Chapter 151 - Avalanche (1/2)

Dageer, Tech, Brain, Metal, Cell, and Dab sat at the top of a mountain, looking down to the road that the escaping clones were following. Now, the clones were already out of their line of sight, even though they had slowed down because of the wounded. However, the signs of the small camp that they set could be clearly seen.

While Cell was analyzing the road below, on lookout for the droids, Dageer was going over their plan again.

”Tech already set the charges. When the clanckers get here, they will probably stop to search through what we left behind. That is when we will blow the detpacks.”

To make sure that the droids stopped, they had left very clear signs that they had been there.

If everything went according to the plan, at least part of the droids would stop there, and then Hell Squad would blow up a piece of the mountain, triggering an avalanche.

”Cell, can you see them?”

”Not yet, sir.”

Dageer crouched next to Cell, and lowered his macrobinoculars. He could see farther than Cell, but still saw no signs of the droid army they were expecting. According to Sharp, they weren't too far behind, and clanckers didn't need to rest, only recharge.

Then he saw something at the far end of his line of sight. A group of the creatures they had been seeing in the last days was running towards them. Dageer focused behind the fleeing bunch, and soon the first B1 battle droids appeared, followed by B2 units and AATs. Thankfully, Droidekas had a hard time rolling on the snow, so Ventress didn't bother to bring some.

Right in front of the approaching Separatist force, Dageer saw Ventress herself. Suddenly, she looked up, directly at Dageer. For a moment, he thought that he had been seen, but then Ventress shook her head.

Dageer dropped down to the snow, in case she ordered any droid to search his position with binoculars. She probably felt that he was watching her, but even for a Force-sensitive being, the distance was too great to actually see something. Just in case, Dageer preferred to get out of sight.

”Retreat. Tech, are the charges ready?”

”Yes, sir.”

”Good. We have about an hour before they get here. Let's get ready.”

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”Captain.”

”Yes, madam? Bzzz...”

”Send a patrol ahead. I have a feeling we are about to catch up with the clones.”

”Yes, bzzz... madam.”

Very soon, three droids left the big group on STAPs, and flew ahead, lifting patches of snow as they went by.

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Hell Squad had moved from the top of the mountain to somewhere far from both the droid army and the path of the avalanche.

”Sir! They sent a patrol! Three clanckers. ”

Cell warned them, and the clones all grabbed their blasters nervously, especially Metal. He was anxious to try out his new double-barrel repeating blaster. With a move from his hands, however, Dageer ordered them to stand down.

”If this patrol doesn't return, they will know we are here. We have to hide. Quickly, bury yourselves!”

”Erm... what?”