The Knave's Crusade

Emendate: 13

Raeth tightened his grip on his blaster as he watched CT-9904, something seemed off, something unnatural that consumed his soul. He tried to place it, but never could because it was something manmade, not organic like their devotion to the Empire. It was embedded in the core of the Commander and created the man who stood before them in the bright light.

Yarla called out. "Stop staring at the Commander like you're in love with him!"

"I'm not. Shut it Yarla," Raeth sputtered out as he hid his blushing face.

Alta tipped up her nose and smirked, "Suuure you aren't. You're the hopeless romantic of this bunch."

Vass placed her arms around Yarla and Raeth. "Time to listen to me and Commander Sheb'ika."

The two jumped a foot in the air and asked, "Whose that?"

"CT-9904. It's a pain to say all those letters and numbers, so I thought it would be easier if they had nicknames," explained Vass, the metal flooring echoed behind her.

"Does everyone?" asked a familiar voice from afar. 

"Yeah, yeah. ES-02 is Spike due to the prickliness of her personality. ES-03 is Dotty for no reason other than he would look darling with Alta's polka dot bow." Vass declared while she lazily waved her hand, "ES-04 is Clinker since she has a fire to her."

"That's very interesting," ES-03 informed Vass once she realized who it was.

Vass faced ES-03. "I didn't know it was you. I probably wouldn't have told you either. However, the more you know, Clinker."

Clinker shook her head. "I don't get paid enough to care. Call me whatever."

"Alrighty, then Clinker," Krekor detailed once he came into view.

Clinker rolled her dark eyes. "Out of all you I didn't think you would go along with this."

"Krekor is the funniest at parties," notified Alta, she wrinkled her nose at the chemical stench in the expansive room.

The Commander determined, no soul glimmered in his dead eyes, "That's enough. We have a quick briefing with Vice Admiral Rampart."

Vass did a head count. "We've got almost everyone one. Where's ES-01?"

All of the elite soldier's eyes dimmed, they lowered their head, and did not answer. No guilt seemed to grip them, but they appeared not to care. Only Clinker was able to hold Vass' gaze before the clone could reply.

Sheb'ika muttered aggressively, "He did not follow orders, so he was executed."

Absolute shock washed over Bankole's Troopers, the thought of killing their own was unimaginable. Quickly, the Troopers controlled their facial expressions and turned their attention to Dotty.

"Good soldiers follow orders," commended Dotty, no life laid in his voice.

Vass agreed without a second thought, "No truer words. It's what keeps our squads alive."

As they were about to exit the bright room stationed on a starship, Rampart barged in, his hair a mess. His brown eyes narrowed on Vass and Sheb'ika and then to all of the soldiers. Anger flared through each of his breathes, his muscles tensed with each step.

"I decided to have brought the meeting to you because it has risen in urgency. This information is only know between the people present in this room. No one else in the military or any Empire branches know of this yet. Let's keep it that way." described Rampart, "Agent Bankole, Captain Tels Eto, and Lieutenant Kulan Jal have committed high treason by joining the rebel forces. You are assigned to hunt them down and bring them back dead or alive. You're dismissed."