Star Wars: Republic Commando: Triple Zero rc-3

by Karen Traviss

  “Now, son, anything troubling you?”

  “No, Sarge.”

  “Etain's off to Qiilura for a few months, to start the rundown of the garrison.”

  Darman actually smiled. “That's a safe deployment compared with the jobs she's pulled recently. I'm glad.”

  “She's hanging around the barracks waiting for you.”

  Darman seemed relieved. He took a deep breath and grinned, but it was that smile Skirata had seen on many mercenaries' faces before they left for a new battlefield.

  Fierfek, should I tell this boy now? Should I tell him he has a kid on the way? What if something happens to him before he gets a chance to find out?

  Skirata took a sudden and impulsive risk. He could square it with Zey later, like the bill for the anti-terror operation. Always better to beg forgiveness than ask permission. “You can go to Qiilura with her if you want.”

  Darman shut his eyes. The pain showed on his face.

  “I've had that choice before, Sarge.”

  “You love her, though?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can make this happen.” Maybe it wouldn't be right for you, son. But it's your choice. “All you have to do is say the word, and Corr will take your place in the squad. He's still around. Zey's letting me train him.”

  Darman let out a long breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes still shut. When he opened them, they were brimming with tears.

  “Qiilura's safe. My squad deploys in the front line. How can I not be there with them? You could have walked away from Kamino with a fortune and never given us another thought, but you couldn't do it, either.”

  “That was different. I was washed up, a di'kutla—”

  “No. You were loyal.”

  “You sure about this?” Of course you're sure. Your loyalty is overwhelming, too. That's how the stinking Republic uses you. “I won't think any less of you if you go.”

  “But I'll think less of me.”

  “Okay, no need to tell her, then. It was my idea, not hers. And Ordo will make sure you two can stay in touch whenever you want.”

  Darman brushed the tip of his nose and sniffed hard. “You always put us first.”

  “I always will.”

  “We know.”

  Yes. He always would. “There's two ways you can think of females in wartime, son. One is to get obsessed and let them take your mind off your work, and that gets you killed. The other is to focus on them as what you're really fighting for, and draw strength from knowing they're going to be there for you when you get home.” He tapped Darman's cheek a few times with the flat of his hand, firm but paternal. “You know which you're going to choose, don't you, Dar?”

  “Yes, Sarge.”

  “Good lad.”

  Skirata knew that Darman might never arrive home, throw his kit bag on the hall floor, and sob on his wife's shoulder, relieved and grateful and swearing it would be his last tour of duty. But he'd make sure he brought him as close to that sweet normality as a cloned soldier could ever come.

  At least Etain understood what a soldier went through. All Skirata had to do was make sure the kid was safe when he was born, and educate him properly. Jinart had held up her end of the bargain and would see that Etain was taken care of on Qiilura. The shapeshifter understood Skirata's obsession with looking after his tribe. She was doing the same thing herself. They were both beleaguered fighters with no love for the Republic, just an uneasy tolerance.

  “Go on, then, son.” Skirata nodded toward the doors. “Go and find Etain. Have a day out. Be a regular couple for a few hours and forget you're soldiers. Just be discreet, that's all.”

  Darman smiled and seemed to brighten. He was a resilient lad. “Sarge,” he said. “How can I forget I'm a soldier? I don't know how to be anything else.”

  Skirata watched him go and wondered when the desire to tell him would overwhelm him and it would slip out. Maybe Etain would find the strain too great, too. It was a pity that something that was a source of joy to ordinary people was so dangerous for Darman and Etain.

  It was a rotten war. You should have grown used to all that by now, you fool. But he doubted he ever would.

  Skirata had plenty to occupy him while Omega was away—two datapads' worth and then some. He took a deep breath and opened his comlink.

  “Ordo? Mereel? Let's go hunt some Kaminoan aiwha bait. We have plans to make. Oya!”

  He was a skilled bounty hunter: they were the best intelligence troops in the galaxy.

  There was nowhere in the galaxy that Ko Sai could hide from them.

