Forty Eight
Rex kept watching her on the larty ride down to the surface.
He knew that look, he had seen it often enough.
"There's something just - ,"
"Not quite right. Yeah, I know" he finished.
Ahsoka turned back to look at Rex. She knew exactly where his eyes were behind the visor and he felt the intensity of her stare. They knew each other as well as any brother, and then some. Rex broke her gaze and scanned the three troopers sitting in the cargo hold. He was glad that he made the decision to bring both Coric and Hardcase along on this mission. He could see the nervous energy emanating from the three new recruits. The way they held their rifles coupled with their pristine armour, a dead give away. Rex looked down briefly and smiled. He remembered when he was young and eagre, ready to fight and take on the entire Universe.
"Check your weapons for charge, once we land I want you all to follow the Commanders lead. Just because the Wookiees are our allies, doesn't mean we can be complacent. I want us sharp and alert. Got that?"
Hardcase looked over at the Captain and nodded his head once. Coric was on his right, swaying with the larty as he held an overhead support.
"The Cap said, got that," Hardcase added loud over the bird's engine. He heard Coric chortle at his command.
"Sir, yes Sir."
Rex blinked in his HUD and patched into the stalwarts. "Keep an eye out, the Commander looks toey."
"Sir." They could see it also.
"Captain we are five to dirt, I repeat five to dirt."
"Copy that lieutenant," he replied, himself tapping his left gauntlet to his chest twice. She had seen Rex repeat the action over the course of the year, still none the wiser as to why a military man through and through would resort to such superstitious behaviour.
That was when it happened.
The larty sustained a direct hit and began spiralling out of control.
"Hang on," the pilot yelled down the comm, "they've hit the main stabilisers."
"Rex!"
With her small frame pushing hard against the centripetal force, she grunted at the momentum and struggled to stand. Rex grabbed one of the overhead supports and held another arm out to steady the Commander.
It was then her true power became evident.
He knew exactly what she was trying to do, help control the ship to the ground via a Force pull so strong that he could see the beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Ahsoka was exhausted as the ship first struck the ground at half the expected velocity if the Jedi hadn't helped it land. Rex pulled Ahsoka into him and curled one arm tight around her tiny waist. He sensed her reciprocating, holding onto the top of his utility belt with her small hand as they swayed recklessly.
Together they held on for dear life as it bounced through the trees, the metal groaning along with the men as it scraped further into the ground, screaming as parts were ripped from its sides.
As they came to a grinding halt, everyone was thrown forward, white bodies strewn around the cabin, arms and legs entangled.
"Call in," the Captain said rather shakily.
"Coric, Sir."
"Hardcase."
"Judd, Sir."
"Docks, Sir."
"Syd here Sir."
"Commander?" Rex looked at the hunched over Togrutan
"Yeah, I'm still here Captain," she said as she lifted herself up off the floor slowly.
The downed larty had ended up wedged in amongst heavy forest floor underbrush, near a small clearing. Ahsoka Force opened the jammed bay door and stepped out first. Rex was surprised to see her grab both her sabres, prompting him to immediately pull his own pistols out in anticipation. Hardcase stepped protectively between the Captain and the green troopers.
"Rex, do you see anything?" Ashoka asked.
"No Commander. They knew we were arriving today. Lieutenant, radio Resolute and find out what the kriff is going on." He had no reply and banged the side of his helmet with his open hand a couple of times, "Coric?"
"On it."
Rex stood forward, continually scanning the immediate clearing for any sign of the Wookiee chieftan they were sent to meet. Hardcase didn't unpack the hold, checking the new weapon in its case, partly assembled. The last thing Rex heard was Coric talking when he saw the flash in amongst the trees.
"Incoming!" he yelled as he instinctively lunged forward pushing Ahsoka hard into the ground, his armour protecting her delicate skin.
Hardcase launched himself to his left, but the three troopers behind didn't have the combat knowledge to move as fast, one catching a laser bolt straight in the chest.
"Man down, man down," Hardcase yelled as he scrambled over to the trooper oozing red through his armour.
