32nd Requiem Platoon

The 32nd Requiem Platoon was a unit that served in the Grand Army of the Republic during the Clone Wars. It was comprised of clone and volunteer personnel in the GAR who had committed disciplinary infractions, and the platoon was usually deployed on missions that were difficult or outright suicidal in nature. It was in essence a penal unit. The platoon had an attached military police and riot trooper group, divided between the Angels and Devils. Angels were the regular military police who hung around base, whereas the Devils were military police officers selected for their capabilities. Their insignia were symbols that differentiated the two groups.

## **History**

### **Clone Wars**

#### **Introductions**

"Welcome to the Thirty-Second 'Requiem' Platoon, otherwise known as the bottom of the barrel. For some of you, this is redemption at being a citizen of the Republic, for others it is a start in the Grand Army of the Republic." ~ Lieutenant

## Additional Information

### Affiliation

* Galactic Republic
	+ Grand Army of the Republic

### Era(s)

Clone Wars

The troops in the Requiem Platoon met their lieutenant in a GAR base, where they were watched closely by riot troopers from a military police unit. The lieutenant's armour was torn, broken away from the undersuit beneath it. His voice boomed above the sounds of starships moving in and out of the base.

At a nod, he had the riot troopers uncuff the volunteers while explaining that the prisoners were going to be monitored and were expected to remain on their best behaviour as they proved their worth to the Republic. The FOB he gestured towards was set to be the platoon's home for the next several days, and the clones had their armour in one building while the volunteers were provided with a limited supply of gear. Further explaining revealed they were expected to forget any specialties or class-specific training they had received because each soldier in Requiem was expected to learn something new and take on whatever role was assigned to them.

With a final statement that there would be no questions, the lieutenant sent the riot guards to escort them to their new base.

#### **Planet 2615**

Requiem Platoon was stationed at FOB Volge.

##### **Taking the Village**

Lieutenant Mjolnir and CT-1666 "Six" headed the clone and volunteer groups, respectively. They assembled their troops in the FOB courtyard to deliver a mission briefing. There was info detailing an attack on a local village within the platoon's area of operations. The local military was unable to respond, so it was down to the 32nd to prevent unneeded civilian deaths. Their strategy was to move defensively and use tree cover to try and approach the village unseen. Getting caught in the trees, Mjolnir warned, was going to result in the troops being cornered and having to fight their entire way to the village.

Despite attempts to keep things quiet, the clones and volunteers of the 32nd were spotted by enemy forces. Ballistic weapons-fire cut through the trees, ricocheting off the clone armour. Where the gunfire pierced the undersuit and joints instead, it created havoc and serious injuries.

Snicker stuck with Daruma. Scrub and 1492 were nearby. They moved into a more open part of the forest where clones were pinned against downed trees and attempting to return fire. There they met the carnage of the battlefield for the first time. Shellshocked souls and blood-splattered trees. The bodies of clone and volunteer alike were littered with shrapnel, screaming bloody murder. The volunteers had been told they were going to serve as a rear-line echelon, and the clones were told the 32nd was a training platoon that would see no combat. They were lied to.

Pushing through, the unit captured the village. After their victory, the wounded and broken troops were seen to while the survivors scavenged for weapons and ammo. Mjolnir later assembled the troops to watch a recording...

##### **Cursed Forest**

Gathered in the village square, the troops of the 32nd Requiem Platoon watched a recording that Mjolnir played. It was from a scouting party sent out after the enemy retreated, and was filmed a half mile away from the enemy's stronghold. The locals had spoken of strange creatures in the marshlands, low visibility due to the fog, and bodies of dead civilians gutted and hanging from trees. There were sounds of screaming and multiple accounts of people who were victims of utmost brutality. The recording depicted something with claws ripping through the scouting party, their armour shattering and crimson-red blood splattering along their helmet feeds.

Whether it was the rebels or a third party committing these deeds in the woods, the GAR didn't know. Mjolnir was collecting wilful troops to investigate, while the rest were to remain behind and protect the civilians in the village. Civilians with accounts of what happened were at the supply tents towards the rear, and several members of Requiem moved to speak with them. One of the civilians they spoke to was an old man who, when questioned by 8501, 1492 and Snicker, proved quite forthcoming with information.

