Diesel got together with the clone trooper Captains. They began debating on a small recruitment plan, for name Captain Rex would be stationed with Anakin and the 501st. Captain Waltz would be sent to visit Commander Cody and the 212th. So on and so forth, the Mandalorians planned to stay out of the war until 21 BBY until their army production can be set for war.
Captain Rex had a rocky start in the 501st, he was sent to Arantara where he would almost lose his life. His inexperience in war is still too fresh. His squad from the 501st wasn't as skilled as the 300th and he overestimated their abilities. Thankfully, Rex himself was a highly skilled combatant and able to hold off the enemies temporarily
His squad of twenty clones was almost wiped out. Rex and eight other clones were fighting heavily outnumbered and struck in a long ditch. Roughly, two-hundred droids were barreling down on his position. The clones already destroyed around a hundred droids but being outnumbered and outgunned they were forced to retreat, losing men along the way. Like Diesel told him the clones needed retraining, they exposed their bodies way too much resulting in heavier casualties.
Rex instructed the remaining clones to fight using cover and reprimanded them for not properly fighting. At first the clones were stunned by the suddenly outburst but quickly adapted to Captain Rex instructions. The Combat reflectivity quickly rose as the clones were able to hold their ground. Still being outnumbered though the remaining clones numbered down to three.
Noticing his dwindling numbers, Captain Rex realizes his time might be coming sooner rather than later. Regretting he wouldn't be able to follow through on his promise to his three other brothers. This moment became a turning point for Rex. A sudden motivation thinking back to his promise and his still imprisoned brothers. He quickly began thinking of possible options.
"Think Rex! Think!" scanning the area around for anything he could use. "Cross! Do we have any Thermal Detonators?"
"I have two sir! Rancor has one!"
"Give me them! Search the bodies for more! Quickly! We don't have much time!"
"Yes Sir!"
The two clones immediately checked the bodies of their fallen brother finding another eight detonators handing them over to Rex. He had both clones hold slightly longer as he placed the detonators just below the rim of the valley. After placing them he ordered the clones to run. they began sprinting in the opposite direction with the cover of the valley ridge; they were safe until the droids would get closer.
That was when the two of them realized that Captain Rex wasn't with them. They turned and noticed that the Captain was still holding off the droids and wasn't running with them. Both clones turned and wanted to rush back towards Rex. However, Rex noticed this and sent orders over the coms.
"Go this is an order! I will hold them back!"
Both of them hesitated but eventually turned and ran (Still early in the war they aren't "immune" to some orders yet). It was only Rex at the valley now fighting around a bunch of explosives. He knew his chances of making it out were slim but he wasn't going to give up. As the droids got closer the shorter amount of time Rex could be out of cover shortened. He began to fall back from the valley edge allowing for the droids to stack and slide down the ridge. That was when he tossed one of the remaining detonators into the crowded area lighting up the whole ridge.
The explosion went off and destroyed all the droids. However, just as the explosion went off Rex's toss exposed his body enough for a droid blaster bolt to land a shot onto his shoulder. While a rock from the explosion flew towards his find a place on his head knocking him temporarily unconscious.
Rex would later awake to Anakin standing over top of him with the two clones that he sent back. This surprised him; he didn't think the Jedi would come for a fallen clone, much less cared what would happen to them.
"I'm sorry Rex I should have been in this fray instead of you, a leader should always lead from the front."
(The next few chapters will be of Captain Rex.)