CAPTAIN REX OF THE 501ST LEGION HAD seen many worlds during his service. Some troopers complained that all the planets blurred together. Rex had never found that to be true. Each one had its own sights, sounds, smells. This latest one—Umbara—was a case in point.
Umbara was blanketed in shadows. You couldn’t see incoming fire until it hit you. Some of the jungle plants glowed red, but they weren’t safe to approach. Between their immense grasping tentacles and jagged-toothed maws, they were as much of a hazard as the Umbaran troops.
Rex knew their mission. Umbara had aligned itself with the Separatists, and it was imperative that the Republic gain control of the strategic world by conquering its capital as quickly as possible. General Kenobi would advance from the south with the support of Masters Krell and Tiin, while General Skywalker and Rex’s men would approach from the north and take out enemy reinforcements. If they took the capital, the whole system would fall.
General Skywalker and Rex’s battalion had reached cover right before a Republic bomber run took out the first wave of opponents. To Rex’s surprise, they were accompanied by a Republic gunship that veered toward their position. Rex wondered who was on it.
The gunship landed, and a Jedi disembarked—a stern, four-armed Besalisk with a powerful build and two dual-bladed lightsabers clipped to his belt. Rex recognized him: General Pong Krell.
“Master Krell, thanks for the air support,” Skywalker said in greeting. “What’s the reason for your visit?”
“The Council has ordered you back to Coruscant,” Krell said.
Skywalker stared at him. “Why?”
“The Supreme Chancellor made a request, and the Council obliged. That’s all they told me.”
Skywalker’s lips thinned. “I can’t leave my men.”
“I’ll be taking over in the interim,” Krell said.
Rex turned to General Skywalker. “Don’t worry, sir. We’ll have this city under Republic control by the time you’re back.”
Skywalker smiled. “Master Krell, this is Rex, my first in command. You won’t find a finer or more loyal trooper.”
“Good to hear that,” Krell said. “I wish you well, Skywalker.”
General Skywalker hesitated, then boarded the gunship. Within moments it had lifted off.
Rex was determined to make the best of the situation. “Your reputation precedes you, General,” he said to Krell. “It’s an honor to be serving you.”
Krell’s response took him aback. “I find it interesting that a clone recognizes the value of honor.” His voice sharpened. “Stand at attention when I address you.”
Rex did so, cursing himself. General Skywalker had never been so harsh—but he wasn’t serving under Skywalker now.
“Your flattery is noted,” Krell went on, “but it will not be rewarded. There’s a reason my command is so effective. It’s because I do things by the book. Have all platoons ready to move out immediately.”
Rex hadn’t intended flattery, but he wouldn’t have dreamed of arguing with the general.
The march dragged on for hours, through difficult terrain. Rex’s attempt to win some respite for the troops met with Krell’s disdain. Krell refused to let them rest at all, insisting that time was of the essence.
Rex received another unpleasant surprise when he reported on the battalion’s preparations midway through their march on the capital. “Sir,” he said to Krell, standing properly at attention, “we’re ready to make a surgical strike on the capital’s defenses.”
“There’s no need, Captain,” Krell said. He was gazing in the city’s direction, although nothing was visible yet.
“Sir?”
“All platoons will execute a forward assault along the main route to the city.”
“Sir,” Rex protested, “General Skywalker’s plan was to surprise them with multiple attacks. If we come in from the main route, the Umbarans will engage us in a full-frontal assault.” He dreaded the casualties that would follow.
“Change of plans,” Krell said dismissively.
“With due respect, sir,” Rex said, “we don’t know what we’re up against. It might be wiser to think first—”
“Are you questioning me? This battalion will take the main road straight to the capital. You will not stop no matter what resistance you meet. You will attack with all our troops. Do I make myself clear, Seetee-Seven-Five-Six-Seven?”
The address brought him up short. Another thing Skywalker had done differently. “Yes, General,” Rex said stiffly.
Shadows cloaked the road to the capital on all sides. Even the glowing trees receded into forests of murk. The troops were sitting ducks.
Suddenly a trooper screamed as fire exploded beneath his feet and flung him into the air. He was followed by another.
“Mines!” Rex shouted. “Nobody move!”
Everyone froze.
Two troopers checked the fallen. “Oz is down,” one said.
“So is Ringo,” said the other.
Fives examined the road. “It’s booby-trapped. Everyone watch your step.”
