Databank of The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Coruscant Command HQ
— Excerpts from GAR-AAR-**-**-SL by captain CT-4321
4th company under the command of Jedi General Thoit Doqwa, led by captain CT-4321, conducted a deliberate assault to seize and clear Tehcno Union command post TZ-21, located in grid sector Suolriep, Saleucami.
...
This operation must be characterized as a tactical defeat. The total losses are hereby documented in Appendix 3 of this report.
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The failure of the operation is attributable to two principal factors. Firstly, [REDACTED]. Secondly, [REDACTED]. The tactical approach adopted by the command element was fundamentally unsound and ill-suited to the operational environment.
***
— Excerpt from CF-5721-ICR-9 by Dr. S. Eronty, Forensic Pathology Division
On [REDACTED] at approximately [REDACTED], the decedent, designated CT-4321, was discovered in his assigned quarters within Barracks 7, Tipoca City. The decedent was found recumbent on the bunk. A single contact gunshot wound was observed at the right temple, with associated stippling and ballistic exit trauma to the left parietal region.
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A standard-issue DC-17 sidearm was recovered on the floor [REDUCTED] from the decedent’s right hand. A weapon’s serial number matched the service firearm assigned to CT-4321.
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The decedent’s personal datapad was recovered from the [REDACTED]. The last recorded entry reads verbatim:
“They all died. Horribly. No one gonna believe me, but I saw Doqwa [REDACTED]. I have a bad feeling this is not the end. I'm the last survivor. Still here. That’s the cruelest part. [REDACTED] What a clone like me could do? [REDACTED] See you around. Chisel out.”
***
Hangar of the Venator-class Star Destroyer "Rampant", sector Suolriep, orbit of Saleucami, 743 days after Geonosis
The hangar was bustling. Most of the clones loitered around the perimeter, making final preparations before the landing on Salukemai. This operation called "Silent Landing" was planned based on intelligence gathered by a small group of soldiers who, under the command of Jedi General Doqwa, had been disembark on the planet ten rotations ago.
“At least one of us looks like a Republic sex symbol in gloves, not like a punching bag”. Toper nudged Chisel and grinned, pulling of his leather gloves.
He held out his hand to him.
“So what? You hardly ever wear them anyway.” Chisel gripped the outstretched palm with his own fabric-covered.
“They make the hands sweat and you know it.”
“Nuh-uh.” Chisel could go on for hours about how important gloves were for an ordinary trooper. After all, on the battlefield, they protected his already rough hands. Toper, in turn, constantly felt his palms slowly perspire inside that black leather. The only advantage of those gloves was how they looked on him, otherwise, Toper preferred to work without them.
“Besides,” Chisel continued quickly looking over his armour, “it's not the gloves that make me look like a punching bag.”
Toper smirked.
“You mean your face, eh?”
Chisel's mentioned face lighted up with a little smile, missing a front tooth that was knocked out during a sparring back on Kamino. Maybe it was his face, indeed.
They both laughed.
“Briefing in five minutes,” Chisel said. “I should probably go.” He squeezed the helmet, which was crossed with neatly painted green lines, slightly in his hands. “It'd be awkward if the captain was late for it.”
“Awkward isn't the right word. It's more...well... reassuring. Maybe they'll finally see that their cap is a person too, not a protocol droid.”
Chisel chortled with laugter.
“Hey, I'm serious," Toper continued. "You're never late for them.”
“And I don't plan to be.”
He was already pulling on his helmet walking toward the assembly point when Toper called out to him:
“Protocol droid.”
“Yeah, yeah, droid,” He chuckled. “See you around.”
“See y'a, Chis.”
He almost stepped out of the hangar when glanced back at Chisel's shrinking figure. Once he's back, we'll go grab a drink, he thought.
He pulled on his leather gloves.
The "Silent Landing" was going to be tough.