Obi-Wan Kenobi swiftly crossed the chaotic mess hall. Clad in his beige robes, he casually sat at at one of the few empty tables. His copper hair flopped as he turned his head to watch out for his comrades. On the table sat a bowl of muesli with a regular tea and some fruit. Surfing through the crowd of bustling clone troopers, he easily spotted a gang of troopers enter the hectic Hall. Wearing their customised armour, they flocked to the breakfast line. 

"Mind if we join you, General ?" asked a voice from the otherwise of the table. Obi-Wan turned his head to see two of his own men clad in their orange-gold armour. It was Waxer and Boil. 

"Of course," smiled Obi-Wan, gesturing for them to sit. He picked up a spoon and dunked it in the musli. His nose instantly picked up on a delightful scent. His eyes carefully traced it to two identical plates piled high with space waffles, delicately drizzled with syrup. Unlike at the very start of the war, none of them were forced to live off appalling freeze dried rations. They now had access to a variety of food, freshly made in the kitchens when possible. "How are you both this morning?"

"We haven't been trampled by Echo," grinned Waxer, making eye contact with Boil, who instantly smiled back. 

"What do you mean?" asked Obi-Wan,confused, with a mouth of muesli.

"Nothing, sir." smirked Boil, almost erupting into laughter, messing around with his waffles. 

"Was it Fives and Echo?" quizzed Obi-Wan, raising an eyebrow, knowing that the boys in blue were famous, not only for their low casualty rate, but for their boisterous banta (which was happily encouraged by an equally boisterous Skywalker). He just rolled his eyes as they nodded, not needing to say more.

"They owe me five hours sleep..." Sighed Commander Cody, dumping his tray beside Obi-Wan's half empty bowl. His tired eyes examined his food; a large mug of caff, a mixture of fruit with yogurt topped with....bacon. "That explain why the server was giving me an odd look...." He grabbed the mug and began to down its piping hot contents. He turned his head to meet the face to a highly concerned Obi-Wan. "How does Rex cope with them?!" His mind drifted off into the panicked thought of having Fives and Echo join the 212th perminatly...alongside the increased amount of paperwork they would cause. "Better still," he asked Waxer and Boil, "How did you manage to look after that little girl and still succeed with that mission?" 

"Are you feeling alright?" asked Obi-Wan, relieved that his Commander wasn't about to self-destruct.

"Yes sir." replied Cody, calming down. Slightly embarrassed by his melt down, he began to pick at the fruit that the bacon hadn't touched. "Sorry, that wasn't really professional of me."

"Don't apologise, Cody." reassured Obi-Wan, placing a hand on his shoulder," We all have our meltdowns." 

"Clones are forbidden to show any emotion..." Cody replied, thinking of the horror the Kaminoians forced them though as Cadets. "Those of us who broke either got terminated or threw themselves off the platforms, before they got to them. A few luckier ones were reconditioned... We never saw them again." Cody watched as his younger vod shudder at the memories of a few batchmates facing the sane fate as most of the earlier batches of clones faced. 

"I swear the Jedi won't rest until inhumane practices on you and your Vod are stopped, Cody." reassured Obi-Wan, trying to stop his Commander from trembling with fear. His soft grey eyes met Cody's. "None of you should have to go through that." Through the Force, he could sense the clones' uneasiness at the mention of the torturous training everyone had to endure. He watched as Waxer stood up from his seat and walk around to his side of the table, taking a seat next to Cody. Waxer pulled his Ori'vod close, feeling him shudder with fear and anxiety. 

"Are you going to decommission me?" questioned Cody, looking at his General. A gust if madness swept through his mind; it screamed at him that he wasn't useful. He was just a meat droid that could be replaced with the snap of General Kenobi's fingers. 

"Cody, I would never do that to any of you." replied Obi-Wan, with a rising hatred towards these long necked monsterous monsters. "I made you Marshall Commander because of who you are; you know what you need to do. Your brothers respect and look up to you. Just because you have feelings, Cody, doesn't mean that I'm going to throw you away. I will never hate any of you. You are all special to me."

