Shadows of the Future - Cato Neimoidia - Kala/Obi-Wan

“What… the… fragging Hell… happened…” Kala groaned as her eyes fluttered open only to see that her surroundings were shadowed with a red flashing hue to them. For a moment she could not say for sure where she was. Her head hurt and she could taste blood in her mouth, a clear sign of injury but what had happened to cause the injury she could not immediately say. She lay curled up on what appeared to be a metal floor for a seeming eternity as she did her best to think back to what had happened only moments ago. Her mind felt fuzzy with a mixture of pain and nausea but after taking a few deep breaths and closing her eyes to reorient herself Kala started to remember the events that had led to this moment…

“Archer… boot up the engines… we will be taking off momentarily.” Kala had called over the Silent Shadow’s comm. system as she watched her men, her pride and joy, the elite Clone Trooper Shadow squad march on board in two perfectly straight lines with their weapons over one shoulder and gear over the other. She nodded to each of her brothers as they stepped past her and took their seats on board their newly acquired test ship, the first Sentinel Class Troop Transport to be made by the Republic. In time, though she may never know it, these ships would become a stable of the Galactic Empire and their pursuit of domination in the Galaxy but in this time, this place, it was the prototype vessel provided to the Shadowtroopers and equipped with a cloaking device to undertake their behind enemy lines covert missions. They had only had this state of the art vessel for less than two months but it had exceeded expectations thus far. It was bigger than their last vessel allowing for more troopers to partake in missions if needed as well as store more equipment. Its weapons system and shields were top of the line allowing it, if need be, to stand a chance in a fire fight though being a transport vessel it was not truly meant for such duty. The true special feature of this new ship however was its cloaking device. This kind of technology was indeed rarely used and had become a essential of the Shadowtrooper Special Forces since its initial use during the battle of Christophsis. Her ship and her team were meant to move unseen and the ability to become invisible was the at the very core of what it meant to be part of the Shadows. Today… on the dawn of the Republics last push against the Confederacy of Independent Systems… The Shadows would once again prove that they stood shoulder to shoulder with the best the Republic could produce. Their mission, to slip past the defences if Cato Neimoidia, a key member planet of the Seperatist cause, and from the inside bring down defensive and offensive installations to make it easier for Jedi Master Plo Koon and the rest of the Republic Forces to push forward and conquer the planet once and for all.

Kala groaned as she slowly lifted herself from the ground, her head becoming clearer by the moment as she practiced deep breathing exercises she had picked up on over the years. As her eyes scanned the room she was in she was now not so surprised to see she was on board her ship. The red flashing light was the emergency lights and the darkness was due to a lack of main power, this much was obvious as she rose to her feet. She growled as she pulled herself up feeling several broken ribs protest her movements. She had suffered worse and come through she would not allow herself the luxery of pain while she could draw breath. She was a Clone commander and she had a job to do. She needed to check on her men and then on their status. Something had happened… what it was still seemed to be foggy…

“Engines up… all systems check out Commander…” Captain Thaddeius Archer’s voice rang out over the comm. to which Kala only nodded for the moment as she watched the last of her men step on board the ship and take their designated seats. Turning on her heel briskly she too entered the ship. When the main hatch was closed behind her she turned and moved down the center of the troop seating compartment and looked at each of her brothers faces sternly as she made her way across the room. When she was at the head of the compartment she stood in silence for a moment taking in this sight as if it were the last… in a way she knew it was the last… the war would end this day and the Republic would finally be at peace. She and her men’s futures were unsure but they had done their duty and this day… their last day… they would do so again with honor to their cause. She could see in each and every one of her clone brothers eyes the same stern readiness mixed with a slight trepidation. The Republic was planning this final push across the galaxy and win or lose the lives of the Grand Army of the Republic would never be the same again. They all knew this. They all feared this in a way. They all ultimately accepted this.



“Brothers…” She spoke out finally. “This is it… This is the day we secure our place in history…” She spoke briskly but with a tone of confidence. “We have fought many times since we were gathered together to form this elite core. We have proved ourselves again and again as the best of the best. We are Shadows… She are silent ghosts that move past our enemies and bring down their defences around their ears. We are the assassins that move without being seen and stab our enemies in the backs before they can draw breath to scream. We are the unsung heroes that have allowed our brothers to achieve victories where only defeat would have been had it not been for us. We have save countless lives by being the first in to weaken our enemies where only overwhelming strength stood in opposition us. We are Shadows… this day… this last day… we fight maybe for the last time but we do it with honor and valor knowing that we will help ensure the survival of the Republic for generations to come!” 54 men all shouted out at once in one tone of agreement to what their sister and leader had said. All of her men knew that this day would prove everything for them.



This mission was THE mission.



None knew that it would not go off as planned and that their lives would never be the same again…
Struggling for a moment to push past the pains she felt in almost every inch of her body Kala slowly made her way through the tight compartment that separated the Troop hold from the cargo hold, the engine room and the cockpit. Kala could not help but groan and hiss with shark intakes of air as she maneuvered down the somewhat slanted hall then down a ladder and across a short distance to the door of the troop bay. Upon pressing the button to acess the door she spat and literally let off a string of Huttes swear words as the door refused to open.



“Is anyone alive in there?!” She tried to call through he door and hit it as hard as she could with her armored fist. She could hear voices from the other side, muffled and pained but signs of life that did assuage her fears some. “Commander?” A voice called suddenly from very close to the other side of the door. It was the voice of any other clone, indistinguishable from brother to brother. “Report…” Kala responded sharply trying to keep to military bearing so as not to add to the tension. “It’s Circuit ma’am” The voice responded and Kala could not help but smile. Circuit was her tech expert on the team. He was a clone brother who had come to be what norms called somewhat of a nerd or techie. He loved technology of all kinds and he learned everything he could about anything involving computers, robotics and the like. He was one of her most trusted men and to hear his voice pleased her and brought a sense of relief. “Commander what happened? I have tried to patch into the Silent Shadow’s computer systems but only the most basic of systems are online? I can’t even activate the comm system.” He called out. “I don’t know what happened Circuit. What is the status of our brothers?” She called out again. “Not good. Most are dead… So far I count 12 of us alive, 3 in alright shape counting me the rest banged up pretty mad. Whatever hit us it hit hard…” Kala almost dropped to her knees at this news. 42 of her men dead… Her squad… her family… was practically decimated and she could not remember what had even hit them…