Capítulo 130: Intercepted Communications
Chaos. That was the only word that could describe what the aftermath of the battle looked like. Just like always, debris and bodies filled up a small parcel of the space.
In the distance, CIS Lucrehulk-class battleships, Providence-class dreadnoughts, and Munificent-class frigates were guarding Mygeeto.
It was difficult to tell the passage of time in the vacuum of space, but the number of destroyed ships was enough to make one understand that the Republic had been trying to breakthrough the Separatist blockade for quite some time. Without success. The 303rd had paid a hefty price, but all they had done was damage or destroy some ships.
After noticing it was impossible to win, General Di had ordered the retreat. It was a wise decision. Even Dageer, who was a ground soldier, with zero experience in space combat, could see that the Republic was being crushed. It didn't feel good, but it was the truth.
...
Rozal was at the lower hangar, working on his ARC-170. There was a big blast mark on the turret, showing the interior of the starfighter. That was the position where his gunner, Spark should have been, but he had died instantly. And he wasn't the only casualty that Steel had. They lost about one-third of their forces between dead and wounded. And when a pilot got wounded, that usually meant his fighter was also out of the fight.
Steel Battalion hadn't lost so many troopers and ships in vain, of course. They were the pilots with the most number of kills, including one dreadnought and two frigates. But considering the Republic made no progress, it all seemed useless.
Rozal was working with a droid to take out the broken pieces of his ARC-170 when he saw a clone entering the hangar.
"Sub-commander!"
Rozal stopped what he was doing and saluted Dageer. It was even easier to recognize him now that he had his custom armor.
"At ease. Rozal, I heard you lost Spark. He was a good soldier."
"Thank you, sir."
"This is your starfighter, right? Get another one. I want Steel Battalion on the air."
"Sir?"
"We intercepted a Separatist transmission that gave us some new info. Get your men on the air."
"Yes, sir."
After giving Rozal his orders, Dageer went to the other pilots.
Minutes earlier, The Sincerity had intercepted a long-range transmission from Christophsis. Long story short, the Separatist troops on Christophsis were facing trouble with the 212th Legion, and needed reinforcements, which would come from Mygeeto. Apparently, the clanckers thought the 303rd wasn't strong enough to break through their blockade, even if a few ships were taken away. Dageer couldn't wait to prove them wrong.
All the clones needed to do was make a hole in the Separatist blockade, and it would crumble.
Dageer returned to the command bridge, and nodded to Commander Keeli. Everything was ready, now what they needed to do was strike the moment the Separatist left.
Hell Squad leader had said it might be a trap, but General Di denied. According to him, it was possible to be a trap if they waited for too long, because the ships that had just left could return. But if they attacked the moment they left, the massive frigates and dreadnoughts wouldn't be able to get out of hyperspace without a great deal of damage. The bigger the ship, the harder it was to turn or stop it.
As the officers of the 303rd looked at the space outside, and the Separatist fleet, time seemed to pass slowly. Dageer had his arms crossed, and his eyes fixed on the enemies. Commander Keeli and Admiral Dao were moving around in the command bridge, the first barking orders, and the latter whispering them. General Di and his padawan, Ragout, were sitting on chairs, their legs crossed and eyes closed.
Ragout had his mind empty, and was concentrating in feeling the Force. General Di, however, was contemplating the conversation he had with the Jedi Council. After reporting all Dageer told him to the council, he had been assigned the task of investigating Iktotch.
Master Yoda went deep in thought when he listed to General Di.
"The first time we heard of the dark lord, this is not. Find that being your soldier did, you also have to."
"Yes, master."
The first thing Ragout did after General Di finished the transmission was to ask about the dark lord. But his master didn't answer him. General Di could sense something moving in the depths of the Force, and he didn't like it.
Returning to the present, General Di opened his eyes milliseconds before a crewman shouted.
"Admiral! They are turning around. Five... no, six dreadnoughts, thirteen frigates. They are leaving through section 209-003, and about to enter lightspeed. There they go!"
A huge section of the Separatist blockade split from the major force, and turned to one side before disappearing.
Commander Keeli put two fingers in the side of his head, then pointed to the outside. Dageer nodded, and turned on his comlink.
"Rozal, Hawk, Rip, get your boys on the air. Attack the nearest enemy ship. If you get no response, turn around immediately. If they send the Vulture droids, press the attack, backup will be arriving soon."
Dageer gave the orders so naturally that it took a moment for the navy officers to understand that they seemed to be inverted.
"Sir? Retreat if we have a free path, attack if we don't?"
"You heard me. Go."
"Yes, sir."
The hangar doors in three different cruisers, including The Sincerity, opened, and three different squadrons left. They left some spacing between themselves, but were all aiming for the nearest frigate. When they passed the three clicks mark, a cloud of Vulture droids flew towards them.
Rozal dove straight into it, spinning his ARC-170 to avoid the incoming lasers, and blowing a path amidst them.
"Sub-commander, we are facing opposition! Confirming orders! Do we press the attack?!"
"Carry on. All ships, attack! Starfighters, get out there!"
Admiral Dao answered for Dageer, and the fleet sprung into motion. The reason why they had waited for the Separatist counterattack was to confirm it wasn't a trap. If they sent a squadron, but incited no response, chances were the Separatist were trying to lure the rest of the 303rd fleet.
Once more, Dageer found himself with nothing to do but wait. The ground troops had to be prepared for two things in a space battle. Either board an enemy vessel, or be boarded. Meanwhile, their fates were in the hands of the starfighter pilots.
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