Chapter 207 - The Last Call For Help (1/2)

Hell Squad watched as their last AT-TE crumbled under the rockslide that the Hyena-class bomber caused.

Suddenly, Dageer felt a sharp pain in his leg, and was forced to kneel. Lieutenant Shield, who was beside him, turned around, fired at the incoming droids, and pulled Dageer to cover.

”Ugh... How bad is it?”

Lieutenant Shield looked at the injury in Dageer's leg, and took off the armor around his calf. He called for Three-four, and the medic quickly ran over to them.

”Don't worry, sir. It went right through. Just let me bandage it, and you should be able to walk normally.”

While Three-four was treating the wound, Dageer took some painkillers that the clone gave him. In two minutes, he got up again. His leg still hurt, but as Three-four said, he could walk, and even run.

”All right, boys, we are falling back. No need to wait for orders. Hell Squad, on me! We are the rearguard here. Shield, get some squads to do the same on the rest of the trench.”

”Yes, sir.”

Soon, the Republic started a slow but organized retreat to the canyons and gorges behind them. The droids followed suit, but they had to pay a hefty price for every meter of ground they won.

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After splitting up with Dageer, Commander Keeli ran across the trench, firing his pistols wildly. More than once, when the clanckers were about to break into the Republic's defenses, he showed up just in time to stop them. Thanks to years of specialized training, and months of non-stop battles, the commander was better than normal clones by a lot. Still, his armor was full of scratches and blast marks, but he wasn't hurt. At least not too much.

He found General Di just in time to watch the Hyena-class combat clash in the cliffside and destroy the AT-TE. The Jedi was deflecting lasers side by side with his padawan, Ragout.

”Keeli! We have to order retreat!”

”That is why I came looking for you, general. And now that we don't have heavy vehicles anymore...”

The Jedi deflected another laser, spinning his lightsaber. Commander Keeli crouched, and fired at the far away droids. Ragout was also doing his part, using his green lightsaber to send back one laser after another.

”Master Di!”

General Di, Ragout, and Commander Keeli turned around to see a beige Twi'lek, with a number of scars, approaching them. Syndulla was riding one of the creatures used by the freedom fighters. The Blurrgs looked like big lizards, with two powerful hind legs, and small arms. The had a big mouth full of sharp teeth, but were very docile.

”Syndulla.”

”We don't have any more medical supplies. We need to flee now.”

Syndulla had an expression full of concern in his face. He could see his people dying in droves around him. And he had yet to learn that his son died. One could only imagine the impact that this news would have on him. After all, he had only recently told Tae Boon that he was his father, and for now, few knew this truth, so nobody bothered to tell him about another dead Twi'lek.

General Di spun, reflecting a volley of red lasers, and turned to Commander Keeli and Ragout.

”Keeli, call the retreat. Ragout, guide the injured out of here.”