Chapter 204: Die Together
Maybe it was a mistake, maybe it was on purpose, but Admiral Dao's speech was transmitted to General Di, down on Ryloth. General Di was, at this moment, surrounded by clones, freedom fighters, and citizens of Ryloth. They were outside of Lessu, escaping to the hideout where the survivors from the other battles were. Considering that the total amount of clones that survived was just a little more than two thousand, and that even when adding up with the freedom fighters and civilians, there were no more than five thousand people, the Separatist deemed them as unimportant, and sent just a small force after them. General Di was preparing a group of combatants to meet that enemy force.
So, when Admiral Dao talked, it wasn't only General Di who heard him, but also Hell Squad, Commander Keeli, Ragout, Syndulla, and dozens of troopers and Twi'leks. It didn't take long for word of it to get around.
"Is it over?"
"Maybe we should surrender."
"Hold on, dear. You will get better... You have to."
While the Twi'leks muttered amongst themselves with fear, the clones were silent. They all looked up to the sky, where three Republic ships threw themselves against three dozen Separatist ships. Not much later, a trooper came to talk with Dageer. He, in turn, whispered something to Commander Keeli.
Soon, Commander Keeli walked up to General Di. Appearing ten years older, the Nikto signaled for the commander to speak.
"General, sir. The troops want to fight... We want to fight."
General Di looked like he wanted to deny, but Commander Keeli already had an argument for whatever the Jedi was about to say.
"If we let the clanckers follow us, general, they will know where we are hiding. And we don't have enough power to defend against them if they launch a full-on attack."
"We don't have the power to defend against them even if it is just those eight thousand droids following us, Keeli. But you are right. We can't let them reach the Twi'lek hideout. Gather the troops. Only clones, no freedom fighters. And while you are at that, tell Dageer to prepare a report for me. I want to know our exact numbers."
"Yes, general."
Soon, the clones sorted themselves out from the group. Since they couldn't lead the droids to the hideout, they would be reinforced by the clones there. So, they had a little less than a thousand clones, many with different kinds of injuries. Dageer presented a datapad to General Di, and the Jedi asked Ragout to read it.
"We have nine hundred and forty-seven troopers, master."
"How many are able to fight?"
"Err..."
Ragout looked at Dageer unsure of what to answer. According to the report, more than five hundred of the clones had some kind of injury, and most of them would put a soldier in a bacta tank at least for a few days. However, the report only excluded from the fight about a hundred and fifty clones, those who had injuries so serious that were life-threatening. Dageer stepped forward to help Ragout.
"Put a blaster in the hands of those troopers and they can fight, generals."
"I won't allow injured men to die because they want vengeance. Only those who are in good condition can come. The others will go to the hideout."
"General, with all due respect, but I doubt we can kill those droids with just three hundred men. Besides, what is the difference between dying here or in the hideout? If we bring everyone we can, at least our chances are bigger."
"Dageer is right, master."
Even General Di couldn't help but agree with Dageer and Ragout. As much as he hated the idea of forcing wounded troopers to fight, they really didn't have much of an option. Even when taking the eight hundred clones, they would be at a disadvantage of ten to one.
"Okay then. But, Dageer, I need to talk with you. Alone."
"Yes, sir."
Dageer followed the Nikto. He wasn't afraid of being scolded by General Di, because he was simply representing the troopers. However, what the Jedi said next was totally out of his expectations.
"Dageer, I will be brief. You are a soldier, one of the best. And, as such, you know better than anyone that we have no chance of winning this battle. Not the one we will fight now, but this battle as a whole. In fact, we already lost. Our fleet is practically destroyed, and so is our legion. You and I will probably die in battle. I know you don't care, and I have lived a long enough life to accept it. It is part of the Jedi code to embrace death, because it is nothing to fear, but a natural part of the Force. But Ragout is just a padawan. He is my padawan. I can't let him die here."
Dageer said nothing. The Jedi didn't seem to need an answer, he just wanted to talk. His eyes were shining with countless emotions.
"I want you to take the wounded and Ragout, and escape together with the Twi'leks."
"I can't do that, sir."
"You will do that. It is an order. But not now. First we need to fight those droids pursuing us. If we can defeat them, there will be no need to do what I said. If we can't..."
Before Dageer could say anything, Syndulla approached them, and General Di told Dageer to be quiet. The Twi'lek was already suspicious enough without hearing the word 'escape'.
"Master Di. I was told you are gathering your troops to fight."
"Yes, Syndulla. If we don't, the droids will discover where the wounded, children and civilians are hiding."
"I understand. We will fight side by side."
What followed was a long discussion. In the end, it was decided that the freedom fighters and clones would fight together, probably for the last time. Not only that, but suddenly several hundred people arrived, clones and Twi'leks. Apparently, Lieutenant Shield, who was in the hideout, decided by himself to come aid in the battle. He knew General Di wouldn't agree to that, so he didn't tell him, and now that they were there, it would be stupidity to send them away.
That bumped up the number of the Republic forces to about three thousand fighters. It wasn't nearly enough to fight the droids, but it was much better than before.
All while that was happening, Dageer was in deep thought. He couldn't bear to abandon his brothers and his general to escape, even if it was to guard the wounded and Ragout. But he also couldn't disobey orders. It was simply impossible for him, because obedience was ingrained in his genetic code.
"Sir. We gathered the information you required. It is not good."
Brain approached Dageer, and handed him a datapad. When he read what was in it, Dageer's face looked grim. It was worse than he thought.
He gave the datapad back to Brain, and went to find the General Di. The Jedi was together with Commander Keeli, discussing the best positions to put their AT-TEs and AT-APs.
"General, commander. There is something you need to know about."
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