A Clone flight deck officer escorts me to the assembled gaggle of Jedi and Admiral Yularen. I approach the group and give them a salute when I come to a stop. Yularen returns the gesture, while the Jedi do not. General Koth is currently being held up by Master Gallia while Kenobi and Skywalker are apparently discussing the next moves.

  Skywalker seems both far younger in person and … off. Like the minutes before a sandstorm hits. Powerful and … primordial? Harsh? Barbaric? No, none of those descriptions fit. But it’s honestly unnerving. The other Jedi never seemed to … have that kind of pressure exude from them. Though the pressure subsides before I can pin down how it feels and I simply put it down as Jedi shenanigans.

  I turn towards my commanding officer and speak: “General Koth, a pleasure to see you alive.”

  “Commodore, I return your feelings, we feared the Little Revenge would be lost in the explosion of the Separatist command ship.” The Jedi Master replies.

  “A tactical mistake on my end, sir. She will be needing some extensive internal replacements and repairs, though I suppose it would be the perfect time to upgrade her hyperdrive if she’s in dry-dock anyway.” I say, the final part coming out as more of a mumble than the rest.

  “Of course, Commodore.” The exhausted Jedi says.

  Master Kenobi speaks up next: “We were just discussing the plans for scouring Saleucami to locate our dear Grievous. I was suggesting landing the 212th and 501st and scouring the planet in two columns with additional scouting parties.”

  Skywalker pipes up at that: “We should be using our fighters to locate him first, then send in an aerial attack with our gunships.”

  “We could implement both strategies, Generals.” I say and they both turn to look at me as if I had sprouted another damn head.

  “Deploy the column to follow Grievous’ trail while the fighters scour the less likely areas he may have landed in.” Kenobi says, while rubbing his chin.

  “I would be more than willing to lead the fighters and gunships.” Skywalker says, his smirk showing a slight blood-lust.

  “I will deploy our men, then.” Kenobi says.

  “I’ll leave Rex to command the 501st on the ground.” Skywalker says.

  “I will ensure the blockade.” Yularen adds.

  “Yes, that would be a good idea.” Master Gallia says.

  The Jedi exchange nods and start leaving, with Gallia escorting General Koth to the medbay. I stay at attention until Yularen turns to me: “You did something most foolish, Dericote.”

  “I am aware of that. I would point out, that the position was advantageous at the time and that I ordered a cease in fire the moment the leak began, but I am aware of the mistake and do not plan on doing it again.” I say, my eyes narrowing slightly.

  “Mistakes can be made. Were there any casualties?”

  “I am still waiting on the reports, but a preliminary headcount only had maybe fifty men missing. They could still turn up and if they don’t I have the full intention of writing the letters to their families myself and would be willing to argue before any military court.” I answer.

  “As long as you are sure you did everything possible I have no intentions of filing any complaints.” He pauses for a moment as if in deep thought, “The shields you suggested worked well for Skywalker’s and Kenobi’s men. Kenobi only looks to have lost the skeleton crew on the Arquitens alongside two clones. Skywalker didn’t lose a single clone during the boarding action, though it did allegedly slow them down a little.”

  I process that for a moment. Was this a quid pro quo? His favor for my successful change in doctrine? Best simply accept the gratitude: “I am grateful my suggestion was useful to the Generals.”

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  “If you come up with anything else, I would be willing to help in the revisions.” The Admiral says.

  “I may have a couple things on the back burners, but they can keep simmering until I’m more certain on their potency.” I reply.

  “Of course. Just remember I am under the command of a General who is anything but orthodox and would be very glad to have even a prototype to … direct his insane ideas into something more … productive.” The Admiral commits. So that’s what he wants.

  “I am more than willing to send in a couple blueprints for prototypes. As long as I can use any data for the papers.” I offer.

  “And you would of course mention your sources.”

  “I am a historian as well as an officer. Of course I cite and credit my sources.” I reply scoffing slightly at the thought of doing otherwise.

  “Wonderful. I would enjoy such prototypes as soon as practical.” The Admiral says.

  “I will send something your way once I have returned to Dac.”

  “Excellent. You are dismissed.”

  I give a salute and move to check on my superior officer.

  There’s little to do except wait as the General is stuck in a bacta tank. Instead I move to the bridge and offer my services to Yularen. He tells me to assist in communications coordination. I moved over to the other bridge. Why did they need to make them so far removed from the rest of the ship anyway? When I enter the secondary bridge the Clones snapped to attention.

  “At ease, where’s the commanding officer? I was ordered to assist the communications coordination.” I ask.

  “That would be me, sir.” One of the Clones pipes up, a Lieutenant by his badge.

  I wait for the customary salute, but when the clone simply extends his hand I sigh and shake it: “Commodore, Dericote of the 97th Outer Rim Squadron, 347th Outer Rim Secction and the Little Revenge, 6th Fleet, General Koth’s command.”

  “Lieutenant Waxer, Ghost Company, 212th Attack Battalion, 7th Sky Corps, General Kenobi’s command.” The Clone replies.

