[h3][b]Commandant Victor Tavik[/b][/h3]
Captain Kruger sat at the back of the briefing room while Commandant Tavik listened to Admiral Ximen brief the unit commanders on their next operation. He missed the name of the operation, but realized his company would breach a Venator class Star destroyer, assuming the snake eaters could spike the opposition ship's computer system. He didn't like it. The company had too many new soldiers in the company and its two veteran platoons, the first and the fourth had low morale due to their experiences in the most recent operation. They needed a serious kick in the pants to get them back in shape. Lorne Kruger thought hard how to bring these platoons back around. Both he and Sergeant Major Jax were desperately thinking of ways to get the company back on track; focused on their mission.

At 74" tall, Victor Tavik was relatively tall, but what made him stand out from the crowd was that he was very thin, shaped like a pole. His receding hairline and gaunt cheeks pronounced his heavy forehead and pointed nose. At one time he was nicknamed [i]The birdman[/i] behind his back. The Commandant stood, turned and silently called for his Executive Officer to join him on the walk back to deck four where the members of the 332nd were quartered.

"What do you think, Lorne?" Commandant Tavik asked his second in command.

"I don't like it, sir."

"Please, elaborate." The commandant walked casually down the corridor with his hands clasped behind his back. It had quickly become one of his signature moves. He did not walk with a quick step like most officers do. The Commandant of the 332nd Mobile Assault Company set his own pace and expected others to follow suit. Naturally, he accommodated the Admiral and Commander Baesk.

"Karada's platoon is devastated from the Anaxas ordeal. They haven't received any replacements. The Sergeant Major has submitted requests through channels. Admiral Ximen is aware. The men are demoralized. They lost 19 brothers and sisters there. Maybe sending them right back into the fight is just what they need?" Captain Kruger paused to allow his Commander the opportunity to editorialize on his comments. The Commandant grimaced his usual expression nodding as though asking his XO to proceed.

"Lieutenant Trad's platoon is at full strength, but have only just arrived. They are settling into their new quarters as we speak. These men are untested, sir. We don't know how they will perform. The same can be said about the Mandalorians. Lieutenant Dosa's platoon is not green, but they arrived two days befores Trad's people. I know Dosa's record speaks of experience as a mercenary and the history of the Mandalorian people is rife with the warrior culture. Regardless, they are new and we don't know what they can do. The only real saving grace are the Sappers. They are an experienced group and suffered only a few minor scrapes during the Anaxes affair. I expect good things from them."

"I take your advice to heart, Lorne. You are a trusted advisor," the Commandant responded to his second in command. "At the moment when our ship docks with the [i]Venator[/i]-class ship, I want three of our sapper squads to prepare breaching charges, making our own doors into their ships. We won't use the conventional portals. Each platoon will have a sapper squad attached and a breaching point. The Assault Platoon will attack in the middle with first on their right and second platoon on their left. The two line platoons will support the Assault platoon's advance in the middle. As we attack into the heart of their ship, we will slowly fan out into the various spaces of the ship eliminating hostiles as we go. Priority will be to securing the bridge and the engine room. Let's sit down with Dosa, Karada, Trad and Lomax. I want Sergeant Major Jax, Sergeant Mott, Sergeant Felidron and Sergeant Dumas present also. Mott should record everything and Dumas and yourself need to come up with a logistical plan to support this operation. Can you get everyone ready?"

"Yes sir, I will get the platoon commanders and the company staff ready in our briefing room."

Commandant Tavik and Captain Kruger continued along at their plodding pace towards the ship's fourth deck.

 [hr]

[h3]First Platoon Common Area, Deck 4, [i]the Keep[/i][/h3]
Several soldiers from the First Platoon sat around in the day room on Deck 4 talking about their friends lost on Anaxes. Their attire was either in uniform or various levels of dress and undress. "Who does he think he is?" Ananya Corbo, an Alderaanian woman muttered. "He sends us in there to die while he sits safely aboard a slick." The [i]slick[/i] is an informal term the infantrymen call the Low Altitude Assault Transport they use to get from the ship to the surface.