"I don't know what to say, Sir..." mulled Cody, regaining his confidence. Waxer smiled at him before smiling at his other brother and then at his General. 

"We're all here for ya, Cody." smiled Boil, picking at his waffles.

"Always."  Agreed Waxer.

"Morning," smirked Fives, plonking himself down next to Boil, who instantly moved to the very end of the bench, just as a precaution.  Fives looked up as he watched a slightly annoyed Echo growl something under his breath as he sat next to his batchmate. "And how are you this fine morning?"

"Fine, I suppose." murmured Echo, starting to eat his fruit salad. He rolled his eyes as Fives began to carelessly scoff pancakes drowned in chocolate sauce with a side of scrambled eggs. "Will you eat like normal person instead of a puffer pig?"

"Nope," replied Fives, giving him a sheepish grin. Knowing how much Echo hated it, he grabbed a pancake and stuffed it in his mouth. "I gknow how  mumph you love me doing this!" Echo just gave his a disgusted look before rolling his eyes.

"Will you two please hurry up?" questioned Obi-Wan slightly annoyed with the boys in blue. He stroked his copper beard, thinking about the mission ahead of them. He turned his attention back to Cody, who was impatiently sipping his caf, looking like his usual self. "Never let them stay with us, unless we have no other option. Yes, this was a favour to Captain Rex, but honestly I have never seen them two behave like this."

"Maybe it's because you don't know us as well as you know Commander Cody, sir." replied Echo, glad that Fives hadn't choked on the pancake he just swallowed. "Who's ready for a mission?"

"I guess we all are." responded Waxer as he and Boil staked everyone's trays. Fives gave them an evil snarl as Waxer wickedly removed his half finished breakfast. The two batchmates carried the trays to the disposal unit before running to catch up with the others. 

__________________________________________________

Captain Rex stood to attention as the blast doors opened behind him, revealing the two wreckless Jedi walked onto the bridge. His golden eyes watched as the deck officers stood up from their work station, proudly saluting the General and Commander. His worn armour moved with him as the at-ease signal was issued. "Morning General. Morning Commander."  He gave the young Togruta a small grin. 

She smiled back. "Morning Rexster." smiled Ahsoka Tano. Her oceanic blue eyes swept across the room to see people working hard - prepping the fleet for battle. 

"What's new Rex?" asked Anakin Skywalker, as his shaggy mop of hair happily bounced as he walked towards him. He wore his usual musty robes, still stained form their last encounter with those annoying clankers. Designed to over power their heroic clones and their commanding officers, the battle droid had almost wiped them out, until he decided to take a huge risk - setting off several bombs that could have not only killed the clankers but everyone else on the battle field too. The only reason every trooper on this ship was alive was due to him and Ahsoka forming a force field around them. 

"All battle preparations are completed ahead of schedule, Sir," reported Rex, checking his data pad,just incas a complication had popped up in the past thirty seconds. "We're just waiting for General Kenobi and Commander Cody to comm us for the mission briefing." 

"Very good, Captain." praised Anakin, folding his arms. "Ahsoka, might I suggest you and Rex take some of your men to do some target practice. Or maybe a game of Clone Tag?" 

"I don't have any reports to fill in, Master." replied Ahsoka, thinking if it was wise to host a fleet wide game. "So I guess, you're it." Ahsoka smiled as she and Rex began to slowly back away from him - cautiously watching him look at them confused. Ahsoka activated her comm. "Attention all troopers, Anakin Skywalker has caught the deadly virus. I repeat, Skywalker has caught the deadly virus. Avoid him at all costs." 

"Snips..." Sighed Anakin, immediately regretting the fact he had just mentioned the most chaotic thing they could be doing right now. At least they were a day away from the rendezvous point, meaning they had some time to attempt any mess his men made. "Join me....you'd love this. It's an awakening experience......" He gave them a creepy smile, getting into character. He eyed Admiral Yularin, who just rolled his eyes, and went back to work. 

