Chapter 273 - Kessel (1/2)
Dageer was proved wrong. Hiigi didn't try to kill him, although his eyes flashed with resentment. However, Dageer also wasn't able to get anything from him. Clearly, the mon calamari's hatred for the clones, or, more specifically, for Hell Squad, ran deep. The feeling was mutual. Hiigi had given painful deaths to many of their brothers, and they wouldn't forget that.
Even after a few hours, the mon calamari refused to write anything that might be useful, and only kept growling whenever the name 'Grievous' was mentioned. He looked more like an animal than an intelligent species. Whatever made him lose his voice, also made him lose part of his sanity, and that made him even more dangerous.
...
After being released from duty, Hell Squad went to the Revontre, as they usually did. Since they were on Coruscant, they might as well enjoy it.
In the end, only General Yoda himself was able to make Hiigi 'talk'. The Jedi wouldn't talk to just anyone, since he was leading a war, but every small clue they had on General Grievous whereabouts was too important to be ignored.
”To the Outer Rim, go you must. Kessel, there Grievous is. Careful, however, you have to be. A home to thieves and robbers, the planet is.”
General Piell nodded to General Yoda, and ended the transmission. The Lannik was very direct and decisive, not hesitating to cut off General Yoda. He also wasn't very patient for a Jedi.
The moment he received the intel, he departed to Kessel, and Hell Squad went with him, of course. That was exactly the type of mission a special unit was good at.
”Commander Dageer, I understand you have some experience dealing with Grievous?”
Dageer looked at the human admiral that was under General Piell, and shrugged. He didn't like Tarkin. The man looked like he always had a plan, or was always hiding something. Still, he was loyal to the Republic, or so it seemed.
”We met him in battle a couple times, Admiral Tarkin. He is dangerous. Extremely dangerous.”
”Elaborate, please.”
”He fought against General Secura and General Plo Koon, and pushed them back easily. And when we fought him on the dreadnought above Falleen, he was unstoppable. Even Hell Squad couldn't do anything. We almost lost a member.”
”Seeing how you survived all those encounters, I am not sure that General Grievous really is so...”
”That is enough, Tarkin. Commander Dageer, give us all the intel you have on him. Spare nothing.”
Glaring at Tarkin, who doubted Hell Squad's capabilities, Dageer started explaining in detail all his encounters with General Grievous. Clones were very disciplined, and rarely showed emotions in front of others, but Tarkin almost crossed the line. Dageer was a commander, and Hell Squad a special unit. They didn't need to report anything to Tarkin. Admirals commanded sh.i.p.s, not troops. Usually, Dageer wouldn't mind, because up till now, all the admirals he met were worthy of his respect, but Tarkin clearly despised the clones.
...
After two hours, Dageer left the command bridge of the cruiser, leaving a General Piell and a Tarkin in deep thought. The Lannik couldn't help but frown when he looked at his admiral.
”You shouldn't look down on clones, Tarkin. Especially on Hell Squad.”
The admiral scoffed, but didn't disagree. That wasn't because he changed his mind, but because he couldn't go against a Jedi's words.