Chapter 349 - The Ambush (1/2)

For the next three days, Hell Squad repeated the same actions. They sneaked into the Separatist camp, killed droids, and blew up things. Of course, they couldn't do it with the same efficacy of the first time, since now the clanckers were actively searching for them, but their objective never was to destroy the entire army like that.

Finally, on the fourth day, Syndulla did as Ragout told him, and attacked a convoy that was going to Nabat. Letting the droids escape, but without they noticing it, the freedom fighters chased them until the convoy reached the city. After that, they faked fear, and ran, followed by a group of almost four thousand droids, with tanks and whatnot. Clearly, the Separatist leader was confident that the despairing Twi'leks would lead them straight to their hideout in their fear.

That could have really happened in other circ.u.mstances. Unfortunately for the Tactical Droid, Syndulla executed the plan masterfully, impressing even Dageer. He only lost six of his troops, and managed to lure all the droids into a canyon where the other Republic combatants were waiting. No clancker escaped.

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”Get ready! Here they come!”

The Twi'lek lookout that Gobi had positioned at the entrance of the canyon warned them as Syndulla and his people zoomed by in speeders.

The freedom fighters, plus Ragout and Hell Squad, were positioned at the top of the canyon. As soon as the hunted party reached the end of it, they abandoned the speeders, and started climbing ropes that had been prepared beforehand. It was an elaborate trap, with the sole objective of killing every droid that pursued them.

Soon enough, the clanckers started pouring in the canyon, unknowingly walking into their own tomb. If they had time, they would notice something was wrong, but droids never were very smart, and they were too worried about finding the Twi'leks.

When the last droid stepped inside, the ones in the front row were just starting to feel that something was wrong. The yellow-painted captain leading them tried to order a retreat, but the explosives set at the entrance of the canyon were already detonating, burying three or four hundred seppies, and trapping the others.

Before the even more confused droids could react, countless lasers rained upon them, killing hundreds instantly. Hell Squad was purposely picking out the officers, but the freedom fighters had numbers.

Two lasers hit the rocks close to Dageer as the Separatist started to fight back. Two Twi'leks near him were hit, one falling backwards while holding his shoulder, while the other let out a short yell before dropping to his death. All around the canyon, more freedom fighters died, victims to the red lasers. Some fell to the ground below, hitting the walls on their way down.

Well, it was expected that there would be many casualties. Even if they caught the droids by surprise, there were just about a thousand and six hundred Republic troops, while the droids were over twice their number.

”Agh!”

Metal grunted when an AAT fired it's laser cannon, and hit the wall near him. Three Twi'leks died immediately, while two others were wounded. The heavy machine gunner was holding his right forearm in pain. It had been hit by a rock launched by the explosion.

Ragout quickly pulled the clone back using the Force, to avoid any more injuries. There wasn't much the Jedi could do, apart from helping the wounded and deflecting a few lasers. He took a quick look at Metal's arm, and frowned.

”It's broken. You stay out of this one, Metal.”

”No can do, general. Commander, give me one of your DC-17s. The tin cans are so crammed down there I can hit them without even aiming.”

Dageer didn't even look back, and threw one of his blasters to his brother. Ragout only shrugged, not bothered by Metal disobeying him.

”Three-four, hit it!”

The medic nodded, and grabbed one of the RPS-6s that they had prepared. Carefully aiming, he sent the rocket at one of the AATs, blowing it to kingdom come.

Dageer felt danger all of the sudden, so he instinctively tilted his body to the right. A laser scratched the left side of his helmet, leaving a burning black stripe, and his head buzzing.

Falling on his back, he blinked hard, trying to clear his mind. Just to make sure, he took off his helmet, and pressed his hand against his head, but there was no wound.

”Are you okay, Dageer?!”

”Yeah. Just a scare, general.”