Chapter 172 - Facing A Thousand With Seven

Hawk was one of the best pilots that the 501st Legion had, and so, he was assigned not to his usual starfighter, but to a Laat.

As most clones, he rarely discussed his orders, and this time was no different. While he was prepping the gunship to fly, he saw nine people enter the Laat. Two of them were using brown Jedi robes, presumably one master and one padawan. The other seven were clones wearing red and brown armor.

Differently from the others, those clones didn't have a fixed pattern to their armor's paint. The thickness of the armor also seemed different than normal.

The soldier walking in the front was clearly the leader. He had his helmet under his arm, showing his face which had a red scar crossing over his right eye. His right shoulder pad had many small scratches, probably made by him, since they were too uniform to be battle marks.

Hawk could only think of one squad who used such armor with such colors. And if he was right, it was no wonder that they were going to attack an enemy ship with only seven clones. After all, few in the Republic Army could match Hell Squad. They were an example to be followed, their tactics and battles even discussed in classes on the training facilities of Kamino. The stories of how seven clones took down a Battlesphere and became a special unit on their first battle had reached every clone in the galaxy.

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Unaware of the pilot who was remembering every which one of Hell Squad's deeds, Dageer was checking his soldiers one last time. As if Hell Squad would go into a battle unprepared.

Dab had his DC-15x on his back, and was caring his backup blaster, a DC-15S. Metal had his double-barrel repeating blaster on his hands, and many magazines strapped to his chest. Brain and Three-four had their DC-15As on hands, Tech was checking on his datapad, which he used to hack into doors on missions like that.

Cell, however, had a different weapon than normal on his hands. Something which looked like a DC-15S, but smaller and rounder. Dageer raised an eyebrow, making his scar more pronounced.

"You are using that? I thought you hated it."

Cell shrugged. He was the clone on Hell Squad that liked blasters the most after Metal and Dab. When he said he hated a weapon, it usually meant that it met his requirements for a scout.

"It is too loud for me. But they know we are coming anyway, so it doesn't matter. Besides, I am also bringing this old buddy here."

He patted his DC-15S, which had followed him since the first battle on Geonosis. Dageer shrugged. Hell Squad had much more liberty than other clones, and they all knew how to use each and every blaster on the Republic's armory. He wasn't worried that Cell would get in trouble for using a blaster he wasn't used to.

"Brain."

"Yes, sir?"

"Droid poppers only. I don't want any supplies damaged by a bad grenade."

"Have you ever seen I throw a bad grenade?"

"You heard me."

Dageer ignored the grin he knew the clone had on his face, and turned to the two Jedis, who were talking quietly at one side. They couldn't be more different than General Skywalker and his padawan.

The Laat had already taken off, and although the battle hadn't started yet, Dageer knew that it wouldn't take long for the Separatist convoy to detect the ambush.

"Dageer! Our entry point is the lower hanger. From there on, we have to take the lifts, and get to the command bridge."

"There will be hundreds, if not thousands of clanckers, sir."

"I know. That is why Hell Squad is doing it, and not other clones."

Dageer chuckled. The Jedi knew him well enough to understand that Dageer wasn't worried about the number of droids. Sh.i.p.s were one of the best battlegrounds for small groups. They were full of chokepoints where a small and well-trained group - like Hell Squad - could hold an army for hours.

"Hold on, generals! Things are going to get a little rough out here!"

Locked inside the Laat like they were, they weren't able to see what was happening outside, but Hawk could. Thousands of Vulture droids and a few hundred Tri-fighters launched themselves out of the warsh.i.p.s escorting the two cargo sh.i.p.s.

Noises of battle sounded loud as the two sides crashed into one another. In the initial engagement, dozens, if not hundreds, of starfighters exploded on both sides.

The Republic, however, had the advantage of surprise. While the Republic cruisers were facing directly towards the enemy escort, the Separatist sh.i.p.s were turned sideways, and, as such, only half of their turrets could be used.

Big explosions burst holes on the sides of two Munificent-class frigates as the laser cannons of the Acclamator-class cruisers battered them while they didn't have the chance to react.

"Master Di! We are approaching their sh.i.p.s! They hadn't noticed us yet!"

General Skywalker's voice was loud enough for Dageer to hear it even though he was speaking to General Di. The Nikto answered briefly, and turned to Dageer, who nodded.

Dageer went to the c.o.c.kpit, and yelled in Hawk's ear, so the clone could hear him.

"How long to the target?!"

"Thirty seconds, sir!"

Dageer counted the seconds as they approached the cargo sh.i.p.s. When fifteen seconds went by, he turned on his comlink.

"Boss! Fifteen seconds! Bombers, open a path!"

Acknowledging his orders, the two Y-Wings speed up. Dageer could see their photon torpedoes being charged through the c.o.c.kpit's glass.

And then everything went wrong.

If Dageer was listening to the starfighters' pilots, he would have heard one of them scream when a Tri-fighter hit him with a concussion missile. His V-Wing caught on fire for a few seconds before the vacuum extinguished the flames, and his entire left wing was ripped off.

The pilot was already dead, and the already damaged starfighter lost control, and went spinning into space. And crashed into the Y-Wing.

Both starfighters exploded, the impact making Dageer's Laat shook. His eyes half-closed because of the explosion, Dageer saw the other Y-Wing released two torpedoes, hitting the ray shield of one cargo ship, taking it down. Delta Squad's gunship landed inside it seconds before the emergency doors closed.

"General! We lost our bomber!"

"What?!"

There was nothing General Di could do, Jedi or not. The turrets of the nearby frigate were already turning towards them, and a squadron of Vulture droids was on their tail. They needed to do something.

"Bomber 2! Turn back and take the other shield!"

"Their defenses are too thick, sir! We can't!"

"That is an order! Do it!"

Dageer's commanding tone made the Y-Wing turn backs around, and fly towards them. Explosions boomed all around him, but somehow, the bomber managed to get through them, and take its place in front of the Laat.

Its photon torpedoes were charging once more when it was hit by a turret. It slowed down tremendously, but somehow, managed to stay on its course. The torpedoes were fired, taking down the ray shields. Almost instantly, it also was hit by a missile, and blew up.

Using the small window of time, Hawk pushed the Laat to its limits, and the gunship barely went through, almost getting crushed by the emergency doors.