The village doctor had already seen to the man and declared he was physically fine, before heading into the forest to get an herb, after which he had not returned. The elder spoke of what happened. When the rebels attacked the region, the people followed the mayor towards the hills to the south. A tribe of Unspeakables were out there. The elder said one of their monstrosities attacked him and his daughter. He escaped, but it dragged her away. It always killed the males and then took the females away, and he said that it could smell everything. The rebels had a stronghold near the Unspeakables, and kept good relations with them by offering people as tribute. He then explained they had his scent and were going to hunt him down.

1492 thought it might be wise to go looking for the doctor, but best to go and reconnoiter the Unspeakables' territory first. 8501 stated the elder was in shock and then planted a comforting hand on his shoulder before declaring that the GAR would protect him. He then asked what the mayor and the others in the South thought about the Republic, as Snicker reminded 1492 that since the Unspeakables killed all of the males, the doctor was probably dead. The elder said the mayor was dead and the others in the South had probably perished alongside him. He then loudly declared that every time someone ventured too far into that region, they were bound for death, and that they were fools to go there. That their volunteer troops were going to become playthings for their rituals. He placed his hood over his head and shook where he lay, whispering in an unknown tongue.

8501 lifted the man's head and looked him in the eye with fierceness while declaring he would defend the volunteers and see them killed instead of captured, then encouraged him to eat a rations bar and think about dying like a man with a weapon in hand. 1942 said they should hike down south and 8501 agreed with him, before the elder declared that he was dead already. His words sounded as if the wind passed by their helmets. Blood began leaking underneath his hood. His body shrivelled up as if his age was accelerated and then he was dead, his flesh rotting away before their very eyes. 1492 found this immensely discomforting and Snicker stared in disgust before turning to the others and stating they should leave immediately, while there was still daylight left. He encouraged the Requiem troopers to exterminate the Unspeakables and their monster, and to leave no survivors no matter how much they begged for mercy.

Bile filled 8501's throat as he watched the old man's body turn into a fleshy puddle. He was intrigued by what had killed the man, but was also scared, repulsed, and highly convinced that the Unspeakables should die. A cold feeling descended over the group, as if someone was watching them.

The team moved out into the forest. It included CT-2257, Daruma, VT-1138, 2028 and 1026. The team was personally led by Six, who stated there had never been an old man back at the village. He believed the troopers had been hallucinating, so '01 kept his mouth shut. They moved into the forest and encountered anomalous activity. There was a green glowing crystal, and then they discovered a dead woman whose body was just bones and hair atop her head like a wig. Around her was a ritual site where the candles were still lit. Six lifted his blaster pistol to his helmet and pulled the trigger, falling lifelessly to the ground.

'01 freaked out, and '92 reminded them to hold formation. They came under attack and the team was separated. A creature gabbed hold of Daruma's leg, it's teeth cutting clean through his armour as it bit down. He used a tree to try to support himself, hoping to wrench his leg free and limp his way to '92. '92 had a clear shot and fired his rifle. The blaster bolts caused the creature to release Daruma and roar at '92. Three bolts struck it, and glowing green blood blasted out of each hole. The creature yelped and skittered away.

1138 was briefly captured. A figure appeared before the volunteer, declaring they were going to make a perfect sacrifice to the gods, and going to bare the child of the almighty and give out another of the "loving beasts" before screaming at the VT and drawing a glowing knife that flowed with unknown energy. Meanwhile, '08 stumbled around with his backplate missing and he was bleeding heavily from his legs. '57 stumbled into the area and treated him with a medkit. '08 was suddenly afflicted with visions of death, disorder, murder and torture all at once as insanity was driven into his brain to such a degree that his fellow troopers began to look like beasts intent on devouring him.

