As soon as the chronometer stopped ticking the clone cadets got up and started cheering and clapping loudly. Such a short conclusion time was unheard of, and with turrets, Droidekas and a ton of droids, even more so.
Commander Keeli also joined in the fray, and even General Di had a proud smile on his face. General Shaak Ti asked for everyone attention on the speaker and waited for all of Hell Squad to line up.
"Congratulations Hell Squad. You have set a new record for all clones on Kamino to break. And a difficult one on top of that. However, cadets, do not feel discouraged because of this. Those clones here are merely two months ahead of you. All you have to do is train harder and you will be able to do the same as them."
"I thought the whole point of us being a special squad was doing what others could never do."
Cell, unconcerned as ever, whispered to Dageer, who gave him a stern warning stare. However, before Dageer could reprimand him, the lights turned red. General Shaak Ti and General Di pulled out their lightsabers. Hell Squad, Commander Keeli, the two bounty hunters and any of the clones of the 303rd or 182nd who were there aimed their blasters at the doors on a swift motion.
The cadets, on the other hand, did not know what to do, or at least the young ones didn't. They were just standing, waiting for someone to order them.
A few seconds later General Shaak Ti received a message through her comlink. Immediately after she gave some orders to the bounty hunters - who then left - and turned to General Di.
"You were right Master Di. Kamino is under attack at this exact moment, but we still haven't identified the enemy commander. You and your legion already know what to do on this case, I believe?"
"Don't worry my friend. Not a single droid will get past us."
That said he gesticulated to Hell Squad and the 303rd clones on the training course. They immediately entered formation and followed him out of the training field.
On her side, General Shaak Ti connected the speaker to the entire base system, and her voice resounded on every corner of the cloning facilities.
"Shaak Ti talking. This is a level 1 alert. Kamino Security Team, take up positions and prepare to hold. All clone cadets and non-essential personnel, return to your dormitories. Those who have six months or less to complete your training, pick your weapons at the arsenal and meet with trainers Bric and El-Les on platform FF2-O3."
--------------------------
The voice of the togruta jedi repeated the warning three times, but Dageer was too busy running to pay attention.
In his head, he was thinking that this was the reason why the 303rd Attack Battalion had been moved to Kamino. The jedi new something was going to happen, but they decided not to tell the clones.
As a soldier he knew that was the correct decision, otherwise, the men would stay on a tiring, unnecessary alarmed state, waiting for an attack that they didn't know when it would happen. Nevertheless, a small part of Dageer mind, the emotional one, thought that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't high enough on the chain of command to be trusted with this information.
But now wasn't the time to think about this. Behind General Di, Hell Squad ran through one corridor after another. They passed by Kamino Security Team members going in the same direction as them, robots and kaminoan workers going on the opposite direction and cadets of all ages returning to their quarters.
Panic, and also a bit of angry, adorned the faces of the teenager cadets who were being led by a clone sergeant to their dormitories, away from the fight.
Rain kept falling over the platforms, buildings, and clones of Kamino. In fact, it had started raining even heavier. The Aiwhas - native creatures of Kamino, used by the natives for locomotion - were jumping happily out of the water.
Dozens of platforms were currently occupied by thousands of white armored men. The rain made heavy thuds when it hit their armor.
From one of the compounds, a bunch of clones led by a Nikto walked out. Some of them went to join the already there clones, while the rest followed the Nikto.
They arrived at the central platform, way bigger than the others, and where the cruisers landed when they needed to refuel. When they stopped they all looked up at the same time.
Above them, on the distant space, massive Munificent-class frigates and Providence-class dreadnoughts, and many of the smaller Gonzati-class cruisers jumped out of hyperspace one after the other.
Welcoming them were large Acclamator-class cruisers and Venator-class star destroyers, together with the small CR90 corvettes.
General Di turned to his troops and lifted his lightsaber.
"Soldiers! Get to your positions! I don't think I need to explain how important it is that we defend Kamino! Am I right?!"
"YES SIR!!!"
After the resounding response, the clones started to move and spread, and General Di turned to Keeli and Dageer.
"Now let's hope that Admiral Dao can keep those ships away long enough for us to prepare our defenses. May the force be with us."
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Up and above, past the black clouds and the green sky of Kamino.
On The Sincerity, a navy officer with many different symbols on his uniform was observing the starry space, now occupied by droid warships. His short, military-style hair gave him a strong and dangerous look.
Behind him, another officer came running and gave him a datapad. He didn't even look at it.
"What is the situation lieutenant?"
"Bad, admiral. Our scanners detected three Providence-class dreadnoughts, twenty-six Munificent-class frigates, and one hundred sixty-five Gonzati-class cruisers. Their fighters numbers are unknown by now, but according to our calculations there should be..."
"Enough. Their numbers are unimportant. General Di orders are to defend Kamino till our last starfighter, and so we will."
Admiral Dao walked back to the hologram table, taking his eyes off the magnitude sight of both Republic and CIS ships about to collide.
"Connect me with admirals Yazeb, Shan-To and Yularen. We will be responsible for holding section 3. Sections 1, 2 and 4 will have to find their own ways."
----------------------
Rozal's ARC-170 was heading Steel Battalion one hundred and eighty-three starfighters. Each ARC-170 needed three crew members plus an astromech to work perfectly.
Rozal had divided Steel Battalion into three groups, each with sixty-one starfighters, arranged on the usual 'V' attack formation.
The Republic had many similar battalions, scattered all around the planet of Kamino, but even so, they were nothing compared to the number of Vulture droids about to be thrown on them.
They had an advantage that made up for this though. The Vulture droids flew on a different number of patterns, but the pilots were able to grasp them quickly.
Batch after batch of Vultures left the hangars of the Munificent-class frigates and the Providence-class dreadnoughts, not to count the many Gonzati-class cruisers, smaller but still lethal.
Rozal, who was piloting, called his co-pilot, in the seat behind him.
"Hey, Bat, how are you doing there?"
"Systems online captain. We are ready to go."
"Spark, how is my favorite gunner doing?"
"On standby to blow some droids captain."
Rozal pressed a button on his panel, connecting him to the rest of Steel Battalion.
"Steel Battalion, this is Steel 1. Light up your engines."
"Steel 2 ready."
"Steel 3 on standby."
"Steel 4 can't wait."
"Steel 5 locked and ready to go."
...
...
...
Bat confirmed that Steel Battalion was prepared, and Rozal passed on the information to an officer on the capital ship, The Sincerity.
The officer wrote down everything he heard from all battalions and screamed to the top part of the bridge.
"Admiral! All ships ready and on standby!"
Admiral Dao responded simply.
"Wait for confirmation."
Found the name of the Admiral of the 303rd, on the series: Dao. I am changing the name I gave him before, so if any of you already read it and get confused, I am sorry.