Departure Parade

CT-23-2079 or just CT-2079, stood in the shimmering sunlight of Eriadu's largest commercial complex, the only place large enough to house the given number of troopers, his heart racing with a mixture of pride and nerves. The newly minted clone trooper, still fresh from the cloning facilities of Kamino, could feel the weight of the day pressing down on him. His armor was spotless, reflecting the midday sun with a harsh glare, and he could hear the muffled buzz of the civilian crowd, a sea of eager faces beyond the barricades, craning to get a glimpse of the soldiers who were about to march off to war. 

It was an odd sensation, the sense of being born to die, something he was acutely aware of even though he had never seen combat. Clones like him didn't have the luxury of thinking long-term, but standing here today, CT-2079 allowed himself a brief moment of hope. He wanted to make a mark—he wanted his death to matter. His fingers gently caressed the small identification tag: CT-23-2079, and in the back 0-Legion. 

The Zero Legion, was no ordinary clone division. There was a unique honor in serving under the High General, unlike the detachment many clones felt when serving Jedi commanders. The Jedi were noble, but their detachment from the war made it hard for some clones to connect. Lelouch was different—there was something deeply personal in the way he led. He understood the clones in a way no one else did. He gave them more than orders, he gave them purpose. 

2079 glanced around at his brothers, all standing tall and proud in the meticulous rows of formation. Every one of them carried themselves with the same sense of pride and responsibility that had been drilled into them. Yet, for all the conditioning, for all the genetic coding, there was an undeniable sense of individuality among them. And that was all thanks to Lelouch. Under his leadership, they were not just soldiers—they were legends in the making. Each trooper felt like more than a number, more than a cog in the machine. 

Beyond the ranks of clone troopers, the civilians of Eriadu had gathered in great numbers, waving banners and shouting words of encouragement. Children sat on their parents' shoulders, waving tiny flags that bore the emblem of the Republic. The entire city had turned out for this—the maiden voyage of the Sovereign, the Republic's newly restored Subjugator-class supercruiser, now under the command of their esteemed High General. The Sovereign loomed above them, an imposing presence against the clear blue sky, its massive hull glinting in the sunlight. The ship was more than a war machine—it was a symbol of the Republic's power, and its name was already becoming legend. 

There was music, too—grand, swelling orchestral pieces played by a military band off to the side, their notes filling the air with a mix of solemnity and triumph. The sound of drums, steady and unrelenting, echoed through the spaceport, setting a rhythm for the march that was about to begin. 

Then, the music softened as General Lelouch stepped forward to address his troops. A hush fell over the crowd, and even the most excited child seemed to hold their breath. Lelouch, draped in his regal white coat, stood at the forefront of the formation, his striking appearance demanding attention. His violet eyes surveyed the rows of soldiers before him, his gaze intense but calm. 

He began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the spaceport. It was a voice that held power, authority, and most importantly, belief. "Today, you stand as warriors of the people, as their defenders. But you are not mere clones. You are their hope—their first and last line of defense in this ongoing war." he said as he gestured towards the crowd of onlookers who cheered. 

2079 felt his chest swell with pride at those words. 

"You were born into a galaxy at war," Lelouch continued, "and for that, many of you will fall. But know this—your lives, your actions, will not be forgotten. The galaxy will remember your sacrifice, and because of you, they will endure. You are more than just numbers. You are more than just clones." 

The wind swept gently across the rows of soldiers, rustling the banners above them, and the silence hung in the air as if the whole galaxy were listening. 

"You will fight," Lelouch said, his voice firm. "And when the time comes, you will die. But your death will not be in vain. You are the people's sword and shield, and as long as you stand, they will have hope. And when you fall, you will do so ensuring that whoever stands right behind you can take that one step further that you could not." 

2079 could feel the surge of energy in the soldiers around him. Every clone seemed to stand a little taller, their shoulders straighter, their resolve strengthened. 

With a final resounding thud, the assembled clones brought their fists to their chest plates, the sound like a drumbeat that echoed through the spaceport. The civilians beyond the barricades roared in response, their voices a mix of cheers and tears. 2079 could see them now, tears streaming down some of the faces in the crowd. 

Then, something unexpected happened. From the mass of civilians, a group of children, barely older than nine or ten, slipped through the security barricades. Their small forms darted toward the clone troopers, tiny hands clutching flowers. For a moment, there was confusion. The clones, bred and trained for war, had never encountered such a gesture. The children, innocent and fearless, ran up to the soldiers with beaming smiles. 

2079 watched in awe as one child ran straight to him, her small face tilted upward as she held out a single white flower. For a moment, he hesitated, unsure of what to do. War and violence were all he had ever been trained for. But something stirred inside him, something deeper than programming. He knelt down, gently accepting the flower from the girl's tiny hand. Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she gave him a toothy grin before running back toward the crowd. 

2079 looked around, seeing the same scene repeated among his brothers. The clones, baffled at first, slowly began accepting the flowers from the children. Some tucked them into their utility belts, while others held them tightly, as if they were fragile, precious things. 