  GLOSSARY

  A

  a (ah) Mando'a: but

  a den (AH-den) Mando'a: wrath, rage

  AA: anti-aircraft

  AAA: anti-aircraft artillery

  ad (and, s.); ade (AH-day, pl.) Mando'a: child, son, daughter

  ad'ika (ah-DEE-kah, s.); ad'ike (ah-DEE-kay, pl.) Mando'a: child, son, daughter (used affectionately)

  adenn (AH-tenn) Mando'a: merciless

  aliit (ah-LEET) Mando'a: family, clan

  an (ahn) Mando'a: all

  ARC: Advanced Reconnaissance Commando

  aruetii (ah-roo-AY-tee, s.); aruetiise (ah-roo-ay-TEE-say, pl.) Mando'a: foreigner, outsider, traitor

  atin (ah-TEEN) Mando'a: stubborn

  B

  baatir (BAH-teer, v.) Mando'a: to care, to worry about

  baay shfat: an obscenity of unknown origin about Hutt

  bal (tahl) Mando'a: and

  Bal kote, darasuum kote, / Jorso'ran kando a tome. / Sa kyr'am Nau tracyn kad, Vode an. (Bahl KOH-day, dah-RA-soom KOH-day, Jor-so-RAHN, KAHN-do ah TOh-may, Sah-kee-RAHM now trah-SHEEN kand VOH-day ahn) Mando'a: And glory, eternal glory, / We shall bear its weight together. / Forged like the saber in the fires of death, Brothers all. (ancient Mandalorian war chant)

  BRB: Big Red Button (emergency hull seal)

  buir (boo-EER) Mando'a: father

  buy'ce (BOO-shay, s.); buy'cese (pl.) Mando'a: helmet

  buy'ce gal (BOO-shay gahl) Mando'a: pint of ale (literally, the contents of a helmet)

  Buy'ce gal, buy'ce tal / Vebor'ad ures aliit / Mhi draar baat'1 meg'parjii'se / Kote lo'shebs'ul narit (BOO-shay gahl, BOO-shay tahl Vair-BOR-and 00-rees AH-leet Mee DRAHR bah-TEE mayg-PAR-jee-SEH Koh-TAY loh SHEBS-ool-NAH-reet) Mando'a: A pint of ale, a pint of blood / Buys men without a name / We never care who wins the war / So you can keep your fame (drinking chant of Mandalorian mercenaries)

  C

  ca (kah) Mando'a: night

  cannon fodder: soldier (slang)

  chakaar (cha-KAR, s.); chakaare (cha-KAR-ay, pl.) Mando'a: thief, grave robber (general term of abuse)

  Cip-Quad: reciprocating quad blaster

  CIS: Confederacy of Independent Systems

  con: steer a ship

  conc (konk): concussion rifle

  Coruscanta (KOH-roo-SAN-ta) Mando'a: Coruscant

  CSF: Coruscant Security Force

  cuir (KOO-eer) Mando'a: four

  cuun (koon) Mando'a: our

  Cuy'val Dar (koo-EE-vahl dahr) Mando'a: those who no longer exist (the term is used for a group of Jango Fett's handpicked clone commando instructors)

  cuyir (KOO-yeer, v.) Mando'a: to exist, to be

  D

  dar (dahr) Mando'a: no longer

  dar'buir (DAHR boo-EER) Mando'a: no longer a father

  dar'manda (dahr-MAHN-da) Mando'a: a state of being “not Mandalorian”; not an outsider, but one who has lost his heritage, and so his identity and soul

  darasuum (dah-RAH-soom) Mando'a: eternal, forever

  Deece: a DC-model rifle (slang)

  det: detonator

  dha (dah) Mando'a: dark

  di'kut (dee-KOOT, s.); di'kute (dee-KOOT, pl.); di'kutla (dee-KOOT-lah, adj.): jerk, moron (impolite)

  dinuir (DEE-noo-eer, v.) Mando'a: to give

  draar (drahr) Mando'a: never

  dralshy'a (drahl-SHEE-ya) Mando'a: stronger, more powerful

  droten (DROH-
ten) Mando'a: people, public

  E

  e'tad (EH-tad) Mando'a: seven

  ehn (ayhn) Mando'a: three

  EM: electromagnetic

  EMP (s.); EMPs (pl.): electromagnetic pulse

  eniki Huttese: understand

  EOD: Explosive Ordnance Disposal (bomb disposal)

  ETA: estimated time of arrival

  F

  flash-bang: stun grenade (slang)

  G

  GAR: Grand Army of the Republic

  gar (gahr, s. & pl.) Mando'a: you

  Gar ru kyramu kaysh, di'kut: tion'meh kaysh ru jehaati? (Gahr roo keer-AH-moo kaysh, dee-KOOT: tee-ON-mey-kaysh roo je-HAHT-ee) Mando'a: You killed him, you moron: what if he was lying?

