Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter, and the last one of the Umbara arc.
Let's get to it.
Sectooper: Yes, I did put that in the chapter because of what you said in your review.
Guest DCDGojira: You are correct. The second story will take place in the Galactic Civil War.
Chapter 43- Carnage of Krell
The door to the lift opens, and Rex and Rommel emerge from it into the command center, walking over to Krell. True to Rommel's promise to keep the man close to him, Doyle is right behind him.
"General Krell. I respectfully request that you reconsider court-martialing Fives and Echo," Rex says respectfully.
"The actions ARC troopers 5555 and 1409 were a clear act of treachery and disregard for my command. If punishment isn't swift, their defiance may inspire others to follow suit," Krell says.
"Sir, the men are with you. It's just that some of them feel like you're putting their lives in danger needlessly," Rex says.
"All the more reason to send a clear message that I am in charge and insubordination will not be tolerated. The truth is, these clones have had a difficult time respecting my command since the beginning. I've seen it before. Some clones are just defective. They aren't able to succumb to authority. You're right, Captain. I don't think I can court-martial them. That will only be a waste of time, and that's something we don't have. I'm afraid they'll need to be disposed of. Prepare a squad for execution," Krell says, walking past Rex as he finishes.
"What?! Bu-but sir!" Rex protests in astonishment.
"You heard me, Captain! Have it done immediately, or I'll do it myself!" Krell orders.
"You've got to be kidding me, General. This campaign won't last much longer! There's no reason to execute them now! Just keep them in the brig until they can be sent back to Coruscant!" Rommel says angrily.
"The Umbarans have kept up their attacks. Who knows when we could be overrun? I will not tolerate traitors like them being captured, or being set loose. This is my order!" Krell shouts back at Rommel.
Rommel glares at Krell. "You're already treading on eggshells with me, Krell. I am already pissed that you think you have the authority to imprison and court-martial one of my men. This is just adding to my irritation. I'd advise you to think carefully about your future actions and avoid pissing me off even more," he says angrily before storming out of the command center.
(short time later)
A clone firing squad of six men marches in single file into position, then does a left face and lowers their blaster rifles.
Dogma, walking in front of the firing squad, shouts, "Line up the prisoners!"
Several clones bring Fives and Echo, who aren't wearing their armor, but just the comfortable clothing they wear under the armor.
Rommel and several Canadians are present, all glaring. None of them are angry at the clones, but at Krell, who Rommel has noticed is watching from the tower.
As the clones escorting them place Fives and Echo in position, Dogma asks, "Will the prisoners request to be blindfolded?"
Neither Fives or Echo respond to Dogma's question. After a moment, Dogma turns away and says, "I'll take that as a No."
"I hope you can live with yourself, Dogma," Fives says venomously. Rommel also shoots Dogma a dirty look, unable to believe he's being so uncaring about this.
Dogma stands beside Rex and calls out, "Ready weapons!"
The firing squad raises their rifles to their shoulders. "Never thought we'd go out like this," Echo says.
"Aim!" Dogma calls, and the firing squad aims their rifles at Fives and Echo.
Dogma is about to give the order, but Fives suddenly shouts, "Wait! This is wrong! The general is making a mistake, and he needs to be called on! No clone should have to go out this way! We are loyal soldiers! We follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men! We must be counted on to make the right decision. Especially when the orders we are given are wrong!"
"Fire!" Dogma shouts. The clones seem to struggle for a split second before firing.
And the bolts slam into the wall around Fives and Echo, but none of them finding their targets. Fives and Echo have their eyes closed, but slowly open them as they realize they're still alive.
"Wha-what happened?" Dogma asks the firing squad, who responds by dropping their rifles.
Rex places a hand on Dogma's shoulder and says, "They're doing the right thing, Dogma, because if this is how soldiers are rewarded for heroic actions, then one day every man in this battalion may face a similar fate." He then turns to the clones that escorted Fives and Echo and says, "Take off their binders."
"No, we have orders. We have to go through with this!" Dogma protests.
"You aren't gonna find anyone who'll do it, Dogma. As I've heard on Earth, what's the point in stopping the Separatists if we only become as immoral as they are in the process?" Rommel says. Dogma doesn't respond as the clones remove the binders from Fives and Echo and take them back to the tower.
Rex heads up the tower to speak to Krell, knowing the general is not going to be pleased. Rommel, on the other hand, stays with his men down at the base of the tower.
