420th Journal

The 420th Journal was a compiled record of journal entries written by one or more retired members of the 420th Battalion.

The entries summarized their most famous battles, captured the feelings of individual troopers, and traced the 420th from its origins in the Clone Wars to its development during the Galactic Civil War.

The journal was kept as secret as the missions undertaken by the 420th; only after the fall of the Galactic Empire were the journals recovered.

The battles recorded included:

## Clone Wars (19 BBY)

### **First Battle of Geonosis**

My first day as a member of the 420th... it was hot, it was sandy, chaotic. Nothing at all like the simulations on Kamino. Of course that's pretty much the way it was for all of us, wasn't it? All that breeding, all those years of training... doesn't really prepare you for all the screaming or the blood, does it? Frankly, I'm still amazed we ever made it through the first hour, never mind the first day.

Incredibly, the 420th survived the crucible of Geonosis, emerging battle-hardened, and ready for whatever the war would throw at us.

### **Muunilinst: Promotive Tasks**

Within 4 weeks of the battle of Geonosis, the Republic realized they needed to act fast and curb the Separatist droid production and thus launched the invasion of Muunilinst. It was the first time the 420th were sent in squads for an elite mission. We were not used to the city environment, we were ambushed often. However, we were led by a squad of ARC Troopers. Their attitude made them seem as if they could win the war by themselves. It gave us just the right push to it make through the day...

With the success of the attack, the 420th proved itself as a top tier legion in the grand army. We would be accompanied by the same ARC Troopers in similar battles. In the eyes of our supervisors however, this proved that clones did not need Jedi generals to win battles...

### **Bespin: Repetition Tactics**

At this point in the war, we knew what to expect from the enemy. We were used to it, Geonosis, Muunilinst, we tore apart droids, lost a few men, continued and hoped to survive... What we didn't quite understand yet was the nature of our generals and allies. Few months into the war, the gas giant Bespin was taken by the Separatists, so we were sent in gunships to drive out the droids. We were accompanied by an unexpected general, a young Jedi Padawan by the name of Jemonina Cense. She was so young that you would confuse her for a youngling, I didn't quite understand why the Jedi would send people to war at this age... But then, I remembered our own true age...```

As expected, the assault on Bespin did not take long and we won the day, making sure no droid escaped our sight. The Jedi, contrary to our expectations, did quite well. She was not a front liner but she infiltrated the enemy lines, crippled them from the inside and did not get in our way. Despite all that has happened, I think we grew to appreciate the Padawan...

### **Yavin 4: Saber Filled Forest**

In the Clone Wars, neither side got shy of getting help from external resources. 4 months into the war, the 420st were sent to Yavin 4 to investigate rumors of a Separatist hideout. We expected it to be mundane, find droids and take them out, however we had gotten too comfortable. Suddenly between the trees we were ambushed by Separatist forces and the Force itself, as their commander was a saber wielding assassin by the name of Asajj Ventress...

Although massively crippled, despite all odds the 420st managed to survive long enough for reinforcements to arrive. With Skywalker's arrival, Ventress was taken off the battleground and we managed to fight off the Separatist forces. I hope she had a painful demise from the Jedi interference... She us cost many good friends that day...

### **Jakku: Forced Liberty**

In the middle of the war, the 420th were sent to Jakku under the justification of liberating the planet. However, knowing our reputation by now, we expected objectives beyond this. A selection of our squad was ordered to wipe out the native defenses and local camps. I do not understand why this sand rock was given special treatment but I suppose we were to find out why, years later...

After we wiped out the last camp, our squad returned to the main battlefield to assist in taking out the droids. We were confused of what we had really done, the natives we shot were not supplemented with droids nor grouped together. They were excused as Separatist sympathizers... However looking back, I think they were merely defending their homes from invaders...

***[Entries Corrupted]***

### **Siege of Taris**

In our bones, we knew the war was almost over. The Galaxy held its breath, waiting to see which side would make the final daring move. As fortune would have it, the Republic moved first. After the Chancellor informed the Jedi Council that one of the Generals of the Seperatists and other Sep leaders were hiding on Taris, General Kurnul Shishek gathered an army large enough to capture three star systems. When the orders reached the 420th, our morale soared. For better or worse, this would be the beginning of the end.

With the capture of the Sep leaders at the hands of General Kurnul Shishek, the Taris Siege had broken the back of the Separatists. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a time for celebration. But our next orders put pain to those thoughts.

### **Order 66**

What I remember about the rise of the Empire is... is how quiet it was. During the waning hours of the Clone Wars, the 420th Batallion was contacted by High Command. We all knew what was about to happen, what we were about to do. Did we have any doubts? Any private, traitorous thoughts? Perhaps, but no one said a word.

