Chapter 45 - Skyguy

Kenobi and Anakin were sent to a large factory a couple hundred miles to the South of the current battle. Diesel wanted them to take out a big factory to limit the amount of droid reinforcements. The small strike force of Rex's Brigade and the two Jedi arrived near the location of the droid factory.

"Anakin we will strike the factory from the left side pushing past the gun emplacements. Rex stay behind us, we will provide as much protection as we can."

"Pardon me Sir, as right given to me by the Spartans we will refuse those orders. We are not expendable soldiers who will charge blindly into a heavy fortified arena.Sadly, Diesel was right that the Jedi are blind to a real battle."

"What do you mean?"

"Master Kenobi after the tactical meeting Diesel decided the Jedi were lacking in every aspect of war. He believed the Jedi would try to brute force their way into winning battle rather than think tactically avoiding deaths."

"Isn't that what they do? Charge in blindly?"

"Is that how you see it Anakin? They have provided us with ample cover in every battle. For example in the arena, you would of charged blindly into those droids trying to save the others. While they gave us a shield and a protected formation."

"Isn't your loyalty to the Republic not the Mandalorians? Shouldn't you be skeptical of the order coming from them?"

"No, this battle is being fought for the Republic. There was no prior chain of command when entering this battle. Meaning Instructor Dom would be the higher rank then the Jedi are currently and with Diesel being his commander naturally it falls to him. Beside the Jedi agreed that the 300th would stay under the Mandalorians command. Experience outweighs everything that is something the Jedi do not have."

"Then what does the 300th plan to do?"

"Isn't it obvious? Lantern how close is that cliff to the factory?

"From the wall roughly 200 feet sir!"

Rex wanted to enter the facility quietly so he had the Jack and Lantern with a couple standard provide over watch as the rest launched grapples into the base. Sliding down into the factory.

"Lantern to Rex the droids in the tower have been neutralized, haven't been spotted yet."

"Good, Squads 2 and 3 clear the buildings. Keep things quiet."

The Jedi followed the clones and watched them expertly dispatch droid after droid without being noticed. There was no need for the Jedi to be here. They were bringing nothing to the table except mindless chatter.

Captain Rex and the two Jedi entered the main building and were moving along one of the corridors. Eventually reaching a room with a few Geonosians with a holo image of Count Dooku. Captain Rex signaled two clones to apply detonators to the walls of the room and began moving.

"Another couple thousand droids will be ready to enter the battle in a few minutes Count." Slowly the voices in the factory started fading out. Reaching the main reactor. The group began placing charges all over the reactor readying it to blow.

"Lantern to Rex, they know you're there! Get out of there fast!" Almost like the droids were listening they began appearing all over the reactor room. Trapping the clones and the Jedi in the room. The clones took defensive positioning around the reactor in hope that the droids wouldn't fire towards it. This allowed them a few moments of freedom. Anakin took a position at the front and held the bridge from the approaching droids while Kenobi provided cover to the rear.

The droids numbered seemed endless. Luckily squads 2 and 3 were able to break through the droid blockade opening a path towards Kenobi. Forcing the clones to retreat towards the exit. It didn't matter what corridor they turned down; they were forced to fight their way out. Nearing the exit of the factory another group of clones were being held down by the droids thankfully Lantern and Jack were covering them from above. Giving them some breathing room. Slowly the clones fought their way out. That was when one of the clones finally took a hit .

"RipTide! Grab him we got to go!"

"No Sir! I will not allow any of our brothers get killed because of me! I'll hold them here go!" Riptide reaches up taking away the switch for the detonators.