Chapter 197: It Is A Trap
"Sir... We received a report from... Ryloth. Our troops are... facing heavy resistance..."
On a planet deep into Separatist territory, a tower stood tall above a cliff. Several people of different species walked around the tower, working. However, the last floor was empty, aside from a human and a droid.
The human, an old man with white hair and beard, and using a long dark cloak, was sitting on a chair. Behind him, green glass with beautiful designs covered the entire wall.
In front of him, with his metallic hands behind his back, was a droid commando. It was very similar to the one that Dageer killed on Mygeeto, but this one had dark red paint on his body. It was part of the personal guard of the old man.
"Why are you telling me this? I told you not to interrupt my meditation."
The old man stayed seated, his eyes closed and his legs crossed. However, the droid commando suddenly fell to the ground, as if he was being stepped on by something invisible. His tough armor, capable of taking several laser shots, started to deform under the pressure. The droid, however, ignored all this, and continued with his report.
"According to our... spies... Republic generals and Jedi Masters Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker will soon be sent... to assist the 303rd Attack... Legion on Ryloth. Our strategists... request permission to send more... troops to the planet. The Republic scum there is almost... wiped out."
The pressure disappeared, and the droid commando got up. His left arm was hanging by a few wires, and sparks were flying from it. His head and chest were deformed to the point that he could barely stand up straight. Even his vocal device was damaged, making his voice sound even worse.
"Send as many troops as necessary. Ryloth is an important asset, and cannot be lost."
"Yes, Count Dooku."
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White stars filled the dark sky, and the two moons of Ryloth shone upon the land. Five figures sneaked around the red rocks that covered most of the planet.
Dageer, Tech, Metal, and Brain, were one of the strike groups that General Di sent to attack the Separatist. Guiding them was Gobi, but the Twi'lek wouldn't join the attack. Syndulla said he didn't want to risk his people any more than necessary, and stated his thoughts clearly. For him, ambushing the Separatist wasn't going to do anything, since a droid army wouldn't care about some losses.
"We are almost there. Quiet now."
The blue Twi'lek raised his fist, and the clones stopped. Following the freedom fighter even more silently than before, they soon saw the droids.
It was unusually quiet, very different from the Republic Army camp. In the Republic, even in the middle of the night there would be soldiers waking up, moving around and making noises. But in the Separatist camp, aside from the patrols, there was no other sound or movement. The B1 units were crouching on the ground, deactivated, and connected to large boxes, the size of an AT-TE. Each of the batteries could power a few hundred droids.
The vehicles of the droid army were also laying on the ground. The clones shrunk back when a patrol passed close to them, and Dageer turned to the others.
"We will focus on the vehicles first. Don't go for the Tri-droids, since they probably have sensors and alarms. They are too valuable to just be left unguarded. Plant detonators on the AATs and Crab-droids. Tech, see if you can do something about those batteries. If we can take them out, our chances of surviving will incre..."
"Dageer! Dageer! Do you copy?! Do you copy?!"
Before he could finish, the sub-commander was interrupted by Commander Keeli. Not only was the commander yelling urgently, but Dageer could also hear explosions through the comlink. However, that should have been impossible, because Commander Keeli had stayed in the base to organize the troops. It took a few seconds for Dageer to realize what was happening.
"It's a trap! Run!"
Other than Gobi, who was slightly confused and hesitated for a split second, the others followed his order immediately, without question. That was good, because moments later, the spot where they were was hit by several red lasers.
Hiding behind a rock, Dageer saw several B2 super battle droids appear from their hiding spots, and felt the impact of lasers on his small protection. Not too far away, he heard several other battles happening. Apparently, not only him, but all the other strike teams had also been ambushed.
"Commander! We also are under attack! It was a trap all along!"
"Retreat! We weren't the only ones. All our bases are being hammered by their bombers! We are going back to Lessu!"
"I understand. Strike groups, you heard the commander. Forget the attack, and retreat! Now!"
"Understood!"
"Yes, sir."
"Right away, sir!"
Several clones answered him, but Dageer doubted many would be able to escape. The ambush had been too well planned. But now he had to worry about himself, and the others who were with him.
Thankfully, since their mission was a sabotage one, they brought plenty of thermal detonators. Dageer motioned slightly to Brain, and the clone understood him immediately. They had been working together for so long that they rarely need to speak to one another in the middle of a battle. In fact, that happened not only with Brain, but all of Hell Squad.
While Brain was throwing the detonators, Dageer signaled to the blaster in Gobi's hands.
"Time to use that thing. When I run, follow me, and don't stop. We parked the speeders not that far away. Metal and Brain will cover our rearguard."
"Okay."
"Good. Now, let's go!"
Ignoring the rain of lasers following them, the five people ran, with the two chosen clones turning slightly to shower the droids with lasers and thermal detonators. They got to the next set of cover just in time, because the droids adjusted their aim. Lasers hit the ground right behind Dageer as he dove behind a rock.
"Don't stop! If they encircle us, we are dead!"
Dageer pushed Gobi, who was leaning on the rock panting hard. The Twi'lek might be a freedom fighter, but he obviously wasn't used to battles. Behind them, Dageer could hear the whole Separatist army turning on.
He heard Tech yell a curse, and saw a black spot on his shoulder. However, the clone said it was nothing much, and kept running. They didn't have the time to stop and look at it, so Tech would have to endure the pain.
Luckily for them, the droids were trying to ambush the strike teams, so they couldn't bring heavy vehicles like AATs. That allowed them to get to their speeders easily, and escape.
On their way back to the capital, Dageer confirmed the situation of the other groups. Seven groups had been sent, and two were completely wiped out, while some suffered casualties. In the end, nineteen clones and three Twi'leks died.
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On the tall walls of Lessu, General Di and Ragout watched as the Separatist army organized themselves. The ray bridge had been turned off, meaning that the only way for the Separatist to attack was through artillery.
Dageer and Commander Keeli walked beside the two Jedis, analyzing their defenses. Too much had happened in the spawn of one night. Not only the seppies devised a trap, but they also attacked on all fronts. All the outposts and bases the Republic built were destroyed in a single night, and the four main cities of Ryloth were now under siege.
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