บท 150: Cold Shower
Brain had just returned from a scouting mission when he saw the sub-commander of the 303rd Attack Legion, Dageer, sitting on a rock alone. For the last few days, the mixed group of 303rd troopers and galactic marines had been marching through the snow to get back to the main attack force on Mygeeto.
However, things were looking grim. Of the two hundred soldiers that left the valley of the Temple of Asheress, about twenty had died because of their wounds. Dageer himself had a broken arm that had been paining him for days.
Now, Brain noticed with interest, his officer was using a small rock to scratch his shoulder pad. Two small but clear lines could be seen on the armor piece, contrasting with the dark brownish-red that covered half of his Phase II armor.
"Sir? What are you doing?"
Dageer looked up to him, not surprised to see Brain ask. The clone was his most trusted soldier, and his closest friend. Dageer threw the stone away, and brushed his shoulder pad to clean the paint that he had scratched off. Because of his helmet, Brain couldn't see his face, but Dageer's eyes reflected a mix of pain and rage.
"When we were at this temple, that... thing... made me want to forget everything. It wanted me to forget Three-four, to forget General Di, Commander Keeli, and Hell Squad. To forget about the war, about all our brothers who died. About the sarge, about Berro, about Rothax, about everyone. In a way, I think that would be worst than treason."
Brain didn't know what to say. Dageer hadn't really answered his question, but he wasn't sure if he should ask again. Dageer had always been quite closed, and detached from his men, never interfering with them unless he thought it was necessary, but always following orders, and making sure they were being followed by his soldiers. It was the first time he ever talked about how he was feeling, and Brain stared at him silently. Thankfully for him, his superior officer didn't plan on leaving things like that.
"I don't want to ever forget about them, and above all else, I don't want to ever forget for what they thought. Each of those markings..."
He showed the two scratches on his armor.
"... are someone we took down because of them. Not just any droid, but those who represent everything we fight against. That medical droid, and that droid commando. And Ventress. I guarantee you, she has a place for her here, next to these two clanckers."
"And I assure you, sir, that someday we will put her marking there. For Berro."
"And for all our brothers fighting for the future of the galaxy."
After that, both clones stayed silent for many minutes, until Dageer finally recovered from his somber mood, and returned to his officer-like attitudes. Brain could help but smile. He knew that his squad leader was back, and more determined than ever.
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Dageer looked around the precarious camp that the clones had set. Snow was falling from the sky, but thankfully there was no wind, meaning that the clones were cold, but not freezing.
The two scratches he made on his armor attracted a lot of attention, especially since Brain couldn't hold back his tong, and told the others the reason he did it. Dageer thought it was for the best, since the troopers seemed more motivated than ever. And he had good news for them.
Dageer called his closest officers, namely Captain Narza, Captain Hilix, Thartam, and Hell Squad.
"Men, Brain brought us some good news. The bridge we need to cross is just seventy kilometers away. Considering our speed with the wounded, in two days we should be safe and sound on Republic territory."
There was a round of quiet cheers amongst the group of clones, but Dageer quickly silenced them. Probably it was just superstition, but he had seen too many troopers celebrate only to get killed by what they supposed wasn't a problem. Of course, there was a logical explanation. Whatever a soldier lowered his guard, for any reason, things could get nasty.
Either way, Dageer wasn't willing to gamble the life of his soldiers on just a prospect. He would only relax when he saw the Republic forces. In a war, there was no such thing as safety. Just crossing the bridge wouldn't mean that Ventress was forbidden from chasing them. At most, it meant that she would be wary of encountering a bigger enemy force than she expected.
Dageer was just about to conclude the meeting when a clone came looking for him. The clone got down from one of the STAPs they had stollen, and saluted Dageer.
"Sir! Clanckers on our trail."
"Distance? How many?"
"Maybe thirty kilometers behind us. It was just a scouting party, but the main force can't be far behind."
A round of curses replaced the cheers. Just when they thought they were almost out of danger, something like that happened.
"Did they see you, Sharp?"
Sharp, the clone who had just reported in, shook his head.
"I don't think so, sir. I was pretty far away from them."
"Uhmm... Thartam."
"Yes, sir?"
"Prepare the wounded. We are moving in ten minutes."
"But, sir... we can't! I haven't finished stabilizing them yet. If we move now, many will get worse. There will probably be casualties!"
Dageer looked straight at Thartam's eyes. He liked it even less than the medic did, because any death would be because of his orders. Unfortunately, time wasn't a commodity they had.
"And if we don't move now, we all will die. Captains, you heard me. Ten minutes."
"Yes, sir."
Immediately, the group of officers dispersed, leaving only Dab and Dageer behind. The sniper coughed to get Dageer's attention, who was lost in thought.
"If you have something to say, Dab, then say it, otherwise get moving. I want you on our rearguard."
Dab ignored the harshness of Dageer's voice.
"Sir, do you remember that avalanche we saw yesterday when we were crossing that gorge? A bunch of those white, climbing creatures disappeared under it."
Dageer clearly remembered, because it was terrifying, even though they were kilometers away from it. A group of creatures about four meters tall, and clearly adapted to the environment, disappeared like they were nothing under it. At the time, all Dageer could think about was that if it were the escaping clones stuck under it, less than half would have made it out alive.
"What so?"
Dab smiled cunningly, and Dageer instantly knew what was going on in his head. Sometimes he forgot how smart the sniper was, mainly because he almost never talked.
"If we could provoke one of those, the path of the clanckers would be blocked, and they would have to take a detour through one of the secondary roads we saw. That would give us all the time we need to get away, and more."
"And, if we are lucky, we might even bury a few of them. It sure will be well deserved. Dab, gather Hell Squad. It's been some time since we've done something together."
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