"I'm in the 'pit, the pilot is down." Coric replied.
"Which one of you is it?" Hardcase looked over at the other two. Annoyed that they hadn't painted their armour so he couldn't immediately tell them apart.
"Syd, Sir."
"Don't call me Sir, soldier," he sounded impatient. "You'll be calling me Ma'am when I get you back to Ground Zero though, especially after the hiding I give you when you get out of the tank!"
"Yes, Sir," the bewildered soldier said, his legs flopped out inanimately in front of him.
"Cover me," Hardcase yelled to the other two. He took his helmet off before doing the same for the injured man.
"Coric, I have a chest wound out here," he stated in a matter of fact tone, pulling what he could of the remaining chest plate away from young man.
"Argh," Syd arched forward at the surge of pain, then again when Hardcase shot a hypo of Morpha into his neck.
"Don't they teach you boys anything on Kamino these days?" he said smiling to the critically injured soldier.
"No Sir, I mean yes Hardcase."
Coric tumbled through the wreckage, "pilot's dead, what you got?" Hardcase briefly closed his eyes and shook his head.
Coric bent down on his knees and lifted the plate to reveal the extent of the damage. Rex quickly jumped back into the hold to see the wound no medic could heal.
"Double him up," he said gently, "that'll keep him stable until we get reinforcements."
Both Coric and Hardcase looked at one another, they knew what the Captain was saying, helping the inevitable.
Rex looked at the two young men staring at their brother next to him, "You two, with me."
"Sir," Coric stopped him before he left the ship, "there is no way of contacting the fleet, the crash took out the main comm link. All I can raise is scramble on all long range freqs."
"Well, we had two days here, after that, someone will come looking." Rex looked at the young man close his eyes peacefully. 'What a waste,' he thought to himself, 'what a waste.' They didn't have the time or luxury to mourn the fallen. A round of red blaster fire began to hail down on the bird forcing them to take cover positions. Hardcase took point, scanning as he fired on where the red was coming from. "We're surrounded," he yelled as he returned fire.
"I can see that, how many?"
"At least twelve maybe more," Coric chimed in as he too returned fire with the DC-17.
"Commander?"
The question was raised to the young Jedi – she was now in charge of a fight for their lives. She thought quickly as to how she was going to get her men out and away from the enemy without sustaining any more causalities. Currently, they were sitting targets, but looking around her there was no way out without risking them all. Rex's mind was racing with combinations of possible scenarios, together with his flash training and combat experience, he knew they still stood one last chance. Then he remembered the new weapon they had brought with them to Kashyyyk, one which would be useful in a time like this.
"Hardcase. The new gun. Where is it?" He barked out, his voice already straining to be heard over the noise bombarding the gun ship.
"In pieces Sir," he knew what his Captain was asking, "but I could reassemble it."
"Well do it, and do it quick." The Captain knew they were in deep osik and soon their protagonists', whoever they were, would have the upper hand. They were pinned down, outnumbered and under relentless fire in a gulley with only one way out, and that way was controlled by the enemy.
Hardcase scrambled over to the case where the new gun was housed. It was larger and more powerful than their standard GAR blasters. With an increased range of fire, he knew it would prove vital for getting them out of the ditch they currently found themselves in.
Pulling his gauntlet off with his teeth, he steadied himself with one hand while the other faltered against the locks of the casing.
Then his training kicked in.
With the Captain providing covering fire, his nimble fingers clicked and slotted the weapon back together.
Slamming the power pack in, he waited for the charge to ignite and glow green.
It didn't.
Hardcase pulled it out and blew on the connecting point, hoping there was something on it which had stopped it from charging the pulse of the laser.
Slunk!
Nothing.
He wasn't as gentle the third time. Pulling it out and as a last resort, he whacked it against the floor before letting his Captain know they were in deeper osik than they initially thought.
Fek!
"Sir, the power pack's been compromised during the crash."
Rex stopped firing to look at the trooper. Hardcase was 'seasoned.' If there was a way around their current predicament, he could rely on him to find a way out. It was a new recruit that offered the answer.
