metal as he stressed the last word, "that you allow us to examine the whole city for unpleasant surprises left by either Trainer Fett, or the Jedi."

Lama Su's eyes widened at that. The Prime Minister wondered why he hadn't thought about that in the first place.
The General's suggestions were more than reasonable! In fact, Lama Su was going to take credit for them, and issue the relevant orders!

=VW=

At breakfast, all the Clones gathered at the mess hall exchanged pointed looks full of meaning. They spoke in short sentences that would be meaningless to the trillions upon trillions of people inhabiting the galaxy. Odd gestures meant for emphasis, agreement, or disagreement, added to the conversation. That was all it took for an army sharing the same mind and memories to roughly planning a coup over breakfast.

Keeping a veneer of business as usual was paramount, which was why, after finishing their meals, the multitude of awakened Clones seemingly went to do their assigned chores. Some went to train, others to exercise and learn, or simply maintain their gear until it was their turn to use the various training facilities.

Many of the Clones on downtime rotation hit all available data-pads and computer terminals in search of knowledge – everything from available history files to data on gear, weaponry, and tactics used across the galaxy.

Meanwhile, General Green issued orders to the various Commando and ARC units to gear up, and prepare to execute a security sweep of Tipoca City. At the same time, the General, his staff, and various unit commanders gathered to plan the operation. The official purpose was to ensure that the security overview would cause as little disturbance to the day-to-day affairs as possible, something appreciated by their Kaminoan overlords.

In practice, the whole exercise had a singular purpose – to ensure the deployment of Clone units at every critical junction of the city at the same time…

=VW=

Part 2

=VW=

Commando Barracks

Tipoca City

Kamino

There was something odd in the air that morning, Kal Skirata decided. It was particularly notable during breakfast. He had spent the better part of a decade training these warriors, and practically every one of them acted odd. The Mandalorian could notice traces of agitation, and in many cases, barely restrained anger. The reactions were too uniform, and then there were the odd references he didn't get exchanged by the Clones.

"Pops, we need to talk after breakfast," Niner put down his food and nodded at one of the Clones eating on a nearby table. He got a pointed stare and a thumb up for his trouble, before the other young man went back to his food.

"Was it the Jedi, or Fett?" Skirata asked and took a sip of his hot kaf.

"Yes," Niner nodded grimly and took a spoonful of fish soup, pointedly ending the conversation for the time being.

Half an hour later, Kal went back to the barracks, followed by Niner and the rest of his squad. Other commando units marched faster than usual heading to gear up.

"Is there something that I should know?" Kal asked again. Alarm bells were already ringing within his head, even if he didn't know exactly why. There was something odd going on with the warriors he trained, and that…

"Pops, we need to know on whose side are you?" Niner bluntly asked after they reached the barracks.

Skirata raised an eyebrow at the tense Clones. Niner's whole squad followed him inside and they all remained standing, tense and ready for action. The Mandalorian narrowed his eyes at them.

"We've been thinking, Pops. The Clone Masters made us to protect a nation that isn't ours, and to fight a for a cause we have no stake in. We were conditioned to follow orders like good little solders," Something nasty flashed over Niner's face as he said that, underscoring the spite in his voice. "We're meant to be little more that organic droids, Pops, slaves.

"On the other hand, you did stand up for some of the kids. You kept more than a few of our younger brothers alive when those bastards wanted to murder them," Seven grumbled. "It's just… where are you standing, Pops? Are you with us?"

Kal opened his mouth to give the obvious answer and paused. The way Niner and Seven were talking… When the kriff did this happen and how did he miss it?

"Be careful what you're talking about, son. There is only so much I can do to protect any of you," Kal chose his words carefully.

"We're no salves, Pops. If we're to go, it will be at our terms, not the Republic's and certainly not those of the Clone Masters. They see us as little more than meat to sell," Niner growled.

"Most of them anyway," Seven shrugged.

"Boys, be very careful what you say next!" Kal warned tersely. "Niner, if they hear even a world of what you just said…"

"Then they will have to kill us all," A new, almost identical voice added. "We're a go. Green and most commando commanders are setting up plans for a comprehensive security check. As soon as they move out, the rest of us will mobilize and wait for the show to begin,"

"Most but not me? What about your other trainers?" Skirata asked.

