Chapter 1: Introduction

Author's Notes: This is the third instalment in my Cowardly Clone series (see also Getting Carried Away by Geonosians and The Bounty Hunters Trap). The previous stories were both Action/humour, with a heavy emphasis on the comedy side of things. With this story there will be plenty of action and I'll try as usual to get a few laughs out of you, but I will inevitably have to have some angst. This is a story about Order 66 after all.

Introduction: Order 66; that terrible command that resulted in the near complete extinction of the Jedi Order. But what was it like for an ordinary clone on that fateful night? What was it like to turn on your former commanders and friends, to march into the Temple and do battle with the mighty Jedi in their strongest citadel? Sadly we do not have a firsthand account from any normal clones of what they thought, felt and saw that night. But what we do have however is the account of a very abnormal clone indeed; Captain Hawk of the 501st.

Back-story: Formerly sergeant, now captain, Hawk of the 501st legion is an extremely unusual clone. He is defective; a liar, a coward and a disgrace to the Grand Army of the Republic. He should have been disposed of by the Kaminoans soon after birth, and would have been, if it was not for a talent for concealing his true personality. In spite of his loathing for combat and battle he has earned a reputation as a hero of the Republic and great respect from the Jedi Order. Captain Hawk lives in constant fear that his secret will be discovered and that he will one day be revealed as the fraud that he is. His only hope is to continue to play the part of the brave hero and hope for the best.

Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars; the character of Sergeant Hawk was inspired by George McDonald Fraser's character of Harry Flashman, of the Flashman Papers.

As always, please review, I love reading your comments (and generally try to reply to them).