"I hear ya, 'Nanya," a Durosian soldier, Moosa Chalis responded. "He never smiles. He is always talking about us doing our jobs and you don't ever see him doing anything. See how slow he walks down the corridors? The Sergeant Major is always getting on us about moving with a purpose. The [i]Commandant[/i] is the slowest pogue on this damn boat!"

"He's only been here three months." Hansa Sarkar, another Alderaanian soldier quipped. "I say we give him a chance. Captain Karada can handle him."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Ananya remarked. "I say we drop a thermal on his ass." She muttered that last part just to test the waters.

The other three people in the room, stopped and looked at her. Trooper Morse, a dark skinned Kuati had not said anything yet. "You know, 'Nanya, that's a pretty serious thing you just said." Tyus Morse stood up and walked near Trooper Corbo. "I mean, if you want to do something like that, it takes big ones, you know what I mean?"

She shook her head in frustration. "I just can't stand him. He is the worst. I wish he would just die!" She yelled the exclamation at her section mate just as Senior Sergeant Ari Jax walked in the room. The four soldiers all stood up and assumed the position of parade rest, with their hands clasped low behind their backs and their head and eyes looking at the Company Sergeant.

The Company Sergeant, also known as the Company Sergeant Major is very dark skinned Alderaanian who stands 6'5" tall. He is very muscular and quite intimidating. "I know you people are not talking about dropping a thermal on the Commander. Even if I heard rumors of such nonsense, I would have my boot so far up your ass, you'd beg me for more." Sergeant Jax stopped and looked around the room. He stopped in front of Ananya. "Trooper Corbo, what are you doing!?"

"Nothing Sergeant Major!

The Seregant walked slowly around the room speaking to the four soldiers of first platoon. "You people think you have it so bad. Your best friends died." He paused and looked at their faces. "Your brothers and your sisters were blasted to hell by those bloody imperials and you are all pissing all over yourselves. Get over this shit right frackin' now, boys and girls. You signed up for this fight and war is about dying. A bigger world of hurt is coming down on you and you don't even know it. I suggest you get your head out of your third point of contact like yesteray and square your shit away. The skipper is getting this tug ready for something hot. It is coming soon. It may not be tomorrow and it may not be next week, but we are going to be back in the shit before you know it. I don't need a bunch of snot-nosed little pansies cowering behind me. I need warriors! Out in front taking the fight to the enemy! Can you people be warriors!?"

"Yes Sergeant Major!" They all yelled.

"Well that's much better," the senior sergeant allowed a smile. "How about you [i]warriors[/i] fix your uniforms and get your gear squared away, because something is coming down today."

As the Company Sergeant finished speaking, Captain Mosh Karada walked into the room. "Sergeant Major, could I speak to you?"

"Yes sir," the company sergeant responded to the first platoon commander as the two stepped out of the room.

"I heard you tell my soldiers there is something happening, what do you know?"

"The old man wants you in the briefing room ASAP, sir. He will break the news to you. I'm going to find Lieutenant Dosa, Lieutenant Lomax, Lieutenant Trad and Sergeant Felidron." The company sergeant addressed Captain Karada with the respect of a fellow Clone Wars veteran. They served together in the 41st Regiment years ago and have a mutual respect for one another. 

"Thanks, Sergeant Major," Captain Karada responded. "I'll go inform Sergeant Kent to get the platoon ready. "We can walk together on the way. I have everything I need here," datapad in hand.

[hr]

In the Company Briefing room, the Commandant detailed his plan to the Platoon Commanders present: [url=https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V6h3WVix7SrKkBN6uMYm5csg_aZ_cN61AuwQy6cKP-I/edit?usp=sharing]Operation Liberty[/url]