1138 was rescued by '26 and '92. He was barely conscious and kept swearing under his breath. The mysterious knife had been dug into the VT, and the wound boiled out a green ooze. It felt as if hell was growing within his chest and ripping him open from the inside. Simultaneously, Snicker was dragged along by his leg. He shifted his DC15A around and squeezed down on the trigger, firing light blue blaster bolts into whatever was dragging him while he swore at it. He felt as if the world spiralled away and he was being cast into the unknown. Trees around him began to glow, seeming to reach for him as he passed by. His finger still squeezed wildly on the trigger as he tried his best to escape the creature.

Then there was nothing pulling him and it was like nature itself was moving the trooper. The cold hands of the dead grasped for him, demanding his life as he passed by. He heard chants in the distance and saw bodies tied to trees with evident signs of ritualistic torture and sacrifice. His head spun wildly and he let go of his rifle, letting it dangle from the strap on his chest as he begun grabbing at anything to stop himself from being dragged. His body was bashed into a tree before it felt like something wrapped around him. Two figures in cloaks appeared and tied him to the tree. Drawing his sidearm, Snicker opened fire at the two individuals whilst declaring they would never take him alive. The rounds ripped through the figures as if they were never there, but still he could see them and hear their voices splitting through his ears and into his head, saying they had warned him, that he was going to die there and no-one would even remember him. It was around then that '26 sprinted into the area.

'57 tried to fix the gaping stab wound from the supernatural knife used against 1138's body, except it turned out there was only a large gash on his back from the claws of the ceature. The area slowly crystalised and appeared to be glowing, pulsating and growing.

Meanwhile, '01 was using comms to try to get back in touch with the other squaddies while he was hallucinating. '92 heard '01 on approach from behind, but saw him as a figure who appeared different from a clone. He looked like one of the creatures, and the hallucination depicted '01 was pointing his carbine at his brother. '92 gritted his teeth in anger and set his sights on him, warning him to stay back or he'd shoot.

'01 lowered his carbine and held it off to one side, his head moving in a slow swivel motion to examine their flanks. His fingers carefully flicked the carbine to the stun setting.

Crystals were growing on Daruma's left forearm. He flipped his carbine and used it as a club to bash them off. The crystals began vanishing, although his injuries remained. 1138, who had been hallucinating demonic lures and threateningly holding a rock, laid down onto the ground with happy relief. Troopers hit one another to break the crystals and cause them to vanish, and the visions faded. '28 had briefly lost control of himself but the destruction of those crystals brought his mind back on track. They were all mentally damaged in some capacity. '57 was dazed and somewhat crazed, and knelt beside '28 to help smash the crystals until they were all gone.

'01 convinced '92 he was real, using solid objects in order to do so, and the hallucinations subsided. They regrouped with '26, '57, Snicker and Daruma. All around them, they heard the voice of Six repeating things he had said prior to his death. They saw him and heard him speaking, but his mouth did not move. He broke down crying. Snicker looked at this and scowled, his nose wrinkling underneath his visor as he ordered '26 and '01 to be ready to carry their wounded.

The ghost of Six stated they needed to leave and that he could not do anything else for them, though he had tried. Several figures exited the fog behind Six, pointing their blades at him. He begged them to go. Snicker began firing at the figures with precise and calculated shots. Six proceeded to fight the figures. Snicker let out a yell when one of the figures got too close and slammed the butt of his rifle into them. His abdomen bled profusely from a wound sustained in the fighting as he ran. '01 heard a thud, turned to see what was happening and pulled the pin on his last fragmentation grenade. It sailed in an arc past Snickers and landed in the midst of the figures.

Six apologised, stating he had failed his unit and that he was sorry for what he had done. '01 directed his thoughts towards his brother, forgiving him in his heart. As Six's whispers ceased, the forest went silent, and then 01's grenade exploded. A firey flash erupted from it, and fragments of metal flew through the trees, and then the figures and Six were all gone.

## **Personnel Roster**

VT-1138

VT-9505 "Rebel"

VT-4458 "Scrub"

Trooper CT-8501 [Medic]

CT-9519

CT-0720

CT-1757 "Daruma"

CT-1020 "Tavo"

CT-4929 "Snicker"

Sergeant-Major CT-1666 "Six" [K.I.A.]

Lieutenant CT-1056 "Mjolnir"