#clone pilot hawk

[graylinesspam]

Terracotta soldier AU from Rex's pov

Rex has never made his mind up on any idea of faith. Not the kind in a higher power at least. He'd had faith in his brothers. That's why he carried on their traditions. Long after most of them had gone when so many names had been lost to a relatively short period of time. He recites all that he can remember.

He speaks the name of each brother into the cold night air and promises that he will see them at the end of the long march.

It might not be a proper religion. But its all he has left.

And Rex is a man of his word. When he exhales his last lonely breath into the darkness his eyes going blind and his chest still, his legs are the first things he's aware of. The familiar pump of muscles.

One foot in front of the other. Like learning to walk all over again. There's a sea of white as far as the eye can see. A great blinding glare that moves all around him. But slowly it solidifies. The shape of helmets crawling over each other until they start to look like men, One in front of another. Stretching in every direction. Forever.

There isn't enough of him here to really be conscious. There aren't really thoughts in his mind. Just echoes of instincts. Like the instinct to put on foot in front of the other. The instinct to blink until his sight adjusts to the view.

It's the colors slowly emerging that draw his attention. It bleeds through the light one spot at a time. Slowly markings appear on the armor of the men around him. Blue and red and green and gold. One after another. A red circle on the pauldron beside him, a blue line up another arm.

It tickles something within him. Blue. He was blue too right? Once.

He wants to follow the blue. That's where he belongs. The mass of troops shudder once to the side, every line of men staggering one to the right another to the left. Reshuffling themselves like cards. Slipping between each other in interlocking lines. Moving forward. Always forward with ever unified foot fall. But shifting too. reaching out toward each other.

He shifts to the right toward the blue stripe who shifts as well in the same direction, farther ahead now. But there is more blue around both of them. Lines spreading around him like on interconnected web. countless troopers stacked on each other like the solders on playing cards. Shuffling around each other all looking for their own suit.

Always moving forward always together.

The blue solidifies as they shuffle around each other. Filling in the gaps until there's as much of it as there is white. He is blue. He is the blue. They are the blue. All existing here in this place together. Every piece in place.

It felt right. This is where he was always supposed to be. just one among the blue.

They march on forever. Everywhere. Far far away. Everywhere at once. Him among the blue. The blue among the white. Don't all colors come together to make white? Or is that only inside the light?

He marches. One foot in front of forever; one foot behind always.

Moving so much in sync it's like they aren't moving at all.

If everything is moving in the same direction at the same speed then is any of it really moving. What is still if nothing is?

Except....except something is. He sees it because it's blue, he thinks. He is blue and they are all blue. So of course he sees the blue.

It's not moving. It's not with them. That's wrong. They are all blue together.

His feet shuffle him again. Cards in the hands of the collective folding into themselves. There is no edge of everything. Everything is everything. it goes on forever. There is no end. But if there was, that's where he finds the blue.

She stands still. The only thing in everything that isn't moving. She needs to move. With them. He takes another unified step foreword and he is past her now. Marching away.

No. That's not right. He tries to shuffle again but there is no behind. The march is forward. All moving forward with every step. Always one foot in front of the other. He tries to look back but there is no back.

But there is. He can feel it. He can feel her a single steadiness in the flow. Parting the blue. Being among but not part of.

That's not right. He should tell her. Maybe she doesn't remember how. Maybe she doesn't have the word for foot like he didn't have the word blue until he saw it again.

But he can't tell her if she's still back there. He has to get to her. Every step takes him farther away but he knows that isn't right either. He needs to stop.

As soon as he thinks it he does. His feet stuck between always and forever. The cards shuffle around him. Moving on and leaving him behind. He...he is sad about that.

But it's okay. If Everything is always then back is always too. He turns back seeing the faces moving towards him for the first time in forever. He knows them. The faces.

Fives.

Hardcase.

Jesse.

Kix.

Tup.

They see him. See his face for the first time in forever and they stop too. Their feet stalling in time. Behind all of them, way back, he sees her. She's still there. Standing. Waiting patiently.

He remembers how to do this. It's the only thing he remembered before he saw anything here. Marching is easy. One foot....He doesn't know where forever or always are. One foot goes....Infront.

He takes a step and feels like he's learning it all over again. He forgets what the next step is. One foot in front is all his mind conjures. So he tries again. One at a time. One step, two, three.

He walks past the face. the ones moving and those standing still. She's waiting for him. He has to get back to her. He marches towards her....Ahsoka. And it isn't easy like it was before. It isn't everything always. But it is him. It is Rex. He'd forgotten that.

He is Rex. Rex follows Ahsoka.

He will walk back through forever to get to her.

One foot behind forever one foot in front of always. The wrong way. His way. Backwards.

There's another one following him. Another foot falling backwards. He can feel it disrupting the flow with him. One foot after another. One man after another. The blue warps and bends against it's self. Fracturing into a thousand pieces. Breaking away from everything. Becoming singular.

Rex marches back to Ahsoka and Fives follows. They all follow one by one. They are the blue. The 501st. Torrent company. Medics and pilots and snipers. Heavy gunner and scouts. They are men. Soliders. They are singular in the constant flow of everything all the time.

And Ahsoka waits patiently for them to remember.

To remember their names. Each others names. Her name.

She's reciting them.

Rex forgot he could speak. He forgot he could say names.

She says them one by one. "...Oppo, slate, cadaver, coric..."

Rex says them too just to hear them. "Dogma, Hawk, Limp, Chatter..."

Maybe that's how he saw her in the first place. Past all of the blue. Because she said his name. Remembered it for him.

Fives speaks, discovering his voice too. Then Jesse.

Most of the blue stops. Every one Ahsoka remembered then every one each of them remembered until the blue had bled out of the white. Outside of Everything and forever.

"You've all served your time. Served it long and well." She says when there are no more names, "You have earned your rest. But I have a mission. And I am asking for your help. I'm asking you to come back with me."

"Ahsoka" Rex says.

He remembers reciting her name. When he thought she was dead. Hoping if there was something after, then he could at least see her one last time.

Fives says it too. Then Jesse. All the way down the line they say her name. "Ahsoka"

Rex reaches a hand out to her and almost glows when it touches her shoulder. She is solid. Not made of light. Made of something more solid.

He's...he's solid too right? He thinks they were all solid together once. He knocks his vambrace against his chest plate to check and is pleased when it rattles. He hits it again just to hear the noise.

And it grows. One at a time. It rattle far too solid to exist within forever. It is fleeting as temporary as the collision that causes it. It only exists so long as they create it.

He remembers another word. One that isn't a name.

"Oya" he shouts just to hear it.

and it grows

Because He is Rex and Rex follows Ahsoka.

[crashlanding-skywalker]

[Fox babysitting the 501st]

Kickback: How old do you think I am?

Striker: Kickback, age doesnt matter.

Striker: You can die at any time.

——————

Tag: I’m not an idiot, I just lack all common sense.

Tag: Like, I can build an entire flying ship with complex circuitry.

Tag: But you can bet that I’ll be doing the Tide Pod challenge.

——————

Ringo: Without ugly, there would be no beauty in this world.

