Despite his formalities, Pablo-Jill could see perfectly through the brat. In fact, anyone could do it, even clones who didn't know much about other beings in the galaxy. His emboldened air and manicured hair hinted that he was pompous to the core, one who liked to keep a big smile on his face, and quite a proud attitude. Something that certainly did not fit in with the more traditional Jedi traditions. And Pablo-Jill, he was a traditionalist to the core.

But those were problems he had to deal with at another time. For now he had another priority in mind. The capital city of Gala was right under their noses and they had to take it before the separatists sent reinforcements. Typically, a Jedi Master would test their new Padawan's abilities in a long routine of training and exercises within the safety of the Jedi temple. But this was war, and those formalities were in the background. So, to determine how capable her new Padawan was, Pablo-Jill had an idea.

In a quick meeting with their clone commander and Roy, they planned a way to access the city while limiting the number of casualties.

Paul: - Very good. Here is the front door. - He said while they watched a map of the combat zone in a holo-projection. - The main force will attack head on and destroy the enemy defenses guarding it. However, there is a fortified position to the east. Information reveals that enemy supplies and reinforcements are arriving from there. By destroying the position, our men will be able to advance more easily. -

Of course, while this wasn't entirely true, it wasn't a lie either. If they managed to capture the position, they could lower enemy resistance, but it was not vital to ensuring victory. In fact, victory was almost certain, but it was just an alibi for Pablo to test Roy, but of course, he wouldn't send him alone.

Pablo: - Commander, Roy. Take a hundred of the men and capture the position. We wait for you to move forward. Roy, you'll be in charge. -

Roy: - What? -

Pablo: - As you heard. -

Clone Commander: - Sir, I don't think it's a good idea. He is still very young, and has no combat experience. -

Pablo: - And that's why you should start immediately. See you in the citadel gentlemen. -

The Jedi turned around and organized his troops to head to the front line of combat, leaving both the Padawan and the clone in complete shock. They both looked at each other with doubt, because now they had to fulfill a joint mission, and they didn't even know their names. Still, it was the clone that took the initiative. The soldier, faithful to his code, stood up in a military pose and exclaimed.

Clone Commander: - Waiting for orders, Commander. -

The clone trooper could be very relaxed and smiling with his peers, even so, in front of his superiors he was immovable, as if he were another being. His character became rigid like hard rock, and he did not waver at any external stimulus, no matter how minuscule.

Roy: - Wow, wow, wow. Relax commander. It doesn't have to be that straight. -

Clone Commander: - With all due respect, sir, those were the general's orders. Besides, with you as commander, I'm just a mere captain. -

The young man was really worried. From one moment to the next he went from being a mere Padawan to commander of a force of a hundred men. The lives of a hundred men now hung in his hands, and it terrified him to the core. Still, orders are orders.

The group approached the battlefield, circling the allied positions until they were just in front of the place they were to take. A small fortress atop the massive wall that surrounded the capital city, from which hundreds of droids continuously fired over the battlefield. The unit was positioned behind a small plateau, the ideal place to observe from a distance the possible ways to infiltrate.

Clone Commander: - Any ideas, Commander? - He asked the young man.

Roy: - What do you think of a frontal assault? - The question surprised the clone a bit, and those who heard it.

Clone Commander: - If we can advance fast enough, we can reach the base of the wall. We could then scale using the hooks to the top. -

Roy analyzed the situation a bit, the straight path would be the fastest, but they would be completely exposed. He looked at the men around him, and although he couldn't see their faces through their helmets, he could tell that they were worried, because going out in such a way would leave them exposed, and they would be an easy target for the Separatist batteries. He took a deep breath, and asked.

Roy: - What do you think, Commander? -

Clone Commander: - Sir? - He asked astonished.

Roy: - Do you have any better ideas? - The question took many by surprise.

Clone Commander: - If I may, sir. - He answered with doubts. Was it okay to suggest something to his superior? - We could take the path through the plateaus, to the east of this position. -

Roy: - How long would it take us? -

Clone Commander: - About ten minutes. But once we get to the base of the wall we'll be safer. -

The young man looked at him for a few seconds, nodded his head, and told him.

