Chapter 58 - Don't Give Up

Dead droids were pilling up in the hundreds, but the clones were paying a hefty price for it. Members of the Kamino Security Team and of the 303rd Attack Legion were getting gunned down left and right as the droids continued on their unwavering efforts to take Kamino.

By now, two hours on the fight, the defending troops retreated to a complex of platforms a few hundred meters away from where they started. Using the crates and blast shields that the clones had settled, mechanical feet stepped on dead clones and droids, heading to the buildings where hundreds of thousands of clones were growing.

By now Dageer had already lost count of how many clanckers he had killed. He, as well Hell Squad and Commander Keeli, was on the frontlines, retreating when needed, all the while fighting.

Dageer finished reloading his DC-15A and got up to fire once more, as he had been doing for hours. However, before he got up a volley of red lasers killed three or four clones, making him rethink.

While crouching Dageer looked to his side, where five members of the Kamino Security Team and on clone of the 303rd were. There were originally twenty or so clones at that position, but now they were all that was left. Dageer made a 'retreat now' sign and then an 'I will cover' to his brothers.

He looked a little bit above the crates and then hid his head once more. The droids had advanced a lot after one round of suppressive fire. Dageer was hoping to give his brothers a little time to escape and then make a run for it, but once again things didn't go as planned.

Before anyone could retreat, or Dageer could deploy cover fire, a thermal detonator as thrown. The little ball rolled until it touched the feet of one of the clones. He looked down to see what it was, and then the detonator exploded.

Dageer had a vision of the clones being thrown in the air and spinning as they fell off the bridge into the sea below them. Then that vision disappeared as it as replaced by gray clouds, parts of the bridge, sea and gray clouds again.

He fell into the agitated sea, not hearing anything because of the blast. The ice-cold water was probably what saved him, as the cold shocked him out of unconsciousness.

Dageer swan up and broke to the surface. Above the water was much more aggressive, big waves going forth. He took off his helmet, that was at the moment making things worse. After that he could hear something, although muffled. When he touched his ears he sensed blood, but besides that, he wasn't very hurt.

A bit away he saw something white contrasting with the green water. It was one of the Kamino Security Team clones, his left side totally burned and his armor destroyed. The clone had no pulse.

Dageer left the floating body behind and swam towards one of the huge pillars that sustained the platforms of Kamino. There were elevators and stairs on it, which he could use to get back up.

When he got to the base of the pillar he heard someone or something walking from the other side of it. It could be one of the clones, but it could also be one of the droids.

He had, of course, lost his blaster on the fall so he could only hide and wait for the owner of the steps he was hearing to come, and ambush him.

As the sound drew closer Dageer tensed up. When one figure entered his line of sight he threw himself over it, and both fell and rolled, nearly getting into the sea again.

It was only at that moment Dageer saw the face of his opponent, the clone of the 303rd that fell with him.

"Damn! I am sorry Berro, I thought you were a clancker!"

"No worries sir. Better safe than sorry. Are you hurt somewhere?"

"No. We need to get back there. Did you find someone else on the water?"

"I think it is only us sir."

"Then let's waste no more time."

Dageer and Berro entered the elevator. Both of them had lost their weapons and had only their fists to battle whatever droid they encountered on the way.