Attie: Thank you for your sacrifice, Contrail.

——————

Nax: I know it's sad but death is a natural part of life and by the time I finish this sentence, a hundred people will have died in Lothal.

Matchstick, visibly distressed: WHY DID YOU STOP TALKING-

——————

Fox, playing with Ridge: Axe, where are you going?

Axe: To seek the company of the only one around here who's got any sense.

Ridge: And who's that?

Axe: Myself, Rid.

——————

Hil: You know, not every problem can be solved with a knife.

Echo: I know, that's why I always carry two.

——————

Jinx: Hi :).

The 501st:

Jinx: Everyone's bones are wet.

Fox: Why would you say that?

Jinx: Nobody was saying hi back :(.

——————

Fox: You're a loose cannon.

Echo: No, I'm not. Am i a cannon? probably yeah, but a loose cannon? Is that what you think of me, Fox?

Kix: I think you play by your own rules.

Jesse: No way, he thinks rules were made to be broken.

Fox: And those are all attributes of a loose cannon.

Echo: No, I'm just a reckless renegade.

Echo, pointing at Fives: He's the loose cannon.

Fives: *smashes a chair*

——————

Fox: Why can’t y'all just get along?

Vaughn: Because most of us are assholes, Commander.

——————

Echo, holding a knife: Imagine stabbing someone with this knife.

Kix: It would instantly cauterize the wound which means the person wouldn't bleed, so it's not very useful.

Fives: If you want information it is.

Attie: Why would you STAB a person when you can have TOAST?

——————

Echo: We should normalize not loving family members.

Dogma: You can just say “I hate my dumb fuck uncle” or whatever.

Dogma: Talk like a normal person.

——————

Kano: Remember what I told you.

Contrail: Don’t be a cunt.

——————

Attie: I think I should be allowed on ghost hunter tv shows.

Swoop: I think that would be dangerous for the ghosts.

——————

Hawk, to Dogma: ARE YOU

Jesse: Fucking.

Hawk: KIDDING ME?! YOU

Jesse: Fucking.

Hawk: IDIOT!

(silence)

Appo: What was that?

Jesse: Fox banned Hawk from swearing, so I’m helping him out.

——————

Swoop: I'm sorry. Please talk to me.

S. Fox:

Swoop: Hello? World's most amazing person?? Sweet pea? Precious cinnamon roll that's too good for this world, too pure?

S. Fox: 'Sorry' doesn't bring back my fucking froot loops.

—————— Tucker: "you should be at the club" Tucker: I can't go to the club, I'll be in there saying shit like "perchance" and "thrice"

——————

Boomer: I think I should be allowed on ghost hunter tv shows.

Swoop: I think that would be dangerous for the ghosts.

——————

Echo: Bet you can’t eat 15 crayons.

Fives: Bet you I can!

Fox sipping caff while checking to make sure Rex and Cody are still on speed dial, and goes back to reading the paper:

——————

Fox, entering the kitchen:

Fox, sees Hardcase: What are you doing?

Hardcase: Oh, I was just gonna light this chicken on fire to see if it turns into a phoenix.

Fox: It's 3 am...

Hardcase: *puppy eyes*

Fox, sighs: We can try it later

——————

Fox: Is anyone d-

Kix: Depressed?

Dogma: Drained?

Voca: Dumb?

Fives: Disliked?

Fox: -done with their work...

Fox, calling Rex: What is wrong with you kids...

[fandom-friday]

#Fandomfriday the second!!

Here's such a sweet, sweet story of Hawks by @rinwritesfics and his idea of a vacation substitute...

You'll have to smile when you read... Though I still wonder was that purple thing was...

Listen, we all know I love a good mechanic reader, especially one that keeps the boys in line. And I adore Hawk's description and his tattoos are such a neat detail! Also, HE'S SO SWEET AND CUTE IN THIS! You are absolutely right, I did break out into a huge grin haha. Thanks for sending this one in, Caro!

Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)

[matchademi]

Sai

I can't decide if this bub is in the 501st or the 212th (HELP)

They are nonbinary!!! They/them!

They are a pilot

They are incredibly close with Falls

And Hawk and Oddball. But Falls especially

They are batshit like Hardcase levels of batshit

They are also like 16, and so they give EVERYONE heartattacks

Falls especially

They are also much shorter than some of the other clones, and HATES IT

Incredibly hyper both flying and on the ground

Would rather be flying

They dyed their hair hair silver and has a tattoo for Falls and other pilots he works with a lot

Is known for getting in trouble for doing flips mid-air

They got into a crash but survived and now have scars all over

(Tagging you since I've told you about them) @t3mpest98)

[barriss-and-coffee]

My favorite 501st Boi just arrived (KO Kix with official Jesse and Hawk)

[groundrunner100]

Rev up your engines, & listen to her howl & roar.

[nchlsdmn]

This is a comprehensive list of every Phase 2 clone pilot I could find. Some of the concept arts I cannot show, but these are basically all 12 designs from Star Wars The Clone Wars, and Star Wars The Bad Batch.

[coaz-photography]

The backbone of the Republic

[dukeoftheblackstar]

My son is finally home 😩😩😩👌.

Took moooonths ;——;

RiP Hawk, thank you for your service in having my custom bebbi made. Now the 104th Battalion/ Wolfpack main squad is complete 🫡🫡🫡.

Ladies, gents, others, and fellow entities — my son, Warthog.

[qualified-trash-panda]

Clone HC: Paint

It's my personal headcanon that every clone hoards paint like candy. It's so personal to them, the thing that gives them, gives their armour, that individuality and personality they crave and so they get territorial over the little cans of paint they collect.

I read another headcanon somewhere (I have the memory of a goldfish) that clone pilots trade pots with other battalions to get a range of colours for their gunship nose art and now I'm imagining Oddball and his little collection of pots hissing at anyone who comes close to stealing them (he's looking at you Hawk).

[crashlanding-skywalker]

[The 212th and the 501st relaxing after a mission]

Rex, rubbing his temples: I am not proud of what I am about to say, but someone get me a cigarrette.

Fives: But Rex, we don't smoke.

Cody: Cut the crap, Fives. We're not idiots. We know that at least one in five people smoke.

Rex, pointing at Dogma: one *then at Trapper* two *then at Wooley* three *then at Longshot* four *then at Fives* five.

Cody: Now, I am going to close my eyes, and when I open them, there better be a cigarrette between these two fingers.

Trapper, puts a cigarrette in Cody's hand: here, sir

Cody: Thank you.

Fives:

Wooley:

Dogma:

Trapper:

Longshot:

Cody: Light?

(all of them simultaneously pulling out lighters)

——————

Crys: Time freezes for everyone but you one day. What do you do?

Fives: Oh… We’d mildly trouble everyone.

Crys: Alright, so what would you do?

Fives: I’d shave a one-inch thick line in every thick beard I saw.

Echo: I’d twist all the lightbulbs just a little bit so no one would know when they aren’t working.

Fives: I’d make every wing on girls eyeliner just a little bit higher than the other one.

Echo: I’d tie everyone’s shoelaces together.

Echo & Fives: And then lastly, We’d snip a little hole in every tea bag.

