Chapter 335 - From Defeat To Victory (1/2)

”Shoot him.”

If it was any other person saying it, Thrawn would have laughed. He was over five kilometers away from the Jedi. No one could be this accurate, especially when the clone he had called - Dab - was standing, with no support or stable surface whatsoever. But something in Ragout's voice made him freeze. Maybe it was the lack of emotion, or the confidence with which he said it, as if Dab hitting the target was already guaranteed. Maybe it was the fact that he had thoroughly studied Hell Squad, and knew everything there was to know about them. Facts remain, he felt danger. An unbelievable amount of danger, as if his life was hanging by a thread. Which it was.

He reacted quickly, and pushed the newly promoted droid captain in front of him. That action saved his life, because in the next second, a blue laser pierced a hole through the clancker's head, exactly where he was a moment before. A second laser, fired shortly after the first one, hit his left arm, sending him staggering backwards.

He expected more lasers to follow, but instead, there was only silence. He could see it his hologram projector the Jedi smiling with a nonchalant look on his face. Embarrassed, he realized that he had forgotten how righteous the Jedis thought they were. They would never target a defenseless enemy. Still, the clones besides him weren't so merciful, and Dab had clearly fired to kill.

Using the Force, Ragout pulled the hologram projector that the droid was carrying, and looked at Thrawn. Dageer stepped forward, and cut off the emissary's head.

”General Thrawn, you sent suicide bombers, monsters, and tried to use poison against my troops. Hell Squad here lost many good brothers because of you. As you surely are thinking, I am different from other Jedis. Many of your counterparts have pointed that out to me.”

”What do you mean?”

”I mean that I've seen too much war, and that I am tired of it. Unless you and your troops run back to your hiding holes, we will be forced to kill you. I'm not gonna be the one to hold Hell Squad back.”

Ragout had to admit that Thrawn was quite impressive. Even though he had just been shot, the Chiss had quickly regained his composure, and maintained a stone-cold expression as they talked.

”If my eyes do not deceive me, you are only eight, Master Jedi. How exactly do you plan on killing all of us?”

Ragout laughed out loud, and even Hell Squad couldn't help but chuckle when they heard the Separatist. They weren't good or stupid enough to think they could destroy sixty thousand droids by themselves. But that never was their plan.

”Haha! I didn't say I would end all the piles of scrap metal behind you, Thrawn. I said I would kill you. And I'm sure you read the reports about me and Hell Squad. You know we can do that.”

Having said that, Ragout threw the hologram projector on the ground, and resumed walking. Hell Squad followed him, three to the left, four to the right. Even though they were walking to their deaths, they felt no fear.

”Remember, follow the plan.”

”Leave it to us, general. You got the hard part, so try not to die.”

”Hahaha...”

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Thrawn looked at the wound in his arm dismissively, not at all bothered by the pain. What worried him the most was not knowing what the Republic dogs were up to. He liked to be in control, and when things didn't make sense, he got angry.

Suddenly, the group that had been calmly walking towards them split up. Dageer and his men found cover on the sides of the road, leaving only Ragout in the middle. He had a grin on his face, and turned on his lightsaber.