  “Recently promoted?” I ask.

  “Yes, sir. After Geonosis. I got wounded and Commander Cody recommended I take some rest by taking command of the Negotiator’s communications deck until I’m back to normal and can take over a platoon properly.”

  “Alright, how’s the integration between units? I assume you aren’t comming all the way up and down internally and instead have priority channels for different local levels based off of mission locations.” I ask.

  “Pretty much, sir. Though we also have master priority channels and try to do regular updates from our units.” Waxer says.

  “How regularly?” I prod.

  “Every quarter rotation.”

  “So eight times a standard day?” I ask for clarification.

  “About, sir.”

  “Is it realistic to double that?” I ask.

  “Possible, sir, but we’ve found it interrupts any operation too much if it’s more than ten times a day.” The Clone replies.

  “Very well. Place me where I am needed most, my inferiors have already begun rescue operations and disposal procedures of dangerous ammunition.” I inform.

  “Could you coordinate communications between your unit and the rest of the task-force, sir?” the Clone asks slightly hesitant at the idea of asking a superior to do something at all.

  “With pleasure.” I say and move to the gestured area where those communications are done.

  I introduce myself to the Clones and begin asking for hourly reports on the disposal from the Little Revenge with progress reports for every quarter of progress they do on disposing the ammunition. I ask Senior Captain Hugh to give hourly reports on area clearance and Senior Captain Strom to begin towing the Little Revenge away from the destroyed Recusant.

  The updates are passed up the chain of command in bundles to make it simpler for the higher ups to not be overwhelmed by a constant flow of information. A rhythm develops. Little or Bastard squadron find an escape pod and one of the frigates scoop it up and open it with more than a few arms-men prepared for a fight and medics just around the corner. Sometimes a short firefight with battledroids ensues, sometimes ecstatic clones are picked up instead.

  I move towards the windows during a lull in the communications and watch as the broken Consular is towed by the Dagger towards one of the other Venators, which scoops it up into her lower hangar bay. My eyes scan over the battlefield and see the Lucky Kelp and Buckler towing the limping Little Revenge away from the debris field while a LAAT leaves her bowels, most likely filled to the brim with volatile explosives.

  I catch Waxer approach me from the side and I turn towards the Clone as he speaks: “Sir, we’ve an update from Captain Rex’s scouting unit. He has been wounded severely and is temporarily stationed at a farmhouse.”

  “I would recommend advising General Skywalker to divert a LAAT for his extraction if possible, if not we should send at least a couple men down to ensure the wounded officer’s safety.” I suggest.

  “His men already left him at the farm and pushed on with their mission.” Waxer says.

  What? Was that protocol for the Clones? It sure as hell wasn’t for the Navy unless tactical and strategic pressure or the impossibility to secure any escape pods. I ask my internal question: “Is that standard protocol for Clone units?”

  “Yes, sir.” Comes Waxer’s response.

  “Press the issue with General Skywalker. I will see about filing a formal complaint about inconsistency in procedure between branches.”

  “Yes, sir.” The Clone says, his tone revealing his confusion, before marching off. It takes a bit, but I return to my temporary station. The next row of reports come in. The Little Revenge had been towed between the Venators and already successfully removed half of the faulty ammunition and detonated it safely and remotely. Most of the area around the battlefield have been secured and only a few more klicks had to be searched for escape pods. I pass the information along, it was almost nice not having to worry about the hard decisions and to simply act as a bystander.

  “Commodore.” I hear behind me. I turn to see Waxer again, looking slightly nervous.

  “Yes, Lieutenant.”

  “General Skywalker’s forces are too far out to easily get to Captain Rex and General Kenobi is hot on Grievous’ trail. They request you head down personally to thank the farmers on their behalf and to get the Captain back up here.”

  I blink at that. Did they think I was some up-jumped Sergeant or Junior Lieutenant? I shake my head at that to stop myself from thinking about how the kark the two wished to insult me.

  “Very well. I assume all 501st and 212th LAATs are currently conducting the operations on surface?” I ask.

  “Yes, sir.”

  I sigh at that: “Alright. Would you be so kind as to ask Junior Captain Mi-Kus to divert one of our LAATs from ammunition disposal for a rescue operation of a wounded Officer? Inform him we will require at least a medic and a combat surgeon and to send a Lieutenant with them. Ask him to send them to the Negotiator to pick me up first and to get Lieutenant Solo of Little Squadron and one of her wingmen for escort. I will begin my descent to the hangar post haste. It was a pleasure working with you Lieutenant.”

  “You as well, sir.” The Clone says shaking my hand again and I stop myself from sighing again as I descend the elevators to the hangar bay. I arrive just in time to see the LAAT with a bottle-naid nose art to land and her doors to open. R4 trails behind me as I get on board.

  “Lieutenant Daffy. Prepared to grab a Captain?” I ask.

  “I suppose, so sir. Wouldn’t be fun to leave him behind now would it.” Lieutenant Daffy replies.

  I latch on to one of the straps as the doors close and the gunship leaves the Hangar.