Crys:

Echo & Fives:

Crys: Remind me to never allow you to have power.

——————

Kix: How does one turn their emotions off?

Longshot: Okay, so first go to settings.

Hawk: I'm a fucking idiot, I thought that said emojis at first.

Kix: No, I'm still willing to try this, go ahead. I'm at settings, what do I do next?

——————

Echo: On a scale from “damn Daniel” to “fre sha vaca do”, how are you feeling?

Waxer: In between “it’s an avocado, thanks” and “how did you defeat Captain America”, but as a solid answer I would say “I don’t need a degree to be a clothing hanger”. How about you, Echo?

Echo: Probably “road work ahead”.

Switch, about to bang his head into a wall: I speak many languages...

Switch: this one is definitely not one of them.

——————

Gearshift: Sometimes I drink milk straight out of the container.

Hawk: The cow???

Jesse: What?

Oddball: Hawk, W H Y?

——————

Appo: So, what's it like living with Gregor?

Trapper: He once referred to sand as "heterosexual glitter."

——————

Hardcase: I made tea.

Longshot: I don't want tea.

Hardcase: I didn't make you tea. This is my tea.

Longshot: Then why did you tell me?

Hardcase: It's a conversation starter.

Longshot: It's a horrible conversation starter.

Hardcase: Oh, is it?

Hardcase: We're conversing, checkmate.

——————

Echo: Rules were made to be broken.

Gearshift: They were made to be followed. Nothing is made to be broken.

Striker: Uh, piñatas.

Trapper: Glow sticks.

Vaughn: Karate boards.

Wooley: Spaghetti when you have a small pot.

Waxer: Rules.

——————

Echo: What is your favourite mythical story?

Boil: The Story Of My Will To Live.

Echo: I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before.

——————

Axe: I'm not sure what you mean

Axe: I am socializing.

Gregor: Standing there ominously doesn't count as socializing

Axe:

Axe: Since when?

——————

Crys: I was arrested for being too cool.

Vaughn: And the charges were dropped due to a lack of supporting evidence.

——————

Hil: I’m going to get so much done today.

Jester: I’ll hold you to that.

*8 hours later*

Jester: So how much did you get done?

Hil: One thing.

Jester: Well, that’s one more than usual.

——————

Switch: Who ate all my cookies?

Tup: Bounty hunters

Switch, confused: I didn’t see them

Tup: No one ever does :)

——————

Fives: The how the fuck’s and why are you so dumb's don’t matter. All that matters is that I have a new gun.

——————

Tup: Why is it called "oven" when you of in the cold food and you of out hot eat the food?

Crys: What???

——————

Boil: FIGHT ME, YOU NERD ASS SLUT!

Fives: At least try to sound slightly more sophisticated when you threaten someone.

Boil: Oh, I'm sorry. should I ask; dost thou want to engage in a duel, my good bitch?

Fives: That's somehow worse.

——————

Cody: When Fives & Echo were born, the gods said, "They're too good for this world."

Jesse: Please. When they were born, the devil said, "Oh, competition."

——————

Gearshift: You know, I used to play back in my gory days.

Appo: You mean glory days?

Gearshift: Ah, that too.

——————

Fives: I’m an idiot.

Boil:

Jesse:

Waxer:

Echo:

Trapper:

Fives:

Echo: If you’re waiting for us to disagree, this is going to be a long day.

——————

Kix, looking at both batallions: Okay, so I need to become a therapist faster.

——————

Boomer: It’s funny how well you and Longshot get along. Didn’t he hate you at first?

Hardcase, nodding: Longshot hates everybody at first. It’s his way of reaching out to people.

——————

Waxer: Are you reading fan fiction?

Denal, reading an article about a extremely rare diseases: Wh- No.

Boil: Oh, is it on AO3?

Denal, ready to punch one of them: This is BBC.

——————

Oddball: Hey, thanks for checking in, I’m ✨still a piece of garbage✨

——————

Sterling: You could be nicer.

Spark: I am.

Sterling: You threatened Wooley with a cooking knife.

Spark: But I didn't actually stab him!

——————

Redeye, about Gus: Is he a freak (derogatory)?

Redeye: Or a freak (affectionate)?

Slick: Why not both?

Redeye: You’re so right, a freak (double-edged sword)!

——————

Hawk: Protip is you do not feel good about yourself after eating tomato sauce on iceberg lettuce.

Barlex: What's wrong with you??

Hawk: I literally JUST said I ate tomato sauce on iceberg lettuce?? Pay attention.

Wyler: No, he means other than that.

Hawk: Ohhhhhh.

Hawk: I haven't slept in 4 days.

——————

Jesse: Self-care is suppressing all your trauma until it comes back and hits you in the face with the force of 7 very large ships.

——————

Fives: Why do humans have different blood groups?

Longshot: So mosquitoes can enjoy different flavors.

Dogma: Really guys? Now?

Dogma: I'M TRYING TO SLEEP!!

——————

Fives: Can we go out to get icecream?

Cody: Did you ask Rex?

Echo: He said no.

Cody: Then why are you asking me?

Echo & Fives: He aint the boss of you.

Cody, internally: It's a trap, it's a trap, it's a trap.

[mwexodusofficial]

Mouthwashing: Exodus | Chapter I: Primer

In the year 2087, humanity discovered FTL (faster-than-light travel) via rapid transmission between distant locations by using a form of quantum entanglement combined with dark matter reactors.

This discovery exploded the commercial spacefaring ventures, and within decades multiple solar systems, planets, and new spacial phenomena were discovered. As asteroid mining became mainstream, rare minerals prompted a new age of technological development that exploded humanity's progress exponentially. Newly-discovered planets were quickly terraformed, colonized, industrialized and beautified. The new wave of entrepreneurs and innovators, combined with the excitement of exploration, sparked revolutions in every industry. 

The medical industry, in particular, had produced cutting-edge bionic limbs and organs, stem-cell regeneration, limb cloning and micro-bots capable of eliminating nearly every ailment known to man. Mankind was nearing its zenith in reaching a true utopia under a united galactic government.

Then came The Terror. A mind-boggling, behemothic alien creature the size of the moon entered the Terra solar system at FTL speeds and immediately assailed Earth with millions of its monstrous offspring- Gaiters, termed for their stumbling gait when they moved around. These car-sized creatures ripped through the atmosphere and slammed into the surface, wreaking havoc and slaughtering humans wherever they trampled. This cataclysmic event was met with global outrage and fury. Military counterattacks, long-range bombardment, and close-range combat led to the deaths of billions of humans, on top of the already overwhelming casualty rate of innocent civilians.

(Below, a Gaiter - Circa August 2nd, 2122 - Art by @Sherza_shrew)

The Terror was eventually brought down by a heroic band of starship fighters strapped with nuclear warheads, and its offspring were tracked down and killed. However, the losses it caused and the widespread destruction it left created a mass paranoia amongst humanity. Military expenditure and innovation skyrocketed, which caused regression in most other industries' advancements. Logistics were heavily disrupted as Earth was the central planet of commerce amongst the galaxy, which led to many colonies and governments being forced to revert to heavily outdated technology. Governments became corporatist and autocratic as the fear of hostile alien life drove regressive policies and mass consumerism.