  ge'verd (ge-VAIRD) Mando a : almost a warrior

  gihaal (gee-HAAL) Mando'a: fish-meal

  gra'tua (gra-TOO-ah) Mando'a: vengeance

  H

  HNE: HoloNet News and Entertainment

  HQ: headquarters

  HUD: heads-up display

  hukaat'kama (hu-KAHT-kah-MAH) Mando'a: watch my back, watch my six

  hut'uun (hoo-TOON, s.); hut'uune (pl.); hut'uunla (hoo-OON-lah, adj.) Mando'a: coward

  I

  IED: improvised explosive device

  –ika (EE-kah, s.); –ike (EE-kay, pl.) Mando'a: suffix for affectionate usage

  J

  j’hagwa na yoka Huttese: no trouble

  jatne (JAT-nay) Mando’a: best

  jatne’buir (JAT-nay boo-EER) Mando’a: best father

  jetii (Jay-tee) Mando’a: Jedi

  jetiise (jay-TEE-say) Mando'a: Jedi plural, Republic

  jorso'ran (jor-so-RAHN) Mando'a: shall bear (archaic)

  jurkadir (JOOR-kand-EER, v.) Mando'a: to attack, to threaten,to mess with

  K

  k'uur (koor) Mando'a: hush, be quiet

  kad (kand) Mando'a: saber, sword

  kama (KAH-ma, s.); /camas (KAH-maz, pl.) or kamase (kah-AH-say) Mando a : belt-spat

  kando (KAHN-do) Mando'a: importance, weight

  kandosii (kahn-DOH-see) Mando'a: nice one, wicked, well done, classy, noble

  kar'tayli ad meg hukaat'kama (kar-TIE-lie and mayg hu-AHT-KA-mah) Mando'a: roughly “know who's watching your back”

  kar'taylir (kar-TIE-leer, v.) Mando'a: to know, to hold in the heart

  kaysh (kaysh) Mando'a: him, his

  ke nu'jurkadir sha Mando'ade (keh NOO-joor-kand-EER shah Mahn do-AH-day) Mando'a: don't mess with Mandalorians

  KIA: killed in action

  kit: gear, equipment (slang)

  kom'rk (KOM-rohk) Mando'a: gauntlet

  kote (KOH-thy, KOH-tay, pl.) Mando'a: glory

  kyr'am (kee-RAHM) Mando'a: death

  L

  LAAT/c: low-altitude assault transport/cargo

  LAAT/i: low-altitude assault transport/infantry

  larty: a vessel, LAAT/i

  lo (loh) Mando'a: into

  M

  Mando (MAHN-do, s.); Mando'ade (Mahn-doh-AH-day, pl.) Mande'ad: Mandalorian, son/daughter of Mandalore

  Mando'a (Mahn-DOH-ah): Mandalorian-language term for the language itself

  meat can: soldier (slang)

  meg (mayg) Mando'a: which, that

  meh (mey) Mando'a: if

  mhi (mee) Mando'a: we

  MIA: missing in action

  MILINT: military intelligence

  Mirdala Mird'ika!; Mando'a: Clever Mird!

  MRU: much regret, unable (slang)

  N

  N'oya'kari gihaal, Buir. (Noy-ah KAR-ee gee-HAAL, boo-EER): I've been hunting fish-meal, Father.

  nar dralshy'a (NAR-drahl-SHEE-ya) Mando'a: put your back into it, try harder

  narir (nah-REER, v.) Mando'a: to act, to do

  naritir (nah-ree-TEER, v.) Mando'a: to place, to put

  nau'ur ( now-00R, v.) Mando'a: to light up, to illuminate

  ner (nair) Mando'a: my

  ni (nee) Mando'a: I, me

  ni dinui (NEE DEE-noo) Mando'a: I give

  ni kar'tayl gar darasuum (nee kar-TILE garh dah-RAH-soom) Mando'a: I love you

  Niktose (neek-TOH-say, pl.) Mando'a: Nikto

  nynir (nee-NEER, v.) Mando'a: to hit, to strike

  O

  obs job: observation duty

  OCU: Organized Crime Unit

  op order: operational order

  ops room: operations room

  ori; Mando'a: very, exceptionally, extremely

  osik (OH-sik) Mando'a: dung (impolite)

  osik'la (oh-SIK-lah) Mando'a: badly wrong, horrible, messed up, screwed up, disgusting

  oya (OY-ah) Mando'a: let's go hunting, let's roll

  P

  parjir (par-JEER, v.) Mando'a: to win, to be victorious

  PIM (s.); PIMs (0.): Position and Intended Movement (naval term for where a ship is and where it is heading)