It was too late for caution to save them. Umbarans rushed them from all directions, firing wildly. They wore suits with helmets whose faceplates revealed pale features made sickly in appearance by greenish lights. Even worse, missiles started exploding among the troops, throwing up dirt—and bodies.
“Hold your ground!” Rex roared, remembering Krell’s orders. Never mind that they were surrounded, and that they had no cover.
The troopers did their best. Hardcase, ever bold, let loose with his rotary blaster cannon. But for all the clones’ firepower, the Umbarans had more. And the missiles kept coming.
Soldiers fell, and fell, and fell.
Despite orders, Rex couldn’t allow more of his men to perish. “Pull back,” he said. “Get the Umbarans to follow us. If we can draw them out, we can see them. If we can see them, we can hit them. Fall back now!”
The troopers retreated, firing as they abandoned the assault. We had no choice, Rex thought.
The Umbarans, scenting blood, pursued them. Rex’s plan might just work.
“Regroup!” Rex called out. The troops slowed. “Hit ’em with everything you’ve got!”
The Umbarans realized their mistake as they were met by withering fire from the clone troopers. It was their turn to retreat. The Republic’s troops were saved—for now.
Rex’s relief was short-lived.
“Seetee-Seven-Five-Six-Seven,” General Krell roared, “do you have a malfunction in your design? You pulled your forces back from the capital. The enemy now controls this route. This operation has been compromised because of your failure!” He punctuated his words by jabbing Rex in the chest.
Fives intervened. “General Krell, Captain Rex saved this platoon. Surely you won’t fail to recognize that.”
To Rex’s shock, Krell rounded on Fives and drew one of his lightsabers. It ignited an ominous green. “Ayarsee-Five-Five-Five-Five,” he growled, “stand down.”
A Jedi wouldn’t really do that, Rex thought. Or would he?
“Sir, yes, sir,” Fives said.
Rex let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding. “Sir,” he said, “I followed your orders in the face of a plan I thought severely flawed. A plan that cost us men—not clones! Men! While it’s my duty to remain loyal to your command, I have another duty to protect those men.”
Krell put the lightsaber away. “I know I don’t command like the Jedi you’re used to serving. But I have my way, and it’s proven effective. It may be difficult, but these are difficult times.
“I suppose your loyalty to your men is to be commended. That’s important in an effective commander. All right, Captain Rex, your opinion has been noted. Dismissed.”
“I think he almost complimented you,” Fives remarked after Krell had strode off.
Rex wasn’t so sure.
General Obi-Wan Kenobi contacted Krell with their next mission: capture an air base critical to supplying the capital’s defenses. Rex understood that once again their battalion was crucial to the invasion.
Their first view of the air base, from atop a steep ridge, gave Rex a Better idea of what they faced. He surveyed the valley below through macrobinoculars, then said to Krell, “The base is heavily guarded. At least three tank divisions, plus guns.”
Krell had a plan. “We’ll advance along the central gorge and engage their forces in a full-forward assault.”
Rex’s heart sank. “The gorge is narrow, sir,” he said, hoping Krell would respond to reason. “We’ll only be able to move in single squads. Perhaps a closer recon would tell us if there’s a more secure route.”
Krell glowered. “Obi-Wan and the other battalions are holding off the enemy while they wait for us to take out this base. We don’t have the time.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rex told the gathered troops, “Assemble the squads into two divisions. We’ll move straight up this gorge towards the air base at the far side.”
Protests rose from the ranks. Fives frowned. “We had to retreat from the capital because of the general’s flawed strategy. Now this?”
Dogma said, “I agree with the general’s plan. We’re running out of time and this is the best option.”
“No recon?” Jesse asked. “No air support? We don’t know what we’re up against! They have weapons we’ve never seen before!”
Despite his own reservations, Rex couldn’t undercut the general. “A few of General Skywalker’s plans seemed reckless, too,” he said, “but they worked.”
“General Skywalker leads from the front,” Fives said, “not bringing up the rear like General Krell.”
While the troops muttered among themselves, Rex took Fives aside. “It would help if you’d ease their minds.”
“You mean coax them into another of Krell’s suicide missions?” Fives shot back.
That was borderline insubordinate. “Krell does things differently,” Rex said, “but he’s a recognized war hero.”
“Have you seen his casualty numbers?” Fives asked. “More troops have been killed under his command than anyone else.”
“That’s the price of war,” Rex said. “We’re soldiers. We have a duty to follow orders even if we must lay down our lives for victory.” He began to walk away.