"Not today!" cried Rex, as he and Ahsoka began to run away, only to have Skywalker on their tail. "Come on, 'soka, let's go to our hiding place. Instantly, Ahsoka knew what to do. Using the Force, she freed a vent from it's hinges and leapt up into it. She poked her head through the hole, grabbing Rex's hand before hillingdon him up. Ahsoka placed the vent back in place. She heard Anakin swear in about five different languages, as he attempted to fit his muscular and broad body through the hole. 

"Your fault for spending so much time in the gym!" laughter Ahsoka, crawling behind Rex. Sensing her Master's anger.

Four hours of clones being plagued with the deadly virus, the game had come to a dramatic halt; Obi-Wan Kenobi had impatiently contacted the fleet, demanding every officer, and wreckless Jedi join him in the war room. Happy to take a break, Anakin Skywalker sighed with relief, as he returned to normal. "Snips, meet me in the War Room -Obi-Wan said it's urgent."

"I'm on my way, Rex is with me." replied Ahsoka's voice. From the faint tapping in the background, he could tell she was running. He rolled his eyes as he took off in in the direction of the war room - on the otherside of the flag ship he called home. He knew Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Rex would point out he was late, but not Cody. Cody was far too polite for that. 

"I can't believe we got him to play with us.." laughed Rex, slightly relaxed as he and Ahsoka casually entered the War Room. Screens of charts lit up the dull, musty smelling room. Several officers and a cadet form Courescant quietly muttered to each other, exchanging news and reports. Routinely, they stood to attention as the Commander and Captain entered. Saluting, the officers eyed them, showing their devoted loyalty towards the 501st. Rex instantly raised a hand. "At ease. And get back to work General Skywalker is on his way."

"Sir, yes Sir." chanted all of the officers, and the cadet. immediately working at their stations like good little school children. A brief moment of silence hit the room, until a cadet began asking questions to one of the Clone officers. Flashing lighted buzzed through the room, illuminating some of the officer's concentrated faces.

"'Soka, I swear you're getting taller." smiled the Captain, only noticing that his Commander wasn't short as she was at the very start of the war. Or was he suddenly shrinking? Nah, he had had plenty of time that happened. 

"It's called growing, Rex." replied Ahsoka, folding her arms. She flashed him a smile as she examined something the cadet was working on. "Cadet, what are you working on?"

"It's an updated map of a Separatist prison that Commander Anderson wanted me to analyse against the one avaliable in the archives, Commander Tano," replied the cadet, not too sure why Ahsoka was speaking to him. His strawberry blonde hair was swept back. His brown eyes met her gaze. "Unfortunately she wouldn't tell me which prison it is."

"Typical." replied Ahsoka, shaking her head. 

"Ahsoka, we've got two incoming transmissions," called Rex from the opposite end of the room. Ahsoka turned her head to face him. 

"I guess it'll be Master Kenobi and the 212th," replied Ahsoka, turning back to the cadet. "Come, since Anderson trusts you to analyse this kind of information, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt for you to help us with the battle plan." She watched as the Cadet keenly joined her. He looked about the same age as her, but he was taller buy half a head. 

With all three of them around a display system,  they were joined by three other clones, two deck officers and Admiral Yularin. Ahsoka pressed a button as six holograms joined them. Master Kenobi stood next to Commander Cody, who had his helmet off, Fives, Echo, Master Plo and a helmeted figure, obviously sat in the cockpit of a ship. 

"Where's Anakin?" asked Obi-Wan, looking around, knowing that his former apprentice was nowhere to be seen.

"Late," replied Ahsoka, folding her aresult, "as always, Master Kenobi." Ahsoka had lost count if how many times her Master was late. The best answer to how many times he was late was that he was always late, never early and never on time. She rolled her eyes as she saw the door open from the perfect reflection of Rex's helmet.

"I am not late," pointed a slightly annoyed voice from behind them, "I was just -"

"Held up," casually  chanted everyone around the display, even the Cadet.

"Sir, we're just about to start the mission briefing." reported Rex, making room for his General. He ran his hand though his scalp, frowning as he felt rebellious stubble poking out of his skin. Making a mental note, he reminded himself to run his silver razor through this new wave of hair that had somehow sprouted from his scalp in less than twelve hours.