And on January 24th of 2263, a transport freighter by the name of Tulpar, working its last human shift for Pony Express, fatefully collided with a stray asteroid...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Captain, Orion speaking. The Tulpar flight path stops here."

Captain Hawkes reached across the multitude of control panels around him and toggled a switch that brought up a holographic cartograph of the transport freighter's flight path. It was true. After 10 long months of travel, they'd arrived at their destination.

"Pull up the far-range scanners and find that damn ship." The Captain radioed in over his headset. "When we finish this rescue mission, we're getting a fat paycheck and medals galore. So scour that freighter from top to bottom and ensure no man or woman is left behind."

Captain Hawkes switched comms to EVA and Medical channels to issue further orders.

"EVA Team, make sure you're in gear with plasmas loaded, your time to shine is coming up. Triage team, I want you following the EVA Team if the oxygen in the freighter passes scrutiny."

"Roger that, Cap, over."

"Copy Captain, over."

He switched off those channels and pulled up imaging of outer space from the hundreds of cameras installed on the exterior of the massive military vessel. Nothing aside from distant stars could be seen in any direction. It was fortunate that the far-range scanners could reach up to 2 Astronomical Units away. The Captain turned to his co-pilot, Sammy; a stocky yet athletic-seeming young man with bright, optimistic eyes and a charisma that swayed the whole crew and landed him at the third-highest authority on the vessel in under 2 years.

"Sammy."

"Hey-ho."

"Take over piloting. I intend to board the freighter and assuage the crew."

Sammy's eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"Captain, you sure that's a wise move?"

Another reason why the Captain had taken on Sammy was because he was intensely straightforward. Whereas other crew rarely dared to question Hawkes' decisions and assessments due to his decades of military service, Sammy had no such fear. That brash honesty had come in handy in the past, and it would continue to do so in the future.

"Yes. This I am confident in. And I'll tell you why." Hawkes addressed him, reaching into his coat pocket and removing a cigar box. He took one out and lit it up on the spot, blowing the smoke to the side.

"How long have you been chainsmoking cigars, Captain?"

"Since before your balls dropped, kid. And I haven't been chainsmoking, wise ass; I'm enjoying the privilege of my position."

"Excessive enjoyment."

"Anyways... around a decade ago, we did a rescue mission similar to this one- a stranded commercial freighter in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere. We docked and I sent in the EVA Team, only to find out minutes later that half of them had been stabbed, shot and beaten severely by the crew. Turns out the crew was full of exotics who didn't speak English, and the EVA leader using the translator was a brash prick. Couple of his words got mistranslated into some very unsavory terms, and next thing you know, a battle breaks out."

"Damn... did anyone die?" Sammy asked curiously. Captain Hawkes seemed particularly offended at the question and flicked Sammy's forehead with his index finger and thumb.

"Nobody died because I acted quickly. That's Rule Number One, if you ever take command. Rule Number Two, is to never show favor to any subordinate or equal in times of crisis. That EVA leader I told you about- he was a good friend of mine, over 3 years. After that mission, I canned him. You can't have people that senseless and irresponsible onboard a vessel; they can be the sole unravelers of your entire ship. I've seen it happen too many times, on too many journeys with too many cruisers."

Sammy nodded his head solemnly, acknowledging the Captain's grim background. Captain Hawkes was a near-legend within the Canaris Armed Forces, and a war hero to the citizen populace. His astounding feats at the Battle of Yamilcar and the Siege of Korres were widespread tales, and his list of accomplishments were so vast that even the most ill-informed citizens of Canaris heard regaling tales of his bravery, cunning, and heroism in their day to day.

To be in his ranks and, no less, his Third Mate, was an honor that Sammy latched onto with intense fanaticism. Captain Hawkes was even more magnetic in person- despite his decades of battle experience, he was eloquent in his way of speaking, mixed with occasional layman phrases and speech. It was incredibly endearing no matter if a person were the lowest criminal or the most elite of socialites.

Yet in this moment, when Hawkes spoke that last sentence, his eyes grew foggy and distant. His speech staggered and broke into a brittle narrative, as if he were revisiting haunting memories in his mind.

"I've seen the crew of a medical cruiser slaughtered port and bow across the ship. They'd hacked each other into gore. The surveillance records revealed a young woman had been stoking distrust after their food storage had broken out into flames. She'd deluded herself into believing there was an enemy spy onboard, romanced the Captain to get a hold of his keys to the cockpit- where she locked herself in when the killing started. Turned out she was taking smoke breaks in there, near the pallets of gauze and disinfectant. One carelessly thrown cigarette was all it took. And she was fuckin' ignorant to it."

Sammy saw as his eyes filled with a subtle but brimming rage, as if he were reliving the experience and seeing the perpetrator right in front of his eyes. A nasty grin erupted across his face.

"She was lucky little cunt. She was the last alive, and perished right as we docked with their ship. Found her locked inside those same Captain's quarters, wrists slit and in the middle of pigging out on cigars and emergency rations. And as a final 'fuck-you' to the people who had survived the slaughter, she turned on the ship's disinfectant sprayers and left it on. Everyone else on the ship suffocated to death."

He averted his eyes, shaking his head with a cynical sneer on his face.

"Rachel Gillaby. The lowly sack of shit that doomed an entire crew for no good reason, and the Captain who put his personal pleasure ahead of foresight. Hopes, dreams, ambitions, the desire to survive- all snuffed out in despair, because of one petty bitch and a worthless captain to boot."

Hawkes slowly leaned towards Sammy, eyes burning with fire and brimstone, his facial muscles stretched in vitriol. In a passing moment, Sammy could plainly see the faint bags under Hawkes' eyes; gray hairs peeking out within his scalp that weren't easily seen.

"You read the same report I did." Hawkes rasped, toggling a few buttons to turn off the ship's primary engines. "The Tulpar's autopilot was overridden, sent on a direct collision with the asteroid. Only the Captain is capable of that. And that means we likely have another Rachel on this ship. So I'm going to board that ship with my own two legs, and I'm gonna find that bastard, and I'm going to make sure he suffers the worst imaginable fate a human being can conceive."

"Are we allowed to punish civilians during a rescue mission, Captain?"

Hawkes chuckled slyly, opening a side drawer, pulling out a hefty red book, and tapping Sammy (somewhat-lightly) on the head with it.

"You haven't read up on Canaris Spacetime Intragalactic Law, have you?"

"N-No, sir. Sorry, sir."

"I'll simplify. The Discretion Clause under Article Seven permits 'interrogations, up to and no further past the point of severe injury, for suspected traitors, mutineers and corsairs, as long as medical aid is provided hereafter.' As long as they are breathing, coherent and given medical care, we can de facto torture them."

"Captain... is that ethical?"

"I base my ethics on the magnitude of the crime and their truthfulness." Hawkes retorted, finishing his cigar. "I'm sure you would treat a suspect of rape who's lying to your face much differently than an accomplice to petty theft who spills their guts out. Then again, I'm one man. I know how bad this law can be for victims of cruel Captains. But with what our nation is dealing with right now, changing a law like this is probably not at the top of the list. And I sure as shit am gonna use it to my advantage for however long it lasts."