Fives grabbed his arm. “Do you believe that, or is that what you were engineered to think?”
“I honor my code,” Rex returned, and shook Fives off.
Their first sign of the Umbaran attack was a boom and the shaking ground. Moments after that, immense robotic centipedes piloted by Umbarans burst from the ground, laying waste among the squads with blaster fire. The clone troopers’ blaster fire ricocheted harmlessly from the centipedes’ heads, which contained the cockpits.
“The heads are ray-shielded,” Fives called out. “We need rocket launchers!”
“Bring up the launchers,” Rex said. He pointed to a narrow corridor. “Spread detonators along there. trap the tanks in the bottleneck. We’re going to blow those things sky-high.”
Troopers hurried to obey, completing the trap just in time.
Rex hit the detonator’s trigger once the centipedes arrived, and the bottleneck went up in flames.
Their triumph was short-lived. Rex peered through his macrobinoculars again—and spotted a massive silhouette: a walker tank. “Fall back now!” Rex yelled.
His warning was too late. The incoming blast laid waste to yet more of his troops.
As Rex and his men retreated, Rex received a call from Krell, who was observing from a safe distance. “What are you doing?” Krell demanded. “Captain, continue your attack.”
Rex outlined the situation. “Sir, we need reinforcements.”
“The rest of the battalion is holding the entrance to the gorge, Captain. They’re guarding it so your troops can break through to the air base. You must stand your ground. That’s an order!” With that, Krell signed off.
Rex didn’t like this, but he’d given his recommendation and Krell had rejected it. “You heard the general,” he said to the troops over the noise of blaster fire.
The order hadn’t improved Fives’s attitude. “I used to think that General Krell was reckless,” he said, “but now I think he just hates clones.”
Dogma backed Rex up, although Rex almost wished he wouldn’t. “The captain is right. Let’s move out.”
“We can’t take them head-on. We need to find another way,” Fives said.
Rex gave Fives a penetrating look. “You got any ideas?”
But Fives shook his head.
The tanks soon came into range. Their bubble cockpits glowed malevolently in the darkness. Green balls of plasma arced through the air and landed amid the troops. Men went down; others were sent flying. Injured men wept and groaned.
If the tide didn’t turn soon, they were finished.
Rex remembered Fives’s remark about finding another way to destroy the tanks. He had an idea. “Fives,” he called out.
Fives looked at him. “What are you thinking?”
“I have a mission for you and Hardcase.”
Krell noticed that the assault wasn’t going as ordered. “Seetee-Seven-Five-Six-Seven, where are you?”
“I’ve dispatched two men on a stealth incursion into the air base,” Rex said, glad that he was talking to Krell over a holo. He hadn’t forgotten how Krell had drawn his lightsaber on Fives. “They’ve been ordered to co-opt enemy starfighters and use them against the tanks.”
Krell scoffed. “You’re hoping two clones can do what your entire group could not?”
This is for my men, Rex reminded himself. “Sir, rocket launchers don’t work on those tanks, and it’ll be easier for them to slip by while the rest of us keep the tanks occupied.”
“Captain,” Krell boomed, “you will launch a full-forward strike immediately! Or you will be relieved of duty.”
Rex could only do so much in the face of a direct order. He ordered the troops to hold position. The more time he could buy before they faced the tanks again, the Better.
But time ran out, and the troops recommenced their advance. Once again the tanks took their toll. Rex’s heart ached at the cries of the wounded.
Just when Rex was beginning to wonder if he’d gambled poorly, two Umbaran fighters, their angled, hip-bone-shaped frames surrounding bulbous glowing cockpits, swooped into view. Fives and Hardcase! Their fire took out the Umbaran tanks in short order. The troops cheered as the Umbarans’ defenses were knocked out.
Once the fighters had landed safely and the base had been secured, Rex congratulated Fives and Hardcase for their bravery. Rex knew they wouldn’t receive any thanks from their general.
Krell arrived and sought Rex out. “Captain, report. What is our situation?”
“General,” Rex said, “we have taken the base and cut off enemy supply lines to the capital.”
“Luck has smiled on you today, Captain,” Krell said.
Rex bristled. “It wasn’t luck, sir. A lot of men died to take this base.” He could have named them—but Krell wouldn’t care.
“The price for victory,” Krell said. “Someday you’ll realize this.”
