We crept along the road.
"Stay alert the enemy has put weapons and our armor. They may try to trick us with an ambush." Rex said.
"Watch out dogma " Tup stopped him"I saw that thing attack Hardcase. It'll chew you up and spit you out. " he picked up a bomb "here watch" he lobbed it at the plant.
"Ew gross" Dogma said.
Blaster fire rained down on us.
"We're under attack" Victory shouted
"Where's the enemy" Tup asked
"I don't know. I can't see anything." Kix replied
I sent out a volley of shots
"Get those mortars up here!" Rex shouted. They launched the mortars at the enemy.
"Anyone have a visual" Rex asked.
"Ah negative it's to dark. " Kix replied." Oh wait I see them. They're disguised as clones,all right."
We opened fire. Rex and I pushed the assault. I watched Kix pull one of the wounded out of the way.
"Captain where are you?" Tup asked through the comm."we're sustaining heavy casualties."
Rex paused looking over at a one of the dead enemy soldiers. I sucked in a breathe looking down at the dead man. Rex slipped of its helmet stumbling back
"What?" He dropped the helmet the dead clones eyes had rolled up into the the back of its head.
We raced back to the main fight
"Every one stop firing" he shouted his voice was desolate and broken.
"We're shooting at our own men!" I shouted
"They're not umbarans. They're clones. "Rex said.
"Take off your helmets" I shouted I rugged mine off Rex following suit
"Show them your not the enemy" Rex shouted before we raced into the fire fight.
"They're clones" he screamed.
"Everyone stop firing cease fire " I shouted.
"They're not umbaran they're clones." Rex shouted. Rex tackled one of the troopers ripping of his helmet
"Look. We're clones we're all clones." He shouted pulling the man to his chest.
The firing stopped as dread washed over the two groups.
They removed their helmets coming to stand toe to toe together. Rex released the trooper before falling to his knees pushing his palms into his forehead. We collected the injured.
"This can't be happening. What have we done?" Tup whimpered I placed an arm around his shoulder
"I don't understand. Why did these troopers attack us?" Dogma asked.
"Captain I found the platoon leader. It's waxer he's still alive " Kix said I stood up following the three of them to where the injured man laid.
"Waxer." Rex said easing off his helmet. He groaned in pain.
"Tell me who gave you the orders to attack us." Rex said. I flinched as he gasped his face scrunching up in pain.
"It.. it was General Krell. He sent us to these coordinates to stop the enemy. We thought they were wearing our armor... but it was...you"Waxer said a tear rolling down his check before he fell limp. My hand came to rest on my throat fury hardening in my eyes with an undercurrent of fear I had left Thira with that monster.
We returned back to the main group Rex stood to address them.
"We all know who's responsible for what happened out there. What we don't know is why. Something has to be done. What I'm proposing is highly treasonous. If any man chooses to opt out, do it now." He said. I smiled bittersweetly as everyone stepped forward fury in their eyes.
"From this point forward, we are entering uncharted territory." I said
"My orders are, we arrest General Krell for treason against the republic." Rex said. We marched back to the base. Rex and Victory stopped at the detention center. I waited at the towers entrance before going up the lift with a squad.
"General Krell to ur being relieved of duty." Rex said I whipped out my staff. Thira stepped away from the General.
"It's treason, then." Krell said smuggly. Rex took out his blaster.
"Surrender General." He said.
"Your commuting mutiny Captain. " Krell said
"Explain your actions." I snarled
Krell stepped forward.
" my actions" he asked.
"For ordering your troops against one another." Rex spat
"Oh that. I'm surprised you were able to figure it out... for a clone"Krell said we inched forward
"Surrender, General. Your outnumbered." I said
He forced shoved us into the wall.
"You dare to attack a Jedi?" He growled. He ignited his sabers. The clones opened fired at him. I used the staff to deflect his sabers. He launched me back and sliced through some of the clones.
"I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some laboratory!"he shouted he lept out the window. We took of into the lift as fast as we could. We took of after him.