With the elimination of the traitorous Jedi, Chancellor's rise to power was complete. In recognition of our service and loyalty to the Emperor, the 420th were given their own Command. Armed with deadly new weapons, blazing new ships, and shiny new armor, our presence let the galaxy know that the days of the Old Republic were well and truly over. We were establishing a new era, an era of order and peace.

***[Entries Corrupted]***

### **Raid on Naboo**

During the rise of the Empire, the Emperor's home planet of Naboo rapidly established itself as a major irritant. After a number of Naboo's ambassadors were sent home in various states of dismemberment, her newly elected Queen broke off diplomatic ties, and began exploring military options. Clearly it was time for a regime change, a change that would be effected by the 420th. Our orders were simple: to infiltrate the city, take out their leader, sending a clear signal to other potential troublemakers in the Empire.

With the Queen eliminated, Naboo quickly fell in line. It was the first time the 420th was called upon to "adjust" a planet's government, but it wouldn't be the last. Within months, the 420th gained a well-deserved reputation.

### **Return to Geonosis**

Although the Clone Wars were over, some people never seemed to get the message. The worst case of denial was Gizor Dellso, a Geonosian Separatist who'd somehow escaped the Empire's efforts to wipe out the remnants of the CIS. The Empire tracked him to Geonosis, and brought us in to finish the job. It seemed like a simple enough mission, but when we saw the fleet of droid ships, hovering over the planet, we suddenly realized that Delso's denial mechanisms were a little more dangerous than we'd imagined.

The slight whiff of nostalgia the 420th had enjoyed fighting the droid fleet over Geonosis had already grown sour by the time we'd established orbital positions. Now it was time to find out what this was all about.

By the time we'd made our way to the surface of Geonosis, it was apparent that Dellso had been a busy little bug, he'd found a previously hidden droid factory, fired it up and cranked out his own private army of battle droids. Needless to say, this got the men of the 420th... Truth be told we'd all had our fill of those gear heads during the war, and we couldn't stomach the thought of going through another one. So we blew them up. Blew up the droids, blew up the factory, damn near blew up the planet.

The destruction of the facility put an end to any thoughts of a second droid rebellion, for now that was.

***[Entries Corrupted]***

### **Changing of the Guard**

I still cannot understand what motivated our creators to rise up against us. Had they gone mad? Had we failed them in some way? In the end, it didn't really matter. The kaminoans had to be stopped and their army of treacherous gene cousins destroyed. The first few kills were the hardest. After all, it's hard not to get spooked when the enemy screams with your voice... But we shook it off and did our job. Most of the troopers never knew about Kamino. Like most things in the Empire, it never really happened.

After the uprising, the Emperor decided that an army of genetically identical soldiers from a single source was too susceptible to corruption. The cloning facilities were put out of commission, never to be used again. Future troopers were recruited from the human population, gradually replacing the clones. Some of us were lucky to be recognized for our valor and loyalty and given deaging treatments, such as our ARC captains, now reassigned to be Purge Troopers. Most of our comrades weren't us lucky, however. Those of us who stuck, we never really got used to the new guys...

***[Entries Corrupted]***

## Post-Imperial (5 ABY)

### **Holding the Line**

When the 2nd Deathstar blew up, all our hopes of an Imperial unity turned to dust. The Emperor was dead and the idea of pushing back seemed impossible. The rebels quickly charged the capital of Coruscant and the Jedi that led them tore apart our squads without effort. Our commanders were not so easy to surrender however. Despite the Rebellions seeming victory, the shattered Empire still held ground over many regions in the galaxy. The 420th held ground in Jakku but we had to ensure that the local settlers remembered who was still in charge.

We managed to hold our ground and exterminate any rebel sympathizers or otherwise criminals in the town. Despite what it seemed at the time, eventually the towns people backed down and started to support our deeds. Though we stood strong and proud of our abilities to suppress, deep down we were praying we didn't see a green glow stick every corner we turned. The stories of the Jedi had started to spread and we were wondering if they were coming back to take revenge for what happened 2 decades ago...

### Friendly Fire

While we were having thoughts of avenging the Emperor, his death revealed a new threat to the cause: the ambitions of our commanding officers. I do not understand why or how but instead of cooperating, the Moffs in charge of separate sectors started to send batallions to conquer their fellows. We were sent to Morlana One with the objective of apprehending the planets governor. We were in covert operations before but never before did we have to shoot fellow men who held the same ideals as us.

The infighting between Imperials only gave this New Republic a chance to grow larger. Because of this, we had to finally realize we were no longer facing a military faction but we had fallen low to their position ourselves and had to topple the corrupt government. Part of me should have gained sympathy for them after this, part of me should have questioned if we were really in the right to rule. Yet we were told we had to take out fellow Moffs to unite the Empire under a single rule again and that it was all for the greater good. I nodded and continued to follow my orders...

***[Entries Corrupted]***