Krell set up his command in the air base’s control tower. General Kenobi called him with another emergency. Too bad the general doesn’t know what we’re paying for these victories, Rex thought. Kenobi would have been appalled by Krell’s tactics.
“Congratulations on your capture of the Umbaran air base, General,” Kenobi said. “It’s refreshing to have good news.”
“There will be time for celebration when we’ve taken the capital,” Krell said.
“That’s going to be more difficult than anticipated,” Kenobi said. “The attacks have increased and their long-range missiles are forcing us to retreat.”
“I was hoping we’d cut off their arms shipments when we took this air base.”
“They’re receiving new shipments directly from a supply ship orbiting—” The signal cut out, then Kenobi said, “They must be jamming our signals.”
“Can’t we destroy the supply ship?” Rex said, asking the obvious question.
Kenobi said, “We’ve been trying, but their fleet outnumbers ours.”
“We’ll take the capital despite the missiles,” Krell assured him. “My battalion will meet you at the rendezvous coordinates.”
Krell’s orders called for another frontal assault—this time in the face of missiles. The discontent among Rex’s troops grew.
“We won’t make it,” Fives said.
“I’ve tried to reason with him. Those are the orders,” Rex reminded him.
Jesse had objections, too. “Another suicide mission. The capital is too well armed.”
“You’re all overreacting,” Dogma said flatly. “General Krell knows what he’s doing. Do you really think he doesn’t care if he loses men?”
Men, Rex thought. Krell had made it clear what he thought of the difference Between clones and men.
“His desire for victory has blinded him to the fact that there are lives at stake,” Jesse responded. “Look at his casualties.”
“He has no respect for us,” Fives said.
“I don’t agree with him, either,” Rex said, to quell the argument, “but I don’t have a Better plan.”
But Fives did. “What about using these captured starfighters to destroy the supply ship?” He gestured at one. “We’ve got their access codes and their hardware. We can sneak past their blockade, get where our ships can’t. If we take out that supply ship, then we cut off arms to the capital.”
It was a good plan. “I’ll take it to the general,” Rex said.
Krell dismissed Fives’s plan out of hand. Rex was left to bring the bad news to the barracks. “The assault on the capital will continue as planned,” he said.
Jesse scowled. “That’s it? We just march into those missiles?”
“There’s another option. Go ahead with our plan, and suffer the consequences,” Fives said slowly.
“You’d be court-martialed,” Rex warned him. “If it were up to me and we had the time and the training, I’d say do it. But it’s out of my hands, and you are no pilots.”
“If Hardcase can fly one, we all can,” Jesse scoffed.
“If we’re in their fighters, they’re not going to be shooting at us,” Fives added.
Dogma arrived then, ending the discussion. Fives followed Rex out of the barracks.
“This is about more than following orders,” Fives said, his voice taut with suppressed anger.
“It is,” Rex said, searching for the right words. “It’s about honor.”
“Where’s the honor in marching blindly to our deaths?”
Rex shook his head. “It’s not our call. We’re part of something larger.”
“I can’t follow orders when I know they’re wrong. Especially when lives are at stake.”
Rex hardened his voice. “You will if you support the system we fight for.”
“I do support it,” Fives said, his voice rising. “But I’m not just another number! None of us are.” He turned on his heel.
“Where are you going?” Rex called after him.
“To round up some pilots,” Fives said.
Rex was ordering a perimeter sweep at the air base when three troopers approached him: Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase. “What are you doing here?” Rex asked. “You should be in the barracks.”
“I found my pilots,” Fives said. “We’re going after that supply ship.”
“It’s a suicide mission and it’s against orders,” Rex said. Krell had had the fighters locked down.
“It’s the right thing to do. If you’re going to try to stop us,” Fives said, “we need to know.”
There was only one answer Rex could give. “I can’t help you when you get caught.”
“I understand, sir,” Fives said.
Rex wondered if he’d ever see them again.
Only Fives and Jesse returned.
Hardcase had sacrificed himself to take out the supply ship. Rex wanted to mourn Hardcase properly, but there was no time. Krell had ordered Rex to escort the two troopers to the tower.
Krell examined Fives and Jesse once Rex brought them in. “They committed a very brave act,” he said. “Unfortunately,” and his voice deepened ominously, “they committed a crime by disobeying my order.”
“With all due respect, sir, the order to attack the cargo vessel was mine,” Rex lied. “Any punishment should be directed toward me. I’m their commanding officer.”