Sammy nodded, this time more fervently, an expression of grim determination on his face.

"I see. Good luck, sir."

The Captain exhaled, patting Sammy on the shoulder as he stood up.

"Don't scratch this beauty even slightly when we dock. It needs to look pristine for the photo ops when we return home."

Sammy smiled, nodding one last time, as Captain Hawkes briskly made his way down to the EVA Team.

"God is with us!" Sammy shouted out, and the Captain stopped in his tracks for a moment. He smiled, and this time it was one of youthful relief.

"God is with us." He mumbled, almost hesitantly. For the last 40 years of his life, he'd been a cynical, grim atheist who considered the universe a cold, dark place that was entirely uncaring of life and its inherent suffering. Less than 3 months ago, he had carried a deep hatred and loathing for religion, what he had believed to be a disgusting false hope to the fearful and dying. Less than 3 months ago, he was on the verge of retiring, finding his home agrarian planet, and blowing his brains out. It had been nothing but despair, rage, and agony. For decades, on end.

Now... now he felt... reborn.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Music: "Ratnik", by Avery Alexander)

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"Captain, freighter sighted. Proceeding to point."

"Good, I'm turning off coms for a sec to speak with EVA."

"Copy, over."

Hawkes switched off the radio receiver, looking across the room at the EVA Team gathered in front of him. Outfitted in Roxcorp EVA suits. Plasma cutters in one hand, Hyletta handguns in the other. Hawkes had Central Command to thank for these cutting-edge weapons; they'd approved his recent request for up-to-date weaponry and artillery. This ship was outfitted and his crew rearmed; the Argonaut II was now one of the most powerful military ships in the nation, and arguably within the Lower Quadrant.

Hawkes could be more proud as its longtime Captain.

"EVA Team, last check."

"Ready." "Ready, Cap." "Ready, sir."

"Ready, Captain Hawkes!" "Ready!" "Ready."

Hawkes nodded, looking to the Triage Team. Outfitted in Janil Company space suits, carrying medical bags and cauterizers; even they carried holsters with handguns. Captain Hawkes was taking no chances after that incident he'd told Sammy about.

No more of his crew's blood would be on his hands.

"Form up!" Hawkes barked, and the teams stacked into two column in front of the depressurization chamber. Hawkes flipped on his radio and switched to Drone Control.

"Elise, what are the unmanned drones seeing?"

"The freighter suffered catastrophic damages at the front where the cockpit lies. There's sealing foam covering most of the front, and there are dozens of holes over the exterior and nearly to the back of the ship that's filled with sealing foam. I've sighted two docking entrances, only the starboard side is unaffected."

"We'll be docking starboard, then. Any signs of forced entry or looting?"

"Negative, Captain. We're in some remote deepspace, so I wouldn't expect it."

"Catastrophes come when you least expect it. Comb it over one more time with the drones then report back."

"Copy, Captain."

Hawkes switched to the Command room, where Sammy was steering the ship.

"Prep us for docking, Sammy."

"Roger that, over."

Hawkes kept his radio on to wait for an ETA on docking, taking one final examination of the two teams in front of him. If there were signs of forced entry into the freighter, the Argonaut II's military garrison would be deployed through first. In this case, however, Hawkes' primary goal was getting emergency aid and rescue to these poor souls. A year stuck in a crashed and floating freighter in the middle of nowhere was no doubt terrifying, and Hawkes didn't want them to feel a second more of that- especially if there was a traitorous captain onboard adding to the despair.

"Elise here, drones found no external forced entry into the ship. You are greenlit."

"Copy, Elise, over."

"Sammy here, we will be docking, ETA 3 minutes."

Captain Hawkes tightened his gloves, unslinging the automatic energy rifle over his shoulders and into his hands, cranking the bolt intensity up a notch. If there was even one traitor onboard, he wasn't taking chances.

"2 minutes to go."

Hawkes noted the air was filled with nervousness. No matter the experience, no matter the repetition; nobody was truly and fully prepared to enter an unknown stranded ship unfazed. Any number of things could lie on the other side.

"30 seconds left."

It was up to Hawkes to make sure this mission ended in complete victory.

"We are docking in 3... 2... 1..."

Rumble.

The ship quaked in momentary reverberation as its docking anchors latched onto the port of entry into the ship. The light to the airlock pulsed green as it confirmed docking was successful.

"Get moving!" He barked, and the EVA leader opened the airlock, walking in with the teams and Captain Hawkes. The airlock closed shut behind them. The depressurization chamber hissed loudly as pressure equalized between the Argonaut II and the Tulpar. Hawkes latched his helmet onto his spacesuit, readying his rifle.

The doors to the Tulpar, however, did not open. This was somewhat unexpected by Hawkes; dark matter reactors were infinite power sources, which meant that the Tulpar's reactors weren't maintained and shut down as a security measure to prevent over-stimulation and explosion. That didn't bode well, and Hawkes was beginning to feel a sinking ache in his chest as he gave the next order.

"EVA, do your thing."

His EVA leader, Wally, shuffled forward alongside two others and began searing into the dense metal with their plasma cutters. The process took only a few minutes, and after finishing, Hawkes kicked in the cut-up doors. Chunks of metal crumbled to the ground, and Hawkes prepared for a large wave of suction if the inside of the ship was depressurized. To his surprise, it never came. The ship was pressurized, but out of power, which meant that the auxiliary batteries were still working.

Hawkes walked aboard with his crew, rifle raised as they scanned each part and parcel of the ship's interior.

"What the hell..." He muttered, seeing a host of destruction, dereliction, and blood scattered across this floor of the ship. On edge, Hawkes made his way towards the cafeteria- this was commonly where survivors tended to gather on stranded ships due inherently to its social atmosphere.

On top of the unease, Hawkes was also angered as he made his way through the tight corridors of busted pipes, broken machinery and leaking silos. Having been a captain for over 30 years now, Hawkes could tell by look and instinct alone what state a ship was in.

This one was nearing the verge of self-implosion. He quickly went for his radio.

"Search Teams, we won't have time for salvaging ops. This ship is in a bad state, and I don't trust the next hour. Find the survivors and any bodies, and evac A-S-A-P."

"Yes, sir!" "Roger, Captain!"

Satisfied, Hawkes continued down the winding corridors, and noticed a change in scenery as he rounded a corner-

"What the fuck?!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(Music: "Temporary Suicide", by Kevin Penkin)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hawkes felt nauseous as he moved in to clear the room, seeing a horrific display of insanity and gore in front of him. Three mummified dead bodies were sat the cafeteria table, frozen in place like a picture in time. Holding back his horror, Hawkes walked up to the table and inspected the plates in front of them.

"This is fucking sick." He mumbled, coming to the quick realization that there were sliced portions of leg meat adorned on the plates like cutlets. Without wasting a beat, Hawkes activated his radio.

"Hawkes here, get to the cafeteria. 3 confirmed dead. Get 'em to the Argonaut II and clean them up for the Revivifi- Revifiv- Rev- FUCK, The Rev-iv-if-ic-ation Ritual!"

