ARC-1574-8 "Dusty"

ARC-1574-8, nicknamed "Dusty", was a clone of the Mandalorian bounty hunter Jango Fett who served as an Advanced Force Recon trooper in the Grand Army of the Galactic Republic's 6th "Suna" Platoon during the Clone Wars. He later transferred to the Coruscant Guard's 12th Fleet Security Unit and then underwent Advanced Recon Commando training before becoming a member of the 66th Slaughter Corps' Red Knights Regiment, it's Zillo Battalion and Vanguard Company. After serving in Vanguard Company for a hefty portion of the Clone Wars, Dusty was transferred into the 279th Corps.

## History

### **Clone Wars**

#### **First Battle of Geonosis**

Dusty donned his Phase 1 combat armour and fought alongside the rest of 6th Platoon and it's parent company during the First Battle of Geonosis, where they succeeded in their mission objectives.

#### **Dark Reaper Crisis**

Gaining their Advanced Force Recon armour, the 6th Platoon and it's parent company were shipped across the Galaxy to fight the Separatists during the Dark Reaper Crisis. Their company and it's associated units were beyond decimated, suffering numerous casualties and causing their forces to be split and tansferred. A portion went to the 279th Corps, another to the Coruscant Guard's 12th Fleet Security unit, and one combat medic was personally recruited by the 111th Heavy Brigade.

#### **Security and Counter-Terrorism**

While serving aboard the 12th Fleet, Dusty fought against Separatist and pirate forces across various vessels, outposts, cities and high value space stations due to the 12th Fleet Security Unit's operational order of battle as part of the Coruscant Guard. When the Venator-class Star Destroyer he was assigned to arrived on Coruscant, Dusty and his squad from the 12th F.S.U. joined shock trooper and military police units in battling pirates, insurgents, smugglers and terrorist groups across Coruscant. Ranking up, ARF-1574-8 proved effective at dismantling large scale criminal operations.

#### **Entering the Slaughter**

Roughly halfway through the Clone Wars, Dusty received a final promotion to Major and received Advanced Recon Commando training. Since most of the 12th Fleet was either destroyed or it's security operations were fully staffed, he was signed up for transfer. The 66th Slaughter Corps took him and several other soldiers from various GAR formations on special request and he endured the gruelling initiation process required to join the Red Knights Regiment's Zillo Battalion, Vanguard Company. Major ARC-1574-8's sharpshooting capabilities balanced out against the Vanguard's heavy weapons capabilities. They often collaborated with the Coruscant Guard whilst on Coruscant, but fought a great many engagements off-world.

During an operation to defeat a rampaging Dark Jedi, Dusty created a task force containing Major ARC-7537 of the 373rd Arrowhead Legion, Captain CT-2619-67 "Fray" of the 212th Attack Battalion and Major CT-1300-2400 "Dart" of the 501st Legion, along with a contingent of personnel from those units. Together they defeated the Dark Jedi and ensured his capture.

#### **Final Transfer**

Major Dusty never felt truly at home with the Red Knights, though he appreciated their companionship, he found their methods too straight forward and lacking in finesse. Due to his rank, Dusty was able to request a transfer, and there was no need for a Major in Vanguard Battalion when they already had a slew of appropriate commanding officers. Major ARC-1574-8 was delivered to the 279th Corps for classified operations.

#### **Rogue Wasp**

When ARC-7537 "Wasp" went rogue sometime prior to the Battle of Coruscant, 1574-8 was brought in with a slew of elite members of the 279th and 66th Corps, and suspected something was up. He questioned the arrest of Jedi General Jar Masusa by Zillo Battalion specialist "Jaws", who responded with open hostility. Dusty covertly assisted Wasp and a rogue squad of Republic Commandos in freeing the Jedi Master, and was never found out. He was returned to duties in the 279th Corps and led a battalion in various operations until the events surrounding Order 66.

### **Imperial Expansion**

The Major did not hesitate to carry out Order 66 when it was issued by Chancellor Palpatine, and he continued to serve the Galactic Empire until death or retirement.