Author's note: Thank you to DarthWriter76 and Titanmaster 117 for the reviews.
The atmosphere in the room was tense. The bloody corpses of the collaborators had been moved out of the way and put under sheets but the puddles of blood still remained. The captured collaborators had looks of both intense hatred and fear especially when Reynolds walked by. Despite Reynolds being right for shooting the traitor when he refused to surrender the coldness in how the killing was done put everyone on edge, especially when everyone else was still sickened by killing our fellow people, even if they were traitors. The only "bright side" to all this was that radio contact had been re-established with the destruction and the jammer, so at least we would be moving out soon.
"Sirs." The comm officer said, "Just got orders from the Captain. He said we are to return to his position immediately with the prisoners."
"Roger that," I said exhausted.
Upon returning to the captain's position we found the team assigned to the other tunnel had returned as well. Apparently, they had discovered no resistance and as such the tunnel was deemed secure. That only left the main tunnel to search.
"Squads." The captain said, "You are to be relieved of duty for today. Head back to the capitol building and rest up for the night. You have served your nation well today so enjoy the night off, you've earned it."
The return to the capitol building was thankfully uneventful. We handed over the prisoners over to command and went to sleep for the night. While walking to the barracks I saw some of the refugees earlier, at least they were safe. Entering the barracks I collapsed on the bed. By now night descended on the city but that didn't stop the war. Fires lite up the skyline and the booming of artillery remained a constant. At least the Republic are being pushed out of the city even if it is at a slow rate. Finally, despite the booming of artillery and the sounds of war, I closed my eyes and entered a dream filled sleep.
I woke up in the morning in a cold sweat and breathing heavily. Quickly shaking it off I got out of bed. It was still very early in the morning and we would be sent back into the war soon so I quickly got dressed and assembled my squad. While waiting for deployments we decided to check on Kintar.
Entering the medical bay we found that it was a grizzly scene. Dozens of injured soldiers and civilians lay on cots. Doctors and medics ran from bed to bed trying to stabilize the many patients. Eventually, we found Kintar's cot. Despite being so early Kintar lay awake with his leg in a cast.
Looking at Kintar in his injured state conjured an immense feeling of guilt and failure nearly overwhelmed me.
He weakly turned his head, "Hey guys."
Reason spoke first, "Hey Kintar, how's the leg?"
"The leg is fine, Doc said I'll be able to walk again in a week or so." He said softly, "I'm just a bit woozy from the painkillers."
"Good to hear, we gotta get that lazy ass of yours out of bed and back to the field," Isaac said jokingly.
The more I thought about Kintar's injuries the more the feeling of failure threatened to overwhelm me.
Kintar chuckled, "Don't worry, I wouldn't want to let you guys get all the glory anyway."
Kintar looked at me confused. "Hey, Kinsaris. You ok? You look paler than me."
"Oh ya." I snapped out of it. "I'm fine. I'm just glad that we made it through the first day."
"I can celebrate to that!" Kintar cheered.
After another minute of talking with Kintar command ordered us to report to the field to assist in reclaiming the city. Even after a day of fighting the clones still held several fortified positions throughout the city added to the fact that most of the retreating clones had taken position in the nearby hills made the situation precarious.
Marching into the assembly yard with several other squads we arrived right at the start of the Major's speech.
"Warriors, soldiers, saviors of our great nation! We stand on the very precipice of victory! To liberate our great city from the Republic tyrants! But the Republic dogs, like the roaches they are, still hold onto several positions within our great city. We will push the filth out of our lands!"
"HURRAH" The crowd cheered.
"You! You will be the blade that dislodges these parasites from our great city!"
"HURRAH!"
"Your mission will be the end the savage occupation of the central library building and liberate it from the Republic tyrants! You will do your mission well and you will do it with pride!"
"DEATH TO THE REPUBLIC!"
After the speech, the squad leaders were briefed on the plan. It was a rather simple plan, the library had already been subject to artillery bombardment leaving the clone position weakened and exposed. Squads 1 through 3 would stage a diversionary assault on the main entrance. Squads 4 through 5 would attempt a breach of the right entrance while squads 6 through 7 take the left. My squad was squad 7. Each assault would also have a leading Lieutenant to better organize the squads. Once the briefing was complete we bordered the vehicles which would bring us to the battlefield.
