ARC Training Program Ch. 11 “Battle Part 1”

I am so sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted another chapter, but I’ve finally started writing my own novel! I have a rough draft completed and now I’m on the second draft! This one is a little shorter than normal and only part 1 but I wanted to post another chapter and let you know I’m still writing this, just working on other things. I’ll try and have part 2 out soon though!

Rex hadn’t sealed his visor properly. He knows this because the harsh fumes from the crashed gunship chokes him with every breath. The adrenaline rushing through his body makes him frantic as he fumbles with his helmet before hearing the hiss of the seal. After a few coughs and desperate deep breaths, he’s able to get himself under control. He glances around the ship that now lays on its side taking in the damages. So far, the ARC Troopers looked unfazed as if the crash was all part of the plan. He looks over at Bacara, Gree, and Wolffe. They each look rattled in their own way. Bacara was an unreadable stone but his death grip on the support handle exposed his inner panic. Wolffe is crouched low with hands spread flat against the ship floor that used to be the left side door. His head scans back and forth trying to process the situation. Gree leans against the ship floor that is now the right wall. He’s perfectly still but Rex can see his chest rising and falling to quickly to be regular breathing. A little rattled but they were alive. Rex feels a small twitch of a smile. Would have been really embarrassing if they had died at the start of their first assignment.

            Commander Fordo is the first to poke his head out of the opening where the ship door flew off in the crash. Rex waits, watching the other ARC Troopers to gage their reactions. They all watch the Commander intently until finally, he gives the signal. Bacara and Gree are the first ones out. If he asked them why they would probably say because they were the closest to the opening or because they were eager to see some action. But Rex knew that crash stirred up some unpleasant memories still fresh in all their minds. They wait again when Commander Fordo is out of the gunship. After he assesses the area he gives another signal for everyone else to follow. Its all surreal to Rex. The ARC Troopers are dead silent making the sound of every step, every gesture, every shift of the blaster feel deafening.

            Rex takes position near the nose of the ship, blaster ready for any sign of movement. Captain Alpha stands near him in a similar stance as Commander Fordo continues to scan the area. Rex wants to ask why they aren’t advancing but he already knows why. Their ship was shot down meaning the droids aren’t far behind. Rex swallows and adjusts his blaster so he has a better grip. Then a blaster fires. At first, he thinks he’s set his off on accident but then he hears a blood chilling thud behind him. he glances back only for a second to see Trooper in white gear on the ground, red pooling beneath his head.

            Rex opens fires along with the rest of their squad. He’s not aiming at anything in particular. His eyes are blurry with from another surge of adrenaline. Bacara and Gree are on the other side of the ship. Wolffe is towards the aft end of the ship. that wasn’t one of us. But that’s wrong and he knows it. Just because that Trooper didn’t train with him didn’t make him any less of a brother. A sour taste coats his mouth and he grits his teeth. His eyes adjust and focuses on movement from a balcony of the building in front of him. He lines up his shot and fires, not lowering his blaster until he hears metal hitting cement.

            Captain Alpha moves drawing Rex’s attention to fall back with the rest. The huddle behind the gunship with Commander Fordo still near the nose of the ship. Rex and the others don’t stop firing until the Commander turns and gives another signal. Rex and Trooper from the group assigned with the ARC Troopers step out from their cover and draw the droids fire. Behind him he hears someone move close aiming a scope at the building where most of the enemy fire is coming from. When he falls back, Colt rushes forward, falling to one knee and fires a missile. He fires wherever the Trooper with scope points until the fire ceases. Commander Fordo scans the area again before finally giving the ‘move forward’ signal.