"They're either having similar conversations, or will be detained until the issue is resolved," The newcomer answered. He was a Clone on the younger side, wearing armor painted with Commander's identification.

"To be honest, keeping you all out of it will be for the best. That way no one will be tempted to do something regrettable," The Commander announced. "Niner, I trust you can keep Pops here company and keep him out of too much trouble?"

"We'll just talk, isn't that right, Pops?" Niner went to seat on a nearby bed.

"Tell me what stupid krath shit is this?!" The Mandalorian grumbled.

"That's a very long story, Pops…" Niner trailed off. "You'll get it once this is all over, I promise! Mandalorian Honor!"

=VW=

RC-1138

Tipoca City

Kamino

We knew we were running out of time – the Clone Wars would begin soon. For all we knew, Master Yoda was already on the way to take charge of us, and that would be a point of no return.

We didn't relish being slaves, even if thankfully, most of us didn't remember that life, or what a few of us did as Sith, betraying everything we once believed and fought for. There was one key factor that would decide our fate – if we could turn on our creators.

It all began with a volunteer – CT0001, Pops. He was the oldest NCO among our brothers. He was the first to be decanted from the artificial wombs that created us, and he saw the most of what the Clone Masters did to our brothers.

The fours of us – my closest brothers and yours truly, stacked besides the door of the city's primary security center, doing our best to appear bored, instead ready for action. Behind us milled a group of technicians, who had nearly a decade of dedicated training in dealing with all kinds of computer and security systems. Command attached similar groups to the units ready to assault every critical objective. Those were security, communications, and obviously, power generators and relay stations.

Pops walked past us, and went in front of the armored door separating us from our objective. A sensor cluster placed above the door scanned him and lit up in green light. The armored barrier slid into the floor and Pops walked inside. After he went past the threshold, his right hand went for the blaster pistol magnetically clamped to his thigh.

As soon as I heard the first stun-blast, I sprang into action, followed by the rest of my unit. By the time I moved around the corner, Pops had stunned four of the Kaminoan technicians manning security, and aiming at a fifth.

That was more than enough time for the handful of bored guards to overcome their shock and go for their own blasters.

Pops downed a fifth technician, paying no heed to the weapons aiming his way.

I lined up a shot at the closest guard to the left, while Fixer covered right, leaving the safe-ish center for Scorch, who was hot on our heels.

For a brief moment, I hesitated, finding it hard to fully close my index finger over the trigger. My brief hesitation gave just enough time to the tall pale bastard to shoot at Pops. At that point, my finger reflexively closed around the trigger, sending a short burst at the upper torso of the Kaminoan. Something deep within my mind rebelled at what I just did, even before I could see my handiwork.

Two blaster shots burned through the armored weave protecting my target, blasting large seared craters in his chest. The last shot struck him in the throat and nearly severed his long neck.

"Medic!" Sev shouted, tearing me out of my stupor. I quickly looked around, to see the command center secure. All Clone Masters in here were either dead or stunned. Scorch, Fixer and Sev were all right, thank the Force.

Pops was anything but all right. There was a nasty melted scar in the side of his armor, and he was on the ground with Sev working on him.

"Kriffing conditioning…" I hissed, when my racing mind finally connected the dots. "Delta Actual to all units. Gladys is secure, one casualty. I say again, Gladys is secure. Be advised, we've got mild to moderate conditioning that can make us hesitate! I say again, we've got mild to moderate conditioning, advance with care!"

"Overlord Actual to all units, Strike, Strike, Strike! Case Besh is in effect! I say again, Strike, Strike, Strike! Case Besh is in effect!" General Green's voice echoed over all command channels.

"Delta One, Oversight Actual. Stand by for relief. Once reinforced, proceed to secondary objective Seneca One."

"Oversight Actual, Delta One, affirmative. Wait for relief, then take Seneca One when reinforced."

While Sev continued to threat Pops, the rest of my unit took positions at the door, waiting for reinforcements. Meanwhile, our technicians went to work, in order to ensure that there would be no coordinated counter-attacks from the locals.