The ride was quiet. Looking at my squad everyone seemed tense at the upcoming battle. My squad. That's a funny thought. A day ago I had never seen combat and now I have the responsibility for an entire squad of people. Looking at my squad we are already a member down. After leading the squad for only a single battle Kintar almost died under my command.
I shook my self out of this self-doubt. "No" I can't let this thought get to me. My father leads thousands, millions more people then I do and he stays strong and as such so must I.
The vehicle stopped and the driver turned to talk to us, "We're here. Get to your assembly points."
Moving quickly to our attack point we met up with the squad that would be assisting in our attack. The lieutenant in charge of our group was an Echani woman of about the age of 30 named Martha Gilles.
The side of the library was a massive brick wall with many windows. The building had obviously suffered greatly from the bombardment as many holes were scattered throughout it including the large hole on the bottom floor that we were expected too. Several clone sentries waited in the hole as we waited behind a thin line of prefab cover.
"Squads!" Let Netinet Gilles yelled, "Once the signal is given these super battle droids will their rockets into the clone position, after that the droidikas will role in to secure the position and only then will you begin your assault! Do not begin the attack before that!"
We waited and waited, the tension was building up. Several soldiers twitched seemingly unable to keep from beginning the attack until after 5 minutes we heard an explosion come from the front.
"All droids fire!"
A hailfire of rockets blasted the clones meager defensives. Their metal and sandbag cover was obliterated under the furry. Next, the droidikas rolled in quickly establishing a foothold.
The lantern took a step forward and pointed her vibroblade at the breach, "Move it troopers!"
Quickly charging into position, we entered the library. The inside was massive with a grand room stacked with selves of holobooks and even paperbacks, overlooking the room was a great balcony that contained even more books and furniture. Such a building of culture like this being destroyed like this was sickening. Taking a look at Reynolds he seemed to agree.
Several clones took position on the balcony but they were heavily suppressed by us and the droids. Soon the squads sent to assault the other side of the library became visible on the other side of the great room. With the sides of the room secured that only left several clones in a fortified position in the center of the room combined with the clones on the balcony. Problem is that as long as the clones held the center we couldn't assist the main assault in the front of the building.
The lieutenant shouted her orders. "Squads suppress the group in the middle, third and fourth squads will take the balcony!"
"Simple enough, not much danger in just suppressing a few hopeless clones."
And I was right. The other squads quickly took the balcony and with the height advantage, we easily dispatched the clones. Now came the hard part, we had to eliminate the large garrison guarding the main entrance.
The main entrance was cut off from the main room only by a thin wood wall making the plan to simply place some explosives to blast them out.
"3! 2! 1!" *Blast!
Several massive holes opened up allowing a mass attack on the clones from their back flank.
The clones were taken completely by surprise as they were now being attacked from both sides. Taking out my vibroblade I directly engaged the clones. Slowly fighting my way through the horde but unlike previously I was shaky and sloppy. I even took a painful bruise from a clone hitting me with his rifle.
As the dust settled the battle seemed to be a complete victory. We had taken virtually no casualties while the clones had been completely decimated. Yet I still had a strange feeling in my gut and my hands still shook.
One of the lieutenants climbed up some rubble overlooking us.
"Well done! We have the main floor along with most of the upper levels secure! All that's left is to secure the basement and whatever of those disgusting clones still remain in the upper levels! Squads 1 through 3 will clear out the upper levels, the rest of you will clear out the basement."
"So far so good. No casualties and the mission is almost complete."
Walking down the old, stone basement steps we found the basement surprisingly empty. The basement seemed shocking empty, despite a strange sickly smell coming from an unknown area.
With seemingly little threat the groups split up to search the basement, still, on guard on the off chance, there was still someone down here. Navigating the narrow corridors Reason and I reached a door with the smell of blood coming from the other side.
Carefully opening the door we were met by a shocking sight. Several clones lied dead from what looked to be self-inflicted injuries. Taking a closer look we found one clone kneeling on the floor looking at the other wall.
"My brothers gave everything for the Republic." He whimpered. "And so will I."
It was only then that I saw what he was holding. A detonator. But by then it was far too late.
