Star Wars: The Clone War Chronicles/ Chapter 1: Aboard a Republic Frigate

21 BBY

Character: Commander Stone

After the Diplomatic Escort Group was done with dealing with Hondo's pirates on the planet of Florrum, they have been tasked to transport Senator Padme Amidala to Coruscant, carrying vital data. Commander Stone approached the senator right outside the decently sized cockpit where Sergeant Recon was flying. "Ma'am, we are around six solar hours away from Coruscant," he informed.

"Thank you, Commander. Get some rest," she replied. Suddenly, a red beeping light flickered on the dashboard.

"Hold it, sensors are picking up a Separatist flagship, incoming!" Recon announced.

Stone hustled over, "get Senator Amidala in the saferoom, hurry!" Two guards escorted the senator out of the main hallway and into the Republic Frigate's saferoom. Stone hurried his way to the medical room where Commander Fil lay, injured from a battle in the Vassek system.

"Stone, what the Hell?" Fil groaned, trying to get up. Stone handed Fil a common DC-15 blaster.

"Get up, we need you." Those words in that sentence motivated the always determined Commander Fil. They raced towards the hatch that led to the outside, which is most likely where the Separatists will board. Sergeant Recon activated the frigate's defensive weapons systems on the flagship. Too little too late- enough standard and upgraded battle droids boarded the Republic Frigate and clone shock troopers opened fire. The opposing factor had indeed returned fire. Stone dove into action as enemy fire penetrated some of their clone forces. Fil moved in and whipped his blaster at a droid's mechanical head off.

Some of the battle droids escaped the line of fire and searched the frigate for something... and the squad of Coruscant shock troopers had a hunch on what they were looking for, more like who. Stone dove back into cover and ordered his soldiers to track down those running droids. A clone trooper named Will went up to both Fil and Stone. "Commanders, Senator Amidala never made it to the saferoom. Only one guard is still alive."

"Dammit, secure this vessel, I want her found," Stone commanded. Fil saluted him and rushed off with a squad. Stone decided to go off on his own. Fil thought about the horrid possible facts that the Republic senator could either be getting tortured at that very moment or just plain dead. Exactly when he finished his thought pattern, he was ambushed by his own flashbacks of when he was too close to death. He stopped instantaneously in his tracks which caused the drastic attention change of the other troopers from the mission at hand to their clone commander. They carefully approached Fil who was thinking specifically about Gor, General Grievous' pet who stuck his tail around Fil's throat and slammed him on the hard ground. He stuck up his DC-15 blaster and shot the ceiling, as if he was shooting at Gor. The other troopers ducked and dodged their heads. That attracted the attention of more battle droids. Fil was screaming like there was no next hour, which was utmost unlike Fil.

Meanwhile, Stone reconnoitered the area around the saferoom. He spotted a dead guard and another missing along with Senator Amidala. He stuck out his twin pistols that were neatly polished. He entered the code on the wall right next to the saferoom door and it opened. To his suprise, he spotted Padme and that other guard with her. Stone's facial expression shocked the senator. She ignored it and went on to say what she wanted to announce, "Commander, thank God. Where is everyone else?"

"I just got word that Fil is on the verge of a mental breakdown. But why did I receive a report that you didn't make it to the saferoom?" Stone asked in a concerned manner.

Padme looked confused but was concerned about Fil. "I don't know but what happened with Fil?"

"He's fine, just a flashback I presume," Stone wanted to say more but was almost speechless during the current events. The saferoom door opened and in stepped another shock trooper, reporting that the enemy has been repelled and the rest of them had fled. Stone made a serious face. "Good, but get me Will. I have something I want to talk to him about..."