Bab 184: When All Is Lost, Do The Unthinkable
Explosions happened on both frigates as their turrets fired at each other. It took the slow circuits of the clanckers a few seconds to notice they were being played by Steel Battalion, and that cost them a huge price.
After stopping, the two Munificent-class Frigates sent huge amounts of Vulture droids after the seven or eight V-Wings. Rozal looked unsatisfied at the damage they had done, but was forced to get away by the incoming droids.
One more of his pilots had been shot down when he heard Captain Weet speaking to him. He realized that the captain had been talking for a few seconds, but he was too much into the fight to notice.
"Get away, Rozal. Steel Battalion already did their part. Now is time for us to do ours."
Rozal slightly looked at The Resolute, and saw a scene he wouldn't forget for as long as he lived. The Acclamator-class Cruiser had powered down its shields, instead putting all its power on the heavy cannons and turrets scattered around the body of the ship.
Rozal realized what Captain Weet was doing seconds before the cruiser dove between the two frigates in a suicide move, and fired all batteries.
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In the command bridge of The Resolute, Captain Weet looked at the valiant efforts of Steel Battalion, and his eyes became determined. Every one of his brothers was giving their lives to help them, but the captain knew that The Resolute was a lost cause. It was too damaged to last the whole battle. As such, why make Admiral Dao waste more starfighters and lives on it?
The captain turned away from the window, and walked to the hologram table. An image of Admiral Dao and other officers appeared. The admiral barely paid attention to Captain Weet as he was too occupied barking orders.
"Admiral. The Resolute is damaged beyond repairs. We only have power for one more volley."
"Hold on, captain. I will try and send more fighters to aid you."
"No, sir. It was an honor serving with you. If you survive, pass my respects to General Di."
"Weet! What do you plan on doing?!"
However, Captain Weet had already turned off the hologram table. He sat on his chair, and looked at the crew around him, all working the best they could to fight.
"Sergeant! Turn off the shields!"
The clone staggered, and everyone on the bridge looked at him surprised.
"What, sir?"
"You heard me, sergeant. Turn off the shields and divert the power to the heavy cannons."
The sergeant hesitated, then saluted Captain Weet, and the crew copied him. They understood perfectly what those actions meant.
"Shields down!"
The shaking got slightly stronger, as each laser that hit The Resolute was doing direct damage instead of being absorbed by the shields. Thankfully, Steel Battalion had created a diversion, so the frigates had yet to notice that the cruiser was defenseless.
The captain pressed a button on the chair, and when he spoke, every loudspeaker on the ship transmitted his voice.
"Brothers, the seppies hit us good this time. But don't think we will let them go so easily! I want every man on the turrets. When I give the order, fire everything we have. For the 303rd! For the Republic!!!"
Cheers and yells sounded in the entire ship as every trooper ran towards the turrets. In a matter of a few seconds, ammunition was stockpiled behind the turrets. Firing one round was good. Firing two was a bonus.
In the command bridge, Captain Weet waited for his orders to be carried out, and then nodded to the crew.
"Full power ahead."
The Resolute was almost still before, but suddenly, it reached a terrific speed as all caution was thrown to the wind.
The two frigates clearly weren't expecting this suicidal move, and the tip of The Resolute found a gap between them. As the wider parts of the cruiser followed the tip, The Resolute was like a hot knife cutting through butter. Pieces of the frigates were crushed or sent spinning in the vacuum, together with parts of The Resolute.
The Republic cruiser shook, causing many clones to fall down and the turrets' ammunition to roll around, crushing some troopers. The gunners, however, stood still, their fingers on the trigger, waiting for the order. It soon came. Captain Weet's voice reached every trooper in the ship as he gave his final command.
"Fire!!!"
Like one, all the turrets fired, and close how they were, the lasers cut through the frigates. Explosions followed the sides of the frigates as their own turrets fired seconds before being hit.
After the initial clash, few turrets were still operational on The Resolute, but they didn't give up, and fired a second round, and some even managed to get a third one out before the cruiser lost power, and became completely dark.
In the command bridge, Captain Weet looked at the results of their desperate action. One of the frigates had been badly damaged, and started to tilt, leaving its belly exposed. In their last effort, some of the turrets managed to fire a round in the defenseless frigate, and the Separatist ship started to drift away, ripped apart.
The second frigate was even worse. It had been directly torn in half by the barrage, and the command bridge had exploded. While Captain Weet was watching, a late explosion shook the downed ship, causing it's two halves to totally separate.
The two ships were out of the battle, and Captain Weet doubted there were any survivors. The Resolute and him had completed their final promise, trading their life for the two frigates'.
"Thank you, brothers."
Those last words were whispered into the loudspeakers, but barely anyone heard them. The cruiser was almost dead, and the few crewmen still alive were mortally wounded on the floor.
The last thing Captain Weet saw were two giant lasers fired by the distant Recusant-class Destroyer. The lasers hit the defenseless command bridge of The Resolute, blowing it up. The explosion started a chain reaction, and the once magnificent cruiser became more debris in the space above Ryloth.
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Rozal flew away from The Resolute just before the cruiser experienced its final moments. Hundreds of Vulture droids were caught in the blast, leaving this part of the battlefield empty for a moment. He found the pilots of Steel Battalion. Of the ten that went to help The Resolute, only four remained.
"Come on, boys. This battle is far from over."
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Admiral Dao watched with sorrow on his face as The Resolute was mercilessly destroyed by the big Separatist ship. Captain Weet fought to the very bitter end, and took down two enemy vessels with him. Unfortunately, that was far from enough.
He looked at the crewmen around him. He wasn't a clone, but in the months that he battled together with them, he had come to think of himself as one. He mourned the death of his brothers, but the battle didn't stop for him.
"Get ready. Soon it will be our turn to shine."
He was sure The Sincerity would shine. It would shine a very bright light before it's fire dimmed down. And when that happened, he wanted the cruiser to be surrounded by the wreckage of enemy ships.
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The explosion of The Resolute and the two frigates was visible from every corner of Ryloth. Outside the freedom fighters' hideout, Ragout and Hell Squad looked at the battle. Several Twi'leks were with them.
"That... that was The Resolute, wasn't it?"
"Yeah."
"I bet it was Weet's idea. He went out just like he always said he would. In a blaze of glory."
"In a blaze of glory."
Watching the battle unfold, despair appeared on the hearts of Hell Squad for the very first time.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Reis123
Reis123 And so the first big casualty of the 303rd happen.
I confess I am feeling very sad writing this chapter and the ones to come.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone