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Jedi Insurgency 065
🕑 Added 2025-07-02 12:36:20 +0000 UTCAfter the invasion of Malastare, Corvus had been incredibly busy over the last couple of days.
He had been overseeing the establishment of imprisoned work crews, training with his Padawans, and sending out CF-99 to put down loose stragglers/insurgent movements.
As the leader of a million man unit, he was constantly receiving reports regarding the readiness of the troops, ammunition reserves, and the state of his vehicles, ships, and a thousand other miscellaneous topics.
Wanting to solve some of these issues, Corvus had spent a great deal of time at the workbench.
Breaking down objects into raw materials, and then crafting them into tritanium armor, & ammo, he was trying to make the Starcrusher Corp as strong as possible.
During the meeting a couple days ago, Pots had said that they lost about 10%~ of their men as casualties. The Commander had made this statement with the same banal neutrality of someone commenting on the weather. It disgusted Corvus that 100,000 lives were discounted just like that. In fact, after looking up typical losses during a planetary assault, most Legions lost between 20-60% of their troops. Ten percent, was actually a good number.
But that was unacceptable to him. As someone who highly valued loyalty, duty, and fraternity, he couldn't allow those under his command to go into the field with what he deemed to be subpar equipment. Thus, he was making new, retrofitted clone armor, gear that could tank quite a few blaster bolts before giving out. Furthermore, he also crafted personal shields.
This task was incredibly resource heavy, but thanks to plundering the Kamino armory earlier, and requisitioning Gran resources, Corvus was able to gather everything he needed.
At the moment, Corvus was within a large warehouse, and had finished with his crafting. Depositing tons of gear in neat, organized rows, Corvus, he received a message from Pots.
“Sir, the men have gathered. It's time.”
“Very well. I'll be there shortly.” Corvus replied, then cut the call.
Leaving the warehouse, Corvus exited onto a wide street that was a straight shot from one end of the city, to the center where the citadel was. The boulevard had been cleared of all rubble, and work crews of imprisoned clones were hard at work keeping it clean.
For about a mile or more, tens of thousands of clone troopers loyal to the Republic lined the streets. Stripped of their armor, they milled about in confusion, and muttered curiously amongst themselves. There were even quite a few Dugs within the crowd, and they were loudly talking to one another.
Corvus ignored the glances he received, and walked up to the steps of the citadel. There, a grand carpet had been lain out, and countless banners with the symbol of the Republic flapped in the wind. Standing on a raised platform waiting for him were his Padawans, Triss, Omega, some important Dugs, and Commander Pots. The Bad Batch were absent on an assignment, and Clip was needed on his ship.
A Venator soared overhead in low orbit, and countless smaller ships screeched in the sky, performing various, fancy look maneuvers.
Cameras caught every moment, and broadcasted the event to everyone on Malastare.
Approaching a podium, Corvus synced his mask with some speakers, and then gestured to the crowd.
“Clone troopers, Dugs, and guests from afar, my name is Revan, a Jedi Knight, and devotee of the Republic.
Three days ago, the men under the banner of the Starcrusher Corp had launched an attack on the Imperial forces holding Malastare. Our goal was the total freedom of the Dugs from the tyranny of the Gran Protectorate. I can say with great pride, that this action was a complete, and total success. Even now, as we speak, the Gran have been imprisoned, and are being prepared for exile. As soldiers of the Republic, it is our duty to uphold the principles of liberty, freedom, and justice. For too long, the Grans have exploited the Dugs, treating them as less than people. On this day, you men can stand proud, knowing you have liberated a planet of the Republic.
You did not shirk when missiles struck your landing craft, you did not balk when enemy fighter outnumbered us two to one, you did not yield when the overwhelming firepower of a AT-TE pounded your positions. You men stood firm, and faced danger head on. You are worthy of carrying the banner of the Republic, for you are the Starcrusher Corp!”
Raising his hands high, Corvus used the focus on his lightsaber-that was clipped to his hip-to cast [Force Valor] on as many people as possible.
Upon hearing his words, and receiving this buff, thousands of troopers raised their fists, and cheered. Many of the Dugs joined in with them. As the noise died down, Corvus spoke once more.
“Heroes, one and all! Yet some made the ultimate sacrifice. I ask of you a moment of silence as we respect these brave men.”
After a moment had gone by, and everyone was quiet, a group of three starfighters of alien-likely Gran-design flew out of the city, and came barreling down on their position.
Noticing this aberration, the ARC-170's that were performing aerial acrobatics closed in, and took two of them out. The last ship began to strafe at Corvus, unloading a fast volley of powerful turbolasers.
Casting [Energy Resistance] on himself and the people on the stage, he blocked a few bolts back at the starfighter. A second later, a pair of ARC-170'S caught up, and destroyed the ship. The fireball of molten metal and burning slag came rushing down at his position. Thinking fast, Corvus grabbed Omega, and [Force Pushed] the Dugs out of the way.
Running to the side, Corvus watched as the starfighter crashed with a mighty thoomp at the base of the citadel.
Seeing that no one else had died in the encounter, Corvus patted the little girl on the shoulder, and set her down.
“Cool.” Omega said, stars in her eyes.
Corvus grimaced. If the girl had died there, he'd have to hunt down CF-99 for fear of a revenge assasination. Shaking his head, Corvus walked back up to the broken stage, and with the flaming wreck behind him serving as the backdrop, continued as if he had never been under attack.