  PEP: pulsed energy projectile

  pod: Kaminoan word for squad

  PTC: Perlemian Traffic Control

  PWO; Peewo: principal weapons officer

  R

  rayshe'a (ray-SHEE-ah) Mando'a: five

  RC (s.); RCs (pl.): Republic Commando

  recce (s.); recces (pl.); recce (v.): reconnaissance, to reconnoiter (military)

  Red Zero: request for immediate extraction (military)

  resol (reh-SOL) Mando'a: six

  RPC: request the pleasure of your company (slang)

  rummage: an examination, a search of a vessel (slang)

  RV: rendezvous (slang)

  S

  sa (sah) Mando'a: as, like (comparative)

  Sep; Seppie: Separatist

  sh'ehn (shayn) Mando'a: eight

  shabiir (sha-BEER, v.) Mando'a: to screw up (impolite)

  shabla: impolite emphatic adjective in Mando'a

  shag Huttese: slave

  sharp: needle (slang)

  she'cu (SHAY-koo) Mando'a: nine

  shebs (shebs, s.); shebse (SHEB-say, pl.) Mando'a: backside, rear

  shiny boy: Republic commando (slang)

  slot: kill (slang)

  SO: Special Operations

  SOCO: scenes-of-crime officer, forensics officer

  solus (SOH-loos) Mando'a: one

  SOP (s.); SOPs (pl.): standard operating procedure

  su'cuy (soo-KOO-ee) Mando'a: hi

  T

  t'ad (tand) Mando'a: two

  ta'raysh (ta-RAYSH) Mando'a: ten

  Tagwa, lorda. Huttese: Yes, sir.

  takisir (TAH-kees-eer, v.) Mando'a: to insult

  tal (tahl) Mando'a: blood

  te (tay) Mando'a: the (rare)

  tihaar (TEE-har) Mando'a: an alcoholic drink; a strong, clear spirit made from fruit

  tinny (s.); tinnies (p1.): droid (slang)

  tion (TEE-on) Mando'a: prefix to indicate a question

  tion'meh (tee-ON-mey) Mando'a: what if

  TIOPS: traffic interdiction operations

  TIV: traffic interdiction vessel

  tome (TOH-may, pl.) Mando'a: together

  tracyn (trah-SHEEN) Mando'a: fire

  Triple Zero: Coruscant (military)

  triple-A: anti-aircraft artillery

  troch (troch) Mando'a: certainly

  tsad (sand) Mando'a: alliance, group

  U

  udesii (oo-DAY-see) Mando'a: calm down, take it easy

  ures (oo-REES) Mando'a: without, lacking

  urpghurit: obscenity in an unknown language

  usenye (oo-SEN-yay) Mando'a: go away (very rude; from the same root as osik)

  UXB: unexploded bomb

  V

  vaii (vay) Mando'a: where

  vaii gar ru'cuyi (VAY gahr roo KOO-yee) Mando'a: where have you been

  verborir (VAIR-bor-EER, v.) Mando'a: to buy, to hire, to contract

  verd (vaird, s.); verda (VAIR-dah, pl.) Mando'a: warrior, warriors (archaic plural)

  vod (vohd, s.); vode (VOH-day, pl.); vod'ika (voh-DEE-kah, affectionate) Mando'a: brother, sister, comrade, mate

  vor'e (V
OHR-ay) Mando'a: thanks

  W

  werda (WAIR-dah) Mando'a: shadows (i.e., stealth), archaic plural

  wet; wets: organic life-form (slang)

  white job: clone trooper (slang)

  FB2 document info

  Document ID: aa0adad3-dd29-47e2-867d-316926a1c73a

  Document version: 1

  Document creation date: 2005-05-16

  Created using: FB Tools software

  Document authors :

  Anton Filatov

  Source URLs :

  IRC channel

  Document history:

  1.0: initial release, some proofreading with real book (added missing pages).

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