Chapter 246 - Chip Malfunction?

"Grievous is up there. Retreat now, Dageer. That's an order!"

Dageer clenched his hands. The highly obedient and disciplined soldier in him was screaming that he followed his orders and aborted the mission. However, a small part of him, one that he didn't know was there, but which was growing battle after battle, told him that he couldn't. If they could take out the destroyer, then maybe the droids would stop working, and the Republic wouldn't have to take another loss. They couldn't afford to lose. He couldn't afford to lose, not immediately after Ryloth.

"We will deal with Grievous when he comes to us, general. Leave the system. Hell Squad will find a way out of this, or we will die taking a whole destroyer with us."

"Commander! I gave you an order! Leave this ship, now!"

"Dageer out."

He turned off his comlink. Tech and Three-four were looking at him, unsure of what to do. On one hand, they couldn't disobey a direct order given by a Jedi general. On the other, they also couldn't bear to leave their mission unfinished.

"Commander?"

"You heard me. We complete our mission. At most we will die, and if we are lucky, we will bring Grievous with us."

They nodded. Their blood made them want to follow their orders, but Dageer had been their leader, and their brother, for as long as they remembered. Their respect for him wasn't something anyone could compare. They wouldn't hesitate to follow him even to certain death, whatsoever now, when they already had a plan to escape the ship. Whatever happened later, they would deal with it.

On the other side of the destroyer, Brain heard everything. He nodded to himself, and ordered Dab to deactivate the protection mechanism as soon as possible.

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The Venator-class Cruiser rumbled as several laser cannon shots landed on it's shields. General Unduli looked back at the leading ship of the Separatist offense. A squad of seven clones had disobeyed her orders, and stayed there, instead of retreating.

Unfortunately for Hell Squad, even if they destroyed the Recusant-class Destroyer, and even if the droids stopped working, it would be too late for the Republic. The 41st fleet had already lost several sh.i.p.s, and had no option but to escape.

"What happened, Master Unduli?"

She turned around and glanced at General Secura and General Plo Koon. Commanders Wolffe, Bly, and Gree were behind them.

"Hell Squad decided to complete their mission, regardless of the cost. Admiral, give the order. We are leaving."

A Botham, the admiral of her fleet, nodded. In a few seconds, the Republic cruisers and corvettes disappeared, entering hyperspace.

"What is their plan?"

"I don't think they have a plan, commander. You know them better than I do. Now, their fate is on their own hands."

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"My lord, you asked for frequent reports on Hell Squad."

On a well-lit room in Coruscant, Grand Chancellor Palpatine was looking at some doc.u.ments when a Senate Guard in red armor approached him. Glancing up, he flashed a warm smile at the guard, who, in turn, shuddered. He knew that under the facade of a good man, was a vicious and merciless killer.

"Yes, I did. They are a powerful tool, one that we must groom and use carefully. Tell me."

The Senate Guard bowed, and started his report.

"Yes, my lord. We think that there might be a problem with their ch.i.p.s. A few minutes ago, they disobeyed a direct order from a Jedi."

"Ohh? That shouldn't be possible. Their ch.i.p.s control them so they will follow even a command to kill themselves. What happened?"

"I already reported it to the Kaminoans. They will analyze their data, but they think it may be because of Ryloth. The impact of losing their entire legion could have been too much, and overrode the ch.i.p.s."

"Has any of the survivors of their legion showed the same symptoms?"

"A few, but not as pronounced as them."

Chancellor Palpatine frowned, and put a hand on his chin, thinking. It was too soon. He couldn't risk the ch.i.p.s being discovered. His plan wasn't complete yet. Maybe he would have to kill Hell Squad. They were a unit he would like to have near to him in the future, but if needed be...

"My lord? Should we bring them in for... Repairs?"

Suddenly, the chancellor raised his hand, forming a claw, and the Senate Guard was pulled up in the air. His hands instinctively grabbed his throat, trying to release whatever was suffocating him, but there was nothing there.

"That would be too suspicious. No, we will wait. You said other soldiers of the 303rd showed similar actions, didn't you?"

"Y-Yes, my l-lor-lord."

Chancellor Palpatine unclenched his hand, and the guard fell to the ground, gasping for air. When he looked up, he saw the chancellor right in front of him, a smile on his face.

"Choose one of those clones. Modify his chip so the regulator fails at some moment. Then we will have a reason to verify the ch.i.p.s of all clones, including Hell Squad. And, remember, don't tell this to anyone. Not even the Kaminoans."

"I understand, my lord."

"Good. And, just to make sure the chip is working, after you do that, throw yourself off the side of the Senate. Make it look like an accident."

The Senate Guard stumbled, terrified. However, something inside of him made him feel that it was a normal order. After a few seconds of shocked confusion, he nodded. He had his orders, he would follow them.

The chancellor grinned creepily. A few minutes later, he put on a sad expression when he received the news that one of his personal guards had tripped into a gonk droid, and unfortunately was sent over the railings, and crashed into the ground three hundred floors below.

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"How long do you need, Tech?!"

"Fourteen seconds!"

"And how long before it all blows up?"

"Six minutes."

"Brain, how are you there?"

"Same thing, sir. We will be in time."

"Good."

"Eight seconds! Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two... One! We are ready."

"Us too!"

"Do it."

Tech pulled down a lever, and, instantly, red lights lit up, as sirens warned every personal to evacuate the ship. Once the protection mechanism was deactivated, there was no turning back.

"Let's go! Brain, meet us at the escape pods."

"Roger that."

When they were halfway through the bridge, Dageer looked back to the energy cell. It was now entirely red, and several holes appeared in the shields.

"Clanckers!"

Turning back after hearing Three-four yell, Dageer saw two dozen B1 units blocking their way. Thinking of the giant explosion that would happen in a few minutes, Dageer fired his blaster.

"Only way out is forward!"

The seppie that he hit fell to the side, into the insides of the ship. Tech and Three-four also fired their blasters, and several droids died and fell, some bringing others with them. However, the bridge was too narrow, and it didn't have any cover.

When Tech stepped back to dodge a volley of red lasers, his foot touched empty air. Because of the sudden lack of support, he stumbled backwards.

Just when he thought it was over for him, a hand grabbed his leg, and he hanged upside down. His blaster and helmet disappeared below. Looking up, he saw Dageer holding him with one hand, while using the other to grab the bridge's side and steady himself.