As Rommel walks up to a squad of Canadian troops, one of them turns to Rommel and asks, "Did General Krell really try and have those two clones executed?"
"Yes, he did," Rommel says.
Another Canadian rolls his eyes. "This guy, or whatever the heck his species is, is out of control," he says.
"Yeah. He's not showing any regard for the lives of his clones, or for us for that matter. He issued orders against a perfectly rational idea to take out the supply ship. And then he not only tried to execute those two clones, but tried to imprison and court martial Lieutenant Doyle when he has no authority to do so? He's drunk on his own power. He should not be a general," another Canadian says.
"I agree. I already told Krell he's walking on eggshells with me. Next time he does something stupid, reckless, or irrespective of his men's lives, I'm gonna snap," Rommel says.
"I'd pay to see that," one of the Canadians says with a smirk, drawing a few more smirks from some of the other men.
"Do you think he's crossed the line into not being fit for command anymore?" one of the Canadians asks.
"I don't know. I don't think he's done enough for us to try and contact the Republic and ask them to remove him from command. But I'm definitely going to be having a word with the Jedi Council after this about allowing Krell to command clones in the future," Rommel says.
Rommel heads off to continue his lightsaber training. However, after a few minutes, Rex comes out of the tower and walks over to Rommel.
"Rex. What's up?" Rommel asks.
"The Umbarans ambushed one of our platoons scouting around and seized their weapons and uniforms. The clone who reported it said it seems like they're planning to use the uniforms to launch a massive sneak attack on the base. He's ordered all clones to move out immediately and hit them now so we can break through to the capital. He's also ordered that you remain here to guard the airbase in case any Umbarans get past us," Rex says.
Keeping himself visually calm despite what's going through his head, Rommel nods respectfully. "Alright. Good luck, Rex," he says. Rex nods and walks off to marshal the clones.
Rommel watches as the clones march away from the airbase, heading towards the capital. However, as he watches them march off, something is nagging at him. Until now, Krell had been wanting the Canadians to take part in the assault on the capital. Now, he's done a sudden 180. Plus, that story of the Umbarans disguising themselves as clones seems a little too strange.
It doesn't take long before Rommel turns and walks over towards where the bulk of the Canadian troops are hanging around. As soon as he gets close, he says loudly, "Two platoons, with me right now!"
The Canadians look at him for a moment, then react quickly. Two platoons gather their weapons and form up with Rommel.
"Alright. I don't want General Krell to realize what we're doing. I want everyone to keep low until they get into the trees," Rommel says.
The Canadian troops nod and scatter, keeping low out of sight as they leave the base. Once they're in the trees, they form up again and follow Rommel in the direction the clones went.
After just a few minutes, Rommel suddenly hears explosions and blaster bolts coming from up ahead.
"Double time, men! Swing around and come in from the right!" Rommel orders.
The Canadians pick up their pace, swinging towards the right before coming back to the left.
As the Canadians come over a rise, they see a sight that chills them up ahead. Two groups of clones, one the men of the 501st and the other comprising what appears to be clones from the 212th, are fighting against each other.
"Come on, men! Each group thinks the other are disguised Umbarans, not clones! Come on!" Rommel shouts.
The Canadians follow Rommel down the rise and run right towards the battle site. As they get close enough, the Canadians begin shouting at the top of their lungs and firing their assault rifles into the air to draw attention.
Both groups turn to see the Canadians charging in, and each immediately recognizes their camouflage uniforms as those of the Canadian Army.
As soon as he gets close, Rommel bellows at the top of his lungs, "That's enough! You're all clones! Take off your helmets!"
Each side feels horror begin to rise in them, and slowly begin to take their helmets off. Sure enough, the "clones" of the 212th are indeed clones, and not disguised Umbarans. The clones of the two units stare at each other in horror, not wanting to believe what is happening.
The Canadians walk up to the two sides, trying to calm/comfort the clones, who are stunned by what they've done, as well as try and help the wounded.
"This can't be happening. What have we done?" Tup asks in shock as he sits on a rock.
"I…don't understand. Why did these troopers attack us?" Dogma asks Rex.
Before Rex can respond, Kix runs up and says, "Captain, I've found the platoon leader. It's Waxer. He's still alive."
Rex, along with Rommel, follow Kix over to where two clones of the 212th are, with one of the clones leaned against a tree trunk.
