Chapter 190 - Success... Maybe? (1/2)

”What about vehicles?”

”Then things get really bad, general. They brought out the big toys.”

Everyone looked at Cell, and the scout closed his eyes to remember exactly how many vehicles there were. He knew wrong information was a mistake they couldn't afford to make.

”About a hundred STAPs, and twenty AATs. There were also forty or fifty Dwarf-Spider droids. I also saw three MTTs. And that wasn't all. There are six vehicles I never saw. They are like a big ball held by a few dozen meters tall legs. However, I recognized their weapons. Three laser cannons.”

Commander Keeli's face became serious.

”Tri-droids. This is bad.”

Syndulla looked at Miwy, who nodded, confirming Cell's report.

”How do you know there are eighteen thousand of them?”

Cell looked at Commander Keeli, and the clone nodded, allowing him to tell this kind of information to Syndulla.

”You add the officers, then multiply by the number of troops each rank had. Then you add a corresponding number of B2 super battle droids.”

”And what are Tri-droids?”

This time it was Commander Keeli who answered, since, amongst the clones, only he and Dageer knew what they were.

”A huge death ball. Their laser cannons can easily blow up an entire platoon. Their height gives them a huge range, but is also their weakness. The way to take them down is to destroy two or three legs, and when they fall, concentrate all your fire right in the middle. It is where their core is.”

”That doesn't sound so bad.”

Commander Keeli looked at the Twi'lek who spoke, Yate. The freedom fighter was an idiot if he couldn't recognize the danger of the Separatist weapons.

”Wait till they are firing at you.”

”That is enough. Let's get moving.”

General Di interrupted Commander Keeli, and ordered the group to get into action. Syndulla commanded his men to do the same, and they started to follow their plan.

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”Retreat!”

Dageer quickly yelled to the people around him, and fired at the incoming droids to hold them back.

”Metal, Tech, and Dab, stay with me! The rest, move back!”

Both clones and Twi'leks followed his orders without hesitation. Dageer had proven himself to be a leader worthy of their trust.

”Ahhhh!”

A Twi'lek that wasn't quick enough was hit in the back, and fell face-first to the ground. Dageer rolled behind cover, and checked the freedom fighter. Dead.

He wasn't the first. Between troopers and freedom fighters, at least ten combatants were dead. Of course, the droids had played a hefty price, since two of their Tri-droids and several Dwarf-Spider droids and AATs were destroyed.

Dageer looked at his comlink, but it was still out, leaving him unable to contact General Di, Ragout, Commander Keeli or Syndulla. After being attacked, the droids were quickly to jam communications and counterattack.

”Move back, quick! To the first outpost!”

Using his DC-17, Dageer quickly emptied the magazine in a B2 unit, almost melting it down. The attack went well initially, but soon they started to be suppressed by the clanckers, forcing them to retreat after suffering casualties.

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Two hours earlier.

General Di looked at the surrounding leaders, and started splitting them into two groups.