"Hold it right there " Dogma said
"Lower your weapon dogma" Rex said
" I can't do that sir." Dogma replied
"That's an order!" Thira barked.
"It's my duty." He said flicking his blaster back and forth."your all traitors. "
"I used to believe that being a good soldier meant doing everything they told you. That's how they engineered us. But we're not droids we're not programmed. You have to learn to make your own decisions."Rex said. He turned his blaster to Tup
"Dogma don't do it " Tup said. Dogma dropped his blaster and was forced to his knees.
"Take him to the brig. Troopers don't let General Krell escape" Rex barked we took of into the woods after him.
Tension filled the silence as we walked through the woods.
"Anybody got anything?" Rex asked
"Uh negative Captain we lost him. Wait" I heard the whir of a lightsaber and a strangled cry"he's too powerful. Hurry! " a scream rang through the comm.
"He's coming" Rex said
"You should have listened to the Arc trooper from the beginning Captain" Krells voice echoed. "He was right I was using you." He laughed. He landed on the floor
"You've all been my pawns" he laughed
"Get him! "Rex shouted. He stuck down a batch of clones. He picked up Ash and slammed him into his knee his spine snapping. Then he proceeded to throw tup.
"Captain this is Tup. If you can force the General towards me." He said over the comm
"What "Rex replied
"Trust me sir" Tup urged.
"Troopers listen up circle around lure him towards Tup" I said. We took off running towards Tup.
"Hey ugly come and get me" Tup shouted.
Krell rushed Tup his lightsaber inches from his face as he was swung up by the vines. The plants tongue reached it to grab Krell who then cut it off the creature slammed him to the ground before grabbing in again we fired at him. He cut of the tentacle landing hard on the ground. Tup stunned him
"I've stunned him, sir." He said
Rex flipped him over
"Nice work Tup" Rex said
Kix cuffed him and I grabbed his lightsabers. We dragged him back to base. And tossed him into the brig.
We glared at him as we came down on the lift he snarled.
"Why General? Why kill your own men?"Rex asked.
"Because I can because you fell for it because your inferior." Krell smirked
"But your a Jedi. How could you?" Rex asked
"A Jedi?" He laughed." I am no longer naive enough to be a Jedi. A new power is rising I've foreseen it. The Jedi are going to lose this war, and the republic will be ripped apart from the inside. In its place is going to rise a new order, and I will rule as part of it."
"Your a seperatist." Rex said
"I serve no ones side only my own. Like your fellow captains and my new master" he chuckled.
"Your an agent of Dooku" Rex said.
"Not yet. But when I get out to here, I will be. After I've succeeded In driving the republic from umbara,the count will reward my actions and make me his new apprentice. " Krell chuckled
"How could you do this you had my trust my loyalty. I followed all of your orders, and you made me kill my brothers!" Dogma shouted
" that's because you were the biggest fool of them all, Dogma. I counted on blind loyalty like yours to make my plan succeed. " Krell mocked
"That will never happen. Your a traitor General and you will be dealt with as one." Rex said
"You never learn, Captain. The umbarans are going to retake this space, and when they do I will be free. " Krell sat down and began meditating. We left the center my hands shook I folded my arms to hide them.
"Sir we fixed the transmitter it looks like it was sabotaged. We received a message from General Kenobi his forces have captured the capital. But the remaining umbarans are heading here." A trooper said
"Get everyone on the perimeter. We need to prepare for a full scale attack," Rex said.
"Yes sir. " the trooper said
"Go do what you will with Krell im going to go inform General Kenobi of his treachery." I told Rex.
"Go" he said I nodded and took off.
"Commander Fett. It's good to see your alive still."kenobi said
" Thank you General but I come with a concerning report about Krell. He betrayed the republic and has allied himself wit the separatist. I'm fairly certain that he is being executed for his treachery at the moment sir." I said Kenobi stroked his beard
"I must speak to the council about this gunships are on the way to aid you." Kenobi said.
We took umbara we did it but what was the cost.
Authors note
Time for the aftermath.