Rex kneels down in front of Waxer and removes his helmet. It's clear that Waxer is wounded.
"Waxer. Tell me. Who gave you the orders to attack us?" Rex asks. Rommel, fury rising in him, already knows the answer.
Waxer coughs a bit before saying, "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…" His eyes widen, and a tear rolls down his face as he gets out, "You."
"Kix. Take care of him. He should live if he competent medical attention soon enough," Rommel says.
Rex and Rommel both turn to each other. Angry looks on their faces.
"Round up the men," Rommel says in a tone of fury.
Rex hurriedly gathers a number of clones and forms them up.
Rommel walks in front of the clones, his face still filled with anger. "All of us know who is responsible for what happened out here. What we don't know is why, but this is the last straw. It's time to do something. What I'm about to say could be considered high treason by some, but it's our only option. If any of you wish to opt out, do it now," he says. Without hesitation, the clones all take a step forward, showing they're more than willing to follow Rommel.
"For his actions, I hereby declare that General Pong Krell is relieved of his command, and that I hereby assume command of both clone units in addition to the Canadian units already under my command. And my first order is that, for treason against the Republic, General Krell is to be arrested and detained with lethal force is necessary," Rommel says. No clone shows any sign of wanting to back down.
Rommel immediately rounds up all the clones and Canadians who accompanied him, and begins marching them back to the airbase. When they reach the airbase, a force of about 10 clones and 10 Canadians follows Rommel towards the tower, while the rest remind behind to guard the perimeter and stand watch in case Krell escapes the tower. As the group heads towards the tower, none of them notice Dogma, who had been in the back of the group, stop and break away, looking disgusted at them.
Rommel and Rex, along with a few clones and Canadians, make their way to the brig, where Fives and Echo are waiting. A clone lowers the shield keeping them in their cell, and two Canadian troops hold out blasters to them. Some of the clones also bring forward Fives' and Echo's armor, which the two don before joining Rommel's group.
Finally, the lift opens in the command center, and the clones and Canadians rush out, aiming their weapons right at Krell. Then, Rex and Rommel emerge from the lift. Rommel glares at Krell's back and says, "General Pong Krell, for treason against the Republic, you are relieved of command and under arrest!"
Krell turns around, smirking. "You seek my position, Colonel?"
"No. I want to make sure your traitorous a** pays for what you've done," Rommel says angrily.
"Explain your actions, General!" Rex demands, aiming his blaster pistols at Krell.
"My actions?" Krell asks innocently.
"For ordering your troops against one another!" Rex says angrily.
"Oh, that. I'm surprised you were able to figure it out, for a clone," Krell says with contempt.
The clones slowly close in. Rommel slowly removes his lightsaber, ready to activate it at a moment's notice.
"Don't make us kill you, General. Just come quietly," Rommel says.
No sooner are the words out of his mouth than Krell sends out a massive Force wave, knocking everyone in the room back and knocking Rommel into a wall, dazing him.
"You dare to attack a Jedi?" Krell demands in indignation.
"Get him!" Rex shouts.
Krell laughs as he begins blocking the blaster bolts fired by the clones and Canadians. He manages to cut down two clones and a Canadian before turning to Rex and saying, "I will not be undermined by creatures bred in some laboratory." He then turns and runs towards the window, smashing it open and leaping out.
Krell lands at the base of the tower. A clone sees him and shouts, "Get him!"
Krell grins as he charges into the midst of the clones ahead of him, cutting down several of them. He then spins his lightsabers, blocking the hail of blaster bolts and bullets fired at him by several hundred clones and Canadians.
However, he's not quite quick enough to block all the bullets fired from Canadian assault rifles. Two bullets manage to hit him, wounding him. Deciding it's best to flee, he sends out a Force wave, clearing a path for him, and races for the treeline.
Back in the tower, Rommel is roused by his men. Looking around, he sees Rex holding his lightsaber out to him.
"Thanks, Rex. Let's move!" he says as he gets up and takes his lightsaber.
Rommel and the others still in the command center take the lift down to the ground. As soon as the doors open, they race across the airbase to follow Krell.
As they near a parked Umbaran starfighter, Dogma emerges from behind it, his blaster raised, and says, "Hold it right there!"
Everyone stops, aiming their weapons at Dogma. "Lower your weapon, Dogma," Rex orders.
