https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJrEkTEkE4QThe dawn of Cato-Neimoidia opens on a sombre scene. The burial of the dead. You had suggested it to Fabian, and he had agreed. Now there’s several neat rows of mounds, with a helmet atop each one. The best you can manage in this environment. It had been done in silence, your men focusing on the task instead of idle chatter. The entire regiment, except the sentries, stands around it, maintaining a respectful silence for the fallen. Nobody has said any words. You clones had never been one for speeches. You see the prisoners standing off to the side, near Goto and his men. He’s allowed them to keep their armour, but confiscated their helmets. You can see their faces, and its clear there’s a hardness in them, but also a tinge of regret, or something else. You were trained well, but it’s always tough being the last survivors.
After a few moments, Fabian nods his head, and walks back to the camp. Gradually, the others follow.
Somehow, despite the battle and the disturbing thoughts of its scenes repeated across the galaxy, you had somehow found sleep. You had given your report to Fabian, as accurately as possible, and he had accepted it calmly. There wasn’t many ways it could have gone better. That was the problem now, he said. You couldn’t trust your own brothers. You might still be loyal to The Republic, but to both sides it looked like desertion. And desertion carried a punishment of execution. Of course, you were sure there were commanders out there who’d look the other way or let you go, but the problem was that there was no way to tell without risking it. One of many problems you’d face in the coming days.
>And what of our way out of here, sir?“There, at least, I have some good news. The ship is still intact, but it’s been help up by the battle in orbit. It should arrive here by the afternoon, and we’ll get onboard with all speed and leave. I only hope it doesn’t get here before the other friendly forces I contacted do. They’ve been held up too, the main highways have been seized and they have to trek on foot. So we’ll just have to stay alert and wait.”
He dismisses you, and you return to your men. It’s a few hours later, around midday, when the sentries call out that they’ve spotted incoming clones, and you all rush out to your posts. It’s the friendlies Fabian mentioned. They’re not in great shape. None bigger than a battalion, and most of them are around company sized. When they get there, the commanders report in to Fabian, and then begin setting up camp around yours. You talk to a few of the officers, and it seems like they’re more exhausted than anything else, from trying to get here before the ship leaves. A lot of them remain silent when you ask them about any hostile forces they’ve encountered. You don’t push it.