"Copy, over."

Hawkes stared morbidly at the corpses of these three. A young woman, a young man, and a middle-aged man. What a horrible outcome. Momentarily, he inspected each of the corpses, attempting to figure out how they had died. His conclusion was sickening, and only left more questions than answers.

The middle-aged man, whose name tag read 'Swansea', had been shot in the chest and head. Hawkes knew only the Captain had access to a firearm on a freighter like this. 

The young woman, whose name tag read 'Anya', had overdosed on painkillers, every orifice on her face leaking blood. 

The young man, whose name tag read 'Daisuke', was axed in the face; Hawkes had glimpsed the bloody weapon sitting next to a makeshift bed as he had entered the room.

Sickening. Atrocious. Horror.

Hawkes had seen plenty of terrible, gruesome, and outright barbaric events in his life. But this was certainly up there. He could feel the despair in the environment, the utter hopelessness of this crude vessel. Just by looking around, Hawkes could glimpse the dystopian feel, the uncaring corporatist metal and sinew that only amplified their morbid horror at the developing situation.

This was a terrible death. And morbidly, that gave Hawkes hope. The more terrible the death- the more likely a revivification could occur. What a sick way of thinking, but it was the inevitable changing of the times. He got back on his radio.

"Elise, I need answers for what happened here. Rip open that surveillance station and get a drone to download the records, all the way back to a year ago, if possible."

"Shouldn't be a problem, Pony Express has shit vessel designs but they love to keep records of their employees."

Half the EVA Team and the entire Triage team clambered into the room, cleaning up the bodies and loading them into transparent body bags, before hauling them down the corridors to the Argonaut II.

"Hawkes, Wally here. We found the Cryo room, there's a confirmed KIA inside, gunshot wound to the head."

"Copy, Wally. I'm heading over."

It took a minute to get there, and all along the corridors Hawkes was getting more and more uneasy. They were gambling with their lives, for every second they remained on this freighter. It was in an obvious state of breaking down and he wanted to be nowhere near when it eventually imploded.

He arrived at the Cryo Pod room, only to find Wally using a plasma cutter to sear through. 

"Hey, Captain. The door lost power, so we're cutting in."

"Take it away."

Another searing finished, another door kicked in. The team made their way inside, and Hawkes walked up to the cryo pod.

"Holy shit."

Sitting inside the cryo pod was a frozen amputee, wrapped in bandages and covered in seared flesh. A single eye stared out from the cryo pod's window, its eyelid missing completely.

BWOOOM! BWOOOM! BWOOOOM!

The atmosphere changed from unease to alarm as the ship's emergency sirens went off suddenly.

"Warning. Equilibrium disruption in DMRC-3. Dark Matter implosion imminent. Evacuate via the departure pods. Evacuate via the departure pods-"

"Get him out NOW!" Hawkes ordered. "Throw the corpse over your shoulder and haul ass!"

The EVA Team scrambled to open the cryo pod's chamber. It hissed and opened upward, and the EVA Team loaded the amputee onto a stretcher and sprinted for the exit. Wally picked up the dead body and threw it over his shoulder, making exit the same way.

The remaining group onboard the ship ran with terror pumping through their veins. A Dark Matter implosion was an extremely rare event, and often resulted because of low-quality engineering of the safety mechanisms that deactivated reactors when they became unstable.

In essence, this event was very in-character for Pony Express- that shitty low-tier transportation company. Events like this were so rare that any company, corporation, agency or interest group whose name was on a ship that suffered a Dark Matter implosion event could kiss their companies, livelihoods, and lives goodbye. Regulations on Dark Matter reactors and maintenance, across every nation, were the most strict and scrutinized.

"Elise, make sure you record that ship's activity on the far-range scanners when we're out of blast range. I want evidence to bring down those sleazy Pony Express shitstains!"

"Copy."

The last of the teams shuffled hurriedly into the airlock, watching as the door closed behind them. They practically stampeded into the Argonaut II as soon as its airlock hatch lifted up, and Hawkes fumbled for his radio.

"Sammy, disengage the port and get us the hell out of here!"

"Got it!"

A high-pitched whirling sound emitted through the room as the airlock clamps let go of the Tulpar airlock and retracted. The entire ship began to rumble as primary engines roared to life, accelerating the ship away from the Tulpar at increasing speeds.

"Sammy, we need to be a million miles away before that thing detonates, charge up the FTL and HIT IT!"

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Hawkes felt existential chills run down his spine. He'd only heard this sound once before in his entire life. It was the sound of microparticles of dark matter getting ready to collide.

It would be annihilation of everything within a 93 million mile radius. This was why Dark Matter reactors were only authorized for private sector companies in exceptional circumstances; they were so destructive if the failsafes failed, that the emergency contingency plans in place for reactors erupting near planets and stars all involved some form of death for any crew onboard the ship. The firstmost plan enacted is to use Quantum Positioning technology to 'warp' the unstable ship to an empty area of the galaxy. 

This ship didn't have a Quantum Positioning Relay, so the next plan was to get out of dodge.

"Sammy here, FTL drivers are spooling, ready for takeoff in 5... 4... 3..."

Hawkes pulled up an external camera from the back of the ship to check on the state of the Tulpar. His face paled as he witnessed the ship begin to fold in on itself as two giant orbs of pure light spun around each other with intensifying rapidity. The vibration emitting from the dark matter could be felt to the bone, and the entire ship was reverberating nonstop.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!" Hawkes began to panic, seeing the orbs nearing detonation.

"2... 1... Launching!"

BWWWWWWWWWWW-IP!

And just like that, they had entered FTL travel. The reverberation came to a sudden stop, and the crew surrounding Hawkes breathed a sigh of relief. Hawkes, meanwhile, was shaking violently with nothing but after-thought panic on his mind. He and Elise were likely the only ones who knew how close they had been to complete obliteration.

Taking several gulps to bring himself back to reality, Hawkes turned off his wrist holopad and stood up on shaky legs, attracting the room's attention.

"WELL DONE!"

The room erupted into raucous applause and cheers. The mission was done, and nobody had died. That was a victory in his and everyone else's books.

"Where's the amputee?"

"Over here, sir!"

Hawkes walked over to the amputee, who was just beginning to come to his senses from the cryo-freeze aftereffects. His eye slowly moved around groggily, then slowly, gradually...

Clarity.

"Hggghhkkk.... Hgggkk! HGGGGKKK!!!! HGGGGGKKKK-AAAAAAA!!!!"

The amputee looked around in wild, frenetic shock and jolted his seared limbs in a frenzy. The agony, the pain, the terror, the despair, the memories- they all came flooding back into his mind.

Almost immediately, the triage team moved in to restrain and treat the slowly-bleeding leg stump that had clearly suffered amputation. Hawkes immediately connected the severed leg limb to the scene he had witnessed at the cafeteria.

"What the fuck is going on here... Kai, get him some anesthetics and haul him to the Operating Room!"

"Yes, sir!"