"I-I can't do that, sir," Dogma responds.
"That's an order!" Rex says loudly.
"It's my duty. You're all traitors!" Dogma says.
Rex removes his helmet and says, "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!"
Dogma points his blaster at Rommel, who narrows his eyes and aims his pistol at Dogma's face. "Don't even think about it, Dogma," he says.
Dogma stares back at Rommel, then slowly lowers his blaster. Immediately, two Canadian troops tackle Dogma, pinning him to the ground and pulling his arms behind him so they can cuff him.
"Take him to the brig," Rommel orders. Then, starting to run again, he shouts, "Men! Don't let General Krell escape!"
The clones and Canadians race into the trees, hoping that some clones and Canadians already in the trees might be able to slow Krell down.
Once in the trees, Rommel and Rex separate, with Rommel taking a squad of Canadians and Rex taking a squad of clones. They stay rather close, but far enough away from each other that they can cover more ground.
After a minute, Rex asks into his commlink, "Anybody got anything?"
"Ah, negative, captain. We lost him," a clone responds. Then, just a second later, the same clone says, "Wait."
There's the sound of lightsabers, then the sound of screaming clones. Rex motions for his men to take cover.
Fives uses his visor to look through the trees, and sees Krell a ways away, cutting down several clones. He then seems to notice them and start leaping in their direction.
"He's coming this way!" Fives says, and the clones duck down to hide, ready to receive him.
For several moments, there's silence. Then, Krell's voice echoes around them, "You should have listened to the ARC troopers from the beginning, Captain."
Krell's laugh echoes around them, slightly unnverving them. Then, they hear him say, "He was right. I was using you."
Krell's laugh echoes again. Then, it happens again, only this time it sounds much closer. And just a moment later, Krell lands in the middle of several clones, scattering them. He reignites his lightsabers as he looks around at the clones and says, "You've all been my pawns!"
Suddenly, there's the sound of a lightsaber igniting. Krell turns around, and sees Rommel sprinting towards him, his blue lightsaber held at his side.
Krell smirks as he watches Rommel approach. Then, Rommel jumps onto a tree trunk and uses it as a springboard, lunging right at Krell.
Rommel slashes at Krell's head. Krell blocks it with one of his lightsabers. Rommel follows up with a slash towards Krell's leg, but Krell blocks it. Krell then tries slashing at Rommel with both his sabers, but Rommel deactivates his saber and does a back hand spring before reigniting his lightsaber and charging to reengage.
Rommel and Krell begin a furious duel. Rommel, recognizing he can't directly compete with Krell's size and strength, as well as with the fact that Krell is wielding two double bladed lightsabers at the same time, he resorts to guerilla tactics, trying to keep out of Krell's reach as much as possible. The tactics work, keeping Krell from hitting him but allowing him to keep Krell busy.
After almost a minute, Rommel slashes his lightsaber at Krells leg, then whips around and slashes at his side. Krell manages to block both blows and force Rommel back. Rommel responds by leaping up and trying to bring his lightsaber down towards Krell's head, and Krell blocks it with both of his lightsabers.
Rommel smirks at Krell as their lightsabers clash. "Well, Krell. Looks like I'm better than you thought," he says. He then grins even more and says, "It seems like you've also forgotten my lightsaber isn't my only weapon." And with that, he rapidly pulls out a blaster pistol from its holster, switches it to stun, and fires it at Krell. The stun ray hits Krell in the stomach, and he collapses to the ground, unconscious.
Rommel lowers his lightsaber, smirking down at Krell, then deactivates his lightsaber.
Tup and Hardcase hurry forward to cuff Krell. At the same time, Rex walks up beside Rommel.
"Nice work, Colonel," he says.
(20 minutes later)
Rommel, Rex, and several clones and Canadians ride the control platform down through the brig. Finally, they stop right in front of a cell where Krell is sitting. Krell looks up and growls at them.
"Why, General? Why kill your own men?" Rex demands.
Krell laughs as he stands up before saying, "Because I can. Because you fell for it. Because you're inferior."
"Cut the crap, Krell. Why did you turn on us?" Rommel demands.
Krell laughs before saying, "A new power is rising. I have foreseen it. The Jedi are going to lose this war. In its place is going to rise a new order, and I will rule as part of it."
"Wow. Classic greed. So what, you're a Separatist all of a sudden?" Rommel demands.