Docks piped up, "Captain if I may?"
"Be quick with it trooper."
"The equipment hold houses the emergency power supplies. If someone can cover me, I can work my way around and secure a new cell for the weapon." Rex looked over at the young soldier all in white. It was true. In all their confusion he had forgotten about the supply hold of the downed larty.
"On my mark. Coric and Judd, cover fire on three."
He gave a reassuring nod to Docks, who readied himself for the race of his life; sprinting around the Laat/i to secure an emergency power pack if it wasn't already smashed to smithereens.
He took in two deep breaths and on the Captain's count he moved.
A barrage of fire came from what seemed like all directions. He deflected and dodged his way around the broken hull until he reached the hatch and slammed his back up against it hard.
Working quickly he unclipped the latch and went to open the door when he was hit in the right shoulder.
'Fek! That hurt.'
The door opened as if it were a routine supply check on board the Resolute. He grabbed two power canisters and held them tight into his chest with his left arm, all the time aware of the throbbing in his right.
Pulling himself off the metal he groaned and made his way back along the same route when another shot bit him in the left thigh, bringing him and one of the power supply tubes down to the ground.
He was aware of orders being shouted into his bucket, but was unable to answer, focussing only on his breathing and getting a source of energy back to his CO. Collecting himself up and with pain surging through his body he made one last ditch effort to get back to the main bay.
He watched as red bolts streaked all around him. Pushing through the agony, he concentrated only on one leg hitting the ground followed by the other when a bolt burned through his back.
Closer.
'Almost there.'
On the ground he pulled himself forward all the time clutching the precious parcel under him, guarding and fighting for it with his life.
Another hot surge; he couldn't ascertain where exactly, the pain all melding into one.
Docks now critically injured transfixed his eyes to the black opening spewing blue.
'How beautiful,' he thought, everything was in slow motion. The sound of his breaths echoing in his bucket. He looked as the light appeared longer in length and he could almost see each arch as it left the beloved decees.
Everything went silent.
Then nothing.
Noise. Yelling. Blasters firing.
"Docks, get up! Get up. Move it trooper." Rex willed, knowing full well it was futile.
He couldn't.
He simply wasn't, anymore.
They watched as the young soldier died, four metres from the cargo bay. His armour littered with scorch marks, the charge, just within reach. It was Coric who moved with such speed that it caught the others unaware. Pushing past his Captain he raced under another onslaught of fire to the inanimate body. He skidded to ground level and grabbed the fuel cell, quickly throwing it across to his Captain who in turn passed it back to Hardcase.
"Green means go," he said as he watched the gun charge up to full strength. "This ones for you kid," he said tussling the weapon to familiarise himself with its weight. The heavy gunner moved forward and covered the medic as he threw himself back into the cargo hold.
"Well done Coric. You alright?" Rex asked as he watched Hardcase continue laying down fire with the large pulse rifle, the irony of having the illicit weapon saving their sorry shebs not lost on the Captain.
There was a break in the attack as the enemy became aware of the downed ship having renewed fire power.
"OK, anyone got any ideas?" Rex said calmly as they looked at one another, their chests heaving after the initial battle.
"We're clearly outnumbered," was the medics only reply. Coric could always be relied upon for stating the obvious. Hardcase just turned slowly and looked at his brother. Kriff, how he wished right now it was Kix in the hold with him instead of the Sarge.
"Well?" he replied, seeing the look from the heavy gunner, "it's true."
"Settle down you two. Commander?"
Ahsoka was quiet, suddenly preoccupied with listening to the lack of any noise from outside.
"We're going to be sitting targets as night approaches. My only suggestion is that I draw attention away from the ship while you make a break for it."
"No way Commander." Rex was adamant. "Begging your pardon, Sir," he added, "it would make sense for one of us to head out and draw fire as you get away. You are more than likely to get to the trees and make it out of the gully. Once you have done so, you could find the missing tribe and find out who in the kriff is firing on us."
"Ah, but that's where you are wrong Captain. See these? They mean I have more of a chance of getting you all out alive."
