Star Wars The Clone Wars: Wolfpack Declassified "Prologue"

Chapter 1 - Maroon

---Aboard the Republican transport ship "Chrysis", en route to the rendezvous point near the edge of the Abregado System---

"I'm sorry Sarge - but I'd have to disagree with you. It's definitely red." Amidst a barrage of white-clad men, two in particular stand alone. Both soldiers wear the same Republican clone-trooper armor; however, the first one sports a double-crested brown hair cut, and the latter dons a sleek grey style. Their heated conversation continues. "Trooper, I've told you Nth amount of times not to call me that. You will address me as Sergeant, or Sir. And your eyes need to be checked by a medic; 'cuz it is absolutely brown. No doubts about it."

The first trooper takes a step closer and glares at his superior. "My eyes are fine 'Sir'. With all do respect, yours are the ones that could use some checking. And luckily for you, 'Sir', I know a great medic in this squad who can..."

The Sergeant throws up his hands in disgust and interjects, "How a trooper like you ever managed to graduate from Kamino is beyond me! You're impossible! You hear me?!"

Another clone trooper walks up to the two, a wry smile in his face. Removing his helmet, he runs a hand through his raddled blonde-dyed hair. "I heard you just fine, Sergeant."

Both of the troopers freeze and turn at attention to the new arrival. The Sergeant and trooper stand stiffly, and the former begins, "I'm sorry for the outburst, Sir. It won't happen again." The trooper nods in unison. Sighing, the new-comer adds, "Good. Lets make sure it doesn't. What're your names?"

The Sergeant salutes, "CT-4273, rank Sergeant, Sir." Following his suit, the trooper next to him does the same, "Trooper CT-7712, Sir."

Face palming, the newcomer shakes his head. After regaining his posture, he replies, "Idiots. I asked for names - don't you have 'em?" Extending his hand to shake the sergeant's, he adds, "At ease, men. The name's Torr. Lieutenant Torr. And yours...?"

"It's Sinker, Sir. Sergeant Sinker. Pleasure to meet you." Sinker shakes Torr's hand and stands again at an indifferent attention. The trooper standing next to him eagerly offers up his hand to the Lieutenant. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir. My name's Boost. Listen, we're awfully sorry about our little 'communication-misconduct'. But it won't happen again, Sir."

Torr nods his head at Boost's apparent enthusiasm, and quietly marks to himself that this must be his first mission. Taking a step back to lean against a wall, the Lieutenant looks between both his comrades. His casual, easy-going attitude surprises both the troopers. Sinker (forgetting his earlier command of ease), stands at attention. Boost awkwardly places a hand on his belt and stares at Torr. Finally, Torr breaks the silence, "So, what were you two bickerin' about?"

Both Sinker and Boost swallow and look at each other, unsure how to answer. Boost flashes a face at Sinker, and the latter boldly takes a step forward. "Well, you see, Sir - Boost and I were discussing the color of our armor's accent markings. I adeptly noted that it is a sort of clayish-brown color. My counterpart, however, mistakenly believes that it is red. *pfft* You'd think he'd never seen an ARC trooper before. Now that's red..."

Crossing his arms, Boost steps up to confront Sinker, "Hey, now wait just a minute! I have too seen an ARC trooper! But I still think our color is a different shade of red. Cuz it certainly ain't 'clayish-brown', or whatever the flak that means."

By now, the skirmish has caught the attention of the other troopers in the room, and many of them begin to slowly surround the two troopers, in hopes of witnessing a fight. Torr, still leaning against the wall, raises his hand and the room falls dead silent. He simply poses the question, "Well, do any of you lads know who picked the armor color?" More silence. Glances are exchanged around the room as all the men look down at their armor. A young clone steps forward from the back and approaches the Lieutenant. His eyes are bright and steady, and his hair is a light brown crew cut. Addressing Torr he replies, "Wasn't it the Commander, Sir? I believe it's the commanding officer's duty to designate their battalion color."