"I serve no one's side. Only my own. And soon, my new master," Krell responds.
"You're an agent of Dooku," Rex says angrily.
"Not yet. But when I get out of 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 says.
Dogma is in the cell next to Krell. As he hears this, he pipes up and says loudly, "How could you do this? You had my trust, my loyalty. I followed all your orders, and you made me kill my brothers!"
Krell laughs as he turns to Dogma and says, "That's because you were the biggest fool of them all, Dogma! I counted on blind loyalty to make my plan succeed."
"Yeah, but your plan has failed. You're a traitor, and you'll be dealt with as one, Krell," Rommel says angrily.
"You are more naïve than I thought, Rommel. The Umbarans are going to retake this space. And when they do, I will be free," Krell says before sitting down on the floor of his cell.
Rommel scowls, then orders the clone manning the controls to take them back up.
Heading out of the tower, Rommel and Rex see Hardcase running up. "Colonel Rommel. We repaired the transmitter. It looks like it was sabotaged. We received a message from General Kenobi. His forces have captured the capital, and the remaining Umbarans are on their way here," Hardcase says.
"I want all troops on the perimeter now! We need to be ready for a full scale assault. Radio the fleet! See if we can get some air support!" Rommel orders.
"Yes, sir!" Hardcase repsonds.
Rommel turns to Rex, Fives, and Echo. "Sabotaged, huh? I think it's safe to say we know who sabotaged it," he says.
"I agree. General Krell has been against us from the beginning," Rex says.
"If the Umbarans get to him, he'll turn over all our intel- the defense codes, everything. He'll strike a crippling blow to the Republic," Fives says.
"We have to do something. We can't risk the possibility that he might escape," Echo adds.
"I agree. As long as Krell is alive, he's a threat to us and the Republic. And, by his treason and killing both his men and my men, he has signed his own death warrant," Rommel says.
"I agree," Rex says slowly.
They head back into the tower with a few Canadian troops. Returning to the brig, they release Dogma from his cell as Rex turns to Krell's cell.
Pulling out his blaster pistol, Rex says, "Turn around. Step towards the wall."
Krell rolls his eyes and does so. Echo lowers the cell door, and Rex orders, "On your knees!"
Krell chuckles as he says, "You're in a position of power now. How does it feel?"
"I said on your knees!" Rex says venomously.
Krell gets on his knees as he says, "It feels good, doesn't it? But I can sense your fear. You're shaking. Aren't you? What are you waiting for? The Umbarans are getting closer."
"I have to do this," Rex says.
"You can't do it, can you?" Krell says.
"I can," Rommel says. And without hesitation, he pulls his P226 pistol out of its holster, aims it right at Krell's back, and pulls the trigger three times.
The bullets go right through Krell's back, through his heart, and out his chest. Blood flows out of the wounds, and Krell gasps as he collapses to the floor of the cell, dead.
Rommel spins his pistol in hand before returning it to its holster. "You crossed me and tried to kill me, General. For that…you die," he says, feeling a sense of grim satisfaction.
The group heads back above ground. As they exit the tower, Rommel is delighted to see two flights of SA-10s diving all around the airbase, strafing approaching Umbarans with their cannons.
It doesn't take long before the Umbarans are retreating away from the airbase. Republic gunships fly down and deliver some reinforcements, as well as take away the wounded. Dogma is also taken away on the gunships.
Rommel looks out over the airbase. Fives walks up behind him and Rex and says, "General Kenobi's forces have routed the Umbarans from the capital, and the Terran Warthogs wiped out most of the rest of them. What few Umbarans are left have fled or have been captured. We did it. We took Umbara."
"We did. But at great cost. I look forward to the day that this war is over, and those Sith that have orchestrated it pay for what they've done," Rommel says looking up at the dark Umbaran sky, wondering when they'll finally be able to find that hidden Sith Master.
And, I'll end there.
So, I hope you liked how I did this one, and you liked me having Rommel face off with Krell.
So, my next episode I'll be covering is episode 13 of Season 4, the final episode of the Zygerrian arc. However, I have a question for all of my readers. Since the Super Bowl is tomorrow, should I write the next chapter to be the 501st and the 212th playing a football game during their period of rest after Umbara? Let me know in your reviews.
If I don't do the football chapter, then the Zygerrian chapter will probably be up Monday. Until the next chapter, whatever it may be, is posted, leave a review, and stay tuned!