It was a simple gesture, but to 2079, it meant everything. These civilians, these children—they saw the clones as more than just soldiers. They saw them as protectors, as heroes. And in that moment, 2079 felt a sense of connection he had never experienced before. 

As the march resumed, the soldiers began their steady progression toward the boarding ramps of the Sovereign. The civilians cheered them on, their voices a crescendo of encouragement, waving banners and throwing flowers as the troops paraded past. 

When 2079 reached the entrance of the ship, he was greeted by the captain, an older clone with a grizzled face and a hardened look in his eyes. The captain held out his hand, waiting for 2079's identification tag. 

"You need to hand it in, trooper," the captain said, his voice gruff but not unkind. 

"Why, sir?" 2079 asked, unsure of the tradition. 

"It's the General's orders, and tradition..." the captain replied. "Those who fall will be remembered. Their tags will be sent back with the rest of the fallen to the core. You won't be forgotten, trooper." 

2079 nodded, understanding the weight of the tradition. He unclipped his tag from his belt and placed it in the captain's outstretched hand. The captain gave him a nod of respect, then turned to the next trooper in line. 

As 2079 boarded the Sovereign, the flower still clutched tightly in his hand, he felt a strange sense of calm. He knew he was born to die. 

---------------------------- 

In the Sovereign's bridge, Lelouch stood at the center, surrounded by Jedi Generals and his most trusted officers. The vast viewport in front of him displayed the bustling activity of the shipyards, where the final preparations for departure were being completed. 

Lelouch's violet eyes scanned the holographic map of their upcoming campaign, the planet Eriadu at the heart of their next strategic operation. Beside him, Jedi Generals Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and several other commanders reviewed their roles in the larger Republic effort. 

"We should leave Eriadu in the next twelve hours to retain the element of surprise. " Kenobi said calmly, his fingers tracing the map. "The Separatist activity near Sullust has been neutralized by our advance forces, but we expect heavy resistance on Triton." 

"Resistance is expected," Lelouch remarked coolly, his sharp mind already calculating. "But Triton is one of our main objectives in this campaign. It'll release the heavy pressure on Eriadu and surrounding sectors while costing the Separatist a very valuable garrison and resupply base." 

"Perhaps" Kenobi remarked. "But it has already been equipped with deflector shields, perhaps even stronger than the ones on Geonosis. Not to mention their ground forces easily outnumber ours and they have the advantage in a defensive battle." 

"That would be a problem if we were looking to capture it, but as I said, Triton holds no value except for its position and houses no civilians. Sovereign has been equipped with kinetic weaponry for planetary bombardment. R&D came up with a rough measurement to batter any functional particle shield, arriving at a decisive size of 15 meters length and 2.5 diameter..." 

Anakin jumped at that. "That could certainly work." 

"Yes, it could... so I told them to double it. Now it most certainly will work." Lelouch responded with a calm smile as Anakin could feel a slight chill running up his spine. 

"Either way, as we move on Triton another detachment formed by General Plo Koon and 2 more Generals of his choice, is to head for Gerrenthum and fortify it. Make no mistake, despite what the Senate might have said, this is a defensive campaign. The Republic doesn't have the resources to throw away in search of empty revenge. Securing Gerrenthum will ensure that all of the primary routes into the Republic from this sector of the galaxy are sealed. It will allow us the leisure to undertake a cleanup operation in contested worlds behind this fortified line and free them." At that, many of the Jedi Generals straightened, while the padawans seemed not only relieved but happy. 

As the meeting progressed, an officer approached Lelouch, bowing respectfully before handing him a datapad. Lelouch glanced at it briefly, his brow furrowing slightly. 

"An urgent message from the Jedi Council, General," the officer reported. "Generals Kenobi and Skywalker have been reassigned to hunt down a dangerous Separatist operative who's already killed a Jedi and a Padawan. The council wants them to leave immediately." 

Lelouch's expression remained unreadable as he glanced toward Kenobi and Skywalker. They exchanged knowing looks as they got up, but before either could say anything, Lelouch spoke. 

"Relay this message to the Council," he said evenly. "I would 'appreciate' it if they put in a request beforehand, especially before a major operation... so next time, I can properly refuse." He said as he dismissed them with a hand wave. 

The tone was subtle but sharp, and it wasn't lost on those present. From the back of the room, a quiet snort followed by a stifled giggle escaped. Ahsoka Tano, who had been waiting just outside, couldn't help herself, but she quickly straightened up, covering her mouth with her hand to suppress another laugh. 

Kenobi raised an eyebrow and a frown formed on his face, while Anakin simply shook his head in exasperation at his padawan. 

Lelouch, however, allowed the briefest hint of a smile to touch his lips before he turned back to the map. There was still work to be done, and their campaign was just beginning. 

"Prepare for departure," he commanded, his voice firm. 

A.N: Ok, done with soapy shit for the near future, time to move to exciting stuff. Also, do you really think it was an accident that the children slipped through security barricades in a highly secure event wher ethe High General himself was present? Hehehe... 

F.Y.I: Don't know how many of you saw the Clone wars TV show but guess what comes up now :)