"Very well." replied Anakin, focusing on the display in front of him. He watched as Cody flashed an evil look to Rex. He watched as Rex happily flashed a satisfied grin back at his brother.

"Can somebody please fill me in on what I've missed?" asked the helmeted figure, wondering why in the galaxy  Fives and Echo were with the 212th. "I'm seriously though confused."

"Simples," smirked Echo, "We got a lift from Cody and his sad tea drinkers."

"Cody isn't sad, you sloppy Nerf Herder!" replied the helmet head, "In fact, he's way better than you, Echo. And so is Fives.

"Now back to the mission."

"Good idea, Commander Anderson." replied Cody, slightly offended by Echo. "So we're facing three fleets of Separatist ships, with possible reinforcements form nearby systems and that's before we hit the ground. So far, General Skywalker will take on the air support whilst General Kenobi, the 212th and the 501st will take to the ground via the gunships. Alpha squad will carry out a recon mission. The rest of us will mount for a full scale attack." Cody paused as the planet of Ryloth sprang up on the display, zooming in on the rendezvous point. Hidden by a rear patch of trees and vegetation, they were to wait there until Alpha Squad returned. Cody gave a nice, long rant that most of the team only half listened to, letting the important points stay in their brain, as Cody's blabbing rampaged through their ears. "Are you people even listening?"

"Error....system malfunction?" replied Fives, getting an aggressively raised eyebrow from his Commanding Officer. Cody just sighed, knowing that he didn't mean it. " Yes Commander Cody, we know what we're doing."

"I'm glad I'm not joining these mutton heads..." murmured the figure. "General Kenobi, what do you think of this plan?"

"I know it will take longer than I would like, but it's the best plan to ensure lowest casualty rates. Very good Cody." replied Obi-Wan, watching the cadet bursting to say something. "Cadet, what do you suggest?" He watched as the young cadet looked proudly at the display in front of them.

"May I suggest that half of one legion stays back as reinforcements, Master Kenobi?" questioned the Cadet,thinking that  eventhough they had access to the Wolf Pack, it would take a lot longer for them to arrive than back up from their current forces. "It would mean a quicker back up than calling in Master Plo's troopers."

"I'm think it's a risk worth taking," replied the figure, "Plus a smaller team means you're less likely to be caught or seen by the clankers. And less arguments." Ahsoka curiously watched as the figure suddenly moved to the right and then to the left. Rex flashed the figure a smile - knowing what they were doing. " I hate chasing after space whales..."

"Where are you now?" asked Fives, cautiously following the figures movements with his tense glare. 

"Outer Rim, Fives." Answered the figure, breathing heavily. "They nearly crushed me yesterday. Give me a moment, it's getting way too hot underneath this helmet." Everybody quietly stared at the figure, carefully watching the unceremonial removal of the helmet. Painted in blue and silver with orange markings, the helmet vanished out of view revealing the face of a teenaged girl. Her black hair was pulled back into a messy pony tail. A small cut sat below her eye.

"Nice to see your face," joked Fives, turning his attention back to the mission. "Commander Anderson is right - smaller numbers means better mobility for everybody."

"Then it's settled," Plo Koon, only taking his chances to speak now, " Take two thirds of both the 501st and 212th with you down to the surface. The rest of us will be on standby. May the Force be with you." With a brief nod, Plo Koon swiftly flickered for a brief second, only to vanish into thin air.

Commander Anderson looked around the room, counting three Jedi and four clones, still staring at each other. Her eyes landed on Ahsoka's view.

"Who's this friend of yours?" asked Ahsoka, recalling the map the Cadet was working on.

"This Commander Tano," interrupted Admiral Yurlarin, clasping a hand on the Cadet's shoulder is one of my three prestigious mentees - Cadet Kallus of the Republic Academy. I thought it would be useful for him to gain some actual experience, instead of going though simulation after simulation. He is an expert in hand to hand combat and has some blaster training."

"Are you saying we should let the kid on the battle field with us?" asked Rex, slightly concerned. "Yes I know we already have two sixteen year olds fighting with us - but that's different. They've trained for most of their lives. If you're saying you want him to come with us, he'll have to show me what he's got."