บท 306: R2-D2
"Shuttle OME-05, send your... Bzzz... Clearance codes."
"Sending them through now. Bzz...?"
General Tiplar face palmed behind General Skywalker as the Jedi transferred the codes that Hondo had given them to the Lucrehulk-class Battleship before them. Several dozen of them, and many smaller ships, orbited around Geonosis, ready to fend off any attacks. They had learned their lesson after the Republic almost conquered the planet two times.
"OME-05, stand by..."
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Inside the one of the Battlespheres on the surface of Geonosis, Count Dooku listened to a green-skinned Nemodian.
"The Jedi scum came to rescue their kind, just as you said they would, my lord."
"Jedis... So predictable. What do the scans indicate?"
"Twenty-nine life forms. If our spies in the Chancellor's Office are correct, four Jedis recently left the Jedi Temple, for a secret mission."
"Who?"
"Masters Skywalker, Kenobi, Tiplar, and Tiplee."
"And the others aboard the shuttle?"
"Probably clones, my lord. The tactical droids estimate a ninety-two percent probability of special units Hell and Delta Squads being part of it."
Count Dooku's eyes shone if a glint if pleasure and cruelty when he heard his subordinate's words. Many of his personal enemies were on that ship.
"Should we destroy the shuttle, my lord?"
"No. I will deal with them myself. And tell my apprentice that the prey she has been waiting arrived."
"Yes, my lord. Right away."
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"We are going to die."
For the fifth time, Hondo repeated this sentence. The Jedis all had frowns on their faces while they waited for the answer from the Separatist Blockade. In a small shuttle, they had no chance of escaping, or even surviving, in case the seppies discovered them. It all depended on the codes that the outlaw had provided.
"I am inclined to agree with our pirate friend, Anakin."
"You two need to have a little more faith, Obi-Wan. It will work, don't worry. The droids just are a little slow."
"OME-05, you are clear to land... Bzzz... Go to your designated... Station."
Everyone let out a sigh of relief when they heard the clancker's voice through the speakers. Even the clones, who had stone-cold faces, relaxed their tense muscles.
"See? I told you it would work."
General Kenobi spoke faster than his old padawan could, already knowing what he would say. The three other Jedis, and Hondo, looked at him, and laughed nervously. The few minutes that it took for the access codes to go through felt like hours.
Now, however, they could land safely. They entered the atmosphere, and went towards the surface. Opening the lower ramp, they dropped down cables, so they could get off without the seppies suspecting something was wrong.
"R2, you are the captain now. And you, Hondo, don't even think of trying to go without us, or R2 will fry you."
Before he slid down the cables, Dageer saw General Skywalker talking to his droid, and small blue and white astromech unit. The droid chirped and whistled happily, showing that he understood, before extending a metal claw that let out blue sparks. The clone heard the scream of the pirate even though he was already touching the orange sand.
Soon, four figures jumped out of the ship, ignoring the help the cables provided. The Jedis landed softly, using the Force to slow down.
"Everyone knows your tasks. According to the map we have, there is an entrance to one of the many tunnel systems two clicks southeast from here. We will get there and then split up. Any questions?"
General Kenobi looked around, and saw several shaking heads. They had rehearsed the plan over and over again before coming to Geonosis. Now, they were on the point of no return.
"Good. Then, let's go, and may the Force be with us."
They all nodded, and started running. Dageer exchanged a glance with Boss, Hunter, and Doom, before sending Cell, Sev, and Bad Batch's Tech ahead. He didn't trust the Force as much as the Jedi did, and preferred to have first-hand intel, provided by his brothers. It didn't take long for them to contact him.
"We found the entrance, sir. There are bugs guarding it."
"Stay out of sight. How many?"
"Only three. Want us to take care of them?"
"Stand by, and wait for us. We can't let them know we are here until we find General Ragout."
"Roger that."
Dageer passed on what Cell told him to the Jedis, and they sped up. The group found the three clones they sent to scout ahead laying down behind a small elevation on the ground.
"Where are they?"
"Two have their back turned away from us, General Tiplar. The other one is on top of those rocks."
"All right. I will take him down. Master Skywalker, Tiplee, can you take the other two?"
The two Jedi were nodding when Dageer thought of something, and looked at Bad Batch. The four clones were clearly tense, and the commander couldn't blame them. He was also like that when he first stepped on Geonosis, three years ago. It seemed a lifetime away.
"Generals, permission to take care of the two bugs? We need to show Clone Force 99 how clones deal with Geonosians."
"Uhmm... Are you sure now is the best time, Dageer? Remember what is on the line."
"Hell Squad has done that many times, sir. There will be plenty of seppies for you to deal with later, General Skywalker."
After hesitating for a fraction of a second, the young Jedi nodded. He had faith in Hell Squad's ability. The two Jedi sisters looked slightly worried, but seeing how neither General Skywalker nor General Kenobi - or Delta Squad and Doom Legion, for what matters - were giving it a second thought, they didn't say anything.
General Tiplar crawled her way over to the rock were the Geonosian was positioned, taking several minutes, and the long way around. They couldn't risk it. Even Wrecker was extremely quiet, while Bad Batch watched carefully as Dageer and Brain sneaked forward, until they were just behind the seppies.
When General Tiplar used the Force to boost herself up, and slashed the bug in half with her lightsaber, the two clones also got into action.
Brain put his DC-15S around one of the Geonosian's neck, and twisted it hard. A 'crack' was heard, as if a dried up twig was breaking.
The second Geonosian probably heard or sensed something, because he tried to turn around, but Dageer's vibroblade was already cutting down on him. With almost no resistance, his head was severed from it's body.
All in all, it took a few seconds for the three seppies to be eliminated, and without a sound. That small demonstration was all that Bad Batch needed to understand why Dageer said they made too many unnecessary moves. The two clones, and the Jedi, had been lethal and efficient.
"The way is clear, generals."
"All right. We will follow our previous arrangement. Commander Dageer, their main foundries are that way. You will find a control panel there somewhere, and hopefully it will tell you where Master Ragout is being held."
"Roger that, General Tiplee. Hell Squad, let's move. And may the Force be with you, generals."
The Jedis grinned when they heard Dageer, and watched as the seven clones disappeared inside the tunnels. With a nod, the Jedis, Delta Squad, Doom Legion members, and Bad Batch went the other direction.
"May the Force be with all of us."
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