Chapter 211 - Collapse Of The Right Flank

"Kakakakakaka... Harahar!!!"

"Kill... Kill... Kill!"

"Sir? Sir!"

"Kill... Them all... Kakakaka..."

"Sir! Wake up!"

"Kill!!!"

"Uff! Ugh..."

Dageer put his hand on his head, trying to stop the throbbing pain, but his helmet was on the way. Taking it off, he was finally able to open his eyes.

Blood dropped off his old scar, now reopened, and he wiped it with the back of his hand. Three-four was next to him, his armor covered in dust, his helmet nowhere to be seen. The other members of Hell Squad were m.o.a.ning on the ground, together with Twi'leks and clones.

Glancing at the surroundings, Dageer realized he could hear almost nothing. His ears were buzzing, and every noise sounded... distant. He knew this was a sign he had hit his head badly. That would also explain the pain. However, his hearing was slowly but surely returning.

"Ugh..."

He heard a trooper m.o.a.n next to him, and turned to see the clone getting up. He had been closer to where the AAT hit than Dageer, and was visibly dizzy.

Dageer and the clone saw the same thing at the same time. B1 battle droids, and a B2 super battle droid, towered above them, their blasters aiming directly at the poor soldier's face.

"Ahhh!!!"

Dageer half jumped, half rolled, out of the way just in time to dodge. He heard more freedom fighters and clones scream as they were brutally executed, and heard Dab and Tech yell in pain.

For the second time this day, he grabbed his vibroblade. He threw it, and the weapon pierced the chest of a clancker. That got the attention of the others, and they turned to him.

Just when Dageer thought he was going to die, a storm of blue lasers destroyed the nearby droids. He looked behind him, and saw Metal with his back on the ground, holding his double-barrel repeating blaster above him.

Nodding his thanks to the clone, Dageer grabbed a DC-15S on the ground, put his helmet on, and fired at the droids.

"Commander?! Are you there? The seppies are breaching our defenses. The right flank won't be able to hold for much longer!"

"Wait."

There was a long pause after Commander Keeli said that, as if he was talking to someone else who Dageer couldn't hear. After a while, he heard the voice of the commander again, a lot somber this time.

"Fall back, Dageer. Get Hell Squad to stay on the back. We need time to move our troops."

"Move the troops? Why?"

Dageer was confused when he heard Commander Keeli through the comlink. He had been told multiple times that this was their last stand. Either they defeated the droids there, or they all died.

"General's orders. Syndulla is fleeing with his people. That is, if he is able to. Do as I said, and retreat. The general will explain his idea later."

"Yes, sir."

Dageer became even more confused. There was nowhere for Syndulla to flee, even more after the right flank collapsed. And those orders from General Di were very weird. The only reason to move the troops would be if...

Suddenly, Dageer understood what the Jedi wanted. And if he was right, then he had to meet with General Di as soon as possible.

"Hell Squad! We are covering the retreat. Everyone, fall back!"

The clones looked at him surprised, but followed his orders without hesitation. The freedom fighters didn't understand the implications behind it, and just were glad they could get away from the fight.

Lifting his DC-15S, Dageer grabbed the vibroblade stuck into the chest of the droid, and fired at the clanckers. He didn't miss a shot.

---------------------------

General Di and Commander Keeli were talking further behind their defense lines when the right flank collapsed.

Dageer had just told him, but they could see that from their position. The clones were fighting bravely, but they were being overwhelmed. He didn't wait for Dageer to finish talking, and warned General Di. However, a very angry Cham Syndulla got to them fist, riding his Blurrg.

"What about reinforcements?"

Gobi, and several other Twi'leks, followed Syndulla, and surrounded General Di and Commander Keeli, hoping to hear a positive answer. General Di looked at the civilians cowering behind them, but he couldn't bring himself to lie. So, he could only try to give them the slightest bit of hope.

"Communication has been spotty. But I promise you, Cham, the Republic will not abandon Ryloth."

When he said that, General Di looked up, and watched the Separatist fleet above them. More sh.i.p.s had arrived today, including a Lucrehulk-class Battleship. The Separatist blockade was almost impenetrable now. He wished Syndulla would trust him, but even he didn't believe in his own words.

Syndulla circled around the Nikto, looking at him from above his Blurrg. He knew they didn't have too much of a chance, but seeing his people dying in droves made him lose his reasoning. In no moment did he consider that the 303rd lost much more than him.

"I've heard enough of your promises, Jedi. But the fact remains. If we stay here without reinforcements, we are going to die."

Commander Keeli lifted his head and looked at the freedom fighters' leader. He didn't like where this was going.

"Gobi, tell the people we are leaving."

"Yes, Cham."

The worst of Commander Keeli's predictions came true. Syndulla had been blinded by his rage and disappointment, and was going to ignore the pieces of advice of General Di.

"I don't think you understand! The right flank has collapsed! There is no leaving! We are stuck in here together!"

Commander Keeli felt it was necessary to yell at Syndulla until the Twi'lek came back to his senses, but General Di stopped him with a gesture. It was useless to try and change Syndulla's mind.

The Twi'lek just glanced at him, and urged his mount to run. He was going to flee with his people, with or without the Republic. Only much later did he understand the choice he forced General Di to make, and the results of his actions. However, it was too late for regret. The decision he made that day haunted him for years.

...

After he ordered Dageer to retreat, and told the sub-commander that General Di had a plan, Commander Keeli sat on a rock for a moment, and took off his helmet. The helmet was still the same he used back on Geonosis, with the two brownish-red horns painted on the front. It was also the symbol of the 303rd Attack Legion, and a reminder of all the troopers who lost their lives under his command.

Around him, Twi'leks and clones were doing their best to move supplies and injured away from the approaching battlefield.

"Commander?"

He looked up, and saw Dageer standing in front of him. The clone was battered, to say the least. Laser marks, dust, and blood adorned his armor, giving off an eerie vibe. The members of Hell Squad, behind him, weren't much better.

"Are we going to do what I think we are going to do?"

Commander Keeli sighed. Dageer was sharp. He didn't even need to tell his second-in-command what General Di planned. He was glad that back on Scarif, he chose Dageer to be the sub-commander. He doubted they would have survived for as long as they did if the clone, and his special squad, weren't there.

"Yeah. We are."

"Then we better get to work, right, sir?"

Dageer stretched his arm, and Commander Keeli grinned. Putting his helmet back on, he grabbed Dageer's forearm, and pulled himself up.

"Let's get to work."