As the bickering between the Captain and the Commander continued, Hardcase became aware of another shot being discharged and the sound of a body falling heavily to the ground.
Thump!
And again.
A shot followed by a dead weight hitting dirt. Pressed up against the edge of the blown out hull he warily looked around the opening.
"We have company," he said quietly.
The simple statement shut everyone up as the Captain looked out to see a Trandoshan lying dead some twenty metres away.
"Trads. I should have guessed."
"Who's firing on them, Sir?" Judd stated solemnly. He had silently watched as two of his squad brothers had died in less than an hour.
"I think we have a sniper out there, and lucky for us, he's on our side," Rex stated as he scanned the area with his macro's.
"More than one I'd say, we've got another lizard down at 2 o'clock." Hardcase commented.
"Got 'em," Rex continued as he watched the lizard's drop like flies from their treetop hideouts.
#
They moved as one, each knowing and anticipating the others next move.
Hand signals, no words meaning they could communicate quietly, placing themselves between the downed craft and the Trandoshans who were mercilessly targeting the Republic soldiers.
Their agility belying their size.
They had seen the flash of green so they knew a Jedi was on board. Silently they went about their work, picking off the large humanoid lizards one by one.
What the snipers didn't get, a blade finished off. A quick flick to the neck followed by the gargling of blood. But still no noise, just hand signals and the job was done. Rex tentatively stepped forward as he watched the four commandos lumber into the clearing. Two watching their six as one crouched down low to the dead trooper in front of the ship, stepping aside when he read no vitals.
One took his helmet off and extended his hand to the Captain of the 501st.
"That's three you owe me now Sir," he smiled as Rex grabbed his arm.
"Never been so happy to see your ugly mugs," he laughed in return.
With that the young Commander stepped forward.
"Ma'am," he dropped the Captains hand and stood to attention.
"RC-1309 reporting in."
#
Fi and Atin went inside the downed larty and nodded at the seasoned trooper.
"Fi," Hardcase said, "you sneaky little bastard! I should have known that was your MO out there, hiding in amongst the bushes." He removed his helmet and passed the heavy gunner a chewing treat, smiling slowly as he did.
"Yeah, well we heard some ladies were throwing a Plastiware party and thought it might be fun." he said, acknowledging the other medic in Coric and junior trooper.
Atin looked at what the heavy gunner was guarding.
"So that's what all the fuss is about?" He knelt down next to Hardcase and asked, "mind if I take a look?"
#
"Ma'am." He spoke officially, "Omega have been on Kashyyyk for the past standard month. We have orders to intercept any incoming or outgoing transmissions between the Wookiees and the Seps."
"But the Wookiees are our allies," Ahsoka looked puzzled.
"They are Ma'am, but we have reports that one has gone rogue. Trading information regarding clan locations to the Sep's who have in turn, passed the intel on to the Trads."
"To what end though?"
"That's what we are here to find out."
"How do we fit in then?"
"They must have known you had the weapon on board. That gun was commissioned by the Trandoshans. They paid a lot of money not to have it fall into Republic hands. The clan you were supposed to meet has disappeared. We are yet to find any bodies; therefore we assume that they have been taken prisoner."
"That's a dangerous word," Rex mulled.
"Sir?"
"Assume. I never try to apply it to anything remotely Separatist related."
Niner laughed a little. "Ma'am, Sir, we need to clear the area a-sap. Once these goons fail to report in, they'll send a search party. You've lost three men?"
"Yeah, pilot and two newbies."
"I'm sorry Sir," he said looking at the twilight beginning to darken the sky, "but we need to keep moving."
#
A/N: A special thanks to Sly, picking up on all my mistakes whilst beta'ing this chapter. Thanks for sticking with me, as my brain wasn't where it should have been this past fortnight Also, to the people taking time to post a review. They make it so worth while and the three new clones are for the Tarakan boys. Judd - Carlton footballer the 'Juddstar', Syd - Sydney Swans and Docks - the Fremantle Dockers. Sorry I had to kill two off, but I am a Blues girl through and through. . . .Ms CT-782