“Sheesh, didn't know I was that boring! I wonder what you men might get up to if I gave a speech to the Grans!” Corvus said in a joking tone, trying to alleviate any worry or concern.
“We wouldn't miss!” One clone cupped his hands, and shouted.
“For you, General, we'd have to drop a Venator on your head!”
The guys started to laugh at their own jokes, and the mood became more friendly.
“You're damn right you wouldn't! Why? Because you're the Starcrusher Corp! Now you sons of bitches are probably wondering why I had you arrive in your skivvies?” Corvus asked.
Many bawdy and lewd remarks that soldiers were want to say were shouted back at him, but he ignored them.
“Because you're all receiving an upgrade! The government under Palpatine saw you as disposable, easily replaceable! Well guess what, I DON'T.” Corvus joked around at first, but quickly lost that persona, and radiated an aura through the Force that he was dead serious.
Every man that had been chirping at Corvus a second ago became silent as the grave.
“That's right. When I learned that 10% casualties was considered a good deal, I was livid. No, beyond livid! So I did something about it. Commander Pots, issue the order.”
Pots-who had rolled away from the crash in time-pressed some buttons on a dataslate. Seconds later, the garages of multiple warehouses on the side of the street rolled open. Greeting the clone troopers was row upon row of new armor, enhanced blasters, as well as a personal shield, and backup shield.
“Men, suit up!” Pots said into a mic.
Over the next 20 minutes, the tens of thousands of troops that clogged the streets rushed to put on their new equipment. Once they returned to muster, they were all shiny, and looked like slick killing machines.
“Very nice. The Empire thinks of you men as nothing but a number, and issued you armor that could maybe take a single blaster bolt. But so long as you follow me, that shall be nothing but a dark fantasy! Observe! Commander Pots, if you would!” Corvus gestured to the man.
Pots tossed him his combat rifle, and then pressed a button on his armguard.
Grasping the gun, Corvus unloaded a fully automatic burst at Pots. The shield shimmered and after 15 bolts struck, it popped. The armor then tanked another 20 hits before it began to blacken, and Corvus laid off the trigger, then tossed the gun back to Pots.
Through the Force, he felt a collective ‘gasp’ from all the troopers who witnessed this scene.
“Tritanium armor can sustain about 15 to 30 hits in the same spot before suffering critical failure. Your personal shields can be recharged, and each of you has been issued two. Unless you are struck by an explosive or powerful turbolaser/sniper, I do not want to receive any reports of dead troopers, you get me?!”
“We get you, sir!” The entire venue shook as the clones saluted.
“Now before I send you men into the town, we have two more things to get through. Commendations, and pay! You men who are to be awarded, line up!”
A moment passed, and four troopers stepped forth.
“Commander Pots. For extraordinary leadership under siege, for sacrificing your own cover to recover wounded men from the blast crater at Ridgepoint Alpha... the Star of Valor.”
Corvus pinned the medal on Pots's chest, and the Commander saluted back.
“For the brothers who didn’t come back, sir.” Pots said with meaning, and glanced over at the sea of clones-both Starcrusher Corp and prisoner alike-then nodded.
“Aye.” Corvus only said one word, but it carried deep emotion.
Turning to the next soldier in line, Corvus smiled at the co-pilot who had served in Devil Squadron.
“CT-800000A, “Cash.” For inspiring the troops during a daring offensive, and turning a route, you are awarded the Republic Cross.”
Cash, young and wide-eyed, approached nervously. His helmet was clipped to his belt, and his cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Corvus pined the medal, gripping his shoulder.
“You have more courage than you know.” Corvus said, appreciating what the FNG had done. Without his speech during the spacebattle, the Imperial fleet might not have surrendered so easily.
“Just did what needed doing, General.” Cash ducked his head, then stood to the side.
Next, a hulking clone with a burn across one side of his face and dressed in Blaze Trooper gear stepped forward.
“CT-1839, “Havoc.” You breached a comms tower preventing outbound messages from exposing our fleet, you performed this task by yourself after your squad was cut off. You planted the charges, disabled the command uplink, and walked out carrying two injured brothers. You are awarded the Medal of the Flame.
Havoc said nothing. His salute was crisp. The troopers behind him begin stomping their boots in a show of respect.
“CT-1188, “Muse.” For exceptional strategy and coordination in the field, turning an encirclement into a counteroffensive and saving three squads, you are awarded the Tactical Star.
Muse, smiled faintly, and nodded as the medal was pinned.
“And lastly... for bravery unrecorded by sensors or data, but captured by the eyes of his brothers. For shielding wounded civilians from debris with nothing but his own body...CT-0060. “Echo-Six.” He did not survive. But his name will.”
A somber murmur passed through the crowd. Corvus set a folded flag and medal on a pedestal draped in black.
Corvus then raised his hand in salute.
“May the Force be with you.”
A beat of silence passed. Then the entire group of troopers slammed a hand to their chest plates.
“For the Republic!”
“Alright you apes, line up for your pay, the drinks today are on me!” Corvus good-naturedly laughed, then kicked open a nearby crate spilling credits onto the ground.
Comments
Derisat
For the Republic!
Nyarlathotep Flagg
Might be pushing the familiarity a bit hard for a public speech a couple of times there. Like calling them all apes at the end. But on the overall, it's so far above anything The Empire would do for its troops that it's not even funny. And some are sure to notice once it leaks.