But Fives couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “Sir,” he said, “Captain Rex is attempting to take the blame for actions that were clearly mine. I request that the captain’s admission of guilt be denied and full blame placed upon me.”
“Do you?” Krell sneered. “You disobeyed my direct order, and you want to decide who should be punished for your insurrection?” He shoved Fives in the chest. “Let me be clear about the penalty for the treason committed by ARC trooper five-five-five-five and Seetee-Five-Five-Nine-Seven.”
Fives and Jesse, Rex thought angrily.
“They will be court-martialed. They will be found guilty. And they will be executed.”
After Fives and Jesse had been escorted out, Rex tried to intervene. “General Krell,” he said, “I respectfully request you reconsider court-martialing Fives and Jesse.”
“Their actions were a clear act of disregard for my command,” Krell returned. “If punishment isn’t swift, their defiance may inspire others to follow suit.”
“The men are with you. It’s just that some feel you are putting their lives in danger needlessly.”
“They haven’t respected my command since the beginning,” Krell said. “I’ve seen it before. Some clones are just defective.”
Krell paused, then said: “You’re right, Captain. I don’t think I can court-martial them.” Whatever hope those words might have given Rex was dashed when Krell added, “Prepare a squad for execution.”
Rex brought the bad news to Fives and Jesse, who were locked in a cell in the bowels of the base. The least he could do was tell them in person. “I’m sorry,” he said heavily. “General Krell has ordered your execution immediately.”
“He can’t do this!” Jesse exclaimed.
“He has authority to render punishment during combat.”
“I can understand a court-martial,” Jesse said, “but executing us?”
Rex grimaced. “I tried to convince him that it’s my fault, but he wouldn’t let me.”
Fives said, “Rex, you have to face it, he’s been using you. He needs your loyalty to control the others.”
Rex couldn’t argue the point. “I won’t let him get away with this.” With that, he opened the cell and watched the troopers lead Fives and Jesse away.
Rex put Dogma in charge of the execution squad, trusting him to carry out the orders. But Rex couldn’t help asking himself if it wasn’t cowardice, asking another man to do something distasteful.
“Line up the prisoners,” Dogma said.
Fives and Jesse arrived under guard. Rex brought up the rear.
“Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?” Dogma asked.
Fives and Jesse, their backs to the wall, stared at him.
“I’ll take that as a no,” Dogma said. “Ready weapons.”
The squad cocked their rifles.
“Aim.”
They aimed.
“Wait!” Fives cried out. “The general is making a mistake. No clone should have to go out this way! We’re loyal soldiers. We follow orders, but we aren’t unthinking droids. We are men! We must be trusted to make the right decisions, especially when the orders we’re given are wrong!”
Dogma was unmoved. “Fire!”
Rifle blasts scorched the air—and hit the wall behind Fives and Jesse. Each shot had gone wide.
“What happened?” Dogma demanded.
As one, the squad dropped their rifles.
Rex couldn’t hide his relief. “They’re doing the right thing, Dogma,” he said. It had taken this to help him see that. “If this is how soldiers are rewarded for heroism, then one day every man in this battalion may face a similar fate. Take off their binders.”
A strange lightness filled his chest. He was disobeying orders.
He should have done it earlier.
Krell summoned Rex once he heard. The moment Rex entered, Krell snapped, “I ordered those clones to be destroyed. You’re making a mistake by crossing me, clone.”
Rex met his gaze. “It’s Captain, sir.”
They were interrupted by an incoming transmission. “General,” a trooper said over the holo, “the Umbarans have stepped up their offensive.” Rex recognized him as Waxer. “We’re holding them off, but their squadrons have ambushed one of our platoons, seizing our weapons and uniforms. We believe they’re planning a massive attack.”
Krell turned to Rex. “You have your stay of execution—for now. Lock the traitors in the brig, and prepare to move out. We need to hit the enemy with everything we’ve got. We’re finally going to take the capital.” As Rex prepared to leave, Krell added, “Make sure the troops are aware that the enemy may disguise themselves as clones to try to trick us.”
Rex had almost gotten used to Umbara’s shadowed terrain. He observed as Tup pointed out the tentacle-vined vixil plants to Dogma. “Watch out for those,” Tup said. “I saw one attack Hardcase.” He threw a rock at the plant. It opened its maw, which glowed malevolently, and lashed out with tongue and tentacles in an attempt to find its prey.