Torr smiles widely and makes a mock-shooting motion with his hand. "Right on the sights, trooper. Wolffe 'ole boy did infact pick out the color himself. And if you two men wanna find out what it is," he points at Sinker and Boost as he stands up and walks past them, "Who better to ask? C'mon! This conversation has made me just a bit curious myself. Lets go find out..." And with that, he marches to the door and slides it open.

Boost raises his eyes at Sinker, who in turn lets out a soft moan. However, both troopers follow after their lieutenant. On the way out, they both pass by the clone with the light brown hair who had spoken up early. Without looking at them, he quietly adds, "My credits are on Maroon." After that, no more was said until after they left the room.

On the (silent) way to the Commander's barracks, Lieutenant Torr suddenly stops at a crossways and faces Sinker and Boost. "I'll join you in a minute, boys. I need to...check something in the comm center. I'll catch up with you in a minute." Once he departs, the two troopers continue on. Sinker turns to face Boost and retorts, "If we get punished for this - I swear I'll break your neck!"

Facing Sinker, Boost smiles, "Then lets hope we don't. Especially for your sake, since I wouldn't want you to hurt yourself as I take you down." Sinker fumes on in silence, and Boost wears a smug smile all the way to the barracks. Upon arriving, both soldiers take a deep breath. Boost was the closest to the door's comm, so he tentatively chimes it. A gruff, monotone voice booms over its speakers, "Who is it?"

Clearing his throat, Boot replies, "Sir, Sergeant Sinker and Trooper Boost request permission to speak to about a...certain matter." Once finishing, Boost shrugs his shoulders and Sinker sighs in disapproval. Presently, the door slides open and the two march inside. Before they reach the small holo-desk, the voice of their commander comes again, "At ease. What is the problem?" Standing before the two is an identical man with a sleek black crew cut and a calculated expression. His eyes flit between the two brethren, taking mental notes of their appearances and dispositions. Quickly, he glances down the corridor before the door closes, and then rests his view on his two comrades. Before responding, the troopers flag eachother a quick look that needed no saying: this man really is a master strategist.

"Sorry to bother you, Sir. But the Sergeant and I were having a quarrel, and Lieutenant Torr sent us up here to resolve it." Boost fell silent again and wished he could've bitten his lip.

Raising an eye (whether out of amusement or disgust is still uncertain), Wolffe coldly responded, "What is 'it'?" Before either of them could respond, the door opened with a whoosh and in strutted Torr. "So - what's the verdict, Wolffe?" Placing a hand on both Sinker and Boost's shoulders, Torr flashed a grin at his CO.

Becoming slightly annoyed, Wolffe added, "I wouldn't know. These two have yet to tell me what the Force is going on here." With a sigh, he adds, "Care to explain the sitch, Torr?"

Nodding and looking at the armor of the two clones, Torr remarks, "Well, I caught 'em bickerin' over what exactly this color is that you chose for our armor."

Suddenly looking down at his holo-desk, Wolffe cooly replies, "Maroon." Quickly removing his hands from the troopers, Torr folds his arms and with an amused look questions, "That wouldn't have anything to do with CC-3633, would it?"

Both Boost and Sinker stand quietly at attention, but give eachother looks of amusement and confusion. Wolffe regains his composure and stands up to his lieutenant. "Wether it does or doesn't is not any concern of yours, Lieutenant. However, what is of concern here I why the Force this trivial matter was brought-" Suddenly, the ship lurches and sends all the clones off balance. An alarm sounds and Wolffe's holo-emitter beams to life. "Commander! You are needed on the bridge immediately! Two Separatist ships have just dropped out of hyper speed on our port-side. We're under attack!"

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Very sorry, Sirs, that this chapter was so slow. I promise that this is not the model for further chapters; however, it was necessary to be bleak in order to introduce the main characters. After all, every one of the men present are going to be important on this mission and the rest to follow. Enjoy, Sirs, and thanks for reading.