Roy: - Very good. You are in charge commander. -

Clone Commander: - But sir, the general's orders were... -

Roy: - It is better to carry a punishment than their lives on my shoulders. -

The words shocked the clones, everyone who heard it. Ever since they had been trained on Kamino, they had been indoctrinated to be tools of war, killing machines. Not unlike droids. And indeed, they believed so. It had only been a few months since the war began, and he had never stopped to think before what exactly it meant to be a clone. Was there something beyond being just a soldier? But right in front of them was a brat who made them understand something very important. They weren't just clones, they were human beings. Although Roy wasn't really aware of what he had done. He just didn't want to be in charge, knowing he wasn't ready for such a thing.

The clone commander, somewhat grateful for the strange young man's attitude, took charge of his troops and executed the plan to perfection. With his experience in command, he managed to reach the objective in half the expected time, since he knew his brothers perfectly and what they were capable of. And once located under the defenses of the fortress they proceeded to launch the hooks. Once the ascent ropes were secured, the group was ready to begin the assault.

Roy: - Very good commander. He's waiting for you upstairs. - He launched himself to scale the wall without even thinking about it.

Clone Commander: - Commander, wait! -

The clone could do little to stop him, as he listened to the cheers of the young man excited by the battle. The clones grabbed the ascent cables as fast as they could, and proceeded to scale the walls as they heard the noise of the Padawan's lightsaber and the B1 droids screeching as they were cut down. The first to reach the top were the commander along with two other clones, only to find the area clear of droids, and the young man with the head of a B1 watching her in his hand.

Roy: - These things... They're not very effective. -

Clone Commander: - The strength of the droids is in their numbers. Although those were mere B1, there are many more difficult to defeat. -

Roy: - Nothing my lightsaber can't fix. -

Clone Commander: - Good. I believe that there is nothing that can stop a lightsaber. - The young man laughed.

Roy: - I think you're right. -

Once the roof of the fortress had been taken, it was just a matter of clearing its interior and relieving the pressure on the main army, which was only a few minutes away from reaching the entrance of the capital city. But Roy wanted more from the battle.

Roy: - Well... And now what do we do? - He asked idle.

Clone Commander: - Our orders were to capture this fortress. Nothing else. -

Roy: - And that's it? There are still plenty of droids out there. -

Clone Commander: - We must hold the position so that the reinforcements from the east wing of the city do not reach the main entrance. We must maintain this position at all costs. -

Roy looked around, and saw that every window or opening in the fortress was being manned by a clone, who kept firing their DC-15S rifles, yet more than half of the clones in the group were just standing around, waiting for orders without doing anything.

Roy: - I don't think it will take that much of us to hold this place... We could advance to the entrance of the city and support the general's group. I mean... It's better than waiting around... After all, more than half don't have much to do... -

The young man shrugged as he asked, and the commander knew he was right. Since an attack was not expected in this sector, the bulk of the enemy forces were concentrated on stopping Pablo-Jill and the main body of the army, so it was not surprising to find so little resistance.

Clone Commander: - Very good. Take a squad of the boys and go. Don't do anything crazy. -

Roy: Okie Dokie. - [An abbreviation for OK]

And the young man left, followed by thirty-six of the white-armored clones, four sergeants in their painted green patterns, and one lieutenant in blue patterns.

Clone: ​​- Sir. Don't you think you were too informal with the commander? -

Clone Commander: - I don't know why I did it either. It seems that... I got carried away. -

Without wasting a second, Roy launched himself onto the walls, closely followed by the squad of clones who were doing their best to keep up with them. Advancing in a straight line, the young Padawan did not have much trouble taking down the droids that were in his path, as many of them could not even foresee his arrival. The few who were able to turn to fire only saw their blasters bounce off his lightsaber blade. The clones that followed him didn't have to worry about the enemies ahead, as Roy didn't leave any behind, they just had to make sure of the few droids that were firing from inside the city, but having the advantage of height, it was a task. simple.

From the distance of the battlefield, the involvement of the young Padawan on the eastern position of the walls was evident. Not only because the blasters stopped firing in that area, but the blue lightsaber flashes could be seen in the distance. And Pablo-Jill could see them very well.

Clone Captain: - It's good. - He told the Jedi after realizing what was happening.

Pablo: - Too impulsive. That's not like a Jedi. -

The clone didn't know what to say, because Pablo himself was on the front lines fighting against the droids, which from the clone's point of view was just as impulsive but... What would he know about Jedi codes and traditions?

Paul: - But yes. It's good. Prepare the troops captain. We are going to take the city. -

NOTE:

I know the whole "clone commander" and "clone captain" thing is difficult, but we're talking about a time when clones didn't use names yet and barely classified themselves as code. Soon I will be using names and you will see what exciting stories the Jedi and their brothers in arms in white armor will share.