As they carried him away, Hawkes' eyes, tired but observant, scanned over the corpse of the fourth dead crew member. He flipped him over to read his name tag:

Jimmy

"We'll find out what happened." Hawkes muttered with a grimace across his face. "We'll find out who's responsible. And we'll make sure we get justice."

_____________________________________________

(Art below is credited to @rabstergabster on Twitter/X)

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-

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(Portrait of Captain Hawkes)

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[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Luna - ARRIVAL

The steady rumble of approaching ‘Mechs shook the ground outside FOB HAWK. Inside the cavernous MechBay, the air buzzed with the usual controlled chaos of repairs and rearmament. Warrant Officer Karrie DeLacey hovered near the main console, her fingers idly fidgeting with a wrench while her eyes darted toward the bay doors. Despite the base’s constant activity, her mind was preoccupied with the orders she’d received earlier that morning: two new machines, classified and experimental, assigned to Bays 6 and 7—just down the row from Spirit’s infamous Death Knell.

Karrie’s stomach churned as she glanced at Bay 8, where the stealthy Timber Wolf rested behind sensor-scrambling technology and lockouts that only she and Sigrid could bypass. She couldn’t help but wonder: Were these new arrivals connected to Spirit? Could they be related to the strange, secretive mission parameters Spirit always seemed to operate under?

Her train of thought was interrupted by a low murmur spreading among the MechTechs. The telltale rhythm of heavy footfalls grew louder, the sound reverberating through the steel walls. The team froze as the first ‘Mech came into view, its sleek, angular form emerging from the shadows like a predator.

The first 'Mech, looking like an Uziel that had seen too many fetish movies and covered itself in a black drone suit, stepped into the bay with an eerie grace. Its matte black armor gleamed faintly under the overhead lights, giving it an almost spectral quality. It moved with purpose, each step deliberate, before stopping in front of Bay 6.

“Is that… an Uziel?” one of the junior techs whispered.

“Not like any Uziel I’ve ever seen,” muttered another. "Little bigger, no PPCs…"

Then came the second machine. It was a towering presence, looking as though the first Uziel had been cloned and then forcefed a diet of steroids—it'a got to be north of 60 tons, maybe 70, thought Karrie, her ears picking up the difference in the footfalls between the two machines. Its frame was also swathed in similar, glossy black stealth armor. The twin Rotary AC/5s mounted on its arms and the menacing bulk of two SRM racks above the cockpit gave it the look of a machine designed for nothing but ambush and destruction.

Karrie stood rooted to the spot, her heart racing as her eyes drank in every detail of the two machines. “Woagh…” she whispered to herself, clutching the wrench tighter.

The bay fell silent as the machines powered down, and the pilots disembarked. Hustler was the first to descend. His movements were efficient and unhurried, his matte black bodysuit and opaque visor giving him an air of quiet intimidation. The MechTechs whispered among themselves, casting nervous glances as he walked past.

“Isn’t that the SLSOC guy? The one who never talks to anyone?”

“Yeah. Heard he’s some kind of cybernetic prototype. Creepy as hell.”

But it was the second figure who truly stole the room’s attention. Luna stepped down with feline grace, her slate-gray body gleaming with radiant golden accents. Her glowing eyes swept the bay, taking in every detail with a curiosity that felt both mechanical and deeply human.

Karrie felt her breath catch in her throat. She’s not human, her mind screamed, but there was something in Luna’s movements—her calm, measured steps, the way she looked at the MechTechs and nodded politely—that made her seem more alive than anyone Karrie had ever met.

“Good evening,” Luna said, her voice smooth and warm. “I am Luna. Thank you for preparing accommodations for myself and my machine. It is appreciated.”

The MechTechs gawked, but Karrie felt her feet moving before her brain caught up. She stepped forward, her hands clutching the wrench like a lifeline. “Uh, h-hi. Warrant Officer Karrie DeLacey,” she stammered, her cheeks flushing as Luna’s glowing gaze turned to her. “I, uh, I’ll be overseeing the servicing of your ‘Mechs. If, um, that’s okay with you?”

Luna smiled, a subtle but unmistakably warm expression. “That would be more than acceptable, Warrant Officer DeLacey. Thank you for your assistance.”

Karrie nodded rapidly, her face burning. “Y-you’re welcome. I mean, it’s my job. I mean, uh, you’re welcome.”

Hustler, standing off to the side, spoke quietly, his suit-modulated voice breaking the tension. “You seem stressed. Do not be. We will not hurt you.”

Karrie managed a nervous laugh, but her attention remained fixed on Luna. “Your ‘Mech is… incredible. Both of them are. But yours… It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you,” Luna said, her tone carrying a hint of pride. “Sekhmet is indeed unique. She is very dear to me.”

As the MechTechs moved to begin diagnostics, the whispers started anew.

“They’re definitely connected to Spirit,” one tech murmured.

“Yeah, those security upgrades on Bays 6 and 7? Same tech they use for Spirit's 'Mech. Has to be related.”

Karrie heard the whispers but ignored them, her focus entirely on Luna and Sekhmet. She glanced at Hustler’s Hustler One and felt a pang of curiosity. “Are you two, uh, part of the same project as Spirit?” she asked cautiously, not wanting to give anything potentially classified away.

Luna tilted her head, her optics glowing faintly brighter. “Spirit? I have heard the name mentioned but am not personally familiar.”

Hustler tilted his head slightly. “Negative. I have had no association with Spirit prior to this operation.”

Karrie nodded, though her mind raced with questions, but she pushed them aside. She resolved to do what she did best—fix the 'Mechs. For now, she turned to her team and barked out orders, her earlier awkwardness replaced by the confidence she only felt when working with machines.

“Alright, let’s get these beauties up on the gantries. Full diagnostic sweeps, and no one touches a damn thing until I clear it. Got it?”

As the techs scrambled to comply, Luna stepped closer to Karrie. “Thank you, Warrant Officer. Your enthusiasm is… refreshing.”

Karrie blinked, her face turning red again. “Uh, y-you’re welcome. It’s an honor, really. And you can call me Karrie. If, uh, you want.”

Luna smiled again. “Karrie, then. I look forward to working with you.”

As Luna and Hustler walked away, Karrie looked to the two 'Mechs.

Time to get to work.

[clonemommy]

Hawks Talon Legion

Hawks Talon Legion :)

----

Hawks Talon Legion (9216 soldiers)

Commander: Hawk (CC-9142)

1st Regiment (2304 soldiers)

Commander: Peregrine (CC-4517) - expert in high-speed operations and rapid reaction forces.

Lead Medic: Drift (CT-4927) - specialises in the treatment of blast injuries, burns and the rapid stabilisation of soldiers after intense combat with explosives.

Lead Pilot: Falcon (CT-6724) - known for his exceptional flight tactics and high precision. Falcon leads his squadron with calm determination, delivering fast, effective air strikes that keep the Legion one step ahead.

1st Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Soar (CC-3321)

2nd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Glide (CC-8827)

3rd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Swift (CC-2193)

4th Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Loft (CC-4482)

2nd Regiment (2304 soldiers)

Commander: Kestrel (CC-7729) - Master of reconnaissance and covert operations.

Lead Medic: Smelt (CT-8291) - Skilled in treating burns, fusion injuries and caring for clones fighting in extreme, hot environments.