            Rex wants to speak so bad it almost hurt but even if he could he didn’t know what he would say. He wanted to ask about the Trooper who survived the crash only to be shot down the second he stepped into the light. Who was he? How many battles has he fought in? How close was he to the others assigned to the squad? Why him and not Rex? That thought punches Rex square in the chest. He feels out of breath and has to fight to get his breathing under control. He forces his eyes to focus on Havoc walking right in front of him. when Commander Fordo holds up his hand telling them to stop, he then motions for someone to move forward. Gree’s right behind him and moves to his side. Rex’s ears ring as he tries to make out what he’s hearing. It’s not until it turns the corner heading in their direction does, he realizes it’s a tank. They immediately open fire on it even though it was futile. Commander Fordo lowers and gives another signal but it was too low for anyone in the back to see clearly. It’s not until he sees the rope fall from one of the buildings and Captain Alpha repels down does he realize the Commander wasn’t signaling them. Rex hadn’t even realized the Captain was gone. The Captain moves so quickly as he rolls towards the tank, leaps up the side, climbing to the top, jumps, fires down creating an opening, before falling through. They cease fire and wait until blaster fire shoots from within the tank in all directions. Rex grits his teeth unable to tear his eyes away from the tank until Captain Alpha leaps back out of the tank and dashes away before the tank explodes.

            Commander Fordo must have given the advance signal but Rex doesn’t see it. he’s still focused on the black spot that used to be a tank. Blitz knocks his shoulder in passing snapping Rex out of his daze. The other non-ARC’s seemed to be in a similar daze as they struggle to move their feet. When the Captain joins their line snaking their way through the city, he gives a look back at Rex and the others. Rex just knows he’s grinning ear to ear which nearly makes Rex audibly laugh. Luckily, he swallows that laugh before he makes any noise. When they move further into the city, they finally spot their target. A giant heavy canon that is placed at the top of the banking clan headquarters. They stop so Commander Fordo can pull out his com and message General Kenobi.

            “General Kenobi, target sighted.” The Commander says as little as possible.

            “Very good, Commander. Proceed with the next phase.” The General is just as brief before the transmission is gone and the Commander gives them their next signal.

            Scaling the side of a building is a first for Rex. They’ve practiced with the citadel, once outside on a platform above the sea, and that one time Neyo threw Fox’s shoe at the ceiling with a big glob of glue stuck to its sole. But a building that seemed to stretch all the way to the sky? This had Rex checking five times to make sure he had a firm hold before letting himself get pulled up. Commander Fordo, Captain Alpha, and Colt were the first ones up and immediately opened fire. Rex was a little embarrassed to say he was one of the last and his legs trembled for at least three steps before returning to normal. Things were moving smoothly with the ARC’s leading the way. Rex felt like every time he lines up his shot, one of the ARC’s would take it out before he could pull the trigger. Two times it was Captain Alpha who would give a look his direction. Rex couldn’t tell if it was a “Gotta be faster then that, cadet.” Or a “Beat you.” Look. Only after Colt fires another missile at the control tower of the building and all the droids are put down do they lower their blasters. Rex spots Commander Fordo holster his left blaster but gives his right one a spin before holstering that one. Rex immediately wanted to try that but he doesn’t have his dual blasters and would be really embarrassed if anyone saw him try the first time.

            When they finally scale up to the giant heavy canon, they get busy setting the charges. Rex is kneeling to keep the shaking to a minimum. He could just see himself tripping on thin air and plummeting to his death. He tries to focus on the charge in front of him. When Havoc walks towards them carrying two more charges, the canon fires with a deafening crack that sends a shock through Rex’s body. Even with the hearing protection in their helmets his ears still ring from the blast. Havoc’s arms sway from the shifting of the canon beneath his feat. He gives an aggravated “Ugh.” Earning him a few glares from Commander Fordo and Captain Alpha. He looks back at them, noting their glares before facing forward again and going even louder, “Ugh!”

            This time Rex lets out a laugh and doesn’t feel to bad about it. it wasn’t like the droids didn’t know they were here, and it was to late for the droids to stop them from blowing the canon. When they’re all set and armed, they shoot their extension cables once more to the top of the control tower. This time Rex doesn’t waste time checking and rechecking his cord. He races up the side with others desperate to get off the canon. When the bombs go off the blast is almost as loud as the canon itself. The heat burns through Rex’s gear and seems to push Rex faster to the top. that or the shear fear and getting caught in the blast. When they finally reach the top, they take up position looking out over the city. Smoke can be seen lifting to the sky in several parts of the city as gunships continue to lower to the surface. Somewhere out there Cody is fighting on the frontlines. Rex’s ringing ears struggle to make out the fighting from the main horde. He hopes Cody is having as smooth of a time as they are.

Cody

            Cody knew they were doomed when Neyo shouts, “I have an idea!” and the General smiles.

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