I ducked, letting a blaster bolt pass over my head. It's getting hot. Peeking out from behind a rock, I fired a couple of shots in return. The Force confirmed that a pair of militiamen had passed on to the other world. All things considered, the situation was… interesting. The nationalists hadn't waited for our attack — they struck first. Naturally, the main striking force was droids, but there were organic fighters mixed in as well. We, as they say, jumped in with both feet. As soon as our vehicles reached their positions, my Legion entered the battle.
The Juggernauts managed to halt the enemy advance, but the situation was far from ideal. In this mess of rain and mud, the troops were so mixed together that it was nearly impossible to tell friend from foe. Individual battalions, companies, even platoons were fighting whilecompletely surrounded, and the entire battlefield looked like a layer cake, with the only difference being that it was also porous. The hurricane that had erupted, followed by the ion storm, had completely jammed our communication channels, making command and control almost impossible. For several hours, the wildest chaos reigned.
And it was happening everywhere. The last message we received came from Kenobi. Hereported that the blockade ring had been broken — which meant there was no such thing as a safe rear anymore. The front was on all four sides. What could be better?
As a result, our headquarters found itself right in the thick of the fighting. Clone units werescattered across a twelve-kilometer defense sector, not counting the troops originally stationed here. At that moment, the constant stream of water pouring from the sky shifted into a regular downpour, and our communicationsfinally began to stabilize, if only a little. Li Noriega, along with Blam and Mirro, were practicallydrowning in work, scrambling to reestablish communications and regain control of our forces. Clones, though independent and "creative" — WoW! I remembered that word — found things much easier when they knew the headquarterswasn't asleep at the wheel.
Meanwhile, to prevent us from being wiped out entirely, Ahsoka, Jeb, Zule, and I went out for a walk. I grabbed someone's rifle; the others limited themselves to their sabers. We were accompanied by two platoons of clones from my guard. Well, and Puck, of course — where would we be without him? Lucky led group toward the rear while Devil went ahead on reconnaissance.
"Sir, I suggest we regroup and fall back to that hill!" Puck shouted, standing waist-deep in mud as he confidently knocked out one enemy after another.
"Come on! Blam, if you hear me — straighten the defense at point three-seven! Sumeragi! Sendreinforcements to point two-six!"
"Knight Vikt! It's Kass!" The Padawan broke through to us. Her voice crackled with interference, but even so, this connection wasbetter than nothing. "We're two kilometers from your position on the right flank! Do you need support?"
"That would be great!" Ahsoka exclaimed, deflecting blaster fire with her lightsaber. "The clankers are closing in!"
"Kass! Take your unit around the lowlands andgrab a couple of walkers!"
"Oh, the 'Padawan Pack' is rushing to the rescue!" Seventeen quipped. "As if we didn't have enoughproblems."
"Clone, you didn't turn off the transmitter."
"I know."
Puck fired a few more shots, then froze.
"I think that's it. You and you!" He pointed at two sergeants. "Clear the perimeter!"
A Jedi figure appeared in the distance.
"Who's that?" I asked Jeb.
"Looks like Dalnus Cam," he replied. "Hey, Cam! How's it going?" Glive waved his hand as if hisvoice alone weren't enough to get the knight's attention.
"Not bad, except our headquarters has been destroyed. I—"
"Air attack!" Puck yelled, diving left. But we all felt it already. Danger.
A massive figure landed behind the knight.
"Watch out!" the Falleeni girl shouted — but it was too late.
A fist in heavy armor smashed into the Jedi's skull. He collapsed into the mud, desperately trying to rise. His skull was cracked, blood spilling from the wound. I hastened to ignited my lightsaber and stepped into line with the others.
"I haven't killed a Jedi in over a century…" The voice promised nothing good. "And now I'm going to kill one." An armored boot pressed down on the injured Jedi's head, grinding it deeper into the mud. "And then I'll finish four more." He paused. "Not counting the one I killed yesterday, theclones I'll kill today, and the ones I'll destroy tomorrow. I've had an unusually successful week."
"Durge…" I hissed.
"So it's him?" Glive shifted his grip on his sword. "He looks impressive."
"You bastard!" Zule tried to shove the mercenary back with a Force push, but he only rocked slightly, answering with something like a Bolas, which struck her with an electric charge.
"A hundred years, and you Jedi still haven't learned anything new."
"Hutt burp! Zule, fall back. Miko — attack him!"
"Yes! Ahsoka, help Zule!"
Jeb and I charged Durge, trying to catch him with our lightsabers, but the monster was unbelievablyfast. Damn it — I know the chances are slim. But when your survival depends on it, you'll do even something this stupid. Besides, I have no other choice. No, if I were alone, I'd run — I'm no match for this psycho.
"Ha! You worthless scum. You cannot defeat me. And where are your beloved clones? Surely they—"
A blaster bolt punched straight through the eye slit of his helmet.
"They're going to kill you!" Puck fired again, but Durge had already leapt back.
"For that, I'll rip your head off and burn your insides!" the mercenary roared.
Ahsoka's voice rang in my mind. Apparently, she had automatically switched to this mode of communication.
Master, how can he move with such a wound?
He's a Gen'Dai. His whole body is nerves and muscle fibers. For him, that wound is nothing.
Meanwhile, we were back in close combat with Durge. Jeb's punch sent the mercenary flying. Damn — fist versus armor. However, a strappinglad like Jeb could afford to do so. Even in height, he was only a couple of centimetres shorter than Durge.
"You're rude and scoundrel— no argument there," Jeb growled, raising his saber. "But so am I!"
***
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