Lead Pilot: Raptor (CT-4738) - known for his exceptional manoeuvrability and precise tactics in aerial combat. Raptor leads with deadly efficiency, providing lightning-fast air operations that keep the Legion one step ahead

1st Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Falcon (CC-1197)

2nd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Rider (CC-4443)

3rd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Sky (CC-6754)

4th Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Cloudy (CC-3338)

3rd Regiment (2304 soldiers)

Commander: Harrier (CC-5684) - Strong in tactics and coordination of air strikes.

Lead Medic: Flash (CT-5209) - specialises in treating lightning and electrical damage as well as the rapid care of soldiers after sudden, intense combat.

Lead Pilot: Stratus (CT-8513) - known for his ability to make quick tactical decisions under pressure. Stratus is a masterful airman who coordinates his air operations with precision to give the Legion the upper hand on the battlefield.

1st Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Windblade (CC-2278)

2nd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Skyhawk (CC-8823)

3rd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Ernie (CC-4449)

4th Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Thunder (CC-5571)

4th Regiment (2304 soldiers)

Commander: Osprey (CC-9932) - Leads with a focus on precise coordination and defence.

Lead Medic: Scorn (CT-4752) - Known for his expertise in treating infections, inflammations and the rapid care of soldiers in biologically contaminated zones.

Lead Pilot: Thunder (CT-5729) - known for his resounding presence in aerial combat and his ability to overwhelm enemy aircraft with lightning-fast manoeuvres. Thunder ensures that the Legion is always unstoppable in the air.

1st Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Stormy (CC-2398)

2nd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Wing (CC-6694)

3rd Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Cloudpiercer (CC-1185)

4th Battalion (576 soldiers): Commander Victor (CC-3378)

[spacemagicandlaserswords]

The Clone Wars 4.07 ‘Darkness on Umbara’ Reaction Take 2

I’m doing this post and the rest of these second watch reaction posts to the Umbara arc in the more live-blogging style reaction posts I’ve done for other episodes like 1x5 ‘Rookies’, 2x10 ‘The Deserter’ and 4x5 'Mercy Mission'. So much happens in these episodes and I feel like I missed a lot of it in my first reaction posts because I was going through all the emotions.

“Just like old times, Rex” WHY AM I SAD ALREADY

That is some very cool looking nose cone art on the 501st LAAT/i behind Fives. Can’t quite tell what it is but it certainly looks cool.

More Anakin and Obi Wan snark. Excellent. Business as usual then.

Well that’s not ominous at all

Naw, Rex checking in on Tup. I read somewhere that Tup was a shiny on Umbara but I can’t remember if this is canon or fanon.

The clone piloting the LAAT/i is named Hawk! Or at least he is according to the captions. Hey Hawk! More named clones! :D 

“Time to lock and load” CACKLING

The walkers just leap backwards out the back of the low flying LAAT/i’s? How is this a good idea? 

BOING. Yeet the walker.

I think this is the first time we actually hear what the clones are saying on a battlefield. Usually it’s just dialogue between the main characters but now there’s so many of them shouting and cheering and screaming and dying.

Rip the poor clone that jumped out of the LAAT/i and didn’t even make it onto the ground before being shot.

“The enemy could have the whole place rigged with traps.” Dammit Anakin you jinxed it.

“I can’t even see the enemy” Oh that’s going to come back and bite everyone in the arse really badly.

“It’s just a vine” Oh dear.

It’s the Umbaran sarlacc!

Fives being a badass and taking out the monster like it’s nothing. That was quite clever thinking in terrifying circumstances for him to keep his head and figure out he needs to get the monster to eat the explosive.

That shot of the trenches definitely reminds me of WWI and II. They’ve even got the troopers leaning against the sides with their blasters poking above the top.

“Maybe… back in the day” Dayum Rex, there a lot of feeling in that one. 

Surely an ambush and skittering assassin bugs would be something that Anakin would sense in the Force?

Lmao @ Hardcase trying to take out the bug with the blaster equivalent of a rotary canon. That’s like taking a flamethrower to a spider.

Fives have you been gargling gravel or something?

Well at least Anakin got rid of the assassin bug. Again.

That shot of the bombers and Odd Ball bombing the ridge and the ensuing explosion definitely felt like a reference to the Vietnam war.

Ah great, fuck face has arrived. Fuck off Krell.

Lol the ominous music at Krell’s arrival was definitely not foreboding at aaaaaaaaall.

“You won’t find a finer or more loyal trooper anywhere.” DAMN STRAIGHT

How dare you impune Rex’s honour. How dare.

Cackling at Fives look at Rex immediately after Krell buggered off. He is so unimpressed.

Something about Fives’ voice is very… husky. 

“The men don’t need rest” ah fuck off

Oh you did not just address Rex by his fucking number

Is this where Rex got his dramatic flair for disappearing into the fog like he did in ‘Battle Scars’ in The Bad Batch?

I just had a heartbreaking thought. Is Fives here because Echo is gone and he doesn’t have an ARC partner (and twin) anymore? So Rex is doubling as his ARC partner for now until Jesse ends up as the other ARC in Torrent and the 501st? Do ARCs have partners and come in pairs? More angst for this already angst riddled arc (in more ways than one). Yay.

Is this Phase 2 clone armour? I think it is.

Poor Rex is trying to be diplomatic and balance dealing with Krell while also showing his men that he understands their concerns as well. I do like Fives’ view on this. He’s very ‘wear your heart on your sleeve’. I also loved that little exchange, you can really tell all of their different personalities just from that conversation. Hardcase is so gung ho, bless him.

“It’s too quiet out there.” Tup you precious anxious little bean

Rip Oz and Ringo

“You wanna piece of this” Hardcase living his best ‘blast everything’ life 

“I think Hardcase made ‘em mad.” CACKLING

Damn, Tup just taking out that Umbaran with a flip and a point blank blaster rifle shot to the face

“Make ‘em eat heat!” Hardcase is definitely in same vein as an 80s action hero

Rex just casually dual wielding with a horizontal grip like it’s nothing. Sir, you are showing off.

I would let Fives flip me over his shoulder and pound me into the ground. And then thank him for it. I have watched that part multiple times and it does not stop being hot. And the way he just casually stands up all cool and deadly and puts multiple blaster shots into the Umbaran. Sir, please contain your badassery. @nobie also has a fantastic gifset of this moment

Rex’s little flippy roll straight after this made me realise that he and Fives are fighting together. Oh Echo.

It’s almost jarring how noticeable it is that there isn’t a Jedi fighting alongside the clones. I couldn’t quite pick what felt off the first time until someone (Fives, I think?) mentions it later but it’s so obvious now. 

“Ha, ha, ha! Where ya goin’?” Hardcase is having the time of his life atm

Did Krell just shoulder check Fives?!

You can't jab Captain Rex in the shoulder like that!

Fives saying what everyone is thinking there. Also, what kind of Jedi threatens a clone with a lightsaber? Oh that’s right, a Sith.

Rex being an absolute badass

“I think he almost complimented you.” CACKLING

Fives and Rex just casually snarking while in the middle of a battlefield