Chapter 116 - Lost Commander

Giant metal bodies, supported by sturdy legs, with one big cannon on the top, and four small ones in the front.

The mass-drive cannon needed some time to charge, but its power was undeniable. The AATs used by the Separatist were no match for it.

But what the Separatist lacked in firepower, they had in number. Half a minute after the first AT-TE touched the ground, one of them crumbled under the concentrated lasers of AATs and turrets.

But they had done their job. The AA turrets were in tatters, their crews buried or on fire.

Smoke was billowing in the air as Dageer walked in the trench. Hell Squad had made it inside the trench, but the other clones were facing problems.

"Tech, Brain and I will go to the right. Kuvu and Metal, left. Cell, come up here and help them. Dab, continue with the overwatch, you are free to fire at any clancker."

"Yes, sir."

Dageer's commands were simple. By splitting and following the trench line, they would catch the droids unaware. If they did that, more and more clones could enter the trench.

...

The sound on the battlefield was deafening, with explosions, lasers, and death cries. But, for Hell Squad, there was almost no noise. The trench was quiet, and only if they paid attention they could hear the battle noises.

Dageer stepped carefully on the ground, making almost no noise.

"Reloading."

"Unit R1-R3, where are you?"

"R1-R3 is dead."

"Owo..."

"Die, Republic sc.u.m!"

Not fifteen meters away from were Hell Squad split, Dageer ordered Tech and Brain to stop. From up ahead, he could hear the droids talking, although he couldn't see them.

Since they were so close, Dageer wasn't sure how the droids didn't hear when Hell Squad captured the trench block meters away. Maybe it was a trap, but why would they set a trap in the middle of a battle? Dageer doubted the clanckers were smart enough for that. Most likely they would just fire at the clones straight away. They probably were just dumb.

"Brain, do you have some detonators?"

"Always."

"Go ahead then."

One explosive device was thrown, and disappeared after the corner.

"Hey! What is th..."

The explosions sent soil flying in the air, which then hit the armor of Hell Squad, staining it with mud. But they couldn't care less at the moment.

A hole had been carved in the middle of the trench, and the charred remains of B1 battle droids were scattered around. Dageer kicked a droid torso away, knelt on the ground, and aimed at the droids a bit away.

One B2 super battle droid had turned to them, his rigid arm aiming his wrist rocket.

"Bzzz... there are clones here..."

The super battle droid fired its rocket, but Dageer jumped to the side, and all it hit was the trench wall, sending more mud splattering in the air.

Dageer's ears hurt, but he surprisingly didn't aim at the super battle droid, but the B1 units behind it.

He hit one droid in the chest and followed with a shot to the head. The second one his aim was a little off because of the explosion, and the laser hit the left arm of the droid right in the joint. The droid's arm was separated from its body, and his E-5 was lost. Losing a weapon in the middle of a battle meant death.

By the moment Dageer finished off the B1 battle droid, the super battle droid had changed its wrist rocket by the twin blasters on its other arm. Still, Dageer showed no intention of reacting to it, and concentrated his fire on the droids behind it.

Just before the B2 fired his powerful blasters, four shots hit it squarely in the chest, and brought it down.

Brain and Tech didn't stop there, but aimed at the next target. The reason why Dageer had completely ignored the dangerous B2 super battle droid was because he had full trust in his brothers.

This section of the trench was straight, and ended in one of the bunkers. That meant there was no cover, which was unfortunate. For the droids.

When the clones finished, about twenty droid bodies were laying on the bottom of the trench.

"Tech, open that door."

Tech went ahead and crouched next to the metal door. He tapped in his comlink, and connected two cables with the door control panel.

"Dag... zzzz... Dageer! Bzzz..."

"Commander? Commander Keeli? Are you all right? There is too much interf..."

"Dageer! Bzz... crashed! Zzzz... up... bzz... hill! We have... zzz... wounded."

"Wait a bit, commander. Let me find you. Tech, wait, don't open it yet."

Dageer lowered his macrobinoculars, and put his head above the trench. But there was too much smoke, and there were too many downed gunsh.i.p.s to find which one was Commander Keeli's.

"Dab! Commander Keeli was shot down! Find his Laat! Now!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Tech, get back to this bunker. We have to clear it before moving on."

"I am ready to open it as soon as you command, sir."

"Brain, pass me some detonators. I will be the one to blow those seppies."

Not knowing how his commander was, or whether he was injured or not, Dageer wasn't feeling good.

When Tech opened the door, Dageer rolled the thermal detonators inside the bunker, leading to a series of explosion.

Carefully stepping inside the bunker, blaster ready to fire, he saw two destroyed E-Webs and a dozen droids. He sat down and took a deep breath.

"Captain Narza, Hell Squad have taken control of the bunker at position 498A."

"We noticed, sir."

Captain Narza answered not by the comlink, but in person. He came out from the tunnels, leading a group of clones, including Lieutenant Fondor.

"The second trench is ours, sir."

"Good. By the way, captain, why are you in the tunnels?"

"I was hunting some seppies. Sir... what is wrong?"

"The commander is lost somewhere uphill. His gunship was shot down. He contacted me, but the transmission was terrible. When we find him, Hell Squad and a rescue group will go after him. Captain, you will be in command of the offensive while we are gone."

"Yes, sir."

"Now, rest up a little. In half an hour we re-start the attack. Dab, do you have eyes on Commander Keeli?"

"No, sir. Maybe after the battle calm down."

"Cell, how are you doing on your side?"

"Almost finishing up. A few dozen droids and we are done."

"Come to 498A. Leave the remaining droids to the others. Hell Squad will be needed soon."

"Yes, sir. Kuvu, Metal, let's go. Guard, take over."

Dageer had done all he could for the moment. Now, he could only hope Commander Keeli could wait until they found him.