Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Twenty Seven: Umbara

((Important note! I accidentally mixed up two events so that's my bad, it was before I could rewatch the arc as a reference — Jesse))

Dogma hopped down from the LAAT/i, extending a hand to help Commander Cahlay down. The padawan hopped down, giving a kind wave to the pilots, "Alright ladies, be safe!"

The two pilots inclined their heads for a moment as they took off. She glanced at Shev'la, as Lillyan landed on his shoulder. "Shev, make sure you keep Lillyan close, Umbara has some dangerous wildlife."

The carrier butterfly, still sat upon Shev's shoulder, chirped as Commander Cahlay made a specific whistle. She made a stealth signal to move out, humming softly into her comm, "Several electrical signals, that way."

She had explained it to him once. That the electrical signals of plants were more stationary, and more subtle than an animal or a person. He supposed it made sense.

She occasionally told them to adjust as they found dangerous flora, such as one thing she actually made them stop for to display the danger. Dogma watched quietly as she picked up a rock and lightly tossed it. What had before looked to be a plant, suddenly started squirming, glowing mouth and sharp teeth opening up in the center before it settled back down.

All of them kept an eye out for the tendrils from then on.

After about a klick of walking, they found themselves with blasters pointed at them, until the other clones recognized the dark paint. "We weren't expecting backup." A clone — Jesse, Dogma remembered — said. Commander Cahlay grinned, "Master told me to keep the element of surprise. I'm Junior Commander Satahl Cahlay." She adjusted her glittery veil, standing firmly with her back straight.

Hevy hefted his Z6 up onto his shoulder, stepping forward as another heavy gunner walked out of the shadows. Commander Cahlay made a small hand motion, Senaar and Droidbait stepping forward. "I brought two of the best squadrons we have. Krayt Squadron, led by Lieutenant Droidbait, and Purgill Squadron, led by Captain Senaar."

Domino squad's faces broke out in grins as they took off their helmets. Hevy's hand met his fellow heavy gunner's, "Hardcase! Good to see you're still in one piece vod." "You too Hevy."

Ladybird crouched down and set down the group's medic. He was outfitted with a collection of stims, a pack of med kits, and a lot of tranquilizers. He snapped into a salute, face darkened slightly in the low light as his 501st brothers nearly squealed in a mix of horror and delight.

Guilttrip, was an odd case, Dogma knew as much. General Sunna had saved him from decommissioning, but he was four years off of the typical age of deployment. They'd only gotten him a month ago, but Bones thought that this mission would be good field practice for him. The general and a couple of other troopers refitted some things for his kit, including reshaping some spare armor from Satahl and an adjusted medical uniform. It took about a week for him to get his now signature tattoo.

The group headed back to the rest of the 501st. Dogma let himself drift closer to Guilttrip, who didn't much like the way he was being stared at. "It's alright vod'ika, I know you'll do great. Bones wouldn't have sent you if he didn't believe in you."

"I... I know Dogma. They just... keep looking at me. Even if I put my helmet on I stick out like a bantha in a field of tookas..." he mumbled, only to get a light punch on the shoulder from Ladybird, who grinned. "Hey, it'll be alright Trip'ika. You can do this."